AN
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WITLEY
Issue 32 Spring 2017
pupils from many decades ago. It was great seeing how strong the school’s links with the City of London are. A truly unique and unforgettable experience”.
Happy returns to the City of London King Edward’s returns to Southwark to remember 150 years since the move to Witley. King Edward’s celebrates its sesquicentennial relocation from Southwark to the Surrey Hills with a year of memorable thanksgiving events. Anniversary celebrations began on Tuesday 14th March with a triumphant Bridewell Day thanksgiving service at Southwark Cathedral, close to the School’s former location. Pupils and staff were joined by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester GCVO, President of King Edward’s, the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Reverend Christopher Chessun, Percentor Canon Gilly Myers and School Chaplain The Reverend Dr David Standen. Her Royal Highness chose to process with the School and was joined by the Mayor of Southwark and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City in their splendid scarlet robes. The 1000-strong congregation included all 420 day and boarding pupils from King Edward’s and Year 8 pupils from our partner school, Barrow Hills. Guests included local Surrey mayors from Haslemere and
Waverley, Governors, alumni and parents who gathered to pay tribute to the school’s rich history which dates back to 1553 when King Edward VI granted Bridewell Palace near Fleet Street to the Lord Mayor of London, creating the school’s parent foundation, Bridewell Royal Hospital, as a place for the education of poor children. In his sermon, the Bishop of Southwark emphasised change and continuity. He drew parallels between the School’s journey from Bridewell Palace to Southwark and then to Witley 150 years ago, with Southwark’s changes through the century, and our own journeys through life. Today King Edward’s is a co-educational boarding school that in particular welcomes diversity, something that was echoed throughout the service by the Bishop of Southwark and similarly reflects the diversity in the borough. King Edward’s is renowned for excellence in music, and its acclaimed Chapel Choir and Brass, conducted by Stasio Sliwka, Director of Music, reflected the magnificent occasion with suitable pomp and ceremony in hymns including the National Anthem and anthems by Parry. Choir and congregation were accompanied by the organist Mark Wardell, former Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral and now Director of Music at Barrow Hills School. Dylan Cutifani, Head of Grafton said, “It was a fantastic day connecting with old pupils and meeting old Grafton
Malta Be Active
Pride and Prejudice
Successful visit to Malta for the Senior Netball Girls on their first ever King Edward’s Netball Tour.
18th century England is brought to life by our Senior School pupils in their word perfect performance of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
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Following the service guests and pupils were invited to attend a lunch reception in the Guildhall’s magnificent Old Library. Her Royal Highness met and chatted to pupils from King Edward’s and Barrow Hills before she presented medals to new Bridewell Fellows - generous supporters of the school’s bursary fund - from all sections of the School community: governors, alumni and staff, past and present parents and charities, representing the breadth of support for the School’s founding mission that is still alive and relevant today. Sheriff of the City Peter Estlin, the first Old Witleian to have held that post in almost five centuries, paid tribute in his speech to these new partnerships, and the Head Boy, Oyinbebe Kalabare gave an inspirational speech echoing the day’s themes. The Headmaster, John Attwater said, “Today has been a wonderful reminder of how far we have come as a school, not just in miles from London to Witley but our transformation from a Tudor orphanage to the worldclass school we are today, while still maintaining our fundamental ethos of diversity and commitment to the needs and education of the children we serve.” Celebrations are continuing, most recently the planting of 2 commemorative holly trees, one in the grounds of King Edward’s, followed by a planting ceremony in the grounds of St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, symbolising the School’s presence there as a Tudor orphanage when it was originally founded in the City of London. For news and further information on our anniversary celebrations please visit www.kesw.org.
“What we build in King Edward’s is a community, one where we care and love for each other”
INSIDE
Courtesy of Southwark Diocesan Communications’
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ACADEMIC
GUEST SPEAKERS
European Challenge Creative Industries Conference
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welve 5th Form pupils were joined by ten teams from eight visiting schools to participate in a European Language Challenge Day. The day began with a key note presentation from Mr Alex Pickering of the Goethe-Institut on the importance of languages in business and the workplace. Similar to the BBC’s Apprentice, the twelve mixed-school teams were then given the task of selling their product, stilton cheese, on the European market. Far from being a simple exercise, the challenge required pupils to design and build a model exhibition stand, design a sales leaflet, arrange a sales meeting over the phone and devise a radio advertisement in not one, but two foreign languages.
After a quick lunch, the teams were called into separate rooms where they introduced themselves, pitched their ideas and gave an overview of their achievements in either French, Spanish or German to a panel of bilingual judges. It was a real pleasure to see pupils from different schools working together and benefitting from their experiences of languages. Back in the Selborne Room, King Edward’s pupils revelled in their successes, with one group being commended for their impressive radio advert and the other celebrating taking 2nd place in the competition. The day was an exciting and invaluable opportunity for pupils to practise their language skills in light of upcoming GCSE exams. They should be applauded for the enthusiasm with which they approached the challenge.
Trip to Ancient Greece An intrepid band of 19 pupils and 3 staff headed of in the early hours of Friday 31st March to see the sites of Ancient Greece, while savouring the culture of the modern country, Dr David Standen reports. TRIPS ABROAD
After we arrived at Athens, we headed straight out to the most southerly point of Attica – Cape Sounion, to see the Temple of Poseidon and eat our evening meal in a beachside tavern. The next morning, we were guided around the main sites of Athens: the Acropolis and its Museum, the Areopagus and the Agora, before re-joining our coach for the long journey to Delphi. Here we saw the Sanctuary of Apollo, the site of the famous Oracle and marvelled at the breath-
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taking mountain location of the place. Moving thence, we crossed the longest suspension bridge in the world, the RioAntirio Bridge, and made our way to Olympia, Sanctuary of Zeus, home to one of the seven wonders
of the Ancient World and the Olympic Games. For the last two days of the trip, we were based in Tolo and immersed ourselves in the Homeric World – Mycenae and Tiryns being our sites of chief interest. A visit to the oldest continually operating theatre at Epidauros and the Roman city of Corinth completed our tour and we arrived back safely at King Edward’s very late on Wednesday 5th April to enjoy the rest of our Easter break.
On Friday 24 March, Bohunt School joined the Upper School production cast of Pride and Prejudice in welcoming three industry professionals to a Creative Careers Conference at King Edward’s. Old Witleians Nicholas Bourne (Ridley, 2009) and Stuart Wheeley (Ridley, 2005) returned to the School alongside Christine Langan, a BAFTA winning film and TV producer, to give insightful presentations on their careers in creative industries. At a time when the future of creative subjects in schools is becoming more uncertain, the speakers aimed to dispel myths surrounding the creative industries by discussing routes into their chosen careers and their various achievements. Nicholas Bourne told how, despite numerous setbacks, he had followed his dream to become an actor. Having shown a clip of a film he had written and starred in, Nicholas was besieged with questions from many of our aspiring performers. Stuart Wheeley, Senior Marketing Manager for Rhino, a subsidiary of Warner Music, gave a synopsis of his journey into the music industry and an insight into his very busy, but equally interesting career. Both speakers emphasised the importance of perseverance, commitment and believing in oneself. The final speaker, Christine Langan, was until recently Head of BBC Film where she produced ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and ‘The Duchess’. Christine gave a brief history of her dynamic career, which has included leading BBC Film to a record thirteen nominations at the BAFTAs and becoming CEO of Baby Cow Productions. Her very successful career conveyed a positive message, particularly to young women within the audience, of the results of working hard in a male dominated profession and following your dream. We would like to thank to all three speakers for taking the time to give such inspiring talks to the pupils.
Virtual trip of a lifetime Mr Tom Campbell, Head of Geography, arranged for Google to visit the School to demonstrate the company’s new virtual reality software, which allows users to embark on tours of faraway places. In October a group of geographer and scientist pupils were taken on the trip of a lifetime when they were invited to experience a range of scenarios in 3D. These included outer space, tropical rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef and volcanoes around the world. The virtual software allowed pupils to experience first-hand some of the issues and topics they are covering in the classroom as part of the curriculum, with one class even able to take a tour inside the human body as part of their investigation into the circulatory system!
PUPILS WILL BE BETTER PLACED TO FULLY EMBRACE FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Virtual Reality Expedition Day was open to pupils at King Edward’s and Barrow Hills. There were many gasps and exclamations of “this is so cool” from members of both schools. Lucianelle Ngueyep
Semou, a 2nd Form pupil, was excited to “learn about deforestation by actually seeing everything that happens!” Carriage return - Commenting on the day Mr Tom Campbell said “By establishing an early appreciation of the benefits of technology our pupils will be better placed to fully embrace future technological developments”.
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Fantastic team performance and 21-2 win for the U13 Netball Girls against Seaford Prep. The Lower School Netball team continues to go from strength to strength. Congratulations girls!
Quiet night in Stop! It’s time for a QMH pizza selfie!
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Senior
School Round-up
4th & 5th Form Spanish Play
Skiing in Sestriere, Italy
Sixth Form Halloween Ball
House Music Competition
Ready, Set, Bake We’re not sure if more chocolate chips ended up being eaten than went into their cakes, but the QMH bake off (complete with dance number) was a great success!
A great day out From a day spent iceskating at Hampton Court Palace to taking a trip down the world’s highest and longest slide. A busy but fun day, enjoyed by all.
Never a dull moment! Water a 2nd Form pupil and watch him grow! From poetry competitions to podcasting, music videos to water polo and gardening to dodgeball. If you can think of an activity, QMH will do it!
House Hockey Tournament
A very merry QMH Xmas With Secret Santa, a Christmas Concert, three course dinner and endless tinsel, there was no shortage of Christmas spirit in the Lower School this year.
Sixth Spring Formal Wakefield & Grafton Paintballing trip
Art trip to New York
Record numbers of Gold Dof E pupils This academic year has seen the greatest number of King Edward’s pupils participate in Gold Duke of Edinburgh practice and assessment expeditions to date. Mr Jim Culbert, Head of DofE, reports: In October, sixteen members of the Upper Sixth travelled to Snowdonia in Northern Wales for one of their final expeditions before completing the award this year. Each group traversed the region working on projects such as, ‘Variety of Land Use’ and ‘Evolution of Transport’,
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whilst camping in new and challenging locations like Capel Curig, Nant Peris and the infamous wind tunnel, Ogwen Valley. Spirits were high throughout the expedition and a celebratory meal on the last night was a fitting end to what has been an incredible experience and personal achievement for all involved. Hot on the heels of this group is the current Lower Sixth Duke of Edinburgh participants who have just completed their practice expedition in the Peak District. This record-setting number of 23 pupils is testament to the value students place on involvement in the Award Scheme and the dedication of the staff involved.
Pupils turn up the heat in Young Chef Competition King Edward’s hosts the district semi-final of the Rotary Young Chef of the Year Competition. Held on Saturday 4 February, the Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition was a valuable opportunity for budding young chefs, and those with a passion for cooking, to test their technical skills and learn new ones. One of nine contestants with the chance to go through to the national final, Lower 6th pupil, Lotti Fox, represented both King Edward’s and the Godalming section of the Rotary Club. She served a mouthwatering three course meal of sea bass ceviche, homemade tagliatelle with chicken courgette, and a shortbread fresh berry cheesecake. The competition was judged by a panel of professional chefs who assessed the contestants on the preparation, cooking, taste and presentation of their meals. Lotti
was commended on her balance of flavours and skill. Congratulations go to her on this achievement, as well as to Matthew Hobbs, 3rd Form, and Hayden Haines, 4th Form, who participated in the first round of the competition. 3
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S E N I O R S C H O O L P L AY
Pride and Prejudice Review by Mrs Sharon Gleave, a current Sixth Form parent
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et in the gentrified salons of fine 18th century English houses, the play weaves a complex love story. The two central characters, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy (Levi Nordmann) and Miss Elizabeth Bennet (Ella Garrett) at first appear poles apart – Darcy is dashing and proud, only too aware of his wealth and status, but finds himself intrigued by, and drawn to, headstrong Elizabeth - reluctantly finding himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. To succeed they will
both need to overcome their own Pride and Prejudice. Soon Darcy becomes captivated by her obvious intellect and feisty nature, especially when she stands up to the dominating force of his interfering relative Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Lotti Fox). “HE IS A GENTLEMAN, AND I AM A GENTLEMAN’S DAUGHTER. SO FAR WE ARE EQUAL.”
The really strong supporting cast were all word perfect and well versed in the manners and etiquette of the time. The soldiers looked dashing, and the ladies suitably captivating. Many provided great characterisations especially Mr Hill the Butler (Alex Kalika) and the quirky footmen (Ben Dowson, Will Kriehn and Alex Dean); special mention must go to Remi Trovo as the gushing, social climber Reverend Collins – we loved every nuance and flourish of his delightful toadying, and Jessica Langan as Jane Bennet, who turned in a sweet and poignant performance, opposite her beau Mr
IB Art Exhibition
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he IB Art private Viewing took place in March with staff, family and friends visiting the Bunker Gallery to enjoy the vast body of work on display. Themes this year included; ‘Nirvana State of Being’ by Gabriele Magnaghi, ‘The Natural World’ by Megan Lewis, ‘Skin and Scales’ by Virginia Cesana, ‘Nature and Body’ by Clotilde Orlandi Contucci, ‘Maisha’ by Sarah Khaukha, ‘Conditions of Women’ by Vanessa Pojer, ‘Fairytales’ by Jamie Chiu and ‘Architecture and Contemporary Art’ by Michael Rotov. Of the eight IB pupils, three will go on to study an art or design course at university in September. We now look forward to the GCSE and, recently introduced, A-level art exhibition in the Summer Term.
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‘IB ARTISTS’
Bingley (Max Kirkillo-Stacewicz) who gave us an equally solid performance. Well-articulated dialogue from likeable rogue George Wickham (Harrison Martin), and a delightful and irritating characterisation as Caroline Bingley (Victoria Berger) tried to thwart the affections of Jane and her brother. Aside from outstanding performances by the lead characters, I especially loved the chemistry between Mrs Bennett (Kseniia Elinson) and Mr Bennett (Daniel Varbanov) – who, despite English not being their native language, delivered the solid and witty dialogue with great panache. Well done everyone, especially thanks to co-directors Mr Jim Langan, and Mr Dan Tobias, and their back stage team.
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Music
Department Round-up
Report by Mr Stasio Sliwka, Director of Music Always busy, the Autumn and Spring terms have brought with them a number of new and returning events to the music calendar. First up this year was a new addition to the diary, Choral Day, which saw pupils from Barrow Hills join the 1st Form and Chapel Choirs for a day of singing. A wide variety of music was performed and it was wonderful to see pupils of all ages unintimidated by such challenging music. Our Chapel Choir once again took centre stage, as they were invited to sing in the Choral Evensong at Hampton Court Palace. The invitation was a great honour for the School, and we are proud to have been invited back next year. The Department has also continued to embrace our annual traditions, which again included performing a Lenten Lunchtime Concert at St Thomas’-on-The Bourne. All eight pupils gave fantastic, fluent performances, and the concert proved to be a day of great spectacle
with a wide range of instrumental and vocal talent on display. Not to be forgotten is the department’s incredible contribution to the Bridewell Day celebrations. With HRH Duchess of Gloucester and dignitaries of the City of London in attendance, both the choir and brass ensemble rose to the occasion admirably, with assured performances of two iconic anthems by Parry and the National Anthem accompanied by brass fanfares. The School was also well represented in this year’s Godalming Music Festival, where our pupils won 85% of the classes entered, most notable were Jozef Gaszka (organ, Harry Taylor cup), Ella Hu (flute, Festival cup for wind recital) and Felix Rockhill (trombone, Godellas cup for best brass performance). It is testament to the department’s commitment to nurturing musicianship that the School celebrates an ever growing range of musical opportunities and can boast another outstanding set of ABRSM Examination results with 100% merits and distinctions.
Musician of the Year
Grafton win House Drama cup
Report by Mr Stasio Sliwka, Director of Music Now in its third year, the King Edward’s Musician of the Year competition saw an impressive 80 plus entries in all musical disciplines. Performing at all levels is becoming much more relaxed with pupils being mutually supportive of each other. Preliminary rounds were held in the first week of February, which saw a great deal of promising performances. However, unfortunately, only a certain number of participants could be put forward for the final.
House Drama Competition Report by Mr Jim Langan, Head of English and Drama Every year the Senior Houses battle it out in a closely fought House Drama Competition where the pupils are responsible for everything from set design and lighting, to scripting, music and directing. This year’s theme was Myths and Legends, which gave students the opportunity to be more creative than ever in their interpretation of the theme. The outcomes were incredible. Edward and Tudor gave us a spectacularly professional performance of The Sword in the Stone, Wakefield and Elizabeth gave us their take on Aladdin,
Ridley and Queens’ performed a modern spin on Peter Pan, whilst competition winners Grafton, gave a fantastically funny performance of Robin Hood. Individual prizes were awarded to Matilda Moss for Best Senior Actress, Levi Nordmann for Best Senior Actor, Cali Hamilton for Best Inters Actress and Ben Dowson for Best Inters Actor. Ella Garrett and Luke Webb took home home Director Prizes for their production of Peter Pan. Credit should also be given to the technical ingenuity displayed by Charlie Rudge on sound, and Jonathan Chan on lighting. Additionally, to the four backstage teams for great costuming and rapidly moving sets, including at one point, a whole castle which appeared and disappeared within thirty seconds!
Held on 24 February, the final was itself a marathon of music and was judged in style by Mrs Kate Davies, Director of Music at Edgeborough School. It was wonderful to see musicians of all abilities play with such assurance and musicianship thereby making the adjudicator’s work quite a challenge. The standard of music was very high and congratulations should be given to all those who performed so well throughout the competition. A prize-winners’ concert saw fantastic performances from Ben Garrett, Boris Lee, Thomas Clarke, Mapalo Bray, Mandy Liang, Harry Naylor, Sam Dyer, Felix Rockhill, Charlie Rudge, Jozef Gaszka, Oscar Warford, as well as class winners, Warrick Agar (Beginner), Alistair Hashemi (Progressing), Ben Charles (Intermediate) and overall King Edward’s Musician of the Year, Dina Elinson. 5
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Netball Tour to Malta On Friday 14 October, our Senior Netball Girls team jetted off to sunny Malta for the first ever King Edward’s Witley Netball Tour. Mrs Hannah Pullen, Head of Girls’ Sport Development, reports.
Watch out Wimbledon King Edward’s Girls’ Senior Tennis team was on fire this year, having reached the knock out stage of the national Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) Schools Team Tennis Competition. The girls, Elisabet Gomez Palmarola; Maria Guinia Deriu; Elena Barroso; Darina Abuzarova saw off some fierce competition, winning three matches out of three in the round robin stage against much bigger and well established clubs, to make it through to the last twenty in the UK. The team’s success in this major competition is even more commendable when one considers that the players went from a zero rating to achieving above a high club or county standard tennis rating in an incredible twelve weeks. Commenting on the girls’ success, Mr Jim Langan, Head of Tennis, said, “We are so proud of our players who have demonstrated what hard work, enthusiasm and sheer determination can achieve. Such is the high standard of play within the team, two of the girls have applied to US universities for a tennis scholarship, proving that sporting prowess can also pay dividends outside the sports arena.” King Edward’s is now a LTA registered tennis club which gives pupils free British Tennis membership, and allows the School to run ratings matches and win tickets to Wimbledon, the oldest and arguably most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.
O Queens of the Qualification Round
Report by Mr Marc-Antony Eysele, Director of Sport
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As important as the sport was, the team also bonded through a number of activities, including a day at the beach, a tour of Valletta, bowling, a BBQ and a karaoke evening which saw the girls take over almost the entire hotel bar. The tour came to an end with dinner in a beachside restaurant overlooking the ocean with great food and lots of laughter. The experience has been incredibly valuable for the girls who have had the opportunity to practice and refine their skills. We are now looking into options for a 2017 tour!
Futbol Salou Tour
Sports Round-up In a season where participation was the focus, there have been some excellent results, tremendous team spirit and substantial individual progress. In hockey, eight squads amounting to over 100 pupils have represented the school in more than 60 competitive fixtures. A record number of QMH boys have played hockey with great enthusiasm and celebrate wins against Seaford, Barrow Hills and Box Hill. In football, the U14 XI have demonstrated their consistency, losing only two of their seven games,
The first morning in Malta arrived bringing with it perfect weather and the girls’ first set of matches against the national U17 team. The girls were up bright and early, buzzing with excitement and looking very smart in the new kit they had worked hard to raise money for over the course of the term. After a lively and challenging day of netball, both our teams emerged as winners, with the second team clinching the lead by one goal. The ‘King Edward’s are on tour and mean business’ spirit continued throughout the remainder of the tour, which saw lots more netball and the girls competing against local adult opposition.
whilst the U15 XI and 2nd XI can also boast a number of convincing wins! Led by Sibel Oztas, the QMH girls have had an impressive netball season with only one loss. The U14 and 1st XI girls continue to get stronger, also winning most of their games. It has been great so see so many girls getting involved and the great improvements being made. The basketball team are proving they are a formidable squad, having lost only one match to reach the finals of the Super 6’s competition.
The squad continues to break individual and team records and their outstanding contribution to the sport ensures the team remains one of the most successful in the school. The introduction of the Rugby 7’s across all age groups have already proven very successful with 60 boys taking part in 16 fixtures. A great number of pupils celebrate receiving most valuable and most improved player awards, as well as half or full colours in recognition of their ability, commitment and attitude to their sports.
ver the Autumn half term twenty 4th and 5th Form footballers headed to the sunshine of Barcelona for a long weekend of training and matches at the professional Futbol Salou ground. The first day saw an early morning training session that focused on improving the team’s agility, spatial awareness, shooting and crossing, after which the boys were challenged to develop their turns, passing, and communication. Their first match on 15 October and was an easy 4-0 win for King Edward’s, with Andrei Maniuk, Jonthan Kwakwa, both scoring a goal apiece and Roy Osodi scoring an impressive two - just missing his hattrick. The following day the 1st XI faced a more difficult opposition. The team made a positive start, but despite their effective play and an impressive long free kick from the Tour Captain, the boys narrowly lost 2-1. Between training sessions the boys were able to enjoy some high-class R&R; taking full advantage of the outside pool, hydro spa and even a game of mini golf. The tour ended with a much-anticipated visit to Barcelona’s ‘Camp Nou’ stadium where excitement rose as the boys visited the memorabilia museum and watched preparations for an upcoming match against Manchester City. The boys returned to England in high spirits and many with the official Barcelona football kit!
OUTREACH
Prep Schools’ Football Trials Report by King Edward’s Mr Dan Abraham, Head of Football. November saw King Edward’s host the regional Prep Schools’ District Football Trials. The district team, known as the Prep Schools’ Lions, covers Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. An impressive 59 prep schools had nominated 352 players who all arrived at the School keen to impress the selectors. Whilst parents and staff enjoyed refreshments and warmth in the pavilion, Upper Gurdons was transformed into five 9-a-side pitches, and with Lower Gurdons also in use, trialists were able to get a good feel of football at the School. A talk to parents included an overview of the sport at King Edward’s and highlights the School’s recent successes on the pitch. Three of our pupils excelled in their age group: Devon Wasko and Amari Lake were both selected for the Prep Schools’ Development Squad, whilst James Howell was chosen for the ‘A’ Team, which consists of the sixteen most outstanding players in each age category. We look forward to welcoming back many of the young footballers in the future.
Hog and Kisses ‘Hog and Kisses’ was the name given to the handsome, golden hog painted by pupils in support of the Haslemere Hogs community arts project which was displayed in Haslemere during April 2017. Inspired by Gustave Klimt’s painting ‘The Kiss’, the hog features the same gilded style and vibrant patterns reminiscent of the artist’s ‘Golden Period’. Eight pupils participated in the initiative; Mapalo Bray, Scout Pegler, Irati Polo Salegui, Chantelle Mwangi and Lola Andrade from 3rd Form, Mandy Liang and Anna Prokhorova, 4th Form Art Scholars and Ashley Liu, 5th Form, all assisted in delicately stencilling designs onto the hog in keeping with its theme. ‘Hog and Kisses’ joins 59 other painted resin hogs which will ultimately be displayed around the town and used in a campaign to attract visitors to the local area. Commenting on the project, Miss Naomi Jivanda, Graduate Assistant in Art said, “The pupils really embraced this assignment, working as a team to create a wonderful work of art in support of the local community. I’m delighted with the result and we look forward to spotting ‘Hog and Kisses’ making an impact on the local landscape in the months ahead.”
Spy Academy
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spiring secret agents aged nine and ten from local prep and primary schools visited King Edward’s for our official ‘Spy Academy’, which was this year run by Super Sleuth Steve Gardner, and his QMH Spy Cadets. We welcomed a record number of spies to train and take part in top-secret workshops, which included how to interrogate suspects with Agent Dominic Slater, create their own invisible ink with Agent Nick Emsley, crack suspicious codes with Agent Peter Head, and recover stolen goods by travelling incognito with Agent Tom Campbell. Having successfully
completed their training, the final session culminated in a passing out parade and prize-giving ceremony for all the newly qualified spies. No need to sleep with one eye open tonight – the nation is in safe hands!
Orchestral Day Report by Mr Daniel Pugh-Bevan, Graduate Organist It was a pleasure to welcome 70 pupils from local prep schools to participate in our Orchestral Day event. Pupils from Conifers, Edgeborough, Greenfield, Longacre, Rydes Hill, St Hilary’s and Barrow Hills joined the King Edward’s orchestra in a non-stop programme of music making and fun. After several hours spent rehearsing, the day ended with a concert for parents and guests, which provided ample opportunity for soloists and the string orchestra, wind band and full orchestra to showcase their talents. The audience enjoyed musical delights such as the Habanera, Tequila and the Jurassic Park Theme. The day was an invaluable chance to exhibit some of the fantastic opportunities provided by the King Edward’s Music Department and for many of the younger pupils it was their first experience of playing in an orchestra, and even of life beyond prep school. Based on the extremely positive feedback we received on the day, plans are underway to ensure Orchestral Day returns as an annual event. 7
P RO F I L E S
PROFILE
former Chair of Governors at Barrow Hills and current Governor of Bridewell Royal Hospital) was invited to put herself forward for election to the Treasurer role, it was not a decision to be taken lightly. The demands of this position cannot be underestimated, so why accept such a weighty workload especially when it is unpaid? Justine’s response to this question is simple. “I wanted to give something back and to use my skills to help more people reach their full potential, regardless of background or circumstance.”
Mrs Justine Voisin, Treasurer Interview with the first female Treasurer of Bridewell Royal Hospital since its foundation in 1553
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ccepting the role of Treasurer (akin to Chairman) of the body of Governors responsible for Bridewell Royal Hospital - the parent foundation for King Edward’s and its partner prep School Barrow Hills – brings with it a considerable burden of duty. So, when Peter Estlin announced his candidature as Sheriff of the City of London and Mrs Justine Voisin (the
Although a completely voluntary position, the workload associated with acting as Treasurer is demanding. As well as attending the four annual board meetings, there are a number of sub-committee meetings which take place every term covering education, health & safety, finance, estate management and on occasions, nominations. Whilst the majority of these sub-committees operate across both Schools, the education and health & safety committees remain separate for King Edward’s and Barrow Hills. In addition to an ex officio presence at these meetings, the Treasurer regularly attends all the major events in the School’s calendar such as Admissions Day, Carol service and each start of term Chapel Service. A weekly catch up with the individual Heads of both Schools, regular email exchanges and spending time with staff and pupils are also part of the remit. Because of King Edward’s long standing links with the City of London, the Treasurer is expected to perform specific ceremonial duties, which would not normally feature on the agenda of the average Chair of Governors and of course, there is extensive liaison with the City of London to further the bursarial role of the School. Justine continues, “As a Governor, you are part of a team that is responsible for the strategic direction of the School, working with your executive colleagues to realise goals, set vision and policy and provide an objective, informed viewpoint on how to deal with the many opportunities and challenges facing the Foundation. The step up to Treasurer of the Court of Bridewell requires not only a significant investment in time but
also a clear understanding of the needs of both King Edward’s Witley and Barrow Hills – and an innate desire to raise awareness of the founding mission of Bridewell Royal Hospital. Whilst I hope that my professional skillset and my former experience as a Chair of a Board of Governors will stand me in good stead for this role, equally important is my personal history. Although I studied law at Oxford, qualified at the Bar and was fortunate to go on to practising as a solicitor in a city law firm for many years, I attended my local secondary school and came from a relatively poor background. At and after university, I witnessed the opportunities which are available to those who benefit from a good education. Later, when my eldest son’s birth gave me an awareness of the specialist requirements of children on the autistic spectrum, I was once again reminded of the importance of securing access for all to an excellent education that is not the preserve of the academically gifted or wealthy elite. It is this passion that fuelled my decision to agree to put myself forward to succeed my colleague Peter Estlin.” “I WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK AND TO USE MY SKILLS TO HELP MORE PEOPLE REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND OR CIRCUMSTANCE.”
Justine not only brings an inspiring visionary approach to the progression of both Schools, she is keen to ensure that Bridewell continues to make its mark on the national educational landscape. “The cornerstone of Bridewell Royal Hospital is to embrace the need for tolerance and diversity. The reality is that a school which affords children the opportunity to mix with peers from a broad range of backgrounds results in equal benefits to both privileged and less privileged pupils – and ultimately society as a whole. I hope to work with other likeminded schools to speak as one voice to demonstrate how our approach can make a genuine difference, evolving a generation of children who are armed with the requisite skills to succeed in our increasingly globalised world.”
previously Events Manager at Prior’s Field School and prior to that Events and Consultation Manager for Surrey Police Authority, where she was responsible for, amongst other things, producing and managing 72 interactive public roadshows over a six year period. The new role with King Edward’s Witley sees Ms KnoxWilson take on responsibility for much of the School’s marketing activity, including the production of its promotional material and the logistical management of a number of events throughout the academic year.
Gail Knox-Wilson Ms Gail Knox-Wilson joined us as Marketing Manager having formerly been Events Organiser at Priors Field School in Godalming.
M
s Knox-Wilson, an accomplished communications, marketing and events practitioner, took over over from Mrs Deborah Hillyer, bringing with her a wealth of experience in both the public and corporate business sector. Having studied for an Advanced Certificate of Marketing through Derby University, Ms Knox-Wilson was
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Speaking of her new position Ms Knox-Wilson says “My career has always been within the field of communication, and as a tactical marketer I am passionate about producing a good event, whatever that might be. Having almost completed my first year at King Edward’s I am better acquainted with what to expect, and what is expected of my role within our small marketing team. The role here was especially appealing as the School is so dynamic; all the projects I have been involved with to date have been varied and very interesting. I really enjoy meeting people so it has not only been great fun, but a privilege to organise activities such as Spy Academy and the Prep School Lectures with actor David Hall.” “MY CAREER HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITHIN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATION, AND AS A TACTICAL MARKETER I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT PRODUCING A GOOD EVENT, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE”
ISFA recognition for Marie Stute and Jake Miller
T
he School has enjoyed strong representation in the Independent Schools’ Football Association Squads for the last several years, and we celebrate continued success this year with Upper Sixth students, Jake Miller and Marie Stute, being chosen to play for the ISFA South Boys’ U18 side and U18 ISFA Girls’ Team. Marie is an outstanding technician capable of scoring some fantastic goals, a feat she has replicated many times for both our Girls’ Football Team and the ISFA side, having scored for them from inside the centre circle. Marie has not only excelled in Girls’ Football, but has been a leading light playing alongside the boys in the School’s 2nd XI side this year, a team that has gone from strength to strength, being defeated in only two matches. Congratulations to Marie on her continued success and all her hard work.
F E AT U R E D M AT T TAT E , W I T H I B A R T I S T S
The Art of Education Now in its fourth year, the Artist in Residence programme at King Edward’s Witley has seen pupils benefit from the talents of four practising artists. As the contribution of creative industries to the economy continues to grow; and more pupils opt to study Art and Design at IB, A-level and beyond, the need to foster creativity in young people grows with it. Current Artist in Residence, Matt Tate, discusses how his role helps benefit the young artists he works with. “I believe that the role of an Artist in Residence is to dispel the myths about the plausibility of pursuing a career in the arts. Remaining relatively separate from the teaching process I am often better placed to mediate between the academic and practical perspectives of art as both a subject and a passion. Drawing upon my own experiences as an artist, I have been able to provide pupils with an insight into the industry in a way that is perhaps different to that of their teachers. An important part of the Artist in Residence experience is developing their understanding of the process of applying to study a creative subject at university level, how their work fits into their aspirations and what opportunities are available to them. In the broader context of education, “EXPOSING PUPILS TO THE WORK OF A PRACTISING ARTIST CREATES GREATER ARTISTIC CURIOSITY AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN THE HORIZONS OF THEIR OWN WORK.”
Having an open door policy means I am always available to provide students with direction in new techniques (particularly within the medium of printmaking) and advice on how to cater their artwork towards their chosen careers, which ultimately allows them to begin the
transition from academic work to professional standard.” His view on the initiative is supported by Mr John Attwater, Headmaster, who commented, “At a time when creative subjects are being squeezed in many schools, we need to consider that our future success in a technological world will be in large part down to human creativity. For our artists who may be considering this path, it is a brilliant experience to work alongside someone who is already a practising artist. “OUR ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE BRING THE LATEST IN TECHNIQUES AND THINKING, TOGETHER WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE MANY INSTITUTIONS OUR STUDENTS WILL BE APPLYING TO.”
That they are with us a relatively short time means that during a student’s time at King Edward’s they will usually encounter a range of artists specialising in different fields. Our Artists in Residence are hugely talented and go on to great careers themselves, and it is hoped that King Edward’s will be an important part of their artistic development.” So how does Matt feel he has benefitted from the experience? Matt’s response to this question is simple. “My intention has always been to take the next step in my career by completing a master’s degree. Undertaking a residency
has enabled me to spend time redefining my practice and building a portfolio of work that returns to my roots within illustration, which has ultimately been crucial in securing a place at the Royal College of Art and holding my first solo exhibition at the Menier Gallery in London.” As well as providing free materials and studio space, the role offers the unique prospect of capitalising on the School’s connections, including, for Matt, an opportunity to create a commissioned collagraph on behalf of the School for former Treasurer and current Sheriff of the City of the London, Peter Estlin. But, whilst he appreciates the success he has enjoyed during his time at the School, for him the experience has been about something much more substantial. “What I feel has been most rewarding about this is experience is encouraging more male involvement in the arts, I hope I have proved during my time here that creativity is not a statement on masculinity. On a different level, it has been gratifying to watch a group of individuals grow from unsure new pupils to confident individuals ready to take their next step.” Matt Tate goes on to study for an MA in Visual Communication Design (Illustration) at the Royal College of Art in September 2017. To see more of his work visit matt-tate.co.uk.
Artwork and photo courtesy of Matt Tate. 9
DEVELOPMENT
£150,000 for 150 Years at Witley We are aiming to raise an additional £150,000 for the bursary programme at King Edward’s in this our 150th anniversary year of being in Witley. Emma Harrison, Development Manager, reports.
We are delighted to report that the appeal year has got off to a great start with two sponsored events from some of the youngest and one of the oldest members of our community. We have welcomed seven new members to the Bridewell Fellowship of major gift donors and our 1867 Society of donors giving and pledging £1,000 or
more has grown by four new members. The focus of activity for Stella Baynes and I in the Development Office is now the second King Edwards Telephone Fundraising Campaign of 16 August to 3 September when we aim to call Old Witleians, former staff and current as well as former parents. We hope you will support our endeavours this year.
One of the Bridewell Night Walkers, Theo Negus, Grafton Lower 6th, who was instrumental in raising the sponsorship money from the challenge, made this compelling case for support in his request for donations: “On 14th March I have challenged myself to walk 51 miles overnight with 9 friends, from the City of
London, back to my school in Witley, Surrey. We want to raise money through sponsorship for our school charity - the Bridewell Foundation. Our target is £150,000 which our whole school is undertaking activities to achieve. My friends and I have chosen to walk what is essentially a double marathon distance as our
The Bridewell Night Walkers, with the accompanying staff team, raised over £4,000
New Fellows welcomed in to the Bridewell Fellowship of major donors to the Bridewell Foundation: (l to r) Henry Beltran, the Wispers Trust, Haslemere, Anna Pangbourne, Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust, London, Justine Voisin, Treasurer & Chair of Governors, Paul Whittle, Old Witleian (Wakefield 197380), Rev Dr David Standen and John Standen, current members of staff. With (l to r) representing the Lord Mayor, Alderman & Sheriff Peter Estlin (Grafton 1972-9), HRH the Duchess of Gloucester GCVO, President of Bridewell Royal Hospital, Sir David Wootton, Vice President and John Attwater, Headmaster. Bertie and Rosemary Mawer, members of the 1867 Society of donors giving or pledging £1,000 or more in this financial year, join the Society’s annual Friday night supper with the Headmaster.
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Raised to date. Thank You!
contribution - we don’t expect it to be easy and we have been training hard each week as we try to build up our endurance. The charity which has been in place since the school was founded supports disadvantaged children in getting an education. These children have experienced neglect or violence in their homes,
DEVELOPMENT
or have parents who through disability or mental illness cannot look after them. In some cases the children were actually homeless. I am now privileged to count some recent beneficiaries as my friends”.
For more information about the appeal and to donate visit: www.kesw.org/150Years-at-Witley or https://mydonate. bt.com/charities/ bridewellfoundation Or Email: development@kesw.org
Celebration and Commemoration Bridewell Day Many former staff, former pupils and Friends joined us at Southwark Cathedral and then at Guildhall for Bridewell Day. “Today we are so grateful for the presence of so many key people in our long history”. Sir David Wootton, Vice President. “Today we celebrate our past, present and future. We remember all the good fortunes we have enjoyed through our strong ties with the City and the many sacrifices and contributions of others. It is my duty and honour to thank the City, and to thank all those who have been on the journey with us. We are forever in your debt”. Oyinbebe Kalabare, Head Boy.
Upper Sixth formers Will Kriehn, Amber Standish and Matilda Moss have all been successful in their telephone interviews and will join the call team for the second King Edwards telephone fundraiser this summer gaining valuable work experience.
Holly Tree
Thank you Bob for running your 20th marathon at age 80 for the Bridewell Foundation. It’s not too late to donate: mydonate.bt.com/events/bobandrobsmarathonforbridewell
On 20 April civic guests and Friends of the School joined a special gathering to plant a new holly tree in the School grounds to commemorate 150 Years at Witley. Headmaster chose the holly tree as the Bridewell Mace, which was gifted to us in 1683, is made of holly wood, reputedly from a holly tree that survived the Great Fire of London. A sister holly tree has been planted at St Bride’s Church in London. 11
OLD WITLEIANS
t h g
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Sp n O
Old Witleian Volunteer,Tom Thorpe Tom (Edward 2009-13) graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2016 with a BSc (2:1) in Television and Broadcasting. Despite his very busy university studies Tom stayed in touch with King Edward’s throughout his course, popping back to help Mr Langan with drama productions, to present at
the Annual Careers Fair and, more recently, joining as a formal member on the OWA Committee (dissolved 2016) and Decade Ambassador. This year, as part of the 150 Years at Witley celebrations, Tom is the OW Volunteer multimedia project lead for the Hambledon Boys Oral History Project, which aims
to collect and celebrate the memories of Old Witleians involved in another important move in the School’s history – the move to nearby Hambledon when the School was requisitioned by the Admiralty during the Second World War. Of his motivation to stay in touch with the School Tom says that it’s the people
who pull him back – catching up with teachers like Mrs Harris and seeing younger pupils as they come through the school. Despite a busy schedule in his new job as Production Assistant for Kindle Entertainment, Tom will be at many of our events this year. You’ll most probably spot him attached to the lens of his video camera
as another of the activities he’s keen to progress is the production of a short film focusing on ‘what it means to be an Old Wit’. So do be sure to say hello if you bump into him - and maybe even contribute your thoughts on camera. www.kesw.org/OldWitleian-Volunteers
Diary Familiar faces, new roles
Development & Old Witleian Diary Dates
Since the dissolution of the formal committee in 2016 the work of the Old Witleians Association (OWA) has continued unabated, led as a partnership between the School Alumni Office and a growing group of OW Volunteers.
May Hambledon Boys Oral History Project & Afternoon Tea June 30 Thursday Old Witleians & King Edward’s Golf Day
We are very pleased to announce that Christine Meharg, Senior Staff and Head of IB and 6th Form, 1994 - 2015, has joined us as an Old Witleian Advisor (formerly known as an Honorary Vice President). Christine has institutional knowledge and a wide network for us to tap into, and we look forward to seeing her at School soon. Meanwhile Jane Monnery (née Harms, Queens’ 1979– 1986) has already got stuck in to her new role as 1980s Decade Ambassador, attending a recent OW Volunteers meeting to represent the ideas and thoughts of her peer group, and planning a London based reunion for the 1980s cohort. If you are interested in joining as a representative for your decade then please do get in touch at oldwitleians@kesw.org For more information about the role, and to find out who your Decade Ambassadors are visit www.kesw.org/Old-Witleian-Volunteers
July 1 Saturday Old Witleians Summer Reunion Thinking further ahead? Rev Dr David Standen, the School Chaplain, invites Old Witleians to join the School Christmas Carol Service on the afternoon of Friday 15th December in the School Chapel and afterwards for coffee and mince pies. www.kesw.org/Old-Witleians-Upcoming-Events
Old Witleians sweep the board Old Witleian sports teams swept the board at the Autumn Sports Day in November with wins in football, mixed hockey and netball. Special thanks go to captains Fred Pennell (Wakefield Housemaster, 2015) Sophie Landes (Tudor, 2011), and Bella Dale (current staff & Queens’, 2009) and to all the players who travelled from near and far to join in on a very damp and foggy Sunday proving they’ve ‘still got it’. Join us next time, 19th November 2017, ALL ages and abilities welcome! oldwitleians@kesw.org
August 16 to 3 September Telephone Fundraising Campaign for the Bridewell Foundation September 10 Sunday Heritage Open Day November 10 Friday Remembrance Day Service 19 Sunday Autumn Sports Day December 15 Friday Bridewell Fellows Luncheon (by invitation) 15 Friday (afternoon) King Edward’s School Witley Carol Service January 2018 18 Thursday New Year Drinks at The Enterprise Pub, London (thanks Nick Hill! Wakefield 1978-83)
KESTREL EDITOR, MISS LAURA MEARS 12