FOOTBALL FOCUS: THE 2023 REPORT FROM ARTHUR TURNER (U6N), 1ST XI CAPTAIN

December 12, 2023

Upper Sixth pupil and 1st XI Captain, Arthur Turner, tells of how the team had become the first Norwich School side to reach the third round of the Boodles Cup;



"After a strong 22/23 season, the 1st XI football team looked to better their tally this year. To begin the term, we played our customary season opener against the ON’s. The game was comfortable and helped to establish on-field connections, as we came away as 3-0 winners, including a debut goal from Ethan Buskell. Our first competitive game came 10 days later against Wymondham College, a school that we had not beaten in more than 15 years. However, excitement was high as we felt as though this statistic needed altering. The first half was tight, with few chances and neither side able to open their account. Yet this was soon to change. As the second half began, it became transparent that we were the better side. After scoring 5, including a brilliant brace by Theo Demetriou, the 1st XI had broken their 15 year duck.


Our next game came against Bedford Modern, in the first round of the ISFA Boodles Cup. This competition is the pinnacle of any schoolboy football season, so to state that the boys were up for the game would be an underwhelming statement. We started strongly, dominating the play and tempo of the game. Bedford had no reply to our incessant attacks as we netted 6 goals with no reply. A tremendous victory secured our spot in the second round, a feat only done once before. After this rampant display, it was clear to us that this squad had the ability to surpass the high standards set by last year’s side.


Our next opponents were Gresham’s. We knew that we had the capability to beat them but a reduced squad forced players into positions they were not familiar with. We knew that complacency was not an option. A cagey first half held the score at 1-1. Some halftime substitutions were made and the second half was set in motion with all still to play for. An early penalty won by Joe Crotty allowed for Jofie Philpott to calmly slot it away, and bring us the lead. Two more goals from Jofie, including an audacious lob, brought up his hattrick. These were swiftly followed by two goals from super sub Artem Danylchuk and a late consolation goal for Gresham’s, to end the game 6-2 to the good. This stood us in good stead to play against St John’s Leatherhead the following week, in the second round of the ISFA Boodles Cup.


Upon the morning of the match against St John’s, the anticipation was stratospheric. The chance of any nerves settling was not helped by the bus being 1 hour late. Nonetheless, the boys were driven by the thought of “what could be if we were to win this game”. Three and a half hours later, we all walked out to examine the pitch. Soon after, St Johns arrived and as they passed the pitch to the changing room, Lawrence Williams expertly placed a practice penalty into the top corner, which we were sure struck fear into our opponents. 45 minutes later, the warmup was finished and the game was set. As anticipated, St John’s were a technically very good side, having most of the possession for the opening thirty minutes. However, a flurry of goals inside the final 10 minutes of the first half, had us 3-0 up with half the game yet to play.


We were in a perfect position to create Norwich School History. At the break, Mr Cole kept us humble, to ensure we were not satisfied with the current scoreline. The second half commenced and within 5 minutes, Oliver Rudling, towering above the Leatherhead defence, powered a header past the opposition keeper. 15 minutes passed and young starlet Ryan Gray sealed our victory with 2 more goals. The game had finished 6-0 and history was made. We had become the first Norwich School side to reach the third round of the Boodles Cup.

Eagerly we waited for the draw on the bus journey home, tension at its highest. And then, it was announced … Repton. As Mr Cole described it, Norwich School vs Repton is like Wycombe Wanderers vs Manchester City. It would need an almighty upset for us to progress to Round 4. 2 weeks of half term rolled by and we returned to face Culford on the first weekend back. It was fair to say that we were rusty. An ugly, inelegant game, with two of the most bizarre goals ever witnessed helped us to another 6-0 win. And then, just 3 days later, we lined up to face Repton, the biggest game ever for our football programme. In the changing room, the suspense was suffocating. Yet, a pre match message from Yaya Toure reduced the nerves and we moved out onto the field. The game began and Repton had all the possession, the score only held level by our resilience and work ethic. Midway through the first half, Ryan Gray was able to pounce on a Repton error to run through and slot his strike past the keeper to put us a goal ahead.


Ten minutes passed, and a quick counter attack earned us a corner. Jonathan Udeh swung the ball in and an unmarked Luie Valentine headed home to make it 2-0 just before halftime. The second half began as the first had ended. After some brilliant interplay, Ryan was in behind the Repton defence and expertly bagged his brace to put us 3-0 with 30 minutes to play. The dream was on. A quick response from Repton put the score at 3-1 after some scrappy defending.


Then, two crucial injuries to both Luie Valentine and our Captain Arthur Turner left the game imbalanced. To come on in such a game and be able to adapt to its tempo is almost impossible. A well worked goal from Repton held the game at 3-2 with only ten minutes to play. The possession was all Repton, our defence making clearance after clearance, doing everything to prevent another shooting chance with Noah Rastrick putting in some crunching challenges. Only a few minutes left on the clock and Repton scored a quick double to give them the win and knock us out of the competition. It was heartbreak for the boys. All the effort seemingly amounting to nothing. Nevertheless, the team can be immensely proud of how they performed. To push such a strong side as we did, is no mean feat.


The objective now moved to remaining unbeaten in the rest of our fixtures. The weekend following, an 11 man squad, with two sustained injuries, faced Felsted. The boys struggled to find rhythm, only managing to score 1 each half. A disappointing result with the game finishing 2-2. With our final game of the season being against Langley, after cancellations from both the Perse and Woodbridge, we looked to end the season on a high. A sharp start from Langley had them 1-0 up inside a minute, an exact repeat of last season’s game. However, we turned the game on its head, as Ryan scored an incomprehensible 4 goals before his departure at halftime. In the second half, cultured build up play from Arthur and Luie created opportunities for us but we lacked the finishing touch. Two goals from Langley finished the game 4-3 ending a tremendously successful season for the 1st XI following a record breaking run in the ISFA Boodles Cup and an unbeaten campaign in the regular season fixtures.


A huge thanks must go to Mr Wylie and the schoolboy Pep Guardiola, Mr Cole, as without them, this team wouldn’t have reached these newfound heights. Also, a massive congratulations to U5 star striker Ryan Gray, who has received a scholarship at Cambridge United. We wish him the best for his future in Football. Moreover, congratulations must go to U6 members, Jasper Bird, Oliver Rudling, Luie Valentine, Arthur Turner, Jofie Philpott as their contribution over the three years on the football programme has been monumental. Finally, good luck to next year’s captain, Joel Field and the rest of the team for the 24/25 season." 

September 24, 2025
The school's first female peer-mentoring meeting of the academic year brought together fourth form students with sixth form mentors in an initiative designed to promote sisterhood and establish a strong sense of community within our female cohorts. During the session, younger students shared their academic and personal goals for the year in small discussion groups, with sixth form mentors offering guidance and encouragement drawn from their own experiences. The collaborative atmosphere allowed students to explore practical strategies for achieving their aspirations while building meaningful cross-year relationships. The session concluded with discussions surrounding the name of the programme, with students proposing to honour an inspirational woman who holds significance for them. This programme aims to foster positive female role models within the school while empowering students to support one another's growth and success. Regular meetings throughout the year will continue and this initiative represents the school's ongoing commitment to developing confident and brave young women.
By Eleanor Lewis September 22, 2025
On Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 September, 28 pupils from the Friedrich-Leopold-Woeste-Gymnasium visited Norwich School as part of their Languages trip to Norwich. On Monday, they were treated to a tour of the school in German by our U5 GCSE class and on Tuesday, the two classes were excited to see each other again and spent the afternoon speaking German and English to each other at a Language cafe in UKS, where they ended the afternoon by playing board games together. The pupils enjoyed getting to know each other and speaking each other's languages. They will keep in contact privately now that the German group has departed. Quotes from pupils are as follows: 'We were laughing with them the whole time!' 'We made some strong connections with them and will talk with them online' 'It was very nice to meet them and make some new friends!' 'It was very enjoyable and a lovely opportunity to practise our German and make new friends.' 'It was nice to meet and talk to them while practising our German.' 'We went to the city with them and loved it!' 'We learnt so much about their home in Germany.'
By Eleanor Lewis September 19, 2025
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27) There’s a saying that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Years ago I met someone who doesn’t like that saying very much. That’s because his job is to design book covers. I watched him lead a really interesting seminar where he showed us some of his designs. He explained how his artwork was trying to sum up – on just one piece of laminated, folded paper - the message and themes of all the other pages in the book. Just occasionally, some book covers do this by choosing a key phrase from the book and putting it in large letters on the front. A famous example is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, where some editions had a cover that read: ‘Big Brother is Watching You’. If you know the story then you’ll recognise that as the sinister propaganda message that no-one can get away from. Some copies of the Lord of the Rings had printed on the front ‘One ring to rule them all’. And The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams had just two words on the cover of some editions – ‘DON’T PANIC’. It begins to make sense when you discover that some of the characters in the story are using a space travel guide (the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) which is designed to help you through any difficult situation. And what makes the guide so successful and popular is that its first principle is on the front cover. Whatever happens – DON’T PANIC. Have a look at the cover of your hymn book for a moment. What do you think? We’ve gone for a pretty classic look. The name of our school in gold embossed lettering, and the school crest complete with a motto in Latin for a classy finish. Sometimes I wonder – entirely hypothetically – how we might redesign the cover. If you were going to put a few words on the front, one essential message that everyone in the school was going to see at the beginning of every day, what would it be? Here are a few suggestions I got from people around the school, some more serious than others: · “Show Love” · “Shine Bright!” · “Treat others as you would like to be treated” · “Do some work in your study periods” · “Wake Up!” Actually, I think the words ‘DON’T PANIC’ might work here too. I hope you’re realising, now that we’re a few weeks into term, that panicking is never worth it – and if you’re tempted to panic then sharing your problem and talking to someone almost always helps. Maybe that would be good to remember at the start of the school day. This also reminds me of one of my favourite passages from the Bible, the words of Jesus we heard just now: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  I’ve had times myself where those words from the Sermon on the Mount have given me some perspective. Perhaps part of that passage would work well on the front of our hymn books – that wouldn’t be a bad thing to keep remembering. We’re not about to reissue the school hymn books with a new cover any time soon. But there’s nothing stopping you imagining a message on the front of the hymn book – whatever you need that message to be. “Don’t panic.” “Do not worry.” “Show love.” Why not have a few helpful words in your mind’s eye every time you pick up these blue books in the morning?
By Sonja Mitchell September 19, 2025
As part of Heritage Open Days we were delighted to open the Air Raid Shelter and Norwich School Chapel to visitors this month.
By Eleanor Lewis September 18, 2025
Creative Arts are strongly supported at Norwich School, and this was very much in evidence with the return to site of the well-respected local Creative Arts group, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas). For many years we have hosted their ground-breaking talks in the Blake Studio, and we were delighted to welcome them back on 18 September 2025. Our talk was introduced by Lisa Newby, recently appointed Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Norfolk Museums, based at the Castle. She introduced us to Essex-based multimedia artists Daniel & Clara . Since meeting in 2010, the pair have dedicated themselves to a shared life of creative experimentation, working across moving image, photography, performance and ‘mail-art’ to explore the nature of human experience, the natural world and our perception of reality. With work recently on display at Norwich Castle Museum, this was a welcome trip to Norfolk for them and one which saw them entertain an audience of pupils, staff, alumni, n-cas members and local creatives with a visually arresting talk, including some striking images and poetic prose accompaniment. Of great interest were the selection of their short films that showcased their love of the natural world through landscapes, intriguingly crafted taxidermy imagery and appealing sound archives. In the ensuing Q&A the audience seemed very taken by their reflections on how up-and-coming creative artists, such as themselves, have to work hard to earn a living through constant innovation and multimedia versatility. Working with Norwich Castle and commissions from n-cas were undoubted highlights, readily acknowledged by Daniel & Clara. N-cas host regular talks at Norwich School. Their next talk is on 14 October – see: The Mike Toll Film Archive - three short films featuring David Jones, Michael Chapman and Oliver Creed — ncas . All those interested in the creative ats are welcome.  The next talk on site in our culturally enriching series of lectures with partner organisations sees the welcome return on 07 October of the Royal Geographical Society. Major General (Retired) Rob Thomson CBE DSO of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest mine-clearing NGO, will discuss how a changing geopolitical order marked by great power competition, increased conflict, and the retreat of multi-lateralism is affecting human development and security. See: Clearing a path through the new world disorder . All those interested in the natural world and geopolitics are very welcome.
By Eleanor Lewis September 12, 2025
Lower Twos had a wonderful Stone Age Day, immersing themselves in activities such as tool-making, fishing techniques, and learning about the hides. They built a fire, cooked fish over it, which they all then tried, and some even bravely tried the eyeballs! Using tools and instruments made from bone, the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are eager to continue exploring this era in their Topic lessons throughout the Michaelmas term.
By Eleanor Lewis September 11, 2025
Norwich School has an established tradition of working with partner organisations to host high-quality lectures on our site. We are particularly proud of our links with the prestigious Norfolk Cambridge Society, whose long-running series of 23 lectures has been amazing. The 24 th public lecture took place in the Blake Studio on 11 September 2025 in front of a capacity audience comprising school pupils, parents, staff, alumni, and interested members of the city’s intelligentsia. It was of particular interest to the Norwich School community that the speaker was one of our own: Old Norvicensian Professor Charles Forsdick , Drapers Professor of French at the University of Cambridge and Lead Fellow for Languages at the British Academy. He has published widely on travel writing, colonial history and literature, penal culture and slavery, all reflective of his lifelong humanitarianism. His topic was “The Role of Language Skills in Building a Better World“ in which he discussed the growing importance of language skills in an increasingly complex and dangerous world. Charles is well known as an academic of great insight and erudition, combined with natural talent as a brilliant communicator, a lively sense of humour and a profound social conscience. His love of languages has firm roots in the teaching he received at Norwich School. Indeed, his hometown of East Dereham featured prominently in his talk, and his links to the school and to Norfolk remain strong, Following his talk and over refreshments a lively debate continued, discussing a wide variety of thorny issues brought up in his talk. These included the short-sightedness of monolingualism, the value of languages to improving vaccine take-up during the pandemic, our woeful language proficiency versus our European neighbours and challenges with current grade boundaries in language A Levels. It was a pleasure welcoming the Norfolk Cambridge Society and an illustrious speaker of such calibre on site for such a compelling event. We greatly look forward to next term’s lecture to take place on 5 February 2025: How AI Works and How it will Transform our Lives given by Neil Lawrence , DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, Senior AI Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute and Visiting Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Sheffield. Booking is now open, and tickets are selling fast. See this link: Lecture: How AI Works and How it will Transform our Lives – Norfolk Cambridge Society . - Jonathan Pearson, Development Director ( jpearson@norwich-school.org.uk )
By Eleanor Lewis September 11, 2025
Middle 5 pupil, Antonia Christophi, tells us all about the dance workshop and theatre trip that took place earlier this term. On Thursday 11 September M5 and L5 pupils who had an interest in dance and musical theatre had the privilege of receiving a musical theatre workshop. This was run by Lauren she was an excellent instructor with a high level of energy that kept all of us going after a long hard-working day at school. Lauren taught us a dance from the musical ‘The Wild Party’ using the song ‘A Wild, Wild Party’. The workshop though challenging it was also an enjoyable and uplifting way to end the school day. After our workshop Miss How and Miss Smith took us all to watch the amazing dance production of The Midnight Bell, produced and choregraphed by Matthew Bourne through his company new adventures. The production of The Midnight Bell was a modern ballet inspired on the novel written by Partick Hamilton. This production was set in late 1920s in Soho and Fitzrovia London which presents the tale of several interconnected characters who are either employees or regulars at the pub ‘The Midnight Bell’. This production had an extraordinary representation of schizophrenia and other challenges that was civilians were faced with at the time; such as prostitution and homophobia. This was represented with the regulars at the pub displaying the secretiveness and hurt being attracted to those of the same gender would bring at that age period or how prostitution meant having to give your self away to keep living though other women would look down on you and men would never see you. This production was truly a life changing insight on how many people lived without being accepted or not wondering what is your consciousness or real life whilst all being communicated through precise and graceful movements that can express more than words could define. These agile movements inspired many of Norwich Schools young dancers to use more emotion to communicate through our dance.
By Eleanor Lewis September 7, 2025
On the first Sunday of term new pupils and their families were greeted with refreshments and invited to a Welcome Service in the cathedral. The reflective words of evening prayer were accompanied by an poignant address from the Head, Steffan Griffiths, and two pieces beautifully sung by Norwich School’s Chapel Choir. Various pupils led the readings and placed familiar objects from school life on the cathedral’s altar during the prayers, expressing their hopes for the year ahead. The service was a chance to sit back and reflect but also to look ahead to an exciting term and academic year. We hope everyone enjoyed the service and that our Norwich School families had a taste of what goes on in our services and assemblies.
By Eleanor Lewis September 5, 2025
On Friday 5 September, we were honoured to welcome Tom Little KC. as guest speaker for Prizegiving 2025. Tom is one of the most senior and respected King’s Counsel in the country. He is now the First Senior Treasury Counsel, where he frequently appears in Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in cases of general public importance. An illustrious career has seen him secure successful prosecutions in some of the country’s most high profile and challenging criminal cases, including the appalling kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 and the brutal murders of sitting MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. He is also a former pupil at Norwich School, an ON, and enjoys close links to Norfolk. We followed up with Tom after Prize Giving….. When were you at Norwich School? From 1982 to 1991. What House were you in? Coke What did you study for A Level and what did you go on to study at University? History, English and Politics. I studied History at Nottingham University before then undertaking the Law Conversion Course. Can you tell us a few career highlights since leaving school? Being appointed Treasury Counsel in 2012, taking silk in 2017 and the successful prosecution of Wayne Couzens in 2021. What was your fondest memory of being a pupil at NS? Success and camaraderie on the cricket pitch including taking 8 wickets against Culford. What were your greatest life lessons learnt whilst at school? The importance of hard work, independence and teamwork. Are you still in touch with friends you made at the school? Yes, with a number of them including my oldest friend Oliver Duval who I have known since we were less than a year old and whom I see regularly. Returning as a visitor to the school for Prizegiving, what are the biggest changes you noticed? An even greater range of extra-curricular activities, the clear success of the school and positive advantage that the school is not just an all boys school as it was in my time. Looking back, what nuggets of advice would you give a young pupil today? There is nothing that you cannot do from Norwich School. You can read Tom Little’s inspirational address here: Good evening everyone. It is a huge privilege and honour to have been asked as an ON to present the prizes this evening. I left Norwich School 34 years ago but tonight it still seems like yesterday, that on a Summer’s Day in 1991 when the West Door opened and I processed down the Cathedral at the front for what I thought would be the last time in my life. I was carrying the Cross as a Chapel Choir Chorister. I had sung in that Choir for 8 years. Today I have been given the chance to turn the clocks back and to process yet again, but without a cassock, surplus and ruff but this time as your Principal Guest. 35 years ago was the last time I spoke in this Cathedral. It was in the Lower Sixth. I remember walking up those steps of the pulpit. It was a relatively daunting experience. But one thing that I want to say today and which is consistent with what I will say tonight is that Norwich School prepared me for that: whether it was singing as a chorister (and being told that you are singing a solo and even if you fluff it up you do it again and you do it well) or whether it was debating as part of the debating team or whether it was just part of school life and being tested and challenged by John Willday in Politics classes, whatever it may have been it prepared me to walk up those steps. I was a bit nervous. I don’t get quite so nervous these days, as the day job involves a bit of talking, but the school prepared me for that and for everything. You can and should all be very proud of your achievements and successes. They reflect so well not just on you, but also on your parents for the support and encouragement they give and to the efforts of this great school and its teachers and all of its support staff that have been referred to already. Indeed, it is a school that I am proud to have been part of all those years ago and without which I have no doubt that I would not have been able to have done what I have done in my career. It is the breadth of the education at this school and in particular the extra-curricular activities that set me on my way. I had, I think, looking back an assured Norwich School confidence. It is something that nearly all my friends from that year have. I have no idea where on earth it comes form, but we all have it. A belief, certainly that I had, that anything and everything was possible if you tried hard enough.  I should also say this – not only should you be proud, but you should all be pleased that things have moved on from the Prize Days in my day. Back then it occurred in the Summer, invariably on a boiling hot day in St Andrews Hall. Every pupil had to attend. It seemed like it took all day. There was always a very long speech from the principal guest who seemed to be some old buffer, who appeared to be as old as the hills and who went on and on. I cannot believe that I now run the risk of being regarded by you as some old buffer. I can promise you though that this will not be a long speech. Indeed, in those days there were only about a third as many prizes but it still went on forever. I was looking back in advance of speaking today about my time at Norwich School. I had thought I had only won two prizes but in fact I won three when I went back through the old Norvicensians. The prize that I had forgotten about is the only one that still exists. The Cater Prize for German. That is still going strong and which Lucy Hornbrook was awarded tonight. In those days it was a prize for effort in German rather than for achievement. I would not have won it if it had been for achievement. The other two prizes I won were the Stepheson Prize for Local History which I won twice. That does not exist anymore I see. You had to write a very long essay on Local History. I am fairly sure that I was the only entrant in the two years that I won because in the only other year I entered another pupil beat me. So, in reality you have all already beaten me in your achievements tonight by the prizes you have been awarded tonight. There is much nostalgia in much that I have said and am going to say. I was struck by the number of former teachers, and also Chris Brown as headmaster, whose names appear in the prizes that have just been awarded. They bring back memories in particular Mike Wilson and the wall bars. That is something that you would not understand unless you were at school in the 1980s and 1990s. There are three topics that I want to cover briefly. Like any good advocate should do, I will tell you what they are and then briefly develop the topic. First , and which has been trailed already, the importance of the law and the rule of law Second whatever you want to go on to do, thinking like an advocate will always help you Third why you should not ignore law as a potential career The importance of law and the rule of law The rule of law when I was at Norwich School was very much run by one man, Alan Arnold. He was the Deputy Headmaster who would put the fear of God into you whether you had done something wrong or even if you hadn’t done anything wrong. We live in uncertain and unsettled times. That means that respect for law and order and the rule of law is more important than ever. Lawyers are not universally popular and there are a number of aspects of the current application of the ECHR which are problematic. However, the rule of law is integral to our national and economic security. It prevents abuse of power, tyranny and potential chaos. It allows individuals and the Government to be held to account if appropriate. Lawyers and Judges are integral to that, and they are not the enemies of the people. Shakespeare in Henry VI Part 2 famously wrote “Kill all the lawyers”. In fact, that statement when properly understood in its context was supportive of lawyers because the need first of all to kill not just some of the lawyers but all the lawyers was by those wanting to seize power and control. Beware all criticisms of lawyers and Judge. Some may be justified but not all of them. Why thinking like an advocate is likely to help you whatever career you choose Advocates should think logically. It is the art of persuasion in order to win. Persuading the jury that the person I am prosecuting is guilty of the charge they face. That involves a lot of thought and preparation. Thinking about the points to make. The order in which to make them and the link between them. You also have to think about points the other side will make and seek to be able to answer or demolish them or to acknowledge they have force but why on this occasion they are not critically important. That logical approach is important when writing essays at A level and University, but it goes well beyond that. Many other jobs involve similar skills of presentation and persuasion. In some respects, I am no more than a salesman selling my case. So whether it is marketing or to win a contract or as a Politician or to encourage your fellow partners or staff about a particular course of action you should think like an advocate. Important decisions in life should be taken with careful and logical reflection having weighed up the pros and cons. You are also never too young to start to think like a lawyer. As I said it is integral to essay writing but even before that persuading your parents of why you really should be allowed to do something that you would like to do (like going to a party) but they are dubious or not happy about. Stroppiness and stamping your foot does not work in Court and it will not work at home. Think about the points that your parents will make about why you cannot do something and work out what logical points you can make against them. I appreciate by giving that last piece of advice I am running the risk of alienating a large part of the audience here this evening. Sorry. Don’t ignore the possibility of becoming a lawyer I was called to the Bar in 1997. So nearly 30 years ago. I can hand on heart say that I still love my job. That is rare in life. I still jump out of bed every morning looking forward to the day ahead and the rollercoaster world of prosecuting a murder or terrorism trial at the Old Bailey. It is enormously enjoyable and hugely rewarding professionally. We will always need lawyers and your success in whatever subject means you have the acumen to succeed as a lawyer. Whilst AI will have an impact in certain areas of law it will never replace the need for an advocate in Court nor many other legal roles. So do not be put off. And do not be put off by this. I always thought I wanted to go to Oxford. They rightly rejected me. But when I was at Nottingham University the careers advisor said ‘do not go to the Bar you did not go to Oxbridge and so you will not succeed’. That careers advisor did not appreciate that my Norwich School assuredness and drive and determination meant that I was not going to accept his negligent advice and so on I went. That is a reflection on the education I received at Norwich School. I want to finish where I started with some more nostalgia about the success that you can have at this school and importantly after this school. Rather than get an ABC car or more accurately a Veezu car at Norwich station when I arrived earlier today I walked along the river and over Bishop Bridge and into the Close. Past the Lower Close reminiscing on many cricket matches played on that field including my last catch in the Upper Sixth to win the game. Then up to the Barberolli Room recalling winning the House Music solo singing Competition (but having heard Lana sing this evening I would not have won against her) and then down to the Chapel. Then to the Refectory. I was concerned. The food in my day was awful. Much has changed at Norwich School including the food which this evening was excellent. Looking back now I loved my time here. Cherish your time at this great School but be assured that you can build on your successes today and be assured like me that anything and everything is possible at and after Norwich School.
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