Talbot's House

Welcome back from a special guest!

It is always so exciting (We know that's a bit sad!) to welcome everyone back after a holiday!

There is a sense of anticipation about what is to come and a feeling of accomplishment from what went previously. This is no exception and it was particularly amazing to reflect in tonight's welcome back meeting about some of last term's achievements. we focused on the fact that three new societies have been started up at school as a result of involvement of men of Talbot's and then took a show of hands to see who had gone to support someone else from the house in an event, made a school debut in sports or been nominated for a Friday celebration prize. There were, of course, many hands and that is the secret to our growing greatness we feel, everyone in Talbot's plays their part, we have no spare wheels!

Charlie with George

The welcome back meeting had a special twist as we had a surprise  guest to deliver our inspiration slot. Charlie Clare is a professional Rugby player with the Northampton saints who knew Mr Gracie in his previous life as a boarder in the northwest. Charlie was great at sharing honestly about his experiences, both positive and negative, as a both a schoolboy with lofty ambitions and a professional sportsman. It was also really interesting to hear him talk about why he did a degree whilst playing and what he felt it takes to reach the top in any given field. He then stayed around for nearly an hour to talk to some of the boys and give some advice which was hugely appreciated.

Charlie also fulfilled his role for the inspiration slot and left us with not just an inspirational quote, but a whole passage which is copied below. It was great to hear about how the passage (which his dad gave him as a present when he was struggling) had helped him during a difficult time at boarding school and a great quote to get us fired up for the next half of term!

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. 

Many thanks to Charlie and here's to a great half term!