Latest news with #TauntonPrepSchool
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Taunton Prep School pupils complete relay swim across English Channel
A team of Somerset schoolchildren has completed a 21-mile relay swim across the English Channel. Nine pupils and four staff from Taunton Prep School took on the challenge on Tuesday, August 12 to raise funds for Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity supporting children who have lost a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Ed Burnett, headmaster of Taunton Prep School, said: "The English Channel is known as the 'Everest of swimming' and the mindset, ambition, and teamwork needed to complete it requires something special. "As our 13-year-old pupils have shown over the last two years, hard work and commitment builds the courage to succeed. "I am very proud of them for the work they have put in, and I am delighted that they have completed their Everest." The pupils have raised more than £7,250 so far, with donations still coming in. They are being welcomed at The school has now led nine groups across the Channel, involving more than 50 pupils and staff and raising over £75,000 for charity. This year's team, named Channel Titans V, began training for the swim two years ago when they were just 10 and 11 years old. They trained in the school pool, at Wiveliscombe's outdoor pool, and in open water along the Somerset and Devon coasts during both day and night. The swimmers were split into two teams for the 21-mile relay. The Red Team completed the crossing in 15 hours and 28 minutes, while the Pink Team finished in 14 hours and 43 minutes. Each pupil swam for an hour at a time, with all completing two swims and some taking on a third. Despite starting as beginners, the children built up the stamina and skills needed to take on the challenge, facing blooms of jellyfish and curious dolphins along the way. Hamish McCarthy, head of geography and lead coach of the long-distance swimming club, supported the pupils throughout their training. The young swimmers regularly compete in long-distance events around the UK and have taken part in swims such as the Gwineas and St Michael's Mount. Many plan to continue open-water swimming during their time at Taunton School. Scotty's Little Soldiers aims to support 1,000 bereaved military children by 2030 through programmes focused on well-being, education, and personal development.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Somerset in Pictures: Hot air balloons and new artworks
There was a stunning hot air balloon launch this week, held to mark the arrival of a new Somerset's cricketers kept their impressive start to the T20 Blast going with a win over been busy stitching down in Axbridge, and preparing for a Channel swim in tales and more are included in our weekly round-up of pictures from across the county. Float away: To celebrate the launch of a new Somerset festival, five hot air balloons lifted off at sunrise, soaring over the Somerset countryside and Glastonbury Tor. Bruton's Show of Hands will debut over the May Bank Holiday in 2026 at Gilcombe Farm and aims to offer revellers the "the wild, raw energy that festivals used to capture". What a night: Somerset chased down 230 in the final over to beat Middlesex at the County Ground on Thursday, sparking well-deserved celebrations. Small but mighty: No.1 Royal Crescent in Bath has been named the best small visitor attraction in the country. The historic house museum and gallery, run by Bath Preservation Trust, achieved the Gold award in the 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year' category in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025. Intricate work: A new wall hanging has gone on display in St John the Baptist church in Axbridge, depicting the town's heritage trail - the idea coming from local woman Margaret Cowie. Channel challenge: A group of pupils from Taunton Prep School are training to swim the English Channel. The pupils, aged 13, will undertake the swim in August following almost two years of training and will become the eleventh group of swimmers from the School to complete the challenge since 2016. Miniature Langport: Nine local women have completed a picture map of Langport, painting in miniature every building in the town. It took 20 months and over 1,000 hours to complete the map.
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Somerset in Pictures: Spring scenes, sporting success and sheep
Despite the warm weather there was a touch of the festive season in Somerset this week as a woman known locally as Mrs Christmas was awarded a prize for her community work - as spring continues to spread across the a special 100th birthday was celebrated on Friday and Taunton pupils competed for a is our weekly round-up of images from across Somerset. Flocking together: These sheep were photographed by Weather Watcher Nutkin in Priddy. Ready, set, go! A group of pupils from Taunton Prep School won a bronze medal at the ESAA Cross Country Cup Final in Leeds, with one pupil, George, finishing 4th in the whole country. Mrs Christmas: Maureen Chandler, also known as Mrs Christmas, has been making Christmas happen for many Bridgwater families for over 50 years. She was recently awarded special recognition and a cash prize for her kindness and community spirit. Grand opening: A new modern 16-bed intensive care unit at the Royal United Hospital Bath welcomed its first patients. Bath Rugby Player Tom Dunn joined staff to celebrate the opening. Dropping in: Gordano School welcomed Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset, to speak with students from a range of SEND backgrounds and listen to their personal experiences. Blossoming: Trees with their buds blooming are a familiar sight across Somerset this week, with weather watcher Kat Napper taking this picture. A momentous day: Iris Jefferies, who was a decoder in Bath during World War Two, celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Somerset CCC's Tom Abell renews sponsorship deal with former school
Taunton School has renewed its sponsorship of Somerset County Cricket Club player and former student, Tom Abell. This marks the third consecutive year of sponsorship for the cricketer, who captained his home team for seven seasons. Abell, a student at Taunton School from 1996 to 2012, maintains a strong relationship with his alma mater. Deputy head co-curricular, Matthew Cook, said: "We are thrilled to sponsor Tom again for the forthcoming season. "We are exceptionally proud of his outstanding sporting achievements, an incredible source of inspiration to so many of our students who have their own aspirations to become professional cricketers." Abell had a prolific scoring record at Taunton School, making his debut for the school's first XI at the age of 14. He became the school's youngest cricketer to reach the 1,000-run landmark by the age of 16 and finished his schooldays with a total of 3,630 runs for the first XI, scoring 17 centuries. Taunton School's cricket provision continues to be one of the best in the country, with a coaching team including Marcus Trescothick, Pete Sanderson, and Dave Roberts. The school has 48 different cricket teams, with nearly 500 students involved in the sport across Taunton Prep School and Taunton School. Fifty boys and girls play at county level, and/or in the Somerset Cricket Academy, Somerset Player Pathway, and Emerging Player Pathway. The school is currently one of the UK's best schools for cricket according to The Cricketer's Schools Guide 2025, with the senior school in the top 100, and its prep school in the top 50. It has also recently ranked at number 14 in the School Sport's Top 200 Sporting Schools for 2025. Mr Cook added: "Tom is an exceptional role model to all at Taunton School and we look forward to celebrating his continued achievements this summer. "We would like to wish Tom, and all at Somerset, the best of luck in their 150th year."
