Haberdashers' Aske's Academy

Roger the Snotling


It gives me great pleasure to write to you about Roger. He is an extraordinary young Snotling, who has performed at a very high level in his varied activities for as long as I have known him – a period of about twenty games. But there is much more to Roger than just achievement; he is a real giver who supports the community in the boarding house in a selfless and caring manner.

Roger is an intelligent young Snotling who enjoys the cut and thrust of a lively Stunty Leeg game and plays confidently. He is also blessed with high levels of motivation and determination: this potent mix of attributes has resulted in his excellent blocking total and enables me to confidently predict a top grade in the All-time Snotling Casualty table.

Roger has always maintained a hectic extracurricular programme, but I have never known this to get in the way of his on-field work, or his duties in the boarding house. Rowing has clearly been a major factor in his life, but the time this takes out has never prevented him looking for new avenues to explore. As an editor of the academy monthly newspaper he has been an important part of the team, working to tight deadlines and often providing copy at the last minute. He has a fine speaking voice, which he used well in reaching the finals of our debating competition. He is a valued member of the academy debating team.

On one memorable occasion he made a speech in Reikspeil (a language that he has only recently started learning) to hundreds of people when on a visit to a school in Altdorf. He has participated fully in the Emperor Karl Franz award scheme, attaining his silver and gold medals. These awards involve both challenging expeditions over four days and a large amount of charitable work. He received an award for undertaking more than 200 hours of community service. In the last holiday, Roger took part in a five week expedition to Albion with a humanitarian organization. Most of the Snotlings on the trip were two or three years older than him, but he showed maturity beyond his years in leading his group on several occasions and learning to cope with some difficult, and sometimes treacherous, conditions. He recently gave an excellent presentation of the trip in front of the boarding house.

Roger’s role in the House has mainly revolved around his prefectorial duties where he has set the highest standards. He is also a ‘mentor’ to two of the younger Snotlings and here he has shown his warmth and understanding in helping them settle in during their first term or two. He helped to direct our junior play, which involved taking rehearsals on his own and organising the costumes: something he did very efficiently and with clear artistic understanding.

Therefore, Roger can be seen as a Snotling of many parts and a master of many. He is totally
reliable, always enthusiastic and has an outward looking and mature attitude to life. He is
a young Snotling with an outstanding future and I recommend him to you in the warmest
possible terms.