Nearly 30 years after leaving Bloxham School, and with my quest to obtain a copy of the Norway expedition video footage reconnecting me to some of my old teachers who were still teaching at the school, I decided it was time to revisit the school. In particular, I wanted to run some of the old routes I had taken when I started running to get a feeling for what they were like. I was not disappointed. Bloxham School had profoundly shaped my life, so going back for Founderstide at Bloxham School felt like the perfect opportunity. Founderstide is an annual event honoring the school’s founder, Philip Reginald Egerton, since 1913. It has evolved over the years, but it remains a pivotal event for alumni like myself. As I prepared for the day, I couldn’t help but reflect on my time at the school and the significant experiences that had contributed to my personal and professional growth.
We booked ourselves into an Airbnb close to the heart of the village to give ourselves a base for the weekend. This was mainly to facilitate morning runs. So, Saturday began with a familiar ritual – a run along the Ridgeway to Bloxham Grove and back across the fields. This route was a staple from my time in the cross-country running division, and the majority of our runs headed out along the Ridgeway past the sports center.
Running has been a lifelong source of strength for me, a passion that was ignited during my years at Bloxham. It has helped to keep me fit, socialise, and provided a source of mental strength when things have been tough. I feel very privileged that the routes we had on our doorstep were so picturesque, incorporating historical landmarks such as The Ridgeway and Broughton Castle. The generally rolling countryside always provided a perfect blend of physical challenge and natural beauty. This morning’s run was no different; it was a fitting way to start a day dedicated to reminiscing about my time at Bloxham.
After the run, I had breakfast and got suited and booted, ready to immerse myself in the festivities. The day started with a lap around the school, bringing back vivid memories of my school days. Simon Baton, one of the history teachers and now Bloxham archivist, had said he would be at the cricket match for the day. True to his word, this is where we found him and obtained a copy of the Norway trek video – a reminder of one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences during my time at Bloxham. The 1996 expedition to Jotunheimen, led by Georg Stindt, involved hiking across the national park, wild camping as we went, and resupplying every few days from road heads where we would meet our support van. As our number dwindled with people getting picked up by the van, we explored the beauty, wildness, and wetness of this amazing area of the world. The trip was a testament to resilience and teamwork. Navigating the rugged terrain and enduring harsh conditions taught us invaluable life lessons.
Next I moved through various departments, catching up with old teachers, with our sights set on getting to the Physics department. On the way around, we enjoyed looking at the amazing sixth form artwork, including textiles, and popping our heads into the design technology department. Arriving at the Physics department was particularly nostalgic. I had spent countless hours in the labs as I got to grips with physics and developed my technical skills through projects like the motorbike restoration. The motorbike project had not only honed my mechanical abilities but also fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Not surprisingly, one of the highlights of my visit was reconnecting with Steve Kaplan and Georg Stindt in the Physics department. We reminisced about the motorbike project and the Norway trip. My time at Bloxham had ignited a passion for STEM, particularly in electronics, chemistry, and physics. The supportive environment at Bloxham helped me persist through challenges, especially in mathematics, and fostered a love for lifelong learning. This passion proved invaluable in both my mountaineering adventures and my career as a data management professional.
The picnic lunch with the cricket match going on in the background provided an opportunity to catch up and meet some other old Bloxhamists and staff, particularly my old deputy housemaster Charles Atkinson, to catch up on all things acting. My involvement as a stage manager in the Experimental Drama Society (EDS) had been a significant part of my Bloxham experience. It gave me a chance to get involved in a diverse activity, and engaging with the works of playwrights such as Harold Pinter, Samuel Beckett, and Patrick Hamilton broadened my horizons and developed my appreciation for the arts. Watching the junior school play during Founderstide brought back fond memories of the stage productions and the teamwork involved in bringing those performances to life.
As the day wound down, we visited the chapel and explored some of the courtyards, ending our tour at the village museum. There, we bumped into my old maths teacher, which was a pleasant surprise. We shared stories and reflected on how Bloxham’s village history is preserved in the museum. A lap around the village, admiring the thatched cottages and the church, was a peaceful conclusion to a day filled with memories.
The evening was spent watching the footage of the Norway trek that was taken by Alan Griffin. I feel so lucky to have been able to track down a copy of this video, and I am grateful to Alan for making it in the first place, as it gives an amazing insight into this trip and really brings back memories of the adventure we all had.
The next morning, before heading off, we embarked on one more run. This time, we navigated Hobbs Hill and the surrounding fields, enjoying the challenge of navigating through long grass and the added excitement of trying to cross muddy stiles. My aim was to revisit Broughton Castle, a magnificent medieval fortified manor house surrounded by a wide moat. Built around 1300, the castle has a rich history, including its role during the English Civil War as a meeting place for Parliamentarians. The sight of its battlements and the reflection of its stone walls in the still moat was a breathtaking reminder of the area’s storied past. For me, I remember cross-country running competitions through the grounds.
Continuing on, we ran through the edge of the beautiful Broughton Grange gardens, known for their extensive and well-maintained landscapes. Redesigned by acclaimed landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith starting in 2001, the gardens feature flower beds, a diverse arboretum, and productive orchards and glasshouses. As we wound our way past the walled garden and through the edge of the gardens, we got a glimpse of the array of colorful flowers and the tranquility the space offered.
Reflecting on my visit, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the experiences and education I received at Bloxham School. From the Norway expedition to the motorbike project, from cross-country running to the Experimental Drama Society, each experience had contributed to my growth and development. As the 16th-century philosopher Francis Bacon said, “education maketh the man,” and Bloxham School had indeed made a significant impact on the person I am today. This visit was not just a trip down memory lane but a reaffirmation of the values and passions that Bloxham instilled in me – a love for lifelong learning and a deep appreciation for the journey of self-discovery. Although my housemaster Bob Axby’s advice to give 110% to everything might not have been the best thing when I collapsed exhausted at the end of the term, I have definitely suggested to my kids that they make the most of the opportunities they are presented with, although maybe avoiding burning out.
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