The Blue 2016/17

BLUE THE

2016 | 2017

CH: OUR MISSION It is and shall be the mission of Christ’s Hospital to: offer to boys and girls of suitable age an education of such breadth and excellence as will fit them pre-eminently for work and service in society in their generation; and in particular to enable them to compete confidently with their peers for opportunities in further education and careers; develop first the skills, learning habits, independence of mind and spiritual awareness that will enable and motivate them to continue to educate themselves throughout their lives; and second, a high sense of responsibility towards themselves, their families, their associates and to society at large, such as to form a permanent foundation of their training and character; present to its pupils the Christian faith in all its mystery and splendour; have regard especially to children of families in social, financial or other need, in the choice of pupils; and maintain and further the close connection between the Foundation and the City of London so successfully nurtured since 1552.

CHARITABLE OBJECTS The principal object of the charity is the advancement of education of children, principally for the benefit of those whose families are in social, financial or other specific need.

The assets and endowments of Christ’s Hospital are managed to ensure that this prime purpose is maintained for the benefit of both present and future generations.

Christ’s Hospital is privileged to enjoy the patronage of Her Majesty The Queen.

HISTORY

CHAPEL

GRECIANS

LEAVERS

RESULTS

REVIEW

CONTENTS: THE BLUE 2016/17

6-14

15-17 18-21 22-25 26-31 32-37

Includes John Franklin’s Review of the year and oration from the Senior Grecian on Speech Day

A look at the impressive set of results for pupils taking the IB, A levels and (I)GCSEs

University destinations or onward plans for the pupils leaving CH this year

Memories of CH from the Senior Grecian and Second Monitor, as well as Q&A with the leaving Headmaster

38-43 Focus on the Blue Fund and the School’s Community Ation programme

COMMUNITY

4

Read the thoughts of CH Chaplain, Reverend Stephen Golding

A look back at the 460 year history of CH and a focus on the School museum’s 20th century exhibition

ART

D&T

DRAMA

OUTLOOK

MUSIC

HIGHLIGHTS

44-57 58-67 68-83 84-87 88-95 96-104 A look back at highlights of the year, including visiting speakers and a meeting with Professor Hawking

Includes thoughts of the leaving Grecians and a review of the Jazz and Blues Night

Some of the best examples of the creative writing and the thoughts of our Poetry by Heart winner

Interview with Head of Drama John Johnson and pictures from the senior production, Les MisĂŠrables

105-138 Reports from across CH, with notable achievements or developments

SPORT

5

A diverse range of designs from across the year groups in the Design and Technology Department

Includes the work of the School’s two Grecians earning the coveted Distinction 1 grade

4'8+'9

HEADMASTER’S review of the year

over the year and in the sporting arena, our teams enjoyed successful seasons in many of the sports on offer. Several of our pupils gained selection for county or regional representation, while Lennox Anyanwu, the first recipient of the Joe Launchbury Rugby Scholarship, had a successful national debut playing for England U16 against Wales.

John Franklin This has been another positive and productive year for Christ’s Hospital, with a great deal achieved in both the academic and co-curricular areas of School life.

The IB results were very pleasing overall, with over a quarter of the cohort of 27 pupils gaining 40 points or more. Phoebe Thornhill on 44 was the top-scoring IB candidate, narrowly missing out on the maximum 45 points. The strong A level results, with 76% of grades at A*-B and an overall cohort average of AAB, are a credit to the pupils and their teachers and suggest that the move back to a linear course of study two years ago was the right choice for CH. The top-scoring A level candidates with 5 A* grades were Isaac Hayden and Temi Adeyemi.

The (I)GCSE results were impressive with 87% of all grades at A*-B. These very strong results saw 25 pupils gain 10 A grades or better.

Marley Bell achieved 11 A*s and 1 A and Luke Watts gained 10 A*s and 1 A.

Ceremonial events include St Matthew’s Day

The (I)GCSE results were impressive

Running alongside the academic programme, the diverse range of co-curricular activities on offer at CH plays a complementary role in our pupils’ development, allowing them to discover interests and skills that will serve them well in later life.

Music remains one of the core activities at CH and much credit must go to Ed Jones, who has been Acting Director of Music for most of the year, and to his staff for the excellent quality, breadth and scale of music on offer.

Highlights have included the annual Angus Ross Concert, with two fine pieces under the direction of Tim Callaghan, followed by a moving performance of Mozart’s Requiem, conducted by Ed Jones; the summer Symphonic Concert which provided a wonderful showcase for our talented Grecians soloists; and the various Concert Band and Big Band Concerts so ably conducted by Terry Whittingham.

Once again, the Art Department staged some inspiring exhibitions of work by pupils and staff

The wonderful new Mellstrom Careers Centre

Maddie Hynch opened the new hockey pitch

6

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the CCF continue to flourish, as does Model United Nations, Debating, Poetry in Translation and Poetry by Heart, a national competition won overall this year by one of our Grecians, Indigo Douglas.

In his first term at CH, our new Director of Drama, John Johnson, quickly established his reputation with an outstanding production of Les Misérables, while Zoe Munday’s Junior production of Wendy and Peter involved a huge cast and crew to great effect. Both plays underlined the incredible range of theatrical and musical talent we have in the School.

On the pastoral front, sensible rationalisation of the boarding job descriptions has seen pleasing improvements in the level of pastoral care provided for the pupils, while the introduction of a new staff appraisal system with a clear and effective format has provided teachers with useful feedback and encouragement. At the beginning of the year, the Senior Management Team underwent considerable change with Jon Perriss and Marlene Fleming taking on the demanding roles of joint Deputy Heads, Dr Andrew Wines being appointed as Assistant Head – Admissions and Dayle Kirby joining SMT as Assistant Head – Pastoral.

CH has seen quite a lot of building and refurbishment in recent years and in the Michaelmas term, we saw two new projects come to completion. The first was the new allweather hockey pitch, which was opened by England hockey goalkeeper, Maddie Hynch.

The second was the Mellstrom Careers Centre, opened by the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Susan Pyper. This wonderful facility, which saw the old School library and Dominions Library transformed into a state of the art careers

John Franklin with the Monitor team 2016/17

centre, was made possible by the generosity of Graham Mellstrom (OB) and his family.

In early January, the old Grecians’ Club building was demolished and work commenced on a much more attractive and practical replacement, due for completion towards the end of the Michaelmas term. In the meantime, planning and preparation continues for the new catering project which will see the original late Victorian kitchen replaced by a new facility that will cater for the needs of current and future generations of CH pupils.

Behind the scenes, the School has successfully completed the sixth and final year of the business plan introduced in 2010 to address an unsustainable shortfall in funding. To its credit, the School has, year on year, met both the financial and pupil recruitment targets set out in that plan and has provided a strong platform for the 2017-22 business plan. Pupil numbers for September 2017 will be close to 900.

Work on important changes to the governance and management structures of CH has continued over the course of the year, with everything now in place for the new Headmaster, who will assume the role of CEO of CH, with the former Clerk supporting him in the new post of Chief Operating Officer.

The first of our major ceremonial events for the year was St Matthew’s Day and once again the senior pupils, the Band and the Choir travelled

to London for a service at St Andrew’s Holborn with the Lord Mayor and his Aldermen. After the service, the pupils marched to Guildhall for the presentation of largesse and then lunch.

This year’s Lord Mayor, Lord Mountevans, went out of his way to make our pupils feel most welcome and offered our Grecians some wise advice for life beyond CH. The second important ceremonial event in the CH calendar is Speech Day in late May. This year’s Lord Mayor, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley, responded to the Senior Grecian, Peter Callas’ excellent oration with a moving and highly amusing speech. His exhortation to our Grecians to serve others if they are to enjoy a happy and fulfilling life themselves, resonated strongly with the charitable ethos of CH. The third and final major ceremonial event for the year was Beating Retreat and as always, the Band performed an extraordinary programme of tunes, marches and manoeuvres to the delight of a large crowd. Placed as it is at the end of the academic year, Beating Retreat is always a moving affair, but for me, the surprise inclusion of the Australian favourite, Waltzing Matilda, was particularly poignant.

Once again, we had a number of staff leaving CH over the course of the year. In December, we said goodbye to Katie King (Maths and Physics) and to Andrew Phillips, who in his 25 years as a teacher of French at CH, also ran four boarding houses, the most recent being Coleridge B.

At the end of the Lent term, we also said farewell to: Gabbie Jerritt in the Biology Department; the Assistant Head – Academic, Dr Richard Malpass, who returned to Australia to take over as Head of his old school, Sydney Grammar; and Louise Brown, who had served as a teacher of Russian and French for 28 years.

At the end of the Summer term, leaving staff included: Language Assistants: Clara Reuter Audrey Talbot-Guilbert Rodrigo Gonzalez Sports Gappers: Shana Francis Steve Albutt Jack Mynott Artists in Residence: Amelia Phillips Kit Mead Rosanna Catterall Musician in Residence: Alex Hughes School Marshall: Mark Aggrey had been our School Marshall for six years and is now moving on to Benenden School. I would like to thank him for all he has done as School Marshall, Fire Officer, Cadet SSI and, for a time, OC of the CCF contingent.

I feel extremely privileged to have been associated with CH and take great pride in all that we, as a School community, have achieved in my time here. John Franklin

7

Kim has spent a great deal of time working behind the scenes supporting me and CH. And the following teaching staff: Ed Hawkins joined us from Marlborough College in 2014 as Head of Maths. We thank him for all he has done at CH, both in the classroom and beyond and wish him well as he takes a break from teaching and moves to Snowdonia to pursue his love of the outdoors.

Digby Don also joined CH in 2014 as a teacher of English. As well as his good efforts in the classroom, he has done a fine job as the International Pupil Co-ordinator and has been actively involved with hockey, cricket and rugby. We wish him all the best as he moves on to the Harrodian School in London.

Siobhan Gorman was appointed to the Physics Department in 2013. Having helped out with the Duke of Edinburgh Award and been an Assistant House Parent in Lamb A for the past two years, Siobhan now moves on to Monmouth to further her career.

Imogen Morgan was initially appointed to teach ESL in March 2013 and subsequently took on some junior Latin teaching as well. She is leaving for family reasons and we wish her every success in the future.

Jess Copley is leaving CH after five years to take up an exciting business opportunity with her family in Lincolnshire. She has been an

inspirational history teacher and a gifted Head of History, always putting the interests of her pupils and her colleagues before her own. She has served as a tutor in Leigh-Hunt A, LeighHunt B and Grecians West and as an Assistant House Parent in Coleridge B. In addition to running the History Club, Jess has coached athletics and netball. We wish her every happiness in her new life.

Kim Franklin leaves CH after 10 years in the English Department. In that time, she has been a tutor in Grecians East, taken various actives including Creative Writing and Human Rights and spent a great deal of time working behind the scenes supporting me and CH. I am sure you will join me in wishing her a long and happy retirement.

Damini McCulloch joined CH in January 1998 and is now retiring after 19 years here. As well as teaching maths, she has been a house parent in Maine B and is currently Head of 2nd Form. I know that she will be missed by colleagues and pupils alike. Good luck, Damini!

Tim and Lizzy Callaghan are our longest serving leavers this year. Tim Callaghan was appointed Head of Strings at CH in 1995, while Lizzy joined the then Religious Studies Department in 1997. She has also been house parent of Leigh-Hunt A for the past 10 years.

8

Between them, the Callaghans have given over 40 years of dedicated service to the School and made a huge contribution to the lives of the pupils with whom they have worked. We wish them a very well-deserved retirement.

On behalf of everyone at CH, I would like to thank the leaving staff for all their hard work, support and commitment to CH in their time here. Whether they have been here for just one year or over 20 years, their contribution to this extraordinary institution has been invaluable and I wish them every success and happiness in the next stage of their lives.

This is also my last year as Headmaster of CH and I would like to take this opportunity to offer my grateful thanks to the staff, pupils (particularly this year’s Monitors so ably led by the Senior Grecian, Peter Callas), parents, board members, Almoners and members of the wider School community for the support you have given me and the School over the past ten years.

I feel extremely privileged to have been associated with CH and take great pride in all that we, as a School community, have achieved in my time here. I wish the new Headmaster, Simon Reid, every success in this demanding role and sincerely hope that CH and all associated with this “School like no other” will continue to flourish in the future.

INTRODUCING Simon Reid Simon Reid, formerly Principal of Gordonstoun School, succeeded John Franklin on his retirement as Headmaster in September.

Simon’s career has seen him teach in a number of prestigious schools including Brentwood, Stowe and Christ’s Hospital, where he held various posts including teacher of English and boarding house master. After CH, Simon spent seven years as Deputy Head at Worksop College before taking up his position at Gordonstoun in 2011.

Simon commented: “The bond with CH and its values, which I formed during my first period at the School, has drawn me back once again, this time with the honour to serve as Headmaster. In my predecessor, John Franklin, I have a tough act to follow. John’s tenure saw the School make considerable advances, with major improvements on the campus, an enhanced strategic and financial footing and greater connectedness to the wider community, nationally and worldwide. Most of all, he kept the School true to its original mission to create opportunity for those in need.”

Simon has a BA in English and Politics and a Higher Diploma in Education.

His wife Michèle teaches French (her native language) and they have two adult children. Simon’s interests include architectural and landscape photography, writing poetry, reading and skiing.

SPEECH DAY

HEADMASTER John Franklin’s address John Franklin Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, Lady Mayoress, Treasurer, Chairman of the School Board, Almoners, Governors, ladies and gentlemen, Grecians, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2017 Christ’s Hospital Speech Day and Prize Giving.

Lord Mayor, I would like to thank you, your aldermen, your sheriffs and the Lady Mayoress for joining us today. It is, as always, a pleasure to re-affirm our traditional links with the City and with those livery companies that support CH. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters here today, particularly our Donation Governors. Thank you to the Almoners and members of the Board of School Governors who give so freely of their time and thank you to the staff, for their dedication, commitment and hard work.

Lord Mayor, there are two particular reasons why your presence here today is so special for me: the first is that it was the Lady Mayoress who, some 11 years ago in her capacity as an Almoner of CH, persuaded me to apply for the headship of this unique institution. The second is that you are, I believe, the first Lord Mayor in over 800 years to have been a Head yourself.

There have been 30 Headmasters of CH in the 465 years since it was founded. Some served only a relatively short time; three served for 25 years or more, while one spent an incredible 48 years in office. Some will have faced greater challenges than others: imagine the difficult early years when Mary Tudor saw CH as a protestant affront to her Catholic sensibilities; or the Great Plague in 1665 which claimed the lives of 32 Housey pupils, followed by the Great Fire a year later and the move to Hertford and Ware while the Newgate site was rebuilt.

There were the challenges faced by the Rev Dr. Upcot, whose first task on taking up his appointment was to uproot the CH boys from Newgate and bring them down to their new home in leafy Sussex. And there was Henry Flecker, who saw CH through the grim years of the Depression, the hardship and danger of the Second World War and then the decade of austerity that followed.

I am immensely proud to have been associated with this unique School and the young people whose lives it has transformed.

In its time, CH has, like many venerable institutions, experienced good times and bad.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Reverend James Boyer ruled CH with a rod of iron, or at least, an energetically applied cane.

But, by introducing a more literary element to CH’s narrow classical education and by demanding the very highest standards from both his staff and pupils, Boyer nurtured the talents of pupils like Middleton, Lamb, LeighHunt and Coleridge and placed CH amongst the very best academic schools of the time.

By the mid-19th century, CH’s bright star in the academic firmament had begun to wane. In 1854, the new head, Dr George Jacob, publicly denounced the governors of CH for their lack of vision and their insistence on clinging to the old ways in spite of compelling evidence that those ways were no longer fit for purpose.

10

Against determined opposition, he introduced a broader curriculum and emphasised the importance of a healthy boarding life and an active co-curricular programme. With his focus on the all-round development of his pupils, he laid the foundations for the School that we now know.

So just what sort of school is CH today? Well, for a start it is once again fully co-educational, as our founders originally intended. There are just under 900 pupils in the School from 2nd Form (Year 7) to the Grecians (Year 13) and most are full boarders. Three out of every four pupils receive some form of means-tested bursary; indeed almost half pay less than 10% of the full fees and last year we spent over £16 million on bursaries.

Our pupils now come from a wide range of socio-economic, ethnic and national backgrounds and this adds a wonderful richness and diversity to our cultural mix. This, along with our enduring charitable mission, gives the School a unique egalitarian ethos.

SENIOR GRECIAN Peter Callas’ oration

On the academic front, our pupils enjoy a broad curriculum designed to provide them with a rounded education and instil in them an enduring love of learning. The Chapel remains at the centre of CH life and symbolises the key values that our pupils acquire as they pass through this School. Music, art, drama, sport, debating, CCF, Scouts, D of E, and Community Action all form part of our busy co-curricular programme. Participation in these activities, as much as what happens in the classroom and the boarding house, helps to ensure that our pupils are fully prepared for the challenges of life in the wider world.

CH today is much more than just the sum of its parts, even if those parts include its stunning campus, its rich history and its links with the City of London. In the final analysis, CH is about these fine young men and women sitting before you today, ready to take their place in society and make a valuable contribution once they are there. They are the reason why this School exists; they are its future and they are tangible proof that your support has made a real difference to their lives.

I am immensely proud to have been associated with this unique School and the young people whose lives it has transformed. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have served CH over the past ten years and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped with the work we have been doing. As well as the teaching staff and the support staff, I would like to thank my current deputy heads, Jon Perriss and Marlene Fleming, along with their predecessors, for their ceaseless labours to ensure the smooth running of the School on a day to day basis. I would like to thank our Bursar, Keith Willder, for all that he has done to make our vision for CH a reality. Thanks go to the members of the Board of School Governors, the Treasurer, the Almoners and the Clerk for their support for me and the School.

I would particularly like to thank the five Chairmen under whom I have served, Professor Lance Lanyon, Sir David Lewis, Richard Carden, Mike Hiard and Andrew Gordon. Their sensible advice, re-assurance and sense of perspective when I most needed it, made all the difference. I offer grateful thanks to my PA, Carole Clark, for all that she has done in the nine years she has worked with me at CH and finally, I would like to thank my wife Kim, who has done so much behind the scenes to support me and the School and without whom I simply could not have managed.

Thank you

Peter Callas My Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs of the City of London, Almoners, Governors, Pupils, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all here today, to our annual Speech Day and Prize Giving.

My Lord Mayor, although I do not think we have formally met before, I would like to think that we have one or two things in common.

Firstly, that we have both grown accustomed to being stared at on account of our strange clothing choices and secondly, I understand that we share a love of music. If I wasn’t standing here, Lord Mayor, I would be with my fellow brass musicians having played the fanfare to which you walked in. As you are a keen organist, perhaps you would feel more comfortable tinkling the rather distinguished ivories we can see behind us.

It is plain to see from your choice of music related charities for this year’s Lord Mayor’s Appeal that you believe music is a key part of the education and development of young people. Music plays an important role in today’s society and in support of this, later in the year you are to, in your own words “undertake one of the most frightening things that could ever befall a Lord Mayor” by abseiling down the Leadenhall Building – the 225m high city tower known as the “Cheese Grater.” Your ongoing commitment to these causes is shown by the fact that you have agreed to be cheese grated for charity!

11

My Lord Mayor, it may interest you to know that I am something of an expert guide around CH, as I have lived here all my life. As a child of two members of staff, my sentence has been longer than most of the other inmates present today.

It is thought that the first staff child educated at CH was in fact the son of William Wales, whose memorial plaque we walk past daily in the cloisters. William Wales had the distinction of sailing around the world with Captain Cook on his second voyage, and then settled to be Master of the Royal Mathematical School, as we rather grandly call the School Maths Department. Rather like my parents, Wales pleaded poverty and so asked for his eldest son to be educated at CH. Since that time there have been many staff children who have been able to share the wonderful opportunities at CH with pupils who have come to the School by other routes, including those supported by the City Livery companies.

One feature of the life of a staff child is the inevitable blurring of the lines between the adults who are both your teachers and your family friends. You learn quickly how to deal with bumping into your teachers in your kitchen at home, or even going on holiday with them! Being a staff child has afforded me opportunities that others may not have

Not many pupils here can claim to have been lifted from their prams at three weeks old and carried round the garden by the Headmaster.

had; I assume not many pupils here can claim to have been lifted from their prams at three weeks old and carried round the garden by the Headmaster. I’m pleased to record, for posterity’s sake, that this was of course the former Headmaster Dr Southern; as you can see from Mr Franklin’s open face, he did not endure the trauma of gazing upon me as an infant.

I am mentioning this, my Lord Mayor, because as a child growing up here, I have seen the School in a different light from most of my peers. Most pupils don’t often see past the teachers’ work in term time and only see their apparently long holidays. The truth is, teaching staff often work throughout the 12 months of the year – not just the senior management, but teachers at all levels; planning lessons, preparing training regimes for sports teams and organising a huge variety of trips and expeditions to name a few. Term time is the tip of the iceberg and although pupils are only here for 34 weeks a year, there is much more work involved than meets the eye. Having spent some of my recent holidays working in

the kitchens, I can appreciate how hard, not only the teachers, but the non-academic staff work to keep School running smoothly.

During my time here I have been able to experience the genuine sense of family that CH instils in its pupils. How the 2nd Formers, who are strangers when they arrive, become friends who support each other when there are times of pressure or stress. Being a member of the onsite community, as well as a pupil, I am pleased to say that that there is a similar sense of fellowship amongst the staff. A significant aspect of life at CH which is not always noticed is the contribution of those who might not be particularly musical, sporty or are not academic giants, but who, through their kindness, compassion and empathy make School life better than it otherwise might be.

Boarding is not always easy, especially when many CH pupils have complicated home lives.

It is the very people I mentioned above, who ensure that we always have someone to talk to whenever we face a problem.

12

At a time when mental health (especially that of young people) is so much in the news, it is worth recognising how much support CH pupils learn to offer and receive from their friends.

These friendships, as many Old Blues tell us, endure long after School and while, as Grecians, our thoughts turn to leaving CH, it may be an appropriate moment to mention that we are not the only ones who are moving on at the end of this term. After ten years, Mr and Mrs Franklin will also be leaving the School. Mr Franklin has overseen a considerable amount of change in his time as Head Master. He has guided the School through financially challenging times and he is now able to leave CH knowing that its financial standing is, as Theresa May might say, ‘strong and stable’.

Mr Franklin has also presided over many improvements to the fabric of the School.

Future pupils will never know the Arctic winters and the torrid tropical summers endured by the occupants of the Portacabins which have been

LORD MAYOR’S response removed from the art quad and replaced in the garden quad by the sparkling new LARC. These changes, in conjunction with the redevelopment of the old Library into the Mellstrom Centre, have created an airy and attractive space at the heart of the School.

There have been changes to the curriculum too, with the introduction of the IB, and changes to the nature of the pupil body, with CH gradually welcoming a range of international and local day pupils.

Throughout the past ten years, Mrs Franklin has not hesitated to give her time and energy to both pupils and teaching staff at CH. From being an active member of the English Department, to personal contributions such as giving up time to help me prepare this very speech. Her ever positive attitude will be sorely missed. I am sure you would like to join me at this point in thanking Mr - and Mrs - Franklin for their considerable contribution to CH life, and wish them all the best for their retirement.

My Lord Mayor, all the Grecians present have many thanks to give as they leave the School, and I hope the ‘thank yous’ that I offer now can be considered representative of the gratitude we all feel towards staff and pupils alike. My own list includes house parents past and present, academic teachers who have significantly developed my progress and all the staff who have supported the range of activities I have been able to enjoy. I personally would like to make special mention of Mr Steve Titchener who has taught me trumpet since I was nine.

His patience, like that of many teachers, has been extraordinary. I would like to thank the Monitor team including Raf Alford, the Second Monitor, for helping with everything this year and finally my two best friends Freddie Norris and Elspeth Muir for constant emotional support and patience for the past seven years.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley Peter, thank you and well done. Being Senior Grecian is a great honour – but comes with onerous responsibilities, not the least of which is giving the Oration.

But I knew you would do so with aplomb.

Because it has been a great joy to my wife, Wendy, and I to see you and Rafaela (Second Monitor) in the City. As I stood up for my one of my own most nerve wracking moments – speaking at Guildhall, alongside the Prime Minister at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet – I looked up and there you both were. And I immediately knew I was amongst friends. And we were delighted to see Rafaela at the Guild of Freemen’s Banquet and you both at the Spital Sermon in March, when you, Peter, read one of the lessons so beautifully.

Each of these events is, in its way, quite eccentric. But each of them is about the bonds and gestures between the City and its friends.

Every time we see a Housey coat in the City we are renewing a friendship – just as we do on St Matthew’s Day, when the Band play at the Lord Mayor’s Show or when a group came to see Sir Stephen Hawking being awarded the City’s Honorary Freedom. Ours friendship has lasted over 460 years. That is worth treasuring. And treasure it we do.

Peter, when you reported back on the Lord Mayor’s Banquet you said that the Prime Minister looked resplendent in a red dress and that she spoke, and I quote, with “confidence and grace” and her speech was “inclusive and sympathetic”. Well, Peter, you are resplendent,

My Lord Mayor – at one time the Senior Grecian’s oration was delivered by heart and in Latin. For me, as an A level science pupil, it is the rhetorical equivalent of sliding down a two hundred metre cheese grater. In recent times, it seems to have become something of a tradition that we Senior Grecians maintain the original roots, by including at least a snatch of the Classical languages. With thanks to Mr Hatton, for his translation of C.S. Lewis, can I say: “opus non est amicitia, aut philosophia, aut arte. Vitam non auget, potius est aliquid quod vitam meliorem facit.”

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

13

not in a red dress, but in a bluecoat. You have spoken with confidence and grace. You were inclusive and sympathetic. I understand you want to study neuroscience. You have to be brainy to study brains. But you have brains aplenty. And charm, wit and grace as well. Thank you.

One especially useful part of the CH community is, I know, its love of matters literary. I am quite in awe of your bookish goings on. You’ve not just had Booker prize winners coming to speak to you. But Indigo Douglas was crowned Poetry By Heart national champion recently, while Vincent Lotz had an article published in Philosophy Now. Congratulations! And back in March CH went book mad for Shelfie Day on World Book Day with hundreds photographed engrossed in their favourite tome. Some were snapped with works by one of my favourite authors, Roald Dahl.

I am sure I am not the only one here who has loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Or was moved by Danny Champion of the World. Or cheered for the Fantastic Mr Fox. You never grow out of him. But my own favourite is a short story he wrote for older children – perhaps you remember it. It is The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. It’s about a man who is rich and who wants nothing than to get richer. Who spends his time with other people who are rich and want to get richer.

Who think of nothing else than themselves.

Who don’t even like the people they call their friends. It’s no wonder the author

Perhaps you might not have money – but make others happy.

describes them as “seaweed” - pointless and drifting. But Henry Sugar learns a wonderful skill. He learns how to see through things. So he can tie a scarf around his face and still see what’s in front of him. Or see what cards other people are holding when he’s at a casino.

So he starts winning all the time. And winning lots of money. But it doesn’t make him feel happy.

As the story says: “He couldn’t understand why he felt so little excitement about his tremendous success. If this sort of thing had happened to him before he’d have been dancing in the streets or rushing off to the nearest nightclub to celebrate with champagne. He knew he could travel around the world and make millions.

But was it going to be any fun doing it?”

What he has learnt is that money doesn’t buy happiness. Instead he learns that giving it away does. He learns that giving it away and helping others is the fun he’s looking for. So he makes more and more money and takes it away from all those pointless people and uses it to set up orphanages, so that children who have little can have some hope. He has to keep on the move so the casinos don’t get wise to him. He lives modestly. He is never famous. But he changes countless lives. And he is happy.

I bet this story would resonate with CH’s founders and benefactors. I hope it resonates with you. Some of you will come and work in the City or in business. And if you do, you have the opportunity to earn very good salaries indeed. And the best way for that money to make you happy is to use it to give others the chance to be happy. To make things possible

where possibility did not exist. Or perhaps you might not have money – but make others happy in other ways. By serving your community. By fighting for justice. By standing up for what is good. If you do, you will be following in a long line of Old Blues who have had an affinity for the underdog. Who have said: ‘That is wrong.

I’m not standing for it.’

I’d like to mention one Old Blue who’s done that. Each year, Old Blues give awards to other Old Blues who have done their bit. And this year’s awards are to some cracking people.

But there is one name that stands out, amongst the knights, professors, peers and major generals. He has a different title: Father.

Father Paul Uwemidimo. Paul’s father had to flee unrest in Nigeria, so he was the son of a refugee. And when he was at CH he was a bit of a star. Inside centre for the First XV. Button Grecian. House Captain. Paul could have done anything when he left CH. The world was his oyster.

But he had an itch he couldn’t scratch. So he became a priest. And not just any old priest.

But a priest on the wrong side of the tracks in the Philippines, in Manila. He has lived there for his adult life. He is itinerant. He has no real home. No family. Little money. He has lived with people who many others consider discarded, inconvenient and best forgotten.

But he has found them the people in whom light shines. He has been alongside them and helped them fight forjustice. He has offered practical help. He has worked tirelessly to

14

create opportunities where there were none.

And if you look at a picture of Paul you will always see him smiling. In fact, positively beaming. And more often than not, he is surrounded by people who are smiling as well.

Paul is happy because he is doing the right thing. He has made people happy. Helped to create hope and a better future. You don’t have to be religious to be inspired by that. And that, I submit, might be a legacy as great as Henry Sugar’s.

So when Mr Franklin reads the Charge out to you at the Leaving Service, think of how Old Blues have lived out that Charge. And how you will do so, in whatever way, according to your gifts and your means. I am sure you will, because you are just like those Old Blue forebears. Kim, Mrs Franklin, is also leaving.

She told a friend of mine teaching anywhere after CH would seem, well, a bit lame. She loves your curiosity, inquisitiveness and how you want to put wrong things right.

I hope you will do that when you leave. If you do that, you will, like Father Paul, smile. You will be happy.

Peter, we’ve had some Latin already by singing the Votum – and I started by praising your oration. I am no classicist but I’d like to end by quoting another great orator. This time from antiquity – the Roman statesman, Cicero.

It is short but sweet: Aliis coluit non sibi.

And it translates as this: He cultivated for others and not for himself.

Do that, go well – and I wish you the very best of luck for the future.

IB: Impressive set of results

Bee Crinnion (centre) has secured a place at Oxford

IB pupils at Christ's Hospital have gained an impressive set of results this summer, with over a quarter of the cohort of 27 pupils gaining 40 points or more (out of the maximum possible 45).

On average, pupils scored 36.6 IB points. The average UCAS points achieved by pupils was 215, which is equivalent to A*A*A*A at A2 Special mention should go to Phoebe Thornhill who achieved 44 points out of 45 and will be taking up her place at Oxford in the autumn to study Biological Sciences.

By way of comparison, 41 points is equivalent to at least A*A*A*A* at A2-level.

IB pupils outside the new Mellstrom Careers Centre

Special mention should go to Phoebe Thornhill who achieved 44 points out of 45 and will study Biological Sciences at Oxford.

Those pupils who achieved 38 points or more include: Phoebe Thornhill (44) Celine Hou (42) Aoife Kelly (42) Indigo Douglas (41) Roberto Salvia (41) Helen Hou (40) Riccardo Silvestri (40) Carolina Trinker (39) Clemens Vogt (39) Rafaela Alford (38)

15

These outstanding results will see the pupils secure places at some of the top universities in this country including Classics at King’s College London, Classics at Edinburgh, English and German Law at King’s College London, English at Warwick, Law at Birmingham, Politics, plus Philosophy and Law at King’s College London.

Congratulations to these pupils who have worked tirelessly across six separate subjects and are now well equipped for the demands of university.

Of the 146 Christ’s Hospital pupils who chose to apply through UCAS this year, 62% achieved their first place

A LEVEL: Pupils head to top universities A highly impressive 48% of grades were A* - A, 76% A*-B and 15% A*. The average UCAS points achieved by a pupil was 136, which equates to AAB. There were some notable individual achievements and huge congratulations go to: Isaac Hayden achieved 5 A* (Maths at Glasgow) Temi Adeyemi with 5 A* (Natural Sciences at Cambridge) Hareef Asunramu 3 A* 1 A (Medicine at Imperial) Ben Johnstone 3 A* (Maths at Imperial - deferred entry) Charles Lillywhite 3 A* 1 A (Natural Sciences at Durham) Michael Hobson 2 A* 1 A D2 Pre-U (Maths at Oxford) Remus Goldsmith 2 A* 1 A (Engineering at Bristol)

Congratulations to Lorna Lam and Lucas Ng who are off to study in America, and Guilietta Weber who is off to Switzerland.

As a consequence of this great set of results, out of the 146 pupils who chose to apply through UCAS this year, 62% achieved their

16

first place, 85% achieving their first or second choice and a vast majority going to a Russell Group Universities.

Congratulations to Lorna Lam and Lucas Ng who are off to study in America, and Guilietta Weber who is off to Switzerland; in addition, several others have made successful applications to universities in Germany and Hong Kong.

Temi Adeyemi, who is celebrating her place at Cambridge, said: “When you come to CH, you fall in love with the place. Before coming here, I didn't really enjoy any particular subject; I just did okay at everything. At CH, I have discovered what I enjoy the most and I have made the most diverse range of friends you could ever imagine.”

CH sixth form pupils have the benefit of being offered three courses, the broader International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, A2 levels and the Cambridge Pre-U.

GCSE: Fantastic core subject results This year, 30.4% of all the grades awarded were at A* with 63.1% at A grade or above and results in the core subjects were excellent.

GCSE ART Memorable year

Art by Freya O’Brien

Paul Deller This year’s GCSE saw the best results the Art Department has gained for a decade, reflecting the hard work of the pupils and, most evidently, their collective creativity.

Pupils celebrate their GCSE results

Christ’s Hospital is absolutely delighted with the 2017 (I)GCSE exam results that reflect over 86.7% of all grades at A*-B. This year, 30.4% of all the grades awarded were at A* with 63.1% at A grade or above and in the core subjects of Maths, English and the Sciences, the results were excellent.

These very strong results saw 25 pupils gain ten A grades or better and some brilliant individual performances: Marley Bell achieved 11A*s and 1A Luke Watts achieved 10A*s and 1A Maria Howard achieved 9A*s and 4As Eugene Ting achieved 9A*s and 2As Flora Thwaites 9A*s, 1A and 1B Helena Walsh achieved 9A*s and 1B

Edith Thompson achieved 9A*s and 1B Marvelous Jibogu achieved 8A*s and 3As Lydia Thornhill achieved 8A*s and 2As Freya O’Brien achieved 8A*s and 2As Dara Kuteyi achieved 8A*s and 2As In Maths, Music and Latin over 80% of grades were at A* or A and the three Sciences averaged 70% A* or A grades.

“It is an elegant reflection of our pupils’ tenacity and their teachers’ professionalism and support that many of our (I)GCSE pupils achieved these results, particularly given that many have faced adversity in their young lives,” said Simon Reid, Headmaster. “I send my warmest congratulations to our Year 11 (GE) pupils, their parents and teachers. I could not be prouder of these achievements.”

17

As a cohort they had an innate interest in the subject, often visiting galleries and exhibitions in the holidays as well as furthering their projects of their own volition. Working with pupils with this mind set becomes a most rewarding experience. For this alone, they will always be a very memorable year group to have worked with.

Notable achievements were made by Art Scholars Annabella Chenevix Trench, Freya O’Brien and Angelle Roberts, as well as Helena Walsh and Edith Thompson, all of whom scored in excess of 98% in the course, with Edith gaining a remarkable full marks.

As with all of our pupils, they developed their projects in personal directions, unafraid of encountering new and diverse subject matter and media including printmaking, photography, film, ceramics, sculpture and textile.

The originality of their stories often lead them in and out of representation and abstraction, encountering a great many artists and influences.

Congratulations to each of them; so innate was their relationship with the subject and we look forward to seeing how they progress in either of the Pre-U or IB courses in the Sixth Form.

LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS ADEYEMI Temilola

University of Cambridge

Natural Sciences

2017

AGYARE Joel

Queen Mary University of London

Science and Engineering Foundation Progamme

2017

AJAYI-COKER Kehinde

Queen Mary University of London

Robotics Engineering

2017

ALFORD Rafaela

The University of Edinburgh

Spanish and Classics

2018

AMADIS Stephanie

University of Birmingham

Policy, Politics and Economics

2017

ANAMEKWE Chiamaka

University of Nottingham

Computer Science (inc. international year)

2017

ANAND Robbie

St George’s, University of London

Biomedical Science

2018

ASUNRAMU Mohammed Hareef

Imperial College London

Medicine

2017

BAFFO Mary

University of Nottingham

Biochemistry

2017

BAHRA Harsimran Singh

University of Bristol

Economics (with year abroad)

2017

BALDWIN Helen

Coventry University

Psychology

2017

BALL Oliver

Swansea University

Accounting and Finance

2018

BARBEAU Andrea

King’s College London

Law

2017

BELL Ronan

University of Sussex

International Development

2017

BINEY Holly

The University of Manchester

Economics and Finance

2017

BLACKSHAW Cameron

University of Southampton

Film and English (with year abroad)

2017

BLADON Charles

University of Glasgow

English Literature

2018

BOYLE George

University of Bristol

Pharmacology with study in industry

2018

BRANCHFLOWER Lucy

The University of Edinburgh

History of Art

2017

BRIDGES Lucy

Durham University

Anthropology

2017

BRYANT Joseph

University of Kent

Mathematics (three years)

2017

BUCKLEY Scarlett

Kingston University London

Art Foundation

2017

CALLAS Peter

University of Bristol

Neuroscience

2018

CARBON-WILSON Danielle

The University of Manchester

Drama and English Literature

2017

CARTER Ashley

Cardiff University

Music

2017

CHAN Jeremy

Durham University

English Literature

2017

CHISHOLM Oscar

The University of Edinburgh

Archaeology and Ancient History

2017

CITRON Misha

King’s College London

Politics, Philosophy and Law

2017

CLARENCE Ruth

Kingston University London

Architecture

2017

COOPER Amber

University of Southampton

Biomedical Sciences

2017

COUTSOFTIDES Adrian

University of Surrey

Computer Science

2017

CRINNION Beatrix

University of Oxford

Beginners' Italian and Linguistics

2018

18

CRUICKSHANK Alistair

Brunel University

Economics and Business Finance

2017

DAVIS Rebecca

University of Exeter

Biochemistry

2018

DAWE Archie

Newcastle University

Mechanical Engineering

2018

DAY Max

University of Southampton

Biology and Marine Biology

2017

DELLER Solomon

Kingston University London

Film making

2017

DENNY Tamsin

The University of Liverpool

Occupational Therapy

2017

DOGAN Anil

University of Leeds

Actuarial Mathematics

2017

DOUGLAS Indigo

University of Warwick

English Literature and Creative Writing

2017

EBBRELL Maddy

Imperial College London

Biological Science

2017

EBI-OGBOMAH Brakemi

University of Birmingham

Law

2017

EDE Joseph Robert

University of Nottingham

Industrial Economics

2018

FARQUHAR James

Newcastle University

Medicine (Stage 1 Entry)

2017

FARRELLY Lucy

Swansea University

Electronic and Electrical Engineering

2017

GARNER HUTTON Annie

University of Sussex

Zoology

2018

GEORGE Giovanna

Central Saint Martins

Art Foundation

2017

GIACOMOTTO Hadrien

University of Bath

Int Management & Mod Languages (Spanish)

2017

GOLDRING Heather

University College London

Geography

2017

GOLDSMITH Remus

University of Bristol

Civil Engineering

2017

GREGSON Henry

University of Kent

Wildlife Conservation

2017

HANNON Samuel

University of Leeds

History of Art

2018

HAYDEN Isaac

University of Glasgow

Mathematics

2017

HO David

University of Sussex

Business Management and Economics

2017

HO Jacinda

King’s College London

Chemistry with Biomedicine

2017

HOBSON Michael

University of Oxford

Mathematics

2017

HOGAN India

Kingston University London

Art Foundation

2017

HOLMES Savannah

University of Exeter

English and History

2017

HOOD Julia

University of Nottingham

Mathematics

2017

HOU Celine

King’s College London

English Law with German Law

2017

KARU Sandra

University of East London

Music Performance and Production

2017

KELIAS-TAYLOR Noel

University of Birmingham

Economics

2017

KELLY-AKINNUOYE Oluwatobi

Coventry University

Medical and Pharmacological Sciences

2017

KING Jeffrey

University College London

Economics

2017

LAI Shun Kiu

University of Essex

Accounting and Management

2017

LAM Chelsea

Loughborough University

Management Sciences

2017

LAWFORD Sasha

University of Kent

Classical and Archaeological Studies

2017

19

LEUNG Crispin

University College London

Chemistry

2017

MA Gavin

University of Nottingham

Pharmacy (4 years)

2017

MAFIAMBA EPOTE Yasmine

University of Nottingham

Industrial Economics

2017

MANGAN Isabelle

University of Bristol

Liberal Arts

2017

MARSHALL-PORTER Daisy

University of Surrey

Biomedical Science

2017

MASON-GRAVES Kitty

University of Glasgow

English Literature

2017

MORLEY Alyx

University of Exeter

English

2017

MORROW Joe

University College London

Fine Art

2017

NEILL Luke

University of Edinburgh

History

2017

NG Jason

Brunel University

Industrial D&T with Professional Practice

2017

NG Wan Hay Eugenia

Brunel University

Physiotherapy

2017

NOMAFO Jacob

University of Manchester

German and Spanish

2017

O'DONOGHUE Tomaz

University of Oxford

History

2017

OFONAGORO Monica

University of Southampton

Economics

2017

OKORO Jessica

King’s College London

Biomedical Science

2017

OLAGUNJU Ikeoluwa

The University of Sheffield

Software Engineering (3 years)

2017

OLANREWAJU Mololuwa

University of Surrey

Law

2017

ONYANGO Emmanuel

Cardiff University

Medicine

2017

ORMEROD George

University of Southampton

Economics

2017

OWEN-ELLIS CLARK Grace

University of Exeter

History and Modern Languages

2017

PACKHAM Jordan

University of Exeter

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

2017

PALMER Gabrielle

Bath Spa University

Psychology

2017

PLOWMAN Jacob

University of Bath

Chemistry (with study abroad)

2017

POULTON Tatiana

University of Exeter

Art Foundation

2017

PURVIS Christina

University of Manchester

History of Art

2018

RAMSHAW Sophie

University of Brighton

Nursing (Child)

2018

READ Isabelle

University of Exeter

English

2017

RICHARDS Eleanor

University of Bristol

Spanish

2017

RILEY Elliot

NCH

History with Art History

2017

ROBERTS Indiana

Cardiff University

Mathematics

2017

SALVI Simon

University of Exeter

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

2018

SAMUEL Leah

University of Warwick

Philosophy

2017

SARFO-BONSU Adwoa

Cardiff University

Biomedical Science

2017

SCHIFFER Alexander

University of Kent

Economics (with year in industry)

2017

SEDKI-FARAG Youssef

University of Exeter

History

2017

20

SHONUBI Kunmi

University of Edinburgh

Law

2017

SIBLEY James

Central Saint Martins

Art Foundation

2017

SILVESTRI Riccardo

King’s College London

Classics (Greek and Latin)

2017

SIWOKU Olaoluwa

Kingston University London

Economics

2017

SLATER Caitlin

University of Nottingham

Philosophy

2017

STANNARD Harry

University of Edinburgh

Philosophy and Psychology

2018

STEVENSON Maximilian

King’s College London

Physiotherapy

2018

TAI Cheryl

University of Leeds

Economics and Management

2017

TAM Vincent

Royal Holloway, University of London

History

2017

TAYLOR Harry

Royal Holloway, University of London

Economics

2017

THORNHILL Phoebe

University of Oxford

Biological Sciences

2017

TODD Molly

University of Glasgow

History/Politics

2017

TRAILL Noah

University of Bristol

Philosophy

2017

VIADENOU Tobi Aldric

University of Sussex

Philosophy and Politics

2017

VUBYA Virginia

Cardiff University

Journalism, Media and English Literature

2017

WALKER Tom

University of Bristol

Music

2017

WANG Jessie

London School of Economics

Management

2017

WATTS Henry

University of Plymouth

Marine Sciences with Foundation year

2017

WATTS Oscar

University of East Anglia

Philosophy (with Foundation year)

2017

WEEKES Rashaine

Royal Holloway, University of London

Economics and Mathematics

2017

WHITE Marlowe

Cardiff University

Applied Software Engineering

2017

WINSBURY Sam

University of Birmingham

Psychology

2017

WOKOMA Sophia

University College London

Natural Sciences

2017

WROE-WRIGHT Eloise

University of Bristol

History

2017

WU Chelsy

University College London

Nutrition and Medical Sciences

2017

YALEKHUE Sarah

University of Surrey

Midwifery: Registered Midwife

2017

YANG Annie

University of Manchester

Management with Industrial Experience

2017

YEATES Florian

University of York

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

2017

YOU Franco

University of Manchester

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

2017

YU Christina

Royal Holloway, University of London

Economics

2017

Please note that at the time of publishing The Blue, not all pupils had finalised their placements or plans for the following year. Therefore, some names may not appear on this list of leavers’ destinations. We wish all leavers many congratulations and success in the future.

21

I tried to contrast the different lives that people around School lead.

SENIOR GRECIAN

Peter Callas Peter reflects on a demanding year of responsibilities as Senior Grecian Being Senior Grecian is a big responsibility and if you're academically focused then I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, because it does take up a lot of time. You are involved in organising events and functions, and must attend meetings. It needs to be something that you want to do. I've always enjoyed helping around the School, so for me being Senior Grecian has been a huge privilege.

Along with the Monitor team, we carry out duties around the School. We supervise during meal times, handle any complaints and liaise with the senior management team, so

you are a go-between between pupils and staff. I’m well supported by the Monitors and Rafaela, the Second Monitor. She is my deputy so often has an input into what I do, although I usually end up carrying her bags too!

The role has allowed me to meet dignitaries including the Lord Mayor and the Duke of Gloucester at special events. But the most important duty comes on Speech Day. There is a Chapel service attended by dignitaries, followed by a Service and Readings. Then, the whole School marches along the Avenue in front of the Lord Mayor, before the Grecians go into Big School for speeches and prizes.

It’s tough for the Senior Grecian, as you go through the whole day chatting to people and pretending that you are calm and confident, but you’re always thinking about the speech you have to give! On the day, I was nervously sitting there thinking, ‘It's coming!’ But after talking for five minutes, I realised I was actually enjoying myself.

22

It's important to be topical with your speech because it keeps the crowd entertained and reflects the times. But the Senior Grecian speech can be whatever you want it to be. I live at CH as my parents both teach here, so I thought it would be different to offer a perspective from someone who has seen the teaching and pupil side of the School. I tried to contrast the different lives that people around CH lead and offer a behind the scenes view.

I will miss so many aspects of School life. We have Chapel every Sunday and Tuesday and you just get used to hearing the songs. Then suddenly you think, ‘That's the last time I'm ever going to sing this hymn with this group of people I have lived with for seven years.’

When you do something regularly and then it suddenly ends, it is bound to leave a hole.

Peter will study neuroscience at the University of Bristol following a gap year.

SECOND MONITOR

Rafaela Alford Raf explains the role of the Second Monitor at Christ’s Hospital

The Second Monitor assists the Senior Grecian. Part of the role is ceremonial, but we also represent the pupil body in meetings and provide a link between pupils and the senior management team. The Second Monitor has most of the perks but not as much responsibility as the Senior Grecian!

The role has given me the opportunity to attend some prestigious dinners, including one at Guildhall in the City of London with Theresa May. On Speech Day, Peter (Senior Grecian) and I stood next to the Lord Mayor, so on certain occasions we are the public face of the School.

I did wonder whether I should accept the role of Second Monitor. It was a point of contention between me and my family as I was very busy, but it’s been an interesting challenge and one that I needed. It's worth the effort, although it's not for everyone. I wouldn't encourage pupils to go for it if they are happy with the co-curricular activities they are already doing.

When I became Second Monitor, I had to give up other things. However, I kept going to Band practice and kept playing the saxophone with the jazz band. The jazz and blues night was one of my personal highlights, as you don't have to wear the uniform and can let your hair down a bit.

Pupils play alongside professional musicians, usually improvising, so it’s really good fun and helps us all improve.

Rafaela will be heading to the University of Edinburgh to read Spanish and Classics in 2018 following a gap year.

23

INTERVIEW: John Franklin This will literally be the first time in 41 years we have been able to travel outside school holidays.

So fewer tourists and cheaper holidays!

Interview conducted by Peter Callas (Senior Grecian) You are originally from Australia but you taught in schools in England before coming to CH. What was teaching like there?

Peter interviews the Headmaster

John Franklin previously taught in Australia

In some ways, it is very different. When I started in Australia many years ago, I was in the state system. The very first school I taught at was a large and very deprived school in Brisbane, the biggest city in Queensland.

What I learnt there was that many of the children just didn’t get the opportunities they needed to get on in life. Even then, that made me think there must have been a better way.

After four years in the state system, I moved across to the independent sector. I worked for nine years in a large boys’ boarding school and enjoyed that very much. I was involved in the CCF and ended up being OC of the unit.

We didn’t have a marching band quite like the one at CH, but we did have a Scottish pipe band with 25 pipers and a dozen drummers.

They made quite a noise!

What was your first post in England and how did it compare with Australia?

John Franklin meets the Duke of Gloucester

I spent a year at a very old school in the Lake District called Sedbergh. It had a big focus on outdoor education and rugby. Will Carling, who was then the captain of the England Rugby team, was a Sedbergh old boy. The first game of rugby I watched in this country was when he led the Sedbergh old boys against a local team, playing knee deep in mud. Kim and I then moved on to Marlborough College, where we stayed for three and a half enjoyable years. I then returned to Australia to be deputy of a boys’ school in Adelaide. However, we always knew we would come back to the UK. The biggest difference is that over there, good schools tend to be single sex, and what we like about the UK is co-ed boarding, ideally in the English countryside.

John Franklin opening the new hockey pitch

24

What was your first experience of CH, or how did you first hear about the School?

When we were teaching at Marlborough, the Headmaster of the local grammar school came across. He was singing the praises of this unusual school in West Sussex, where he had watched the pupils march into lunch with the Band. He thought the School was absolutely fantastic. I did some homework and realised it was quite an extraordinary place. That would probably have been in 1990. Of course, once I started at Ardingly in 1998, in the same HMC division, I came to know Peter Southern, the previous Head very well. Mary Ireland (former deputy head of CH, who went on to become Head of Bancroft) had been housemistress at Ardingly for my first two years there. I thought I knew quite a lot about CH until I actually started.

Have you had a favourite moment at CH and what memories will you take away?

I have some very special memories. One that keeps coming back to me is the visit from Johnny Johnson, the last surviving Dambuster.

He came along to give a talk and stayed with us that night. Next morning, we were in Chapel and the Director of Music had put the Dambusters march on as one of the hymns.

There are lots of other highs; it is always good to see CH pupils doing well, whether it’s day-to-day or something quite special.

Your job entails lots of leadership and some important speech-making with large groups of people. What is the best piece of advice for public speaking?

Assess your audience carefully. One of the challenges speaking to the whole School these days is that you are speaking to people with an age range from 11-60 and some of the pupils’

Quickfire Q&A grasp of English isn’t as strong as others. This means it is tough trying to find a middle way that allows you to get a message across to everybody, without dumbing it down or being desperately inaccessible at the other end.

Pretend that you are confident; prepare well.

Who is the most famous person you have met through being the Headmaster?

Certainly the most high profile person is HRH The Duke of Gloucester. For me, one of the joys over the past ten years has been getting to know him better; he is actually quite a shy and private person. He is very good at the public side of things, but it takes him a long time to get to know people. Seeing him relax to the point where he is perfectly comfortable having a conversation with me and vice versa has been a great joy.

If you had one more year at the School, what would you do?

If I had another year, I would be seeing in the changes we have been working on for ten years to the way that the School is governed and managed. It is better that it is not me.

What we were doing was drawing together two different groups – the Foundation and the School - and making them one organisation.

I think it is better that the new Headmaster comes in with the fresh system.

Favourite book: I have read the entire Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander series twice and will probably read them again at some stage in the next five years.

Favourite Film: Probably Casablanca.

Favourite Game: I enjoy playing golf. I also enjoy watching rugby, but Mrs Franklin and I enjoy playing a rather vicious card game called Rickety Kate with our friends.

Favourite food: Probably Mrs Franklin’s special pasta dish!

Worst nightmare: I don’t like spiders, I’m a bit of an arachnophobe.

Tea or Coffee? Coffee.

Red sauce or brown sauce on a sausage sandwich: Red sauce, if that’s all that was going. But if I had the choice, then some of Mrs Franklin’s famous chutney.

You are stuck on a desert island. Which piece of music do you take and which luxury? Music – probably Bach or Beethoven because I think you can play them over and over again and still find something to enjoy. I like a huge range of music – I like jazz and pop as well as some more obscure music.

And your luxury? A decent sound system to play all my music on!

25

Is there any advice you would give to the new Headmaster?

Make the most of his time here. I know that he is committed to the School, coming back having been a housemaster and a teacher here. Make the most of his time at CH. It goes quickly.

What have you and Mrs Franklin got planned for retirement ?

Getting our house in Storrington sorted out is quite a high priority, but we are hoping that a couple of months will see that done. We are looking forward to spending some time together and traveling outside the school holiday time. This will literally be the first time in 41 years we have been able to travel outside school holidays. So fewer tourists and cheaper holidays! I am also hoping to take some art classes. I made a very bad decision a long time ago when I was in Year 8 going into Year 9, when I had to decide my subject options. My mother was senior mistress at the school where I was at the time and I knew that if I chose to do art - as I wanted to - I would be the only boy in the art class. At aged 12, that sounded like a terrible idea! If I had been a year older, I may have made a different choice!

HEADMASTER’S SERMON You are now ready for the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead: go forth with confidence and courage.

John Franklin Each year the past nine years, I have delivered a sermon to the School in the final week of the summer term.

While my particular focus has changed from year to year, the underlying purpose of my sermon has remained the same: to reassure the Grecians that the School has prepared them for what lies ahead; to say that they should be excited about moving on to fresh challenges; and to urge them to make the most of the many opportunities that will come their way.

CH is a very special place; indeed, some might say that it is a School like no other. However, what makes it so special also makes it very hard for pupils to let go when it is time to move on. When they do say goodbye, they will be leaving behind a place where they have been safe and happy; a place where they have been able to grow and flourish and where they have been surrounded by good friends, supportive, caring adults and familiar routines.

Assistant Chaplain Stephanie Redfern-Jones

things that we enjoy here. But, as pupils begin their final year in the School, it is not uncommon for them to become nostalgic and start counting down the various “lasts”. Like many Grecians, I too have been ticking off each of the major events this academic year: my last St Matthew’s Day Service back in September; my last House Singing Competition; my last Christmas Carol service and most recently, my last Speech Day. Today is my last Head Master’s Sermon, with only two assemblies and then the Leaving Service still to come.

Performing during St Matthew’s Day

At the start of each new academic year, I always say to the Grecians that their final year at CH will just flash by; now I find myself amazed and a little unsettled at just how quickly my last year has gone. And to those of you who are not leaving this year, but sitting there smugly, comfortable in the assurance that it will be ages before you leave, let me offer a word of caution: your time at CH will come to an end much more quickly than you think.

Until then, I would urge you to make the most of your time here and “fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run”. That way, when it is your turn to move on, you will be able to leave CH with a real sense of pride in what you have achieved, rather than any regret at what might have been.

In the past, I have always felt sympathy for those pupils preparing to leave CH, but until now, it has always been someone else who was leaving and not me. This time it is very different, because now it is my last year at CH and when we are back here in Chapel this Saturday for the Leaving Service, I too will be leaving CH behind to start a new life.

Of course, there is one fundamental and fairly obvious difference: I will be retiring after over 40 years in teaching, while this year’s Grecians will just be setting out on their adult lives. My challenge will be adjusting to a quieter lifestyle without the structure and bustle of CH. Let me assure you though, I will not be going “gentle into that good night”. Instead, I have every intention of following Neil Young’s advice that it is “better to burn out, than to fade away”. For the Grecians, their challenge will be to make the most of the next stage of their life to ensure that they do fulfil the promise we have seen in them at CH.

Life at Housey teaches you to live and work productively with others

No matter where you travel, may God go with you all

If you have been at CH for some time, it is very easy to take for granted the many special

26

It is a difficult and uncertain world that the Grecians are heading out into. Many of the old political certainties on the national and international stages have come crashing down over the past year: just 18 months ago, who would have thought that: Britain would vote to withdraw from the EU; that a maverick American businessman would be elected as President of the United States; or that a ruling Conservative government with a comfortable majority and an opposition in apparent disarray would take the country to the polls, only to suffer the humiliation of having to form a minority government?

To the Grecians then, yes, there will be challenges along the way, but there is also much for you to be positive about. Your time at CH has prepared you for what lies ahead and if

You will have learnt to show patience and determination in the face of adversity; to be respectful to, but not mindlessly accepting of, authority. the School has done its job; if you have, indeed, received an “education of such breadth and excellence as would fit you pre-eminently for work and service in society,” then you have nothing to fear and a great deal to look forward to.

Life at Housey will have taught you to live and work productively with others; to respect each other’s differences; to be adaptable when you encounter change and to embrace the opportunities that those changes offer. You will have learnt to show patience and determination in the face of adversity; to be respectful to, but not mindlessly accepting of, authority. You will have the courage to speak out against injustice, intolerance and corruption; you will know that you need to take an active interest in the world and the people around you; you will be prepared to help others less fortunate than yourself; and you will leave CH with a love of learning and an abiding respect for those things which are fine and lovely and of good repute.

Even though you will be leaving CH behind, you will take with you the friendships that you have made here, both with other pupils and with your teachers.

You should take comfort in the knowledge that you will continue to have the support of those friends, but you should also welcome the opportunity to make new friendships. And like all Old Blues over the past 460-odd years, you will share an enduring link with this unique organisation; a common thread that binds you to other past pupils and to this School and which no-one can ever take away from you.

As you move on to the next stage of your life, you should also remember that since you first arrived at CH, this Chapel has been at the centre of your School life, both physically and spiritually. Whatever your faith or beliefs might be, the time you have spent in this Chapel and the teachings of Christ that you have encountered here will have had a profound and lasting effect on you.

27

These teachings will have shaped your spiritual awareness and your sense of right and wrong.

They will also have helped you to reach some understanding of the deeper meaning and purpose of your life and will have instilled in you a moral framework that will serve you well in later life.

You are now ready for the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead: go forth with confidence and courage. Enjoy your life and make the most of all the wonderful opportunities that await you. As you do so, bear in mind the advice of another, more measured American president who once said, “live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God”.

And when you do go, remember that no matter how far you travel, or what you might achieve along the way, you carry with you our hopes, our best wishes and the good name of Christ's Hospital. May God go with you all, now and ever more.

Amen.

CHAPEL NOTES To pray is to broaden one’s horizons, to raise one’s sights beyond self-centred concerns by focussing attention on the needs of others.

Stephen Golding During the course of our long history, millions of prayers must have been offered for and by Christ’s Hospital and prayer remains integral to our life as a school community.

This year has seen the introduction of a very positive new custom, with the choir singing the Lord’s Prayer as a regular part of our Sunday gatherings. Our intercessions, delivered by pupils, have been written by our Graduate Assistant Chaplain and the words of the Morning Collect have guided our thoughts: Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this new day. Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger, order us in all our doings and guide us to do always what is right in your sight.

Finding ourselves in the Diocese of Chichester, it is appropriate that the prayer of St Richard is also heard amongst us and his reference to Jesus as ‘Redeemer, Friend and Brother’ whom we are encouraged to ‘know more clearly, love more dearly, and follow more nearly’ resonates with our own Christ’s Hospital Collect, in which we pray that the example of our founders might encourage us to be ‘such good, faithful and hearty friends of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord’.

Early in the School year we celebrated St Matthew’s Day at the Guild Church of St Andrew, Holborn. This year our preacher was Mark Sowerby, the Bishop of Horsham. St Matthew’s Day is one of the two main occasions at which we cement our links with the City of London. Each year we visit the Lord Mayor and he or she reciprocates by visiting us for Speech Day. On both occasions we pray for the integrity of the School and of the City: Grant, Lord, that this School may ever be worthy of the generosity and dedication of those who serve it, remain true to the values and principles that have sustained it, inspire the affection and loyalty of those educated in it, and witness to the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and renew each generation in its search for truth.

Chapel has helped shaped pupils’ spiritual awareness (pictured: Robbie Anand)

Grant to all who exercise responsibility for the care and governance of this great city both judgement, to know what they ought to do, and grace faithfully to perform the same.

Candlelit Night Prayer has again been a weekly feature on Thursday evenings and a new initiative led by the Assistant Chaplain, Stuart Thomson, has seen the introduction of a Breakfast Prayer Group.

Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all mankind in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom, give us courage, give us hope, and keep us faithful now and always.

In the subdued lighting of Advent we asked: Stir up your power O God and come among us. Heal our hurts, calm our fears, and grant us peace; through Jesus our light and our redeemer.

A very full Chapel celebrated the birth of our Founder, Edward VI, and renewed our commitment to the School during October’s Allocution Service at which the Head Master prayed: May the God of love and mercy bless us and all the work that we do. May he guide us in the paths of wisdom, justice and peace and make us courageous to do his work in the world.

The Michaelmas term ended with our joyful carol services, with the choir leading us in our celebration of the incarnation. Our bidding prayer invited us to pray for ‘peace on the earth and goodwill amongst all people’ and to remember ‘the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick, and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved.’

Remembrance Sunday is always poignant, as everyone leaves the Chapel in silence to gather in the Quad. Every year at 11.00 am the laying of the wreaths is accompanied by these words of commitment:

Lent began with a packed and solemn Ash Wednesday Service and those who attended the voluntary Eucharist and Ashing heard these words: God our Father, you create us from the dust of

28

Candlelit Night Prayer has again been a weekly feature on Thursday evenings and a new initiative led by the Assistant Chaplain has seen the introduction of a Breakfast Prayer Group

the earth: grant that these ashes may be for us a sign of our penitence and a symbol of our mortality; for it is by your grace alone that we receive eternal life in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

This year’s Confirmation Preparation began in November and culminated in a Sunday afternoon service, presided over by the Bishop of Horsham, early in the summer term. A good number of pupils, supported by family and friends, were baptised and confirmed and we continue to pray for them: Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom.

Does prayer make a difference to those who pray? To pray is to broaden one’s horizons, to raise one’s sights beyond self-centred concerns by focusing attention on the needs of others and of the world. Prayer encourages gratitude and nurtures humility and compassion and a concern for justice. Prayer stills and centres, brings calm and peace and allows for silence.

The Michaelmas Term ended with our joyful carol services, with the choir leading us in our celebration of the incarnation.

As the reading at our Leaving Service says, ‘Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

Does prayer make a difference in the world?

The writer of the first letter of John gives the following answer: ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.’

Perhaps we will never know the difference prayer has made to the community and history of CH. Without prayer the story may have been very different.

So, let us pray for ‘The religious, royal and ancient Foundation of Christ’s Hospital, may those prosper who love it, and may God increase their number.’

29

ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN: My year at CH

Reverend Stephen Golding, Stephanie and Dr Stuart Thomson at Chapel

Stephanie Redfern-Jones I first encountered Christ’s Hospital through a job advertisement when I was studying for my Master’s degree at Durham University.

I thought the School looked absolutely beautiful. It was far from where I live in North Wales, but it sounded like a wonderful opportunity. I submitted an application, came for an interview for the Graduate Assistant Chaplain post and knew immediately this would be a place that I would love.

The year has definitely had its challenges, not least having to quickly muster up the courage to speak in front of over 800 pupils in chapel!

I’ve also had my first experience of being a teacher and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity of applying the knowledge gained at university into my job. Not many graduates nowadays can say that so directly.

I feel very lucky and incredibly privileged to be able to have had a year’s experience at CH. The tagline ‘A School Like No Other’ is not just

The tagline ‘A School Like No Other’ is not just an advertising ploy – it is actually true. an advertising ploy – it is actually true! It genuinely is one of the most special places to educate youngsters that I have ever encountered. There’s something unique about the sense of community and I urge the pupils here to really appreciate it whilst they can.

There are many occasions I’ve had the pleasure to attend that will stay with me for a long time – the memorable St Matthew’s Day visit to London with the Band, in addition to the somewhat more drizzly Lord Mayor’s Parade.

The Band is most certainly a treasured aspect of CH and I will certainly miss watching all the pupils marching into lunch.

I would like to publically thank Reverend Golding and Dr Thomson for their guidance and support throughout my year here. I would also like to thank pupils and colleagues with

30

whom I have come into contact in whatever capacity over the year.

I’m now moving on to another school – Wycombe Abbey in Buckingham. It will take a lot for them to match the passion, love and camaraderie that I have encountered here.

I’m excited to move on to new adventures, but I’m also sad to leave so many wonderful people here. There are so many pupils I will miss, so thank you for making my experience here so memorable. I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome I received from my very first week in September right through to my last week in June. Good luck with all your endeavours ahead and I wish you every blessing.

“Go forth and set the world on fire.”

St Ignatius of Loyola

MEMORIES OF CH: Temilola Adeyemi I have friends from Estonia, Hong Kong and all over the world.

I joined CH in Deps year, although I initially applied in Year 7. I came to an Induction Day and took the entry test, but wasn’t offered a place. After my GCSEs, I applied again and was accepted.

When you first come to CH, you fall in love with it. That may sound cringe-worthy, but the School has an element of grandeur that draws you in.

Before I came here, I didn't really enjoy any particular subject; I was okay at everything. At CH, I have discovered which subjects I’m passionate about. I’ve also been amazed by how much time the teachers give to help pupils. Before my interview for Cambridge, Dr Webb was with me late into the evening, helping me to prepare. They maintain professionalism, but go beyond being just teachers.

As well as improving in terms of academic achievement, my family says that I've changed as a person since joining the School. My mum tells me that I’m more pleasant and talk more!

At CH, I'm friends with so many people that I wouldn't have been friends with at my old school. I have the most diverse range of friends now that you could imagine. They might study drama, philosophy, English, history of art, as well as subjects I particularly enjoy, like science and maths. I even have friends who listen to rock music!

The School also introduces you to people from all over the world. I have friends from Estonia, Hong Kong and all over the world.

Before I came here, my friends were British Ghanaian or British Nigerian.

I've enjoyed playing football since I was fiveyears-old and played for Charlton Athletic for

31

several years. At CH, I captained the girls’ football team, which was good fun and helped me meet new people and settle in.

Girls’ football was only established last year at the School, so it’s still developing. It is difficult to attract players, as girls can also play hockey, netball, tennis, fives, badminton and other sports. However, this year we managed to organise football competitions between houses and sometimes our matches were better attended than the boys’ games as we put flyers up all over the School!

I’m going to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. In terms of my career, I’m keeping my options open. All I know is that I don’t want to work in an office! I would love to get involved in researching solar engineering, as I feel there is a lot of scope and potential for its use in the future.

465 YEARS: THE STORY OF CH Christ’s Hospital’s slogan is ‘A School Like No Other’ and it would be difficult to dispute such a claim.

The School is traditional in the sense that it honours its historical roots. Yet it is modern and innovative in its approach to education and remains unique in its continued commitment to offer a life-changing experience to pupils from all walks of life.

The majestic scale of the School’s grand buildings, combined with history stretching back over 460 years, ensure that an education at CH is indeed unlike any other. Here, we look back at the history of our fascinating institution...

Life at Greyfriars’ Monastery in London The School was originally founded in the 16th Century in the former Greyfriars' monastery in Newgate Street, London. It existed there for 350 years, not far from St Paul’s Cathedral.

CH’s beginnings date back to 1552, a year before its Royal Charter was granted by King Edward VI. Henry VIII had ordered the closure of monasteries during his reign and The Greyfriars had been forced to give up their property in Newgate in 1539.

In 1546, Henry gave the Greyfriars' buildings to the City of London, in order to provide shelter for the poor.

History relates that as a result of a sermon preached by Bishop Ridley of London, King Edward VI founded three hospitals, including CH, which was to be used for the care and education of children.

The School soon blossomed and began to acquire a reputation for scholarship. It is thought that St Edmund Campion, a Jesuit Catholic martyr and George Peele, playwright, were both educated at the School.

CH prospered, but in 1665 the plague claimed the lives of 32 of its children. The following year brought more misery with the Great Fire of London. Although no children perished in the

This painting, circa 1820, shows Christ’s Hospital rebuilt following the Great Fire.

The Duke of Cambridge voiced the view that the School could not survive outside of the City. fire, the hospital was severely damaged.

Designed by Christopher Wren, the School was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century. During the reconstruction period, children were educated at Ware and Hertford. The girls remained at CH Hertford before moving to Horsham in the 20th century.

Nothing remains of the original CH building, although Wren's stunning Christ Church Greyfriars tower and a few outer walls still remain in the City.

The ’Arrogant Brick Town’ is Constructed The Royal Mathematical School was founded by Royal Charter as a separate school within CH.

32

Notable figures at the School included the famous diarist Pepys and William Wales, who took up the post of Master of the Royal Mathematical School after returning from a voyage around the world with Captain Cook.

The reputation and record of CH grew, although many changes were made over the next 200 years. The Taunton Commission of 1864 proposed that the School make more places available for girls. Only 18 out of 1,192 pupils were female at that time!

Four years later, the CH Band was formed after some pupils, bored of drill, asked the Treasurer to invest in some instruments. He agreed, and the rest is history. In addition to leading the lunch time march, the Band now leads the School on St Matthew’s Day and marches in the

Lord Mayor’s Show in London. The Band has also performed at Lord’s and for the RFU at Twickenham.

One of the most important periods in the School’s history came when The Royal Commission of 1877 reported that “for a thorough reform in the management and discipline of the School” CH should move away from London. The Duke of Cambridge, the President of CH, was among the many that were appalled, and voiced the view that the School could not survive outside of the City.

A farm site, owned by the Aylesbury Dairy Company, was bought in 1892 for £47,500 (about £5.5 million in today’s money) and over the next five years an additional half a million pounds (perhaps £60 million today) was spent on building the School.

On 29 May 1902, an estimated 660 boys moved to the new site at Horsham. However, it wasn’t until 1985 that the School once again became a truly co-educational foundation with the arrival of 200 girls from Hertford.

The architects, Sir Aston Webb and Ingress Bell, incorporated many features of the London design into the Horsham building (such as the Grecians’ Arch and the Wren arch) while the Old Science School on the east side of the quadrangle and the Chapel were inspired by the abandoned London buildings.

The new School did not impress everyone though. Christ’s Hospital was labelled “an arrogant brick town” by E.V Lucas and The Buildings of England described the design of having ‘fatally low creative voltage.’

Children board the ‘Housey Special’ in the 1920s and pose for this photograph by London News Agency.

A new sculpture will soon be positioned near the original CH School in London

One of the Largest Canvas Paintings Whilst the building may not have impressed everyone at first glance, it’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer scale of the School more than a century later.

As well as boasting one of the largest quadrangles in the country, statues and paintings create an impression of history and tradition.

One of the most recognisable, primarily thanks to its central location, is the fountain, featuring an 1832 statue of Edward VI. Other features include the Chapel’s stained glass commemorative windows of benefactors and paintings by Sir Frank Brangwyn, depicting the spread of the gospel.

The Dining Hall hosts one of the largest paintings on canvas in existence – that by Antonio Verrio, depicting the granting of the Royal Charter to the Royal Mathematical School. On either side of the Verrio painting are pictures by Sir Francis Grant of Queen Victoria (a rare depiction of her on horseback) and Prince Albert.

Modern features including the Grecians’ Arch and the Wren arch are based on the London site

The Museum has many fascinating items from the School’s past

This image shows pupils exercising and climbing at the London School in their uniform

Continued...

33

“The uniform is unique.

It’s a part of the School I have fallen in love with.”

This picture of a Bluecoat boy in 1821 shows

By 1854, the cap was gone although the

Susannah Holmes was painted by Archer James Oliver. This picture was

that a cap was part of the uniform

yellow socks remained

exhibited in 1830

Continued...

Big School, placed between two of the classroom blocks, is on the south side and contains a plaque recording all Presidents, Treasurers, Clerks and Head Masters of Christ’s Hospital.

Statues dating back to the 17th century of Sir John Moore (by Grinling Gibbons) and Charles II can be found, while Edward VII – who in 1897 laid the Horsham Foundation Stone – and Sir Walter Vaughan Morgan – a former treasurer and Lord Mayor of London) are on the Old Science School.

SPITAL Sermon On 9 March, Senior Grecian Peter Callas and Second Monitor, Rafaela Alford, travelled to St Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall in the City of London to read a lesson at this ancient ceremony.

It was at a Spital Sermon in 1553 (the year Edward VI granted Christ’s Hospital’s Royal Charter), that the pupils of the School were first seen in public dressed in their bluecoat uniform.

This year’s sermon, on the subject of hospitality – caring for both body and spirit in the old sense of the word - was given by The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark.

The Spital Sermon was attended by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Lady Mayoress, together with the Sheriffs and Aldermen, Common Councilmen, Governors of CH and King Edward’s School Witley (also a Royal Hospital) and the Treasurer, Head Master and Clerk.

An Elliot and Hill organ from 1829 that once stood in the Great Hall in London also now resides at Big School. More recently, the cultural life of the School has expanded with the building of a new theatre and arts complex, which won the R.I.B.A award for the South Eastern region in 1975.

Tudor Style Never Out of Fashion It is remarkable that in this age of rapidlychanging fashions, the outer long bluecoat and distinctive yellow socks of the uniform have remained virtually unchanged.

When the School was founded over four and half centuries ago, the City of London gathered up 'fatherless children and other poor children' and cared for them. The citizens of London generously provided smart new clothes for the children.

34

The early uniform was, in accord with Tudor style, very colourful. There has been much speculation as to why blue and yellow was chosen. It was thought that both these colour dyes were not expensive, but blue and yellow could also have been chosen to distinguish the children within the care of CH from those attending other schools.

The linings of the coats were dyed yellow and their 'stockings' were always knee length and also dyed yellow. The buttons on the blue outer coat depict the head of the School's Founder, King Edward VI and were introduced a little over 200 years ago.

These still have importance, signified by the fact that the highest distinction is the award of academic 'buttons'. Large silver buttons and velvet cuffs are the mark of a Grecian (Sixth Form pupil) who, in his or her final year, has demonstrated outstanding academic performance in more than one subject.

Today, the pupils all wear the distinctive outer blue coat; the boys with breeches and the girls with pleated skirts. Yellow socks are worn instead of stockings (senior girls can choose to wear black tights) and white cotton shirts with 'bands' (similar to a lawyer's or priest's stock) instead of a regular school tie. The leather belt is belted and buckled differently according to the pupil's year group.

In 2010, Headmaster John Franklin offered pupils the chance to vote on the uniform.

However, the vast majority chose to keep their Tudor-style uniform. At the time, pupil Ruth Fayomi said: “The uniform is unique and is a treasured part of the School that has grown on its students and is a part of the School I have fallen in love with.”

If there has been one element of variety, it has been in the individual’s choice of footwear.

Dr Martens shoes and boots have become the preferred brand for thousands of pupils. First introduced in 1960, they were used by postmen and policemen, but in the early 70s were the boot of choice for punks and new wave musicians. And for many of the pupils at CH, Dr Martens have - since 1987 - been a perfect accompaniment.

Pupils from All Walks of Life CH has several annual events on the School calendar that add to its intrigue. It is also one of the few schools welcomed annually to participate in the Lord Mayor’s Show, with 120 musicians attending the most recent event on 12 November 2016.

The Band has long been a feature of the parade, as the School has maintained strong links with the City since moving from the capital in 1902.

Another of the unique characteristics of CH is the support we receive from parents, alumni and friends. Just as history and tradition are woven into the fabric of the School, so is the spirit of giving back. From bursary support, exceptional teaching and resources, to first rate facilities and an unrivalled pastoral care programme, the impact of donations to the School is profound.

The provision of a transformative education through bursaries is at the heart of the School’s success. In the last academic year, CH continued to provide more means-tested bursaries than any other independent boarding school in the UK. About 75% of CH pupils receive some financial support, with 34% of families playing less than 10% of full fees.

Today, 14% do not pay any fees at all. It is extremely rare for an independent school to educate such a proportion of the pupils free of charge.

This will continue for many years to come.

However, one thing that has changed is that, since 2010, the School has offered day places for the first time since the 19th century.

When, in September 2011 the School introduced the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, for the first time, CH recruited a small number of international pupils.

THE FEAST of five All five went over the top at the ill-starred Passchendaele offensive.

31 July 2017 marked the centenary of a remarkable meal shared by Christ’s Hospital pupils serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment during the Great War. ‘The Feast of Five’ saw the former pupils come together in Passchendaele, shortly before going ‘over the top’ at one of the war’s greatest battle fronts.

Edmund Blunden, one of the five, said in his book: “Let me remember, what I can never forget, the luck which brought five Old Blues together as officers of one company of the Royal Sussex. We might have been on holiday together, so hearty was the brotherhood, so ready with wit and humour, until on July 31, 1917, all five went over the top at the opening of the ill-starred Passchendaele offensive, whence two never returned. Tice and Collyer, soundest of men’.

A third, Arnold Vidler, so disturbed by his time in action, took his own life in 1924. Only Blunden and Horace Amon, who was awarded the Military Cross, survived.

Edmund Blunden was educated at CH from 1909 to 1915 where he developed a passion for writing. He won a scholarship to study Classics at Oxford but instead went to France in 1916 with the 11th Royal Sussex

The five former pupils meet before going ‘over the top’ in 1917

Regiment of the Southdown Battalion.

Blunden’s book ‘The Undertones of War’ is regarded as one of the best autobiographies from WW1.

REMEMBERING Colonel Thomas 5 August 2017 marked the centenary of the death of Lieutenant Colonel T H Boardman, DSO. An extract from ‘The Blue’ in 1917 states: ‘The news that Colonel Boardman had died on 5th August (40) of wounds received in action (just outside Ypres) on the night of 4th August came as a shock to us all – it was so unexpected, so difficult to believe. When visiting the School early in July with his wife, he looked so fit, so absolutely a soldier, the commander and the leader of men. The possibility of falling seems to have been felt by all to be so remote, we wished, and therefore we expected that somehow he would come through all right. Alas! It was not to be, and like so many others from our midst, he has given his life that we might live.’

Boardman’s portrait now proudly hangs in Lamb A.

35

Laura Kidner and Elizabeth Bridges at the Christ’s Hospital Museum

THE MUSEUM: Keeping history alive Pupils and visitors have enjoyed a new exhibition, focusing on CH in the 20th century.

The Christ’s Hospital Museum represents and celebrates the remarkable 460-year history of one of England’s oldest boarding schools.

This year, pupils and visitors have enjoyed a new exhibition, focusing on CH in the 20th century. Artefacts on display include artwork by Old Blues and people connected to the School including actors, poets and painters. There’s even a notebook that belonged to Barnes Wallis, inventor of the bouncing bomb.

Laura Kidner, Curator, said: “Relatives of Barnes Wallis kindly passed on items from his time at the School. He was at CH from 1900-1904, so he spent his first two years in London before the School moved to Horsham. We have various items including Barnes’ pocket book, on which he had written in several languages, a doll in Housey uniform, and part of an aircraft fuselage.”

Other artefacts in the exhibition include pen and ink sketches by Second World War poet Keith Douglas and famous Old Blue Keith Vaughan, one of the most important painters of his generation. He was a key figure in the neo romantic movement, along with Graham Sutherland and John Minton, and later in his career moved into abstract.

“He is represented in the ‘100 Years of Queer Art’ exhibition at The Tate,” said Laura. “He is both nationally and internationally renowned, so we are very fortunate to have two of his works here.”

Also on display are various books written by Old Blues including Harold Elton Box, who co-wrote ‘I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts.’ He was reportedly a real character and was regularly getting into trouble at School!

Laura said: “We ran an exhibition focusing on the First World War two years ago, but the 20th century exhibit offers more scope, as for the first

36

couple of years, the School was still at the old site near St Paul's Cathedral. It’s a fascinating exhibition, with new acquisitions and many items which haven't been displayed before. We have everything from photos to lavatory roll holders.”

Housey Chess Set Discovered on eBay It’s not just artefacts from Old Blues and teachers that are exhibited. Other items have a local connection or represent the School in different ways. The museum team recently bought a CH chess set on eBay. Commissioned by a former pupil, the set features 26 models all in Tudor uniform. It was evidently created before 1985, as all the figures are boys!

Photos in the exhibition include an early 20th century picture of pupils leaving Victoria

A doll in the Barnes Wallis Collection

Hororary Curator Mike Barford

Station aboard ‘The Housey Special’ whilst art on display includes work by Horsham artist Susan Parmenter. Displays also showcase recent acquisitions including fine art, social history, costumes, ephemera and personal artefacts reflecting the everyday life of pupils and staff.

The small team of staff and friends hope that the 20th century collection will inspire more people to explore the incredible array of items at the museum. Overall, the School has over 50,000 artefacts and archives, with about 35,000 at the Horsham site and others held at the London Metropolitan Archives and Ironmongers’ Hall.

“The School is very good at instilling pupils with a sense of history and heritage and we welcome pupils of all ages. After all, how many schools have a museum on site?”

Tracking Down Relatives

A notebook and badge in the Barnes Wallis Collection

Elements of Surprise The museum opened in 1994, thanks greatly to the efforts of teacher, artist and musician Nick Plumley. Nick had previously written books on the School, including one featuring 157 photos of CH during the 20th century.

However, the museum’s work later stalled, until a new team of volunteers picked up the baton.

Elizabeth Bridges, assistant curator, said: “There was a long period when the museum was closed, but that changed when former teacher Mike Barford (honorary curator) came back to the School after retirement.

“Mike and a small team of devoted volunteers started cataloguing the documents and artefacts. There’s an awful lot to go through of course, as the School has been in existence for 460 years.

“There’s virtually nothing surviving of the early years, but items are still coming in all the time and there is a huge amount to be sorted. We regularly receive letters and enquiries from Old Blues, or families donating items they have inherited, and we’re very grateful for that.

“People are often surprised to hear that there is a museum at CH and when they do visit they’re surprised by the scale of it.

“They also don’t know about the many famous Old Blues, as well as connections to important people through history, including Samuel Pepys and Isaac Newton.”

The museum had about 200 people visit on Old Blues Day in April and some stayed for hours, with their own specific memories from their time at the School. About 800 people visited over the course of the year, but the volunteers would like to expand its reach in the coming years.

Elizabeth said: “Everyone involved in the museum is on a mission to entice more people to visit. Currently, pupils have a tour when they start in the 2nd Form and we encourage them to return.

37

As well as being a research resource for the School and pupils, there is a concerted effort to engage with the wider community. Recently, groups of Scouts and Rainbows have visited, whilst enquiries relating to family history are increasing.

Laura said: “Over recent months, we have received many enquiries as more people discover their ancestry because of genealogy websites and television shows like Who Do You Think You Are? In fact, Fiona Bruce and Gary Lineker have visited the museum to film scenes for the programme.

“We keep records going back all the way to the start of the School. The documents show what level of need a pupil required, if they had lost a parent, where they were born and all manner of information. Clifford Jones, our knowledgeable volunteer, can track how a child progressed through their reports and in some cases even trace what they went on to do with their life.

“When we’re not scouring through the archives, the museum team hopes to be able to introduce a new collection database to modernise the way items are catalogued and make it easier for people to access information.

We’d welcome any additional help as we attempt to do that.”

The museum is open permanently to the CH community and to the public by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10am to 4pm.

History 'Verrio' tours can be booked during term time by emailing verrio@christs-hospital.org.uk The museum has also launched a new website at www.chmuseum.org.uk

COMMUNITY BLUE FUND: The cycle of good will

One of the unique characteristics of Christ’s Hospital is the support we receive from parents, alumni and friends. Just as history and tradition are woven into the fabric of CH, so is the spirit of giving back.

The advantages of a CH education and the benefits that pupils enjoy are made possible through the generosity of our supporters.

From bursary support, exceptional teaching and resources, to first rate facilities and an unrivalled pastoral care programme, the impact of donations to CH is profound.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL The provision of a transformative education through bursaries is at the heart of CH’s success of the lifelong impact it has on young people. In the last academic year we continued to provide more means-tested bursaries than any other independent boarding school in the UK. When given the opportunity of a CH education, pupils show enormous capacity for growth and achievement, regardless of their background.

INSPIRING OTHERS CH’s success would not be possible without the generosity of parents, alumni and others in the School community.

Although we have a significant endowment, it is fully committed to providing 60% of the School’s running costs and the remaining 40% must be funded from other sources.

To maintain or increase the proportion of pupils receiving bursary support, we are reliant on the generosity of our supporters.

We hope their philanthropy will inspire even more parents and alumni to make their own meaningful difference and share the benefits of their CH experience with future generations.

The School was promoting the Blue Fund on Parents’ Day

98%

60%

of Christ’s Hospital pupils go on to university

of CH pupils who achieved only the minimum expected level of attainment at Key Stage 2 went on to achieve the equivalent of 5 A* or A GCSE grades, versus 16% for independent schools and 6% in the maintained sector

HOW CAN YOU HELP? A first class education is a gift for life: it cannot be taken away. Our community has the power to increase access to an outstanding education for talented children and offer more life-changing opportunities - by giving back.

Big or small, your commitment makes a tangible difference.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities given to me by Christ’s Hospital.

It has helped me flourish academically, musically and personally. I feel so prepared for later life. Thank you Christ’s Hospital!” Current pupil

38

Christ’s Hospital pupils achieved the highest added value scores across overall GCSEs, Maths and English when compared to all grammar and comprehensive schools

There are a variety of ways that you can get involved.

To find out more visit: www.christs-hospital.org.uk/support-us/ or contact the Development Office on T: 01403 247588 or E: development@christs-hospital.org.uk With every contribution, you are enhancing our ability to provide an outstanding education for young people who might not otherwise be able to afford it. In short, you are essential to our future.

£5

PER MONTH

could support the cost of new equipment or resources in the classroom to enhance pupils’ educational experience

£10

PER MONTH

could support the cost of music lessons for pupils to broaden their skills and open up new interests

£25

PER MONTH

could support the cost of a pupil’s ‘Housey’ uniform during their time at CH

£50

PER MONTH

could help provide a team's sports kit or equipment, enabling pupils to try some of the 60+ clubs and activities on offer at CH

£100 PER MONTH

could support the additional academic and pastoral resources that a pupil may need while at CH

75 %

14 %

34 %

Around 75% of Christ’s Hospital pupils receive

of families pay no fees

of families pay less than 10% of full fees

financial support,

compared with only 8% of other independent school pupils

39

COMMUNITY ACTION: Marking 30 years

Such involvement in the community is experiential learning at its best - engaging the head, heart and hand. Graham Chandler Interview with Graham Chandler Christ’s Hospital is celebrating 30 years of its innovative and inspiring Community Action programme, which sees pupils volunteer at local organisations and projects.

Four afternoons a week during term time, pupils aged 14-18 take part in the programme, a vital part of the School’s work in the community.

Here, Graham Chandler, Head of Community Action at CH, discusses the scheme.

What does the scheme involve?

Community Action is one of about 40 co-curricular activities offered to senior pupils at the School. Pupils have a choice of working with children in nurseries and primary schools, with young people with special needs, with older people in care homes, day centres and a hospice, as well as in charity shops and environmental activities.

How many partnerships has the School established through Community Action?

The School has 35 partnerships and new ones are being initiated. It’s one of the most comprehensive outreach programmes of any independent school in the country. We’ve had a long and successful association with Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School in Horsham as well as the Ready and Able Club, run by Horsham District Council for people with disabilities. We also work with St Barnabas House Day Hospice in Worthing.

Why is it important for the pupils?

Community Action is a form of “transformative engagement” for all involved. It’s an opportunity for pupils to grow as individuals and to help others. Such involvement in the community is experiential learning at its best engaging the head, heart and hand.

What do the pupils learn?

Volunteers learn how to communicate with a wide range of individuals in challenging

40

situations, developing empathy and gaining insights into the lives of others. Their positive contributions help improve the lives of people in their community, actively promoting social interaction, integration and inclusion.

What benefit is there to our partners?

The aim of the programme is to respond to real need in the community - we are always keen to identify new contacts and innovative ways to support local groups and organisations. There is an overwhelmingly positive response to our pupil volunteers whose contributions are appreciated and eagerly anticipated.

Are participating pupils keen to continue volunteering after leaving CH? We speak to many pupils who have every intention of continuing volunteering in some capacity. We have also found that pupils who have been involved in Community Action are more likely to volunteer and initiate their own projects because of their experiences here.

PEER MENTOR Training Programme

PARENTS’ Day

Certificates were awarded to 85 Deputy Grecians (Year 12) by members of the Senior Management Team for completing their intensive ‘Peer Mentor Training Programme’.

Peer Mentor training was introduced as part of CH’s pastoral support programme and aims to build on the ‘Respect Charter’, an initiative driven by the pupils in which they pledge to help and support each other as valued members of the community.

Alongside the usual sessions on child protection and listening skills, two outside trainers - John Callaghan and John Swindell - ran a fascinating session on managing conflict through Restorative Justice techniques and the pupils also benefited from a session run by the Chaplain, Reverend Stephen Golding, on how to support those experiencing bereavement.

CH opened its doors to the pupils’ families and friends on 25 June for the annual parents’ day celebrations. A record number of families and friends enjoyed lovely summer weather, had picnics on the lawns and joined in with the varied activities.

In addition, a sub-set of the group has been trained in ‘Teaching and Learning Support’ with a particular focus on how to help their peers who may benefit from study support. At the end of the training the pupils received a personalised certificate, a training manual and a child protection salient facts sheet. They also received a distinctive yellow wristband (designed to match their yellow socks!) so they can be easily identified around the campus.

41

CROSSWORD: Here comes the cup Sean O’Boyle

Milestone

Many avid readers of The Blue will know that the man generally acknowledged as the father of the cryptic crossword was Derrick Somerset MacNutt.

MacNutt was head of classics at CH for many years and also Housemaster of Peele B. He compiled a very famous series of crosswords for The Observer newspaper under the pseudonym of Ximenes.

This series ran from 1945-1971. MacNutt instituted a monthly clue-composing competition whereby one word would be left as a bald definition and solvers were asked to supply a cryptic clue for it. The most elegant, original and witty clue in Ximenes’ opinion would be declared the winner.

This clue would be published in The Observer along with the name of the successful solver.

Ximenes also provided a small trophy, the Ximm’s No. 1 Cup, and this would be posted around the country from champion solver to the new winner each month.

After Ximenes’ death, he was succeeded by Jonathan Crowther, who has continued all elements of the tradition since 1972, working under the name Azed. A new cup, the Azed Instant Victor Verborum Cup (the word instant here is the old sense of relating to the current month) now travels up and down the country.

Altogether, there have now been 1,042 clue-composing competitions.

Such luminaries as Sir Jeremy Morse and Colin Dexter have won many times. Closer to home, the late Michael Rich, Old Blue and editor of the Listener crossword, told me that Ximenes would interrupt Latin lessons to ask Mike’s opinion of various clues that had been submitted. Dr Eddie Young (OB) has also won many times and Tom Keeley was a great fan of the series.

Having first competed in 1978, I was fortunate enough to win the Cup for the first time in the August 2017 competition (reward perhaps for perseverance.) The item to be clued was “Public Servant.” Here is my winning clue: Speculate about liberal Sir V. Cable becoming PM, possibly.

It is quite possible that this is the first time that the Cup has returned to CH since its inception in 1945. I would be interested to hear of any other crossword connections with CH and trust that readers enjoy the puzzle opposite, which also marks a longevity issue.

It would be a great expression of surprise, 4down! should a change of job come about via the pages of the 13 down, so This 9 across represents a milestone (of 24 across 21 down) achieved by a shady character.

Thirty 21 down of the milestone was spent as 12 across i/c 26 across, with many happy hours spent on a 26 across 18 down [which for the 9 across fan features each vowel once in the correct order!] a further thirty 21 down as 11 down 12 across of 17 down followed. But even then few hours were spent singing 11 across, religious 34 across being a low priority for the shady character. However, during the whole 24 across 21 down, 16 across has been taught; finding 30 across of equations, using the 3 down function, using statistical 25 down to calculate the 8 down of success, but pupils 28 downed with the correct 16 across knowledge generally avoid 22 acrosses. (No physics taught, not even with the high frequency of 16 down.) Yet another thirty or so 21 down passed as 1 across of 15 across (including many hours wrestling with the 31 across) in parallel with thirty 21

42

down as 1 across of CHEL. Five 29 down 12 acrosses have come and gone during the milestone, currently being extended by the shady character as 7 down 29 down. After a few years of bouncing of the walls of a 14 down 5’s 18 down, more 21 downs have been occupied with 14 down and many games 35 across. Other athletic pursuits have been less successful with few 22 downs and even a few 1 downs spoiling summer afternoons, not to mention other tales of 10 down: disastrous 33 down shots (19 across, hiss) when one’s 27 down was not in. Mostly disappointment has been assuaged by evening glasses of 2 down.

In more recent times pupils from 5 across have lived in happy 6 down with indigenous pupils (not many of whose parents drive 18 across tractors) many going on to read 12 down degrees, but very few winning grander honours such as 32 down. No 23 down or buts, the solution to this 9 across is not published; the curious will have to approach the 20 across apparition in the shady squares for confirmation.

CH pupils pack essential items into ‘shoeboxes’ as part of a Community Action initiative during 2017.

Pupils run for Pageant (Projects Aiding Gambian Education and Natural Talent)

FUNDRAISING: Charity partnerships I am very grateful to all concerned for their formidable efforts in raising the money which helps towards vaccination, antenatal care and other forms of health promotion. Dr Henry White During 2016, the Christ’s Hospital community raised over £12,000 for charities in the UK and overseas. Funds were raised through pupil initiatives, individual boarding houses, concerts and the Chapel Charites.

Prince’s Trust as part of your Chapel Charities commitment. Your support will make such a difference to the lives of vulnerable young people in the UK who are desperate for a chance to work towards a positive future.”

The School’s Chapel Charities are chosen each year by the pupils and CH staff. In 2016, £9,000 in total was raised for The Prince’s Trust; Hop, Skip and Jump, which provides respite care for children and teenagers with disabilities and special educational needs; the Nalango Secondary School; Kyemihoko Community Clinic in Uganda and the Thuthukhani Community Co-operative in Zimbabwe, which works to improve the quality of life within a community that CH has had connections with for many years.

Dr Henry White, representing the Kyemihoko Community Clinic in Uganda, said: “I am very grateful to all concerned for their formidable efforts in raising the money which helps towards vaccination, antenatal care and other forms of health promotion.”

In addition, food collected at the Harvest Festival service was donated to The Salvation Army in Horsham.

A spokesperson from the Prince’s Trust said: “We would like to thank the Christ’s Hospital community for fundraising so much for the

Members of the School’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) raised over £3,000 for the Blind Veterans UK by walking a gruelling course from the School in Horsham, across the South Downs to the charity’s base on the coast at Brighton. The cadets took it in turns to walk different sections of the walk blindfolded while guided by their friends.

Funds were also raised collectively by pupils in boarding houses. Maine boarding house staged a charity event at Bluecoat Sports for the British Heart Foundation and for Nalango

43

Secondary School (former pupil Robert Gauntlett’s Memorial School) in Uganda, raising over £1,000. Peele boarding house has been connected with Pageant (Projects Aiding Gambian Education and Natural Talent) for almost 20 years. Funds are raised through the Peele Arts Festival, a fun and successful event staged by all the boys in the boarding house on an annual basis. More fundraising and volunteering initiatives have been underway at CH throughout 2017.

Stephen Golding said: “There is a tremendous amount of good work going on within our community, which links very closely with an important element of CH’s mission ‘to prepare young people for work and service in society and to develop a high sense of responsibility towards themselves, their families, their associates and to society at large’.”

Dr Francis Warner, Dr Judy Evans, Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith, The Rt Hon Lord Justice Rupert Jackson, Professor Keith Bowen, Major General Buster Howes, Sir John Daniel

Old Blues recognised

Mellstrom Centre opens

after Old Blue’s donation A generous donation from an Old Blue funded the conversion of the old library at CH into a new careers centre.

The School was honoured to welcome Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper, to formally open the centre on 13 October 2016, alongside the benefactor, Mr Graham Mellstrom, who was educated at the School in the 1940s.

Mrs Pyper said on the day: “I always feel so at home when I visit Christ’s Hospital, it’s as if I am visiting friends. I am very honoured to be invited to open this magnificent centre and

grateful to the School and to Graham Mellstrom for providing such an excellent educational provision and for all the work that you do for children in the county, the country and internationally.”

This new building provides a hub for pupils, where they can research careers opportunities and the appropriate paths to qualification.

There are study pods for one-to-one consultations, a magnificent lecture hall and a quiet area for independent learning.

CH is exploring prospective relationships with other schools in the area, and colleges for them to also benefit from this initiative.

There are study pods for one-to-one consultations, a magnificent lecture hall and a quiet area for independent learning.

44

CH welcomed over 500 young and Old Blues and their families back to the School on 29 April.

One of the highlights of the day included the annual Old Blue Special Recognition Awards.

Winners of the 2017 awards are: Roger Allam, actor who played Javert in the original London Les Miserables; Professor D Keith Bowen, facilitator of important advances in materials science at the nanoscale; Dr Judy Evans, plastic surgeon and the first woman ever to gain the FRCS (Plast); Major General Buster Howes, former Commanding General of the Royal Marines; The Rt Hon Lord Justice Rupert Jackson; Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith, CB, former Principal of St Hilda’s College, Oxford; Christopher Pearson, former Chairman and Managing Director for a division of Price and Pierce Ltd; Geoff Stearn, management consultant and classical musical philanthropist; Reverend Father Paul Uwemedimo, founder of organisations which aim to help children and youth make the church relevant in their lives and Dr Francis Warner, writer of poems, plays and lyrics who has held positions at Oxbridge.

Sir John Daniel, highly acclaimed for his advancement of open learning and distance education in Canada and around the world, also collected his special recognition award on the day. He was a recipient of the award in 2015.

Rio gold medallist opens all-weather hockey pitch The School welcomed Rio Olympic gold medallist Maddie Hinch for the opening of its new all-weather surface hockey pitch on 6 December 2016.

Great Britain’s women’s hockey team made history in Rio by winning its first Olympic gold and goal keeper Maddie was instrumental in this achievement, saving all four penalties in the shoot-out.

Declaring the pitch formally open, Maddie complimented the ‘beautiful’ playing surface.

After firing a couple of opening shots into the goal, she thrilled some of the School’s goal keepers by giving them a coaching session.

Lydia Thornhill, 15, who was coached by Maddie on the day said: “It was an honour to meet Maddie and train with her, and I know it will improve my hockey for the future.”

Hockey review starts on Page 112

Lennox selected for England U16 Lennox Anyanwu was selected in the starting XV to represent England against Wales on Sunday 30 April.

Lennox and fellow pupil Matthew Attalah represented Harlequins in the RFU Academies U16 festival at Wellington College. These matches were used as a 'final' selection for the England U16 team. Both boys represented CH very well, with Matthew scoring a try against Wasps and Lennox picked for England.

Lennox scored a try in a well-fought match which resulted in England defeating Wales 41-22.

Rugby review starts on Page 105

Lennox and fellow pupil Matthew Attalah represented Harlequins in the RFU Academies U16 Festival.

45

Theory published in Philosophy Now The Theology and Philosophy Department set Grecians (Year 13) pupils a voluntary class project which led to an astonishing result.

ethics, following a refuted theory from the 1960s which had been discussed in class with his teacher. His article was subsequently published in Philosophy Now.

Pupils were asked to write on a topic that merged different areas of philosophy relating to a real world application. Vincent Lotz was inspired to write a piece on medical

Vincent said: “It was about the ethical issues concerning HeLa cells. Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman whose cells were taken without her consent whilst she

46

was treated for cervical cancer. These were used by the medical community for 15 years, when her family found out that their grandmother’s cells had been used all over the world by the pharmaceutical industry.

“My article asked moral questions about who the cells should belong to and whether the medical community has a duty to use the cells for the good of humanity.”

Nuffield Research

Girls inspired at

opportunities

Oxford University

British Biology Olympiad Three Deputy Grecians (Year 12) pupils secured places on the 2017 Nuffield Research Placements Scheme.

The placements provide a fantastic experience for would-be scientists to develop skills prior to attending university.

The three pupils spent part of their summer holidays as Nuffield Research scholars, working alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians (STEM subjects).

Arron Shaw spent four weeks at Queen Mary University, London. He worked on a project at the Blizard Institute, researching tissue culture and flow cytometry.

Alex Vojdani spent four weeks with a principal lecturer in health sciences at Brighton University. His research involved analysing quantitative data from the Imagine mental health programme.

Geoffrey Rwamakuba secured a four week placement at UCL with Professor Coppens (Ramsay Memorial Professor and Head of Chemical Engineering) working with PhD student Nidhi Kapil, researching the development of novel catalytic materials.

Sixth form pupils performed well in the British Biology Olympiad competition, leaving with five medals and four ‘highly commended’ certificates.

The British Biology Olympiad is a national competition for A level and IB pupils run by the Royal Society of Biology. It challenges and stimulates students with an interest in biology to expand and extend their talents.

It is hoped that competing in the Olympiad will encourage students already interested in the subject to continue their study beyond the sixth form.

Special congratulations to Phoebe Thornhill who was awarded a gold medal. This placed Phoebe in the top 6% of the 7,500 students who sat the Biology Olympiad nationally. Elspeth Muir, Crispin Leung and Max Day all achieved a silver medal and Mercy Adeyemi achieved a bronze medal.

Phoebe has received an offer from Oxford University to read biology. She said: “I wanted to do the best I could and I am delighted to have improved on my last year’s performance.”

All medal winners attended an awards ceremony at the Institute for Engineering and Technology in July.

47

A group of LE, UF and GE pupils (Years 9-11) girls visited the University of Oxford where the Mathematical Institute and Department of Statistics hosted ‘It All Adds Up’ to inspire girls to continue to study STEM subjects at a higher level.

Universities and employers are keen to recruit more female students into STEM subjects and also to a wide range of other degree courses and careers requiring quantitative skills, such as psychology, social sciences, economics and geography.

Lottie Field, 15, who attended the conference, wrote an account of her day in Oxford and how it has strengthened her ambition to continue maths into A level.

“Throughout the day there were five sessions. My favourite was about predicting the spread of diseases, because I could clearly see its direct application and significance in helping solve some of the world’s major problems. I also thoroughly enjoyed the modular arithmetic session.

The day was a wonderful experience and helped me to gain a further understanding of the research work being undertaken and options available at the University.”

Model United Nations success In May, Deputy Grecians (Year 12) pupils attended the Model United Nations (MUN) conference at Wycombe Abbey School.

This was an excellent conference, based around the issue of women’s rights. CH pupils represented delegations for the UK, Ghana, Norway, Nigeria and Qatar.

Teachers John Johnson and Alicia Cassidy

accompanied the pupils to the conference.

Ms Cassidy said: “All our pupils addressed the conference over the two days and prizes were won by Owen Purnell and Georgia Smith who represented the UK, amending resolutions and proving extremely convincing in calling for more education to combat domestic violence.”

Our thanks to the Amicable Society of Old Blues which kindly funded the trip.”

Owen Purnell and Georgia Smith called for more education to combat domestic violence.

48

BEATING RETREAT The traditional end-of-year ceremony in the Quad took place on 1 July as a final farewell to leaving pupils and staff.

This year, Christ’s Hospital was saying ‘good-bye’ to John Franklin and his wife, Kim. To make this an extra special event for them, the Band played Waltzing Matilda as a tribute to their Australian roots.

20th century on Show at museum

An exhibition at the School museum focuses on the 20th Century, when Christ’s Hospital moved from its cramped London site of some 350 years.

This exhibition explores the art, artefacts and stories behind the School, reflecting the huge social, economic and cultural changes that went on in this period. It showcases recent acquisitions from this transformative era including fine art, social history, costume, photos, ephemera and personal artefacts reflecting the everyday life of pupils and staff.

Rainbow Flag participation CH has been selected to participate in the Rainbow Flag Award scheme and will be working towards achieving the full award over the coming year, to demonstrate our commitment to LGBT inclusion and education.

CH hosted a Rainbow Flag staff training day, run by Reuben Davidson, from the Allsorts Youth Project which supports children and young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure (LGBTU) of their sexual orientation and/or gender.

Since then, CH has been signed up to work towards the award by demonstrating out commitment in six key areas: skilled teachers; supportive governors and parents; effective policies; inclusive curriculum; pastoral support and pupil voice. Everyone has a part to play in providing a safe and supportive environment in which all our pupils can thrive.

49

Christ’s Hospital in the 20th Century invites us to consider art works by two of the most significant modern British artists of that era: Keith Vaughan (1912–77; pupil here 1921-29) and Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956; commissioned to paint the Chapel murals 1912-23) beside the work of lesser known artists Donald Towner and Nell Todd.

For more on the museum, see pages 36-37 Top: Rosemarie Cockayne’s oil painting of a pupil sat in the School theatre

The cast was able to understand and communicate the story and themes with great accuracy.

Les Misérables draws praise 11th Infantry Brigade course

Marv meets Horsham MP

Pupils in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) were selected to undergo a Cadet Leadership Course run by 11th Infantry Brigade at Folkestone, Kent.

Jeremy Quin, MP for Horsham, visited CH in January to meet Marv Jibogu.

The course included exercises in TIWAF (Training in Woods and Forest), Ambush Attack, Model Making, TIBUA (Training in Built up Areas), VCP (Vehicle Check-points) and practical training of casualty evacuation.

The group was also taken on a conducted tour of the Battle of Britain Memorial at Folkestone.

Marv has been elected to the Youth Parliament, a national forum in which young people air views and concerns. The annual highpoint of the Youth Parliament is a debate in the chamber of the House of Commons itself.

Marv said: “It was great to meet Mr Quin.

We discussed a range of topics but the top issue was the lowering of the voting age. I hope the Youth Parliament’s focus will help with the national campaign.”

50

The School production of Les Misérables on 1-3 December 2016 drew standing ovations from audiences impressed with the level of talent on show.

A cast and crew of 78 pupils on stage, behind the scenes and playing in the orchestra created a show of professional standard. The cast, led admirably by Simon Salvi (Grecians East) as Jean Valjean, was committed and energetic.

John Johnson, Director of Drama, was delighted: “Each and every one of them, from the 12-year-old ‘Little Cossette’ through to the sixth formers, was able to understand and communicate the story and themes with great accuracy and Simon Salvi’s tour de force as the famous convict was spectacular.”

Drama review starts on page 84

DISTINCTION 1 for art pupils Several Grecians have been offered places at soughtafter art colleges.

Scarlett Buckley, India Hogan (Foundation) and Sol Deller (degree course in Film Making) have all been offered places at Kingston University. Giovanna George and James Sibley (Foundation) will be heading to Central Saint Martins and Joe Morrow will study Fine Art at The Slade, University College London.

Sol and India gained the coveted Distinction 1 (which is higher than an A* grade at A level) in the Cambridge Pre-U Art and Design course.

Artwork by India Hogan (top) and Sol Deller (right) is pictured.

Art review starts on page 96

51

Max has shown huge commitment to his music since joining the School.

Sir Colin Davis Scholarship Max Rosen has been awarded the Sir Colin Davis Scholarship.

Phoebe earns NYCGB place

Rain at Lord Mayor’s Show

Phoebe Weir won a place in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (NYCGB).

The Band braved the wet weather and performed magnificently at the Lord Mayor’s Show on 12 November 2016.

Phoebe said: “I was delighted because it is such a great group of choirs and something I’ve always wanted to be part of.”

A musical pupil, Phoebe sings in the Chapel Choir and plays the saxophone in the Band.

Phoebe is also involved in the National Youth Girls’ Choir, a constituent choir of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain for girls aged 10-15.

Music review starts on page 58

Band Captain Freddie Norris, said: “I am always amazed at the levels of dedication and hard work of every member, new or experienced. It is this comradery that allows us to continue marching on even when we have played for an hour and the heavens have opened!”

The Band’s signature piece, ’Sussex by the Sea’ was captured by the BBC during its live coverage of the Show.

52

This prestigious scholarship was set up in memory of Colin Davis, who was educated at CH and went on to gain a full scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London.

He became the president and longest serving principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Ed Jones, Head of Academic Music at CH, said: “Max is a talented and committed clarinettist, like Colin Davis was at CH. It will be exciting to watch his progress over the next four years.”

Max also plays the piano and has achieved grade 7 with distinction. He is a promising jazz pianist and is in the Chapel Choir, the marching Band and Big Band, as well as studying music at GCSE. Music review starts on page 58

Old Blue makes Scotland debut Old Blue Stuart Whittingham made his debut for the Scotland cricket team against Sri Lanka at Beckenham Cricket Club on 21 May. He had the best bowling figures of 3 - 56 from his 10 overs as Scotland defeated a major test playing country for the first time.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 287, a total which Scotland passed with the loss of only three wickets.

Stuart enjoyed huge success at CH (2005-2012). Selected for the Sussex CCC Academy, he was the country’s leading wicket taker in independent schools in 2011.

Royal visitor for farewell lunch The Treasurer and Senior Management Team were delighted to welcome the President of CH, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, to a farewell lunch for John Franklin on 27 April.

During the visit, the Duke was given a tour of the Mellstrom Careers Centre, where he met senior pupils and staff.

The Duke has consistently shown interest in CH and his visits to the School have marked monumental occasions. In October 2015, he formally opened the LARC.

Meeting Professor Hawking Pupils were invited by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Andrew Parmley, to see Professor Stephen Hawking receive the Honorary Freedom of the City of London at Guildhall on 6 March.

After the ceremony, they had the pleasure of joining Professor Hawking for a photograph.

Jack Inch said: “I am very proud that we had

the opportunity of being photographed with the Professor, a kind gesture made possible by the Lord Mayor. It was great to see that Professor Hawking possesses such a good sense of humour, sharing memories about his early school life and his life in London.

“After the ceremony, he answered questions on artificial intelligence, extra-terrestrial life and time travel.”

53

John Franklin said: “We are always delighted to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester to Christ’s Hospital and I feel particularly privileged that he visited the School during my last term.”

Colourful capes make brief appearance Pupils enjoyed the opportunity to sport a different look when capes were discovered in storage at CH. The capes were introduced for girls in 1985 when they first joined the boys at Horsham, but were soon replaced by the Housey coat.

54

New Sculpture at original site style Grecians depart Gatsby On the last night of the School year and to mark the end of the exam period at Christ’s Hospital, the leaving Grecians (Year 13 pupils) celebrated in style with the customary leavers’ ball.

Following a drinks reception in the Headmaster’s garden, the pupils moved to Big School, which had been beautifully decorated in a Great Gatsby style, to dine and dance the night away.

Careers focus The careers department has grown enormously this academic year.

Sculpture set for the City A public sculpture to commemorate CH’s 350 years in the City of London was created at Andrew Brown’s studio in Billingshurst.

Finished in bronze, this piece of art will be installed close to where CH was originally founded, near to Newgate Street and Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden.

55

The focus has been on curriculum, skills and partnerships.

The 2nd Form (Year 7) looked at favourite subjects in relation to career ideas. The 3rd Form (Year 8) has used the ‘ICould’ programmes to move forward with GCSE choices and followed the ‘Fast Tomato’ software to assess personal strengths and interests.

LE (Year 9) have also looked at their options choices. The UF has trialled the Cambridge Occupational Analysts (COA) Probe programme and have started COA careers briefs and profiles.

GE (Year 11) received individualised profiles to help them make A level and IB choices, and to consider career options.

The sixth form has entered into a tailored tutorial programme which has included key events, such as the UCAS launch and Apply Day. It has been another busy year working closely with admission tutors, experts and careers providers to run talks, seminars and workshops, including the annual GE careers speed dating event.

VISITING SPEAKERS’ Programme Peter Tatchell’s lecture was studded with a plethora of eye-opening and jaw-dropping facts about the history of homophobia. Oscar Chisholm

Peter Tatchell provided a lecture on human rights

Barrister Andrew Cosedge with pupils

A long list of distinguished speakers has crossed CH’s threshold as part of the Visiting Speakers’ Programme.

Among the highlights of the programme have been Old Blue Dr Tristan Franklinos’ excellent Classics lecture and a talk by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, best known for his work with LGBT social movements.

Oscar Chisholm was inspired by Mr Tatchell’s dedication to his cause: “Mr Tatchell is an experienced advocate for social justice who has played an important role in lobbying for gay rights, not only in the UK but on a worldwide scale. His lecture, ‘Gay Rights Are Human Rights,’ was studded with a plethora of eye-opening and jaw-dropping facts about the history of homophobia within our government’s legislation and the shockingly recent changes to these laws, due to activism.”

Professor Tim Whitmarsh discussed modern athiesm with pupils

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles

Pamela Dow discussed the civil service

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles gave a lecture entitled: ‘Understanding the Middle East.’

Sir Sherard’s stimulating analysis of current crises in the Middle East and his generous encouragement of those considering careers in the diplomatic service or international relations ensured that his address will long be remembered by pupils.

Pamela Dow answered questions on politics and the civil service. She also spoke about her current role as Director of Development, Prison Reform at HMP Wandsworth.

Professor Tim Whitmarsh’s lecture on Classics, Theology and Philosophy was entitled ‘Battling the Gods: Atheism in the Ancient World.’

Katrina Millett, studying Latin and Greek as part of her IB Diploma course, gave her view of the lecture: “Professor Whitmarsh brought up the dual process theory; the very interesting

56

idea of intuition vs. logical reflection, saying that many atheists arose from logical reflection due to their training in rhetoric.”

In addition to the lecture programme, the CH careers’ department has hosted guests throughout the term to offer advice to junior and senior pupils.

Speakers have included Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne; the renowned journalist and producer Chris Birkett and Old Blues from the legal profession, Lord Justice Jackson, Andrew Cosedge, Tamas Lorinczy, James Dawson, Abigail Li and Palomi Kotecha.

Nicola Todd from the Thales Group spoke about the world of engineering; Jon McLeod, Old Blue, one of the top 10 public affairs professionals in the UK has also visited, as have Rachel Wang and Dominic Carolan, who gave a presentation on ‘entrepreneurialism’.

Dame Fiona Woolf lecture

Informative talk by The ‘boss of all Lord Chief Justice bosses’ visits CH

Dame Fiona Woolf’s lecture on ‘The Power of Diversity’ was open to senior pupils from UF (Year 11). Dame Fiona is a former Lord Mayor of London and only the second woman to hold the role since 1189.

Mololuwa Olanrewaju said: “The talk was truly uplifting. During supper and in her first few statements, her passion for societal change (most especially equality) was apparent. The talk on her ‘power of diversity’ programme focuses on the need to harness the talents within the diverse body of society.

“The highlight of the night had to be the question and answer session, where Dame Fiona dispelled any confusion about a gender wage-gap myth!”

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, gave a fascinating and informative talk on ‘The Role of the Judge’ which helped to elucidate the way the criminal justice system works.

And in the question and answer session afterwards, he spoke about the independence of the judiciary and the nature of our unwritten constitution.

Mololuwa Olanrewaju, 17, who is applying to read law at Oxford, said: “It was a huge privilege to meet Lord Thomas and to gain an insight into how the legal profession works.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne visited CH on 12 January.

Katy talked about her career journey, explaining the routes into her work and spoke about the modern day reform that has led her into some fascinating work in the county.

Rebecca Stamp said “Katy explained how she sets the strategic directions and priorities for policing in Sussex and is also responsible to for setting the police budget. She also holds the Chief Constable to account for the delivery and performance of the force. She is basically the boss of all bosses! Ms Bourne is one of the few female PCCs and is an example of someone who worked hard to reach her target."

Adventures in Numberland Grecians were inspired by Alex Bellos and his passion for mathematics and puzzles when he visited CH on 15 November 2016 to give a talk ‘Adventures in Numberland’.

Alex has an online column in The Guardian and is a broadcaster and writer of books, particularly about mathematics.

Pupil Michael Hobson said: “Alex isn’t someone who needs hard logic or algebra to show off his subject, he just started with an odd-one-out puzzle and that was that. It was inspiring listening to him, particularly when he presented what appeared to be a useless piece of maths only then to show just how vital it is, from cultural study to modern applications.”

Booker-Prize winner talks to pupils The Booker-Prize winning author Alan Hollinghurst, was ‘in conversation’ with pupils and members of the public, as part of the School’s arts programme.

He spoke about his life and work, including his ground breaking first novel The Swimming-Pool Library, The Line of Beauty, adapted for television by the BBC, and his most recent tour de force, The Stranger’s Child.

57

Pupil Max Birkin said: “Mr Hollinghurst’s latest novel The Stranger's Child was chosen this year as the coursework text for the English A level pupils. His surprise that one of his books was being taught in a School is indicative of the social changes that have arisen since the publication of his first novel, The SwimmingPool Library'. He resisted being classified as a 'gay writer' and praised the liberal mindset of today's generation.”

GRECIANS’ MUSIC MEMORIES Grecians Freddie Norris (Band Captain), James Sibley and India Hogan reflect on their time playing in the School Band.

been a huge honour to be Captain in my Grecian year, especially for the St Matthew’s Day parade and Lord Mayor’s Show. They were proud moments for me.

Day is quite formal by comparison, as we attend a Service at the City church, before marching to Guildhall, for lunch hosted by Lord Mayor.

Freddie It felt strange whe I attended the annual Band dinner, when the next Band Captain is announced. I remember the day a year ago so clearly and recall the extreme feeling of anticipation when the announcement is made.

I was aware that I was in contention and because names of the Assistant Captains were read out first, the excitement was building. But still, when I heard the words ‘Band Captain Freddie Norris,’ it was a surreal moment. It has

India Playing the clarinet in the Band has been one of the highlights of my time at CH. The Band is where I have made most of my friends and it has been fantastic going to so many different events, such as St Matthew’s Day.

James I play drums in the Band, which has given me the chance to play at some great events like St Matthew’s Day, the Lord Mayor's Show and Lord's cricket ground. A personal highlight was back in 2016, when we played at the Patron’s Lunch, performing Mambo No.5 (Lou Bega) in front of the Queen. We also played a Spice Girls song, which wouldn’t have been my first choice but it was good fun!

Freddie The Lord Mayor's Show is an enjoyable day, as you can enjoy the music being played by a wide variety of other bands too. St Matthew’s

58

THE BAND: St Matthew’s Day Senior pupils and musicians travelled to the City to celebrate St Matthew’s Day, one of the highlights of the School’s musical calendar.

Following the Service at the Church of St Andrew, Holborn, conducted by the Bishop of Horsham, the pupils marched to Guildhall, where they enjoyed lunch, kindly hosted by Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman the Lord and Lady Mountevans.

Many people stopped to watch the parade, with some taking photos and videos as the Band marched by.

India The Patron’s Lunch was part of the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations. The CHl Band performed songs to represent the 1990s and our performance must have been well received as people recognised the songs and danced along!

Freddie Not many people can say that they have marched to a Spice Girls song whilst playing to the Queen along The Mall. I would personally preferred to have played songs from the 1960s than the 1990s, but it was an interesting selection!

James Much of what the Band does is quite routine and traditional, such as the lunchtime parade.

But everyone enjoys it. The Band is also a good way ensure that you keep practising an Continued...

59

Being Band Captain in my Grecian year was a great honour.

Continued...

instrument as there are so many music-focused events at CH. I have performed in the School Orchestra as well as a Percussion Ensemble, and even played alongside a rock band at The Peele Festival, an annual charity event.

Freddie We’ve also performed overseas and perhaps my favourite time with the Band was in my UF year, three years ago, when we toured Germany and France. That was a treat for me as I hadn’t travelled abroad much. I had some great times with good friends whilst playing in prestigious locations. I have many fantastic memories from that trip, as everyone was relaxed. The Grecians had technically left CH at that stage, so they were just enjoying themselves. Everywhere we went, the audience was interested in our School and our uniform, so they listened to us play.

Freddie In terms of music events at the School, the Big Band Concert is a highlight. It’s a night of jazz and blues with musicians performing alongside vocalists. I am in the School Choir as well as being a bassist in Schola Cantorum, but I usually leave the concert vocals to better singers and stick to my instrument.

James The day after the Grecians’ Ball, we have Beating Retreat, the final Band event of the year. The drummers are attempting a move called the ‘splits’ which I’m nervous about. In the Band’s routine, there is an intense five minute drum section. We’ve been working on it every day, but it could easily go wrong as it involves stick throwing. The drummers will try throwing both sticks at the same time. It's very difficult and most of the time sticks end up on the floor!

Freddie Norris

India It feels very strange to be leaving CH. During our final days, we kept saying: It's the last Tuesday’ or ‘It’s the last Band practice.’ I don't think we can yet comprehend how different life will be after we leave, but I’ll be very sad to go.

I'm so used to simply walking around the houses to see my friends and wherever I go next, I won’t be able to do that.

Freddie I am looking forward to moving on from the School, although it's going to be an emotional shock. I don't think a single Grecian will not shed a tear. We’ve all had a great time but all good things must come to an end.

James Sibley

India will be heading to Kingston University to study Art (Foundation). James studies Art (Foundation) at Central Saint Martins and Freddie Norris is taking a year out of education.

India Hogan

60

REVIEW: Jazz & Blues Night Mololuwa Olanrewaju gave a powerful rendition of I Heard it Through the Grapevine.

Heather Golding The annual Jazz and Blues Night at CH is one of the highlights of the School’s music calendar.

Steve Titchener and Rachel Taylor created an outstanding array of performances, with talented pupils accompanied by professional musicians Nikki Iles (piano), Jules Jackson (bass), Andy Crompton (trombone), Simon Bates (saxophone) and Nick Smalley (drums).

Jazz Night was performed in a relaxed and informal style and pupils enjoyed the evening immensely. A huge ‘thank you’ to Oscar Chisholm for hosting and compering the evening in his own inimitable style.

Flora Thwaites started the show with a sweet and soothing rendition of Matt Bianco’s Half a Minute, hitting beautiful high notes and impressing in her first ever solo outing.

Katerina Poulious’ soulful performance of Ain’t No Sunshine was well complemented by the saxophone, before Mololuwa Olanrewaju roused the audience with an energetic and powerful performance of I Heard it Through the Grapevine.

Sadie Scantlebury’s rendition of Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You was powerful yet meaningful.

Rachel Taylor brought a beautiful tone to her performance of Route 66 and Gabby Kintu brought an emotional intensity to A Change is Gonna Come.

Following this, Sadie and Charlie O’Callaghan upped the tempo with a joyful and energetic performance of This Will Be. Scarlett Buckley slowed things down again with a soulful and soft version of In the Dark, following which Charlie delivered a high-energy rendition of Heatwave. Scarlett returned to the stage and engaged the audience with a sassy performance of Play That Funky Music.

The CH Dixieland Band, a group formed from a range of pupils across different years, performed At the Jazz Band Ball and Oh, When The Saints that were light-hearted and fun, yet highly skilled. The Jazz Quartet then performed a melodic and joyful Ain’t Misbehaving.

Xarius was expertly accompanied by the Big Band, singing with a lovely tone, and Zoe Brown sweetly sang The Look of Love. Sandra Karu gave an incredible performance of Good Morning Heartache, whilst Jade Odunju and Oscar were full of soul in their performance of That’s Life. The CH Gospel Choir then joined them and put on excellent performances of All Night Long and Lovely Day. Overall, the evening was a great success, with some outstanding playing from the Jazz Band and professional musicians.

STEEL Band The post-performance drinks of a memorable Symphonic Concert were enlivened by the presence of the Senior Percussion Ensemble, directed by Claire Hasted, playing steel pans.

The repertoire included The Lion Sleeps Tonight from Disney’s The Lion King. CH has been most fortunate to acquire these instruments on loan from the Pilgrim Band Trust in Reigate.

61

Sandra Karu

MUSIC MEMORIES: Sandra Karu Sandra explains how music helped her settle in at Christ’s Hospital after a daunting move from her home in Estonia.

I only joined CH in Deps year. I grew up in Estonia and always dreamed of going to England to study. I applied for a scholarship and was really pleased when I was given an opportunity to come to CH. I hadn't heard anything about the School, so when I looked on Google and saw the uniform, I said to my parents, ‘I’m going to Hogwarts!’

Soon after I arrived, there was a House singing competition, and I decided to direct our entry.

That really helped me settle in to the School and make friends.

I watched the Christmas concert and was amazed at how high the standard was and I wanted to be up there performing too. I have been singing since I was three-years-old, so music is a huge part of my life. So, I took some singing lessons at School and then took part in my first concert in the summer of 2016. Now,

I’m preparing for my final concert, when I’ll be singing The Lady is a Tramp, as well as Something Stupid as a duet.

I love to sing and am in the Gospel Choir. I have also performed at the Big Band concert and with Schola Cantorum, which I’ve really enjoyed. There are only about 20 of us in Schola, so it is quite an intimate group. There is a good standard that you need to meet, as it is the lead choir and everyone has to contribute. There is no place to hide.

At the end of my first year, the Headmaster offered me the chance to stay for a second year, as my scholarship from Estonia only lasted for one year. With the School offering me such an amazing opportunity, I accepted.

The people here are just amazing. I have made friends from so many different places and backgrounds as the School opens your eyes to many things. It feels like a family and it's going to be difficult to move on.

I'm going to take a gap year as I don't feel ready for University. I went to Open Days and everyone seemed to know what sort of musical path they wanted to pursue. I just don't feel that prepared, so I will take a gap year and find out who I am as an artist. I'm going to work at my parents’ business in Estonia for the first part of the year and then I hope to travel for the second half.

When I looked on Google and saw the uniform, I said to my parents, “I’m going to Hogwarts!”

62

SCHOLA Cantorum Highlights included singing Carols by the waterside at Bluecoat Pond and the Madrigals, which proved to be fun, especially when the choir had the chance to dance around the Maypole.

The concert, on the final Wednesday of the year, was a lovely way to finish. Schola sang Henry Purcell’s King Arthur, an opera based on battles between the Britons and the Saxons.

A huge ‘thank you’ to Ed Jones, without whom this year wouldn’t have been nearly as productive or successful.

We also look forward to welcoming the new Director of Music, Alex Hodgkinson, in the Michaelmas.

House singing competitions

The guitar ensemble

St Martin-in-the Fields concert

House Competition Winners

Guitar Ensemble

The Saxophone Quartet

These were two keenly-fought contests, with the overall standard of singing and musicianship very high.

The Unison Song Competition was judged by Iain Carnegie (Director of Music at Reed’s School, Cobham) whose unfailing positivity and enthusiasm were valued by all involved.

The winners were: Girls: Leigh Hunt B Be My Baby (The Ronettes) Boys: Maine A I Want it That Way (The Backstreet Boys) Grecians: East Childhood Medley (Various Artists) The Baton Prize: Sadie Scantlebury (BaA) The Part Song Competition was judged by Oliver Walker (Director of Music at Repton School).

The winners were: Girls: Barnes A – Abba medley Boys: Peele – Love Yourself (Justin Bieber) Grecians: East – Queen medley The Overall House Singing Cup was a close contest with the eventual winners being Barnes A. Honourable mention should go to both Grecians houses who, though not eligible, scored the highest points totals.

On 21 March, the CH guitar ensembles took centre stage in the beautiful acoustic of the Mellstrom Lecture Theatre and presented a concert of Classical, Latin American and Folk/Blues music for two to eight guitars.

The concert featured Alfie Carter, Beatrice Chantler-Hicks, Eleanor Dykes, Teniola Ijaluwoye, Luke Neill, Finlay Osman-Sellwood, Tvesa Patel, Joshua Sterley, Imani Tokpanoude, Freddie Underwood and Helena Walsh, alongside their teacher, Jens Franke.

In addition to the high levels of musicianship on display, the concert was noteworthy for having been student-devised by CH’s longest-serving guitar ensemble (The Golden Trio: Helena Walsh, Beatrice Chantler-Hicks, Eleanor Dykes), who closed the first half with a 25-minute work for three guitars.

Among the audience was Timothy Pells, a distinguished guitarist whose works and arrangements were featured in the concert.

We say ‘good bye’ to Grecians and veteran CH guitarists Beatrice Chantler-Hicks and Luke Neill. They will be much missed and we wish them all the very best for their future and guitar-playing.

63

The pupils and staff were delighted to return to the magnificent venue of St Martin-in-the-Fields for a lunchtime concert on 27 February.

The concert was given by the Saxophone Quartet and the Piano Trio.

Many thanks to Shevaughan Beere, who coaches the Saxophone Quartet, for playing the Soprano Saxophone, and congratulations to the Piano Trio on their excellent debut performance.

Pianist Jeremy Chan said: “Playing Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D Minor in a venue of unparalleled prestige and acoustics as St Martin-in-the-Fields was truly eyeopening for all members of the trio. It was a challenge for all of us individually and to get together and play it as a trio was certainly another obstacle to overcome.

“Coaching sessions with Ms Webster were intense, but thanks to her persistence and the hours put in, I felt that we bonded as a trio and the performance itself was nothing short of amazing.”

The programme included compositions by Mendelssohn, Farkas, Bozza, Bach and Nyman.

A FAREWELL: Alex Hughes Musician-in-Residence

The academic year brings about the end of my time at CH, a place that has not only been my workplace for the past two years, but also my home.

My time here has been the most rewarding, interesting and compelling period I have experienced in my career and as we end the academic year, this should be a time for reflection, appreciation and contemplation.

Momentarily stepping back from the busy life of this extraordinary School brings about an awareness of how quickly time passes us by, yet instils the realisation of how certain elements remain constant in an ever-changing world. With each new generation comes a renewed sense of modernity; yet the foundation for this renaissance is long-established indeed.

REVIEW: Chapel Choir Xarius Dalal Over the past year the Chapel Choir has faced a large amount of new repertoire and this change has had a positive effect on the group’s singing, with sight singing and ensemble skills developing greatly.

The first major event was a successful performance in St Andrew Holborn on St Matthew’s Day, only two weeks into the Michaelmas term. This was particularly impressive because of the large number of new and younger pupils entering the Chapel Choir following its merger with the Junior Choir.

Following this, the choir immediately began preparing for the annual Christmas Carol Services. A large amount of new repertoire had been chosen, so this was a challenge. The final performances were excellent, however.

From the beginning of the Lent Term, we started work on Mozart’s Requiem for the Angus Ross Memorial Concert, at the Headmaster’s request. This is a challenging piece; however, the choir rose to the challenge and through thorough rehearsal, performed to an extremely high standard.

Summer term saw more new pieces performed, with the increase in evening Chapel services giving the group an opportunity to sing more evening-specific pieces.

There are various people to be thanked. Firstly, all the pupils involved in the Chapel Choir for their continued hard work and dedication. We have made excellent progress, accomplished huge amounts and this will, no doubt, continue in future years. Secondly, Mr Peter Dutton, the School Organist. His continued support and flawless accompaniment played a key role in the group’s success.

Finally, I would like to thank on behalf of the choir, Mr Ed Jones for everything that he has done, not only for the choir but also for the Music Department as a whole. Despite already being a sports coach, a busy musician away from CH, House Master and Head of Academic Music, Mr Jones assumed the role of Director of Music (acting), doing so seamlessly and enhancing every aspect of musical life. Without his expertise and dedication, many of the accomplishments of this year would not have been possible.

We have made excellent progress, accomplished huge amounts and this will, no doubt, continue.

64

This School has many unique and famous qualities. However, the most striking - in my opinion - is the commitment of its pupils to the School of which we are all so proud.

Being a member of a department that relies on the dedication of both its staff and pupils, I have witnessed the stoicism that is a staple part of life at CH. Witnessing this fortitude daily, whether it be the impeccable standards of the Band, the uplifting singing at School Chapel or the assiduous devotion of the Drum Majors, is a reminder that perseverance and tenacity are qualities we should all strive to acquire in order to achieve great things.

I have fond memories of my time at CH and committing just a few to paper has proved a lengthy task. Some particularly noteworthy highlights include the Chapel Choir’s performance of Kodaly during an evening Chapel, performing Finzi’s quintessentially English Eclogue with my colleague Peter Dutton and Tenebrae’s joint recital with Schola in October 2015.

So, I would like to take the opportunity to wish our pupils, be it those who have recently left or those who still have years ahead, all the luck and good fortune in the world. You have the qualities, potential and the commitment to be outstanding young people who can achieve great things should you be prepared to work for it.

I should like to close with a particularly apt quotation from Proverbs 18:15: ‘An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge’.

MASTERCLASS: Stephen Hough

Stephen Hough Workshop

REVIEW OF THE YEAR: SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS After Helen Hou’s beautiful performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2 in F Major, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Stephen Hough’s piano playing is, as was said in The Guardian: “The most perfect piano playing conceivable.”

Following Stephen’s masterclass and recital at CH, the pupils and music teachers described Stephen as “the number one pianist in the world.”

On 7 March, internationally acclaimed concert pianist Stephen Hough gave a masterclass in the Court Room, an intimate setting which houses a Steinway model B grand piano, to three post-Grade 8 sixth form pupils. Each pupil had a piece to explore: Carolina Trinker – Frank Bridge’s Rosemary from Three Sketches H.68; Luke Neill – Rachmaninov’s Elegie Op. 4, No. 1 and Jeremy Chan – Chopin’s Ballade No 2.

Gemma Webster, Head of Piano at CH, said: “Stephen’s masterclass was extraordinarily engaging and all three participants found his teaching inspiring. The audience was mesmerised by Hough’s extensive knowledge and innate musical understanding of the music. Our pupils rose to the occasion and were a credit to the Music Department.

Stephen was impressed with the level of playing for their age and commented on the ‘Englishness of the Court Room.’

Stephen’s evening recital was held in Big School, which houses CH’s Steinway model D Concert grand piano. He captivated the audience with a programme including Debussy’s Images, Schumann’s Fantasie and Beethoven’s Appassionata. After his incredible recital, a standing ovation, he performed an encore of Schumann’s Warum. Pupils, staff and members of the public flocked to Stephen after his recital and he managed to sign some autographs.

Stephen made his 25th appearance at the BBC Proms last year.

Symphonic Concert Group

The Symphony Orchestra has been busy learning new repertoire for the concerts that the year has brought.

In November, they gave a successful performance in the School Concert, playing Sibelius’ Finlandia. In the Lent Term, they opened the Angus Ross Memorial Concert with Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture. The main item in the Angus Ross Concert saw the Chamber Orchestra accompanying the Chapel Choir and Choral Society, who performed Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. This concert was a huge success and our thanks go to Ed Jones for conducting this brilliant performance.

On 25 June, the annual Symphonic Concert took place. As usual the standards were high and the atmosphere memorable, with members of the 1552 Society in attendance.

There were five soloists, two of which the Symphony Orchestra accompanied: Xarius Dalal started the concert spectacularly with his performance of Hue’s Fantasie for Flute and Orchestra, while Jeremy Chan amazed yet again with his performance of the First

65

Movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op.11.

The leader of the Symphony and Chamber orchestras, Daisy Marshall-Porter also performed, playing the Second movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G major, accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra.

This was a most assured performance.

The Chamber Orchestra also accompanied the other two soloists: Tom Walker gave an outstanding performance of the First Movement of Stamitz’s Viola Concerto in D major, Opus 1, while Helen Hou played the Second Movement from Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2 in F major; her performance was very beautiful and there was not a dry eye in the house!

Of course, the concert could not have taken place without Ed Jones and Tim Callaghan, who conducted the Symphony and Chamber orchestras respectively, and inspired all of the musicians to play to their best abilities.

Tom Walker

TOM WALKER: MY FESTIVAL COMMISSION The School Bandmaster, Mr Whittingham, asked me if I would compose a march for the Horsham Festival, held in July 2017.

We recorded the piece in Big School. It was great hearing the Band playing my own composition.

I enjoy composing. I study at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music on Saturdays. Several pupils from the School attend, including pianist Jeremy Chan. There is a history of CH pupils going there, although very few have studied composition.

Eventually, I’d like to go to the Royal College

of Music as they have a world-renowned film composition course. It would be brilliant if I could make a career in the industry.

I play the trumpet in the Band and performed a solo concerto with the orchestra. We also have a lunchtime concert on Tuesdays, where musicians can perform.

You’re rarely put in a situation where you would like to perform but don't have the opportunity at CH! There will be mixed feelings about leaving after seven years at the School. I spoke to a

friend who left a couple of years ago and he said that there are certain points in the day when he still remembers what he would have been doing at CH! You make so many friends and we’re all together in one community. Then that ends and people head off in all different directions.

You know that you are not going to be able to stay in touch with everyone. It's going to be very odd as we don't want to leave each other, or the teachers and the pupils in the years below us. Yet, at the same time, it is time for us to move on and break free.

Photo: Graham Franks

REVIEW: Arundel Castle concert MOZART AT Glyndebourne

Music Grecians at Glyndebourne

During the Michaelmas term, Music Grecians attended a production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne.

This is an opera that fuses the comedic, supernatural and the immoral strands of Da Ponte’s libretto with Mozart’s gripping score.

The drama that unfolds on stage is equalled by that of the orchestra, which opens in D minor, adorned with diminished harmony, ending in D major as the Don is dragged to hell for his lecherous deeds.

The costume and set drew influence from the 1950s, with the philandering Don often sporting a white tuxedo and sunglasses, which gave him a heightened sense of suave.

On 17 March, 40 musicians from the Christ’s Hospital Band performed at a major charity fundraiser at Arundel Castle.

The event was hosted by Mark Spofforth OBE, High Sheriff of West Sussex, in the presence of Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and Henry, Earl of Arundel.

Alex Stewart, who plays first trumpet, said: “The band concert at Arundel was the first opportunity I’d ever had to go inside a medieval castle. The experience sank in when we were led through the complex network of corridors and stairs, which along with our Tudor uniform, felt like a trip back in time.

“We began with the chilling Toccata in D minor. Its dramatic opening gripped the room and set the scene for a wonderful evening.

My personal favourite was the upbeat Helter-Skelter, a thrilling xylophone solo performed flawlessly by Xarius Dalal that deservedly received a standing ovation.”

Oboe player Molly Sellors said: “Our musical programme consisted of a wide range of pieces, including a Jackson Five medley. The audience especially enjoyed The Beach Boys medley, with people singing along.”

The event was held in aid of Winston’s Wish and Chestnut Tree House, a children’s hospice.

67

FAREWELL piano recitals In the summer term, we were treated to two farewell piano recitals by leaving members of the CH community.

Firstly Alex Hughes, who for two years was a committed and industrious Graduate Musician, was joined by colleagues Peter Dutton (piano) and Edward Jones (baritone) in a programme that included Bach’s challenging Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, Finzi’s charming and beautiful Eclogue and Samuel Barber’s intense Three Songs opus 45 in addition to contemporary Welsh music by Brian Hughes.

Later in the term Jeremy Chan, whose brilliance as a performer on the flute, piano and as a singer has been a real asset to CH music, wowed a large audience in Big School with a virtuosic recital for his Pre-U Music. He was also joined by guest performers, two of his peers from the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department (where Jeremy studied on Saturday mornings), with whom he played Mendelssohn’s exciting Piano Trio no 1 and also Olga Parr (LHA) in a performance of Schubert’s lyrical Fantasy in F minor. Jeremy’s concert ended with Busoni’s epic transcription of JS Bach’s Chaconne.

SENIOR Creative Writing (CREW) CREW is a Creative Writing A level course for senior pupils taken off timetable by a group of senior pupils from the Deputy Grecian and Grecian years. They meet weekly to share and critique their work.

What follows is a selection from the coursework portfolios that they submitted.

PROSE Isaac Hayden

From Please Leave Push through the glass door and I'm out finally into the wind and I button up my coat from the cold and think anything to avoid thinking about that.

Watch my shoes cross concrete and cracks and puddles and god I'm glad work's over but home can't be much better can it - keep walking see the trees the cars the clouds take the next right with that building of sprawling dead glass and right again down the alleyway, great shortcut, with the bins and bricks and claustrophobia and stop a sec. Hands lost in pockets trying to find- where is it - did I leave it - there. The curve and the cold of the hip-flask.

Lean on the wall a minute have a sip.

Alright then gulp. I wish my hands would stop shaking.

There's no way round it she's going to- brisk strides, on through the fresh stinging air, left now there's the station keep moving I'm swallowed alive by the noise and the people of the noise and hide in them just one of them now. The push of the throng and beep my way through the barriers and down down keep to the right I can hear the rumble mumble of the trains- I think I might be physically sick. Quick swig. Sort of hope no one saw sort of don't care move move move into the carriage and everybody compress grab a rail.

I know how it's going to go there's no way to avoid her anger and it's not as if- stop, stop, stop thinking, please. Zone out of my head and into their words-

“Moved to Deptford...”

“And to be honest, with this election...”

“So I says to 'im, no...”

In and out in and out flick between their voices like drifting paper and focus on the clammy grip of the rail and the press of sides and limbs and the smell of bodies and bodies and bodies just get lost in them.

And here it comes. Open doors and I pour out with the rest of them like blood from a boxer or vomit from a drunk – ha! I can feel less now which is great but my thoughts are looser so find the exit and beeline like a bee and back to the wind. I can feel it rising, I would call it dread but I- hip-flask.

Her building's there. There's nothing else now.

It should be raining. There should be trumpets and gunfire and tigers but no just wet shoes, taxis, streetlamps – I keep walking, door's open as normal, lift's broken as normal so up the stairs one at a time can't bear two just keep it going up up flight after flight.

They end. The corridor sways. Two rights two lefts I remember, past doors and doors and one more turn and then there's going to be blood.

407. The silver numbers, dark green door and no noise. Just a rucksack. I stumble forward. A blue and faded white rucksack, my rucksack, and a note with blurry words: PLEASE LEAVE. The thin pencil lines scream like knives and I step past it to the key to the lock but it won't go. Of course it won't. She's used the other lock, the one we never use, locked from inside and I'm outside keyless and hopeless and I shake the door but there's nothing -

Max Birkin

From JAMs Five women in knee-high leather boots and Zara skinny jeans sat cross-legged at a fifth-floor bar in Central London. Caroline was the fifth. It was prosecco o'clock, but in

68

a rebellious, finger-up gesture to the establishment she had ordered an Aperol spritz. She had noticed four of Dr Michael Prager's noses attempt an indignant twitch, a sign of disapproval most likely triggered by her more expensive drink and their shared bill.

Someone's husband had made a million; someone else's had made two. One declared they were moving into the catchment area of a good secondary modern; another announced a five -year commitment to fees. The son of one loving mother was now captain of the Firsts, just like his father before him - Conrad's drunken molestation of a girl had been sorted by his father's wallet and little black book, so there was no need to mention that.

Caroline refused to feel guilty that she had birthed neither baby nor jewellery range. Her existence revolved around smiling at people she hated in places with more style than economic sense. Every morning fleets of Net-a-Porter boxes would arrive; she paid for them with the allowance her husband would raise or reduce in accordance with their financial circumstances. Upon their arrival, she would pull out whatever over-valued name she had been told to wear by the woman who was paid to shop for her, hanging it off her collarbones as she hung from her husband at some ghastly drinks party. She was currently enjoying the trend for pointed-toe heels, as they were able to inflict great pain upon her dearest spouse’s shins whenever he mouthed off about his mother, their fertility issues, or his mother's opinion on their fertility issues.

She said her goodbyes with a lunging miss of each cheek, and walked past the doorman without a thank-you. Manners don't apply to those lowlier than thou. She smiled as she adjusted her new handbag on her shoulder; as a teenager, she had looked and not touched these symbols of male wealth and ownership, but now she could afford them she took great delight in not paying. The doorman knew that women who looked like a Middleton sister didn't steal. They were too well brought up for that.

Max Birkin

Jack Inch

From The Saturday Club Pete, he runs the bar. He knows I’ll have the usual. We start off by having normal banter and some small talk, you know the same old “how’s the wife and kids” and a reply that’s usually polite but not true, like “yeah, they’re great.”

Then, this bloke walks in. Bill, a fellow regular with more wrinkles on his face than a date in a grandma’s fruit basket, tells me this bloke is a real competitor when it comes to drinking pints. A faint shudder courses through my body. I tell them “if this guy’s a real drinker, I’m the wettest fish around” in a sarcastic way. My insides are now burning with the challenge of this outsider. I slowly work my way around the bar towards him, admiring the wide-ness of his beer belly. Closer up, I would say he’s standing at 6’5, maybe 6’6.

“You alright, China.”

The confident buzz rushes through my body, I can still taste fresh hops on my breath. I take my chance and buy him a drink. One. Two three. four, five, six-seven, then eight.

Eight pints in, time to add a chaser? any whiskey will do the trick. We have amassed a small following. I am swirling; so is my bladder.

“Time to take a break”, I slur to myself. I go to the toilet with Marty and Dave, a few sniffs whilst Dave utters slobbery words: “go on Mick, if you drink this guy under I’ll buy you a pie from the chippy at the football tomorrow”.

I guess for a free pie, what wouldn't I do. I take a few deep breaths, Gaz reminds me “I am a top man” in a shouty voice, clearly pissed.

What follows next is somewhere between Rocky Balboa walking to the ring in Rocky 4 and those gangsters in Michael Jackson’s Beat It video. Gaz chucks a pound in the dusty juke box, puts on Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Now awaiting us is a crowd of around thirty middle aged men, most likely trying to escape their wives, more pumped up for this face off than for a dads vs kids football match.

‘Muhammad-I’m Hard- Bruce Lee’ stares me down. Not gunna lie: looks like a minotaur.

Three pints later and we are both wheezing, faces redder than the cheap carpet we are standing on. Another pint passes and I have

Jack Inch (pictured participating in the Community Action scheme)

lost the feeling in my feet. Oh no, the whiskey.

Another wave hits me, I am like a camera out of focus. As my eyes creep over to Muhammad Bruce Lee, I notice his mouth is now gaping open, huffing and puffing, it’s almost like he's snoring as he tries to lift his pint to his chubby egg of a face.

A quick shake is followed by the entire collapse of his body. He’s on the floor, the demolition of ‘muhammad’ is witnessed in slow motion and slowly but surely the crowd around me leaps up and cheers. His side walk away in disbelief. Gaz grabs me by the chops: “you did it!” Then I wobble out the door, half blind, and in urgent need of a kebab from the Charcoal Grill down the road. I smile and say: “until next Saturday fellas.”

Ericah Fellows

From The Innocent Girls The clock ticked. Maya was running out of time. Her younger sister, Bella, needed to be picked up from her primary school on the other side of town in less than twenty minutes as her mum was ill again.

She wished her teacher had let her out on time; she didn’t want to draw attention to herself like she had last week, when she was an hour late and had to explain why it wasn’t her mum picking Bella up.

‘The car has broken down’, she had said. She was good at telling lies.

She ran the whole way, dodging past pedestrians and not waiting for the green man to appear at traffic lights. She had always enjoyed running, but she didn’t dare ask her mother if she could join a club. She already knew the answer. She managed the trip to St Mary’s with three minutes to spare. Not bad for an eleven-year-old.

She waited in the playground with all of the other children’s mothers. One mother wouldn’t stop staring at her, giving her a dirty look. She tried not to take note of it, but her cheeks were still burning.

‘Maya!’ Bella came charging towards her, and

leaped into her arms. She was in an excitable mood, just like any other five-year-old. As they headed towards their small flat on the outskirts of town, she spoke of the games she had played with her friend Sarah at break time, and what she had learnt that day.

‘Do you think Mummy had a good day today?’

‘Of course she did. I’m sure she’s just sleeping.

She did go out last night to play with her friends.’

‘Maya, do you think she loves us? She is always with her friends and never plays ponies with me.’

‘Of course she does Bella; she works hard to look after us. She just gets a bit tired, that’s all.

I can play ponies with you later, how about that?’ She couldn’t look her younger sister in the eye.

‘Sometimes I wish we had a different Mummy.

Like Hannah’s one. She said she would have me if I ever wanted her to.’

‘Bella, don’t be silly. Mummy loves you.’

The truth was that she sometimes wished she had a different mother too, but she would never be able to cope without her younger sister. When social services had been in contact before, as their mum was in hospital, they had wanted to take Bella away from her, to stay with a foster family in Kent, whilst she stayed in a care home. She could never let that happen, so tried her best to make things seem normal.

Nick Hippen

From Space Oddity The picture was dark and only filled with the red light of the emergency lamps. All the sleeping cabins’ doors were open. The holographic paintings were off, due to the black-out and what was left behind was the metal frame, which looked almost skeletal.

The floor was filled with a dark liquid, which even through a screen and emergency light it was clearly discernible. Blood. It was flowing from the cabins into the floor. As Harker Continued...

69

Continued...

closely scanned the picture of the video feed, he could make out dark humanoid and other alien shapes lying, sprawled out on the floor. It was a horrible massacre.

Harker started to sweat and gave the command to turn the power back on and make sure none of this information reaches the other guests. It would only induce a panic in the masses. Then James got his coat on, light himself a Trisian cigarette, laced with moon dust, and he made his way down to Corridor C. He had to stay calm, just like back in the day.

He had to show initiative and leadership. But The truth was that Harker had gotten too old, and this was too unexpected to let him be in full control of his feelings.

He assessed the situation. Every one inhabiting this corridor was dead, 14 in total; shot, stabbed bludgeoned to death. It was many things but not subtle nor clean. A normal plasm-gun would leave behind a scorched, but clean cut hole with barely any blood flow.

But these holes were ripped at the edges and bloody as hell. The victims who were not shot had similar wounds. No clean jugular cuts.

Most of them looked like they had had their stomachs gutted. There was no rhyme or reason, just violence and bloodshed. Harker finished the last drag on his cigarette and threw it on the ground. The crew members who followed him, tried to not show any sign of weakness but now they vomited behind him. He gritted his teeth in anger and disgust.

Any identifiable bodies were ordered to be brought to the morgue, which was installed in case of emergencies or people dying of age or disease. He also ordered every available information about the dead passengers.

Fast action was required to solve this tragedy without too much awareness being raised. The killer must’ve still been on the ship. Law enforcement was out of the question for now: It would ruin his reputation. He could already see the headline in the sector paper: ‘Luxus cruiser captain loses control’.

After this news spilled into the other sectors, nobody would go on his ship. The company owning him would end him, in more than one way. He needed to do this on his own, just like the old days.

Jeremy Chan

From Lucy (Inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula) Scene 4 (The scene opens in darkness. Nothing can be seen, but the sound of crashing waves and the occasional seagull at Whitby cliffs can be heard clearly. Slowly a source of light fades in at centre stage, and it is revealed to be coming from a streetlamp. The lamp is shining on a lone bench, where Lucy, in a white dressing gown, sits, hugging her sides from the cold, her hair a tangled mess.)

Jeremy Chan is also an accomplished pianist

LUCY: (sobbing) What emotional tempest have I, the wicked witch, conjured? My love has turned me into a monster in their eyes, and me into their victim in mine. How can they understand that each of them means so much to me, and how can anyone understand that I truly, truly love each one of them? Oh, I wish I was born plain Lucy who, like anyone woman, lives to be wed to one man and one man only, and live the rest of her life under his wing, with no worries whatsoever. If only they had the patience to listen to me, I would have been able to voice my troubles from the deepest part of my heart, and be free of them, like the seagulls soaring above the lashing tides. But now they are like a cave of bats, enshrouded in darkness, waiting to fly and blot out the sky with their wings of night.

(Lucy pauses and the sounds of the waves come into focus once again. The cries of the seagulls are more persistent than before. At length Lucy begins to speak and the external sounds are once again muffled.)

LUCY: (looking out into the darkness) If…if only men were less…convinced by their own charm, the power they have on women, I would have a far easier time showing them how I truly feel. I would be able to confide in them the same way I am able to confide in Mina. Oh, Mina, how I love you! What would I do without you? But, how can I blame them when I am the one who refused to open up to them? How can I expect them to love me, when I am incapable of showing my own? All my life I’ve been trying to deny how I feel, but now it has gone too far, and I am scared—Oh, I am terrified—that the truth will not bring about my redemption, but strike me down into ruin!

And yet, will I find anyone in this whole, wide world who feels the same way? (She looks about her.) Or at least, be able to understand

70

how I feel? Father said I was flattered by too many young men, and that I should put those silly thoughts away quickly. John said he would give me his all, just as I should give him mine.

Arthur said if anyone was to claim my heart, it would be him. Even Mina told me it is impossible for a woman to love three men at once. Does no one understand the sensation when you feel your pulse quicken at the sight of different people, simply because they give you different feelings of love? (Her head droops) But now, distrust is so deeply rooted in them, everything I say will only be a stab to the heart for them. Is there another way? I think not. How I wish these three men were one, then I would love him to the utmost ends of the world.

(The melody of Dies irae played by a solo cello creeps in. At the same time a thin trail of mist drifts slowly and steadily across the stage. Lucy does not hear the music, but looks up as the trail of mist drifts by her. Dracula’s voice is heard. It is everywhere, and consists of the voice of Seward, Godalming and Morris speaking simultaneously. Music continues in background.)

DRACULA: No human love can claim your heart, Lucy. No human heart is big enough to satisfy your throbbing thirst for love.

(Lucy does not seem surprised. It almost seems as though she is expecting to hear such a voice, and a slight sense of relief shows on her face.)

LUCY: (whispering) Where are you?

DRACULA: Only all around you, embracing you.

LUCY: Do you understand me? Do you know how I feel?

DRACULA: Yes I do, because, you see, I am just like you.

LUCY: (incredibly relieved) Then you understand how the more they try to possess me, the more my heart yearns to be free? You understand how trapped I feel when my heart starts aching for them? You understand how I wish I could be free of such humanly troubles?

DRACULA: I understand it all, and I feel it all.

My heart speaks not a language which the human heart can comprehend. It transcends such base emotions. This is what connects my heart with yours, Lucy. This is how I feel your blood flowing through my veins. Do you feel mine flowing through yours?

LUCY: (slightly surprised and agitated) Yes, I feel it! Such incredible power, and yet such tenderness that spreads warmth through my heart. (She leans back, resting her head on the bench, mouth slightly open, breathing deeply.)

DRACULA: Feel my soul penetrate yours, feel our spirits intertwine. The rest of the world don’t matter when the two of us are together.

Our love can transcend time and place. It will exist anywhere, at any time.

LUCY: (breathing in slight gasps now. Eyes still closed) If this is how it feels to be loved, I want forever. I want to…live forever. All these times I have been living in ignorance, not knowing how pleasing the truth feels. Embrace me harder.

(An invisible force makes Lucy convulse slightly. She gasps.)

DRACULA: I can make you live forever. Join me, and together we can live until the end of time. Join me, and leave all your human burdens behind. Join me, and embrace your desires with unhindered passion!

LUCY: (gasping and almost screaming with ecstasy) Yes. Yes. Yes! (The lights begin to fade. The sounds of the waves come into focus once again and the music reaches a thundering climax. Lucy leans back on the bench with arms and legs spread out. Just as the bench and Lucy fade from sight we catch a glimpse of vampiric fangs in the darkness. A muffled, yet long scream can be heard in the background with the music being played. Then the stage darkens completely, the music ends with a bang and all that is heard is a solo cello holding a long note, and the echoing voice of a woman reciting: “Yet come to me in dreams, that I may live my very life again though cold in death.” These slowly fade too, and scene ends.)

Freddie Underwood

From The King in the Castle The men gathered in the thicket, each wearing a grim expression. No-one talked.

There was no rousing rally, no reminder of the significance of their mission.

Their leader, Montagu, broke the silence, giving the order to move out along the small river. Ahead of them towered the castle.

Inside, Mortimer sat with the queen and an

A ‘SHINING LIGHT’

Geordie Greig, Mail on Sunday Editor

Geordie Greig, the editor of the Mail on Sunday, described journalism as ‘shining a light in dark places’ in his talk to senior pupils in October 2016.

From Eton to Oxford and then a first junior post as a crime reporter for a Deptford newspaper, he spoke about the journey which brought him to his role as editor of one of the most popular newspapers in the UK. The Q&A at the end of his talk provided the opportunity for pupils to get more information. Geordie urged them to be proactive when starting out and cited his first experience of writing to 100 editors, to get a response from only one who nearly didn’t give him a chance. Peter Callas, Senior Grecian thanked Geordie and presented a signed copy of the collected journalism of Old Blue Bernard Levin.

adviser. He knew that they would come, just not when or where. He couldn't risk an arrest without evidence, so having questioned many of the same men earlier in the day he released them. Upon leaving this inquest, Montagu remarked 'it is better to eat the dog than be eaten by the dog', an ominous forecast.

Now Montagu and his men moved silently through the night. Their time had to be now.

Their reason wasn't Mortimer, it wasn't taking the castle or glory in war. It was the young king, hidden high up in the castle, his every moved watched by Mortimer and his mother.

The men were prepared to sacrifice themselves for the future of England. Eland now lead them along the riverbank towards a small opening. The group crept into the tunnel, following it upwards towards the castle.

Inside, King Edward had left his room, having retired there earlier complaining of ill health.

He walked silently along the long corridors, before stopping at the hatch. Then, he slid two bolts out of it, this small motion instantly nullifying the high walls of the castle, providing the men below with a way in.

Eland was still at the head of the group, wielding a torch in the dark tunnel. Each

71

removed their riding cloak to reveal swords as they neared the end of the tunnel. They stopped under the hatch, each knowing that their mission had reached its climax. After a brief moment of silence, Eland swung upon the hatch and burst into the keep.

As the men poured into the castle, Turpington entered the corridor. 'Traitors' he cried, brandishing a dagger. As he rushed towards them, he was felled with one swing of a mace.

Mortimer now appeared from the chamber, flanked by his guards. They fought bravely in the tight corridor, fending off the onslaught that poured from the tunnel. Two of their number fell defending their master, and Mortimer was seized, his sword falling to the floor. The Queen followed her lover.

'Fair son' she pleaded, 'have mercy on the gentle Mortimer!'

The King now appeared at the end of the corridor, the torches illuminating his young face. He wore a stern expression. He looked at Mortimer, who was being restrained by two of the party.

'Take him away.' He spoke softly.

He now turned to his mother, who had thrown herself before his feet, sobbing uncontrollably as Mortimer was dragged away. He said nothing. As he walked down the corridor to his chamber, each man kneeled in turn.

'Long live the King!'

CH MEMORIES Indigo Douglas Indigo on life at SC and winning the national Poetry by Heart competition

I joined Christ’s Hospital in Deps in 2016. My parents brought me along to an Open Day and I fell in love with the School. I knew it was where I wanted to be.

It sounds clichéd, but I made the association with Hogwarts when I first arrived, especially as I’m an avid Harry Potter fan! I thought I might have trouble fitting in, but when you spend all your time together, it doesn't take long to make friends and for the quirky traditions of CH to feel like second nature.

I took the International Baccalaureate (IB) course, which was interesting as it incorporates six subjects and you need to think creatively in each of them. The IB leaves more options open to you and the course has helped me hone my interests over time. A levels are ideal for people pursuing a career goal, but that didn’t suit me two years ago. Now, I know that I'm interested in creative writing and English.

I entered the Poetry by Heart competition.

After winning the School contest, I progressed to the Regional final and eventually won the national competition. I read a pre-1914 poem by Alexander Pope and Your Attention Please by Peter Porter as my post-1914 piece. Entrants are judged on accuracy, performance and understanding of the poem. So, you can give an excellent performance but if you put the inclination in the wrong places, it suggests you don't understand the poem.

The School hosts music and poetry nights, with pupils encouraged to perform, which helps us all to improve. We’ve also been visited by poets including Patience Agbabi and Daljit Nagra. For these poets, the performance is as important as the words, so it was interesting to meet them.

After finishing my IB, I decided to stay at the School for a while to help the drama department with the junior production of Wendy and Peter Pan. Drama has been a highlight of my time here. In Les Miserables, I played the part of a foreman described as ‘sleazy around the edges.’ I thought that was funny, as it's not exactly how I would describe myself!

Indigo Douglas is heading to Warwick to study English and Creative Writing.

72

POETRY

Christina Purvis

From The Lighthouse Keeper

Danielle Carbon-Wilson

He watches the clouds roll in. Driving forward great stampedes of white horses to throw themselves onto the savage rocks that jut forward like tombstone teeth from their rocky gums.

The air’s hot stillness has at last burned away, smoking the clouds black with threat. The man sighs, wrapping his thickly knarled fingers closer around the dented tin mug. His face, wreathed in thick, frothing beard, crumples and creases like the weather worn maps he relies upon.

The sharp beam crossed the window again, and as it passes his meagre room is once more reflected to him. He looks old. Outdated and isolated. A lonely pinnacle of a time long gone by, standing, long forgotten and oft ignored.

He watches, silently as the tiny tin boats shuffle wordlessly past. He can remember the first time he was brought up here. An old soldier who'd seen too many creatures beat themselves to death on the unforgiving deck.

He'd watched as mere boys sloshed the unwanted over the side and grizzled as if his heart had cried as sea bird after sea bird plunged into the water to impale themselves on the vampiric hooks they trailed behind them.

And as the deeper the creases on his map became the quieter the shrieks of his conscience became until he stood as the last bastion against the whirling storm in an echoing and unending silence.

Faye Saulsbury

From Postcards January 1952 Argentina My dearest Mama, Do not worry about us! La Poderosa has spluttered and bounced her way along dirt tracks, through flooded rivers and across ditches (one of which I am sitting in now), enabling Alberto and I to see the South America we only knew in books. We didn’t realise we longed for it, but now it seems we were not true South Americans before.

How could we have been, if we didn't know what South America was, if we didn’t know of all the wondrous things it contained? And we have only had one tiny, tantalising glimpse… there is so much out here Mama. You, who have never left your home city, could never imagine.

From The Human Ailment ‘Mongrel It was the discovery of the ocean that did it, I think. The full moon was hanging in a jet sky when we arrived, as if expecting us. I imagined that she was admiring her reflection which glimmered, broken then unbroken, on the crests of a thousand gently rippling waves, and I was content to admire it with her.

Alberto had never seen the sea before, and his amazement was as intense as the glow of the moon. If I close my eyes now, I can smell that fresh, tangy wind that filled our senses with adventure. If there were money in it, I think I’d be a writer, so I could share the joy of what I have found with people unable to experience it for themselves.

I think we are both turning into old romantics, Alberto and I, but who could blame us, after the things we have seen? Ah, the way I must sound, no doubt implies that it has all been an easy ride. That is far from the truth! None of it has! We suffered nine crashes on our first day!

But, in my current situation, it is impossible not to be optimistic: my belly is stuffed full of bread and cherries, which we were fed by a local with whom we are staying. We seek food and shelter at whatever dwelling we happen to pass, but not everyone is generous to us.

People simply do not have the means to show charity to two disheveled travellers, claiming to be doctors. Our appearances certainly do not command respect, nor show off our grand educations — we have not shaved since leaving home, and our clothes are in tatters.

Understandably, we have come across wariness and distrust. Alberto is fixing up La Poderosa as I write — there is an uneven distribution of weight which means her front wheel has a tendency to jump up — so he is trying to work out a different way for all our luggage to sit. I admit we have been rather lazy with our repairs.

Now is a prime example; I was so half hearted in assisting Alberto that he banished me to this ditch… but really I would rather be sitting here, while the sun pours down like honey over my aching limbs, than fiddling around with wire and grease. I hope all is well at home. Give my love to the family, and especially Papa - I eagerly await news of his trip. If you write, send your letters to Osomo, Chile, as we plan to cross the border by the second week of February. These next pages are for Chichina.

A hug from your loving son, Ernesto.

73

I dropped my Karipatta in the sea but these roast potatoes were worth it!’ - Anon, 1959 Blowing stars over grey And tarmac sky and crying out cloud; ‘it’s stuck in my eye!’

Upside-down smiles fixed on their Monday faces rubbed out with a pink cliché.

I hit the ground and Head rush as re-vertI go; Home.

Cum backkk curry niggerrr...!!!

Ju vant to rrrrun home to mmmaaaammmyyyy...???

Blood rushes up, doesn’t touch my face.

I hear maa’s voice, Tuesday child is full of grace.

I see her now: in the kitchen Yorkshiring the kheer-pudding.

In mangled English, she mongrels Neither oi-oi nor ding-ding: Ver are your nice English friends Kris?

My nice gora friends maa?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Kris?

Maa please call me Krishna.

She ghosts about the living room Lashing in peroxide wave.

Shouting in battle with my gaji Mute forever in his grave.

How could you do this Japi?

She sighs Leave your son and your wife Japi?

She cries He wants to be English Japi!

She lies Me too, I Quit India Japi.

She dies.

I was walking from school Coughing up the ground’s buja Thinking of Maa and Papi, Thinking of home; of India.

Thinking: tomorrow will be better, Samsara will snow.

Now I hear maa’s voice Wednesday’s child is full of woe.

Rhian Daniel

Ode to Phlegon In a moment, a river of images meander the inner workings of my brain and flood my senses, numbing your stature as though with amnesia I forget you. And suddenly I wish to be charioted

by Helios’ steeds whose fiery manes seem to blind and perplex my understanding of who you are.

As if you really can tell me apart from the other lost souls of your long forgotten friends.

And yet I feel I know you after all this time?

But it was in our girlhood we played When the Fairy- Queen sat upon her throne, and the maiden looked upon her saviours with innocent love under the glow of the moon, guarded by watchful Selene.

However as we plucked the sweetest apples the trees yield you like the air tainted it, browning it, making it rot its beauty long forgotten.

So as years go by, and my grey eyes watch Eos rise and fall, when natures once polished masterpieces fades and my vibrant skin groans under the strain of life, wrinkling.

Will you still remember me? Will you look upon our juvenile games and long for them? Will I? Or will I leave Phlegon and his friends unbridled, unused, forgotten.

Nadia Mainwaring

Stubborn /ˈstʌbən/ adjective 1. If you did not say it "I would agree with it" 2. People may grow to say what others want but controversies that rattle bones and almost play on the tender lips of 'thinkers' awake at three in the morning as the moonlight reflects in their gentle eyes from outside their bedroom window go completely unheard "their minds are private"

Nana Sarfo-Bonsu

Alyx Morley

Celestial Stories

My Recusatio

1969 Houston: Among the large headlines concerning Apollo this morning, is one asking that you watch for a lovely lady with a big rabbit. An ancient legend says a beautiful Chinese girl called Chang-e has been living there for 4,000 years. It seems she was banished to the Moon because she stole the pill of immortality from her husband. You might look for her companion, a large Chinese rabbit, who is easy to spot since he is always standing on his hind feet in the shade of a cinnamon tree. The name of the rabbit is not reported.

Michael Collins: Okay. We’ll keep a close eye out for the bunny girl.

You may have heard: Women are from Venus.

My mother knows different: On the moon, Lives a girl and her rabbit.

2005 Baobei, When you can’t sleep, Simply open a window, Rest your head on your hands.

Baobei, If you listen carefully, Eyes closed, Breathe slow, You will hear Thump of a rabbit’s foot, Sigh of a crestfallen girl.

Baobei, She was sent away, for Dreaming of immortality.

Baobei, Adventurer.

Explorer.

Do the same.

So as I sat, stared and sighed, pen poised in my hand, I took my first but futile steps into a fictional land, But then Ovid flew like Hermes off the Latin literature shelf, And between the lines of his Amores, he secured himself, And to Mrs Fleming’s horror he began in perfect diction, “Girl, give up your useless folly in the genre of fiction, Verse is your only hope, if it be greatness that you seek!”

My eyes were wide, my jaw was slack, and I could barely speak.

Then in stormed Shakespeare with a quill pen clenched between his teeth Shooting looks of vengeance, hatred brewing just beneath.

“Do not fill her mind with your nonsensical malarkey, Playwright is the only option, no need to be snarky-” “Hear, hear!” cried Henrik Ibsen with a shiver of his beard, “Just look at A Doll’s House, how the masses gaily cheered!”

“That’s right, but not as loudly as for Claudio’s fornication, Nor even yet as brightly as for Portia’s celebration.”

“That’s enough! Stop arguing!” I said to them quite firmly, “Fiction - is the ideal choice as far as it concerns me.”

“Perhaps so,” said Rossetti as she quietly slipped in, “But personally I’ve found poetry the subtlest way to win.

For if it be a certain message you wish to convey, Verse is absolutely the most influential way.”

I knew right then, without a doubt, that she had struck a chord, For it was true, I’d much to say, all of my own accord, And so at last, I knew I’d reached my finalised decision, To bid farewell to fiction and to follow intuition.

3. a spider "hung in its own web"

74

CH MEMORIES Dani Heath How I adapted to School life and my thoughts on leaving Christ’s Hospital

I grew up locally, as my dad lives in Broadbridge Heath and my mum in Crawley.

I've been at CH for the full seven years.

I cried when I first bought a pair of Dr Martens as I thought they were ugly! Amazingly, I still have the same pair after seven years at the School. They’re a little bit scruffy but still in pretty good condition. That must be my greatest achievement here!

I did struggle with boarding initially. I was looking at social media and seeing pictures of my old friends heading off to the chip shop or having sleepovers. We are cut off from that world and for a time I didn't feel I was living a normal life. I thought I was missing out.

Before long, I realised that what I gained by being here surpassed what I was missing out on.

During my time here, I’ve enjoyed activities in the Combined Cadet Forces (CCF), especially the six-week trip to Canada two years ago. I also loved being part of the Model United Nations (MUN). I had to cut down on sports and extra-curricular activities in my Grecian year to focus on academic studies, but being involved in sport and societies has given me great memories.

I will really miss the support of the people at CH. The teachers are so willing to help and are prepared to put time aside to guide you in any way that they can. We are accustomed to that, but we're not going to receive that same level of support in the real world as people are more precious with their time. We have been spoilt here!

Everyone at the School is accepting of people's differences and they embrace variation in culture as a positive. So many people in the world perceive anything different as bad, yet difference is embraced at CH. It's going to be difficult to move on and live in a world where that ethos is challenged.

75

I cried when I first bought a pair of Dr Martens as I thought they were so ugly!

LE POETRY competition The LE wrote poems on the theme of ‘Portrait’ for CH’s annual competition, visiting the Art Department’s photography exhibition on the same theme for inspiration.

Mrs Franklin acted as ‘celebrity judge’, reading the best entries from each set. She chose Amber Dansoh as the winner, with Amelie Somers as runner-up, whilst Amelie Palmer was the winner of the LE’s own pupil vote.

The winning poems from each set are printed below, along with Mrs Franklin’s comments.

Winning Poem Amber Dansoh

The Sky Fell Pitter Patter Drip Drop The sky fell.

The tears of the atmosphere Wept down upon you and me Say what you like about rain It doesn’t discriminate It bombards the rich and the poor The happy and the sad The blessed and the cursed A transparent shroud of ever descending equality I bowed my head Pitter patter Drip drop The sky fell The clouds were skeleton white And rolled murderously Ghostly cream against angry charcoal My phone had quickly become dappled with moisture Each droplet magnifying and distorting words Shivering along the screen Pitter patter Drip drop The sky fell A single droplet dribbled down my spine Visiting every nerve in my vertebrae As it passed they all twitched in cool recognition Another drop stained my jumper Transforming it from light lapis to cold cobalt I shivered, a weak defence Against the wet invasion Pitter patter Drip Drop Will this rain ever stop?

The sky fell Inspired by a portrait by Megan Wong

Amber: Megan Wong captured a unique portrait of a girl with her head bowed against the oncoming rain. This is emphasised by the rain drops on the camera. The foreground is relatively desolate and made me wonder what the girl could be thinking about or focusing on; her stature hid so much that it was hard to tell. It was a photo that I thought had great subtlety, full of emotion that is somehow muted by the soft focus in the background and gentle clarity of the rain on the camera.

Though the girl was clearly the object of the photo, we can perceive through the rain a bilayer of extra emotion. This is why I chose to interpret the rain not the girl in my poem. You cannot have one without the other, the rain signifies feeling and the girl is the subject. It is a quiet yet powerful photo that encourages the viewer to think. It is also very free; no one will see quite the same person or imagine the same story. The girl’s mystery gives her a strange sense of relatability; she can be anyone you want her to be.

Mrs Franklin: Very effective use of repetition to bind the poem together. I liked the use of contrast and the focus on both the significance of the rain and the visual imagery of the sky and the clouds. Certain words and phrases which highlighted the colours of the sky and the storm and of the narrator’s jumper stood out for me – skeleton white, ghostly cream and angry charcoal from light lapis to cold cobalt.

The sense of the rain being inclusive, “it doesn’t discriminate,” also struck a chord with me. The explanation of why the poet chose this photo and the analysis of the photo itself was thoughtful and insightful.

Runner-Up Amelie Somers

The Last Time Life is like a ticking time bomb, Tick tock tick, It’s different when you’re old, When you’re young everything is exciting, As you do it for the first time, When you’re old everything is scary, As this could be your last time.

You visit your friends regularly, But it’s different when you’re old, Instead of your mummy dropping you at their house, You visit their gravestone huddled in the cold.

76

Moving is hard, Walking down the stairs is like completing a marathon, Getting out of bed is like drowning and trying to swim up for air, Pouring your tea is like listening to music as your hands tremble against the teapot.

But worst of all is hugging love ones, Neither wants to let go, As you grow older, the hugs get longer, Days past they get tighter, As you both think wrapped in their arms this could be your last time.

Mrs Franklin: Really liked the way this poet captured the way in which different ages view experiences.

“When you are old everything is scary/As this could be your last time”. The line “As you get old, the hugs get longer” is particularly beautiful. Some wonderful imagery as well.

Pupil Vote Winner Amelie Palmer

Why Does it Hurt?

It rained for days, After you left me As if the sky itself, Shared my grief The raindrops fell, Trailing down the window And in that very sight, My reflection was found I feel the pain, Deep down in my chest It’s a pain that can’t be healed, And I’m feeling the effects When trust is gone, And hope is lost What are we fighting for?

And who really pays the cost?

I wear a mask, From day to day And try to cope, When I hear you say: “I’m sorry, just friends, And nothing more” But you forget how you threw, My heart upon the floor!

And all the pain and shame, I went through just for this Longing and waiting, To feel your sweet kiss But now I know, That it was all just a lie

And you’ve left me alone, Watching me die Those three words you whispered, You made me believe But your harsh words cut through me, And I came back to reality You say you were trying, To make things work out But there was just no spark anymore, We had let it die out I hide in the shadows, Trying to forget When I first fell in love with you, The day we first met There’s now a hole in That no one can fill Within my heart, …But I love you still Mrs Franklin: A very personal poem with a poignant tone.

The structure - five longer stanzas and a four-line sixth stanza - worked well.

Emmanuel Odujebe

DALJIT NAGRA VISITS

Radio 4 Poet in Residence meets English pupils Grecians studying A level English Literature had the privilege of meeting the poet Daljit Nagra, whose first collection, Look We Have Coming to Dover! they had been studying.

Daljit won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and was shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Award. He also recently started work as BBC Radio 4’s first Poet in Residence. In an intimate and insightful session, he answered questions about his poems, how he works as a poet, and also about his background and personal experience.

Imagine Her small hands and small feet Try to live the life of an angel, Her young mind makes her able To imagine other angels to meet.

She is free to escape, free to cheat Reality, the malevolent being, is very painful, But she breaks through, and because she's faithful, She completes this incredible, almost impossible feat.

And now benevolent wings grow from her back, She runs around because now she can fly away, She thinks of the good deeds she can enact And all the new friends she can play with all day, But sadly she doesn't know the heartbreaking fact; That the other angels aren't allowed to let her stay.

The halo, sat on her head, Suddenly becomes hard to see, And a halo becomes just a Frisbee As she sits on her bed.

And now the crushing reality has meant That she can no longer be An angel, but imagination is the key, To be happy, and use the joy that has been lent

By God, who lets her show, That happiness comes naturally, And one should use it, so, She grows new wings, and joyfully Plays with other angels, who let her know; That she CAN stay, play, and imagine happily.

Mrs Franklin: A whimsical poem with some delightful imagery.

Charlotte Ogden-Meade

Florence Nomafo-Haywood

Untitled

Untitled

I am an insignificant voice Among the abandoned savannah And although I am free from the chains Which once held me so tightly I feel I am still tied up With the forgotten ropes of Liberty.

Black hair brown, brown eyes, but more than what you see.

Very few people unlock the real me Like a padlock with a combination no one knows Although when I’m around you our conversation flows But situations, complications, everything I do Mean that I am not myself when I am around you

My desolate eyes, filled with darkness Display suffering and despair.

They gaze into the forsaken scene Painted in front of them Covering the murky gloom That’s left behind it ruinous feeling.

Ominous clouds roll over the sky Saturating the once blazing sun Boundless mountains, situated proud A vast, immense, stripped expanse With nothing but tufts of grass To hide the cracks, that show the fractured Land.

The leathery, rough skin on my feet Undulate over the solid rocks Changed by the brutal concrete surface Blood, sweat and tears, broken back Forced to work to stay alive Am I really free, will I ever stop.

Mrs Franklin: There is a vastness in this poem which was not evident in the others. Some effective choices and interesting images: “to hide the crack, that show the fractured land” stood out.

77

But I’m ok, its ok everything’s all right Maybe one day the real me will see the light I look up to the screen asking me the question Who am I? who do I see in my own reflection?

I wish I knew myself - it’s something I am trying to find But how can I see myself when all I am is blind But confidence is a placebo I chose not to believe And I know that without it I cannot achieve I’ll do me, you do you the world will just go on I just hope I find the real me and it doesn’t take long Mrs Franklin: A thoughtful poem focussing on self-discovery – almost stream of consciousness in the way the ideas unfold.

POETRY Translation competitions The CH ‘Poetry In Translation’ project goes from strength to strength, with three competitions (junior, intermediate and senior) bringing in a record number of entries.

Translating poetry is an extraordinarily high-end extension activity, which requires both the discipline of the translator and the creativity of the poet. Some of our young poets are working from texts in learned languages; others in family languages – these poems therefore represent not only our pupils’ abilities but also their diverse and wideranging cultural backgrounds.

In the junior and intermediate sections the judges read nearly 20 entries from a fantastic range of languages including Russian, Yoruba, Malayalam and Swahili as well as the more familiar school languages such as French, Latin and Mandarin.

In the junior section the judges commended translations by Warsan Zubeir-Masabo and a joint piece by Kate Bijou-Thomas and Amelie Bannister. The runner-up, translating a poem by the French-Moroccan poet Abdellatif Laâbi, was Eseqiel (Kwame) Appafram. The winner, who produced a remarkably polished version of an Italian poem ‘Il bove’ by Carducci in perfect sonnet form, was Tommy Worth.

In the intermediate section, meanwhile, the judges commended entries by Francesca Shannon, Amy Bloomfield-Proud and Katharine Linaker. Runner-up, with a delicate version of Apollinaire’s ‘Clotilde’ was Helena Thornton. The winner, with a lovely version of a poem called ‘Far Away From You‘ by the Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu, was Silvana Brasovean.

A selection of the winning and commended entries is published here. In the case of the Christopher Nicholson Award Winner, we print the original poem alongside the translation, as well as a occasional statements by the translator illustrating their approach.

Junior Selection Warsan Zubeir-Masabo (Translated from Swahili)

Kama mnataka mali mtazipata shambani (Traditional) ‘You will get wealth from the farm’ A father came back from a long journey His thighs were all swollen And his body was shivering His children came To know how he was faring And they wanted a word of wisdom from him…

He said he was very sick Even if he was given medicine The fever wouldn’t get better He knew he was dying “So tell me what you want me to say, So that you can use it in life.”

The children said, “We need words of wisdom, Our beloved father.

We want wealth.

Show us the wealth that you have, So that we can have a good life.”

The father, who was on his death bed, Answered that question: “Even If I die poor, Listen to these words of wisdom: If you want wealth You’ll get that from the farm.”

They asked him further, This father who had high fever: “Why don’t you tell us The meaning of this riddle.

We are not intelligent enough To solve this proverb.

How do we get the wealth?”

78

“First you should write Work in the fields, Then you will be rich I’m now departing, Death is taking me away.

If you want wealth You’ll get it from the farm.”

As soon as he finished his words of wisdom Death took his soul And the children together Remembered his words: “If you want wealth, You’ll get it from the farm.”

They thought of the proverb.

Both children decided after two days To start a farm in the thickest forest For if you want wealth You’ll get it from the farm.

They sowed various seeds From coffee to rice.

When it rained, the seeds sprouted.

If you want wealth, You’ll get it from the farm.

They weeded without a problem.

They had a good crop.

They had a lot of food.

They remembered their father’s words “If you want wealth, You’ll get it from the farm.”

They bought cows and bulls They bought utensils, machines and bicycles.

They didn’t want alcohol Because alcohol is not wealth.

If you want wealth, You’ll get it from the farm.

They increased production And built more houses.

They preached about wealth And they had a big signpost: IF YOU WANT WEALTH, YOU’LL GET IT FROM THE FARM!

Kwame Appafram (Translated from French)

La connaissance ne pardonne pas’ (Abdellatif Laabi) Knowledge is relentless Knowledge is relentless It gnaws at you What are you guilty of?

Something overdue?

Burning with the words Draping something without name Glued to the seat While you play your game Do you dare to say it?

No matter where you dwell Despite being free of evil You’re locked up in its cell.

Can we melt the hangman’s heart?

Can we plead our case?

Change human nature?

Change the mindset of our race?

No one has the answer Yet all try persuasion ‘Redemption, redemption!’ That insoluble equation.

Tommy Worth (Translated from Italian)

Il bove (Giosuè Carducci) The Ox I love you, worthy ox; you fill my heart with peace and strength. Solemn as a monument, in free and fertile fields, your gaze imparts to me an inner peace, a gentle sentiment.

Bowing beneath the yoke, and still content, Supporting the swift work of the cart and man that goads you on - the slow movement of patient eyes responding is your art.

From your vast nostrils, humid, black and shy, your breath exhales, and like a joyful hymn your gentle lowing fades through air, serene.

The tender sweetness of your azure eye, And the mild motion of your sombre limbs Mirrors the divine and silent green.

Intermediate Selection Katherine Linaker (Translated from Russian)

Так начинают. Года в два ...

(Boris Pasternak) ‘This is the way…’

This is the way they begin, at two Torn away from their mother’s love They croon and whistle a shadowy tune.

Their words are formed by the age of three.

This is the way they begin to learn To hear in the roar of an engine’s noise That ‘mother’ is not mother at all, That ‘you’ are not you, that ‘home’ is unknown.

This is the way they begin to suspect When, upon meeting a beauty they fear And they ask, as they sit on a lilac-bench, ‘Why do you steal the mind of a child?’

POETRY By Heart In a fiercely-contested Poetry By Heart recitation competition held on 10 February, the five finalists tackled some challenging material with passion.

The senior competition was won by Marina Kisliuk, while in the intermediate contest, Dare Haastrup came out on top. Dare, the youngest competitor, showed her experience as a spoken word performer in coming just five points behind the eldest and the overall winner, Indigo Douglas.

This is the way that fears start to grow, When one man gives hope to aspiring stars.

When is he demon, when is he dreamer?

This is the way their travels begin.

This is their way to the open sky, Above the walls where no houses stand.

A sudden breeze that sighs like the sea Is the way their rhythms will start to beat.

This is the way they see light summer nights Fall on their knees face-down in a field, Then threaten and warn the sun to rise.

This is the way that their quarrels begin.

This is the way that true poets are made.

Commentary: My mother is of Russian origin and has brought my sister and me up bilingually; she introduced me to Pasternak and told me something about his troubles with the authorities.

When I first read the poem it seemed abstract; you don’t really know what the poem is talking about until the last line, which could have a variety of meanings: ‘This is the way they start to live with poems,’ ‘This is the way poems start to live’ or ‘This is the way poets start to live.’

As a result, my first literal translation of the poem seemed confusing, like a set of unconnected statements. But once the meaning became clearer the style evolved. I decided I could not achieve a realisticsounding rhyme scheme to match the Russian; instead I developed a four-stressed syllabic beat to give some regularity.

Continued...

79

WORLD Book Day CH Librarians organised a ‘Shelfie’ competition to celebrate World Book Day on 2 March.

Fiona MacKenzie, Library Director said: “The ‘Shelfie’ competition asked pupils and staff to send a picture of themselves with a favourite or most appropriate title. Entrants ranged from the Headmaster, through to our youngest Year 7 (2nd Form) readers.”

The winners were: Junior boys: Gregry Waduge Joint senior boys: Neo Caine and Finlay Sellwood Junior girls: Sarah (Toluwani) Agbedu Joint senior girls: Allanah Ritchie and Lily Smith World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of reading, authors, illustrators and books. Now in its 18th year, it aims to encourage children to explore the pleasures of reading.

Continued...

Repeating the phrase “This is the way” created a rhythm and link between each stanza.

The poem gave me a number of problems.

The word “Так” literally means “that’s” but this monosyllabic word didn’t fit in with the four-stress rhythm of each line. So instead I had to find different ways of saying “In this way” or “That’s how”. In the fifth stanza there is no indication that Pasternak is talking about the rhythms or the rhythms of poems; he seems to be describing the “iambics” of poems in an abstract way. I decided the idea would be clearer if I added “their”.

One particular issue was how to translate “Фауст” – literally “Faust”. I thought that many young people reading the poem might not straight away make the link between Faust (a scholar from a German legend who was so dissatisfied with his life that it led to him giving his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited worldly pleasures) and the idea of a demon, or a person with no moral integrity. Therefore I had to simplify it and make it clearer.

Silvana Brasovean (Translated from Romanian

Departe sunt de tine’ (Mihai Eminescu) Far Away From You How far I am from you. Before my fire, alone, I think about my life that so unhappily has flown.

Now that eighty whole years past my eyes have sped I am as old as winter, and you maybe are dead.

As time strays on our memories seep deep into our souls And seem to fill up what was once an empty hole.

While the wind's fingers fumble with the blind, The threads of our own story spin round in my mind.

In front of me you stand in a mist that you enfolds, With big eyes full of tears and hands long and cold.

Your arms are draped around my neck and I feel you nearby You seem to want to speak out but then you simply sigh.

Such love and beauty in my mind will never be erased For both our poor lives are joined in that embrace.

Oh! Let the cry of memories be for all time put to rest So I can for all time forget the luck that I once possessed.

And forget how in an instant you pushed my arms aside, Now I am old and lonely and maybe you have died.

Senior Selection Megan Whitney (Translated from Spanish)

Cien sonetos de amor - LI (Pablo Neruda) One Hundred Love Sonnets - LI Your laugh belongs to a tree, half opened By a flash, by a silver lightning bolt Fallen from the sky, breaking on the treetop, Splitting the trunk with a single sword.

Only among the green leaves of snow-high grounds Is a laugh like yours born, be-loving It’s the laugh of the uncontrollable wind above, Of the mountain pine tradition, beloved.

My high Andean, my real Chilean, Cut the shadows with the knife of your laugh, Cut the night, the morning, the honey of noon, And let the birds jump to the ground from the leaves When, like an overcharged bolt of light Your laugh breaks the tree of life.

Ellen Hovmand (Translated from Danish)

Barndommens gade (Tove Ditlevsen) The Streets of Your Childhood I am the streets of your childhood I am the essence of you I am the pounding rhythm of all that is yearning in you I am the weary hands of your mother and the weight on your daddy’s mind I am the misty shimmer of dreams of the earliest kind I gave you my great severity on a day you were lost and forlorn I sprinkled sadness in your mind a night the rain fell like a storm I once knocked you to the ground to make you a heart of stone but I tenderly lifted you up again I wouldn’t leave you alone It is me who has taught you to hate I taught you hardness and spite I gave you weapons of iron be careful to use them right

80

I gave you your vigilant eyes by these I will know you again, meet someone with the same gaze you shall know that he is your friend Did you fly so far over countries and grow apart from you friend?

I am the streets of your childhood I’ll always know you again.

Marina Kisluik (Translated from Russian)

Ошибка (Marina Tsvetaeva) A Mistake

A flying snowflake, Falling like a shooting star…

It touches your hand, but melts away, as if it is a tear – It leaves nothing behind.

You try and embrace a jellyfish, Which seems no more than a ghost – so pale it is, Instead, it goes away, And you’re left there alone with your memories.

Now you’re trying to catch a firefly In the comfortable silence of the night, Trying to catch the invisible beauty, But, everything you are left with Is harsh reality – Your fingers, covered with coloured dust, Are all you’re left with.

You are the one disturbing them, But now just leave them all alone!

Don’t lock your dreams, And, stop trying to hold them, Or otherwise they’ll fade away.

Stop forcing sadness into passion, Stop trying to wake up.

Your love was so misleading, But due to it I bothered to wake up.

Christopher Nicholson Award Winner Max Birkin

Bee Crinnion (Translated from Swedish)

Jag frös’ (Bruno K. Öijer)

Werkster (Gerrit Achterberg)

I froze

Zij kent de onderkant van kast en ledikant ruwhouten planken en vergeten kieren, want zij behoort al kruipend tot de dieren, die voortbewegen op hun voet en hand.

Zij heeft zichzelve aan de vloer verpand, om deze voor de voeten te versieren van dichters, predikanten, kruidenieren, want er is onderscheid van rang en stand.

I froze I had nothing to live for Months turned to years when I must’ve pulled my body closer to myself I must’ve spotted a strip of blue under all the layers of black

God zal haar eenmaal op Zijn bodem vinden gaande de gouden straten naar zijn troon, al slaande met de stoffer op het blik.

Symbolen worden tot cymbalen in de ure des doods - en zie, haar lot ten hoon, zijn daar de dominee, de bakker en de frik.

The Cleaning Lady She cleans beneath cupboard, crib and picture.

Worn wooden planks make long forgotten creaks: Down on her knees she is amongst the creatures Who crawl about upon their hands and feet.

For she has pledged her purpose to the floor, And polishes it for the well-heeled soles Of the priest, poet and the men of law – Here is disparity in rank and role.

On the tracks lay an upturned train (heavy and cold blackblackerthan black) it lay on its side and underneath bluebells appeared (delicate and small) they must’ve grown up on their stalks and blossomed to a blue space which slowly pushed higher and higher itself and rolled the train back lifted it up to the rails again.

The Lord will find her in his Holy Land, Sweeping the golden streets before His throne.

The drumbeat of her brush against the pan Is symbol turned to cymbal, loud in tone.

But at her death on equal terms she’ll meet The men of law, the poets and the priest.

Commentary: I chose ‘Werkster’ because it has an unusual subject and an excellent structure. Gerrit Achterberg has not hidden his poem’s meaning behind complicated imagery or convoluted narrative, but has instead written a concise fable; whatever our position on Earth, in heaven we are all equals. Despite the heavily Christian element of this poem, the equality of humanity that it espouses is a subject that can be appreciated even by non-religious readers.

Achterberg manages to impart his message in a precise yet impactful way – he is moral, but he does not lecture. I felt it was important that my translation retained a similar structure.

Conveying this meaning within a poem of such a short length was the main challenge that I faced during the translation process. Dutch is a far more concise language than English and so finding words that were both efficient and appropriate proved to be a somewhat torturous process. The connotations that some words in English carry rendered many direct Dutch translations useless. English is a far softer language than Dutch, and so preserving these harsh sounds was another challenge.

81

UF SHORT STORY competition Winner Matilda Hewens In which the baron recalls a most wonderful tale of his first trip to Siam – Battles two extraordinary beasts – Returns to his majesty’s fair kingdom.

It was the second week of May when we first set sail on the mighty galleon that was The Lady’s Rose. At first the crew were smiles all round and we all worked hard to keep her on course as we knew the dangers we faced. On the fourth night at sea the sky had clouded over and was a dark indigo hue. The waves crashing into the side of the ship were the shade of darkness itself; it was the darkest sky one could ever imagine, it seemed to swallow up any light there was left. As I settled down in my captain’s quarters one the skippers rushed in to alert me of the gale imminently approaching.

This year’s competition asked the members of the UF to write a plausibly implausible (or should that be implausibly plausible?) fireside yarn, to be told in the voice of that inveterate Teutonic liar, Baron Munchausen.

Munchausen (who of course gives his name to the syndrome by which the sufferer fantasizes in different ways) has, after many years of travelling, retired to his familial schloss, where he amuses his guests with traveller’s tales of stupendous adventures, each recounted with an air of innocent simplicity and ending with disbelief that any listener could for a moment doubt the veracity of the tale.

Shortlisted entries were submitted from each UF set to be judged by Dr Stuart Thomson.

Shortlisted writers included Dare Haastrup, Alex Seirlis, Gabriel Rai and Ella Dansoh.

However, Dr Thomson chose Luke Saunders’ story as his runner-up, and Matilda Hewens’ as his winner.

I must at this point explain where I was heading and for what purpose, as I’m sure you may be curious. It was my usual business; trading fine silks in Iran and as an experienced sailor, I had little to worry about. The storm however, that I was now faced with, was nothing like anything I’ve ever experienced.

Our boat was thrown from side to side, lurching unexpectedly at every gust of wind. I imagined that someone was shaking out the sea as if it were a great, blue, never ending bed sheet. The next thing I knew my head came in to contact with a steel beam at great speed, and at that moment I tumbled to the floor.

I awoke to a bright periwinkle canvas above my head, the sun splashed across it like twinkling shards. It was at this point I became aware of my situation; I was floating on a leather case containing only my finest satin neck tie and my patent leather shoes from Harrods. How I got there is, to me, a mystery to this very day but I do however know how I escaped it. As I looked around there wasn’t a single, glimpse of land in sight so I decided my only option was to swim as far as possible.

I waited until; nightfall to proceed with my plans as I knew that most dangerous fish sleep through the midnight hours; I could also navigate my way North, using the stars. After eight days of swimming without break, I spotted a beach; I reached it with great joy as I finally tasted something other than the caviar I had been forced to survive upon by scooping it up from the rocks below. I approached the first human I came across and questioned kindly what tongue he spoke in.

82

Communicating with this man proved futile as he replied in what I assumed was tribal speak but what I later found out was Siamese.

Nevertheless I continued onwards with hope to either find a route home via Iran or locate the whereabouts of my crew. It became apparent that this underdeveloped country was filled with jungles rich in wildlife. I encountered one such specimen that much like a normal monkey had arms, legs and a tail; but was almost thrice the size and made such a tremendous sound, my eardrums nearly burst. This beast lunged towards me with such vigour I pulled out my blade and impaled its chest. It lay on the floor writhing as I removed the animal’s head as a gift for the leader of this tropical continent. Alas I never found a soul that would point me in this mysterious leader’s direction, but on my quest I came across an old friend of mine that happened to be sailing back to Great Britain in the coming week. I took him up on his offer to take me back as a crew member after I recounted my woeful tale to him.

This I suppose is where the story draws to a close since I simply sailed back to my homeland in peace and unfortunately never heard from my crew again. And if you have any doubts about the authenticity of this tale then I ask you only to check the stuffing of the sofa in which you recline. You will, I expect, find it is stuffed with the hairs plucked from the head of a howler monkey.

Dr Thomson: A beautifully written story, with a sense of the Baron’s romanticism and selfregard brought out beautifully in some of the descriptive prose; the little touches (patent shoes and caviar) were all the more effective for only occurring in passing. Structurally, starting in medias res and bringing out the context in the second paragraph added something a little more interesting to the presentation. The reveal at the end – the bathos of howler monkey stuffing (presumably indistinguishable from horse-hair) was one of the more effectively understated of the finalists.

Runner-Up Luke Saunders In which the Baron journeys to Sandwich Island – Slays a terrifying beast – Saves captain and crew.

In 1726 I was requested by the King of England, George III himself, to accompany a Mr James Cook on a voyage in order to chart lands new to the British Empire. I presumed the quality that was desired of me was my unmatched bravery therefore; I of course

agreed to escort Mr Cook, provided a fee was included.

After setting sail from Portsmouth we sailed south-east across the violent sea. We made considerable progress stopping only in Argentina to replenish our supplies, having received permission from Charles III of Spain.

Subsequently we once more weighed anchor, although we angled the tiller this time to the north-west, intending to make for the Philippine Islands. The crew on board surveyed the boundless waves before them with weariness having just concluded a year long journey and being doubtful over the welfare of their progeny; consequently there were murmurings of dissent aboard which set a foul mood amongst the men. Hence, being of a benevolent countenance I employed some wisdom I had attained on my travels across Bengal.

At once I raised my head to the sky and called “vaayu, hava ke bhagavaan. jaroorat ke is samay mein hamaaree sahaayata ke lie aa” conversing in Hindi to their God of wind.

As I had instructed a mighty wind blew against the sails, almost tearing them away from the main mast. The vessel skipped atop the waves, soaring as though the craft had sprouted wings. Fearing for my life, I held fast to the ship’s wheel but, alas, many were lost to the Ocean. After the gale had subsided we found ourselves surrounded by nothing but the sapphire sea; with not one suggestion that any creature had crossed this path.

The remaining men were beginning to despair once more, but, after scouring the horizon with his spyglass, Mr Cook eventually spied land.

The anchor was weighed in a small bay, just large enough to accommodate the bow. With trepidation the crew and I set foot on the island. In case of anything going awry I was armed with my favourite piece; a 1715 Devall model flint-lock, loaded with .55 calibre whale shot. That piece had assisted me with killing everything from a Tasmanian tiger to a Nubian mammoth so would have ample force to combat anything found on this island.

Almost immediately I got to use the flintlock, for we encountered an adversary. I strode daringly across a sand dusted hillock and spied a frightful cave, from which an unlikely beast came forth. It was fortified with a covering of green scales not unlike the crocodile but possessed, rather than jaws, a large beak that resembled that of a bird.

However, its defining characteristic was undoubtedly the odd shell-like covering across its back.

Whilst I was making these observations, the creature had advanced until it was only five or so feet from the crew. Pulling out my piece I lit the fuse, pulled the trigger and fired the whale shot directly towards its head. But to my horror the abominable creature was able to pull its head within its body and dodge my fine shot.

However, this unfortunate series of events meant the shot ricochet off of its shell and careered off towards the Captain. The beast had not

fallen and was advancing with a great pace.

This was a somewhat alarming predicament as the flint-lock holds only a single shot and I had just used my last one! Fortunately just an instant had passed since I fired so the shot was still mid-flight. Using what I had picked up from the Muscovy state circus, I performed a triple somersault, landing softly in the sand and caught the shot, still intact, between my teeth, saving the captain.

Quickly, with the skill of a French-marksman, I simultaneously loaded the shot and lit the fuse. This time I outsmarted the beast and chose to fire within the shell, finally slaying it and saving the crew. Regrettably, the rest of the journey was uneventful although we left the Island laden with scores of indigenous fruits to trade back in Amsterdam, and content with the fact that one less creature of evil roamed the earth.

Despite my significant contribution to the expedition, Captain Cook, who had regrettably

83

been put in charge, chose to name the Island after Sir John Montagu 4th Earl of Sandwich; Calling it Sandwich Island. Coincidentally, or not, Sir Montagu was Captain Cook’s main benefactor. This is likely the reason that Cook chooses to recount a version of the tale in which my extraordinary feats are not mentioned.

To all those who disregard the truth; A great man once said, “To believe all men honest is folly. To believe none is something worse.

Dr Thomson: A great sense of historical time and place (although not without its anachronisms), with a beautifully detailed excuse as the ending, marked this story out. I was also struck by the understatement of the terrifying beast – although the narrator attempts to describe it as fearsome, the audience recognises it as the harmlessly comic turtle.

The writer takes a Lawrence Sterne-like gamble in trusting his audience sees the joke without pointing it out.

HEAD OF DRAMA: My first year

John Johnson I was working in a state school in Milton Keynes until 2012. I spoke to teachers working at boarding schools and the idea appealed to me, so I moved to Christ College Brecon in Wales. It was a bit of an eye-opener, but I loved the experience.

After four years, I needed a new challenge.

My family is based in the south, so when an opportunity came up at Christ’s Hospital, I researched the School online and its ethos appealed to me. Coming from a working class background, I was delighted to discover that Christ’s Hospital provides opportunities to people from all walks of life.

My first aim here was to create an environment where everyone in the department felt part of a close-knit team. We’ve organised training trips and enrichment days, including a day at the V&A Museum. Our box office manager and theatre technician were involved too, so it wasn't just academic staff. Simon Ashdown, the theatre technician, also arranged a tour of Les Misérables in the West End, as he used to work backstage on the production.

We are now a very close team in the drama department. Helen Blizard is here on maternity cover, for the irreplaceable Caroline Kelley whose brilliant performance of 'Oliver' played

to sell out audiences in June. Helen’s claim to fame is that she played a drunk girlfriend of Del Boy’s in Only Fools and Horses. She has great acting pedigree and has written for EastEnders. Helen has run workshops here and has written a new play that we hope to stage.

I wanted to produce a big show that would involve a lot of people and create a buzz in the department. The main reason for that is because I'm a drama teacher and have a big ego! But I also wanted younger pupils to come along and think ‘I want to be involved in something like that!’ So, my first production at CH was Les Misérables in December 2016.

Many pupils came up and shook my hand after Les Misérables, which I appreciated. It made the effort worthwhile.

84

Freddie Norris as Javert in Les Misérables

Helen Blizard hosts a workshop for drama students in the theatre

We had a huge cast of about 80 children from across the School, including several younger pupils. It was a huge benefit to have Simon’s insider knowledge. As he’d been chief technician for the West End production, he was able to build an incredible barricade which revolved, very much like the one you see at the Queen’s Theatre.

For the senior and junior School productions, the schedule is quite intense. We start with two hour rehearsals twice a week, then after a few weeks we have additional Sunday rehearsals.

As we near opening night, we meet up almost every day. When the cast are not in lessons, they are in the theatre rehearsing! Because the cast for Les Misérables was so big and the production also involved the Band, everyone was talking about it.

For the Friday matinee, we invited the Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils to watch. The following week, we held auditions for our junior production, Wendy and Peter Pan. Because they enjoyed Les Misérables so much, about 170 turned up to audition, which was unprecedented!

The senior production gave everyone in the drama department a boost. All the pupils were so appreciative and - a first for me - children were thanking me and others in the team for giving them the opportunity to be in a good show. Many came up and shook my hand, which I really appreciated. It made it worthwhile as they realised that they are very fortunate to be able to utilise such a beautiful theatre at a School that provides great support for drama.

As well as staging our own productions, pupils experience all kinds of dramatic shows and workshops, from comedy to contemporary dance. Many enjoyed a comedy improvisation evening with Abi Hood and Kevin Tomlinson, who has performed with the cast of Whose Line is it Anyway? The Trestle Theatre Company also came to the School and ran a workshop for GCSE pupils before performing Jekyll and Hyde in the theatre. Frantic

Assembly, a physical theatre company, ran a workshop with our LE drama group and the Complicite Theatre Company came in for a demonstration with our A level students.

The pupils get real exposure to all kinds of professional theatre, providing them with a broad education. It also shows pupils that we are serious about drama. In May, we took a group of Grecians to see John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) in Woyzeck at The Old Vic. The CH Theatre also hosts comedy nights, although often these are age restricted so not all pupils can attend. We’ve welcomed several household names, including Russell Howard, who played the theatre in January.

Cameron Blackshaw as Thenardier in Les Misérables

Simon Ashdown created a stunning barricade

In terms of talented individuals, there are many at the School. Harry Omosele was superb as Bill Sykes in the 2016 production of Oliver!

Billie Harvey-Munro and Tink Trim have also expressed a desire to pursue drama as a career. We also have a drama scholarship programme and Jade Odunjo has every chance of making a breakthrough as she is a phenomenal actress.

Bella Kelaidi has been fantastic, as part of the technical team. She could organise my role here quite easily let alone anybody else's, and she is hoping to apply to drama school to study stage management. With our large productions, you see different skills coming to the fore and she has been brilliant backstage.

We have a small technical team that meets Simon every week and his input is invaluable.

I would like to introduce a middle School production with the Year 9 pupils taking some of the lead parts. We may also introduce a community project soon. There used to be a project where current pupils, Old Blues, staff and parents came together to produce a play or performance. I did something similar at a previous school and it has been done here successfully in the past, so we may plan something with a similar concept in the future.

85

Richard Banibensu in Les Misérables

Billie Harvey-Munro as Eponine in Les Misérables

REVIEW: Wendy and Peter Pan The audience roared with laughter when upon chasing Captain Hook, he took one look over his shoulder to the audience as if to say, “He’s such a drama queen!”

Zoe Munday Peter Pan has been produced thousands of times throughout the years and is a wellknown classic story by JM Barrie. Could an 80-strong cast of 11-14 year olds do the magical story justice?

Well, they did!

This modern-day version of the story - a new adaptation by Ella Hickson entitled Wendy and Peter Pan - brings Wendy more into focus.

Hickson presents Wendy as adventurous and brave, someone who won’t conform to the stereotypical female role portrayed in the original story.

We cast two sets of main characters with Jamira Nelson and Titus Dempsey on Thursday and Friday night. Saturday’s performance saw Ella Perris and Tristan Berry as Wendy and Peter Pan. Huge credit goes to

them all for an enchanting portrayal of the couple, as well as Hannah Chujor (Izzy Foster on Thursday and Friday night) for her modern and gutsy rendition of Tinkerbell.

Special mention should go to Smee, played by Georgie Catt ,who provided light entertainment throughout the play with her longing looks at Captain Hook. The ensemble also lit up the stage, being engaged, professional and in character at every moment of the play, from the Lost Boys being in the Home Underground to the Pirates, led by Emmanuel Odujebe as a terrifying Captain Hook, aboard their ship.

However, one character in particular seemed to steal the show – a character with no lines who made an appearance on stage only three or four times; The crocodile, played by Tom Slater. The audience roared with laughter when upon chasing Captain Hook, he took one look over his shoulder to the audience as if to say, “He’s such a drama queen!” That had the

86

audience in hysterics every time!

Of course, you cannot have the story of Peter Pan without flying and for this, a creative solution was found. There is a beautiful moment at the beginning of the play where Peter Pan’s eight ‘shadows’ lift him up in the air. Aided by sound and moving lights, this creates the first flying moment. The other moments are provided by green screen animation, which shows Wendy and Peter on a cloud together, providing some light amusement for the audience as she steps off the cloud and goes ‘flying’ with the stars.

With more than 100 pupils and teachers involved in making the show happen, everyone’s hard work paid off and a completely magical junior production has once again been delivered by Christ’s Hospital.

Jasper as one of the main Lost Boys

Jamira as Wendy, the main character in the play

Simon Ashdown once again created a brilliant stage set

Emmanuel as our evil Captain Hook and Titus as Peter Pan

Max as the oldest and most sensible brother in the play

Izzy gave a fantastic cockney rendition of Tinkerbell

The Junior School production was another great success

Most costumes were sourced in-house but some were hired from Triple C Costume Hire

"You'll get cold out here!"

87

REVIEW: DOYLE SCHOOL The staff are looking forward to the increased creative freedom and technical rigour offered by the new spec.

Patrick Hall-Palmer When does the pace of change diminish?

It seems at Christ’s Hospital broadly and in Design Technology more specifically, it does not.

I come to that conclusion in the second week of the summer holidays, a time in many schools when they enter a form of hibernation.

Yet outside my office at CH, the summer school has begun, building work progresses, facilities and estate staff get on with the business of putting so many aspects of the School in order that work can’t be done in term time. Staff leavers are moving their

furniture out and there is the noise of exercise classes in the sports centre drifting in through my window.

It is a pleasant time to reflect on the year, or rather read the reflections of my DT staff and our pupils that form the main body of the DT pages.

As you will read in the following submissions, we welcomed a new technician in September 2016 and have been busy recruiting for the brand new post of Designer in Residence. The former has implemented a number of changes and improvements already, these are perhaps not immediately obvious to the pupils, but are very much so to staff.

88

The latter will, we hope, be transformative in terms of raising creativity, problem solving and industry-orientated know how to new levels.

He is already working on the raft of initiatives I have discussed with him.

Finally, I would like to say something about the coming year. It will be one full of challenges and opportunities. We have two new exam board specifications being taught from September. The UF (Year 10) resistant materials and graphic products designers will be embarking on the CIE iGCSE Design Technology spec and the A level product designers will begin a brand new AQA linear spec.

After much research and a number of courses, we feel these represent the very best on offer and the staff are looking forward to the increased creative freedom and technical rigour they offer. Busy start. Busy middle.

Busy end. That is CH to a T.

DESIGNER in Residence

Tom Howell Jones’ rucksack chair promotes an active lifestyle

Tom Howell-Jones is the first ever Designer in Residence of the Doyle School of Design Technology.

He grew up in Nantwich, Cheshire and has just completed his BA (Hons) in Product and Furniture Design at Birmingham City University, gaining a first-class degree.

Patrick Hall-Palmer and all the staff are excited at the changes and opportunities this will bring.

The creation of this post will considerably enrich the educational experience received by pupils in Design Technology.

Tom writes: ‘Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by mechanisms, art and design. I used to go to my grandmother’s house and build trains and cars out of cardboard boxes. I was always known as the designer in the household, recently finishing a Dax Cobra kit-car. When I was in high school and sixth form I started to look more into design and how influential it is in our lives every day.

Design is everywhere, from road signs to the chairs we sit on. It has been at play from the early days of the wheel to the technological modern-day and has been at the forefront of everything. I am passionate about design that is simple and functional. I frequently look at a product to question it, often asking, ‘how

I look to increase CAD skills, an area moving at great pace in our new world. could I have designed this better?’ as every design can be developed and taken as inspiration.

At Birmingham City University, my design knowledge started to expand. I started to create designs that relate to people, find problems and solve them. In my final year, I entered the Royal Society Arts Student Design Awards, ‘RSA’, 2017. I chose the design brief sponsored by RBS to design and develop a proposal and an associated business case for a new product and/or service made from disused office furniture.

My product was called “rest?” and was made from a redundant office chair components.

Through “rest?” the office chair was transformed into a multifunctional ecological rucksack/pannier promoting an active lifestyle.

A panel of judges brought together for their expertise viewed all submissions from around the world. I was shortlisted and interviewed about my research and design process. I was delighted to be the outright winner receiving the special, “stepping stone” RSA award

89

inaugurated in 2014 to mark the 90th anniversary of the RSA design program.

I finished university with first-class honours, for the furniture range ‘2ar’, made from a new material designed and developed to be biodegradable and completely natural.

Over the next year, I look to increase CAD skills, an area moving at great pace in our new world. CH has great rapid prototype facilities too which I hope to fully utilise. I will also supply daily senior support, where I hope to encourage ambition and creativity through further development and research, ensuring the outcome is as well considered as possible.

I hope to give lectures on new technologies and different design styles as well as keeping an active development log board. This will contain my work in progress and also be supported by the Designer in Residence Blog where I will look at more topics and research areas that link to the pupils’ current studies.

It is a great pleasure to be able to work in such a great area and I look forward to a brilliant year.

A LEVEL PRODUCT DESIGN My skills using CAD software have increased, especially on design software such as Pro Desktop.

Remus Goldsmith For my Grecians Product Design project, I decided to look at the current train station at Christ’s Hospital.

I knew I wanted to do something in civil engineering but came into problems when trying to find a suitable context. I looked into multiple bridges but couldn’t find one that had an underlying flaw that I could look to resolve.

I realised that Christ’s Hospital station, being quite old, did not incorporate accessibility for a wide range of users. It didn’t provide an alternative to the stairs leading under the bridge, meaning elderly and wheelchair-bound people would find it difficult to use the station.

Because of this, I decided to redesign the station with a focus on accessibility and aesthetics as well as trying to keep down the cost. This entailed me having to look at different alternatives to stairs as well as how I could make stairs more accessible, for example, a stair lift.

A large part of the project required me to look at materials and how they could be used as my project needed to be structurally sound. I was able to look in detail

at other bridges to not only draw inspiration from but to learn from. Safety was a big factor as it was the biggest underlying need that my design needed to meet, as without safety no extra factors would be relevant. In light of this, I met an expert in this field to discuss my project. He helped me highlight in greater detail the flaws my initial designs could have had.

The most enjoyable part of this project was being able to design and develop a multitude of designs from scratch with no limitations. It allowed me complete freedom over my project and gave me the opportunity to do what I wanted. Throughout the development phase, I had to make my project more realistic and take into consideration the way it would be built. This said, I was still able to make my project adventurous, utilising glulam.

90

My final solution to the design brief involved using a wide staircase fitted with a chairlift on either side allowing large groups of people to use the bridge at once, both safely and efficiently. I also utilised four large glulam beams to provide sufficient external support to the deck. This helped make the bridge even more structurally stable.

As I created so many sketches throughout the design process, my drawing skills have greatly improved, allowing me to sketch complex three dimensional shapes to communicate and explain my ideas. My skills using CAD software have increased as well, especially on design software such as Pro Desktop. This is mainly because I had to produce a final digital design to scale of my project using this software. This was difficult as I wasn’t as skilled on this software but now feel very confident in its use and will find that these skills can be transferred into many situations.

The project has made me more conscious of wider social, cultural and environmental problems.

MY MEMORIES

Tamsin Denny For my A2 project I designed a temporary school which could be used in places such as refugee camps or areas following natural disasters.

I had read in the news about many of the refugee camps having insufficient school buildings, most being too small or structurally unsafe. I had also found out that in these camps there are many unaccompanied minors with little or no structure to their day, as well as the ever-increasing populations in the refugee camps. I thought about the importance of the education of these people in order to improve their prospects for the future.

For many adult refugees the teaching of languages would be very important to enable them in the future. Also, skills such as basic maths is something that they may not have had access to before. For the children in the camps, it is very important that the start of their lives incorporate education to teach not only subjects but to build social skills, discipline and confidence.

I knew that the design would need to result in a cost effective and easily constructed building. After analysing some of the existing temporary buildings used for schooling and speaking with volunteers from the Calais refugee camp, I decided that I would use a modular system to create my school. This would result in customisability of the design shape and size to different needs.

I chose a system that would connect a corridor and two small classrooms as one “pod” where any number of pods can be joined to make the desired end capacity. In my project I demonstrated this on a 1:8 scale to give a sense of the layout which would be in the full scale building.

For the shape and angles of the joins, I had to develop my own joining mechanism, which I then demonstrated on a 1:1 scale. This incorporated welding skills into my project, which I had never done before. It seemed a little daunting but I ended up enjoying it. I worked out the approximate overall cost of the full scale building would be £1,200 and other parts could be added when the means are available.

Another enjoyable aspect of my project was the use of 3D printing technology in the production of different elements. It is very exciting to be able to use technology which is growing and developing very fast in the design and manufacturing industry.

Throughout my project, I developed many skills such as problem solving and planning. It has also made me more conscious of wider social, cultural and environmental problems. I also had the opportunity to develop my technological skills using many types of machines and relating software.

My next step will be studying occupational therapy at university. Here I will be able to apply the creativity and problem solving skills that I have been able to develop throughout my A level. I will be able to work with people to enable them to find solutions that they have in everyday tasks, which I feel will be very rewarding.

91

Remus Goldsmith I joined the School in the 3rd Form from a secondary school in Brighton. I hadn't been to an Open Day, so my first visit here was for an exam.

It was a daunting feeling, being dropped off by my parents. I remember I was worried as I hadn't been away from home before. It’s a big change coming here, but you get used to it very quickly.

Design and Technology has been one of my strongest subjects and I hope to pursue a career in civil engineering. For my Grecian year, I was the Doyle Scholar, which is funded by Old Blue Jack Doyle and is awarded to a student pursuing a career in engineering. The scholarship is given to someone entering the sixth form.

My D&T project was to redesign the bridge at Christ's Hospital station (see opposite). Currently there is an underpass, but it is very old and not easily accessible for the disabled or the elderly. My project offered a replacement concept in the shape of a bridge accessible to a wide range of people. In theory, the School could take my idea and build it!

CH is good at putting you in contact with people working in field that you're interested in. This is done mainly through the Old Blues Association and it can be very useful. Pupils also have a lot of support from the Careers Centre, which helps put you on the right path.

When it comes to sport, the School has tended to focus more on rugby and cricket, but I was always more interested in football. We’ve had a brilliant season, winning the league and only losing one match. I also like the steeplechase and won the long distance race this year, which I was very proud of!

Remus will be heading to Bristol University to study Civil Engineering

LITTLE ERASMUS (LE) LE is predominately a skills-based year through short projects with a physical outcome.

A UK Government report published in January 2016 states that creative industries are worth a staggering ÂŁ84 million to the economy.

The industry is thriving and we as a department are committed to inspiring students at each stage at CH. The LE (Year 9) is the first point at which pupils are able to choose what really interests them and we as teachers teach pupils who are starting to develop a real passion for this creative subject.

This year, we had three enthusiastic sets of pupils who had chosen to study resistant materials at the next stage of their academic careers. It is predominately a skills-based year through short projects with a physical outcome. At the heart of our subject is drawing, as visual communication skills are key when you need to explain your idea to others.

Therefore, the initial topics we cover at the start of the year are basic drawing skills, covering types of 3D drawing such as isometric and oblique, moving on to learning how to draw and interpret technical drawing such as third angle orthographic.

This leads nicely into our first practical project, understanding an exploded view and third angle orthographic drawing of a wooden robot made from one block of pine. Pupils are introduced to the workshop, using various saws to cut the pine and finishing techniques using glass paper or the linisher. The final

construction of their robot involves a problem solving task to thread the string. This allows for the class to work on soft skills such as collaboration and communication.

A key focus of the year is learning how to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs such as 2D Design or AutoDesk Inventor. These are crucial to practice as they create the patterns that the Computer Aided Machinery (CAM) follows to cut, engrave or layer up.

The department has an excellent range of CAM and LE pupils are able to experience using the Boxford router to cut shapes from manufactured boards, and the Boxford lathe to cut out handles which make up the key holder project. This year, we experimented using the 3D printer to make a key ring.

Among all the workshop experimenting, the students learn some basic materials theory and joining methods. We specifically cover wood joints through the plywood vintage crate project where students practice marking out and cutting a biscuit joint. On the sides they

92

practice their CAD skills to engrave a design of their choice with the newly acquired laser cutter. This year, I contacted companies that the students chose to engrave. Tiptree got back in touch to commend the work of one of our students and sent us some chocolate pots!

The LE is a great year in resistant materials; the skills they learn will be used again through the UF and GE year and hopefully onward as the pupils potentially will be part of the continued thriving creative industry for our UK economy.

Ewurojoa Steele

New DT technician

This year in resistant materials, my favourite projects have been the vintage crate and the Memphis inspired clock.

One thing I've learnt is that everything I have worked on can be seen all around us. For example, wood joints in the vintage crate project are also part of the construction of drawers and tables.

To anyone thinking about taking resistant materials in LE, I would say that you should be practical, be able to plan a good design and then be able to make it.

Vince Message I have been the Design Technology technician at Christ’s Hospital since August 2016, after taking over from the long-serving technician, Ray Bassett.

Sophie Lambert

My role is extremely rewarding; working with the pupils and getting to know their projects through to completion is the best part of my job.

I have really enjoyed my year in LE resistant materials. It has given me a great opportunity to not only develop new skills but to grow in confidence in the workshop.

The first things that struck me when joining the department were the fantastic facilities and how they reinforce creativity and development for all pupils.

My favourite project was the vintage crates we created because we used 2D Design and the laser cutter to engrave a pattern on them. It was one of the first projects that allowed us to test our own ideas. I would recommend this subject to anyone who enjoys resistant materials because it is a fun subject that will provide you with essential skills.

My own experiences since leaving school have been in the building/development sector. I worked on a multitude of projects, ranging from extensions to bespoke spiral staircase design and manufacture to full renovation/conversion work.

Despite the varied and enjoyable nature of this position, I realised the design elements of my job were the most fulfilling, so returned to education and studied in the design field for a further four years.

Jordan Asare I decided to take D&T because I enjoyed it a lot in the 3rd Form. We have made a range of different objects, such as key holders, acrylic clocks and vintage crates.

With my practical skills and qualification in design, becoming a design technology technician felt like a natural step. I worked as a technician in a small school close to where I live for four years before starting at CH. I very much enjoy my role as the technician. The facilities, staff, pupils and the traditions make it a great place to work.

My favourite project this year has been the vintage crate project because we were allowed to independently design and create our desired patterns. In my opinion, taking Design and Technology is a very good idea because it grants you the freedom and availability to a wide range of tools to help bring your imagination to life.

93

DESIGN FOR international pupils at CH

STARPACK AWARDS A sponsored competition to help students understand the work that goes into packaging.

Patrick Hall-Palmer Emma Field at the Starpack Awards ceremony

September 2016 saw the introduction of a curriculum experience for overseas pupils.

British Design and Technology education is a very rare beast in international terms, with very few countries offering an 11-18 curriculum that is as ambitious in practical, engineering problem solving or creative scope.

A small number of pupils were included in the first year and I was enormously impressed with their rapid and high level skill acquisition. We developed a range of traditional workshop, graphical communication and CAD skills. The culmination of this was a personal project.

Presented here is some of the early work and the impressive personal project of Adrian StĂźrken.

In the Lent term 2017, the UF (Year 10) graphic products pupils spent half a term working on a project called Easy Pickings Creative Fruits and Vegetable Packaging, the brief being provided by Schools Starpack Awards 2017.

This is a competition sponsored by industry to help students understand the work that goes into packaging and the vital role packaging plays in the consumer market.

Initially, it involved pupils researching different types of packaging to hold fruit and vegetables and analysing the brand identity for Waitrose.

Pupils developed their ideas, based on the specification provided, through sketching and experimenting with shapes. Pupils then used CorelDraw computer design program to manipulate images and create informative and appealing graphics.

94

The brief was sponsored by Graphic Packaging International, who provided a variety of types of cartonboard for pupils to experiment with so that they gain a better understanding of properties of materials used in the packaging around us.

Pupils lasercut, folded and shaped their ideas, combining this with their visual graphics.

The competition was judged by representatives from Graphic Packaging International and all pupils that entered made it to the second round of judging. The six pupils were Pearl Birungi, Emma Field, Anna Hadfield, Hanya Jones, Isabella Perry and Sarah Schamberger. Pearl, Emma and Sarah gained highly commended awards and the group as a whole won the top prize of ÂŁ500 for the Doyle School of Design Technology at CH. All pupils who entered went to the Schools Starpack Awards ceremony on the 28 May and enjoyed a trip on the London Eye. There was very positive feedback for pupils, certificates and a trophy for those highly commended.

RESISTANT MATERIALS GCSE Design and Technology: Resistant Materials helps pupils develop the ability to design and make products with creativity and originality, using a range of materials and techniques.

machines which could be a CNC Lathe – turning a handle for a drawer or a foot for a box etc. They could also use CNC Router and the CNC Laser, which can both cut materials and etch them.

The course requires pupils to develop their knowledge of woods, metals, plastics and composite materials. Other materials may also be used and the use of new technologies is also encouraged.

We also introduce them to techniques such as laminating (gluing together layers of wood, often in a former or on a mould in a vacuum bag to create a shaped piece of wood).

Techniques may also include wood turning, vacuum forming and heat treatments such as brazing or welding.

This course has 50% controlled assessment in order to recognise the importance of practical work within this subject. The other 50% is for a written paper.

The LE year is spent as a foundation course where the pupils learn to use wood, metal and plastic in the design and manufacture of a number of different projects. These projects incorporate CAD (computer aided design) and CAM (computer aided manufacture). This means the pupils are taught how to use CAD drawing packages such as Corel Draw, 2D Design, Pro DeskTop and Auto Desk – Inventor. These packages are used to design components which are then manufactured by a CNC (computer numerically controlled)

The UF may continue with some of these projects, but half way through the term they start their GCSE couse work folder. This will start with the pupils identifying the project they want to pursue and who it will be for once completed (otherwise known as the client).

They then research their chosen topic by looking at existing projects and carrying out a questionnaire to help find what features would be best incorporated into their design.

An important part of the folder work is producing a set of specifications (what they want the product to have, to be or to do). The next stage is the ‘ideas’ section and then the

95

chosen idea is further developed and a model is produced to help get a three-dimensional feel for the shape, size and scale. New joints or special features can also be modelled to help get a better insight into the manufacturing process before the actual materials are used.

After the summer break when the pupils return as GE, they will continue with the production of their course work folder. Final working drawings are drawn up and materials are ordered. Other aspects are considered, such as health and safety, tools and materials for their practical outcome. The pupils are on the last stage when they get started in the workshops, turning their cutting list into a finished working product. All the projects on these pages are examples of completed final practical work for 2017.

The pupils learn a lot from doing the course, such as working independently, good theoretical skills and above all organisational skills which will help in many other areas of their education and life. The biggest challenges are to produce work to a standard that is capable of gaining high GCSE marks and to showcase their design and making skill and ability, and above all creativity.

OVERVIEW: University delight We are delighted that several Grecians (Year 13) Art pupils have been offered places at sought-after Art colleges including Kingston and Central Saint Martins.

Successful applicants include: Kingston University London – Scarlett Buckley, Joe Morrow and India Hogan (Foundation); Sol Deller (Degree course in Film Making) University of Exeter – Tatiana Poulton (Foundation) Central Saint Martins – Giovanna George and James Sibley (Foundation) The Slade, University College London – Joe Morrow (Fine Art)

The artists-in-residence have inspired and pushed me to approach my work in ways that I could not have done without them.

Sol Deller and India Hogan gained the coveted Distinction 1’s (which is higher than achieving an A* grade at A level) in the Cambridge Pre-U Art & Design course.

One of the highlights of the year included the Grecians' New York art trip when pupils who study Art, History of Art, Philosophy or Design Technology experienced a sensory overload of art, culture, food and sights in just six days. A full report on page 99.

On a sadder note, at the end of the summer term, the Art Department said goodbye to its three artists-in-residence: Kit Mead, Amelia Phillips and Rosanna Catterall.

Grecian (Year 13) Joe Morrow reflected: “For the past two years, I have had the enormous pleasure of working with all three artists. They have inspired and pushed me to approach my work in ways that I could not have done without them. As they go onto their different artistic and farming future, I will miss their company and tireless support greatly, and I am sure the rest of the department will miss them as well.”

Above: Artists-in-residence Kit Mead, Rosanna Caterall and Amelia Phillips

Leah Samuel’s eye-catching art

96

The striking designs of Sam Styan

INDIA HOGAN: Distinction 1

Paul Deller (Head of Art) There is a fine line when working with pupils in between how much you nurture their talents and how much you guide them into new areas, building on their existing skills and, hopefully, their understandings.

One of the Art Department’s philosophies is to follow the lead of the work presented before us, being honest about what we see and open to where it might lead us and, that way, the students find themselves in naturally exciting and unexpectedly areas of learning.

Working in this way makes for ‘honest’ art which has rich and often diverse narratives underpinning it and this, we feel, is the best foundation for young artists who are starting to find their way. Pupils that leave the CH Art Department, although refined in many ways, are essentially rough diamonds with the enthusiasm and sensibilities to start making art, in whatever form it may take.

For as long as long as I have known India, she has always had a strong personal drawing style, cultivated of her own volition, that has a mature and fully formed aesthetic. Made of fine, linear angular marks, India created edgily kitsch characters in quirkily dark narratives, filling many sketch books with her imaginings.

One could not help but be seduced and very impressed by this. Being presented with this so early in her formative education, the task was to see if there was a way of developing this further. In keeping with our beliefs about honesty towards making art, it would only be fair to say that not everything that India was challenged with pleased her and she had to be convinced on a number of occasions that she was doing the right thing.

Made of fine, linear angular marks, India created edgily kitsch characters in quirkily dark narratives.

Perseverance, encouragement and a gradual embracing of the world outside her comfort zones saw her ultimately achieve consummate success in a wide array of media including collage, clay, photography, assemblage, life drawing and animation. With each of these disciplines, she worked hard to find her own unique voice, as she also did in her extended essay.

India was also awarded the Painter-Stainers' art prize, was offered a place on the highly competitive Art Foundation at Kingston University and achieved Distinction 1 (A** A Level equivalent) in the Cambridge Pre-U Art & Design course. She has been an undoubted credit to this department, setting excellent standards of disciplined working practice with intelligence, intuition and skill.

97

SOLOMON DELLER: Distinction 1 Gerard Whiteley Sol was a pleasure to teach; quiet and not naturally verbose, he was reflective and engaged and absorbed advice in a positive manner, often with a little grin.

to quickly learn digital editing programmes Final Cut Pro and After Effects and he began transforming his collaged storyboards into sophisticated filmic outcomes.

He possesses a sensitive ability to manipulate a wide variety of material and worked well in collage, ceramics, printmaking, film and photography. He wasn't a naturally expressive artist or a confident tonal draughtsman, but recognised these flaws and worked hard over the course of the sixth form to improve these areas of his artistic arsenal.

He is interested in music and has used his own percussion and knowledge of manipulating sounds to enable his films to have a transportative and enveloping quality. This marriage of sound and image was explored in greater detail in his extended essay, which looked at the semantic divide between video art and cinema. Sol was affected by Bill Viola's work at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park; this multi-sensory experience enabled him to write with feeling and develop sophisticated visual and auditory themes into his own work.

During lessons, preps and Sunday afternoons he worked in a diligent and focused manner, and was prolific despite his other considerable sporting and musical commitments. In the holidays he would regularly spend a significant proportion of his free time drawing, filming and visiting galleries and exhibitions.

Sol always had an innate ability to take a great photograph and this skill undertook a natural progression into film during Deps. Working alongside our artists-in-residence enabled him

Sol always had an innate ability to take a great photograph and undertook a natural progression into film.

98

Sol was rewarded with the Needlemakers’ prize and has been accepted on to the film making course at Kingston School of Art having achieved a Distinction 1.

Sol has been an exemplary student who has achieved highly accomplished work through a consistently assiduous and committed work ethic.

ART TRIP: New York They were swinging from the overhead handles and the central bars of the subway carriage, performing gymnastic dance moves to the music blaring from their ‘old school’ boom box.

Dani Heath (Grecian) At the beginning of hte Christmas holiday, 55 pupils and nine pupils travelled to New York for a week.

It was a whirlwind experience and the most comprehensive introduction to New York City that the time could offer. The city, filled with historical landmarks, cultural highlights and endless art galleries, exceeded all our expectations.

New York has roughly the same population as London but only half the land area, making it a truly vibrant and overwhelming city. Culturally it is amazingly diverse; there is no definition of what a New Yorker is. It is a liberal city where there is no definition of normal. This is what makes the city - and the art - so spectacular.

On arrival, the view of the approaching skyline was like being in a film and as soon as we saw it for the first time everyone was talking about how the streets looked like a scene from Gossip Girl or Friends. With the bitter cold, the bustle and the surrounding skyscrapers, it was absolutely surreal. But it wasn’t just the buildings that were supersized. The USA is famed for its food and in true American style there was lots of absolutely everything. Most of us spent breakfast at Bread and Butter, a diner Dr Wines recommended, where you could buy sushi, macaroni cheese, pancakes, noodles and pasta altogether for breakfast and priced by its weight. We also had some fantastic evening meals, from eateries in Grand Central Stations to southern fried fare, deluxe burgers and unlimited pizza.

Like true tourists, we visited the most famous landmarks. The views from the Rockefeller and Empire State Building were incredible, where we could finally understand the sheer size of the city. A couple of the most spectacular moments came on the first night, when it snowed in Times Square as the New Yorkers were rushing around to complete their Christmas shopping. On the last night, we ice skated in Central Park on the famous Wollman rink.

But the most memorable outing for me had to be to Ground Zero, the memorial museum to the 9/11 attacks. This was a really sobering experience for all of us and it was incredible to be confronted with the patriotism that America is known for.

We visited some unbelievable art galleries.

The Museum of Modern Art was incredible, with a comprehensive collection of fine art, design and architecture and I know that many of the Grecians really enjoyed Nan Goldin’s snapshot portraits of her friends from the 1970s, set to an evocative music soundtrack.

There was so much culture that we could have easily spent an entire week in there.

But there were too many other places to see – the Guggenheim, the New Museum, the Chelsea galleries, the Natural History Museum and the newly built Whitney, where the Human Interest: Portrait exhibition was my favourite of the entire trip.

However, the New York trip’s educational value is not solely contained within galleries; the city itself demonstrates the role of art in society, it is an architectural marvel that is a constant reminder of style, fashion and street art which allows New Yorkers to express themselves on a

99

daily basis and with such a vibrant mix of cultures, the very streets become a point of creativity.

I would just like to end by telling you about a moment, on the way back from the Nets v LA Lakers basketball match, when a group of street dancers performed on our packed subway carriage. They were swinging from the overhead handles and the central bars performing gymnastic dance moves to the music blaring from their ‘old school’ boom box. They defied the limitations of the cramped space and, so unexpectedly, made what was already a remarkable day even better. Anyway, the video went viral and it got about five million views on World Star’s Instagram page. Of the thousands of comments, my favourite read: ‘Why can’t all the races get on like the kids in this video?’

And this made me realise that as a School we embrace the diverse, nonconformist ways of New York City and this was another thing that made the trip so great: the people.

Finally, I’d just like to thank Mr Deller for organising this trip, all of the teachers that accompanied us and everyone who came and made it such a fantastic experience.

Joe Morrow

Annie Yang

Eloise Fuest

Helen Hou

Oyinda Laditi

ARTIST VISIT: Russell Bamber The School was delighted to invite a former artist-in-residence back to the Art Department to exhibit his work and give a talk about his career.

Paul Deller, Head of Art, said: “Russell played an important role when he was here (1990-95) as an artist and teacher. He has always been a resourceful character and sees opportunities where others see dead ends. This is reflected in the mediums that he has adopted over the years – corrugated metal, baked bean tins, Caramac wrappers, and shells. He is an art alchemist.”

Helena Walsh

Christina Purvis

100

Edith Thompson

SCULPTURE: City Statue A sculpture of School pupils is scheduled to be installed in the City of London in the Michaelmas term.

A clay model was created at Andrew Brown’s studio in Billingshurst before being transported to the Bronze Age Foundry in Docklands to be cast in bronze.

At the start of the project, Peter Callas and Rafaela Alford (Senior Grecian and Second Monitor) were photographed as a guide for the artist, Andrew Brown, in sculpting the modern characters in the piece.

Angel Quadry

Celine Hou

Peter went to the studio to see the statue before it reaches its final resting place, near Newgate Street and Christ Church Greyfriars Garden, where the London school was located for 350 years.

This will be a permanent piece of artwork situated in one of the most important parts of the City. It will be a reminder of the education of past generations of children and CH's on-going charitable mission.

Lydia Fernandez

Cai Elias

Isabelle Gzowski

Geovanna George

Angelle Roberts

Scarlett Buckley

Molly Todd

Flora Thwaites

Elsie Todd

Mimi Galban Allwright

Elianne Adeniyi

Claire Thomson

Zoe Brown

102

PHOTOGRAPHY: Tony Ray Jones Competition

This year’s Tony Ray-Jones photography competition took inspiration from the portraiture of the photographer James Mollison.

Amber Cooper

Tatiana Poulton

James, who kindly agreed to be the guest judge, is renowned for his photobooks James & Other Apes, Where Children Sleep, Playground and The Disciples and for his work with Unicef and Benetton.

There were over 150 entries from pupils. The standard was very high across the age groups and James was particularly impressed with the diversity and depth of thought behind the entries.

James’ winners were: Elliott Stevens

Ore Olagunju

Junior: Jessica Shennowo (2nd Form) Intermediate: Hatim Aessa (GE) Senior: Megan Wong (Deputy Grecian) Best in Show: Jessie Wang (Grecian)

Sophie Ramshaw

103

Each winner was presented with two books: 500 Portraits – 25 Years of the BP Portrait Award and Where Children Sleep by James Mollison. Jessie Wang also received a Sony camera.

James’ work has been widely published throughout the world and can be seen in Colors, New York Times Magazine, Guardian Magazine, Paris Review, GQ, New York Magazine and Le Monde.

This was his second visit to CH as, earlier in the year, he photographed pupils for the first issue of Benetton’s Clothes for Humans magazine. One of his portraits of Ella, a senior pupil, was selected to feature in the magazine.

Ella was photographed wearing her Tudor uniform as an example of a modern-day version of the world’s oldest school uniform.

Joshue Fetuga-Joensuu

James Sibley

Annabella Chevenix Trench

Leah Samuel Reiss Carter

Freya O’Brien

Jessie Wang

Sam Styan

104

RUGBY: Impressive set of results Development should not only be in terms of rugby playing ability but also in terms of team work, respect, discipline, sportsmanship and enjoyment.

Ian Davies My first year as Director of Rugby was most enjoyable. It was a period of information gathering for me as I tried to ascertain the strengths of the coaching team at CH and what struck me straight away was the strong foundation that had been put in place by my predecessor, Andy Turner.

An overall win percentage of 48.3% is not pleasing to the eye but win percentages can be misleading. Personally, although it is always nice to win, I take a view on player development and look at whether a player improved over the course of the season.

Of course, this development should not only be in terms of rugby playing ability but also in terms of team work, respect, discipline, sportsmanship and, most importantly, enjoyment.

At senior level, we regularly ran three teams and fielded a ‘Nomads XV’ in the Lent term. The U16 squad struggled to field two teams each week and the U15 squad did not develop as we had

hoped as these teams are the transitional age from the juniors into the seniors. They will be my focus in the new season.

At junior level, the U14s had pockets of success and U13s had results at both ends of the spectrum. The U12s saw the A, B, and C teams evolve into Sharks, Barracudas, and Dolphins. The idea behind this was to have mixed teams (literally drawn from a hat each week) to ensure maximum participation.

From next season, the concept of not having set teams will also see the U14s and U13s adopt team names instead of the traditional A, B and C selections.

The emphasis will be on individual player development, so the team selections will be more fluid and, for the U13s, we will adopt the RFU initiative of ‘half-game’ as part of a pilot scheme.

In the VII competitions, this was a difficult season as many of the tournaments clashed with 1st XI football matches. We will look to address this so that CH maintains its strong tradition of competing at the highest level.

For the boys, this must be first season for many a year that CH did not secure a place in a tournament final. An off-field development, moving forward, is the challenge of forging greater links with the Old Blues RFC. With so many of the seniors moving to universities in London, this is a great way of keeping the boys in the game. To this end the

105

Old Blues will host a floodlit 1st XV fixture in November 2017 with discussions taking place to try and get an Old Blues league fixture at CH in 2018.

The girls’ VII made steady progress throughout the season with a great desire to improve, having lost 90% of last season’s squad.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF 1st XV From day one of pre-season, the boys all had a tremendous work ethic.

We started the season with a run of three defeats, but a turning point came with a magnificent victory over Reigate Grammar.

This was the ‘golden’ team for Reigate, so defeat in the first round of the NatWest Cup came as a massive shock for them.

From this, the boys grew and grew in confidence. In the next fixture against Caterham, CH scraped a win.

The first away trip to the City of London Freeman’s saw one of the strangest tries of the season. A penalty kick smashed against the crossbar and - as everyone stood watching Lennox Anyanwu followed up to score.

For the next round of the NatWest, we ventured to Salesian School near Cobham where we came away comfortable winners.

From there, we moved on to a local derby with Worthing Sixth Form College. With a strong rugby academy supported by Worthing RFC, this was always going to be tough.

The match was refereed by the RFU National Referee Manager, Steve Leyshon, to whom the boys responded magnificently.

In terms of performance, this was right up there with the best of the season. Even against big forwards, the CH boys dominated with Oliver Ball, skipper Max Stevenson, Sam Winsbury and Peter Callas all performing well.

The boys were now in a rich vein of form with Worth, Tiffin, Steyning Grammar and Churcher’s College put to the sword.

Henry Watts was back after picking up a pre-season injury and this strengthened the tactical play of the back line.

In the last 16 of the NatWest - something the School had not achieved for several seasons we travelled to Salisbury to play Bishop Wordsworth’s School, with three England age-group internationals in their ranks.

They were a very good outfit and blew us away in the first half. But to their credit, the boys fought back to within one score, before the home side scored right at the end.

A just result, but a creditable performance from the boys and the travelling CH supporters were very proud that day.

To put the match into context, Bishop Wordsworth’s won both their quarter-final and semi-final matches by greater margins.

The season ended with a fantastic game at Cranleigh School, where we played their 2nd XV (supplemented by several 1st XV players) and, in a match of brilliant attack and bone crunching defence, we came off the field as victors, with Lennox Anyanwu sealing the win with a brilliant individual score.

Special mention to Will Freeman, who dislocated his shoulder with a thunderous covering tackle on a flying winger.

Above: 1st XV; Below: Development XV

CH had another international cap to add to the honours board when Lennox Anyanwu was selected for England U16s against Wales at Bridgewater. This is a great reward for him for all his extra training that he puts in. To add to the pleasure, he opened the scoring in an English victory.

Player of the Year: Oliver Ball Players’ Player of the Year: Hareef Asunaramu Most Improved: Will Freeman

A SQUAD EFFORT Development XV As is the case with all successful teams, it is important that there is strong squad to drive each other forward.

This was certainly the case this season with 34 players used in the 1st XV matches. A few Development XV players started here then were promoted.

Shaun Mason performed his covert recruitment missions every week, so there was never any danger of matches being cancelled due to a lack of players!

Although the Development XV lost seven of its ten matches, four of these losses were by fewer than five points. Simon Salvi lead the side admirably and there were notable victories over Churcher’s College and Worth.

The victory against Worth is even more pleasing when seen in the context of being played on the Lord Mayor’s Show day so both the 1st and Development XVs were depleted.

Player of the Year: Remus Goldsmith Most Improved: Harry Omosele

Special mention to Will Freeman, who dislocated his shoulder with a thunderous covering tackle.

STATISTICALLY SUCCESSFUL Wanderers XV Statistically, the Wanderers were the most successful team this season. They only played four matches and had to cancel two fixtures due to a lack of numbers.

The Wanderers often suffered due to the domino effect of the 1st XV requiring to pull up players from the Development XV. The most pleasing win was against Worthing College B, not only in terms of result but also the performance was superb.

For the new season, fixtures have been selected when players should be available.

Player of the Year: Harry Stannard Most improved: Matthew Ward-Perkins Nomads XV A return of Lent term rugby this season, with half a dozen matches for boys not selected for

106

the senior football squads.

With coaches Jon Perriss and Andy Turner making sure matches were played in true ‘Corinthian spirit’ there were some fantastic contests and tries scored. Averaging 37 points a match, the highlight was a fixture against Australian school Trinity Grammar (Melbourne).

Although registering their only defeat of the season, it was great for the CH boys to play against opposition from overseas.

Player of the Year: Max Stevenson

A TOUGH YEAR 16 A This was always going to be a tough season for the U16s as their two stand out players (Matthew Attalah and Lennox Anyanwu) would be playing for the 1st XV.

However, the boys worked hard, with Dayle Kirby and Andy Hodge making sure that individual player development was ongoing.

Captain Logan Vickers was at the heart of everything good about the performances.

There were several one-sided defeats and the final match of the season against Cranleigh School was a heavy defeat. But setting aside the score, this was an impressive performance to end the season.

During the first half, CH pressed the visitors’ line but failed to convert territory into points.

Superior handing and support play allowed Cranleigh to pull away in the second half but Messrs Kirby and Hodge were full of admiration for CH who never stopped trying to do positive things with ball in hand.

Player of the Year: Eugene Ting Most Improved: Corry Gowans

A DISJOINTED SEASON 16 B Starting the season with a squad very low in number and including new players to the game, credit must be given to David Griffiths for fulfilling the fixture list and being one of two teams to beat Eastbourne College.

Although the match versus Churcher’s College resulted in defeat, it was the best performance of the season. The team played composed rugby and looked a tight unit. Half backs Tom Johnson and Ben Kinnear had their best game linking backs and forwards. Jonathan Feybunmi caused Churcher’s problems with his broken field running and centres Emmanuel Berhane and Ronnie D’Apollo-Lynch brought a physical edge in attack and defence.

Player of the year: Tom Gardner Most improved: Ulysses Vesser

GOOD FOUNDATIONS 15 A A 53% win ratio does not truly illustrate the improvement this squad made.

The new coach, Mr Dewey, took a few sessions to assess the strengths of the players and they improved week on week.

Testament to this were the two performances against Eastbourne College. In week three of the season, CH was handed a severe lesson with Eastbourne clinical and physical in every aspect. A month later, CH travelled to Eastbourne for round two of the NatWest Cup. Eastbourne started well and led 0-19 at half time. But rousing words from both players and coach meant CH came flying out of the blocks in the second period. The defence ignited the

fight back, with Sefa Asamani and James North putting in a couple of big hits that squashed the home team’s confidence.

The turnaround was immense and CH was suddenly attacking with vigour and, with two minutes left, were two points ahead.

Unfortunately, the fairy tale ending was not to be. Eastbourne hammered away at the line and their powerful forwards sneaked over for the winning score.

A sad end to a classic game but one that CH could look back on with tremendous pride.

The final match was against Cranleigh and although the final score was a fair reflection of Cranleigh’s dominance, it in no way rewarded the huge effort from every player that wore the CH shirt.

Unfortunately, Mr Dewey re-located to County Durham in the off-season but he sent this note: “CH can look back with huge pride and will undoubtedly achieve the future success they richly deserve, Congratulations to all, it has been a privilege to have been, an albeit brief, part of an incredible school.”

In March, Sam Odu was selected for the England U15 training squad.

Player of the Year: Connor Stewart Most Improved: Mustfa Saliho

GREAT DEVELOPMENT 15 B With novice coach Mr Albutt guiding the squad, it was a tremendous result to achieve a winning record overall.

During the season, they secured wins against all the Sussex schools they played, apart from Steyning Grammar who fielded their ‘A’ team.

They worked hard throughout the season and notable wins came against Caterham and Reigate Grammar. With consistent performances, a few of the boys moved up to the ‘A’ squad, so it was a squad effort to secure all these wins.

Player of the Year: Charlie Dann Most Improved: William Bladon

A SUPPORTING ROLE 15 C Although the squad only played four matches, the boys were fully committed with a few playing up in the ‘B’ squad during the season.

The best performance came in defeat when we lost to a strong Eastbourne College team.

CH showed great commitment in defence and no small amount of skill in attack. The score was not a true reflection of the match (20-33).

Throughout the season these boys were a credit to CH and it should be remembered three of the boys had never played rugby before this season.

Player of the Year: Lorenz Wild Most Improved: Valer Lucca

107

Above: U16 A (left) and U15 A (right)

U16 B

STATISTICS NOT A TRUE REFECTION 14 A Statistically a 50% win/loss record but this was not the true picture of the season. The team had some fantastic passages of play and the goal for next season will be to convert these passages into full matches of quality rugby.

The squad has an abundance of talent but a loss in concentration can see performance levels dip.

Notable high scoring victories over Reigate Grammar, Worth School and City of London Freemen’s demonstrated the ability of the team and to score on average almost 30 points a match displays an excellent attacking brand of rugby. The one blip was the disappointing defeat to Sackville in the first round of the County Cup. The team was ably led by Guy Schlaefli and Louis Cooper, and included Travis Suckling, Tom Goldman and Guy Schlaefli who continue to be members of the Harlequins Academy Developing Player Programme.

Player of the Year: Guy Schlaefli Most Improved: Jonathan Effiong

A SOLID EFFORT 14 B A very good season was slightly tarnished with three defeats in the final three matches.

From the first nine matches the team had lost four matches but two of these were against ‘A’ teams. Captain Joseph Willis-Falkiner led from

U15 B

Without doubt the biggest impression was made by captain Jin Samson. This young man is a true leader. the front and this often inspired his players to dig deep to secure the wins.

The team scored some superb team tries with the best being Rex Mayo’s effort against City of London Freemen’s.

Player of the Year: Nick Vojdani Most Improved: Boris Wilcox

IMPORTANT LESSONS 14 C Boris Wilcox showed great commitment throughout the year and he was ably supported by Satya Saha and Louie Tremarco, who put in some amazing tackles.

It was the ball in hand that often let the opposition off the hook with basic errors meaning teamwork often went unrewarded.

Player of the Year: Cameron Mitchell Most Improved: Theo Burto

108

U15 C

ATTACKING FLAIR 13 A Without doubt the biggest impression this season was made by captain Jin Samson. This young man is a true leader in every way, whether he is bashing his way through another defensive wall or making his Churchillian half time speeches. For a player so young, he reads the game very well and is fearless on all fronts. Shine on the team performances is provided by Bunkuiyi Olagunju and Sam Gadd who are both elusive runners.

The highlight of season was the dismantling of Hurstpierpoint College. This game saw us down 5-10 at half time but a few tactical changes and a rousing speech from Samson saw an amazing turn around. Joel Oyeusi had a storming second half at Number 8 and Lucca Green and Bunkuiyi tore the Hurst defence apart, feeding Bolu Osundina to score a fantastic hat-trick.

Player of the Year: Jin Samson Most Improved: Luke Hodgen

There was not a traditional hierarchy of A, B and C but instead Sharks, Dolphins and Barracudas in the Under 12s.

GREAT FINISH TO SEASON 13 B The boys showed spirit throughout the year and it was fantastic to end the season with a big win against Gildredge House.

In this match, we played a very expansive game in very tough conditions. The offloading was outstanding with multiple players working hard to get into support.

Player of the Year: Alex Yang Most Improved: Sonny Gasson

LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT 12s This season a new concept was introduced where the teams were randomly drawn so there was not a traditional hierarchy of A, B and C but instead Sharks, Dolphins and Barracudas.

The theory behind this is to keep as many boys as possible interested in rugby so that the boys do not get ‘turned off’ before they really give the sport a chance.

Reflecting on the season the idea seemed to work well with a visible improvement in the middle band of players. The boys finished sixth in the Sussex Schools competition and that is a great achievement considering each of the three CH teams played two matches each to further randomize the team selections.

Even though the teams were mixed, one player stood out head and shoulders above everyone else. David Asamani scored an

incredible 43 tries during the season and it will be very interesting to monitor his progress over the coming years.

Players of the Year: David Asamani, Marcus Mebenga-Taylor Odafe Abadioru

U14 A

SEVENS RUGBY: SENIORS REACH FINAL Senior VII The only tournament the Seniors could enter this season was the National 7s at Rosslyn Park. The boys played very well to secure three wins, losing in the final pool match to eventual winners St John’s School, Leatherhead.

Sam Winsbury, Hareef Asunaramu and Lennox Anyanwu were outstanding with each putting in match winning performances against Yarn School, Bedford Modern and Clayesmore respectively. The defeat against a well-drilled St John’s proved what playing in other tournaments would have enabled to CH to achieve.

U14 B

STRONG FOUNDATIONS Girls’ VII This was a rebuilding season for the Girls’ VII as six of last season’s squad left CH in 2016.

Eleanor Aylwin captained the team very well throughout the season and, with 90% of the girls returning to team for 2017-18, there have been very strong foundations put in place.

The girls worked hard throughout the year and their fixture programme allowed 24 girls to represent the School. The season started with a tournament win at Pangbourne College.

With two squads into the event no other school could cope with the pace and organisation of the CH girls.

To supplement the tournaments, a couple of triangular fixtures were organised. CH hosted the first with Uckfield and Worthing visiting.

Watched by a good crowd, Uckfield demonstrated a strong game plan and put CH to the sword. Next came the prestigious Reigate Grammar School tournament and CH were caught cold in their first match, which meant they would miss out on qualification for the cup. This fired the determination of the girls who went hard to secure the Plate trophy.

In the lead up to the season’s culmination, the girls played another triangular.

U14 C

U13 A

U13 B

109

U12 Dolphins

U12 Barracudas

Fourteen minutes of rugby saw 76 points scored

by CH, which is an incredible achievement.

U12 Sharks

Frustrating, but with so many girls returning to play next season, the planning is already underway to achieve greater success.

Player of the Year: Eleanor Aylwin

They performed magnificently to beat the same Uckfield team that had heavily beaten them six weeks earlier. Verity Butt was the stand-out player and gave a faultless kicking display.

On 7 March, CH girls' rugby VIIs squad was treated to an incredible training session by GB’s Rio Olympics rugby star, Amy WilsonHardy.

Ian Davies, CH’s Director of Rugby said: “This was an excellent experience for the girls. Amy concentrated on defence, highlighting the importance of body position in the tackle and why it is such a vital aspect of the modern game.”

This was not Amy’s first link with CH pupils as she has played at CH as a county hockey and netball player and both she and England rugby player, Old Blue Joe Launchbury, once played for Worthing RFC.

At the National 7s, the girls did very well but left themselves too much to do in the final pool match. After easing into the tournament with a comfortable win against Oundle School, CH came unstuck against Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf.

Maybe it was the lack of tournament experience or just a flat performance, but the Welsh girls seemed a yard faster in action and in deed. This meant the final match was going to be a case of CH against the score board.

To qualify as one of the best runners up, the girls needed to win by a huge margin to progress. Just 14 minutes of rugby saw 76 points scored by CH, which is an incredible achievement.

The pace, handling and running on display were fantastic. Unfortunately, this impressive scoreline was not enough and the girls missed out by eight points.

NATURAL ATHLETICISM U15 VII Playing in the County 7s at CH, a lack of training was evident in the tournament, with the natural athleticism of the players rather than 7s acumen securing the wins.

Unfortunately, as soon as we played against an organised team, in this case Eastbourne College, we came unstuck and our day ended.

Sefa Asamani and Sam Odu were very good.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES U14 VII A season of promise petered out in a damp squib at the Nationals.

At the Surrey School 7s, an opening draw against Dulwich College gave the boys a tremendous boost and this was evident as they steamrolled the other schools in the group. Reigate Grammar, Graveney School and Howard of Effingham could not stop Louis Cooper, Travis Suckling and Tom Coleman scoring at will.

Unfortunately, Dulwich achieved this with a greater points differential, meaning CH missed out on the qualification for the cup competition and entered the Plate.

A tough quarter-final draw saw the CH boys play RGS Guildford. Streamed live online, the play fluctuated back and forth but CH held on with Jonah Thornley and Tom Goldman outstanding.

Regrettably, the match had taken a lot out of the energy reserves and the unbeaten run came to an end with Tiffin comprehensively winning the semi-final.

At the Sussex 7s, the boys gave Brighton College too much respect and their rivals ruthlessly exploited the tiring defence.

Into another Plate competition and yet another semi-final defeat which should have been a victory. The squad was lacklustre

The Girls VIIs side impressed at the Nationals

Right: GB’s Rio Olympics

110

rugby star, Amy Wilson-Hardy

going into the match and Beacon used their greater physicality to control the game.

The performances at the National 7s were particularly disappointing with four defeats from four and only against the King’s School, Worcester did the players do themselves credit. This was an unsatisfactory end to a season that could have achieved so much more. Hopefully a more structured training programme next year will see the boys play to their full potential.

PROMISING SQUAD U13 VII The opening tournament of the year was the County 7s held at CH. The boys took a little time to get into their strides but produced some good rugby and lost to the eventual winners (Rydon) by just one score. Bunkuiyi Olagunju and Jin Samson were outstanding.

The Surrey County 7s are always competitive and the boys found it particularly tough, losing out to Wimbledon College, Trinity School Croydon, Ashcombe School and Cedars, securing only the one win in the group stages against Riddlesdown Collegiate.

With the RFU age-grade rules meaning there are no winners/losers, the boys entered the Bowl competition and did extremely well considering the squad was down to a bare seven, as injuries had taken their toll.

The boys secured four good wins, which was a very positive end to the season. Bunkuiyi was again outstanding with Lucca Green and Chi Udokporo putting in some strong defensive performances so hopefully this group can stick together and progress next year.

BADMINTON: Season review Simon Young It has been an impressive season for the senior badminton squad with wins against Epsom College, Bedes, Charterhouse, Cranleigh and Burgess Hill.

CH is now able to field two competitive mixed senior squads and an all-female squad, with the girls emphatically beating Burgess Hill 8-0 in the Michaelmas term.

There were several new pairings this year with the first pair of Osman Kwok and Charlene Chow establishing themselves as the ones to beat. Charlene is a new Deputy Grecian (Year 12) and to watch her and Osman on court together is nothing short of a masterclass in technical play. They only dropped one game all season and that was against the U16 England number two from Tiffin.

Halfway during the year we welcomed Christopher Hanson-Kahn to the coaching team and the pupils have benefited greatly

from his experience and guidance.

Success on the court this year has often come down to the depth of talent within the squad, but next season will be challenging with Sirinda Choi, Amber Cooper, Henry Gregson, Chelsea Lam, Lucas Ng, Lucent Ting and Rashaine Weeks having departed for university.

I would like to thank the Grecians for all of their support over the years, but in particular squad captain, Sirinda Choi and match secretary, Chelsea Lam.

To watch Charlene and Osman on court together is nothing short of a masterclass in technical play.’

BASKETBALL: B team formed Alex Henocq It was a good season with a solid A team and, due to the encouraging number of participants, enough people to have a B team.

The B team played only one match, against Glyn’s, with many players new to the game performing very well under pressure, including Aaron Apeanyo-Djan, Fedor Sturken, Jonathan Meredith and Emmanuel Onyanjo. Alex Seizani, the only girl in the team, caught the eye as she scored the first points of the game on her debut. Though the B team fell behind against a tough side, they continued to work hard with good support from A team players Akeem Akinniyi (10 points) and William Jibogu (14 points) saw CH win 32-23.

The A team endured a tough season with the loss of key players. Nine games were played with the A team winning four, including their first game of the season.

Although five games were lost, every one of those was fought hard, with three of the defeats being by 10 points or fewer.

111

Despite it being the toughest game of the season, CH fought hard against Whitgift, a school ranked top in its league. Despite eventually losing the game 57-48, the team played their best, with the scores being level for the majority of the game.

Outstanding performances came from Akeem Akinniyi and Captain Lucas Ng, who combined to scored 30 out of the team’s total of 48 points.

In other matches, Akeem and Hugh Macdonald-Parry were major contributors to the defensive success of the team, with Marcus Sum, Osman Kwok, Lucas and William Jibogu impressing on the offensive side.

HOCKEY: New state-of-the-art pitch

Gold medal winning England hockey goalkeeper opened the new pitch at CH

Hockey is in a bright place at CH, with the foundations in place for the sport to take off.

Richard Barlow This year, the programme for hockey has been enhanced significantly from a facility and delivery perspective.

The second pitch, a state of the art 'tigerturf' surface, was made available from October half term and was officially opened in December

by Rio 2016 gold medallist and Great Britain's penalty shuffle goalkeeping hero Maddie Hinch. This was a memorable afternoon, with Maddie running a goalkeeping clinic for CH hockey players.

From a delivery perspective, the aim looking ahead for Michaelmas 2017 and beyond is that pupils shall have two training sessions a week with a clear focus being on fun, engagement and appropriate development. There should be one formal match day on Wednesday/ Saturday, with tournaments added to the programme. Having two surfaces now allows us to operate to this schedule.

In terms of pupil engagement over the past academic year, it has been fantastic to see so many involved along with many boys and girls picking up a stick for the first time.

New initiatives in the programme have included the Hockey Development Group, set up in the Michaelmas term, focusing on

talent development. Selected pupils from all year groups were invited to join additional coaching on a Friday evening.

For Michaelmas 2017, the advent of specialist goalkeeping sessions will also be a part of the regular programme.

All pupils now have the opportunity to access hockey sessions, which enables greater continuity in terms of development.

An agreement with Horsham Hockey Club has also been reached, creating opportunities for CH pupils to get club hockey training in the evenings with sessions to be held at CH and potential for matches at the weekend.

The hockey programme at CH encompasses all abilities and gives pupils of both genders the opportunity to engage in the sport from a participation to a performance level.

The girls’ house competition is a perfect example of these different ability levels coming together and it proved an ultra competitive affair played in great spirits.

The winners were as follows: Senior Hockey Block Cup Ties - Coleridge Intermediate Hockey Block Cup Ties Barnes Junior Hockey Block Cup Ties - Leigh Hunt

112

Moving forward, the house competitions will be played in a new format using a different scoring system, ensuring that safety and fairness is paramount.

On the performance side, the following pupils must be congratulated for their involvement within England Hockey's Performance Pathway throughout the year: Sussex U15 Girls JAC (Junior Academy Centre): Emma Hitchcock, Daisy O'Callaghan Sussex U15 Boys JAC: Toby EsslemontEdwards, Solly Woodall Sussex U17 Girls JAC: Charlie O'Callaghan, Lottie Woodall Sussex U17 Boys JAC: Carl Koester England Hockey Performance Centre U15 Boys: Solly Woodall England Hockey Performance Centre U17 Girls: Lottie Woodall Hockey is in a bright place at CH, with the foundations in place for the sport to take off. I wish all leaving pupils the best of luck in life outside of CH and hope that you continue to be involved in the sport, be it in a playing, officiating or administrative capacity.

Future plans include creating Old Blues hockey events, so I look forward to being in touch and welcoming many of you back to CH in the coming years.

1st XI Coaches: Richard Barlow and Daniel Farnfield Captain: Heather Goldring Vice Captain: Sophie Ramshaw Purely from a results perspective, the girls acknowledged that their season had been disappointing, with only one win from eight regular fixtures. However, this did not reflect their spirit or determination in the slightest.

With only three Grecians in the side, the primary focus of the season was placed on individual skill and technical development, with clear progress being made.

The departing Grecians: Heather Goldring (Captain), Sophie Ramshaw (Vice-Captain) and Kitty Mason-Graves commented on how much promise they believed the side has for next season and the coming years.

Notable games included Brighton College and Seaford College. Against Brighton College, CH lost 3-1 but were unfortunate on several occasions and narrowly missed with a last minute Lottie Woodall penalty corner.

Against Seaford College,we dominated possession with Heather Goldring making many solo actions, but didn’t take our chances, resulting in a 1-0 loss.

In the tournament, CH were unfortunately eliminated in the group stage with close games against Worth, Hurstpierpoint and Bedes, along with a scrappy 3-0 loss to Brighton College. Jayde Rose showed her leadership qualities, impressing in defence.

Player of the season was awarded to Charlie O'Callaghan who controlled the midfield and was able to dictate the tempo of many games.

The most improved player award went to Katja Longbon, who joined CH as a new Dep and quickly became a leader.

Many of the 1st XI squad have continued to train in both the Lent and Summer terms, with focus on game phase management and decision making in order to seize upon the chances created in preparation for the Michaelmas term 2017.

Colours: Heather Goldring Charlie O'Callaghan Lottie Woodall Certificate of Endeavour: Sophie Ramshaw

2nd XI

1st XI

Verity Butt (Dep BaB) 2nd XI Coaches: Susan Heslop and Mrs Hazel Rowland-Jones A good number of the squad from the previous year had remained and they were ably joined by new members. Together, the 2nd XI squad gelled quickly and formed a strong squad bond.

They played eleven games and scored a total of 15 goals. Mercedes Scantlebury led the team with great passion. Leah Samuel scored the most goals with four across three matches.

Special thanks must go to Happy Twakira and Lydia Thornhill for their effortless skill in goal this season. Lydia came up from the U16s, bringing an exceptional level of play.

Aisha Sesay often outshone the rest with her enthusiasm, ability to control the defense circle and timely interceptions.

She received player of the match five times out of the 11 matches, closely followed by Ebony Appiah-Fontura with four mentions. Aisha, as a defender, scored a goal against Churcher’s; this truly was the champagne moment of the season.

It will be sad to see the Grecians go as their

113

U 16 A

efforts have gone a long way to our success, but on the flip side current Deputy Grecians have brought many promising skills to the playing field.

A big thank you to Mrs Heslop and Mrs R-J for making it such a fun and enjoyable season.

Peter Bromfield U16 A Coach: Peter Bromfield The team was involved in some very tight fixtures with many of the games won or lost by a single goal.

It was great to see the players’ determination and desire to achieve and to improve. This really paid off towards the end of the season.

The first part of the season was frustrating, with many 1-0 losses. The girls struggled to score and their first goal was by Angelina Green from a penalty corner in the county tournament at Eastbourne College, where the girls represented CH with pride.

The girls were led fantastically by Jordanna Joseph, who along with Angelina Green and Martha Goldring represented the 1st XI on numerous occasions.

One of the best games was against City of London Freemen’s 2nd XI. If they were to have played this game at the start of the season,

Above: U15 A (left) and U14 A (right)

U15 B

they would have certainly lost. The girls played brilliantly as a team and showed how much they had improved.

The game finished 1-1 with Monica Okello scoring our goal in a keenly contested game.

Player of the season went to Angelina Green and Monica Okello received the most improved player award. All of the girls deserve a lot of credit though. Thank you girls, you were great fun to coach.

Angelle Roberts (captain) U16 B Coach: Jon Perriss The B team won six of its nine matches, with 34 goals scored and only 16 conceded. The top goal scorers were Angelle Roberts (9) and Flora Thwaites (7) with special mentions to Zoë Brown and Yara Lehmann.

Lydia Thornhill, goalkeeper, played excellently and she received the well-deserved player of the season award. Naomi Hayden received the most improved award, having advanced her defending skills significantly .

The team worked very hard in training and in matches, with the team spirit constantly high and our 8-0 and 7-1 victories are achievements to be proud of.

The girls made a great team and worked together well, with the attacking, midfield and defending elements all having improved significantly over the course of the season.

U14 B

Lydia is an outstanding goalkeeper who has a bright future in the game.

Coach’s view: The team had a wonderful season, both in terms of results and enjoyment. The one thing that stands out was the fantastic support that the girls gave each other; they worked hard in training and played for each other in matches.

There were some tough games but the spirit was undimmed and they kept giving their all.

Lydia is an outstanding goalkeeper who has a bright future in the game and Naomi, along with many others, improved so much over the term. I hope all the team will continue with their hockey in the future.

U13 B

individual. This group represented themselves and their School proudly.

The reality was that our skill level did not match up to that of many of the schools played. As they move into the U16s, this team faces the challenge of developing skill levels to match the team spirit already present.

Highlights of the season include excellent 2-0 wins over Churcher’s and Lancing. Both games could easily have been lost but our determination won through. In addition, we can be pleased that we held a good Lord Wandsworth side to a draw.

In the final game of the season against CLFS , we played our best passing hockey.

Daisy O’Callaghan captained the side from the front and deserved to be recognised as player of the season. It was great to see players improving; Charlotte Winship and Holly Maclean moved into the A team and showed that they belong there. A special mention should go to Martha Sharp in goal, who along with Emma Hitchcock (centre back) defended valiantly to the last.

Claire Page

Digby Don

U15 B Coach: Claire Page

U15 A Coach: Digby Don It was a great pleasure working with this dynamic, charismatic group of players. Every training session and game was played in the right spirit; the team always came before the

114

It has been a mixed season for the team. They have worked well as a unit and are developing well into confident hockey players.

Varied is the best word to describe the season; the team have had some good wins but have also lost a few. The girls have worked hard on

their individual skills as well as hitting the ball with power and learning how to play a strong and powerful pass.

Caitlin Wong has been solid at the back, making some great saves and growing in confidence as the term progressed. In defence, the girls have worked hard to improve their tackling. Amy Bloomfield-Proud has been a strong captain and showed great individual skill as she linked the defence and attack. The girls up front have worked hard on striking the ball as soon as they are in the ‘D’.

I would like to mention two girls who have joined the squad this term and have shown great promise, considering they have not played before. Isabella Perry has been strong in defence and Elise Farquhar has been a solid and determined member of the team.

The girls have been a pleasure to coach this season, showing great potential across all aspects of the game.

Laura Durkan

U13 A

U14 A Coach: Laura Durkan The step up to U14 hockey can at times be a challenge for the girls, transferring their skills developed in 7-a-side to 11-a-side games on a full size pitch. The girls stepped up to this challenge and impressed.

An impressive start against Epsom, Churcher’s and Lancing highlighted what the squad was capable of and they headed to the U14 tournament full of confidence.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw in the first game, the girls showed true character to come back and win their remaining matches, taking them to the next stage. The girls were outstanding and held Eastbourne to the last minute of the game, where sadly luck wasn’t quite on our side. The girls gained glowing reviews from other schools and umpires.

The girls were fantastic throughout the whole season, learning from both wins and losses.

Aiysha Alli and Charlotte Ogden-Meade captained the side and showed commitment, giving nothing less than 100%. Other noteworthy performances were from Liza Thwaites and AJ Brako in goal.

Donna Petford U14 B Coaches: Donna Petford and Abbey Henry The U14 B team had a very successful season with some standout individual efforts.

The match statistics (played 10, won 8, drawn 1, lost 1) underline the determination and team spirit the girls displayed. Every week the girls were keen to play and this led to strength across the field, particularly in defence with strong leadership from player of the season Esther Akinlosoto and our most improved player, goalkeeper Jamira Nelson-Okrafor.

The success of the team also lies with the goal scoring ability of Jemima Nicklin who was the

U13 C

U 13 D

highest goal scorer across all of the age groups, with Ava Zuniga also capitalising on opportunities in the D. It has been a very exciting season for the girls and the team of coaches working with the U14’s and we wish them every success for next season.

team play and set pieces. Hannah Chujor has had an excellent season in goal, whilst strong outfield play from Alex Anyanwu in midfield enabled Lily Lane and Ellie Moorcroft to score most of the goals.

Player of the season was Grace Lane for her strong midfield play and most improved player was Teni Ijaluwoye, who grew in confidence to control the defence by the end of the season.

Caroline Hitchcock U13s Coaches: Tom White, Leanne Russell, Jacy Marks and Caroline Hitchcock The U13 girls have had a mixed season. 37 girls represented the School across the four teams and the coaches have been impressed with the level of effort and determination shown both in training and matches.

It is a testament to the girls that when we visit other schools, they comment on the excellent way in which the girls conduct themselves both on and off of the pitch. All of the coaches have enjoyed working with this group of players and seeing their development as the season progressed.

The U13 As have had some tough games this season. Despite only winning two out of their nine games, the girls developed some good

115

The U13 Bs had an equally tough season.

Despite winning only one of their nine games, their team spirit was never dented.

Demi Ayanbadejo did an excellent job in goal, conceding few goals and co-ordinating her defence. Isabel Foster and Tunmise Abbas were key in the midfield and Tabitha Nicklin was the top goal scorer.

Player of the season was Chara Banwell for her consistently strong defensive play and most improved player was Isabelle Humphreys, who gained in confidence moving up from the D team to challenging for a place in the A team by the end of the season.

The U13 C team played six matches of sevena-side hockey, facing some tough opposition. The season saw them develop their skills greatly, winning half of their matches. Robyn Spillane was awarded player of the season for her consistently strong performance in defence with Daisy HolroydSmith the most improved player.

U12 A

Boys’ Hockey Team

The U13 D team had a very successful season, winning three of the four matches played.

They became well established as a team with Moyin Sinaatanda’s goal scoring contributing to their success. Mia Gillard’s confident goal keeping ensured few goals were conceded.

Moyin was awarded player of the season and Georgina Catt was the most improved player.

Richard Barlow U12s Coaches: Richard Barlow, Tom White, Susan Heslop, Daniel Farnfield, Donna Petford With the vast majority starting as beginners, across two terms (Michaelmas and Lent) the U12s have developed considerably as hockey players during their sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

During the Michaelmas term, the focus was on skill acquisition and familiarisation with the game, with this continuing alongside greater gameplay scenarios in the Lent term, with fixtures also being played.

Only three fixtures were played in an A and B seven-a-side format. A total of 40 girls had the opportunity to play. After these formal fixtures against other schools, the girls are very much looking forward to playing three days of hockey during the Michaelmas term 2017.

Noteworthy performers across the two terms were Ella Murton, who showed a good understanding of gameplay positioning and Esme Somerside-Gregory, who displayed excellent stick skills.

Goalkeepers to keep an eye on are Demi Shonubi, Fikayomi Obanubi and Cora Bretz.

U12 B

Nikita Kunzli made a number of brilliant saves, resulting in only one goal being conceded all day.

Clemens Vogt (Captain) Boys’ Hockey Coaches: Richard Barlow and Peter Bromfield Captain: Clemens Vogt Vice-Captain: Carl Koester Colours Carl Koester Nikita Kunzli Clemens Vogt Certificate of Endeavour Peter Callas, Tom Carter, Sammy France, Emmanuel Onyango, Fedor Sturken, Solly Woodall, Florian Yeates It has been a successful season for boys’ hockey at Christ's Hospital, with the creation of a new development team in addition to the traditional 1st XI. The 1st XI won two of their fixtures, drew two and lost two, with early fixtures in January being lost to the weather.

The development team grew together very quickly, with the team having a wide ability and

116

age range from LE to GE. The team won both of its fixtures, scoring nine goals and not conceding.

One of the most notable performances was the goalkeeping of Nikita Kunzli at the Lord Wandsworth Super 7's Tournament. He made a number of brilliant saves, resulting in only one goal being conceded all day. The team lost only one of its matches in the tournament and held the eventual winners to a draw in the pool stage.

A special mention must also go to Keenan Sayers, who picked up a hockey stick for the first time this year and due to his drive and determination was deservedly awarded the most improved player.

Furthermore, Tom Carter finished as top goal scorer with nine goals and Carl Koester was awarded player of the season.

1st VII

2nd VII

NETBALL: Abundance of enthusiasm The CH teams have played some impressive netball with a total of 71 matches won and 2329 goals scored.

It has been pleasing to see pupils of all abilities asking to attend additional training sessions and coaches giving time to accommodate this. Several pupils are looking to continually improve their performance and a core group of pupils are now playing club level netball.

This year saw a group of U14 and U15 pupils travel to Manchester for training and matches.

Each training session was provided by Manchester Thunder squad player Ellie Smith, who provided intense and fun activities. The girls quickly realised that the fitness demand is a key factor for any netball player.

Each session enabled the girls to improve movement skills, attacking principles and practice and array of game scenarios. The training sessions also introduced pupils to newer variations such as street netball and walking netball.

The girls were enthusiastic throughout and even though their matches were cancelled, their spirits weren't dampened, especially because they were able to watch a premier league one match between Turnford and Tameside.

One pupil said: “The training was eye opening and extreme, but it was fun. Other than playing netball, we

House Cup Ties were as exciting as ever, with matches ferociously competitive. got the chance to do some trampolining at Air Hop, shopping at Trafford centre and bowling.

On the last day, we watched a premier league one match which was interesting. We learnt new things from the training and overall it was a memorable experience.�

A few key tournaments have taken place at CH including the Year 7 Sussex Area Netball Tournament and the Year 6 Prep Schools Tournament where over 100 pupils competed against a range of schools from the South East region, many of whom they would meet again at the IAPs competition.

House Cup Ties were as exciting as ever, with matches ferociously competitive.

At the senior level, the standard of play was exceptionally high and Coleridge B took 1st place by just two points. In the intermediate and junior competitions, Leigh Hunt A comfortably won both contests.

3rd VII

117

Hannah Nwandu Senior Netball The popularity of netball rocketed this year for the senior squad with an abundance of enthusiastic pupils.

The coaches worked with four teams and the improvement of all teams has been particularly encouraging alongside their commitment and drive to succeed.

Highlights this term include fantastic wins against Eastbourne, Burgess Hill, Churcher’s, Hurstpierpoint, Sutton Valence and Lancing.

Along with excellent performances at various tournaments, another key moment has to be the 1st and 2nd VII win against Fettes College, touring from Edinburgh.

A big thank you has to be given to Mrs Hall who brings fantastic strategies to weekly training sessions and Hazel Rowland Jones for

4th VII

U16 A

U15 A

her hard work and continued commitment to netball and pupils.

Thanks must also go to the whole senior squad for setting a fantastic example to the younger year. Although it has been difficult at times, it has been their energy, hard work and passion that has made it another successful year of netball.

All of the coaching staff wish the Grecians who left this year all the best and hope they continue to play netball in some capacity.

Ebony Appiah-Fontura (Captain)

U16 B

Sophie Ramshaw (Captain) 1st VII The 1st VII have had a challenging yet rewarding year due to the dedication of pupils and coaches. From the 12 matches played, seven were won and five lost, with 342 goals scored and 289 conceded.

The defence played with determination with Sophia Wokoma, Aisha Sessay and Helen Baldwin producing outstanding interceptions and turnovers. In the centre court, Heather Goldring and Jayde Rose have worked well together, holding the structure of the team.

The range of movement within the circle improved immensely once goal attack Sophie Ramshaw and Lottie Woodall as goal shooter adapted to one another’s movement. They scored excellent goals, resulting in vital wins.

Against Churcher’s, by the second quarter, the girls were down by 11 goals but they were not prepared to go down without a fight, resulting in a win of 51-42.

The two tournaments (SISNA and Seaford FastNet) showed the development of the team throughout the term. Lucy Ramshaw stepped up from the 2nd VII and scored some outstanding goals with the movement between Sophie, Lucy, Heather and Jayde in the attacking third helping us win.

I would like to thank Miss Nwandu and Mrs Rowland-Jones for the fantastic season and the dedication they have put into creating an unforgettable year.

Players of the Season: Helen Baldwin, Aisha Sessay and Sophia Wokoma

U16 C

2nd VII Netball The 2nds have had a successful season, only losing two out of 12 fixtures and winning the other 10, coached by Mrs Rowland Jones.

Having a combined 1st and 2nd squad training session has been beneficial to every player, in terms of skill.

The team has a very strong attack unit with Ebony (centre), Verity (wing attack) and Dani (wing defence) playing a fast and smart centre court game, with Tiffiny (goal defence) and Melina (goal keeper) being a strong duo in the defensive D. Lucy (goal attack) and Caitlin (goal shooter) compliment each other in the attacking D and shared 320 goals.

The season started off well with a convincing win over Ardingly College and we continued to show resilience by winning matches against strong opposition, including Lancing College, Hurst and a touring team from Fetes College , Edinburgh.

Each player deserves to be congratulated on their amazing play as they’ve all contributed to the strength and unity of this team.

Good luck for next season, especially to the Grecians who we are unfortunate to lose. A massive thank you for your team work.

Players of the Season: Verity Butt, Melina Irawo and Sophia Olaniyan

U15 B

3rd and 4th VII Netball Both the 3rd and 4th teams were as selfsufficient as ever and were led by captains Tink Trim and Jessica Okoro respectively.

The results of these teams have been extremely impressive.

Player of the Season Sophia Dixon-Cave (3rd VII) and Mary Baffo (4th VII) Most Improved Player Rebecca Stamp and Yasmine Mafiamba

U15 C

118

Claire Page U16 A The team has had a strong season with some brilliant results against strong opposition. The girls have worked hard as a squad, captained well by Angelina Green who has had an outstanding season in the middle of the court along with Monica Okello.

Emily Addo-Quaye has had an outstanding season at wing defence. Jordanna Joseph and Beatrice Mahoro have been solid in attack, working well together in the attacking circle.

At the other end, Halima Ibrahim and Esther Tewogbade have been a good pairing. Flora Thwaites and Sophia Olaniyan have been a solid addition to the A team.

The A team has been a pleasure to coach for the last two seasons. All the girls work well together and have a great team spirit and I hope that they all continue to play netball.

U16 B The team played some competitive games against a mixture of U16 teams, which has been good for their confidence.

They have some strong centre court players who have kept the game fast and controlled through the centre of the court. Helena Welsh and Tiffany Shennowo had some great games at centre due to their speed and agility. In defence, Jadesola Odunjo has been solid at the back and been a great captain, motivating her team defiantly.

The girls have worked hard on their timing but still need to drive towards the ball instead of hiding behind their opponents.

Freya O’Brien and Claire Thomson have been a formidable pairing in attack, with some excellent long shots.

U16 C The team had a good year and showed great teamwork during every match. Over four competitive matches, CH won three and lost one, with excellent wins at Cranleigh and a hard-fought win at King Edward's Witley 15-11.

There were some extremely strong individual performances from Marley Bell, who is a fast, intelligent and versatile player in defence, and Rachael Bondzie who made a transition from GD to GA. Captain Eloise Bloor-Black really united the team for match days.

Players of the Season: Emily Addo Quaye (U16 A) Jadesola Odunjo (U16 B) Eloise Bloor-Black (U16 C)

Jordanna Joseph and Beatrice Mahoro have been solid in attack, working well together in the attacking circle.

119

U14 A

U14 C

Shana Francis U15 A It has been a rollercoaster season with many highs and also some lows. Despite the journey, it has been a delight to coach the team.

The girls have only won one match, although they finished in third place at the Bedales tournament, only being denied second on goal difference.

The scores do not represent how well this team has done in comparison to last year. Timi Laniyan has had a phenomenal season, having been regularly named player of the match. She has been a true role model for the team and an excellent vice-captain.

Daisy O’Callaghan has conquered the challenge of the captain’s role. It has been great to see the development of the team and the potential of players like Charlotte Winship grow over the season. All the girls have done extremely well and they should all reflect on their development over the year, rather than the results.

U15 B It’s been a tough season, although games have become a lot closer towards the end.

A highlight was a storming fight in the Bedales tournament, coming third place.The girls were unfortunate not to finish in the top two, as this was definitely the best I have seen them play.

Players such as Ayo Salami have come a long way, making debuts in the A team but also being one of the lead players in the B team.

There was great team management from Elise Farquhar and Emma Hitchcock, who held it

U14 B

U13 A

U13 B

together and made sure morale remained high at all times. Abigail Brocklehurst’s fine shooting led to a promotion from the C team.

Although the scores (only winning two games) does not reflect the effort put in, I hope the girls know what a pleasure they were to coach.

They are all super netballers.

U15 D The girls lost their two matches this season.

More important point was encouraging the girls' confidence and determination in training.

Chelsea Humado made a good improvement as goal keeper and Giselle Lawrence proved herself to be extremely versatile, switching across various positions. Undoubtedly, the key member of the team was Pearl Birungi whose shooting was escellent.

Players of the Season: Timi Laniyan (U15 A) Ellen Farrelly (U15 B) Eloise Bloor-Black (U16 C) Most Improved Players: Charlotte Winship Abigail Brocklehurst

Stephanie Redfern-Jones U15 C Across six matches, the team won one, drew two and lost three. Despite this, they remained calm and retained their integrity as a team, refusing to cracking under pressure.

Leading strongly was Captain Phoebe-Jane Weir, who was very successful in motivating the girls. Sadly, Amy Bloomfield-Proud and Isabella Perry had limited play due to injury, but when they had the opportunity, they excelled at goal defence and wing defence, feeding the ball to the scorers. A special mention to Clarice-Marie Mensah, who has been a star shooter and was ‘borrowed’ by the B team!

120

Players of the Season: Clarice Mensah (U15 C) Pearl Birungi (U15 D)

Abbey Henry, Laura Durkan and Jacy Marks U14 A The team had an outstanding season, developing more advanced game play.

The team was led fantastically by captain Aiysha Alli, who was an inspiration on the court with her control and athleticism.

Special recognition should go to Flo Nomafo and AJ Brako for their agility and defensive skills. The A team had a number of successful games, against Burgess Hill and Ardingly to name just two. The coaches wish the girls the best of luck next year.

U14 B The Bs had a positive yet educational season, facing very strong sides. The girls had some great wins, especially against Eastbourne, Burgess Hill and Duke of Kent.

There were losses but they were well fought and very close. An outstanding game against Seaford saw us lose by one point.

Special mention to Charlotte Ogden-Meade who worked relentlessly on and off the court, highlighting fantastic leadership skills. Her efforts at improving her fitness and technique led to several A team starts.

Goal keeper Jamira Nelson-Okrafor’s natural ability grew as the season progressed, also leading to selection for the A team.

U14 C The C team played five matches and their skills developed tremendously throughout the season. Paige Whittington’s accuracy in shooting was a considerable contribution to the team’s success in matches against Lancing and Sevenoaks. Lily Vallance was awarded player of the season for her enthusiasm and commitment, with Rachael Baxter the most improved player.

U12 A

Players of the Season: Aiysha Alli (U14 A) Charlotte Ogden-Meade (U14 B) Lily Vallance (U14 C) Gemma Johnson (U14 D) Most Improved Players Rachael Baxter

Jess Copley U13s The greatest testament to the success of the U13 squad this season was that every single girl in the year group wanted to play in a match and all achieved this goal.

I was thrilled with the enthusiasm from the squad and we could have fielded six teams most weeks, so well done girls.

There were encouraging results, especially amongst the C and D teams this season.

The A team battled hard and we were really pleased with the performances they put in at the tournaments, particularly at Ardingly.

We fielded a team in the West Sussex League at St Paul’s and achieved a respectable seventh place.

Every single one of these girls represented the School in the best of lights and were a delight to coach. A final thank you must go to the U13 coaches this season; they made the matches possible, gave the girls such a positive experience and encouraged them to be excellent sportswomen. Thank you Hannah Williams, Ruth Brading and Elizabeth Purvis.

Players of the Season: Abbie Jacques (U13 A) Demi Ayanbadejo (U13 B) Mollie Brown (U13 C) Daisy Holroyd-Smith (U13 D) Most Improved Players: Alex Anyanwu (A) Isabelle Humphreys (A/B)

U12 B

U 12 C

Every one of these girls represented the School in the best of lights and were a delight to coach.

Rebecca Watson U12s There has been lots of fluid movement between teams and we have encouraged the girls to be versatile players, experimenting with attacking, defence or midfield position to expand their skills.

The A team achieved good results against CLFS and Ashdown House. Robyn Gregson and Christina Middlemas made an excellent attacking pair. Jessica Mace was often named player of the match, whilst Zoe Olakanpo and Jennifer Ugorji at the other end of the court made a strong pair in defence.

The B team has had a similarly good season, working well as a team and really embodied the CH spirit. They achieved some outstanding results against Caterham, Mayfield and Box Hill. Demi Shonubi and Aseye Banibensu were excellent defenders, whilst Kinda Mukhayer had brilliant energy in midfield and kept spirits high within the team. Jessica Shennowo and Honey Frampton played well in the attacking third, showing a positive attitude.

121

The C and D team had a good number of fixtures. The results were mixed and did not give a true reflection of their performance.

For some, this was their first year of playing and they have shown good sportsmanship.

Maddy Loveless proved a real beacon of positive spirit on the court, Lara Akingbehin had an excellent season whilst Hope Spring and Matilda Hart displayed excellent skills.

Ella Stone played well throughout the season for the D team. Megan Richards and Grace Cooper are quick, nimble players and were able to consistently move around the court.

The whole squad has been superb with, all players put in pleasing effort during training and matches.

Players of the Season: Jessica Mace (U12 A) Jessica Shennowo (U12 B) Lara Akingbehin (U12 C) Ella Stone (U12 D) Most Improved Players: Kinda Mukhayer Esme Somerside Gregory

CRICKET: A Jekyll and Hyde season The summer of 2017 began with full sunshine and the opportunity for all to further their abilities.

Howard Holdsworth It is a remarkable fact that only eight games were lost to the weather throughout the course of the term, although some other matches were cancelled because the opposition could not raise a side. This is a particularly worrying trend, particularly now the exam season is long.

We were happy to welcome some new faces on to the coaching team. Paul Bryant managed to bring the best out of the 15B side. Jack Mynott and Ian Davies brought enthusiasm and expertise to the U14 year group and Jon Perriss, Steven Albut, James Duffield and the ever enterprising Tom Scrivener energised junior boys who did not make the A or B teams.

We had to say a fond farewell to Digby Don, who has given so much over the past three years to the boys in the middle part of the School at both U14 and U15 levels. The way in which he coached and played the game was an example to us all.

A win percentage of 30% was disappointing when there is potential to achieve so much more. However, it was interesting to witness the commitment of the U14 teams of Worth and Hurstpierpoint who fought out a very tense first final of the new Holdsworth Cup. This game, which Worth won by just a single run, was played on the 1st XI square, which was fitting recognition of the vastly improved playing surface of the main square at CH. Many thanks as usual go to Joe Cox and his team for all their endeavours on behalf of the pupils to produce good, true wickets.

I was delighted that their efforts were noted at county level. Thanks also go to all of the catering staff from Chartwells who have carried out their duties so efficiently and with a smile.

It is pleasing to note the cricketing exploits of some of the pupils during the summer.

Particular congratulations go to Gus Freeman, who was selected for both Sussex U15 and U16 teams. Solly Woodall has kept himself busy by representing Buckinghamshire at U15, U16 and U17 levels and his sister Lottie has been representing Buckinghamshire ladies.

I wonder if the winter might see another Ashes victory to inspire another generation...

1st XI

1st XI The side, well led by Will Freeman, gelled over the course of the term. As a young and relatively inexperienced side, there were inconsistencies with the bat and the seam bowling was less penetrative than had been expected. But the lads were willing to listen and to learn.

The pre-season match against Barns Green proved to be a useful work-out, with skipper Will Freeman’s 74 maintaining credibility. We then lost a rain-affected match with Reigate, although batted quite well with an unbeaten 50 from wicket-keeper Eric Swinn-ward.

Our disappointing record in T20 continued when we were outplayed by Lancing in the cup.

In the first league game of the season against Worth, our opponents looked comfortable at 54-0, needing just 114 from 26 overs. Gus Freeman, then aged just 14, bowled the first of many fine spells of leg-spin through the term to turn the game our way. There was then the rare feat of a hat-trick by vice-captain Albert Burgess, to see us to our first win.

We defeated Lord Wandsworth with some ease, with Burgess and Ben Kinnear putting on 60 for the 1st wicket. Sadly, we then lost our

122

second T20 at Ardingly, before we claimed the scalps of Kingston GS and Caterham.

Against Kingston, we bowled and fielded well with Oscar Williams and Gus Freeman claiming three wickets each. Against Caterham, Will Freeman’s 51 and Burgess’ 45 formed the main part of our 184-8, before excellent bowling spells from Gus Freeman, Henry Condron and Peter Batchelar closed out the match.

It was therefore most galling to lose the next matches. At home to Seaford, Gus Freeman brought us back into contention as the visitors chased out total of 171. Seaford fell to 112-6, but inexplicably we failed to finish the job.

We then ventured to play the much-vaunted Sevenoaks XI. We could only muster 11 fit and exam-free players, including Lottie Woodall, who became the first girl to represent the CH 1st XI. We had missed Tom Carter through injury for most of the first half of the season.

From the unhealthy position of 37-4 his powerful innings of 76 turned the match. With Will Freeman (64) he added 129 for the 5th wicket in 18 overs. We bowled and fielded as if our lives depended on it, with Condron, Gus Freeman and Alex Heath claiming a wicket on debut to seal a satisfying win.

The next game saw the 1st XI invited to play the Sussex Martlets at the splendid Arundel Castle ground - a fantastic experience for all.

We bowled and fielded tidily, with two mammoth spells from the Freeman spinning brothers, with Gus claiming 6-67. Chasing a total of 221 was always going to be tough, but we were in pole position at 139-3. In one over of madness, we lost both Tom Carter - bowled by guesting CH pupil Nathan Cooper - and Albert Burgess (63) as we fell just short.

In the final league game of the term, we were comprehensively outplayed by CLFS. The only real plus point was a 50 partnership between U15 players Solly Woodall and Gus Freeman.

We bounced back by defeating a youthful Old Blues side, for whom Luke Hansford made 50 and pop star Sam Fryer took three wickets.

There were good knocks from Ben Kinnear (48*), Eric Swinn-Ward (30) and Sam Winsbury (24) which saw us home.

Sadly, the fixture against Reading Blue Coat came to an abrupt end after just an hour with a violent thunderstorm. This left the ground staff with much to do before the wonderful MCC match the next day. The MCC was captained

by Old Blue George Hobden. The game was something of a family affair with gapper, Jack Mynott top-scoring for the MCC. His father also played, so we had the sight of Ambrose Thwaites bowling to his father. The fact that our run chase was based around an opening 50 partnership between Burgess and Will Freeman and a century partnership between Gus Freeman and Ben Kinnear (50*) was rewarding for Trevor Jesty and Dave Messenger, as their hours of work paid off.

The match will be remembered for the fine chanceless century (103) made by skipper Will Freeman, with shots all round the wicket. He rightly received many plaudits after the game, as indeed did the whole team for the spirit in which they had played the game.

After the end of term, we ventured back down to King’s Bruton for the festival. We were fortunate to make new friends when we defeated Peponi School from Kenya in our opening match. The wickets were shared between 5 bowlers to restrict the Kenyans to 98. We made heavy weather of the small total but Eric Swinn-Ward (45*) and Gus Freeman (21*) took us to victory. the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team was to the fore. The next day, poor shot selection meant that despite the best efforts of Gus Freeman and Condron, we could only muster 112. King’s Bruton knocked off the runs, although Gus Freeman claimed 4 scalps.

We then faced determined batting from new opponents - Giggleswick - in the final match.

Milo Fletcher must have wondered what was so difficult when he came on to take the first two wickets in his opening over for the 1st XI. The skipper took 3 wickets and we fashioned three fine run-outs to restrict the score to 142.

We knocked off the runs with overs to spare thanks largely to good innings from Eric Swinn-Ward (54*) and Nathan Cooper (26) who waited patiently all term for his chance to shine.

Gus Freeman (Sussex U15s and U16s) Lottie Woodall – Buckinghamshire U17s and U19s, and Elise Farquhar (Buckinghamshire U15s, U17s, U19s and Full County Women’s team).

Well done to the Freeman brothers. Younger brother Gus claimed 33 wickets and Will notched 24.

The side was very well supported by a large number of parents at many games, which was much appreciated. It will seem odd not to have Mr and Mrs Burgess around next year.

There was a feeling that the team might have gained more victories. It might just be that 2018 could see an even better return.

Team: Will Freeman* (capt.), Albert Burgess* (v-capt.), Eric Swinn-Ward* (Sec./wkt.), Sam Winsbury*, Gus Freeman*, Oscar Williams, Peter Batchelar, Tom Carter, Ambrose Thwaites, Ben Kinnear, Henry Condron (*Denotes Cricket Colours) Also played: Nathan Cooper, Solly Woodall, Katchi Udokporo, Jack Price, Lottie Woodall, Alex Heath, Milo Fletcher

123

2nd XI Despite the best efforts of all concerned the 2nd XI only managed to play five of a scheduled eight matches.

The first game was a T20 affair against Reigate, where the weather intervened before we could begin our pursuit.

Skipper Freddie Underwood did all he could to enthuse the troops for the first league game against Worth. In the face of some very good off-spin we batted poorly, with the notable exception of Tom Critchell.

Away to Lord Wandsworth we put in a much improved performance. We bowled well with Neo Caine and Nathan Cooper, but from 21-4 we let them off the hook. There was a very good opening partnership of 64 between Lottie Woodall and Logan Vickers, but despite the best efforts of Nathan Cooper and Jack Price, we ended up ten runs short.

We then managed to fashion our only played win of the term when we defeated Box Hill 1st XI. Neo Caine bowled well and Alex Stewart doubled his wicket haul with another two wickets with his left-arm spin.

Lottie Woodall played the innings of the term with a well-crafted and hard-hitting 39. Alex Stewart and skipper Freddie Underwood took us over the finishing line.

Sadly, the anticipated T20 with KES Witley fell foul of the weather. In our final league match against Caterham, James Catt bowled well to take 4-30. However, we conceded 41 extras!

Logan Vickers and Cameron Blackshaw showed some fight with the bat, but no one played the composed and resourceful innings that might have taken us close.

There are a number of people who really enjoy their cricket and relish a chance to participate.

Andy Turner was pleased that a hard core of 14 or 15 managed to make it out to practise with enthusiasm in the first half of term.

There was only one Grecian in the group, so it is to be hoped that next year there will be competition for places and winning will become a habit.

U15 A The U15 A record of four wins and nine losses was both disappointing and surprising given their success in 2016.

The season began very well with a pleasing workout against Barns Green, when both Gus Freeman and Alex Heath made unbeaten 50s.

We managed to give everyone a bowl, with newcomer Elise Farquhar the pick of the five who claimed the wickets.

There were worrying signs four days later, when despite Sefa Asamani and Gus Freeman both retiring with unbeaten 50s, we only won by four runs as only Gabriel Lai and Isaac Lordon showed sufficient control with the wet ball.

We then won for the third time in a week when Solly Woodall scored a fine unbeaten century for the second year running against Worth.

He received good support from Rai and Heath, as Farquhar shone with the ball again.

No one offered much support to Heath’s fine 56 at Lord Wandsworth, then we were well beaten in the T20 cup by Worth in a game we should have won.

We gifted Kingston some very loose bowling, which cost us as we ended up 15 runs short.

W could only muster a total of 81 against Caterham in the league. We had them at 38-7 thanks largely to a fine spell form Arthur Pinkney, but failed to press home our massive psychological advantage.

James Ormerod had the remarkable figures of 5-6 with his leg-spin in the final match.

We looked competitive against Eastbourne in the T20 competition, but failed to make our runs quickly enough. Against Box Hill, we mixed up our A and B teams, winning with good knocks from Solly Woodall (60) and George Sanger (25*).

In our league match with Seaford, Solly Woodall carried the batting again with a fine 58 out of a poor total of just 90. We fought hard in the field and managed to take seven wickets, but our total was not high enough.

Sadly, we were comprehensively beaten in the final league match by CLFS, by which time Solly Woodall had earned his place back in the 1st XI. A number of boys have progressed their individual skills, but there needs to be a stronger collective determination from all the members of the team to show the necessary steel to recapture the winning ways of 2016.

U15 B Under the guidance of Paul Bryant, the team made progress both as individuals and collectively. They won four of the six completed matches and showed an ability to score large totals quickly, surpassing 150 on three occasions. On the two occasions that they failed to reach 100, they lost league games to Caterham and Seaford.

George Sanger was the star with the bat, making 262 runs in six innings. As he was not out twice, his average was 65.5. He was given good support initially by Murray Dare who scored a half-century in the opening match before moving off to the swimming team, then by Josh Sterley, who was thrilled to score a 50 against Kingston.

124

The bowling was led by Tom Macqueen with good support from Joe Grela Bekele. On two occasions we bowled sides out with six different bowlers claiming the wickets.

The whole team practised hard and fielded well. One memorable moment was Will Bladon’s fine catch on his debut as a wicketkeeper.

U14 A Mr Mynott and Mr Davies certainly made a positive impression, as did some of the new players. Titus Dempsey led the team well and has the potential to be a good all-rounder.

Tony Esslemont-Edwards was another newcomer to make a good impression, playing some forceful innings.

A surprise was the lack of penetration in our bowling, despite some fine individual spells from the likes of Dempsey, Oscar RowlandClark and James Ormerod, who had the remarkable figures of 5-6 with his leg-spin in the final match.

Having claimed a good win in our opening match with a fine all-round performance, the defeat by ten wickets in the league by a strong Worth side exposed our weaknesses.

The game against Lord Wandsworth was almost a carbon copy: a low total offering no challenge to a talented side which made short work of our bowling.

We then had a very bad day at the office at Eastbourne in the cup when our frailty with the bat was cruelly exposed. Against Kingston, we put in a better performance with bat and ball, but despite Tony Esslemont-Edwards’s fine 41, we ended up just short.

We struggled on a drying wicket against Caterham and were put to the sword in the area cup by Seaford. We also scored too slowly against a good Box Hill side.

When we met Seaford in the league, we took two early wickets, but failed to press home our advantage. Louis Cooper played his first substantial innings of the season to help us to a respectable reply. He is another batsman of much potential.

The end of the season saw us play better cricket. We easily defeated KES Witley where Louis Cooper and Titus Dempsey scored fine unbeaten half-centuries and all the bowlers chipped in. They were backed up by some excellent fielding and catching.

This was an area in which we did truly improve over the course of the season.

We put up a good total against CLFS, thanks largely to another good innings from Louis Cooper. We made them scrap for every run and only lost in the penultimate over in what was in many ways our best performance of the term. We ended the season on a high when the top order all contributed to our total. We were delighted that Toby Edwards finally reached the landmark of scoring a half-century.

James Ormerod dazzled the opposition with the ball, but it was pleasing to see the likes of Alex Clark pick up wickets after a season of honest practice and endeavour.

There is just a sneaking feeling that this side might just surprise some of their opponents

2nd XI

U15 B

U15 A

U14 B

U14 A

next year, especially if we can bring out the best in the likes of Rowland-Clarke, Peter Crowther and Tom Goldman.

U14 A Sadly, the B team did not really compete in any of the six games that they played.

Run-scoring was a major problem throughout the term in spite of the efforts of Josh Ogunleye and Martyn Otuo-Acheampong.

To be competitive, you have to be able to defend your wicket and put away the bad ball when batting. Travis Suckling (41) managed to do this against Caterham on a day when another 30 runs might have made the game close, as we did take regular wickets.

Against Warden Park, only Ogunleye could

U13 B

U13 A

Matthew Harvey Gay showed determination and Jin Samson was an enthusiastic captain for the U13s.

125

put bat to ball, although we bowled better and took the game to the penultimate over with good spells from Alex Clark and Jack Burbridge.

We started to improve after half-term, scoring over 100 for the first time but falling 25 short in our chase of Seaford’s big total.

We saved our best performance until the last game. Although we lost convincingly, we tried hard in the field. Alfie Carter had a good game with two wickets and a determined innings and we managed to bat though all of our overs without being dismissed.

By the end of term, all of the boys who represented the B team had improved.

U12 A

U13 A Sam Williams hit a fine innings of 43 at Ashdown House and Luca Green bowled superbly on occasions.

He stands out with the bat in CH junior cricket, as he is prepared to bat aggressively. Indeed, he scored the only two half-centuries of the term (83* and 73 respectively).

Matthew Harvey Gay showed determination and ability in the early season at Sevenoaks and Jin Samson was an enthusiastic captain who could bowl good spells. Ollie Hanger was another to show promise with bat and ball.

In the game against Kingston, Luca received good support from Chi Udokporo and Ollie as we posted 154-6.

Two victories came against Box Hill and The Cedars. The win over the Cedars arose from purposeful bowling by Hanger and Sam Gadd, who batted well with Tommy Worth, who was promoted from the B team.

This team has a way to go before it becomes competitive, but there were glimpses of boys understanding the need to play straight and to put away the bar ball when batting and of the need to bowl a consistent line and length.

U13 B The team fought hard in nearly every match and managed to register a victory.

Against LWC, we managed to chase well with Alex Merry (48) narrowly missing out on a deserved half-century due to some poor sportsmanship. Tommy Worth also featured well, hitting three boundaries.

Having posted reasonable scores against Seaford and Kingston around the 100 mark, our bowling let us down. It was inconsistent all term and the likes of Alex Yang, Noah HaylesJones and Gabriel Lordon could develop well

Junior Girls

in this run chase with good support from Gadd and Finn Curtin. It was hoped that this might spur the team on to greater things, but a second win proved elusive.

U12 B

U12 C

with further practice.

The game against Caterham saw us score 96, whilst only losing two wickets in our 20 overs, but our wayward bowling was put to the sword yet again.

Matthew Harvey-Gay came close to scoring a half century (47 not out) against CLFS, a game in which he also showed potential as a keeper, but they chased down the total with ease.

The sole win for the team had come in the opening match, when we successfully chased down a total of 118, winning by six wickets off the penultimate ball. Theo Francis top scored

U12 A Victories were gained over Lord Wandsworth, (against whom Jamie Hough had figures of five wickets for 4 runs), Lingfield College by three wickets, KES Witley, (against whom David Asamani scored the only half-century of the term) and the Cedars.

We might also have defeated Box Hill in a pulsating match, which we lost by just two runs in the final over.

It has to be said that in the games where we were easily defeated, the opposition had at least one player of county standard.

A number of players caught the eye. Luke Pullen will make a fine batsman in the years to come and we were all delighted to see him develop his wicket keeping. The fielding by all members of the team improved rapidly as the term unfolded. If the boys continue to practise hard they will be a force to be reckoned with by the time they reach the senior sides.

U12 B The B team went winless for the third year in a row, but it was not for the want of trying.

It was rewarding to see the likes of Will Cartner and Sam McMinn develop well as bowlers.

David Analogbei and Oma Oshevire also progressed in this area.

There is room for team improvement with batting. They must learn to pinch singles to rotate the strike and to strike the ball hard.

Confidence will come once boundaries are hit on a regular basis.

Practice makes perfect!

The U13 B team successfully chased down a total of 118, winning by 6 wickets off the penultimate ball.

126

ATHLETICS: Great individual results Christy Ward This year has seen the number of pupils training and competing at events rise across all age groups and there have been fantastic individual and team performances.

With such a short and busy term, it was important for preparation to start before the summer term. This started with low key pre-season indoor training in the Lent term, which had a positive impact on the progress made during the summer.

Competition started early with the girls competing at Hurst and the boys at Tonbridge.

At the Hurstpierpoint meet, the girls’ team produced some outstanding performances which resulted in fourth place out of 13 teams.

The boys also achieved great individual results and took third place at Tonbridge.

At the first round of the English Schools’ Track and Field Cup, the intermediate boys, intermediate girls and junior girls teams all qualified in the area competition and progressed to the South East Regional Finals.

There were some stand-out performances from pupils including: Junior girls – Tunmise Abbas, Abbie Jacques, Isabelle Humphries, Teni Ijaluwoye and Demi Shonubi Intermediate Girls – Elise Farquhar, Liza Thwaites and AJ Brako Intermediate boys – Sam Odu, Finn Carver, Conor Stewart, Harrison Reid Two injuries at the competition meant that the intermediate boys missed out on vital points that would have taken them through to the national finals.

Intermediate Athletics

Junior Cross Country

4 x 100m Relay

Owen Foo (high jump) and Melina Irawo (discus) achieved personal bests as well as 1st place.

The prep competition at Hurstpierpoint saw the Years 7 and 8 (2nd and 3rd Form) boys and girls take third and fifth place respectively.

It was noticeable that several of the novice athletes were becoming more confident in both training and competition. Pupils such as Alex Anyanwu, Keir Churchill, Tunmise Abbas, David Asamani, Jonathan Bello, Demi Shonubi, Jacob Ibn-Ibrahim, Bunkuiyi Olagunju and Sam Gadd all achieved fantastic results in their events.

Meanwhile within the five West Sussex meets, each age group managed to place in the top three overall for each competition.

Demi Shonubi, Teni Ijaluwoye , Deborah Balogun, Abbie Jacques, Ella Dansoh, Jennifer Ugorji, Aaron Aguma and Timi Laniyan were vital in securing that success.

Other meets included two competitions held at Sevenoaks track, where once again the CH squad performed with determination.

Outstanding first place performances came from Jonah Thornley (long jump), Tunmise Abbas (200m and triple jump), Junior Girls 4 x 100 relay, Deborah Balogun (triple jump), Isabelle Humphreys (hurdles), Henry Beckett (discus), Ella Dansoh (300m), Elina Sorokina

A small group of pupils competed at the Sussex and Surrey Schools Combined Events which resulted in Isabelle Humphries qualifying to represent Sussex at the regional championships at Kingsmeadow in Kingston.

This is the first time in many years that CH pupils have entered this competition and it has been pleasing to see them attempting, training and competing within multiple events.

(Discus), Esther Tewogbade (100m), Junior Girls 4 x 100 relay, Senior Boys 4 x 100 relay.

127

This year saw CH compete at the Mid Sussex Trials in Crawley. All three age groups performed very well and this was followed by 30 athletes representing Mid Sussex at the Sussex Schools Championships.

On a hot day, 18 pupils medalled, with key highlights including a fantastic third place from Elliot Bayley (senior boys’ javelin). Elliot managed an impressive 41m standing throw, having just returned from injury.

Owen Foo (senior boys high jump) and Melina Irawo (senior girls discus) achieved personal bests as well as first place. Other pupils who performed exceptionally included Hareef Asunramu (first place - senior boys triple jump), Kate Stubbs (third place - senior girls javelin), Rosie Vallance (first place - senior girls steeplechase), Jesse Agwae (first place intermediate boys triple jump), Sam Odu (second place - intermediate boys hurdles), Aiysha Alli (second place - junior girls discus),

FIVES Aiysha Alli and Sophie Lambert won the U14 National Doubles.

Highlights for the Fives squad this season included a memorable U16/U15 win away at St Paul’s, the continuing integration of outstanding female players into regular, gender-blind fixtures and the dominance and development of the U15 squad, who won a majority of their matches and made the transition to playing with staff club members successfully.

Junior Athletics Squad

Dara Dina in the javelin competition

Timi Laniyan (second place - intermediate girls shot putt), Josh Persad (first place - senior boys 100m), Emmanuel Onyango (first place - senior boys hammer).

Eight pupils qualified to represent Sussex at the South East Inter Counties on another humid day and from this a total of five pupils successfully qualified to represent Sussex at the English Schools’ National Finals in Birmingham (Melina Irawo, Josh Persad, Sam Odu, Isabelle Humphries and Jesse Agwae).

Pupils this season have been able to train with intensity and have made every effort to improve. The development of pupils over the course of the term has been excellent with several exceeding expectations.

Block House Athletics on Parents’ Day saw several School records broken.

It has also been especially pleasing to see leadership and mentoring of the junior pupils by some of the experienced and elite intermediate and senior athletes. They have assisted with training sessions and further supported and given key advice at competitions and meets. All of the coaches have felt honoured working with an enthusiastic and ambitious collection of pupils.

Senior Athletics Squad

Track athlete of the season: Seniors: William Jibogu, Josh Persad, Hareef Asunramu Intermediate: Sam Odu, Lucy Liu, Ella Dansoh Junior: Tom Goldman, Alex Anyanwu, Aiysha Alli, Tunmise Abbas

As usual the pinnacle of the season was the National Girls’ Championships. Aiysha Alli and Sophie Lambert won the U14 National Doubles and Aiysha the U14 National Singles.

Phoebe Thornhill’s achievement in reaching the U18 Singles final was also highly impressive.

The boys also did well at the South East Regional Championships, George Boyle winning the U18 Singles Plate and Freddie Norris reaching the U18 Singles semi-final.

The School and club were also delighted to host the first ever South East Regional Girls Championships. Three schools attended – Eastbourne, Alleyn’s and CH. Highlights were Aiysha Alli and Sophie Lambert winning the U14s Singles and Doubles and Beatrix Crinnion and Phoebe Thornhill doing the same at U18 level.

Field athlete of the season: Seniors: Hareef Asunramu, Elliot Bayley, Henry Watts, Kate Stubbs, Melina Irawo Intermediate: Jesse Agwae, Elise Farquhar Junior: Liza Thwaite, Isabelle Humphreys Relay team of the season: Senior boys 4x100m – Hareef Asunramu, Henry Watts, Sol Deller, Josh Persad Junior Girls 4x100m – Tunmise Abbas, Isabelle Humphreys, Abbie Jacques, Teni Ijaluwoye

Senior Fives

U15 Boys Fives

128

1st V Squash

Senior Girls’ Squash

The newly established Squash Ladders have added a competitive edge to coaching sessions.

Senior Boys’ Squash

SQUASH: Participation at an all-time high Kevin McArtney Michaelmas The squads and players have been training hard and their enthusiasm is bringing dividends in improved team and individual performances.

The junior squads were defeated in their fixtures against Westbourne House and Bede’s - special mention goes to Robyn Spillane, Sam Williams, Lucas Grela and Lucca Green for their fine performances.

The 2nd V, lead by Oliver Page, had a convincing start to the season. Congratulations must go to Fabian Webb, Eric Swinn-Ward, Solomon Woodall, Tom Critchell, Kavish Visaria-Shah and also for Lucent Ting in particular for being the sole winner in the Sevenoaks fixture.

The Senior Girls brought home their first ever team victory with a 3-2 win against a strong Sevenoaks team. There is growing belief in the team and a special mention must go to Melina Irawo who built on wins by Captain Rhian Daniel and Lizzy Wilson to secure a well deserved victory.

The 1st V had intense fixtures against experienced opposition. The senior players were victorious against Sevenoaks and Bede’s with hard fought matches. Sol Deller, being number one string, has had the toughest

opposition and has been improving with every game. Xarius Dalal and Peter Batchelar have seen their hard work pay off with wins in close matches against good players.

Special mention is made of Joe Grela who won his debut match for the 1st V. There is a positive vibe in all of the squash teams. Training is going well and skills are improving. All of the players are conducting themselves in a positive manner and making a valuable contribution to the School.

Lent Participation in CH Squash is at an all-time high, with many pupils showing interest in the game and wanting to develop their skills.

Recently, our Juniors split the honours evenly in a closely contested fixture with Westbourne House. Notable players were Teniola Ijaluwoye, Ella Van Den Berkmortel and Manon Howard.

The boys and girls Senior Teams were beaten by a powerful Charterhouse. However, there were fine performances by Annabella Chevenix Trench, Ching Ho Wan and Peter Batchelar. The senior girls played excellent squash in our last fixture against Eastbourne and emerged as winners by 12 games to two.

129

This term has also seen inaugural competitions for both senior boys and senior girls. The winners were Xarius Dalal (boys) and Daisy O’ Callaghan (girls).

In their last game of the season, CH played against Sevenoaks. Our senior boys were narrowly defeated by four games to three. Our number two and three seeds Xarius Dalal and Peter Batchelar both played excellent squash and such good matches can only make them stronger. Our senior girls had a fantastic 5-0 victory but the individual matches were close and the girls needed to demonstrate determination and tenacity to secure their wins.

The newly established Squash Ladders have also added a competitive edge to our internal coaching sessions and matches and we look to build on this next year.

I would like to thank all those pupils who are involved in Squash. It is your energy and commitment which make Squash at CH so much fun. It is fitting at this point in time to say a huge than you also to our Grecian squash players who have left CH. Xarius Dalal, Robbie Annand, Ashley Carter and Lucent Ting, Ching Ho Wan have all made a memorable contribution.

FOOTBALL Best results since 1985 for 1st XI Paul Deller and Mark Beauchamp

1st XI Won: 11 Drew: 2 Lost: 1 Goals For: 40 Goals Against: 9 To put this season into context, this 1st XI team recorded the best results since the School became co-ed in 1985 and the second best results since football was established at CH in 1972 (the 1983 team played 10, won 10).

Having won their SKIL league at U14 and U15, the challenge for this team was do this again at U18, which they did, winning all six of their matches, scoring 23 and conceding only five in the process, becoming the first CH 1st XI to win the SKIL league.

They were a remarkable squad to work with, cultivating a stylish brand of football; technical, intelligence, courageous and athletic.

Scoring 45 goals and only conceding 11 over the entire season, highlighting their ability to break teams down with flair as well as close out opposition with clinical ruthlessness. There were no weak links and with each player being able to play in a range of positions, they gave us limitless options in our strategies.

It was their collective ability that brought them

their success, built on great partnerships: Albert Burgess, Sean Thomson and Harry Taylor in defence, Rashaine Weekes and Solomon Deller, and Remus Goldsmith and Ola Siwoku respectively on each flank, Sam Winsbury and Charlie Lillywhite in midfield, and Matthew Attalah and Jeffrey King in attack.

Special mentions go to Sam Winsbury and Sean Thomson. Sam established a new (post 1985) goal scoring record for a season with 20 goals. In five seasons, he has always been the first ‘go-to’ player if a position needed covering.

This year, we wanted him to play as a striker as we sensed that he would score a lot of goals, but due to injuries, he end up playing in centre midfield. There he showed his multi-skilled abilities matched by his strong desire to win.

In partnership with Charlie Lillywhite, he marshalled the centre of the pitch.

Sean was selected as captain for his technical excellence and for the example this set to the team. He is both calculating and visionary in his decision making, with the ability to strike the ball with power and precision over a range of distances.

He heads impeccably but most importantly

130

when he is under pressure he is brave, both physically and creatively.

Opposition coaches consistently remarked that he was our outstanding player and no opponent ever got the better of him. Humble in his demeanour, his presence, attitude and application on the pitch did all the talking he needed to do and he has been a fantastic role model for our sport.

Shaun Mason 2nd XI Won: 3 Drew: 3 Lost: 5 Goals For: 17 Goals Against: 24 With only one member of the squad having played 2nd XI football last season, this was always going to be a season based around player and squad development.

This was helped by the excellent attitude of all of the boys and a fair degree of skill from everyone concerned.

I have been delighted with the way in which the boys have tried to play a traditional, Brazilian style of football and had some of the six shots that came back off the woodwork gone in, we would have won more games.

There were several candidates for Player of the

Season as so many gave their best but Ben Johnstone player has been consistently committed in the heart of defence and has scored as well. I hope that I might see a few of these boys next year but I would not be surprised to see some pushing for first team places, which they deserve to do.

Jonathan Callas 3rd XI Won: 3 Drew: 0 Lost: 4 Goals For: 17 Goals Against: 18 The 3rd XI had a successful season in terms of the number of boys who were able to represent the School, the enjoyment that was had (both in the training sessions and the fixtures) and the sense of camaraderie.

In our first game of the season we were on the receiving end of a drubbing from a very strong RGS Guildford team who countered our two goals from Neo Caine and Ross Gilding with eight of their own.

However, later on in the season we put five past Eastbourne College with two goals from Harry Omosele and a hat-trick from striker Anthony Lynch.

Other games included a 4-2 win over Sutton Grammar, with Neo Caine, Alexandre Baramidze and Anthony Lynch amongst the scorers.

We didn’t deserve to lose against Reigate, who managed to score a truly amazing free kick at the end of a match to win 3-4. In our match against Epsom, they scored a very fortunate goal in the final moments.

However, the season ended well with a 3- 0 win against Wilsons with Harry Omosele, Ross Gilding and Anthony Lynch scoring. This was followed by a 4-1 win against Box Hill, with some boys from lower years given the opportunity to show their skills. Anthony McQueen (2), Alexandre Baramidze and Akeem Akinniyi scored the goals.

I would particularly like to mention Alex Bell who ably captained the team for the majority of the season. I would also like to mention Jacob Nomafo for standing in as goalkeeper.

He did an excellent job, saving a penalty in one game.

Dean Kent U16 A Won: 4 Drew: 2 Lost: 5 Goals For: 27 Goals Against: 29 The U16 As had a difficult but promising start to the season, with the jump from intermediate to senior football proving to be more physical than they had been used to.

They all improved as the weeks went by, working hard at training and on match days alike. The team showed great spirit and resolve, captained by player of the season Corey Gowan, grinding out results.

1st XI

They cultivated a stylish brand of football; technical, intelligence, courageous and athletic.

2nd XI

3rd XI

The second half of the season started to show their hard work was paying off, playing five, winning two, drawing two and losing only one.

There were notable individual improvements

by Nathan Cooper, Thomas Critchell, Tom Johnson and Gus Dempsey.

On the whole this was a good season, sticking with a game plan which suited our style of play and believing in the system, playing patient but penetrative football. All in all, it was a most enjoyable season.

their desire to play good football and how they battled. On this occasion they were denied a deserved draw by a late opposition counter attack and goal.

I also saw them play versus a Ewell Castle 2nd XI team where, again, they dominated large periods of the match and were unlucky not to gain greater rewards for their efforts.

Whilst I was most impressed with the team’s camaraderie and effort, individuals that shone were Anthony MacQueen and James Catt in attack, William Ndudrim and Patrick Davis in midfield and Julius Flessa in goal.

Paul Deller U16 B Won: 1 Drew: 2 Lost: 5 Goals For: 14 Goals Against: 29 Being 1st XI coach I get rare opportunities to see many of the other teams play, but I did manage to see the U16B, more than any other, standing in for coach Richard Malpass when they played Sevenoaks away.

I was struck by the enthusiasm of the boys,

131

Jon Grindrod U15 A Won: 3 Drew: 0 Lost: 4 Goals For: 24 Goals Against: 24 The team had a mixed season with some huge highs and some disappointing lows.

The opening minutes of the first match versus Brighton College was exceptional, leading 2-0 with goals from George Young and Gus

U16 A

U16 B

U15 A

Freeman. However, Brighton College (who finished top of the league) proved to have too much quality and went on to win 7-3, Toby Marks scoring the consolation goal.

The next match was an outstanding 5-0 victory against King’s Canterbury. George Young netted twice with further goals from skipper Sam Odu, Toby Marks and Finn Carver.

There was also the bonus of a clean sheet with goalkeeper Gabriel Rai pulling off a string of fine saves, and Tommy Mason-Graves performing admirably at centre half.

The following match was a crazy 10-4 win over The Weald. Goals from Joseph Grela-Bekele, a fine free kick from Toby Marks and another from Sam Odu were in addition to the five scored by ‘goal machine’ George Young.

A tough league fixture followed against Epsom College. Sam Odu scored and LE (U14) pupil Louis Cooper stepped in as goalkeeper putting in a fine performance.

Against Whitgift, CH took an early lead with a neat finish by George Young but Whitgift came back in the second half and two late goals from the visiting side meant they took the win.

CH’s penultimate match was against a very strong Wilson’s side. The team lost keeper Gabriel Rai early on which did not help matters but Wilsons showed their class by scoring eight without reply.

The final match of the season saw CH battle it out against Colfe’s. Captain Sam Odu and George Young finished the season as they had done throughout, with both players scoring a second half brace to win 4-2.

The squad certainly grew as the season went on and finished fourth overall in the SKIL league. The player of the season went to George Young, who scored ten goals in seven matches. Well done to all of the boys and good luck for next season.

Paul Bryant U15 B Won: 2 Drew: 1 Lost: 4 Goals For: 11 Goals Against: 21

U15 B

U14 B

The team had a tough season, winning two of their seven games, but from a point of view of learning and improvement it must go down as an unreserved success.

The highlight was being the only side in the School to beat Whitgift, in which the team’s attacking play led to a decisive 4-2 victory.

The player of the season was Mustapha Saliho, who through his selfless work rate and game intelligence appeared all over the pitch to snuff out opposition attacks. Jesse Agwae scored five of the eleven goals.

Will Bladon improved significantly over the season and great credit should also go to the goalkeeper Cedric

132

The player of the season went to George Young, who scored ten goals in seven matches.

Laufenberg, who pulled off a number of high quality stops including a diving penalty save at Brighton College.

Dan McIlwain U14 A Won: 4 Drew: 1 Lost: 3 Goals For: 20 Goals Against: 21 The season started with a fantastic 4-3 win away at eventual league winners Brighton College.

The most pleasing aspect is that against every team we faced, we were superior in game intelligence in all areas of possession.

To match the magnificent team goals, there were some spectacular individual goals; Oscar Roland-Clark's last minute screamer at Brighton, Toby Esslemont-Edwards exquisite lob at King’s, Travis Suckling's long range ‘top bins’ against Epsom, Tom Goldman’s Ronaldoesque free kick at Sevenoaks and Edward Green's first time thunder bolt against Warden Park.

Louis Cooper made countless saves which saw him earn a chance to play for the U15 As. The player of the season was George Osman Sellwood, ‘Mr Consistency’.

The 1st XI enjoyed an incredible season, winning the SKIL league

U14 A

U13 A

U14 C

Stuart Cowley U14 B Won: 1 Drew: 1 Lost: 6 Goals For: 13 Goals Against: 29 This was, at first glance, a disappointing season for this U14B team. However, with a bit of luck, we could have had more to celebrate.

The first game was against Brighton College, where we lost 3-4 (away) yet could easily have caused an upset.

We came back with a hard fought draw against King’s Canterbury and ended the season with an excellent win against Colfe's. The last game summed up the campaign when we lost undeservedly to Warden Park 2-1 after an amazing second half performance.

The squad developed enormously throughout the season and was playing some fluid and disciplined team football in the later stages.

Player of the season was Joseph WillisFaulkner for his commitment and supreme effectiveness in midfield and as striker.

Alex Henocq U14 C Won: 0 Drew: 0 Lost: 2 Goals For: 2 Goals Against: 13 The U14C team only played two fixtures and although losing both, played with a great attitude, never giving up.

The first game against Brighton College was the highlight. The opposition was very strong but due to the excellent defensive skills of

U13 B

Tristan Berry we went into half time only 1-0 down. In the second half, we created some opportunities with Satya Saha scoring in the 4-2 defeat. In the second game, the most impressive showing was Otto Jakubowski in the centre of defence. There was another outstanding performance from Tristan Berry, along with Alfred Carter, and Anson Yuen.

Tom Henton U13 A Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 6 Goals For: 4 Goals Against: 39 There are some talented boys in the squad, led by the captain Bunkuiyi Olagunju, who had a great season.

Despite the losses, this team has potential to be very good. In their solitary win, the boys worked hard to stay ahead and coming out on top was a big achievement.

This team has a lot to learn and if they are willing to work hard in training, they all stand a good chance of playing for the 1st XI one day.

Player of the season was Joseph Willis-Faulkner for his commitment in midfield and as a striker.

133

U13 C

They had some amazing moments but my standout was Jin Samson’s 40-yard, left foot free kick that flew straight into the net. I have enjoyed working with this team for the past two years and look forward to seeing how they progress.

Steven Albutt U13 B Won: 0 Drew: 0 Lost: 6 Goals For: 3 Goals Against: 39 This season was a learning curve and they developed a great deal. It was a privilege to watch them develop, with some stand-out performances from Joel Oyeusi and Adam Beddall which earned both of them starts in the U13A’s. Archie Maclean and Kier Churchill (Goalkeeper) were also outstanding all season.

Tom Scrivener U13 C Won: 0 Drew: 0 Lost: 6 Goals For: 0 Goals Against: 39 The U13C’s persevered in the face of many challenges and worked hard to improve.

The team made excellent progress from their humble beginnings, and they weathered the storm of double-digit results to come good in the last game, only losing 0-5. William Fletcher was tireless in midfield, whilst Alex Yang was solid in goal. Team captain Thomas Worth was a critical part of the defence, whilst Sonny

Gasson was ever a threat in attack.

Most improved player was Edward McCulloch, whilst Levi Reid’s commitment was exemplary and Matthew Harvey Gay and Jonathan Higgs did good work on the flanks.

Overall, it was a positive learning experience and the boys look well-poised to compete next year.

Led by captain Temi Adeyemi, the Senior Girls’ team progressed remarkably.

Tom Henton U12 A Won: 1 Drew: 1 Lost: 6 Goals For: 29 Goals Against: 43 The U12 As have been involved in some exhilarating, high scoring matches, playing some fantastic football and creating great goals.

David Asamani was the top goal scorer with 18 goals, the second highest scorer across all CH teams. The team has some great individuals that just need to learn how to gel as a team.

Although only winning one game, they had great moments and my standout memory is a hard fought 5-5 draw against Shoreham College where every player gave their best.

Sean Thomson makes a crunching tackle

Remus Goldsmith rises for a header

Juan Gonzalez U12 B Won: 0 Drew: 0 Lost: 8 Goals For: 12 Goals Against: 36 Being only in their early days at the School, the boys showed a work ethic that will surely bring memorable results. They have learnt to play as a team and “left the skin on the pitch” for every match.

Reuben Vaughan-Turner was irreplaceable, Akin Onakoya was a true leader and Nathaniel Shonubi-Severin was a scoring machine with nine goals in eight fixtures. Congratulations!

Senior Girls

Juan Gonzalez Stuart Cowley U12 C Won: 0 Drew: 1 Lost: 2 Goals For: 2 Goals Against: 11 By the end of the term the squad was playing as a unit and putting together some effective and coherent football.

There are a few players who will definitely make the transition to the B squad next year.

The most gratifying development in the team was in defensive awareness and this showed in the results. The season started with a 6-0 loss to Lancing College but concluded with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Ashdown House.

Player of the season was Jimmy Hue for some remarkable and exceptionally committed performances in defence.

Senior Girls Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 3 Goals For: 8 Goals Against: 14 The senior girls' football squad has been consolidated in the School with a most enthusiastic team.

Led by captain and star Temi Adeyemi, the team has progressed remarkably during this season. They started losing a match 8-1 and then won the last match by 5-0.

With many of the girls being new to the team, the experience of Jess Okoro, Ellie Aylwin, Verity Butt, Charlotte Suckling, Siana Giles or Abiha Rana gave shape to a very competitive squad with a bright future representing CH. Temi has also been top scorer, scoring in every fixture. Congratulations!

134

Rashaine Weekes makes a surging run

ROUNDERS: Exciting House competition Jacy Marks, Mrs Ward, Stephanie

Francesca Shannon was the player of the season. She has been the B team captain but also moved up to be a regular A team player.

She is strong with the bat in the field and is good at motivating those around her, particularly in tough matches.

Redfern-Jones and Caroline Hitchcock Rounders continues to prove popular amongst pupils at CH and the teams now want to play more competitively as well as for fun.

Teams have represented the School in local fixtures and tournaments and although they have faced some tough competition, the results have been promising and they have fought to achieve some close victories.

The development across all the teams has been very positive and will be built on during 2018.

This year the rounders season was finished off with junior and intermediate house cup ties.

The afternoon was filled with exciting play with each boarding house ensuring maximum participation by all.

Cup Ties House Competition Results Intermediate: 1st - Coleridge A, 2nd - Barnes B, 3rd - Leigh Hunt B Junior: 1st - Barnes A, 2nd - Barnes-B, 3rd Leigh Hunt A

Julie Davey

U15 A

U15 B

Teams of the Season: U15A and U15B The U15 girls have had a good season and really developed as a squad. The team spirit has been fantastic. Their conduct both on and off the pitch has been excellent and this has been commented on by a number of opponents. The coaching team would like to thank them for being such a great group of players to work with.

Both teams have had some tough fixtures, with the A team winning three out of their eight games and the B team losing all of their games.

Their best result was achieved at the Burgess Hill tournament, where they were runners up losing only one of their games.

Clarice Mensah has been a very good A team captain, leading by example in both training and matches, supported by Charlotte Winship with consistently strong bowling.

For the B team, Francesca Shannon has been an inspirational captain. Other notable players were Constance Cole for her excellent fielding ability and Phoebe Weir and Emma Hitchcock who were joint top scorers with the bat.

U14 A

U14s The A team performed to the best of their ability in all of their encounters and were unlucky not to get the wins that they deserved.

They did lose heavily to Seaford College, 21-4.

The fixtures against Box Hill and Burgess Hill were much closer affairs but unfortunately on both occasions, CH came up just short.

Ava Zuniga was the A team bowler and bowled with pace and consistency. Katherine Linaker was outstanding in the field taking some exceptional catches, whilst Sophie Lambert was superb as backstop and batter.

Renee Gaffar was a good all-rounder, excellent in the field and as a batter. Jamira NelsonOkrafor was skilful on second post, regularly getting opposition players out with her reactions.

The B team did lose the matches they played but were keenly contested. Freya Griffiths was good in the deep field and also was an accomplished bowler once she’d got her rhythm going. Amber Dansoh was terrific with the bat sending the ball a long way into the deep if she got the right connection. Silvana Brasovean was a good all-rounder but more importantly a great motivator. Georgia Hayward was immense in deep field. For a person of short stature she sure packed a punch into her throwing of the ball, and she was accurate!

It has been a joy working with these girls this term. I have enjoyed their enthusiasm and would like to thank all my co-coaches for their time and energy.

Laura Durkan

U14 B

U13s The squad this term has been fortunate to have such large numbers of pupils looking to take part. This has allowed for lots of pupils to participate in training.

Several fixtures and a county tournament

Georgia Hayward was immense in deep field. For a person of short stature she sure packed a punch into her throwing.

135

allowed for two teams to participate in matches and to represent the School.

Despite the results not always going our way the girls progressed greatly as the season went on. All the girls demonstrated great team work and communication and received glowing reviews from oppositions for attitude and performance.

Special mentions to Beverly Murua for her outstanding bowling, Abbie Jacques for her very strong fielding with a 100% catch rate and finally a mention to Amy Johnson, who joined the team in the latter part of the season, for excellent overall performances. Her dedication to the team was outstanding.

SWIMMING: Bill Penny makes a difference

U13 A Senior Girls’ Swimming Team

Andrew Presland The appointment of Bill Penny as our external swimming coach at the start of this academic year has made a huge difference to our weekly training sessions.

U13 B

U12s

The girls demonstrated great team work and received glowing reviews from oppositions for attitude.

I am sure whis will help us to improve the depth of our swimming squads in the future.

We often asked swimmers to swim up an age group and thus most of our galas have been enjoyable with many individual successes.

Certainly, captains Indie Roberts and Jason Ng did a valiant job of encouraging our younger swimmers, ably supported by vicecaptains Chelsea Lam, our strongest female swimmer, and Max Day. In March, we again entered a boys’ relay team into the Bath Cup, a prestigious national competition help in the Olympic pool in London. The team was the same as last year: Nikita Kunzli, Henry Watts, Ross Gilding, Corey Gowans and James North. They bettered their times and narrowly missed out on being in the freestyle relay final.

Senior Boys’ Swimming Team

Junior Boys’ Swimming Team

Junior Girls’ Swimming Team

136

1st VI Girls

2nd VI Girls

TENNIS: Pulsating School tournament The senior singles final between Heather and Charlie went to three sets, with Charlie coming out on top 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

Hazel Rowland-Jones HONOURS’ BOARD Captains: Heather Goldring and Henry Gregson Vice-captain: Charlie O’Callaghan Colours: Heather Goldring, Henry Gregson, Hadrien Giacomotto Endeavour in Sport Awards: Molly Todd, Jacinda Ho. Alderney Street, William Down SCHOOL COMPETITION The Savill Cup: (Senior Girls’ Singles) Charlie O’Callaghan John Page Cup (Senior Boys’ Singles) Henry Gregson The Davison Cup (Senior Girls’ Doubles) Heather Goldring and Charlie O’Callaghan Boys’ Doubles Emmanuel Berhane and Ben Wendelstad Senior Mixed Doubles Jacinda Ho and Henry Gregson The David Potter Cup (Junior Girls’ Singles) Daisy O’Callaghan Junior Girls’ Doubles Daisy O’Callaghan and Emily Stannard Kilmister Trophy Henry Gregson Inter House Competition Leigh Hunt Once again this has been an extremely encouraging and successful season at all age groups. Particularly so at junior level, where there are many girls eager to play and practice hard.

Nigel Matthews, our professional coach, has continued to support CH tennis with his time divided between the boys and the girls, helping them with their skill development and tactical game play. We introduced small group and one-to-one sessions with Nigel in the Lent term, which were very productive and we are now also hoping to introduce this into the Michaelmas term.

We have welcomed Nigel’s wife, Caroline, to the team and she has worked with 2nd Form (Year 7) introducing them to the basic skills of the game whilst making it enjoyable.

championship tie break 5-7, 6-3, 10-7.

The Inter House Competition was played as a block competition. With so many seniors on study leave, it seemed fairer and also gave the juniors an opportunity to play. Each block played five pairs and it was Leigh Hunt that came out winners for the third consecutive year.

I would like to thank Heather for being a very supportive captain and wish her and the leaving Grecians (Year 13) all the very best for life after CH. I really will miss their laughter, banter and passion for the game

The exam period is getting longer so it is becoming increasingly difficult to find fixtures after half term. However, there were some great fixtures and the 1st 1V of Heather, Charlie, Rhian and Annabelle were unlucky to lose to Lancing in the Aberdare Cup. The senior most improved player awards were awarded to girls who were passionate about the game and who through hard work have improved both tactically and technically – Annabelle Esslemont-Edwards, Alex SeizaniDimitriadi and Monica Okello.

Thank you to Julie Hanger for her time and commitment and for picking up both the U15 and U14 teams and to Alicia Cassidy for helping her with the admin and general running of the U14 squad.

The School tournament was well supported with some very competitive matches played and some enthralling tennis played in the finals. The pick of my matches was the senior singles between Heather and Charlie, which went to three sets with Charlie coming out on top 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

The senior doubles was another three set match with Angelina Green and Elsie Todd pushing their opponents all the way, with Heather and Charlie winning on a

137

Julie Hanger U15s The U15 girls’ tennis team has had some tough matches this term, especially at the start of the season.

However, the girls stayed positive and worked hard and this began to pay off in competition.

Their confidence grew, resulting in some good wins both for individuals and as a team.

Congratulations to Timi Laniyan and Heilia Leung for being most improved players this season. They have not only improved their racket skills and tactical play, but have worked really hard physically during every match.

The School tournament mixed the U14 and

1st VI Boys

U15 A Girls

U15 teams together to compete. The singles final was between U13 player Kseniia Golikova and defending champion Daisy O’Callaghan from the U15s.

There was some excellent tennis played and Daisy managed to stay on her winning form, taking a 6-2, 6-2 win for the singles title.

Not content with just the singles trophy, Daisy went on to win the doubles title with Emily Stannard, beating their rivals Heilia Leung and Ellen Farrelly 6-0, 6-2.

U14s This season the U14 tennis team have all worked really hard and been made even stronger with the addition of four excellent U13 players. Kseniia Golikova playing with Ellie Moorcroft, and sisters Lily and Grace Lane both made excellent partnerships.

Kseniia proved what a formidable opponent she was by reaching the final of the junior CH tournament.

Congratulations to the pair of the season, Aiysha Alli and A-J Brako, who have gone from strength to strength, with some fantastic performances and outstanding wins.

The most improved player award this year went to Rachael Baxter, who has consistently worked very hard to further both her technique and match tactics.

Both the U14A and U14B teams have all worked really hard this season and have had some excellent wins against some strong opponents.

Boys’ Tennis This has been a good season for CH’s boys’ tennis with perhaps the greatest depth and

2nd VI Boys

U15 B Girls

If the expansion of junior tennis goes to plan, we will see an increased availability for younger players.

spread of talent that we have had for at least five years.

Captain Henry Gregson, Hadrien Giacomotto, Ben Wendelstadt and Will Down formed the backbone of the team and were ably supported by Emmanuel Berhane, Nikolas von Kunsberg Sarre, Sammy France and Algernon Aoki-Seymour. There were promising debuts and cameos from players such as Keenan Sayers, Bukunmi Lajumoke, Jonathan Feyibunmi, Jos van den Berkmortel, Sam Odu, Patrick Davis and Teddy Green.

Hopefully, next season, if the expansion of junior tennis goes to plan, we will see increased availability for younger players.

Both the U18 and U16 squads qualified for the finals of the Sussex Cup for the first time in a number of seasons after wins against Ardingly and Worth in the semis, finishing third and fourth overall in the end.

138

U14 A

The standard of tennis was impressive and Hadrien acquitted himself commendably against a player ranked fifth nationally in the age group.

In the Aberdare National Championships, CH lost in the first round to Cranleigh. The 1st VI boys were more competitive against Charterhouse, just coming up short in the final tie, before a positive result in the tri-school match with Brighton and Worth.

A new fixture was a mixed doubles melee with Eastbourne College which proved great fun, although the CH staff were perhaps not as cute with the rankings and pairings as their Eastbourne equivalents, as the semis were dominated by our guests.

It was encouraging to see the boys develop more edge to their game and more match awareness, and thanks should go to coaching of our LTA external coach, Nigel Matthews.

In the School competitions, Henry Gregson retained the boys’ singles title, although Sammy France acquitted himself well in the final. Henry also won the newly re-invigorated mixed doubles event with fellow Grecian Jacinda Ho, whilst Ben Wendelstadt and Emmanuel Berhane won a truncated boys’ doubles championship, beating Sammy France and Algernon Aoki-Seymour in three tightly contested sets.

My thanks especially to those leaving CH, Henry, for his efforts as Captain, Hadrien and Will, as well as Fedor Stürken who didn’t play this year due to injury, and to Gus Dempsey for his efforts over the last two seasons.

Well done and a big thank you to all the boys who represented the School this term.

THE BLUE THANK YOU To all of the staff and pupils who have contributed reports and photographs for The Blue 2016-17.

Also, a thank you to The Printed Word All those who have contributed images particularly Toby Phillips Photography, Katie Salisbury, Katie Callas and The School Photography Company Designer Ben Morris/AAH

Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0LJ Tel: 01403 211293 Fax: 01403 211580 Email: enquiries@christs-hospital.org.uk www.christs-hospital.org.uk Registered Charity Number 1120090

Join some of the UK’s most satisfied students NCH undergraduates thrive studying our award-winning, liberal arts-inspired degree programmes. They also benefit from: Q

One-to-one tutorials

Q

Over 30% more timetabled teaching hours than the Russell Group*

Q

Six times more teaching in groups of under five students than the Russell Group*

Q

LAUNCH, our unique professional development programme

Apply now at nchlondon.ac.uk

*Youthsight, the award-winning youth research agency, recently analysed the results of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) Student Academic Experience Survey 2016 and found that NCH scores better than students studying humanities or social sciences at Russell Group universities in an overwhelming majority of areas.