News (Beyond Castle Court)

Dorset's Real Indiana Jones
3 March, 2010
The March edition of Dorset magazine has an article all about Old Castellan Stewart McPherson.  Described as a real Indiana Jones he has written eight specialist bboks published by his own company Redfurn Natural History Productions, and hit the headlines in 2009 when it was revealed that he had discovered a huge but previously unknown variety of pitcher plant growing on the slopes of a distant mountain in the highlands of the Central Philippines.   For more details about Stewart's expeditions and publications go to www.redfurnnaturalhistory.com
China Bound!
8 February, 2010
Tom Fry who left Castle Court in July 2009 to join Corfe Hills is one of 15 out of his year of 380 to be given the opportunity to spend time in China perfecting his Mandarin.  Tom, one of 25 in Year 9 at Corfe Hills learning Mandarin will spend a week in China.  The first two days will be spent touring Bejing before spending three days in a school working with Chinese children on a project discussing environmental issues.  Mandarin is the most commonly spoken language in the world now, and Corfe Hills is helping to lead the way in developing the UKs school children's ability to work with the Chinese in Mandarin, when they are ready to join the world of work.
Ben Gollings in Matthew Pinsent's top 10!
2 December, 2009
Castle Court Old Boy Ben Gollings, the rugby sevens leading points-scorer is number six in Matthew Pinsent's own personal top 10 for Sports Personality of the Year 2009.  To quote Matthew from the The Times article dated 30th November 2009, "that Gollings isn't well-known is shameful.. He competes in an England shirt all over the world and has just become the leading points-scorer in rugby sevens.  He's topped the 2,000 mark in 2009 and Waisle Serevi, the Fijian who is in second place on the all-time list, is possibly better known in the UK.  With it's new status as an Olympic sport secured, Gollings deserves to be British Olympic captain in 2012." 
Old Castellans Help Canford U14 Hockey
1 December, 2009
Great news!  We have just heard that the Canford girls U14 hockey team has reached the National Finals following a great display in the recent West of England Finals.   They won the West of England Championship - beating seven other teams - with a great total of 25 goals for and 3 against.  The best news for Castle Court is that 12 of these 25 goals were scored by Libby  who left Castle Court in July 2009, and the goalie for the team was Anicka, who also left Castle Court in July 2009. 
Saluting a hero - at the roof of the world
17 November, 2009

Old Castellan Matt Snook is training to climb Mount Everest in May 2010 in memory of his best friend John Thornton, a Royal Marine from Ferndown, who was killed in Afganistan in March 2008.  Matt who is also a Marine and has served in Afganistan as part of 45 Commando plans to riase £50,000 for Help for Heroes and The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation by completing this challenge.  If you would like to find out more - or sponsor Matt -  then visit www.everestforheroes.co.uk or www.jtyaf.org and keep in touch with his training at www.bournemouthecho.co.uk where Matt will be blogging.

And remember John's moto : "It's better to live a year as a lion than a decade as a donkey"

by Flora Badminton bound
11 November, 2009

Flora Lickiss recently qualified to compete at a special Grass Roots Eventing Festival being held at Badminton at the beginning of April 2010.  She came third at the regional finals at the end of September 2009, finishing on her dressage score of 33. This achievement is made even more remarkable at Flora is still on 13 and in her first year in eventing.

International Sporting Success for 3 Old Castellans
4 February, 2009

Congratulations to 3 Old Castellans who have just been added to the schools’ sporting Hall of Fame:

Louise Linley-Adams (England U16 Hockey)
Matt Linley-Adams (GB U14 Hockey)
Jessica Oliver (England U14 Rounders)

We look forward to following your successes!