Written by Midleton House Captains 

Midleton house is known for its house spirit and this is shown in our enthusiasm for all house activities. All Midleton girls love to get involved as much as they can, by taking part in activities out of their comfort zones and supporting their peers in any activities that they do. We are recognised for dominating house events with our loud signature chants and positive attitudes.

Our first house event this year was Netball, and rather than be driven by a determination to win at all costs, we made sure that everyone who wanted to play had opportunities to do so and enjoyed themselves; our placing 6^th and 5^th did not dampen our enthusiasm and it was wonderful to see so many people taking part and having fun, after all that is what the house is all about! The next Midleton excitement came with St Catherine’s Day, the annual lacrosse house tournament, which includes girls from all years. If not playing on the field, our girls are selling mince pies and brownies as part of our yearly charity fundraising; this is a great way for everyone in the house to get involved in St Catherine’s Day without having to put their lax boots on. Our girls did us proud, whether on the lacrosse pitch, warming up pies and brownies in the Food and Nutrition room, or twisting the arms of spectators to buy yet another cake for our charity efforts. We raised over £400 and also came a respectable fourth in the senior lacrosse and second in the middle lacrosse. Well done to everyone!

Following this at the end of term we had House Drama, and we were delighted to win the Best Script Award and to be awarded 4^th place overall. Our theme this year was “What happened next?” and each house was given a Roald Dahl character about which to write; we were lucky enough to be allocated the exiting story of George’s Marvellous Medicine. Our drama prefect Sophie and the House Captains, Phoebe and Harriet , created a humorous yet gripping story line ensuring the audience were on the edge of their seats. Using great teamwork, we were able to put together such an amazing play; congratulations and thanks to everyone who helped with the set, starred on stage, whether with individual roles or in the crowd scenes, and of course to our wonderful tech crew, who made it all happen.

We were delighted in Long Parliament to hear that the hard work of all the girls in their academic lessons had enabled us to win 2^nd place in the Work Cup. We also placed 2^nd in the Merit Cup, which acknowledges the courteous behaviour and extra-curricular contributions of the individuals on behalf of the house. Well done!

During the Spring Term we began our rehearsals for house singing. We achieved 4^th place with our renditions of Sing by The Pentatonix and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, which was our allocated song following the theme of Elton John. We attended lots of engaging practices led by our super Music Prefects, Rachel and Ginny . Their arrangements, patience, encouragement and humour made it one of the most enjoyable terms we have had. We were thrilled that Rachel was awarded best conductor by the adjudicator. It was compelling having such a range between the clapping and stomping in Sing, and our other less energetic yet heartfelt song. It was rewarding to see all of our hard work come together in the performances, with determination from all the girls their big smiles on the stage.

Next was House Gym; with our theme of Street Life we had many songs to choose from. With energy and enthusiasm, we performed in dances and gym routines ranging from an elite trio to an enjoyable rhythmic routine. We are so proud of everyone who performed their routines in front of the whole school; although nerve-racking every girl was amazing!

At Long Parli, we thought we were in for a repeat performance of our placings for the Merit and Work Cups when we heard we had 2^nd place in the Merit Cup, but we raised a loud cheer when we heard that in fact we were winners of the Work Cup; well done to each and every girl for their hard work in their academic studies.

Summer sports are always enjoyed by our house, with Midleton face paint increasing our spirits and helping to keep our perseverance high. We are proud of some amazing results managing to secure 1^st place for another year in house swimming. Athletics also showed the high level of skill so many girls in our house have, and we were thrilled to win 1^st place in the House Relay; what a team effort! Rounders and tennis also brought much enjoyment, with Midleton being the loudest house on the pitches. The final day of the school year brought news that we had won the Merit Cup too, by some distance.

Our thanks go to the wonderful Prefect Team who led us so well last year. We are doing our best to follow in their footsteps and thank them for their guidance and support. We are looking forward to another exhilarating year for Midleton House with our girls’ spirit and enthusiasm carrying us through to the next house events. We look forward to what our house can achieve!

MIDLETON – William Brodrick, 8^th Viscount Midleton  (1830 – 1907)

William Brodrick was the son of Reverend William John Brodrick, 7^th Viscount Midleton, who was Dean of Exeter and Chaplain to Queen Victoria.   He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford and called to the bar in 1855.  Ten year later he contested the East Surrey parliamentary seat but was unsuccessful.   He then returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Mid-Surrey in 1868.   He vacated his seat in the commons two years later when he succeeded his father as the 8^th Viscount Midleton, Baron Brodrick of Midleton, Co. Cork & of Peper Harow, Surrey.  

He served on two commissions, the Noxious Vapours Commission (1875) and the Sale of Exchange of Livings (1877) although his blindness limited his ability to do more in public life. For some time he was president of the National Protestant Church Union, and Midleton served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey between 1896 and 1905.

William Brodrick was one of the original Founders of St Catherine’s School in 1883 (the founders also included Merriman, Ashcombe and Musgrave). He was a distant cousin and very good friend of Charles Kempe, the celebrated Victorian Church designer, and so we are sure that it is Midleton who influenced his selection as designer of the interior of our Chapel, all the stained glass windows and the reredos. 

Midleton's son later wrote of him:  “My father, whose courage and self-denial were conspicuous, suffered from serious defects of sight and hearing, partly due to an accident, but mainly to his father and mother having been first cousins, from which source a disability affected several of my grandfather's family in different ways. The calamity of partial blindness came upon my father early in his married life, and deprived him of a rising practice at the Bar. Although he fought his way with splendid energy into Parliament, his infirmities robbed him of the full scope which his ability and untiring work would have commanded.

Lord Midleton married the Hon. Augusta Mary, daughter of Thomas Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe, in 1853. They had three sons and five daughters.   It is also interesting to note that Midleton’s neice Agatha was the first wife of Georg Johannes von Trapp and mother of the children made famous by the Sound of Music. 

Lady Midleton died on 1 June 1903 and Viscount Midleton survived her by four years and died on 18 April 1907, aged 77 at Peper Harow. This was only one week after the massive fire at St Catherine’s.   He was succeeded by his eldest son, St John Fremantle, who was a prominent Conservative politician for Guildford and was created Earl of Midleton in 1920. 

 

A memorial window to Viscount Midleton was installed in Chapel in 1910.    The window depicting the Saint Elizabeth of Hungary has an inscription reading : “To the honour of God and of His servant St Elizabeth of Hungary, and with gratitude for the memory of William Broderick, eighth Viscount Midleton, a founder and benefactor of this school, this window is dedicated AD 1910, in the 25^th year of its foundation” .  The dedication service was given by Canon Scott Holland. (Famous to many in his writing “Death is Nothing at All”) 

Pictures

1. Photo of John Brodrick, Viscount Midleton
2. Cartoon of Midleton in Spy
3. Photo of Augusta Midleton
4. Peper Harow – the Midleton family seat

This year Midleton house is supporting CSW, a charity defending and promoting the right of freedom of religion or belief in over 20 countries.  We are also supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Environmental Investigation Agency, an organisation which investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. 

As usual we will be holding our annual St Catherine's Day brownie and mince pie sale in the Autumn term and our pancake sale in the Spring term.