As the term comes to a close we can reflect on the many achievements of the past months and the many seasonal activities that we have already enjoyed in the run up to Christmas. Following on from the spectacular firework display, Christmas arrived at Moreton Hall in the form of the Christmas Fair organised by the Friends (FMH). Thank you to all of the Friends for this, especially anyone who had to dress up for the occasion. I should also like to thank Mary Birkby for organising the wrapping paper sale.

Further to Colin Baty’s appointment to Deputy Head at Great Walstead School I am pleased to announce Charles Doyle-Davidson as his successor. Charles and his wife, Julia, currently run a mixed boarding house for 55 pupils at Warminster School in Wiltshire. They have two young sons. Charles and Julia have many years experience of living and teaching in a boarding school and in a strong field of candidates the Governors are entirely confident in his appointment. Before Warminster School Charles taught at Yarlet School in Staffordshire, a small boarding prep school with many similarities to Moreton Hall. We are delighted that the Doyle-Davidsons have agreed to take up the post at Moreton Hall and we look forward to welcoming them and their family in due course.

Pre-Prep parents will wish to join me in giving many thanks to Gillian Jones who has worked with such skill and dedication with PP1 along with Sara Mannox. The classroom has looked wonderful and we have all enjoyed her professional approach. Anne Cheason, who joins us from Barnardiston Hall, will take over the reins formally as our Head of Pre-Prep in January, but I am delighted that Miss Jones will be continuing to work with us on a regular part-time basis. We enjoy excellent ratios in our Pre-Prep classes and it is wonderful to enhance this provision even further.

We say goodbye to our Gap students, Simon Watson, Aidan Hurley and Emily Baxter. They have been an integral part of school life during their time with us. The boarders especially, but all of our pupils, have benefited from their enthusiasm and, above all, their kindness. It does take a special young person to have the wherewithal to take on the challenge of working with children on the other side of the world. They have been a pleasure to work with and have added so much colour to the school community and I am sure you will all join me in wishing them good luck with their future studies.

I would like to say “thank you” to everyone who helped us raise money towards the refurbishment of the Science Laboratory. Now that the facilities are in place I am so pleased that we took the window of opportunity of having this work done across the half-term break. Dr Chivers is thrilled and our pupils are enjoying all of the benefits of not only a first class teacher of Science but also the first class setting. The Science Laboratory will be formally opened by David Ruffley MP when he visits the school on 6 th March 2009.

There was further good news this term when we learned that Katriona Savage had been awarded an All-Rounder Scholarship to Millfield School. Millfield is a centre of excellence for swimming and home of the Great Britain junior teams. We must recognise the scale of Katie’s achievement in the pool as well as in the academic arena. Well done, Katie.

And finally, Mrs Etchells-Butler would like to thank all of you who encouraged your children to participate in the ‘shoebox appeal’ on behalf of the Samaritan’s Purse charity. Although we did not quite make the magic 100, your kindness and generosity will bring a smile to 94 children in Eastern Europe this Christmas. May I thank Mrs E-B for leading this project once again!

Pupils at Moreton Hall Prep School were visited by Suzanne Rush and her friend Debs Turpin on Thursday 9^th October.

The two who are better known as the ‘2 Pink Ladies’ came together after Suzie was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the age of just 43. 

Suzie and Debs took the prep school’s daily Assembly and answered a wide range of questions from pupils, before driving round on their quad bikes to the Nursery garden where pupils were able to see the bikes up close.

Staff and pupils will be wearing pink on Friday 10^th in order to support Suzie and Debs and to raise money for the Bury Hospice.

On Saturday, October 17 the pair will be travelling the 874 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End on quad bikes in order to raise money for Bury based St Nicholas’ Hospice.

Camp-craft formed part of the teambuilding exercises that pupils undertook during this year’s Living Together Day.  The groups task was a large mosaic of tiles painted by pupils from all years.

Children are enjoying the new playground art and games.  These extra games compliment the extension to the climbing frame which is also proving a great favourite.

Mr Vicat and Mr Oliver provided authentic animation during the Heritage Open Days.  The school’s Robert Adam rooms were open to the public for two days and we our greatest ever number of visitors during the weekend.

The guest speaker for this year's Speech Day and Prize giving was current Moreton Hall parent Tim Smit.

Mr Smit is the founder of ‘The Eden Project’ and he restored ‘The Lost Gardens of Heligan’.  Not only is Mr Smit a well known eco-warrior but he also previously penned two No1 hits in France and was manager to Barry Manilow and Twiggy among others….Although he has been asked by many of the country’s top schools including Harrow, Eton and Winchester this is the first time he has spoken at a school. 

Mr Smit’s son Edward is in his final year at Moreton Hall prior to moving to senior school in Cornwall.Edward said “it was a little bit embarrassing having Dad come to Moreton Hall but I enjoyed hearing what he had to say!” Mr Smit was able to hand over two awards to his son who won the ‘Craft Prize’ and the ‘Senior Drama Prize’ following his role in Aristophanes’ The Frogs

Headmaster, Mr Benedict Dunhill said how much he enjoyed Mr Smit’s inspiring unscripted speech which encouraged pupils to hold on to their dreams.

The term ended with two wonderful highlights.  The first was the tremendous tour of the battlefields of the Great War organised by Mrs Ahrens.  It is always a huge endeavour to take school groups overseas  but everything ran very smoothly to give our children a first hand experience of the terrible conflict of WW1. There was a poignant ceremony at the Mennen Gate in Ypres as Moreton Hall pupils laid a wreath at the memorial to the lost soldiers.  Another highlight was the chocolate shopping in Ypres, all I can say is that the salesmen have got it down to a fine art!  Thank you to Mrs Ahrens for organising the trip and to gap student Simon and Miss Waddilove (who bravely stepped in to cover for illness) for their support during the trip.

The finale was the superb production of Hoodwinked with our own live musical group.  A merry romp through Sherwood Forest which seemed to have come to the chapel in the form of the most incredible set we have ever seen at Moreton Hall. Miss Ray and all the cast and crew are to be congratulated on this spectacular show and the wonderful souvenir of the term that it provides for us all.  If you would like to access or order the Hoodwinked photographs, please email Dr Forte on drforte@aol.com for an invitation to share the online Photobox album. (It is free to register with Photobox, and their prints seem good value).