Christie-Blick, Nicholas

Nicholas Christie-Blick

Dates at Bournemouth School: 1964 - 1970
House: Hambledon

Nicholas today

Nicholas studied: Physics, Pure Maths, Applied Maths and Chemistry
After school, Nicholas went to: King's College, Cambridge

Nicholas's biography:

I graduated from the school in 1970 and went to King’s College, Cambridge. I still have connections in the Bournemouth area, but it has been a very long time since I ventured onto the grounds at Bournemouth School.

What was best about Nicholas's time at Bournemouth School?

R.J. Williams was in charge of the junior grades in the mid-1960s. After I had skipped a year at St Peter’s Roman Catholic School, and passed the 11+ exam. in Form One, my parents asked whether it might be possible for me to move up to Form 2 in my first year at Bournemouth School. On the day we visited a few weeks into the 1964-65 school year, I was asked to take the First Form end-of-year exams then and there. As I recall, I scored in the lower 60s in class rank (middle of the pack). Williams agreed to the request, and placed me in one of the upper stream science classes – a risk to be sure. Several years later (summer 1970), when I returned to Bournemouth School to learn my A-level results, Williams just happened to be in the school office. Four As! I shall never forget the grin on his face. He had made the right call.

Who does Nicholas remember most fondly?

W.G. Stokoe taught physics for my six+ years at the school (through S-level exams). His most memorable line in response to difficult questions was “We’ll cover that in the Sixth Form.” I do not think that we ever got to most of those questions.
C.A. Read taught applied mathematics. I took double math at A-level. Read’s notable talent was finding the simplest way to do a problem. It was a skill that I have always appreciated.
Pete Harvey was an inspirational teacher. Beyond allowing keen students to transcribe the morning’s Daily Telegraph weather map onto a blackboard in his home room, he organized the first week-long school trip to Leeson House for Form 5 students (as I recall). That experience, which earned me the prize for the best student project, led to my including geology in my first year classes at Cambridge. My focus at the time was physics and math. I went on to a PhD in geology.

What is Nicholas's favourite anecdote/most vivid memory?

Please see above.