The opening of the Sports Complex and the new Boarding Houses by HRH The Duke of York Friday on 16th October 2009
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Friday, 16th October dawned fairly unpromisingly grey. The school was about its Friday business as usual – with no fuss. Then suddenly, mid morning, the skies burst with the noise of rotating blades as an immaculate blue helicopter landed on the north end of the Senior. Great excitement ensued with pupils and staff gathered to see the action, someone offered ‘It’s his lift home”. We were ready and the stage set for the Royal visit.
At 2:30 HRH The Duke of York KG arrived by car at the Main Building and was met by the Headmaster Antony Clark and Lord MacLaurin, Chairman of the College Council. From the outset the Duke was upbeat and enthusiastic – eager to find out about what makes Malvern College work. But it was clear that he had done his homework too and he bowled us a few ‘googlies’ of his own. First stop the Headmaster’s study where the Duke was able to meet Mrs Clark, Lady MacLaurin, Ian Barron, Bursar, and the Headmaster of The Downs, Malvern College Preparatory School, Sam Cook and his wife Phillippa. Also present was Henry Bridge, Senior Chapel Prefect who managed his questions on the College’s traditions extremely well.
Next, onward via St. George, to the new boarding houses – Ellerslie House (Girls) and the new No.7 (Boys). The Prince talked to students en route, this first group comprising some new starters at Malvern this year, in the Foundation Year. He also made a stop outside the new building to talk with the groups of students from the new boarding houses who were gathered there to welcome him – they gave him a thunderous round of applause. A plaque was unveiled in the foyer to great approval of the gathered crowd and on his tour through the buildings the Duke talked design and construction with Sean Ryan, Estates Bursar, the architect and builders, and he asked pupils what they thought of it too. Their answers were a universal thumbs up!
Closely followed by the Civic group of visitors, which included Counsellor John Cairns and Mrs Mary Cairns, Counsellor Reg Farmer, Chairman of the Malvern Hills District Council, Mr Lee Robertson, Head of Community and Economic Development, MHDC, Right Reverend David Walker, Bishop of Dudley, and Counsellor Mike Selby, Malvern Town Council, the royal party made its way down to the Sports Complex, the Prince chatting to pupils and staff along the way. This was a very relaxed royal visit and everyone was enjoying the experience enormously.
At the Sports Complex a very distinguished group waited to be presented. Michael Vaughan, England’s ex Cricket captain and his wife and Christina Boxer, Director of Girls’ Sport at Malvern College, the Olympic athlete who 30 years ago this year, was the first British woman to break the two-minute barrier for 800m. Together with John Cox Director of Boys’ Sport was presented as was Mark Cox, Director of Sports Liaison and Rob Young Sports Complex Operations Manager. The team were able to explain how the new Sports Complex would be used to serve the needs of the pupils and also the needs of the local community.
At tea there was the chance to meet more staff and more pupils before the official unveiling of the plaque which acknowledged the royal visit and the opening of the Sports Complex. Lord MacLaurin thanked HRH The Duke of York for coming to Malvern and in a genuinely delivered speech the Duke said that he had been very impressed by all that he had seen and would be happy to return to help promote sport and education at Malvern. He said
“As a former naval officer and captain of a ship, you learn pretty quickly what is good and what is not so good about that ship. Over the years, I’ve come to measure educational facilities in the same way – and I have to say, I find there is nothing lacking in this establishment. My message to the pupils is this: you should grasp the opportunities this school offers you with every hand you have, as the activities, education and environment you are in are second to none when it comes to expanding your mind, body and spirit.”
Departure, yes, by helicopter from the north end of the Senior Cricket ground. We all gathered there to say goodbye. The magnificent royal blue helicopter lifted off but then hovered close to the ground heading off towards No.6 and the Rackets courts. A few gasps went up from the crowd as we wondered if there was a problem. But no, at the end of the south end of the Senior the helicopter was skilfully turned on a sixpence and immediately rose high above our heads to make a farewell. “He likes to have fun” said one of the assembled company – well we certainly had fun today as well.
Michael Vaughan opens the Cricket Centre at Malvern College Friday 16th October 2009
The pupils and staff were delighted to meet Michael Vaughan, England’s ex Captain of Cricket, when he formally opened the Cricket Centre on Friday, 16th October. Michael and his wife, Nichola, were presented to HRH The Duke of York at the opening of the Sports Complex and later Michael officially opened the Cricket Centre.
Represented at the event were Worcestershire County Cricket Club and the College’s cricket staff, Tom Newman, Master i/c of Cricket and Housemaster of No.5 and professional coach Tim Roberts (ex Northamptonshire County Cricket Club) along with Mark Hardinges, ex-Gloucestershire and Matthew Cleal, ex-Somerset, two of our other staff. The cricket squad put on a display of fielding in the eight court sports hall and batting in the new nets, to demonstrate how useful these facilities will be both for the school and for WCCC who will use the centre as their indoor training facility from November this year.
Not intending to take an active cricket role in this opening event Michael Vaughan said in his speech that he had not played a great deal of cricket recently and had not had much enthusiasm for picking up a bat – until now and these facilities made him want to do just that. The boys were very excited to bowl a few balls at him and so delighted to be able to meet him – he may have been even more important to some than our earlier royal visitor.
Michael and Nichola Vaughan attended the Gala dinner in the evening and later he took part in John Inverdale’s ‘Any Sporting Questions’. He is an entertaining speaker and has a natural style which will be well received in his new role as a cricket commentator. We wish him all the best of luck.
Grand Opening of Sports Complex - A J Murtagh ex Master i/c Cricket and ex Housemaster of No.5 and No.7
But Malvern doesn’t do razzmatazz, I said to myself as we searched for our table in the new Hospitality Suite, with flashing lights, loud music and colourful displays erupting all around. Well, it does now, I was forced to reconsider when the stage was illuminated with brilliant spotlights picking out the Malvern crest, looming large and luminescent, as a spectacular backdrop. Then the Head called us all to order to say Grace and the world tipped back on its axis.
“Of course, this used to be a swimming pool,” I told my neighbour, “and you’re sitting in Lane 4.” “Rubbish,” she scoffed, “Pour yourself another glass of wine.” But she had to eat her words when Lord MacLaurin, the Chairman of the Council, made that very point in his welcoming speech. We were all there to celebrate the opening of the new Sports Complex and I don’t suppose there was a man jack amongst us, either in his cups or not, who was not greatly impressed by the stunning building and the fabulous facilities. The cricket nets alone, opened earlier by Michael Vaughan, were to die for and brought to mind the old shed we used to practise in during wet weather down at Hampshire – and we were professionals! Not to mention the new (proper-sized) swimming pool, fitness suite, dance studio, squash courts, shooting range and other state-of-the-art amenities incorporated in this……. this……. complex. Aptly named, because I had got lost in it earlier.
Over coffee and chocolates, the suave and avuncular figure of TV presenter, John Inverdale, took to the stage to introduce his sporting guests for an informal question and answer session : the aforesaid Michael Vaughan, Jason Leonard, ex England rugby player, ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, ex-England cricketer Graham Gooch and dual Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. Inverdale is a past master at gently extracting anecdotes and indiscretions from his guests and, one after the other, they all entertained us with fascinating and humorous insights into the world of professional sport. Like many, I guess, I could have stayed all night. Alas, I had to go and I knew that my impression of the whole occasion as being a rip-roaring success was confirmed when I saw all the taxis lined up outside. You always know it’s been a good do when taxi drivers mill around in little groups, looking impatiently at their watches.