General News

Discover DeCrypt eNews September 2021

Founders’ Day service

This year, the Founders’ Day service will be live streamed on the Crypt School YouTube channel on

Tuesday 22 June at 7.00pm

Headmaster, Nick Dyer would like to invite Old Cryptians and friends to watch the Founders’ Day service in the comfort of your own home this year.

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities.
1) The club are looking for a business to sponsor the £500 cost for the 2021 Leavers’ Ties.
2) The school are looking for local companies to sponsor new sitescreens for the main cricket pitch. Cost is around £2.5k but some money has already been raised.
If you feel you can help or would like more information please email president@oldcryptians.org

 

Crypt School Virtual Concert … tonight (15/03)

Julian Whittaker, Director of Music writes:

Please join us at 7.00pm tonight on the school’s youtube channel for our virtual Senior Concert.

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/cdrvLJga8k8

It features some amazing performances from students from Y10-13, mostly recorded under lockdown!

You will be impressed by their enthusiasm, musical skill and determination.

I gave the students the challenge to learn a new piece for this concert and some of them have certainly taken themselves out of their comfort zones!

If you are unable to join us, the concert will remain on our youtube channel for you to enjoy when you are able.

Barrie Gordon SIMS (1953-60)

We are saddened to hear news from America of the passing of Barrie Sims, a longstanding member of the OCC.

Barrie Gordon Sims, 78, a resident of Columbia, Maryland, died of Covid 19 on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, Maryland.

Barrie was born in Gloucester, on May 16, 1942, to Gordon and Lillian Sims. He grew up with his sisters Julie and Heather and attended the Crypt Grammar School.

After graduating, he began a long career with GCHQ as a computer scientist. While working, he achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Maths.

Barrie’s family was his source of pride and joy. He married Patricia Murrin of Gloucester in 1963 and their marriage was blessed with three children, Colin, Philip, and Jennifer. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1986, he married Tracey Taaffe Manning of Columbia.

In 1983, Barrie moved to Columbia, Maryland, to coordinate intelligence work with his U.S. counterparts. Later he worked as a program director for Computer Sciences Corporation and subsequently, Eagle Alliance, both in service to the National Security Agency. He always took satisfaction in his contribution towards making the world safer for his two beloved countries.

Barrie’s faith was important to him and he was very committed to his Baptist churches, both in Gloucester and in Columbia. As its treasurer, he helped to shepherd Brunswick Baptist Church in Gloucester through growth and the building of a new facility. He later served as treasurer for over 20 years to the Columbia Baptist Fellowship (CBF) in Maryland. For many years, he represented CBF on the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center (OMI) board of directors where, during his term as president of the board, he oversaw a major building expansion and renovation.

He is survived by his wife Tracey Manning Sims, his three children, Colin Sims (Annette Beattie) of Hampshire, Philip Sims (Michelle Sullivan) and Jennifer Sims (Graham Wollington) of Essex, his two stepchildren, Laura Manning Attridge (Andrew Attridge) and Elizabeth Manning, and his grandchildren, Matthew Sims, George Sims, Margaret Attridge, and Sean Attridge. He is also survived by his sisters Julie Briffett (Gerald Briffett) of Hereford, Heather Harvey (Robert Harvey) of Gloucester, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Gordon and Lillian Sims.

Donations may be made in his memory to Parkinson’s UK (www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate).

 

 

The Wheatridge Primary School

The School are delighted to announce the Department for Education’s approval of a new and innovative free school for the children in Gloucester.

The Wheatridge Primary School aims to work closely with the community providing local children access to a world class, academically focused education to prepare them for the demands of a secondary school curriculum and help them aspire to achieve highly in all that they do.

There is more detail on the School’s website about this important and exciting announcement.

 

 

Committee Vacancies

We have a couple of vacancies on the OCC Committee from March. Click To Tweet
The only requirement is a willingness to continue the work of the committee in maintaining the links with the School, identifying areas where the Club and the School can work together and generally being interested in the School.
Of particular interest we are looking for someone to engage with younger members (and potential members) and to improve the use of communication channels available to us.

email president@oldcryptians.org or admin@oldcryptians.org to register interest and more details.

 

 

20% sale on all OCC shop items (not blazers)

All shop items are discounted by 20% for all of February Click To Tweet (while stocks last!).

Enter discount code OCC2021 at the checkout stage and the discounted cost will be applied.  This code can be used as many times as you like until 28th February 2021.

 

 

 

Early contender for the Booker prize

Committee member and wannabe president of the Old Cryptians' Club, Matt Cass, has published a paperback version of his heavily subscribed and highly amusing* Lockdown #1 Facebook updates. Click To Tweet

The book gives a fascinating insight into the daily life of our ambitious and intrepid Old Cryptian as he negotiates the daily grind of lockdown living and disappearing children.

Unfortunately he has already started posting Lockdown #2 updates which may portend a second volume.

Proceeds from the sale of the book (should there be any) will be donated to NHS charities.

 

 

*No money changed hands in return for this description.

 

 

Christmas greetings from the Head

Dear Old Cryptians,
It has been a quite extraordinary year for us all, but I do hope that this note from your old school finds you all safe and well. The Crypt has endured through the ups and downs of the last 9 months, as it always has, and I think risen tremendously well to the challenges we have all faced. The students take great heart from knowing that the School has endured many, and indeed more demanding challenges in its long and distinguished history, which gives them the resolve needed to cope with the challenges of the present.
I have been immensely proud to be the Headmaster of the School over this period, as it has been a real privilege to lead and work with such a wonderfully committed group of staff and a fine set of young people.
I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and we hope for better days ahead.
My very best wishes,
Nick