Students are nominated to receive a Head’s Praise for exceptional achievements and contribution to school life.
Headmaster’s Praise – 29 November 2019
29 November 2019
Today eight boys came for Headmaster’s praise:
- Ben Broadbent for helping build a solar powered water pump, building the electronic circuitry and being very helpful.
- Ben Kiraikou for winning the Cheltenham Debating Competition in German. Final debate topic: Wir können aus der Geschichte lernen.
- Reggie Lambert for giving an outstanding demonstration of the lever harp in a Lower School assembly and being willing to share his enthusiasm for the instrument alongside 2nd Year Alex Woolmer, thereby helping to recruit for this fine instrument.
- Toby Smallcombe for being proactive in assisting Mr Townsend with recruitment for Brass Band, an act that was hugely appreciated by the teacher.
- Boco To for outstanding effort with class work and homework. His work is of the highest quality. He also came to a weekend session and made a fantastic stylised kangaroo.
- William Wakelam for winning the Cheltenham Debating Competition in German. Final debate topic: Wir können aus der Geschichte lernen.
- Ted Wilson for leading the Second XV rugby team for two years in a row, showing outstanding leadership across both years. Sadly his season has come to a premature end due to an ankle injury, but he will continue to act as team manager for the remaining games.
- Alex Woolmer for giving an outstanding demonstration of the lever harp in a Lower School assembly and being willing to share his enthusiasm for the instrument alongside 3rd Year, Reggie Lambert, thereby helping to recruit for this fine instrument.
Headmaster’s Praise – 22 November 2019
22 November 2019
Today 10 boys came for Headmaster’s praise:
- Matthew Buhler for presenting ASP’s Partnership Grant project at the Royal Society Student Conference.
- Nelson Chan for a very detailed travel blog on the geography of Svalbard in the Arctic.
- Cameron Eilbeck for presenting ASP’s Partnership Grant project at the Royal Society Student Conference.
- Jonathan Lee for being part of the Senior Team Maths Challenge team that came 2nd in the Oxford regional heat.
- Jason Ng for being part of the Senior Team Maths Challenge team that came 2nd in the Oxford regional heat.
- Alvin Tam for exceptional work on “A Guide to Efficient Farming” to cover a combined area of the specification with a more practical, real world application approach.
- Ashwin Tennant for being part of the Senior Team Maths Challenge team that came 2nd in the Oxford regional heat.
- Max Williams for being part of the Senior Team Maths Challenge team that came 2nd in the Oxford regional heat.
- Lancelot Wilson for working very hard to put on a cross school partnership debating competition. He organised a committee and communicated in a very professional way with staff members from 5 different school – hugely impressive for such a young man. It was shame it didn’t come to fruition but he will have learnt a huge amount from this experience.
- Kevin Yuan for exceptional work on “A Guide to Efficient Farming” to cover a combined area of the specification with a more practical, real world application approach.
Headmaster’s Praise – 15 November 2019
15 November 2019
Today 12 boys came for Headmaster’s praise:
- Matthew Chan for playing for the U18 basketball team scoring in his debut match a fantastic 3 pointer to start his career at Abingdon. What a superb performance notching up 10+ points in the 57-31 win v Radley – well done!
- Henry Channon for membership of the team that have qualified for the National XC Cup Final.
- Jacob Charity-Williams for membership of the team that have qualified for the National XC Cup Final.
- Will d’Arcy for membership of the team that have qualified for the National XC Cup Final.
- Jake de Jongh for his excellent playing of trumpet Last Post and Reveille at the Remembrance Parade.
- Thom Denning for membership of the team that have qualified for the National XC Cup Final.
- Cameron Gouldstone for his excellent playing of trumpet Last Post at the Remembrance Parade.
- Johnny James for membership of the team that have qualified for the National XC Cup Final.
- Caleb Maijeh for his excellent playing of trumpet Last Post at the Remembrance Parade.
- Quinn Miell-Ingram for membership of the team that have qualified for the National XC Cup Final.
- Laurence Peverall for his excellent playing of trumpet Last Post at the Remembrance Parade.
- Nicholas Raptakis for his outstanding playing of Rachmaninov’s Elégie for Piano in the Remembrance Assembly.
Headmaster’s Praise – 6 November 2019
6 November 2019
Today 11 boys came for Headmaster’s praise:
- Tim Armstrong for showing lots of grit and determination on the CCF Adventure Training trip and completing every task with a smile.
- Henry Beer for his caring nature which came to the forefront on the CCF Adventure Training trip. Even though he found some of the challenges very difficult he still took part and encouraged the rest of his team making sure everyone was ok.
- William Bywater for gaining 3rd place in the Senior Solo Instrumental Competition.
- Leon Guan for pushing himself beyond his limits on the CCF Adventure Training trip and fully embracing every challenge even though he found it very difficult.
- Felix Kind for giving a thank you speech in French at our host school in Aix-en-Provence.
- Matthew Lau for his excellent volunteering at Abingdon Community Hospital.
- Tommy Macphail for his exemplary attitude as coxswain on the Banyoles camp. Tommy had an excellent camp in the coxes seat, and he was also really positive and encouraging with the squad and completed 2 x 6k runs with the rowers. He injured his ankle on the second run, but did not stop and ran all the way to the line racing the rowers. He displayed the kind of grit and resilience needed for success.
- Freddie Merrett for stepping up to replace the activity leader, who was ill, at short notice at Primary Science Club and leading an excellent session for our APS visitors.
- Xander Orchard for his outstanding first term of GCSE Art – consistently attending extra sessions to develop his project, producing excellent work.
- Nick Raptakis for winning the Senior Solo Instrumental Competition.
- Oliver Simpson for gaining 2nd place in the Senior Solo Instrumental Competition.
Headmaster’s Praise – 11 October 2019
11 October 2019
Today ten boys came for Headmaster’s praise:
- Matthew Buhler for reperesenting the School at the Croquet National Schools Championships, finishing third and improving throughout the tournament to compete in the National Junior Championships too.
- Alex D’Arcy for reperesenting the School at the Croquet National Schools Championships, finishing third and improving throughout the tournament.
- Charlie Franklin for reperesenting the School at the Croquet National Schools Championships, finishing third and improving throughout the tournament to compete in the National Junior Championships too.
- Kit Mannix for reperesenting the School at the Croquet National Schools Championships, finishing third and improving throughout the tournament to compete in the National Junior Championships too.
- Alexander Pennington for doing a great job as “Hare” in the English Schools junior and inter cross-country races. It would be very hard to run such events without this kind of help.
- Alexander Scott for being first in his year to achieve Gold DofE.
- Finnbar Scott for his outstanding art work both in and out of the classroom.
- Will Shorrocks for his outstanding contributions to the House so far this year. Will has assisted with taster days and other events, going above and beyond expectations including currently mentoring a new 3rd Year who has had a difficult time.
- Iman Taghol for receiving excellent feedback from Abingdon Community Hospital about his work volunteering there.
- Alvin Tam for receiving excellent feedback from Abingdon Community Hospital about his work volunteering there.
Headmaster’s Praise – 27 September 2019
27 September 2019
Today three boys came for Headmaster's praise:
- Jonathan Lee for being awarded 2nd place nationally for the 'John Locke Institute' essay competition 2019, for his submission on internet law. This is an outstanding achievement in a national competition.
- Lanfranco Leone for gaining a commendation from the 'John Locke Institute' for an outstanding submission to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition.
- Edward Scott Payne for winning the cadet National Championship for fencing.
Headmaster’s Praise – 20 September 2019
20 September 2019
Today four boys came for Headmaster's praise:
- Harry Baston-Hall for outstanding artwork produced during the summer holidays showing real initiative, creativity and passion.
- James Gibson for being awarded an Arkwright Scholarship andsponsorship by The Nuclear Institute. This is an incredibly prestigious award to be highly celebrated.
- Jimmy Strainge for his outstanding speeches post-game in Chile and Argentina, in Spanish, including – according to our tour guide – clever puns playing on the difference between Spanish and South American idioms. Also, great at interpreting and organising at other points. He was an amazing ambassador for the school, on and off the pitch.
- Louis Yue for taking the lead in writing a draft academic paper for the Journal of Radiation Research in collaboration with Ollie Breach and other U6th boys under the direction of Dr Peter Hatfield (Oxford University) and Prof Stephen Rose (Imperial College).
Headmaster’s Praise – 13 September 2019
13 September 2019
Today four boys came for Headmaster's praise:
- Liam Deegan for showing outstanding initiative by producing and co-directing with a friend from Fitzharrys an excellent 12 minute film for The Abingdon Bridge charity, premiered at the Unicorn Theatre as part of an event to mark the presentation of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The film was highly commended by the Lord Lieutanant of Oxfordshire.
- Oscar Hitch for gaining an Army Officer Scholarship following the Army Officer Selection Board.
- James McRae for acting as an excellent ambassador for the school during this summer's Moldova Project trip, organising summer camps for over 100 Moldovan children.
- Archie Turnbull for making outstanding acting contributions to two films – one by a member of the AFU and another by a member of our Film Academy, the partnerships arm of the Film Unit. This included acting for a whole day in soaking wet clothes!
Headmaster’s Praise – 6 September 2019
6 September 2019
Today 12 boys came for Headmaster's praise:
- Jim Allen for making a tremendous contribution to an AFU film by giving up several days of the summer holiday to act in Joe Bradley's latest film.
- Charlie Atkinson for his selection for the England U18 Rugby tour in South Africa this summer.
- Matteo Bignone for making a tremendous contribution to an AFU film by giving up several days of the summer holiday to act in Joe Bradley's latest film.
- Matthew Buhler for acting as an excellent ambassador for the school during this summer's Moldova Project trip, organising summer camps for over 100 Moldovan children.
- George Carver for his superb revision over the summer, including excellent notes and effort.
- Bentley Cook for filming and editing a video to advertise 3rd year service to new 3rd year boys.
- Freddie Cunningham for his excellent GCSE results that were significantly higher than the mock grades he achieved in January, and amongst the biggest improvements I have ever seen.
- Philip Kimber for writing an article for the Polyglot in German.
- Tommy Macphail for acting as an excellent ambassador for the school during this summer's Moldova Project trip, organising summer camps for over 100 Moldovan children.
- Rupert Mathieson for making an outstanding contribution to the success of the Edinburgh Fringe production of Contact Light, not only as a highly effective member of the cast but also working to publicise the show in Leith and on the Royal Mile.
- Archie Turnbull for working hard and being extremely helpful getting new boys to their houserooms at the beginning of term.
- Oliver Williams for acting as an excellent ambassador for the school during this summer's Moldova Project trip, organising summer camps for over 100 Moldovan children.
Headmaster’s Praise – 28 June 2019
28 June 2019
Today 15 boys came for Headmaster's praise:
- Nick Butterfield for being an excellent first time compere of the Community Service tea party.
- Xavier Gardner for being an excellent first time compere of the Community Service tea party.
- Samuel Ooi for being an excellent first time compere of the Community Service tea party.
- Kush Patel for being an excellent first time compere of the Community Service tea party.
- Callum Ryall for being an excellent first time compere of the Community Service tea party.
- Matthew Johnson for coaching on the Swimming Partnership Programme, working with non and weak swimmers over a course of 5 weeks from Larkmead and Fitzharrys, to help develop their water confidence and swimming technique.
- Theo Shorrocks for consistent good effort and excellent progress in Chinese throughout the year.
- Aryann Gupta for creating an extraordinary piece of work: a comprehensive website covering the history trip to Berlin.
- Oliver Simpson for gaining a concert date for the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Reading Symphony Orchestra.
- Andreas Lo for helping out in the boarding house after the exam season with a positive manner. He has also volunteered with the Registry to do a number of tours for prospective parents and their children – he is always an amazing ambassador on those occasions.
- Jimmy Strainge for his excellent commitment to the L6 play (Real Inspector Hound). Very busy guy and could only make it to a few of the rehearsals during the week; nonetheless, he's been excellent
- Louis Renouf for his excellent commitment to the L6 play (Real Inspector Hound). Also tons of lines to learn. What a great lad.
- Archie Turnbull for his excellent commitment to the L6 play (Real Inspector Hound). Gets the character spot on and has been fully committed. Very likeable chap.
- Tom Phillip for his excellent commitment to the L6 play (Real Inspector Hound). He's my left field casting – has never done anything 'dramatic' at Abingdon since joining in 3rd year and 'just wanted to give it a go'. Has foregone completing Gold DoE expedition in order to be part of the cast.
- Kit Mannix for his excellent commitment to the L6 play (Real Inspector Hound). Loads of lines to learn and he's done it brilliantly (I was very dubious that he'd get there in time but he appears to have nailed it).
