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OMK Newsletter # 15 May
2020 | |
Dear ^Preferred name or first name^
I hope this finds you and yours well during what
continue to be challenging times. Since the
lock-down, our staff and pupils have been kept busy with
live-streamed lessons in the mornings, followed by an
imaginative programme of extra curricular activities in the
afternoon. The Prep re-opens on Monday 1 June for
children in Nursery, Reception, Years 1 and 6 (as per
government guidelines) so as you can see, in true Mount
Kelly spirit, we are pushing on!
I am proud of our Upper Sixth volunteers who have
become an integral part of our Caring Calls Campaign and been
ringing some of our more vulnerable OMKs during lockdown for a
friendly chat. Feedback from those OMKs that have been
contacted has been overwhelmingly positive; read more
below.
If guidelines allow, we aim to re-launch
our programme of OMK events and hope to kick-start the
new academic year with a drinks gathering at David
Londsdale's (75-81) pub The
Sekforde in London on 23
September. We will keep you updated over the
coming weeks; in the meantime, stay safe, and
please keep sending us your news and stories.
Fran Reid Development & Alumni
Manager | |
'Walking on Sunshine'
The Mount Kelly Chamber Choir, who recently won the
title of Barnardo's School Choir of the Year in March, have
recorded this great version of the '80s
classic, Walking on Sunshine, by
Katrina and the Waves.
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Pupils recreate Ten Tors @ Home
On the first weekend of
May, 28 pupils decided not to let their Ten
Tors training go to waste and recreated the event at home.
They walked 34, 45 or 55 miles in their gardens and on
local lanes, with full rucksacks and camping
overnight. In the process, they raised an incredible £5k
for the NHS Charities in sponsorship.
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Caring Calls Campaign - Meet the Team
Meet Alisha, Indira, Dominic and Natasha - our
Upper Sixth pupil volunteers who make up the Caring
Calls Campaign team. To date, they have called
over 130 OMKs and have enjoyed hearing stories about
their time at School, exchanging Mount Kelly experiences and
also learning what career paths they embarked upon
after leaving school. With A levels cancelled, and very
much with their own future in mind, making these calls is, in
turn, is giving our pupils a sense of purpose, helping them
grow in confidence and improving their inter-personal
skills.
Such is the success of the Campaign that we have
decided to continue with the calls in June. If you would like
the opportunity to talk to one of our callers, do get in touch
and we will arrange for you to receive a call.
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SAS Selection Winner
Paralympian and triathlete champion, Lauren
Steadman (07-11), was pushed to her physical,
emotional and mental limits on Channel 4's recent series
of SAS Celebrity Who Dares Wins 2020. It was a
brutal experience, but she rose magnificently to the
challenge, to be declared joint-winner, with fellow
contestant DJ Locksmith Rudimental. |
Explorers Club Fellowship
Congratulations to adventurer, photographer,
lecturer and expedition leader Mark Hannaford (81-84) who
in March was elected an International Fellow of The Explorers
Club in New York. Other Fellows of the Club include Buzz
Aldrin, James Cameron and Elon Musk. |
World Press Photo Award
Battleground PolyU, a film covering a protest in
Hong Kong made by journalist David Clark (78-83), has been
announced Interactive of the Year at the World Press
Photo Awards, and has received four international
nominations, including the Webby Awards. Click on the photo
above to watch David's excellent
film. | |
Ben Nevis Marathon
Brothers Tom (99-04) and Ralph (01-08)
completed the equivalent of a Ben Nevis Marathon without
leaving home. They ran 26.2 miles on a 300m farm track
and rope climbed 4413ft (an 18ft rope 260 times),
raising over £5k for Age UK, the Royal Marines
and NHS charities.
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OMK Hero in Thailand
Over the last 38 days, Nick Fawcus-Robinson
(70-76), has raised over 1M Thai
Baht and, along with 12 volunteers, delivered
some 40,000 meals to people in Phuket whose livelihoods
have been adversely affected by Covid-19. He is now preparing
to re-open his diving comany, Scuba Nicks, once
restrictions are lifted.
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Music Video for NHS
Former staff member Trevor Ryder (79-12) decided
to learn a new skill in lockdown and has had a go
at producing his first-ever music video - and to raise
money for the NHS Charities Together. Watch the video and
visit his just giving page if you would like to
support his fundraising efforts.
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Sharron Davies speaks to pupils
Over 100 pupils in the MK Swim Squad enjoyed
an inspiring Zoom Q&A session with Olympian Sharron Davies
(78-80). She gave excellent advice on dealing
with adversity, and provided a fascinating insight into
her career and her passion for swimming. |
Masterchef 2020
Olivia Eadie (02-11) was a contestant in this
year's BBC Masterchef series; although she was not chosen to
go through to the next round, she very much enjoyed the
experience and cooked some delicious-looking dishes for the
judges. |
Mount Kelly Food Bank
Working closely with the council and local
volunteer groups, Mount Kelly is helping run the local
Food Bank. Donations are stored in the College
kitchens, supplemented with Mount Kelly's
own stocks of food, and staff volunteers are
bagging up the items and delivering them to vulnerable
families across west Devon using the school
minibuses. | |
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The Mount Kelly Bursary Fund
We are very grateful to all OMKs, parents, staff
and governors who are supporting the Mount Kelly Bursary
Fund with regular or one-off gifts. Our aim is to enable a
wider range of talented pupils to access a Mount Kelly
education, and experience the life-changing opportunities that
it provides.
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Alumnet Online Platform for OMKs
Over 400 OMKs have already signed up to
Alumnet - our OMK networking platform. Alumnet allows
OMKs to keep in touch with friends, and is especially
useful in making new connections for business/career
purposes, as well as helping with work experience and career
advice for current pupils.
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Head Master's Blogs and other recordings
Our Head Master, Guy Ayling, records a
weekly lock-down blog, which can be accessed via the School's
website, as can the Monday chapel addresses, various
talks, lectures and music recitals.
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OMK Events 2020
Saturday 5 September
(tbc) OMK Ladies' Hockey v Mount Kelly 1st
XI
Wednesday 23 September
6pm OMK Pub Gathering in London (The Sekforde,
Farrington)
Saturday 8 May 2021 OMK
Day & Dinner OMK Golf OMK Cricket
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Mount
Kelly College: Parkwood Road - Tavistock -
Devon - PL19 0HZ Prep: Mount Tavy Road
- Tavistock - Devon - PL19 9JL www.mountkelly.com - mailto:alumni@mountkelly.com
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