Friday

I do hope to see you at St Mary's, Henley on Friday, if you live anywhere within reach ! You should have received this email earlier today:

Dear Parents,

Although we are unable to use Henley Royal Regatta site for free car parking during our Thanksgiving Service, we have been given permission to use a field situated next to Henley Hawks Rugby Club. The Headmaster would be delighted to see as many parents as possible at the Service:

· Location The entrance to the parking site is on the Marlow road (A4155) to the north of Henley and is shown on the attached map (click to enlarge it).
· Timings The Service is due to commence at St Mary’s Church at 1030 and we ask all guests to be seated by 1015. You should allow at least 20 minutes to walk from the car park which will be open from 0900.
· Parking Areas The College’s Estates staff will be on hand to ensure that you are able to find the correct parking area; please would you follow their instructions. The Field is in use for a Caravan Rally and we have been allocated a specific area of the field for parking. If you are bringing elderly or disabled persons, they can be dropped at St Mary’s Church prior to parking.
· Possessions For security reasons the Boarding Houses will be locked at 0800 when the pupils depart and will not re-open until approximately 1215. When collecting possessions and departing campus after the service, I would ask your patience during what is always a very busy and hectic 60 minutes. Due to the construction of Gilson House, we are unable to implement the normal one-way circuit.

I wish all those that are able to attend a safe journey both to and from the Service.

Yours sincerely,

Neil Walne

JN WALNE
Bursar

Year 9 Island adventure

All of year 9 camped on the Island overnight - arriving in three waves as cricket and rowing events ended. They had to make their own shelters, gather fuel and cook. They arrived back this morning by narrowboat, with varying amounts of sleep - but with a lazy Sunday to make up any losses. Thanks to Mr Foakes who ran the event, and Mr and Mrs Starr who kept everyone company. Mr Starr took the pictures - which show the brilliant reflective strip on Shiplake tracksuits.

Air Ambulance Appeal

So far Burr boys have raised £105 towards the Headmaster's Air Ambulance Appeal - our target is £765, which is £15 each.

I hope there are many opportunities to wash cars, babysit and mow lawns between now and half term.

Drama in the Woods

I managed to see the first performance of The Red Shoes this evebing. A fascinating and impressive evening - amazing setting, powerful cast, clever ideas.

The Red Shoes

This week sees the AS Drama production - in the woods near school. "The Red Shoes" includes James, Harry, Aless and Bunty from Burr - they are rehearsing among the bluebells as I write this.

If you can make it, it sounds wonderful - 7 pm. Let me know if you need detaiuls of where to find them.

The School Photo

Today the sun blazed down on our blazers (and gowns of staff) for the biennial School Photo. Later (quite a lot later than planned) there was the House Photo. Huge thanks to boys, girls and tutors for being so patient.

Happy Birthday Fred !

First Sunday

I'm rather glad I didn't arrange anything for the first Sunday of this term - nine boys are going to Thorpe Park with Skipwith, and others are involved with play rehearsals, music practice and painting in the Art studios. I'll be opening the air rifle range at some stage.

And in the evening, three coachloads of young ladies from Queen Anne's School, Caversham will join us for Evensong.

Weekend Leave

If you haven't received a form by email, then I may not know your address.

It starts:

Weekend Arrangement for Burr Boarders
Summer Term 2009

Please could you indicate below whether your son/daughter will be in College, or the responsibility of parents, on the following weekends. If a pupil is not in College, parents will assume responsibility from after games or 4.00pm on Saturday until they are returned for Sunday evening check, which this term is at 2100 except for the last Sunday of term, when it will be 2030, for a 2100 service of Compline. If your plans for a weekend change, could you please make contact on the previous Thursday ?

In the notes column, please comment on any situation which may differ from the norm as described above, e.g., going home just for the day on Sunday, early return on Sunday, Monday morning return.

The form is less important than the information - please just let me know, and draw my attention to your correct email address if you need to. Thanks.

A star students

Congratulations to Alex Barker (three times), David Gooddy and Taka Taira who all got A star grades in Science and Maths GCSE modules last term.

The start of term

These are the points about the start of term, for the House Meeting today -

• New times for prep - before and after supper. Checks now at 1710 and 1920. This lasts until the first exeat.
• Envelopes for the Bursar or the House Bank, etc - to me
• Unpack - trunks away tonight from 2030. Lockers in the changing rooms are all ready for sports kit.
• This weekend - plans collected last night. All expected back for the service with Queen Anne's School. I'll be emailing a simple form to parents & guardians about plans for remaining weekends of term.
• Next weekend - year 9 camping adventure. Not compulsory but should be fun.
• Next Monday - school and house photos. A white shirt festival.
• Wear House ties this morning. Today is a festival of well polished back laceup shoes. See notice for supper dress code.
• Tutor period this morning. Themes include etiquette in exams, courtesy and respect, suggestions and complaints and medication. Mr Cooksey's tutees see me; Mrs Butt will see her tutees in her classroom at 1315.
• There'll be a Fire Drill sometime soon.
• Newspapers can be ordered for this term.

Burrthplace of talent: Caimbo

Their first ever gig was in the courtyard of Burr House, playing for a free toastie in the summer of 2003. Leonardo Robarts, Piers Mortimer, Ali Sloane, and Dave Cullen took their name from their home town, Cambridge. All made their marks in different ways at school – all four were powerful sportsmen in different ways, with Leo playing first team sport in rugby, hockey and cricket with great style and aggression. Piers’ guitar solo at the start of a Burr Family Service in the Parish Church bemused some of the grandparents, and Dave’s drumming threatened to bring down the roof of the sports hall in more than one House Music Competition.
Caimbo’s reputation is growing, as is the list of venues they play. Their debut album, Electric Dreams, was recorded in LA. Piers told Classic Rock Magazine:

“We were walking along Venice Beach one day and got talking to these guys who run this massive hat stall. They asked us if they could play our CD over their system. Luckily we had a copy on us. By about track three this huge crowd had gathered. There were a whole load of tramps dancing, a guy in a business suit, and even a guy on a skateboard who had no arms and legs. It was totally surreal. We really should have filmed it for a video.”
And a reviewer raved that:
“Guitarist Piers, with more effects than a Frenchman’s wardrobe can seemingly do no wrong. And with Al i shaking that egg ever more furiously, Dave seemingly showing no signs of breaking sweat as he destroys the drum kit and Leo ripping up the vocals like Chris Cornell, Caimbo are the UK’s answer to the Kings of Leon.”

The Summer Term

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone back in time for the first House Meeting at 2100 on Wed 15th April.

The keen-eyed will notice a number of wireless access points: the ICT Support Team have installed comprehensive coverage of all rooms, so their sales of network cables will drop off now.

I hope everyone has maaged to respond to the Headmaster's challenge to raise £15 each for the Air Ambulance. If you want to sponsor me in yet another run - do feel free, at http://www.justgiving.com/charlylowndes-airambulance. And many thanks to everyone who helped me raise over £1200 for Sue Ryder Care in the Reading Half Marathon just after the end of last term.

Since then I've jogged round the shaded gardens of the Villa Borghese in Rome, up a steep valley in Tuscany near a monastery where Galileo once taught mathematics, and in the park behind Rathaus Schoeneberg, where Kennedy famously announced that he was a Berliner. A great holiday.