Private Enterprise at Fox House

Some of our boys had an idea. "Why not", they pondered, "buy a deep fat fryer and sell doughnuts?" Well, the house staff could have told them that they would have to sell a lot of doughnuts to break even, and we could even have pointed out that messing about with a half gallon of boiling oil is not everyone's idea of a safe, fun activity for unsupervised young people. Instead, we said "neat idea! Can we help?"

Here, we see Tom Clarke preparing what appears to be a human brain for deep frying, but is in fact his own version of doughnut mix, carefully copied from an internet site and followed with all due attention to hygiene and animal welfare.

The fryer is now safely packed away in the house office, awaiting the next round of enthusiasm some time in the spring of 2017.

Scarborough is so bracing!

Yesterday saw the boarding community on their summer term outing to Scarborough. The weather was fairly kind, and we only got soaking wet once during the day. Activities included a trip to the art gallery, a climb up to the castle and an excellent lunch in our own little dining room at the "Princess", overlooking the harbour. In the afternoon, we played cricket on the beach, flew kites, and generally let the cares of the world drift away for a glorious late spring afternoon.

Alex contemplates a view from behind bars. We hope this won't be a useful preparation for later life, but you never know....

Fran, pulling strings as usual...

Really, can it get more perfect than this?



Yes it can! Rob Hudson takes his familiar stance for one more glorious innings.

Curious specimen discovered at low tide. Thrown back to sea in sympathy...

Three New Boarders for Fox

In addition to the recent arrival of Robert Hall, who joined our boarding community last term, Fox receives two new boarders this week in the form of Tom Thornton, new to Bootham completely, and Nathaneal Warwick - already a member of the upper schoolroom.

To all three we extend warm wishes and an even warmer welcome!

Evelyn House Easter Meal

All College I boarders went out to The Viceroy in York for an evening meal before the school breaks for Easter at the end of the week. A good night was had by all. Upon their return each received an Chocolate Easter egg. This was a night of relaxation before revision over the holidays and mock exams upon their return.

Quaker Pass the Parcel

This morning all boarders on site met for worship. This was the last meeting of the Spring Term and was held in the hall of Bootham School. Tracy Morley and Sarah Allen had arranged for a game of pass the parcel which had chocolate in each layer. The parcel was passed around without music and if the holder felt like opening a layer then they could.

The Year of the Rabbit Hops into Bootham

The boarders of Bootham and the Mount met last night to celebrate the end of the two week festival of Chinese New Year. Observers of Chinese culture will doubtless note the lateness of our Lantern Festival, but the real date fell just before half term, and coincided with a parents' evening at Bootham. Traditionally, lantern festival falls on the first full moon of the new year, and recalls the fooling of the Jade Emperor, who had decided to punish a city. His plans to rain down fire from Heaven leaked however, and the citizens were able to use lanterns, fireworks and bonfires to fool him into thinking that he had already done the deed. As a housemaster of some years' experience, I know how he must have felt.

For our version of the festival, we were treated to an excellent feast, prepared with great expertise by our head chef and his highly talented team. The res grads decorated the dining room in record time, prompting admiring remarks from many passers-by. Once again, Fran Piddlesden's craft activities provided wonder table decorations, and the pastel-coloured rabbits added a curiously Easterish feel to the evening. Everybody had a lovely time, and I hope very much that some new friendships between students of both schools might spring up as a result. A mixed team of Bootham and Mount college girls gave mellifluous voice to some readings on the topic of the lantern festival during the silence at the end of the meal.

Kirit Gordhandas and Phillip Price braved not only personal injury, but also eternal infamy as the destroyers of the J B library by launching a small fleet of lanterns at the conclusion of the evening. Fortunately neither happened, and the little bamboo craft soared up into the night sky to light the way home for our guests.

BBQ & Fireworks at Bootham School

The annual Bootham Boarding BBQ and firework display stated off with the usual burgers and soup on the grass outside of Fox House. Russell Newlands was the burger flipper this year and with the assistance of Mike Shaw made sure that everyone was fed and watered.

Then it was off to the football pitch to watch the well organised and firework display which was choreographed by Mike Shaw and his able assistant Robert Hudson.

The assembled crowd went wild as the light and sound show progressed. A huge round of applause followed the end of the display.

Below are a selection of the pictures of the "awesome display" to quote Will McDonald of Upper Schoolroom.