Abingdonian 2017

94 The Abingdonian This past year has been a whirlwind of achievements in James’s House, and whilst the ensuing paragraphs inevitably celebrate these, it’s worth remembering the hard work and dedication which went into each and every one of these successes. Winning things is nice, but it’s what the boys have become in the process of the last year which is far more important, and makes me most proud of them as their Housemaster. There is a really positive feel about the house at the moment, helped no doubt by the shiny new houseroom, but testimony too to the dedication of the tutors and indeed senior boys in the house. They are a pleasure to work alongside and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them all sincerely. September saw a wonderful new batch of third years inducted into the house - as smooth a transition as I have known - and this would be a year group who would continue to impress throughout 2016-17. Ethan Moody saw himself selected for the GB windsurfing squad for the World Championships after a summer of dedicated practice and hard competition. As term went on, we also heard from a number of sixth formers in house assembly, with Daniel Nield speaking about his trip to Vietnam and then Max Owen and Daniel Rohll telling us more generally about the value of travelling. Freddie Rock and Cameron Asbury were pivotal in raising considerable sums for charity in the Charathon, with several of our boys opting to run the 13.1miles - their gait somewhat altered for days to come! Though always viewed with great trepidation by housemasters, House Singing was a very definite highlight of the first half term. Carl Olavesen, helped by the house band of Aravind Prabhakaran, Jack Lewis and George Jeffreys, led our efforts with energy, vision and huge skill. Our performance was comfortably the best for some years. For one glorious moment we dared to believe that we had won. Sadly it wasn’t to be, with a lack of choreography counting against us in this singing competition (Ivo Brown’s wearing of his backpack onto stage may also have hurt our chances!). In any event, the house felt like a more cohesive place afterwards and we went off for half term with Bastille’s Good Grief stuck in all our heads. The second half of Michaelmas Term went like a blur, with hugely productive work going on - work which would be the foundation of superb exam results in months to come. Daniel Rohll somehow squeezed rehearsals in for Evita at Oxford High School, whilst acing his November tests and representing the school at rugby. We still found time too to win the U16s inter-house rugby. I rounded the year off by sharing with the house Louis Edward’s short film Limbo . Louis scripted, shot, cast and directed this witty, thought-provoking and profound piece. The awe of the rest of the house after the film finished was palpable. A fitting way to end 2016 - internationally perhaps a year to forget, but far from it within the house. January saw James Hogge winning a James’s