Smart dress is in, speaker tells boys

THE new President of the Old Pharosians the old boys' association of Dover Grammar School was the guest speaker at the school's guest evening.

Ian Pascall, a chartered accountant and Freeman of Dover, told the boys he had reservations about the value of taking a gap year before going on to university. He warned that it could lead to losing the habit of learning, or even dropping out of education altogether.

And he had some advice for those seeking jobs - dress smartly for an interview. "Suits are in and T-shirts and jeans are out," he said. "Work hard and play hard, but remember you work to live not live to work."

Appearance is one of the areas of excellence that the school's new head teacher Julia Bell has identified for concentrating on at the school.

"This is a professional community," she said. "Every boy knows the uniform rules and they will adhere to them. A sloppy appearance equals a sloppy attitude. They can wear what they like at home, but this school is not sloppy."

During the guest evening, Aaron Hobday played a flute solo, David Buhler performed a cello solo, and the school's Big Band also played.

Prizewinners were: history, Mark Artis; philosophy and sociology, Nicholas Beech; Pfizer prizes for biology, chemistry and physics, and the subject prize for chemistry, Alan Blanchflower; John Talbot Prize for Computing and the Haydon-Watt Prize for Innovation, James Burke; biology, Ben Clutton; John Tomlinson Prize for Mathematics and Hubert Hopkins Prize for Physics, Andrew Fermor; Pfizer Prize for Mathematics, Steven Horsler; psychology, Matthew Long; French, Robert McKay; business studies and maths, Neil Morgan; AE Coulson Prize for Computing and the German prize, Aaron Murray; senior music, Tom Punton; Bulow Music prize, Tim Salisbury; Sports Studies Prize, Simon Shepherd; art, Ryan Weatherhead; Bulow English Prize, Ken Ruffell Prize for Geography; and the Law Prize, Russell Williamson.

Town Mayor of Dover's Prize, Michael Flynn; Martin Broom Prize for Special Endeavour, David Harper; Nigel Pointer Prize for Special Endeavour, Keith Renault; Head-teacher's Prize, Cameron Ward; Jubilee Prizes for Endeavour, Karl Everett and Tim Wheeler.

Combined Cadet Force Prizes, Old Boys Cadet Prize, James Downer; Robert Michael Brown Prize for RAF Cadets, Shaun Friend.

Ian Wallace Bird Cup for Outstanding Service to School Sport, Ben Clutton; Arnold and Carey Memorial Trophy for Cross-Country Running, Craig Trimble.

Middle School GCSE prizes: Alec Coveney Prize for Design and Technology and the G.D. Thomas Prize for Chemistry, Vahe Aliev; Business Studies Prize, Rahul Bakshi; Tunnell Prize for History and the Whitehouse Prize for Religion, Paul Barker; art, Kenneth Birmingham; L.R. Kennedy Prize for Design and Technology, Anthony Crockett; German, Sean Golden; John Talbot Prize for Information Technology, David Harper; physical education, Richard Hayward; biology, Nathan Hutchings; Roy Sutton Prize for English, Patrick Elworthy Prize for French, J.E. Ellis Prize for Geography, the Latin Prize, the Physics Prize and the Frederick Ashman Prize for Maths, Christopher Leach; Pfizer Prize for Design and Technology and the Sidney Clout Music Prize, Ben Reay.

Certificates for outstanding service to music were presented to Tom Punton, Tim Salisbury, David Buhler, Mark Farthing and Ben Reay.

Tim Wheeler received an award from the Dubris Trust.