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OMK Newsletter # 14 April
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Solidarity & Cheerfulness in Adversity
We live in challenging times and Covid-19 is having
a dramatic impact on the lives of all of us - regardless of
where we live in the world.
The Development & Alumni Office are here to
support you through these troubled times in any way we can. As
such, we are taking the opportunity to phone as many as we can
of those in our OMK Community who may be feeling isolated or
vulnerable, to ensure all is well and to offer practical help
and a friendly voice. We have emailed all those over the age
of 70 for whom we have an email address.
Please use the link below if you would
appreciate this support, if you would like to be put in touch
with old friends, or have a story to share (or if you
wish to opt out of a call).
We have already spoken to a number of OMKs, put old
school friends back in touch, and are very much enjoying
hearing some stories of your schooldays which are both
hair-raising and entertaining! We will share some of these
stories with you over the coming weeks via
this Newsletter. In the meantime, please do continue to
pick up the phone, email or write to us to let us know how we
can help, and to stay in touch.
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OMK Magazine 2019 online
We are delighted to announce the latest OMK
Magazine is now available online. It covers OMK news and
stories from 2019, as well as school news for the 2018/2019
academic year. We hope you enjoy reading it and find it of
interest. When reading the magazine on our website, you
will need to use the password EQMkDiaL.
This password is also valid for all editions of the annual OMK
magazine on the same web page.
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OMK Jon Scott star guest on stage
It was a very great privilege to welcome back to
Mount Kelly, and on to the stage, OMK Jon Scott (1978-84) as
special guest at the Charity Cabaret night, held in aid
of the School's chosen charity for 2020 - Surfers Against
Sewage. Jon is one of the pre-eminent trumpeters of his
generation, having played lead trumpet for Jools Holland's
Rhythm and Blues Band for over twenty five years. Three
separate stages featured the School's own Big Band, pupil
singer-songwriters, and special guests The Martin Jenkins
Trio, who were delighted to have
Jon join them for a couple of numbers.
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National Arena League Champions
On their debut
appearance in the National Arena League A Final, Mount Kelly
claimed victory in the most exciting final in many years.
Having only graduated to the National Arena League in 2016
after the inauguration of the 50m Olympic Legacy Pool, Mount
Kelly's journey through the League has been seamless; winning
every Western Division over the last four years, the National
B Final in 2019 and now the National A Final in 2020! This is
a truly historic moment for the Swim Squad, defeating much
larger clubs including Millfield, Plymouth and Guildford to
win the country's most prestigious title
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Barnardo's School Choir of the Year
Congratulations to the Mount Kelly Chamber Choir,
which was crowned Barnardo's Senior School Choir of the Year
2020 at the Royal Festival Hall on 9 March. Competing against
some of the best school choirs in the country, our talented
young singers impressed the judges with their energy and
precision in performances of Fairest Lord Jesus by
Norwegian composer Frode Fjellheim and the traditional gospel
song Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel? In addition to
the prestigious title and a beautiful silver trophy, the
Chamber Choir has been invited to perform at a Barnardo's
Young Supporters Concert at the Royal Albert Hall and will
have a new song written for them by the head judge, Conductor
and Composer, Douglas Coombes MBE.
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Bristol Gathering
On a cold and wet mid-week evening in
February, a large gathering of over 30 OMKs braved the
elements and joined Head Master, Guy Ayling, and Fran Reid
from the Development & Alumni Office, for a convivial
drink and get-together in a pub in Clifton Village. There
was plenty of jollity amongst those who attended, and we
welcomed OMKs of all generations from Mount Kelly and both
former schools, the eldest having attended in the 1950s and
the youngest having left just last year! We were also
delighted to be joined by our Head of Sixth Form, Becky
Callard, and many former staff including Anne Williams
(1970-1995), Hugh Walkington (1997-2014), Trevor Ryder
(1979-2012), Steve Martin (1975-2016), Liz Rowley (1983-2007)
and Norman Wright (1981-1992).
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OMK Hockey
This year's OMK men's hockey match against the
School's 1st XI took place on Saturday 25 January. We are very
grateful to OMK Captain, Nick Boot-Handford (1996-2003), who
organised an alumni team made up of players from various
generations and geographical locations. This year's game was
arguably one of the most closely-fought matches in recent
years with the skill level the highest it has been. Highlights
of the match included the Grove brothers combining for the OMK
side as well as sibling rivalry between both the Staig and
Walker brothers, whose boys found themselves on opposite sides
of the generational divide. The OMK team certainly matched the
MK team in fitness and skill but it was the School side who
walked away with the bragging rights, thanks to two fine goals
from Will Hutton which sealed the victory for the School.
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OMK Netball
The OMK Netball match was played in the Sports Hall
on Saturday 8 February. The OMK team, jointly
captained by Amity Carr (2017-19) and Beth Watmore (2010-16),
played a triangular tournament against the School's 1st and
2nd teams. In order to give everyone maximum court-time, seven
periods of 7 minutes each were played, allowing changes
at each interval. The Firsts played the OMK's in the 1st,
2nd, 6th and 7th periods coming away with a 17-9 win. The
Seconds played the middle three periods, beating the OMK team
10-6, to leave the overall score 27-15 to the School.
Nonetheless, there was some great play by the OMKs, who proved
that they still have what it takes to challenge our current
teams!
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Mount Kelly - supporting our community during the
Covid-19 pandemic
When the Government closed schools on Friday
25 March, our pupils were able to continue to learn in the
last week of term, and by embracing technology, our pupils and
staff remained busy with online lessons and work. In
these challenging times it has been heartening to see the
Mount Kelly spirit shine through in the face of
adversity.
Mount Kelly has signed up to the CBRE
database, offering its buildings and facilities to help the
NHS with additional premises and parking facilities. In
addition, the Head Master has also written to Ann James,
Chief Executive of the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, to offer
any practical support the School is able to provide. The
School is also gathering any PPE equipment from the Science
and other departments in the School to donate to NHS
Devon. | |
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, such as sourcing work experience or career
advice.
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Learning Resources for School Children
Follow the School's Facebook page for
some fun and educational challenges which parents can set
their children. Something to help pass the time during
lockdown!
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OMK Events 2020
It is with great regret that we must
cancel the following OMK events due to the Covid-19 pandemic
as follows:
CANCELLED: NEW DATE: 8 MAY
2021 Saturday 2 May 1pm-6:30pm OMK Golf
(Tavistock Golf Club) CANCELLED: NEW DATE: 8 MAY
2021 Saturday 2 May 2pm OMK
Day CANCELLED:
NEW DATE: 8 MAY 2021 Saturday 2 May 2pm OMK
Cricket v Mount Kelly
CANCELLED: NEW DATE: 8 MAY
2021 Saturday 2 May 7pm OMK Dinner
SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT COVID-19
RULES, WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO
RUN THE FOLLOWING EVENTS - WE WILL KEEP YOU
POSTED
Tuesday 9 June 6pm OMK Pub Gathering
in London (The Sekforde, Farrington)
Saturday 5 September OMK Ladies'
Hockey v Mount Kelly 1st
XI
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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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