Autumn 2023
National Service of Remembrance
The Cenotaph A fortunate few from the KGS CCF contingent were asked to attend the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in central London. It was incredible to see many thousands of veterans at Horse Guards Parade. At 9.30am we formed up and marched out to the street leading to the Cenotaph. From there, we watched the service. At 11 o'clock the beginning of the two-minute silence was signalled by the firing of cannons and the stroke of Big Ben. The end of the silence was marked by the cannons and the Last Post.
On the large screen, we watched as King Charles and the Prime Minister laid wreaths. This was followed by the Lord Bishop of London reciting a prayer and a hymn being sung by the Bands of the Guards Division. We then read the Lord’s Prayer and the Lord Bishop of London gave the Blessing. Lastly, we sang God Save the King. After the service, we marched around the Cenotaph, paid our respects and marched back to the Horse Guards Parade where we were saluted by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. It was an honour to be chosen to pay our respects to the fallen soldiers and it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. L/Cpl Isabelle Street I Fifth Year
Kingston On Sunday 12th November, Alexandria Coen, Emilie Wellman and I were asked to lay a wreath on behalf of the School in Kingston town centre. As I stood in the square, listening to the hymns and speeches, I began to realise how CCF is so much more than just an after-school club. It is a community where we learn about the past and those men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
After the hoisting of the flags, and the two-minute silence which followed, we marched off. Being able to lay the wreath on behalf of my school was an honour, and just confirmed how important the CCF is to me. Rhea Nayak I Fourth Year Alexandria had an article about her experience published online. You can read it here:
2
Interior Plants
Newsletter
Autumn Concert
The Autumn Concert saw a range of excellent performances from a wide variety of KGS instrumental ensembles and choirs. The students had all been rehearsing hard since the start of term and there were polished performances across the board. The range of repertoire performed on the night was neatly summed up by the first two items, ‘An Operatic Cocktail’ from the Symphony Orchestra, followed by ‘Mission Impossible’ from the Junior Symphony Orchestra. Over the course of the evening, we had just about everything in-between. Well done to all of those who took part; attention has now turned to an even greater diversity of performances and styles in the Spring term. Mr M Laflin I Director of Music
www.reallygreatsite.com
Music composition At the end of each academic year, students write and perform original songs. There are always a couple that I immediately want to turn into a full studio production. They don’t have to be immaculately performed, or anything like a final product; the idea is often all it takes.
My favourite moment is when the student hears it for the first time.
This year, Ava Kasolowsy wrote a fantastic song called Headache. I made a skeleton track for her – just chords and a steady pulse. In the studio, she sang a few takes while listening to the guide track in headphones. Then we broke up for the summer holidays. The next time Ava heard the track would be the final mastered version; she would have no idea what it would sound like until then. Many days were spent over the summer, orchestrating and reorchestrating – I’ve lost count of how many iterations there are! Mr J Tierney I Music
Headache Ava Kasolowsy I Fourth Year
4
Summer Art Exhibition
Congratulations to the winner and runners-up of the KGS Summer Art Exhibition. Tilly Byatt took the top spot, followed by Poppy van der Plas, Iris Young & Esther Shaw (all First Year).
6
Strictly... House Dance It may sound like a cliché, but the standard of House Dance gets stronger and stronger each year. This was certainly the hottest ticket in town on a blustery night on in October . The evening’s proceedings were ably compered by Sixth Formers Lottie Routledge and Oliver Kemp. First up were the Duets where there were many standout performances, notably from Melody Moppett and Xan Cairney-Leeming who performed an emotive and varied dance to Cat Burns’ Live More & Love More. It was brilliant to see students from Second Year to Upper Sixth competing in this category with Florence Coen and Kiara Duffy holding their own against more senior students. The Solo category was probably the most difficult for the judges as the talent on display was extraordinary. Eva Rouse, Nelly Malykhanova, Hannah Farrell, Ava Dent and Sophie Davies did sterling work with such varied genres. However, it was Ava who received the most rapturous applause of the night with a breathtaking routine from Cabaret. Ava not only danced brilliantly but captured the nuanced complexities of the character Sally Bowles throughout her choreography. With the Original Choreography category, our students were able to display incredible creativity and flair with many routines looking as professional as a West End show!
The Musical Theatre routines are always the audience favourite and this year every house delivered a superb routine based on a Hollywood classic, from Walworth’s highly energised West Side Story to Lovekyn’s charming Singin’ in the Rain performed by twenty First Year students. However, it was Queen’s Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat that captured the key notion of Musical Theatre: character and storytelling. It was a joy to watch from start to finish. Our judges this year, Zoe Rogers and Ryan Munroe, gave exceptionally detailed, positive feedback to all categories. A special mention to our student lighting designers who plotted all the lights for their house dances: Joe Finn, Abigail Sturge, Edward Haynes, Milly Gregg and Maya Arwas. Of course, as this is a House competition there must be an overall winner: congratulations to Stanley for lifting the trophy for the second time in three years. Mr R Gee I Director of Drama
Category winners
Duet - Stanley Melody Moppett and Xan Cairney-Leeming Solo - Taverner Ava Dent Original Choreography - ‘Game of Survival‘, Ruelle Stanley Musical Theatre - ‘Sit Down You‘re Rockin‘ the Boat‘, Guys & Dolls Queen‘s Overall winners 1st Stanley 2nd Lovekyn 3rd Queen’s
8
Middle School Play
12
Constellations by Nick Payne was a perfect balance of drama, a thickening plot and incredible acting and staging. Directing a play ‘in the round’ is never easy but was flawlessly executed by Mr Crohill and his fantastic cast and crew.
A specific moment in the play which had me in awe was a sequence where three versions of the couple were on stage at the same time, and each character had to speak in tune to two others on stage. An incredibly difficult skill to master was executed flawlessly by Maya Marner, Yulia Novak and Emilie Wellman playing Roland, and Alexandria Coen, Catty Vedenkova and Anna Jackson The play tells the story, through playing Marianne. Notable credit must be different multiverses, of two people given to some incredible actors, who I who fall in love. A blossoming believe will go far in their pursuit of romance, with each segment in their acting. Jasper Simons relationships timeline retold in a controlled the stage with his different dimension, with different actors, but with the same costume and characterisation of Roland, alongside character. The use of multi-rolling each Allegra Kelly and Orson Griffith. version of ‘Marianne’ and ‘Roland’ Every actor who played Roland brought created significant depth to each something new and special to the character and ensured the audience’s character, such as the Roland renditions full attention through every change in produced by Greg Cameron and their story. This remarkably skilled Olu Koevoets. Marianne’s quirky and group of performers told the story in a gentle character was also beautifully well flowing, professional way, and I was amazed by the quality of the executed by Ava Dent and Abigail Sturge acting. The significant effort put in by along with Imogen Cockerell and Iarina Nacu. the technical crew must also be highlighted, managed by Mrs Starmer, We enjoyed the beautiful set with a and costumes by Mrs Burrows. In wonderful composition of swirled addition, it is vital to give credit to streamers and atoms at the top of the Joe Finn, Alex Carrodus, stage, and the impressive level of acting Edward Haynes, Tess Goodyer, from the cast. Another incredibly directed Nesta Bowen, Chen Gao, Antonia piece of theatre from Mr Crohill, and I Ridley and Day Ko for their seamless can’t wait for the next one. effort in assisting with such a highlevel performance Lottie Routledge I Lower Sixth
10
Language Leaders
The Great European Bake-Off
Students from all year groups brought in some of their fabulous bakes to help celebrate languages from around the world.
In Third Year, students have the opportunity to apply to become a Language Leader, which is a great way to further our linguistic skills whilst learning how to teach and inspire others! Being a Language Leader involves attending weekly sessions at lunchtime with Mrs Pinnock and other teachers from the MFL Department, along with fellow Language Leaders. During these sessions we have been discussing ways to teach younger children to learn the language such as creating and using flash cards; using gestures with the new words to reinforce learning; knowing how much of the language to use so as not to overwhelm the children while trying to use as much target language as possible.
We also learned a little bit about behaviour management to prepare us for our very first teaching experience at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School. We all visited for the first time in November, joining different classes from Years Two to Six. We were with a very eager Year Three class and we spent twenty minutes teaching them food in French using our flashcards.
We were lucky to have a class of very well-behaved, intelligent pupils. It gave us an opportunity to share our knowledge and newly learnt teaching skills but most importantly it was great fun! It has been a really positive experience and we’re looking forward preparing for our second visit. Maddie Robinson & Connie Le Huray I Third Year
Black History Month The Lower School Black History Month poetry competition challenged students in First to Third Year to write about a pioneering black woman – either famous or less well known – who made an impact in their chosen field. The winning entry was Mother Seacole by Third Year student Heidi Chambers. In the daze and break of consciousness I saw her, Watched as she tuned the broken piano keys of my ribs, As she cleaned my wounds, Flushing out the evil of war. Then, when the sun's glow stole all the colour from the world, She would talk to me, Tell me stories, Tell me of a world where there was no war, where the enslaved could be free, And then I would close my eyes and drift into a smothering sleep. Bullets flew like buzzards over my head, a whistle of death to the soldier's ears, There was a man, he called to me, so I came, A red stain blossomed through his shirt, Brow wet with the sweat of a dying man, I cried for him, the man with skin of mahogany, I cried for him, for he bled the same blood as I, whether it fell on skin light or dark. Then I woke, my own brow being dabbed with a careful hand, She smiled, a smile of quiet determination, For her skin too was coppery and rich, like the man long dead. She smiled knowingly, ‘Don’t you worry, beside the nettle, ever grows the cure for its sting.’ I spoke then, ever so quietly, ‘Thank you, Mother Seacole.’
12
Interior Plants
SCHOOL LIFE
Newsletter
www.reallygreatsite.com
Co-curricular life
Talking Classics
Extreme Reading Congratulations to Mia Vilasoa Allegue, Louisa Maltby and Emily Boyd for winning the Extreme Reading competition.
At the track
Team Phoenix took part in the Greenpower Car Race at Dunsfold Park (the Top Gear test track) in early September. Despite electrical and battery issues, the team thoroughly enjoyed competing and look forward to the next race.
A new co-curricular project in the Classics Department is the brainchild of Fifth Year students Nelly Malykhanova, Tessa Stanier and Clementine Holloway.
They have been working on researching and recording a Classics podcast on a shoestring budget. If you’d like to know why Greek and Roman theatres were so rowdy or find out more about classical myths of murder and intrigue that still inspire playwrights today, you can listen and download it here:
Ms L Andrew I Head of Classics Ms F McBride I Librarian
Mr D Farr I Head of DT
Checkmate
Chess Club continues to thrive, with around 40 students taking part. Our first match against Hampton resulted in a win for KGS by 6 1/2 to 5 ½. It was a very tough match against stiff opposition with KGS coming through with a dramatic win in the last game of the night. Nathaniel Butcher, Ewan Smith and Wilfie Lawrence were unbeaten in their two matches, Nathaniel and Ewan winning both and Wilfie winning one and drawing one. Olu Koevoets also played well, winning a key match. It was a very exciting evening and the students were rightly delighted with their victory. Mr H Lawrence I Head of Chess
British Physics Olympiad Eight students progressed through the A2 Challenge round of the British Physics Olympiad, a national competition that encourages the study of physics and recognises excellence in young physicists through fourteen annual physics competitions. Congratulations go to Johnny Barr, Josh Batchelor, Anas Boulahmi, Ellinor Comard, Stanley Farrant, Sam Sturge, Joe Tooth and Youngseo Wang. Round 1 awaits and we wish them all the best.
Mr I Deepchand I Head of Physics
14
Alumni Sir Gordon Conway We were saddened to hear of the death in July of Sir Gordon Conway, OK 1956, at the age of 85. An agricultural ecologist who was an early advocate of sustainability, he was at the forefront of shaping policy on rural development all over the world. An obituary published in the Guardian describes him as ‘humanist in outlook...he was an early advocate of thinking about sustainable livelihoods.’ After leaving KGS he went to Bangor University to study Zoology, followed by St John’s College, Cambridge and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. He completed his PhD at the University of California. An extraordinary career included serving as President of the Royal Geographical Society, ViceChancellor of the University of Sussex, Chair of the Institute of Development Studies, Fellow of the Royal Society, Professor of International Development at Imperial College (by whom he was described as a forward-looking and visionary leader), and Chief Scientific Adviser to DfID. He was knighted in 2005. Working well into his eighties, he helped shape policy on agricultural development in a world challenged by a growing population and increasing environmental stress. The first non-American to serve as President of the Rockefeller Foundation, he helped launch work on HIV/Aids. 12
Back to school We were delighted to welcome back to KGS almost 100 Old Kingstonians to our Alumni Saturday celebration. This was a new format for us, as we invited those celebrating their Decade and Half Decade anniversaries of their graduation from KGS.
In concert
We had alumni from as far back as 1963 right up to the 2018. Tours of the school were given by our Prefect body before alumni settled down to a three-course lunch, with plenty of time to reminisce and share stories of their time at KGS. The Head Master and School Captain spoke to welcome everyone back, and set out our plans for the future. The event finished with an impromptu game of ‘Cage Football’ on the astro – reliving many lunchtimes! It was also a delight to welcome back former staff Nick Bond, Phil Cooper and Julian Davies, as well as current staff who attended – Deb Sherwood, Derek Farr, Chris Wenham and Leonard Winning. Plans are already underway for a 2024 reunion: watch this space! Mrs S Humphrey I Deputy Head, Director of Development
Kerem Hasan (OK 2008) conducted the BBC Philharmonic last week at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall for a concert that featured Strauss, Mozart and Wagner. It was broadcast on Radio 3 last week and you can listen here: BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 in Concert, BBC Philharmonic: Richard Strauss, Mozart and Wagner.
On the water
Mike Mason (OK 1986) On graduating from KGS in 1986, and having been involved in the School’s CCF since the age of 13, Mike was awarded both a gliding and a flying scholarship by the RAF and went straight into officer training. At KGS, Mike held the position of Cadet Warrant Officer, the most senior position available to CCF cadets in the RAF section of the contingent, and this foreshadowed his successful 20-year service in the RAF. Mike originally began training as a pilot, learning formally to fly in the Hawk, a plane which shares the same airframe as the infamous Red Arrows. This training is notoriously strenuous and competitive to be selected for (only 1 in 1000 trainee pilots make it through). With a flight at 300 knots (345mph) at only 250 feet, it is not for the faint-hearted! Mike found himself gravitating towards the operational side of RAF management; he completed training in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare and became a special adviser to both RAF Command and the Ministry of Defence.
Mike’s role developed with his completion of a Law degree from Northumbria University, which has since inspired other legal-related work in the fields of air travel, education and sport. Having coxed the 1st 8+ at KGS, Mike led the RAF 1st 8+ at Henley Royal Regatta. He has kept in touch with the rowing section of KGS, regularly joining them at Henley. During lockdown, the original 8+ from his time at school took a much newer boat for a spin from the KGS boathouse. Rugby has been a part of Mike’s life since he was young too, and he both played in and refereed high-profile matches in the RAF. The highlight of this, he says, was refereeing the Army vs Navy Babcock Trophy match.
Congratulations to Harry Fletcher (OK 2021) and Sophie Fussell (OK 2020) who have been made Men’s Captain of Edinburgh University Boat Club and Senior Captain for Cal Women’s Rowing in the US respectively.
Following his retirement, he became a full referee for World Rugby. A passion for cycling led to a role with a British professional cycling team, for whom he now manages the operations during major competitions such as the Tour de France. Similarly, his law degree and compliance background gave him the groundwork for several interesting career progressions: firstly, a position in compliance management at Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, followed by two years running operations at Dubai Airport. Sasha Lacey I OK 2022
16
The KGS Christmas card Each year, our Art Scholars are invited to create designs for the Head Master’s official KGS Christmas card. The artists have free rein to be as creative as they like with the one stipulation that there is some reference to the School itself.
The Judges “KGS Art, Drama, Sport, Music and Academia are all represented in this joyful image.”
Mr J Dyson I Head of Art
Poppy Emerson Upper Sixth
The Judges “Rowing is such an integral part of KGS that we couldn’t resist the idea of Santa delivering his gifts in this novel way.”
Iris Young First Year
Daniela Burger Lower Sixth
Amelia Marinko Lower Sixth
The Judges “The London Road building reimagined as a gingerbread house sitting in a snowy landscape encapsulates the essence of a KGS Christmas.”
The Judges “This striking contemporary interpretation of the Lovekyn Chapel in a vivid Christmas red really caught the judges' eyes. ”
Sara Hendrickx First Year The Judges “The festive wreath decorated with an array of symbols representing many of the co-curricular activities enjoyed by our students encapsulated the breadth of engagement experienced by our students.” 18
Lili Small Upper Sixth The Judges “The impossibly small pot at the base of this tree gives this skillfully drawn picture a comic charm that really appeals.”
Woody Griffith Third Year The Judges “The warm yellow glow emanating from the Lovekyn Chapel gives this image a real sense of a cosy Christmas that the judges adored.”
20
Sport
At the crease It’s exciting to see our girls involved at this level of cricket and we all look forward to seeing their continued growth and development.
England Hockey selection Congratulations to Ella Robinson and Ollie Stone , who have been selected for the England U18s squads. A brilliant and welldeserved achievement. I am so pleased to see Ella’s hard work pay off with selection for England U18s. She is a talented player who will, I’m sure, continue to do well. Miss H Naismith I Head of Girls’ Hockey
I am really pleased that Ollie has been selected as he has had a tough time so far this season with injury. We are looking forward to seeing what he can achieve over the next six months in all environments and everyone at KGS wishes him all the best."
Congratulations to Ellie Phillips and Anna Goodsman, who have both been selected in the Surrey Cricket Emerging Players Programme. Mr B Dixon I Head of Cricket
Mr T Beaumont I Head of Boys’ Hockey 22
Season’s Greetings from everyone at Kingston Grammar School
#workwellandbehappy