Foundation - Forthcoming Events

Last Updated: 08/06/2007

NEWS AND EVENTS

Christ College and Dr David Starkey at the Hay Festival 2007

Christ College Brecon was a sponsor at the 20^th Hay Festival which was graced with four Nobel Laureates: Wole Soyinka, Orhan Pamuk, Derek Walcott and Wangari Maathai. They embodied the issues of freedom of speech and courage that informed much of the programme, just as David Attenborough and George Monbiot headlined the general concerns about the environment and the natural world, Bryn Terfel and Baaba Maal entranced us with their music, and Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers refreshed our sense of taste. Even past, present and future leaders of parliament and the church were in attendance. Throughout the week, over 250 people visited our stand, and for Christ College, the festival culminated on Sunday 3 June when it sponsored Dr David Starkey’s lecture on the English/British Monarchy. Dr Starkey once again entertained the audience with his customary combination of insightful analysis, acerbic wit and thought-provoking comparisons with the modern world, all underpinned by his deep knowledge of the subject matter.	David Starkey with Phillip Jones, Headmaster
The Hay Festival Stand	The lecture opened with his assertion that monarchy is and always has been the universal and natural form of government, the ‘court politics’ of Tony Blair’s administration being cited as an example of the ‘real’ British Monarchy of the early 21^st Century. Dr Starkey then touched upon the differences between Islamic nations and the Western world, arguing that the key difference lies in the merging of religion and state in the former and their separation in the latter. This led to the central theme of his address, namely the reign of Henry VIII, which he referred to as one of the key axes of English/British History, the English Reformation marking the point at which religion and state were intertwined through the person of Henry VIII. Dr Starkey then challenged the received tradition that he was taught at university, namely that big events always have big causes, arguing that the Break with Rome occurred due to chance and emotion: Henry’s encounter with Anne Boleyn, the political accident that prevented him securing a divorce from his first wife and the King’s increasingly powerful infatuation with his recalcitrant mistress.
The often violent religious swings to the ‘left’ and ‘right’ that followed were all due to the beliefs of successive monarchs, further confirmation Dr Starkey would have us believe, that monarchy has been a central feature of British History. Finally, the reign of William and Mary was touched upon, marking as it did the break away from the previous 160 years of British History with regard to the idea that rather than the people being forced to follow the religious beliefs of their King or Queen, the monarchs should adhere the faith of their subjects.	The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and Foundation Director, Steve Maggs
Christ College Reception	Throughout the address Dr Starkey postulated that the lessons of History are hugely relevant to today’s society in terms of the challenges faced by the modern world. From Blair to Brown to Bush to Islamic Fundamentalism, comparisons with the world of our ancestors were tantalisingly dangled before the audience before being whisked away as another juicy tit-bit of historical interest was divulged. Perhaps most impressive of all was the manner in which Dr Starkey dealt with the questions from the floor, which ranged from the possible disestablishment of the Church of England to the future of the Windsors. The last questions – whether he felt Henry VIII had had any qualms in later life about his divorce from Catherine of Aragon – was expertly dispatched with a last (if more than a little unkind) comparison with Tony Blair and the assuredness with which both men made policy decisions. It was an excellent and polished performance from one of the most entertaining public speakers around today. This performance continued well into the afternoon as Dr Starkey joined guests of Christ College’s ‘1541 Club’, as well as other invited guests, at a private reception.

The Hubert Jones Bequest – 2 Years On

In January 2005 it was announced that Christ College had been left a multi-million pound fortune by a loyal old boy of the school, to foster a future generation of scientists.

It was thought that as much as £3 million was to be left to the school, after the childless widow of a multi-millionaire left the bulk of his legacy to his old school. However, the Director of the Christ College Foundation, Steve Maggs, has said that over £3.7 million has been received to date, and that the final figure is likely to be closer to £4 million. The windfall was due to the generosity of Old Breconian David Hubert Jones, a former pupil at Christ College, who established a successful pharmacy business in Glanaman, Carmarthenshire.

His widow, Florence, who went to live in Llandeilo after his death, died in November 2000 and Christ College became the major beneficiary of her will.

Phillip Jones, Headmaster at Christ College Brecon said …

“David Hubert Jones was born in 1903 and lived in Glanaman. He was a pupil here from 1917 to 1921, and was in the school’s 1^st XI football team, and the 2^nd XI cricket team. He left Christ College with a certificate showing that he had studied Latin, French, History, Arithmetic, Chemistry and Mechanics, and went on to study pharmacy in London. He returned to Glanaman and ran the Central Pharmacy. By all accounts, he was very dedicated to his community, and was very approachable. We sense he was a quiet, hard-working and professional chemist who ran an exceptionally good business. He had a quiet family life, and didn’t have any children, but obviously felt a sense of gratitude to Christ College for teaching him chemistry in the first place”

Steve Maggs, Director of the Christ College Foundation commented;

“The Hubert Jones Legacy has had a catalytic effect in a number of ways. It has enabled Christ College to fund a number of Science Scholarships and Bursaries for those who deserve, and need, assistance and who want to study the sciences in our superb environment. Second, the increased demand for boarding places at Christ College, as a result of the science awards has meant that we have had to increase our boarding capacity. The Hubert Jones Bequest assisted us in extending De Winton Boarding House to meet this demand, which was completed last summer, and was officially opened by HRH Earl of Wessex. We have also refurbished another boarding house. Third, with the increased number of boarding pupils, we have been able to make even more improvements than planned, to the central facilities in and around the school. The Hubert Jones Bequest will also provide a significant proportion of the capital to bring together the sciences into a new purpose-built science centre for which the formal planning process has started, with a view to commencing the development sometime in 2007. This will enable us to continue to ‘buck the trend’ in producing outstanding young scientists, helping to redress the predicted national shortage of scientists, and teaching them in 21^st Century facilities.”

Phillip Jones added:

“In 2006, pupils at Christ College achieved 100% pass rate in A Level examinations, with 59% of grades being A or B grades. Pride of place went to the Chemistry Department where 86% of the grades were A or B grades and to the Maths Department with 69% A or B grades. More than 30% of leavers each year go on to study ‘Hard Sciences’ at Universities. Last year, our young mathematicians struck gold, winning Gold Awards in the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge – despite being a year younger than most of their competitors, whilst our young chemists performed superbly in the 2006 Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad, and our physicists represented Wales in the British Physics Association ‘Paperclip Physics’ Challenge. I must also stress that these academic achievements should be seen against a background of Christ College pupils’ full engagement to a high standard in sport, music, drama, art and other contributions to the pastoral life of the school community.”

Phillip Jones went on to point out that Christ College was committed in other ways to the advancement of science in education. In recent years, it has hosted the National Conference for Welsh Physics teachers organised by the Institute of Physics in Wales, and Christ College was the only school in Wales that attended the recent Institute of Welsh Affairs consultative meeting on the proposed ‘Science Policy for Wales’.

Phillip Jones observed …

“A shortage of science students is having a major impact not only on the future of medical science in the UK, but also on engineering and the technical industries. These are areas in which the UK has formerly taken a lead. Christ College is in a strong position to receive those pupils who want to make an impact in the science world of the future, and benefit from our outstanding science teachers, within an environment that is second to none.”

Finally, Steve Maggs added that many other Old Breconians and those close to the school have followed the example of Hubert Jones in making generous pledges to the school. He added …

“Old Breconians, and others who are close to the school, show their generosity in many ways. HRH the Prince of Wales has recently renewed his patronage of the Christ College Foundation, and he is taking an active interest in the development of our science facilities. Our ‘Legacy Club’ programme has elicited a number of generous legacy pledges which, combined with other regular giving, is providing our current generation, and future generations, of pupils at Christ College with unprecedented opportunities.”

The school, founded by Henry VIII in 1541, is well on the way to building on his original endowment of 72 Shillings and King Henry’s name, along with that of Hubert Jones and many others, were remembered in the schools annual Founders and Benefactors Service which took place in the Christ College Chapel on 14^th January.

Quad Enhancement

It has been a long-term objective to improve the general ambience of certain areas of Christ College, and over the years much has already been done to achieve this. The plans below give an idea of how we hope it will eventually look. For more information on this project please click here

Christ College at the Hay Festival 2006

Christ College were the proud sponsors of one of the keynote speakers, Lord Chris Patten, at this year’s Hay Festival. Free from office, the former Hong Kong Governor and EU Commissioner gave a fascinating talk on the players and interests driving world politics, from the perspective of one at the heart of international events.

Prior to his talk, Lord Patten joined invited guests at a private reception where he engaged in conversation with members of the Christ College Foundation’s 1541 Club and invited guests.


Lord Patten with Foundation Director Steve Maggs, Second Master Simon Spencer and Headmaster Phillip Jones	Bursar Kieran Dempsey and Headmaster Phillip Jones talking with a prospective parent at The Hay Festival	Annabelle Zhu of the Chinese Language Service Centre, Foundation Director Steve Maggs and Lord Patten

Father of two Old Breconians undertakes an Adventure in the Americas

Mick Daly, father of Andrew and Chris (Old Breconians), is embarking on a motorbike adventure in the Americas which he planned with his friend, Mick Simpson.

The aim is to ride two motorbikes unsupported from the southernmost habitable point of the planet (the city of Ushuaia in Argentina, South America) to the northernmost navigable point (in Alaska, Prudhoe Bay), visiting every country en route.

Mick Daly, who retired from the army after 30 years, felt that it was an ideal time in life to embark on this journey due to a natural career break. He aims to raise awareness of the work of the Christ College Foundation as well as other charities, on the way. For more information see their website click here.