Guest Editor

'For your tomorrow we gave our today'

Remembrance Day has been observed in the Commonwealth since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Having served Queen and Country this act has the special significance of reminding me of both the good times and the bad, but most of all the friends and acquaintances lost during my service.

Boy's names inscribed on the walls of War Cloister cause me to reflect on the infectious youthful exuberance displayed by today’s cadets that must have been the same during their time in the school. They would have paraded and conducted themselves in much the same manner as we do today, with the same ambitions, fears and dreams. The only difference is the time they were born and the horrors of war that they were forced to deal with.

As a former Royal Marine, I have joined the Royal Marines Association on the Isle of Wight. I regularly host meetings, chatting about life and times with some very interesting veterans. Many of the former Marines have served in campaigns across the world, including WW2, Borneo, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Their stories of adversity, hardship and camaraderie remind me of the friends lost in times gone by.

Mark Williams, CCF Quartermaster

A message from the Second Master

Important information

Dear Parents,

During the course of last week’s phased return to school, the COVID-screening team tested 670 pupils, 22 staff and one child of a staff member. We detected two positive, but asymptomatic pupils in the initial screening who are currently at home self-isolating and will be tested before they re-enter the school bubble.

A single positive case was confirmed in Chawker’s last Thursday evening. The boy who tested positive is in good spirits, and is being well looked after in the Medical Centre. We worked quickly to isolate all of his close contacts by using the school’s tracing procedures and, on Friday, Public Health England confirmed which boys would also need to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. These boys have either returned home or are self-isolating in the Warden’s Lodgings. They are supported by a rota of resident tutors, and are in regular ‘virtual’ contact with their Housemaster, who will support them as normal with any pastoral issues, work worries or questions. All boys impacted have been able to continue their education uninterrupted by accessing the school’s remote learning provision. If the boys do not show any symptoms by the end of their isolation period, they will be able to return to their boarding houses and face-to-face lessons.

Separately, we detected one positive case in a member of our support staff. He has been at home since early last week having felt a little under the weather, with no symptoms consistent with COVID-19 at that time. Contact tracing has already established that he has had no close contacts within the school since developing symptoms.

Sundays & Exeat

On Sunday the boys enjoyed a wide choice of different activities, from survival bushcraft skills with our new Duncan Louis Stewart Natural History Fellow, Mr Dan Wright, to a seated volleyball competition.

In order to continue to protect our school bubble, we will maintain our protocol of managing the amount of time pupils spend in contact outside the College. This will mean that on each Sunday for the remainder of this term, year groups will take it in turns for visits with their families. Boys will be able to leave the school for visits home on Sunday for a maximum of 8 hours, but will be required to return to their boarding house by 9pm that evening.

With regret we have taken the decision that exeat will also be unable to take place in its usual format. As with Sundays, boys will be able to leave the school for visits home on either the Saturday or Sunday for a maximum of 8 hours but will be required to return to their houses by 9pm that evening. The decision not to allow overnight stays was taken to minimise the time for boys to be outside the school bubble. Unfortunately, a consequence of the national lockdown is that parents will be unable to carry out visits on campus. A reminder that boys should not use public transport to travel home.

The timetable for Sundays and the Exeat will be as follows:

Sunday 15th November - JP & VI Book 2

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd November (Exeat weekend) - Sat: MP & V Book & VI Book 1. Sun: JP & VI Book 2

Sunday 29th November - MP & V Book

Sunday 6th December - To be determined depending upon the local and national situation.

Please could all parents indicate whether they plan to see their son this Sunday 15th by filling out this form by Thursday evening.

A reminder that for any COVID-19 related questions, please contact us at covidenquiries@wincoll.ac.uk.

With best wishes,

Mr Nicholas Wilks, Second Master

Nut allergies

We would ask parents to be aware that our boarding house kitchens are not nut-free zones. All catering staff are trained in recognising the symptoms of anaphylaxis, and protocols are put in place to ensure that other support staff and teachers are fully aware.

Remembrance Day 2020

A Chapel service and the Act of Remembrance took place on Sunday. Rev. Justin White has produced a video to mark the occasion which will be viewed by all boys tomorrow on Armistice Day. The video contains a reading by Luke Paviour, a tribute to Air Chief Marshal, Hugh Dowding (OW, 1896-99), music from the Chapel Choir, as well as an interview between D-Day veteran, Major General Stuart Watson CBE (OW, 1936-41) and a current pupil. The video can be found below.

This week's video message from the Headmaster takes place in War Cloister where he reflects on the school, as well as his own family's history of service in a time of conflict.

Bushcraft Training

The new Duncan Louis Stewart NHS Fellow, Mr Dan Wright, led pupils in experiencing their first outdoor survival training sessions. Boys from the upper years had previously enjoyed learning bushcraft skills as part of their Div sessions, whilst younger boys were able to join in over the course of this weekend.

Chamber Concert

The Music Department held a socially distanced Chamber Concert on Sunday evening with performances by two top year boys from Kenny's.

A performance of Glière’s Nocturne for horn op.35 no.10. by Nat can be viewed in the accompanying video.

WW1 Exhibition

A new exhibition, 'The First World War and Winchester College' is currently on display in the Eccles Room. The exhibition has been curated by pupils Felix Beddow and Nick Rhodes and boys have been visiting this week with their div dons.