Boarders' Bulletin November / December 2025

The term began on a high note with the annual theatre trip to London, where the whole house thoroughly enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada. Bonfire Night was marked with an impromptu fire pit and marshmallow toasting, creating a warm and memorable evening for all. House activities were a real highlight this term. Elisabeth deserves special thanks for organising and running an extremely successful House Monopoly event, which kept many entertained for hours. Emma and Mariam also ran a fantastic Scott Bake Off, pitching juniors against seniors — with juniors winning on taste, while seniors claimed victory on presentation.

The return of the annual Rammell v Scott table tennis match added to the excitement of the half term. Although Scott did not emerge victorious, it was wonderful to see the competitive inter-house spirit on display. Sporting mentions must go to Elisabeth, who was the sole Scott representative in the Lynx-Scott inter-house hockey team — hopefully there will be a stronger Scott representation next year!!

Festive celebrations began early with the house Christmas meal at the Great House, featuring excellent food in a wonderfully festive setting. Sixth form students also dressed to impress for the Winter Ball, which proved to be an enjoyable evening for both boarders and day students.

Wow, what a Christmas term it’s been in Rammell! We have really embraced the celebrations, competition and, of course, good old festive shenanigans, with boys getting stuck in to everything and lots of energy in the darkening evenings and festive decorations.

As always, our Parkrun love remained undimmed by cold, wet weather or early starts. Thank you to all those who turned out for Hastings, Bedgebury and others through the term, demonstrating impressive strength in depth.

Inside, the boys have also kept themselves very well fed. Chicken clubs and weekend snacks have soared to new heroic levels, and we also saw a (very special) one-off return of break-time sausage sandwiches, which caused a certain amount of buzz.

October was also belatedly celebrated with an Oktoberfest, and as Christmas approached, Rammell was in full festive mode, with the house transformed to bring smiles and cheer. We had a fantastic Fireworks Night with Scott House, with a cosy and sociable evening by the fire pit and the marshmallows that always seem to be on hand. Sport has also continued to be a big part of house life, with a number of competitive house basketball and rugby fixtures, and a very lively dodgeball game against Blubery (contested, as always, with appropriate vigour). Seniors had a joint social with Blubery to round off our inter-house action for the term.

Rammell was also used as the location for something rather different this term, when the fire service undertook a fire training drill in the house. An interesting experience, which involved a visit from some fire engines.

This term at Blubery has been a busy and rewarding one, balancing academic focus with plenty of opportunities for fun and house spirit. With Year 11 and Year 13 deep in revision and exam preparation, we made some adjustments to our usual festive programme to ensure their studies were not disrupted. Despite this, the term has still been full of memorable moments and festive cheer.

The term began in spectacular fashion with many of the house attending the CSPA Fireworks event — a truly impressive display and a wonderful way to kick off the term. Weekend activities continued with a festive twist, including ice skating in Tunbridge Wells and Christmas shopping at Bluewater. We were also incredibly proud of our talented Bluberys, Dido and Leonor, who performed at DanSing on 20th November. The whole house attended to support them, making it a special shared experience. As I write, several Bluberys are preparing to perform in tonight’s Winter Concert, with a special mention to Tilly, who will be taking to the stage for her very first public performance.

To avoid clashing with exams, we enjoyed our Blubery Christmas dinner a little earlier this year, heading to The Great House in Hawkhurst for a lovely meal together. A heartfelt thank you goes to the staff who gave up their time and drove the minibuses to make the evening possible — we are very grateful. House socials have also been a highlight of the term. November saw a ‘Flip Out’ trampoline session followed by McDonald’s with Year 12 (with slightly different recovery times for staff and students!). Year 11 and 13 enjoyed a long-awaited trip to see Wicked in late November, complete with reclining seats and, inevitably, McDonald’s afterwards. December brought Year 9 and 10’s turn with Laser Quest in Tunbridge Wells, followed by — you guessed it — McDonald’s, with a special shout-out to Oluwadara, our resident “Laser Assassin”. Year 13 also organised a festive whole house dodgeball game with Rammell with seniors enjoying Christmas drinks and nibbles at Rammell afterwards.

As the golden hues of autumn give way to the wet and windy chill of winter, we find ourselves reflecting on a term rich in achievement, growth, and community spirit. The changing seasons seem to mirror the boys’ own journey – from settling into routines to embracing increasing independence in their studies. This has been especially evident as our Year 11 and Year 13 pupils tackled their mock examinations this past week with commendable focus and resilience. The term has been marked by steady progress and a growing sense of responsibility among all year groups. Our senior students have shown increasing maturity in preparing for the challenges ahead, being especially aware of others needs as well as their own, while younger boys have demonstrated curiosity and adaptability. It is heartening to see the House ethos of striving for personal bests alive and well.

Beyond the classroom, Crowden has been buzzing with activity. A memorable Christmas Dinner at The Milk House, Sissinghurst brought warmth and laughter to the close of term, complemented by a joyful ice-skating trip that showcased both balance and bravery. The wider life of school has again been the highlight for many: there’s been a fantastic turnout in after school clubs and societies – including, CCF, sports matches and boarding trips at the weekend. We achieved a commendable performance in Inter-House Basketball earlier in the term, and they showed excellent effort in all rugby competitions more recently – with a special mention for our Seniors’ hard-fought victory, a proud moment for the Horsley-Crowden band of brothers. It was also lovely to see boys involved in tour guiding roles, regularly attending the Library and in creative events such as Dansing and the Winter Concert, reminding us that talent in Crowden comes in many forms.

In our final assembly of term, we took time to recognise and congratulate everyone – from the gifted and talented to the unsung heroes whose quiet contributions make Crowden what it is. These moments of reflection remind us that success is not only measured in trophies or grades, but in character, kindness, and effort.

It feels like a lifetime ago—perhaps just a stormy August afternoon—when we trudged to Camber Sands for our valiant, though wind-tossed, first House football match of the year on the beach. Little did we know that this would be the start of an extraordinary term filled with adventure and camaraderie that even the Grinch would raise a cheer for! The autumn term has flown by, full of experiences that have etched themselves into our memories.

From the adrenaline-fueled chaos of Go Ape, where laughter and screams echoed through the trees, to the existential challenge of blind crisp tasting—each activity was a masterclass in fun and sheer unpredictability. We’ve bowled strikes, soared on trampolines, glided over ice-skating rinks, and shopped like modern-day Spartans, relishing every encounter. Our culinary adventures were equally delicious; we enjoyed Sunday roasts that brought warmth on chilly afternoons, roasted marshmallows over crackling fires, savoured all-you-can-eat buffets, and united for festive Christmas dinners that nourished not just our bodies but our spirits as well. The social group challenges brought a mix of competition and collaboration, making every accomplishment feel like a victory.

As if the term wasn’t eventful enough, we came together as a house on Remembrance Day. Several of our boys participated in the local remembrance service, a poignant reminder of the importance of honouring those who have selflessly served our country. This act of reflection underscored our sense of community and the values of sacrifice that bind us together.

The autumn graced us with unseasonably warm weather, lifting the spirits of everyone in Cornwallis House. As we shifted our focus towards the festive season, the arrival of our 9ft Christmas tree sparked youthful excitement. Decorating it offered the boys a chance to enjoy the magic of a Cornwallis Christmas, with their animated chatter and questionable singing voices filling the Allen Room. The seniors also got to let their hair down at the Winter Ball and enjoyed a night filled with dancing and socialising alongside boarders and day pupils. Meanwhile, our skilful musicians dazzled everyone at the Winter Concert, their performances a testament to our shared passion for the arts.

The pinnacle of our term’s festivities arrived this week, as the boys donned their most creative and festive Christmas jumpers. Laughter reverberated throughout the house during our friendly competition for the best attire, which, when paired with an evening of local food, lively games, and the beloved tradition of Secret Santa, brought the House together one last time this term. The thoughtful and often humorous gifts, brought laughter to everyone involved, highlighting the spirit of giving and community that defines our house.