Well, what a year we have experienced. Back in February when we were contemplating how we could manage the AGM and dinner in March I am sure none of us were expecting to be still in the grip of this pandemic at Christmas.
Each and every one of us have been impacted and on behalf of the Club I would like to offer my sincere condolences to those that have suffered losses over the year. I sincerely hope that the vast majority remain in good health and good spirits and are looking forward to a break over Christmas, although probably not the Christmas we all are used to.
As a committee, we have made changes to how we operate and along with many others we have embraced the digital world and hold our meetings on line. We will be sending details in the new year about the arrangements for our 2021 AGM. Unfortunately there will be no March AGM and dinner, although I like to think that we will be able to hold an event later in the year once the vaccinations have done their thing.
I have been very impressed with the measures that the school has implemented to ensure that learning continues for all pupils, especially those preparing for exams and those who have required additional support. The regular videos posted to YouTube show that life in school continues with the usual events and plenty of music – well done. I recommend taking some time to see how the school has marked events such as Founders’ Day and the Remembrance Service.
On Thursday 17 December the annual Christmas Carol Service was broadcast on YouTube and made available for later viewing.
Finally, on behalf of all Old Cryptians everywhere, I wish you a safe and healthy Christmas and much better New Year.
Adam
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We are saddened to learn of the passing in October 2020 of Bob Ireland who was at the Crypt School 1949-57 and who had spoken at the 475th anniversary dinner.
Bob was a pioneer of air travel magazine publishing and we will have an obituary in the next Cryptian.
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We are saddened to learn of the passing in October 2020 of John Allison MRPharmS who was at the Crypt School 1946-53.
John was a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and practised for many
years in the Linden district of Gloucester.
Thanks to Dr. Graham Russell for passing the news on to us.
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We are saddened to learn of the passing of Old Cryptian Peter Power who was at the Crypt School from 1942-1949 before studying medicine at Bristol University Medical School with fellow Cryptians Alec Horton, Graham Russell & Bryan Green. He was for a time in General Medical Practice in Gloucester.
He made 135 appearances for the Old Cryptian Rugby Club from 1951-1971.
Thanks to Dr. Graham Russell for passing the news on to us.
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Dr. Steve Ward (’63-’70) has published a short article “Black Performers of the 19th Century Circus” for Black 
History Month and as a precursor to his next book Artistes of Colour; Ethnic Diversity and Representation in the Victorian Circus will be published by the Modern Vaudeville Press in February 2021. Check out www.modernvaudevillepress.com for further details nearer release date.
Doctor Steve Ward is a social historian and has written several books on aspects of the social and cultural history of the circus.
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The latest edition of The Cryptian magazine has been published as an online only magazine 
and is available to all members and non-members.
This edition is available for download as well as the online presentation but we felt that the logistical and administration burden of sending physical copies to members was too much given the huge additional workload that school office is under during this pandemic period.
We hope you enjoy reading as much as we have enjoyed collating and creating.
The Cryptian 2019/20
We welcome your thoughts about the magazine content and are already collecting articles for next years, hopefully Covid-free edition – please comment here or by email to the President.
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The school will be showcasing the musical talents of many of the current pupils in the annual Autumn concert.
This will be available from 19:30 on Wednesday October 21st on YouTube.
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Our Year 13 students, whose opportunity to sit their A Level exams in May was abruptly, if understandably cancelled due to Covid-19, should be rightly proud this morning that their tremendous work and effort, over almost two years of study, has been recognised with a very strong set of A Level results. 67% of the grades awarded were the top A*-B grades, with 90% of grades at the A*-C level. The students should be very proud of their achievements and can now look forward to progressing onto their chosen destinations to start the next phase of their lives.
Teachers and other staff at The Crypt, worked tremendously hard to help support the students over their two years of Advanced Level study, as well as through the difficult period following the closure of all schools on the 20th of March.
NC Dyer – Headmaster
The committee offer their heartiest congratulations to all students, teachers and staff on behalf of all OCC members.
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J I Packer was a pupil of the School from 1937-44 before going up to Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1944.
He was a celebrated evangelical theologian and writer in the low-church Anglican and Calvinist traditions. He was considered one of the most influential evangelicals in North America, known for his best-selling book, Knowing God, written in 1973, as well as his work as an editor for the English Standard Version of the Bible. He was one of the high-profile signers on the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, a member on the advisory board of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and also was involved in the ecumenical book Evangelicals and Catholics Together in 1994. His last teaching position was as the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, in which he served from 1996 until his retirement in 2016, due to failing eyesight.
There are many obituaries to J I Packer on line, including this from the Gospel Coalition
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The Crypt School is the best state-funded secondary school in Gloucestershire, according to a comprehensive new guide.
The Real Schools Guide 2020 takes into account 51 different data points – including not just GCSE results and Attainment 8 scores but also factors like Progress 8, pupil-teacher ratios and absence rates.
Nicholas Dyer, Headmaster at The Crypt School in Podsmead, Gloucester, said his teachers strive to instil an intrinsic desire for pupils to think for themselves. Mr Dyer said: “We have had fantastic response from local families who welcome the choice of a co-ed selective grammar school in Gloucester – now approaching our third year of going co-ed we have over 130 girls in the main school and about 90 in the sixth form”.
Read the full GloucestershireLive article
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