Headmaster’ s welcome
Headmaster, Toby Seth, in the gunging bathtub for Charity Week
All of us in the Pocklington School community can look back on this Lent term with an enormous sense of fulfilment and satisfaction. Whether it is the learning we achieve through mock examinations or reflecting on a hard-earned and highly satisfactory inspection outcome, it has been a term to be proud of.
There are countless highlights I could mention, including excellent sporting successes, a trip to Twickenham, wonderful weekend boarding activities and a fabulous Charity Week, including my first( and last!) experience of the dreaded gunge. I have suggested to the Charity Team that we also invite parents to participate in this famous Pocklington tradition; I await
their views with great anticipation. From all of these marvellous moments, I am going to centre my spotlight on the recently held Jazz and Rock Concert. Hard on the heels of a successfully musical House Drama competition, the latest major musical event in the School’ s calendar was a treat for all on stage and those in the audience.
We were blown away with an array of rock, jazz and pop featuring familiar faces, some relative newcomers and, most pleasing of all, some performers making their stage debut. The performers’ energy was infectious, and the audience responded enthusiastically to a superbly engaging evening. Indeed, the entire night exemplified much of what we hold dear here at Pocklington: seasoned performers alongside those bravely taking the stage for the first time. There are numerous other examples of this approach sprinkled throughout this newsletter; I hope you enjoy reading our latest waltz through the past few months here at Pocklington.
Toby Seth, Headmaster
Chaplain
This term always has two key events for chaplaincy, the Confirmation and the Commemoration of Benefactors and Founders Service. This year, at the Confirmation, we welcomed new Bishop of Selby who shared her long service as a naval chaplain. She spent over thirty years providing pastoral care for ' her boys and girls ' aboard the ship. At the Commemoration, we listened to Jan Gray, a diocesan speaker, who recounted her journey through teaching, overcoming abuse and now encouraging others to have a generous giving attitude of life. Both speakers characterise what has been our weekly Friday theme in church, which highlights the life of William Wilberforce. He committed his whole life to abolishing slavery, whilst coping with abuse, insults and ill health. These encouraging messages are our focus as we head into the summer.
Canon Dr Bill Merrington, Chaplain
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