Educational Establishments


monumentally stunning vista for anyone enjoying the South Downs - Britain’s newest national park.


Looking down on the site from atop the chalky trails - enjoyed by thousands of visitors annually - you’re able to fully appreciate the scale of this independent school and its acres of lush green sports pitches that surround the historic buildings. Lancing College may be known far and wide for its educational pedigree, but sporting prowess has lain at the heart of the school’s ethos since the Reverend Nathaniel Woodard founded it in 1848. The commitment to excellence on the field has shone ever since and, today, half of the 550-acre estate is set aside for sporting pursuits.


What struck me when I arrived at Lancing College - aside from the stunning Chapel - is how young the Lancing estates team is. It may be a symptom of the frequency with which we meet turf professionals but, given the prestige of the establishment, I expected that a much older man would greet me. Head Groundsman James Cowie cannot claim the years but he certainly can claim the expertise. He’s arguably better equipped to lead the line at Lancing College than many counterparts of more senior years, with an impressive CV built on family foundations. He started life helping at Finchampstead Cricket Club, where his stepfather, Paul Maynard, is head groundsman, providing


the spark that first set James on track to a career in grounds maintenance. “My early memories are of him riding on the roller,” James explains. “A few friends and I used to spend our summers at the club, helping out where we could and, ever since then, I’d wanted to get into the trade myself.” With his career path mapped out, James completed two years at Merrist Wood College, graduating with a diploma in Sports Turf Science. He then landed his first job at Wellington College, where he spent six years under the watchful eyes of senior staff, Peter Lewington, Martin Brandom and Brian Evans. “Peter worked on the grounds and


JUNE/JULY 2013 PC 89


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