Neville Packett OA

NEVILLE PACKETT (OA) M.B.E., K. St. J., J.P., M.A., F.R.S.A., F.R.G.S, F.B.I.B.A., A.C.I.I.

We are sorry to report that Neville Packett passed away peacefully at Burley Hall Nursing Home on Friday 8^th April 2013 at the age of 91.  Neville attended Ashville  from 1932 to 1939.

Neville was a former managing director of insurance brokers Sydney Packett & Sons now based in Shipley, which was founded in Bradford by his father Sydney in 1920.

He was a Bradford magistrate; he was also St John Ambulance county commander for West and South Yorkshire, a Freeman of the City of London, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a past master of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen of London.

He remained a great friend of the college and served as a governor from April 1970 until his retirement in 1996 after which he was an Honorary Governor until 2002. During this time he served as Chair of the House Committee, overseeing the ongoing financial health of the school and was instrumental in guiding through many of the changes in the 1980s. A generous benefactor, he provided on his retirement the display cabinets from the Soothill Foyer.

He was a larger than life character, an inveterate traveller and marvellous raconteur and will be sadly missed.

Update 57 Now added

The latest Ashvillian Update (December 2012) has now been up loaded. It contains 20 pages of OA and school news, reports, photos and details of up-coming events.

Ashville To Celebrate 30 Years Of Co-Education

One of North Yorkshire’s best known independent schools is next month (November) holding a special celebration to mark 30 years of co-education.

In September 1982, 105 years of tradition ended when Ashville College – a boys only day and boarding school in Harrogate – opened its doors to girls for the first time.

The 30^th anniversary is being celebrated with a reception and lunch in the school’s Memorial Hall, which is being attended by former pupils and staff, governors and current teachers, on Saturday, November 17.

Initially, there were just 34 girls out of a total number of 412 pupils. However, in a short period of time, the gap narrowed and now stands at 42 per cent of all students being girls.

For the first four years, girls were only admitted as day pupils. In 1986 that too changed with the opening of a girl’s boarding house, Norfolk House, named after David Norfolk, the Headmaster who introduced co-education.

Helen Prince, (then Helen Grayson), one of the first cohort of girls at Ashville – and the first female president of the old pupils association – said: “My brother went to Ashville but I never thought I’d be able to go too, and I was delighted when they decided to admit girls.

“It was a bit of a voyage of adventure at first, with staff and prefects wondering how to relate to the alien presence of girls. We had mixed facilities too – there were so few of us that we had our own common room, a luxury preserved formerly for sixth form boys.

“On the flip side, the girls’ changing room was a portable building near the sports centre, and I remember having to run through the snow dressed in swimming costume, shoes and a towel.

“By the time I left, Ashville was fully co-ed and it felt like it had always been that way. I loved my time there and am so glad they made the decision in time for me to be an Ashvillian.”

Carol Tinker, who was appointed to Ashville in Sept ember 1982 as Head of Economics and Business Studies with responsibility for girls games at Ashville, at the age of 22.

She said: “It was a very exciting time and we were made to feel special. However, I was petrified that first morning being fresh out of University and in what had been a very traditionally male environment.

“Whilst there was some antipathy from older pupils and staff to start with but this didn’t last long. I loved every minute of my time at Ashville and was sorry to leave.”

Ashville College’s Head of Biology, Peter Forster, said: “Having been an all boys, primarily boarding school, for over one hundred years, the introduction of girls into the college in 1982 came, not surprisingly, as a shock to the system for both students and staff.

“The transition to coeducation, however, went surprisingly smoothly. There is no doubt the girls have made a valuable contribution over the years in creating a less masculine, and a more calm and healthier environment in which to teach and learn.”

Ashville College Headmaster Mark Lauder said: “Becoming co-educational was probably the most important – and if not the bravest – decision ever taken by the school.

“It was watched closely by a host of single-sex schools throughout the region, and many subsequently followed suit.

“For more than a century Ashville had a very proud tradition of being a boys’ boarding and day school. When school plays required cast members of the opposite sex, these invariably came from Harrogate Ladies College or Queen Ethelburga’s.”

Mr Lauder added: “From 1982 everything changed, and I’m delighted to say they changed for the better. Girls have made a massive contribution to the school.

“What was regarded by some as a controversial decision at the time has helped shape Ashville into the successful fully co-educational school it is today.”

Further details about the lunch are available from the Ashvillian Society website at www.ashvillian-society.org

 Founded in 1877, Ashville College is a leading independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 4-18 years. It is located in the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate, and consists of three schools, Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior.  Ashville College is a member of HMC, IAPS and part of the Methodist Independent Schools Group. 

Picture caption: Three Decades of Co-Educational Success! Ashville College Headmaster Mark Lauder and former teacher Carol Tinker (second right) with (from left) first Ashville girl pupils Kate Considine, Sherry Wright and Helen Prince. 

OA’s War Time Memorabilia Given To School Archives

AN OA’s wartime memorabilia has been donated to the school archives.

Medals, log books, letters, cap tallies and photographs belonging to Charles Trevor Bowman Wilson, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, will now be kept in the archives  and form the centre piece of a display marking Armistice Day.

The collection – presented to the independent school by Mr Wilson’s son, Martin (also an OA) – chronicles his time in the Senior Service, from joining up in early 1940 until being de-mobbed in February 1946.

During his six years, which saw him rise from Ordinary Seaman to the rank of Lieutenant  and being Mentioned in Dispatches, Mr Wilson played a vital part in landings at Anzio, Salerno, Avola, Ajaccio and Normandy whilst serving on board HMS LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 425.

After basic training at Plymouth, he joined the cruiser HMS Galatea, patrolling the Arctic waters and North Sea. Mr Wilson left Galatea in April 1941 to undertake officer training, before being posted to HMS Helicon, situated at the convoy assembly base in Loch Ewe,Scotland.

In December of the same year, many of his former shipmates on HMS Galatea were killed when it was sunk by a German U Boat, off the Egyptian coast.

In early 1943, Mr Wilson – whose family owned a string of drapery shops in the North Riding and the North East – crossed to New Yorkon board the Queen Elizabeth.

Here, the newly promoted Lieutenant resided at the Barbazon Plaza Hotel and attended Sperry Gyro Compass Works, to learn about the new gyro compass. During his spare time he managed to visit relations on his mother’s side and was “well looked after”.

On board LST 425, Lieutenant Wilson took part in five “D-Day” amphibious landings in the Mediterranean andNormandy, and was Mentioned in Dispatches for theNormandyassault.

Nicknamed Large Slow Target by the men who served on them, LST 425 held the “Blue Riband” for the most number of trips to theNormandybeaches whilst transporting 1,222 vehicles, 221 officers and 3,740 men. A similar number had been carried from North Africa toSicily,MaltaandItaly.

In  March 1945, Lieutenant Wilson was transferred to HMS Kirkella, a trawler patrolling the Irish Sea. His last posting was ashore, where he was Officer in Charge of Barrack Patrol, at HMS Drake inPlymouth.

In February 1946, Mr Wilson, who was born in 1915 in Middlesbrough, was discharged from the Royal Navy and returned to his family in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, and to the Stockton business where he had worked before signing up. In 1949, Mr Wilson, his wife Joan and their two sons, David and Martin, moved to Osmotherley, near Northallerton. 

Five years later, following the sale of theStocktonshop, Mr Wilson joined the North Riding of Yorkshire branch of the British Red Cross Society headquarters in Northallerton, as Appeals and Publicity Officer, a position he held for 24 years. He died in 1993 aged 78.

His son Martin, who also served in the Royal Navy, said: “Like many other who served in the Second World War, he seldom talked about his experiences.

“I decided to donate my father’s war-time me memorabilia toAshvilleCollege, as the school played an important part in his life, as well as that of mine and my brother.

“The collection chronicles his life from being an Ordinary Seaman at the start of his military service, right through to his leaving as an officer, and beyond.”    

Ashville College Head of History Andi Barker said: “We are very grateful to Mr Wilson for donating his father’s war-time memorabilia to the school. It’s a remarkable collection and makes fascinating reading.

“The archives are being used by the school on an increasing basis for projects and displays as they help bring history alive. And what’s even better is the items are those of a formerAshville College pupil.”

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Picture Caption: Trevor Wilson’s War! Charles Trevor Wilson’s son, Martin, proudly displays his father’s naval medals, which have now been presented to Ashville College’s archives.

Former Yorkshire Cricketer Peter Whiteley Appointed Chair Of Ashville Governors

An OA and former professional cricketer has been appointed as Chair of Governors at the Harrogate School.

Peter Whiteley, who left the independent school exactly 40 years ago, takes over the role from Peter Holt, who has held the position for the last five years.

Peter, who lives in Pannal Ash, Harrogate comes from a family of Ashvillians. His father was among the pupils evacuated to Windermere in the Second World War and his uncle was Chairman of Governors. Two brothers and six cousins also attended the school.

During his last summer at Ashville, he was selected to pay cricket for the Yorkshire 2^nd XI. After studying chemistry at Bristol University, Peter became a regular in the Yorkshire squad and played for the 1^st team between 1978 and 1982, taking 70 wickets with his off-spin bowling, including those of cricketing legends Viv Richards and Ian Botham.

He played with Harrogate Cricket Club for 25 years before taking up golf at Rudding Park where both he and his wife play.

Speaking of his appointment as Chair of Governors, Peter said: “I am delighted to be taking on this role. We have an excellent spread of experience on the governing body and an enthusiastic and capable team of teaching and support staff.

“Ashville College has a well-earned reputation for providing a first class learning experience supplemented by excellent extra-curricular opportunities.”

He added: “For the past five years, Peter Holt has done a superb job leading the Governing body, and I know I can count on him for his continued support.” 

Away from the cricket field, Peter qualified as a Chartered Accountant and became a partner with international firm Ernst & Young, heading their Yorkshire audit department and leading the regional entrepreneurial services team.

After six years as finance director at Leeds based property group, Moorgarth, he now acts as a business adviser and mentor to local companies.

Picture Caption: Top Position! Peter Whiteley (right) takes over as Chair of Governors at Harrogate’s Ashville College from outgoing Chair, Peter Holt.

OA Begins Journey To Brazil 2016!

A former Ashville College netball and swimming captain has got her sights set being a member of Team GB in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Even though gifted athlete Zoe Cruddos, who lives in Harrogate, only picked up an oar for the first time last October, theUniversityofBathstudent has been talent spotted and selected for the GB World Class Start programme.

The university – a UK centre for Sports Excellence – is home to some of the nation’s best known athletes, including Olympic Gold medallist Amy Williams MBE and 400m Olympic medal hopeful Dai Greene.

The 19-year-old Business Administration student was recently put though her paces during a series of tests which assessed her strength, endurance, stamina, and conditioning.

Dan Harris, Bath Talent Development Coach, said Zoe’s scores indicate that she has exceptional attributes in all the areas measured: body type, strength, and endurance.

He added: “These levels compare very favourably with the testing our Olympic rowing champions had at her age, which indicates she has exceptional ability and, with training, could be very successful in the Olympic sport of rowing.

“To put this in perspective our figures indicate that only 0.001 per cent of the population has this ability or potential.  Zoe has a special gift, which only three or four others in her area possess.” 

Zoe said: “I always wanted to try rowing and after being told I had the ideal attributes, namely height and broad shoulders developed through swimming. I just gave it a go and loved it.”

 She was part of the Team Bath squad that won BUCS rowing in the coxed 4 and win the bronze in the coxed 8.

 She added: “I am still focused on getting good grades at University, and the opportunity I have to train everyday, twice a day with a full time coach means I can take full advantage of both my educational and sporting ambitions. 

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Picture Caption: Future Olympian? Former Ashville swimming and netball captain, Zoe Cruddos, who is being tipped as a 2016 Olympic prospect

OA’s 1948 Olympic Memorabilia Displayed At Old School For First Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_krB-_0hU&list=UUia6pePXU6ntvYgO7zg085Q&index=1&feature=plcp

An OA’s memorabilia from the 1948 London Olympics has gone on display for the first time at the school.

Harry McIlvenny, who was a boarder at the school from 1936-1939, played in the Great Britain Football team at the games and scored the winning goal in the opening first round game against the Netherlands.

The shirt he played in – together with Olympic Medal, Diploma, match programmes and letter inviting him to participate in an Olympic trial match – have formed the centre-piece of an exhibition showcasing the school’s Olympic heritage.

n addition to Mr McIlvenny, two other former pupils have represented Great Britain in the Olympics; David Barker in the equestrian team in 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and Peter Lund, who was in the two-man bobsleigh team in the 1984 Sarajevo winter Olympics.

Mr McIlvenny’s possessions from the 1948 London Olympics are being loaned to the school by his daughter, Jane Cockcroft.

She said: “I’m delighted the school is showing such interest in my father’s Olympic experience.  He attended Ashville from the age of 14 and loved it so much he even named his house after it!

“He was a natural sportsman and it is fair to say that, during his four years at the school, his sporting achievements surpassed his academic ones, being a member of several teams including the Cricket XI and Tennis team.

“All the players in the Great Britain team were amateurs and the manager was none other than Sir Matt Busby. My father also played for Bishop Auckland and Bradford Park Avenue and his father, who was a professional footballer, played for Bradford City in the 1910s when they were in the 1^st Division which was the equivalent of the Premiership today.

“My father was invited to play in a team selection match, but just as a reserve. However, he must have impressed Matt Busby as he went on to play in all the matches, even scoring the winning goal in the opening game.”

Ashville Pre Prep School headteacher Carol Berrie said: “We are very proud of our Olympic links and delighted that we are able to put Harry McIlvenny’s Olympic medal and Number 9 shirt on display.

“We have some very talented footballers of all ages at Ashville, and no doubt a few will dream of one day playing for their country. Harry McIlvenny not only played for England, he also played for Great Britain.

“1948 was the last time a Great Britain Football team took to the field in an Olympic Games. Now, 64 years later, a Great Britain Football team will once again play in the world’s greatest games.

“But will they fare any better than the squad in which a former Ashville College pupil featured so prominently?”

In the 1948 “Austerity” games, Great Britain’s opening match was played at Highbury in front of 12,000 strong crowd. At 90 minutes, with the score tied at 3-3, the game went into extra time. It was McIlvenny who proved the hero of the hour, scoring the winner on 111 minutes.

Through to the Quarter Finals, 25,000 football fans crowded into Craven Cottage, West Ham, on August 5, to watch the GB team face France. This finished 1-0 to Great Britain. The decisive winner was scored on 29 minutes and this secured the team a place in the Semi Finals against Yugoslavia on August 11.

Playing in front of a 40,000 strong mainly partisan crowd at The Empire Stadium, Wembley, the home team were just one match away from the Olympic finals. Sadly, this was a match too far, and the GB team went down 3-1.

The only medal the team could hope to win now was Bronze, and to do so they had to beat Denmark. Again, this game was played at Wembley and the number of supporters was 50,000. Despite opening the scoring and taking the lead twice, Great Britain went down 3-5. 

Sweden claimed Gold, with Yugoslavia Silver and Denmark Bronze.

Harry McIlvenny died in 2009 aged 86.

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Picture Caption: British and proud! Harry McIlvenny’s daughter, Jane Cockcroft, holds her father’s Olympic football shirt while two Ashville Pre-Prep pupils try on his track suit bottoms.

Harrogate’s Tom Blackmore Impresses On Renault Clio Test Debut

An OA’s dream of racing cars professionally has taken a major leap forward.

So impressive was Tom Blackmore’s test debut at Mallory Park that bosses of Total Control Racing – the team the 21 year old hopes to drive for in the AirAsia UK Clio Cup – have put him on a par with two former previous champions.

Despite only having limited Karting experience whilst at Ashville College, Tom’s aim is to raise the funds necessary via sponsorship in order for him to compete in the 2013 series.

Tom joined the multiple championship winning squad at the Leicestershire track for his first taste of a 2ltr Clio, and made an immediate impact with a highly competitive run in dry conditions.

Tom said: “It was a fantastic experience and the first time I’ve ever been in a car on a track. It was absolutely brilliant and the car was great to drive. Everyone at Total Control Racing seemed to be pretty happy with my performance so I was really pleased with that.

“In the past I was restricted by budget so the only real karting I ever did was at club level, the odd few races here and there. The original plan I had was to test as much as possible this year, ready for 2013.

“If I can raise the money this year though, especially off the back of this test, I try and do a couple of rounds if I can.

“The AirAsia Renault UK Clio championships have a very strong following, with 366,000 spectators and a TV audience of more than 10 million. My aim is to go as far as I can in motorsport, but I just need the funding to enable me to kickstart my career.”

TCR Team Principal Lee Brookes said: “Tom’s pace was fantastic. He has a lot of natural ability and was on a par with the likes of Jonny Adam and Tom Onslow-Cole when we first tested them.

“We’re hopeful he’ll be able to raise the budget to make his race debut with is in Clios at some point soon. They’re not easy cars to instantly be quick in, but on the evidence of his run with us, Tom is a really strong prospect.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring Tom should contact him on 07825 550 170.

Ashville Needs You!

Calling all OAs – Ashville needs you!

Are you willing to come in and talk about your current career, offer work experience, or careers advice?

If so please do send through your details to a.coad@ashville.co.uk.

Ashville Needs You!

Ashville College Pays Tribute To Former Chemistry Teacher Leslie Smith

Ashville College has paid tribute to a newly retired teacher who has died suddenly.

Leslie Smith – who was Exams Officer and taught Chemistry at the independent school from 1975 until his retirement last September – suffered a heart attack on December 30 whilst carrying out volunteering duties on the North York Moors Railway.

Leading the tributes to Mr Smith, Ashville College Headmaster Mark Lauder said: “Les was a dedicated teacher who shared his love of science with literally thousands of pupils over the years.

“He was popular with both students and teachers alike, and was at his happiest either leading experiments in the Chemistry department or performing with the school choir or orchestra.

“For many years, Les had taken charge of overseeing the A Level and GSCE examinations, and he did this with his usual zeal and efficiency. 

“His death has come as a great shock to all at the school as he had only just retired. Our deepest sympathies are with his widow Margaret.”

Just before Christmas, Mr Smith – who in his first years at the school had been a live-in house master in Elmfield House – attended an event at the school organized by the Ashvillian Society, where he spent the evening catching up with former pupils and colleagues.

Roger Pygott, a close friend of Mr Smith’s and a former colleague and head of Elmfield House, said: “Les was my house tutor, I was his best man and he is Godfather to my daughter Nicky. Our relationship goes back a long way!

“I remember talking to him when he first came for interview. I didn’t gloss over the commitment required to be a resident master in a boarding school. He accepted the challenge and entered into many aspects of school life and gained the respect of fellow staff and pupils.

“Bureaucracy was his forte. He was always willing to fill a niche. He cut his teeth for me on house bank! He progressed to school plays, internal exams and then of course external exams.

“His musical contributions to Ashville are well known. Less well known was his support of the AMCC (staff cricket club). For many years he was the scorer. 

“His interest in the game was purely intellectual but he would also readily volunteer to umpire junior cricket matches and take various teams away.”

A service of thanksgiving for Mr Smith is being held at Wesley Chapel, Oxford Street, Harrogate, at 2pm on Saturday (January 14). Somber clothing need not be worn.

Leslie Smith, who was Exams Officer and taught Chemistry at Ashville College from 1975 until his retirement last September.