Last Updated: 12/03/2007

2005 NEWS ARCHIVE

MICHAELMAS TERM 2005

Christ College Chamber Choir in Japan

While choirs up and down the land entertained congregations with festive carols, the Chamber Choir of Christ College set off at the end of term for some rather different singing engagements. For more information click here.

School Musical "Grease" (2-4 December 2005)

Christ College's production of "Grease" burst onto stage to rave reviews from parents, teachers and pupils.  for more information click here.

Book and BBC documentary takes news anchor down memory lane…at Christ College Brecon

Jamie Owen, BBC Wales Today news anchor, got a lesson in history when he went back to Christ College Brecon, where he spent his youth, for the BBC programme Jamie’s Welsh Journey’s. 

The programme, which aired on 6^th December at 7.30 pm, saw Jamie rediscover his former school with headmaster Phillip Jones and he dined with today’s pupils at the same table he shared with his friends over 20 years ago. 

The programme also saw Jamie meeting up with his old history teacher, Edward Parry, who decides that it is never too late to try and teach him a thing or too about history.

Jamie’s book, Welsh Journeys, which complements the television series, also records his time at the school which he remembers fondly.  

As he spent his childhood there, the school played a major role in Jamie’s life: “This boarding school was home for seven years. In many respects, I am what this place made me” he said.  

In his book he recollects colourful anecdotes of model air-plane making, a possibly suicidal sheep, PE lessons with a former SAS soldier, and inspiring or terrifying Masters in academic gowns. He also recalls facing a punishment for being late of either 60 lines or two whacks of the slipper – and opting for the latter as it was quicker.  Such punishments, of course, long gone in today’s Christ College. 

Jamie said: “The setting for education couldn't have been more perfect. Sport was played, albeit reluctantly by me, on beautiful playing fields surrounded by mountains. Cross-country runs could be inspiring, a walk to breakfast took you past ancient monastic buildings, and choir practice took place in a thirteenth-century chapel that looked like a film set. In short, it was easy to write an essay when the view out of the window was a work of art."

“The chapel, library, School House and weeping willow, surrounded by immaculate lawns, look as beautiful today as they did the day I arrived in 1979.”

Jamie sits at a very different desk today as he reads the news. “I know that without Christ College, I’d be stacking shelves somewhere,” he said.

The programme which was on BBC2 Wales on 6^th December was greatly dedicated to Jamie Owen’s youth spent at Christ College Brecon.  His book Welsh Journeys is out in hardback. An exclusive jacket has been made for Christ College and is available from the Foundation Office at £19.99 plus postage & packaging. For more information please contact 01874 615468 or e-mail foundation@christcollegebrecon.com.   

Christ College Chapel awarded a CADW Grant

CADW, the historic environment division within the Welsh Assembly Government with responsibility for protecting, conserving and promoting an appreciation of the historic environment of Wales has awarded Christ College a grant of £24,000 towards the repair the west wall of its chapel.  The School Chapel is Grade I listed building of exceptional beauty.  It was originally the Lady Chapel of a larger Dominican Friary Church built in c.1250 AD.  The outside walls of the original nave of the Priory Church can still be seen surrounding the chapel yard.  At the dissolution of the monasteries King Henry VIII granted a charter to found a Prebendal College.  This was re-constituted as a public school in the 1850s.  The Chapel is at the centre of the life of the school community and is in constant use (for more information on the Chapel and its services click here).

Christ College has produced a number of distinguished churchmen, including a former Archbishop of Wales and a current Bishop in the Church in Wales.  The west wall was re-built in medieval times and endures the worst of the Brecon weather and as a result has become porous and is leaking into the chapel.  The total sum required for this restoration is likely to be in the region of £60,000 and the Christ College Foundation hope to raise the balance of these funds from grant-making trusts and benefactors. For more information about helping with this restoration fund please contact the Foundation Office or email foundation@christcollegebrecon.com

Welsh Inter Schools Cross Country Championships: 12 November, Penlan, Brecon

Congratulations to the Senior Girls team (Alex Lines-Scrase, Martha Price, Georgina Joynson and newcomer Imke Kahrmann) who secured bronze medals in the Inter-Schools Cross Country Championships.  This is the fifth year in succession that senior sides from Christ College have gained team medals in a competition that all secondary schools and 6th Form Colleges in Wales are invited.

Legendary Christ College Brecon Pupils

Pupils and staff took an even keener interest when they watched Wales Vs New Zealand match on 5 November.   It was the 100th anniversary of the match and remembering at the same time four Old  Breconians who were on the winning team on that historical day.  On Saturday 16 December 1905, the first ever Wales v New Zealand match took place at the Cardiff Arms Park before 47,000 spectators and saw Wales come out victorious with a 3-0 win.

In this first ever match between the two countries, four Christ College Brecon pupils, winger Willie Llewellyn, A F Harding, E T Morgan and J F Williams played on the triumphant side. 

Willie Llewellyn captained Christ College and played for Llwynypia, a powerful club of the time, and London Welsh.  He was 5’8 and 11 stone, and in 1897/98 scored 50 tries in senior rugby.  In his first international appearance, against England in 1899, he scored four tries.  

A F Harding played for London Welsh and Cardiff, having succeeded Llewellyn as captain of Christ College. He too won 20 caps, and was regarded by all as “quick about the field and a good kicker of the ball.”

J F Williams, also of London Welsh, was capped four times and was said to “pick up a ball like a half, pass it like a centre and run like a wing.”

E T Morgan, who scored the winning try in 1905 went on to study medicine and his descendents continue to be closely connected with Christ College, Brecon. Eighteen Old Breconians have been capped by Wales at Senior level, 16 of them between 1881 and 1929. It took 51 years before another was selected, Robert Ackerman (Newport and London Welsh) who won 22 caps  between 1980 and 1985, and more recently, Andrew Lewis (Cardiff), who won 29 caps between 1996 and 2002.

At the beginning of the 21^st Century, Christ College Brecon continues to develop international athletes, but not only on the rugby field.  Some 40 internationals have been produced in the last five years in sports such as cricket, athletics, and since becoming co-educational in 1995, hockey and netball. The recent Hubert Jones Legacy means that Christ College Brecon is able to offer generous scholarships to potential sports scientists who are looking to combine their outstanding sporting talents with developing their knowledge of the sciences … a development that the class of 1905 would certainly approve of!

Christ College Pupils Win Challenge Building ‘Pig’

Christ College win first round of Chemistry Olympiad

Christ College beat Gwernyfed by 41-40 on Friday 30 September.  Competing for the team were: Holly Rees (Captain), Josh Burton, Beatrix Parry and Owen Silk.

Champion Cadets

Christ College emerged as the Combined Cadet Force Champions of Wales in the annual Cadet Cambrian Patrol which took place on 24-25 September 05.   The Christ College junior and senior teams gained bronze and silver awards respectively.  For more details click here

Pupil selected to play for Wales U17 Netball
Emily Tait has been selected to play for Wales after attending a Tier 3 & 4 Level Trials for the Welsh U17s.  Emily currently plays at Wing Attack in Christ College's 1st VII team and has also played for Pontypridd Netball Club for the past 5 years.

New Foundation & Marketing Director

Stephen Maggs has taken up the post of Foundation & Marketing Director at Christ College, Brecon. Stephen is a former pupil at Christ College Brecon, where he excelled at rugby, being capped by Wales Senior Schools in 1983 … a Grand Slam Year.  He studied History and Sports Science at St Mary’s College, Strawberry Hill, during which time he played rugby at London Welsh.

In 1988 he embarked on a career with Lloyds Bank, working within UK Retail Banking in a Training & Development role.  In 1995 he was given his first Senior Management position within Lloyds TSB, and worked in and around the branch network in South Wales. In 2000, he left Lloyds TSB and set up his own consultancy, and has worked on projects with Symantec (Europe), the Office for National Statistics, The Beacons Trust and the Wales Tourist Board. Since 2002 he has been retained as a Business Development Consultant by the Wales Tourist Board. In this time, he has worked with the Public and Private Sector advising them on the potential of Capital Projects; assisting developers in attracting Public Sector funding for projects; assisting with the development of business and marketing plans, as well as playing a key role in implementing the Wales Tourist Board’s Product Development & Marketing Strategies. He has advised businesses such as the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, the Hay Literary Festival, Ynyshir Hall, Llangoed Hall, The Centre for Alternative Technology, as well as Mid Wales’ top golf clubs.

His rugby career was curtailed by injury, but he continues to be a keen watcher of the game, as well as following cricket and playing golf.  Other hobbies and activities include theatre, music and hill walking.   

Headmaster, Phillip Jones said “ Christ College is very fortunate to have someone of Stephen’s experience and ability working at the school.  That he is an Old Breconian is an additional bonus and I am looking forward very much to working with him”.

Stephen commented “I was delighted to accept the position of Foundation & Marketing Director at Christ College, Brecon … its fantastic to be back!  For me, Christ College Brecon was, and is, a very special place … it has an outstanding record of academic achievement, but beyond that, it really does prepare you for life. It is just a superb place in which to live, learn and grow-up. It is one of the country’s most interesting and distinctive schools, located in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales.”

He is married with two sons, aged 6 and 8.

Headmaster made Chairman of Welsh Independent Schools Council

The Headmaster has been asked to become Chairman of the Welsh Independent Schools Council, the umbrella organisation which seeks to support and speak for the Independent Schools in Wales.  There are some 70 independent schools in the Principality, not all of which are members of WISC, although those that are account for approximately 92% of independent school pupils in Wales.

The Headmaster says, “WISC is a relatively young organisation having taken over from the previous Wales IScIS organisation.  The Regional Director of WISC, Ian Brown, and the outgoing Chairman, Jane Fitz, have both worked extremely hard to put WISC on a sound footing and develop very close links with the Estyn Inspectorate, the Secondary Heads Association and the Welsh Assembly Government.  In that sense the hard work within the organisation has been done and their efforts will make my job considerably easier.  An aim will be to encourage those independent schools in Wales who are not members of WISC to join the organisation and to make sure that the core values and contributions made by independent schools in Wales are constantly borne in mind throughout the Principality”.

GCSE Results

Some of the best A* and A grade GCSE results in recent years were earned by Christ College pupils this year.  43% of GCSE grades were A* or A and half the candidates passed 10 subjects at C grade or better.  As with this year’s A level results at the school, pupils scored well in those ‘hard’ subjects which the Government is wanting more pupils to study.  French, for example, not only had a 100% pass rate but also a paper which earned a place in the top 5 best papers out of 138,000 candidates nationally.  Yet, creative subjects also did well with the Art Department obtaining 100% of its grades at A* or A.

Phillip Jones, Headmaster, was pleased at the school’s performance.  “Nationally we are delighted at some outstanding achievements by the top candidates, many of them local Brecon boys and girls such as Amy Evans, Huw Silk, Lucy Davies, Matthew Smith and Philip Baker, but all teachers and parents will share our deep joy at the attainment of some pupils who might not have got A* grades, but who performed wonderfully well for their ability.  We are just as proud of them and the solid foundations they are putting down for Sixth Form challenges to come”.

Top Grades Up at A Level

Christ College pupils once again performed admirably in this year’s A level examinations.  Local pupils, Caitlin Widdows, Heather Wallace, Tamsin Vyvyan-Robinson, Tom Barrett and Rhian Knipe obtained top grades in their subjects.  Oxford and Cambridge applicants all achieved their required grades for places at those Universities.  Headmaster, Phillip Jones says, “once more I am delighted that the hard work of pupils and teachers has been rewarded.  I’m particularly pleased that the school continues to anticipate Government demands for pupils to study the ‘hard’ (as opposed to ‘soft’) A levels subjects in Maths, Sciences, Languages and simultaneously produce outstanding results where the school’s percentage of A and B grades was the third best ever at 63%.  I also think it is important to 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 and other pastoral contributions to the life of the school community.” 

SUMMER TERM 2005

Alway Play- "Dazzle" 

Millennium Stadium Fantasy Netball Festival: Wednesday 22 June 05

The first ever Fantasy Netball Festival was held at the Millennium Stadium as a curtain raiser to the forthcoming World Youth Netball Festival being held in Florida later this year.  Each school that entered was assigned to represent a country taking part in the Youth Festival. CCB U12 – represented New Zealand CCB U13 – represented Wales CCB U14 – represented USA

67 schools from across Wales took part – a total of 700 girls. Twelve courts were marked up in the Millennium Stadium. This was purely a festival of Netball rather than a competition and it was an excellent opportunity for all who took to play in the magnificent National Stadium and to chat to current Welsh international players before they travel to Florida.

Each player received a certificate recognising their participation and a draw was made to award one player from each participating school with a Welsh Netball Shirt by the current Welsh Youth Team. CCB winner – Annie Elliot.   Such was the success of the day it is hoped that the Festival will be repeated in the future, and hopefully for all age groups.

Move Over Jamie Oliver

If Jamie Oliver was to come for a meal at Christ College he will see the pupils eating green vegetables without even having to pay them, as he did in the "Jamie's School Dinners."  The daily allocation of food per pupil is higher than what Jamie Oliver had to stick to but as he quickly came to realise budget is far from being the sole obstacle to getting children to eat healthily.  While the Naked Chef managed to come up with nutritious meals for 37p, the major part of his project showed him struggling just to try and make the pupils taste the food.

Christ College however has adopted a simple formula of linking food with active participation, selection, supervision and fun which helps to make pupils aware of healthy eating.

"What really makes the difference is that pupils have a say in the food that they eat and the caterers offer a wide selection of food every day," said Headmaster, Mr Phillip Jones.  The menus are decided by the catering manager and his assistant, but there is a strong input from the school Food Committees composed of pupils from each year group.  The committee meets several times each term with the catering manager to decide on the menus.  Pupils are offered a wide choice ranging from fresh fish and vegetables to burgers and chips.  Philips Jones said "It would be too much to hope that pupils would always choose a healthier option. I have noticed pupils have become much more discriminating in what they eat.  For example, there are the highly physically active individuals who consume lots of carbohydrates - and burn them off, whilst those who are more dietary conscious east a lot of fish and salads. I think pupils who do choose the healthy option do so as a consequence of the education they receive and the awareness they have of the importance of taking on board appropriate fuel for the nature of the lives they lead." (Picture above: recent French Theme Day.)

Pupil's Diary in Western Mail

Ed Rees (U6) is writing a  weekly diary for the Western Mail of his experiences during his forthcoming A Level examinations. This will appear in the newspaper from 26 May.  Click on link below.
Ed's Diary: Week 1
Ed's Diary: Week 2
Ed's Diary: Week 3
Ed's Diary: Week 4

CADSAAM 2005

Christ College at the Hay Festival 2005

Christ College maintained its high profile at the world famous Hay Literary Festival by sponsoring David Starkey who spoke most eruditely and amusingly about the Monarchy along the lines of his highly successful television series.  Introducing Dr Starkey the Festival Director, Peter Florence said "If any of you are looking for the best possible school for your children, look no further than Christ College."  After the talk David Starkey joined many friends of Christ College at a reception on Festival grounds.

Alway French Trip

Virtually all of Alway descended on the continent this last weekend for a two-day French immersion experience. Based at Château du Tertre in Ambrières-les-Vallées, Normandy, the weekend was split between French speaking activities in a local boulangerie, market and goat farm and death defying feats of endurance and courage with their PGL instructors and fearless CCB staff. Everyone entered into the spirit of the weekend with typical enthusiasm and joie de vivre, including obligatory snail eating on the last evening.

Visite en France

Le week-end dernier, Alway a rejoint le continent pour quatre jours d’immersion en Normandie, à Ambrières-les-Vallées. Outre le programme du français lors de la visite de la boulangerie, du marché et de la ferme, les enfants ont pu également mettre leur endurance et leur courage à l’épreuve au cours des activités de plein air encadrées par leurs instructeurs PGL, ainsi que les vaillants profs de CCB. Le week-end s’est déroulé dans la joie et la bonne humeur, même quand a sonné l’heure de la dégustation obligatoire des célèbres escargots!

A Guinness Book Record Year for Christ College

Pupils in Form Four have been successful in so many ways that it could be dubbed a Guinness Book record year. The 43 pupils from Year 10 have stunned teachers and pupils at the school with their multiple talents and achievements in sports and culture.

Far from being the only year which is undefeated at Rugby, Soccer and Netball, the year is made up of a Great Britain Tennis Player and a National Eisteddfod Winning Musician; a Welsh Schools Athletics record holder and a Climbing International; an International Cricketer andNational Elite Squad Netball Player;  sports players so talented that county players are common place, most of whom take leading parts in school plays three years ‘early’!  Others play in school first teams (U18) who reach National Finals, yet are invited to National Youth Theatre Auditions; Year 10 pupils are also involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Choral ensembles.  One could go on.

It is not so much a question of individual talent, although that helps the confidence of individuals and gives opportunity for friends to bask in reflected glory.   It is more a question of how individual characteristics meld, interact with each other to produce a whole greater than the sum of the parts.  (Rather like the exciting Welsh Rugby Team this year!)  Special year groups happen when many different, contrasting personalities and accomplishments come together to forge a group whose ethos, character and achievements is to be cherished and enjoyed.

As if that is not enough – and this is more important than all these accomplishments – the year group goes out of its way to be inclusive, friendly, reasonable and consequently respected.  Individually and collectively they are fun to be with, polite without being obsequious, willing to take on responsibility and meet adults at least half way; sensitive and generous without making a point of it.  Their parents may not recognise their offspring in this description, but that is in the nature of such a ‘chemistry’ reaction.  Nevertheless, parents can be proud of the way their children are developing.  Perhaps the school, too, has played some small part.  I am not sure what the boys and girls would think should they read this.  Some might be embarrassed, but the majority would probably not recognise themselves and the virtues claimed on their behalf and that is a major part of their charm.

Christ College pupils meet Lions in Charity Dash

The British and Irish Lions limbered up for their first Test of the summer on Monday 23 May with the aid of around 50 energetic schoolchildren which included some pupils from Christ College. Squad members lent their support to the launch of a new children's charity aiming to get children exercising while raising money for education in developing countries.  The Schoolchildren for Children Scheme has been running in Wales for two years and last year raised £10,000 for Unicef.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll and members of his squad joined in a few lengths of a playing field at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens with local pupils (including Christ College). Pupils then had the chance to talk to the players and question them about who was the strongest, fastest and funniest members of the team.

Pupils selected to play for Wales
 

Kate Davies (L6th) has been selected for the full Senior Ladies Cricket Team 2005.

Kieran Marmion (Form 2) and Greg Webber (Form 4) have been selected to play for U13s and the U15s respectively.  Greg Webber Captained Wales against Yorkshire on 30 & 31 May and Lancashire on 3 June.

Disability Cricket Club

Staff and pupils at Christ College are delivering training to the Disability Cricket Club which is funded by the Sportlot/Powys Community Chest Fund and set up by Brecon Cricket Club. Staff and pupils have benefited from cricket coaching courses run by Peter Brett the Cricket Development Officer for Powys.  The training takes place every Monday during the summer term between 5 pm and 6 pm.  The aim of the sessions are for people to enjoy cricket, learn new skills or go onto further competitions.   There has been a development of disability cricket clubs in Wales and the WACD (Welsh Association for Cricketers with a Disability) hope that these clubs will provide a supply of players into the national squad and will raise the profile of cricket as a sport for people with physical impairments of a learning disability.   For more information contact Beverley Tucker on 01874 612034.

Rotary Young Musician Zone Finalist

Matthew Sun (St David's) won the Zone Final of the Rotary Young Musician Competition held in Llandrindod Wells.  He played two wonderful pieces, Liebesfreud by Kreisler and the every evocative Fishing Boats by Night by Xu.  The audience was held spellbound by his playing and the music played by the other competitors was of a very high standard.  Matthew competed in the Rotary District Final on 14 May together with six other young musicians from all over South Wales and did very well but missed being placed in the top two.

CCF Visit to Middle Wallop on 12 May 2005

OB in first all-woman team to complete trek to Magnetic North Pole

An Old Breconian, Tori James, was one of the British group of  Arctic racers to become the first all-women team (and the youngest woman) to complete a 360-mile trek to the Magnetic North Pole. Tori James, 23, who was Head of Donaldson’s House from 1999-2000, and her team mates Felicity Aston and Sam Eve, raced against 15 male teams.  The challenge involved a journey of 320 nautical miles to the magnetic north pole. Having begun the Scott Dunn Polar Challenge on 24 April, the Pink Lady Polecats finished sixth.  A total of 16 international teams trekked in temperatures as low as -40C from Polaris Mine to Issachen Mine pulling their own heavy sledges for 14 hours a day over shifting frozen sea ice.  The team only managed to catch one hour’s sleep in the last 36 hours in order to make it to the finish, and the girls carried a rifle to protect themselves against irate polar bears.

The 2005 winners claiming the coveted title and The Polar Challenge Perpetual Trophy were Hardware.com. Tori and Sam decided to raise funds for the British Schools Exploring Society where they both work and for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  In total the Pink Lady Polecats have raised £15,000 for the two charities.

Overseas Students shine in English Language Exams

Our 6th form overseas students achieved outstanding results in the recent IELTS tests in English.  These tests of ability in speaking, writing, listening and reading comprehension of academic English are used by universities as the criterion for language for admission and are accepted across the world as evidence of competence in English.  Results are awarded in nine bands with Band 9 being an almost unattainable level of linguistic perfection and academic ability and top universities require 7 for most courses.  This year's candidates produced exceptional results with many of them achieving scores of 7.0, 7.5 or 8.0.  Special mention should be made of two German students from School House, Benjamin Ahnert and Konstantin Barrmeyer who both received grades at Band 8.5, a quite exceptional achievement.  Bemjamin was one of three students to gain full marks in the Listening Comprehension test and Konstantin achieved the even rare distinction of full marks in the Reading Comprehension, a particularly demanding test based on texts from academic journals.

Semana Santa in Córdoba

During the Easter vacation, a group of Sixth Form Spanish students took the opportunity to try out their Spanish oral skills, and witness the Spanish Holy Week processions, in the Andalusian city of Córdoba. A busy five day schedule of sight-seeing and language activities included visits to the famous Mezquita (mosque), Alcázar (Moorish palace) and a stroll through the narrow streets of the Judería (Jewish quarter). We also managed to find time for some careful research into Spanish fashion and gastronomy, before traveling on to Madrid where we spent our last day. A whistle-stop tour of this cosmopolitan capital included the Puerta del Sol, Plaza mayor, Palacio Real and a well-earned rest in the Parque del Retiro. ¡Hasta la próxima vez!

Oxbridge Here We Come!

Following this year’s repeat of 100% A level results, it is not surprising that a number of Christ College pupils have received offers of place at Oxford and Cambridge Universities for 2005. Head of School, Ben Jones has a conditional place at St Peter’s College Oxford to read Geography, Harry Thomas at Magdalen College Oxford to read PPE, Johnson Huang to Peterhouse College Cambridge to read Natural Sciences and Ed Rees to St Peter’s College Oxford to read History.

As ever, the standard of entry and competition for places was ferociously high and, some outstanding candidates from Christ College did not win places. Headmaster Phillip Jones comments “With Oxbridge places in such high demand, and with competition as fierce as it is, the boys and girls who make Oxford and Cambridge applications have my greatest respect because they are ready to test themselves against the very best in Great Britain. I am so pleased that the quality of our Sixth formers has been recognised. As for those who did not receive offers – I expect them to get the sort of A levels which will make Oxford and Cambridge realise what they are missing.” 

LENT TERM 2005

Junior School General Knowledge Challenge

Congratulations to James Spencer, Catrin Lewis, Lucy Bevan and Dan Smith on reaching the semi-finals of the Junior Schools Challenge in Hereford.  The CCB team came through to win a tough group including Howell's School, Cardiff and Monmouth, but unfortunately Llandaff CS proved too strong in the semi-final.

Overseas Students' Outings

Senior overseas students have been down to Cardiff twice in Lent Term 2005 for two very different cultural events.  In January nine Lower Sixth Formers went to the New Theatre to that mysterious British ritual, the pantomime.  Predictably they were as much bemused as amused, but it is difficult to explain why two large men should disguise themselves thinly as Ugly Sisters called Jordan and Caprice or quite what an octogenarian Danny La Rue was doing on stage at all!

For several years now the senior Chinese students have gone out for a New Year meal.  This time the Year of the Rooster was seen in at an authentic venue in Canton, (South-West Cardiff not South-East China).  Sixteen students with Richard Slaney, Head of EAL, and Carol Pople, Guardianship and Travel Co-ordinator, enjoyed a special New Year menu in a packed restaurant.  The next day, Catering Manager Daniel Zimmer and his staff provided a special Chinese menu for lunch and tea which was much enjoyed by the whole school community, particularly with the decorations and banners of red and gold which Cheryl Wong and her team put up in the Dining Hall.

St David's Houseparents, Mr & Mrs Marmion, took overseas pupils from their house on a trip to see the Ystradfellte Waterfalls. The group went on a Sunday during the first half of the Summer Term. The trip was organised to give pupils a break from their studies and to see the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

"Oh What a Lovely War!

"Oh What a Lovely War!" was something special.  All the elements of recent school productions were there in abundance: energy, confidence, stage presence and find singing.
Amanda Frazer created some strong images on the stage and the lighting team backed this up with a professional performance.  A strong chorus sang lustily but a core of ten actors sustained the action of the play, changing roles, accents and costumes with a slickness that must have taken long hours of rehearsal to perfect. 
To see the full report on the Drama page click on link: Oh What a Lovely War

Orchard House Sponsored Fast 

Between Monday 28th February and Tuesday 1st March, 32 boys joined Mr Bond and the Orchard Tutors in a 24 hour sponsored fast, the purpose of which was to raise awareness of and money for Plan International, the House charity. The 6pm start on the Monday allowed those involved to indulge in a hearty High Tea, before the long haul began. By supper-time, 24 hours suddenly seemed like an awfully long time, and after missing breakfast on the Tuesday, many of the boys were feeling very hungry indeed.

Fortunately, the morning chapel service taken by Jon Wells and Harri Phillips was dedicated to explaining why the fast was being undertaken, which gave everyone a little more resolve. Nonetheless, it was with great relief that 6pm came on the Tuesday and following a particularly lethargic series of games sessions, everyone was able to tuck into a good meal, feeling satisfied at raising money, but also a little more aware of what it must be like to go hungry.  A magnificent £410.05 was raised, all of which will go to Plan Sudan, and the community of the 15 year-old boy sponsored by Orchard House.

Inter House General Knowledge Quiz Challenge 

There was an excellent turnout for this competition with each of the senior houses fielding 2 teams.

Orchard House succeeded in securing semi-final slots for both their A and B teams but the formidable School House A team of Harry Thomas, Ed Thomas, Tom Barrett and Matthew Smith retained the title with comparative ease following a shaky start against De Winton A.

Tom Blackburn proved to be Young Player of the evening with some inspired contributions on the buzzer but Harry Thomas confirmed his awesome ability with some astute answers.

British Biology Olympiad

Congratulations to Christ College on being the top school in Wales in the Tenth British Biology Olympiad for 2005.  In particular, congratulations to Tom Barrett and Heather Wallace on winning Bronze medals.

Tsunami Appeal

Pupils and staff at Christ College recently raised the sum of £612.41 for the Sri Lankan Pahamuna Orphanage to help victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster.

Shelter Cymru

Young pupils from Alway House, our junior boarding House, raised £121 for this most deserving Welsh charity which helps the homeless in Wales.

Science Legacy

A seven figure legacy left to Christ College, Brecon, by a former pupil will be used to help redress the national shortage of science students, by funding up to 13 bursaries.

While the number of pupils choosing science subjects is rapidly falling throughout the UK, nearly 34 per cent of Christ College pupils over the last nine years have read science at university.   

In 2003 of nearly 350,000 students starting degree courses, less than one per cent pursued the traditional sciences of physics and chemistry. In many areas the limited availability of A Level courses in maths and sciences is also deterring students.

This shortage is having dramatic consequences on physics and chemistry departments with many of them forced to shut down in major universities across the nation.

But Christ College continues to buck the trend. Said headmaster, Phillip Jones: “We will not know the exact size of the legacy until sometime in the New Year, but it is significant and certainly over seven figures. It will enable us to fund up to 13 bursaries and enhance the school’s already excellent science facilities”.

The legacy is a result of the generosity of the widow of Old Breconian, David Hubert Jones, a former Christ College science student, who established a successful pharmacy business in West Wales.

His widow, Florence, who went to live in Llandeilo after his death died in November 2000.  They had no children, and on her death Christ College became a major beneficiary of her will.

The director of the Christ College Foundation, Major General the Reverend Morgan Llewellyn said: “The 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 that in the past the UK has taken a lead.

“We propose to enlist the help of the medical and teaching professions to seek out those students who would most benefit from this wonderful opportunity.

“This public-spirited legacy might also provide a spur to other potential benefactors to join in a partnership with Christ College, which will further expand and enhance this exciting initiative aimed at promoting the traditional sciences.”

Christ College is "Value for Money"

Two interesting statistics -

Most teachers and Headmasters have a deep scepticism and mistrust of league tables in any form, but just occasionally they make interesting reading. The first statistic is that a recent Sunday Times survey declared Christ College to have the lowest boarding fees in the UK of any independent school unsupported by a Livery Company, or similar, financial backing.

A second statistic, published by the Financial Times, places Christ College in the top ten schools in Great Britain in terms of value for money. This assessment was based on a combination of school fees and academic results.

These are two remarkable achievements by the School.

MBE for Christ College SSI

Bill Dowling, MBE, joined Christ College in September 1990 as SSI.  This year marks his 40^th year of unbroken service to the Armed Forces.  He began his career at the age of 15 joining the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion at Oswestry in September 1964.  After his training he joined the 3^rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Aden and served with them in various postings the last of which was to Liverpool University Officer Training Corps.  He left the Regular Army on 14^th May 1989 and joined the Territorial Army on the 15^th May 1989 in Wales University Officer Training Corps.

Mr Phillip Jones, Headmaster, was delighted to receive the news and commented that “Bill is thoroughly deserving of this recognition.  He makes a terrific all round contribution to the extra-curricular life of the school and has done throughout his time with us”

Design and Content (c) 2004 Christ College Brecon. All Rights Reserved.