The People OMs of the Year OM of the Year 2005
OM of the Year 2005
OM of the Year 2005
So often our top sportsmen and women are brilliant at their sport but almost incoherent when they try to describe the actual moment of success.
For those of us present on October 7th 2005 at the Old Millfieldian of the Year Awards in Millfield’s Meyer Theatre, we heard a marvellous exception from Sarah Winckless (1990-92; Orchard Leigh), Olympic Rowing Bronze Medallist and member of the Quad which won the World Rowing Championships in Japan in August.
Here is the last part of Sarah’s account as she received the award on that historic Saturday morning when she and her rowing partner won the bronze medal:
Although in real time it took us nearly three and a half minutes, before I knew it we were coming up to the last 500 metres. With about 40 strokes to go my legs and lungs were screaming and my ability to see was diminishing. ‘The blackness’ I thought, referring to a state that the coaches had encouraged us to push ourselves to, ‘I’ll come through the other side’. After 10 more strokes I acknowledged ‘there is no other side’ and I just counted one stroke after another; body on auto pilot, mind refusing to give up, desperate for the finish line.
What better inspiration for sporting students who were present to hear exactly what it is like to push yourself beyond endurance – to see a light at the end of a tunnel and then to realise that there is no light there after all. And all that hard training just takes over.
But for those of us who are parents, the second crowning moment was when Meriel Rosser (1982-87; Day), daughter of David (the much loved and respected Deputy Head of Millfield), emotionally thanked those who had helped her to her successful career coordinating projects for Medecin Sans Frontiers in a way that has on countless occasions saved many lives when the situation seemed desperate. But for her parents the presence of her daughter again and again rushing to the world’s top trouble spots is like acknowledging that ‘there is no other side’- their training just takes over…
Addressing them in the hall of the theatre, Meriel said: “Most of all I want to thank my Mum and Dad. You look after my car give me storage space, put up with my instability about where I am going next. Dad – I think everyone knows what you find most difficult – my pension! Thank you both for supporting me in everything throughout my life wherever I have been and whatever I’m doing. I was called on Monday to go back to Darfur to cover for somebody for a month or so in a rebel area and then I’m going to Khartoum – but I promise to try and be home for Christmas!” Will she or won’t she be able to fulfil her promise? Her parents will continue to worry.
In the end the inspiration which Millfield gives its students and their parents can be traced back to its founder. The third recipient of this year’s awards was Wyndham Bailey (1938-45; Millfield and 1948-49; Resteholme) one of Millfield’s first Head Boys, now Honorary Treasurer of the Old Millfieldian Society, and the person who more than any one else personifies Millfield. Uniquely, he was following in the footsteps of his daughter, Lucy (1973-78; Day), the West End Theatre Director, who was one of the first recipients of the OM award five years ago.
The crowning moment was when Wyndham described what Millfield was like when he came there 67 years ago: “There were a number of brilliant teachers but the pupils dwindled, the school was short of money and was lucky to survive. There was one games field for all, no girls, no money. So what was there? A man called Jack Meyer who had a dream and that dream was based on a song that you all still sing today – ‘we will build Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land’. He taught people to strive for excellence. We dug for victory. We painted goalposts, we mended fences, we fed the ducks, we cleared out an old pond and made a bitterly cold swimming pool. If you could catch and stand up you could be in the cricket team as there were only about 11 people to choose from. We were taught to take on anything.”
Three very different award winners with a similar theme – the preparedness to take on anything.
“What Millfield gave me was: If you come across something where you think it’s not possible – just try.” Meriel Rosser.
“I was only at Millfield for two years but I grabbed everything with both hands. I had a go at everything.” Sarah Winckless
“The dream that is 70 years old has become a reality. Take advantage of every opportunity the school offers you so that you can look back at your time here with pride.” Wyndham Bailey.