O l d Senno c k ian Spor t
OS Family R eunion
on a daily basis by the Prefects in their room below
the Johnson Hall. The boarders acted as superior to
the day boys; the latter were subjected to the Lock Up
Rule where the boarding curfew was enforced in their
own homes and punishment obligatory for any boy
caught in the town ‘after hours’.
Clare Scott was one of the first girls to come to
Sevenoaks when it became fully co-educational; in
her father’s time it was forbidden for any boy to
speak to a girl in the street, even his sister! For Clare’s
generation, the difference between boarders and day
pupils was that the former did the IB and the latter
largely took A-levels. Punishments were no longer
corporal or essay writing but in the form of lines.
Her abiding memory was of teacher Casey McCann’s
voice sharply reminding pupils to ‘get off the grass’,
particularly for the lawn behind School House on
which during her time at the school, two oak trees
were removed and the present brick pagodas erected
in their place.
In June the Foundation organised a slightly different
reunion, hosting a party of alumni and students who
represented three generations of the same family and
whose association with Sevenoaks began 70 years ago
and continues today.
Listening to Abi and Harry it was clear how many
elements of school co-curricular life retain the same
importance as in their grandfather’s time, in particular
sport and the performing arts. What has changed is
the variety of activities. Malcolm joined the school
Malcolm Tyrrell (OS 1948-52), his daughter Clare
at the time of the first international exchange, when
Scott (OS 1988-93) and her two children, Abi and
a party of boys visited the Øregård Gymnasium in
Harry Scott (Year 9 and Year 7), spent several hours
Denmark; this year over 200 field trips, exchanges
recollecting and comparing their experiences of school and study trips abroad were offered to students.
life as day pupils. They were joined by Malcolm’s
In the 1940s there was a choice of the Air Training
school friend, Peter Martin (OS 1944-50).
Corps or Digweed; today there are three CCF sections,
the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Service (local, school
Malcolm and Peter witnessed the revival of the school
or global) and so much else.
following the privations and disruption to routine
during the years of the Second World War. They were
The lunch finished with a group photograph and a
pupils under Headmaster James Higgs-Walker and
rendition of ‘The Song of The Seven Oaks’ by Malcolm
remembered his firm but fair discipline, meted out
and Peter, word perfect still after all these years.
Sally Robbins
1st v OS Cricket
2018 saw another keenly contested T20 match
between the 1st XI and an OS XI, played on Sunday
17 June.
The OS captain, Jack Hulston, won the toss and
elected to bat following a substantial lunch. Cyrus
White (39) and Ifan Jenkins (22) put on 57 for the
second wicket and at 80 for 2 the OS were on target
to compile a competitive total. However, the spin
combination of Ollie Chaplin (2 for 21), Michael
Procter (2 for 41) and Alfie Marr-Johnson (1 for 7)
pegged them back. Oli Gibson (30) counteracted
with some powerful hitting but 126 was unlikely
to be enough.
Patrick Nickols (17), Harry Houillon (36) and Rhys
Joseph (43 not out) kept up a steady run rate with a
mix of quick singles (not too difficult!) and attacking
strokes. Arthur Sackville-West then played the shot of
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ALUMNI REVIEW
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the match with an exquisite back-foot drive past point
for a boundary. Tejas Patel bowled at a lively pace on
a slow wicket, whilst the best figures came from Will
Gill, whose wily off-spin gave him 1 for 21 off his four
overs. The 1st XI won by seven wickets with eight balls
to spare.
Amongst the guests were former Chair of Governors,
Bob Wilkinson, a keen supporter of Sevenoaks School
cricket for more than 30 years, Ian Walker, Master i/c
Cricket from 1978 to 1998, Pip Burrows (OS 1973),
who has been umpiring for the school for over 45
years, and Alexander Morrison (scorer 1996).
The OS team was: Rex Boulter (2014), Oli Gibson
(2014), Will Gill (2012), Harry Gillis (2015), Jack
Hulston (2012), Ifan Jenkins (1998), Jules Lom (2011),
Tom Nickols (2011), Tejas Patel (2015), Mike Soulsby
(1998), Cyrus White (2017).
Chris Tavaré
Master i/c Cricket 1999-2018
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2017-2018
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