Hampton@Home: May 15, 2020

Welcome to this week’s edition of Hampton@Home. Our latest e-newsletter once again combines stories from the most recent e-Hampton week with some challenges to attempt and enjoy in your household during the continuing lockdown period.

We are delighted to include our latest e-Talk!, featuring Sam Rowley OH (2013). Sam’s post-Hampton pathway has involved pursuing his lifelong ambition to become a wildlife photographer and filmmaker. He was recently catapulted to fame after his remarkable Station Squabble image won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in the 2020 Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

Hamptonians’ ingenuity and generosity of spirit in response to the Covid-19 pandemic continue to impress and inspire in equal measure. You can discover more below about Upper Sixth Former Sam Southall’s heroic 400-kilometre (bedroom-based) charity cycle ride, and also Alex Brown OH (2010), who has temporarily switched from working on McLaren’s high-performance sports cars to designing ventilators for NHS ambulance crews.

Alongside these uplifting stories, our School Captains are this week issuing a video appeal to members of the Hampton family to share their newly-developed lockdown skills. And Oscar Leonov of the Lower Sixth waxes lyrical about his hero, legendary American musician, David Grohl.

Meanwhile, I have undertaken one of the more demanding tasks that I have faced during my seven years in The Headmaster’s study, by responding to a request to select my First XI Football ‘Team of the Decade’ from the 2010-20 era. A link can be found below in the ‘You May be Interested to Hear’ section and I imagine that my choices might be hotly debated among Hampton boys, colleagues, alumni and parents! Similar Rugby, Rowing, Cricket and Chess ‘dream teams’ (chosen by Messrs Thomson, Double, Banerjee and McBay) will appear via our social media feeds. Given the depth of talent involved, I don’t think their tasks will prove any easier than mine.

I have mentioned previously that Maya Angelou is among my favourite writers, so I shall share some further memorable words from the great American storyteller, poet and activist:

My mission is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.

It seems to me that our alumni, boys, parents, and dedicated teaching and support staff are most certainly emulating Maya, and upholding our Hampton values in these testing times while doing so. Thank you for all that you are doing collectively to ensure that we maintain – and indeed enhance – our School community’s distinctive togetherness and connectedness during this rather unusual summer term.

Look after yourselves, stay safe and have a lovely weekend!