Greetings from your Alumni Officer

I do hope this newsletter finds you all safe and well. Fingers

crossed we are slowly moving towards normality again after a

particularly difficult time. We have had quite a few new

members during lockdown which is fantastic. We welcome you

all and look forward to meeting you at future events. We love

to hear about your news so please let us know.

Planning is well under way to celebrate the 450th anniversary

of the school, we have a packed calendar of events for the

coming academic year - many of which you will be invited to,

so watch this space.

I am so pleased to be able to share the news that we will be

having our Annual Reunion this year. Sadly last year we had to

cancel which was hugely disappointing. It is to be held on

Saturday 9th October 2021 so please make a note in your

diaries. It will include the official opening of our 450th piece of

commissioned artwork. More details to follow.

Mrs Kathy Haig, our current Headteacher will sadly be leaving

us at the end of August. I’m sure many of you will remember

her from your time at Burford. She was a student here herself

many years ago. We wish her all the very best for the future.

Our new Headteacher Mr Matthew Albrighton will be joining

us in September.

I wish you all a very happy summer. Let’s hope the sun shines.

www.burford.oxon.sch.uk/school/alumni/get-in-touch/

Catherine Hawker

Alumni Officer

alumni@burford.oxon.sch.uk

The Old Burfordians’ Newsletter July 2021 -Issue 9

It must be summer.

Mr Fuddles enjoying an ice lolly.

Know of a former

student who hasn’t

signed up yet?

Do pass on the word to other

former Burford School

Students. It’s easy to sign up

online at:

www.burford.oxon.sch.uk/

school/alumni/get-in-touch/

Happy 450th Birthday To Us

This year the school celebrates 450 years since the founding of Burford School as a free Grammar School. The foresight and imagination of the townsmen of Burford, with merchant, Simon Wysdom at their helm, has ensured that the children of Burford, have been given the opportunity, over the last four and a half centuries, to receive a standard of education second to none. Today the land and property provided by Simon Wysdom, and added to over the years, is held in trust by the Burford School Foundation and each year they support our students, staff and school. Burford is one of the oldest state schools in the country and has seen many changes during the course of its existence. In its early days it offered an education to the sons of the ordinary men of Burford - the sons of merchants and tradespeople, as well as local dignitaries - something that was highly unusual at the time. The cost of an education was four pence for enrolment and a further eight pence per year to go towards the upkeep of the school and the salary of the masters. Originally housed in what is now the Boarding House, the school has grown to just over 1500 students. Over the years a very successful farm was run and although this is now gone, there is still a strong, rural feel about the school. Today we have an active environmental group with close links to the Cotswold AONB, who run courses in rural skills for our students from time to time, and each summer we hold a horse show on the school fields. The young people of Burford still take up places at the school and since 1925 the school has welcomed girls. Today our net is cast much wider, with day school students attending from as far

away as Hook Norton in the north to Lechlade in the south. Boarding has always been a part of Burford school, with the original students house and with families in the town. It continues to go from strength to strength and today provides a home for 90+ students from both the local area and abroad. 450 years after the founding of the school, Burford remains popular and successful. As members of the school, both staff and students we are immensely proud to be part of this institution and hope that our founders would be equally proud of what their legacy has become.

24th May 2021 Birthday Celebrations

Alumni News

GILBERT LAIRD JESSOP Burford School 1893-1894

'No man has ever driven a cricket ball so hard, so high and so often in so many different directions. No man has ever made cricket such dramatic entertainment' Photo: C.B.Fry 1904: English Cricketer, Politician and Diplomat

Gilbert Jessop was an English cricketer who was often reckoned to have been the fastest scorer cricket has ever known. He was Wisden 'Cricketer of the Year', in 1898. Nicknamed 'The Croucher' because of his unusual stance at the crease, the fifth test against Australia at the Oval in 1902, became known as Jessop's Match', due to the fact that he effectively won the match for England by scoring 102, off 79 balls; one of the fastest centuries of all time. Jessop was born and educated in Cheltenham and showed prowess as a cricketer from an early age. In 1893, at the tender age of 19, he arrived at Burford Grammar school, to take up a position as a trainee teacher. As was customary at the time, school teams used to include several masters, thereby raising the standard of the boys and enabling good fixtures to be played. The 'BURFORDIAN' of 1893, recognised Jessop's contribution from the outset: 'Mr G.L.Jessop, whom we welcome among us, has already made himself famous for a long distance around, by his prowess on the cricket field. He is a brilliant hitter and a really fast bowler and besides this, he thoroughly understands the game. It is not surprising to learn that the boys have been most keen and that practices after school have been most thoroughly enjoyed by all'. Among Jessop's mementoes' was a silver bat shield presented by 'Sporting-Sketches', to record his score of 133 not out for Burford School v Stow on the Wold Cricket Club, in July 1894. Jessop left Burford in the Autumn of 1894 and subsequently went on to play for Cambridge University, Gloucestershire (where he played alongside W.G Grace) and England in 1899. Besides his cricketing ability, Jessop was an outstanding all- round athlete. He got a 'blue' for Cambridge as a Hockey Goalkeeper as well as a Cricketer. He appeared on the wing for Gloucester RFC and could run the 100 yards in 10.2 seconds. In 1917, he was invalided out of the Army, unfortunately, never to play Cricket again. He made his living as a Cricket journalist, for the next 39 years and died at the age of 80, in 1955. Richie Benaud, the former Australian Cricket Captain and iconic commentator, paid tribute to Jessop by saying, ' Jessop was perhaps the best one-day player ever, never to play that form of the game'.

The Old Burfordians

Saturday 9 October 2021

2.30pm - 5.30pm

The Old Burfordians Reunion (To be held in the main hall)

Official unveiling of our 450th anniversary piece of

commissioned artwork

Afternoon Tea

If you’ve never come along to one of our reunions, why

not make this the year as its our 450th anniversary!

Alumni News

Two important 'firsts', for Burford School sport, took place just over 100

years apart.

Photo : 1994 -Henry Dorman batting. Carl Strutt, non strikers end, Judy Taylor bowling, Hilary Young keeping wicket and Bill Williams Umpiring

The 1894 summer edition of The Burfordian, reported the following: 'On June 26th, eleven of the smallest boys in the school played a team of girls and hush, tell it not out loud, but the boys were defeated (in a whisper please). The boys went in first and, endeavouring in a highly successful manner to prevent their bats being injured by a blow from the ball, amassed the grand total of 16. To this the girls replied with 13. Upon their second venture the small boys compiled 47, thanks to Hobbs who made 23 before being caught. The girls thus required 51 runs to win and they accomplished this with 4 wickets in hand. Miss Ethel Cheatle was top scorer with 17 and Misses Matthews and Stephens played extremely well. Many of the young ladies showed signs of careful coaching. A return match has been arranged, which is to take place at Taynton on July 24th 1894 at the Cheatle's farm.' What makes this match interesting is that it was the first reference to a girls cricket team anywhere in Oxfordshire and possibly anywhere in the UK. It is considered to be one of the earliest references to a girl's cricket team playing against a boys team, anywhere in the world. As yet, the ECB have been unable to find any references to girls cricket prior to this date. We know that the team was made up of daughters of the staff (Burford was a boys school at this time) and had obviously been coached; but other than that we don't really know how the match came about and unfortunately there aren't any photographs of the teams. Interestingly, this match coincided with the future England Cricketer, Gilbert Laird Jessop's time at Burford and it would be wonderful to think that he might have had some involvement in the match, either as a coach or possibly as one of the umpires. To celebrate the centenary, a match was played in June 1994, between the year 7 boys and members of the female staff. The ladies won. Just over 100 years later, in August of 1997, Burford School embarked on an extremely ambitious Under 16 Mixed Hockey tour to Australia. As a result of a visit by Central Coast Grammar School, from New South Wales, in 1995, a three week tour was organised for 20 pupils and 3 staff, which began with matches in Perth, Western Australia, where the squad were based at Penrhos School. From Perth, the squad endured a 5 hour flight to Sydney, in New South Wales where the team was based at Sydney Co-Ed Grammar school. During this stay the squad were lucky enough to play matches at Holmbush Stadium, which was to become the Olympic Hockey Venue for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. From Sydney, the touring party headed north to the Central Coast, where they were reunited with Central Coast Grammar School. The fantastic experience enjoyed by the squad, was without the question, the reason why six more tours took place over the following twenty years. Bill Williams

We wanted to share the jute and tote bags

with the commemorative artwork on. They

are perfect as shopping bags, storage bags or

gifts for friends.

Jute Bag £2.50 each Pencils 50p each

Tote Bag £5 each

There will be a small postage fee if you can't

collect from school. To order, please email

e.martin@burford.oxon.sch.uk .

450th Anniversary Merchandise For Sale

Hoping to restart again soon

Lunch Club at the Boarding House

Each month we hold a lunch at the Boarding House for the

senior members of the community in and around Burford.

As one of our alumni you are very welcome to attend

these. For information about dates and to book a place,

please contact Mrs S Kaaber :

boarding@burford.oxon.sch.uk

Please note: There is a small charge for this event

Alumni News

MARK LEE - Burford School 1989-1996

In 2014, Mark Lee was part of the colourful spectacle at Glasgow's Celtic Park, as a baton carrier in the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Mark, as captain of the Scottish Sevens team, the British Army, the Barbarians and the Combined services, had played rugby all over the world. He was selected by the team behind the bid to champion the city, alongside other prominent Scottish sports people. It involved him travelling across the globe to promote the event: He remembers, “When they said I was one of the bearers, they told me not to worry because only a billion people would be watching worldwide" . It was a major honour for the former international and ex-Army Captain. Mark attended Burford school for the whole of his secondary school career. He represented and captained the school U15 Cricket team but it was at Rugby that he really excelled. He was a prominent member of the County Cup winning team in 1992 and went on to represent Oxfordshire at U18 level. After leaving Burford, he attended Newcastle University, where he was awarded Full Colours, as a result of his selection for the Scotland U21 squad in 1998. Following University he signed professionally for Edinburgh Reivers, was capped for Scotland at Sevens and captained them at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He joined the Kings Own Scottish Borderers as a Commissioned Army Officer in 2003. Mark was due to be deployed to Iraq, when he got the call to lead the Scottish Rugby Sevens squad in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2016. He was the first Scottish player to represent GB Sevens at the World Games in 2001 and went on to captain the Barbarians, British Army and the Combined Services, before retiring from the game. Mark then managed the Scotland Sevens squad in 2011-12. Leaving the Army in 2012, Mark set up home in Cumbria with his wife Jen and daughters Jessie and Isla. He joined his local club Wigton RFC. They now run an organic dairy farm, which is also a wedding venue and more recently, a successful cheese making business. Mark is in no doubt that his fantastic rugby career owes a lot to the firm foundations set in place at Burford School.

Alumni News

Harry Barker 2015 - 2017

Harry left Burford School in June 2017 to study for a degree in Fine Art at the University of Nottingham. His exceptional work of art has been crowned the people’s favourite in a gallery exhibition. Cenataur received hundreds of votes to secure the People’s Choice Award in the Rugby Open Exhibition. The photorealistic painting, which took two months to complete, was the category’s runaway winner in the exhibition, which was staged online by Rugby Art Gallery & Museum. “I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the response to my painting,” said Harry. “It is truly a rewarding prize as all those who voted saw the value that I see within my work. This prize and the support behind it motivates me to keep creating and showcasing my very best work.” The photographic qualities of Cenataur have amazed those who have seen the work, thanks to Harry’s mastering of the photorealistic painting technique, trompe-l’œil. He said: “The technique creates an optical illusion, which has made the painting of a

centaur appear as if it exists on the three-dimensional plane, and it’s this quality that

appeals to people the most. It brings forth questions of what the viewer is seeing – is it a

collage stuck onto canvas, is it an oil painting or is it a three-dimensional sculpture?

“Due to the painting’s photorealistic qualities people on the whole are amazed when

they find out that it is a painting, rather than a photo. However, when you stand close to

the painting you can clearly see the intricate brushstrokes which create the illusion

bigger picture.

Harry is due to graduate this summer, and is setting his sights on becoming a full-time

artist and studying a master’s degree in Fine Art.

Alumni News

BURFORD'S OLYMPIAN - Rower Alice Topley (Freeman) Burford School 1990 –1997

“Sitting on the start line, waiting to race, is a really tense time. In all the races I'd ever raced, I generally felt really sick with this dread inside me. I wished I could have been anywhere else. I knew that was just the adrenaline kicking in and would make me faster, but it was a horrible feeling. Waiting at the start line of the Beijing Olympics that day was different. I had been given an extra chance. I so badly wanted to be there, on the start line. There was nowhere else in the world I would rather be at that moment. I remember grinning and looking around, feeling that adrenaline, but this time, enjoying the feeling. I was ready to give the race of my life!” On that day in 2008 Alice Topley became an Olympic finalist. Originally, she hadn't been selected for the ‘Eight’ and travelled to China as the reserve. Two of the crew were too unwell to race in the final so Alice was selected and was part of the team that managed to keep their position in the regatta. They came 5th overall, beating Australia. At Burford, Alice loved PE and often said that it was her favourite subject. She played Netball and Hockey, but it was Athletics in particular that she really enjoyed and represented the school in middle distance events against other schools, showing that she obviously had good cardiovascular endurance at a relatively early age. Her father had rowed at university and having been on the river a few times. Alice applied to universities with rowing in mind. Durham seemed a good choice and after a gap year in Asia, she started at Durham and joined the college boat club. However, it wasn't until she did a timed test on a rowing machine, that they started to take her seriously. After a brief spell working in London, Alice applied for a PGCE course at Oxford and joined the rowing team before her studies had begun. She competed in the Women's Boat Race in 2004, winning by 4 lengths and this undoubtedly spurred her on to pursue rowing further, alongside a teaching career. Alice made it into the GB team in 2007, after some fierce racing against athletes who would become some of her closest friends. Her first international race was in Lucerne in the coxless 4's, where she picked up a silver medal and was then moved up to the 8's, where in 2007 they achieved Olympic qualification, by coming third. After Beijing, Alice continued rowing for a couple of years, but retired due to injury. She stayed involved in the sport by coaching students. Since then, Alice has married and had two children. She runs, cycles and swims whenever she can and has set her sights on a 'half iron man' followed by a 'full iron man' next year. We would expect nothing less from one of 'Burford's Olympians'. We wish her luck.

To celebrate Burford School’s 450th anniversary, our annual Christmas Miscellany Concert is being held in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford on

Wednesday 15 December 2021. Following the success of our previous choral events we are once again inviting all

students, parents, staff and alumni of Burford School, as well as keen local residents, to join us in singing some Christmas music. Rehearsals will take place

on Tuesday evenings, starting on 7 September, at 7.00pm in the school hall. If you would like to be part of this exciting event, please contact the Music

Department at Burford by emailing h.jenkins@burford.oxon.sch.uk

RAF Falcons Drop In

We were delighted that the Falcons

Parachute display team were able to

‘drop in’ on Burford School on Tuesday

13 July. We really enjoyed the show!

Members of the team took the time to

demonstrate to our students how to

fold parachutes and explain what it

was like to jump from an aircraft.