Senior Head's Blog: Opening of the Macaulay Performing Arts Studio
Next Thursday will be the official opening of Felsted's new Macaulay Performing Arts Studio. This exciting new facility, created where the Tailor's shop used to be, has been running since September, and tomorrow night, many of those who have made use of it will get to perform for a full house in the Felsted Dance Show.
We are delighted that Alastair Macaulay (OF, fh 64-73, and former member of Deacon's House) has given us permission to name the facility in his honour and he will be coming back to Felsted for the opening. Alastair was the chief dance critic for the New York Times between 2007 and 2018 and previously held the same role for both The Times and the Financial Times. Alastair wrote fondly (I think!) of his time at Felsted and refers to the foundation of the school (now 460 years ago) by saying 'we were founded in 1564 by surely the most unredeemed creep in English history, Richard Lord Rich'.
Alastair arrived at Felsted as the school was celebrating 400 years of history, and he reports that, as the 400th birthday of Shakespeare was also being celebrated, he had already begun to awaken to the genius of the Bard of Avon. Nevertheless, not all of his experience was particularly enjoyable in an era where harsh treatment of juniors was universally accepted (or perhaps expected). Even in an age where boarding was tough for many, Alastair recalls that, on seeing some of his peers again, 'many of us were genuinely glad to recognise one another ... we realised that we had all liked one another, that we had cared about one another and that we had shared (and still share) a great deal of laughter'.
Alastair was from the era when the 'cold bath' was a dreaded punishment given out by prefects to young miscreants. I don't know what he would make of the use of ice baths for recovery for our sportsmen and women in the 21st century. Alastair was also at Felsted for the introduction of coeducation, and he says that this transformed the atmosphere. As a passionate advocate of co-educational school, I agree with Alastair's view and am glad that he got to enjoy that through his sixth form.
Alastair's house was Deacon's, when the house was still young, and the Housemaster was John Cockett, whose memorial in 2020 brought Alastair back to Felsted. He relates the story of his move from the Junior School (as it was then) to the senior, and how John sought him out when he heard that he was looking to go to another house, and persuaded him of the merits of Deacon's - and this despite the fact that he was anything but a sportsman.
Instead, Alastair's passion at school was drama, supported in many school productions by Alan and Marion Ronaldson (Alan taught English at the school). As a prefect, he refused to punish boys with the 'cold bath', and instead made them write essays. His brother had previously refused to use his prefect status to administer corporal punishment. According to Alastair, when they each explained their reasons to Cockett, he promptly changed the rules and banned these punishments from his house.
There is much in his account of life at Felsted in the 1960s and 1970s that has changed beyond recognition, but there is still quite a lot that rings true. He recognises that although Felsted had many of the traits of most boarding schools, it was also different. I believe that this is still the case. Whether you are a dancer, or into sport, an academic or an actor, an orator or an aspiring politician, a musician or just a good friend to others, you will find opportunity at Felsted. I look forward greatly to welcoming Alastair back to Felsted next week.
Chris