Christopher Hitchens

It is with sorrow that we note the passing of Christopher Hitchens, an old boy of the school, a prominent and controversial writer and polemicist. Christopher attended Mount House in the late 1950s and early 60s where he benefited from a sound and traditional education.

 

Always courting controversy, Christopher Hitchens wrote without fear or favour on religion, international politics and personalities. A keen mind with a strong intellectual foundation in the left of politics, he had the vision and determination to espouse causes that were unpopular with his peers but which firmly established the integrity of his views.

 

Christopher Hitchens died at the age of 62 after living life to the full. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

If you would like to add share your recollections of him, please send an email and we will add it to the website

 

Click here for shared memories of Christopher Hitchens

 

"A Night Of Heroes" - The Sun's Military Awards ITV 21st December at 9pm

A clip from the footage shot by Tony Wortham will be aired on ITV showing the rescue of a French fishing crew from their stricken boat. It will be a short feature about the RAF Search and Rescue which is celebrating its 70th birthday this year and has been nominated for a Special Judges Award. The winch man in the film will be talking about that day. We agreed that the DVD could be sent on to him, as he has never seen the rescue.

 

Twofour Studios who are responsible for putting it together have very kindly agreed to pay £300 to the MHA which will help offset the cost of digitalising the Wortham Archive.

 

Fanfare 2011

The electronic version is now on the website, because it is such a large file we have split it into two links. Apologies to those late comers who were not included in it this year, the deadline was not flexible as I went abroad on holiday the next day. (The files are very large so will take a little time to load)

Click to read part 1

Click to read part 2

 

Twitter

The MHA now has a Twitter account, please follow us so that we can keep you right up to date with events and news from both the MHA and Mount House School.

 

Headmasters and Headmistresses board

Was commissioned by the MHA to list all past and present Headmasters and Headmistresses of Mount House, starting in 1881, this is hung opposite the Scholars boards in the main entrance.

 

Wortham Photo

We are about to hang a framed photo of Tony Wortham together with a few words listing his achievements at the school (1958 -1984) as Headmaster. Jim Massey, the current Headmaster pointed out that most current pupils and parents would not know of him, so it will be positioned in the entrance to the Wortham Hall for all to read.

 

Jon Banyard resigns from the MHA

The association and committee members would like to thank Jon for all his hard work on the committee, particularly in the early days when he helped Jon Elworthy make Association Day what it is today by providing a Wanderers team to play against.

 

Trading Game Dinner

The Friends of Mount House are organising a Trading Game Dinner on 2nd March 2012 at 7pm, tickets are £20 per person or per table (10 guests) the money raised will be put towards ongoing school projects. All old pupils and their parents are invited to attend. Contact Jeannie Lopes for further details: jjeannie@me.com

 

Drinks at the House of Commons

We are hoping to organise a drinks party for all members of the Mount House Association in the House of Commons during April 2012. Details will be added once the event is confirmed.

 

Trees planted in memory of Phillip Moore and Geoff Whaley

The Mount House Association planted a tree (Ginko Biloba) in memory of Philip Moore, a teacher from 1964 - 1982 and a second tree (Davidia Involucrata) in memory of Geoff Whaley 1989 - 2011. These will be recorded in the large catalogue of trees that has just been made, showing the contents of the Mount House grounds, a copy of which will soon be available on the website.

 

 

Unveiling Event in Memory of Geoff Whaley

There was a morning gathering in the Front Hall of Mount House followed by an unveiling of a memorial to Geoff Whaley on Saturday 22nd October. This has been positioned adjacent to the long jump pit.

The event was attended by some 250 old and current pupils, parents, governors, current and old colleagues.