Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Newsletter January 2013

The official Bishop Vesey’s Twitter account is @BVGS1527 Follow us on

Vesey’s Got Talent - It certainly has! On 14 December Vesey students displayed their talent to a packed audience in Big School in aid of charity. The winner was Abrar Biswas (top, third

from left) with his version of the ‘One Pound Fish’ song. Others pictured here are (top left to right) Madeleine Comber, Alex Beedle, Abrar and

Hamdan Arifeen (bottom left to right) Ryan Evans, Richard Slater, Alex Seal and Sebastian Heley. £343.60 raised for ‘The Release Project’.

Farewell to Bill Potter - Deputy Head for over 23 years. Happy New Year!

Welcome back to life at BVGS and to our new

style of enhanced newsletter for the New Year!

This 12 page edition carries special features about

the Old Veseyan Association and The Vesey

Foundation. Both organisations work in the

interest of and for the welfare of the school, con-

necting with the alumni community and wider

Vesey Community, which now includes the

Friends and Sponsors of BVGS. We are indebted

to so many who are affiliated to the school for

helping to fuel our ambitions for the many future

developments we have in mind. By the end of this

term we should see more new work completed

to bring even more opportunities and better facili-

ties to our students.

Sincere thanks to all involved in helping to main-

tain the momentum of our wide-ranging develop-

ments here at BVGS .

Together we are making it happen!

Bill Potter retired last term to a standing

ovation in Big School after just over 23

years of loyal and distinguished service to

the school. His presence around BVGS will

be sorely missed. He was an outstanding

teacher, a dedicated Senior Leader and a

devoted servant of the Vesey cause in so

many different areas of school life. He

steered the curriculum design, wrote the

timetable and led on assessment and site

management. A gentle man who was a real

gentleman, kind, caring, considerate, effi-

cient and effective. All in all a great sup-

porter of all members of the school, be

they staff or student. As Teacher i/c Cross

Country, he provided a wonderful platform

for the development of BVGS runners and

for students across the Midlands and in

local schools. Mr Vesey himself! We wish Bill and his wife Margaret good health,

good fortune and a long and happy retirement.

Page 2 January 2013

Oxbridge Interview Jamboree

On 13 November we hosted, for the tenth season, the now

annual interview jamboree to help students applying for Ox-

bridge, medical schools or similar to prepare for the application

process. We are enormously grateful to the 43 interviewers

from the Vesey Community, who so kindly gave of their time to

assist in this way. Each student had five interviews during the

afternoon with different interviewers, who gave feedback at the

end of each session as a means to development. We are confi-

dent that our students are increasingly well prepared to face the

rigours of the interview process at top performing universities

and wish them well over the coming months as they begin to

receive offers and make their final choices. Oxbridge results are

not known at the time of going to press and will be published in

the next newsletter. Interviews pictured here in Big School in

full flow.

On 4 December David Graham returned once again to BVGS with his performance road show for Yr 7, denouncing drugs and promoting a natural

high which can be achieved in life in so many ways. Leaving us with a feel-good factor through his message that using our talent can create a natural

high for us and those around us, David emphasised how ‘fake highs’ from

drugs are both dangerous and damaging to individuals and others. A forth-

right drugs awareness presentation and indeed demonstration which

brought energy and life to participants through song and movement. Prize-

winners pictured were rewarded for their efforts in the three strands of the

session: SPORT - MIND - FAME. The anti-drugs slogan competition was

won by Ryan Potter 7BL A most valuable lesson in how to resist the

temptation of involvement in drugs.

David Graham ‘Natural High’ - School Tours

Art Visit to London Galleries and Museum

Lower and Upper VI Art students accompanied by Emma Neville and Anne

Fitton spent a day in London last November attending exhibitions at the Vic-

toria and Albert Museum, The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gal-

lery. Later the group enjoyed live opera at Covent Garden.

Jane Broughton says that there are just 6 remaining places on the French Exchange to Dreux, available to students in Years 9 & 10. The dates are

as follows: The French party comes to BVGS from 16th-23rd March and we go to France from 8th-15th June 2013. Cost: £290.

The Team of 2012 repeated the success of the Team of 2011 by winning their

Regional Heat of the Bank of England / The Times Target Two Point Zero

Interest Rate Challenge held at Aston University Conference Centre on Friday

23 November. The team of four U6 A Level Economics students - Jack Mer-

rix, Alexander McAleavy (Captain), Arjun Palak and Louis Ng - recom-

mended an interest rate of 0.5% and a total of £375bn of asset purchases. They

also suggested the need for a Government Business Bank. The team was ac-

companied by Kathryn Wright, Head of Business Studies and Economics and

Mel Harvey the former HoD. The chair of the judging panel, Graeme Chaplin,

Bank of England Agent for the West Midlands, said it had been “a really strong

heat”. The students will now compete in the Area Final in Bristol this February.

TARGET 2.0

Winners of their Regional Heat

French Exchange Programme 2013

Page 3

BVGS Newsletter Page 3

On the 5 December popular author of teenage fiction, Alan Gibbons, gave an informative and very entertaining talk to students. Alan talked about

his own education and experiences as a teacher that inspired him to start writing books for young people. Thirty students were invited to attend a

writing workshop, where they were taken through the creative writing process to produce excellent work, using a series of successful writing tech-

niques as demonstrated by Alan. Congratulations to the Alan Gibbons Competition winners: (below left) l-r Eben Gutteridge, Roan Farley,

Hiwa Khalis, Daniel Baker, Alan Gibbons, Himmat Sidhu, George James (to the back), Matthew Hayden and Edward Stanley.

Hamza Siddiqui Year 9 interviewed Alan. Do listen to the podcast on the BVGS website – http://www.bvgs.co.uk

Library News

English Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon

On 1 November, accompanied by English Department mem-

bers Claire Callan and Sarah Slater, 30 students from

Years 7 and 8 visited Stratford-upon-Avon, former home of

William Shakespeare. They visited three 'Shakespeare' houses,

beginning with Anne Hathaway's cottage, then on to Shake-

speare's birthplace where they listened to a talk on the play-

wright and acquitted themselves very well in a post-talk quiz.

The final house was Mary Arden's Farm where the group

learnt about life on a Tudor farm and witnessed a falconry

display.

Bishop Vesey’s entered a team in the inaugural Lord Mayor’s Super Quiz which

was held in the Great Hall at the University of Birmingham. The quizmaster for the

event was the ‘Beast’ from the television series ‘The Chase’. Vesey’s team com-

prised of Chris Nowek, Chris Godbehere, Caitlin Thornton, Matt Bell,

Joe Davies and Alex Heckels. From the 36 teams entered the Vesey team fin-

ished in third place, only three points behind the winners from KE Camp Hill Boys.

An event which we hope will now become an annual feature of the B’ham scene.

The Lord Mayor’s Super Quiz

Question Time with Andrew Mitchell MP

Andrew Mitchell MP joined Year 8 on a charity non-uniform day for a Q&A

session and discussion about how to improve our locality and about world issues.

The ‘Link Bridge’ is dismantled for restoration work……..The New Link bridge below!

Page 4 January 2013

On Thursday 18 October, 19 members of 11G participated in a sponsored silence to

raise money for the Birmingham Children’s Cancer Centre. This ‘Silent’ day was a huge

success and £374.86 was raised from one day! Since then the form has raised in excess of

£500 for the charity. The fundraising has been led with great enthusiasm by Oliver Ho-

bin and his target to raise at least £1000 is well on the way to being reached and hope-

fully exceeded. Well Done!

The Sound of Silence - Sponsored!

We have had a very successful term of fund-

raising, with a total of £4476.95 being raised

for a variety of charities including Children in

Need, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Can-

cer Support and Burnaid (Enzos Friends).

Students of all year groups have shown great

enthusiasm, creativity and independence in

organising and participating in events.

Friday 5 October - Year 7 took park in a fun

Boxercise workout for LEPRA raising

£837.35, a fantastic achievement and sufficient

money to cure 33 children of leprosy.

Members of the Sixth Form took part in the £10 chal-

lenge this term, in which forms had to turn their £10 in

to the biggest profit possible for a charity of their

choice. This year’s winning form 6JB raised £292.81 by

organising a whole school fancy dress day on Thursday

18 October with students from each year group dress-

ing up according to a different theme. There were also

impressive performances from many other forms.

On Monday 19 November Daniel Phillips with the help of his form 8G and Year 7 hosts

Archie Sansome and Christian White organised BVGS’s second ‘Would I lie to you? –

Teacher special’ event raising £49.97 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

On Tuesday 13 November, Thomas Hooper and Daniel Leyva 8G organised a teacher arm

wrestling event raising £55.26 for Crohn’s & Colitis UK. There were solid performances from

teachers including Peter Cragg, Alan Jones, Ralph Brocklebank, Alex Jones, Daniel

Everett and Alex Davis although no one was able to beat the mighty Zak Feaunati.

On Friday 23 November we held a whole school non-

uniform day in aid of a local non-profit organisation

based in Kingstanding called ‘SOS Focus on Therapy’

who offer advice and counselling services to those in

need. All those involved in the organisation work for

free and the £850.52 raised will help pay the rent on

the small offices they work from.

Raising funds with muscle power - arm-wrestling!

Working the Microphones for Charity Dariusz Paszkowski and Alex Comfort compèred Vesey’s Got Talent with poise and aplomb,

keeping the audience and judges entertained between the acts. Kasia Czepiel and Caitlin Thornton,

Charity Officers, opened the event thanking everybody for supporting the nominated charity.

CHARITY

Non-uniform day lunchtime tutorial

Page 5 BVGS Newsletter

Celebration of facial hair this Movember - all in a good cause!

Jon Holden proudly sports his downturned handle-bars, for which he receives the staff prize - a copy of

‘The Moustache Grower’s Guide’ from staff organiser and expert in facial hair, Julian Whiting.

6th Form Charity officers Cait-

lin Thornton & Kasia

Czepiel led the school to raise

£325.98 this year through the

efforts of staff and students

who, on the last day of Novem-

ber, joined in a celebration of

facial hair grown throughout the

month. Valuable funds have

been provided to raise aware-

ness of men’s health issues,

specifically prostate cancer and

test icular cancer. Kasia

Czepiel, Deputy Charity Cap-

tain joins in the fun for the day!

On Wednesday 17 October Josh Bosnan 9B bravely had his long golden locks shaved off by his Head of Year, Tom Williams and members

of the audience, raising a highly remarkable £412.96 for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Sudden cardiac arrest struck PE teacher and keen athlete Alex Davis at the peak of his physical fitness. Alex, who

suffers from the heart rhythm disorder, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, had severe palpitations and an abnormal

heart rate and was taken to hospital. While there he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. His heart was stopped for

around five minutes before he was resuscitated. After surgery to his heart Alex has gone from strength to strength

and he is now determined to raise awareness of the UK’s biggest killer - sudden cardiac arrest. His efforts to increase

awareness about AEDs and CPR have already started with students at BVGS who are supporting Alex’s plans to run

the Paris Marathon and climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013.

“Training is going really well in preparation for Paris and I am feeling confident” said Alex.

Visit www.justgiving.com/alexdavisendurancechallenges2013 to sponsor Alex.

Vesey Sports Teacher runs to raise awareness and raise funds.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY

Page 6 January 2013

Over 60s Computer Club Tea Party on Monday 3 December, Sixth Form students hosted members of the local com-

munity who had been engaged in our special Over 60s Computer Course this term. Certificates were presented to all those who completed the

course and students entertained our guests for tea and cakes with a number of musical items which were much appreciated. We are delighted that

the Over 60s Computer Course is now firmly embedded as a feature of our outreach programme to the local community.

Moseley Violins - Electric String Instruments Workshop

On 27 November David Bruce Johnson, Director of BVGS sponsors Moseley Violins, joined BVGS string players for lunch and then for a

presentation and demonstration of electric string instruments, including an example of his own craftsmanship.

BVGS Newsletter Page 7

BVGS CHESS We are delighted to report that Chess continues to thrive as a lunchtime activity and on match days - Friday evenings after school. Special thanks to

Alex Morgan, Teacher of Mathematics, who is now in charge of this important feature of Vesey life. Our Division 3 Senior Team, captained by Leo

Tsoi 11R remains undefeated, having won 2 matches out of 2. Division 4 Senior Team captained by Nikhil Madamsetty 10W has won 1 game and

lost 1 game. Year 7 & 8 Team captained by Edward Stanley 8B has lost both matches so far.

Parents’ Association News

On 9 Nov. the PAC held a Yr 7&8 Disco in Big School which raised £583. On 29 Nov. a spe-

cial Year 7 Parents social event was organised at Sonali Spice with the emphasis on parents

meeting up in a relaxed atmosphere. The PAC supported a themed School Reunion Evening in

Big School on 15 December raising £355 for school funds from the bar. Chairman Phil

Stanley reports that 70 places are available in the PAC 200 Club which raises funds for the

school. Simply pay £12 per year via cheque, standing order or direct debit and have the

chance to win a cash prize each month which represents 50% of the monthly income from the

scheme. 50% of the income is used to fund school projects and to enhance the ‘Vesey Experi-

ence’. For a chance to win, join the scheme by contacting Vesey Parent Anne Troman on

actroman@live.com Coming soon: Yrs 7&8 Disco 8 Feb 2013. PAC Quiz Night 8 March 2013

Busking week returned in November to offer BVGS musicians the opportunity to

display their talent in different contexts. Pictured above is Sebastian Heley 11G

who entertained diners in the school canteen, playing keyboard. We are grateful to

the Patrons and Friends of Vesey Music who continue to support our developments

and turned out in force to support the Christmas Concert on 11 December. BVGS

Musicians treated us to a rich and varied programme. They showed considerable

expertise with a wide range of instruments and in so many musical contexts from full

orchestra to solo, from Blur to Tchaikovski from Hark the Herald Angels Sing to

Slade’s version of how to bring glad tidings in the season of good-will. An eclectic

mix which delighted the audience and brought great credit to our young musicians.

Busking Week & Christmas Concert

P A C Parents' Association Council

200 Club The 200 Club is run by the Parents' Association to raise funds for school

activities and capital projects.

Page 8 January 2013

Attain Travel is a proud sponsor of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Sports

U13 & U14 squads set off for Dublin

50 students from Yrs 8-9 enjoyed a weekend in Dublin over October half-term, during

which 5 staff gave junior players the opportunity to experience how rugby is played in an-

other country and to enjoy playing together in a setting different from the Midlands circuit.

A precursor to the Senior Tour to places like New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Matches were organised against Dublin High School and Naas Rugby Club, both offering

tight and competitive games in which we were narrowly defeated. BVGS players responded

with attractive free-flowing rugby and competed bravely to the end of all matches. Whilst

on tour the squad visited the Aviva Stadium, which was a great experience - who knows -

perhaps one day they will run out on that pitch again! Special thanks to Zak Feaunati and

his team of coaches for this tour. Next year’s Junior Rugby Tour is to Edinburgh.

Matthew Heller, Captain of Hockey, and Oliver

Boyle, Captain of Rugby, pictured here in celebration

of the kind and generous sponsorship by Attain

Travel, who provide us with a most efficient and

reliable service week in week out. Special thanks to

Directors Dave Costello & Janet Mauremootoo.

In rugby the U15s have made good progress this term, with four victories, one draw and two defeats from seven games. Three of the victories have

been in the Daily Mail Vase, where the side drew 5-5 with KES Five Ways (and progressed as the away side), beat King Henry VIII Coventry 29-12

and then Kenilworth School 26-24. The return from injury of Adam Spinner has galvanised the team, with Ben Jesson, Oli Wem and Taranjit

Dhillon also performing well. Sadly with only three matches to go before a Twickenham appearance, our U15 squad bowed out of the U15 Daily

Mail Vase competition losing 24-26 in a thrilling match against Old Swinford Hospital School, conceding the lead in the dying seconds of the game.

The 2nd XV have continued their hard work after the half

term break, with a narrow 19 - 10 defeat against Oldswin-

ford Hospital, a disappointing performance against Adams 5

- 48 , being flooded off against King’s Worcester but a good

response by beating Bablake 50 - 0 and Princethorpe 70 - 0.

Team spirit remains strong: P9, W6, D0, L3 F276, A103.

Left John Clarke U15 Captain in action and below inspect-

ing video footage of his performance during a RFU referees

development day, leading to the Entry Level Stages 1&2.

Above and below U12s in action

against King’s School Worcester in

home matches in which the U12As

won 25-5 and the U12Bs won 21-19.

Page 9 January 2013

On Saturday 17 November, Kaiden Hall played his last game for the U14s before

moving to America. U14s played Bablake winning the game 41-0 and their behaviour

and discipline were exemplary. Kaiden, pictured here in this farewell photo in relaxed

mood, will be sorely missed as a sportsman and a very well liked and respected mem-

ber of the Vesey community. We wish him well in his new school in USA.

BVGS rowers competed at Wycliffe Head on Saturday 1 December and the best re-

sults came in the double sculls categories. At J18 Oliver Higgins and Steven Mapp

came third beating RGS Worcester. The two J15 double sculls also beat RGS in what

was a very competitive category. Oliver and Steven were in the medals again in J18

double racing at Wycliffe on 14 December. Congratulations to all involved!

Rowing

Cross Country

The Senior team has been very successful in the latter half

of the year, winning league races and achieving great suc-

cess in the Greater Birmingham League Individual Race

held in Cannon Hill Park on a very wet Wednesday after-

noon in November. Ben Topley L6 was the winner, the

first since Simon Bond in 2004, with runner-up Sam

Lacey U6 in close pursuit. Megan McBrien U6 was

the top female runner and overall the team won the race.

David James, Sam Simper and Alistair Crofts of

Yr11 have joined the team and they are ably supported

by Rachel Smith, Katy Warren, Mark Poniatowski ,

Nicole Parsons and Jack Robinson.

A fine end to the Sutton Coldfield Schools’ league for the

Juniors with Leo Karski winning all three Yr 7 races

supported by Leighton Palmer-Whyte 2nd, Louis

Hanlan 3rd, Aidan Bishop 5th, Arif Mohamed 7th. Also

running have been Joao Cariata, James Davey and

Christian White. The Yrs 8&9 races were won by

George Beirne of Yr9 with Dan Carruthers always in

the first three, ably supported by Zach Davison, Matt

Price, William Poland, Ishaq Rob and Charlie Fel-

lows. Sam Davis of Year 10 won two of the Yrs10/11

races and the team of Rohan Takhar, Dan Scott, Rau-

mel Bowes, Bruk Abraham and Callum McDonald

packed together well. Once again sincere thanks to Dep-

uty Head, Bill Potter who has done so much for Cross-

Country at BVGS over the years. We offer every good

wish to Daniel Everett who takes over as Teacher i/c

Cross Country.

VESEYANS RFC - A GREAT PLACE TO BE!

U14s say farewell to team-mate bound for the USA

Photo: Stu Small OV

1st XV Rugby Round-up

Our 1st XV continues to make good progress towards a highly successful season, de-

spite losing to KES, B’ham in the U18 Daily Mail Cup. Having beaten KES Five Ways

earlier in the term, they then went on to defeat Bablake School 17-13 and Princethorpe

College 32-10 but succumbed to an outstanding Adams’ Grammar School side. They

were applauded for the strength of their defence, despite the score. Penetration in

critical parts of the field remains the development area this year.

Prop forward Luke Gough L6 wrestles with

the opposition defence in an U18 Daily Mail

Cup match v KES B’ham. Will Curwen L6

blasts a penalty into touch in the same game.

Hockey Round-up

Victories over QM Walsall and King Henry VIII for the 1st

Team. Captain Matt Heller scored a magnificent hat-

trick against Bablake School but the team slipped to a 3-4

defeat. All in all a great season in progress with 2nd XI

wining their last two from three games. U15, U14 & U13

teams are enjoying similar success with U15A beating

Loughborough Grammar 4-0 in a match worthy of note.

Veseyans RFC are starting to compete in their new league,

winning against their local rivals Aston Old Edwardians. Vesey-

ans went on to beat a very good Bridgnorth team and then

had to settle for a losing bonus point in a tight game against

Silhillians. Next were Tamworth another local rival game

played in awful weather conditions. Both teams still wanted to

throw the ball around but the conditions did not really make it

a spectacle. However Veseyans came out on top. Good to

see the link between school and club is strong with Veseyans

RFC supporting our school rugby.

The photo shows Ali Booth OV 07 storming towards a try.

Old Veseyan NewsOld Veseyan NewsOld Veseyan News

Page 10 January 2013

Roger joined the Old Veseyan Association as a Life

Member on leaving School in 1955 and over the years

has attended many Annual Dinners and several London

Reunion Dinners. In 2000 he was elected onto the OVA

Committee and took over responsibility for magazine

advertising. At the AGM in March 2009 he was elected

Chairman, and organised his first annual dinner. During

his time in office a Memorial to Old Veseyans who died

in the two World Wars has been erected at Little

Hardwick Road. He has supported the OVA Sports

Appeal, Netball and Tennis Appeal and become a Pa-

tron of Vesey Music. Thanks to Roger’s excellent chair-

manship, the OVA Dinner this year was one of the best

ever with an attendance of 140. It was particularly

pleasing to see a large group of younger Old Veseyans,

which bodes well for the future.

Roger Crees

Chairman of the OVA

The Eddowes Prize, endowed in memory of

Thomas Storer Eddowes, Clerk to the Gov-

ernors for 46 years, is awarded to the stu-

dent, who in the opinion of the Staff of the

School, has made the greatest contribution

to the good of the school by example and

participation throughout his/her school

career. First awarded in 1910, the list of

winners since 1968 is on an adjacent oak

panel. Adding his name to the list in 2012 is

Charlie Greenwood, Red House Captain

2011-12, who undertook a complete over-

haul of the House system and has left an

invaluable legacy to the school. He was ever

present at school events, volunteered his

services at every opportunity, played 1st XV

Rugby and appeared in ‘Guys & Dolls’. The

Eddowes Prize remains one of the top

awards amongst an array of endowed prizes

for scholarship and good service.

1966 Leavers return to BVGS with partners - Saturday 24 November

Pictured above are 1966 Old Veseyans who returned to BVGS for a tour of the school with present–day Officers. Organised by John Partridge,

OV 66, Prefect 65-66. Other attendees were Peter Farley, OV 66, School Captain 65-66, John Brookes, OV 66, Deputy School Captain 65-66,

Peter Cowley, OV 66, Ed Cranswick OV 66 and Professor Elspeth Garman, widow of the late John Barnett OV 66, who sadly died in

2010. A very pleasant event which has inspired us to open the School on Saturday 16 March for more such visits for leavers from 1960-65.

More visits of this kind are envisaged and can also be arranged to suit needs, so if you would like to gather a group of leavers together for a tour of

the school, please contact David Iddon, Executive Head via his PA Sharon Weblin on Tel 0121-250-5406 or e-mail

s.weblin@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk

The Old Veseyan News magazine is published by Peter Randon OV twice yearly and keeps members in-

formed of the activities of the Association. It is a platform for articles about the life of the school in days gone

by, as well as informing OVs about present day BVGS. Membership which includes the magazine is currently

£8.50 per annum. For details or to join the OVA contact Roger Crees, Chairman of OVA Tel: 01543-481722

r.crees@talktalk.net

Old Veseyan Association Events in 2013

Saturday 16 March 2013 Open Morning at BVGS for those who left between 1960-65

Monday 25 March 2013 OVA Annual General Meeting 7pm Veseyans Sports & Social Club

Sunday 30 June 2013 OVA v School Cricket and Tennis Matches at BVGS 1pm start

Wednesday 17 July 2013 Old Veseyan Tours of BVGS from 11am. Lunch with the Headteacher.

Wednesday 17 July 2013 Shaggy Dogs Tea Party 2.30pm at 64 Hardwick Road Streetly For details

please contact John Whittaker (1948-54) Tel: 0121-353-2102 johnwhittaker@uwclub.net

Saturday 28 September 2013 OVA Annual Dinner at BVGS in Big School.

Page 11 January 2013

The two commemorative plaques featured above were erected by the Governors in Old Big School and dedicated to the Old Veseyans Lieutenant

Charles Bonner and Lieutenant Alan Jerrard who were both awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery in action in World War I.

Alan Jerrard, son of Herbert Jerrard, Headmaster at BVGS 1902-26, was renowned for his capability as a fighter pilot. He fought during the long

and bitter campaign on the ‘Italian Front’. He distinguished himself over a three week period before 30 March 1918, the day on which he was in-

volved in an operation which led him to a fearless act, launching a courageous attack on an enemy aerodrome flying as low as 50 feet, successfully

strafing aircraft as they tried to take off. He had already shot down three enemy planes, only withdrawing on the command of his patrol leader and

subsequently being captured. He escaped from a POW camp in Salzburg. Charles ‘Gus’ Bonner, son of a Staffordshire farmer, received the na-

tion’s highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy for an encounter between Q-ship Dunraven and a German U-boat in August 1917 which

saw Gus stay at his post and continue to do his duty despite the terrifying conditions in which he and his men found themselves.

The Memorial Ground at Little Hardwick Road

was purchased by the OVA in 1955 to honour the

memory of Old Veseyans who gave their lives in

the Great War 1914-18 and the Second World

War 1939-45, and although it has always been

known as the Memorial Ground there has been

nothing to indicate what it is a memorial to. On 9

April 2011 a memorial plaque commemorating the

fallen Old Veseyans was unveiled by John L

Whitworth DFC OV (BVGS 1929-1938) (above

centre) in front of an audience of approximately

60 guests representing all sections of the Vesey

Community. A memorial stone has also been

placed in the north east corner of the playing

fields.

Distinguished 17th Century Old Veseyan Memorial Unveiled

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School VC Award

Clive Richards OBE DL OV (right) who has most generously offered this wonderful silver-gilt Monteith bowl and stand for the school as a special

award from 2013. Dave Phillips, (left) BVGS Biology Teacher, School Representative on the Old Veseyan Association Committee and author of

BVGS Pro Patria Mori admires this magnificent piece of Vesey memorabilia. The bowl was originally presented by the Staffordshire Territorial Force

to Lieutenant Alan Jerrard in honour of his VC award in WWI. Not necessarily awarded on an annual basis but as the occasion befits, this splen-

did trophy will be presented at Speech Day to members of the Vesey Community who have made an outstanding contribution through distinctive

service to the school and its wider community. We are enormously grateful to Clive, who has retired this year as Chairman of Governors, for this

splendid gift to the school. This forms part of an ever expanding collection of Vesey archival material in Old Big School.

Francis Willughby 1635-1672, who stud-

ied at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School and

Trinity College, Cambridge, was an English

ornithologist and ichthyologist. He was a

student, friend and colleague of the naturalist

John Ray who taught him at Cambridge Uni-

versity, and shared some of his expeditions

and interests. Willughby died suddenly from

pleurisy during the preparation of his work

Ornithologia libri tres which was seen through

the press after his death by John Ray. This is

considered the beginning of scientific orni-

thology in Europe, revolutionizing ornitho-

logical taxonomy by organizing species ac-

cording to their physical characteristics.

Commemoration of Victoria Crosses won by Old Veseyans

Page 12 January 2013

Remembrance Services at BVGS - Friday 9 November 2012

Lest We Forget

On Friday 9 November we staged the annual Remembrance Day Assemblies simultaneously in three locations around the school and drew on the

musical expertise of (left to right) Holly Frazer-Morris, James Fleming and returnee Callum White OV 2010 who played The Last Post and

Reveille. Observing a two minutes silence across the school, we paid tribute to all those members of BVGS who gave their lives in war and all those

who have been injured or in any way affected by war. ‘Remembrance is the easy duty of those who remain’.

BVGS Sports Development Project: inspiring the next generation

Our sincere thanks to Peter Randon, OV, current Editor of the Old Veseyan Association News magazine and former Chairman of the Governors,

for initiating the OVA Sports Appeal in 2011, through The Vesey Foundation, in support of further development of our wide-ranging platforms for

sport at BVGS. We are grateful to all those in the wider Vesey Community who have already donated to this ambitious project and we are delighted

to announce that we are ready to go ahead with certain elements of our plan and hope that the final pieces of this funding jigsaw can be in place

early in the New Year. We await the outcome of two grant applications and hope to raise the final £50k to complete the envisaged £300k invest-

ment from funding sources other than the school budget share. Coming soon with your support…..

We look forward to welcoming benefactors to the opening ceremonies of these wonderful sporting platforms at intervals during 2013 as we com-

plete the project in stages over the coming months. More news to follow shortly.

Floodlights on Middle Field

Outdoor Cricket Nets

Netball Courts

Tennis Courts

Indoor Rowing Machines

Coxless Four Rowing Boat

Additional Specialist Coaching

Electronic Scoreboard

Outdoor Table Tennis

Netball/Tennis Courts Appeal Update

As previously reported, the above Appeal was launched as a discrete part of the overall BVGS Sports Development Project with a target of £50k.

We await the outcome of a grant application which will edge us near to completion if successful. The running total stands at £37,950 as of 20 De-

cember 2012. We expect to complete this element of the project early in 2013 with the help of additional support from members of the Vesey

Community.

The Vesey Foundation

The Vesey Foundation was established in 2008 as a separate charitable trust to bring together

all who are associated with Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and to preserve the distinctive

ethos and excellent resources at the school through fund-raising efforts amongst all members of

the Vesey Community.

Vesey Foundation Vacancy at BVGS We seek to appoint from April 2013 an ‘Alumni Manager’ who will take over the work undertaken by David Iddon, Executive Head, who has

been instrumental in developing the wider Vesey Community. It is expected that there will be a 3-4 month overlap with David before his retirement

to ensure that the existing platform is further developed in line with the aims of the Vesey Foundation as described above. The ‘Alumni Manager’ will

work closely with the Senior Executive Team, providing initiative and drive at a crucial point in the school’s development. To receive further details

of this post, which are now ready in advance of an imminent formal advertisement, please contact Graham Swindells, Finance Director/School

Business Manager Tel: 0121-250-5434 or g.swindells@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk. The successful candidate may well be appointed from the Vesey

Community and/or with experience from another alumni community or have related experience. Do please send for details or alert others who may

be interested or suited to this very important rôle in the school.