NORWICH SCHOOL LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE WATCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY

March 9, 2023

Norwich School is delighted to launch a bespoke watch exclusively designed by an ON for ONs. Rachel Lightfoot, Development Manager, tells us more...

"In October 2022 Giles opened Bremont HQ in Henley on Thames to the ON Society for a tour of their HQ and now with 20 years of British watch making under their belts we are delighted to launch this Bremont ON watch to our NS community.

We share with you the finished design of our exclusive Bremont ON watch. I hope you will agree that ON Giles English (88-92) has created a classic ON dress watch we will love for years to come.

This limited production BREMONT AIRCO ON watch is available exclusively to ONs (Old Norvicensians). I am also delighted to tell you that a small donation per watch sold will go towards bursaries, gifting a transformational Norwich School education to a future ON.

You will see that our Bremont ON watch has some rather tasteful features. Please look closely... on the face you will find the subtle NS houses around the edge, BREMONT ON & the year the school was founded in 1096.

And on the rather beautiful open case back of the watch, you will find Norwich School. And a place for an engraving of your choice where you can personalise the watch for you."

To find out more or to place your order please get in touch: rlightfoot@norwich-school.org.uk or 01603 728431.

ABOUT BREMONT

Bremont is an award-winning British luxury watch brand, manufacturing mechanical watches in Henley-on-Thames, England. Bremont is making considerable investment with its UK watch making and manufacturing and in 2021 opened The Bremont Manufacturing & Technology Centre, a new state-of-the-art 35,000 sq ft purpose-built mechanical watch manufacturing centre enabling the full machining and manufacturing of Bremont’s watches.

Co-Founded by brothers Nick & Giles English (ON: 88-92) in 2002, Bremont has made a substantial impact on the watch making industry in a very short period of time. The brand remains true to its original principles of: aviation and military, British engineering and adventure. As well as manufacturing watches for some of the most exclusive military squadrons around the world, Bremont continues to play an influential role in revitalising the British watch industry, the birthplace of numerous timekeeping innovations still used today. The brand is now in the top handful of chronometer producers in the world. www.bremont.com

Nick and Giles English Biographies

Nick English

Nick English, born and raised in Cambridge, graduated with a First in Geography from Manchester University in 1993. During his teen years, he spent many hours flying and displaying historic aircraft with his father, Euan, and his brother, Giles. He also flew with the RAF as an undergraduate.

Nick qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 1996 and then went on to work at Henry Ansbacher, a corporate finance boutique. These years were interrupted by a horrific vintage plane crash in 1995 where, whilst practicing for an air-display, his father, Euan, died and Nick broke over 25 bones. This was a tipping point in Nick and his brother’s lives. They left the City in 1997 to restore and maintain historic aircraft in a business their father had set up as a hobby.

Whilst surrounded by these historic aircraft, Nick and Giles set up a secure digital media distribution business in 1999 called Virtue Broadcasting Plc, which they took public in 2001.

It was in 2002 that Nick and Giles decided to pursue one of the main passions in their lives – mechanical watches. Fully appreciative of the role Great Britain had played in the evolution of horology over the centuries, they set out to re-establish the British watchmaking industry and so The Bremont Watch Company was born. The watches, all of which were chronometers, took five years of development and in July 2007 their first watches were sold in the UK.

Having since moved to ‘The Wing’ in Henley-on-Thames – a state-of-the-art manufacturing and technology facility which opened in 2021, Bremont have brought horological manufacturing back to Britain on a scale not seen since the 1970s. Today, The Wing has enabled the brand to grow production exponentially and launch its first manufactured movement series The ENG 300.

Bremont watches are now sold all over the world through Bremont’s own brand boutiques, online and a significant wholesale network. The brand has won numerous awards and prides itself on manufacturing watches on British shores.

Nick lives with his wife and three children near Henley-on-Thames.

Giles English (88-92)

Giles English grew up in and around aviation and inherited both this passion and the love of engineering from his father. Unsurprisingly, he then went on to read General Engineering and Naval Architecture at Southampton University. As a post-grad he joined Williams de Broë Corporate Finance, advising them on IPOs for engineering businesses.

In 1995, Giles’ life changed drastically after he witnessed his father and brother suffer a terrible plane crash; his father died but his brother Nick survived against all odds. Upon Nick’s recovery, Giles made the decision to leave corporate finance and, with his brother, went to rescue North Weald Flying Services: an Essex-based family business restoring historical aircraft.

It was here that Nick and Giles realised they worked well as a team and started to formulate a plan to launch Bremont – a British watch making business built around their love of engineering, developed from a family love of horology passed down through generations. Knowing this was going to be a long and costly process, Nick and Giles raised funds by starting a business pioneering audio and video on the internet; Virtue Broadcasting listed on the Stock Exchange in 2000 and, at the time, Giles was the youngest Director on the UK Stock Exchange.

Bremont was founded in 2002 with Giles and Nick as founding shareholders, but it was not until 2007 that the first watches were available to buy, having spent five years in development. The brothers had to mortgage their houses and commit everything to a business that everyone thought was impossible.

Passion, dedication and a will to succeed have grown Bremont to be a top 10 chronometer producer worldwide, with retail coverage spanning four continents. In 2022, the business launched its first movement series to be manufactured in the UK – the ENG300 series – facilitated by the move to The Wing, Bremont’s Manufacturing & Technology Centre in Henley-on-Thames.

With Giles and Nick’s unique approach to product and marketing, they have built a strong business in a very crowded market, returning watchmaking at scale to Britain after half a century of absence.

In 2013 Giles was himself in a serious aeroplane crash when his 1930s Gipsy Moth suffered engine failure mid-flight. On forced landing, Giles broke his back in multiple places, but has fortunately gone on to make a full recovery. His enthusiasm for life is stronger than ever.

Giles lives with his wife and three daughters in Northamptonshire.

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Bandfest 2025 Rocks the Blake

By Eleanor Lewis • July 3, 2025

After months of hard work, the Norwich School rock bands took to the stage for an exciting and diverse evening of entertainment. Hitting the stage first with Iron Maiden’s The Trooper, Bad News (now to be known as Silverhand ) delivered a blistering opening to the event, featuring impeccable twin guitar harmonies and an expertly delivered solo from brothers Dan and Jacob Cracknell. We were then treated to an eclectic mix of songs, showcasing the strengths of each member of the band, highlights being a lyrical guitar solo from Tommy Cahir in Supersonic by Oasis and captivating vocals from Ben Griffiths in When the Sun Goes Down by Arctic Monkeys. EGG (Electric Guitar Group) - 12 guitars, bass and drums and a rousing performance of Enter Sandman by Metallica. A gentle start from Merlin Perrow, an exciting build up from Oscar Cook (drums) and Rita Kherbeck (bass) leading to a thrilling riff with full band and an intense solo skilfully played by Alex Singh, Sahib Wahiwala and Sam Paretti. The group was tight, exciting and very loud! A complete change of mood from Rhapsode , with a skilful and atmospheric performance of Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap (beautiful vocals from Maleeya Watts), a gorgeous rendition of the acoustic hit Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae, played skilfully on acoustic guitar by Sahib Wahilwala, and finishing their set with a mellow vibe - Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers, featuring a memorable guitar solo from Sam Paretti and a solid rhythmic foundation from drummer Lev Oyelakin. To finish the event, a diverse and exciting set from Orion for their final performance. Paranoid by Black Sabbath was a strong opener, featuring a powerful performance by Charlie Clover on guitar and the energetic stage presence of Ernie Howes on vocals, singing with Orion for the first time. The evening ended on a high with two more songs by Metallica, with powerful and dynamic drumming by Oscar Cook, exciting lead guitar work from Zach Baker, an exciting range of sounds from Ezra Collis on bass (from melodic and musical to rhythmic and powerful) and charismatic vocals from Summer Nesbitt. This was a great opportunity to hear these wonderful musicians - make sure you don’t miss it next year!

Rowing Report at the End of Trinity 2025

By Eleanor Lewis • July 2, 2025

The start of half term saw the Boat Club compete at the National Schools' Regatta at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. Despite challenging, windy conditions throughout the weekend, there were strong performances across the board. The J14 Octo reached the D Final; the Girls' J15 Eight, Boys' 1st VIII, and Girls' J18 Coxed Four all contested the C Finals. Both the J15 and J18 Boys' Coxed Fours raced in B Finals, with the J18s claiming a B Final win. The J16 Girls finished 6th overall in the A Final of the Coxed Fours — a fantastic achievement. The whole club then raced at the Star Regatta in Bedford, with 45 races contested across 31 events in a single day. There were notable victories for the Senior Boys, the J15 Girls, and Philippa Hingley in the J13 Singles. Despite torrential rain, it was a strong and spirited showing from NSBC. The Senior Boys also made the trip to Reading Regatta, where they had a successful day racing in smaller boats. The Coxless Four won both their events, along with a strong victory in the Coxless Pair. In addition to National Schools, Henley has been a major focus for the Senior crews this term. The Girls’ 1st VIII made history by becoming the first ever Norwich School girls' crew to race at both Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. With seven of the crew still eligible to race in the Junior event for two more years, their qualification experience sets a strong foundation for next season. At Marlow Regatta, the Boys’ 1st VIII and the Fawley Quad raced in a final push for pre-qualification to Henley Royal Regatta. The Boys' 1st VIII successfully qualified and face a tough draw against St Paul’s School on Tuesday — best of luck to them. On a representative level, Joseph Hawkes, James Howard, Ellie Thwaites, and Amelie Ivie competed in Pairs at the GB J16 Trials. Finishing 4th and 5th in the A Final, they narrowly missed out on selection but have set their sights on higher goals for next year. Looking ahead, Nicholas Conway will race at the GB U19 Final Trials and Crew Formation in July. We wish him the best of luck for a successful summer of racing. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all members of the Boat Club — and to our parents — for their dedication, hard work, and support both on and off the water throughout the year.

L6 Pupils Learn About Rugby Scholarships in the USA

By Eleanor Lewis • July 2, 2025

During the final Tuesday of term, a few rugby players who were interested in taking their game to a new level gathered in Upper King Street to hear a short presentation from Brendan McGroarty about the opportunities offered by American Universities to rugby players. This builds on Ava Wride-Cooper’s amazing achievement of a 100% woman’s rugby scholarship to Quinnipiac in Massachusetts. In his brief presentation, Brendan took us not just through the undergraduate experience but also how the sports scholarship system works and what it would be like to be a sports scholar at an American university by showing us a day in the life of a student in upstate New York. He also highlighted that this opportunity was not for the most elite players but those playing to a good standard at school and county level. Men and Women’s Rugby is one of the fastest growing varsity sports in the US. There were opportunities at the end to ask questions before starting the School day, inspired about what the future might bring. We hope to invite him back in the new academic year to build on this opportunity with the next generation of Norwich School rugby players.

5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight - Freya Simmonds (L6) Sets a Fundraising Challenge for Northern White Rhinos Conservation

By Eleanor Lewis • July 1, 2025

This Summer, Freya Simmonds (L6) had set herself a 5 Lake District Peak challenge to raise money for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya; this works to conserve the Northern White Rhino which on the verge of extinction. We asked Freya about her challenge and what it means to her below... Can you tell us a little bit about 5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight? 5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight is a fundraising challenge I’ve created to help save the northern white rhino from extinction. Over three days this summer, I’ll be hiking five of the Lake District’s highest peaks: Skiddaw, Crinkle Crags, Scafell Pike, Causey Pike, and Helvellyn in order to raise £1,000 for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on earth, where this functionally extinct species is cared for. However there is still hope to revive this species through IVF Conservation, and 35 pure embryos already exist and are ready to be implanted into a surrogate black rhino (rhino surrogacy has been successfully proven in 2023). It’s a way to combine my love of conservation, science, and the outdoors into something real and (hopefully!) impactful. Why did you decide to do this challenge? I first found out about the story of the northern white rhinos in 2018 when I read an article on the death of the last male northern white rhino (Sudan). As an aspiring vet, I was reminded of these rhinos when writing my independent project, on the role of vets in guiding breeding practices. When I found out that there are only two northern white rhinos left, and that both are female and can’t carry a pregnancy, I began researching the incredible science being used to try and bring them back, like stem cells, IVF, and surrogacy. I wanted to do something to support the work being done at Ol Pejeta and raise awareness that extinction isn’t always final, not if we fight for it. Have you ever done anything like this before? Every year my family and I go to the Lake District, or Wales to climb peaks as it is a beautiful way of combining a physical challenge with seeing the stunning landscapes of Britain, however I have never completed this number of peaks in such a short time, or climbed all of the highest peaks in a row. I’m combining the physical endurance of hiking multiple peaks with the emotional challenge of sharing a cause I care deeply about. It’s a huge step up, and I can’t wait. What are you most looking forward to? Reaching the top of Helvellyn on the final day will definitely be a highlight. There’s the challenge of striding edge, along with the Red Tarn near the summit you can swim in, and I think it’ll feel like such a celebration to finish there. I’m also really excited to share updates each day and bring people along for the journey. If it inspires even one person to care more about conservation, it’ll be worth it. Probably the most exciting part will be donating the money to Ol Pejeta and then following on their IVF journey to hopefully result in a new calf born in the near future. What have you done to prepare for this? The most time consuming part of this fundraiser was the IVF conservation research I have carried out over the past few months. I’ve created a timeline, mapping the rhinos journey from 4 rhinos in 2009 to 2 since 2018. I made the route, built a fundraising page, created a logo and progress tracker, as well as contacting conservationists, vets, and local media to increase awareness of this species. In terms of physical training, practicing endurance is key as 5 peaks in 3 days is no easy task. To find out more about Freya's challenge please click here!

The Return of DepARTment to the Crypt

By Eleanor Lewis • July 1, 2025

Coming back to the Crypt from 12-20 July is the exhibition, depARTment. This exhibition brings together the creative work of the Norwich School Art and Design staff. The pieces on display are a selection of outcomes that we undertake alongside our teaching, something we consider vital in supporting both our pupils and our own creative integrity. Within this exhibition you will encounter artwork which could be considered our main individual creative practice alongside more experimental approaches, work out of discipline and also work in progress. As a department we teach our pupils across a wide range of media and disciplines; the work on display echoes this approach. Opening times: 12 - 20 July Monday - Friday, 12:00 - 17:00 Saturday - 10:00 - 17:00 Closed Sundays. Free admission. Poster design - Liza Goian

Athletics Achievements for the Trinity Term

By Eleanor Lewis • July 1, 2025

This term has been a truly outstanding one for Norwich School Athletics, with brilliant achievements across all age groups and events – both for teams and individuals. We began the term with a superb showing at the City Schools Athletics Championships in early May, delivering our best set of results in recent years. Over 70 athletes from L4 - U5 represented the school, achieving a host of top-three finishes. Impressively, more than 20 pupils qualified for the Norfolk Schools Championships. At the Norfolk Schools event, our athletes continued to excel, with five pupils earning places at the Anglian Schools Championships. There, we witnessed standout performances: Minnie Richardson (M5) impressed in the shot put after returning from injury. Noah Buchan (L5) smashed his 800m personal best by an incredible 10 seconds. Jennifer Mardle (L5) claimed double gold in the high jump and shot put. Jennifer’s stellar season continued as she, alongside her sister Izzy Mardle, achieved the qualifying standard for the prestigious English Schools Championships, taking place in Birmingham 11-12 July. Meanwhile, four Norwich School athletes – Arthur Lamb, Rory Normanton, Jennifer Mardle and Izzy Mardle – were selected to represent Norfolk at the Regional Round of the English Schools Combined Events Championships in Corby. Across two demanding days, they competed in 22 events between them. In their debut, Arthur and Rory recorded multiple personal bests, particularly in the jumps, with Rory finishing as Norfolk’s top U15 boy, and Arthur close behind in 3rd. Izzy led the U20 women’s competition after day one, and despite an injury on day two, showed great determination to finish 3rd overall, securing a spot at the National Finals in September. Jennifer delivered five exceptional performances to become East Region Champion in the U15 girls’ category, beating 26 athletes to claim the title and a place at Nationals alongside her sister. We also took a team of 31 athletes to the East Region Prep Schools Championships in Bedford in early June. Selection alone was an achievement, with entry standards in place. The day was filled with heart-warming team spirit and support, and three pupils progressed to the National Prep Schools Finals in Birmingham on 2nd July: Ophelia Martin (L4) took gold in both the sprint hurdles and long jump. Sam Tricky (L4) ran a phenomenal 800m. Rory Normanton (U4) continued his excellent season in the triple jump. With our junior athletes, we trialled a new 1 vs 1 school athletics format, hosting a ‘QuadKids’ competition with Saint Felix School. Over 50 pupils enjoyed taking part in all four events – 100m, 800m, long jump, and shot put. This exciting format is something we hope to roll out further in Trinity Term 2026. Overall, it’s been a powerful and inspiring term for Norwich School Athletics. We congratulate all our athletes on their hard work, success, and the pride they’ve brought to the school. The future of athletics here is incredibly bright.

Middle 5 Classics pupils act out a sacrifice to the Roman Gods

June 30, 2025

On Monday 1 July, Middle 5 Classics pupils took the opportunity to put what they've learned in the classroom to the test by acting out a Roman ritual sacrifice! The esteemed Pontifex Maximus led the proceedings on a baking hot morning as the gathered participants processed to the altar with their chosen beast - an unfortunate horse. The sacrifice was mercifully swift, with ketchup and a Swiss roll thankfully standing in for blood and entrails. After an anxious wait, Neptune and Minerva gave their approval of the ceremony to much celebration. Below, our Classics Department offer their very own DIY guide, so that you too can appease ancient deities from the comfort of your own home. Please note: no real animals were harmed during this ceremony, only ones wearing full Games kit.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears – Julius Caesar at the Bishop’s Palace Steps

By Eleanor Lewis • June 30, 2025

A stellar cast on 29 and 30 June 2025 delivered a mesmerising open-air production of Julius Caesar as part of Norwich School’s 2025 Gather programme. In warm summer sunshine and against the impressive backdrop of the medieval Bishop’s Palace steps, an experienced Sixth Form cast delivered a stunning performance. Under the assured direction of Mr Bromley and Miss Wright, a portentous atmosphere of brutal assassination, gruesome suicide, Machiavellian plotting and civic upheaval was effectively created. A decidedly sinister soundtrack and novel stage-setting served to unsettle large and appreciative audiences each night. Even the cathedral peregrines overhead sounded their raucous approval as the dying Caesar bellowed out “Et tu, Brute”. We saw many brave and committed individual performances echoing Shakespeare’s lines from the play: “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste of death but once." Huge congratulations must go to the accomplished cast for delivering such a memorable performance as a result of many weeks of hot, post-exam rehearsals. Lower 6 pupils are already showing such incredible dramatic talent for next year and it was a suitably fitting way for Upper 6 drama scholars to bow out on a well-deserved high.

The Great Punt Run

By Eleanor Lewis • June 30, 2025

"This year I had the pleasure of taking part in the Great Punt Run for the second time. The Great Punt Run is a full day of sailing where we aim to complete 50 nautical miles, sailing in a classical Norfolk punt from Whitlingham to Barton broad via Lowestoft. It was a challenge but the weather this year made it an incredibly enjoyable experience, due to the stable breeze and warm sunshine. We complete this amazing challenge in support of the Nancy Oldfield trust who support disabled people experience sailing on the broad and other water sporting activities they wouldn't otherwise have access to, and amazingly this year we managed to raise a whopping £1,500 pounds! I am so happy I got to support this incredible charity once again alongside another school pupil - Ralph Leftley and members of the Nancy Oldfield charity, and Mark Elson helming throughout the day. The day consisted of an early 7am launch and pressed on for 13 hours ending roughly around 8pm at the Trusts home centre. It was incredibly rewarding to be involved yet again and working with a new group of people was extremely fun. My favourite part of the day was being able to trapeze (with a harness on o flatten the boat) for a long tack across the open Breydon Water which was the closest point to the sea of our route. Luckily for us the wind and the sun held out until our return home, keeping us going all the way to the end. A big thank you to all that supported us and I can't wait to hopefully continue supporting this amazing charity in the future!" - Rosie Pank, L6

Ski Success at the End of the Academic Year

By Eleanor Lewis • June 30, 2025

On Monday 30 June, while the temperature was 34 degrees outside, our Mixed Ski Team was racing in the snow centre at Hemel Hempstead in the ESSKIA indoors school championships in a refreshing -4 degrees! Norwich School skied cleanly in round 1 but found ourselves in 2 nd place. Knowing some risks needed to be taken we upped our pace in the second and more difficult course to take the title by a very narrow 0.09 seconds – ski racing can be determined by very fine margins! Well done to the team of Rufus Snelling, Antonia Watson, Charlie Barker and Sophie Slinger for winning the title, and also to Rufus and Antonia who were the fastest Male and Female competitors in the mixed competition.