Wine Challenge
(1/03/08)
The school hall resonated to the sound of clinking wine glasses as the
Friends hosted their Wine Challenge. Eight bottles of wine camouflaged in
newspaper were sampled - could the tasters pick which was which from the
tasting notes and could they then determine the country of origin? A
gourmet buffet was served to compliment the wine and a merry time was
had by all !
Link
to photos
Xmas Fair (14/11/07)
Many stands in the school hall on a Christmas theme
Link
to photos
Bonfire Night (02/11/07)
A
huge bonfire followed by barbeque food, mulled wine, glow lights and a
school disco
Link to photos
Diamond Jubilee Ball (14/7/07)
A grand gala ball
complete with live band as well as a disco took place on
the rose garden lawn amidst a spectacular backdrop of coloured tree
illuminations. Guests were treated to a 4 course gourmet dinner provided by
Strawberry Field, the live entertained to the 6 piece Platinum Gold
band and a stunning audio visual display of the development of the school
over the last 60 years. A diamond pendant was on offer for the top raffle
prize. The evening culminated in the early hours with Breakfast.
Link to photos
School 60th Celebration Day (11/5/07)
The school celebrated their 60th Anniversary with the return of the records
Day - click on the Fete records to find the events. In addition, the swing
boats proved popular and a steam organ provided the fairground ambiance, the
fete was opened by special guest Sally Challoner. Special edition Tockington
Teddy bears were on sale. the afternoon celebrations were well received by
the pupils who had an afternoon off school.
AGM (26/4/07)
It was decided to have a dual Chairman for the next 2 years and the term
would start in July - Laura Sharpe-Neal and Nicky Murray would share the
responsibility and Melanie Paddon would become the Treasurer. On a turnover
of £12,000 the Friends had raised £5,500 to be used in Gifts to the school
Committee Meeting (11/10/06)
Preparations were finalised for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration Day in the
school on the 11th May. The Record challenges would be as in 2005 but we
would also have a balloon ascent, steam organ, vintage car roundabout and
the Tockington Archers. Match teas would be available to the Parents as well
as a cake stall. The limited edition Tockington Ted is now on sale at
£10, the recipe book is due in the second half of the term, and logo Polo
would be available shortly.
Quiz Night (Feb 2007)
The Quiz Night had a good turnout - the winners endured the tie breaking
question to prevail and of cours there was a wooden spoon!
Committee Meeting (11/10/06)
The Race Night was
postponed as the event was not well supported.
Preparations were made for the Bonfire Night bbq and disco. The video club
operating at the back lobby is to be re launched. The photographic
competition is to be run each term culminating in the awards on Speech Day.
The Jubilee committee plans were outlined with a school celebration Day on
the 11th May, following on the lines of the recent Fete and records Day, and
the Diamond Ball on the 14th July. The 'Yellow Moon' fund raising catalogue
was given the go ahead as was the Diamond Jubilee recipe book
Committee Meeting (13/09/06)
The summer ball was discussed and taken as a success with over £2000 made on
the night. Some of the proceeds are to be shared with the Old Tocks as they
ran the auction. Discussion was given over to race night on the 7th October
and this involve pig racing and a hog roast. the Friends will host the
bonfire BBQ and disco on Nov 3rd. A separate sub committee was set up for
the school Diamond Jubilee Ball to be chaired by Peter Smith. Several new
ideas were discussed including a recipe book.
Summer Ball (08/07/06)
130 guests enjoyed a cricket themed Ashes Ball in support of the Old
Tockingtonians Cricket Pavilion appeal.
click for more
Committee Meeting (07/06/06)
The
final timings and arrangements were
concluded for the Ball. Approx
75 had been sold for to date.
Committee Meeting (26/04/06)
following the AGM
Phil Jeffery was voted in as Treasurer and Juliet Parsonage as secretary.
The accounts could not be signed off due to the change in personnel.
Running the drinks
at the School plays brought in approx £300.
The catering was finalised for the Speech Day Ball and the tickets were
priced at £55 each with an early bird discount at £47.50. the event will be
run after the celebration cricket matches and it is hoped both OT's and
members of Thornbury club will be in attendance. A photographer was
organised to attend the ball. There will be a
raffle and auction.
The Autumn event was agreed to be a Curry and Race Night on 7th October
Peter Smith will chair the school's Diamond Jubilee celebrations culminating
in the Ball for 2007.
The photographic competition has commenced with a closing date of the
beginning of July
Quiz Night with Fish and Chips
(03/04/065)
A
well attended evening with Tony Spratling returning to the Quiz masters
chair bringing his usual coolness, panache and flair. The fish and chips
were provided in a take away fashion and were greatly enjoyed by all.
Committee Meeting (18/01/06)
The
Friends have funded a new football kit for the 1st XI and colts,
as well as a pc and digital camera for the boarders. Funding was also
approved for new microphones and framework for art.
The summer Ball is to be run in conjunction with the Old Tocks cricket
celebrations on July 8th after Speech Day.
Arrangements were finalised for the Fish And Chip quiz night on the 25th Feb
hosted once again by the ever popular Tony Spratling.
A
recruitment drive is underway as the committee numbers has dipped recently.
Memorial Tree
Planting
Members of the Friends Committee were invited to the planting of a tree in
memory of Peter Rapson - a former pupil, parent and grandparent of pupils,
and former Chairman of the Old Tockingtonians. Mr Tovey talked to the
assembled school and Sonia Rapson and grandson George concluded the official
planting.
Wine Challenge
(20/11/05)
90 wine tasters attended the event in the school Hall to sample the wines provided
and to choose which wine they were sampling from a set of descriptions
provided. Constellation Europe kindly sponsored and donated all
the wines and prizes for the evening. The winners were Sharon Bathurst and Jan
Clayton who correctly identified 7 out of the 9 wines.
Click for further photos.
Fete and Records Day (23/9/05)
As a prelude to the
first exeat of the term - the fete was held between 2 and
4 pm. Stalls were manned by staff, volunteers and Friends, and children came
armed with smartie tubes full of 20p pieces. 10 new school records (
including curly wurly stretching and balancing a spoon on your nose) were
set in each year. Food and drink was available and the event a resounding
success with the children all enjoying themselves and over £800 raised.
click for further photos or
click to see the overall record holders
Committee Meeting (7/09/05)
The Tockington Book
of Records would be started of the Fun Day and Fete
(23/9/05). This would be held in school hours between 2 and 4 pm followed by
the exeat. There will be ten events and the school will be split into year groups
for the prize certificates and entrance into the Book of Records. Side
stalls (cakes lucky dip etc) to be run by volunteers. The bonfire night
disco and BBQ will be on November 4th. The wine challenge on the 19th
November with the same format as previous and a ticket price of £15. the
Spring event could be a Burns Night. the summer Ball made a profit of £1400.
Chinese Ball (9/07/05)
Approx 100 guests
packed the marquee for a Chinese themed Ball -
click for further details
Speech Day (9/07/05)
The 2005 year
Friends photographic competition winners were
awarded - click for
the results. The Friends on behalf of the parents of the pupils made a
presentation of a Waterford Crystal vase to Janet Rawles on her retirement
from the school.
Old Tockingtonian Meeting (27/04/05)
Several Members of the committee were invited by the Old Tockingtonian
Society to celebrate Richard and Jane Toveys 30th Anniversary in charge at
the School. The Reception was held in the Engineer's House in Clifton where
Old Tocks Chairman James Rapson and Richard Tovey made speeches to the
invited guests. Members of the school choir entertained with singing, and
virtuoso performances on the piano. Headmasters Secretary Janet Rawles was
also recognised on her retirement after 35 years at the school.
Committee Meeting (27/04/05)
The Children's event date for 22nd May was found to clash with other local
events and it was therefore postponed till 23 rd September. Profit from the
drinks sales for the school plays amounted to £250 - further help was needed
as too few people were available on the night. Preparations for the Ball are
underway though some items need finalising - tickets to be sold at approx
£45. The autumn event date was set for the Wine Challenge (19/11/05). The
School photographic competition day is to be the 10th June. The friends are
to have the school children design their own Xmas cards and to have these
professionally produced.
AGM Notes (27/04/05)
Jenny Wood , Karen
Burton and Sam Hawker elected to the committee. Peter
Smith and Sharon Bathurst re-elected to the Committee. Melanie Paddon
re-elected to Chairman, Andrew Thomas to Treasurer and Miles Grocott to Vice
Chairman. The Friends audited accounts indicated a £6,100 profit for the
year from which £4,200 of gifts were bought for the school and £1,900
was retained in the bank as a reserve.
Quiz Night
(26/02/05)
Gym
and Tocks were the winning team in the quiz with the
wooded spoon falling to Babs. Congratulations to the Toveys, Smiths,
Savages, Mr Bertagne and Mr Drude on leading the field. To see more photos
and for more information click
here.
School Staging
Arrives (20/02/05)
The new school
staging arrived over the half term break and was immediately assembled in
time for the school plays. The Friends will be able
to have first use of the new modular designed
staging for their quiz night.
Committee Meeting (19/01/05)
The committee
approved the plans for the school to purchase a new modular staging for use
in the hall at a cost in the region of £7500. It is hoped delivery may
be in time for the school plays.
A school wish list has
been created for the school to put gifts requests to the
committee
Planning for the Quiz Night (26/02/05) is well underway: Tickets are
£10 each, there will be a beer tasting round and a smell testing round, food
will be shepherds pie followed by cheesecake. Help is required in the
kitchens / hall at 1:30pm on the day. Tickets are
available from Sharon Bathurst.
Julie Parsonage tendered her resignation to the committee
and the meeting recognised the hard work Julie had undertaken on the
committee. The position is still open for a secretary.
Ideas are
being sought for
a potential attempt on the Guinness Book of Records for the Family day in
May.
Photographic Competition - National Winners
Congratulations to Jamie Smith on winning the 2004 Prep School Photographer
of the Year (front of Prep School magazine cover) and
to Raphael Reboul on being one of the best of the rest.
The best entries from the Friends
photography competition were entered into the this national competition
and in our first year of entry we have some good results.
The 2005 competition will be launched soon and there will be a
school photography day in the summer term to focus on the event.
