The Christ’s Hospital Community 25 Years Ago December 2002
Among the new staff were Bill Avenell (still at CH today) and noted rugbyman Peter Warfield. Dr Paul Mills arrived as Writer in Residence. Archbishop Trevor Huddleston paid a visit.
On St Matthew’s Day, BBC cameras followed the procession and Hertford’s Miss Taverner played the organ. The a capella choir sang Evensong at Chichester Cathedral. Andrew March (Ma A) was named Chorister of Britain.
Arts Centre visitors included Kent Opera (Jonathan Miller’s Cosi fan Tutte), English Music Theatre, the Oxford Playhouse Company, the Gabrieli Quartet and the BBC (third broadcast in three years). Home grown drama: The Physicists (Mid B); The Dragon (LHA); and The Original Robin Hood (Th B).
The First XV won six, drew one, lost four, under captain Adrian Fulcher (Th A, Senior Grecian) and his ‘perfect foil’, secretary John Cullen (Pe A). In the Second XV, ‘[Alan] Maxwell [Pe A] on the wing was always a potential matchwinner.’ A new badminton court sparked interest. The shooting team had won the Improvement Prize at Bisley.
A substantial Winter Writing magazine was published.
The Debating Society celebrated its centenary. Michael Cherniavsky (Horsham Staff 48-66) contributed a retrospective article recalling star debaters Anthony Arblaster (Th B 48-56), Alan Ryan (La A 51-59, Almoner) and Philip Kitcher (Pe A 58-66), who all became notable academics.
The seventy-fifth anniversary of the move from London was marked by recitals on the Big School organ (formerly in the London Great Hall) by performers including Catherine Ennis (Hertford 65-71) and David Sanger.
Haydn’s Nelson Mass provided the climax of the School Concert, with ‘outstanding’ soloists including Mark Hammond (Th A). Young prodigy Paul Smith (LHA) played Walter Leigh’s Concertino for Piano. For the first time the Votum was omitted from the programme.
Six past Band Captains took part in the Band Concert. One highlight was a trombone solo by the current Captain, Dick Ruck (Mid B).
A visiting rugby player contrived to stab one of the figures in the Verrio.
Founder’s Day Dinner was chaired by HRH the Duke of Gloucester (President 74- ). Replying, Angus Ross (Ba A 30-37, Treasurer) quoted George Seaman (Th A, Ba B 20-27, Headmaster 55-70): ‘Christ’s Hospital has always lived from hand to mouth.’
Four British Ambassadors were Old Blues, as were three Masters of Livery Companies.
The OBRFC enjoyed a run of success. Tim Hackshaw (Th A 68-75) played rugby for Cambridge, Simon McKie (Th B 67-74) for Oxford.
There were obituaries for A B Sackett (Horsham Staff 21-28), Jack Massen (Horsham Staff 28-65), Francis Codd (Estate Agent 40-58/9) and Miss Flack (Infirmary Matron 31-46), and also for artist Keith Vaughan (Pe A 21-29), church historian S L Greenslade (Ba B 16-23, Almoner) and Trident pilot Simon Edwards (La A 53-62), son of John Edwards (Horsham Staff 39-74).
