Mr Rob Mulhern joined Adams in January 1990, but is now retiring after nearly 36 years. He was initially appointed as Head of PE and Sport, and went on to becoming the founding head of Webb house in 1995, then Head of Senior Boarding in 1998 until 2014. He then became Head of PE to expand the department with GCSEs and A levels.

He said goodbye to pupils and staff on Friday, and held a private party at Longford to celebrate his time and catch up with people. He wanted to thank all those ONs who wrote a message - there were so many it ended up being a 55-page book, which is a testament to the impact he has had on people over the years.

What are your most memorable moments/highlights?

There are so many; my very first tour to South Africa was very different and therefore very scary, fortunately I had Jim and Lindsay Richardson holding my hand and looking after me. All the rugby tours stand out as they were the culmination of a two year build up and preparation. Each tour was special, and each had its own standout game, starting with the ‘Battle of Lichtenburg’ in 1996! My, was that intimidating, and I wasn’t even playing! Our boys (my very first clutch of year 7’s that I started Adams with, in 1990) had to run through a deliberately very narrow tunnel of clapping supporters, a tunnel that greeted our boys on exiting their changing room, over the athletics track and right on to the centre of the rugby field. We got thumped in front of an initially very hostile 4000 strong Afrikaners’ crowd, but by never taking a backwards step and showing courage beyond comprehension, the crowd softened into supporters of our lads, the underdogs! Whilst on the subject of rugby tours, Otahuhu College in Auckland also stands out in 2016 for very different reasons. Our lads, understandably fatigued at the end of a very long tour, were hosted in their final fixture by a wonderfully intimidating mix of very big and athletic Maori, Fijian, Tongan and Samoan players; again, another defeat and again the characteristic resolve was shown by our lads. Following the game and before a marvellous spread of food that had been prepared by our hosts, a special congregation was led by their elders that was incredibly spiritual, and one which I will never forget it.

Winning the National ‘British Aerospace’ Sevens, a two day tournament held in Fylde in 2000, in a final that went to ‘golden try’ in extra time; winning the Haberdashers’ Schools 7’s for the first time after being close runner up to either Elstree or Monmouth for far too many years, before then going on to win it several times, and especially drinking wine from the solid gold Frazer Bird chalice that had been entrusted to me for 24 hours before delivering to the headmaster for safe keeping. It had to be done as I was especially proud of this particular victory as both my boys James and Fergus had been playing respectively in the victorious U15’s and U13’s teams of this 3-age group tournament.

Being hosted and hosting various rugby teams from around the world has also been such a special experience. My thanks go out to all the wonderful Adams’ families that have made this possible. Winning the Shropshire Schools Athletics championships also proved special, again as a result of being so close for too many times before we eventually nailed it.

Inter-house sport and sport for all of our students have provided so many wonderful memories over the years, and far too many for me to write about here. What I can say however is that these memories are only so vivid because of the way the students have engaged; there have been some epic battles on the pitches and courts, and races on the track and in the pool. So many of these have left me in awe and appreciation because of the outstanding ability, physical prowess, courage and determination, and ultimately the mutual respect that the competitors have shown to one another immediately following some white-hot competition. Happily, this years’ competitions have been no different and produced some vintage matches where all of these characteristics have been shown in abundance. The Smedley Cup could not have been any better with spring like conditions permitting a wonderful display of 15 aside rugby. I was keenly aware I was refereeing my last game of rugby between Talbot and Owen and enjoyed every moment. The house 7’s went down to the wire with a game between Talbot and Webb played in front of a wonderfully appreciative and supportive crowd; what a truly outstanding game it was, played at an exhausting speed throughout and with so much talent on display, a game that genuinely swung from one side to the other with a never say die tackle clinching the game for Talbot. Talbot and Webb have been the two houses who have vied for top spot over the last 12 months and they all appreciated that this game would be the last ever sporting event of their seven-year tenure. It was a quite exceptional game, but better than that was the quite exceptional sportsmanship demonstrated by both teams with genuine mutual respect and appreciation shown by both sides to one another following the whistle for full time. I need to say it is not all about the top end sportsmen. There has been some tremendously meaningful sport across the whole ability range and which has been fully appreciated by all. I always will remember the senior C team sevens’ matches, and latter races of the 80m hurdles in inter house pentathlon where every year the guts and determination are just as evident as they are in the higher groups.

Webb House

When I first started out on my teaching career I was once told to expect the unexpected which is a bit of an oxymoron in itself. Therefore, it was a great relief to be offered the opportunity to establish what was to be a fourth and new pastoral house which became Webb. I say relief, not because I was hoping to get the post, naively I wasn’t even aware that the school was considering a fourth house. Relief was because the then Deputy Head Dr Westgate, a very imposing man, informed me at morning break that I needed to report to headmaster immediately after the house 7’s, an event which at that time was done and dusted in just one afternoon. My worry was following my pitch invasion of Twickenham just two days before where England had soundly beaten the French, television footage had been beamed around the world; the poor BBC camera man couldn’t quite get a clear picture of the likes of the England number 8 Dean Richards, nor the England captain Will Carling as I was excitedly getting in the way by congratulating each and every one of the England players. Instead of getting a dressing down which I was fully expecting, and even when I was given a cup of tea and a very nice sandwich made by the headmaster himself, which I was convinced was there to soften the upcoming blow, the headmaster instead explained the direction the school was going. I then confessed of my concern to which Jim Richardson responded ‘my only advice would be that next time, make sure you are wearing something with Adams Grammar School written on it, as any advertising is good advertising’; totally unexpected.

Boarding

16 years in Boarding again was never expected. Other than learning never to cross swords with the highly protective senior boarding matron Joan Rickell, I had no real idea of what boarding was, or what it involved. Again, I was invited to be head of Senior Boarding by Jim Richardson. What a rollercoaster! People often talk about things being a privilege; being head of senior boarding was an absolute privilege and probably what I am most proud of in my teaching career. I had no idea how it would ultimately shape and influence me and my family. Thankfully I had the late Joan Rickell gently and patiently – and without me really knowing - guiding me through my first few years. I look back on my time in boarding with great fondness, effectively it was where my two boys grew up and, like my wife Lindsey and I, considered to be our home. I really like the way in which my eldest boy James responds to the question of where he was brought up….’I was brought up in a commune, which my dad just happened to be the head of’. I also was really pleased and proud that Fergus was adamant that he was not leaving his boarding home when his mum and dad decided to step down from boarding, and that he went onto be Senior Boarding captain.

What challenges have you faced during your time?

Modern technology and embracing paperless procedures have been something I have found hard (reluctant might be a better word) to embrace, both professionally and personally. There has to be a better way of communicating; there are far too many emails. I am sure there may already be a way, if there is I am still yet to find it. I definitely do not find it intuitive, and am always scared of making a mistake, and it something that I instinctively distrust. Now that I am eventually leaving school after all these years I am going to have to learn how to stand on my own two feet.

Tell us a little about what you're looking forward to in retirement?

I am really looking forwards to doing more walking; I have already done various bits of the Cornish coast which I find incredibly relaxing, and am looking forwards to discovering much more of the British coast line. I will also start the process of becoming better (it's more achievable and realistic than saying good) at golf. On 1st September, plans are in place for me to be fitted with my own set of clubs and embarking on some golf lessons in Cornwall. I am also looking forwards to reading more and having the time and energy not to fall asleep after the first page. I am also considering learning to play a musical instrument and of course will look to expand my repertoire of dishes that I can throw together in the kitchen, plus more training, taking up yoga, maybe rowing at Bridgnorth and thinking about an electric push bike!

Anything else you would like to add…

Ultimately, I would like to say thank you to all the wonderful students and staff for making my time at Adams’ such a lovely and rewarding experience.