Alumni News

Things are looking up! We are looking forward to welcoming old friends back to the Hill at the end of the summer.

"Life without risk is like a kiss without a moustache"

A story of a family searching for their history...and finding out that their relatives were the first boys on the Hill.

It is with great regret that we inform you that Mrs Bettine Snell passed away at the amazing age of 101 on 31^st January 2021, remembered as a humble and caring lady with strong convictions, who inspired manifold students with her passion, her unceasing patience and her deep kindnesses to them.

It is with great regret that we inform you of the passing of Mrs Annette Chapman, a much-beloved and longstanding member of the Kingham Hill community.

Kingham Hill School is working with the  Commonwealth War Graves Commission to help with the regular oversight and care of some of the 160,000 war graves spread out across the UK.

The School community came together on Armistice Day in on the rugby pitches in front of Top School.

Kingham Hill School has a history through the stories of all who have passed through its doors.  Stephen and Andrew Swinbank are two such people. This is their story:

Many of you may know our Cricket Pavilion from Speech Day or our summer cricket matches. It is of a generous size but has been in much need of some tender loving care.

Boy does it look good. Thanks to the generosity of former "Bradford Boys" and their families, Bradford now has a wonderful Heads of House Board gracing its atrium hall. Pictured is current Head of House Kieran. We hope it will serve well to inspire past, present and future boys to learn of the stories that lay behind each of these names.....

Our Cadets are keen to adapt their learning to fly experience back at base with a computer simulated flying environment.

It's Summer Term!  Have a look at KHS Summer Term calendars over the years...they give a snapshot of what life was like on the Hill over the generations.

When one of our Hillians recently asked if he could help, we asked him to share his thoughts in the form of a blog to help us all stay connected.  

In Virtual Kingham, it's a mix of video, email, google classroom and group chat.   This week's top winner?  A football video made by staff.

A week ago KHS switched over to a Virtual School due to the government announcement that schools needed to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  For a school that has a fairly tight 'no devices' policy, it has been a delight to see the community come together and for learning to continue in this virtual world.   

In the end, we had a very small, but poignant service to celebrate Founder's Day at the Daylesford church.

Hillian Ron Hoskins learned his love of beekeeping from his time at Kingham during the war.   That sparked his 'interesting hobby' that he made his life-times work.  Sadly his research site has been recently vandalised.  

Final plans are underway to celebrate Founder's Day on Thursday, March 19.   This year we will be welcoming Hillians and guests to join our pupils in the traditional walk to the Founder's grave in the Daylesford churchyard.   It's not too late to sign up!

A former Bradford Head of House now a member of staff accepts delivery ...

It's been a good week for reunions. Today a few of our Hillians reconnected at a lunch in London.

We love when old boys get together.  A warm welcome to a few of our Hillians from the 1950s who joined us for a visit to the Hill.

One of our missing 'Old Boys' is back...and working at KHS.

On Saturday, January 25, a service to celebrate the life of Mrs Shorter was held at All Saints Church in Churchill. The service drew many former staff and pupils from KHS to gather together and remember the impact she had on the lives of so many.

Guy Arnold was at Kingham, post war, in the 1940's.  He was one of three brothers that came to the Hill.  His brother Bruce shares a tribute with us about Guy's remarkable life. 

Mrs Snell was associated with Kingham Hill from 1945-1982. She played a big part in the life of the School and is loved by many.  

We officially opened the new Sports Centre today.   Thanks to everyone who has supported the project, in so many ways, over the last year. 

This week we look forward to the official opening of the new Sports Hall at KHS.   Hillian Peter Sonksen will be doing the honours.

Our 5th form took a visit to Loughborough University to experience what Uni could be like and also said hello to some of our more recent Hillians.

Our performing arts academy will be presenting Les Mis in March, 2020.  The same show was featured at KHS back in 2009.

We decided to count down the days of Advent with a daily reflection of thanks for things on the Hill.  It was a good reminder of the special things we celebrate at KHS.   A wrap-up with pictures from that project is shared with you here.

Merry Christmas. 

To add to the festive spirit, we have put together an album of pictures of the Hill under snow in February, 2019.  

Sometimes we find small pieces of paper around school, planted by Hillians from long ago.

After a year of building works we look forward to celebrating the official opening of the new Sports Centre.

We received the sad news that Eddie White passed away at the age of 86.  Eddie was at School from 1942-1950 as a member of Plymouth, Bradford and Durham Houses and was Head Boy in 1947, 48 and 49.   

We went to visit the Oxford History Centre to go through the boxes of Kingham Hill photographic negatives that had been found from (primarily) the 1970s.

To kickoff the holiday season,  we held our first London based carol service at St. Peters, Fulham.

Flora Essame served on the Hill as a Nurse in the 'San' and as a houseparent with her husband John Essame in the 1960s and 1970s.

The KHS Rugby 1st XV team played Bloxham in a recent hard-fought match. Our two schools have a long history of competition, which motivated Hillian alumni back to support the team. 

'Tis the Season.   We remember Chapel Services from the past celebrating Christmas from 1955 and the 1970's and are able to share the recordings with you here.

A few weeks ago we received a call from the Oxford History Centre.  They found material labelled Kingham Hill School and wondered if we were interested to learn more....

A video view from above as we head into autumn half term.

Former member of staff Mrs Bettine Snell is approaching her 100th birthday. 

Mike Tadman and Kim Raccio; herding sheep!

After two years of design, fundraising and creative hard work from Hillian Peter Berry, Top School Hall now has a stunning stained glass window.

Les Miserables will be making a return to the Kingham Hill stage in March 2020. 

A heartfelt thanks to Gideon Tozer (1973-80) of Plymouth and Clyde for donating new stone signage for the Houses. 

Please join us for carols and a drinks reception at St. Peter's Church, Fulham.

Connecting our alumni with our Sixth Form and destinations.

Flora was a much loved member of the KHS Family who will be remembered by many of as our School's nursing sister and also wife of John 'Gus' Essame.   

We recently celebrated staff who have served on the Hill for over 50 terms. 

Sixty years ago in September 1959, five boys from Kingham Hill School, a school master and another member of the crew were all lost at sea whilst on a sailing trip aboard the Rohilla.

Scaffolding and preparation in anticipation of the stained glass installation has been put into place.

Another year of excellent results.

We had the pleasure of welcoming back alumnus Patrick Chi who had not been back since he left the Hill. 

Debbie McGreevy joins the Alumni Relations and Development team.