The Vigornian - 256th Edition (2020) by King's Worcester

The

Vigornian

2019 / 20

THE KINGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SCHOOL, WORCESTER

The Vigornian 2019/20 Number 256 Editors: Emmah Cameron, Andrew Maund and Emma Kate Trow-Poole Designer: Catherine Perera Published by The King’s School, Worcester Printed by The Graphic Design House © 2020 The King’s School, Worcester

The

Vigornian COMMON ROOM NOTES

ACADEMIC

CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

SPORT

CO-CURRICULAR

PASTORAL

KING’S HAWFORD

103

KING’S ST ALBAN’S

107

OLD VIGORNIANS, DEVELOPMENT TRUST, ARCHIVES & CATHEDRAL

111

Editorial saw the rise of tensions once more in the Middle East, devastating bushfires across Australia, the US president surviving a trial of impeachment and chasms appearing in the British Royal Family. Still, nothing was to prepare us for the fateful arrival of the coronavirus pandemic.

I had always intended my first editorial to be on the importance of reading: a true passion of mine. It is undeniable, however, that we have lived through a year that will never leave the history books and subsequently, my focus for this piece has changed. Generally speaking, historical events of importance are ones that change the current situation, be it economically, physically or socially. An event is important if it served to cause a change in the fabric of all sections of society. When the government’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement gained Royal Assent in January 2020 it seemed as though this was going to be the significant event of the early 21st Century. Little did we know how soon such a divisive issue would become largely forgotten at dinner tables across the country, and the world. The first few months of the new decade quickly proved that this was one not to be forgotten. We

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As COVID-19 rapidly spread across the globe, life for all was transformed almost overnight. With rainbows becoming a symbol of unity, hope and thanks, weekly claps for carers, ‘Stay Safe’ becoming the most common end to any conversation and the number of Zoom quizzes expanding exponentially, could life ever truly be the same? Meanwhile, those in education were challenged with the unparalleled task of providing remote learning across the board. It is true that ‘blended learning’, a mixture of online and traditional classroom methods, has been increasingly talked about among the profession for some years now. Nonetheless, it was something into which most had only dipped their toes. March 2020, however, saw schools with little choice but to dive into the deep end of virtual learning all at once. I can, with sincere honesty, write that I feel very proud to be part of an institution that found opportunities to provide maximum support for all and worked tirelessly to ensure that our pupils were not disadvantaged. The lockdown has also given families the chance to reflect and consider what it is they value as important. Amongst all of the worry for loved ones and juggling the pressures of our ‘new normal’, families are

now discussing equality and democracy as they take walks outside together, try new activities and make memories. What a refreshing moment when you realise the quality of the time you have spent with your loved ones. For King’s it is more apparent than ever that our strength is our community and I hope that the importance of kinship and compassion among people is something that no one living through this year will ever lose sight of. Despite all of this, King’s has proven to be about much more than COVID-19. It’s a year that the strength of the King’s community once again shines bright; the beams of love, hope and friendship have proven to penetrate even the darkest of clouds. It is a privilege to share the 201920 edition of the Vigornian, a publication that has marked our traditions from 1878. I hope that, more than ever, it will be an insight into this remarkable year for future generations. Editorial: Editorial team:

Emmah Cameron Emmah Cameron Andrew Maund Emma Kate Trow-Poole Matthew Hall Charlotte McDonald Jessica Tudor Ezther Horvath Alessia Morris-Gouveia Izzy Hodges

Designer: Proof reader:

Catherine Perera Suzanne Nevitt

A Message from the Acting Headmaster We have faced extraordinary challenges this year yet the features of the King’s community we all value have been strengthened as we have weathered the adversity. The sudden and tragic death of Matthew Armstrong during the summer was an enormous shock to us all and threw the most sombre of shadows over the start of the academic year. While the protracted period of local flooding and then a global pandemic presented further major challenges, it is important that we do not let these eclipse the achievements of so many. I am indebted to my colleagues, who have been inspirational in their determination to do their very best for their pupils; their dedication has provided a wealth of opportunities that enrich the education of our pupils. A record number of CCF recruits completed their initial training and both Army and RAF sections had competition success of which to be proud. We have also seen much sporting success, with first teams victorious over RGS in football, hockey and rugby and every prospect of success in netball and

cricket too had our sporting programme not been interrupted. The Removes took to the stage with John Godber’s irreverent comedy Teechers, receiving great acclaim, whilst over 30 dancers had a memorable experience on the Disney Dance Tour. The senior production of Made in Dagenham was a real spectacle, with a superb cast giving their audience a most memorable experience. Among the highlights for the Music Department this year was the tour to Malta with the Choir and Chamber Orchestra, which took place during the February half-term holiday. They performed two concerts, the latter of which received a standing ovation, as well as a live television broadcast of Mass. Back at home, we enjoyed the world premiere of a largescale choral work about the voyage of the Mayflower and one of its passengers, OV Edward Winslow. The work was commissioned by the School and involved 300 primary school children and the school choir performing in the Cathedral in November. Both the Model United Nations

and debating teams also had great success earlier in the year, which gives great cause for optimism when these activities resume. It has been a privilege to have been the School’s Acting Headmaster this year and I shall always remember the spirit of King’s that has remained undiminished despite the most challenging of circumstances. Jon Ricketts

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Welcome Gareth Doodes Dover College. In this role he implemented a number of innovative curriculum and building programmes as well as overseeing an increase in pupil recruitment. Appointed to his first Headship at Milton Abbey School aged 32, Gareth is the son of a vicar and local politician, was educated at Eastbourne College, studied History at St. Andrews University, and earned his teaching qualification through Cambridge.

Gareth Doodes joined the King’s School, Worcester Foundation in September 2020 as its 36th Headmaster since 1541, as well as CEO of the Foundation’s three schools, having spent six years as Headmaster of

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Gareth began his career at Taunton School as a History Teacher before working in various House and Departmental leadership roles at Oakham School. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2018, he is passionate about schools delivering an holistic education as well as striving for excellence in every aspect of their operation. A member of HMC and The Society of Heads, Gareth served as Chair of

the BSA South East region from 2018 - 2020 and sits on the Society of Heads Education Committee. He has been a newspaper columnist and is a regular contributor to various radio and TV programmes on education and leadership. As Headmaster he teaches History to a Lower Remove class, and is looking forward to getting to know everyone across the Foundation, leading it with love and kindness, enhancing its family ethos and encouraging innovation and creativity in its teaching and co-curricular provision. Married to Jess with two children who both attend King’s St. Alban’s, in his free time Gareth is a political anorak and current affairs junkie who likes to cycle, run, cook, play the piano, organ and sing.

Common Room Notes Departing staff Russ Mason Russ joined King’s in 1984 from Chichester High School for Boys, where his career had begun. As a young, talented teacher with great interpersonal skills it was quickly apparent that he would be an excellent signing for the School. He threw himself into all things King’s and rapidly became an invaluable member of the staff body initially teaching Economics, and also a little Geography and English. His departure brings the end of the direct staff link with the long history of boarding at King’s, with Russ being the last resident Boarding Housemaster to reach retirement. Given Russ’s all-round qualities, it was no surprise that he was appointed as Boarding Housemaster to Choir House. Over the years I have heard countless amusing stories of his five-year stint in this role. For example, I am reliably informed that on one occasion when in charge of the House, Russ and Sue were woken in the middle of the night by a burglar. Without hesitation, and even without time to dress, Russ raced to confront him. The burglar was so terrified he immediately fled through a window onto College Green. Russ wasn’t usually as frightening with his clothes on, though his ties and socks were sometimes pretty challenging. As Head of Department for 25 years Russ demonstrated his expert knowledge in the field of Economics. He introduced A Level Business Studies to the School and was central to the growing popularity of both Business and Economics A Level ever since. He was a teacher who embraced change and took new initiatives in his stride. Students in Russ’s lessons always

had plenty of fun, albeit he took a straighttalking, no-nonsense approach to them. He had that wonderful ability to see the ‘whole student’, taking a keen interest in not only their academic studies, but also their life beyond the classroom. His support of sports’ fixtures, art exhibitions, concerts, Open Mic Nights and school productions enabled him to get the very best out of each and every one whom he taught. He impressed upon his students the need to keep things in perspective and to enjoy their time in the Department; I fondly remember ‘Economics and Business Has Got Talent’ competitions, his organisation of departmental golf matches and his Christmas music quizzes. Russ is a great entertainer who loves to make others smile. I am told that many years ago he would often do his impression of Eric Morecambe for Stephan Le Marchand in the gallery of College Hall on Tuesday mornings. During the hymn, he’d sing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order! Aside from the classroom, Russ played a key role in the extra-curricular life of King’s. He was a regular at the games fields, coaching the 3rd XV for many years. His refereeing for both rugby and football were top notch, where his excellent knowledge of the rules, feel for the game and people skills really came into play. A visible presence, he spent countless hours refereeing rugby matches – often in a pink outfit to distinguish himself from the players – something I won’t miss seeing! For many years Russ was a regular at staff footy on a Friday evening. He was one of the most skilful players, certainly, and also one of the more vocal. There is a long list of staff who made only the one appearance and that was in spite of Russ’s generous and sensitive encouragement. Tom Sharp was

repeatedly instructed to “take that shovel off your foot!” and Russ was always very friendly with the opposition, generously offering to swap shirts with Jo Mosley at the end of one session! Appointed as Director of Marketing and latterly as the School’s Director of External Relations, Russ’s hard-work and professionalism, alongside his infectious personality, enabled him to make many longstanding connections within the Worcester community. He was, and no doubt will continue to be, a popular figure at many OV events, generously offering his time and support to the wider King’s family. Russ’s passion for King’s has always been clear to see and in his role as President of the Common Room he displayed this in abundance. He gave the role his usual energy and efficiency and was always highly approachable to all staff. He will be remembered for his entertaining speeches at Tuesday morning notices. His wit, charm and charisma will be much missed although, above all else, it is his caring nature and unfailing kindness to others that we shall miss the most. Russ was a great teacher, but above all else, a colleague who really cared about his peers and the welfare of others, regardless of their position. Over the past 36 years Russ has been one of those members of staff who can be described as the ‘backbone’ of King’s and his retirement this year will leave a massive hole in not just the Department, but in the wider school community. Russ leaves King’s to spend more time with his wife Sue, their three children and their grandchildren. We wish both Russ and Sue a fun-filled, long and happy retirement. EF

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James Owen There is now one classroom in the English Department where it will always be a bright cold day in April and the clocks will be striking thirteen. Looking around E1, his teaching room while he was with us, one had a sense of the enigma that is James Owen. The walls were emblazoned with inspirational messages and quotations from literature, plus the all-seeing eye of Big Brother above the latest smartboard; there were transparent plastic working walls on which the students were encouraged to write up their thoughts and ideas. But at the window with its wonderful view of College Green there stood an antique desk which would happily have graced the office of a Dickensian lawyer. The ancient desk might have gone, but James’ influence on the English Department continues far beyond the decorations and working walls. Even if when he first arrived in Choir House some colleagues mistook him for a Sixth Stephen Gilbert Stephen Gilbert is certainly one of the most remarkable characters to serve on the King’s teaching staff. He joined King’s in September 2017 with an energy and passion for life that ignited the interest of all who met him. Coming from a career in Politics, his transition into teaching was like all NQTs; a realisation that school holidays still aren’t enough to make up for the intensity of term time! Despite this, his previous career and the skills he had gained brought the Politics Department, and the School, a wealth of excitement. The ‘Vote Stephen Gilbert for the Liberal Democrats’ sign is still in Number 12 (on its original wooden poll), having been brought all the

Former, in the very best of ways it is difficult to remember that James was only on the staff of King’s for two years; he seemed so much a part of the fabric of the place. In the department he revolutionised our approach to common assessment and the use of data, left us breathless in his wake with his remarkable drive and intellectual appetite and always went the extra mile to support his pupils with extra classes, additional work or just a friendly word of encouragement. He always believed in them, even if they didn’t always believe in themselves. I was also privileged to see his work as a Year Group Tutor where once again his dedication to making his group realise the very best they could be was exemplary. James also made a considerable contribution to the sporting life of the school, particularly in football. A semiprofessional footballer himself, he inspired and encouraged his teams at home and away, including when away on tour. However, as a football supporter, he doesn’t really fit the mould. He certainly doesn’t have the engrained thuggery of way from Cornwall by a student. He dived into everything, from Politics Club and MUN to staff debates against Dr Dorsett, quickly gaining a reputation as someone who would say yes to any adventure on offer! It is therefore no surprise, that he was rapidly promoted to School House Tutor. Here he built strong relationships with the students, even after the existing wallpaper spread had been deemed no longer in keeping with the School’s artistic tastes. King’s became Stephen’s home and there is no doubt that he put all his energies into his role, devoting himself almost exclusively during term time. Never lost for interesting or humorous conversation, Stephen was excellent company – from breakfast club to coffee in the Common Room and soda in the Hand and Glove - he will be missed greatly by the King’s community. EJC

a claret and blue wearing Villan from the Holt End; he has more of the cheery, Black Country stoicism of a Baggies fan than the Eeyorish melancholy you would expect of an aptly named Blues supporter. However, St Andrew’s is indeed his home ground of choice. We will very much miss his immaculately turned out, snappily dressed and highly polished enthusiasm and perpetual good humour around the department, his innovation and drive in teaching and his warm and supportive commitment to his pupils. It was no surprise that he was appointed as a Head of Department and we will watch his future career with real interest. It’s not an easy time to be moving jobs, let alone to be taking on a major responsibility, but I know he’ll rise to the challenge and do an inspirational job of it. James leaves with the thanks and appreciation of all his pupils and colleagues for all he has given the school; from one Brummie to another, what more can I say than you’ve been bostin’! AJMM Barbara Harrison Barbara joined the school in 1971, short term, to help with her young, growing family. It was not long before she was soon absorbed into boarding life, making hundreds of beds, clearing up after mischievous young boys, and sorting thousands of socks! Barbara would quite often share the funny stories she could recount from those times. When the boarding ended, Barbara continued to work on the cleaning team and was very often seen walking from building to building with her usual smile and a welcome “Good Morning”. She never completely gave up on making beds, as she regularly helped in the busy SAN. Happy Retirement Barbara, you certainly deserve to hang up your feather duster and put your feet up! Many good wishes from me, the cleaning team and the whole school after 48 years of service. NM

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Duncan King Duncan joined King’s as Academic Deputy Head in April of 2014. I recall his first day with great clarity as, somewhat unfairly, I had landed him with the task of getting a rather excited Upper Remove into height order before the school photo. Undaunted by his charges, Duncan set about his task of bringing order with the quiet determination that would be the hallmark of his career at King’s. Those six years have passed with great speed. Largely, I suspect, because we have been so busy. Duncan has led the academic life of the school through great change and with clarity of expectation and purpose. He has spearheaded our response to GCSE and A Level reform,

Sophie Toland September of 2017 seems a different world away now but that was when we welcomed Sophie to our community from St Swithun’s in Winchester. I think it is fair to say that she quickly made her mark with pupils, colleagues and parents. Her drive, confidence and energy were clear for all to see as she set about enhancing our pastoral care, processes and procedures. Always cheerful, Sophie could always be counted on to identify the nub of any issue and consider every possible solution. Consistently child centred in her approach, she leaves big shoes for those that follow her as she has set the bar high.

revitalised our approach to reporting, enhanced our professional development programme and successfully transformed our Lower Remove curriculum. The list could go on but what sticks in my mind more than these great achievements are Duncan’s human qualities which allowed him to succeed as he did; his calmness under pressure, his insight right into the nub of a problem and his commitment to doing the best for our pupils, to name only a few. Never were these clearer to me than when he set about virtually training staff and pupils on Teams throughout the Easter holiday of 2020. As a teacher of Geography and the EPQ, he impressed his pupils with his subject knowledge and inspirational teaching despite the many plates he had to keep spinning. There are many King’s

pupils who have benefitted from his sheer professionalism and dedication in the classroom.

She leaves behind many pupils who are grateful for the individual care and support that she offered in her three years with us.

innovative, engaging and stimulating for all. Her passion for literature was a major feature of her Sixth Form lessons in particular, even on the trip she organised to possibly the worst stage adaptation of the wonderful novel A Thousand Splendid Suns ever to grace a stage…It is typical of her skill as an English teacher that her constructive approach brought out the positives for her students even in this direst of productions.

Her passion for her subject, English, quickly rubbed off on her pupils and it became clear that she was always prepared to go the extra mile for all those in her care. Her lessons were always dynamic, with her classroom walls (and windows) often festooned with Post-It stickers or scribbled student comments and the students themselves dashing around the room in a frenzy of intellectual excitement. She had a wealth of experience, which she was always more than willing to share with colleagues, and an enthusiasm for and expertise with technology which made her lessons

I am sure that as Duncan heads off to the British School in the Netherlands, as Senior Deputy, that he will miss key areas of life at King’s; the uncertainty of whether the Monitors have left enough seats for the Senior Management Team in College Hall, shopping for hundreds of sandwiches when the electricity supply failed to the kitchens on the day we had scheduled Christmas lunch and the opportunity for quiet reflection in Evensong after a long week. Our community will miss him and his family as they move on after a tremendously successful tenure. JRR

As she and her family head off to St Mary’s in Calne, we will miss her determination to grasp the most challenging of issues firmly, yet, with empathy and sensitivity. JRR

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Jules Price-Hutchinson Jules joined King’s in January 2011 and, nearly ten years later, leaves King’s having inspired so many around her - students and staff alike. She has balanced the best of both worlds - her passion for the arts and her passion for education. All her energies have gone into making sure that her pupils had the best possible experiences and that they developed the skills they needed in their wider lessons and life beyond King’s. When she joined King’s, Jules set about making sure that King’s involvement in wider projects like the Shakespeare Schools Festival, National Theatre Connections and Arts Award had a proper platform to develop and she laid the foundations for the remarkable work that the pupils do and will continue to do. Through the years she has organised a wide range of inspiring theatre visits and workshops. All the classes that she has taught, including the GCSE and A Level exam classes, have flourished under Jules but she has touched most hearts in the amazing productions that she has coordinated in her time here.

is one of the most jaw-dropping pieces ever staged in the JMT. Last year’s 39 Steps was another large-scale triumph – immaculately cast so that she got the very best out of each and every member of that company, whilst the audience laughed their socks off throughout. That joyous effect was also a hallmark of what turned out to be Jules’s final King’s production – February’s performances of Teechers. Due to the COVID-19 closure, the King’s Community has sadly been left with the sense of “the-one-that-got-away” as Jules would have been staging an amazing production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with the Lower Years this June. Pastorally, Jules has more recently been based away from the House system and working as a Form Tutor in Lower Years. This year she has been L4D’s Form Tutor and those pupils could not have asked for better in terms of the support she has given them. The Lower Years team as a whole will miss her as much as the Drama Department will miss her. The King’s community is

saying goodbye to a colleague, to a friend and – as her productions reveal – we’re saying goodbye to an inspiration! Jules is leaving King’s to take up a post as a Personal Tutor at Hereford Sixth Form College. The students there will benefit from her sensitive support and her wealth of experience. In her spare time, she intends to train as a dog groomer - this will not come as a surprise to those who know her well! Jules will be leaving very large shoes to fill. Whilst she has always been happy to stay quietly in the background and let the students’ talents speak for themselves, she has been responsible for so many creative innovations and exceptional artistic experiences that she is leaving an indelible impression. We wish her all the very best in her new role and look forward to welcoming her back as an audience member when we can hopefully reciprocate by giving her as much joy and entertainment as she has given us down the years. SP

For the pupils, one of the standout memories is Animal Farm in 2015. The current Sixth Form who were then Fourth Formers still talk about her heroic efforts, having taken over the production at very, very short notice – only a couple of weeks before the scheduled performances – and bringing it to another production triumph. From the charm of productions like The Summer Garden to the innovation of Shakespeare Schools Festival entries like The Tempest, Jules has provided audiences with outstanding entertainment to complement the amazing experience of the casts and crews of her productions. During her time as a Year Group Tutor in Creighton House, Jules struck up a lasting friendship and wonderful working relationship with Mrs Lorri Guy and their 2015 co-production of The Sound of Music

John Barnard John joined the Geography Department in 2016 for what was expected to be a year’s maternity cover. With a wealth of experience as a former Deputy Head, he was keen for a new challenge both in and outside the classroom. Very quickly staff and pupils valued his personable character, a feature that enhanced many areas of King’s life.

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He gave a considerable contribution to both Boys’ and Girls’ Games, he was an outstanding Year Group Tutor of Wulstan House and he taught Geography with passion across the age range. His warmth, humour, adaptability and enthusiasm brought out the best in others and there is no doubt that we were grateful that he stayed longer than one year. In many respects, four years of service is not that long for King’s staff and had retirement not

called, I suspect he would have stayed for many more. Nonetheless, in this time he made a deep impact on many people which one of his Lower Sixth students summarises perfectly: ““An amazing teacher whose lessons I always looked forward to, absolute legend of the school”. We wish him and his family well in the future; I am certain his retirement will be a busy one. SCC

Richard Geary Richard joined King’s in the January of 1997 after five successful years as the Head of the Chemistry Department at Fiveways in Birmingham. From the outset it was clear that Richard shared many strengths with his predecessor, Frank Loveder. These included a real passion for his subject, detailed knowledge of all aspects of it, and a dedication to maintaining the highest of standards in all areas of the Department. He has always enjoyed his own teaching and it is to his enormous credit that his lessons during the recent lockdown were still up there with the very best being taught around the country. Whilst Richard was known to be fairly strict over things like punctuality (the self-penned “Geary Mean Time” was easily remembered!) and standards of prep, there was never any doubt that he really cared about the progress of his students. It is telling, on a number of fronts, that Richard taught GCSE Set 7 much more frequently than anyone else in the Department; leading from the front came naturally to him.

for 23 years, with little consistent help, was frequently sought out, for good reasons, to help on language trips abroad, and was a highly valued Year Group Tutor in Oswald House for 18 years. His colleagues in the House note what excellent company he always was as well as being someone who

offered wise counsel. King’s has been a way of life rather than just a job for Richard; his three girls were all educated here and his wife Fiona did sterling service at Hawford. His very, very big boots will be hard to fill! MCP

Sue’s new role was to continue the existing Primary School events and to identify and develop other opportunities to promote links between King’s and local primary schools. Sue fulfilled this brief par excellence and during her four years in this role, she created many new opportunities to bring primary school children, their teachers, and often their parents, through the welcoming doors of the King’s School. Her warm smile and engaging personality never failed to show all that King’s has to offer.

The King’s Community would like to say thank you and farewell for all the wonderful work of this year’s GAP students!

In addition to being a fantastic Head of Department, Richard has contributed to many other important areas of school life. He ran a very successful basketball club Sue Mason Sue Mason retired from her post as Primary Schools’ Liaison at the end of the 2019/20 academic year bringing to an end a long and successful career at The King’s School. This began in 1988 when Sue joined her husband Russ Mason to preside over Choir House at 4/5 College Green when Russ had been appointed House Master of Choir House. The role of the House Master’s wife was a very important one. Russ and Sue proved to be an excellent and conscientious team, caring for scores of day and boarding pupils in their charge until 1993. The King’s School was delighted to welcome back Sue when she was appointed to the newly created role of Primary Schools’ Liaison in September 2016. This was a role that Sue was more than capable of fulfilling owing to her long career in primary school education, most recently as Headteacher of Nunnery Wood Primary School. Sue brought to the role her valuable experience of the King’s Foundation as an employee, parent and grandparent, as well as a passion to share the School and its excellent facilities with local primary school pupils.

Josh Moorhouse, Sports GAP Abby Deller, Sports GAP Amelia Clark, Rowing GAP Student Isabelle Palmer, Music GAP Student Laura Morton, Graduate Sports Assistant

In addition to the Primary Schools’ Liaison role, Sue also found time to be an examination invigilator at King’s. I am sure her calm and practical nature helped steady many a pupil’s exam nerves! Sue’s dynamism and passion for promoting King’s was much appreciated by all the people she worked with. She may have retired but I hope that we will welcome her back with Russ at future King’s Foundation events as Honorary OVs. In the meantime, we wish Sue a very happy retirement which, knowing Sue’s drive and energy, will be a very active one. SN

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New staff Jennifer Ellis Jennifer Ellis joins the Art Department this year after teaching for some years in the neighbouring county of Gloucestershire. She completed a Foundation course at Camberwell in London, then a Textiles Degree and Post-Graduate Diploma at Farnham, Surrey, before working as a freelance designer. Then, while living in Edinburgh, she attended the Leith School of Art where she learnt to weave tapestry and continued to work to commission. She completed her PGCE on her arrival in Gloucestershire and has worked at both Denmark Road and Cirencester Deerpark before taking on the joint challenge of Day-Housemistress and Teacher of Art at Cheltenham Ladies College, where she worked for ten years. Most recently she has completed a Masters in Fine Art at Gloucestershire University, graduating with distinction. Her interests beyond school are wide and varied, and include kite flying and making hot air balloons. Sian Lucas Sian Lucas joins King’s this September as a parttime Teacher of English and Lower Remove Year Group Tutor for Creighton House. After reading English at Swansea University, Sian initially trained as a journalist, spending two years working on regional newspapers in North Wales. She then moved to Worcester and embarked on her PGCE in 1993. Once qualified she taught for a number of years at Droitwich High School before moving to the independent sector with English teaching roles in Malvern at St James’s and later Malvern St James, where she taught for many years. Over her long teaching career, Sian has held many positions of responsibility including Head of Department, Head of KS3, School Press Officer, PGCE subject mentor and form tutors to all years. Married with two children, she moves to King’s from The Chase High School, Malvern. As an enthusiastic and experienced English teacher, Sian is looking forward to getting to know her pupils and is excited to be involved in the wider school community.

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Harriet Lacey Harriet Lacey joins King’s this year as a teacher of Biology (maternity cover). As an OV Harriet is excited to return to King’s and has a good understanding of the School and its ethos. She feels fortunate to be returning to such a warm and vibrant community. Harriet has a degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Bristol, in which she was awarded a distinction, and has recently qualified as a Teacher of Biology, having undertaken a career change. Before teaching she had a career in veterinary medicine, which she hopes will provide valuable experience and expertise by giving context to her subject as well as being able to provide those students looking to pursue a career in veterinary medicine with support and knowledge. Harriet looks forward to contributing to the King’s community and cannot wait to get to know the students. Anita Fitzpatrick Anita Fitzpatrick joins the Mathematics Department as a parttime teacher and will be working closely with Oswald House. She began her teaching career in 2005 after completing a PGCE at the University of Birmingham. Anita has spent the last 15 years of her career at Droitwich High School, where she taught all levels of the Mathematics curriculum. She was an Assistant Head of Year, where she gained an insight into nurturing pupils’ needs and discussing the best outcomes for their education and wellbeing. Another aspect of work life from which she found much joy was mentoring newly qualified teachers and student teachers, placing great emphasis on teaching and learning, marking and feedback, alongside behaviour management. Anita stepped down from this role to have her two children, Ashwin (now age 8) and Nikhil (now age 5), working part-time. She is delighted to have joined the King’s family and looks forward to developing pupils both academically and pastorally. Anita is excited to be able to offer table tennis as her co-curricular activity, especially because as a teenager she represented her county and completed some basic coaching certificates.

Adrian Batchelor Adrian Batchelor joins King’s this year as a fulltime teacher of Business and Economics. He was initially attracted to teaching these subjects due to the appeal of topics taught in the classroom being brought to life by examples from daily media reports. Throughout his career Adrian has encouraged students to think independently and assess the validity of information to make their own informed conclusions about current topics. He is a graduate from UCW Aberystwyth and completed a PGCE at Bath University. Having set up his own small business, Adrian can offer first-hand knowledge and examples of many business concepts. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, the outdoors and (reluctantly) numerous DIY chores on a 17th Century cottage. Anna Williams Anna Williams joins King’s this year as Teacher of Drama and Upper Fourth Tutor. Anna began her teaching career in 2015 after studying for her degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Roehampton and completing her PGCE in Secondary Drama at the University of Reading. Anna began her teaching career at a maintained school in Farnborough before taking on a new challenge in the independent sector at Oakham School. During her time teaching Drama, Anna completed her Master’s in Education through the University of Reading with a focus on Leadership and Management. Anna is excited to pass on her passion for academic excellence and creativity to her students at King’s. Wayne McGarvey Wayne McGarvey joins King’s this year as a full-time teacher of History and Politics. As a long-time resident of Worcester, he is very pleased to be teaching at last in a city and community he knows and loves very much. Graduating from Swansea University with a degree in History, Wayne returned to the University to complete his PGCE there. He began his teaching career in Dorset before moving to Prince Henry’s High School in Evesham where he held various positions of responsibility including Head of Department and Head of Sixth Form. Wayne has always been very passionate about both history and politics and hopes to convey that to his pupils both in lessons and beyond the classroom. He has enjoyed his experience so far and has found the King’s community a very welcoming and warm one.

Stuart Ellen Stuart Ellen joins King’s as Contingent Commander of the CCF after a life changing move from Surrey to Shropshire to follow his dream of living in the hills. The outdoors is a huge part of his life, as is his passion for instructing and belief in what the cadet organisation has to offer. Stuart has been part of uniformed cadet organisations and the Army Reserve for over 18 years, serving in many roles and with different cap badges. He studied at the Academy of Contemporary Music and continues to sing and play a variety of instruments. He also runs an outdoor education company, first aid and prehospital care training company and a campsite. In his spare time Stuart volunteers with West Mercia Search and Rescue Team, which is a charity that works alongside the police in a wide variety of specialist search areas, serving the counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. In his spare time, he can be found enjoying the outdoors, outdoor sports and his camper van with his family.

Babies

Dr Kate Mason Dr Kate Mason is a Clinical Psychologist who has joined King’s as part of the Counselling Service. Kate graduated with a Psychology Degree from Plymouth University in 2002 and subsequently spent time working for both the NHS and The Priory Group before gaining her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2010. She then worked in the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for a number of years before setting up a private practice in her home town of Worcester where she offers support for young people and their families as well as Mental Health teaching and training to professionals working with young people. Kate is looking forward to working with Staff and pupils at King’s to develop creative and accessible ways that allow pupils to feel safe, relaxed and confident when seeking out emotional support.

Weddings

Alastair Falzon Kirsty Sargeson and Alastair Falzon were married on 13th August 2020 at Worcester Register Office. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, it was a memorable day and Kirsty and Alastair look forward to celebrating the occasion with members of the King’s community when they are able to do so.

We would like to formally welcome and send congratulations to the proud parents of new additions to the King’s family.

Alexander Hawthorne Alexander was born on 20th September 2019 to Steve and Grace Hawthorne. He has developed a cheeky personality and has an infectious giggle. He loves listening to music and his dance moves certainly rival his father’s!

Theo Joshua Neeves Hand Theo Joshua Neeves Hand was born on 10th October 2019. Josh and Lucinda feel very lucky, and sister Elodie is delighted to have a new playmate. Best of all, the running buggy is getting lots of use again! Grandmother, Liz (Hon OV), Uncle Tom Hand (OV), and all the family are enjoying Theo’s smiles and sense of adventure.

Austin William James Hardy Austin William James Hardy safely arrived 9th April, the perfect distraction during lockdown. Little brother to Felicity (3yrs) who is completely smitten!

Maisy Miller-Symonds Maisy Miller-Symonds was born on 29th June at 9:37 weighing 6.13. It was certainly an interesting time to have a new-born as we began to emerge from lockdown, but it has given us lots of quality time together as a family. Maisy has been a very good girl, enjoying her sleep and milk and giving us lots of smiles.

Luca Thomas Velasquez Luca Thomas Velasquez made a very speedy arrival on Monday 27th July at 4pm, weighing in at 8lb. The family are enjoying getting to know the new addition.

Alby Taylor Amy Taylor and husband Paul welcomed the third addition to their family, Alby Robert Taylor on the 7th February weighing in at 9lb! Alby has been welcomed into the family by big brother Wilson and big sister Betty, both of whom are smitten with their baby brother and rarely give him a moment’s peace!

Jenson Frederick Beard Jenson Frederick Beard was born on the 23rd April weighing 7lb5oz. He is a very happy little lad, trying to crawl at just 4 months old! Looking at himself in the mirror is his favourite game and he has spent many hours enjoying the outdoors on walks with Lorna. His family love him to bits!

Floriana Borrillo Sophie Borrillo-McLellan and husband Daniel were delighted to welcome a little girl in the Spring. Floriana Katharyn Lyra Borrillo made a surprise and very welcome early appearance on Friday 17th April weighing 6 Ibs 7ozs. A little sister to Valentina who is completely thrilled and a very proud and helpful big sister.

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! n w o d k c Lo

Student reflections under lockdown Izzy Hodges Lockdown has been an experience; my friends and I have tried all sorts of new and crazy things! From online quiz sessions to baking banana bread, trying social media fitness crazes to reading new books, completing House marathons to studying online courses: we have done it all. It’s been great to spend more time with family, but everybody really misses seeing their friends and grandparents. On the bright side, we can now buy as much toilet roll and soap as our hearts desire, and online lessons mean we can connect with everyone and return to normality as much as possible.

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Matt Hall Lockdown has been a trying time. There have been many long afternoons, dull activities partaken purely to try and get through weekends, and moments of genuine loneliness and sadness. Despite this, looking back on it, there has been much joy, too. Watching family boxsets and films have given plenty of discussion points and brought the family together. School work has been, in many ways, efficient and enjoyable, and the new-found spare time has given me the opportunity to try to better myself, especially through improving fitness which has kept me motivated. Lockdown has been difficult for mental health and loneliness, however, it has also taught very valuable lessons about friendship and appreciating the small things in daily life. I think, many will relate to missing the small things at school and will cherish them when we return.

Alessia Morris-Gouveia Having been in lockdown for almost three months in the UK now, life has turned very… strange. Watching everything unfold from the confinement of your own home makes isolation feel safe and reassuring, except in reality it’s not. I found breaking away from the normal routine easy at first, but as the weeks and months pass, you start to feel less comforted by the familiar four walls of your house. Being away from school is hard, and you find yourself losing motivation to focus on work. Yet, I am lucky. Not everyone has the luxury of remote learning with actual live lessons. For me, however, what has been great about lockdown is watching others rediscover their passions, whether it’s music or baking – we have all found amazing ways to keep our days full.

Jess Tudor I wouldn’t say that life under lockdown has been easy, but it hasn’t been really hard either. I think for my parents it’s been a plus as I have more time to participate with the cooking, washing and cleaning. Online lessons do tire me out (my fault for picking all essay subjects), so for me the workload is slightly different than before, just with more breaks! I enjoy making myself regular cups of tea and studying outside- weather permitting of course- as well as the longer deadlines, teachers have generously given us. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to coming back to a new normal in September.

Eszter Horvath To put it simply, the year hasn’t exactly been a piece of cake. Looking back, each month of 2020 seems to hold a new apocalyptic development. January posed the imminent threat of war, followed by fires in Australia, locusts swarmed in Somalia, and all this before COVID-19 began making an appearance in the UK. It appears the ancient Mayan prophecy was only seven years premature. For students, it has been a challenge to say the least. Nevertheless, we persevere, taking comfort in the rare opportunity to sleep enough, dress comfortably and read. As measures gradually ease, the readjustment to social life has also presented somewhat of a challenge. Even so, students can rest assured that despite heartbreaking headlines and the uncertainty of what the future holds, ‘this too shall pass.’

Charlotte MacDonald Lockdown proved a very challenging time for me as I am a very sociable person. Being told I was not able to see my friends or experience the same interaction with staff and peers was something I had to quickly adapt to. Nevertheless, the online learning and new ways to reach friends exceeded my expectations for these months. Celebrating my birthday amid the strictest restrictions was something I had never expected to experience; however, my closest friends were amazing at making the day as special as it possibly could be. All of this meant that returning to School in September was much anticipated and I couldn’t wait to be back in the King’s community!

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Evacuation to North Wales 80 years on: The King’s School, Criccieth, 1939-40 A crisis both national and global; a halt to all teaching on College Green; a hit to the School’s finances; an unexpected change of leadership: these may sound familiar and recent problems, but many of the same issues faced the staff and pupils at King’s eighty years ago, as the Second World War broke out in Europe. Comparisons between COVID-19 Britain and the Second World War have become a habit recently, particularly amongst those hoping their nation will rise again from its latest dark hour, to defeat coronavirus and send the unseen enemy packing. Anyone wary of the potential abuse of History need hardly puzzle long over why the 1940 of Churchill and ‘Britain alone’ has sometimes been revived by our current leaders. Less is said about Neville Chamberlain, preparations made too late, shortcomings in economic mobilisation or military debacle in Norway. Germany’s government seemed to navigate more sure-footedly through the early stages of the pandemic without references to any wartime past. Even so, a look back at King’s around the start of war in 1939 may still be a timely diversion. For the King’s community, war in 1939 hardly came out of a clear, blue sky. Despite the short-lived relief at the outcome of the Munich crisis of September 1938, celebrated with a ‘half holiday’, pupils and staff continued to follow European events closely and with alarm. The editors of The Vigornian reflected in December 1939, ‘Perhaps many of us surmised, when we broke up for the summer holidays, that it might be in wartime that we should find ourselves reassembling.’ Yet only the Headmaster, Longworth Wilding, had any notion of the immediate impact that hostilities would have upon King’s. Wilding had received bad news in late 1938. A letter from the Ministry of Works in London informed him that the School had been identified as suitable premises to accommodate the Air Ministry should the national government have to leave its capital. King’s was not the only school in the area to receive similar bad news: Malvern College had to prepare to make way for the Admiralty. The letter came with no offer of alternative accommodation. Headteachers were expected to make their own preparations for evacuation, and to do so in complete secrecy. After seeking clarification Wilding was permitted to confide in his Chair of Governors. The decision to evacuate King’s to Criccieth, a small seaside resort on the

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The beach at Criccieth. Caerwylan Hotel is on the left.

that the staff were also upset by the Sunday closure of all public houses in Wales. The first that parents and pupils learned of the Criccieth evacuation was a letter sent by Wilding on 7 September, just four days after war had been declared. For boarders, the relocation to the seaside perhaps held the prospect of adventure. Day pupils and their parents were r rangements fo them of the ar faced with a more difficult ing m or inf s nt r to pare iccieth Wilding’s lette evacuate to Cr decision. In addition to the School to separation from families and the restrictions of boarding life facing their Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales was entirely sons, parents would be expected to find the Wilding’s choice. At such a distance from boarding fees. And no one could say how Europe or any British industrial centre, long the stay in Criccieth would last. As parents could feel reassured that their sons many as 60 day boys, probably more than would be safely accommodated in guest half the total, took up the offer to transfer to houses, with each room equipped with the Royal Grammar School rather than take the unaccustomed luxuries of basins with the specially-chartered train to Caernafon hot and cold water. Moreover, Criccieth, on 23 September. with its south-facing beaches enjoyed a microclimate comparable with the Those day pupils who did make the journey Cornish Riviera. This was the positive spin to North Wales found themselves allocated emphasised in a letter from an anonymous to School House, Castle or The Hostel, but ‘on message’, fifteen-year-old scholar each separately lodged in the Caerwylan published in the Evening News and Times Hotel, Glanislwyn House or The Pines. on 14 November for a Worcester readership. Hostel came under the supervision of Mr Longland now that Mr Pedder had left to A less positive assessment of Criccieth join the staff of the Royal Naval College, was provided by Wilding’s assistant in Dartmouth. Other teachers took rooms in School House, the History teacher and nearby guest houses or rented properties. tutor Valentine Wrigley. In Wrigley’s view, Wilding had been too influenced Teaching facilities left something to be by happy childhood associations and desired. Most lessons took place in The considerations for his own health; Criccieth Towers, a rundown and otherwise disused was ‘in every other way totally unsuitable.’ establishment some distance from the In retrospect the absence of any library, boarding accommodation, on the far science laboratories or adequate playing side of Criccieth‘s castle mound. The fields would have been better addressed rooms were smaller than conventional by ‘moving in’ with another school, as classrooms, but then so too were class Kingswood did by joining Uppingham, sizes. Alec MacDonald and his wife offered or Malvern College in its later evacuation some reminders of home life, inviting to Harrow. It is just possible, of course, groups of boys to evenings listening to

the gramophone. Wrigley arranged a visit to Conway Castle and adapted the annual history essay competition to local circumstances, the choice being between an essay on ‘Owen Glendower’ or writing diary extracts from a Criccieth resident of 1284 – the year in which Edward I paid three visits to Criccieth castle while the English took hold of North Wales. On the beach staff improvised games of hockey. Efforts were made to continue the routines of school life with daily prayers at 9am in the parish (episcopal or English) church, a full timetable with games afternoons and the continuation of clubs and occasional lectures. A degree of added militarisation soon found its way into daily experience. In the absence of bells, a bugler from the School’s Officer Training Corps (OTC) sounded réveillé and summoned pupils to the cookhouse door. The OTC band took itself seriously with regular Saturday morning practices on the Parade. The reaction of Criccieth residents to this weekend treat is not recorded. The OTC platoons assisted the Local Defence Force with patrols of the coast scouring the sea for signs of an invasion force, while field day in June also reflected recent developments in warfare. Whereas during the First World War trenches had been dug on College Green (only to be refilled when an invasion of rats brought verisimilitude to unwelcome levels), the June 1940 training took the form of an exercise to round up parachutists before they could carry out acts of sabotage against key installations. As always, these manoeuvres prompted a lively discussion between the two opposing ‘teams’ over the precise extent of damage inflicted. In a verdict reminiscent of Dad’s Army, it was eventually declared that all the attacking forces had been killed by the defence, some several times over. Other effects of the war were less comic. One new source of pupils in the months before September 1939 had been European refugees sent to Britain by parents at the receiving end of new, repressive regimes. The register of new pupils gives details of German and Italian boys including Thomas Schulhof of Grunewald near Berlin, who arrived in September 1938, and Peter Korolansje from Vienna in May 1939, shortly after Austria had been absorbed into Hitler’s expanding German Reich. Most are listed as being under the care of British guardians, indicating that their parents had been unable to accompany their children to Britain. Several never returned to Europe but instead became naturalised British citizens, often anglicising their names in the process, going on to pursue careers in areas as diverse as agriculture, education, the law or even the BBC.

Among the European exiles were two Italian brothers, Asturo and Cesare Vivante. Their case suggests many King’s School boys did not understand the plight of their new European class-mates, or see the war in terms of defending freedoms and combatting persecution. Near the end of the School’s time in Criccieth, Italy joined Germany in the war, immediately bringing the Vivante brothers to the attention of the Aliens Department of the Home Office. Whilst the younger brother, Cesare, could be overlooked, the sixteen-year-old Asturo was a different matter. He soon became the victim of the panic in Britain that followed the collapse of France. Fascist agents were feared everywhere. Wrigley, now in charge of School House after Wilding’s departure, later recalled how the local police sergeant arrived at the Caerwylan Hotel for Asturo. Wrigley protested. Apart from the fact that Asturo would remain under the near constant supervision of school staff, Wrigley pointed out there were no military or other facilities of any possible interest to an agent of an enemy government in Criccieth. The sergeant was unmoved. Asturo was taken away for internment. The incident was remembered by another pupil for the 1992 history of the King’s School. He recalled the general supposition among the boys that Asturo’s father was a member of the Italian Fascist Party, a supporter of Mussolini or even a member of the Italian government. The timing of the brothers’ arrival in January 1939, and the fact they spent their holidays with a guardian in Porthcawl, Glamorgan, make the notion highly improbable at best. On the contrary, Wrigley believed the boys’ parents were Jewish anti-Fascists, arrested by the Italian authorities for distributing literature critical of the Italian government. The fact that there were vehement antiFascists and anti-Nazis in Europe, whose hopes rested on Allied victory, may have been a concept too subtle for some boys to grasp, more used to viewing conflict through the conventional lens of national struggle. To be fair, the misconception was not so far from British official thinking, where the attitude mirrored Churchill’s instruction to his War Cabinet regarding ‘enemy aliens’, to ‘collar the lot’.

Cesare Vivante left King’s soon after to study at Oundle School and Trinity College, Cambridge before returning to Italy in the late 1940s. Asturo’s fate is less clear. He didn’t return to King’s and the register hints that he was among several thousand Italians sent for internment to Canada. Whether or when his parents learned of this, how they felt about it, or indeed what was their own fate, are not known. As in Worcester, what happened outside lessons absorbed much of the energy of pupils and staff. Opportunities for conventional sports fixtures against other schools in North Wales were virtually nonexistent, despite regular practices, given Criccieth’s remote location and restrictions on transport during wartime. Just one rugby match took place, an uneven and best-forgotten contest against a heavier, older RAF team from nearby Penrhoss, played beneath circling Handley Page Heyford bombers. The post-match reception in the mess bar, hosted by the RAF players, was long remembered though, particularly since the master in charge obligingly remembered his pressing prior engagement in Criccieth and left the boys to make their own way back. Abraham Lincoln was chosen by Alec MacDonald as the main school play of that year, the achievements and life of the US President and civil war leader no doubt meant to inspire the School in its own fight against oppression and brutality. One senior pupil hoping for a role was John Ward. As Captain of School, Ward was just the kind of pupil relied upon to play an energetic part in extra-curricular life. His ‘weak chest’, probably more accurately described as asthma, meant his involvement in games was limited to coaching, but he edited The Vigornian and relished the chance to take part in any dramatic production. He had a leading part in School House’s contribution to the Christmas entertainments, writing and staging a short farce entitled The Refund. A satire on the theme of ‘dumbing down’, The Refund centred around a former pupil, Wasserkopf, returning to his old school to demand the repayment of his tuition fees because, he said, he had learned nothing in his time there. In order to resolve the matter Wasserkopf is prepared by the school staff to resit his

A letter home from Willie Sayce highlights one problem of Cambrian exile. Elsewhere he stopped short of complaint about boarding life but took care to remind his mother of the benefits of his being at home, where he would be able to ‘help you and Daddy with different things [and] this I miss very much.’

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examination. Given his conviction that two apples and four apricots make 27 pairs, he seems set to prove his case but is thwarted by the skill of his teachers, who contrive to make certain that he cannot fail. The review in The Vigornian noted, ‘This was a brilliant skit on school life and on one school in particular.’ Wasserkopf’s eventual pass owed much to the work of Mr Gently, played by Ward himself, a barely disguised version of the formidable real-life Mr Bentley, Housemaster of Castle.

three or four years away. Ward’s treatment was limited to cold sponging and beef tea, the latter reflecting little more than the view, widely held but clinically doubtful, that any drink derived from a bull must confer the strength of the animal to the recipient. The treatment failed. Ward died at Criccieth on 19 March 1940. If his parents managed to see him before he died, it is not recorded. He was an only child.

Spring Term ended early and with less merriment. One fortunate consequence of the School’s evacuation was that it escaped the worst of the exceptionally harsh winter of 1939-40 but King’s fared less well against the usual range of winter illnesses. In a period with only limited vaccinations, seasonal illness was an annual hazard for any boarding school, with some form of institutional quarantine a measure commonly adopted. Appropriately, German measles was the first to leave its mark in early 1940, followed in due course by an epidemic of mumps. The severity of the latter outbreak led the newly reinstalled headmaster, Cuthbert Creighton, to dismiss the School early for Easter. Whether the dispersal of pupils around the country, mainly on public transport, was a sensible measure from a public health perspective may be questioned.

Ward would not be the only member of the School during its Criccieth period to meet a tragic and premature death. In some respects, the School had escaped the level of war-related bereavement that it must have anticipated at the time of its initial evacuation. During the autumn and winter of 1939-40 the expected bombing of British cities did not happen, and the British Army was yet to see serious fighting. There is some irony that this ‘phoney war’ ended at the very time King’s was given permission to return to Worcester for the start of the new academic year. As boys and staff said their farewells to Criccieth and its residents in late June 1940, France had been overrun and the remnants of much of the British Army hurriedly rescued from Dunkirk. Although it would take time for news to reach the School, the first Old Vigornian to be killed in the war had died in the defence of France. That summer more OVs would be involved in the Battle of Britain.

The premature end of term meant the abandonment of Abraham Lincoln. John Ward, star of The Refund, was too unwell to make the journey home and remained in the sick bay. Recent infection combined with his weak chest had left him with serious pneumonia. Although by this time groundbreaking research on penicillin was being carried out at Oxford University, human trials and large-scale production were still

Despite all this, the government had decided against following the French example of abandoning its capital during an invasion. Before the end of the summer term, Creighton learned that King’s would be allowed to return to College Green for September. It was as well that it did. By that time the number of boys had shrunk to just 96. Wrigley reckoned than another year in Welsh exile would have closed the School permanently.

The School left Criccieth on 27 June 1940, the great majority taking the train from Caernafon. Three intrepid individuals decided to hike across mid Wales to Worcester, and then on to Snowshill to rejoin their friends at the annual Harvest Camp. The immediate future of the 1940 leavers was likely to involve war-related work of some kind. Those set to return in the autumn probably looked forward to resuming their education in more familiar surroundings. The School had survived its most difficult period though and, to the great relief of the governors, the war did not seem to prevent a recovery in pupil numbers. The return to College Green brought back nearly all those who had migrated to the Royal Grammar School. By the middle of the war numbers even surpassed their pre-war level, possibly helped by the appointment of Ronald Kittermaster as headmaster in 1942. At 42 he was likely to offer more dynamic leadership than the 66-year-old Creighton, revered but austere. It may now seem that, having survived its darkest hour, the School could move towards sunlit uplands. This probably appeared less certain at the time. Those searching for encouragement in present difficulties will find some reassurance in the School’s wartime experience and recovery. The response of staff and pupils in meeting the demands of the moment in 1939 was remarkable. There is much to admire in the way they adapted to new conditions, made the best of things and tried to play their part. But they didn’t always get things right. They faced tragedy and did their best to carry on. Some of the issues facing them then seem curiously familiar now; others are wholly dissimilar. A student of these earlier upheavals can hope to gain greater perspective on the present but should not expect any easy lessons for our own times. TRS

School House outside Caerwylan Hotel in 1940. Valentine Wrigley had taken charge after the departure of Longworth Wilding. Cesare Vivante stands in the middle row, fourth from the left. On the right of Wrigley sits Pat Hulme, who replaced John Ward as House Captain. Hulme was killed in Normandy in 1944.

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ACADEMIC

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Art Department Lower School

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Exhibition of Fourth Form work

Drawing workshop with artist in residence Ian Murphy

Exhibition by artist in residence Ian Murphy

GCSE Trip to St Ives

Drawing workshop with artist in residence Ian Murphy

5th Form pupils working in the Tate Gallery on the annual GCSE trip to St. Ives.

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Pupils being taught screen printing by visiting artist Catherine Bowdler

Parents, pupils, friends and family participating in the Big Draw.

Printmaking workshop with pupils from a local primary school

Critical Analysis: ‘Head of E.O.W. II’, Frank Auerbach, Oil on canvas, 1961 depicts one of Auerbach’s main models, Stella ‘Estella’ West . One of three principal models throughout Auerbach’s career, Stella, or ‘E.O.W’, was a close friend who modelled for most of his nudes and female heads prior to 1973. He said ‘I find myself simply more engaged when I know the people. They get older and change; there is something touching about that, about recording something that’s getting on.’ Personal connection enables him to gauge the persona and subsequent approach to his portraits.

The value of capturing likeness versus character in portraiture is a highly contentious subject. Frank Auerbach (1931) states that ‘If something looks like a painting it does not look like an experience; if something looks like a portrait it doesn’t really look like a person.’ Auerbach’s statement provides an interesting standpoint from which to view ‘Head of E.O.W. II’. Auerbach debunks the misconception that portraiture encapsulates physical likeness alone and believes it should also include the character or ‘essence’ of a person. In this way, identity is not just established through aesthetics, in the same sense that we cannot evaluate someone’s character by seeing. Congealed, cloying and syrupy, ‘Head of E.O.W. II’ exemplifies Auerbach’s distinctive sculptural paint application. The work

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The colour palette comprises saturated volcanic colours such as yellow ochre, Indian red and diluted brown, although there are whispers of blue which serve as focal points like jewels embedded in the earth. The palette generates a raw, organic aspect, reflecting Stella’s characteristic boldness and animated energy. Auerbach does not restrict his use of undiluted black to illustrate the stark shadows. Similarly, he uses pure white to highlight the side of the neck, effectively tinged with yellow which seeps through from underneath. Auerbach’s approach is testament to his endeavour to convey an accumulated experience of the model’s presence which comprises her essential character. The laden canvas, having been worked over repeatedly, protrudes into the surrounding space, developing a profound threedimensional property. The painting verges on sculpture: the density of the material bestows it with a luscious, tangible quality. This vividly reveals Auerbach’s exploitation of the tactile, coagulative oils to capture Stella’s changing and aging character. Thick paint layers add

another plane, conveying dimensions of personality and the accumulation of years of experience, which a flat surface cannot express. A sense of movement is imbued within beads of paint suspended down the canvas, suggesting that their desiccation has halted their descent. Crucially, the reflective qualities of the dried paint accentuate the sculptural aspects. A multitude of layers generate shadows and dapples of light of their own, demonstrated where the glutinous sheen of paint swells and undulates as a heart pulsates beneath skin. Ultimately, familiarity between Auerbach and his sitters allows him to adopt a more elaborate approach, less fixated on structure and composition and more invested in conveying the personal relationship. There is something bountiful, yet not excessive, about Auerbach’s paintings: his liberal use of the paint generates lavishly heaped mountains and craggy terrain which command a reverence for the work and provide a narrative for the sitter’s character. This mass of medium demands the viewer to visually excavate Auerbach’s perceptions and sensations at the time of painting, buried in this landscape of character. The artist describes likeness as ‘A very complicated business indeed’ , bringing us back to the opening quote: ‘If something looks like a portrait it doesn’t really look like a person.’ The ‘likeness’ Auerbach refers to is synonymous with essence, and generating it relies on the intrinsic link between ‘experience’ and ‘person’, as for him, a portrait without a personal connection is only an image. Annie Park

GCSE work

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Parents’ printmaking evening class

After school ceramics club with visiting artist

Exhibition of paintings by artists Sue Firmin and Trudi Fogo in the Sir Terry Frost Gallery.

Pupils work selected for The Royal Academy’s Young Artists Summer Show 2020

Sixth Form Trip to Berlin

Pupils work selected for The Royal Academy’s Young Artists Summer Show 2020

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Sixth Form

work

Milly Thompson

Faith Murray

Annie Park

Heather Crowte

Ellen Copeman

Molly Brenwald

Libby Griffiths Garbett

Ellen Copeman

Alex Ward

George Monce

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Business & Economics Department

Learning about Business in the real world Business has often been described as a subject that looks at organisations on ‘ground level’, developing a student’s understanding of how and why something would affect a business and their ability to achieve their aims. In this way, as A Level Business students, it is vital that we not only learn what is set out on the exam specification, but also how these theories and ideas relate to businesses in the real world. This makes visits, such as that of our trip in October to ‘Cotswold Collections’, a crucial part of not only theoretical learning, but also fully understanding how these theories and ideas come into play within a real company. Cotswold Collections, based in Cheltenham, is a small firm targeting the 65 plus female market. With a growth in sales of 40% over the last 3 years, the business has reached £11 million sales per annum. The company’s ‘lean and focused’ approach has stemmed from them being a relatively small firm and it was this that became the focus of our visit. The creative side of the business is controlled by Managing Director, Jane Cheeseman, and finance and operations are controlled by the Finance Director, Tom Brown; providing the firm with clear and direct leadership. We were particularly interested in finding out how keeping a company small benefitted their operations. Using our knowledge of organisational structures within businesses, we were able to deduct that Cotswold Collections’ ‘clear, simple and flat’ structure benefitted them greatly and enabled them to make quick decisions. A prime example of this was their move into the American market. Impressively, this took only a handful

of weeks from their initial intent, to going live in this market – a speed of movement which provided the potential to give them a first mover advantage. We were also able to benefit from a valuable lesson in motivation, as keeping their team small helps to make their procedures easier to grasp. This means every employee has a greater understanding of the business and their overall company message, enabling them to meet their company needs. Business Teacher, Mr. Williams, who worked for 18 years as a senior operational manager in a large corporation, knows only too well the difficulties in having large and bureaucratic organisational structures. Through this, we were able to see the great benefit to a firm in having a simple structure and fewer employees, learning that it is far easier to inspire a small team to be passionate. During the visit, we were able to gain an insight into key marketing elements of Cotswold Collections, an important and diverse topic explored in the Edexcel A-Level specification, helping us to consolidate knowledge and add context to our course. Cotswold Collections targets the older and affluent population and offers exclusive and unique collections, which are designed inhouse, allowing women to remain stylish, with clothing ranging from essentials to luxury. The Product Development Team ensures that the clothing provides comfort and is an excellent fit for their customers. Trends are adapted to create classical-style garments to fit in with their portfolio. Cotswold Collections prides

‘Economics in Action’ at Warwick University

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Emily Wood and Evie Lyman at Cotswold Collections

itself on their excellent customer service, including personal attention during calls, elegantly presented parcels, an alteration service, free UK returns and deliveries, all of which improve the customer experience. Exclusivity is vital as clothes can only be bought from Cotswold Collections themselves, via mail order, online or telesales. From this, the importance of differentiation was highlighted to us, conveying the significance of a strong USP (exclusivity and customer service) and brand image within niche markets, in order to create a successful business. In addition, we were able to learn lessons about the importance of quality, supplementing the knowledge we had already acquired from the course. Cotswold Collections source high quality fabrics from across the world and manufacture over 50% of their garments in Britain. Along with this, they have a close relationship with their suppliers, regularly visiting them to help maintain a high level of quality. Each style of clothing is tested before it is approved for production. This was a great opportunity to understand how businesses implement quality control in practice, giving us an insight in the workings of businesses in the ‘real business world’, learning beyond the specification limits. Overall, this was an excellent trip in order to understand and appreciate how concepts learnt in the classroom apply in practice, allowing our knowledge to be put into context. We would like to thank Mr Williams and Mrs Friend for organising this visit. Hannah Latham and Niamh Peckston In November, a group of Upper Sixth Economists enjoyed a day out at Warwick University attending an ‘Economics in Action’ conference. The students listened to a series of talks on a range of topics including, “Is the UK economy really growing?” and “Applying behavioural economics to policy and social problems” before being treated to an engaging and lively presentation on financial market crashes by popular broadcaster and former University Challenge contestant, Bobby Seagull.

The Budget Challenge Three Upper Sixth economists (Will Banner, James Banner and Harry Flockhart) entered the Institute of Economic Affairs’ 2020 Budget Challenge Competition. The first round of this entailed writing a fifty-six page dissertation outlining the UK’s current macroeconomic conditions and forecasts for the next two years, an overview of the broad fiscal policy and strategy in response to these, and an in-depth analysis of government expenditure and taxation. Notably, the team’s budget emphasised environmental sustainability in response to

the climate crisis. This was achieved through both increasing spending on environmental protection and imposing new taxes on water bottles and disposable plastics. The team also adapted existing taxes such as income tax and air passenger duties, as well as scrapping the tampon tax, in order to respond to political issues. As a result of finishing in the top ten nationally, the team were invited to attend the National Final at the IEA’s headquarters in Westminster. Unfortunately, COVID-19 meant this event was cancelled days before

schools closed, but the team were still able to submit their presentation digitally. The final was won by Brighton College, but the King’s team received certificates and a prize of £50. The IEA’s Christiana Stewart-Lockhart commented: ‘This year we had a record number of entries and the overall standard was very high, so the teams that made it to the final have all done very well’ and added that it was ‘good to see serious engagement with issues of public policy on the part of young people applying their economics studies to national political issues in this way.’

Dragons’ Den 2020 In recent years the Lower Sixth Business students have rounded off the first year of their A Level course with a King’s School version of the Dragons’ Den. In this high-pressure exercise, the students work in small teams to develop a business plan, then pitch their product or service to an external business audience in the John Moore Theatre. The COVID-19 crisis obviously disrupted the normal way of working, but the Department decided the event had proved of such value in developing students’ business awareness and all-round skills that it was worth continuing with via Microsoft Teams. This decision proved to be a wise one, as the Lower Sixth students rose to the challenge and produced some innovative ideas and wonderful business plans. Their presentations were viewed “live” in the last week of the summer term by four Dragons with a wide range of business experience, to whom the School owes a huge debt of gratitude. The four Dragons this year were: • Vicky Longster (OV), Virgin Atlantic • John Roberts, NFU Mutual • Martin Sharples, founding director of Amazon.co.uk • Jodie Wrout, previously of HSBC, now a property entrepreneur In a very close contest, the team chosen as the winners of KSW Dragons’ Den 2020 were Build-a-Bar, who pitched a garden accessory which filled a gap in the market created by the COVID-19 impact on the hospitality sector. This team provided a very organised presentation and impressed with both the quality of their product, their understanding of the local supply chain and the ethics of their business. The Build-a-Bar team comprised Managing Director Charlotte MacDonald, Jess Brown, Arun Saimbi and Owen Marles. It wasn’t just the winning team that impressed the Dragons though. On the final day of term, “Dragon”, Martin Sharples spoke to all

Business students via Teams and explained the Dragons had really liked “the way the students had adapted to the current pandemic and looked for commercial opportunities within that environment ... coming up with plans which also contributed to wider community and society”. He said the Dragons were “blown away by the quality of presentations and the maturity shown in responding to questions”. Gwyn Williams, Teacher, Business & Economics Whilst not the typical King’s School Worcester Dragons’ Den experience, having the opportunity to go through the process of creating and pitching a business idea to professionals, despite being in lockdown, has been a really useful experience. It gave us the chance to put our subject knowledge of Business to practical use, with the competitive nature of the process pushing us to scrutinise our work more thoroughly, just as any business would need to do in order to survive in a competitive market. During the process, we were put into small teams of 3 to 4 people, each member being allocated a role to manage certain aspects of the business, such as Finance or Marketing. In my experience, these small teams allowed for good communication between the members and gave every person in the team an equal voice, which was especially important given we were not together in person. This made it easy to come up with business ideas we all agreed on, with our team’s idea being hammocks to capitalise on the warm summer weather and need to stay at home. Effective teamworking also enabled us to put together a final business plan that was coherent and (hopefully) persuasive.

When presenting, our team found one of the most difficult aspects was making our pitch more concise, as we had rather short time frames to outline a large amount of information to the Dragons. Along with this, we faced a few technical glitches throughout our presentation, which we had to overcome by thinking on our feet, just as business people have to do in the “real world”. Despite this, whilst it was strange presenting online from home, rather than on stage in front of a live audience, in a sense it allowed for more confidence when communicating business ideas to the Dragons, leading to stronger pitches overall. The process was definitely worthwhile, having given us a far better understanding of how a business is created and functions. Jack Smith, Business student After taking part in Dragon’s Den myself as a student at King’s, I was honoured to be invited back as a “Dragon”. The Dragon’s Den exercise is a great initiative which puts the students under immense pressure and gives them a little taste of the business world. I was really impressed by the students’ confidence in presenting and their resilience during the questioning by myself and my fellow Dragons. I can see there are some great entrepreneurial minds in the year group and that they will go far if they decide to pursue a career in business. Vicky Longster, Virgin Atlantic The Vigornian

The Mason Prize for Economics Winner Following on from many years of awarding the Rabjohns Prize for Economics, the department is delighted to announce a new award, named after former Head of Department, Russ Mason (HonOV), which will be known as The Mason Prize for Economics. It will be awarded each year to the stand-out Upper Sixth economist. The first recipient of the prize, which this year was based on an essay competition, is William Banner (Bright House) and an example of his work can be seen below. Introduction and the Impacts of COVID-19 on UK Macroeconomic Performance The UK economy has been pushed into recession by the COVID-19 pandemic and a longer period of economic depression can be expected – in the first quarter of 2020 the UK economy shrunk by 2% as measured in GDP terms. (Sharma, 2020) France and Italy saw much bigger contractions of 5.8% and 4.7% respectively in the first quarter, where lockdowns were imposed two weeks earlier. (Islam, 2020) The UK government only initiated lockdown at the end of March and so the second quarter is expected to decline by a much more severe 30% - in part due to business investment falling by 26%. The overall projection for 2020 at this stage is for the UK economy’s value as measured by GDP to decrease by 14%. (HoneycombeFoster, 2020) This is larger than previous estimates of 10% by Oxford Economics and the colossal damage can only start to be comprehended when compared to the devastating 2008 Financial Crisis where GDP fell by 6%. (BBC Newsnight, 2020) The high levels of uncertainty in the economy will prolong the downturn and lead to more capital flight from economies such as the UK and the USA where the pandemic has hit worse. (Adrian, 2020) Despite the start of the turmoil, the UK CPI inflation rate was still close to the target 2%, within the acceptable 1-3% range, at 1.5% in March. (Bank of England, 2020) In April, due to factors such as falling petrol and diesel prices and lower energy bills, the inflation rate fell sharply to 0.8% (therefore outside the acceptable range). Inflation using the retail price index (RPI) slowed from 2.6% to 1.5%. (BBC News, 2020) The UK’s macroeconomic performance targets should change with the times, however: in the aftermath of the pandemic, in 2021 and 2022, the Bank of England should be allowed to set a higher nominalGDP target, for instance 12-14%, to help achieve a V-shaped ‘bounce’ from the recession whereby the recovery is as quick as possible after the sudden slump. (O’Neill, 2020) The Bank of England believes such a V-shaped ‘bounce’ is possible with 15% growth in 2021 after a potential 14% decline in GDP in 2020. (Ping Chan, 2020) The recession and recovery from it could also end up being U-shaped or W-shaped. A W-shaped recession, whereby the economy starts to recover but recedes again, could be caused by public health measures being relaxed too early (with the condition of

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the economy mirroring the death toll from the pandemic) or premature withdrawal of economic stimulus. (Frankel, 2020) The UK extending the furloughing scheme until October could be seen as a step to avoid a W-shaped recession. (Partington & Stewart, 2020) The government could, however, aid a U-shaped recovery. In such a case, the government could gradually open segments of the economy, with employees socially distanced two meters apart. Dr Stephen Davies of the Institute of Economic Affairs argues an age-based demographic response; letting those under the age of twenty-five back to work first and gradually letting more age brackets return to work. He believes the economy will be operating below productive capacity for at least eighteen months and that the economy needs boosted confidence to recover which would be dependent on successful antibody tests in the short-run and the availability of a vaccine in the longer-run. (Davies, 2020) Meanwhile, Robert Colville of the Centre for Policy Studies adopt a more pessimistic view, believing UK businesses need to be effectively told ‘it is going to be ugly’ in order to appropriately plan and prepare. He argues that it will be very costly for the government to keep lockdown going so long and that there has to be a trade-off between lives and widespread socio-economic damage; a moral issue with no clear answer. Colville also believes that the recession and recovery is more likely to be U-shaped or even a catastrophic L-shape than a V-shaped bounce. (Colville, 2020) On the other hand, Mark Littlewood uses a metaphor of the economy being ‘comatose’ as it is a selfinduced recession and the economy is just sleeping, ready to awake (supporting the V-shaped bounce theory) as infrastructure

will still be there. In reality though, a recovery is unlikely to be so smooth. He also supports the idea that in the next two years the UK may run a ‘90%’ or ‘70%’ economy whilst vaccines are developed and rolled out. There will also be a degree of experimentation with any new policies as this is untrodden territory – for instance schools could be reopened one county at a time to see if they cause the infection rate to increase for that region. (Littlewood, 2020) The Impact on the UK Labour Market By the end of 2020 unemployment levels in the UK could reach 9%. (HoneycombeFoster, 2020) Unemployment has not been over 10% since the 1990s. Before the pandemic unemployment in the UK had been hovering just above historically low levels at 3.9% - however, this uses the Labour Force Survey which bases its data of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s definition that employment is working at least one hour a week. Hence the data had not taken into consideration the effects of flexible workers, zero-hour contracts and the gig economy. In April, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits (unemployment measured by the Claimant Count) soared to 2.1 million in April, a rise of 856,500 (69%) which reflects part of the impact of the first full month of lockdown. However, the effects are likely to be under-reported using this measure as many newly redundant workers will not have registered for the benefits to which they are entitled. (Office for National Statistics, 2020) Despite this significant increase, the rates would have been much higher if the government had not introduced the pioneering furlough scheme – over 70% of firms report having

FIGURE 1 - THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON THE UK LABOUR MARKET BY AGE GROUP

furloughed some of their workers (Moss, 2020) and nine million people are expected to be furloughed. (Verity, 2020) In the UK, young people are more likely to have lost work or been furloughed because of COVID-19 according to research by the Resolution Foundation. Nearly a quarter (24%) of the 18-24 age group were furloughed whilst a further nine percent being made redundant, considerably higher than any other age group. Figure 1 below also shows how those aged 50-54 are least likely to have been affected. (News, 2020) The Impact on the Budget Position, PSBR and National Debt Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR) is the old name for the budget deficit in the United Kingdom - the budget deficit has been renamed the Public Sector Net Cash Requirement (PSNCR) to avoid confusion with net borrowing. The UK has traditionally run budget deficits and only three times since 1980 has the UK run a (small) surplus – all between 1997 and 2001. This has caused the UK’s national debt – the total of all past government borrowing that has never been repaid – to reach £1.7915 trillion, or 79.1% of total GDP, at the start of 2020. (Pettinger, 2020) This is slightly greater in absolute terms than in 2018 but represents a smaller proportion of GDP than when national debt was at 86.58% of GDP in 2018. A high GDP-debt ratio can be a problem as it causes issues such as ‘crowding out’ where high levels of activity by the public sector can reduce the level of private sector activity, for example by borrowing heavily the government uses up much of the available credit and increases the interest rates charged to what remains (the private sector). Moreover, high debtto-GDP ratios can cause lower growth rates in the longer-term. Manmohan Kumar and Jaejoon Woo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believe that economies can thrive with debt-to-GDP ratios of under 30% but debt-to-GDP ratios above 90% should be a cause for concern since research shows these countries grow 1.3 percentage points more slowly. (Kumar & Woo, 2010) The Fiscal Space shows how the UK is just within a safe debt-to-GDP ratio range. Furthermore, government expenditure on interest payments will have to rise along with the size of the national debt and high debt levels can precipitate financial and economic crises if institutions and individuals doubt the ability of the government to finance the interest payments then rates on bonds will rise and reduce the government’s ability to finance other areas of its expenditure. Contractionary fiscal policy approaches are needed to prevent national debt from climbing to levels which are too high. William Banner

Computing Departm e

The Autumn term was particularly busy in the Computing department this year. In September, we took some very keen Lower Fourth pupils on our annual visit to the Malvern Festival of Innovation at the Three Counties Showground. It was aimed at inspiring pupils to take STEM subjects at school and University and to enter careers using these skills. There were many local and national companies exhibiting there including: QinetiQ, Mazak, Royal Air Force Engineering and The James Dyson Foundation. We also explored an inflatable planetarium, watched a talk about BitCoin and had a go with some Virtual Reality cricket. In October, Lower Remove pupil, Lola Morgan, started working her way through a national cyber challenge competition set by the NCSC (GCHQ). Many months later Lola reached the final 150 out of 35,000 others, which is a considerable achievement, given that she is one of the youngest to be allowed to compete. The first time that a King’s pupil made the final was two years ago, but that pupil was 17, so for Lola to have made this at the 13-14 age range against people three or four years older demonstrates this achievement even further. When asked about the achievement, Lola said: “I didn’t think that I’d actually get into the final part; I was just doing Cyber Discovery to pursue an interest, and ended up spending many hours learning and experimenting with my newfound skills. I’m very pleased to have made it through to the selective elite final and will enjoy learning more about cyber security in the upcoming months. I put in a lot of work, and will continue to do so for as long as I am a part of the programme.” In November, all Fourth Form, Lower Remove pupils and some Sixth Formers were entered for a global online Computational Thinking competition called Bebras. The competition required pupils to solve puzzles that need pattern recognition, ‘shortest routes’ finding or cipher decrypting. Some pupils did exceptionally well and qualified for the next round that was organised by Oxford University. These students should be congratulated for their

efforts. Pranav Mayilvahan (L4A) qualified for the grand final held at the Department of Computer Science at Oxford in February. Reaching the final of the Juniors (10–12) age group is an impressive achievement as 79,986 students entered the first round for this age group. Pranav was among the top 61 highest achieving students in the UK invited to the final round in his age group and was presented with his finalist’s certificate at a prize-giving ceremony at Hertford College. The Spring term saw the successful introduction of Physical Computing to the curriculum where pupils program external microprocessor boards using block code or a text language. The Lower Fourth used BBC Microbits while the Upper Fourth used Arduino Uno boards both controlling LEDs, buzzers and taking input from switches. Some found the new work challenging but all found it enjoyable too. The Summer term has seen us learning remotely with lessons being taught live via Microsoft Teams or with pupils working remotely on individual tasks. Our Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth pupils have been making progress to an online certification called iDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) during lockdown. They have been working their way through ‘badges’ in four sections – Citizen, Worker, Maker and Entrepreneur. As part of this, 28 pupils achieved their Bronze certificate in just six weeks and Pranav Mayilvahan once again did amazingly well and gained his Silver award – a superb achievement. After that the Lower Fourth pupils were using the innovative website and app called Flipgrid to record presentation videos about themselves as an alternative to using PowerPoint. Lower Remove pupils have been learning the programming language Python through the Carnegie Mellon University online course, with some pupils making exceptional progress on their own. Sixth Form lessons have remained largely unchanged except for the physical distance between each of us. All credit to everyone, staff and pupils, for stepping up and flourishing in this difficult and challenging time. DNB

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Classics Department Evaluate which was more successful in getting Augustus’ message across to all social classes in Rome and the empire: visual/ material culture or literature During his time in power, Augustus used many different sources of what we would now term propaganda in order to convey his messages and ideas to the people of Rome. At the time, the rate of literacy in citizens would have been very low, as only wealthy families could afford to have their children well educated. Therefore, in order to convey his messages effectively, Augustus had to take into account the significant disparity in education and consequent range of understanding of nuance and subtlety in his propaganda. Augustus utilized both visual and literary sources in order to share his messages with the whole population.

as they saw it, rather than having to puzzle over it as they completed their transaction.

At the start of his career, it was necessary for Augustus to portray himself as a competent military leader in order to be respected and not have his and Rome’s authority undermined and questioned. However, he also had to convince the Roman people that he was fighting wars for the right reasons. The Battle of Actium, fought in 31 BC, had to be portrayed as a battle for peace against a maddened queen, rather than as civil war against Mark Antony. The Pax Denarius was minted from 32 to 29 BC, and was given to soldiers and sailors during the Battle of Actium. On one side was the bust of Augustus, then Octavian, and on the other was the figure of Pax, holding a cornucopia and an olive branch.

That said, those select few would likely have been incredibly powerful politically significant figures who Augustus wanted to impress. If Augustus managed to convey his message to them through literature, it might well have had a trickle-down effect. Romans had a system of clients and patrons, and such important figures would undoubtably have had a web of clients all willing to support their political views. Therefore, while Augustus’ literary sources might only have come into contact with a select group of people, the messages conveyed might spread significantly. In that vein, one must therefore disagree with Jenkyns that “As propagandists, the poets were useless” as it seems reasonable that the ideas within the work would be spread, if indirectly, through society.

This coin conveyed a very clear and simple message- ‘through this war, I will achieve peace.’ As a piece of propaganda it was genius. Due to the fact that it was payed to his soldiers and sailors, the coin would have quickly been circulated throughout the whole empire and would have reached all of the social classes. Denarii were more common than the more valuable Aureus in the poorer classes, and new coins would have been an interesting rarity to be studied and perused at length. Illiteracy would not affect the coin’s message as there was very little writing on it, and the visual message was very clear and straightforward to understand. The coin’s nature as something to be passed around and continually moved must have worked in Augustus’ favour here, as every time people took them out to purchase anything, they would have been reminded of Augustus’ message. The very simple imagery consequently makes a lot of sense - people would understand it as soon

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In contrast, Horace Epode IX A Toast to Actium would have been intended to be puzzled over. Available only to the Roman elite, poetry faced limitations in a way that coins and statuary did not. As noted by Jenkyns, poems often had a fifteen year interim between being written and being published. Therefore, the only people who the poem would spread Augustus’ desired message to in any kind of useful timeframe were a select few who would have heard the poem being performed aloud at dinner parties.

A Toast to Actium itself is a fairly straightforward piece of Augustan literary propaganda. It was written in 30 BC, shortly after the battle of Actium, and was commissioned. Horace lacked the political scope to have any real subversion in his writing and badly needed to stay in Augustus’ good books. The poem frames the battle as a glorious triumph comparable with the defeat of Hannibal, which the Romans considered to be one of their greatest victories. The poem is also careful to celebrate the positive effects that the war has caused in Rome as well as depicting Augustus as a glorious conqueror, referencing the celebrations held following the victory. The poem is certainly successful in conveying Augustus’ messages to its immediate audience, it is questionable as a source of propaganda because of it’s limited

audience. Poetry would be unlikely to reach the lower classes at all, let alone in time to be effective propaganda. An interesting contrast to the norm of poetry only being accessible to a select few is the Carmen Saeculare. The poem was commissioned and written in 17 BC to be performed as a hymn at the Ludi Saeculares, a three-day festival held to commemorate the start of the Augustan Golden age. The idea of an Augustan Golden age had been hinted at or alluded to in other sources, but the Carmen Saeculare was written specifically for to hasten it in. The festival was open to all Romans, even the ones normally barred from such events in Augustan Rome, and so the poem would have been available to everyone. Its location does raise questions on how effective the actual substance of the poem could have been as propaganda. A public festival must have been extremely loud, and while there were ancient tricks for amplification, they could only really be effectively employed in select spaces. Therefore, how much of the poem was actually clearly heard seems questionable. However, as a visual spectacle, the effect must have been incredibly striking. The hymn was sung by youths all dressed in white, and as Zanker argues, the games were held specifically to demonstrate the effect of new good morals on the new saeculum. Augustus’ Golden Age was inextricably linked to his ideas on morality, and the visual show of the Carmen Saeculare demonstrated that very clearly. The poem itself talks about having good morals and family values, linking having babies as a Roman family to bounteous good harvests and the material prosperity linked with the saturnian golden age that Augustus was emulating. It conveys the message that the Romans must have good morals if they want the gods to remain on their side and to continue experiencing the golden age. One could argue that the Carmen Saeculare was a visual source as well as a literary one, and might actually have been more effective as a visual source than a material source given the context. Dedicated in 9 BC, the Ara Pacis was commissioned by the senate to celebrate

Augustus’ return from the provinces of Gaul and Spain. Positioned on the Via Flaminia, the main north road leading out of Rome and next to the Campus Martius, a large expanse of grassland, the Ara Pacis had an ideal location as a visual source as it would have been very visible and very exposed. Brightly painted, the altar was populated with imagery related to Augustus’ reign. The bottom panels are filled with dense foliage all impossibly in bloom together. This conveyed the idea of Augustus having control over the earth and that his reign was timeless- an idea emphasized by the fact that he drew on the Saturnian Golden Age, ruled by the titan of time. It also suggested that Augustus’ Golden Age was incredibly bountiful, and could arguably be related again to the Saturnian Golden Age, where all crops were meant to bloom with no toil or effort. The North and South sides’ upper panels are filled by a procession of senators, along with women and children. Augustus is included, dressed in the robes of pontifex maximus, but difficult to spot, reminding the viewer that he is a pious Roman citizen rather than a god or king. Wallace-Hadrill suggests that the presence of women and children are there to serve as a reminder to abide by morality and piety, which was a significant focus of the Golden Age. On the East and West sides there are images of Romulus, Aeneas and two central female figures who probably represent Italia and a mother earth figure. These all tie in further to Augustan ideas of piety and morality in order to achieve a Golden Age. The imagery is nuanced, but all gives the same overall message that the population is experiencing a Golden Age. Therefore, less educated viewers would ultimately get roughly the same message as someone who had analysed the carvings. This means it could successfully convey Augustus’ messages to all classes of Romans, and it would have been seen by a great many people due to its position next to somewhere that experienced heavy footfall. Augustus ensured that his legacy would be remembered through both visual and literary sources. He began crafting the idea of his legacy as early as 28 BC when his

vast Mausoleum was completed. Standing at the spectacular height of around 89 metres, it was the tallest building in Rome. It was reminiscent of the burial mounds of kings and likely inspired by Alexander the Great’s tomb. The Mausoleum was probably built so early to remind Romans of Augustus’ loyalty to them, as opposed to Mark Antony, whose will supposedly revealed that he wanted to be buried in Egypt. It was aggressively simple in its message; ‘I am loyal to Rome.’ This very positive message was probably necessary to balance out the Hellenistic tones of such a huge and un-Roman building. Furthermore, Zanker notes that the only tomb it could reasonably be compared to was the tomb of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Mausoleum was a lasting reminder of Augustus’ power and status but the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, written by Augustus himself, was a kind of catalogue of his deeds. Its accuracy is dubious but as a piece of propaganda it was very clever; shaping history how Augustus wanted it to be shaped. The Res Gestae was inscribed on bronze pillars in front of the Mausoleum, in a very clever visual piece of propaganda. Bronze was usually reserved for official documents, so people would assume that the Res Gestae was the official version of events, when it was in fact doctored by Augustus. Like the Carmen Saeculare, the literature was impacted by the visual presentation. The Res Gestae was also likely read out at certain festivals, meaning the message could reach all classes of Rome. Overall, one would argue that visual or material sources were better at reaching all classes of Romans in order to convey Augustus’ messages. Literary culture arguably faced too many hurdles in the Roman world to be an effective form of propaganda - its exclusivity severely limited its use as a tool to spread ideas throughout all of society. Visual sources did not face that barrier, and Augustus was often careful to create visual sources that would be seen by all citizens. They also often conveyed a simpler idea, ensuring that it would be understood by most citizens. Daisy Beedie

King’s Virtual Italy Trip 2020 In March 2020 the Classics Department and 22 Upper Fourth to Upper Sixth students were preparing to travel to Italy for the Classics trip. Instead of finalising our gelato stops and triple-checking that we had packed everything, we were glued to our screens watching the Coronavirus lockdown spread across the world. This, of course, meant that we were no longer able to physically travel to Italy. However, I wanted the students to still experience Bel Paese in some way. Therefore, I created the King’s Virtual Italy Trip, King’s first armchair travel experience (I think). The virtual trip followed our original itinerary and each day the Classics teachers updated our Firefly and Twitter pages with online tours. We combined existing YouTube tours, online lectures, 3D models, VR experiences and teacher suggestions (we know where the best pizza is) to create an immersive experience each day. Our particular highlights were the Google Arts app, which enabled us to take a virtual tour of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and the VR 360 degrees experience for the Grotto of Tiberius in Sperlonga. We enjoyed connecting, and discussing favourite ‘stops’, with people around the world who were taking part in our virtual trip. While we look forward to a proper visit to Italy, we enjoyed our virtual trip and are excited about bringing the wonders of this historic nation to our lessons in Worcester. You can see the tour on the Classics Department Twitter @KSWClassics and on the Firefly page. EKTP

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t n e m t r a p e DT D

Perhaps the single most exciting aspect of our subject is that it is continually changing. As designers, we are always looking for ways to improve, to reinvent ourselves, and to adapt to our constantly changing world. Sometimes the transformation is incremental, only noticeable when we stand back and look from afar, and at others, it is so fundamental that it is impossible to miss. One thing we pride ourselves upon is our ability to adapt and to problem solve. Whilst we often go in search of issues to resolve, every now and then, they come looking for us! Quickly moving from the classroom to our new virtual environment was not so much a problem requiring our attention, it was more an opportunity to action our creativity. Gone was the normal way of working, but it was quickly replaced with a new normal. Central to our way of working is the process of iterative designing. The ‘product’ is constantly evolving and improving. Research, designing, modelling, testing and development all run concurrently, and solutions progress with efficiency. So adapting to the virtual classroom environment was an exciting challenge, not only for the students, but for their teachers too. By the time of lockdown, all A Level and GCSE students had completed their NEAs (non-examined assessments – formally known as coursework). Not only are we immensely proud of the work presented by our 69 students, but also that we managed to mark and moderate everything before the school gates quietly closed ahead of Easter. Ordinarily we would have been excited to show off the work of this cohort at the annual King’s Day DT Show. We were very sad to miss the opportunity to highlight some hugely impressive achievements

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and to lose our chance to photograph and record the work on display.

collapsible and portable easel for artists with a lack of space.

DT at King’s is quite unrecognisable from anything offered in schools 20 and more years ago, which might have been thought of as a forerunner to our subject. We are even significantly different to what we were just five years ago!

We have watched a huge range of exciting work come to life at GCSE too! Though far too many to list, here are a handful: Matt Daniel’s device to help a single rower into and out of a boat without help from anyone, Tim Morris’s product to capture wind power whilst in a caravan and Fleur Sentance’s device to help a hiker to carry and drink from a water bottle without removing it from a rucksack. We also had Ben Bartlett’s device to help office workers to keep fit whilst sitting at their desks. Jamie Waters designed and made a medicine dispenser for people with memory loss and Charlotte Morgan created a device to light a door handle for the elderly, using the energy generated by the opening and closing of the door.

Though largely a theory based subject, there is still space for project work. At the heart of any design project is the client and the problem they are experiencing. Before the designer has any hope of resolving the problem, s/he must gain first hand understanding of the difficulties it causes. Building channels of communication with the client is key to earning their trust, without which the designer will underperform. At A Level, we have had some very interesting projects this year. Freya Nicholas designed and made a device to help a parent with a pushchair to hold an umbrella. This carbon fibre and aluminium, machined and 3D printed product allowed an adjustable and hands free way of staying dry whilst pushing a child in the rain. Ciaran McGee developed a system for carrying and quickly refilling eight water bottles for efficiently refreshing a sports team during matches. The concept for his laser cut aluminium and 3D printed product would readily fill a gap in the market! Alex Vickers designed and made a product to shred plastic waste, that would then be stuffed into reclaimed plastic bottles to make building bricks for 3rd world use. Jonathan Booth Scrimshaw developed a security device to prevent theft from a rucksack. Ollie Gill created a device to help people relax after a busy day at work. Heather Crowte designed and made a product for watering plants automatically whilst the householder is away on holiday. Libby Griffiths-Garbett developed a

Leading up to GCSE, we’ve been focused upon developing the skills required for problem solving through iterative designing. We want our students to be confident to learn through experimentation, and we maintain an environment where it is good to make mistakes. There is plenty of talent heading up through the School. Without the benefit of photographic evidence of these demanding and worthy projects, it may be difficult to picture the technical nature of our project work. We’re hoping that one day, our former students will be the ones adapting to the needs of those around them, just as vacuum cleaner designers modified production to build ventilators according to sudden demand recently! I hope it is needless to say, when wandering around the department, you won’t see a student working on a coffee table, chess board or shelving unit! CWSW

English Department “No man is an Island, entire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.” So wrote John Donne in his Devotions of 1624. The experience of ‘lockdown’ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many things, but the enforced isolation that we all endured reminded us of the truth of Donne’s observation; how we missed one another’s company in the classroom and beyond. As our subject relies so heavily on discussion and debate, the physical separation that the closure of the School brought in March was particularly keenly felt in the English Department and we were not able to develop as we should have liked the innovations introduced last year to run alongside our regular programme of teaching and extra-curricular activities. In conjunction with our wonderful library, we were able to celebrate National Poetry Day in the first term, with competitions and “poetry bombing” of classrooms by Sixth Form students being some of the highlights. We also ran a creative writing competition for local Primary schools on the theme of journeys (as part of the wider celebrations of the voyage of the Founding Fathers in the Mayflower) as well as linking up with one local Primary School on a collaborative book project; this was the brainchild of Mrs Hooper, who joined us part way through

the year, bringing a wealth of experience and imagination to the teaching of English. She has already become an invaluable member of the departmental team and is offering huge support to her colleagues and her classes alike. Her dedication to all aspects of the subject and her willingness to share ideas and resources, thereby developing our work in new directions has been greatly appreciated already. Once again, we were blessed by the large number of talented and enthusiastic students who joined the Lower Sixth to study English and who produced excellent work throughout the year, quickly getting to grips with technology when necessary and still committed to developing their studies and understanding. The enforced use of Microsoft Teams as the medium for Remote Learning brought innovations of its own – such as play-readings of texts written by individual classes, shared electronically and read from a variety of kitchen tables and study desks in homes across Worcestershire or collaborative texts bounced to and fro across social media. All pupils were also encouraged to keep personal and creative records of this extraordinary time through which we are living; these will serve as an invaluable resource upon which to look back in the future.

All too soon, however, we were forced to say goodbye not only to some very talented and committed Upper Sixth students, who have really flourished in their two years in the department, but also to two members of the department, Mrs Toland and Mr Owen. Although they had only been with us for three and two years respectively, both were invaluable members of the English Department throughout their time here. Innovative and enthusiastic in the classroom and beyond, passionate for the subject and extremely popular teachers with all their classes, they will be very much missed and we thank them for their huge contribution to the very ethos of King’s English. In his diary of a different time of pandemic, Samuel Pepys wrote of, “…bewailing the vanity and disorders of the age.” If lockdown has taught us anything, I hope it is also to value the good things of our time, however difficult that time may be. Through our studies of language and literature, a broad view of the world is something we hope to encourage in all. AJMM

Geography Department

Lower Sixth Geography Fieldtrip – Somerset 2019 In October, the Lower Sixth Geographers spent three days on a fieldwork residential based in Minehead, the home to a mile long sandy beach and the famous Butlins Holiday Park. The trip was an important part of the A Level and gave us a great opportunity to mix with everyone studying Geography early on in the course. Time was well spent completing a multitude of activities. These included evaluating the effectiveness of sea defences, analysing beach sediment at Porlock and investigating the identity of Minehead. In order to complete these

tasks, we learnt how to sample fairly, use surveying equipment, and record data using apps such as Survey123, Decibel X and OS Locate. After long days outside in Britain’s unpredictable weather, evenings were spent learning how to present and analyse data using a variety of techniques, including Geographic Information Systems. This gave us an insight and early chance to learn the vital skills needed for our NonExamined Assessment (20% of our overall grade), an independent investigation which involves fieldwork. To break up the journey home, we visited

Watchet, an historic harbour town beside the famous West Somerset Steam Railway. There we met the Director of the Onion Collective, who gave an inspiring talk on the challenges faced by Watchet. She gave us an in insight into planning careers and also explained how the social enterprise group is helping to regenerate the town of Watchet through exciting community-led initiatives. Despite some wet weather on the second day, the trip was great fun and another clear reason why students should do A Level Geography at King’s! Will Hunt The Vigornian

The world beyond my window - bringing the world to Worcester Extracts from her report for the “Royal Geographical Society Young Geographer of the year Competition 2020” Website: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4f861 a24eaad4f6491d07467a6642eb2 In this time of lockdown, I have reflected upon my life in Worcestershire and how, although we may be isolated, we remain part of a worldwide community. I have become more aware than ever of how the human and physical geography of the world influences my local area.

I would like to consider how globalisation and equality have played a part in the development of Worcester itself, through the production and commercialisation of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. This in turn reflects the global ‘connections’ within these processes.

I have lived in Worcestershire all my life and as I’m considering moving to university next year, the one item that I would take with me to remind me of home would be Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. Not only has it been a part of my childhood but it has also been central to the development of Worcester during the Industrial Revolution. I would like to show you how this local sauce, which developed from food stuffs cultivated worldwide, has spread as a result of population movements and transport infrastructure both historically and today. As Lea and Perrins sauce grew in popularity so did Worcester’s economy. It is a perfect example of how worldwide physical and human geographical processes have affected my city’s development.

Globalisation: The most striking aspect of the map shown on the website (link above) is how widespread across the former British colonies, and beyond, the inspiration for the sauce was, and how the sauce is exported globally today. Thus, we can see how Worcester’s development followed the basic principles of Rostow’s development model, as a result of the globalisation that followed the widespread trade of Lea and Perrins sauce.

What ideas in human geography does this story illustrate? Dorling and Lee, in their book Geography: Ideas in Profile (1985) say that: “Geography is about joining up the dots that help make the bigger picture, connections are everywhere”

Lower Remove Geography trip to Bristol

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Physical Geography .... a game of chance? The maps also clearly show the uneven distribution of wealth around the world. We are left with the question, ‘What helped Worcester develop quicker than other cities worldwide?’ One of the answers is its physical geography. These three things allowed Worcester to develop: Waterways - The name ‘Worcester’ came from ‘Weogoran Cester’, meaning winding river. The city grew as result of the river at its heart. What allowed Worcester to grow

rapidly from a settlement, to a market town, to a city, were its links to other cities such as Birmingham and Bristol via its extensive navigable river and canal network. Access to the sea - This allowed international shipping and connections to grow quickly and easily. Worcester is less than 60 miles from the Bristol Channel which alone holds nine of England’s 76 ports. Central Position on the UK Motorway network – Worcester benefits from being near the M5 which passes within five miles of the city centre, allowing goods to be quickly transported around the country. My Conclusion I hope that I have shown how my city’s development has proceeded in parallel with the growth of companies such as Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. This is a direct result of local, national and international human and physical geography. As a young person researching this topic, I have come to see that I have a privileged life in Worcestershire. I feel we all have a duty to address the global inequalities that exist to allow all young people equal access to the opportunities that our interconnected world should offer. Olivia Howard

History & Politics Department Riya Mayilvahanan, in the Lower Remove, prepared a powerful speech aimed at an audience of government officials who believe the Winston Churchill statue in London should be removed. It reflects on the Black Lives Matter protests and campaign that have been gathering momentum over the summer of 2020.

Should Winston Churchill’s statue be removed? He was a hero to many and stands as the emblem of British pride. In the AngloAmerican world, Churchill is certainly seen as a hero in popular culture and in the hearts of most. This is unsurprising as his successes are many. One, of all of them, was warning against the dangers of Nazism and encouraging Britain to stand up as a nation against Hitler. Only one side, however, the rousing, good orator Churchill, is ever seen. History must also tell of his other side. To too many people, he was a staunch racist, against all equality of any other but the white. That can be ignored, if only he kept it to himself. But alas, no. He was responsible for the destructive partition of India and Pakistan, the mastermind of the plan that deceived Mountbatten, the last Viceroy,

into splitting the country that Gandhi was fighting with his life to keep united. He was a main reason for violence, and a horrifying Bengal famine in India. He even called Gandhi a ‘half-naked fakir’. It was not only Indians who felt the consequences of his belief in white supremacy, but he disliked the Chinese too, cultures in Africa and the Natives of North America. This could be argued strongly as a reason for why the statue should be taken down. Having said that, had Churchill’s statue been installed in India, or in Bengal, then there would be no justifiable reason as to why he should stay up. Yet, the statue is in Britain, the country which he served for, the country which he protected and lived for. He is truly a hero in this country, so his statue should stay up.

Moreover, racism was least of the issues of that time in Britain, however ghastly his actions were to India and Bengal. Unfortunately, it was accepted in that period, and no one really paid heed to it during the Second World War. While this remains inexcusable, Winston Churchill’s statue serves as a poignant reminder that we must learn from History. We must use it as a vehicle to show that the past is not one dimensional and that a lack of understanding prevents societal growth. It relates much more to today’s society, especially in this period, with George Floyd’s death striking up Black Lives Matter, and race being a much more important thing. This should not be confused with then, and so, Winston’s statue should stay. Riya Mayilvahanan

As part of the History A Level, students are expected to undertake an Independent Study on a topic of their choice. Many will often find areas of the taught units to investigate, however, Will Bradley decided to explore an area that particularly interested him and produced fantastic piece on the causes of the Mexican-American War. He is now reading History at the University of Edinburgh. I hope that you enjoy reading his work as much as I enjoyed marking it.

Assess the causes of the U.S.-Mexican War The U.S.-Mexican War defined the path that the continent would take through the late 19th Century: though the conflict’s causes are often overlooked in favour of its effects, such causes are incredibly important and must be evaluated for a proper understanding of the period. The war began at a point of great societal change in both the U.S. and Mexico and, as such, scholars have been unable to come to any agreement on the fundamental cause of the war. James E. Crisp argued that the friction between Mexico’s liberal attitude to race and America’s racial hierarchies was the primary cause. By contrast, Amy Greenberg argues that expansionism took root in the U.S., and the call for Manifest Destiny was the most necessary pretence for war. Contradictorily, recent work by Brian DeLay has made it evident that the enabling factor allowing the U.S.-Mexican War to begin was the socio-economic situation of Mexico, at the time hindered by a poor economy and Comanche raids from the North. Though the racial tensions and expansionist sentiment, peddled by Crisp and Greenberg respectively, undoubtedly contributed to the declaration of war, DeLay’s interpretation is evidenced by a range of contemporary sources, which greatly enhances the credibility of his argument. DeLay’s convincing interpretation claims

Mexico’s poor socio-economic position gave the U.S. the excuse and capability to invade. He argues that economic devastation in the Northern Departments was inextricably linked to war, in part as a result of the major economic impact of Comanche raiding parties. The resultant need to invite American settlers across the border to settle in Texas, which allowed a narrative of racial superiority to form, was essential in bringing U.S. public opinion in favour of war. Furthermore, he points out that Mexico’s more general socio-political position weakened the state and made it a far more viable candidate for invasion. DeLay’s interpretation is that this arrested development was an essential precursor to war, not least since it led to anti-Mexican campaigns in the U.S. media which were essential in influencing public opinion of a war with Mexico. Prior to Mexican independence, the sparse Northern Departments were managed with a great deal of success. The Northern Departments safety was ensured by presidios along its Northern border to regulate movement and a gift-giving policy with Native Americans to deter raids. The cost of the independence war, however, left the new Mexican economy in a weak position. The centralisation of the Mexican governmental system meant politicians in

Mexico City could strip funding from areas of lower population such as the North. By 1830, most presidios lay unstaffed while the powerful Comanche nation began raiding Mexican holdings, unsatisfied with Mexico’s paltry gifts. This left Mexico in a weaker position than the US, which DeLay argues made the declaration of war more plausible. The government response, leading a drive to encourage American immigration to Tejas, was a necessary forerunner to war. Discerning the motives behind this created two schools of thought: those who supported and denied the ‘Texas Creation Myth’, as DeLay calls it. The myth posits that the invitation of American settlers was an attempt to aid Mexico in protecting its land. DeLay’s interpretation, the belief that the myth was commonly adopted, is purported by Stephen F. Austin, an advocate of Texan secession. Austin warned of ‘uncivilised and wandering Comanche (…) who waged a constant warfare against the Spanish Settlements’. Austin gave this speech in 1836, during the Texas Revolution, attempting to garner support for Texas from the U.S. This narrative implies the Mexicans, incapable themselves of protecting their Northern empresarios, had sublet this protection to a ‘more competent people’. This speech effectively displays The Vigornian

the narrative offered by Texans at the time, though its use of racial rhetoric makes it unconvincing as the definitive reason for American settlement. This forms a compelling interpretation of the American decision to declare war in 1846, as a decade without Texan protection would have left Mexico devastated. Austin’s speech is therefore effective proof that the myth had taken root in American society. This is important in discerning the War’s causes as the validity of the U.S.’s claim on Texas is dependent on whether the Americans were invited to defend against Comanche. It was through reaffirming the Creation Myth that the U.S. media was able to build a narrative of the vast land, laid waste by Mexican incompetence and Comanche violence: this narrative brought the U.S. public onside, a necessary prerequisite to war. Furthermore, it enticed the American people and brought public opinion to the side of war with Mexico. Though dismissed by Greenberg and Crisp, the impact of the Comanche on economic development in the North should not be underplayed: their raids led to the deaths of thousands of Mexicans, and the complete abandonment of entire cities. Evidence supporting DeLay’s emphasis on the scale of such damage is clear in one local Northern paper, who wrote an open letter to Mexico City reaffirming the scale of the desolation. The Republicano asked ‘will it be necessary to prove, or even to write, that the war with the barbarians is eminently national?’. Such sentiment was echoed by many at the time, as mass hysteria gripped targeted areas. This letter comes from an eyewitness’ account of Comanche destruction, who could be overplaying the scale of the raids to acquire government sympathy and military support. Notwithstanding, the letter’s distress also helps to convey the despair of those on the frontier, who believed Mexico City had essentially abandoned them. Though this may be a sign that the author is exaggerating, it is fundamentally a clear and credible demonstration of weakness on the frontier, which was taken advantage of by the U.S. in their opportune declaration of war. Hämäläinen concurs with DeLay, arguing that Americans were invited to reaffirm Mexican claim on Texas. Texan population sat below 2,000 citizens prior to U.S. immigration: as such the Mexican Government lacked real control of the territory. Both believe the population surge, 20,000 by 1831, was a step taken to defend Mexico’s claim on the land from other nation states. This surge in population is clear evidence that the drive for further immigration was a success. Notwithstanding, both believed any steps to defend the land from the U.S. were a catastrophic failure. This misstep laid foundations for the U.S. media to argue that Mexico was too weak to continue to 34

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govern Texas. DeLay argues this media wars. Issues of Mexican sovereignty were campaign exacerbated Mexico’s weakness prevalent around the nation, putting a great and incompetence, evidenced in reports strain on the economy. An independent from the U.S. Army in 1845 were published Yucatan Republic was declared without by the Richmond Enquirer which claimed: Mexican approval on the Peninsula in ‘Near San Antonio there were about 300 1841, diverting troops and finances from Comanche Indians, some of whom visited Texas’ presidios. Furthermore, a full-scale Col. Twiggs (…) They said they were going French invasion was launched on the Gulf towards the border to carry on hostilities of Mexico in November 1838, following the against the Mexicans’. As such, the paper inability to pay off a debt. This defaulted reports the eventuality as a regular payment had a poor impact on Mexico’s occurrence. Later, as one of the Comanche international image, as the French were asks for Col. Twiggs’ horses, ‘They admired seen as benefactors to post-colonial the dragoon horses, and asked Col. Twiggs if North America: failing to repay the debt they might steal some of them. The Col. told presented Mexico as untrustworthy, even to them if they did so he would hang them’, the most trusting the power of Europe. This implying the Mexican forces were unable untrustworthiness made it difficult to form to intimidate the Comanche. The account alliances with European nations, resulting is likely truthful, as the correspondent is in poor trade and a stagnant economy. clearly present at the scene: however, this source comes from an American on good The major internal conflict in early Mexico, terms with the US military, therefore it which DeLay believes was exacerbated by devastation in the North, was between can be assumed that the ease with which Twiggs and the Comanche communicate federalists and centralists. Federalist sentiment, most is exaggerated, along with the contempt the commonly held in Mexico’s poor Comanche expresses the North (whose affairs Mexico City had for Mexico. This socio-economic ignored), came to a provides evidence position was therefore head during a series of the U.S. media campaign to undermine a vital precursor to the of uprisings during the 1830’s. DeLay cites Mexico, inspired by declaration of war. the failures of Mexico’s their poor economic dictatorial President standing at the time. Santa Anna, who failed to address the devastation in the North. This point is If one were to agree with DeLay and succinctly encapsulated by a speech from Hämäläinen’s interpretation, that the Sam Houston, who said: invitation of settlers was a failed attempt to secure Mexico’s claim on Texas and the ‘The Federation has been dissolved (…) and centralism North, it would be reasonable to assume has been established. (…) The Dictator required the the U.S.-Mexican War was caused, to a surrender of the arms of the civic militia, that he might significant extent, by economic devastation be enabled to establish (…) a system of policy which of Northern Mexico, and the Mexican would forever enslave the people of Mexico’. government’s subsequent need to call upon foreign nationals to defend their claim to This speech was made in 1835, a year prior their most barren territories. By contrast, to the Texas Revolution. Houston clearly even if one believed that settlers were describes how he believes the Federalist invited to fend off the Comanche, this would Constitution is being ignored by President still underline the importance of economic Santa Anna, who he refers to as ‘The devastation: the required defence of Texas Dictator’. The speech was clearly designed by the Americans would have vindicated to evoke anger from its listeners in the them in their Manifest Destiny, a newlyNorthern Departments, and proves DeLay’s coined concept that claimed they had a hypothesis that the ideological conflicts God given right to the land of the West. in Mexico were the result of a perceived Whether the settlers were invited to defend abandonment in the North, which had not from Native Americans or U.S. ambitions, been protected from Comanche incursions. the fact remains that U.S. media chose to spin the policy in a way that highlighted Moreover, while ideological conflicts in Mexican economic incompetence, whilst Mexico were a defining feature in its first also reaffirming that any successes on the decades of existence, little to no antifrontier could be ascribed to the Americans government sentiment was spread during who had moved there. the war itself, as the country was effectively rallied to the cause of Mexican nationalism. Therefore, while it is fair to suggest such DeLay further argues that the political ideological conflicts helped establish unrest in Mexico was a necessary Mexico’s poor economic framework in the prerequisite to war. The roots of this early 1840’s, implying that any organised distress are split between issues of Mexican anti-government force had a direct impact sovereignty and Mexican ideology: that on the declaration of war is unfounded. is to say between independence and civil

Though the Texas Revolution was a seminal turning point in events leading to the declaration, this is due to its impact on the geopolitics of North America, not its ideological implications. Mexico’s poor socio-economic position was therefore a vital precursor to the declaration of war, as DeLay had theorised. Were Mexico not economically struggling, and had the Northern Departments been sufficiently populated, the U.S. would likely have deemed the war too costly. As it was, the U.S. was able to lay claim to huge swathes of land, lying practically uninhabited, due to the Comanche that were so important in shaping Mexico’s economic capabilities. Though Polk’s expansionism and racial divisions between the societies urged the nations towards war, weaknesses in 1846 made war with Mexico a possibility in a way which was once unthinkable. Alternatively, Greenberg holds the belief that the expansionism of the Polk administration was the change in conditions necessary for war to begin. To support this view, liberal politicians such as Abraham Lincoln are often referenced. The media depicts the bellicose foreign policy of a government eager to expand its territory. This was exacerbated by the need to migrate from the increasingly crowded cities of the East Coast. Generals stationed in along the Mexican border in the 1840’s were sent on provocative operations to goad the Mexicans into a war they couldn’t win. Greenberg’s entire thesis rests on the belief that the Polk administration is expansionist: this can be evidenced from an 1845 article in the Martinsburg Gazette which claimed: ‘Britain fears the position which the occupation of Oregon would give to our trade, commerce and manufactories, opening up as it would a direct passage to us through the Pacific to that great and growing market’.

Foreign policy efforts can be seen to be focused away from Mexico. The Gazette was stationed in Virginia, a slave state, and the paper had previously been pro-slavery. Resultantly, the paper stood in favour of slave-owning Southerner President Polk, along with his expansionist foreign policy. Polk won the 1844 election a year prior, implying the majority of the public shared his views to a considerable extent. Despite the likely profit-oriented exaggeration of the paper, one can imply that the Gazette is a useful insight into the American mind. The focus the American people held on Oregon is important in evaluating the longevity of Polk’s interest in Mexico: the importance of Polk’s foreign policy can be partly determined based on when it was planned. The American people were eager to expand their horizons on the continent and secure their position as the dominant power of the

Americas, as proven by the Gazette. Their warmongering language positioned them as willing to declare war on Britain, the dominant global power at the time. In the years immediately preceding the War, the U.S. Congress spent much of its time debating whether to allow Texas to become a state. Texas’ admission inevitably created an opportunity for expansionist American politicians: The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 declared all French territory West of the Mississippi be ceded to the United States, but a border dispute with the Spanish meant that the French, and later U.S., held claims to Southern Texas. President Polk often used this alibi, which his detractors criticised as flimsy, as his justification for the war with Mexico. The U.S. believed the Louisiana Purchase was their opportunity to secure Texas. If prior Presidents chose to avoid war for 40 years in spite of this claim, however, some other factor must have compelled Polk to pursue it. It is evident that this factor was new, and allowed tensions to continue to escalate. Greenberg furthers this view, saying the U.S.-Mexican War fundamentally began following disputes over what territory belonged to the US’s State of Texas and what belonged to the Mexico Department of Coahuila: Mexico claimed the border was the Nueces River, while Americans claimed it was the Rio Grande. In determining the reason for escalating tensions with Mexico, as opposed to Britain, one must acknowledge the role played by the expansionism of the American Government in the decision-making process. The U.S. settled their Oregon issue a mere 10 days before formally declaring war one Mexico, a seemingly convenient time for international tensions to quell for the U.S. Greenberg’s interpretation that Polk was arbitrarily looking to expand U.S. territory is supported by a speech to the House in 1848 from Abraham Lincoln. He stated ‘that taking for true, all the President states as facts, he falls far short of proving his justification’. Though he keeps this response polite, Lincoln’s decision to speak out on a war that was all but over is a bold and unnecessary one, done out of

principle. As the victory had been hugely popular, it is unlikely Lincoln believed this course of action would improve opinion of him. Instead it seems likely that the Congressman simply believed the war was unjust and expansionist. This can be seen to support the view that Polk’s expansionism gave him confidence to do what previous Presidents would not, and this his administration was a necessary precursor for war. Though Greenberg believes the media was essential in advertising Polk’s expansionism, this view was only supported by some, such as Appendix 1: a mural painted to encourage settling in the West. This poster depicts a variety of settlers pointing westwards, pioneering figures moving from the barren lands of the Great Plains to the lush forests of the West. Some accounts are more critical, including one editor of the Enquirer who worried: ‘Many of the Whig papers (…) have actually crossed the line, and are now fighting on paper the battles of Mexico. They contend, that the United States have heaped insult and injury upon the head of unoffending Mexico (…) that we have been guilty of treachery, wanton injustice, robbery and plunder’.

Greenberg claims many Whigs in Congress shared this view, and uses it to uphold her belief that Polk’s militarism was an essential precursor to war. The Enquirer was based in Virginia, and was therefore likely to support the President: Virginia had been won by Polk in the Election of 1844 making it financially lucrative to publish articles denouncing Liberal media and accentuating the virtues of the President. In reaching a settlement with Britain the US Government could be seen to ignore a more powerful opponent in the place of the weak, divided Mexico. Resultantly, Greenberg believes war with Mexico was not pursued because of a just claim, instead being a careful calculation to discern where the US could most efficiently acquire land. Evidently, Polk’s interest in Texas over Oregon demonstrates some degree of the expansionism necessary to start the U.S.-Mexican War. However, for Mexico to be in a position where invasion would be advantageous, Polk required both a weakened Mexico and popular support. Due to the failings of Mexico

Westward the Course of Empire Take Its Way, an Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze mural created for the Capitol in Washington, DC.

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in the Northern Departments, Polk found it easy to acquire a backing from the public, using the language of racial superiority. Furthermore, reason Polk’s expansionism was redirected from Britain to Mexico was the socio-economic situation of Mexico. While Polk’s government and their opportunistic escalation the conflict were necessary precursors to war, Polk wouldn’t have had such an opportunity if the Mexican economy were succeeding or popular opinion of Mexico been positive. Another alternate view of the cause of the war can be seen in the work of Crisp and Groneman, who believe racial tension between the nations created the rhetoric that was utilised to justify the war. The two nations’ hugely different citizenship policies and attitudes to religious expression gave the U.S. a wide range of methods with which to distance themselves from Mexico. Crisp and Groneman believe racially charged language was used in order to shift the public mood in favour of war, though it is clear that such a mood change alone would not be enough to establish the conditions for war. Furthermore, when analysing the accounts of influential politicians of the time, it is clear some give the racial differences more importance than others. Despite its reputation as a cultural melting pot for persecute European minorities, many U.S. policy decisions were based on strict ethnic hierarchies. Crisp discusses this in “Sleuthing the Alamo”, which analyses racial attitudes at the time. Crisp particularly focuses on a speech given by Sam Houston, concluding it was altered by U.S. media to include more racially critical language. Figures such as Austin and Houston did much to create a narrative of Mexican ethnic incompetence, as key figures in the Texas Revolution. As the Revolution was integral to the declaration of war in 1846, this must be considered when discerning the reasons for war. Groneman’s work focused largely on the Texas Revolution, as he believed much of the racial tension between the two nations originated there. The diary entries of President Polk himself, the figure at the core of U.S. governance at the time are incongruous with Groneman’s beliefs. On one particular day he wrote that ‘Col. Cross was murdered by those Mexicans’, decried the Mexican report of events as ‘calumnious’ and called for ‘a rapid and crushing movement’. Such comments clearly demonstrate Polk’s distaste for what he flippantly calls the ‘Mexican War’. However, one must note his rather restrained use of language against his enemies in a document he knew would be published. The entry is therefore a poor defence of Groneman’s argument, as the complete lack of aggressive racial language would support the view that his intentions were not racially influenced. Therefore, Polk’s diary can be seen to largely refute Groneman’s belief that racial

hierarchies were core to the U.S. decision to declare war.

racial and religious tensions were catalytic precursors to war

The media used these racial hierarchies to relish in the successful raids of the Comanche, as they highlighted Mexican inferiority. Many Americans believed the Native Americans’ nomadic lifestyle was a result of racial limitations to their intelligence: for the Mexicans to fail in fending off incursions of such ‘merciless savages’, they would have proven themselves incapable of governing a civilised society. Following the success of the Indian Appropriations Act of 1830, the Americans felt vindicated in their racial superiority by the annual successful Comanche incursions into North Mexico, furthering their case as an extremely viable target for war. Crisp’s “Sleuthing the Alamo” discusses the view that the nations’ poor relations can be partly attributed to religion. Religious expression was encouraged in America, while Catholicism was dominant in Mexico. Some argue this division was what created the resentment necessary for war to begin. This divide was caused by the differing religion of the colonisers. Mexico was colonised by Spaniards; whose Catholicism was part of their national identity. The U.S. emerged from the colonies of Great Britain, a nation with more diverse beliefs. U.S. Politicians were hesitant to rely on religion, often making it subsidiary to arguments of racial superiority. Groneman strongly believed that this racial hatred permeated U.S. politics, as is shown by a letter to Mr. King of the Department of State, John C. Calhoun wrote: ‘It was the Spanish Government and Mexico herself which invited and offered high inducements to our citizens to colonize Texas. (…) their diversity of character, habits, religion (…) necessarily led to the separation’.

To read Calhoun’s account, there would have been no Texas Revolution without these differences, and it is evident that there was no justification without the U.S.’s acquisition of Texas. Therefore, the racial and religious differences could be arguably seen as the cause of the US-Mexican War: without such divisions the region of Texas would not have been disputed and war would have been unthinkable. However, Calhoun was writing in 1844: before the acquisition of Texas, but almost a decade after the Revolution. As such, Calhoun would have been aware of this prevalent narrative, and it is probable that Calhoun was attempting to gain support from the public as this was an open letter written to the department of State. It is tenuous to say that religion played a significant role in the declaration of war: while the racial dichotomy between the nations is often discussed in contemporary accounts, religious differences are

mentioned very rarely and in passing. Mentions of religion without racial differences are practically non-existent, likely because both the US and Mexico viewed themselves as the epitome of the Enlightenment ideal or religious coexistence. The U.S. was limited in its capacity to provide religion as a justification for war, as it would have polarised the international community and attracted Catholic nations to the Mexican cause. This would have provided a benefit to Mexico, who’s poor position in international diplomacy was a huge weakness at the time. While religious differences between the nations may have played some part in exacerbating American xenophobia, this was a supporting role as the flagship difference was clearly their attitudes to race, citizenship and ethnicity: as such this is what the media focused its attention upon.

One can therefore conclude that racial and religious tensions were catalytic precursors to war: though Mexico’s poor position economically and politically meant Polk would likely have considered it an option regardless of race relations, the campaigns of the media did much to deteriorate public opinion, and Mexican relations by extension. Furthermore, the criticisms of the Mexican often involved their infighting and failure to deal with weaker opponents, both stereotypes taken from the economic and political devastation of Northern Mexico. Such racial and religious differences, particularly the issue of ethnic superiority, were evidently important in the leadup to the U.S.-Mexican War, though to a limited extent. Overall, the U.S.-Mexican War would have evidently been unrecognisable if any prior factor had not been in play: Mexico’s socioeconomic position provided an opportunity for the U.S. to strike, Polk’s expansionism allowed the U.S. to seize such this chance and contemporary racial relations provided the American public with a motive. Notwithstanding, the racial narrative was built around the incompetence demonstrated by the Mexican government, meaning race relations were largely beholden to the socio-economic position of Mexico as a whole. Moreover, the bellicose attitude of the U.S. wouldn’t have been directed at Mexico had the two been equals, as is proven by the de-escalation of tensions with Britain. Therefore, Mexico’s socioeconomic position can be seen to be the dominant cause of the U.S.-Mexican War, as they’re stagnant economy and ideological differences made them an ideal target. Appendix 1: Westward the Course of Empire Take Its Way, an Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze mural created for the capitol in Washington, DC.

Will Bradley 36

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Mathematics Department Although school came to an abrupt stop on 20th March, the Maths department had managed to pack in a number of events during the Autumn and Spring terms. In November, the Regional Heat of the UKMT Senior Team Maths Challenge took place in Solihull. Four of our Sixth Form Mathematicians were selected after several weeks of training to represent the school, giving up the final day of their half-term break. After only dropping three points in the first two rounds, they were in the top three going into the final shuttle round. Unfortunately, misreading the requirements of a question cost them and had a knock-on effect. They ended the day in a respectable fifth position. Congratulations to Joe Amos, Will Banner, Amy Yorke Brooks and Ben Hale for a successful competition!

impressive talk. Titled How Maths Can Save Us From An AI Apocalypse he discussed the mathematical techniques needed to construct a simulation. He concluded that businesses which run using artificial intelligence will take over the financial world unless controls are put in place. It was a most enjoyable and enlightening morning. The Senior Individual Maths Challenge took place in the Autumn Term and there were some excellent performances in this. Overall, there were 25 certificates awarded including three gold, 13 silver and 9 bronze certificates. Upper Sixth, Joe Amos scored the best mark in School and qualified for the Kangaroo round, along with Will Banner and Dan Stobbs. Joe had an incredible round and was awarded a merit in this so he had a very successful competition! Well done to all who took part!

Also, in November, the Maths department went on Tour! We took 60 Fifth Form and Lower Sixth students to the Maths Inspirations Lectures in Birmingham. Compère Matt Parker was the Maths writer on Dara O’Brien’s School of Hard Sums and has recently written Humble Pi, which was placed first in the Sunday Times best seller list. He is a very entertaining presenter for the Inspiration Lectures and he has two YouTube channels (Numberphile and Stand Up Maths) which are worth looking at. The first talk was by Zoë Griffiths, titled Numbers in the News. She showed some interesting examples of the misuse of graphs by politicians. She also showed how misleading information in newspaper headlines can be and discussed the additional information needed to draw meaningful conclusions from the statistics in the headlines. Following that, Nita Chamberlain used his work on Maths to solve problems in the aerospace and automotive industries to deliver an

In February, the Lower Fourth inter-form Maths team competition took place, which was a hotly contested event! We had a new venue of the Vigornian room as College Hall was out of action due to the renovation of the Undercroft in the Cathedral. Team B1 made the early running, getting off to a great start, with a lead of six points at the end of round one. They led all of the way but after a superb effort by team A1 in round two and team C1 in round three, they were jointly in the lead with C1 with 59 points over A1 with 58 points after three rounds. The relay provided all of the usual excitement and was very frenetic! By the end, B1 were confirmed as winners with 77 points over C1 in second place (76 points) and A1 in third place (74 points). The closest finish we can remember! Congratulation to all who took part but most of all to the winners: Sonali Prasad, Luke Mein, Eliza Pritchard and Alex Probert!

Relay Chaos!

The relay round

In February, a number of our pupils took part in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, an individual competition which consists of problem-solving style questions. The results were excellent with 11 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze certificates being awarded. Jamie Elsdon (Fifth Form) scored the highest mark in the School and qualified for the prestigious Olympiad round. Ruby Kimber (Upper Remove) and Sam Perkins (Lower Remove) were the best in their school years. Impressively, Pranav Mayilvahanan (Lower Fourth) was awarded a Silver certificate despite being two years too young for the event. These three along with Alex Lloyd, Daisy Newman, Katie Ransford, Luke Beever, Rhys Watkins (all Fifth Form), Becky Ye, David Gee, Henry Halford, Micah Browne (all Upper Remove) and George Howard (Lower Remove) all qualified for the Kangaroo round which was held the day before school closed for Covid-19. Well done to all who took part and many congratulations to our qualifiers! Our Sixth Form Maths Society have had a busy year, organising a student helper rota for Maths clinic and organising a Vegas night to be run as a charity fundraiser. Sadly, this had to be cancelled due to the pandemic which was a shame after all of the work that the Maths Soc had done. The Junior Maths Challenge should have taken place in April but instead it was postponed until the end of June and run online. This proved to be very successful and 85 pupils from the L4 and U4 took part. Overall 6 Gold certificates were awarded, along with 11 Silver and 22 Bronze certificates. Sophie Ruane scored the best mark in the L4 and James Capell scored the best mark overall! It would have been a very different experience for our pupils and congratulations to all of those who took part! DJS

The winning team B1!

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t n e m t r a p e MFL D Lockdown international (aka le confinement / das Lockdown/ el confinamiento) and our language speaking exams, we were all very appreciative upon hearing that Madame Rolland was offering weekly calls via Teams so that we could keep up with our French. This was incredibly helpful as I plan to study it at University. Madame Rolland gave us the opportunity to carry on with French speaking by discussing topical events. Not doing the speaking exam meant that we were unable to complete our independent research project. So, to compensate, in our last two sessions we spent time discussing it; a part of the French society that interested me and this allowed me to wrap up this aspect of our A-level course. These sessions were greatly appreciated and enjoyable.

Life in lockdown has led people to appreciate many things they normally take for granted. Now, it is to be hoped that our assistants know that they are never taken for granted, and surely this experience has made us see just how fortunate we are in Languages at King’s to have a team of permanently-employed, well-qualified and supportive languages assistants. These colleagues, who are all native speakers, have continued supporting our students in developing their language speaking skills, alongside the classroom teachers. At King’s all students study at least one language at GCSE and from the summer term of Year 10 are taught by our wonderful assistants in groups of three for a fifteen-minute each week, rising to a 25-minute session in pairs for Sixth Form.

Since the lockdown our assistants have been teaching four year groups: from our Upper Removes, who have begun their GCSE training in earnest; those of our current Fifth Form students who are moving into advanced language study in September and who have already started their A Level course; our current Lower Sixth, who are continuing their work towards A Level next year; and at the top of the school those of our Upper Sixth who are progressing to university to study languages. In addition to this, thanks to our virtual classrooms, students have been able to move to online sessions with no hiatus.

Kerstin Lloyd-Adams

Rocio Wilkes

Anne-Claire Rolland

Not only were they involved by speaking a whole day of a foreign language, they even got to eat a traditional dish from each country (although unfortunately, this year there was no Wiener Schnitzel) the lovely kitchen staff put on an array of multicultural food, from Croissants, Sauerkraut, Paella, Coq au vin, Frankfurter Würstchen and to top it all off a very creamy Crème Brûlée. This was a perfect opportunity for everyone to come together, eat and to relax after an intense morning of working hard. By lunch time, everyone had become so used to speaking another language that it came naturally - which is

one of the many benefits of MFL Media Day. As the day came to an end, brains were hurting and everyone felt tired as it is not every day that King’s School Worcester linguists spend an entire day without using their native tongue - a challenge that was accepted and appreciated by all!

MFL Media Day

¡Hola! Bonjour and Guten Tag! The annual MFL Media Day, held on the 3rd February 2020, was once again an educational success! All linguists, from Upper and Lower Sixth, took part in a day fully immersed in their chosen language subject. Students came in wearing the colours of their language’s country or wore their country’s flag around their body like a patriotic cape. We even had two Lower Sixth girls who made a huge effort by coming in wearing Dirndls (traditional German dress for women). This year’s theme revolved around news broadcasting and the day was structured by an eventful programme. Every linguist had to work in groups to construct a radio broadcast, newspaper and even their own news channel. Particularly for the Lower Sixth, this really allowed them to gain more experience in their language, while the Upper Sixth refreshed their memories on topics that might have been forgotten last year, in preparation for their upcoming exams.

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Hannah (Upper Sixth Languages student) writes: Due to the cancellation of A-levels

Hannah Weaver & Lily Stringer defending their rights in a peaceful protest

Overall, everyone including staff would agree how enjoyable, beneficial and stretching the day was. Those of you who are considering taking a language for A Levels next year, MFL Media Day will really boost your confidence as well as involve a lot of fun!

A team of international journalists

Spanish Exchange to Zaragoza The Spanish exchange was a fantastic way for the students of King’s and Nuestra Señora del Carmen Zaragoza, to develop our language skills and make new friends. 24 Upper Remove pupils and three Upper Sixth students travelled to Zaragoza in October 2019. During the exchange we found we could advance our language skills while also having a lot of fun experiencing the different culture and ways in which our exchange partners live. Getting off the bus was the most nerve-racking experience of the trip, for we were about to be sent away with people we had only ever chatted to online! Once the teachers reassured us it would be fine, we went off on our way. Whilst in Spain, we went on lots of day trips and saw lots of historical monuments. These included: a trip to Teruel - a town in the mountains and to San Sebastián, where Mr Sarriegui gave us a tour of the area, and we all got to paddle in the sea. On the first day we had a tour of Zaragoza’s city centre and went to the Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta where we saw the remains of a Roman Forum. Around Zaragoza there are also other buildings combining Islamic and Gothic architecture which we also saw on the tour. Not only were the museums and architectural sites impressive but all the food and restaurants were too! The ‘bocadillos con jamón’ had to be our favourite! We spent much of the time all together as a big group and as Spanish schools finish at 2pm we had plenty of time to have fun in the evenings. After dinner we often met in a park in the centre of Zaragoza where we’d have fun for hours. Not forgetting to mention the hundreds of Euros spent by our classmates on the electric scooters

because we were always too lazy to walk. On one of our free days we went to watch one of the exchanges in their basketball match. As basketball is a big sport in Zaragoza-it was very busy but was a lot of fun. They later tried to teach us how to play, however, we weren’t nearly as good. Saying goodbye to our exchanges and their families was quite upsetting for some and a few tears were shed, especially to those who had formed very close friendships. Yet, we knew that we would see them again in April - which turned into February! Seeing our exchanges arrive in England was so much fun. We threw them straight into our busy lives which many found

extremely exhausting. I know that our exchanges, Innes and Sonia, enjoyed their trips, especially to Cadbury World, and were surprised at how good the chocolate was. Sonia did say, however, that “Shakespeare would be more interesting if the guide didn’t talk so slow”. Again, we met up as a big group on many occasions to go bowling, out for pizza, to Birmingham and to go to a party. Everybody enjoyed these events a lot. And when the dreaded time came for the exchanges to go home to Zaragoza, tears were shed once again. Nonetheless, we all cheered ourselves up with a Mcdonald’s breakfast afterwards. A huge thanks to Mrs Shearburn, Mrs Ruiz and Mr Sarriegui for helping to make the exchange very enjoyable experience! Bella Barry and Purdy Newson-Tonks

Upper Remove German Exchange to Memmingen (that never was) 30+ pupils and families were all set for the German Exchange, looking forward to welcoming exchange partners in April and flying out to Memmingen in Bavaria in early July, just in time to join in the celebrations of Wallenstein and Fischertag. Unfortunately Coronavirus beat us to it, though the pupils from both Schools had already established good online contact by then, so we built on this by setting weekly tasks for them to work on, such as practising tongue twisters in both languages and describing pictures, which is a key element of the IGCSE speaking examination.

Mary (UR German pupil) writes: It was indeed a shame that the exchange trip was cancelled, especially since my exchange and I became very close after we got each other’s contact information, finding out that we have very similar interests and hobbies. Instead, at least once every week, we chat on social media platforms about our day, whilst conversing in the other’s native language for practice, learning slang phrases from the other in order to truly build up strong, useful vocabulary. We hope that the exchange will still go on, as it currently feels like we’re penpals and it would be wonderful to meet in person and talk face-to-face, but for now, we will still chat often in hope that we can, one day, meet. The Vigornian

A Year in the Life of an MFL Student Philippa Wills – OV (2020) writes of her experiences as a languages student. She specialised in German, although her report has equal relevance for French and Spanish. Philippa and has gone on to study English at Cambridge University. If I could give one piece of advice to a student deliberating about their studies at A Level, I would encourage them to embark on the cultural extravaganza of a language. By multiplying your words, you can multiply your worlds, and reap the lifelong benefits which, as I leave King’s, I am only just discovering. Experiences: Studying another modern language at GCSE or A-level will not just help you pass an exam, it will cultivate a lifelong fascination with the countries and culture(s) of the language. Anyone who is interested in the notion of learning will benefit from the myriad of topics covered, and wide variety of learning styles. The opportunities later in life to work, travel or even live in (in my case) German-speaking countries are often facilitated by a brilliant experience of the German Exchange programme. My first exchange to Cologne in the Upper Remove was a personal victory, giving me confidence

in my social and linguistic abilities, which made my work experience in Magdeburg two years later a complete success. I will never forget visiting an ancient Medieval Castle, sitting in on a real court trial, playing football with a group of enthusiastic 10-year olds, or eating Currywurst on the street with the friends I made. A typical week: As the punctuality of German life runs like clockwork, so must an A Level linguist establish an efficient routine. In my Upper Sixth year, the onset of the week brought lessons on the Literature aspect of the course, with homework including reading and annotating Brecht’s Mutter Courage and noting key vocab and quotations. The middle of the week would perhaps be spent partly in the MFL computer room, practising for the listening aspect of the examination to the point where hearing spoken German became commonplace. Vocabulary tests would usually occur here, with more set for the next week. The latter part of the week would devote itself more to the A Level topics; work ranged from reading excepts from Neil McGregor’s Germany, to creating a presentation about a figure of our choice (no script allowed!). Thursday evenings would include reading

a news article in German (mine were an eclectic mix of recent politics and random trivia) to be related in my weekly oral session to the ever-interested speaking assistant, Mrs Azzopardi. Opportunities: An MFL student’s routine is far from mindless repetition – there is unparalleled scope for variation and a huge range of media through which one can learn. A basic grounding in vocabulary and grammar is necessary, but there are many other ways in which we can make languages accessible for ourselves. Films, audio books or poetry in the target language are all ways in which language students let their brain ‘soak’ up the language and culture. Modern foreign languages often link many subjects together – the focus on culture in the course introduces aspects of History, Politics, Art, Drama, Literature, and even Music. Taking German A Level was one of the best decisions I have ever made and has influenced me in ways I could never have imagined. My fascination with languages is what drew me into English, and though I am not studying German at university, I can thank my studies in it for giving me a lifelong love of words and language.

Berlin Trip Berlin is the ideal place for a city break in Europe. Ticking all the boxes, the buzzing metropolis boasts a killer nightlife scene, amazing local food, a rich history, world famous beer, and some of the most remarkable sights and museums in the world. Before Christmas, 12 The King’s School pupils (five learning German and seven studying Art) flew 579 miles to this quirky capital. Our choice of residency was the The Heart of Gold Hostel: it had a warm, welcoming feeling and served the best Bircher Muesli! Boarding schoolstyle bunk-beds gave it the “hostel-y” feel and the biggest benefit was the amazing Italian restaurant just around the corner, serving freshly made pizzas for only 5€! We saw an array of museums and galleries (maybe too many…) such as the Alte Nationalgalerie and the Stasi Museum. However, the highlight, which I’m sure everyone would agree, was the breathtaking, extravagant show, Vivid. An hour and a half of witnessing contortionists swinging from poles, to acrobats jumping from human hamster wheels was an amazing sight.

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The classic German Christmas markets were also a climax of the trip. Endless crêpe, Currywurst, and geröstete Mandeln stalls were everyone’s favourite free time activity after a long, exhausting day walking from corner to corner in the capital city.

The days felt long but overall, the experience, both artistically and linguistically, was very beneficial and for those of you who are thinking of joining us next year or in years to come - I would highly recommend it, even if it’s just to skip the carol service! RAB

Physics Department Physics Olympics – Monday October 16th 2019 This is the second year that Malvern College has organised this event for local schools in Worcestershire. The day consisted of each team moving between the different Physics labs and undertaking a total of six different challenges. These involved both applications of Physics that students were familiar with, as well as some of the challenges introducing them to new ideas. One task involved using the theory behind

Archimedes’ principle to fill a plastic cup with water so that when placed in a large tank of water, it would sink to just below the level of the rim of the cup, without actually sinking completely. Out of the teams that participated, the King’s School team won this individual challenge, as well as one further challenge on measuring the half-distance of Aluminium required to block gamma rays.

This year, the team consisted of Charlie Mackintosh, Barrett Viljoen, Tom Eaton and Theo Osborn. All four members of the team played a vital role in the day and worked very well together. They did extremely well to come runners up when the results were all counted up.

am I?’ where the teams were given a selection of photos of famous physicists including Stephen Hawking, Brian Cox and Marie Curie and were also asked what they were famous for. After a lunch break the students got to hear a talk from one of the leading academics at the university, putting elements of their Physics research into the wider context of applications in the modern world. The final round was a specialist round which this year

was all about medical applications of Physics. The students had had the opportunity to use a selection of resources to prepare themselves as well as possible before the event.

We are very grateful to Malvern College for organising this event and for allowing us use of their facilities for this day. We hope to return next year if conditions allow.

Physics Big Quiz Mrs. Gamble and Dr. Petchsingh took 16 students from the Lower Remove to compete in the annual Physics Big Quiz at Birmingham University. This is an event run by the university outreach department in order to promote Physics amongst Key Stage 3 pupils. This year there were 32 schools being represented with a total of just over 100 teams competing. The teams battled it out over several rounds on ‘Mechanics’, and ‘Who

Although we sadly didn’t make the podium this year (though one of our teams missed out on third place by only a couple of points) we will definitely be entering four more teams in the future!

Physics Olympiad – Friday November 15th 2019 Students in the Upper Sixth had the opportunity to sit the British Physics Olympiad on Friday November 15th 2019. This is something that the department has not run formally before, so it was good to get as many of the Upper Sixth involved as possible. It definitely provided the participants with the opportunity to promote critical thinking

and encourage further reading. Out of the 12 students who chose to get involved, two students (Ellie Driver & Theo Osborn) managed to achieve Bronze certificates. This achievement placed Ellie and Theo in the top 16% of the candidates who participated nationally, so this was an excellent achievement by both of them!

Engineering Education Scheme The Engineering Education Scheme run by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) was launched in September 2019 as usual. This year’s team comprised of Lower Sixth students Henny Hodges, Bethan Fox, Laurence Bryan-Brown, Jamie Hartshorne, Alessia Morris Gouveia and Henry Pickering. All members of the team worked very well on their project which this year involved working with our affiliated company, Honeywell Hymatic, based near Redditch. Their project involved working with the company to investigate the shape and effectiveness of nozzles used for the washing and cleaning of stored energy bottles. Being part of the Engineering Education Scheme is a big commitment throughout the school year, and all of the team did their

bit to make good progress with the project, not just in school, but also at the two day workshop at Loughborough University. Sadly, due to the outbreak of COVD-19 and the subsequent lockdown, it wasn’t possible for any of the teams to complete their projects. Nonetheless, The King’s School team still were able to work on the project write-up and results obtained up to when the lockdown was imposed. They still managed to complete their project report and evaluation based on what they had achieved up until March. As a testament to their attitude and commitment to their project, they were still able to pass the scheme thereby gaining their gold level industrial cadets accreditation which is a fantastic achievement even when times are ‘normal’! AK The Vigornian

EPQ

Holly Jennings: a summary of her EPQ

Is the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum a political allegory for American society in the 1890s? When I stumbled across a TED-Ed Talk discussing Henry Littlefield’s interpretation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as expressed in his Parable on Populism essay, my potential EPQ topic choices were immediately narrowed down to one. I was captivated by the idea of a hidden meaning behind such a familiar tale, and was set on exploring this. Littlefield was an American history teacher, who had been struggling to keep his students engaged when thdiscussing the Gilded Age of the late 19 century. Then, one night when reading his daughters The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a bedtime story, he recognised the book’s parallels with the social and economic issues of the 1890s. He was slightly unnerved, since he was the only person to have read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a political allegory in the 64 years since it was published in 1900. Nevertheless, he used the book to illustrate the historical period to his class. This was met with enthusiasm. It prompted students to recognise additional connections, which led to academics further investigating this allegorical concept. Contrasting views for and against this interpretation encouraged widespread debate, and with this I was provided with an intellectually challenging but equally rewarding research opportunity. So, I decided to embark on a yellow brick road venture of my own, questioning: Is the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum a political allegory for American society in the 1890s? The aim of my project was to answer this question using journal articles, magazine articles, books, cartoons, documentaries and additional primary research in the form of a survey, Twitter questions, and information from educated individuals on the topic. When doing so, I needed to consider whether The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written as a political allegory. Or rather, could it just be utilised as one? With all this in mind, the key was whether Baum intended for the story to be an allegory. Having undertaken an extremely individual research topic, I’m often asked why I chose it. Simply, this timeless piece of fiction has always had a place in my life, and I was interested to discover more about a story so often accepted at its surface value. The 1939 MGM classic film, The Wizard of Oz, was monumental. When analysed alongside over 47,000 other movies by Turin University, Italy in 2018 it was named the most influential of

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all time. The song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, teaching that “the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true”, Judy Garland’s rendition and the music in general have caused the film’s narrative to leave a lasting impact. Yet, my interest in this dissertation derived from my desire to look beyond its cinematic presentation. When people think of The Wizard of Oz, they do not necessarily relate it to the author and real man behind the curtain, L. Frank Baum. Nor do they know Baum’s true and non-adapted story, deemed to be filled with allegorical symbolism. Since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written following the 1896 presidential election, the book has been associated with the Populist “free silver” campaign. In the 1890s, farmers wished to add silver to the gold standard in order to put more money in circulation and make it easier for farmers to borrow. Notably, the yellow brick road symbolises the gold standard, and the original silver shoes on the yellow brick road represent silver coinage being added, causing bimetallism. To contextualise, in the late 1890s the United States had not long recovered from the Civil War. Vast new territories had been integrated, bringing prosperity for some. Industry in the North and East flourished. Conversely, farmers and workers across the South and Midwest suffered hardship. This united them against urban elites, forming the People’s Party. Relating this to Baum’s literature, The Wicked Witch of the East supposedly represents industrialists and bankers on the East Coast of America, controlling and oppressing the common people: the Munchkins. The Tin Woodman, reflects US industry following the depression of 1893 and the industrial worker dehumanised by factory labour. The Scarecrow symbolises the perception of a Kansas farmer to outsiders; someone who is considered naive, but is actually resourceful. The Cowardly Lion is supposedly Democrat William Jennings Bryan, who campaigned to be president of the United States in 1896 and 1900. He advocated a standard of bimetallism to replace the gold standard, and also advocated for “free silver”. He was supported by the People’s Party, but is “Cowardly” considering he could have been an extremely influential figure had he had the courage to adopt the Populists’ radical program. Cleverly, another allegorical association is the claim that the people of the Emerald City looked through green coloured glasses to represent greenbacks and their fallacy.

These underlying meanings of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz have been recognised in some American history textbooks. Yet, this interpretation of Baum’s story is not common knowledge. I can say, wholeheartedly, that when discovering the implicit nature of this book myself I finally understood the beauty behind every story. It truly accustomed me to the multifaceted complexion of literature. Allegorical research enabled me to delve deeper into the book from more than a political perspective, and learn of additional interpretations. For instance, Dorothy, a typical American girl, as the protagonist in a time when males dominated, sparked the argument that the book is a manifestation of feminist ideas. This is supported by Baum’s mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage, being an extreme suffragette. There have also been particularly interesting associations between Baum’s life and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. For instance, he sold “The Great Axle Oil”, which could have influenced his character choice of a Tin Woodman. Moreover, he had a heart condition which could be linked to the Tin Woodman’s desire for a fully-functioning heart to feel complete. Significantly, Baum attended Peekskill Military Academy, so was away from home for prolonged periods. In this respect, he is similar to Dorothy in believing there is “no place like home.” In fact, it is already known that Baum drew on his own experiences. His grandson admitted that Baum’s yellow brick road was named after a Michigan Street where the family spent their holidays. Looking at The Wonderful Wizard of Oz even more broadly, there have been religious connotations. Additionally, there is a theory that the Winged Monkeys, under the Wicked Witch of the West’s forced control, represent the Plains Indians. Disappointingly, it cannot be the case that all of these ideas came to fruition in his writing. Having immersed myself in this project, I do admit that I see the parallels. However, I have discovered through primary and secondary research that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is not, and never officially will be, a political allegory. Although, it is widely accepted by historians to be open to interpretation, and it can be used as a pedagogical device. Baum’s intention for his story is decisively phrased in his introduction: “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written solely to please children of today”. Since this is the only record of Baum’s intent, Baum is unable to speak on

his intent and it is unjust for someone from a different time to decide Baum’s intent, he cannot be undermined out of respect. Further, the allegorical interpretation has been discredited because Baum’s views towards Populism are inconclusive. This is particularly since, as noted by Bradley A. Hansen, there is not proof that Baum was sympathetic towards the Populist movement. He wasn’t incredibly politically active, and it is in debate whether he was of Democratic or Republican view. Perhaps people have been too bold in their claims. Baum admitted himself that the name “Oz” was inspired by wording on his filing cabinet. Since the allegorical claim argues that Baum chose “Oz” in order to include the abbreviation for a measure of gold, this casts further doubt.

of the story. A lover of inside jokes, if this allegory were to be the case, he is having the last laugh.

Nonetheless, I do personally believe that the events of the 1890s did find their way into the book. The symbolism is too much to dismiss as insignificant. It does seem typical of Baum for this to be the outcome

Baum’s passion for what he did and thought for who it affected was so honest and true. The crux of his intention was to write a book which would resonate with America and be its own, yet different fairytale. That,

Having completed this EPQ, I have even greater admiration for a man who prioritised caring for his family. He encouraged imagination, the extraordinary and was genius. When I came across one quote in particular whilst researching my dissertation, I was truly touched by its sincerity and rawness. It meets my hope of what a hero of mine would truly value and hold dear. L. Frank Baum wrote in a copy of his first book which he gave to his sister: “To please a child is a sweet and a lovely thing that warms one’s heart and brings its own reward.”

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz certainly was. With no question left unanswered in modern society, there is comfort in having something left unsaid. For me, this book has always encouraged a certain outlookseeing rainbows as a sign of hope, boundaries as something to surpass, selfbelief as something to maintain and what matters most to be recognised as close to home. I had always imagined the message behind Oz to be one of self-discovery. Having known the story in this light, it is nice for it to maintain that way. No one will ever know the inner workings of Baum’s mind. Now, when revisiting the book, I feel as though that is one of the book’s most “wonderful” parts. Regardless of controversy surrounding intent, with such a creative mind, Baum left the book to the imagination of children and adults alike to last the sands of time. Holly Jennings

Religion & Philosophy Department ‘The apparent reality of cosmic ‘fine tuning’ furnishes one of the most powerful and promising platforms for a dialogue between theology and physical cosmology.’ Discuss. Over the past few decades, developments in the field of cosmology have revealed a startling amount about the origins of the universe. Study into the genesis of the universe has provided evidence for apparent fine tuning of the cosmos and has had an impact on many different branches of academia. In cosmology, the term ‘finetuning’ is generally used to refer to the improbability of the random existence of the universe, particularly with regards to the sensitive nature of certain physical constants that dictate every physical and chemical interaction. In effect, it is the

belief that the universe is too perfect to have occurred randomly. There is a growing amount of scientific evidence cited in favour of this metaphysical conclusion. Lord Rees, the Astronomer Royal, for example, shows that ‘just six numbers’ have been responsible for creating the universe with a precision that appears to have been ‘finely tuned’. As he goes on to explain, if any one of these six constants (or indeed a whole host of other anthropic properties) was even slightly different, the universe would most likely be entirely

unsuited to sustenance of life. For example, if epsilon, the measure of the efficiency of nuclear fusion (≈0.007), was equal to 0.006, nuclear fusion would never have taken place and no elements more complex than hydrogen would have emerged. If epsilon was 0.008, no hydrogen would exist as it would have been consumed within in minutes of the initial singularity, preventing the formation of stars. The fact that not just one, but all of the universal constants happen to lie within the universe’s lifepermitting range is even more remarkable - as Professor Stephen Hawking concluded;

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‘these numbers seem to have been very finely adjusted to make possible the development of life’. It is the apparent unlikelihood of this cosmic ‘fine-tuning’ that has led to a dialogue between theology, philosophy and physical cosmology. Study of the issue has resulted in the emergence of four main theories: • Design • Chance • Multiverse theory • Explanation by future scientific discovery The first of these offers the most explicit example of a dialogue between theology and physical cosmology. The fine tuning teleological argument has established itself as a robust defence of God’s existence and has done so to the extent that leading atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Peter Atkins and Christopher Hitchens have identified it as both the most serious and intriguing defence of deism. Proponents of the fine-tuning teleological argument, such as Richard Swinburne and William Lane Craig, do not claim that it offers deductive proof of the existence of God. Instead they use the argument as part of a cumulative case for Christian theism alongside other defences of God’s existence. The argument is in fact abductive and argues that according to Bayesian Probability, it suggests that there is no reasonable alternative explanation. It can be expressed thus: P1) The probability of a universe with the right physical conditions to support life occurring randomly is incredibly slight P2) The universe is able to sustain intelligent life, as shown by our existence P3) It is more likely to suppose that the life bearing conditions of the universe were fine-tuned by design than that they all fell by chance in the life-permitting range Therefore, it is more likely to assume that the universe has been fine-tuned by a cosmic designer than that its stable, lifesupporting existence occurred by chance. Critics have, however, been quick to find flaws with this argument. The identified problem with the first premise is that it does not take into consideration mankind’s inherent bias towards observing conditions as necessary for our own existence. This is known as the Weak Anthropic Principle and can be stated thus: a universe must be capable of supporting life for there to be living beings capable of reflecting on the matter, who will presume that their universe uniquely contains the conditions required for their existence. Many cosmologists and philosophers argue that we seriously underestimate life’s propensity to appear under different conditions. If we abandon ‘carbon chauvinism’, then the extent to

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which the universe appears to be fine tuned is significantly reduced. Indeed the argument goes further still with philosophers arguing that in order for fine-tuning to be used as part of a collective case for God’s existence, one would need to know all the relevant conditions for assessing probability. Without such knowledge, coming to a reasoned judgement on the matter would be philosophically irresponsible. Furthermore, some cosmologists such as Alun Guth believe that it may be the case that mankind will never be intelligent enough to fully understand the origins of the universe, and that in this scenario; agnosticism is the most epistemologically responsible position for one to hold. An alternative explanation, known as the multiverse hypothesis has been posited by physicists such as Leonard Susskind and philosophers including Derek Parfit. This thesis, known as the multiverse hypothesis, conjectures that multiple universes exist, some of which may be radically different to our own. If a sufficiently diverse range of universes exists, then it is highly probable that one would exist with conditions suitable for the sustenance of life. Rather than being finely tuned, this theory proposes that the stability of our universe is pure chance and the result of millions of failed ‘attempts’, offering an alternative solution to fine-tuning by design. It is often falsely assumed that because the multiverse hypothesis is favoured by scientists such as Susskind and Atkins, that it is a scientific theory. Despite this, there remain a core of philosophers and cosmologists who posit that, by definition, the multiverse theory cannot be scientific. Karl Popper’s criterion of demarcation has become the favoured tool amongst philosophers for deciding whether something is science or non-science. It states that unless it is conceivable for a theory to be falsified using empirical evidence, it cannot be a genuine scientific hypothesis. By definition, evidence that supports the existence of other universes cannot exist and so there seems no possible information that could totally disprove the multiverse hypothesis. If it is – as it seems- compatible with any and every potential observation, then the theory itself is vacuous and is thus best thought of as a thought experiment. Furthermore, the theory also has to get over the obstacle posed by Ockham’s Razor. Swinburne argues that according to Ockham’s Razor, we should select the theory that supposes the existence of one unknown being (God) over trillions of unknown universes. This objection is, however, not as strong as Swinburne believes. Ockham’s Razor only supports Swinburne’s argument if the being whose

existence he supposes is not intrinsically incoherent as whilst it may only suppose the existence of a single entity unless that entity is internally coherent, it is not an entity at all. This objection puts the burden of proof on Swinburne to prove that God is a coherent entity, something that has to be proved rather than just assumed. Furthermore, the multiverse hypothesis does not explain why the multiverse itself exists. An infinitely more complex multiverse, must have its own governing physical laws which suggests the existence of ‘fine-tuning’ or design in the multiverse. Without evidence of necessity, the multiverse theory also supports the deistic case from a cosmological point of view; as Aquinas would have argued, even an infinity of multiverses would not be selfexplanatory as each element within it would be contingent and thus still require the existence of a necessary being, God. The final response to the question of ‘finetuning’ is the belief that any apparent design in the universe will be explicable by a greater understanding of the laws of physics; the universe exists as it does because it physically couldn’t be any other way. Proponents of this belief argue that there is no apparent fine-tuning, merely a gap in human understanding that may be explained by a law that offers a unified account of all known forces of nature. However, as theists like Swinburne are quick to point out, if mankind was to discover a universal physical law that explains finetuning; does this theory, with its complexity, not require further explanation and in fact further the case for design in the universe? In conclusion, the apparent evidence for fine-tuning in the universe has clearly led to a dialogue between theology and cosmology. Whilst the theological argument from fine-tuning is unable to prove the existence of a god, it is certainly useable as part of a collective case for it. The fine-tuning theological argument does not, as Swinburne and Lane Craig think it does, support a theistic case; no aspect of the fine-tuning theological argument points towards the existence of a particular God (or indeed to monotheism at all) and therefore it cannot be used to help the theological case of any particular religion. Despite this, the fine-tuning argument adds to the realm of theological discussion by bringing together contemporary scientific advancements and the millenniaold debate about the existence of God. Charlie Mackintosh For those who are interested in reading this essay complete with references, please contact the Religion and Philosophy head of department.

PERFORMING ARTS

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Dance 2019-20 has been our biggest year yet. Most of the year was spent preparing for our one big event but, as always, the dancers took on any extra opportunity to prepare new performance pieces and share them. Harriet Killman in the Lower Sixth chose to organise a dance show as part of her Gold Arts Award project. She chose to raise money for the Make A Wish foundation and her hard work meant that she was able to send a large cheque to the charity. Not only did Harriet organise and run the Make A Wish Dance Showcase she choreographed dances for each year group to perform. The show had a Disney theme which was a great opportunity for the dancers to perform before the big event. In February, 32 dancers from Lower Fourth to Upper Six had the most wonderful opportunity to dance on one of the professional stages at Disneyland

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Paris. The dancers started rehearsals in September with a strict schedule. Despite it being hard work, there is no doubt that it paid off! This was notable from the start as they flew through their audition in October and then continued to prepare for the trip. Excitement started to grow once the costumes arrived and we began to run full show rehearsals in the theatre. Relationships began to build between the year groups and the help and support they gave each other was inspiring. Just as we were about to leave horrendous storms were battering Britain and there were moments we thought we would not make it. Luckily, however, we safely made it to Paris and the sun was shining. The first morning there was a very early start; the dancers had to get ready for a full day out, starting with a workshop run by the Dance Captain at Disneyland Paris. They learnt a phrase from two of the characters which was both incredibly fun and tiring. After the

workshop the dancers went straight to their changing rooms to get ready to perform, they were so excited to get out onto the stage. The performance went so well, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. So much so that a member of the audience kindly wrote an email to the School saying, ‘they are a credit to your school and definitely to the UK’. The rest of the trip allowed us to enjoy the perks of a few days away, eating lots of sugar and shopping. Huge thank you to Miss Arnold and Mrs Lewis for coming along, I think we enjoyed ourselves maybe even more than the dancers! To finish my review of the year, I should like to commend Skye Weaver and Victoria Whitehead on their creative choreography, commitment and enthusiasm in dance. I should also like to thank them for being fantastic Senior Dancers and welcome Harriet Killman as the new Senior Dancer. KEL

Drama Whilst the academic year may have been cut unexpectedly short, there is still plenty of activity to report on. September started with a bang as Mrs Parry and Mr Taranczuk auditioned prospective cast members for the December production of Made in Dagenham. We were delighted to welcome so many new faces to the senior company as new students to the King’s Sixth Form chose to get involved in the production, alongside long-established members of the school community. There were some real surprises during the audition process and casting proved genuinely tricky, but the ensemble that evolved proved to be the perfect blend and balance and went on to perform one of the most astounding pieces of theatre that JMT audiences have seen in a long time. A full review of the show appears elsewhere. There were plenty of tasters of what our seniors were capable of during that autumn term as our GCSE and A Level groups gave public performances of their assessment work - some stunning original devised theatre in a range of performance styles from the Fifth Form plus an extract performance of Duffy and Supple’s Grimm Tales performed by the U6 in the style of Peter Brook. Throughout the term, rehearsals were compromised by good old Worcester flooding! If pupils had even made it into school in the first place, they still had to be flexible about travel arrangements home. Despite rehearsals being in constant flux, quality never suffered and traditional fixtures in the performance calendar - the Lower Years Christmas Show, the Senior Citizens Christmas Party (and of course the Senior Production) - still had the wow factor that audiences expect from King’s performances. As we moved into the Spring Term, the key event for our students was the annual London Theatre Tour. After new members of the Drama ‘family’ had been initiated into the delights of Oxford Services (!) a coachload of FF GCSE and combined L6 and U6 A Level students arrived in the West End for the start of the real business of the weekend. Our first activity was a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House. Performers, designers and technicians alike were absolutely spellbound by the facilities on offer. Mr Haynes was blown away by the mechanical stage (designed by Rolls Royce engineers) although much to the Bursar’s relief, he has not yet submitted his ideas for re-engineering the John Moore Theatre!

Friday night’s trip to see the award-winning production of Come From Away was an absolute treat - quite a unique theatrical experience and one beautifully captured by Ella Fidlin in the review that she wrote for her Gold Arts Award. The group followed up on the Come From Away vibe the next morning. We arrived at the iconic Pineapple Dance Studios for an amazing performance workshop with cast member, Brandon Lee Sears, who put everyone through their paces staging the show’s opening number, Welcome to the Rock. Saturday performance experience was the matinee of Teenage Dick at the Donmar Warehouse. Mike Lew’s reworking of Shakespeare’s Richard III, set in an American High School and with several roles written for actors with a range of physical disabilities, was a bold and thought-provoking production. It was not without its flaws, however, and Ella wrote a thoughtful, critical review of this production as well. Returning to school after an exciting weekend away, it was straight back to business as usual. A few weeks later, a superb Removes ensemble staged their production of Teechers in the Wightman Studio. Once again, a full review is printed elsewhere. The Removes were also lucky enough to take part in a specialist stage make-up workshop with professional artist, Daryl Singleton. There was blood and gore a-plenty as they learnt how to create the illusion of various wounds and injuries on stage and it was fascinating to see our otherwise delightful Lower Removes show their bloodthirsty sides as their imaginations created increasingly more maimed and mangled illusions! The excitement of the London Theatre Tour’s successes reinvigorated the examination groups as they embarked on their final round of practical assessments. In March, the U6 gave a compelling public performance of their own original devised piece, The Choice, inspired by forced adoption experiences suffered by young, unmarried mothers (and their children) in the 1960s. The following week, our Fifth Form GCSE pupils gave their final public performance of the pieces they

had prepared for the visiting examiner earlier that week. Friends, family, and the King’s community at large were treated to extracts from family saga My Mother Said I Never Should, the beautifully poignant Lovesong, and surreal football comedy God’s Official. Little did we know then that those would be the final performances of the academic year. Lockdown robbed us of the opportunity to share with our audiences what would have been a stunning Lower Years production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (Plans for Aslan were particularly striking so watch out for a lion theme emerging in future production plans: we’re not ones to let good ideas go to waste!) Sadly, the scheduled LAMDA exams had to be cancelled but Mr Hollyhead and his team did a superb job staying in touch with students and conducting their peripatetic speech and drama lessons online. The desire to succeed remains high and the LAMDA team hope to be in a position to reschedule the exams for our talented individuals as soon as possible. That certainly doesn’t mean that we let Drama grind to a halt. Like all academic departments in the school, we were immensely proud of the resilience and creativity shown by King’s pupils during their remote learning and our Drama students continued to entertain even beyond the virtual classroom. There were many outstanding home performances recorded to support the Arts Award showcases and many students took to social media to promote their creative outpouring. A tongue-in-cheek video on Twitter of our L6 students experimenting with Our Country’s Good and Video Editor actually caught the eye of the playwright, Timberlake Wertenbaker, who took time to send us a message of appreciation and support for our students. In a similar vein we were incredibly lucky to make contact with writer, director and actor Bella Merlin. As an OV, she was kind enough to reach out to the school during lockdown and our senior Drama students had a wonderful experience when Bella joined us for a Teams meeting. (We are additionally grateful given the time difference for California-

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based Bella who joined us hideously early in the morning at her end!) She spoke about her career and her philosophy on theatre and education – powerful and inspiring messages for our students at a time when their experiences of theatre and education were being turned on their head. COVID-19 has very much changed the landscape of our nation and, in the midst

of that, arts industries have suffered greatly and are still in turmoil whilst other businesses manage to reopen around them. As we weigh up what regulations mean for the future of the performing arts, including our proud tradition of productions here at King’s, we remain committed to giving our students as stimulating and as inspiring an experience as we can. To quote Rufus Norris, Artistic Director of the National Theatre,

“Medicine keeps you alive; the Arts give you a reason to live”. We look forward to the 2021 edition of the Vigornian to bring you more Drama news and hopefully be able to reflect on what may be changed experiences for our pupils but ones which we aim to be as positive and life-affirming as possible! SP

My Really Wonderful Review of Teenage Dick Mike Lew’s modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s masterpiece Richard III, the rather awkwardly titled Teenage Dick, found minor success on Broadway in 2019, subsequently transferring to London’s very own Donmar Warehouse later that year. The play itself was fundamentally pitched to me as this: Richard III... but in high school! I was, to say the least, sceptical of any real value this could have, save possibly making some teenagers interested in Shakespeare, in the same way Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet or Gil Junger’s 10 Things I Hate About You did around 20 years ago. I eventually stumbled upon a trailer for the play, and found myself amused by its humour, my expectations for the play already raised. I then discovered that it was direct by Michael Longhurst, who was responsible for the utterly phenomenal revival of Jeanine Tesori’s Caroline, or Change, in 2018. Longhurst is well-known for his eye for the aesthetic (he admitted as much in an interview with The Stage in 2016, in which he said he had a visual sense), as well as his ensemble work, so I had very high expectations for the direction and overall design of the play. He also rarely shies away from violence, such as in his 2017 production of Belleville, and Richard III is naturally a very violent play. In terms of Longhurst’s direction, I must say that my expectations were mostly met. The set took on the appearance of a school’s basketball court, and the ‘school gym’ aesthetic was used as much as it possibly could be - for example, a detail I absolutely adored was the use of a typical school’s crash mat as a bed. It was little details such as this which kept me amused throughout the show. There was good ensemble work, although it was not as flashy as in Caroline, or Change, where he used the ensemble to play various kitchen appliances that Caroline works with. As it was only a cast of six, he was quite limited in what he could do, but he used the cast members who weren’t part of a scene to carry various pieces of set, which was a nice touch, though not entirely as revolutionary as I thought it would be. When there was violence, and

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there certainly was violence, he did not shy away from it, instead choosing to highlight it, mostly with copious amounts of fake blood but sometimes, rather more hamfistedly, with a camera. His use of cameras throughout the show brought to mind Ivo Van Hove’s incredible production of All About Eve, however here it was used much less effectively, clearly meant to drive home the importance of social media in the play as opposed to making any real statement. Mike Lew’s script, however, was one of the most interesting parts of the play, as it was simultaneously one of the best and worst parts of the show. For the first half of the show, wit seeped through every scene, as well as copious Shakespearean references (In one scene, Richard says to bully Eddie ‘the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a douchebag.’), which, as a lover of all good (and bad) puns, did not go unappreciated. Indeed, the first half of the play sets us up for an intelligent black comedy in the vein of Alexander Payne’s 1999 high school set political satire Election. However, as soon as Richard discovers Anne Margaret had an abortion, an odd detail to throw into the story, it quickly becomes clear that Lew has set his sights a little bit higher than simply adapting Shakespeare: he wants to write a different play entirely. The second half of the play quickly devolves into something that resembles 13 Reasons Why more than any Shakespeare, disregarding Shakespeare’s play, and even the basic history behind it, in favour of tackling social issues such as abortion and cyber-bullying. This would be perfectly fine, if he had not attached the Richard III idea to the play. I ended up incredibly unsure as to what the play was trying to do. A glance at cast member Susan Wokoma’s Twitter feed led me to believe that the aim of the play was to tackle ableism, but in that case, why write a play where the disabled character is inherently the villain? At the end of play, Richard claims that it is because of our ableist perceptions that we see him as the villain, but this is a dramatic oversight of two things: firstly, that we

see him as evil because he is Richard III, and that’s the nature of the play, but also that the audience still like Richard, even if he is a terrible person, because he is so entertaining. The latter point has been true ever since the play’s debut, where an audience member asked actor Richard Burbage to visit her after the show, but only in character as King Richard. Richard was also never seen in a positive light within the actual play, so the play’s sudden attempt to play him as sympathetic in the last minute of the play felt incredibly misguided. This addition of ‘pressing social issues’ led to one of the most controversial choices of the play: love interest Anne Margaret’s incredibly graphic suicide. There was no foreshadowing of this, and no point to it, other than to have Anne Margaret make a point about women being second in historical narratives. She reels off a list of men who dominate their narratives, as opposed to the women they’ve wronged, and it struck me as very interesting that the second man she mentioned was Henry VIII, which made me think “You’re right, women are usually second in the narrative, but there’s a group of six women who are making a much better point about that over the Arts Theatre.” The speech, though making a good point, comes out of nowhere. Then the suicide itself, which was shown up close, by use of camera, with copious fake blood. This, whilst very well directed and very well performed., was gratuitous and very unnecessary. Teenage Dick was an interesting play: welldirected and well-acted, but confusing in message and tone. Ella Fidlin

You Are Here, At the start of a review of Come From Away I had heard about David Hein and Irene Sankoff’s hit musical Come From Away taking Broadway by storm before I knew that much about it. I had heard a few of the songs, but that was all. So you can imagine my surprise when I found out that it was about the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. I pondered the same question that I’m sure most people ponder when they discover this: how on earth do you make a musical out of that? As I did my research and read copious reviews, my fears that it would be mining the tragedy of the event were, thankfully, assuaged, and having listened to the soundtrack (and subsequently worked though a whole packet of tissues), I was a lot more optimistic as to the quality of the show. I looked into the career of director Christopher Ashley and found that he was responsible for incredibly successful productions such as Memphis, All Shook Up, and the 2000 Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show. Although there were few to no mentions of him in reviews, one thing was clear – this man knows his way around musicals. Having investigated some of his past productions, the words that are most associated with his work tend to be ‘lively’ or ‘frenetic,’ so I was expecting a fun, fast paced performance. Reviews of the show itself said that it had a warmth and a heart to it, and some warned that it could feel almost saccharine. I am very pleased to report that my expectations for the show were fulfilled, even exceeded. There is a very strange quality to Come From Away, a sense of warmth and community, of pure joy, which I cannot say was due to any one thing. Certainly, the performances were a big part of this. Every single actor multi-roled, which

really helped Gander feel like a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. On a more cliched note, it also helped to convey to the audience that the residents of Gander and the ‘plane people’ were not so different after all (as horribly sentimental as that sounds). It was very obvious to me, and presumably the entire audience, that the cast had a very strong bond, the show having been running on the West End for around a year at that point, which once again showed the rapport the characters had with each other, making the audience warm to the characters all the more. The band were onstage for the entire show, and even had a few minutes in the spotlight after the bows, playing Screech Out, and obviously having the best time of their lives. It was a sheer joy to watch the cast and the band, which really made the experience a wonderful one. Christopher Ashley’s direction was nothing short of incredible. The set was made up of a few tables and chairs, but it was so very versatile – somehow, this minimal set convincingly became a plane, a pub, and, in one of my favourite sequences of the play, the Dover Fault. The stage had a revolve in the middle, meaning that quick changes of scene could easily be conveyed. That sense of liveliness that Christopher Ashley is so well-known for was definitely there, as well as great, though not unexpected, pathos – this is a musical about 9/11. From Cat Simmons’ incredibly emotional performance as a woman looking for her son, a firefighter from New York, who went missing, to Mary Doherty, who managed to make the miscarriage of an invisible bonobo one of the most emotional parts of the show.

I am no expert on music, being completely talentless when it comes to anything involving rhythm or maintaining tunes, but as Come From Away is a musical, I feel that I must address the music, even if my opinion is by no means one of which to take notice. The music was acoustic and very folksy, which made me think of the show as a story being told in some sort of community celebration, once again helping the idea of unity that the show values. The show is mostly through-sung, and only one act long, which helped it feel like it was constantly moving, never stagnating, creating a lively pace. There was a great mix of songs, from solos such as Me And The Sky (so wonderfully performed by Rachel Tucker that I would be sorely remiss if I did not mention her) and I Am Here, showing off the vocals of individual performers, as well as ensemble numbers such as Welcome To The Rock and the incredibly moving Prayer, really driving home the sense of community that the show strives to bring us. Ella Fidlin

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Made In Dagenham - Arnold, Thomas & Bean; Senior Musical – December 2019

Some musicals are designed to be feel good, some musicals are written to get a message across and some musicals tell a story of actual events. Made In Dagenham is all of these and so much more! The 1960s was a time of great upheaval in Britain. The rise of modern industry, mixed with the power of Trade Unions and the women’s liberation movement, created a time of turmoil and ideology. It was during this time that the female workers in the Ford factory in Dagenham took their place in history. Paid less money and in poorer working conditions than their male counterparts, they took the unprecedented steps to strike for equal pay. Through many weeks of effort, they managed to bring most of the Ford manufacturing in this country, at the time one of the largest employers, to its knees. Championed by 50

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the Secretary of State for Employment, Barbra Castle, they managed to convince the TUC to vote for equal pay and paved the way for the Equal Pay Act of 1970. Made In Dagenham tells the story of these women, their families and their struggles against a system that doesn’t value them. Based on the film of the same name, the musical brings to the stage the sounds of 1969 with some infectious songs and great characters. The show was directed by Mrs Parry, who was assisted by Michael Nice OV. Rita O’Grady, played brilliantly by Skye Weaver, is unwittingly forced into leading the campaign for equal pay while balancing day to day family life. Will Bradley played her husband Eddie, who is struggling with his love for her and looking after

the children all with a backdrop of strikes and pressure from his other workers. The dynamic between them was beautifully characterised and really grasped the audience throughout. There was a plethora of amazing characters, each performed fantastically by the talented cast. Special mention has to go to the foul-mouthed Beryl (Rebecca Darnborough), Rita’s best friend Connie (Niamh Thomas), shop foreman Monty (Jamie Reid) and the detestable head of Ford Mr Tooley (Charlie Mackintosh). George Monce played the suave crooner (as well as a few other roles) and was ably supported by some members of the 1st XV rugby team, who leapt right out of their comfort zone but landed on stage as a solid and entertaining male chorus. I would love to go into detail about every character,

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but the length of this article doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow me; all of the performers were fantastic and every one of our 38 cast members should be so proud of themselves. Musicals are not just about the actors! Yet again for a school show we were delighted to be working with members of the Music Department, led by Mr Taranczuk. The full student band were sensational every night. Playing from their specially designed band zone (ignore anyone who tells you it was cramped) they brought the music of David Arnold to life. There were a range of solos, all beautifully performed, while the ensemble work was played to perfection. The range of songs tested their skills, but they rose to every challenge and really lifted the show with their passion for music. From a technical point of view, we really

pushed what we are able to do within the John Moore Theatre. The set, initially simple, sprung into life with the creative use of projection and lighting bringing the colour of 1969 to the stage, including some horrendous wallpaper and a giant eagle! This allowed for the fast flow of the piece and created an immersive world to transport our audience. Added to this was an array of beautiful costumes, many items being 1960s originals, and a collection of vintage sewing machines. The collaboration of all these elements really fitted well with the style of the piece and allowed the performers to flourish. As always, the show was supported by our talented Theatre Crew, who ran every aspect of the technically challenging performance. Charlie Halford was an excellent DSM who was fantastically supported on lighting by

Will Emsley, while the challenging task of live mixing over 30 live channels of music was superbly handled by Tim Morris and his second Jamie Waters. The stage crew led by Gabriel Hard perfected their scene changes and ensured the smooth running of an ever-changing backstage. Special mention as well to Hannah Blackmore and Annie Darwent who ruled the Green Room with a firm hand and ran the costume and make up departments to a professional level. In all, Made In Dagenham was a triumphant success. All of the pupils involved were a delight and really entertained their audiences, while understanding the importance of the message and still having the subtlety of craft to sympathetically tell this real-life story. PRH

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Arts Award This year’s Arts Award journey started reasonably ‘normally’. The Bronze and Silver cohorts signed up for the course at the School’s Activities Fayre and Gold students opted for the course as part of their Lower Sixth Key Skills timetable. Before long, activities were in full swing. Traditional activities like the Big Draw and the Lower Years Christmas Show allowed Bronze participants the opportunity to develop their skills and Silver pupils the chance to hone their leadership skills. Meetings around the school, overseen by the school’s seven Arts Award Advisers, were as vibrant a hub of creative ideas as ever throughout the Autumn Term. The Spring Term started with a bang. On the very first day back at school, 50 of the Arts Award students boarded a coach bound for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre to see Liam Steele’s fantastic reimagining of Peter Pan. The production provided the backbone for many of the reviews that went into this year’s portfolios. Some Gold students really took the initiative and reached out to the young cast and crew on social media, entering into a dialogue and gaining extra insight into both the production and life in the arts industry in general. The Spring Term also brought some exciting innovations. As a Trinity Champion Centre we were keen to offer our support to other arts organisations and on Saturday 11th January we opened our doors as host for the first Arts Award Open Network Event. Whilst this first year was a modest affair, drop in visits from people like Worcestershire Poet Laureate, Charley Barnes, proved that the need for a strong arts education network is out there and we

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look forward to strengthening our ties with local arts practitioners in the years ahead. Mrs Parry, the School’s Arts Award Coordinator, also had the privilege of being Trinity’s guest at this year’s Music and Drama Education Awards. Hosted by Alan Titchmarsh at the London Marriott in Grosvenor Square on March 4th, this was a celebration of some of the outstanding arts education initiatives taking place nationwide. Hearing inspiring stories of the work being done in some of the most disadvantaged and disenfranchised social groups in the country was incredibly humbling. However, knowing the talent and leadership potential of our own students, it is entirely possible that they will go on to make just such an immense contribution to both the arts and to society at large in their future careers. That potential to achieve great heights was acknowledged a few weeks later when Skye Weaver and Victoria Whitehead were inducted into Trinity College’s Trinity Talent Gallery. Skye and Tori both gained their Gold Arts Award in 2019 - a great achievement in its own right - but this particular honour was largely in recognition of their outstanding leadership project last year, the Emotion in Motion Dance Showcase, which raised over £1000 for the young people’s mental health charity, BCAT. At a similar time, we also heard that King’s had retained its Champion Centre status for the forthcoming year, 2020-2021, a further ringing endorsement of the great work done here at King’s by our Arts Award pupils and our dedicated team of Arts Award Advisers.

...and then... Well, we all know what happened towards the end of the Spring Term. In some ways, that is where this year’s Arts Award journey should have ended. But no! Our 70 Bronze, Silver and Gold students who had been enrolled for moderation in May were not going to abandon their portfolios lightly. Tirelessly supported by the Arts Advisers at this end, a whole range of activities continued in lockdown with highly creative, virtual solutions found to replicate various experiences which had to be abandoned in the face of national restrictions. This year’s edition of Gold Standard missed its literal print run, but an online edition lived on and brought the articles written by our Gold students, on a range of prevalent arts issues, valuable online attention. It also became important to reimagine some incredible Gold leadership projects. Several, like Harriet’s Make A Wish Dance Showcase, Molly’s LAMDA Showcase, and Liv and Jamie’s Open Mic Night, had already taken place to great acclaim, but some events were still outstanding. Ella and Maddie swept into action, galvanising the acting talents of pupils from Upper Remove to Lower Sixth, and overseeing a video montage of famous monologues through history, compiled into the complementary halves of Comedy & Tragedy. Meanwhile, Elsa, Lydia, Millie and Poppy took the Arts Award Exhibition and Showcase, that they would have been producing in the Weston Centre and Wightman Studio, and moved it online with a wonderful virtual gallery of visual arts and showreel of music, dance and drama performances. Finishing activities remotely and independently recording the evidence

in the portfolios was only half the battle. Whilst conventional GCSE and A Level qualifications were certificated using Centre Assessed Grades, Arts Award students still needed to submit their work for moderation in order to gain their GCSE and A Level-equivalent Arts Award qualifications. As moderators were not allowed to visit centres to review the work, Trinity offered online moderation instead. This was a great way for pupils to be rightly rewarded for the year’s hard work but meant that existing portfolios needed converting to a digital format. In June, we were delighted to report on Rosie Brookes and Sonali Prasad gaining their Bronze Arts Award through online moderation. They became the flag bearers for the whole cohort and proved what was possible. Nearly 40 Bronze, Silver and Gold pupils followed suit and were entered for certification in July. Some pupils have hung on to their paper portfolios and they will be entered as soon as ‘normal’ moderations have resumed. They will join the Class of 2021 as we look forward to a bright new year. In the face of 2020’s unprecedented difficulties, there will be much to navigate in the new academic year in terms of new ways of working. The immense value of the arts in supporting well-being, however, has been well and truly highlighted by the nation’s lockdown experiences and King’s will continue to support the dedicated creativity of our own young people. After a year of immense success, against a backdrop of tragedies and challenges, all that is left is to congratulate and commend the entire King’s Arts Award team. SP

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Music

At the beginning of the school year we welcomed Isabelle Palmer back to King’s as this year’s music gap student. Izzy was a student at King’s in the Sixth Form and went on to become a Choral Scholar at Royal Holloway University where she graduated with a first-class honours degree in music. Izzy spent the year assisting with the ensembles at the senior school and St Alban’s. We also welcomed Samuel Hudson as the new Director of Music at the Cathedral, having moved from a similar post at Blackburn. The first concert of the term took place in the Cathedral a few weeks into September as part of their regular lunchtime recital series. Six U6th Music Scholars (Hattie W, Andrew G, Philippa W, Keeley S, Jess C and Charlie M) performed a varied programme on flute, piano, trumpet and saxophone to a large and appreciative audience. All six pupils have made major contributions to the school ensembles and solo concerts throughout their time

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at King’s and they have all achieved many distinctions at Grade 8, in some cases on more than one instrument, and five of them have had success with performance diplomas.  In March 2020 we were invited to participate in a similar lunchtime concert in the Cathedral for the Friends of Cathedral Music who were having their annual conference in Worcester. At the end of the concert we were presented with a fine set of tuning forks! Last year’s House Music Competition had a number of new venues due to the ongoing work in College Hall. The solo round took place in the music department with nearly 50 pupils taking part in the middle years and sixth form competitions. A wide range of instrumentalists and singing styles were presented throughout an entertaining day of music-making. The hotly-contested house song competition took place for the very first time in the Cathedral. Each house gave a (mostly) good account of themselves. Wulstan came third with

an excellent performance of Halo. Castle were runners up with a fun version of It’s the final countdown, including a chorus of kazoos, and Chappel retained their title as overall winners with I’m still standing. The Lower Years music competition returned to its former venue in the Theatre. 50 pupils from those two year groups performed in the solo section before all 12 forms competed in the song competition. The winning songs were L4D with Wonderwall and U4C with Riptide. The most ambitious music project in recent years took place in November which saw the official launch of our music outreach programme. We were delighted to bring together more than 300 children from schools across Worcestershire at Worcester Cathedral. The children performed  a fabulous choral concert to celebrate the launch of a year-long series of events leading up to the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage in 1620. Here at

King’s we have a special interest in the celebrations due to the fact that one of the leaders of the Pilgrims, Edward Winslow, was a scholar at the school and lived near Kempsey. The music for the concert was written by former King’s Music Assistant, Piers Connor Kennedy. Music staff visited all the schools throughout the term teaching the songs. Alongside our own choirs, the children involved were from St George’s C of E Primary, St Clement’s Primary, Cutnall Green Primary, St Barnabas Primary, The Elms, Colwall, King’s St Alban’s and King’s Hawford. At the end of the Autumn term the biennial senior production was Made in Dagenham. The cast were led superbly by Skye W and Will B. Will’s dramatic performance of the song, The Letter, was a particular highlight enhanced by the exceptional band comprised entirely of pupils and led by Mr T.

In January the Chamber Orchestra played at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration at the Guildhall in Worcester, organised by the Worcestershire Interfaith Forum. The event was focused around addresses from the Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Allah Ditta and the keynote speech given by Mindu Hornick MBE, an Auschwitz survivor, and included readings by pupils of local schools, including King’s. During a period of reflection, the Chamber Orchestra played Summa by Arvo Pärt. This gentle piece was much appreciated by the audience. At the end of January, members of the Chamber Choir were invited to take part in a concert at Malvern Theatres with the world-renowned The King’s Singers. This was part of a school outreach programme run by the Armonico Consort involving 200 local children. Our own King’s singers were centre stage and performed three pieces exclusively with them. It gave the pupils a

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform separately with them and have some expert coaching in the afternoon. The concert concluded with an extraordinary vocal symphony called A suitcase of songs exploring the experiences of refugees and migrants around the world, and was composed by Toby Young. King’s musicians from across  the Foundation united in February to produce a powerful day of music-making and memories at the orchestral workshop. In total 65 pupils were involved from King’s Senior, King’s Hawford and King’s St Alban’s. Pupils from Year 4 to Year 9 spent 5 hours playing new pieces of music and improving their ensemble skills. They spent the day working on a varied programme of music which included Caribbean Carnival, Bouree, When I was a lad and St Anthony’s Chorale. The day culminated in a concert in the Theatre showcasing their hard work to an enthusiastic audience. ST

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Malta Music Tour At February Half Term, a group of 30 students were lucky enough to spend 5 days in Malta on our biennial music tour. This trip followed two immensely successful and enjoyable trips to Paris and Venice in 2016 and 2018 respectively and promised to be another fantastic experience, and perhaps a bit warmer too! Landing in Valetta to glorious sunshine, we drove to our accommodation in the seaside town of Bugibba. We explored the town and rested in anticipation of our early start the next morning as we were setting off to Malta’s neighbouring island of Gozo. The ferry across to Gozo was very windy but provided us with stunning views over the Mediterranean coastlines of both islands. We spent the day exploring the tourist sites of Gozo, including the magnificent Citadel, before driving to a beautiful Catholic church to perform our first concert. We were met by our hosts in the village and our local guide, the friendly and largerthan-life Charles. They provided us with a banquet in a local hall, which many of us followed up with an hour of intensely competitive table football. The concert was a resounding success and we set off back to Malta, playing various games to entertain ourselves on the way back. On Sunday morning we had been invited to sing Mass in St Publius Church in Floriana. It was a great privilege to be able to sing motets and Taizé chants in such a beautiful and historic church. The service went very well and the Mass was broadcast live on Maltese national television, much to the

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delight of many parents watching online from home. Our guide then took us on to the ancient city of Rabat where we went down into the ancient Roman catacombs. From Rabat we headed to Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta. The walled city is famous as a spot of untouched mediaeval architecture and the fortress held phenomenal views over the entire island. It was also used in the filming of several famous scenes in Game of Thrones and so was a necessary site of pilgrimage for me and several other of the show’s fans! We had lunch in Mdina and feasted on what is possibly the best ice cream I have ever eaten, improved only by the fact that Andrew Gee’s greed in ordering four scoops caused his cone to break, promptly depositing his €5 ice cream on the cobbled streets of the town. That afternoon we headed in to Valetta and explored the capital’s streets. We were given complete freedom across the city and various groups headed to museums (such as Fort St Elmo and the National Malta Museum), went shopping, relaxed in a cafe and visited the beautiful Catholic and Anglican cathedrals. We had supper back at the hotel and spent the evening relaxing and playing party games. The following morning, we set off for St Julian, a very upmarket seaside town with white sandy beaches and beautiful blue water. We enjoyed the continued glorious weather and had most of the day to explore the town ourselves. Again, a copious amount of ice cream was eaten and many groups enjoyed freshly caught seafood

for lunch. In the evening we went to give our final performance in a church just outside St Julian. We received a standing ovation and a special presentation from the local priest who thanked us profusely for our performance. This performance was also watched by an Old Vigornian living in Malta who had seen that King’s were coming to perform and wanted to come and listen to our performance. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy it and it was really nice to have someone with such a connection to King’s in the audience. We then headed home and spent a final night in the hotel playing games and socialising. We got up early the next morning before flying home to the UK, where we were immediately greeted by pouring rain and horrendous traffic. After a seven hour coach journey from Gatwick, we eventually arrived back at school, exhausted. Overall, I had a fantastic time and I am so relieved that the trip was able to take place just before we went into lockdown. Like the other two tours I have been on with the King’s Music Department, it was incredibly memorable and immensely enjoyable and I cannot think of a better way to finish nine years of music-making at King’s! On behalf of all those who went on the trip, I would like to thank Mr T for organising the tour and to Mr Allsop, Mr Gunter, Mr Walker and Izzy for patiently rehearsing all the music with us and putting up with our company for five days. I shall look on with jealously when the destination for the 2022 Music Tour is announced! Charlie Mackintosh

SPORT

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Cricket India Tour Review During the February half-term, seventeen Sixth Form boys from the Senior Cricket Team set off to India. We arrived in Delhi at 5am feeling somewhat jaded. Despite this, we were straight into the action as we visited a local Sikh Temple in Delhi. Here they feed over 40,000 people per day from their community kitchen. After this, we went to India Gate, a war memorial for India’s fallen soldiers. It was particularly valuable for our students to see what a phenomenal part Indian troops have played in many key wars. We then headed back to our hotel for some much-needed rest before our first match of the tour. The following day was our first match, against Modern School, where we got off to a great start, beating them comprehensively thanks to fifties from Seb Hood and Alex Lowe. Day three brought our second game of the tour, against the Young Delhi Sports Academy. While a slightly stronger opposition than the first, we managed to win the game, with Owen Preston scoring an unbeaten 95, Charlie Francis scoring 89 and the spinners bowling with good control throughout the game.

The boys were then able to enjoy some welldeserved relaxation time from the matches as we toured Old Delhi. Here we visited the largest mosque in India as well as enjoying a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Old Delhi. We also visited the Raj Ghat, the cremation ground for Gandhi. We then set off on a five-hour journey to Agra, where we stayed for one night, so we could enjoy the amazing experience of the sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal. After this, we set off on another long journey as we transferred to Jaipur, where we would play our final three matches. Our next opponents were from the Sanskar Cricket Academy, who were again a step up from our previous opposition; we suffered two tough losses against them in two T20s. Our final game versus the Jaipuria

Cricket Academy was another challenging game and, although we bowled well especially Hamish Stigant, with figures of 3-11 - our batting could not get us the win. Although losing, it was a great experience to play in different conditions against some top-quality players, helping the team to develop as players. We spent the final day visiting the Amber Fort. We travelled to the Fort by Jeep through the hills and saw some spectacular Indian elephants on the way up. Then we began our journey back to Delhi, where we enjoyed food from a local restaurant in the evening before getting ready for our flight home. Many thanks to Mr Greenall and Mr Gillgrass, who organized the tour for us. Oliver Tsiquaye

Lady Taverners Indoor Girls’ Cricket competitions During the month of February our Under 13 and Under 15 girls’ cricket teams enjoyed great success at the Lady Taverners Indoor Cricket Competition. Both teams made it through to the regional finals stage of the competition after being crowned County Champions. Due to other school commitments, our Under 13 side was made up solely of Under 12 pupils, but at no stage did they look out of place playing against girls a year older them. After losing a close first game to Abberley Hall, the team went from strength to strength and achieved victories over Heybridge High school, Christopher Whitehead and Aston Fields in the semifinal. The girls then met Abberley Hall in the final and managed to produce their best performance to turn around the earlier defeat. A week later the Under 15 side (also involving five girls from the Under 13s and Under 14s) managed to follow the Under 13s’ success and booked their place in the final with victories over Prince Henry’s High

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School and King Charles I High School in the group stage after two excellent run chases; they would face The Royal Grammar School, Worcester. Another confident performance with the bat allowed us chase down the Grammar School’s total with three overs to spare, thanks to another superb bowling and fielding performance. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the regional finals did not take place and the competition had to be cancelled. Although very disappointing for all the girls involved, it was great to see the talent and enthusiasm coming through and clear that Girls’ Cricket at King’s is really moving forwards. SG Under 13s: B. Gillgrass, C. Cinao, P. Webster, O. Kent, F. Harper, F. Barry, C. Rutter, M. Burden and B. Winfield Under 15s: L. Short, T. Marsden, T. Barwell, L. Goodman, I. Green, L. Kilbey, L. Wadley and T. Cook.

Equestrian Coach name: Miss Ormandy NSEA Events attended: Allens Hill Competition and Livery Centre – dressage and show jumping qualifiers. King’s Equestrian Bromyard – dressage and show jumping qualifiers. Hartpury equestrian centre – dressage, show jumping, jumping with style and eventer challenge qualifiers. Rectory farm – show jumping qualifiers. National schools Championships – team and individual qualifications for dressage.

inter-schools competitions for team and individual riders with the aim to promote and encourage the participation in and recognition of equestrian sport within schools in Great Britain. 16 riders from Lower Fourth to Upper Sixth have represented the school at National Schools Equestrian Association events this year. We welcome new members, with their own horse or pony and transport, of any age or ability – classes range from grassroots all the way through to Royal Windsor and Hickstead qualifiers.

The NSEA, established in 1991, is the recognised body for equestrianism in schools throughout the UK, providing

Things to try and focus on: Attitude, motivation and improvements Key words – Passion; Teamwork; Resilience; Respect and Sportsmanship Things to try and avoid: Naming individuals Focusing solely on results Over emphasising the RGS fixture

Football First XI Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Opposition list with score Bristol Grammar School

1-0

The Chase

4-0

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH Bristol)

1-1

Old Swinford Hospital (OSH)

1-0

Pate’s Grammar School

2-1

RGS Worcester

2-0

Squad list Jack Baker (C), James Unwin(VC), Alexander Lowe, Luke Coupland, Finley Chance, William Caddick, Alex Lloyd, Jimmie Poole, Ieuan Evans, Dylan Briggs, Oliver Tsiquaye, Ciaran McGee, Ben Amos, Benji Halford, Jack Cope, Jack Havercroft, William Chapman, Matt Lewis, Marc Koliasnikoff

Coach name: Mr Sarriegui The football season has been a very successful one for the 1st XI. The weather and the virus reduced it significantly but nevertheless there was still plenty of football played. We started with the preseason tour to Italy during the Christmas Holiday, training at the Inter Milan Academy, which also included 2 fixtures against local opposition. Upon our return we also had another good test against an OV team which set us up in readiness for the season. This was a strong squad that had been together for several years. This experience, their togetherness and their ability helped to shape a very successful season. The team dominated most of their matches and restricted the opposition to only a few chances. Creating clear opportunities and scoring did not come easy but there was always enough ability and spirit to ensure the team pushed until the end to achieve the winning result. This is a credit to their perseverance and their hunger to win. The season that had been reduced due to the weather and then the virus ended with a victory at Sixways in front of 1,000 spectators in The Challenge Cup with a 2-0 victory over The Royal Grammar School, Worcester. The team dominated the first half with good football and deservedly went in at the break with a 2-0 cushion. After the break The Royal Grammar School attacked a little bit more, but the team were strong to limit their chances.

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It has been a true honour to captain the boys throughout the years, I believe our year group in particular has stood out as one of the strongest years to come through the school. Football at King’s has made memories that will stick with me for life, starting from achieving 9th in the ISFA Nationals at St Alban’s all the way through to the Year 11 football tour at Benfica and the Year 13 trip to Milan. Although it was disappointing to finish the season early, a 2-0 victory over the Grammar in The Challenge Cup was an amazing and well-deserved way to finish our season and our time at King’s. I would like to thank, on behalf of the team, everyone who has coached us throughout the years. I look forward to returning for the OV match in January!

Captain Comment

Second XI Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Opposition list with score Bristol Grammar School

6-5

The Chase

7-0

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH Bristol) Old Swinford Hospital (OSH) Pate’s Grammar School RGS Worcester

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0-3 3-1 2-0 0-0

Squad list William Chapman, Jack Cope, Archie Parker-Smith, Marc Koliasnikoff, William Blakemore, Luke Mushing (C), Seb Hood, Zain Hussain (VC), Oliver Blakemore, Ben Tyson, James Pritchard, Shaiyan Siddiqui, Charlie Ness, Will Lebray, Ben Bartlett, Matthew Hall, Daniel Duke, Harry Sproule

Coach name: Mr Hooper With a mixture of new faces from the Fifth Form and returning players in the Sixth Form hard work and resilience underpinned the performances of the 2nd XI. After developing a style of play built on playing out from the back, the team quickly adapted to their new shape and teammates. A particular highlight was in the first game of the season: The team scored a goal that started with the goalkeeper and was played from defence to midfield to attack with a combination of quick passes before finding the back of the net. This phase of play set the standard for how the 2nd XI were to perform this season. Even in challenging games the boys maintained the attacking philosophy and tried to control the direction of each match. I was proud to have coached the boys this season and their hard work, resilience and ability to be positive and support each other was a joy to watch.

U15A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-4

Coach name: Dr Poole Over half of the Under 15A squad had been playing regular club football which boded well for the season ahead. Our initial training sessions took place on the driest areas of our very wet fields but there was no lack of endeavour, competitiveness or technical ability on display. After a disappointing start against The Chase (3-0 down in ten minutes!) we played some good passing football during the second half and came really close to reducing the margin to one goal. Against Pate’s, possession was pretty even, but we still ended up losing 3-0, with two more soft goals conceded. Several good training sessions at the astro lifted the spirits before our next game against

The Royal Grammar School. A classy goal in the first half ended up being enough for victory; our defence was superb throughout and we hit the post twice when it was easier to score. A slightly weakened squad proved too strong for a stubborn Wolverhampton team in what turned out to be our last game of the season. There are some talented footballers in this squad who have both the ambition and good training habits needed to feature in the First XI next year; with most of the first team who won The Challenge Cup being in the departing Upper Sixth the door is definitely open!

U14A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Mr Haywood Despite the season ending rather abruptly, the Under 14A team made good progress over the term and showed great commitment in matches and training. A narrow defeat in a high scoring game against Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a

team that comfortably beat us last year, showed that the boys have made good improvements to their game. The best result of the shortened term, a 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton, came in the final game and suggests that this group can grow even stronger next year. In all

U14B Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Mr Ford The Under 14B team enjoyed a fantastic unbeaten season. They had a large squad and their ability to work as a team was clear from day one. The team was led well by midfield general George CampbellFerguson and they played an abrasive, direct style of football. The first game was a tense affair but to take a 1 – 0 victory away at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bristol was a sign of things to come. The second match was a good contest against Pate’s Grammar School, but the King’s team had

too much panache for the Cheltenham side. The final fixture came against The Royal Grammar School where the boys played their best football of the season. A disciplined midfield, alongside pace out wide, resulted in a resounding 4 – 1 victory. It was disappointing not to arrange any more fixtures. I did have a suspicion that the team’s reputation put most of the local opposition off.

matches played, the midfield and forward line always looked dangerous and this team will score plenty of goals in the seasons to come. The most pleasing aspect is that, whether they won or lost, the boys showed excellent attitude and played the game in the right spirit.

The team spirit was awesome and I really enjoyed the season both on and off the field! Pupil Comment

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U13A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Mr Owen After a superb opening win against The Downs, the boys faced a tough match against The Chase, losing 3-0 in wet and windy conditions on unfamiliar AstroTurf. Next, they played Queen Elizabeth Hospital School in Bristol and saw the boys battle well against a tough team in a close match, unfortunately, losing 4-3. Our match against Wycliffe College, however, allowed the boys to show what they were capable of as they turned the previous two losses into a 5-2 win. The Royal Grammar School were up next and despite feeling confident from their most recent win ended up

losing 2-1 in a very close match. Our match against Wolverhampton Grammar School was goals galore for both teams with the result ending up in a 5-5 draw. What turned out to be the final match of the season, due to the floods, was against new opponents from Priory School, Birmingham. The boys played in awful conditions on a pitch that was rapidly flooding and unfortunately ended up losing 3-1. A tough and shortened season due to floods and COVID-19. Nonetheless, the boys started to work well as a team and have formed a solid base for which to build upon next season.

U13B Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-10

Coach name: Mr Branchett From the outset, the Under 13B team met their challenges head on. Most notably, their first game against The Chase, despite facing a loss, showed their resilience as they bravely battled the elements. Our next match saw us travel down to Bristol to Queen Elizabeth Hospital School. Unfortunately, the team failed to score and lost 5-0. We then faced The Royal Grammar School at home and trailed 1-0 at half-time. The penalty that was saved in the second half was tough to take

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really impressed with our season, and so many of us got to score. I was most pleased with the match against Wolverhampton, because that was a tough game and we did really well to win it. Pupil Comment

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and the match finished with a 2-0 defeat. The final match of the season was a new fixture against Priory School from Birmingham. This was played on very wet pitches in the pouring rain with flood water starting to gather. Despite this, the boys battled out a 3-3 draw. Overall, a solid season, but to further enhance their skills the boys would benefit from developing their teamwork.

U12B Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Mr Lewis Although our season was short, this team built up a goal difference that any Premier League team would be proud to achieve. Their success lies in great teamwork, enthusiasm and commitment both on and off the pitch. As a group, they have a skill set beyond their years and they communicate

well with each other in matches. They came to understand the benefit of using the whole width of the pitch and attacking energetically to create every opportunity to score. They are a team to watch for the future - well done boys on some excellent games.

Hockey First Team Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

1st

+17

Mixed

-4

There have been many highlights from this year and throughout my time playing Hockey at King’s and I will never forget the teamwork and enjoyment from playing with this group of girls. Our win against Rugby in the Cup really stands out for me, as we played some of our best Hockey of the season and we grew in confidence as a team. Captain Comment

Opposition list with score King’s High Warwick

3-1

Solihull

4-1

Malvern College King Edward VI High School Pate’s Grammar School King Edward Five Ways

2-4 8-1 National Cup Round 1 9-0 1-1

Solihull

0-2 National Cup Round 2

Rugby

3-1 ISHC Round 2

Bablake

0-1

Hereford Cathedral

2-1

Bromsgrove RGS Worcester Reigate Grammar School Malvern College

Squad list Jessica Crichard(C), Imogen Gillgrass(VC) – England U18, Grace Moseley, Naomi Marsden, Jemima Moss, Milly Short – Performance Centre, Thea Boyce, Bella Woodcock, Milly Carter, Louisa De Vos, Catrin Lucas – Welsh Performance Centre, Charlotte Morgan – Performance Centre, Jess Waddington – Welsh Performance Centre, Hannah Woodcock, Alice Baker Mixed – as above and Seb Hood- Performance Centre, Ally Borwell-Fox, Matt Whiteside – England U16, Sam Brealey, Ned Meredith

1-1 (Lost on shuffles) National Plate 2-1 2-3 ISHC Round 3 0-2

Mixed The Chase

4-1

Worcester 6th Form

0-2

King Edward VI

0-2

Hereford 6th Form

0-4

Coach name: Mrs Miller-Symonds The 1st Team have enjoyed a positive season, which has seen them make excellent progress and welcome a talented group of Fifth Form into the team. They have played with a vivacious energy and their love of the game has been evident throughout. I have been particularly pleased with the way they have bonded as a team through the season and their willingness to work hard for each other. One of the highlights of the season was the 3-1 victory against Rugby School in the ISHC Cup. It was a very even game, with excellent

individual battles across the pitch and they put in one of their best performances of the season. Their excellent passing, avoiding the one-to-one contact and tenacity enabled them to overcome a well-drilled team and progress to the next round. They unfortunately learnt the hard lesson of not taking their chances, when they outplayed Bromsgrove, but lost on penalty shuffles after extra time. It was great to see the girls bounce back from this; they reflected on a missed opportunity but were determined to be more clinical in future matches. The girls certainly put these lessons into action in their fixture against RGS which,

as always, were played with great spirit. It was a close affair, but the girls were able to make their possession and play count, with a very well-taken goal, giving them a deserved victory. This year the team has also really enjoyed the chance to play mixed games. This added a new dynamic to the group enabling the girls to get used to a faster pace, as well as techniques to make the ball do more of the work. It was fantastic to see the team work on display and see their trust in each other grow throughout the matches.

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Second Team Results table:

Opposition list with score King’s High Warwick

0-5

Solihull

0-4

Malvern College

0-1

Shrewsbury School

0-1

St Edward’s, Cheltenham

0-1

County Tournament Pate’s Grammar King Edward VI High School for Girls Prince Henry’s High School Bablake

2nd Place 1-0 1-0 2-1 1-0

England Hockey U18 Tier 4 Finals

3rd Place

Hereford Cathedral

1-1

RGS Worcester

1-0

King Edward VI Five Ways School (Mixed)

0-7

Hereford Sixth Form

1-4

I really enjoyed training with the rest of team and have had a lot of fun throughout the season. I felt that we really improved as the season went on and I look forward to playing senior Hockey next year. Pupil Comment

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Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-15

We would like to thank Miss Wood for her excellent coaching this season, and we also hope all the Upper Sixth girls leaving this year will continue to play hockey in the future. We wish the other members of the team the best of luck next year.

Squad list Hattie Wales (C), Keeley Sentance (VC), Emily Murray, Niamh Peckston, Emily Warner, Ellie Overfield, Phoebe Conyers, Alice Atherton, Florence Edmonds, Amber Haywood Abbie Jones, Izzy Mackie, Cerys Osborn, Fleur Sentance, Izzy Trow, Sarah Warburton, Katie Ransford.

Captain Comment

Coach name: Miss Wood The 2nd Team started the season with a lot of promise, benefitting from a number of Fifth Formers joining the squad. They brought with them a youthful flamboyance, adding to the team’s existing standards of excellence. The team quickly gelled and soon began to play some excellent hockey.

opposition and defending high up the pitch to turn the ball over in an attacking position. The results did not always reflect how tightly contested the majority of the games were, many being fought up to the final whistle. As soon as the team sealed their first victory, they went from strength to strength, growing in confidence with every game. The highlight of the season was at the England Hockey Under 18 Tier 4 Regional Finals, where their determined performance secured them 3rd place. It was a day of fantastic and sustained teamwork, where all players implemented the work practised in training.

Throughout training, various skills were meticulously honed to perfection: working hard to improve the accuracy of passing and shooting, as well as focusing on power and precision to get the ball on target. This then helped the team to maintain possession of the ball in matches, moving with strength and confidence, to seek out the best pass possible. From a defensive perspective, the team focused on putting pressure on the

U15 Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Miss Preece and Mrs Knott The Under 15 hockey team has been a pleasure to coach this season. They are such an enthusiastic squad who train with energy and commitment. Watching them play as a team and support each other is really fantastic to witness. They have developed their skills and tactical play as individuals, which has been well supported by solid goal keeping. Their progress was evident in the latter part of the season when they had three successive wins; it was clear the principles they had been working on started to pay off. They transferred the ball well and their strategies to protect the middle of the pitch proved to be successful.

They played in the Under 16 Tier 2 County Tournament and produced some of their best hockey of the season, with disciplined defence and clinical finishing. This meant they progressed to the Midlands Finals and, although they faced tough opposition, they showed determination and an excellent work rate in every game. Their last game together as a year group team before they join the senior teams really demonstrated their friendship and enjoyment of the game, which is so important and will take them far. Well done on a really positive season!

U14 Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Mrs Miller-Symonds The Under 14 hockey team has made the transition from 7 a-side to 11 a-side with tremendous success and they have been a real delight to coach this season. They played with high tempo and energy in all their matches, showing real passion and competitiveness.

and consistent transfers really showed how far they have come this season. The team did exceptionally well in the County Tournament, adapting to the short matches and the need to start games quickly. Two wins and a draw saw them progress to the Midlands Zonal Finals where, despite playing some excellent hockey, they just missed out on qualification to the next round. It was an important learning curve for the team and highlighted the need to be more clinical when in the D.

The girls’ commitment to training and willingness to play to principles enabled them to make significant progress through the season both as individuals and as a team. A real highlight was the King Edward VI fixture where their fluid build up play

Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-32

Coach name: Miss Preece and Mrs Knott It has been a pleasure to coach the Under 13A team this season. They are an extremely committed group of players who display a positive attitude both on and off the pitch. They have developed their tactical play and their positioning really began to take shape as the season progressed.

the girls, along with their willingness to improve. They demonstrated some strong performances in their county tournament and sportsmanship and resilience were displayed by each individual. Moving into next season, we will continue to focus on developing confidence and combining each player’s skillset to build a solid squad for the exciting prospect and challenges of an 11-aside season. Well done!

Unfortunately, their figures do not reflect the effort and determination shown by

U13B Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Their attacking play was based on having early height and carrying the ball to find

Pupil Comment

Well done on a super season!

U13A

Coach name: Miss Preece and Mrs Knott The U13B team has had a fantastic season and the fact they have lost just one match is a true reflection of how hard these girls work. Their commitment and enthusiasm is second to none. This, matched with their positivity and eagerness to improve, has allowed huge progress to be made during each match.

For me, the highlight of the season was when we played Repton in the Midlands Zonal Finals. Although we lost, we played very well as a team, adapting to the game that was unfolding. The opposition was very strong in all positions but as a team we worked very well together, minimising their goal opportunities and creating chances ourselves.

a pass, which meant they were calm and composed in their play. Their knowledge of the SLAM individual technique continued to improve, allowing them to win possession back high up the pitch. Notable victories came against Bromsgrove School, where their work rate and tenacity were a pleasure to watch. They started the County Tournament with a real confidence, which made an impression on the opposing teams and led to successful performances

I have really enjoyed training this year. We have become much more confident as a team and are looking forward to further improvement next season. Pupil Comment

I felt like we made good progress this season and listened well to half time talks to ensure we improved during every match. Pupil Comment

throughout. The effort and work rate they showed were outstanding and it makes the prospect of 11-a side hockey very exciting next season. Well done!

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It has been good to have the opportunity to play matches this season and use the skills we learn in training. Pupil Comment

I enjoyed learning different ways to defend and attack and having the opportunity to play games against other schools. Pupil Comment

It was exhilarating as we were able to play against some really good teams and training was really fun. I learnt loads! Pupil Comment

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U13C Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Miss Preece and Mrs Knott The Under 13C team has made steady progress throughout the season. Their formation began to take shape and the introduction of new skills at training enabled the girls to become more confident in their individual play. The opportunity to play matches allowed the girls to try different positions and understand how playing with height and width gives them more space

to play. Their commitment to training has been fantastic and their knowledge of the game is developing well. I hope to see this continue and look forward to a new season together. Well done!

U13D Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Coach name: Miss Preece and Mrs Knott The Under 13D team has played some good quality hockey this year. A win early on in the season gave the girls a confidence boost and led to further success on the pitch. They have defended well and used the SLAM technique effectively during

games. It is always fantastic to see these girls leave the pitch with a smile on their face, knowing they have given their best. Their commitment to training has enabled the girls to develop their skills and the way they work with each other. Excellent play girls!

U12 Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+34

Coach name: Miss Wood The U12 A hockey team have had a fantastic season, starting their Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School Hockey journey with a lot of skill, strength and confidence. The team has spent a lot of time working on their body position to apply pressure to the opposition by closing them down early and regaining possession high up the pitch. The team has gelled together really well, many of them showing a lot of versatility by playing in multiple positions. The girls play with so much determination and passion, constantly striving to reach the best of their abilities.

A particular highlight for the team was the victory at the Cheltenham Ladies College tournament. After a day of strong performances and an end-to-end final, the girls claimed victory in the closing minutes. Another spectacular performance from the girls was during the County Finals, in which they qualified for the Regional tournament. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the tournament was cancelled; however, they are keen to try again next year.

Netball First VII Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+184

Squad list Ellie Deehan (C), Hannah Latham (VC) U19 Wasps, Sophia Winfield U19 Severn Stars, Natasha Beattie, Emily Seymour-Perry U19 Wasps, Georgie Thorp, Alex Ward, Mia Mathewson U17 Wasps, Emily Diaz Severn Stars Nova, Abby Sly Severn Stars Nova, Charlotte White, Holly Wylde Severn Stars Nova, Libby Evans

I have thoroughly enjoyed playing in this team this season and it is something I will miss greatly. As well as our ability and passion, our teamwork and friendship has grown throughout the season. Although our season was cut short, the resilience and motivation of the team was shown all year round and we still gained some fantastic achievements. My personal highlight of the season was our game against Sedbergh School in the quarter finals of the National cup, where both physical and mental strength allowed us to play extremely well and take us to victory against a highly skilled renowned strong team. Ellie Deehan (Captain)

Coach name: Miss McKenzie The season was set to be a busy one with an objective of getting to the semi-finals of the National Cup and therefore the squad needed to be on top form from the very beginning. Training was approached with enthusiasm, conditioning was focussed and morale was kept high by the leadership team. With a strong start, the squad appeared to be getting better with every game and progressing really well through the National Cup. This Cup is important to the 1st VII as it challenges all players, taking them out of their comfort zones, having to modify their game to match or outwit an unknown opposition.

from all units was second to none and they rightfully came out with a semi-final place; objective achieved. Although a place in the final was not to be, this was the game that really united this squad. I will certainly look back on this season and reflect, safe in the knowledge that King’s 1st VII Netball is moving in the right direction. “The trophy is earned in the hours when no one is watching”

A highlight was the squad’s quarter final match against Sedbergh. Having to postpone the first game due to Storm Dennis, the squad travelled up to the North West on the Monday after half term and approached this tough ask like true champions. This was the outstanding game of the season for me, when I saw how good this squad could be. Working the ball through was effortless, the cohesion

2nd VII Coach name: Mrs Longley This has been another successful year for the 2nd VII Netball Team with lots of match experience in the first part of the season. Unfortunately, this was cut short and we missed out on our eagerly anticipated Superball Seconds match against our local rivals, The Royal Grammar School. We were optimistic for a win having beaten the team earlier in the year with a 23-14 victory.

It has been an honour to Captain the Seconds Netball Team this year alongside Vice-Captain Molly Smith. The Team has showed great determination and resilience during some tough matches. A real highlight for me was our match against Millfield. Even though we lost the match, the girls played outstanding netball and our teamwork and communication was the best it had been all season.

Thank you to Mrs Longley for her coaching and support throughout the year. The team will be looking forward to next season where hopefully we can get back on court and improve on everything we needed to work on from last year. Josie Armstrong

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U16 Coach name: Mrs M Longley This year has been a very mixed season for the Under 16 netball squad. Overall, we have won four out of our seven fixtures, including the County Tournament in November, where we were able to take home the County Shield for the fourth year in a row. Starting out strong, we won our first fixture against The King’s High School for Girls with a final score of 24-8 before narrowly losing our second game to Malvern College. Nevertheless, we came second in the District Tournament and went on to become County Champions, before playing in the Bromsgrove Triangular where we beat The Royal Grammar School

I have thoroughly enjoyed this season playing with the Under 15 squad at school. We had many changes in September but have adapted well and grown a lot as a team. My highlight of the season is definitely the second round of the ISNC Plate tournament where a big team effort was needed to win after trailing our opponent for the majority of the match! Over the years it has been a pleasure training and growing with all of the girls. A big congratulations to the whole squad for remaining positive over the past four seasons as we move up to senior training. A special mention must go to Tamara Marsden for being selected into the Severn Stars KSW Under 17 Nova academy, and Poppy Sawyer for selection into the Wasps netball Stourbridge Under 19 Hub. Poppy Sawyer

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24-8 but lost to Bromsgrove 15-9. Leading up to the regional tournament at the end of January, the squad played 2 matches against the University of Worcester and King Edward’s Bath but narrowly missed out on a win. Sadly, the squad didn’t get through to Nationals, but a great effort was given by all players. Not many matches were played as a squad this year as many of our players have played with the 1st and 2nd teams throughout the season. Finally, we would like to thank our coach Mrs Longley for her continuous support, and we look forward to getting on the court next year. Charlotte White

U15 Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+131

Squad list Poppy Sawyer U19 Wasps Hub, Tamara Marsden U17 Severn Stars Nova, Amy Ranasinghe , Hannah Blackwell, Flo Clines, Evie Hawkesford-Johnson, Megan Kilbey, Purdy Newson-Tonks, Helena Shute, Lucy Short, Meghan Rew Opposition list with score The King’s High School for Girls King Edward VI High School

20-26 16-36

St Helen & St Katherine

18-86

Dodderhill

20-5

Cheltenham Ladies’ College

12-25

Bromsgrove

10-23

Royal Grammar School

14-15

The Maynard School

35-21

Malvern College

21-26

King Edward’s, Bath

32-16

Bablake

22-24

Pate’s Grammar School

22-35

Wrekin College

7-28

Marlborough College

10-30

St Albans High School for Girls’

39-38

Millfield School

25-19

Hereford Cathedral School

20-21

Coach name: Miss E K McKenzie The Under 15 Netball squad have been a committed group of players this season, which has enabled them to grow within their units and also allow their skill level to develop in such a way that they can then utilise it when playing in their friendly fixtures. Having a squad like this has also allowed bonds to form between different players, demonstrating that having the ability to work with different characters, often with different personality traits, is really positive, and an element that they can take away from the court. One fixture that sticks in my mind is the narrow two-goal loss to Bablake School, which allowed the squad to be a part of a game that had it all; narrow leads, leads changing and combination changes, but ultimately adapting their game in a positive manner after the interval team talks. Although the loss didn’t quite materialise, the athletes realised their potential to adapt and contest for a full 40 minutes, with the win being finalised only in the last minute. Another memorable fixture was the squad’s professional performance against KES Bath, with everyone stepping up to combine and show resilience to take the lead and to continue pressing for the whole game. This group of athletes has been outstanding to work with throughout the season, and I hope that they will continue their netball journey as they move into the senior teams at King’s Worcester. Charlotte White

U14A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+103

Coach name: Miss Ormandy The Under 14 A team have had a busy season with many home and away friendly fixtures. The girls have approached their first year participating at the various rounds of England Netball schools tournament with a determined attitude and a resolve to improve for each round. We took a full squad to Nationals with all 12 girls playing well on court, and showing resilience against tough competition. A highlight of the season for Miss Ormandy was watching the teamwork shown on court and passion on the side-

lines at the regional tournament, where all three age groups were representing King’s Worcester.

The team has had an outstanding season, we earned a well-deserved and hard fought place in the National Schools Netball Finals. It was our positive attitude and teamwork that played a key role in our abundance of wins. The handful of losses that we had only made us stronger, allowing us to realise that improvement is always possible, pushing us harder to eventually achieve regional and national success. My personal highlight of the year was the final of the West Midlands Schools’ Netball Tournament where King’s beat Bromsgrove in the dying few seconds of extra time. It was our dogged-perseverance and dedication that pushed us through to the final whistle. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this amazing team! Pupil Comment

U14B

U14C

Results table:

Coach name: Miss Ormandy The Under 14 Cs have had a strong season winning all their matches and scoring a total of 49 goals. This was due to their resilience and dedication to training. It was notable how their confidence grew throughout the season and their passion produced results. Their supportive team ethos made them excellent company and enabled the development of skills more efficiently. A few of our Under 13s also enjoyed playing up a year group in matches. This provided an excellent opportunity to lay the foundations for competing at a higher level in the future.

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+67

Coach name: Miss Ormandy The Under 14B team have had a fantastic season and have done incredibly well in all of their fixtures. These girls have trained tirelessly throughout and all have made notable improvements; for many this resulted in them helping to contribute to the Under 14A’s tournament success, which bodes very well for the future. This was a real highlight for me, as it showed the

depth of the Under 14 squad, and I have been so impressed by how the girls pushed each other in training, clearly motivated to improve their play. This is exactly the spirit that they need to build upon their own skills and lay the foundations for real success in the future as well as ensuring that netball continues to thrive at King’s. GMO

U13A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-78

Coach name: Miss Morton The Under 13 netball season has been tremendous with positive and learning points taken out of each game by all the girls. Their hard work, resilience and passion contributed to their progress and achievements within the different games, competitions and tournaments. The team improved their confidence, trust and determination over the season as they were focusing and setting goals more frequently. They were set on ensuring that they supported each other to be the best players they could be, this was noticeable both on and off the court. Each player

Squad list Emilia D’Adda, Anabel D’Auncey, Millie Dobson, Eva Frost, Ruby Ingles, Kate Lambourne, Immy Town, Amelia Venables, Georgia Wylde, Tilly Cook, Lola Bell Ruiz, Evie Thrush

contributed to the teamwork shown during their performances, this was particularly clear in their BUCS National Plate Games. During the Plate tournament the girls travelled nationally to compete, they got through to the final 16 where they were unfortunately beaten. Despite this, they showed perseverance and worked hard in training to get as far as they did. The girls should be immensely proud of their performance over the past year in both training and matches, their commitment to the games and sessions, and their excellent teamwork, respect and sportsmanship shown on and off the court. The Vigornian

Squad list Tilly Bayliss, Beatrice Benvie, Phoebe Reeley, Rebecca Nosworthy, Jess Newman, Phoebe Reuben, Lucy McWilliams, Rosa Jukes, Ellie Harle, Kiri Costello, Josie Lloyd-Adams, Maya Sumera

Last year the Under 13 B team had a great year with a mixture of wins and narrow losses. As we played more matches we started to trust our team more and get to know each other as players. In club we improved our skills so that when we played the matches we were able to use what we had learned. Even though our season got cut short the season was still amazing and I can’t wait to play this season.

U13B Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-22

Coach name: Miss Morton The Under 13 B team have had a wonderful season, playing in a variety of fixtures against different schools and improving in their training sessions on a Tuesday evening. Many of them have also stepped up to play in the A-team proving that they are always aspiring to improve and get better. Although they have come across stronger teams during the season, they have always

continued to do their best, worked well together and respected their opposition and each other. A highlight from the season for me would be the dedication shown by these players in training and in fixtures, showing resilience when things aren’t perhaps going their way but also their teamwork as the squad looked slightly different every week. I do hope that all of these players will continue to play netball next year.

potential of this talented year group. After several matches, where we were beaten thoroughly by Bablake School and Solihull

School, the girls began to work as a team and went on to win the Warwick Triangular with an 11-5 win against King’s High. We had a battle against King Edward’s School Bath and lost by a single goal, but then went on to win the District Competition later in January. The season finished with comprehensive wins against Pate’s Grammar and Hereford Cathedral School.

Pupil Comment

U12A Coach name: Mrs Neville The Netball Festival in September started the season, and it was clear to see the

The District Champions’ Report: Despite the appalling weather conditions the girls produced their best performance to date. Rosie Brookes, Eve Hind and Millie Comer were strong in defence collecting turnover ball in every game. Jessica Day and Lillie Sawyer worked well in the centre court and Bea Winfield and Clarissa Cinao were too fast for the opposition. Phoebe Webster and Fen Harper worked the shooting circle with good speed and angles, remaining calm under pressure. Mistakes were kept to a minimum which led to excellent results – well done girls!

U12B Coach name: Mrs Neville The Under 12 B squad this year had a plentiful supply of talent and determination. With so many girls eager to play, we were able to make the most of squad rotations and I was delighted by their teamwork and versatility. The fixtures throughout the season demonstrated how positively the team worked together. A total of eight

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matches were played with five strong victories; a notable 18-1 score against Pate’s Grammar School was a game to remember. The District Tournament was also a particular highlight, where the squad were narrowly placed runners-up after some well-contested games. I very much look forward to watching this group of players progress in the future.

Rowing Student Leaders Captains: Emily Havercroft, Liberty Colebourne and David Watson Keeper of Boats: Henry Edmonds Coaching Team Mr J Chalmers, Mr W Bird, Mr E Houghton, Mrs J Ford, Mr R Booth, Mr T Sharp, Mrs P Bladen, Miss A Clark, Miss R Ellender, Mr A Emsley, Mr N Blakemore, Mrs B Young.

The extraordinary events of 2020 will not overshadow the 2019-20 rowing season, with so many achievements and magnificent performances to celebrate. The season was compressed with river conditions and COVID-19, but the rowers took every opportunity to experience a full and industrious year. The long Autumn evenings provided a magnificent start to the year, with excellent training conditions and fine performances at our first event, Monmouth Autumn Head. Our senior rowers led the charge with wins and a record course time for the Girls’ VIII. Breaking records would certainly become a theme for the year, on the water, off the water, and in so many aspects of our lives. As the leaves fell from the trees, the river rose and the disruptions began, but the enthusiasm and determination of our rowers never waned. We divided our forces attending Wycliffe Small Boats Head and the British Rowing Indoor Championships in December, with success at both events. Maple Unwin starred at BRIC with gold and silver individual medals and a team silver.

The Autumn Term ended with another highly successful annual charity challenge, raising thousands of pounds and setting a new world record. The Spring Term greeted us with our own indoor rowing competition and our last chance to compete on the river, with fantastic performances at the Head of the Severn race. Our next adventure on the river was to be rowing on the fields in the February floodwaters, preceding lockdown. During lockdown, the Boat Club community remained extremely active with Mr Houghton and Mr Sharp providing online exercise regimes live via the newly discovered Teams platform. Many of our rowers competed in virtual events, both running and on the rowing machines, with outstanding performances securing the Victor Ludorum in the Lockdown Regatta and medals at the Henley Virtual Regatta. More records were claimed with Alice Baker breaking no less than three British Records on the rowing machine and Maple Unwin two. It has certainly been a year to remember for so many good reasons.

British Rowing Indoor Championships The Olympic Velodrome in London hosted the British Rowing Indoor Championships on Saturday 7th December. We were amongst a record number of entrants, making it the largest indoor rowing competition in the world. All our rowers performed extremely well, but exceptional performances came from Maple Unwin, claiming three medals during the day. Maple’s first race had a nail-biting finish

as she rapidly closed on the winner in the closing stages, albeit falling just nine metres short of victory. Not satisfied with the silver medal, after over five minutes of battle, she took on the same girl in the 500 metre sprint. Maple exploded off the start and held off all the opposition to take the gold medal and title of British Champion. Maple then joined Alex Checkley, Beatrice Beever and Henry Edmonds in the Under 18 mixed relay team, where an exciting race

saw them vying for the silver medal against another King’s crew of Georgie Thorp, Luke Beever, Thomas Holland and Alice Baker, with the lead between the two swapping every 20-30 seconds over the eight minute race. Maple’s crew took the silver by just four metres, with the others claiming the bronze medal. In a brilliant display of teamwork, our other two crews took fifth and seventh place in the event.

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KSWBC Annual Charity Challenge Row Our annual charity challenge on the rowing machines creates much excitement and some trepidation as the enormity of rowing throughout the night dawns. This year we selected our charities and quietly went about considering the possibility of breaking the world record of over one million metres. As the long Autumn Term drew to a close and the rowers prepared for the event, a firm resolve took hold to do something special this season. The last day of the term arrived and after final assembly the event began, spearheaded by our student leaders, with the boathouse full of excited rowers, eager to clock up some early metres. As the evening drew on and

the junior members drifted off for a good night’s sleep, the roster system kicked in and the Fifth and Sixth Form athletes focussed on their target splits, working into the small hours of the morning. They caught the odd break and slept restlessly, knowing they would be rudely awakened to climb back onto a machine, demonstrating a selfless camaraderie to support their fellow rowers, and doing an extra shift where needed. As the sun rose, the spirits lifted with a realisation that the younger members would provide reinforcements in the coming hours, and they did! The pace increased with shorter, harder bursts and in the last hour it became a reality that

the record could be claimed for King’s. The boathouse was alive with a frenzied buzz of athletes and supporters alike, as rapid relay changes ensured we closed in on the target and secured the record. One million metres in 17 hours, 9 minutes and 4 seconds, a new High School 4-erg Million Meter World Record for King’s, producing 93 very happy, yet tired, King’s School Worcester Boat Club members off to enjoy a well-earned Christmas break. The real motivation behind the annual challenge is to raise funds for charities and it is fantastic that some four thousand pounds was able to be shared between Cardiac Risk in the Young and Malvern Special Families.

King’s Indoor Rowing Championships On Saturday 11th January King’s welcomed seven other clubs and schools to compete in our own Indoor Rowing Competition. The Keyes Building made an excellent venue, hosting over 300 competitors on 20 rowing machines, with spectators being able to watch the event from upstairs. Year 7 and 8 rowers started off the event, with King’s Fourth Form pupils getting involved in their first major rowing event. As the day progressed, we worked through our older rowers until all the individual events were complete. King’s gained multiple top three positions in both the 500 metre and timed races, with the medals being made from sustainable timber produced by our own DT Department. The fast and furious relays concluded the afternoon, with our Fifth Form boys’ relay team of Luke Beever, Leo Rendall-Baker, Jack Barclay and Will Purser breaking the six-minute mark in winning their two-kilometre relay!

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Medalists and course record holders from Monmouth Autumn Head

Senior Girls The 2019 - 2020 season began as usual with the Senior Girls taking to the water in late August for their pre-season training. The term started well, and fitness was quickly gained as sessions soon became a combination of hard work on the ergos and long runs, building up great stamina for the head racing to come. Our first event was Monmouth Autumn Head of the Wye. Whilst rain and wind had threatened the event the preceding week, the day itself was glorious. The Senior Girls’ IV of Libby Colebourne, Emily Havercroft, Bea Beever and Georgie Thorp, coxed by Matthew Daniels, won gold and the Senior Girls’ VIII of Anna Fryers, Nemi Edwards, Bethan Fox, Bea, Georgie, Olivia Howard, Libby and Emily, with Ellen Copeman, became the women’s course record holders. They had beaten the longstanding women’s course record - not by seconds, but by minutes. After such a glorious late autumn day in Monmouth, the weather unfortunately started to impact both training and events, and we only managed a handful of sessions on the water between October and December. Nevertheless, the girls made the most of their time on land and we went to Wycliffe Small Boats Head ready for some stiff competition. Wycliffe showed us some of the best competition in recent years and with half of the squad in London competing at the British Rowing Indoor Championships,

Senior Boys we knew we were going to be in for some difficult racing. The quadruple scull of Amy Yorke Brooks, Jess Crichard, Caitlyn Hawkesford-Johnson and Faith Murray had a great win, eclipsing the nearest competition by 30 seconds. It was a great finish to an excellent day of racing. As we broke up for Christmas, the river was again in flood and would continue to be so for the remainder of the season. With Wycliffe Big Boats Head and Worcester Head of the Severn falling on the same weekend in early February, we fielded two VIIIs at Wycliffe who both triumphed and won pennants. In the first division, Anna, Nemi, Bethan, Bea, Olivia, Emily and Libby, coxed by Caitlyn, were victorious and in the second division, with a slightly changed VIII, Caitlyn rowed in place of Anna and Ellen jumped into the coxswain’s seat. Keen to capitalise on the receding River Severn, we competed the following day at the Head of the Severn on our home water. The VIII of Louisa Kenny, Nemi, Olivia, Bea, Georgie, Bethan, Emily and Libby secured the first win of the day. There were further wins for the coxless IV comprised of Anna, Megan Pitts, Amy and Faith and the coxed IV of Bea, Georgie, Emily and Libby who dominated their opposition for the last win of the season. Little did we know that this would be the last event of the year, and although the squad were robbed of their camp and regatta season, they finished the season as impressively as they had started it.

Although shorter than expected, the academic year was full of achievements for the Senior Boys at the Boat Club. With a surprisingly normal start to the year, September was full of goal setting and the start of work on our baseline fitness for the hard year ahead. With the river at an ideal level for rowing on the water, crew boats prepared for upcoming head races, notably Monmouth and Wycliffe Head as well as Head of the Severn. The Senior Boys’ racing boats for the Autumn and Winter consisted of an VIII and a coxless quad predominantly, with both boats being entered into Monmouth Head and Head of the Severn. At Monmouth Head, the quad comprised of Alex Checkley, Archie Stephan, Henry Edmonds and Olly Timlin, who managed to come away with first place. With the rowing machine playing a large part in training for the boys, the three major indoor events of the year posed a great opportunity to show all the hard work they had put in. This was very evident at the British Rowing Indoor Championships, where King’s came away with silver and bronze for the Mixed Junior Relay. The team placing in the silver medal position had both Alex and Henry from the Senior Boys and the team who placed bronze included Thomas. The two indoor events closer to home were the King’s Indoor Championships, where all the King’s athletes got to prove themselves over past rivals, along with many new schools and clubs who attended the event this year. To top off the indoor rowing at King’s, our annual one million metre ergo challenge set out to conquer the indoor rowing world by attempting to claim a world record. With perseverance and a big push through the night from every rower, the record was broken in a time just over 17 hours! After all this competition and hard work, the flooding of the river presented the rowing community with what can only be seen as a very rare opportunity to row on the temporary Lake Worcester! This opportunity was taken into the KSWBC stride, with most of the rowers having the opportunity to row on the school fields, which could only be described as a once in a lifetime experience! Although the year was cut short all the Senior Boys had a wonderful year, full of hard work and rewarded with lots of fun!

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Fifth Form

Wycliffe Small Boats Head FF Girls

We started off our action-packed season at the Monmouth Head in September 2019. The Under 16 Girls raced in three quads and two singles in very challenging conditions across two age categories, with Catrin Lucas, Eleanor Hill, Jess Waddington and Izzy Trow winning the Under 17 race. This was the first win for some of the girls and it was fantastic to do it in a higher age category! After a few cancellations due to flooding, the next events were the British Indoor Rowing Championships and Wycliffe Small Boats Head which took place on the same day. Luke Beever, Jack Barclay, Leo RendallBaker and Andrew Smithson competed in the Year 11 (Under 16) Boys’ 6 Minute Race at the British Indoor Championships, together with Alice Baker and Harriet Smith who took part in the Girls’ 500m race. Both Luke and Alice went on to win a bronze medal in the Mixed Relay. Meanwhile, at the Wycliffe Small Boats Head, Izzy Trow and Felicity Quiney were delighted to win gold in their Under 16 double event with Alice Clarke and Catrin Lucas coming second. One of the highlights of the year was the Million Metre Rowing Challenge in which the Boat Club pulled together and rowed continuously over night to complete one million metres. For the Fifth Form this was the first year that they would row all night, so spirits were high and the camaraderie

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was excellent. Through lots of food and gaming stops, they made it through the night and broke the world record which was a phenomenal achievement. The Million Metre Challenge was a great end to 2019 and the fifth formers were all prepared for the King’s Indoor Rowing Championships at the start of 2020. It was an amazing event with a great atmosphere. In the 6 Minute Individual Event, Luke Beever won gold with Izzy Trow taking bronze. The girls had a clean sweep of medals for the 500m Individual Girls’ Event with gold for Alice Baker, silver for Catrin Lucas and bronze for Alex Barry. The times for the Boys’ 500m Event were extremely close with King’s finishing just outside a medal position. They were, however, triumphant in the relays winning gold for both the Girls’ and Boys’ events, as well as silver and bronze medals in the Mixed Relay Event. In February, Wycliffe Big Boats Head took place. This was another great day for the Boat Club as the conditions were clear and we had some fantastic results with wins for the Under 16 Boys’ IV of Luke Beever, Jack Barclay, Leo Randall-Baker and Ned Meredith as well as Nathan Fenby, Will Purser, Andrew Smithson and Jamie Kemp in the Men’s Quad event. Amy Yorke Brooks, Georgia DuPont, Alex Barry and Izzy Trow also secured a win in the Women’s event. Alex was not only competing in her first rowing competition,

but also gained her first win! The final event of the year was the Head of the Severn, which was a fantastic end to the season. There was elation in the air as the rowers were able to row directly from our Boathouse, and this only increased as Izzy, Catrin, Alice B and Alice C finished first, ending the season on a high. The other quad of Eleanor, Florence Edmonds, Georgia and Maple Unwin finished just behind them in second place! The Under 16 Boys entered an VIII comprising of Nathan, James Launder, Andrew, Will, Jamie, Jack, Luke and Matthew Daniels, coxed by Ned. The competitions didn’t stop in lockdown, with many fifth formers taking part in the ‘Lockdown Regatta’. They had to run two kilometres against the clock and all made it into the A finals which was a great achievement. Alice B set three new British records in her age category in the 6k, 10k and 60-minute events. They fifth formers finished off the year by entering five people into the Henley Virtual Regatta, both running and on the ergo, with Izzy Trow achieving a bronze in the Under 16 run! This was a great end to a challenging but rewarding season. We are very grateful for Mrs Ford’s and Mr Houghton’s coaching and support through the Fifth Form and look forward to being on the water again next year.

Upper Remove The Upper Remove rowers made a strong start to the year at the Monmouth Small Boats Head, where they raced over three divisions, entering double sculls and quads. James Stevens and Henry Halford came third overall in their double, with strong performances from the two quads. James teamed up with Will Probert, Ben Beedie, Shri Raajkumar and Anna Morrison to finish fourth and fifth place went to Bobby Riddell, Liam Radford, Charlie Webster and Jack Hyde, coxed by Henry. The Under 15 double of Amy Matthews and Henny Allan came third, as did our Under 15 quads comprising Amy Hughes, Maple Unwin, Meg Rew and Anna Morrison, coxed by Henny, and Erica Jones, Sophie Pitts, Bella Barry and Tabby Driskell, coxed by Shri. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their first race of the season! At Wycliffe Small Boats Head, James, Ben, Charlie, Will, Meg and Sophie competed in double sculls. They also entered the Under 15 Coxed Quad event and Rosie

Stanley competed up an age group in the Under 16 event, helping her crew to come fourth overall. All of the crews battled hard with strong finishes despite challenging conditions. On the same day Henry, Bobby and Maple competed at the British Indoor Rowing Championships. Henry and Bobby performed well in the Year 10 Boys’ 5 Minute and 500m Events respectively. Maple came away with gold in the Year 10 500m event, silver for the five-minute event and her second silver of the day in the Junior Mixed Relay event. 2019 ended with one of our annual highlights, the Million Metre Row. The whole squad contributed, fuelled by plenty of pizza! To kick off 2020, the annual KIRC took place where we competed in the Individual five-minute and 500m events. Maple was able to add to her gold tally in the five-minute event and Bobby won gold, with James taking the bronze in the 500m

event. The relay events fielded some strong teams and King’s came away with silver for the girls’ and gold for the boys’ teams. Unbeknownst to us all at the time, the final race of the year was the Head of the Severn. Alex Dalton, Jack, Bobby and James, coxed by Amy Yorke Brooks, came first in the Under 15 coxed quad event and, finishing just behind them were Shri, Will, Charlie and Ben, coxed by Liam Radford. The Under 15 Girls’ quad of Sophie, Meghan, Rosie, and Erika Jones, coxed by Maple, also put in a strong performance. During lockdown, the Upper Remove rowers all stayed active with weekly Teams meetings. Although they couldn’t get on the water, many of them took part in multiple competitions, winning medals for their hard work. They are all looking forward to next season, where they will make the most of their training, allowing them to have a great chance in competitions!

Lower Remove The Lower Remove rowers have all really enjoyed all their time on the water this year and are grateful for the help of the Senior rowers, who sat in the bow of the boat so that they could focus on their technique and control. The use of the pool was fantastic, allowing them to become comfortable before moving onto the river. When the weather was too bad for them to row, they concentrated on their technique using the ergo machines to train. They also enjoyed baking with Mrs Bladen!

The Indoor Rowing Competition was the first competitive event for the Lower Removes and they thoroughly enjoyed it! In the Individual 4-Minute Events, Millie Davis won a silver medal, Posie Forrester a bronze, Ollie Bladon a silver and Jamie Thorp a bronze. In the Individual 500m events, Freya Davis won gold and Ollie Hill received bronze. The squad was also victorious in the Relay events winning gold in the Girls’ event, silver in the Boys’ and gold and silver in the Mixed Relay

event. The Charity Row allowed the Lower Removes to get to know the older rowers in the boat club. The goal was to break the current world record for one million metres and we did it! The squad cannot believe that in their first year of rowing they are World Record holders!

Lower Remove Girls cooking nutritous snacks for after training

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Rugby

First XV Results table:

It was an honour to captain the King’s 1st XV in the 2019/20 season. After coming through King’s Hawford it was always something I aspired to do and getting to play week in week out with all my mates is something I will never forget. From touring South Africa to lifting the Modus Cup, every moment will live with me for a long time. H Stigant (Captain)

Coach name: Mr Ford/Mr Mason Squad list B Heath, M Doughty, J Richardson (VC), G Monce, J Cope, C Francis, J Amos, J Bullock, M Whiteside, H Stigant (C), B Williams, T Otley, A Terry, O Berlet, O Preston, W Humphreys, L Hira, A Campell–Kerr, A Parker–Smith, S Binnion, H Collinson. The season began with one step forward and one step back, beating both St Peter’s Gloucester and Loughborough Grammar School, then losing to Solihull and Bromsgrove. Arguably one of the best performances of the season came against Sir Thomas Rich’s School in Gloucester, a team that had not been beaten by King’s for several years. The boys outplayed the Gloucester school in every department, showing an expansive attacking style, ruthless defence and the excellent teamwork that would define the season. Unfortunately, despite leading for most of the game, a last-minute kick from ‘Tommies’ denied King’s the victory and we lost 13-14. Lessons were learned in the process and the boys grew as a team, both in performance and character. The Modus Cup against our local rivals, The Royal Grammar School, is always a great occasion for both school communities. Playing in front of 4000 people at the Sixways stadium, King’s were once again able to hold the trophy aloft after its temporary holiday down the road. The King’s team scored two fantastic tries and a rock-solid defence was never troubled until right at the very end. The forward pack dominated the set piece and some creativity from the backs managed to carve open the defence on numerous occasions. The final score was 22 – 7. The second half of the season was tough. Despite developing their accuracy in 76

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Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+127

Opposition list with score Odendaal High School (SA) Ermelo High School (SA) Westville Boys’ High School (SA) Port Shepstone High School (SA)

34-4

Loughborough Grammar School

26 - 14

0-26

KES Birmingham

48 - 10

29-0

Sir John Deane’s College

29 - 5

RGS Worcester

22 - 7

Bristol Grammar School

0 - 22

Dean Close School

5 - 28

40-12

KES Five Ways

34-24

Solihull School

16-34

Bloxham School

8 - 17

St Peter’s High School

22 - 0

Trent College

59 - 5

Bromsgrove School

7 - 38

Old Swinford Hospital

15 – 24

Sir Thomas Rich’s School

13 - 14

attack, the team came up against some tough opposition. It was, however, brilliant to sign off at Home with a resounding 59-5 victory against Trent College, scoring some fantastic tries in the process. The team was led superbly throughout the season by Head of School, Hamish Stigant. Vice-Captain Joe Richardson has recently signed a professional contract with Worcester Warriors. As a hooker, he is incredibly accurate at the line-out and has sumptuous ball skills for a big man. I wish the Upper Sixth well in their future rugby careers and in all other aspects of their lives. They consistently performed above and beyond their own expectations and, most importantly, enjoyed every moment of the season.

Rugby 7s The Rugby Sevens season, led by Oliver Berlet, was cut short due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The team did manage to attend two tournaments and showed great promise in this form of the game. They reached the Cup final at the KES Stratford tournament, beating most of the local opposition. They then travelled to Liverpool for the annual North of England 7s. Despite a tournament full of quality, the boys eventually lost to Kirkham Grammar School in the quarter finals. A record of played 11, won 9 and lost 2 was a good way to sign off the season.

Second XV Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-63

Opposition list with score Solihull

0-60

Sir Thomas Rich’s School

0-48

Hanley Castle

43-5

Loughborough Grammar School

12-45

KES Birmingham

34-12

RGS Worcester

17-22

Dean Close School

5-15

Old Swinford Hospital

38-5

Squad list Ciaran McGee (C), Joe Amos (VC), Harry Flockhart, Joe Heydon, Matt Hall, Charlie Ness, Henry Palmer, Ben Heath, Charlie Riddell, Charlie Butcher, Woody Thrush, Will Powell, Duncan Timm, Louis Hira, Ben Tyson, Oli Osborne, Ed Green, Rob Saunders, Arun Saimbi, Rob Newman, Sam Binnion, Dom Porter, Josh Matthews, Tom Bulpitt, Oli Taylor

It was rewarding to improve throughout the year and represent the school alongside a great group of young men. Hopefully the Lower 6th members continue to improve next season as they complete their school year. Pupil Comment

Coach name: Mr Wilson Despite a tough run of matches to begin the season, I knew that this group of players would not allow a slow start to affect them for very long. In fact, the attitude of this great group of boys was a constant source of cheer. With a number of Upper Sixth characters at the helm, a sense of teamwork was quickly fostered, and camaraderie was central to the effort. It was great to see the boys at work in training sessions and on match days. Each individual brought his own strengths, whilst working collectively towards the same goal. The attitude was excellent; focus was upon playing with determination and purpose, even if sometimes the win was out of reach. I was impressed with the resilience of the boys. This quality was evident in abundance, and my sense was that it was motivated by a desire to play for each other, for the squad and for the School. There was a strong bond amongst the boys, and this was further strengthened in both defeat and victory. It does not need to be a success on the scorecard for it to be a win!

U16 Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+75

Coach name: Mr Atkinson This was a great bunch of players to work with and we had an enjoyable season. They always gave their best efforts and played some excellent rugby across the two terms. Whether we won or lost, there weren’t any bad games. The effort could never be faulted, and the neutral supporter would have enjoyed the matches in which we were involved.. Many were thrilling encounters that hung in the balance, right up to the final whistle. In the XVs season, highlights included two such games against St Peter’s, Gloucester and Sir Thomas Rich’s School, one of which

we won and one we lost. Some excellent tries were scored and the teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship shown by the boys could not be faulted. We also enjoyed good performances and solid wins against RGS, Loughborough and Trent College. In the VIIs season, we managed to play two tournaments, until social distancing put a stop to proceedings. We fielded at least three genuine front row forwards in every game, which isn’t the ideal make-up for a VIIs team. Despite this, however, the players stuck to their systems and we genuinely played some excellent rugby. One of the highlights was being complimented on

I really enjoyed the mixture of training that we did and felt we got a good balance of all aspects of the game. I loved turning up on match days with the rest of the team, when morale was always high and everyone putting a shift in when it came to matches. cc

style of play by the Head of Rugby at Stowe School, who refereed one of our matches at their prestigious tournament. I wish all the boys the best of success, as they move into the Senior teams.

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We played with a sense of confidence in our own abilities which we hadn’t really seen before. This resulted in some excellent team performances and a great environment to play in. Throughout the season, you could tell our hard work and training was paying off. Everyone felt responsible for their role within the team, creating an awesome atmosphere to be a part of on match days. Pupil comments

U15A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+100

Coach name: Mr Greenall I have been extremely fortunate in my time at King’s to have coached some excellent teams and this certainly continued with the U15A team this year. There was undoubtedly a lot of talent within the group and it allowed for an exciting and positive style of rugby to be played. The most pleasing aspect was how the boys enjoyed playing together and were always willing to work hard for each other and go that extra mile in training and matches.

of rugby and take advantage of their handling skills and speed. The boys really bought into this ethos and throughout the season each player grew more than confident with ball in hand. The fact that they looked to attack from all areas of the pitch which would often catch teams off-guard and saw us score some sensational tries. Two of these came in the victory against RGS, where on both occasions we ran the ball from our own dead ball area! The team played consistently well all season but without a doubt the outstanding performances came against Sir Thomas Rich’s, Bishop Vesey’s and Trent. These games were chalk and cheese, as the 28-12 win against Tommies came from an outstanding defensive performance, whereas the team put on an attacking masterclass against Vesey’s, where the hosts couldn’t cope with the tempo at which we played. A last-minute try conceded away to Trent meant an unfortunate loss in a match where the team worked to the best of their ability.

Due to their generally small stature, it was important that they played an expansive style

The 7-3 loss to Stamford in the National Plate quarter-final was a tough way to finish, but it didn’t take anything away from a great season and the huge amounts of progress the boys made. A special thanks has to go to Mr Moorhouse who assisted with the coaching brilliantly.

U15B Results table:

While the season was riddled with injuries and cancelled games, the team ensured that all the games played were highly competitive and tensely fought. Highlights of the season included a 17-0 win against Sir Thomas Rich’s and 38-22 win against The Royal Grammar School. There were a lot of players who stepped up to different positions and roles in the team, with Giles Harrison moving from the front row to scrum half and Henry White moving to

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Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+69

hooker. Some standout players included Ben Plumridge, Shrav Raajkumar and Ben Waddington, all stepping up to the A Team at some point in the season. A strong asset of our team was the work at the breakdown of our back row, Charlie Webster and Ben Evriviades, with other forwards such as, Rafay Siddiqui, Will Probert and James Brewer offering strong carrying options. The backs also performed well throughout the season, with lots of pace out wide

offered by Will Murray and Ed Jukes, and Marcus Richardson and Barnaby Tripp providing great hands and defensive work. A few injuries early in the season from Fynn Chumbley and Harvey Conyers meant that both of them were out for the rest season. This did, however, allow James Stevens, Henry Pearman and Ben Jones to step up in their place, with a few appearances from Luke Price.

U14A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+122

Coach name: Mr Gillgrass The 2019 season was one that could be characterized by close matches and missed opportunities. In victory and defeat, the score line usually told the story of two well matched teams, but this was rarely the case; there wasn’t a team that coped with the power and intensity of our forwards, whether in the loose or the tight. The fact that we rarely put games to bed was due our decision-making, both with the ball in hand and when to go wider with our attack; too many passes that didn’t need to be made were forced, whilst our attacking lines were rarely deep enough and thus easy to thwart. This meant that in games such as Solihull, where we dominated the contact area in what was a thrilling

game, we lost through two kick and chases; and against our local rivals, where we had over 80% of the possession and territory, we failed to close out the game as early and as easily as we should. The loss at home to Loughborough was probably the most galling experience of the season, but one from which the boys should remember key rugby lessons. With 5 minutes to play and being 12 points up we should have closed out the game, but rather than playing conservatively we continued to be expansive, with no regard for the game situation. With the opposition scoring an interception try and then converting another five minutes into the last play of the game

we somehow lost; hopefully a lesson learnt. We only played one 7s tournament after Christmas due to the weather and that was a much curtailed round robin at Warwick. A draw with Solihull and two narrow losses to Warwick and Wellington College were the outcome. We had what could have been a very useful outfit, but circumstances combined too cut the season very short. Throughout the season the boys trained with great intensity and improved dramatically in their ability to listen and act upon advice. There is a considerable amount of talent within this group – if they can develop as decision-makers and learn that everyday and every session are an opportunity to move forward, then they could become a real force.

U14B Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+60

Coach name: Dr James After losing the first two games, this turned out to be a very encouraging season for the boys. They developed an excellent commitment to training and were able to implement the new ideas successfully in a game situation. The passion and commitment shown as a team was a delight

to see and it is clear that many of the players have become genuine contenders for A team places. The focus on skills and fitness enabled the boys to win every game in the second half of term and the highlight for me was a last minute victory in the final game against Trent College; the team showed real guts in this fixture and never

gave up, despite suffering a few injuries along the way. I want to thank them all for their excellent company over a long season, although it is clear to me that they will need to work hard on their rendition of “Sweet Caroline” on the team bus; a bit of 1970s progressive rock would be better boys.

U13A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

-260

Coach name: Mr Gardiner The U13A boys this year have had a challenging time, coming up against some very strong opposition. Several of those teams managed to dominate through some powerful individual players, which made a big difference on the bigger pitches we played on. I’ve been most impressed this year with the way the players kept going, showing great resilience and most importantly showing

improvement across the year. The entire squad had to up their game after a difficult start, and I was impressed that they were able to improve on their all-round game as the season progressed. The win against Trent College in the final game shows have far the team have come and that they have made significant improvements in working together as a team. I wish them more success for the years to come.

Squad list George Allan, Michael Edwards, Charlie Sheppard, Isaac Blasdale, Charlie Walker, Sam Edwards, Ollie Yip, Will Mason (C), Matt Dalton, Matt Franks, Zach Mason, Will Tucker, Ollie Powell, Josh Lavarack, Max Mepsted

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In training we made progress in rucking, tackling, handling and set pieces. We were lacking some chemistry at the start of the year, but after a few training sessions we had clicked. One of our hardest games was against Old Swinford Hospital where at the start of the match it was very close, but as the game went on, we worked hard and pulled ahead. During the VIIs season, we were as successful as we were in 12 a-side, attending several tournaments. One of these was the Warwick tournament where we played very well and won all our games until the last one. I think the progress we have made this year has been amazing in 12 a-side and Sevens, and the whole squad needs to thank Mr Hand and all our sport teachers as they have helped all the U12 rugby team. Pupil Comment

U12A Results table: Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

+302

Coach name: Mr Hand The season was excellent: strong squads from KSA and KH were combined with other keen and skilful players from wider afield. There was a huge squad of boys who attended training with consistency and positivity. They were keen to learn and to apply lessons from the challenges they met in training and in matches.

incredible. Without doubt, there were several B team players who would have been stand out players in any other A team. The VIIs season was sadly curtailed but got off to an exceptional start. The backs showed immense talent, but more importantly, resilience and a willingness to learn. There was pace, power, leadership, fitness and an utter determination to do their best. The forwards were exceptional: strong, skilful, powerful and fast – and, crucially, willing to learn. I could go on to praise many of the boys, and I hope they realise the high regard in which they are held.

As a coach, an undefeated record is not something I strive for – boys developing skills, resilience and an enjoyment of the sport is paramount. That said, the A, B and C teams won each of their matches, with the B team having the best record in the country. The passion and teamwork built throughout the first term. The strength in depth and competition for places was

I am truly excited to see the squad continue to develop and learn. They have a love for the game, work hard and play for each other.

U12B Results table:

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Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

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Swimming

The King’s swimmers had an amazing start to their year attending the English Schools’ Swimming Association (ESSA) Hereford and Worcester qualifying round held at Malvern College and dominating their age groups. This is a premier competition involving eight regions around the country. All times set over these regions are logged and ranked, with the top 30 in each age group invited to attend an elite national final at the Olympic Pool in London. This was the first time we have fielded a full team (26 swimmers) and all of the swimmers performed well recording many personal best times. Each team swam a freestyle relay and a medley relay. With 22 of our swimmers being club swimmers and 4 being ex-club swimmers we were confident that we could achieve some pleasing results. Two age groups, the under 18 girls and the under 13 boys, qualified in both relays for the national final. Our under 18 girls, Hannah Woodcock, Josie Armstrong, Hannah Dixon, Izzy Trow and Alex Barry stormed to victory in their qualifying round beating all competition in Hereford and Worcester, so the girls were ranked well for the final. In their freestyle relay the girls (Hannah, Josie, Hannah and Alex) went into the competition ranked 21st and swam a faster time than their qualifying time to go up 7 places! In the medley relay the girls (Hannah, Josie, Hannah, Izzy) swam a fantastic heat race, faster than their entry time but narrowly missed the final finishing in an amazing 11th place in the country. The Under 13 boys, Ben Gooch, Harry Chandler, Seth Essenhigh and Daniel Arridge swam an incredible qualifying round beating everyone in Hereford and Worcester and placing second in the West Midlands. In the final the boys were on fire and in their medley relay produced a whopping three second personal best on their qualifying entry time! The boys went up the rankings in both relays and placed 17th in the medley

and 24th in the freestyle relay. To be competing amongst the best swimmers in the country is an amazing achievement and with both of these teams being in the same age groups next year, the future looks very bright! In January, King’s took five Senior School teams to the Bromsgrove School Invitational Relays held at Perdiswell Swimming Pool in Worcester. 26 schools and 78 teams competed in this annual prestigious event. Schools came from all over the country to compete, including Newcastle under Lyme, Nottingham and Bedford.For the first time ever, King’s placed in the top 8 making the A finals in all events and age groups. The Under 15 girls (Jessica Day, Eve Hind, Amelia Venables, Catherine Rendall-Baker and Gabriella Barry) performed very well in both of their relays placing 5th in the medley and 7th in the freestyle. With only one member in each of the relays being in the correct age group and the rest being two to three years younger, this result was particularly impressive. Similarly, the Under 15 boys (Harry Chandler, Daniel Arridge, Ben Gooch and Henry Halford) were also going to find it tough with only Henry in the correct age group and the rest being under 12. The boys fought well on both relays and placed a credible 7th in both races. In the Under 18 competition, King’s fielded two teams in the girls’ races. This was another King’s first and they proved to be a force to be reckoned with. In the medley relay, with a Worcester County record holder swimming the butterfly and an English National champion on the breaststroke, it was no surprise that they were going to be tough to beat. The A Team (Naomi Marsden, Hannah Woodcock, Gabriella Barry and Josie Armstrong) stormed to victory, beating the King’s B

Team (Alexandra Barry, Isabella Woodcock, Hannah Dixon and Isabella Trow) into second place by six seconds and King’s High, Warwick in 3rd place by a further three. In the freestyle relay the A Team once again dominated the pool. The team, this time consisting of Hannah Woodcock, Gabriella Barry, Alexandra Barry and Josie Armstrong won gold convincingly with a clear 3 second lead. King’s B Team (Naomi Marsden, Isabella Trow, Hannah Dixon and Isabella Woodcock) again, had a battle with King’s High Warwick for 2nd place, but just lost out by 0.06 seconds gaining 3rd. The Under 18 boys had great competition in both relays. Oliver Osborne, Leo RendallBaker, Henry Halford and Daniel Day looked pure class in their medley, winning 1st place, a second clear of both Abingdon and King Alfred’s School. In their freestyle, it was the same three schools battling it out for the medals. In a very exciting race the boys were placed third on a blanket finish, with Oliver Osborne swimming a blistering 25.68 seconds on the last leg. It was a very exciting day for King’s swimming. With all teams making ‘A’ finals and bringing home three trophies for the cabinet this was the best performance so far. All swam well without exception, but special mention must go to Henry Halford and Gabriella Barry who swam up in their own age group (Under 15) and up in the Under 18 age groups, swimming eight races in quick succession. King’s has a tremendous wealth of talent and it is a privilege and pleasure to watch and support them. They showed pure class and excellent sportsmanship on both poolside and in the water, and I am immensely proud of them. Commitment to training on top of academic schoolwork can be tough and it is fantastic to see the swimmers achieve such great success for their school. Lizzie Monkhouse

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Biathlon

Triple Swimming Victory for King’s Worcester

A group of eight Lower Fourth pupils took part in a biathlon in Much Wenlock on Wednesday 23rd October. The Under 12 competitors ran 800m and then had a 50m swim, whilst the Under 13 competitors doubled up and ran 1600m with a 100m swim. The boy’s Under 12 Team of Harry Chandler, Henry Hawes and Seth Essenhigh came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their event, making them the winning team by over 1000 points. The girl’s Under 12 team of Frankie Barry, Jess Day and Eve Hind came 1st, 4th and 9th in their event making them the winning team overall, whilst Dan Arridge and Ben Gooch came 4th and 5th in the boy’s Under 13 event. They were outstanding results for their first competitive biathlon together, and meant most of them qualified for the National and National Schools finals later that year.

King’s Worcester has been celebrating its best ever team swimming performance after taking home three relay trophies at the recent schools’ swimming competition held at Perdiswell Swimming Pool. King’s took five Senior School teams to the Bromsgrove School Invitational Relays where they were up against 26 schools and 78 teams competed in this annual prestigious event. Schools came from all over the country to compete, including Newcastle under Lyme, Nottingham and Bedford.

In November they took part in the British National Biathlon Championships in Nottingham. Five took part in the Under 12 boys and girls events on Saturday and two took part in the Under 13 boys event on Sunday. All the competitors performed amazingly well, improving upon their times and placings in their event. In the Under 12 boys Harry placed 5th, Henry placed 9th and Seth placed 14th – this was an amazingly strong team performance with a combined total of 7,386 points. In the Under 12 girls event, both Jess and Frankie improved upon their rankings to finish 28th and 29th respectively, whilst in the Under 13 boys event both Dan and Ben produced amazing times in both events to finish 23rd and 28th respectively.

The Under 15 girls (Jessica Day, Eve Hind, Amelia Venables, Catherine Rendall-Baker & Gabriella Barry) performed very well in both of their relays placing 5th in the medley and 7th in the freestyle. With only one member in each of the relays being in the correct age group and the rest being two to three years younger, this result is particularly impressive.

Four of them also took part in the West Midlands Biathlon at Abbey Stadium in Redditch on Saturday 11th January. Despite cold and wet conditions, they all ran well, but they really excelled in the pool. All four were near or reduced their personal best times. In the Under 13 boys event Dan received the silver medal, and Ben received the bronze medal as well as the West Midland’s Biathlon best swim medal. In the Under 12 boys event Seth swam himself into the silver medal place, and in the Under 12 girls event Frankie acquitted herself, gaining several places with an excellent swim. All the King’s School Worcester competitors should have competed again at the National Schools Biathlon Championships in March, and with their performances improving every time they take to the track and pool, all was looking good, but unfortunately with the COVID-19 lockdown this event was first postponed, then cancelled which was a shame as medals seemed highly possible. NE 82

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The competition was fierce, starting with the heats, followed by the A finals for the fastest swimmers and B finals for the second fastest swimmers. For the first time ever, King’s Worcester was placed in the top eight making the A finals in all events.

Similarly, the Under 15 boys (Harry Chandler, Daniel Arridge, Ben Gooch and Henry Halford) were also going to find it tough with only Henry in the correct age group and the rest being under 12. The boys fought well on both relays and placed a credible 7th in both races.

In the Under 18 competition, King’s fielded two teams in the girls’ races. This was another King’s first and they proved to be a force to be reckoned with. In the medley relay, with a Worcester County record holder swimming the butterfly and an English National champion on the breaststroke, it was no surprise that they were going to be tough to beat. The A Team (Naomi Marsden, Hannah Woodcock, Gabriella Barry and Josie Armstrong) stormed to victory, beating the King’s B Team (Alexandra Barry, Isabella Woodcock, Hannah Dixon and Isabella Trow) into second place by six seconds and King’s High, Warwick into third place by a further three. In the freestyle relay the A team once again dominated the pool. The team, this time consisting of Hannah Woodcock, Gabriella Barry, Alexandra Barry and Josie Armstrong, won gold convincingly with a clear three second lead. King’s B Team (Naomi Marsden, Isabella Trow, Hannah Dixon and Isabella Woodcock) again had a battle with King’s High Warwick for second place but just lost out by 0.06 seconds taking third place overall. The Under 18 boys had great competition in both relays. Oliver Osborne, Leo RendallBaker, Henry Halford and Daniel Day looked pure class in their medley, winning first place a second clear of both Abingdon and King Alfred’s School. In their freestyle it was the same three schools battling it out for the medals. In a very exciting race the boys were placed third on a blanket finish, with Oliver Osborne swimming a blistering 25.68 seconds on the last leg.

CO-CURRICULAR

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4x4 In Schools Challenge This season our 4x4 team ‘4th Dimension’ (Professional Class) decided to design a prototype desert rescue vehicle to compete in the Jaguar Land Rover sponsored 4x4 In Schools Challenge. The vehicle was still in its first generation of development when time ran out and the team had to take it as it was to the Regional Final held at Make UK Technology Hub, Birmingham. That said, the work produced still impressed the judges, as did the team’s breadth and depth of work to achieve such a versatile vehicle. They were also very impressed with every aspect of the team’s approach to running a business and marketing it. The track was squeezed into a corner of the training centre, making the distance between track elements very close. With only two-wheel steering, instead of our usual four, they struggled to drive a clean round and required a number of six-point turns!

There were 12 teams, from all over the region. The standard of innovation, design and enthusiasm was high across the teams. So it was the hours of work over the last seven months that enabled ‘4th Dimension’ to win the Regional Winners’ trophy and a place at the National Final. The generosity and support from their sponsors played a major part in them also winning the Sponsorship and Marketing Award.

The team members of ‘4th Dimension’ are Becky Ye, Ben Beedie, Amy Hall, Piran Pearson, Thora Dykes and Will Hewston. This year for the first time we also had previous winners of both World and National finals from King’s amongst the judges. They were judging the ‘Development Class’ so there was no conflict of interest. Toby Weymouth (EDGE 4x4) was also invited to judge the F1 In Schools the following day.

As the National Final was set to take place at the end of March in Jaguar Land Rover’s Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, it was frustrating news to have a once in a lifetime opportunity cancelled by the lockdown.

My thanks go to all the team members for their help and support during School Open Mornings and for being such a brilliant, self-motivated group who have been a delight to work with. EIL

situation, but virtual, recorded interviews are also an increasingly common feature of recruitment for employment. Even after the lifting of lockdown these are unlikely to disappear but responding to pre-set questions without any visual feedback is a particular skill. Lower Sixth students were encouraged to practice this as part of the lockdown Key Skills programme and congratulations to those who were brave enough to submit their efforts for feedback.

students but unfortunately this had to go on hold alongside the planned events for the remainder of the year. There have been, however, some silver linings. In the absence of physical events, employers and universities have been very proactive in trying to offer students virtual insights into their companies, workplaces and institutions. We have been busy sharing these opportunities and it certainly has enabled some to engage with and participate in activities which might otherwise not have been feasible to organise.

Careers The term started in September with ambitious plans for a series of events. As has become the norm for our programme of events, Upper Sixth students were offered the opportunity for face-toface mock interviews. It was notable how many used this opportunity to develop their interview skills and reflect positively on the feedback given. We continue to be grateful to all those supporters who graciously offer their time and expertise to mentor in this way. In addition to our usual structure, we took care to focus on the way in which admission interviews for many healthcare courses have changed. Their focus, more recently, is on interpersonal skills and consequently is now structured as a series of short, timed independent assessments. Therefore, in addition to the traditional ‘one on one’ style interview, we also offered relevant students the opportunity to practice their skills in this format too. Assessment stations included communication skills, ethical judgement, empathy and data interpretation in a time pressured environment. I think we all agreed that both students and facilitating teachers learnt from the experience and we will be following the lead from the universities as to how to best offer this experience again next year. Video-based online interviews may seem an additional challenge to an already stressful

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The annual Careers Conference for 2020 was aptly, given subsequent world events, themed on Healthcare Careers. We were delighted to welcome almost 100 students from local schools to join us for the event. Pupils had the opportunity to learn from a wide range of professionals representing careers in Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health and Healthcare Science. Sessions included focussed workshops, talks and a careers networking session. This provided the opportunity for students to speak with professionals one to one. We all now have a heightened awareness of the importance of our healthcare workers and hopefully the conference will have helped some students to pursue careers in this area. The annual Upper Remove Careers Speed Dating event was sadly an early victim of COVID-19. Almost 40 volunteers had been recruited to share their insights with the

Fifth Form student John Davies reflects on his virtual work experience, completed in early July, with pharmaceutical company Pfizer. ‘It was with immense pride that I learned that I would have the privilege to participate in a selective and high-quality weeklong virtual work experience programme with Pfizer. Initially, I felt a slight sense of trepidation due to this being my first taste of a work experience programme. When I first decided on my A level choices, I did not yet know precisely what career I wanted to pursue. I, therefore, decided that the best strategy was to dive in at the deep end and try to expose myself to whatever opportunities came my way in terms of widening my knowledge of any careers or subjects that might interest me. After my first day at Pfizer, however, my initial fears were soon eased. All the Pfizer

Combined Cadet Force Last summer saw the Army Section travel to Beckingham Camp to be put through their paces by the Desert Rats. Training included the use of mercury radios, paintball, fieldcraft, an overnight exercise, shooting the 7.62 target rifle, and some adventurous training on Rutland Water. At the same time, cadets from the RAF Section had their training at RAF Brize Norton. They enjoyed a range of activities such as a drill competition, the fan descender, STEM training, adventurous training at Cotswold Water Park as well as being introduced to the C17 and Atlas aircraft. Both sections were successful in competitions over the course of the year. The Army won best CCF and best Cadet Force in the Brigade Military Skills competition and consequently qualified for the Cambrian March. The RAF finished second in the regional Air Squadron Trophy

staff were extremely kind, helpful, and understanding towards me and the other students partaking in the course. I managed to acquire a customized flavour of working in many different and varied sectors within the company, such as human resources, legal, regulatory and corporate affairs. All of those on work experience were given inspirational talks from several high-ranking Pfizer employees. In addition to this, we were also given valuable advice for crucial life skills, such as corporate networking, presentation and interview skills. By the end of the course, we had all developed the skills and confidence to provide a peer-assessed presentation in which we had to market a drug of our choice. I know now that a career in the pharmaceutical industry offers the individual an exceedingly varied and stimulating career, and I will definitely be considering this as part of my options for the future. Having said this, Pfizer is not solely an employer of scientists, so do not be discouraged if you feel you lack a scientific background. The company culture at Pfizer is excellent because it is so nurturing, sympathetic, challenging and supportive. I am proud that I grasped this amazing work experience opportunity. I would strongly recommend anyone to apply for this work experience programme in future years.” HA

and went to the national competition at RAF Halton. The RAF has also been able to enjoy several flying and gliding days over the year. September saw perhaps our biggest ever intake of new recruits (over 60). After training on the rifle and in drill, recruits enjoyed Exercise Basic Basha and Exercise First Shot before passing off as new cadets in March. The whole Contingent was honoured to once again be involved with the Remembrance Services at both the School and in the Cathedral. Contingent officers and staff were nominated in the Worcester News’ “staff of the year” award. After six years as Contingent Commander, Squadron Leader McLaverty-Head stepped down at the end of the year. RJH

Awards and Appointments 2019-20: Senior cadet and winner of the Fenton Cup for best Army cadet: CSgt Emily Warner. Senior Army cadet and winner of the Peter Lau Award for Cadet Endeavour: Sgt David Watson. Senior RAF cadet: FS Zoe Kimber. Winner of the Wooten Cup for best RAF cadet: Jonathan Booth-Scrimshaw. Recruit Section ICs: Sgts Clara Watson Muncaster.

and

Calum

Best recruit: Cdt Sam Elsdon. Best shot: Cpl William Head.

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Josh Clarke, Worcestershire Under 19 Chess Champion, pictured with Ray Collett, tournament organiser

Chess Club Chess Club has been well attended this year with a core group of regulars, who all showed enthusiasm to hone their skills. One player, Josh Clarke has continued his excellent progress. Josh, (Lower Remove, Castle) became the Worcestershire Junior Chess Champion for 2019, at a tournament hosted by King’s. He consistently dominated the competition with 14 points. Josh showed resilience by winning the rest of his games, having allowed a second-round game to slip to a draw having been in a dominant position. Josh has also represented Worcestershire in county matches with great success. Well done to Josh, and the rest of the club who show much promise for the future. I look forward to taking you on next year! MWW

Christian Union

Senior Debating

It’s been a huge privilege helping to lead the Christian Union again this year. A range of pupils across the school have enjoyed a mixture of both games and bible studies, while not missing out on grabbing a biscuit and the occasional hot chocolate. We very much encourage those who are just interested and exploring their faith to pop in and join in the fun, as well as those who are more established in their faith.

This year the Debating Society has had one of its most successful years to date. The Senior Debating Society has participated in three national debating competitions and a combined total of 22 competitive debates. In addition, our membership has grown and hopefully next year we will reach the dizzy heights of double figures.

The highlight of the year was the weekend at The Pioneer Centre, which was a special time away. Amongst the high ropes, walks, bonfire, and general wide game antiques, we looked at some videos from “Jesus the gamechanger” and had some useful discussions in smaller groups. It was good to see some pupils coming along on the weekend who had not managed to attend our regular slot at school, but still were able to enjoy the time away. Thank you to Miss Arnold for coming along and being involved this year, we all valued your input. The Summer Term was somewhat interrupted by COVID-19, although we still managed to have a few quizzes on Microsoft Teams that helped us to stay in regular contact. Special thanks to George Capell and David Gee for their most enlightening quizzes. Hopefully we will be able to meet again in person as the year progresses. JNG

Craft Club This year, the newly formed Craft Club has been very popular - making it clear that King’s is a community of crafters who have flair and imagination. The club meets weekly to share skills, ideas and have a good chat as we’re busy creating. The club, however, isn’t just about making projects as crafting is hugely beneficial in other areas of our pupils’ lives. Crafting is excellent for mental health, improving focus and cognitive skills – so as well as creating beautiful works of art, the pupils leave feeling positive and motivated. We began the year making clay bowls using autumn leaves as a mould. Once dried, these were painted and varnished ready to put away for Christmas presents. Bowls made from the leaves of the school Mulberry Bush were particularly beautiful and meaningful. Pompom Christmas wreaths followed – imagine a wreath covered in pompoms of all shapes, sizes

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and colours! We then attempted the Japanese art of Origami, making everything from baskets to turtles out of small pieces of paper. On the approach to Easter everyone was busy learning to knit to make little Easter egg cosies. These were coming on so well and will be finished next year when we are all together again. I look forward to more crafting with the King’s Crafters and, of course, all new members are very welcome! NJS

The Debating Society has met weekly after school on a Tuesday. In these sessions we hold a weekly debate, discuss interesting developments in current affairs and prepare for our competitions. In November, three King’s pairs headed down to the University of Bath for our first competition of the year. The day started with three debates in the British Parliamentary style, debating motions such as ‘This House believes that social media has done more harm than good’ and ‘This House would abolish private schools’. All three teams performed fantastically. Our youngest pair, made up of George and James Capell, performed exceptionally, winning one of their debates and beating students several years older than themselves. It was James’s first competition and thus gave him invaluable experience. The pair made up of Will Hunt and Tom Angel successfully qualified for the Novice Final where they debated bringing back the death penalty with great success. Finally, after winning all their debates, the third King’s pair, Charlie Mackintosh and Ted Poel progressed into the competition final in which they debated the difficult motion, ‘This House regrets the romanticization of crime in film and television’. Getting through to the final was a great achievement and a first for King’s in recent years; the pair managed to top this by achieving a close second place. Overall the day in Bath was a resounding success that will hopefully be repeated next year. Our next competition was the English Speaking Union Mace competition, the oldest and largest in the country. Owing to its different style, schools submit one team of three individuals and receive the motions in advance to prepare. The King’s team was made up of Charlie Mackintosh, Ted Poel and Will Hunt. In the first round, the King’s team debated against Pershore High School on the question of whether to restrict people to making one flight every year and comfortably got through. In the second round, which King’s hosted, we took on RGS Worcester and debated the complicated motion, ‘This House regrets the commercialisation of pride’. As we were hosting, King’s had to provide a ‘swing’ team, which Tom Angell and

Junior Debating George Capell kindly volunteered to provide. They debated making vaccines compulsory against a strong opposition from Cheltenham Ladies’ College. The competitive King’s team broke through to the next round in first place, qualifying for a place in the regional final. This was a new record for King’s as we had never had a team progress further than the second round. The regional final took place at King Edward’s School in Stratford-uponAvon. The four teams competing for one of the coveted places in the national finals were Pershore High, RGS Worcester, King Edward’s and ourselves. King’s opposed the motion ‘This House would introduce a Universal Basic Income’. After an exhilarating debate against Pershore and having watched the very strong debate between the other two schools, the likely results were far from clear. However, we were given the win and thus one of 12 places in the National Finals. The National Finals take place in Dartmouth House in London and the King’s team was due to debate Eton College on the motion ‘This House would remove the license fee and make the BBC self-funding’. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the final was cancelled but we are still truly delighted to have progressed to the national final. Our third and final competition of the year was the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition, run as a national competition by the Oxford Union. Our regional heat was hosted by Warwick School and we had entered three pairs: Charlie Mackintosh and Ted Poel, Will Hunt and George Capell, and Tom Angell and Will Bradley. This round took place in early March and consisted of two debates. The motions debated were ‘This House would punish sports teams for the actions of their fans’ and ‘This House would make it compulsory to display your identity online’. All three pairs debated very well and enjoyed the evening of debate. Charlie and Ted qualified for the next round, getting a place at the prestigious Finals’ Day at the Oxford Union itself. However, due to COVID-19 this too was unfortunately cancelled.

The Junior Debating Society has had a busy and successful year. Run on a Thursday long break, Junior Debating is open to all Lower Fourth, Upper Fourth and Lower Remove students who are keen on debating and structuring a formal argument. We have had a pleasing intake of keen new debaters from across these three year groups and it has been fantastic to watch them improve throughout the year. Run by Mrs Loveridge, Charlie Mackintosh, Edmund Poel and William Bradley, the sessions started off with basic exercises in public speaking, including playing Just a Minute and holding balloon debates with the students before moving to preparing and debating motions weekly. Motions debated this year have ranged from ‘This house would abolish the monarchy’ and ‘This house would prohibit the production and consumption of alcohol’ to ‘This house believes elves are better than reindeer’. Each motion provoked stimulating discussion and ended with a heated debate. Some of our junior debaters have made an effort to engage with debating outside of these sessions. Upper Fourth pupil James Cappell debated in several senior competitions across the country, performing fantastically and gaining valuable experience for future debates. Several of the juniors were also in the audience for a round of the ESU Mace competition that King’s hosted and all enjoyed watching a full-length senior debate. Harry Chandler deserves particular thanks in this for volunteering to be the timekeeper for this debate.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme DofE remains a very popular activity at King’s and this year was no exception. There were over 150 pupils from Upper Remove and above who enrolled in the scheme at all three levels, and a number of students in the Upper Sixth who were finishing their award. It was a challenging year for those participating in the award scheme as COVID-19 meant that we were only able to undertake one expedition at Bronze level before the lockdown, so many participants have been unable to complete their Expedition sections. Because of the restrictions on expeditions, DofE are awarding Certificates of Achievement for all those who complete their Volunteering, Physical and Skill sections before the end of 2020, in recognition of their achievements and their commitment. 78 Upper Removes had a very enjoyable expedition in the Cotswolds in early March, where they were able to hone their newly acquired campcraft skills and improve their navigation. The weather was kind to us, despite the mud! We didn’t lose any participants for too long and brought them all home tired but in high spirits. They all learnt a huge amount on the expedition and had a lot of fun! DJS

Overall, it has been a successful and very enjoyable year that will hopefully be replicated next year! Charlie Mackintosh and Edmund Poel

Despite this, our successes in all three competitions this year have been a satisfying end to our time in the King’s Debating Society. For all her hard work this year, we would like to thank Mrs Loveridge profusely for taking us all over the country and supporting us with our debates. We look forward to hearing of the successes of the next generation! Charlie Mackintosh, Edmund Poel and Will Hunt

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The Library

The academic year 2019-20 will always be an extremely memorable year for us - two fabulous author visits, and one global pandemic! In October Robin Stevens, popular author of the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series gave a talk in the Cathedral to pupils from the King’s Foundation (Years Six, Seven and Eight) and eight other schools. The Cathedral proved to be a fantastic setting for an author who has been obsessed since her Oxford college childhood with murder mysteries, a compelling genre for many of our pupils. Pupils were thoroughly engaged by discovering what makes a great detective before creating and

Displays throughout the year have enabled us to promote relevant fiction and nonfiction supporting initiatives such as Antibullying Week, European Day of Languages, LGBT+ History Month, Non-fiction November and Safer Internet Day. We also had fun sourcing rugby fiction and non-fiction to celebrate the World Cup in Japan. We loved the buzz around school for December’s KSW mock election. The candidates found break times in the Library were ideal opportunities for campaigning! It was also the perfect time to produce our new Sixth Form Politics extended reading list. There has been a new focus within the whole school this year on promoting Reading for Pleasure, and for January’s staff INSET we were thrilled to welcome author and expert Nicola Morgan (aka The Teenage Brain Woman) for a highly informative and inspirational session on the importance and benefits of reading for pleasure. For the first time this year 88

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solving a murder mystery of their own with Robin. It was wonderful to see Robin traversing the cathedral nave through an audience of 500 rapt faces and many arms held aloft.

I liked her talk because it was inspiring and interesting. It was nice to know how she got into murder mysteries. Sophie

She was so kind, almost like a character from a story book. Eleanor

We had a fantastic team of Sixth formers (Daisy Beedie, Tom Eaton, Shaiyan Siddiqui, Kate Saunders, Ellen Copeman and Alexandra Mumby) selling books and managing massive signing queues which filled two cloisters. It was worth the wait however to be able to meet Robin. We felt very privileged to have been able to host this memorable event in Worcester Cathedral.

She interacted with us and was fun, enjoyable and expressed her happiness with all of us. I look forward to reading her books as they sound intriguing and very good. Olivia She inspires me to write more than I did. Jack the library also had a display at parents’ evenings in order to promote reading for pleasure and to enable parents to engage with us. In early March the school held its first Reading for Pleasure Week with no Lower Fourth or Upper Fourth homework for an entire week, just the joy of reading! Many forms came to library beforehand to select books, and part of the initiative involved them writing book reviews which we added to our library catalogue. On World Book Day we hosted author Chris Vick for a whole day of events, involving pupils across the whole school from Lower Fourth to U6. Chris writes for young people about the sea, danger and the magical power of stories. He is the author of popular Young Adult novels Kook and Storm, and his latest book Girl, Boy, Sea was shortlisted for this year’s Carnegie Award. The day began with Andrew Maund interviewing Chris in the Cathedral for assembly, and Chris’s inspirational passion

for storytelling, books, reading and writing was evident from the outset. Sixth Form A level English students were then treated to a thought-provoking workshop with Chris, which focused on what a story is and why stories matter. He advised the Sixth Formers to “write what you are passionate about and to find your own voice because this is the one thing that you have that nobody else has”. For Chris, however, the most important and rewarding element of such workshops is in helping pupils to write and share their own stories. He connected impressively with our students and his thoughtful responses to their written work gave them the confidence to share their stories. They were full of questions at the end; they also plied Chris with cake! The day’s main event was a very engaging theatre talk for all of our Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth pupils. Chris talked about the writing process, the importance of stories and how they help us to make sense of the world. Our pupils were a fantastic audience

and asked lots of excellent questions. ‘It was very interesting, and surprising to learn that he had not always been a writer’ Will ‘It was fun. I really enjoyed the questions and the way that the talk was very interactive all the way through’ Hayden Chris was then whisked away by Lower Fourth pupils Caitlin Rutter and Briony Gillgrass to join with George Capell for a special World Book Day recording for The King’s Voice. The group had prepared a great set of questions and enabled Chris to convey what the process of writing a book is like and how writing, when it works, is like the joy of being completely absorbed in a book that you can’t put down, but a thousand times better! The final event of the day was another writing workshop with a very special audience for Chris, made up entirely of book lovers from our Lower Remove, Upper Remove and Lower Sixth WRAITH book clubs. They were a wonderfully attentive audience and made the most of having Chris in school to give them advice. ‘I learnt a lot of new things - how to structure my writing and how to become a better writer. It was interesting to see the process of how he wrote his books’ Riya ‘It was really, really good and useful; it’s given me loads of ideas. It particularly helped me to work out how best to plan and organise my writing’ Rowan Chris thoroughly enjoyed his day with us and he inspired so many different pupils across the year groups (and staff!) We had another visit planned, with Robert Muchamore, author of the celebrated Cherub series. However, COVID-19 was on the advance and we were all soon to be swept along with an entirely different narrative. How did many of our pupils respond to the sudden end of school? By undertaking the best kind of stockpiling with over 500 books issued in two days! Some were reading for comfort, sheer pleasure and escapism, others to acquire knowledge and learn new things. March 20th 2020 was a very dramatic day for all of us; alongside the rest of our community we had to say a sudden goodbye to our U6, many of whom spent a great deal of time in the library over the years and will be much missed. AJJ

King’s library is one like no other, not least because of its distinct and vibrant character. As well as helping to broaden my literary repertoire over the years, the library is constantly offering a plethora of activities, events, author visits and competitions, my earliest exposure to which was in Upper Fourth when I entered a dress-up competition for World Book Day. Where other students opted for the simpler, more feasible outfits I ventured to replicate the cat from Jacqueline Wilson’s The Cat Mummy – far from simple, as the title alone indicates- which involved a pair of cat ears and wrapping myself head to toe in homemade hieroglyphic bandages. My efforts however, proved worthwhile, as I was chuffed to receive first place, even if it meant at the expense of my dignity once my photo was pinned in the Long Gallery for all to see - nevertheless, it is only pride and amusement with which I look back on the memory. Another favourite was the Valentines’ Day ‘Blind Date with a Book’ where the heart-stamped brown wrapping paper was enough to get me involved! These events are only two examples of many which the library staff put much effort into organising each term and which make the library so unique in the wealth of opportunities that it offers. Furthermore, the plentiful resources and advice on offer with regards to university and careers made the library a particularly pivotal source of contact for me in my final two years at school. At the heart of a school are its students and staff, and I would argue also its library- this is only testament to the enthusiasm, hard work and dedication of the library staff who always ensure it is a friendly and welcoming environment for all. Annie Park The library has been fantastic to me throughout my school career – I borrowed plenty of fiction and non-fiction from the school library over the years and whilst the quantity of my loans generally decreased as exams took precedent, I still wanted to read more and more of the library’s books. I did a rough calculation once with the result that I believe I could just about read every single one of the thousands of books in the school library if I could dedicate my lifetime to the task! The library is central to life at King’s and has made me passionate to learn about wider life beyond the classroom’s reach and developed my empathy. I greatly appreciate all the library’s efforts – be that on Twitter; reading recommendations; up-to-date displays; World Book Day arrangements; author visits or Fourth Form engagements. I hope I will be back to visit this lovely learning environment in years to come. Will Banner

Please see the Library Twitter feed for photos of all the activities that we have enjoyed throughout the year @KSWLibrary

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WRAITH WRAITH is a friendly and sociable club with lively and engaged groups of book lovers. This year most WRAITH members also attended a talk or workshop with our World Book Day author Chris Vick. The Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth members all read Girl. Boy. Sea. and were treated to a special signing session with Chris. Our Lower Remove, Upper Remove and Lower Sixth groups attended a dedicated WRAITH workshop, providing the dream audience for any author! We were also very proud of George Capell, Caitlin Rutter and Bryony Gillgrass, who interviewed Chris for The King’s Voice podcast. Lower Remove Lower Remove was full to bursting with Lower Fourth keen readers this year. We had some Lower Fourth WRAITH members have been WRAITH meetings really helped me open excellent meetings where we delved into wonderfully enthusiastic. They have read a up to new types of books such as murder Young Adult fiction, most memorably in wide variety of fantastic fiction, including and adventure, styles I would not have the form of a range of Meg Rosoff’s novels, detective novels in the form of Robin tried reading before. WRAITH also was just including What I Was and Picture Me Gone. Stevens’ wonderful murder mysteries fun; I was able to really talk about books I These sparked real interest and some very (read in preparation for her author talk) enjoyed (while being fortified by cakes). I insightful discussions. The students all and thought-provoking books on climate would definitely recommend WRAITH to enjoyed expanding their literary horizons change such as Swimming Against The people who enjoy reading. and sampling a variety of baked goods. Storm and The Dog-Runner. Our meetings Elizabeth Radford Mrs Walmsley were always lively and informative, with plenty of cake to keep us going. Upper Fourth This year, I have immensely enjoyed being a Mrs Walmsley Upper Fourth are a very keen, dedicated and member of WRAITH. I have learnt so much delightful group, with as many boys as girls. from the choice of the books that we have I have really enjoyed doing WRAITH this This year we enjoyed the themes of Teens read. My favourite book this year was Girl. year and have liked reading a wide range of with Powers and also detective and murder Boy. Sea. I absolutely loved the adventure different genres of books from a variety of mysteries. The group also loved reading Girl. and thrill, and I felt as if I was sitting with different authors. Also, I have really loved Boy. Sea. and meeting the author. the characters on the boat. The Chris Vick hearing about the experiences and stories visit was a brilliant event that I will cherish, that the visiting authors have told us. WRAITH this year has been great fun. We as we all got to share our ideas on how to WRAITH has been a fun and relaxing club all always look forward to finding out what write a plot for a story, and I even read my where we can chat and enjoy talking with books we might be reading this month. story out, which was very nice. our peers about what we have thought My favourite part of WRAITH was reading Riya Mayilvahanan about the books we have read. This can Chris Vick’s Girl. Boy. Sea. It was then super turn into a very eye-opening experience! I exciting to meet the author, hear him give a I have only just recently joined WRAITH hope to continue with WRAITH for many talk and have him sign our books. WRAITH but I have been warmly welcomed into years to come! unlocks opportunities you wouldn’t usually the community. I love being surrounded Bentley Lawrence have at school or anywhere else. by people that love books just as much Joseph Young as I do, and this club makes me feel more I loved WRAITH and it was really interesting motivated to read. talking about the books. My favourite I have enjoyed WRAITH this year. My WRAITH book was Top Marks For Murder, favourite book out of the ones that we have The workshop with author Chris Vick by Robin Stevens; it was still amazing read is I Am Number 4. I particularly enjoyed was extremely interesting. I went into the reading it for the second time. I also this one as I felt that I was being taken on workshop ready to learn and came out really liked Girl. Boy. Sea. and it was great the journey with them. I would definitely filled with motivation and inspiration to meeting Chris Vick and getting it signed. recommend the book and the series. write. I am looking forward to continuing It’s brilliant that it was shortlisted for the James Capell my journey with WRAITH and its members. Carnegie book award. Georgia Montgomery Samantha Capell I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of WRAITH in Upper Fourth. It has led me a Upper Remove wide range of books and different genres I I love our meetings with this fantastically may have not otherwise found. opinionated, well-read and very Edmund Roberts entertaining group. Inspired by dramatic political events, we kicked off the year reading some very plausible dystopias Night of the Party and The Circle. This was followed by our John Green author special, and finally the group read either Kook or Storm by Chris Vick and attended his World Book Day writing workshop. During my time with WRAITH, I’ve noticed it has encouraged me to read more than I thought I would, as we interact every term with our thoughts on each book. My favourite topic we had in terms of selecting books was LGBTQ+, as it made me happy that that genre of book is starting to become very mainstream and each book was interesting and a great experience. Mary Head 90

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Fifth Form This year we read a great selection of novels – Heartstream, The Girl Who Came Out of the Woods, Night of the Party, and more. But the most successful one must have been The Burning by Laura Bates, as, following our meeting, most of those who hadn’t yet read it chose it as their next book - recommendations between friends are powerful things! Mrs Capell I’ve really enjoyed Fifth Form WRAITH this year; my favourite books were One of Us Is Next and The Burning. Madeleine Hales I have enjoyed WRAITH a lot over the last year; it has been nice to be able to discuss good books with like-minded people. It has also provided me with genres of books which I would not have considered reading in the past. Nathan Fenby

Sixth Form We started the year with a selection of graphic novels. This was something new for most of us, although I particularly enjoyed revisiting Raymond Briggs’s When The Wind Blows. The variety of graphic novels now available, and the subject matters tackled, means there is something for everyone. As Christmas approached, we moved on to Festive Murder Mysteries. In the New Year we enjoyed a variety of classics, including some by the ‘Queen of Crime’ Agatha Christie, plus The Handmaid’s Tale and Frankenstein. It was sad that we were unable to have a proper send-off for our Upper Sixth, but we look forward to catching up with them in the future. I have thoroughly enjoyed my seven years in WRAITH and have some great memories, such as laughing uncontrollably with Dan and Philippa when listening to a very quiet book awards ceremony. Whilst numbers dwindled by the UR as certain individuals began to feel guilty about claiming the free cake without reading the books, the core members stayed true. We’ve read some cracking books in WRAITH over the years with thanks to Miss Jeffery, Mrs Haywood, Mrs Walmsley and Mrs Capell. A personal favourite of mine was the wonderful Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill. William Banner

WRAITH has been an instrumental part of my school life from Upper Fourth through to Upper Sixth. Whilst the enticement of free cake at every session may have been a crucial selling point initially, what made me stay was the warm, friendly atmosphere of the club (the cake is still nice too, of course). From being fairly quiet at the beginning, over the years I have learnt to love our group book discussions in which we can share opinions and laughs in a space where everyone’s contribution was always valued and appreciated. To pick a favourite book or genre over the years would be difficult, but in the past year it would have to be our ‘Ian McEwan’ term in which I read and greatly enjoyed his novel ‘Saturday’; this also introduced me to many of his other novels. I would like to say thank you on behalf of all the Upper Sixth, who have been involved in WRAITH over the years, to all the staff, especially Miss Jeffery, Mrs Haywood, Mrs Walmsley and Mrs Capell, for ordering piles upon piles of books for us and for the topnotch cakes, but most of all for making the club such fun, so enjoyable and accessible to all. These memories will stay with me for years to come, and I’m sure I will be visiting in the near future! Annie Park

Scuba Club Scuba Club has continued to grow this year, attracting one whole class of Lower Fourth students. Mrs. Gamble has gained enough dive experience to dive with the students and enjoyed helping them with their skill development. In 2019-20, 10 students had a weekly SSI training session with Lesley, a Master Dive instructor from Seastyle Diving, on a Tuesday evening. Pool training involved learning skills, signals and techniques, which were all tested by the Dive Master and her fellow instructor, Mike.

pool. This year we moved across to the SSI method of instruction and students completed their theory using a new online app-based training package with SSI. The training uses more visual and engaging activities which can be completed on a phone or tablet at your own pace – the students found this an exciting and entertaining way to learn their theory. Still very much a skillsbased course, we hope to see many more of King’s students giving this exciting sport a try once a return to Scuba diving is possible.

Students could all, by the end of their training, demonstrate that they can ascend and descend safely, equalize and maintain neutral buoyancy, flood, take off and even swim a width of the pool without their mask then replace and clear it. They practised drills such as: safety check their buddy’s gear before commencing a dive, remove and then get back into their BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) whilst in the water and how to “buddy breathe” underwater if their dive partner’s air runs out or fails when at depth.

The students were surprised to learn just how much application of the science they meet in their Physics, Chemistry and Biology lessons goes into understanding how Scuba diving works and is kept safe. We were delighted that all students passed their initial practical SSI Junior Dive training just before lockdown occurred. The next step is to go “Open Water” at a quarry in South Gloucestershire so they can fully qualify as Open Water Divers. Sadly because of the Coronavirus pandemic all Scuba diving is currently on hold and so this part of the qualification will have to wait until it is safe to dive again. ARG

Regular theory lessons back up the practical experiences the young divers gain in the

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King’s Worcester Mock Election On the 13th December 2019, I was elected as Prime Minister of the King’s School, Worcester. I had never held office, not even as member of the School Council. It was my first and only job in student politics. The campaign leading up to polling day was tough. My first job was to win the KSW Conservative Party leadership, which was the only contested position in the mock General Election. I entered long negotiations with Upper Remove student Salvador Kent, who also wanted the top job, arguing that my One Nation agenda and debating experience would stand a better chance in winning over the electorate. Initially he refused to get on board; however, after several hours of persuasion, I won him over by offering him the position of Leader of the KSW Conservatives in the Middle Years, a role very difficult for anyone to turn down. After winning the KSW Conservative leadership, I sat down with my Senior Adviser, Tom Angell, and Director of Communications, Alex Checkley, in order to assess our chances against the other candidates. We all knew from the beginning that our biggest threat was Upper Sixth student Theo Osborn, the Leader of the KSW Liberal Democrats. Initial polling by returning officer Charlie Mackintosh showed Theo was on track for a landslide in the Sixth Form, thanks to his pro-EU stance, which was proving extremely popular. Zoe Kimber, leader of the KSW Green Party, was also a threat in the Fourth Forms. Tom Angell had conducted a focus group with Lower Fourth students in which 75% of participants said climate change was their biggest concern. Taking all this into consideration, my team and I created our election strategy. The first element of our strategy was having a clear message. We wanted to run on a platform to “Get Brexit Done”, but also to make students aware that a vote for any party that wasn’t the Conservatives was a vote to punish private schools. Alex’s idea to run with the private schools line was genius. He knew that when push comes to shove students of the King’s School Worcester, a private school established in 1541, weren’t ready to vote for any party that would shut down or punish them in Government. This line virtually ended Leader of the KSW Labour Party Will Lloyd’s chances of winning enough support in a targeted area to win any constituencies. The Labour Party’s policy to remove private schools’ charitable status was something that haunted him throughout the two-week campaign.

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Will Lloyd is a statesman-like figure and a tough campaigner. I’m sure that in any other setting he would have done very well. The private schools line also hurt the KSW Liberal Democrats. Our party researchers found an article published by the Daily Mirror reporting on Layla Moran, the party’s education spokesperson, agreeing with Labour in removing private schools’ charitable status. Posters of the article were plastered around school and I spoke about it in my address to the school during one of the two election hustings. This really damaged Theo’s support throughout the school, with many students reconsidering who they’d vote for. As a result, I do fundamentally believe that without this argument I wouldn’t have been elected or gained the majority that I did. The second element of our strategy was adapting our policies to different demographics. From our focus groups and early discussions, we knew that having a clear message was important, but also that different year groups had different priorities. Upper Sixth student Harry Flockhart, the Leader of the KSW Brexit Party, was very good at understanding this. Putting his politics aside, his natural likeability and humour connected with all year groups and was a great addition to the campaign. We knew in order to achieve this we needed to expand our team and election infrastructure. As leader you can’t be everywhere at once, knock on every locker and meet every student. Bringing Lower Fourth student Bryony Gillgrass into the team as Leader of the Fourth Form KSW Conservatives was one of the best decisions Tom ever made. Her tireless commitment and insight helped us win constituencies that ultimately decided the balance. Salvador, initially my opponent but now my ally, was also working non-stop in the Removes to spread the Conservative message. This team, under the guidance

of Tom, Alex and myself, showed unity and was extremely effective. Our election campaign video featured all three leaders and Tom. The campaign video was my proudest achievement during the election campaign. It connected with voters, had the biggest impact and allowed our message to reach every corner of the school. Finally, the third element was to engage the students in the world of politics and current affairs. Ultimately, that was the aim of the Mock General Election. My goal was to promote the importance of politics in society, providing pupils with the opportunity to learn more about our democratic system. Whether that was giving out leaflets, our ‘Vote Conservative’ stickers or just explaining to students what things meant, it was always my goal. Politicians are not the masters of the people; we are the servants. My job as Leader of the KSW Conservative Party has always been and will always be to serve the people of this school. The results were close but, nonetheless, a Conservative victory. The Labour Party won zero seats, the Liberal Democrats won 26 seats, the Green Party won one seat, the Brexit Party won one seat and the Conservatives won 29 seats, earning us a majority. My party won seven of the nine seats in the Lower Sixth, School House was 100% blue, and we got the majority of seats in the Lower Fourth and Lower Remove. It felt amazing. I remember the moment I went up to thank Charlie, the Returning Officer. I looked out to the audience in the Cathedral and felt a great sense of achievement. However, I didn’t do it alone. Without my team and help from students it wouldn’t have been possible. It made me feel proud to be a King’s student, and proud to be their Prime Minister. Next job, the country! Will Hunt

MUN This academic year has been a busy one for the Model United Nations Society, with two conferences and lively debate in weekly sessions. Even during the school’s closure, they continued to welcome established and new members virtually, who debated and voted on a range of topics and ideas. In October, 14 students represented the UK and India at the annual MUN conference at Cheadle Hulme School in Manchester. There were around 20 other schools there, including a school from Madrid. The students participated in two days of debates in committees, discussing global issues such as the issue of Venezuela, drones, foreign interference in political campaigns, rights of prisoners and much more. Countless awards were won with Charlie Mackintosh, Zoe Kimber and Theo Osborn winning Best Delegate in their committees. In addition, George Capell and Annie Darwent were highly commended in their committees. Calum Muncaster, Will Lloyd and Will Hunt similarly were commended. The UK delegation also won Best Delegation overall. This was a historic moment for King’s and the first time they had ever won Best Delegation. Spurred on from the victory in October, they attended a second conference of the year in March at the 2020 Bath International Schools’ Model United Nations conference, hosted by Kingswood School, Bath. For some, including Upper Fourth student James Capell who was one of the youngest students at the entire event, this was their first ever conference; however, for many Upper Sixth students it

STEM Club was their last. King’s had three delegations within the competition, Russia, the Vatican City and Kenya, and enjoyed competing with around 25 other schools. A high standard of debate was maintained across the three days, with the Russian Delegation being highly commended overall and both Charlie Mackintosh and Will Hunt being awarded Outstanding Delegate in their respective committees. The conference in Bath was the last sense of Model United Nations as normal. However, despite the school closing due to COVID-19, MUN continued virtually throughout the lockdown. Members of MUN were able to debate weekly via Microsoft Teams. This was a huge success and although different, enabled the group to continue to see each other and talk about global crises and topics. They hope to continue virtual meetings this year. It is safe to say that all members of the Model UN Society have thoroughly enjoyed the year and debate. On behalf of all the members, a huge thank you to Mrs Shearburn for all her hard work and dedication; without her the team wouldn’t have been able to achieve all they have. Thank you! Will Hunt

STEM club runs once a week for students in the Lower Fourth. This club encompasses the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We experiment, investigate, explore, make, mess and mash-up all elements of Physics, Chemistry and Biology and we throw in the odd engineering problem as well. We have hosted a series of demonstrations, quizzes and hands-on activities throughout the year. This year our highlights have been the dissection of hearts and fish, constructing egg launcher models, investigating surface tension of bubbles and enjoying Bangs and Explosions. These experiments are very enjoyable for the students, but also aim to make them question what’s around them. In a new development, Esther Goode asked us to help her launch a new club early in the school year and with the help of Mr Ison, ECO club was born. We were looking to expand our eco-warrior credentials, so this was a great way to start the year. We investigated vegan eating, attempted a podcast, made some plans for the garden behind Number 12, set up bird feeding stations and even planted some seeds in up-cycled ecofriendly plant pots, handmade using pieces of rubbish. After the sudden lockdown due to COVID-19, Mrs Gamble took these home to her greenhouse and later planted them out in her garden to grow tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and chillies. Our aim is to engage, enthuse and ignite a passion for STEM in students at the start of their secondary education and to get them thinking about the enormous impact, importance and meaning these subjects have for us in our everyday lives. Eco club has now spun off into a club for Upper Fourth pupils in 2020-21, so all lower years get a chance to join in with science activities outside lessons. ARG

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Young Enterprise This year saw the formation of three new Young Enterprise Companies. This’n’That led by Will Hunt, Invictus led by Ellie Overfield and Baobab Box Co. led by Alex Checkley. The first event of the year was the King’s vs RGS Modus Cup rugby match. This was an opportunity for all the teams to gather some start-up capital through fundraising. A friendly social media rivalry between This’n’That and Baobab Box Co. saw their Instagram pages grow extremely quickly. These accounts were used to advertise their products and meant sales on the night were excellent. This’n’That offered glitter face paint in the school colours and Baobab Box Co. sold foam hands and flags with individual 1st XV players on them. The support provided by these products helped King’s win their title as Modus Cup Winners! Invictus decided the market for ‘Modus-Merch’ was saturated and instead sold personalised tea towels at the junior schools. Renovation of College Hall led to the unfortunate cancellation of the Christmas Fayre which is usually the first real selling opportunity for YE teams. This did, however, mean that the teams had extra time to develop and refine their final products. Baobab Box Co. created the ‘Baobab Box’, an eco-friendly gift box containing vanity products and their handmade ‘Baobab Bracelets’. For each bracelet sold, they planted a tree in Madagascar, making their product carbon negative. Invictus focussed on raising awareness for mental health in young adults with their line of positive-quote notebooks, mugs, and stress balls. Finally, This’n’That assembled ‘Cacti Terrariums’ using recycled goods and ensuring sustainability.

Boaobab Box Co.

Boaobab Box Co. award with the Mayor

At the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Spring Trade Fair, the teams got their first opportunity to sell to the public. This’n’That did extremely well selling all but a couple of their cacti. The Baobab Boxes from Baobab Box Co. sold rapidly, with many people buying multiple gifts for family and friends. Invictus’ stress balls were a huge hit, and their bright and colourful market stand drew lots of attention. At the end of the day awards were given out by the Mayor of Worcester. This’nThat won Best Product and Baobab Box Co. won Best Brand Image.

In the county finals the judges gave high praise to both teams with This’n’That winning Best Presentation and the Marketing award. Baobab Box Co. were named as the overall winners and progressed to the regional finals. Here, Baobab Box Co. faced the best of the WestMidlands. The judges gave huge praise to the company for their environmental targets and said they particularly enjoyed the presentation video, filmed in the style of a Skype call. Over the course of the year Baobab Box Co. were able to sell enough products and plant enough trees to offset over six tonnes of CO2!

The next stage of the competition process was the Company Report. Each company produced a ten-page report which covered their key goals, strategy and management plans and their financial results (including a detailed balance sheet). Normally this would have been followed by a short presentation in front of a panel of judges however, due to COVID-19, a ‘Presentation Video’ was submitted instead. These reports were judged, and awards given to the best companies for certain criteria. Baobab Box Co. won best presentation and best use of IT, Invictus won best marketing and This’n’That were, again, awarded best product. Both This’n’That and Baobab Box Co. were chosen to proceed to the county finals. Unfortunately, this was the end of the journey for Invictus.

Regrettably, Baobab Box Co. were beaten at this stage and did not progress further. The team who won the West Midlands Final went on to win overall Company of The Year UK, so Baobab had tough competition! Overall, this year’s Young Enterprise at King’s has been a massive success. Three companies did incredibly well and won the majority of the prizes in the region. The teams have grown a lot closer and many valuable skills have been learnt – all whilst benefiting our environment and society.

Charity The Charity Committee were sorry to have to cancel their annual Summer Party at Fort Royal School this year, due to the Coronavirus outbreak, but they still managed to squeeze in a significant number of fundraising and Charity events during this academic year. Money was raised for local and national breast cancer charities during Pink Day, and Green Day in March saw the Committee encouraging the Sixth Form to dress in blue and green and raise awareness of environmental issues as well as hundreds of pounds for environmental charities –

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most notably to support those affected by the Australian bushfires. Several events were held, again raising hundreds of pounds, with the support of the Music Department’s concert audiences, for Moeibius Research. Moebius Syndrome is an extremely rare congenital disorder, with only around 200 cases in the UK. The condition causes facial paralysis amongst other symptoms and sadly takes away the ability to smile. The highlight of the year for the Upper Sixth members of the Charity Committee

was the Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party, where the Upper Sixth, with several members of staff and all of the Lower Sixth Charity Committee members, entertained 120 older members of our local community. Christmas presents, a Christmas Show, Christmas Bingo, lunch and carols, were enjoyed by students and guests alike. All members of Lower and Upper Sixth are involved in the Charity work led by the Sixth Form Charity Committee, and we are looking forward to finding COVID-safe ways of continuing this work, in 2020-2021.

The King’s Voice Radio Report

With previous radio DJ experience, I joined King’s with the aim of setting up a studentpresented school radio station. The plan was for students to present daily radio shows that would be edited into podcasts and released online for students, staff, parents and the King’s community to enjoy. The podcasts would vary in content, with some shows being about news, politics and technology, with others being about sport, drama and music. I hoped help pupils to build confidence and enhance values of teamwork and responsibility as part of a new co-curricular venture, as well as having fun along the way. It would also be an opportunity for students to discuss the topics related to them. In October 2019, the Name the Station and Design the Logo competitions were launched, and The King’s Voice was born. A Twitter account @Kings_Voice and a Mixcloud account were also created to increase media engagement with the podcasts. On 17th January 2020 the radio station officially launched with special guest Louise Gwilliam (OV) being interviewed by Upper Fourth pupils Amy Smithson, Joseph Young, Edmund Roberts, Thomas Watson and James Capell. In the interview the pupils heard about her career in broadcast journalism and her work producing the Rugby Union Weekly podcast on 5 Live Sport. From then, different show-teams presented a 15-minute podcast every lunchtime on a two-week timetable. These

are edited and uploaded to our Twitter account and the Mixcloud App for everyone to listen to for free. Students from every year group in the school have been involved. Some love planning a show, while others enjoy presenting on air. We also have a fantastic marketing team of Lower Fourth pupils, Alex Jones and Oliver Rearden, who have made posters, an ‘On Air’ sign for Mr Pearson’s classroom, the home of the radio station, and radio jingles for students to use during their shows. Lower Fourth pupils have been involved in sport and drama shows, with Upper Fourth pupils involved in music and news shows. In the older years, students have been learning how to edit shows. The rock music show Riff Busters continued to produce shows during lock down, and Will Hunt and George Capell secured City Councillor and Former Labour Candidate, Lynn Denham, as a guest. Another interesting guest was author Chris Vick for World Book Day, where students interviewed him about his career, as well as the messages behind his books. This is what Joseph Young and Edmund Roberts had to say about the station: “For my show, I work with Tom Watson and Freddie Pugh to produce the Top Hits of the 2000s. We include a couple of games too: a song quiz and a music trivia quiz, which we love getting staff involved with. We have so far managed to produce five shows (one

of which was from home!) The hardest part of creating a radio show is probably the scriptwriting, but the easiest/most fun part is producing the show with my friends. We always have a laugh, and they are great to work with. Radio club has been a highlight of my school year, and it has been great to work with Mr. Pearson on larger projects, such as the launch with Louise Gwilliam.” Joseph Young “Every other week, the School News team put together a broadcast on current affairs alongside some of our favourite chosen songs. It is great fun being part of the team and I enjoy writing our bi-weekly broadcast. In our team are Connor Yates, Joseph James, James Capell and me. A particularly memorable experience was meeting Louise Gwilliam (a sports commentator and Old Vigornian) at the opening broadcast. She proved to be a very interesting individual to interview. I look forward to continuing my work with the radio station in the years ahead.” Edmund Roberts I have been really impressed with everyone who has been involved with The King’s Voice since its launch, and I really hope engagement in the station continues for many years ahead. All podcasts are available at mixcloud. com/TheKingsVoice/. TP

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Junior Ski Trip With winds gusting to dangerous levels and travel disrupted up and down the country, we had news, early on Saturday morning, that our flight the next day had been cancelled. It was looking likely that the trip might not go ahead, so we raced to find alternative travel arrangements. Eventually slopes for and snow, didn’t feel

flying out on Tuesday, we hit the four days of incredible sunshine and I think it’s fair to say that it much different to a usual King’s

Junior ski trip. With five hours skiing each day, there was a notable improvement in ability across the full range of skiers, beginners to those more advanced. The instruction was first class, and big distances were covered. This was the first time a King’s ski trip had been to Andorra and it is definitely somewhere we would like to return. The evenings were full and fun packed. We enjoyed our handmade artisan crepes so much that we went back to the same

restaurant for handmade burgers and burritos later in the week. We went tenpin bowling and had a pizza night in a local restaurant. No King’s ski trip is complete without Karaoke night. It was great to see one member in the party in particular, step up to reveal their inner showman! Our presentation evening finished off the trip, and there were some tired faces on the journey home, following the early morning departure. This wasn’t just a few days salvaged, it was a great trip!

Senior Ski Trip The Senior Ski Trip to France or, as it should be known, the King’s School Synchronised Skiing Extravaganza, was another memorable week in the mountains! During the week before Christmas, 25 students from the Fifth and Sixth form, accompanied by three staff, travelled to the village of Monetiers-les-Bains in the Serre Chevalier Valley. It’s a great time to take advantage of the quiet slopes and the location is an old King’s favourite. Whilst there were many highlights to the trip, an obvious focus was the skiing! It didn’t take too long for the Display Team to form (see the ski trip video). Whilst the quality of the Display Team wasn’t overwhelming at the beginning of the week, it was certainly turning heads by the end! We enjoyed incredible weather for much of our stay, though only a few

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extreme mountain types braved the final afternoon. Lunchtimes were spent wringing the melted snow and tears out of the ski clothing, which hadn’t lived up to the claims made on its labels! Despite the discomfort, we could only marvel at the beauty of the mountain amid the silent snowstorm. There were sunny days too, though it was sometimes hard to tell if this helped because of the focus on and the quality of the skiing! We took advantage of every minute and had a full and fun packed week. We spent one evening eating at a beautiful alpine pizza restaurant owned by one of our instructors and another eating local cuisine in a restaurant modelled on some old stables, complete with full-size and lifelike horses watching over us! We spent the final night enjoying raclette at a lovely restaurant

with views up the mountain. A particular favourite was the mystery tour which became a surprise Karaoke night! I can proudly say that the King’s School would’ve caused Simon Cowell many a headache that night! Joking apart, there were some seriously impressive voices amongst the student body. We also thoroughly enjoyed the tenpin bowling night, even if it soon became clear that certain members of the group had only bowled once before. We skated on an outdoor ice rink one evening and, since there was no holding back, the owner seemed relieved as we left the rink and climbed the steps back onto the bus for our return to the hotel. At least quiz night offered an opportunity for students and staff to shine! This was a week of many falls, much laughter, super company and great fun! CWSW

PASTORAL

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Bright House It has been a very busy year for our pupils in Bright House, both in school and beyond. Despite the challenges lockdown presented, I am proud to say, we finished the year with many achievements to celebrate. Bright continues to support and guide the pupils, ensuring that they are happy, enriched and have a rounded education. We aim to encourage pupils to be resilient, organised and independent. This year Bright has been particularly productive across all aspects of the curriculum and co-curricular activities. In terms of sport, the Lower Remove pupils have had the chance to try rowing and get out on the water for the first time. In the Upper Remove we have seen sporting success with Alicia Watts, Amy Hughes and Ava Crompton making their way to the U15 hockey regionals; a great accomplishment. George Tomlinson and Shrav Raajkumar represented the U15A team who has made it through to the Cup Final. In the Fifth Form there was success at Whitcliffe’s Small Boats Head for Alice Clarke, Cat Lucas, Georgia Du Pont and Felicity Quiney. The greatest sporting achievement for Bright, however, remains the House Tug of War victory, having competed against Castle and School House! Musically, too, this year also gave the opportunity for many Bright House students to try out Open Mic Nights, as well as take part in this year’s production of Made in Dagenham. It was a brilliant show and many pupils in the House were

involved, both on stage and behind the scenes. Other congratulations must also go to David Wills for his exceptional musical accompaniment to our House Song. Bright has continued to shine in the world of Politics, joining and leading active debates on current affairs such as Brexit, the government’s response to COVID-19 and of course the General Election – which was contested as hotly in school as it was in the Houses of Parliament! George Capell was heavily involved in the success of the Liberal Democrats’ campaign! During the pandemic lockdown, Toby Weymouth used his spare time to work on a detachable cooling device for key workers’ PPE visors. This consists of a 3D printed housing and adapted mini-computer fans to run from a mobile portable charger. The initiative is to share the designs and instructions across the UK so people can produce these and donate them to their local carers, nurses, delivery drivers, shop workers. As our wonderful Upper Sixth students lost their chance for a proper farewell, I’d like to focus a little more on their successes this year. Firstly, congratulations to Tom Otley and George Monce who had key roles in Made in Dagenham whilst also being in the 1st XV rugby team: excellent performances in both. Sport continues to be a theme in the U6 with Will Caddick playing football for the Worcester City under 21s and Matt Lewis touring Inter

Milan’s facilities to better his skills. Bright talent is not just on the sports pitch; Tom Eaton, Tom Otley and Emily Havercroft have worked hard carrying out their Monitor duties and supporting the School. All the Upper Sixth delivered an outstanding annual Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party, where Will Banner performed his outstanding group ballroom routine. While individual achievements have been a notable feature of the past year, these achievements do not fully represent the commitment or spirit that Bright House has put into all they do. Throughout our period in lockdown many showed off their baking skills in the widely celebrated Diversity Week Bake Off as well as the School’s Worcester to Worcester Challenge. We were also very fortunate to welcome our guest speaker, Crista Cullen, MBE, a triple Olympian representing Great Britain hockey at the Beijing, London and Rio Olympic Games, culminating in 197 representative caps for England and Great Britain. Crista joined us to share a little about her story of failure, opportunity and grasping the moment. A special thank-you to our leaving Heads of Houses, George Monce, Lily Stringer and our Deputy Heads of House, William Caddick and Hannah Weaver, for your outstanding support this year. RAE

Castle House Although this year has provided a series of challenges for all members of the King’s community, Castle House has maintained its jovial and inspiring attitude towards school life. Even during the lockdown period, our sense of family was maintained. The Lower Sixth had almost daily virtual meetings and the whole House met once a week; either to do a Kahoot on some random topic, a quiz on where certain objects were found around the school grounds or a much-needed talk on topics of significance such as, LGBTQ+, watersaving and the Black Lives Matter Movement. The year started off with the annual House Song Competition, with Castle House selecting The Final Countdown by Europe. As is tradition, however, the Head of Castle, Mr Deichen, decided to add a little bit of spice, applying his own unique interpretation to the piece. The end result amounted to a unique version of the song featuring kazoos during the chorus. The comical impact not 98

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only made this one of the best House Song experiences for members of Castle, but earned us second place in the competition. Whether Castle’s position on the podium was the outcome of talented singing or the sheer novelty factor, remains a debate. Before the COVID-19 lockdown we always had a variety of morning activities. The most memorable of these are: distance shoe flinging and paper airplane dodgeball, reflecting the creative attitude of Mr Deichen. Walking into the Sports Hall in the morning and being handed a pair of ski goggles at the entrance without the faintest idea of what was to come, remains an unforgettable experience to anyone involved. Another new morning activity consisted of circus skills. Tackling juggling and plate spinning so early in the morning could potentially represent the feeling of revising for exams during these weird times. As a House we also enjoyed participating

in Inter-house sports competitions both before and during the lockdown, with the Virtual Sports Day being a huge highlight. Our annual film night took place in March. Each year group had to submit a video of them doing their interpretation of Harlem Shake. The various year groups had very different takes on the task with the Upper Remove dancing in the Library, the Fifth Form making use of the gym equipment and the Lower Sixth dressing up in costumes in the Theatre. All of these videos were shown before the film in a comical collaboration. Overall, this year has been a rollercoaster of emotions and uncertainty, but as a House we tried to make the best out of everything. We would like to wish the former Heads of House, Emily Wood and Anna Kimberly, as well as all former members of Castle House, all the best for their future and careers to come. Lani Overfield

Chappel House Although 2020 has been a year like no other, Chappel House has remained united, strong-willed and full of fun. This year of two halves has witnessed extraordinary resilience from our pupils; something that has enabled them to focus on their studies, whilst continuing to support and involve themselves in our ever-strong House. In September our Sixth Form Afternoon Tea really did set a precedent for the year. It was a complete delight to witness Chappel Upper and Lower Sixth students laughing, chatting and getting to know each other as they bonded over delicious home bakes and numerous cups of tea. The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful, even during the rather competitive team games. Early in the year our attention was drawn to what would be necessary to retain the House Song Competition trophy! Under the excellent leadership of our conductor, Grace Gumbley, and talented musicians, we once again stormed to victory with Elton John’s I’m Still Standing. This year, due to Covid restrictions, the competition has been postponed but, once it is reinstated, Chappel will certainly be going for the hat-trick! Competitions always play a role in House and I would like to thank all of those who participated in other competitions such as the Inter-house Quiz and Language Challenge, no matter what the results were. Despite our charity work being curtailed due to lockdown, we still managed to make a huge difference to those causes close to our hearts. The annual Chappel House Quiz, organised and run by the Lower Sixth, raised

a whopping £455 through ticket sales, a raffle and kind and generous donations. The MS Society were so grateful to receive these funds, especially during these unforeseen times. The House also took park in Operation Christmas Child by filling shoe boxes to the brim with goodies and Christmas cheer; St Paul’s Hostel were very happy to receive them. This year our House Christmas Party seemed to be bigger and better than ever with pizza, fizzy pop and nibbles. The games were great fun, if rather competitive, and seeing the whole House playing musical chairs was a sight to behold. None of these events would have been possible without Chappel House Year Group Tutors, all of whom always give full support to our youngsters and the House. This was never more so than during the lockdown period where we continued with a full schedule during House Time. Every morning Chappel tutors ensured they were charged up and ready for school be it through music, quizzes, debates or assemblies. We held weekly Chappel Good News assemblies, where the pupils sent in photographs and news of what they had been up to;

Chappel House 2020

from making PPE for key workers through to running a virtual marathon - it really was a highlight of the year! Chappel also participated in the Remote Sports Day, coming third overall with our own Bella Woodcock being awarded Lower Sixth Victrix Ludorum. The Diversity Week Bake Off was also hugely popular with Sophie Lloyd crowned Chappel’s winner with her cakes of varied shapes, sizes and colour – all of which were delicious! We don’t know what the ‘new normal’ will look like, but I am confident Chappel House will prosper regardless of any challenges that might come their way! NJS

Choir House Choir House started the academic year by saying goodbye to Mr Gilbert, who moved on to become House Tutor of School House, and welcomed a new Year Group Tutor, Mr Haywood, who arrived on an undisclosed transfer fee from Bright House. It was excellent to see all the year groups mixing from a very early stage in the year and our House Song, although not ultimately successful, deserved credit for its musicality (an item on the House Development Plan after last year’s experiment with pure volume), and the enthusiasm in which all pupils approached practices. We were ably led by the vigorous conducting style of Barrett Viljoen with some excellent piano from Ollie Annable. We continued to involve pupils in mixed

year groups in a wide variety of House activities, and the commitment and attitude shown by the girls in the House Hockey Competition was exemplary. Jemima Moss and Emily Murray led from the front as Heads of House and their enthusiasm and compassion was a delight to see. The pandemic cruelly curtailed many other House competitions, although the pupils showed excellent spirit in the remote Sports Day and the Diversity Bake Off Competition. I must pay credit to all the pupils and staff in the House for adapting so quickly to remote learning and making such good progress.

tutor group over the last two years. We do, however, welcome Mr Hooper to the House for the new academic year. Finally, I must say a special word about the leaving Upper Sixth. I know that you were robbed of many of the rites of passage due to you in the final term, but the attitude that you displayed was befitting of our wonderful community. You really did move Mr Maund and me to tears on the day of the lockdown with the hastily arranged leaver’s breakfast; we will give you a proper Choir House send off at some point in the future. Our very best wishes to you all as you embark on the next stage of your lives. RJJ

Mr Owen left in July and I would like to pay tribute to the way in which he inspired his

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Creighton House Despite it being a disparate year, Creighton has continued to thrive, showing their House pride and all-round positivity. As always, the first House event on the agenda was the House Song Competition. We decided on Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. Even with an energetic performance, a dubious looking Freddie Mercury impersonator and some rhythmic harmonies, we didn’t make it through to perform on the second night. Nevertheless, we really did have such a good time! We thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the House Hockey Competition. We competed well and progressed through our initial matches. A special mention must go to Ellie Overfield for her excellent performance. As the Autumn Term continued the Upper

Sixth went from strength to strength. While they felt the pressure of their final year, success was seen constantly as university offers rolled in. A particular congratulations to our Head of House, Niamh Peckston, who is off to study Midwifery at the University of York, and to Charlie Mackintosh who joins Oxford University to study PPE. In late March we were sent home to isolate and learn online. Creighton, however, continued to have its weekly assemblies. In addition to these, pupils had daily meetings with their Year Group Tutors, allowing everyone to catch up and give their thoughts and opinions on the online lessons, and how they were managing at home. During this time the PE staff also sent out weekly fitness tests for each House to take part in and we had record numbers of people completing 5km runs!

We enjoyed taking part in the various school events which took place during lockdown. Unfortunately Sports Day could only take place at home this year, with events such as wall jumps. This was a fun and unique way of taking part in a competition for the House and with Mr. Gillgrass in Creighton - this was no problem! We also loved the Diversity Week Bake Off and were all amazed by Georgia Montgomery’s rainbow cake! Sadly, due to the epidemic, our favourite activities such as the Lower Remove Camp, the House Curry Night and the end of school quiz were cancelled. We hope that these activities can take place later on this new school year, and allow Creighton to win our second piece of silverware. Grace Tivnan and Edward Thrush

Kittermaster House Right from the start of the year Kittermaster House demonstrated their sparkle and this was evident at both the Lower Remove and Lower Sixth activity days. Here, pupils enjoyed a variety of team building activities and spent time bonding as a team. It was great to see how quickly they tackled problems and how well they worked together. The first challenge we faced together was the iconic House Song Competition. Although we did not score a podium place, we thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsals and the opportunity to perform I Want It That Way, the Backstreet Boys classic. Our performing arts dynamic extended beyond this and was most clearly illustrated during

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a number of fantastic performances at Open Mic Nights. In addition, the senior production of Made in Dagenham had Kittermaster representation from almost every year group! In our House time, we enjoyed activities ranging from quizzes and topical debates to mini competitions in the Sports Hall. Each game was played with great competitive spirit and we found this naturally brought pupils from different year groups together epitomising our cohesion, something we take great pride in. The diversity of our teamwork proved valuable as it also enabled the success of the Kittermaster Teddy Bear Appeal. This was anchored by our Lower Sixth and involved sending

teddy bears to the Oncology Ward at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The tragic COVID-19 pandemic presented a Summer Term of strange, almost surreal, circumstances. We managed to achieve runners up in the House Marathon Competition and the fact that we had, overall, the most participants on the School’s improvised Sports Day, reflects the determined attitude of our House. Although the school year did not end the way any of us planned, we can reflect on another successful and happy year as a House. We look forward to seeing each other again soon. Shaiyan Siddiqui and Naomi Marsden

Oswald House Every year Oswald students show their eagerness no matter what the task, and this year has been no different. We started in October with the House Song Competition. Our Upper Sixth students chose I’m a Believer by The Monkees in the hope that it would lead us to victory. Although first place wasn’t achieved, the House’s musical talent did not go unnoticed, as Riya came first for her solo in the musical theatre round. It is not just musical talent where Oswald shines. This year the House has been successful in various sports. In netball, we saw Poppy Sawyer and Emily Diaz (captain) become county champions for the Under 16s, while in the Under 14s Megan Sweeney and Francesca Sly reached the regional finals. Similar success was seen in the Rugby; Modus saw Louis Hira, Jack Bullock, and Matt Doughty put in great performances. Furthermore, at the Indoor

Rowing Championships in the Autumn term Maple Unwin won both gold and silver medals. There must also be an honorable mention to Oswald’s effort in the interhouse tug of war competitions. These filled many mornings with determination and teamwork and resulted in victory against the likes of Chappel, School and Castle.

Geary and the Upper Sixth much earlier than expected. Mr. Geary, who served 18 years as a Year Group Tutor as well as being Head of Chemistry, has been an invaluable member of the House. His admirable personality and willingness to offer guidance and support to all pupils will be missed by everyone.

Members of Oswald House have also been busy in the Drama Department. The Upper Remove displayed their talent in the production of Teechers and the Fifth Form performed outstandingly in their drama practical exam. Most notably, however, Made in Dagenham, the School’s senior production, saw more than a dozen Oswald students showing their skills, in both the cast and the band.

This year’s Upper Sixth proved to be great role models for the whole House, particularly Heads of House Nancy Marsh and Emily Warner. Amongst the individuals leaving school, a plethora of offers from Medical and Veterinary to English Literature courses have highlighted the success of this year group, with Bronnie Edwards achieving a place at Oxford. We wish them good luck for prosperous futures and a well done for the hard work and determination in both their academic studies alongside their co-curricular interests! Josh Matthews, Ben Tyson and Jack Bullock

Amid all of the turbulence that came with the pandemic, it was also with great sadness that we said goodbye to both Mr.

School House This academic year saw various changes to School House, including a new House Tutor, Mr Gilbert, as well as many memorable moments which will remain with us for a long time. Following in the footsteps of the wonderful Esme and Jia Jie, Grace Williams and Alex Lowe took up the positions of Heads of House. Despite all the challenges they were presented with, both Grace and Alex view their time as Heads of House as enjoyable and it feel it has been a privilege to have spent time with such an amazing group of people. The first major event to face us was the infamous House Song Competition. After heated debates and frequent changes in song choice, we eventually landed on The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book; this was destined to become our musical downfall. Despite the best efforts of the Upper Sixth, we were – to put it politely – completely crushed by the competition. Whilst rather shambolic and muddled, our performance provided plenty of laughter for the months to come.

School House also participated in many of the inter-house sporting events. A notable feat from this year was when a mixed team was deployed for the Removes Hockey Tournament. The team consisted of Cole Evans, Ed Kerton, Georgie Thorpe, Freya Davis, Milly Carter, Izzy Mackie and Ned Meredith – all of whom played extremely well. Whilst not a House event, it is also noteworthy that several School House members performed brilliantly in the Challenge Cup football match and the Modus Cup, with Head of House Alex Lowe featuring in both matches. Despite the lockdown interrupting the final term of sporting excellence, we still managed to prevail in the House Marathon Competition. Not only did we take the prize for the fastest house, but also for the most participants! As part of their final year together, as well as to relieve the stress of their then fastapproaching exams, the Upper Sixth took a trip to the escape rooms early in the Spring term. The group split into small teams and each were assigned a room, with themes such as Alice in Wonderland. It was a welcome

experience which allowed them to both bond but also to forget the looming examinations. Despite the current circumstances, each member of our Upper Sixth has worked incredibly hard to solidify their futures, and they should be so proud of themselves. The House wishes them the best of luck as they begin a new chapter in their lives. It is also important to thank the staff members who have been so wonderful this year. Their leadership and support facilitated everything we have achieved this year, and nothing mentioned here could have happened without them. Many thanks go to Mr Gilbert, Mrs Darby, Dr Parkin, Mr Davis and Mrs Bradley! Grace Williams

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Wulstan House With David Haddock, a stalwart in the House for over 16 years, leaving for new pastures, Wulstan were in need of a new tutor. With his pleasant demeanour and dry humour, Dr Haddock was a calming presence who was beloved by his tutor group and left big shoes to fill. Mr Greenall was very popular singing with the troops and took little time to introduce a new House welcome and the famous blue beanbag! Mr Greenall brought a winning smile and infectious energy to the house, even on cold wintry mornings. Jack Cope and Grace Mosely complemented each other brilliantly as Heads of House; they were constantly positive, extremely resourceful, totally reliable, fun-loving and always prepared to help out at short notice. They organised many excellent whole House and

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cross year group activities in the mornings, but without doubt the most memorable of the year was the great dance extravaganza: 78 students and six members of staff trying to follow the complex moves to Rasputin on the big screen was something to behold! Whilst COVID-19 made an encore impossible, and sadly decimated the end of year plans of our leaving Upper Sixth, the House staff put an enormous amount of effort into the online activities we participated in on Teams and it was great to see our students matching this with their own enthusiasm, commitment and interest. Alongside our Heads of House, the rest of the Upper Sixth were a great example to the rest of the students, with Head of School Hamish Stigant in particular showing great confidence and willingness to get involved in a wide range of activities.

As usual the first major competition of term was the House song. Holly Jennings quickly gained the confidence and respect of her â&#x20AC;&#x153;variedâ&#x20AC;? team and her practice sessions were great fun, with great enthusiasm shown by Year Group Tutors, Mrs Yates and Mr Blakemore. Our performance on the day was top notch, with all contributing to the best of their ability but the judge was clearly looking for something of a less musical nature. Comprehensively winning the hockey competition certainly softened this blow and it was great to see so many talented Removes on the field; on the strength of this win Immy Gilgrass was awarded a place at a top American college! MCP

KING’S HAWFORD

This year, more than any other, King’s Hawford has shown how a real school community can successfully pull together with incredible results. Pupils, parents and children working as one in the face of adversity, demonstrating the true ‘Hawford Spirit’ and showing a deep understanding of the essence of Hawford. Our pupils were brave, unerringly committed and built incredible independent learning skills. Parents showed patience, resilience and creativity, whilst our teaching staff simply showed what true passion and dedication can achieve. We are all incredibly proud to be part of a truly remarkable school. The Vigornian

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Academic Success

Staff

The Arts

We were once again delighted with the determined and positive approach taken by the Year 6 children in the run up to the King’s Senior School entrance exams. On the day, we were impressed with their calm focus and determination; the children worked hard and performed to the very best of their abilities. There were a number of impressive scores and all Hawford pupils were offered places at King’s Senior. Academic scholarships and exhibitions were awarded to Millie Goldby, Jennifer Kerton and Joseph Smith. Allrounder awards were given to Jack Fletcher, Ben Eost and Harriet Watts. We were also pleased to see three Music scholarships and exhibitions awarded to Thomas Rawnsley, Elsie- Rose Lyons and Ollie Mason. ElsieRose Lyons (Drama) and Alexander Higgs (Academic) were also offered scholarships at The Royal Grammar School.

At the end of the Summer Term, Hawford bid a very fond farewell to Laura Baxter, Deputy Head (School Management), who has been at the core of school life for 22 years. She will be greatly missed. Laura’s retirement brought about two new additions to the Senior Leadership Team with Lorne Stigant appointed as Assistant Head for the next academic year and Richard Cook (Digital Strategy and Computing Co-ordinator) joining the SLT, reflecting the importance of digital strategy at this moment in time. In the Early Years, Stefanie Danks was appointed Kindergarten 1 Coordinator from September 2020, succeeding Abi Jeavons.

Dance at King’s Hawford is a fundamental element of the curriculum and a fun and energetic part of the school week. The annual ‘Dance Showcase’ was once again a real success and greatly enjoyed by all, involving every child in Years 3 to 6 and some brave teachers too. The theme of ‘Emotions’ gave inspiration to a wide range of hits such as The Witch Doctor, I Don’t Care, Sweet but Psycho and Can’t Stop the Feeling. The children really enjoyed getting dressed up with some fantastic costumes, and the Hawford hair and make-up team really went to town creating some memorable looks for the evening. A great new venture that has been very well received this academic year has been the mini ‘Day of Dance’ events held each term for Pre-Prep, who have learnt routines and performed a show in one day.

Academic progress continues to be strong at Hawford. Analysis of data in English and Maths shows that almost all of the children are at or above national age-related expectations. Reading for enjoyment continues to thrive, with the Library Bus, ‘mystery readers’ and timetabled sessions playing a key part in keeping this at the forefront of an education at Hawford. This year’s objective to boost vocabulary acquisition has precipitated initiatives such as vocabulary boards, word wagons and ‘Word of the Day’ activities, as well as developing subject specific language as part of our medium-term planning in all subject areas. Our pupils’ engagement in writing and storytelling was evidenced, once again, in the Worcestershire LitFest Young Writers Competition 2019, with Hawford children taking the first three places in the Primary Schools section. Another of our key areas of focus has been the development of higher order thinking skills. This has been most evident in our implementation of the mastery approach in Maths but are as likely to be demonstrated in the analysis of artefacts and evidence in Humanities lessons; debating in English lessons; team building in outdoor education; and problem solving in Science and Design and Technology. One of our main objectives as we move forward is to look at ways in which we can embed environmental sustainability into the curriculum and our activities programmes. For such an important issue, we feel that it is crucial to give the children more opportunities to learn about, as well as tackle, the issues that are going to influence their future. 104

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Other departures saw Jimmy Dewhirst leave after stepping in to guide Year 1 through a period of maternity leave. We were also delighted to welcome both back Anna Leatherdale and Jo Rand to the classroom after periods of maternity leave that saw three new additions to the Hawford family.

Music also continues to thrive with the future looking bright in terms of instrumental teaching. At the start

Sports Sport has continued to play an integral part in the school life at King’s Hawford throughout the 2019-20 year. We are immensely proud of our children’s successes in sport, whether that be a team gaining qualification to national finals or simply an individual discovering a newfound enjoyment and enthusiasm for a particular activity. The King’s Hawford inter-house sporting events are also very popular and enjoyable occasions for all involved and have ranged from house cross country, swimming, rugby, hockey, football, netball, cricket and rounders, to tug of war and pancake races. Girls’ Games continues to be successful at Hawford producing some excellent results. The hockey term saw some amazing achievements from all teams. Our Under 11 A team have enjoyed great success, scoring goals freely and performed well at the regional IAPS Hockey Tournament. Further down the school children worked hard to improve skills and showed creativity and determination in winning the majority of their fixtures. It was particularly good to see the Year 3 girls showing off an array of newly acquired skills in a number of festivals. Netball continues to be a strong sport for Hawford; the Year 6 girls continuing to

show their talent and playing incredibly well at Cheltenham in the IAPS Netball Regional Tournament, finishing third in the plate competition. Looking at the development of the Year 3, 4 and 5 teams it is clear that Hawford netball has an exciting few years ahead. It would have been lovely to see the girls have the opportunity to build on their excellent start to cricket, which had been introduced in Summer 2019. Similarly, the recently established girls’ football team were unable to display their skills at the IAPS Tournament, at Repton, when it fell victim to the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite this, the girls did manage to compete in a number of local football fixtures, enjoying success and a great deal of enjoyment. Despite the issues faced this year, with games being affected by adverse weather and then the onset of COVID-19 the Boys’ Games Department at Hawford remained buoyant and extremely successful. They have continued to push themselves to compete against much larger schools, particularly in winter sports, and we hope to continue this in the foreseeable future. The 2019 rugby season did not disappoint. A new coaching philosophy giving the boys, in all years, a lot more freedom and opportunity to communicate, paid dividends. The Under 11s had a fabulous season, winning the vast majority of their games and playing some scintillating rugby in the second half of the season. They retained The Elms 7s title,

of 2020, there were 151 music lessons held weekly in school and 14 pupils having external music tuition. Most of these continued via Zoom lessons over the period of the school closure. This is testament to the team spirit within the music department. The Senior Choir (Years 5 and 6) continues to be popular with both boys and girls, as does the Junior Choir (Years 3 and 4). Having won the prestigious Cheltenham Festival for Performing Arts in 2019, the Senior Choir were, unfortunately, prevented from defending their title by lockdown. The annual St. Richard’s Hospice ‘Lights of Love’ service in Worcester Cathedral is a special occasion and we were privileged to be invited again to perform in November. The Senior Choir sang beautifully and were exemplary in their representation of the school on this sensitive and austere occasion. The Worcester Competitive Arts Festival

were named amongst the top four teams at the Warwick Junior School 7s and, on their first trip to the prestigious Harrison Cup Invitational at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, were named best team in their pool. Boys lower down the school were simply outstanding: the Under 10s played some powerful rugby, losing only one fixture; our under 9s are blessed with some fantastic ball handlers and pace all over the field; whilst the Under 8s took to tag rugby quickly and will be a match for anybody as they move through the school. On the football field, this year’s ISFA

is always a major event in the school year for our musicians. In March 2020 King’s Hawford Orchestra entered the 10 and Under Orchestra or Band Class Cup, winning the class for the eighth consecutive year. Due to changes in the festival categories Jazz Group were only able to enter the 16 and Under Jazz Ensemble Class and were ecstatic to win. We were pleased to see excellent results being recorded by those entering the Festival, with the Guitar Group being awarded first place again for the fourth consecutive year.

eve of Lockdown. Informal and Charity Concerts, alongside the Christingle and Carol services, again displayed Hawford’s musical prowess to the full. Nothing screams “Hawford” quite like one of our themed day concerts and following the success of the 2018 ‘Roy Orbison Day’, in November 2019 we held a groovy 1960s themed charity concert. This featured every Prep class performing songs from the swinging sixties, ensemble items from the Senior and Junior Choirs, the Jazz and Brass Groups and staff solo and group numbers.

Throughout the year, and virtually through the lockdown period, our ensembles: Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Guitar Group, Electric Guitar Group, Jazz Group, Brass Group and Beginner Strings Group, have continued to excel and entertain. Nativities for Year 1 and 2 and Reception and Kindergarten were as heart-warming as ever and the Year 3 and 4 production ‘Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits’ was a mystical delight, filmed for parents to enjoy on the

boys hit the ground running and achieved some outstanding results locally including winning the Matty Thacker Cup in January. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak cut short a potentially very successful season and we were unable to compete in the ISFA Regional Competition or the Kings Hawford Colts Tournament. The Year 5 and Year 4 boys’ teams performed extremely well throughout the term, again dominating local opposition but also making outstanding progress across all ability and experience levels. The Year 3 boys equally have some talented footballers and it will be great to see them develop over the coming years.

Swimming at King’s Hawford remains strong through our regular swimming lessons. We have a number of very capable young swimmers and this was displayed at the IAPS swimming regional qualifying event at King Henry VIII School, Coventry in February. Athletics also continues to be a hugely popular sport amongst the children. Our successes at regional and national level over recent years have been outstanding. We are also blessed with a number of talented tennis players and, in Hayden Sarfo, have a golfer performing on a world stage within his age group.

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Charitable Fundraising As the 2018-19 school year drew to a close, Tim Keyes, former Headmaster of King’s School Worcester and John Walton, former Deputy of King’s St Alban’s, visited King’s Hawford with Rajendra Pant and spoke to the children about the Himalayan Trust UK and in particular the organisation’s work with the people of the remote mountainous region of North East Nepal. Moved by the needs of this community for ongoing support and the need for all children to have a nutritious meal, plans were soon put in place to adopt this charity for the following academic year. John became a regular visitor to school during the Autumn and, with his wife Angela, came appropriately attired for our first event - the 1960s themed Charity Concert, which raised £1,134.76. Further events that term included the sale of Toffee Apples on Bonfire Night and a Christmas Themed Cake Sale. The

Charity Day in February raised an amazing £825 and £123.95 was raised through the House Bake-Off Sale, so by the end of the Spring Term the total stood at just over £2,400. Unfortunately, a Nepalese Supper and Quiz Night hosted by Tim and John plus, proceeds from the children’s stalls at the May Fete and the ever-popular end of term Ice Cream Sales were thwarted by the pandemic and fundraising was brought to a premature end. In the Autumn, the sale of fresh produce from the Harvest Festival raised close to £100 for the Salvation Army and a group of children from Years 5 and 6 helped to deliver 587.77Kg of food items to the Worcester Food Bank, spending the morning with volunteers learning more about this invaluable local service. As always, we supported the annual Poppy Appeal which

Parents’ Association

Life in Lockdown

Looking back to the start of the Autumn 2019 term, parental support both on the PA and subsequently, at PA events including the ‘Welcome Home Hawford’ day, the ‘Fireworks Spooktacular’ and the Christmas Fayre were tremendous, harnessing the diverse skill-set available within our community. Events planned for the back end of the school year could not take place as lockdown hit, however, the PA promoted video “Lockdown Memory Lane” saw over 40 contributions from Hawford families.

Lockdown, whilst putting pay to the colourful programme of teaching, fixtures and events that fill life at Hawford in the Spring and Summer Terms, afforded us the opportunity to demonstrate the qualities that lie at the very heart of the school. Resilience, creativity, a love of learning and unerring sense of community were at the heart of our response to the global crisis. With the school in lockdown and lessons being delivered remotely, the quality of education remained strong. The teachers, pupils and parents quickly developed IT skills with the introduction of two new platforms, Zoom and Showbie, for the delivery of online lessons. 2,200 online lessons were taught during lockdown, 1,400 pieces of art produced and 900 individual LAMDA, music and dance sessions delivered remotely. Teachers worked closely with parents to ensure the lockdown experience was a positive one and a Summer Term survey showed that 98% of children in KS2 engaged positively

Other events have included Bags to School collections, the birthday calendar and the sale of Christmas cards. The nearly new uniform sales continued to prove invaluable and popular. Over the past year the PA has purchased over £20,000 worth of items to support the school, including the new play equipment, the tipi extension and Kindergarten courtyard play items.

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raised just over £300 whilst the collection, following our Carol Service at St. Andrew’s, Ombersley, raised £439.51 towards the repair of the East Window. We also held a special cake in the Autumn Term sale for Oscar Saxelby-Lee which raised £501.81. Finally, The Mike Tindall Dinner in February, held at the Worcester Rugby Club, proved to be an immensely popular event and raised an incredible £25,000 for St. Richard’s Hospice.

with the online learning programme. As well as the academic focus, the essence of Hawford was not lost during this difficult time. Assemblies, weekly challenges (in wich over 120 children took part), form times and parental meetings maintained the community spirit that is such a large part of our school life and proved as strong as ever. Regular positive feedback from parents made long hours and heavy workloads for teachers much easier – “Hawford teachers have not only displayed professionalism but also love and concern for the children. This is what makes Hawford so special”. We were delighted to be in a position to offer Key Worker care to pupils from Hawford, St. Albans, King’s Senior and other local schools during lockdown and have been one of only a handful of schools in Worcestershire to be able to open the school to all pupils for the last two weeks of the Summer Term. Lorne Stigant

KING’S ST ALBAN’S

This past academic year has been a challenging, interesting and ultimately successful year for King’s St Alban’s. There remains a consistent and very strong staff team and the feeling of a school passionate about pastoral care and happy children prevails. Visitors continue to comment on the confidence of our children, their smiles and the quiet, purposeful nature of the site during lesson times. Lockdown and Remote Learning Mrs Duke, typically astute and with remarkable foresight, left us in December 2019. What did she know? As we all know, March 2020 saw the most unforeseen, dynamic and testing times for schools and their leaders as, in a flash, we went from normal service to remote learning. And we even made this change remotely. Teaching has changed a lot in the last decade but exercise books, shared resources, ‘in the room’ teaching and regular assessment (with actual conversations!) are the staple diet of all teachers. To go from this to a remote timetable, delivered from the teachers’ homes, in three weeks was genuinely amazing. Our younger children grew used to a platform called Class Dojo and Showbie was the platform we chose for Years 3 to 6. Children became accustomed to video lessons, asking questions by typing, producing work which was marked

electronically and so much more. The site was closed to everyone (except Mr Chapman) as key worker children moved to King’s Hawford. Children enjoyed Celebration Assemblies, other gatherings and form periods on Teams. Check in phone calls were regular and wellreceived and Informal Concerts virtual. We even managed a Virtual Speech Day with readings and musical performances delivered by Year 6 children from their lounges. Mr Chapman ‘chaired’ it from the school library and Mrs Beauchamp managed the technology with aplomb. By June, we had Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 in plus the key worker children back from Hawford, with over 95% returning immediately. Eight ‘bubbles’ were carefully roomed and kept well apart. Lessons were still on Showbie. ‘It was school, Jim, but not as we know it.’ The children rose to the occasion magnificently, showing maturity beyond their years.

Throughout this most challenging and bizarre term, the school remained resolutely strong. With excellent support from parents - even the most impressive remote learning needs substantial parental support for most children under 11 - an amazing amount of work, progress and learning took place. Certainly, the focus on Maths and English in a reduced timetable did our children little harm from an academic standpoint. The lack of ‘proper school’ was tougher on an emotional level. The staff at King’s St Alban’s were amazing throughout, some managing live lessons whilst bouncing a baby on their laps! I have no doubt that the school’s focus on Growth Mindset for nearly a decade allowed children and staff to make the best of a desperate situation. We will never forget the Summer Term of 2020 and I will always pass on a wry grin to Mrs Duke about the timing of her departure.

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Thursday 3rd September 2020 Following the term none of us could ever have predicted, thoughts moved quickly to full reopening. The summer was spent in meticulous planning, reading ever changing government guidance, producing risk assessments and hoping it would all work. Routine events like drop off, lunch, playtime and clubs all needed a radical rethink! On Thursday 3rd September, we finally reopened to the whole school. We welcomed 49 new pupils, from Reception to Year 6, as well as everybody else who had not been at ‘proper school’ since March. Many members of staff were also in the same boat. A big day in the history of King’s St Alban’s; a day that went very well!

The Nursery For most of its illustrious history, King’s St Alban’s has been a Junior School educating children from the age to seven to eleven. In 2009, the Pre-Prep opened in a brand new and cleverly designed building on Mill Street. Five years later, the purchase of the adjoining terraced house and garden allowed for an extension. By 2018, King’s St Alban’s was the only independent school in the area without a nursery and made recruitment challenging. Following extensive research and detailed planning, the Governors gave their permission for the opening of a new nursery at King’s St Alban’s in September 2019. This was formally opened by Will Butler, Vice-Captain of Worcester Warriors, in November 2019. Sarah Pugh was appointed nursery manager and has done a fine job during a difficult first year. Nine children started

Academic News Despite the impact of COVID-19, the academic life of the school continued to progress in 2019-20 with the following highlights: • All Year 6 children passed the 11+ King’s entrance tests. • Within this cohort, 15 of our children received a scholarship or award. • We have had a strong focus on handwriting for the last 18 months and we are certainly seeing the results of this focus. • We continue to invest in our libraries and ensure we are seen as a ‘reading school.’ We embraced World Book Week in March with several activities including a whole-school read and class travelling books. The children produced some superb book covers and ‘blurbs’ and enjoyed various competitions. • Pupil vocabulary was one of our main academic targets this year and we made good progress in terms of sharing good practice and pupil outcomes. • Two of our children received awards (silver and bronze) in the Primary Maths Challenge Bonus Round. • We have worked hard on our club provision at both Junior and Pre-Prep level to ensure a mix of sport, music and academic clubs with very high take up. Across the years, we ran 36 weekly clubs; an amazing commitment for a school of our size. Academic clubs included art/craft, engineering, chess, ICT (very popular and with impressive content!), philosophy, theatre, sign language and ‘puzzle.’

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in September 2019 and this number had grown to 23 twelve months later. It is to Sarah’s great credit that the nursery feels as if it has always been a part of King’s St Alban’s and its warm and welcoming feel reflect the ethos within the wider school. The purchase of the next terraced house has allowed an extension to the outside play area and our youngest children also enjoy use of the pre-prep hall and forest school area. And so, King’s St Alban’s is now a two to eleven establishment and the nursery, although in its infancy, is in rude health.

Charity • We remain a committed partner of the Rivers Trust. We had a Rivers student teacher last term and staff attend a number of local training events. • We celebrated Languages Day in the Autumn with a series of educational and enjoyable events and did the same for Internet Safety Day in February. • We have offered the Paws b (mindfulness for 9-11-year olds) course to all our Year 5 and 6 children. This is a 12-lesson course delivered by Mrs Lewis to offer children resilience and coping skills. • We embraced Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in February and offered various assemblies, lessons and activities. • We have formed an eco-committee this year and their first project, ecobricks, was proving successful. We will build on this next year and look at how we can further develop pupil voice in a more general sense. • Of our many clubs, a number focus on pastoral care and pupil wellbeing: keep calm and relax, knit and natter and yoga/meditation. • We have entered the Artsmark Award this year and we are aiming for gold or platinum. This has allowed us to review current provision across the arts and set helpful targets for the future. Through these, we have started to take up local opportunities more readily such as Worcester Porcelain Museum and galleries at King’s.

Despite the challenges, children at King’s St Alban’s continued to work hard to raise substantial funds for local, national and international charities in 2019-20. Many events are annual but we are always keen to add further events suggested by the children and often in response to their own experiences. This can be a powerful form of pupil voice and led to a non-uniform day and wrist band sale, a craft and cake sale and a charity breakfast to raise funds for, respectively, Hand in Hand for Oscar, Worcester Animal Rescue Shelter and the Australian Red Cross. Each House ran a charity event throughout the year and a total of twelve events raised more than £3,500; a remarkable sum. As always, awareness and education are as important as the sums raised and so many of these events were supported by assembly talks by representatives from the charities. The most impressive achievement was the Swim the Channel Challenge for Sports Relief; our 25m pool was well-used that week as our children went to France and back twice!

Growth Mindset

Staff

The focus on Growth Mindset and its impact on the children’s learning, behaviour and attitude has been a feature of King’s St Alban’s for many years. Mrs Lewis continues to drive this area and weave it into the pastoral provision for all children. We continue to base our Growth Mindset offering on twelve words: kindness, perseverance, pride, resilience, respect, responsibility, risk taking, co-operation, curiosity, flexibility, focus and independence. These twelve words perhaps best describe our environment and ethos. We focus on two words per term and our lockdown term words were flexibility and independence. Never were such attributes needed more by our children and our staff! As we re-open and hope for more normality, our words are kindness and perseverance.

As in previous years, the staff team has remained fairly static. We have an experienced and collegiate team and its strength was very evident in the difficult lockdown months. Mrs Rachel Duke left us in December 2019 after many years of sterling service; initially as a class teacher and then as Deputy Head from 2012. She also served as Acting Head in the Summer Term of 2013. Rachel was an outstanding classroom teacher and a highly effective Deputy. She had high standards for all her children, cared deeply for their learning and was very supportive of her colleagues. She left to pursue interests outside teaching, having touched the lives of hundreds of children. Mrs Lisa Kilbey was appointed Assistant Head, Pastoral in January 2020 to join Mr Chapman, Mr Braithwaite and Mrs Hadfield on the Senior Leadership Team. She was unaware she would have to write COVID-19

risk assessments within her role when she accepted the position. Mrs Rebecca Cleugh left us after 18 months as SENDCo to spend more time with her family. She made an impressive impact in a short period of time and leaves with our best wishes. Mrs Marie Knipe started as SENDCo in September 2020 and takes over a well-run ship. Mrs Hand returned from maternity leave in June 2020 and resumes the Year 6 job-share class with Mrs Majhu. Mrs Lewis is now trained to deliver dot b, a mindfulness course for adults. This is eight 90-minute sessions with ‘gap tasks.’ Eight members of staff graduated within the first cohort in December 2019 and the second cohort (with some colleagues from King’s and King’s Hawford) graduated in March. This was a significant commitment to mindfulness and staff wellbeing at King’s St Alban’s.

Sport Sport continued to flourish at King’s St Alban’s in 2019-20, although we were tested along the way with storms, floods and COVID-19. The boys’ department adapted particularly well considering the fields were under water for so long! The rugby term kicked off with the annual Under 11 VIIs tournament at The Elms. The boys gave a great account of themselves and played some impressive rugby throughout. The Under 8s were involved in numerous tag rugby festivals, playing against many local schools. For most, it was their first taste of competitive sport; all the boys involved seemed to enjoy the experience and showed significant improvements. The Under 9s made the potentially daunting move to contact rugby this year and did so with great enthusiasm and excitement. They were also involved in many rugby festivals, again playing with enthusiasm and positivity, allowing the boys to put what they had learnt during our games lessons into matches. The Under 10s continued to show impressive development and with a few great additions to the year, will become a force to be reckoned with next season! The Under 11s went from strength to strength this year and there were several highlights throughout the season, but it was their successful festival at Millfield School that stood out. They played three and won three. The hockey season went well and the new

initiative of playing small sided games saw the younger children enjoy more inclusive festivals. We went to St Edward’s, Oxford for the IAPS Hockey Tournament with the Under 11 team, and although we came up against some tough competition, we were delighted with the girls’ performance on the day. The King’s St Alban’s football style is to always look to move the ball on as quickly as possible and to try and pass the ball out from the back. It was great to see this come to fruition with the Under 8 and Under 9 boys during their many fixtures throughout the term. The Under 10s also started to show amazing talent, with some new players joining the existing pool. They are a great team with fantastic ability and will only get better the more they play with each other. The Under 11s had three very strong teams with healthy competition for places in each one. One of the highlights from this year was seeing every single boy in the year group out playing good football – with bright smiles on their faces! The Under 11A team did well in the Winterfold Tournament, missing out in a tense penalty shootout in the semi-finals.

We were excited to start the netball term with the new ‘BeeNetball’ being introduced this season. This gave the game a new perspective, with the emphasis being on keeping the game fun and inclusive. In the lower age groups, it was great to see them playing ‘Buzzer’ 3-a-side netball. This meant we were able to have the whole year group playing three matches on one court. It was great to take two teams to the Under 9s Netball Tournament and to see the girls do so well. The Under 11s had a good season with some notable wins and culminating in the IAPS Netball Tournament in February at Rugby. This was a fantastic day for all the girls; it was evident that their netball had improved dramatically. Swimming continues to thrive and in February we were challenged to swim the channel for sports relief. As in previous years, we hosted numerous galas throughout the year with many notable successes.

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The Arts Over the last few months, it has been made abundantly clear just how important the arts are in our daily lives. At King’s St Alban’s we continue to be proud of the many opportunities we offer in this area and although we were forced to cancel many of this year’s performances, there is still much celebrate. The year got off to a fine start in September with ‘Chance to Dance’, held in the Wightman Studio. This was a lovely opportunity for our dancers to showcase their own choreography with the added excitement of lights, props and a superb sound system. Informal concerts are a regular feature of each term and we were lucky enough to be able to offer a full programme of these up until Easter. Undeterred by the restrictions of lockdown we also held two Virtual Informal Concerts in the Summer, with musicians performing live from their homes to an enthusiastic remote audience, complete with live applause. The last week of the Autumn Term provided a feast of arts events as our postponed Autumn Concert (due to the floods) took place on the same day as the Year 6 Drama performance - a play called ’Bethlehem’. This double bill demanded huge resources of energy from many of our pupils and they rose to the challenge beautifully. Both events were a triumph and we were very proud of all the children, many starring in both! Foundation wide events are a lovely way of bringing together musicians from King’s St Alban’s with pupils from King’s Hawford and the King’s Senior School and we were lucky enough to have enjoyed two of these events this year. In November, Years 5 and 6 took part in a Foundation

Concert in the Cathedral, joining a choir of over three hundred school children from King’s and schools across the city for the world premiere of Piers Kennedy’s lively and dramatic piece ’The Mayflower’. In February, our annual Orchestral Workshop day allowed our young instrumentalists the opportunity to perform in a massed orchestra, enjoying a day of rehearsals before performing in an evening concert. A very special highlight of this event was the world premiere of James Walton’s ’Renaissance Fanfare’ for brass ensemble, which he conducted himself. The Spring Term also included active storytelling workshop on Shakespeare’s Macbeth for Year 4 and the inter-house poetry competition produced some diverse and fiery performances of poems. The Art Department have been incredibly busy once again this year. Workshops and trips have formed an integral part of the curriculum and the quality of work that has been produced as a result continues to wow visitors to the school. In the Spring Term, Mrs Cain entered several pieces of artwork into the Malvern St James’s art exhibition and competition. We were delighted that

Parents

Moving On

Our Parents’ Social Group (PSG) was very active in 2019-20. Highlights included the Halloween Party (always a sell-out!), the New Parents’ Picnic and the Pre-Prep Christmas Crafts Afternoon. Emma Butcher was an outstanding Chair and her energy and commitment will be missed as she moves from being a King’s St Alban’s to a King’s School Worcester parent. There is a lot of interest in the group from many new parents and we hope we are able to do more this year. We look forward to Georgina Hopkinson and Liz Deichen taking this group forward into its next exciting chapter.

There is no doubt that Year 6 got a raw deal in 2020! There was no Old Chapel, Normandy Trip, Science or Shakespeare Week but only more Maths on Showbie! That said, it was important that the children were actually at school for the last five weeks of term and they enjoyed some sort of normality. They did not process out of College Hall but we did clap them out on their last day, albeit in their bubbles and with social distancing. They were awarded their prizes and some will get their names on the honours board. The PSG, mindful of what they

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two children received First Prize for the Year 4 category and were awarded fantastic prizes of a lovely selection of art materials. Again, recent events resulted in the InterHouse Art Competition becoming a ‘remote’ event, but the standard remained high. Having worked so hard throughout the year in dance lessons, everyone was disappointed that this year’s Creative Connexions, ‘A Snapshot of Britain’, had to be cancelled just before Easter. Year 3 had prepared a maypole dance, Year 4 celebrated Kings and Queens, Year 5 explored the excitement of carnivals and Year 6 focused on British innovations such as scientific breakthroughs. Everyone had really enjoyed preparing for this show and exploring the themes through art, dance, music and poetry. It has been amazing to see what we have managed to achieve across the arts in a year that was sadly cut short. We are really looking forward to gradually moving back towards rehearsals and live performances over the coming year. It will be exciting to see what the future holds.

were missing, arranged the first ever KSA Yearbook; this was an impressive memento. This was a year group that always rose to the challenge and ‘trained on’ significantly over the years. In terms of acting as role models, setting the tone, taking tours and talking to visitors, they were superb. On their return from lockdown, their focus, maturity and attitude to their learning were first rate – a true credit to King’s St Alban’s. King’s Senior, they are a fine cohort and you will enjoy them! Richard Chapman

OLD VIGORNIANS, DEVELOPMENT TRUST ARCHIVES & CATHEDRAL

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The King’s School Worcester Development Trust The response to our Open the door to King’s Bursary Appeal continues to be strong with the coronavirus pandemic only heightening the need for pupil bursaries at King’s. All donations to the School are accepted by the King’s School Worcester Development Trust, which is a charitable body in its own right. This year has been particularly difficult, not only for the Development & Alumni Relations team to hold events, but also for us to actively fundraise. We have been blessed with some very generous donations from individuals who are keenly aware of the critical nature of the fully funded bursaries that the Trust provides and who have responded by supporting individual bursaries. We are enormously lucky to have, as trustees, individuals who represent the wide breadth of The King’s School family and who meet three times during the year to discuss with King’s Headmaster (Acting Head in 2019/20) and Development Director the Trust’s priorities for the year and also to monitor the performance of invested funds. Our trustees for the year 2019/20 were: Andrew Reekes Chairman of the Development Trust, (Governor and Chairman of the Education Committee and OV) Katie Beever (Staff member and current parent) Hugh Carslake (Chairman of Governors and former parent) Nick Clark (OV, parent and OV Committee member) Linton Connell (OV and former parent) Douglas Dale (Governor and Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee) Hannah Edwards (current parent) John Foley (OV and former parent) Fanos Hira Chairman of Trust Investment Committee, (OV and current parent) Donald Howell (former Chairman of Governors and OV) Carl Jury (former Chairman of Parents’ Association and former parent) Pat Preston (Governor and former parent) Leanne Sheen (OV) John Weston (OV) More information about our trustees can be found on The King’s School website at : ksw.org.uk/alumni/about/the-trust The absence of Matthew Armstrong was felt by all trustees during the year. We have been very grateful to Acting Headmaster, Jon Ricketts for his presence at these meetings and for his active support of the work of the Development & Alumni Relations Office. 112

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The Development & Alumni Relations Team The team comprises Liz Elliott, Development Director who looks after development and fundraising strategy, Sophie Borrillo-McLellan, who heads up our alumni relations, Alice Evans, our development assistant who co-ordinates all event bookings, processes donations and is in charge of our social media and OV newsletters, and Cath Williams, database assistant who ensures we maintain accurate contact details and records for all our alumni. In May, Sophie went on maternity leave with baby Floriana arriving early and keeping Mum, Dad and big sister, Valentina all delighted and very busy! Caroline Mitchell-Wise joined the Development & Alumni Relations team from Worcester Cathedral to cover for Sophie’s maternity leave. At the Cathedral, Caroline was involved in events, marketing and managed the Cathedral’s website and social media. As with many of our colleagues at King’s, the Development & Alumni Relations team have certainly had a challenging year. At the start of the year, we continued with a number of our social events and, as always, we really enjoyed meeting numerous OVs. We started in September, with our first event for new OVs: a BBQ in the School Gardens. We ran this event for the first time in 2018, this being an opportunity to welcome the most recent leavers into the OV community. We extended the invitation in September 2019 to also include leavers from the two years prior – 2017 & 2018. This gave a good opportunity for the OVs to meet up with each other and with their teachers before heading off on the next exciting stage in their careers; the alumni team loved hearing all about their exciting studies, travels and work adventures. With support in communications from the Alumni office, OV golf returned with tremendous success on 6th September 2019. It was organised by OV James Bailey (Cr 84-93) and supported by Hon OV Russ Mason. The event was held at Ombersley Golf Club with 26 attending. The afternoon was great fun with much call for another such event in the future. It was won by the oldest OV attendee, Robin Blakeway (H 48-55) who walked away with the trophy. The group ended the day with a carvery and drinks in the Gold Club restaurant. Also in September was the Five Year Reunion and the year of 2014 were on fine form, joining us as they marked five years since leaving King’s. Drinks and canapés were served in The Michael Baker

Boathouse and the year group were thrilled to see each other and many of their former teachers as well. Acting Headmaster and Hon OV, Jon Ricketts spoke to the year about school life today, touching on highlights from the last year and Head of School from 2014, Corah Lewis (Ch 07-14), spoke a few words too, touching on where the last five years have taken the year of 2014 and using the year book predictions to prompt many laughs. Relatively new in the events schedule are our ‘OV Professions Group’ gatherings. The idea of these groups is to provide an opportunity for OVs of all generations who work in the same fields to meet up and share their experiences, to learn from each other, and to network as an OV community in an informal and relaxed environment. With groups already up and running in Finance and also Marketing, the meeting on 12th September 2019 was the first for OVs working in the legal profession. Liz Elliott enjoyed meeting several OVs at the Hoxton Hotel Holborn for this event. On 16th January 2020 we were delighted to host the second new OV Professions Groups for individuals working in the Property sector and Sophie Borrillo-McLellan enjoyed meeting a number of OVs working in this field. We are looking to extend the ‘OV Professions Group’ meetings into other professions, once Covid restrictions on meeting up are eased. OVs all the way through from the 1940s to 2019 were at the Modus Cup Challenge match on 23rd October 2019 at Worcester Warriors Stadium. Development Director, Liz, and Head of Alumni Relations, Sophie, were thrilled to be able to catch up with so many over the night. The OVs were all in excellent spirits and fine voice, evidenced by the palpable roar that erupted from the stadium as the final whistle blew and the trophy was back in King’s hands again.

On Monday 11th November 2019, King’s marked Remembrance Day. A very special address was given during the service in Worcester Cathedral by OV Lt Col Rob Poole, RAMC (H 93-98). In the absence of OV Club President David Ogle (K 7686), committee member Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56), laid a wreath on behalf of the OV community alongside current Head of School, Hamish, who laid one on behalf of current pupils of the school. Tom Sharp (Hon OV) provided a really interesting lecture about The King’s School in preparation for the War which was followed by a delicious lunch. The events of the day finished with a moving Roll Call of Honour on College Green, courtesy of current pupil cadets and staff of The King’s School CCF.

Saturday 4th January 2020 provided an excellent opportunity to clear away the Christmas cobwebs as the annual OV vs current 1st XI football fixture took place, organised by Jon Sarriegui (Hon OV). The recent heavy rain unfortunately meant that the King’s fields were not in use so the match was played at the West Worcester Youth Football Club. Both sides were delighted to see each other and everyone played well with some fantastic goals scored from each team. The OVs showed that they have kept up their sport, fitness and enjoyment of the game since leaving King’s, securing an impressive a 5-2 win by the final whistle.

The Spring term saw us in completely unchartered territory. The main event of the Spring calendar is usually the OV Reunion Weekend which takes place in May. With building work ongoing in the Undercroft and College Hall, we had no choice but to postpone this until September. Following the Coronavirus outbreak, that September 2020 date has also had to be cancelled. The revised date for the next OV Reunion Dinner in Worcester is Saturday 18th September 2021. Covid-19 meant a complete halt in our calendar of events and the team moved to working remotely. In week one of isolation, our weekly OV e-newsletter went to everyone in the OV network and we invited people to sign up to receive this weekly if they would appreciate hearing from us during the time of social distancing and isolation. There was an extremely positive response to this and at the time of writing 162 people have subscribed to receive this e-newsletter weekly (fortnightly in the holidays), and it is shared with 789 followers on Facebook, 826 on twitter and over 1,100 on LinkedIn, as well as via the School website.

On Friday 15th November 2019 we were delighted to be joined by some 90 OVs from across the years of 1951 through to 2018 at our annual London Drinks Reception. The Bankside Gallery offered a lovely location, right on the river Thames, opposite the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral. Acting Headmaster Jon Ricketts (Hon OV) sadly was unable to join due to flooding and in his place, Russ Mason delivered his speech to all guests, reflecting on Matthew Armstrong’s passion and vision for King’s and also to celebrate the successes of both school life and the Open the Door to King’s Bursary appeal. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome back to King’s the year of 2009 on Saturday 14th December 2019 as they marked 10 years since leaving school. Rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits as the group of around 65 set off first on tours of school, reacquainting themselves with familiar spots as well as exploring the newer facilities on site. The group finished with a drinks reception in The Michael Baker Boathouse for a lively evening of catching up with friends and former teachers. It was lovely to meet other halves and even two gorgeous babies who, at less than a year old, were enjoying a late night and their first ever school reunion!

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As the new school year starts again, we were hoping to hold events for our new OVs and our returning year of 2015, on the occasion of their Five Year Reunion. Government guidelines erred on the side of extreme caution regarding large gatherings and it was not a viable option to open the School site up to such a sizeable gathering of guests, at a time when the School is having to put in place some very stringent rules and boundaries to ensure the safety and health of its pupils and staff. We do hope to return to holding events for OVs and other members of our community as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we love to hear news of OVs’ achievements and activities and our OV newsletter continues to be bursting full of interesting articles. You can read our previous newsletters on the King’s website: ksw.org.uk/alumni/news-and-stories/ newsletters and please do email us with your own news on alumni@ksw.org.uk Hopefully, in the New Year, OVs and friends of the school can come back to visit King’s, and they will be very welcome to have a tour of school, which provides us with an opportunity to show off some of our wonderful new facilities and also to re-visit some of the more familiar buildings. If you would like to come for a visit to King’s, please give the Development & Alumni Relations team a call on 01905 721737 or email us at alumni@ksw.org.uk Open the door to King’s Bursary Campaign Our Bursary Campaign has raised over £900,000 since its launch in May 2018 and some ten full fee bursaries were supported by the Trust in 2019/20. The bursaries funded out of donations into the Trust are intended to provide lifechanging opportunities for children to attend King’s. We are very grateful to those individuals who have chosen to support this critical programme, whether via a single substantial donation, used to support specific individual pupils at King’s, or via smaller regular donations by standing order. We are very grateful to all those who have financially contributed to the Trust over the past year. Donations in memory of Matthew Armstrong Following the tragic death of Matthew Armstrong in August 2019, we felt that it was as important as ever to remain true to his vision for bursaries at King’s. Matthew was passionate about raising money for bursaries, which he himself supported financially. He had witnessed the transformational power of bursaries – not only to the students themselves but also to the School. The Matthew Armstrong

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Bursary was initiated by his widow, Kate, and we are grateful to Kate for this and for all those who have donated during the year to Matthew’s Bursary. The Peter Iddon Bursary Award Peter Iddon was a well-loved and respected master in charge of cricket, teacher of English and Housemaster of Hostel House, with his career at King’s spanning some 35 years, and he was still teaching up to his untimely death in June 2016. A number of those who knew and loved Peter, have decided to establish the ‘Peter Iddon Cricket Bursary Award’, with the purpose of this being offered to a child with clear cricketing and academic ability, who would like to come to King’s but needs financial support to do so. The bursary award in Peter’s name is being spear-headed by individuals who knew Peter well: Andrew Underwood (S 77-88) along with the Jersey Cricket tour team of 1988 and 2018, Phil Mackie (Cl 73-84) and Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56) with members of the OV Cricket Club, Nick Clark (H 88-90) along with OVs from Hostel House and Anita Iddon (Hon OV) through personal contacts of Peter’s.

The ‘Sponsor a Theatre Seat’ Appeal The ‘Sponsor a Theatre Seat’ was launched in March 2019. The cost of a name is £200 per name, which includes an etched name on the glass panel and a small named plaque on the theatre seat. This can provide a really pleasant way of supporting the School but also having your own name, or that of a loved one, on display in School and in the Theatre. Seat sponsor forms can be found on the School website.

Individually-funded Bursaries We are delighted that, from September 2020, there will be a further 100% funded bursary place at The King’s School, due to the very generous donation in May 2020, from John Foley (Cl 64-74) and his family. John has a very close family connection with the school as his brother, sister and one of his daughters attended the School; John himself is a trustee of the King’s School Development Trust. The Foley Family Bursary epitomises John’s enthusiasm about helping others from less financially privileged backgrounds with the opportunity of a King’s School education. We are hugely grateful to him and his family for this generous commitment of £15,000 a year for the foreseeable future. John talks about how a bursary place at King’s can be a ‘springboard’ and his family’s individual bursary will enable a child to come to King’s from Year 7 on a full bursary. Of this particular child, John says, “[my wife and I] are happy to help; it’s a pleasure to do so. Of course, you never know the exact path that anyone will follow but …. this family does know where it is going, good for them and I hope that they enjoy and are challenged by the journey.” We are also incredibly grateful to OV, Mark Haworth (Cl 81-88), who is already supporting a bursary pupil at King’s, for a further substantial donation in April 2020. This donation will go towards supporting two additional bursaries from September 2020. These children, whose places at King’s are funded from Mark’s donations to the Trust, would otherwise not have been able to come to the School. Mark is particularly keen to support local children in this way and understands that a King’s School education can provide not only academic focus and stretch but also a plethora of other extra-curricular activities, which in themselves promote self-confidence as well as life-long interests and passions. Michael Pimley (H 61-71) has long been a supporter of King’s bursaries and we are so lucky to have his continued support for the School. Michael and Kim Pimley make an annual donation in memory of Michael’s father, John Pimley (Cl 36-39) and their intention is to build up a fund which will always support one full bursary pupil at King’s. Michael’s home is in the States and he travels widely for work, however he always makes time to enquire about life at King’s and is in regular contact with other OVs around the world.

King’s bursaries really do change lives, with one of our former bursary pupils, who graduated in the summer of 2020 from Oxford University, telling us, “King’s gave me a certain bravery to reach higher and enjoy my own individuality. It taught me to take risks and to think outside of the box. The Bursary Programme represents a rare initiative in which the generosity of others is translated into a permanent and exceptional gift to a young person. I want to express my thanks and best wishes to every person who has, and will, contribute. Similarly, a parent of one of our current bursary pupils told us, “I don’t have the words to express my appreciation for the fantastic experiences that my daughter is enjoying at King’s. It is a great relief to me that she has found a place where she is comfortable to explore her abilities and be herself. The School is giving her the opportunity to be all she can be…. My daughter has been blown away by the atmosphere at King’s. Of course, in addition to our thanks to the staff for their hard work and kindness, thanks too, to the King’s Bursary Programme for all they have given this year.” Anyone who might be considering making a donation can contact the Development & Alumni Relations Office on 01905 721719, or by email on alumni@ksw.org.uk and further information about King’s School Bursaries can be found on our website: ksw.org.uk/alumni/support-kings. We are always very grateful for donations to the Trust at whatever level. 1541 Society The 1541 Society recognises all those who have made a major contribution to the Development Trust through legacy pledges, major donations or by volunteering their time and expertise. We are indebted to those who have committed to remember King’s in their will; this is a very powerful and meaningful way of supporting our Bursary Appeal and ensuring that a child in the future can attend King’s, who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

Development Trust Funds Since the formation of the Development Office in 2000, some £8 million has been raised by donations into the Development Trust. Donations to the Trust are either invested in an Enduring Fund – where the principle is to retain the capital element and apply investment gains towards financing bursaries – or they are applied into a Fellowship Bursary fund, which supports bursary places currently in the school. One of the key roles of the trustees is to ensure that there are sufficient funds

Updates in Data Protection Legislation We are committed to ensuring that contact details are kept up to date and we also work hard to ensure that all members of the Kings family hear from the Development & Alumni Relations Office as they wish (giving options for individuals to personalise the method and purpose of communications). On all correspondence from the office, a link is provided to personalise communications preferences and we adhere to GDPR legislation when communicating with all

to provide for future bursarial support, whilst maintaining the current level of bursary places in the school. In the year to July 2020, some ten full fee bursary places were funded from donations to the Trust and, despite the challenging economic climate, the current fund for bursaries stands at £3.2 million. The aim is to have a fund of £5 million by 2025 and, in the longer term, to be in a position to provide for 40 places from a total fund value of £18million.

individuals, for whom we hold contact details. Our Privacy Notice in relation to development and alumni activities of The King’s School Worcester can be found on the alumni/about/alumnidevelopment-privacy-notice section of the King’s website, and this has been updated as of September 2020. Please remember to keep us informed should you move house or change your email address: alumni@ksw.org.uk

Each year, the Chairman of the Trust hosts an event for the members of the society and the Headmaster reports on current activities and future plans for the School. Unfortunately, we were unable to hold our dinner in May 2020, due to the lockdown of the UK, however we are hoping to hold a future event, when we can thank the members of our 1541 Society for their loyal support of the School. If you wish to know more about leaving a Legacy to The King’s School, please call Liz Elliott, development Director on 01905 721719 or email on eelliott@ksw.org.uk Alternatively, more information can be found on the School website: ksw.org.uk/ alumni/support-kings/leave-a-legacy The Vigornian

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OVs in the News OV receives OBE in New Year’s Honours Many congratulations to OV Professor Timothy Minton (Ch 69-76) who has received an OBE for services to UK/ Japan relations in the New Year Honours list. Timothy is a professor at the prestigious Keio University School of Medicine. He has spent 6 years as Executive Director of the Japan British Society, the prime public bilateral organisation for the UK in Japan. Timothy has also been the Honorary Secretary of the Cambridge and Oxford Society for 20 years which is a group for alumni of those universities including the new Emperor and other members of the Imperial Family. As part of his role he has organised lectures and social events with visiting heads of colleges and other academics to engage and build relationships with Japanese universities.

OV received University award We were delighted to hear that OV and former member of staff Rex Hazeldine (Ch 52-58) has been presented with the Loughborough University Medal in recognition of outstanding service during the December 2019 graduations. A well as this, along with two other colleagues from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Rex received the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award, in recognition of his amazing career in Sports Science and Coaching. Rex was a pupil at King’s from 1952 to 1958 and returned to King’s as a member of staff for six happy years from 1962 to 1968 teaching Physical Education. Rex says, “I owe King’s School a great deal both as a boy there and then as a young teacher.” Following King’s, Rex lectured in Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University for 23 years and then was Director of Sport at the University for another seven years. He also coached the rugby at Loughborough for 20 years. Externally, Rex was the Sports Scientist and Fitness Coach to the England Men’s Rugby Squad for seven years followed by doing the same work for the England Women’s Rugby Squad for another six years. Rex was Sports Scientist to the England Bowls Squad at five Commonwealth Games and was inducted into the UK Coaching Hall of Fame in 2001.

Knighthood News Huge congratulations go from all of us at King’s to OV MEP Ashley Fox (K 80-87) who was named in Theresa May’s Resignation Honours list to receive a Knighthood for political and public service. Ashley was the leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament between 2014-2019. He has served the European Parliament since 2009, and was re-elected in 2014, representing the South West of England and Gibraltar. We were thrilled to hear from Ashley who said “It was a privilege to serve in the European Parliament for 10 years. I am delighted to have been honoured with a Knighthood by our former Prime Minister, Theresa May.”

OV to help accelerate gender equality Congratulations to OV Jackie Stevenson (Co 84-86) on becoming the President of an organisation called Women in Advertising & Communications Leadership (WACL) that brings together 250 of the UK’s most powerful women in Marketing, Advertising, Communications and the Creative Industries. The purpose of WACL is to accelerate Gender Equality across the UK sector and inspire the next generation of women to enter the industry and become future leaders. Jackie is hugely successful in her industry and is currently Global CEO of The Brooklyn Brothers, a creative agency which she founded in London with 3 partners in 2008. Jackie says, “I’m hugely excited to be taking on the role of President of WACL and leading the organisation at a time when achieving real diversity in business has never been more important and will play a crucial role in achieving the economic growth the UK desperately needs post Covid and Brexit.”

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OV receives The Honorary Order of Australia Medal Huge congratulations to OV Sir Christopher Benson (Cl 43-47) who has been awarded The Honorary Order of Australia Medal (OAM). The Honorary OAM is awarded to non-Australian citizens for outstanding achievement or meritorious service. Christopher has been awarded for his work in cementing relationships between Australia and the UK especially through Educational and Apprenticeship Exchange opportunities for young people. Christopher is passionate about opportunities for young people and is involved with the Company of Watermen and Lightermen in London. This company supports young boys and girls, providing them with crewing, river skills and an education, with an apprenticeship scheme facilitating the development of competent and highly skilled river craft Masters and crew to manage vessels on the River Thames. Christopher has had an incredible and varied career including being Chairman of a variety of major companies including Royal and Sun Alliance, MEPC and Boots the Chemist.

King’s St Alban’s Hon OV on The Great Australian Bake Off! Here is Hon OV Dennis Mews’ amazing story: “After 18 enjoyable years at Kings St Alban’s, in 2008 I left teaching and headed into retirement, not at all sure what the future held. But we know that as one door closes, another opens. The following year Pat’s mum passed away and out of that sadness and trauma, fresh opportunities opened up. We decided to join our son and his family in Australia. He teaches Maths and IT at an independent school in Melbourne. They say the apple never falls far from the tree, don’t they? We noticed immediately the many similarities between Australia and Britain. They drive on the left; they play cricket; they speak our language (sort of). We fitted in straight away. Country shows just like the Malvern Three Counties Show caught our attention. Immediately the baking displays drew me in: cakes, biscuits, breads, all adorned with certificates and rosettes. Competitive baking, who knew? I had been missing the creative aspects of teaching and found an outlet, to Pat’s amazement, in baking. I began entering baking competitions, especially The Royal Melbourne Show, which attracts 450,000 visitors every year. I found my niche in baking bread and pastry and, after three years of trying, gained two first places with my bread rolls and jam tarts. My secret bread ingredient was Murray River pink salt, which gives an excellent flavour, while I concocted my pastry with just the

New University Challenge News We were excited to spot OV Josh Holland (Br 03-10) on University Challenge as he represented the University of Southampton. Josh is currently studying for a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science. On Monday 23rd September 2019 they had their first-round against Goldsmiths, University of London. After a particularly impressive second half, Southampton won 175 to 95. Sadly, in November they lost to Durham in the second round.

right amount of butter to make it very short and delicate. The Royal Melbourne Show is not happening this year, like almost everything else on the planet, so my experiments with brioche, raisin bread, pizza and focaccia will have to wait. Then, last year I applied for the tv show, The Great Australian Bake Off, and, to my utter amazement, was called for auditions. I took along a chocolate cake made from cricket flour - yes, that’s right, insects - which they eyed with some suspicion before agreeing that it tasted pretty good. Then I had to bake some little decorated orange sponge cakes in front of the cameras, all the while being interrogated about the processes involved. Eventually I heard that I was one of the final twelve bakers to take part in the programme to be filmed in Sydney. Exciting times! I enjoyed the filming of the programme, although the days were very long and tiring. They collected us from our hotel at 6am and we did not return until 11pm. Like any television production, there were lengthy pauses, such as when planes flew overhead, although the baking continued regardless. They scripted nothing, although we had worked on our recipes beforehand, so that the right equipment and ingredients were available to us on demand. The judges liked my rhubarb and custard bundt cake, my chocolate and lavender shortbread biscuits and my orange and poppyseed pretzels. Eventually, my biscuit construction

OV claims new World Record Well done to OV Harry Guy (Ch 10-17) and his University of Edinburgh boat club team mate Hugh who broke the World Record for the lightweight two-man indoor rowing 24-hour row in July 2020. Harry has fond memories of the 24-hour rows that he used to do while at King’s. They were rowing to fundraise for two charities, Harry for the Alzheimer’s Society and Hugh for Mental Health Research UK.

underwhelmed, and I was eliminated and able to return home, promising myself that I’d done enough baking to last me a very long time! So, the Australian experiment, now in its ninth year, continues to inspire Pat and me as it has brought us closer together in retirement. Maybe old dogs can learn new tricks after all! The important lesson is to follow your heart and do what you love most.”

rowed a total distance of 365,046m in 24 hours – just over the distance from London to Paris.”

Harry said, “The row itself was incredibly challenging, both mentally and physically, as we dealt with increasing tiredness and physical fatigue. However, we’re very proud of how much money we were able to raise in the process, as well as the final result. We’ve raised almost £3,500 between us for two incredibly worthwhile causes. Our effort has now been officially recognised by Concept2, which makes us the lightweight world record holders and the overall British record holders, having

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OV Baby News Wonderful news from Robin Middleburgh (Cl 98-07) and Amy Procter-Nicholls (Br 02-08) on the birth of their son Arlo Arthur Levi Middleburgh on 10th September 2019. Among Arlo’s Godparents are Annie Young (née Duffy) (Br 01-08), Sarah Porter (Br 01-08) and Kit Smith (Br 01-08).

We were delighted to hear that OVs Francesca Mitchell (née Weaver) (W 0206) and Tom Mitchell (S 99-06) have had a baby girl. Bluebell was born on 29th November 2019 on Francesca’s birthday!

Lovely to hear that following their prelockdown wedding in March, OV Alex Cross (Br 96-03) and his wife Adelle welcomed their second child, Henry in July 2020. A little brother to Edith, who is 5.

Congratulations to OVs Jo Jones (née Stubbs) (S 94-99) and Matt Jones (S 86-95) who had their third child at the peak of Coronavirus and in the middle of lockdown. Edward was born on 26th April 2020 weighing 9lb 3oz and is a very lovely, healthy boy. Jo says, “he’s slotted straight into our family incredibly well and both Maddie (aged 4) and Henry (aged 2 and a half) have been wonderful with him.”

OV Weddings

Alex Humpage-Versavaud (née Humpage) (S 94-03) and Céline Humpage-Versavaud (née Versavaud-Collet) were married on May 25th 2019 at the beautiful Domaine Morgon la Javerniere in the Beaujolais region of France. Céline and Alex met in 2011 at Merton College, Oxford University whilst attending the PAC conference. They were legally married on Friday in the town

hall of the 6th Arrondissement of Lyon with two OVs, Oliver Mathew (W 93-03) and Thomas Squire (Ch 93-03), acting as witnesses (and subsequently best men the following day!).

Congratulations to Ed Brew (Br 01-08) who married Annabel Brew (née Hill), a former Alice Ottley student, on 8th June 2019 at St Andrew’s Church Cobham.

all over again! Thank you to everyone who helped make it so special for us.

Groomsmen included David Hedges (Cl 03-08), Will Ayrton (Cl 03-08), Sam Pearman (Cl 01-08) and Benoit Jamous (W 01-08). Among the bridesmaids was OV Claire Watson (née Gott) (Cl 97-06) as well as lots of Alice Ottley alumnae (many of whom have married OVs!) Ed says, “We couldn’t have asked for a better day. We have only the best memories and just wish we could do it

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They then spent the weekend in Beaujolais with 160 of their closest friends and family with another OV, Joseph Timson (Cr 92-

We have a shared love of murder mysteries and so decided to name each table after a different Agatha Christie book, along with a typewriter guestbook. Although we both

03), officiating at their Ceremony Laique alongside Céline’s brother Stéphane. A whole roast veal formed the centrepiece of the evening meal with local cuisine throughout (and some oysters!). The party was a huge success with beautiful weather throughout and dancing until 5 in the morning with a DJ set from the groom himself. Other OVs in attendance included Archie Humpage (K 10-17), Katie Mackichan (née Humpage) (W 98-05) and the ushers, Alex Cross (Br 96-03), Ali Young (W 98-03), Luke Weaver (S 9803) and Jack Hampson (Cr 01-03), David Payne (K 92-03), James Annis (Br 93-01), Thomas Kolodotschko (Ch 96-03), Martin Renshaw (Cr 01-03), Azam Saied (Ch 9803) and Alistair Druett (Ch 92-01).

grew up in Worcester, living about 5 minutes from each other, and despite both going to the University of Southampton, it wasn’t until the wedding of our mutual friends, Claire and Jim Watson that we finally met! We honeymooned in Switzerland and ate our body weight in melted cheese.”

Congratulations to OV Peter Brown (Cr 73 -76) on his marriage to Alice Ottley alumna, Sue Bullock. Here is their remarkable story: “I arrived at King’s part way through the Upper Remove year on a free transfer from Hereford Cathedral School. Having endured a rather unspectacular academic career at King’s this was more than made up for by making a number of lifelong friends. One of these is Jeremy Preston (Ch 66 - 76) whose sister, Vicki, was a pupil at The Alice Ottley. It was through Vicki that I met Sue Bullock, also a pupil at “The A.O”, and I guess it is safe to say, without

sounding rather twee, that we became schoolday sweethearts – a friendship that continued (on and off) until the mid-1980s when work, other relationships and our respective marriages pushed us apart. Fast forward 30 or so years and during one lunchtime meeting with Jeremy, Vicki and a couple of other old friends the subject of “absent friends” was discussed, of which Sue was one. Serendipity is a beautiful word and, on reflection, perfectly describes that shortly afterwards Sue’s name came up on my Facebook page as a suggested friend. That “click” on the accept button brought us

back together and soon we re-established our friendship as if no time had passed at all setting us upon an emotional rollercoaster resulting in Sue and me getting married. The wedding day was held at the Colwall Park Hotel on 30th May 2019 with the ceremony and wedding breakfast for close family followed by an evening celebration. The gods were on our side with it being sunny and warm so we were able to enjoy the lovely garden for canapés and photographs after the ceremony, and again to stretch our legs after the wedding breakfast and welcome guests to the evening celebration. Our thanks go to the staff of the Colwall Park Hotel for hosting a faultless day that will live on in our memory and to Laura Jenkinson Photography for her spectacular record of the day. A day filled with the joy and laughter that has been such an important feature of our new lives together making up for the lost years in between. Our story goes to demonstrate the positive power of social media – or is it just fate?”

Robert Battrum (W 05-12) married Lizzie Reavley on 27th July 2019 in Burford, Oxfordshire. John Adeney (W 05-12) and Tom Battrum (Cr 06-08) were ushers and Kate Robinson (W 06-13) was the Best Man. Many thanks must go to the large contingent of OVs who attended the wedding and helped make the day so special. Super wedding news for Colette Stock (née Brown) (Cr 04-08) who married Tim Stock on Saturday August 3rd 2019 at St Andrew’s Church, Barnt Green. Their reception was held at Worcester Cricket Club with views over to The King’s School and Worcester Cathedral. Colette and Tim had their honeymoon in Mallorca and then spent a week travelling around Germany which included a visit to see OV Michelle Hilbert (née Malke) (Cl 06-07).

Many congratulations to OV Melanie Thorn (Ch 96-03) on her marriage to Matthew Potten on 5th October 2019. The wedding took place in Salcombe, Devon, a very favourite place of the family and a place they’ve been visiting for over 30 years. It was a very small wedding in the Salcombe Harbour Hotel with just immediate family and a couple of their closest friends, including King’s school friends OVs Rachael Dawson (Cr 9603), Hannah Lamb (W 99-03) and Melanie’s brother Chris Thorn (Ch 9300). King’s has always been important to the Thorn family with both Melanie’s parents being regulars on the King’s PTA helping with fundraising events.

Colette’s sister and OV Hilary Brown (Cr 06-13) was bridesmaid and her brother and OV Duncan Brown (Cl 99-05) was an usher. Other OVs in attendance were Keelan McNally (Cl 00-05), Zoë Jordan (née Monkley) (Ch 01-08), Rebecca Leach (Cr 01-08), Amy Haddock (Ch 01-08) and former Headteacher Tim Keyes (Hon OV) along with his wife Mary-Anne (Hon OV). It was a fantastic day made even more special by King’s friends being there.

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Wonderful wedding news for OV Benjamin Humphrey (Cr 94-04) and former King’s Head of Alumni Communications Alice Brunt (Hon OV).

04) and Abigail Williams (Ch 94-04) were ushers and Hannah Lucas (Cr 0108) and Katie (née Smith) To (Cr 0007) were brideswomen.

On 12 October 2019, Benjamin Humphrey and Alice Brunt married in Worcester Cathedral, celebrating afterwards with champagne under the Cathedral’s West Window and a reception at the Guildhall.

George Ormerod (10-12) and Sophie Whitworth (Hon OV) read during the service, and guests included Beth (née Westwood) Brown (Br 96-07), Thomas Cox (Cr 97-07), Beth (née Martyn Smith) Raybould (Cl 00-05), Gemma Martyn Smith (Cl 92-02), Martin Renshaw (Cr 01-03), Dan Humphrey (S 12-19), Lottie Humphrey (Cr 14-19), Jabbar Riaz (Br 91-96), Lucy Robinson (K 04-11), Jenny (née Clee) O’Bryan (Co 88-90) and Tom Riddell (Cr 02-09).

King’s was significantly represented in the bridal party and in the congregation. Oliver Brooks (S 96-01) was one of the best men, Simon Renshaw (Cr 95Congratulations to OV Alex Cross (Br 96-03) who married Adelle on Saturday 14th March 2020. This was the last wedding at their venue Curradine Barns before the Covid-19 lockdown. They were fortunate with their timing as they had previously been booked to be married on Saturday 20th June but moved the date to March as they are expecting their second child in July. They had a number of OVs at the wedding including 8 groomsmen including Luke Weaver (S 98-03) and Ali Young (W 98-03) as Best Men and Alex HumpageVersavaud (S 94-03), Oliver Mathew (W 93-03), Thomas Squire (Ch 9303), Jack Hampson (Cr 01-03), Joseph Timson (Cr 92-03) and James Annis (Br 93-01) who were all ushers. Alex said, “We had an incredible day! We really appreciate just how lucky we were.”

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Current and former staff comprised Hon OVs Kate and Roger Appleby, Stephan and Sarah Le Marchand, Rosie and Simon Shearburn, Mark and Gill Dorsett, Chris and Abi Haywood, Joanna Lucas, Catherine Cantin, Alan Deichen, Emma Woodward, Rosie Ellender, Shara Parry, Paul Haynes, PC Thompson, Suzanne Nevitt, Penny Hope, Sue Broadway, Gemma Minton and Tracey Hundley. Many congratulations to Ben and Alice and we wish them all the very best for the future.

Wonderful news of the wedding of OV Matt Marskell (Cr 02-09) to Olivia Marskell (née Adams) on 31st December 2019 with Rev Mark Dorsett (Hon OV) taking the ceremony. Matt’s ushers and best man were all OVs and included Jack Jeavons-Fellows (Ch 02-09), Jack Everton (Cr 02-09), Jack Longley (Ch 02-09), John Harper (Ch 04-

09) and Olly Kitching (Os 02-09).

Congratulations to OV Tom Wadsworth (K 93-96) on his marriage to Emma Rollins at The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath on 5th December 2019. Tom is the elder son of OV Tim Wadsworth (S 56-61).

Olivia also had some OV bridesmaids including Freya Marskell (Br 99-06) and Meg Vincent (Cr 06-13). There were many other OV guests in attendance including Matt’s mother, Trudie Marskell (Hon OV) who was a dance teacher at King’s for 20 years.

Tom said, “We only had a small wedding with close family and it was perfect. Not stressful at all. We stayed at the hotel too. Our daughter Alice was the ring bearer. We had been together 8 years prior and thought that it was certainly time to tie the knot.”

OV Wedding Update Hannah Lucas (Cr 01-08) and Tom Motley pictured here on 11th July 2020 making the most of what would have been their wedding day. They have postponed their wedding in Worcester Cathedral until July 2021. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will be just as glorious next year.

Congratulations OV Harri Sapsford (née Cornock) (Cl 04-11) who married Jamie Sapsford on 5th September 2020 at St Mary’s Church, Doverdale. OV Bridesmaids included Emma Pearman (Cl 06-11) and Millie Cornock (Cl 08-15) and other OV guests included Tom Westley (Cl 04-11) and Peter Vyvyan-Robinson (S 74-76). Harri tells us, “Due to the Covid restrictions our only guests were close family and bridal party, but as a lovely surprise a few friends turned up at the church to see us come out and socially distantly threw confetti! These included Phoebe Cox (Br 04-11), Lucy Scales (S 04-11) and Hugo Watkins (Cl 04-11).”

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Barnabas OVs who have excelled in their chosen careers are invited back to join the Barnabas Group, named after St Barnabas, ‘son of encouragement’ (Acts of the Apostles Ch. 4 v, 36), to share their life experiences and to offer advice and inspiration to the School body. times, in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987. He also won the Daytona 24 three times, and the World Sportscar Championship twice. Derek has raced for the Ferrari, Wheatcroft, McLaren, Surtees and Tecno teams in the Formula 1.

We enjoyed a visit from OV British sports car driving legend Derek Bell MBE (S 5658) on Thursday 26th September 2019 as he joined our Barnabas Group. In 1956 Derek joined The King’s School Worcester where he enjoyed Maths, Physics and playing for the 1st XV rugby team. After leaving school Derek was encouraged to enter racing and he won his first race at Goodwood in 1964 in a Lotus Seven. Derek’s record on the track is astoundingly impressive. He won Le Mans 24 hours five

Derek is now a speaker and sports commentator and he remains much in demand at racing events around the world. In 1986 Derek was awarded an MBE for services to motorsport, in 2012 he was inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame of America and in 2014 he was presented with Honorary Life Membership of the AA in recognition of his 50 years in Motorsports. Derek experienced a packed day back at King’s. At 8.30am the school playground vibrated as Derek entered through the School gates in his 911 ‘Racing Legends’ Derek Bell Porsche (one of just 15). The car continued to garner admiration and attention throughout the day. Derek gave an inspiring address to the School in Worcester Cathedral, speaking of his time at King’s, as well as his professional career highlights and times of challenge, and offered words of advice and encouragement. of languages and English Literature, and the path from King’s to Cambridge University where she studied English and completed a PGCE. Kathryn spoke to the pupils about her varied career and her eventual finding of teaching as a career, a profession she described as an absolute ‘privilege’.

It was such a pleasure to welcome OV Kathryn Pugh (W 93-95) back to King’s on Thursday 23rd January 2020 as the newest member of the Barnabas Group. Kathryn began the day by giving a wonderfully inspiring and rousing address in the Cathedral, speaking to the School body about her time at King’s which she described as ‘transformative’. Kathryn spoke of how being at King’s allowed her to truly be herself and to harness a variety of different experiences. She spoke of her love

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Kathryn is now Headteacher at St Marylebone School in London, an outstanding non-selective State School in central London where they place particular value on the positive role the arts play in all young people’s education. In the Sixth Form, boys can also attend. When appointed, Kathryn was noted as one of the youngest female Headteachers in the country. Following her address, Kathryn enjoyed a tour of School with Head of Alumni Relations, Sophie, where she explored familiar locations as well as the newer sites and facilities built since she was at King’s. It was lovely for Kathryn to visit some Drama lessons, a DT class and the Art department. She was particularly struck by how passionate and enthusiastic the pupils were and how able they were to talk about their work.

Derek enjoyed visiting King’s pupils in many lessons throughout the day including Maths, Drama, and Design Technology. It was a particular pleasure for him to meet sixth formers Toby and Ed. Toby and Ed were part of the King’s 4x4 Challenge team ‘Edge’ who won 1st Place at the National Finals for the JLR 4x4 in Schools Competition in 2018. Ed and Toby were able to showcase their prize-winning vehicle to Derek and to speak about the process of designing, building and testing the car, as well as discussing how they secured sponsorship and marketing support. Derek enjoyed lunch with Acting Headmaster, Jon Ricketts (Hon OV), Head of School and Captain of the 1st XV Hamish, current pupil and budding racing star Theo who is looking forward to his racing season ahead and Head of Sixth Form, Josh Hand, as well as Development Director Liz Elliott and Head of Alumni Relations, Sophie Borrillo-McLellan. A special day indeed for Derek and for everyone at King’s

Kathryn and Sophie then joined Acting Headmaster, Jon Ricketts (Hon OV) and Head of School, Hamish, for coffee where Kathryn was presented with her Barnabas shield. Later Kathryn visited two Sixth Form English classes. Having been taught by Richard Davis (Hon OV) herself, who she mentioned in her morning address as having hugely inspired her here at School, Kathryn was thrilled to join his Lower Sixth class and then afterwards to sit down with Andrew Maund (Hon OV) for his Upper Sixth lesson. With both groups currently studying the text A Streetcar Named Desire, there was plenty of opportunity for some in-depth discussions and to hear the students talk about their feelings on the text and characters. The day finished with a delicious lunch where Kathryn was joined by Jon Ricketts, Andrew Maund, Sophie Borrillo-McLellan, Head of School Hamish and the two Deputies, Ellie & Ted. Kathryn was very interested in hearing about Hamish, Ellie and Ted’s interests, and we in return were fascinated to hear more of her experiences and current role.

Obituaries Michael Ackred (S 63-68) Michael died in December last year at his home in Somerset. He was diagnosed some twenty-five years ago with multiple sclerosis and in later years, as his illness progressed, was admirably cared for by his second wife Vanessa. Michael is survived by his two sons Mark and Peter and two grandchildren Amelie and JJ. Michael showed considerable fortitude and resilience in dealing with an increasingly debilitating disease which, as it progressed, slowly robbed him of both independence and mobility. During this time, he remained remarkably cheerful and retained an interest in his work and family, and often kept in touch by sending very funny asides by e-mail. I suspect such grit emanated from his Lancashire inheritance as these characteristics were apparent when Michael was a boarder at KSW. He showed considerable promise as a fast bowler (earning his colours) and made a cheerful and consistent contribution to House life. He was always popular and mostly to be found at the heart of the (oft-times nefarious) action. Michael enjoyed school as a place to test his mettle as well as measure the extent to which he could outwit authority. It was an indicator of his entrepreneurial vigour that he was to apply to his working life and with which he imbued his sons. After school, he trained as an accountant, but soon tired of working for others and set out on his own to develop businesses, including hotels and nursing homes on the south coast. In spite of his illness, Michael led a full and varied life primed with a confidence he found at King’s. Jeremy Wright (S 64-68) Noel Andrews (Ca 47-55) NOEL FERGUSON GEORGE ANDREWS (1937-2020) Noel was born on 10th April 1937, the elder son of Frank and Doris Andrews. Noel, his brother Philip who was eight months old, and his mother left Chislehurst, Kent, in May 1944, and travelled to Lancashire to live with his grandparents, leaving his father living In Chislehurst, where he was in Air Raid Precaution. In July 1944 a flying bomb destroyed the Andrews house, and Noel’s father was obliged to help to dig out their home! Noel, Philip, and his mother settled in Lancashire, where they were joined by his father in 1945.

As a child, Noel recalled collecting shrapnel from bombs and shells dropped by the Germans; having his tonsils out and looking out of the hospital window to see searchlights and barrage balloons; and seeing his first banana, which was on sale in a shop window for £5! Noel also remembered how most nights were passed sleeping in the air raid shelter, with his brother, Philip sleeping in a clothes basket! Noel’s early education was badly affected by the war, so aged 10, he went as a boarder to King’s School Worcester. “My father wanted me to sing in the Cathedral Choir, but I failed my audition with Sir Ivor Atkins, who terrified me!” he commented. Noel spoke about his schooldays at King’s, Worcester. “The school was just recovering from a lack of staff and money, due to the war. Accommodation was spartan, and the food pretty dreadful. We had to have a cold shower every morning, and do some sort of exercise every day. Those not participating had to go on a run. We had to belong to the school Combined Cadet Force, and about three times per term, we had to do kitchen duties, which meant washing up for all the boarders, with a maximum of four tea towels.” “It wasn’t all bad.” Noel continued, “I enjoyed rowing, and I was the cox of the 2nd IV. I was given my rowing colours, and we won a regatta at Stratford. We had to attend Matins in the Cathedral on Sundays, and I also went to Evensong and concerts quite often. I had piano lessons with Edgar Day, who was the assistant organist in the Cathedral, and later I had organ lessons with him too. He was the longest serving assistant Cathedral organist in the country, and a kind, saintly man” Towards the end of his time at Worcester, Noel was offered a job on an Estate in Trinidad, West Indies by an Old Vigornian, but first Noel had to complete his National Service. Having received call-up papers, and a day’s pay of four shillings in advance, Noel reported to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (The Loyals) in Preston in September 1955. He hoped to go abroad, but he was posted to Formby near Southport, whilst the others went to Malaya! Noel left the army in 1957, and flew to Trinidad. He worked at Woodford Lodge, a 7000-acre estate and sugar factory. He lived in the bachelor quarters, and he soon found out that he could ride a horse to go to work each day, rather than driving a Land Rover. After four years’ service in Trinidad, Noel enjoyed four months holiday, visiting the United States of America, as well as being back in Lancashire. On his return to Trinidad, it was clear that the country would soon become independent, so just before the end of his fifth year Noel resigned, and, back in the UK, he applied for a job with

the Bata Shoe Company to work in West Africa. Before the company would send him abroad, however, Noel managed their shoe shop in Alperton, Wembley. He stuck it for eight months, but he hated it, so he resigned, and got a job in the Telephone Manager’s Office in Acton, West London. Noel’s job was highly important because a girl called Carole had come down from North Yorkshire to work in the same office. Noel Andrews married Carole at Great Ayton, Yorkshire, on 1st April 1967. Noel’s musical career while he lived in London was enhanced when he joined the Royal Choral Society under Sir Malcolm Sargent, and he sang in the professional choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Both Noel and Carole applied for jobs at Girobank and they moved to Bootle, Liverpool, in 1968, where they lived for a year, before they bought their house in Burscough, Lancashire. Over the next 50 years Noel and Carole made their house and garden a perfect home for themselves - and for their cat, which in recent years has been Monty! Noel was a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir for 37 years. As well as in Liverpool, Noel sang in London at the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms), the Royal Festival Hall, and the Barbican, at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, at the Free Trade Hall and then at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, at York Minster, and at Liverpool Cathedral. Abroad, Noel and the Choir did a ten day tour of Spain (Oviedo, Santiago de Compostela, Madrid, Valencia, Seville Cathedral and Barcelona), and they also sang on other occasions in Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. In France, Noel sang at Orleans, at Chartres Cathedral, and provided the music for the main Sunday service in Notre Dame Cathedral. Over the years Noel was involved in numerous radio broadcasts, TV programmes, and recordings mainly in Liverpool, but also in the BBC studios in Manchester, and at the Abbey Road recording studios, made famous by the Beatles! Noel was appointed an Honorary Life Member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. Noel served as a Justice of the Peace at Ormskirk Magistrates Court for fifteen years, and in so doing mirrored the legal career of his best school friend, John Rubery, who became a Judge. When Noel was obliged to end his work as a magistrate, he became a guide at Liverpool Cathedral, working there most Saturdays. The Rev Canon Myles Davies, the Vice Dean and Canon Precentor, said, “We will always remember Noel at the Cathedral as someone who loved the place, he used to light up Saturdays for us with his infectious enthusiasm.” Noel’s great love of church music meant that he and Carole

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also followed the careers of Noel’s cousin’s two sons, who became choristers at King’s College, Cambridge. Among his other hobbies, Noel was a keen photographer. Four days after his 83rd birthday Noel lost his battle with cancer on 14th April 2020 at the Residential Home in Ormskirk, Lancashire where he had lived since Christmas 2019. PJA Mark Blakeway (H 71-81) Mark Holcroft Blakeway, 1963-2020 Mark Blakeway sadly passed away on August 30th. He was racing his Pandora sailing boat in North Wales with his family when he had a heart-attack. Mark attended The King’s School from 1971 to 1981 where he represented the First XV. Mark’s father (Robin) and brother (George) also attended the school. Mark was a farmer, a keen supporter of Kidderminster Carolians and Worcester Warriors rugby teams and a passionate sailor. He leaves his wife Cheryl and three children, Tom, Beccy and Elly. He was a wonderfully generous man, always donating so much time to others and will be sorely missed. George Blakeway (H 76-86) Michael (John) Bolton (Cl 48-55) FCA b: 16.05.1939 d: 19.07.2019 John Bolton attended The King’s School from 1948 to 1955 (Cl) and became a life-long benefactor to the King’s School Foundation. A keen sportsman, he also enjoyed being a cadet, an experience that led to his weekly shoe shining routine. On leaving King’s School John began a successful career in Accountancy. Articled with Rabjohns in Worcester, he became the youngest chartered accountant in the country. Junior Partnership at Platt’s & Co. followed shortly after and following mergers with other firms led to John becoming a Partner and latterly Senior Partner with PKF in Droitwich, Worcester and Birmingham. Married to Andrea Bolton (née Jones) in 1968, John had four children, all of whom attended King’s School; Edward (K 79-89), Kate (E 88-90); James (W 84-94); Will (Cl 85-95). James’ children, Florence and Archie also now attend King’s School.

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John passed away peacefully after a long and brave battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. The Bolton Family Edward (Ed) Chidley (S 76-83) Edward Thomas Robert Chidley 1964-2019 Edward (Ed to most of us) was brought up in rural Worcestershire and went to King’s Worcester where he was a King’s Scholar. He boarded in School House whilst his parents worked abroad and stayed there as a day boy when they returned. He was academically gifted and excelled at school. He matriculated at Pembroke Cambridge in 1984 reading Natural Sciences. He then completed a D Phil in solid state Physics at Linacre College Oxford, working with Robin Nicholas on semiconductor technology. He went on to work on semiconductor photodetection at RSRE (now Qinetiq) in Malvern until prevented by illness. He was an idiosyncratic character. Determined, getting things right was very important to him, both personally and professionally. He bore his illness and consequent disabilities with great fortitude and remained independent until the end. Although shy, he was a loyal and dependable friend and will be much missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Stephen Lord (W 73-83) Sir Stephen Cleobury (Ch 58-67) Stephen Cleobury and his brother Nicholas arrived in Worcester in 1957, the first choristers to be auditioned by Douglas Guest, who had just succeeded David Willcocks as Organist, after the latter had moved to King’s College, Cambridge. The boys’ father, Dr John Cleobury, had recently moved his family from a comfortable GP’s house in Kent to take up a position in a psychiatric hospital in Birmingham. It was one of his new colleagues at the hospital who suggested the boys try for choristerships down the road at Worcester, so that they might benefit from the education on offer at King’s. The years they spent as cathedral choristers shaped the course of the boys’ lives thereafter. Singing at the Three Choirs Festival and, as teenagers, continuing to attend Festival concerts, were formative experiences. Stephen and Nicholas, after their voices had changed, sang in the Festival Chorus where they encountered a wide

variety of choral works. Stephen could tell you the exact moment when he decided to become a musician – at the 2:30pm concert on Thursday 9th September 1965 – on hearing Vaughan Williams’ Tallis Fantasia conducted by Herbert Sumsion at Gloucester. The culture at King’s in the early 1960s was not always disposed towards musical endeavour; as in most public schools of the time, sporting prowess was much more greatly valued. Stephen felt this acutely. He found his best way to avoid rugby was to opt for cross-country runs, which enabled him to get back to school in time to do some piano practice. He did, however, benefit from language tuition at King’s, although he got into trouble during one CCF session for practising his A-level German via the walkie-talkies with which they had been issued (tactless, he later realised – most of the then schoolmasters at King’s having served in the War). This small misdemeanour must have come as a relief to the headmaster, David Annett, who in 1963 wrote in one of Stephen’s school reports: ‘I hope that he is not becoming too serious-minded and circumspect – I would almost welcome some small outburst of original sin!’ Stephen benefited enormously from the influence of two inspirational teachers who arrived a few years into his time at Worcester: Christopher Robinson, who became Assistant Organist in 1962 and succeeded as Organist the following year, whose musicianship Stephen always held in the highest esteem; and Harry Bramma, Christopher’s successor as Assistant, who in 1965 became, in addition, Director of Music at the school, where he transformed attitudes and instilled in his young charges a great love of music, introducing them to much of the Western musical canon on his LP player while giving them tea and cake. This partnership resulted in the school’s producing a string of fine musicians following on from Stephen, including his brother Nicholas, Roger Parkes, Christopher Tolley, Stephen Darlington, Andrew Millington, Adrian Partington and Geoffrey Webber. Christopher recalls first meeting Stephen when he was head chorister and describes a boy who was ‘quite small, always tidily dressed, polite, unassuming, yet totally au fait with everything that was going on. He always seemed wise beyond his years – precocious without being precious.’ Christopher gave Stephen piano and subsequently organ lessons and it was not long before Stephen was fulfilling the role of Organ Scholar at the cathedral, a role he undertook with exceptional diligence and determination.

Christopher encouraged him to join a madrigal group which he ran at the Alice Ottley School and it was not long before Stephen was directing a similar group of his own. From time to time he travelled with Christopher to Birmingham to act as accompanist for the City Choir. After his organ scholarship at St John’s College, Cambridge, Stephen’s career in church music was rapid: Organist of St Matthew’s, Northampton, Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey (where he again found himself working with Douglas Guest), Master of Music of Westminster Cathedral, and then his appointment as Organist and Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge in 1982, when he was but thirty-three. He was Conductor of the Cambridge University Music Society from 1983-2016 and between 1995 and 2007 he was also Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers, with whom he premiered many new works, and later its first Conductor Laureate. Stephen’s relentless pursuit of excellence, combined as it was with a deep modesty, was infectious and inspiring. He constantly strove to keep renewing the musical tradition at King’s, introducing the highly successful annual festival, Easter at King’s, from which the BBC regularly broadcast, and a series of high-profile performances throughout the year, Concerts at King’s, at which he conducted major works for choirs and orchestras and which brought to King’s Chapel many world-class performers. His musical ear (despite a deafness in one ear caused by an infection in early infancy) was phenomenal. He could detect a single wrong note played or sung by one individual in a rehearsal when a full chorus and symphony orchestra was performing fortissimo. He was totally committed to his choristers, whom he never treated condescendingly; he refused to contemplate sabbatical leave because, he argued, it would represent too long a portion of a boy’s time in the choir; he expected his choral and organ scholars to follow his example of meticulous preparation and unswerving commitment to excellence – though he was always supportive of those who genuinely struggled. He was, as a result, much loved by his students and choristers and his influence now extends beyond King’s to an array of other choirs through the many organ scholars he trained: the choirs at Norwich Cathedral, St George’s Chapel, Windsor, St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, New College, Oxford and Trinity and King’s, Cambridge are all run by former organ scholars of Stephen, while other choral and organ scholars who have

passed through the Choir during Stephen’s time now pursue careers as internationally renowned conductors, organ soloists and opera singers. Conservative by nature, Stephen understood that even deeply-loved traditions would die if not somehow connected to the oxygen of new life; his commissioning of new material for Christmas from composers who were respected in the wider world of classical music – not just those who catered for the narrow world of church music – was a genuine invitation to the composers he trusted to bring something new to the Christmas Eve service at King’s. The same artistic vision lay behind the choir’s concert, touring and recording schedule; choir members, congregations and audiences being exposed to, and delighted by, an ever-expanding range of styles, languages and genres. No one could be as productive, professional or, for that matter, as popular as Stephen without unusual levels of drive and singularity of mind. The current Dean of King’s, Stephen Cherry, recalls that although he was ‘not always comfortable in the laid-back Fellowship of King’s, he would voice his sometimes uniquely held views with careful courtesy and defend the causes to which he gave so relentlessly of his time and energy against all comers.’ That determination became courage in the last two years of his life when one medical issue followed another with growing intensity, each accompanied by chronic discomfort (he would never admit to pain). There was huge frustration when he could not perform his duties, but never the slightest self-pity. Stephen was made CBE in 2009. He retired at the end of August 2019, was knighted by the Queen in October and died on 22 November, the feast day of St Cecilia, patron of music, after a long battle with cancer. He was married twice and left four daughters – two by each marriage – and six grandchildren. (His youngest daughter is currently a chorister at York Minster.) Emma Cleobury Ean Crennell (Cl 41-45) Ean died peacefully at St Mary’s Hospital in Madison on Saturday 15th February 2020. Ean was born in a rural rectory in Pendock, Worcestershire on 10th July 1927 to the Rev. Henry Fraser Crennell and Gladys Mary Crennell. Ean finished King’s in 1945 and served in the Royal Air Force for three years, including one year spent in India.

He enrolled in medical school at Dublin University (Trinity College) in Ireland in 1949 and while there met Ruth Blackburn whom he married in 1954. Upon graduation from medical school in 1955, he and Ruth emigrated to Newfoundland, Canada where he completed a one-year internship and then worked in general practice for 18 months before being accepted into an Anesthesiology residency program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Ean joined Madison Anesthesiologists in 1961 and spent many years working at St Mary’s Hospital and Madison General (now Meriter) Hospital. Towards the end of his career he became an ER physician, spending several years serving the hospital in Plymouth, Wisconsin. A thoughtful, intensely private man, with a slightly irreverent sense of humour, Ean’s work and family were the most important things in his life. He loved living on his family’s small horse farm and was always an enthusiastic supporter of his wife’s many horse activities. He was a voracious reader of history, especially the history of World War II and also read widely about the history of aviation. In retirement, he studied astronomy, took piano lessons and enjoyed the company of his beloved Swedish Vallhund dog, Rolf. Ean is survived by his wife, Ruth of almost 66 years; two sons, Malcolm (Mandie) and Peter; and by Peter’s three children, Helena, Julian and Maya. He is also survived by a niece, Mary Griffin. Kenneth Evans (Cl 3845) 17.07.28 – 31.10.19 Kenneth was brought up in Worcester and educated at The King’s School Worcester, where he received awards for both academic and sporting achievements. He also sang in the Cathedral Choir. He went on to Exeter University to read History and train as a teacher. In addition to his teaching career he undertook National Service in the RAF, which led to many years of service in the Royal Observer Corps. Kenneth started teaching in a Grammar School in London. He then went on to work in Secondary Modern Schools and finally Comprehensive Education, in which he strongly believed. Kenneth took up the reins of leadership in September 1966 at Matravers School Westbury. During his tenure at the school a great deal

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of emphasis was placed on supporting children with Special Needs, including running a Special Unit. There was a small farm and horticultural facility for children to develop their understanding of animal husbandry and gardening. Children were also taught car mechanics. He leaves two surviving children: a son, whose naval career included the Falklands War, and a daughter who followed in her father’s footsteps, championing Special Needs Education. Helen White David Finch OBE (Hon OV) Governor David was born in East Grinstead on 10th November 1936 and educated at Merchant Taylors’ School. He did his National Service in the Green Howards and was posted to Hong Kong. In 1957 David went up to Lincoln College, Oxford, to read Jurisprudence. He spent much of his leisure time on the river coxing his College boats. He was thrilled when his son Stephen became an oarsman and rowed at Henley Regatta. David qualified as a solicitor and after practising in Hertfordshire, moved to Gloucestershire and joined a practice with offices in Tewkesbury and Pershore, Gordon Bancks, later Thomson & Bancks, eventually becoming Senior Partner. He was progressive in his ideas and recognised the value of computers in a solicitor’s office. He was President of the local Law Society. From 1977 to 1989 David served on Hereford and Worcester County Council. He was Chairman of the Further Education and the Finance Committees and eventually became Leader. At various times he was also a governor of King’s School Worcester and of four other schools. David was involved with the local Conservative Association and became Constituency Chairman at a time when Michael Spicer was the MP: they did not always see eye to eye over our membership of the European Union. He was delighted to be awarded the OBE for service to the community and for political services, and was more pleased with the former, believing that he had been fortunate in life and that it was important to give back to Society. David was a Rotarian for nearly fifty years, which he found interesting and worthwhile. He took a special interest in Pershore Abbey and became Chairman of the Friends in 2006.

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He was a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and became a member of the Court. He derived much pleasure from the Company as it encompassed one of his main interests. David was a man of wide-ranging interests who greatly enjoyed the company of others especially if it included good food and wine. He had particular empathy for the young and never grew tired of hearing about their latest exploits. In 2018, he and Audrey moved into Pershore. Sadly, a month after the move David’s skin cancer became apparent and thereafter his health deteriorated, and he died peacefully in Pershore Hospital on 24th March 2020. Only his immediate family could be present at his funeral, but the family hopes to have a Service of Thanksgiving in Pershore Abbey in due course. David is survived by his wife Audrey, daughter Hannah, son Stephen and five grandchildren. Audrey Finch David Finch was a governor of The King’s School from October 1977 to his retirement in July 1998. We met at his first governors’ meeting and soon became firm friends. David was quickly invited to be a member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and we both served on this for the remainder of our time as governors. I shall always be grateful for his wise advice, his support and, particularly while I was chairman, for his unwavering loyalty to the School and to his fellow governors. His many years of service to King’s were invaluable – not only in terms of his legal advice and wider experience but also as a source of sound common sense when some of us were about to go ‘off the rails’ with certain proposals or ideas! He was always cheerful and constructive and could be relied upon to add a ‘light touch’ to our proceedings. David was very fortunate to have the love, dedication and support of his wife Audrey – particularly during his illness in the last couple of years when the strain of taking care of him must have been immense. David will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Donald T Howell (S 53-61) Oliver Fyson (Ch 67-71) It is with great regret that I advise that my younger brother, Oliver Fyson died on 12th March 2020 aged 66. He succumbed to a long battle with malignant melanomas.

Oliver graduated from King’s School Worcester and secured a position at City University London where he undertook a sandwich course degree in Civil Engineering with a national Civil Construction firm. His career included work on motorway construction, the Thames Barrier, supervision of a viaduct on the Iraq Iran border which was terminated before completion when the Iraq Iran border war broke out. He rescued the design of a temple roof in Delhi India that was to open like a lotus flower, the engineering detail of which had defeated those before, Oliver resolved the design and the temple was built. The last few decades were spent with an Oxford engineering consultancy where he undertook many interesting projects at Oxford University as well as further afield, including work on a shopping centre in Worcester. Oliver was also a very accomplished craftsman making several very fine pieces of furniture; he was always willing to help others. He is survived by his wife Sophie, children David and Claire and a brother and two sisters. Christopher Fyson (S 59-62) Benjamin (Lyn) James (Cr 38-44) Benjamin John Llewellyn James (known as Lyn) was born on 18th August 1926 and sadly passed away on 11th February 2020 at the age of 93. As a pupil at King’s, Lyn enjoyed playing cricket and shooting. Lyn was among 40 King’s School pupils who were unable to evacuate to Criccieth (during the King’s School evacuation in 1939-1940) and continued his education at the Worcester Royal Grammar School, returning to King’s in September 1940. After finishing King’s, Lyn continued his love of cricket and played for the Old Vigornian Cricket Club. Lyn had a successful career in farming for over 20 years and later went on to work in the Security industry. Lyn’s son, Philip, also attended King’s (W 69-76). Lyn was interested in gardening, sport, reading and dancing. He is much missed by his wife Mary. Sir David Jones (Cr 53-60) David passed away on the 28th December 2019 and is best known for leading retailer Next from a time of crisis to great success in the 1980’s and 1990’s. David left King’s in 1960 and went to work at Worcester company Kays before moving on to Grattan and then joining Next in 1986. Two years later, he became Chief Executive

and helped save Next from collapse and reversed their fortunes so that Next became the third biggest fashion chain in the UK. David’s success is especially impressive given he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the early 1980’s aged just 38, although he kept this private until 2001. David is remembered by OVs as an outstanding man, charming, friendly and attentive. Dr Thomas (Tom) Lunt (Cl 45-46) Dr Thomas ‘Tom’ Lunt (passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday 8th April 2020. Tom often recalled his time at The King’s School, Worcester as one of the happiest periods of his life. He moved to Worcester with his mother and brother during the War as his father felt it would be safer. Looking at the ‘Early Education’ section of his CV Tom records that he was joint winner of his forms History Prize in books in 1946. Tom’s enthusiasm for History was replaced by the natural sciences and in particular Chemistry. He pursued his passion for Chemistry as an undergraduate at Oxford and then with a PhD (1961) titled ‘Organic Compounds of Boron Containing Functional Groups’. He was supervised by Dr Mike Lappert at the North London Polytechnic and then at the Faculty of Technology, University of Manchester. During this time, he also undertook Russian language lessons which were to prove useful in his later career. Following his PhD, Tom worked in a variety of research positions including the Admiralty Materials Laboratory, Food Research Association and for most of his career at the Paint Research Association (PRA) which was then based in Teddington, south London. For much of his time at the PRA Tom’s work involved abstracting the findings of international scientific publications, which often required translation from other languages including Russian. Diagnosed with the rare spinal condition of Syringomyelia in the 1980s, Tom gradually lost the use of his legs and was confined to a wheelchair. He bore the loss of mobility with fortitude. His strong Christian faith and the love of his family and friends helped him to deal with this difficult change. Tom refused to allow his loss of mobility to hold him back from his career and the pursuits and hobbies he loved. He had his vintage Riley car converted to hand

controls, so he could continue to drive to club gatherings and often made trips to far flung gardens and nurseries to pick up unusual plants to grow in his garden. He supported many charities such as the Mission Aviation Fellowship and Crosslinks. Following the death of his first wife Beryl in 2003, Tom travelled widely in the UK and also further afield to Iceland and Australia. He continued to keep up with news from the King’s School and on one memorable weekend took his children, Christina and Tom for a weekend to Worcester where we visited the School and also enjoyed a great T20 cricket match which the Worcestershire Rapids won. Happily, in 2009, Tom married Anne who he met at a Crosslinks conference a year or so before. The two of them enjoyed their time together travelling widely in the UK and overseas. Pilgrim, Scientist, Explorer and Gardener. Thomas Lunt (20/4/1932-8/4/2020) remains in the hearts of his wife Anne, children Tom and Christina, grandchildren Joseph, Peter, Samuel and Benjamin and many more family and friends who remember him with great fondness. Christina Edley Nick Moss (Cr 66-76) 3rd January 1958 to 2nd July, 2020 Nick started as a day boy at St. Albans in 1966 and continued as a Direct Grant pupil at Kings in 1969 following the 11+ exam. In his early days he played rugby and joined the scouts, often going on trips to The Old Chapel in Crickhowel. He took up rowing and became Secretary and then Captain of the Boat Club, winning a place in the 1st V111 in 1975 at the age of seventeen. That year the crew won the Child Beale Cup at the National Schools Regatta and represented the school at Henley Royal Regatta. He was appointed as a School Monitor in 1976. On leaving school Nick spent a year at University College London reading Chemistry and then onto Kingston taking a degree combining Business with Chemistry and in July 1981 was awarded a First Class Honours Degree. During this time, he met his wife Carol whilst undertaking a 9-month work experience at ICI Paints Division at Slough in 1979. They married in 1983. He was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and was engaged as a judge in some of the most prestigious industry award schemes.

Nick’s career took him around the UK eventually settling in Bricklehampton, Worcestershire in 1996. He then started his own Strategic Marketing Consultancy working for several blue-chip clients in the building products industry, alongside his Corporate Hospitality/Events Management company. Nick always had a passion for motorsport and attended Le Mans 14 times, largely in support of his friend Oliver Gavin, who won his class 5 times. He also had a passion for fireworks and in his spare time worked for a firework company where he attained a black powder license. He worked on many professional shows culminating in taking part at the Oman World Championships in 2010. Closer to home he served as a Parish Councillor for 10 years becoming Vice Chairman, representing the interests of Bricklehampton. He was one of the original directors of the Elmley Castle Pubco, who made the plans and raised funds to refurbish and re-launch the Queen Elizabeth. He enjoyed fine dining, fine wines and tried to visit as many Michelin Star restaurants as possible. In 2015 he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a major operation, followed by a series of debilitating treatments. In 2017, when the chemotherapy stopped working, he was told there was nothing more they could do. Then a new treatment was suggested, which maintained the quality of his life until July this year. During the time left to him he lived life to the full, ticking almost everything off his bucket list. Nick passed away in St. Richard’s Hospice on 2nd July, 2020 and is sadly missed by his wife Carol, his sister Kath, family and friends. Carol Moss Michael Senter (Cr 46-54) At King’s, Michael was a day boy and took an active role in school life, partaking in CCF, captaining the 1st Hockey team and later became Head of School. Michael applied for an English-Speaking Union (ESU) scholarship and was the first King’s student to attend school in Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, USA. He returned to the UK to complete his military service, serving as a second lieutenant in the Staffordshire Regiment. He was then seconded to the Jamaica Regiment from 1955-57. Following his service, Michael attended St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford where he obtained a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages in 1960. In 1966, Michael met Enid Mayberry and they married in 1967.

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Michael was awarded an OBE in 1988 for services to British Commercial Interests in Czechoslovakia. In 2015, Michael and Enid were both awarded The Cross of Merit, Poland’s highest medal for civilians for their charitable work as volunteers in Poland for over twenty years. Michael passed away in February 2020. Clare Proctor née Skinner (Co 89-91) Clare Proctor née Skinner (Co 89-91) died on 16th March 2020 in the intensive care unit of Beijing United Family Hospital. She succumbed to septic shock resulting from an unknown infection. Her death was sudden, unexpected and devastating for all her family and friends. Clare was cremated at a private ceremony in Worcester on 4th May 2020. She would have been delighted to be going out from this life on “Star Wars day”. In life, Clare was effervescent, bringing brightness, optimism and a sense of joy to every conversation. While she enjoyed company and had a unique and precious gift for friendship, she was also at peace with herself and took great pleasure in time spent with a cup of tea, a cat on her lap and a good book to read. She had a beautiful honesty and a warm, welcoming spirit which drew people to her, but most endearingly she was unaware of just how loved she was by so many. Clare joined College House, King’s School as a day girl in 1989 for her sixth-form studies. She was a bright and gregarious young lady who quickly made friends and got involved, particularly with music. A clarinettist, she joined the school orchestra and wind band, sang in the choir and was a member of the Keys Music Society. 1989 also saw the appointment of David Brookshaw as Head of Music, and Clare, along with 4 other students, formed a good-humoured tightknit group studying A-level Music that year. Many happy hours were spent rehearsing for concerts, services in the cathedral and enjoying the social side of music at the school. Her love of music continued throughout her life and she successfully passed it on to the rest of her family. After studying modern languages at Anglia University with time spent in Clermont Ferrand and Sienna, Clare worked at the Cambridge Arts Cinema (between 1994 and 2001) where she was able to indulge in her love of films. Curating the annual film festival was one of her most favorite roles.

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She loved to travel and invested her savings to spend significant time in the US, India and New Zealand visiting old friends and making new ones. In 2004, she married Tim, the brother of her dear friend Sarah Bingham née Proctor (Co 89-91) whom she had known for 15 years since meeting at Kings. In 2007, they moved to America, living in Indiana for 12 years where Clare found what she described as her calling in life, as mother and home maker. Angus was born in 2006, in the UK; Violet was born in 2008, in the US. Clare invested herself in their health and wellbeing never ceasing to challenge the status quo and seek out opportunities to do more and to do better. After Angus and Violet started full time at school, Clare discovered a love for Pilates and eventually became a qualified BASI instructor passing on her love to a dedicated group of clients both in the US and in China. In 2019 Clare and her family moved from Indiana to Beijing, China. She embraced this second international move as she had the first, exploring the Chinese culture, learning new recipes and the challenge of Mandarin as a spoken language. She quickly became a fixture in the expat community making new friends from all over the world. Despite living overseas for the last 13 years with her husband and children, Clare remained close to her parents, Derek and Cilla Skinner and her sister Jennifer in the UK. She was unfailingly loyal to her friends from Kings throughout her time at University and beyond. She is sorely missed by her family and all who knew her. Sarah Bingham (Co 89-91), Tim Proctor, Clare Furey (Co 89-91), Cilla and Derek Skinner and Jennifer Floyd Jane Tombs (Ca 74-76) Jane was one of three sisters who were all born on their father’s dairy and fruit farm in Lulsley in the Teme Valley. She went to school at St Mary’s Convent in Worcester until she moved to King’s in the Lower Sixth Form in 1974. In the following year, her sister Sarah also joined King’s. As a member of one of the early cohorts of girls at King’s, Jane made many lifelong friends during her time at the school – and of course in the Farrier’s Arms (where I met her other sister, Lit, my wife when she was taken into the pub by Jane). Several King’s boarders would make the regular bike ride out to Ravenhall Farm for a roast Sunday lunch and still talk fondly of those trips.

After initially studying at Leeds University, Jane switched to Oxford Polytechnic to read Environmental Sciences. Whilst environmental issues remained a lifelong passion for her, her career was actually spent mainly in the travel industry, working for Thomas Cook’s for many years and doing guided tours and cruises. She also taught English as a foreign language in various locations. A seasoned and knowledgeable traveller, Jane spent time living in Senegal, The Gambia and Portugal but eventually emigrated to Australia in 1990. Jane championed the rights of indigenous people and was also an active member of her church community in Port Melbourne. Jane inherited a rare genetic degenerative neurological condition called Spino Cerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1). She died from complications from SCA1 on 19th October 2019 at the age of 61 having spent several years living in a nursing home in Melbourne. Her funeral took place in Australia but there was a memorial service in the Teme Valley in January 2020 which several OVs attended and her ashes were buried in Lulsley. IJC Smith (Cr 73-78) Brother-in-Law Gordon Wrigley (S 48-52) R. Gordon Wrigley (School House 4852), passed away 20th October 2019, in Portugal, following a series of progressively severe strokes. He was 85. Gordon was born in Edinburgh on 9th May 1934 and at three weeks old travelled with his parents to Trinidad where he spent his early childhood. His love of the warmth and colour of the West Indies stayed with him for life. During WWII he moved with his mother and sister, Marie, to Canada, where they spent the majority of the war. However, when Gordon was around 10 they returned to the UK. A family story posits this was because his mother was horrified to see him playing American Football, rather than rugby, and felt it was time for his education to continue in England. This was just before the end of the war and the journey home was a potentially treacherous one, as they travelled in a convoy on the SS Rangitiki. It was a journey which had a profound effect on Gordon and the memories of that trip never faded. The journey was not without tragedy, other ships in the convoy were torpedoed and sunk, and the remainder of the convoy was forbidden to stop to pick up survivors. That said, it was not without lighter moments. Despite his young age Gordon was billeted separately

from his mother and sister, in the male quarters, where he became something of a mascot to the American GIs who were his bunk mates. They told him jokes (probably inappropriate) and loaded him up with chewing gum (they thought it a hoot his surname was Wrigley) and chocolate (a rare treat indeed). It was also said that Dame Vera Lynn’s parents were on the same ship and, as their daughter was a huge star, there was something of a buzz when the ship finally docked in Liverpool. Gordon went to prep school at Hillbrow at Featherstone Castle. His first visit there was on VE Day and an overlubricated serviceman is said to have driven his motorcycle without any concern for life or limb along the approach to the school. In order to save themselves Gordon’s mother leapt over a barbed wire fence pulling Gordon and Marie with her. A scar, the length of Gordon’s thigh, was a lifelong ’souvenir’ of that event. After Hillbrow, Gordon went to the King’s School, Worcester, where he was in School House. He was there at the time when Dan McTurk was the housemaster, a man whom Gordon could not speak of highly enough. His leadership was certainly one of the reasons that Gordon described his years at King’s as ‘amongst his very happiest’. Another was the lifelong friends Gordon made whilst there. Among others, he was in touch with Francis Bennet and Michael Sykes till the end. At school Gordon was a keen sportsman, he played rugby for the first XV and cricket for the second XI. (Francis Bennett remembers Gordon as a good fast bowler and at a memorable match at Hereford, where Francis was fielding at very silly point, Gordon bowled and hit him ‘fair and square on the backside’ and much hilarity ensued!) However, it was in shooting that Gordon really excelled. Gordon was Captain of the Shooting VIII and the Vigornian magazines of that era make frequent references to the strength of the team. It has been said that their results were unrivalled before or since. The Vigornian of December 1952 includes a piece written by Gordon about the VIII at Bisley which describes their pride and excitement at being part of an international competition of ‘forty thousand competitors from nations all over the world’, and at which ‘Cpl. Wrigley obtained the highest possible score at the 200-yard range to claim a first prize.’ Gordon was also at pains to praise his team mates and also the experienced shots they found themselves in the company of for being so ‘helpful and considerate ... to young and inexperienced shots.’ It was clearly an experience which left a great impression on them.

Gordon stayed in touch with King’s and his friends from there and in the 1980s started attending the annual OV dinners. It was at one of these that he learned the school was now open to girls in the sixth form and subsequently his younger daughter, Kirsten, became a College House border in 1987. He was told at the time that Kirsten was the first daughter of an OV to attend the school and he was pleased to be present at the School House Centenary Dinner in 1988, which took place during the time his daughter was at the school.

as he called them) which became more severe at the end. His final passing, caused by a severe stroke, was swift and dignified, which is as he would have wanted it. Both his daughters were at his bedside.

Gordon was also a founder member of the ‘School House 70ish Lunch’ and was still a regular attendee when it matured to become ‘70ish to 80ish’. The last time he attended was in 2016 when he was delighted to share news of his newest grandson, Hugo, only son to Kirsten and Gideon Hyde (Br 84-89).

Gordon’s funeral was held in Portugal, in line with his wishes, at the church he had become a member of in his later years. At closing, the congregation sang ‘We’ll Meet Again’ in recognition of his fondness for the song and his war-time memories. It was hoped a memorial service would take place in the UK in May, sadly this has had to be reconsidered owing to the global pandemic. His daughters still hope to hold a service to celebrate and remember his full and happy life when circumstances permit. Kirsten Wrigley (Co 87-89)

After his time at Kings, Gordon undertook an apprenticeship at Lodge Plugs where again he made lifelong friends. This proved to be a stepping stone to a career in precision engineering, specialising in rare metals for components ranging from medical devices to aircraft engines. His job as a sales executive took him around the world. His success can be attributed to his genuine interest in people and hearing their stories and sharing his own. Gordon’s career enabled him to travel extensively as he made regular trips to continental Europe and also spent time in South Africa and Botswana. Whilst working for Uniform Tubes Inc, an American company, he was able to regularly visit his sister Marie, now living again in Canada, his brother David in Trinidad and his two other sisters Liz and Greta in Louisiana and Florida respectively. In the early 1970s Gordon and his then wife Barbara, had a property on the Isle of Wight where they lived and where Gordon was able to further his interest in horticulture. Amongst other things, they grew strawberries, raspberries and freesias on a commercial basis. Following his retirement in the mid-1990s Gordon moved, with his second wife, Joanna, to Portugal to take advantage of the sun and the golf. He very much enjoyed his life there and had many hobbies. Gordon remained in Portugal and was pleased to be able to live largely independently until the end. He enjoyed his garden, his many friends and most particularly the ramshackle collection of dogs and cats who had adopted him over the years. In the final few years of his life Gordon suffered with mini-strokes (or funny turns

He was predeceased by his first wife, Barbara, and survived by his second wife, Joanna. He leaves daughters, Jane and Kirsten, son-in-law, Gideon, and grandson Hugo. Also, stepson Robert, stepdaughter Lizzie and six further grandchildren, Claudia & Iona and William, Bertie, Hattie & Mimi.

OV Deaths reported since publication of 2018-2019 Vigornian Michael Ackred (S 62-68) Noel Andrews (Ca 47-55) David Attwood (OV 1948) Julian Barlow (Br 66-73) Richard Beeching (W 57-67) Mark Blakeway (H 71-81) Michael (John) Bolton (Cl 48-55) Roger Brown (Cl 48-54) Iris Checketts (Hon OV Staff) Edward Chidley (S 76-83) Stephen Cleobury (Ch 58-67) Francis Cowper (DB 33-38) Peter Crellin (H 53-58) Ean Crennell (Cl 41-45) Richard (Nigel) Cullen (Cr 46-49) Hilary (John) Davies (S 43-52) Edward Dodsworth (Cr 43-52) Kenneth Evans (Cl 38-45) David Finch (Hon OV Governor) Oliver Fyson (Ch 67-71) Benjamin (Lyn) James (Cr 38-44) David Jones (Cr 53-60) Martin Lister (Cl 59-64) Thomas (Tom) Lunt (Cl 45-46) Oscar Martinez-Amesti (Ch 91-93) Nicholas (Nick) Moss (Cr 66-76) Clare Proctor (née Skinner) (Co 89-91) Richard Rayson (S 43-48) Michael Senter (Cr 46-54) Michael Stacey (Cl 59-60) Grant Strover (Cl 87-97) Amanda (Jane) Tombs (Ca 74-76) Catherine Waring (née Griffiths) (E 87-89) Jonathan Williams (Cl 73-82) Gordon Wrigley (S 48-52)

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Old Vigornian Club This year has been a year like no other! Before Lockdown was on the horizon, the decision was taken to postpone the Annual OV Reunion Weekend from the usual May to September. This was due to ongoing works in and around College Hall because of the Cathedral’s Undercroft project. Unfortunately, as September drew nearer it was clear that holding our reunion weekend events would be impossible with the guidelines on social gatherings and social distancing, so with heavy hearts the OV Annual Reunion Weekend had to be postponed yet again. The new date is September 18-19th 2021 and fingers crossed we will once again be able to come together. 2019-20 Committee and Officers President: David Ogle (K 76-86) Vice President: Vacant Chairperson: Richard Underwood (Ch 68-79) Hon Sec: Nick Stephens (Br 77-84) Hon Treasurer: John Potter (Cl 55-62) Hon Social Secretary: Helen (née Meacham) Kennedy (E 90-92)

Committee Members Members Emeritus: Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56) Roy Padden (Cl 46-52) Elected Members: Julia Annable (née Simcock) (Co 85-87) Nick Clark (H 88-90) Simon Cronin (S 67-77) Rebecca Day (Co 81-84)

Acting Headmaster: Jon Ricketts (Hon OV) King’s School Alumni Representative: Sophie Borrillo-McLellan / Caroline Mitchell-Wise

well as extra concerts and special services. In December the choir were invited to sing at a charity Carol Concert at St George’s, Hanover Square in London, which was a wonderful occasion. A brass band were in attendance, as well as an exciting lineup of celebrity readers including Brian Blessed and Clare Balding, with each reading introduced by former chorister, Aled Jones.

suspension of public worship and closure of schools were announced within the first few months of 2020. As I write, chorister rehearsals and choral services have only just resumed after a break of almost six months, and in July 2020 we weren’t able to say our usual farewell to those whose time in the choir was coming to an end. We are hoping to invite last year’s leavers back for a belated farewell in due course. Those choristers still with us are doing a wonderful service to the school and the cathedral in continuing a living tradition which stretches back for a number of centuries.

David Head (Cl 52-58) Will Kerton (Os 82-92) Mike Page (Cr 60-65) Claire Turner (née Wood) (Os 91-98)

Cathedral

Despite the challenges which developed over the course of the academic year, the Cathedral Choir enjoyed a good start to the term in September 2019 as a number of new faces joined the ranks, including a new Director of Music, Lay Clerk, Organ Scholar, Choral Scholars, and also no fewer than six new boy choristers! The new recruits settled in quickly as the term got underway and they were kept busy with a variety of events, including the regular, almost daily, rehearsals and services in the cathedral throughout the week and at weekends, as

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Back in Worcester, the choristers continued to play a central part in the singing of cathedral and school services, but were forced to stop their routine when the

Archivist’s Report Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Archivist was on furloughed leave throughout the 2020 Summer Term: the School Archive was closed and no work undertaken after the school broke up in March 2020 until the start of the new academic year in September 2020. Nonetheless, a number of exciting archive projects were underway during the Autumn 2019 and Spring 2020 terms including external exhibitions and research projects, so it is good to be able to put these on record in the Vigornian.

Blind College Research

80th Anniversary Criccieth Evacuation Exhibition

In October 2019 the Archivist was contacted by David Scott, the Archivist at New College, Worcester, requesting assistance with research into the college’s early history. New College was originally established as the College for the Blind Sons of Gentlemen in 1866 by Revd. Robert Hugh Blair, Third Master at The King’s School, 1861-1866. Blair had boarders at King’s, amongst whom was Norman McNeile, the blind son of the Dean of Ripon. McNeile left King’s in June 1865 on reaching the upper age limit of 19 and went to Trinity College, Dublin where he took a First in Divinity in 1870 and was ordained. McNeile’s experience at King’s was very positive but it was obvious that not every blind youth could succeed under such circumstances; it suggested to Blair the need for an education establishment tailored to the needs of blind boys, and he took the Commandery in Sidbury for the purpose. During its first 23 years, the Blind College taught a number of sighted pupils, who learnt alongside - and assisted - their blind counterparts; and some of these sighted pupils subsequently became pupils at King’s. Throughout late 2019 and early 2020, Lower Sixth members of Archives Club Henny and Amy undertook careful and detailed research of nineteenth-century King’s School registers in order to identify such pupils and provide New College with biographical details.

In autumn 2019, the Archivist was contacted by Catrin Jones, clerk of Criccieth Town Council. At the outbreak of the Second World War the town of Criccieth, North Wales, became home to a number of evacuees; it was also the town to which The King’s School, under its headmaster L.A. Wilding, relocated during the academic year 1939-1940 when King’s buildings were requisitioned by the government in event of an all-out aerial bombardment of London. Criccieth Town Council mounted a day-long exhibition on 10 November 2019 in order to mark Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the arrival of wartime evacuees. The Archivist was able to provide information and digital copies of numerous archive documents pertaining to King’s experiences in Criccieth which were included in the town’s exhibition. This event was a unique chance to collaborate with individuals and institutions beyond Worcester; and it was wonderful to be able to contribute in such a special and meaningful way to the town’s commemoration.

Enquiries

Visitors

Archives Volunteer

The Archivist has received many enquiries on a wide range of subjects this year. Aside from those regarding New College and Criccieth, these have included: the history of King’s and Queen’s Scholars; numerous seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and nineteenth century OVs; the John Moore Theatre; the Meeke Scholarship; the school Tuck Shop; the Mayflower; and early twentieth century school essay prizes.

It was wonderful to accommodate all 125 Lower Fourth pupils to the archives during their usual History lessons across January and February this year. Four new members of King’s staff visited the archives in January, and the archives also welcomed 43 Year 6 pupils during two Stretch Days in February and early March.

This is the fourth year in which King’s archives has welcomed a history student from the University of Worcester, here on a voluntary placement as part of her assessed university course. Arianna-Rys Gilbert spent 25 hours in the King’s archives, researching an exhibition on The King’s School during the Second World War, in order to mount a display outside the Long Gallery for the 75th anniversary of VE Day. However, due to Covid-19 Arianna was unable to complete her placement with us and finish the exhibition. The Archivist hopes to put the finishing touches to Arianna’s work to mount her display early in the 2020 Autumn term. Do keep an eye out for it in the Long Gallery. Thank you, Arianna.

It was exciting to be able to loan a set of former drums used by the KSW OTC band to Dave Grinnell (Staff 2004-) to go on display during the school’s CCF Pass Off Parade on 13 March, alongside a small, temporary archives display of CCF material.

11 November 2019, of course, also saw King’s own Remembrance Day observations; this year’s lecturer to the OV community was Tom Sharp (Staff 1991-), who visited the School Archive on numerous occasions in the early part of the autumn term to undertake research on The King’s School

In addition, a current pupil visited the School Archive to undertake research on the CCF; and we were visited by four OVs and one wife of an OV to examine material in the archives.

Criccieth exhib

ition poster

during the 1930s and the Second World War, including its evacuation to Criccieth. The Archivist attended Mr. Sharp’s fascinating Remembrance Day lecture, and enjoyed speaking to numerous OVs afterwards. It was particularly gratifying to speak to Ann Turner (Hon OV), Jane Stacey (Hon OV), and Caroline Roslington (Staff 1977-2011), who were all responsible for providing the School Archive with much of the material pertinent to King’s time in Criccieth in the first place. The Archivist would also like to thank Henny and Amy for their expert assistance in mounting a temporary Criccieth archives exhibition, on display during the OV lunch.

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Archives Club Nineteenth-century OVs previously educated as sighted pupils at the Blind College

School Archives Club 2019

As reported, Lower Sixth members of Archives Club Henny and Amy have been very busy this year undertaking research of nineteenth-century OVs who were previously sighted pupils at New College, Worcester between 1886 and 1889. Vigornian readers can find a taste of Henny and Amy’s research on three of these individuals, below. Meanwhile, Lower Fourth member Jack has provided wonderful assistance in combing contemporary issues of Worcester News for articles pertaining to King’s to add to the School Archive’s newspaper collections, and has also undertaken important cleaning of collection artefacts to ensure their longevity and care. In addition, Upper Fourth member Izzy has made wonderful progress transcribing the wartime letters of Henry Cecil Wilmot (S 1902-1909) sent to his mother from the front. Thank you, Jack and Izzy!

Albert Hilary Hill (KSW 1877-) A.H. Hill was born on 30 April 1865, the son of Hilary Hill, Esq., of Broad Street. The King’s School register records Hill’s entry at King’s during the first term of 1877, having previously been a pupil at the Blind College. According to back issues of The Vigornian, Hill won the school’s under-15 Long Jump prize in 1880 for jumping a distance of 12’10”, for which he was awarded a cup. Hill also entered the school’s under-15 One Hundred Yards Race that year and won the race “rather easily”, for which he was awarded a silver chain. The date that Hill left King’s is, sadly, unrecorded; and what became of him later in life is unknown. Henry Armstrong Smallwood (King’s Scholar 1880-1883) H.A. Smallwood was born on 26 February 1869, the son of Revd. W.J. Smallwood of Claines Vicarage. Smallwood entered King’s third form as a King’s Scholar in 1880 from The Commandery (location of the Blind College until 1887). The Vigornian records that Smallwood won King’s 1881 under-13 Two Hundred Yards’ Handicap, for which he won a dog inkstand. In the same year Smallwood won the under-13 One Hundred Yards (winning by two yards), for which the prize was a desk! In subsequent years, Smallwood’s name continued to appear in The Vigornian as a high achiever in the school’s athletic sports. Smallwood left King’s as a member of the fourth form in July 1883 to become a pupil at the King’s School in Canterbury; what became of Smallwood subsequently is not known.

OV Reunion

Accessions

The 2020 OV Reunion, firstly postponed from May 2020 due to ongoing restoration work in College Hall, was cancelled in September 2020 due to the pandemic.

Peter Weeks (Br 1974-1979) bequeathed several King’s school prospectuses from the 1960s and 1970s, an issue of the College Green magazine, and poetry for the 1977 King’s Day. We thank Martin Lorenz (S 1945-1950) for providing a copy of the script of the KSW production of Faust from 1949. Ian Sykes (W 1959-1969) donated a collection of King’s Day service sheets from the 1960s. Thank you to Mrs. Kitt (OV parent) for providing beautiful photographs of Edgar Tower from the 1970s. We are grateful to Ruth Reeves (Staff 1985-2008) for donating a collection of school service sheets and photographs from the 1990s. Clive Marks (S 1969-1974) kindly bequeathed us his father’s (S 1941-

Building Work Although the building work outside on Edgar Tower has finished (and looks wonderful!), plastering and maintenance work needs to be carried out before everything can be returned to its rightful place and the Archives Exhibition Room can be fully restored to its former glory.

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George Edward Rowland (King’s Scholar 1886-1891) G.E. Rowland was born on 8 January 1872, the son of Mr. E.C. Rowland of 1 Claremount, Yellow Hill. In the 1884 and 1885 issues of The Vigornian, Rowland’s name appears as a member of the Commandery cricket team in a match played against King’s. Rowland left the Commandery to come to King’s in 1886, where he was awarded a King’s Scholarship and entered the fourth form; he was subsequently awarded the IV Form Prize at the 1887 Prize Day. The following year Rowland obtained his Lower Certificate, passing in Latin (first class), Greek (first class), French (first class), Arithmetic, Euclid & Algebra, Scripture Knowledge, English, and English History; he also achieved an honorary mention for the Fifth Form prize at that year’s Speech Day. During his time at King’s, Rowland was a member of the school Chess Club, Rowing Club, and Debating Society. In 1889 he was one of King’s candidates to sit the “Examination in Ambulance”, for which the Vigornian records, “None of the Candidates failed, and the Examiner pronounced ours to be the best class he had ever examined”. The 1889 and 1890 Speech Days began with renditions of dramatic scenes, in which Rowland participated. Rowland achieved his Higher Certificate in 1890, passing in Latin, Greek, Mathematics elementary, Scripture Knowledge, and Roman History. In 1891 Rowland sat the South Kensington Examination, for which he achieved First Class Honours in Theoretical Chemistry. He also won the Natural Science Prize at that year’s Speech Day. Rowland subsequently left King’s at Midsummer 1891. Research undertaken by Henny and Amy

1944) School Certificate and dental surgery qualification papers from the 1940s and 1950s. Peter Hughes (Os 1976-1985) donated a set of school rules and a Boat Club top from the 1980s. Michael Kirk (Ca 1953-1963) gave us a KSW boater badge from the 1960s. In addition, David Smith (Br 1958-1967) kindly sent in a collection of school photographs one of St. Alban’s from 1959 and several Bright House photographs from the 1960s. Thank you very much to all those who have given material to the school archives: if you have any former King’s School material that you would like to donate, do get in touch! Harriet Patrick, Archivist

Teaching Staff 2019/20 J.R. Ricketts BSc

Acting Headmaster

R.P. Mason BA

Director of External Relations, Economics

D.S. King BSc

Academic Deputy Head

A.R. Oliver BA, MSc

Deputy Head (Staff and Co-curricular)

S.L. Toland MA

Assistant Head (Pastoral)

K.H. Beever Ma, CEng

Assistant Head (Pupil Development)

J.L. Lucas BA, Dip Sp LD

Head of Learning Skills

J.C. Barnard BSc

Geography

G.S. Hawthorne BA

Classics

R.J. Davis BA

English

G.L. Williams M Ed, BA

Economics & Business

D.N. Branchett BSc

Head of Computing

T.R. Sharp MA

History

R.J. Shearburn BA

Head of Spanish

E.J. Cameron BA

Head of History & Politics

M.C. Poole BSc, PhD

Chemistry

J.N. Gardiner BSc

Maths

E.J. Lewis BSc

Maths

M.R. Dorsett BA, MTh, PhD

Religion &

J.O. Hand BA

Head of Sixth Form,

E.K. McKenzie BSc

Games

Maths

M.W. Warren BA, MA

English

J.R. Hewitt BA

Art

A.R. Gamble BSc

Physics

Cert Theol (Chaplain)

Philosophy

N. Essenhigh BSc

Biology

R.P. Geary BSc

Head of Chemistry

J. Price-Hutchinson BA

Drama

L.A. Beard BSc

Biology

A.A.D. Gillgrass BA

PE, Games, Politics

A.J. Fellows BA

English

S. Greenall BA

Games

S.C. Cuthbertson BA

Head of Geography

G.L. Hardy BA

Art

L.H. Ison BSc

Chemistry

C.T. Haywood BA

Art

R.J. McLaverty-Head

Head of Religion

E.K. Trow-Poole BA

Classics

M.M. Longley BEd, Cert Ed

Games

BA. MPhil, PhD

& Philosophy

G.V. Ward BEng, Ceng, MIET Maths

J. Knipe BA, Dip Sp LD

Learning Skills

E.L. Woodward BA

Geography

R.L. Wood BSc

Games

A.J.M. Maund MA, M Phil

Head of English

E.L. Darby MA

Maths

N.J. Blakemore BSc

Computing

C.W. Wilson BA, Cert Ed

Head of Design & Technology

R.M. Lewis MA

Classics

D.R. Drew BA

MFL

N.J. Sears BA

History

S.D. Gilbert MSc

Politics, History

R.A. Ball MA

Head of MFL

O.J. Heydon BSc

Head of Mathematics

A.N. Falzon MA

MFL

J.J. Mason BSc

Director of Sport

W.J. Joyce BSc

Geography

E.F.E. Preece BSc

Games

C. Atkinson BSc

Games

J. Sarriegui BA

MFL

J.D. Owen BA

English

R.J. James BSc, PhD

Chemistry

S. Taranczuk MMus, FRCO

Director of

C.J.B. Allsop MA, FRCO

Assistant Director of Music

E.I. Lummas BA

Design & Technology

Music

C.R.S. Rees MA

Head of PSHE & RSE

M.D. Parkin MA, PhD

Head of Biology

C.L. Brown BSc, PhD

Biology & EPQ

J.K. Ford BA

Classics, History

R.M. Rutter BA

MFL

D.J. Clarke BSc

Maths

A.J. Ford BA

Assistant Director of Sport, History

R.A. Worth BSc

Biology

E.D. Houghton BA

MFL

I.R. Davies PhD

Head of Middle Years, Chemistry

G.M. Gunter GTCL, LTCL

Music

E.A. Shepherd MA

Classics

T.W. Pearson BSc

Physics

A.M. Simpson BSc

Religion & Philosophy

A.R. Swarbrick BSc

Maths

A. Hooper BEng

Physics

D.J. Salkeld BSc

Maths

L.C. Miller-Symonds BSc, PGDipEd

K.E. Arnold MSc

Chemistry

Games,

S.C. Bradley BA

Head of Classics

R.A. Roberts MSci

Chemistry

E.S. Loveridge BSc

History

E. Friend BA

Head of Economics & Business

L. Ruiz Pelaez BA

MFL

J. Williams BA

Art

J.H. Chalmers B.Appi.Sc

Biology, Head of Rowing

R.A. Ellender BA

Design & Technology, Art

L.C. Wolsey BA

Design & Technology

A.J. Knights M Phys

Physics

G.M. Ormandy BSc

Geography

C. Petchsingh DPhil

Physics

C.M. Neville BSc

Geography

S.L.E. Parry MA

Head of Drama

A.G. Deichen BA

Design & Technology

K.E. Lane

Dance

L.A. Walmsley MA

English

C. Yates BSc

MFL

Monitors & Heads of House 2019/20 HEAD OF SCHOOL

Hamish Stigant HEADS OF HOUSE Bright Lily Stringer & George Monce DEPUTY HEADS Castle OF SCHOOL Ellie Deehan Anna Kimberley & Emily Wood Chappel Serena Drew Ted Poel MONITORS Zoe Kimber

Choir

Jemima Moss & Emily Murray

Skye Weaver

Emily Havercroft

Joe Amos

Creighton

Niamh Peckston

Nicole Sherwood

Hannah Latham

Ellie Driver

Benjamin Halford

Katie Sweeney

Charlie Mackintosh

Sophie Mitchell

Eddie James

Kittermaster

Naomi Marsden & Shaiyan Siddiqui

Alexandra Ward

Alexander Bower

Tom Otley

Oswald

Emily Warner & Nancy Marsh

Tomas Bartram

School

Alex Lowe & Grace Williams

Natasha Beattie

Harry Flockhart

Wulstan

Jack Cope & Grace Moseley

Hattie Wales

Tom Eaton

Jess Crichard

Theo Osborn

Holly Jennings

The Vigornian

133

King’s Worcester Staff 2019/20 Bursar

H.L. Jackson

Deputy Bursar

P.F. Hope BSc, ACA

D.A.J. Cox

R.J. Barker

K.L. Turner

A. Rowberry

N.M. Clines

G.S. Harding

D.G.R. Thomas

S. D'Ambrosi

Bursary Staff

ICT Support

S.R. Tongue

Estates

A.C. Winter BSc

A.S. Grove

SIMS

H.R. Hateley

P. Gibbon

S. Hewitt BSc, ACA

Examinations

M.A. Glarvey BA

R.L. Vaughan

K.A. Thurgood BA

S. Kilminster

A. Cross E.J. Gale

Health & Safety

A.F. Woodward

A. Ellis

Technicians

J.L. Timlin BA

T. Price Caretakers

D.J. McFee

Bursar's Secretary

C. Neil

J. Harrell

Headmaster's PA

A. Stanley

K. Watkinson

Cover

A.E. Sansome BA

School Secretaries

C. Nesbitt

S. Bain

Pupil Supervisor

T.A. Pardoe

M.P. Quigley

L. Saunders

Grounds

P. Tyrrell

M.L. Richardson

A.F. McNeilly BSc

G. Collins

C.M. Williams

J.A. Palmer

W.E. Calvert

M.D. Guest

C. Stand

R.C. Kidd

B. Gamble

C. Turton

Language Assistants

D.A. Starkey Dip IFE

I.R. Hobbs Transport

A.C.M.P. Rolland

D. Grinnell Bed P. Harding

Boathouse/Rowing

P. Bladen

R.D.P. Wilkes

D. Paddock

K. Lloyd-Adams

W.M.S. Bird

V.C.L. Peckston BA

A. Azzopardi

N. McNamee

N. Tamulyniene

S.E. Nevitt BA

H. Zhang

T. Hundley

R. Everton

T.M. Benham BA

J. Bullock

K. Bendall

A.E. Stratford

T. Skilbeck

P. Kilpatrick

I. Cunningham-Martin

A. Fowler

N. Akthar

S. Borrillo-McLellan BA

K. Webb

C. Bialy

J. Langdell

A.F. Evans

K.T. Spink

P. Wise

D. Harrison

C.M. Williams

J.M. Bennett

G. Day

M. Byrne

E.J. Ward

A. Balcerzak

G. Pugh

J. Woodward

A.J. Taylor

I.K. Carson

M. Jelfs

J. Miler

S. Velasquez

A.H. Choudhury

C. Webster

T. Powell

Compliance Manager E.B.S. White

H.E. Dutfield

P. English

S. Aamir

Health Centre

C. Furber RGN, Dip N.ENB100

R.J. Gough

F. Duque

S. Lock

E.L. Rossiter RGN, BSc

S.J. Kings

D. Field

A. Broadway

A.H.C. Jeffery MA, DipLIS

C.L. Kings

D. Mobberley A. Ruston

B.J. Young R. Booth

Registrar

Primary School Liaison S. Mason DMR

C.M. Perera BA

FDO

E.J. Elliott BSc

Marketing

School Library

Coaches Catering

Cleaning

M.J. Capell BSc, MSc

G.M. Knight

J. Griffiths

W. Warner