The Flagpole

Wednesday 16 May 2018 - 7.30pm

Sixth Form Lecture Theatre

Followed by wine and light refreshments in the Atrium

From 8 March until 9 September 2018, the first solo exhibition of Picasso’s work at Tate Modern, London, will be held. Entitled The EY Exhibition Picasso 1932-Love, Fame, Tragedy, it will focus on one year in the prolific artist’s life when he was passionately absorbed in his love for Marie-Thérèse Walter, his young mistress, also an inspirational muse. Picasso created dozens of images of her blond, sensual beauty in different media during a time often called his ‘year of wonders’ when the artist was at the height of his powers.

For the first time since they were created over just five days, Nude, Green Leaves and Bust, Nude in a Black Armchair and The Mirror will be shown together with around a hundred other sensational works.

This slide-illustrated talk will examine Picasso’s relationship with Marie-Thérèse, its impact on his long-suffering wife, Olga, and its tragic outcome.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door; but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk.

Friday 18 May - from 6.30pm

For our next Old Princethorpians' Meet we will be gathering at the historic, Ye Olde Mitre, tucked away off the beaten track in Ely Court, Holborn, EC1N 6SJ.  We will be meeting upstairs in their private Bishop's Room. The pub is famous for its wealth of real ales and home-made food, so we are really looking forward to our visit.

Built in 1546 for the servants of the Bishops of Ely, The Ye Olde Mitre is famous for having a cherry tree, (now supporting the front) that Queen Elizabeth once danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton. The pub was actually a part of Cambridge (Ely being in Cambridge) and the licencees used to have to go there for their licence. Set in a part of London steeped in history, it's near where William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered at Smithfield, along with martyrs and traitors who were also killed nearby.

If you are interested in attending please RSVP to Melanie Butler, OPs Secretary at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk or call her on 01926 634284 by Tuesday 15 May.

Wednesday 23 May 2018 at 7.30pm

At our April meeting we discussed Nutshell by Ian McEwan. This is a highly original and inventive book in which a tale of murder and adultery draws on the plot of Hamlet. The tale is told from the perspective of a baby in the womb. We founds this an engaging short novel with some creative twists and turns.

We will be meeting again on Wednesday 23 May 2018 in the library at 7.30pm. We will be discussing Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor, another highly original text which has been well reviewed. We are a very welcoming group of readers so if you would like some suggestions for holiday reading, or have some reading enthusiasms to share, please come along whether or not you have read this particular book.  Everyone is welcome so feel free to bring along your friends.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Saturday 26 May – Sunday 27 May 2018

The Fifteenth Princethorpe-Kingsley Wigley Group National Schools’ Two Day Event takes place for the fourth year running on the magnificent Princethorpe estate.

The 80cm class continues again, as well as Novice 90cm and Open 100cm classes. Once again, the event includes Independent Schools' Association Classes. Show Jumping and Dressage take place on the Saturday with Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase and Cross Country on the Sunday.

Please come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of equestrian events.

Wednesday 6 June - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

The College's Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 6 June from 6.00pm - 8.30pm. This is an informal opportunity for prospective families to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils.

There will be activities in each department for children to participate in, and the Headmaster will also address visitors in the Chapel during the evening. Light refreshments are available.

There is no need to book.

For further information please contact the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney, on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Friday 8 June and Saturday 9 June

The College is looking forward to welcoming back the Sudden Impulse Theatre Company in June for two outdoor performances of William Shakespeare's play, The Comedy of Errors.

The Comedy of Errors is believed to be one of Shakespeare's earlier written plays; a true farce ahead of its time. The story involves two sets of twins, separated at birth, being thrown together in a tale of mistaken identity.

The performances are open to the public and will take place on the Sixth Form Lawn as follows:

Friday 8 June - 6.30pm to 10.00pm

Saturday 9 June - 3.30pm to 7.00pm

So bring a picnic and, if last year’s performances are anything to go by, enjoy some perfect summer entertainment.

Tickets are available from www.suddenimpulse.co.uk and will be priced at £12 or £10 for concessions.

Friday 15 June 2018 6.30pm to 8.30pm

All Lower Sixth students and their families are invited to join the Sixth Form team for a summer BBQ. A time to be able to socialise, relax, have some fun and raise money for the charity The Ups of Downs.

The BBQ will be held outside the Sixth Form Centre from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and tickets will cost £10 per parent/Lower Sixth student and £5 for children under twelve. The cost of the ticket will include food, a drink on arrival (prosecco for the adults, a soft drink for everyone else), live music and games. There will be a paying bar available too.

We hope you will be able to join us for our first ever parent/student summer social. Please click here to book your place before Friday 8 June.

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form

Sunday 24 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm 

The Motoring Festival always coincides with the College Summer Fete, which takes place on the last Sunday in June. This year's event is on Sunday 24 June 2018.

The Festival is open to anyone keen to bring any sort of classic, vintage, veteran or interesting vehicle along for the afternoon. There will be rally plaques for all pre-booked vehicles and awards for self-judged competitions.

The Festival is preceded by an informal morning road run of about 30 miles through the Warwickshire countryside. Vehicles taking part in the run need to arrive at Princethorpe for 11.00am. There is no charge for classic vehicles entering the festival or taking part in the road run.

Barbecued food is available for a nominal charge on return to Princethorpe at lunchtime, or feel free to bring a picnic.

The Summer Fête takes place in the Orchard between 2.00pm and 4.30pm, unless the weather is inclement when we will retire indoors.  There will be lots of entertainment both for children and adults alike including a large inflatable slide for the kids, BBQ, refreshments, bar, pupils’ stalls, over 30 external stalls, a raffle and many, many more exciting things for all the family to enjoy.

On-line registration for the 2018 event is open now! See below.

For a Motoring Festival 2018 Newsletter click here

To register a vehicle online click here

For a booking form in Word click here

For a club booking form in Word click here

Further details from Alex Darkes on 01926 634207 or email alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk

Friday 22 June 2018 at 11.15am in the Chapel followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm

Invitations to this event were posted to Year 11 parents on Wednesday 9 May 2018.

The 'RSVP link' can be accessed here and will also be emailed to parents.

An extract from the letter can be found below.

Carmel Hopkins
PA to the Headmaster

Extract from the letter posted to all Year 11 parents:

There will be a Thanksgiving Service on Friday 22 June 2018 at 11.15am in the Chapel followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm for all Year 11 pupils.  

This is a beautiful occasion and parents are warmly invited to both the service and to lunch.  If you would like to attend, and to help with catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 8 June using the link which will be sent to you shortly by email.

This will be a special day for the pupils.  They come into school wearing suits\smart clothing following the Sixth Form dress code.  Pupils need to arrive in school at the normal time on this day ie 8.40am and will be free to leave school, after the buffet lunch, from 2.00pm

Tuesday 26 June 2018 at 7.00pm (rsvp by Friday 15 June )

Parents of Upper Sixth students should by now have received a letter of invitation to this event, followed by an 'RSVP link' via email.  If you are yet to reply, you can also access the link here. 

An extract from the letter can be found below.

Carmel Hopkins
PA to the Headmaster

Extract from the letter posted to all Upper Sixth parents and students:

You are warmly invited to the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet Supper on Tuesday 26 June 2018

The evening starts at 7.00pm with a celebration Eucharist in the College Chapel, after which we shall all adjourn to the Sixth Form Centre for a buffet supper. The dress code is smart jacket and tie for men and equivalent for ladies. This will, I’m sure, be a very enjoyable and beautiful occasion; it is a celebration of all that this Upper Sixth group and their parents have contributed to the Princethorpe community over the years. I very much hope you will all be able to come.

To help with catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 15 June using the link which will be sent to you shortly by email, indicating whether or not you will be able to join us for this evening and how many people will be in your party.

Tuesday 3 July 2018 at 7.30pm in the Chapel

Followed by refreshments in the Atrium

Once again, Tim Campain, Director of Music at Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry, will play a wide variety of pieces from various genres on the renowned Princethorpe Binns’ organ of 1901.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door; but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk