| East
Housemaster: |
Contact: |
Mr Simon D. Bird
BA
(French & Spanish) |
Phone: 01483 542040
E-mail: sdb@cranleigh.org |
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I have been teaching at Cranleigh for seven years and took over the running of East House from the current Assistant Deputy Head in September 2007 after three years as Deputy Housemaster in Cubitt. Before arriving at Cranleigh I taught in my home county of Somerset and have also taught for two years in France - including a particularly tough stint in the lovely city of Montpellier, a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean coast. Prior to becoming a teacher I had a brief career producing television documentaries and dubbing the English voice-overs for programmes made in French-speaking Africa; in some forgotten archive there exists a particularly embarrassing environmental documentary of me doing the voice-over to a talking Baobab tree - footage that I desperately hope never finds its way onto YouTube… Besides teaching languages here and looking after the House, I coach the Swimming and Water Polo teams. When not gallivanting around Europe on “study trips” in the holidays, I live on-site with my wife and two young children.
It’s difficult to characterise an individual House ethos – especially in a school system where a great deal of strength is derived from the consistency in the level of pastoral care delivered in each of the different Houses. That said, I have always felt that the geography and design of the building give a special quality of unity to East House and encourage especially strong relationships among the boys. It seems to me that since the boarding house is intended to be an extension of the boys’ own homes, so too should the boys themselves expect to be treated in a way that mirrors the environment of a family home as closely as possible. So my priorities for them are much as they would be for my own family. In the first instance I want them to be safe, healthy and happy. Once those elements are in place it’s a matter of getting the best out of each individual through a good, old-fashioned blend of cajoling, nagging, discipline, and occasionally, perhaps, a touch of inspiration. As I would at home, I expect the boys to contribute to the day-to-day running of the House and, crucially, I expect them to support each other through thick and thin – which they invariably do. If forced to isolate the key qualities I witness in the boys in the House they would be the selflessness that is a natural consequence of sharing your life so closely with a group of friends, the determination that epitomises their approach to school life – be it work, sport, theatre, etc. - and most of all there is the unfailing humour that is an inevitable part of life with 100 teenagers. It’s a magical process and I feel greatly privileged to be part of such a fantastic community. |
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Housemaster – Mr Simon Bird, BA (French and Spanish)
Housemaster of East since 2007, and previously Deputy Housemaster of Cubitt, Mr Simon Bird has been teaching at Cranleigh for seven years. Besides teaching languages and looking after the House, he coaches the swimming and water-polo teams. During term time, he lives on-site with his wife and two children – during the holidays, he can regularly be spotted leading the charge around Europe on ‘study trips’.
Deputy Housemaster – Mr Richard Humes, MA (Natural Sciences)
Phone: 01483 542073 e-mail: rach@cranleigh.org
Hailing originally from Belfast, Mr Richard Humes joined the School five years ago when the excitement of life as an equities trader began to pall. After three years as a Tutor in the House he was appointed Deputy Housemaster from September 2008. Richard is Head of Physics, until recently was also Head of Rugby and coaches cricket, netball and basketball. He is also a great “outdoors” man and has run school expeditions to Tanzania and Ecuador.
Day Warden– Mr Jon Ross MA, PGCE
Phone: 01483 542037 e-mail: jsr@cranleigh.org
As Day Warden Mr Jon Ross has a special responsibility towards the 30 or so day boys in the House. He is also a tutor to the IV Form. He was enticed away from a career in Accountancy to join the staff at Cranleigh three years ago, apparently on the understanding that he would spend every second week on fieldtrips. He played cricket at Cambridge and continues to turn out for local club Follies Farm. He is Head of Cricket and also coaches rugby, is involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and is the rock at the heart of a solid defensive unit for the East football team.
TUTORS
Mr David Boggitt is a Tutor to the Vth Form and somehow combines that role with being Head of Mathematics, Head of Hockey and Senior Teacher. Frighteningly proficient at all things computer-related, he has a hidden talent as a linguist.
Mr James Copp graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford in French and Spanish, but inspired by a love of theatre has spent the last few years working as an actor, director and teacher of Drama before joining Cranleigh in September 2008 to teach Theatre Studies. He is a Tutor to the IVth Form and will be heavily involved in the drama productions at the School, not least the East House Play.
Mr Paul Leggitt is Head of the English Department and is a long-time member of the East staff, having been Deputy Housemaster of the previous incarnation of East House before the House was merged with 2 North. With his eloquent wit and fund of hilarious stories, Paul is an accomplished raconteur, helped in no small part by his extensive travels around the globe.
Not to be underestimated on the snooker table, Mr Peter Longshaw is a long-serving member and former Head of the English Department and a keen follower of the turf. His passion for and knowledge of classical music is the stuff of legend. Peter also runs the Inter-House Quiz competitions and the School quiz team and as Assistant Director of the Communications Team is editor of The Cranleighan and Cranleigh Matters.
Having previously taught at RGS High Wycombe, and from a management consultancy background, Mr James Smart joined the School in September 2008 as Head of Politics. He is a very keen and competitive cricketer and also coaches rugby here at Cranleigh.
An East Tutor for several years, Mr Stuart Welch’s main role is as the school cricket professional, and is the key element behind the outstanding record of the First XI in recent years. He also coaches football and last season his rugby side were only minutes away from an undefeated season.
MATRONS
Mrs Jenny Reilly has been a Matron in the House for seven years and is widely seen as the person most likely to know what is going on in the House. From a nursing background originally, she also has the all-important motherly touch that is a crucial part of the Matron’s role.
Ms Sue Neill also has a background in nursing and is well prepared for her role as “mother to 100 sons” thanks to her vast experience as a foster parent and her previous experience working in a similar role in other schools.
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 The House can be broadly divided into three main areas.
At the centre of the House, we have the wonderfully cosy and atmospheric charm of “The Ship” with the House Room as its hub. It is here that the majority of Lower School boys have their rooms - in twos and threes mostly - and this is also where you find the main Television Room, the Games Room and Matron’s Room. A key feature of The Ship is the IVth Form dormitory, a fantastic dormitory for up to 12 boarders where so many lifelong friendships have taken root. It is a crucial element of the bonding and adventure that are so much a part of their first year in East, and it is quite common for the departing UVI to refer to their year in “the dorm” as one of the highlights of their time at Cranleigh and to beg to be allowed back in for their final week of school.
On the East side of the Quad we have two corridors of VIth Form rooms, which give the East Wing the feel of a university hall of residence. The greater independence and space is excellent preparation for their next step into Higher Education.
In the West Wing of the House we have the “Old Day Res”, which has recently been refurbished to provide a new VIth Form Common Room and various new studies. This refurbishment has been a key part of the process to fully integrate the day boys and boarders within the House.
At the centre of it all is the Housemaster’s House, and above it the Deputy’s Housemaster’s flat, with the result that there’s not too much that the boys can get up to without one or other of us finding out about it!
We are also lucky to have the East Lawn – a vast swathe of lawn on the front of the School which is the special privilege of the East boys.
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