2. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you back to
your old school. Each and every one of you return with
memories of Foremarke, occasions, incidents and people,
their influences and impacts.There will be much which
looks and feels familiar; there will also be much which is
new and different for you to see. However, the essence and
ethos endures; today’s Foremarke, like yesteryear, remains
a very happy, purposeful and successful school, with a
multitude of opportunities and challenges for all pupils.We
relish our academic prowess, reflect upon our sporting
successes and national reputation, resound in our musical
heritage and revel in our theatrical performances.
Today’s Foremarke Hall, Repton Preparatory School,
educates 470 boys and girls, aged 3 to 13, with a boarding
community of over 60 pupils divided between the three
houses, Francis, Burdett and Nightingale.We also offer a
Flexi-Boarding House.
Our enviable standing today has been generated by the
energies, commitment, loyalty and dedication of the past,
combined with the enthusiasm, care and sagacity of today’s
academic, pastoral and management teams.You have all
played your part.We neglect the past at our peril.This
booklet is but a small token and recollection of how the
past has so positively influenced our today.
I look forward to hearing your accounts and recollections
throughout the weekend and with these tales the
rekindling of memories, associated laughter and the sharing
of the warmth Foremarke has always engendered. Here’s
to more happy memories from this special celebration.
Thank you for gracing the occasion with your presence.
Headmaster’s Foreword
“When a boy has done his work, he can play crickets and have a swim;
after canoeing, he could fish and play golf before a game of tennis; he
could ride his bicycle, carrying his violin, past the sailing dinghy to
choir practice or voluntary Art before a game of table tennis or finish-
ing his chair in the Carpentry Shop which he is going to sit on at the
Scout fires while learning his lines for the school play before helping
to prepare for the sale which will benefit our lovely church… if this
isn’t educating the full man, I don’t know what is!”
From the Headmaster Ken Jackson’s report at Lists, 1966
1940
2015
3. Programme
of events...
Morning
9.30am onwards
Coffee in the Assembly Hall and
Welcome from the Headmaster,
leading onto “era presentations”
by your old Headmaster, tours of
the school and buffet lunch in the
Music Room.
Afternoon
Opportunity to walk the grounds
and see our displays of memorabilia.
Refreshments in the Dining Room.
The school grounds will close at 4pm.
Evening - Diamond Celebration Ball
Reception Drinks at 7pm. Carriages at
1.30am (Pre - Booked Tickets only)
Morning - 11.00am
Service at St Saviour’s Church
with the Bishop of Derby
SATURDAY26TH
SUNDAY27TH
FOREMARKE HALL • ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
4. Having served as a military hospital in The
Great War and then as the grounds for an
Officer’s training unit in the Second World
War, some of the classrooms were actually
old Nissen huts and the dining hall formerly
the Officers’ Mess.
It is reported that pupils and staff alike
donned overalls and paintbrushes in order to
prepare the school for its opening at the new
site - although some of the old army slogans
remained visible making for rather interesting
classroom décor…
On April 29th 1940, Repton Preparatory School opened
its doors with just eight boys making up the pupil roll.
Situated in what is now The Cross boarding house at
Repton, the School was staffed by the Headmaster B.W.
Thomas and his wife and Miss Susan Todd. By July 1st
eight boys increased to eighteen, by September there
were thirty and jumped to fifty by the end of the year.
The prep school was established by Mr H.G.M Clarke,
the then Headmaster of Repton School as a way of
increasing pupil numbers which had dwindled since the
outbreak of the Second World War.
Repton Preparatory remained within the village until
1947 after which demand for places was so great
the School had to move three miles to a new site,
Foremarke Hall. Although externally the Hall was a
From
humble
beginnings…
A Diamond in the Rough On April 29th 1940, Repton
Preparatory School opened
its doors with just eight boys
making up the pupil roll.
display of palatial grandeur, the interior of
the house was derelict and would undergo
a massive transformation before it became
home to the first pupils in September 1947.
Needless to say, the School has received much ‘tender loving care’ since
those inaugural days and has become the warm, traditional-yet-modern
Foremarke we know and love.
FOREMARKE HALL • ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION • 1940 - 2015
Repton Preparatory whole-school photograph in its inaugural year
5. 1940
April 29th - Preparatory School opens
at The Cross, Repton with 8 boys under
Headmaster B.W.Thomas.
July - 18 boys on roll. By September
there were 30.
1941
May - 50 boys now on roll.
1942
Prep School moves to Latham House.
1944
May - T.L.Thomas succeeds H.G.M
Clarke as Headmaster of Repton.
1947
January - Foremarke Hall acquired.
K.L.T Jackson arrives and lives at The
Hall Repton.
May - 62 Boarders, 24 Day boys during
Latham’s last term.
September - K.L.T. Jackson takes over
from B.W.Thomas as Headmaster.
‘All hands on deck’ as staff prepare
Foremarke Hall for the opening of its
first term – lots of DIY!
September 24th - first day of term with
66 boarders and 25 day boys.Tea party in
Assembly Hall to mark the occasion.
October 31st - Hallowe’en party in
Assembly Hall.
November 20th - Boys listen to
broadcast of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding.
1948
May - Pupil numbers surpass 100 with
75 Boarders, 26 Day boys.
July 3rd - First Sports Day.
1949
June – Foremarke inspected and
‘recognised’ by H.M.I.
1952
Pupil numbers now above 100.
1953
May 30th - June 3rd
Exeat to mark Coronation.
1955
February - Two School plays (Senior
and Middle School) NorthWind and
Smugglers’ Honour.
June - Fête in aid of church rennovations,
£430 raised.
1957
March 25th - Queen Elizabeth visits
Repton.
April - Completion of the Tennis Courts.
September - Asian flu epidemic, affects
96 boys, 2 matrons and 6 members of
teaching staff.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS 1940
2015
1960
September - T. Davies arrives to
succeed K.L.T. Jackson as Headmaster.
1961
September - Uniform change from
blue blazers to grey pullovers.
1963
Winter - ‘Great Freeze’, Pupils could
skate on the lake for six weeks.
1966
Numbers reach 140
Easter: Ford Bedder sees renovation
School ‘Stamp Club’ established -
has over 100 members!
1970
New Music block built and Theatre
refurbished.
1972
Girls admitted to Foremarke for the
first time.
1985
R.C.Theobald becomes Headmaster.
Year of further renovation for
Foremarke.
2000
Paul Brewster becomes Headmaster.
2001-2002
Boarding Facilities completely upgraded.
2005
New Pre-Prep building completed
with nursery, dedicated ICT suite and
Hall.
2007
Paddy Watson becomes Headmaster.
2011
Richard Merriman becomes Headmaster.
2013
Quad Development completed.
Foremarke now has a contemporary
music facility, stunning new modern
classrooms for the languages and
humanities departments, a new art
block complete with kiln, a designated
ICT suite for design and technology and
a Greenpower garage for Foremarke’s
award-winning electric cars.
2015
75th Anniversary Celebrations.
FOREMARKE HALL • ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION • 1940 - 2015
6. Ken Jackson
(Headmaster 1947-1960)
“In the beginning, there were no classrooms,
no playing fields, no gym, no swimming bath -
just a rather splendid but somewhat derelict
house standing in lovely country with, dotted
here and there, odd Nissen Huts, reminders of
the war so recently ended.Was this a school?”
A time for memories...
Tom Davies
(Headmaster 1960- 1985)
“My first visit to Foremarke was years before I succeeded
Tom Davies. I was struck by an atmosphere of freedom and
energy… Let us hope that Foremarke continues, that the
fine old house remains, and that many more generations
of youngsters will enjoy and benefit from their days in the
school. I expect that Sir Francis Burdett rests happily too”
Richard Theobald
(Headmaster 1985 - 2000)
“It was a privilege to have been entrusted
with Foremarke for 15 years and to have
worked amongst some inspiring people,
young and old.There is something so special
and unpretentious about the atmosphere at
Foremarke, well established by Ken Jackson
and developed by Tom Davies. Once absorbed I
recognised its importance.”
Tom Chambers
(Old Foremarkian 1987-1990)
and actor for stage and television
“The best of times, the best of days. It took
me about a year to get used to boarding
but something happened over night when
I asked Mum and Dad if I could board full-
time and not go home at the weekends. We
were having too much fun playing in the
school grounds to go home. From canoeing
on the lake, cricket in the nets, BMX-ing
in the woods, skateboarding in the yard
to playing golf with “MacMan” (officially
known as Mr McCartney) who gave us his
home-made fudge, simply the best fudge in
the world! Foremarke was the making of
us as young people, it opened our eyes to
possibility.”
Alan Carruthers
(Old Foremarkian 1944-1949)
“A cricket match took place in 1948 against St
Chads, a prep school in Lichfield, who were big
rivals of ours.The first match was away and we
were humiliated, they had a very slow leg spinner
who bowled so high it almost had snow on it when
it pitched.We were out for something under 50.
So to prepare for the return match, David Carr
and KLTJ bowled what was nicknamed ‘Donkey
Droppers’ at us for the next 10 days.The day of
the match arrived and I made the first century at
Repton Prep - 126 not out.We bowled them out
for under a hundred and needless to say Mr Jackson
and Mr Carr were delighted that their preparation
of us for the game was truly vindicated!"
M.S. Mark
(Old Foremarkian 1940-1944)
“Despite all of the wartime hardships it was a happy
place… it is a great joy that this atmosphere has
stayed with the school through Latham days right
down to present times… it will not fail to produce
worthwhile citizens so long as this spirit continues”
Adam Maxwell
(Old Foremarkian 1975-1980)
“I am proud to have gone to Foremarke Hall
and prouder still that the school continues
to thrive. Given the impact that Foremarke
has had on me, I often wish I had become a
school teacher. It is amazing to think that some
35 years on, the memories are so fresh. I do
however, remember one particularly punishing
essay “My Life as a Radiator” and how very,
very boring it was!”
FOREMARKE HALL • ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION • 1940 - 2015
Emma Warrilow (Nee Thomas)
(Old Foremarkian 1964-1986)
“Watching a production of A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, outside on a beautiful, hazy
summer’s day, in a woodland clearing just by
the brook and next to the cricket pitch. It
was magical!”
7. FOREMARKE HALL • ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION • 1940 - 2015
School of...
1940
2015 1940
2015
8. To mark Foremarke’s 75th
anniversary, Susan Bloor,
Foremarke’s Director of Music,
had a vision to commission a new
school anthem to commemorate
the milestone.This piece of music
would aptly bridge the gap between
Foremarke’s 75 year past and its
future years ahead.
Entitled “The Day Has Just Begun”
the school has never previously
had an anthem or school song, so
the challenge was to find someone
to compose a piece of music with
longevity that could be sung by
many future generations of children.
The composer Samuel Bordoli
had been introduced to Mrs Bloor
via David and Melodie Bordoli
whose sons Richard and Robin
both attended Foremarke in the
1970’s. As a young composer with
an outstanding musical pedigree
Samuel seemed a natural choice
and all at Foremarke were thrilled
he wanted to become involved and
create this special piece of music.
In his own words, Samuel said,
“The words and music came very
naturally to me as Foremarke
is such an inspiring place and
there was a clear vision of what
was required. I wanted to avoid
educational clichés and create
something more poetic. I used a
metaphor of the river (Trent) to
describe the journey the children
take during their time here.The
words contain wonderful and
personal references to Foremarke
life and the school’s surroundings.”
The piece has been written so
it can be adapted to different
occasions. It contains a traditional
chorus melody so it can be sung by
everyone in school assembly with
a simple piano accompaniment,
but there are also more complex
orchestral parts which mean the
anthem can translate into a grander
piece for a bigger occasion.
The children, who were part of the
2015 Foremarke girls’ and boys’
choirs and the Chamber Orchestra,
had the honour of performing the
new Anthem for the first time in
public at Speech Day on Friday
26th June, 2015.
The Foremarke Anthem The Day Has Just Begun Composed by Samuel Bordoli
“ Award winning composer Samuel Bordoli was born in Bedford in 1987 and began
composing and conducting at an early age. He studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire
with Edwin Roxburgh and the Royal Academy of Music with Philip Cashian and Simon
Bainbridge. He has also been mentored by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies since studying with
him at the Dartington International Summer School.”
Carving its way across the land,
Soil and sand
With devotion,
Flowing along a steady course
From the source
To the ocean
There is the river we all know
Helping the fields at Foremarke grow.
Sharing its wisdom with the world
At every turn.
Gazing at this enchanting scene
Where the clean
Waters glide
We’re standing together on the land.
Hand in hand
We will sing with pride
By the stirring stream
Which will help us dream
Of achievement and finesse.
In the ebb and flow
Of your journey go
On with me to the sea
Of success.
When the past is clear
We will hold it dear
For the Future’s blazing sun.
When the school bell rings
We will spread our wings
For the day has just begun.
Floating along the water’s edge
By the hedge
Ducklings are quite
Happy to drift with gentle ease
Under trees,
Sun and starlight.
There is the river we all know
Helping the fields at Foremarke grow
Sharing its wisdom with the world
At every turn.
Passing the columns on the Hall
Strong and tall
Be our guide
We’re standing together on the land.
Hand in hand
We will sing with pride
By the stirring stream
Which will help us dream
Of achievement and finesse.
In the ebb and flow
Of your journey go
On with me to the sea
Of success.
When the past is clear
We will hold it dear
For the Future’s blazing sun.
When the school bell rings
We will spread our wings
For the day has just begun.
FOREMARKE HALL • ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION • 1940 - 2015
