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Dates for Your Diary

The Management Trustees of Polam Hall Old Scholars' Association invite you to join us at the Annual Gathering and AGM
to be held at Polam Hall on

Friday 18th and Saturday 19th June 2010

President Gail Slater (nee Woollaston 1956 – 1968)

Good Cause for 2010
Computer equipment for the new Library extension

Please RSVP by Wednesday 9th June 2010, using the reply slip below.

PHOSA reply slip 2010 (9Kb)

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Programme:

Friday 18th June 2010

  • Cold buffet in Library prompt 7.00 p.m.
  • Trustees Meeting in Library 8.00 p.m.

Saturday 19th June 2010

  • Coffee in Liddiard Theatre from 10.00 a.m.
  • AGM in Theatre 10.30 a.m.
  • Followed by planting of the rose tree by the President
  • Lunch in Dining room 12.15 p.m.
  • Prize Giving and Celebration in Liddiard Theatre for Old Scholars and Lower Senior School 3.30 – 4.30 p.m.
  • O.S. Tea in Dining Room 4.30 p.m.
  • Short Trustees Meeting (in Library) at approx 5.00 p.m.

If you wish to send Greetings to those at the Gathering, please enclose these with your reply sheet, which can be downloaded above.

Anyone organising a group ‘reunion’ on Old Scholars’ Saturday who would like to book a table for lunch may do so when they reply. The tables seat 8 and there will be a free bottle of wine for each booked full table.

Non-members who wish to attend are most welcome, but if they would like to have any meals, they should be included as GUESTS OF MEMBERS, and any payment due added to member’s reply slip.

Reminders from the Hon.Treasurer
PHOSA and EXHIBITION Fund can reclaim 28 pence from the taxman for every £ you give.
Income Tax refunds due to individual taxpayers can now be paid to a nominated Charity. This can be done through your Self Assessment Tax Return received after 5th April, 2004. PHOSA’s unique code is: SAQ71GG.

We want to include your email address in the list of members. Please remember to enter it on your reply slip or email information@polamhall.com with your details.

Notice is hereby given of a proposed resolution that paragraph R of the constitution be amended by providing for notices to be sent to members by electronic means, where such member has access to the same.

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President's Lunch

Join us for good food and great conversation at the PHOSA lunch! This will be held on Saturday 25th September 2010 at the Brasserie in the Sage on the Quayside.

Lunch will be 12.30pm for 1.00pm, and the cost will be £14.95p for 2 courses and £19.95 for 3 courses.

If you are interested in attending details and menus will be sent out in September.

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Report from the President's Evening 2010

Telling Tales
Friday 23 April

Are we sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin… The President’s Evening, a ‘Telling Tales’ storytelling fundraiser, was very enjoyable. On entry, we were treated to great live music played by Mr. Walker and Mr. Mountain, while we collected a glass of wine and settled down into a crowded dining room, with the children seated in a semi-circle around the stage area.

PHOSA Telling Tales April 10

The tales got off to a great start with a rousing performance of the story of St George & the Dragon by Year 3, complete with a fantastic Chinese-style dragon operated by four pupils, with a very loud roar! Carrying on the school’s strong tradition of Shakespeare performance, we were treated to a superb recital of Sonnet 18 (‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’) by Year 4; Year 6W’s colourful and atmospheric staging of Macbeth meeting the witches on the battlefield; and from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a very funny and pacey play rehearsal by Bottom and the mechanicals by Year 6C, plus Helena’s monologue, beautifully acted by Cara Dawson. Pupils’ own favourite stories came to life with readings from Harry Potter by Charlotte Crowther, and from Horrid Henry by Lucy Coates and Frances Pearson.

PHOSA Telling Tales April 10


Local stories were also a theme, with Year 5’s exciting telling of the tale of the Sockburn Worm (with a somewhat gruesome ending!), and top class entertainment by Burt Draycott. His locally inspired witty banter and world championship-winning musical spoons performance were as polished as the shiny silver cutlery he played.


Among us roamed storybook characters – pirates, Snow White, Cinderella, Aladdin, princesses, and fairies, courtesy of the Infants who entered the fancy dress competition. The costumes were fantastic, and after much deliberation our star judges awarded Tess Hardy (Hermione Granger) as the runner up and Amelia Sawyer (Oliver Twist) as the winner.

PHOSA Telling Tales April 10

PHOSA Telling Tales April 10

We also were proud to announce the winners of the Telling Tales writing competition. The President was delighted to read such a rich variety of stories and poems. The strength of narrative voice, power of imagination and wit of the girls who wrote for us was truly astonishing, and we were thoroughly entertained by all of the entries. Choosing the winners was an extremely difficult task - although that only signified how high the standard of entries were, and how many different genres of storytelling and poetry were represented. However, a decision was reached and prizes were awarded to:

Years 3 & 4
1) Emily Wilson, 4M ‘Journey’
2) Matilda Weir, 3S ‘Dreams of Delight’

Years 5 & 6
1) Tessa Pelham, ‘Extract from The 3As.’
2) Erin Robinson, Arabella’s Adventure

Years 7 & 8
1) Indigo Hilton, ‘My Life’
2) Fiona Cunningham, Patient 1024

Jay Gunn came along to introduce us to two of his amazing animals. He told us how ancestors of the iguana he brought with him may have been the inspiration for storytale dragons, while the iguana behind him munched on a huge pile of salad… and the tablecloth! Jay also showed us his yellow python who was getting very cosy around a pupil’s neck while Jay told us that the longest snake ever found was around 33 feet long, and set us the challenge of trying to find a bigger one (rather you than me).

PHOSA Telling Tales April 10

The evening was rounded off with a tale by the teachers who showed us that teamwork (or should I call it pressganging?!) is the key to success – recruiting several members of the audience to help Mrs. Hirst pull up an Enormous Turnip.

Overall, the Old Scholars present, among with the parents and pupils, were treated to a highly amusing and interesting evening. The President would like to thank everyone: trustees, staff, pupils, guests and parents, who gave their time and talent to organise the event and to perform. Although the final figure hasn’t been confirmed yet, we have already raised a significant amount of money towards building an Outdoor Storyworld for the Junior School, where in the future we look forward to enjoying further tales staged, as they used to be on Shakespeare Lawn, outdoors in the beautiful school grounds.

PHOSA Telling Tales April 10

And the fun doesn’t stop here - a reading list detailing the books mentioned during the evening and in the ‘Telling Tales’ quiz will be published here on this webpage at the end of May, so that we can all take inspiration and pick a book to enjoy reading over the summer.


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Join Us!

Anyone interested in joining PHOSA can review subscription charges below and can contact the Secretary on phosa@polamhall.com

Subscription Rates: Annual Subscription £5.00
Annual Subscription for those over 60 years old £2.00
Life Membership £60.00
Life Membership for those over 60 years old £15.00
5 year membership £20.00

Lend A Hand

Are you able and willing to become a Management Trustee, or President? We're actively seeking new Trustee members. If you are interested in finding out more please contact the Secretary on phosa@polamhall.com She will be pleased to hear from you.