DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL NEWS
FACILITY HIRE LEAFLET LAUNCHED
The wide range of facilities onsite at Pocklington School have been hired out to many different organisations over the years, predominantly during the school holidays. From orchestras, theatre companies and youth groups to sports camps, conference organisers and families celebrating special occasions, the campus is busy throughout the year!
A new facilities hire leaflet has now been published and is available to download from the school website. So, if you or someone you know is looking for a venue with a difference, take a look.
L-R: Bev Corduff( Catering Manager), Andrew D’ Arcy( Domestic Bursar) and Moira Blenkin( Domestic Services Manager) outside Fenwick-Smith House.
INAUGURAL SPORTS DINNER
OPs joined forces with Pocklington School for the inaugural Pocklingtonian Sports Dinner at The Oaks Golf Club on Friday 21 October 2016. The guest of honour was cricketing star Michael Vaughan OBE, who took part in a fascinating and entertaining after-dinner Q & A session hosted by OP Marcus Townend( 72-82).
Over 120 guests enjoyed the evening which celebrated a long history of sport at the school. A specially created timeline of some of Pocklington’ s sporting achievers through the ages was on display along with a collection of sports photographs from the school archive and a booklet of current pupils
David Byas with Michael Vaughan. identified as‘ rising stars’ in their chosen sport.
A raffle and impromptu auction was also held to raise funds for building projects for a school in Namibia, which were undertaken by pupils during a recent trip there. The top prize kindly donated by current parents Mr and Mrs Bayston was a pair of tickets to the England versus Australia rugby match at Twickenham. Although initially won in the raffle, the tickets were donated back and auctioned off by OP Martin Swann( 66-76), a professional auctioneer who was a guest at the dinner. The winning bid went to another OP, Richard Cox( 83-88) and the total funds raised from the raffle and the auction were £ 1470. Other prizes kindly donated were a spa day for two at The Oaks Spa and a luxury food hamper.
The highlight of the evening was the Q & A session with former Yorkshire and England cricket captain and Ashes winner, Michael Vaughan. Led by Daily Mail Racing Correspondent, Marcus Townend, the Q & A session saw Michael give a frank and open insight into his playing career; his skills as a professional presenter and seasoned raconteur came to the fore as he entertained guests with amusing stories and anecdotes.
David Byas, Director of Sport at Pocklington School and himself a former Yorkshire cricket captain commented:“ It was an excellent start to the school’ s biennial sports dinner and a great celebration of sport at the school; it will be a hard act to follow to find someone as eloquent and at ease as Michael was, so if anyone has any ideas or contacts, please let us know!”
The next Pocklingtonian Sports Dinner will be held in 2018. If you have any useful connections or thoughts on who could be the next guest of honour, either as a speaker or as part of a Q & A session, please contact Rachel Dare.
CCF MARKS RETIREMENT OF WING COMMANDER MIKE EVANS
Pocklington School’ s longest-serving Combined Cadet Force Commander, Wing Commander Mike Evans, was honoured at a CCF dinner to mark his retirement.
Mike also retired as the school’ s Head of Chemistry at the end of the summer term, 32 years after joining as both a Chemistry teacher and a supernumerary Signals Officer in the Cadet Force.
The CCF Mess dinner, held in the school dining room, was attended by HM Lord-Lieutenant for the East Riding of Yorkshire, the Hon. Mrs Susan Cunliffe-Lister.
Guests learned Mike was commissioned to the CCF in 1980 and spent five years in the RAF Section at Victoria College, Jersey, before moving to Pocklington.
During his time at the school, he ran numerous annual CCF summer camps, as well as Adventurous Training expeditions over the Easter holidays. He and his officers also led the Pocklington cadets to success in many skills and leadership competitions.
His citation said:“ It is almost impossible to quantify Mike’ s dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to the CCF. Simply put, he is the heart of the Contingent and he has built it into the strong, successful team that it is today.
“ He has gone above and beyond what could possibly be expected of a Contingent Commander and has forged great friendships with school colleagues, Old Pocklingtonians and many serving and retired members of the British Forces.
“ Each and every one of his Officers, both past and present, is hugely grateful for the support, sound counsel and good humour he has given them over the past few decades. Mike will be hugely missed.”
The event coincided with a signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Headmaster Mark Ronan and the Chairman of Governors, Tim Stephenson, signed the covenant on behalf of the school, witnessed by Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, Commandant RAF Air Cadets and Colonel Neil Smith, Chief Veterinary Officer( Army) and Queen’ s Honorary Veterinary Surgeon. The ceremony took place in the presence of HM Lord-Lieutenant, who was hosted by Head Boy and Company Sergeant Major Rob Smith.
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