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“ClearlyAPWB
was splendidly
equipped for the
jobofDeputy
Headmaster. ”
Society of Comedy Actors, run by former SF
master Jonathan Cooper (JDC), and brought
the productions to Macmillan Hall for our
delight. He has sung in the Red Choir, has
occasionally played the tuba in the school
orchestra and one or twice even strummed
his banjolele in less formal entertainments.
Clearly APWB was splendidly equipped
for the job of Deputy Headmaster. He
took on this role in September 2001 and
performed it quite brilliantly for fourteen
years. He had all the qualities required: an
inexhaustible devotion to duty, boundless
energy, the ability to look ahead when most
are simply struggling along from day to
day, the willingness to get to the bottom
of ill-discipline and deal with it fairly but
ruthlessly, the skill of being able to massage
the egos of the staff and respond patiently
and respectfully to their requests – however
absurd these might be! And all this with
good humour and courtesy.
For fourteen years he monitored every
single aspect of the day-to-day running
of the school. No detail was too small
for him to concern himself with and take
responsibility for. The timetable, the staff
duty rota, the boarding lodges, the tutor
system – you name it, when it came to
the down-to-earth practicalities of our
daily existence, Andy organised it. All those
tricky conversations with awkward parents,
all those times when he had to upbraid a
casual member of staff, all those unpleasant
investigations into bad behaviour from the
boys – he has never shirked any of them.
And when we have all knocked off for the
holidays, you could bet that Andy would be
spending hours preparing lists, organising
the calendar or making fine adjustments
to the smooth running of the school. He
wanted Summer Fields to be the best and
at all times he did his utmost to ensure that
this was the case. It is entirely typical of the
man that, over the last couple of years, he
has been prepared to take on the daunting
task of editing the school magazine. He has
preached in chapel to great effect. In short,
we have been extraordinarily fortunate
to have had such an outstanding Deputy
Headmaster and I know that no-one would
echo those words more wholeheartedly than
Robin Badham-Thornhill and David Faber,
the headmasters who have benefited so
much from his services.
All these talents and I have not even
touched on one other crucially important
aspect of Andy’s career at Summer Fields –
that of lodgeparent. And, now, of course, I
must bring Jane into the picture. Needless
to say, Andy and Jane are a team and one
of the most committed and gifted of any
of the teams that have passed through
Summer Fields. They ran Upper House for
eight years and Cottage for ten and they
did these incredibly demanding jobs in
quite exemplary fashion. Under their care,
these lodges were havens of peace, order
and happiness for all the boys who passed
through them. Everything was just so at
all times, a calm sanctuary away from the
hurly-burly of school life. The boys knew
what was expected of them and they knew,
too, that they would be treated firmly but
with enormous understanding, kindness and
respect.
In his final year with us, APWB – no
longer the Deputy Headmaster – has judged
things quite splendidly, gradually lowering
his profile, but quietly and unobtrusively
ensuring that all is well and that his legacy
is in safe hands. He and Jane have lived and
breathed Summer Fields for so many years.
We wish them the happiest of retirements
and offer our heartfelt thanks for their
immeasurable contribution over so many
years.
JHB
A letter fromAPWB and JSB
Dear Parents (past and present) and Governors,
We were very touched by the good wishes we received for our
retirement, and especially grateful for the generous cheque that
was presented to us on your behalf after the end of term. Our
newly-refurbished home inWest Oxford has been the main
beneficiary of this financial gesture of good will – we have been
equipping our garden with items from the Posh Shed Company
– but we have also earmarked a portion for a relaxing holiday in
Provence some time in 2017.
We are sorry that we have been unable to thank all of you
individually and hope that you will accept these words of
appreciation of your kindness.We are truly grateful.
We would like to place on record the sentiments that we tried,
at various times in 2016, to express in speech: Summer Fields is a
wonderful place – both the institution and the physical location.
We have enjoyed so many happy times there, have met so many
interesting people (of all ages) and have witnessed countless
demonstrations of amazing talent, of determined effort and of
caring for others.We have truly loved being a part of this great
school – after a certain number of years the balance changes and
it’s more a case of the school being a part of us! – and there is so
much that we shall miss.
Since our arrival in 1990 we have witnessed the continued
evolution of the school, and there are bound to be further changes
over the next five, ten, twenty years: may Summer Fields flourish
and always retain its unique blend of tradition and innovation, of
individuality and community! We look forward to keeping in touch
with all the friends we have made through the school.
With warmest regards,
Andrew
and
Jane Bishop
S u m m e r F i e l d s
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