He is an immensely creative person who seems to be able to manufacture almost anything by himself. He also has an eye for collecting old-fashioned gadgets from antiques shops and bric-a-brac stores. Last year he gave a presentation on the Romans, bringing with him objects that the Romans would have used and which he had constructed himself. The pupils found the weaponry most intriguing, but it became obvious immediately how heavy the armour and weapons were. This week he did a wonderful presentation on the Industrial Revolution and the British Empire. He came with muskets, blunderbusses, pistols and military uniforms which the boys enjoyed putting on. He also brought endless objects which he had acquired over a lifetime of collecting. My favourite was a simple wooden box with a wheel inside it. Out of the box stretched two wires with metal handles. When the History Man revolved a wheel inside the box, it caused an electric pulse to travel up a wire. Most of the boys were keen to try the apparatus out. On one occasion many of the boys linked hands and created a chain of electrocuted children. It was an electrifying experience! As ever, so many of the boys gained so much from the day – their enthusiasm and willingness to learn being so powerful. Thank you again to the Parents’ Association for funding the event.

It has been a colourful week as we have been celebrating Chinese (or Lunar) new year. On Thursday Mr Kilby prepared a feast of Chinese food which I found delicious. Mr Kilby and his team had put a great deal of effort into the meal, and he was delighted to hear from some of the Chinese pupils that the food tasted authentic. Today many of the Chinese parents gave a presentation for the pupils, even involving some dancing. I want to thank the parents of our Chinese pupils for being so generous with their time in giving the pupils such an insight into their culture.

I heard today on my visit to Pre-Prep that they had visited Science Oxford. They were telling me that there was so much that had delighted them. There had been a machine that shot scarves out of holes and there was a set of rods which, if attached to the head, created a sense of music. So many of the pupils spoke of what they had enjoyed the most. “It was magic!” said one pupil. Indeed! So many things about the world are magic if seen through the enquiring eyes of the young. I have resolved to follow their example and see magic all around me. Indeed, it is one of the delights of spending time with our pupils that the world is seen through a lens of awe!

A pupil arrived in school today with a model of a satellite which clearly had been constructed with great care. I asked the pupil whether he had made it for prep. “Oh this is nothing to do with lessons, Sir, this is to do with self-discovery!” I love this definition of self-discovery and was delighted that he was so engaged with it.

It was lovely to have the Pre-Prep and Nursery in Cathedral today. I was telling everyone about a car our family had when I was very young and that we loved it so much that we gave it a nick name. I asked the pupils to guess what it might have been. “Patrick!” said one, “Sam,” another – neither of those, surprisingly, were right. Another boy put up his hand. “Mr Murray!” he suggested. “Well, I wasn’t Mr Murray in those days,” I explained. And then we heard another voice. “Did you call it... Mr Robards?” The answer, I am afraid, was no. Of course had I known Mr Robards at the time, I might well have named a car after him, particularly if it were elegant and inspiring. But, of course, not only had our paths not crossed all those years ago, but when I was a young boy, Mr Robards was not even a concept let alone a reality!