Netherhall News March 2010

Netherhall news March 2010

bubonic play theatre bug hits netherhall

loving freedom the pope’s message to england and wales

contents in this issue 8 12 18 20 23 24 25 26

the right to be heard t the pope on church and politics the imaginary invalid t house play 2010 culture and conquest t the rise of islam ebooks t·the future of the written word create, inspire, connect t·architects in the 21st century marital breakdown t social solution marriage t what’s it all about? hot chilli t·saying goodbye to a netherhall stalwart

regular 3 editorial 6 director’s notes 28 passing through

Content Editor Zubin Mistry Managing Editor, Design & Setting Luke Wilkinson Contributions and advice Peter Brown, Fr Joe Evans, Kevin Gouder, Aaron Taylor, Simon Jared, Andy Keighley, Frank Pells, Max Majewski Photography Raffy Rodriguez, Frank Pells, Luke Wilkinson Circulation Netherhall News is sent by e-mail to current and past residents of Netherhall House. It is also available at http://www.nh.netherhall.org.uk/magazine/magazine.htm Contact us Would you like to be included in our mailing list, contribute to or express your opinion on Netherhall News? Write to: Luke Wilkinson c/o Netherhall News, Netherhall House, Nutley Terrace, London, NW3 5SA, U.K. or e-mail: alumni@nh.netherhall.org.uk DISCLAIMER: All opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors concerned and do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of Netherhall News, of Netherhall House or of Opus Dei.

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samuel brawn in action as hypochondriac monsieur argan in this year’s house play, the imaginary invalid. see page 12 for a full write up

editorial

zubin mistry is rendered speechless

S

ome people have a gift, a knack. Maybe it’s an art, maybe it’s a science. Whatever it is they know it – or they don’t just know it, they live it out. They always know what to say.

One of these people was the New York born philosopher and one-time Rabbinic seminarian Sidney Morgenbesser. Now, Morgenbesser is a treat, a rich soufflé of quotability for philosophy dilettantes. Over a long academic career, he only wrote one book and a clutch of articles – indeed, upon being asked why he had written so little, he indignantly noted that Moses only wrote a single volume and seemed to get by fine. The point is not that Morgenbesser’s is a relatively small output to read, but that it’s a relatively small output not to read. Since being a philosophy dilettante, I mean a respectable one who can yap on about things, requires some measure of awareness of what it is you don’t really know and haven’t really read, Morgenbesser’s slender output is a blessing. It’s far more dangerous to start talking about Aquinas’ unforgivingly lengthy Summa Theologica or the story of early and later Wittgenstein (the latter had a bit of a falling out with the former, I understand).

But, more than his output, Morgenbesser is a real gem because of his mastery of – we might call it – kibitzing. According to The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English, at its most negative, kibitzing is to ‘look on and offer unwelcome advice, esp. at a card game’. Otherwise, it just means something like chat or banter. Perhaps the inhabitants of the barber shop in Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America were gifted kibitzers and kibitzing is commonplace around the chess boards at Washington Square Park, New York. Anyway, whatever the right word is for this knack, Morgenbesser possessed an inordinate talent for it, as any dilettante who can spell Wikipedia (and Morgenbesser) can tell you. He was the kind of man who did philosophy at dessert.

Told by a waitress that he could choose between apple pie and blueberry pie, he ordered the apple pie. The waitress soon returned, telling Morgenbesser that they also had cherry pie, which prompted Morgenbesser to change his mind: ‘In that case, I’ll have the blueberry pie’ (The technical point which Morgenbesser cheekily breached was the irrelevance of irrelevant alternatives). When a questioner challenged Morgenbesser to prove his (the questioner’s) existence, he simply replied, ‘Who’s asking?’

Pragmatism, he was fond of saying, is great in theory, but unworkable in practice. An exam question he set asked: ‘It is often said

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that Marx and Freud went too far. How far would you go?’ And he once posed a wonderful question to B.F. Skinner – a psychologist who developed a strong theory of behaviourism, the idea that human action ought to be understood as forms of behaviour without reference to interior mental states – ‘Let me see if I understand your thesis. You think we shouldn’t anthropomorphise people?’

Another man who had the gift of the gab was Jake Thackray, the extraordinary Yorkshireman chansonnier. My more attentive readers – basically, Fr. Joe – will no doubt have drawn the conclusion that reference to Thackray has quickly become a de facto obligation in all editorials. This is no longer quite accurate, for since the signing of the Thackray Concordat at the beginning of this paragraph, it’s become constitutionally binding. Anyhow, Thackray was something of a wordsmith. His acolytes, who stage a Jakefest each year in his memory, regard him as a lover of the English language. And he most certainly was. He could start his song, ‘To Do With You’, a paean to an unspectacular lifetime of marriage and one of the most affecting love songs you could ever hear, with the very antithesis of slushy clichés: There may be better-cooking, better-looking women, Better-slung and better at buns than you.

And if I were a man for simple things, Like flawless skin and bigger dinners, My dearest, I might have no more to do with you.

But Thackray possessed the gift of the gab in more ways than one. He was a Francophile and one of his most dearly cherished songs is a brilliant – and not overly literal – rendition of a famous French song. But, to add another layer of verbal finesse, Thackray was as fondly regarded for his introductions and anecdotes between songs as for the songs themselves. His introduction to a televised performance of ‘Brother Gorilla’ in 1972, for example, went like this (it helps if you read it in a grave, Yorkshire baritone): This week in La Sante Prison in Paris, two fellers got their ‘eads chopped off. This was official, and it was meant as a punishment. Here is a translation of a famous

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French song about cap Brassens - the best, the is offensive.

One story goes to dem In the middle of one o talking too much’, an a delightful twist, at t having been so bad-m

Truth to tell, I’m fon world. But there is so stances when speechle intriguing stories of tw speechlessness at their

The first concerns the federacy of Dunces, hi New Orleans slob an modern world and a c two facts which, in O clamping of his pylor of ‘proper geometry a strange appeal of its m Percy, made a far bett

Imagine an Aquinas g wild foray through the stolen in the faculty me testinal problems.

This pitch-perfect, wi came to be published out of doing someth

pital pun. It was written some twenty years ago by Georges e very best of all poet-singers. It is called The Gorilla, and it

monstrate his quick wits – and a kind of splendid humility. of those beloved introductions, a heckler shouted, ‘You’re nd Thackray immediately snarled, ‘So are you pal.’ But in the end of the song Thackray apologised to his heckler for mannered.

ndly envious of the Morgenbessers and Thackrays of the ome solace – and a slightly more serious one – in those inessness is fruitful and even eloquent, and two of the most wentieth-century publishing have important moments of r core.

posthumous publication of John Kennedy Toole’s A Conis rip-roaring, tragicomic depiction of Ignatius O’Reilly, nd medieval enthusiast (sound familiar?) at war with the chronic sufferer from a spate of gastro-intestinal problems, O’Reilly’s mind, are intimately connected: the periodic ric valve is, of course, down to the modern world’s lack and theology’. It’s difficult to describe the book and the main protagonist/antagonist, and another writer, Walker ter job of it than I ever could:

gone to pot, transported to New Orleans whence he makes a swamps to LSU at Baton Rouge, where his lumber jacket is en’s room where he is seated, overcome by mammoth gastroin-

itty book was, however, underlain with tragedy and only d because Percy was temporarily unable to talk himself hing he didn’t want to do. Teaching in New Orleans in the mid-1970s, Percy was repeatedly contacted by a woman who insisted that he read an entire novel written by her son, John Kennedy Toole, in the early 1960s before he took his own life in 1969.

It soon came to pass that this woman was standing in Percy’s office one day, handing over a heavy, tatty, smeared manuscript. Accustomed to reading plenty of terrible manuscripts, Percy grudgingly started reading in the hope that the first chapter, if not the first paragraph, would soon justify his deci-

sion to stop: in his own words, ‘My only fear was that this one might not be bad enough, or might be just good enough, so that I would have to keep reading.’

The rest is publishing history, and every edition of A Confederacy of Dunces is introduced by Percy’s story of his first encounter with it. In a sense, we might not have the novel if Percy had been quicker-witted and honey-tongued.

A more moving example surrounds the writing of Eliezer Wiesel’s account of his time at Auschwitz, Night. After the war, in his mid-20s Wiesel was working as a journalist and had already written a draft version of what later turned into Night. One interview assignment in 1954 brought him face to face with an elderly Francois Mauriac, the noted Catholic novelist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Mauriac was the old man of French letters, and a tonguetied Wiesel listened as Mauriac spoke: Mauriac was an old man then, but when I came to Mauriac, he agreed to see me.

We met and we had a painful discussion. The problem was that he was in love with Jesus. He was the most decent person I ever met in that field -- as a writer, as a Catholic writer. Honest, sense of integrity, and he was in love with Jesus. He spoke only of Jesus...When he said Jesus again I couldn’t take it, and for the only time in my life I was discourteous, which I regret to this day. I said, ‘Mr. Mauriac,’ we called him Maître, ‘ten years or so ago, I have seen children, hundreds of Jewish children, who suffered more than Jesus did on his cross and we do not speak about it.’

Embarrassed by his outburst, Wiesel packed up his notebook and went to the lift. Mauriac ran after him and pulled him back. The old man, sank into his chair and wept while Wiesel sat. At the end, Mauriac simply told him that he ought to write about it. He took Wiesel to the lift and embraced him. Thereafter, Wiesel began writing in earnest and Night emerged, though its early days saw numerous rejections from publishers despite the association with Mauriac, who wrote a preface. Today, Night has become a renowned account of the Holocaust and Wiesel’s lifetime has seen him grapple with the painful question of theology after the Holocaust. And Mauriac’s pained preface still introduces editions of Night, telling the story of that first encounter, testifying to the inadequacy of words and the eloquence of speechlessness: And I, who believe that God is love, what answer was there to give my young interlocutor whose dark eyes still held the reflection of the angelic sadness that appeared one day on the face of a hanged child? What did I say to him? Did I speak to him of the other Jew, this crucified brother who perhaps resembled him and whose cross conquered the world?...We do not know the worth of one single drop of blood, one single tear. All is grace. If the Almighty is the Almighty, the last word for each of us belongs to Him. That is what I should have said to the Jewish child. But all I could do was embrace him and weep.

“This week in La Sante Prison in Paris, two fellers got their ‘eads chopped off. This was official, and it was meant as a punishment...here is a song about capital pun. it is called the gorilla, and it is offensive” jake thackray netherhall news 5

director’s notes

peter brown recounts a series of spectacular events

T

he weekend of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th February was really quite something. On the first three of these dates, residents performed Moliere’s The Imaginary Invalid to appreciative audiences in the auditorium. It was a tremendous effort. Sam Brawn and Paul Schira were outstanding in the main roles and both Pablo Hinojo and Jimin Kang were hilarious in their more comic ones. Great credit of course goes to Alex Tylecote, the director, who pulled the whole thing together with his producer Archan Boonyanan. In a student residence this is no mean feat. A full review of the performance, which lasted over two hours, can be found in later pages of this edition.

Ever since I saw Stoppard’s Rozencrantz And Gildernstern Are Dead performed here in March 2001 I have been a great fan of drama in the residence. It brings out talents in people that might otherwise remain dormant. Students, who in ordinary circumstances might resent being repeatedly told what to do and how to do it, put up with being “bossed about” for six weeks of rehearsals and in the end a production creates a wonderful camaderie. It was no different on this occasion.

What pleased me very much too was to see in the audiences many people related with previous productions in the House. Robert Devlin, the granddaddy of drama in Netherhall, and director of all the plays since 2001 (except this year’s and last year’s) came on the Friday and thought it was the best play to date! Damien Morley, a ghost in A Christmas Carol (November 2001) and a butler in The Real Inspector Hound (2004) came along on Saturday to see Sam Brawn, his nephew, starring in the main role. Dilip Bassi, coproducer with Archan Boonyanan of so many performances, was also in attendance on Saturday and gave a thumbs up. Even our very own Luke Wilkinson (director of last year’s The Government Inspector) was in the audience on Saturday. All in all it will be a hard act to follow.

As if that wasn’t enough for one weekend we then celebrated on Sunday 7th February the Confirmation of Joao Bettencourt (Netherhall resident and music student at the Royal College of Music) and the Reception into full communion with the Catholic Church of David Wyatt (resident of Netherhall and theology student at Heythrop College). It was a beautiful ceremony presided over by Fr Joe and with Joao’s father and David’s mother present.

Particularly stunning was the music. Ricard Rovirosa (Netherhall resident and student at Guildhall School of Music) arranged the music and brought along three friends from his college to sing.

In January we completed a major refurbishment of the lounge (the area where we have the evening get togethers). We now have a wonderful room kitted out with new audio and sound facilities.

We have also installed new lighting so the room is much brighter.

It’s quite a transformation.

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“drama in the residence...brings out talents in people that might otherwise remain dormant”

Samuel Brawn in full hypochondriacal swing (left), and (below) David Wyatt and Joao Bettencourt with Fr. Joseph Evans following their first communion Finally, by the time this edition hits the screens Archan Boonyanan will be back in Thailand teaching and having completed his PhD. Archan has had two spells here. The first was in 1996-8 whilst he completed his Masters at UCL. The second ran from 2003 to 25th February 2010, the time it has taken to complete a troublesome doctorate. Over the last seven years Archan has been a constant, quiet pair of very helping hands in the house. At pretty much every function we’ve had over the last few years he has been on hand to help. He has tremendous common and practical sense.

He’s been the production manager on at least four plays but his greatest achievement was, I think, transforming the gym into a Welsh rugby club for Fr Joe Evans’ 40th birthday in 2006. It took an age but it was stunning. Archan will be greatly missed but as the world gets ever smaller I’m sure we shall be in regular contact and also that he will be a mainstay of the former-residents meetings in Asia organised by Neil Pickering. On behalf of all those who have benefitted from your assistance over the years, thank you very much Archinius!

archan boonyanan has always been ready to lend a helping hand netherhall news 7

http://theblackcordelias.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/pope.jpg

when so m be christia the gospel aaron taylor is enthused

The Pope is, of course, referring to the recen tion by homosexual couples, but placed adop such couples, and also to provisions of the Eq by the government, but which would have eff religious groups being able to insist that those isters, should adhere to their moral teachings.

Catholics but Anglicans, Protestants, Jews, M groups in the UK.

Just what is the Pope talking about here whe In order to answer that question we must ask need to obey it. Lord Lloyd of Hampstead, t do not otherwise find myself agreeing, noted ‘much of the aura of legitimacy which surroun a belief in a moral obligation to obey the law fact evident in even the most primitive societ shared by all men that good is to be done and disagree about what good and evil are. Simpl the natural law as those moral dictates which are ‘written and engraved in the soul of each world gathered at the Second Vatican Counci

E

very five years, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales undertake a visit to Rome to manifest their submission to the Pope, and to receive from him encouragement and counsel about the situation of Catholicism in our country. The conclusion is always marked by a public address given by the Pope to the Bishops. Most of these addresses have a very limited audience, yet the Pope’s address to our Bishops on Monday hit the headlines of the national newspapers. Why? Principally because of the following remark in which the Pope criticises the British government: ‘Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society. Yet as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs. In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed.’

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‘In the depths of his conscience, man detects a la always summoning him to love good and avoid speaks to his heart: do this, shun that. For man h is the very dignity of man.’

Just as a lower court has no authority to overru Lower forms of law must conform to the dic law cannot allow something which is prohibit concerned with the common good), so huma or natural law.

Ironically, it is this very intuition that human which has fuelled the present crisis. Thus, the s arose after gay groups demanded, not that th recognize alleged rights which already exist. Th in 1955, quite correctly, to refuse to give up th is now perversely invoked to justify lesbians a the danger of contradiction and eventual sel

many of the population claim to an, how could anyone dispute l’s right to be heard? by the pope’s recent speech to english and welsh bishops

nt legislation which not only legalized adopption agencies under an obligation to consider quality Bill which have since been abandoned ffectively ended the practice of churches and e employed by them, including ordained min. The measures would have affected not only Muslims, and a wide variety of other religious

The remedy to this self-destruction is for Britain to recover a sense of its Christian tradition, and it is here that perhaps the Pope and the media will agree, insofar as change will not, and should not, come about by the Pope ‘interfering’ in British politics. Rather, the Pope calls upon committed Christians of all states of life, ‘Bishops . . . priests, teachers, catechists, writers . . . lay faithful,’ to ensure that ‘the full saving message of Christ’ is communicated ‘effectively and convincingly,’ and with ‘missionary zeal.’ He encourages us by highlighting some ‘signs of living faith and devotion,’ which can be seen in Britain ‘even amid the pressures of a secular age,’ such as ‘the enthusiasm generated by the visit of the relics of http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/catholic_church/events/ad_limina_2010

en he speaks of violations of the natural law? ourselves what law is, and why we all feel the the late jurist and QC, and one with whom I in his well-known work The Idea of Law that nds the authority of the law is associated with w.’ This ‘aura of legitimacy’ is an undisputed ties, which relates to the basic moral intuition d evil is to be avoided, even if men sometimes ly speaking, the Catholic Church understands h, in the words of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) h and every man.’ Or, as the Bishops of the il (1962-1965) have stated more recently:

itself loose from the moral tradition which has been its anchor for many centuries. We have become incapable of distinguishing between genuine human rights and what the Pope has called in his recent encyclical Caritas In Veritate ,‘alleged rights, arbitrary and non-essential in nature,’ the recognition of which leads to an ‘escalation of demands which is effectively unlimited and indiscriminate.’

aw which he does not impose upon himself . . . d evil . . . the voice of conscience when necessary has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it

ule a higher court, so there is a hierarchy here. ctates of higher forms of law. Just as the civil ted by the criminal law (which is more directly an law has no authority to overrule the divine

n law must conform to a higher moral norm slew of equality legislation during recent years he government grant them rights, but that it The same principle which allowed Rosa Parks he seat for which she had paid to a white man, abseiling into the House of Lords. We can see lf-destruction when a Christian country cuts

peter smith, current archbishop of cardiff seated with vincent nichols, archbishop of westminster and president of the catholic bishops’ conference in england and wales

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“The remedy to this self-destruction is for Britain to of its Christian tradition, and it is here that perhaps t media will agree, insofar as change will not, and s about by the Pope ‘interfering’ in British politics”

http://janeausteninvermont.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/cardinal-newman-posters1.jpg

St. Therese.’ He highlights also the glorious ‘bonds of communion’ which united Britain t ing for the intercession of the ‘saints and mart

Many will think only of the martyrs of the R dition of being the home of martyrs, stretchi Empire. A mural depicting the martyrdom of 304 AD on the wall of a seminary for English upon it: Populus tanta martyris Constantia ad were converted to Christ by the constancy of tered. English tradition has it that Saint Geo coals and covered in lead before having his hea as megalomartyros, martyr of martyrs. Englan Christian faith as St. Thomas Beckett; St. Bon many; and St. Henry, who evangelized Finland be Blessed) John Henry Newman, an English not a martyr in the traditional sense, the Pope an outstanding example of faithfulness to reve was at best thinly tolerated and often despised, him, even at considerable personal cost,’ and sion from Anglicanism meant persecution and devotion to Newman ‘will inspire many to fol

In Medieval Christendom England was known ish traditions of freedom of expression,’ to wh ancestors who, more than any others in Chr without whose free consent Jesus Christ could Christian foundation, the British ideal of ‘freed slogan used to excite popular support for var politicians and pressure groups, who increasin Britain its profound love of freedom. We stil observes, ‘When so many of the population c pute the Gospel’s right to be heard?’

The full text of the Pope’s speech, and details a Wales to the Holy See, can be found on the W

(left) the soon to be beatified john henry new (top right) st george, ‘martyr of martyrs’ (bottom right) the bishops of england and wa

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http://magicstatistics.com/wp-content/pictures/art/Moreau_St_George.jpg

o recover a sense the Pope and the should not, come

s Christian past of Britain, mentioning the to the Holy See for over 1,000 years, and asktyrs of England and Wales.’

Reformation Era, but England has a long traing back into the distant past of the Roman f two thousand British Christians in the year h students in Rome has these words painted d Christum conversis trucidatur –‘the people the martyrs’, and they, in turn, were slaughorge, our patron, was thrown upon burning ad cut off. In the Christian East he is known nd is the home of such great witnesses to the niface, who first brought Christianity to Gerd. The Pope also draws attention to (soon to hman closer to modern times, and although e notes that he was someone who has ‘left us ealed truth.’ In an Age in which Catholicism , Newman followed the truth ‘wherever it led embraced the Faith at a time when converd ostracism. The Pope expresses his hope that llow in his footsteps.’

about the visit of the Bishops of England and Website of the Bishops Conference.

wman

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/life/cl0000662.shtml

n as ‘Mary’s Dowry.’ The ‘long-standing Brithich the Pope refers, are our inheritance from ristendom, were totally devoted to the Lady d not have entered the world. Without this dom’ has become nothing more than a cheap rious unworthy causes by morally bankrupt ngly attack the very Christianity which gave ll have an opportunity however, as the Pope claim to be Christian, how could anyone dis-

ales in rome earlier this year

netherhall news 11

W

e can all think of somebody who’s a bit of a hypochondriac. The kind of person who calls a cold ‘the flu’, selfdiagnoses terrible and life-threatening diseases with chilling accuracy despite having no medical training, and never seems to be happier than when complaining about their health, or lack thereof.

This is the kind of person – the very personification of self-pity – that Sam Brawn introduces us to at the opening of this year’s house play, The Imaginary Invalid. Heading up a solid cast of twelve was Sam with a masterful portrayal of Monsieur Argan, a whingeing miser whose imagined ill-health is the cause of much suffering for his dutiful (though cheeky) manservant Antoine, played brilliantly by Paul Schira. It was interesting watching these two in a reversal of roles from the previous house play, The Government Inspector – where Paul had played the self-centred cad, and Sam the scheming, grovelling mayor. Their double-act this year was spot-on, with Paul’s sarcastic butler providing the perfect antidote to the woes and worries of his master: ‘your illnesses are all your little darlings aren’t they?’

I was pleased to see that, in true Netherhall form, this year’s play also featured some strong female characters – Argan’s wife Béline, and daughter Angélique – brought vividly to life by Jimin Kang and James Naylor. It has never been an easy task to choose plays for Netherhall which suit the nature of the casting pool (i.e. all men!), so female characters have tended to be sources of much hilarity, and these two certainly rose to the challenge.

James (having agreed, rather worryingly, to play a woman for the second year running) was wonderfully ridiculous as the lovestruck Angelique, prancing around barefoot and hairy-legged in a figure-hugging dress, and gushing the praises of her new lover, Cléante (David Wyatt). Jimin repeatedly stole the scene with an unnervingly convincing wicked stepmother act, right down to the hysterical cackle that was employed to great comic effect at several points in the performance!

Unfolding alongside the ongoing trauma of Monsiuer Argan’s catalogue/monologue of illnesses is an interesting love triangle between Angelique, her true love Cléante, and a young doctor, with whom a convenient marriage has been proposed. Thinking of his best interests above those of his daughter, Argan has arranged for Angélique’s engagement to the son of an eminent doctor, thinking that bringing two doctors in the family ought to keep

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the imaginary inv

luke wilkinson survives - and delights in - the pla

valid

cleante, angelique and argan react in disugust to dr thomas diaforus’ suggestion of a ‘dissection date’

ay that killed its author netherhall news 13

the medical bills down! Antoine catches wind of this, and alerts Angélique and Cléante just before Dr Diaforus (Alex Tylecote) arrives with his son Thomas (Pablo Hinojo). Cléante, masquerading as Angelique’s music teacher, manages to disrupt Thomas’ bumbling, clinical proposal (for their first date he proposes she come to watch him do a dissection) with an improvised and brilliant love song, to which David and James joined their voices in glorious atonal harmony in defiance of the loveless proposal, much to the dismay of Thomas and his father.

There were other strong appearances from the rest of the cast, making for a consistently entertaining performance. Fernando Sols captured Molière’s cutting parody of the legal profession, with his turn as Madame Argan’s lawyer, and Peter Brown shone in the role of Argan’s apothecary. Miguel

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Donetch made a brief, yet hilarious appearance as Argan’s son, Louis, showing signs of continuing the family line in hypochondria when he responds to a light smack on the behind with the wail of ‘you’ve half killed me!’.

All the twists of the story begin to get tied up towards the end, as Antoine, plotting with Argan’s brother Bélarde (played with a sense of natural ease by Andrew Lawrence), attempts to avert disaster for Angélique as plans for her marriage to Thomas continue apace. Despite many desperate efforts, including an absolutely hysterical scene where Paul dashed back and forth though the auditorium having a conversation with himself in French and Italian, it is only the timely arrival of the fearsome Dr Purgon (Vincent Karyadinata) that saves the day. Argan is eventually cured of all his imagined illnesses, and realises that his daugh-

(left) director alex tylecote in action onstage with jimin kang. (below left) james naylor and david wyatt in full swing. (below right) fernando sols as a persuasive yet dishonest lawyer

“Their double-act this year was spot-on, with Paul’s sarcastic butler providing the perfect antidote to the woes and worries of his master: ‘your illnesses are all your little darlings aren’t they?’”

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ter’s happiness is more important than his own convenience.

All in all the cast had succeeded in making a brilliant night of theatre. Much credit is due Alex Tylecote, who besides playing the imperious Dr Diaforus, had the arduous task of cajoling such wonderful performances out of his cast during the winter months. Helping out as always in the capacity of producer was Archan Boonyanan, whose hard work was evident in the careful detail of the set and props. And keeping an eye on the technical – sound and lighting – were Matthew Wiltshire and Nicolas Seeyave. Congratulations are due all round.

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p (standing, from l-r) Matthew wiltshire, david wyatt, peter brown, vincent karyadinata, archan boonyanan, alex tylecote, pablo hinojo, paul schira, fernando sols, andrew lawrence. (sitting, from l-r) james naylor, miguel donetch, sam brawn, jimin kang t (far left) Monsieur et madame argan discuss their daughter’s engagement to Dr thomas diaforus (middle) antoine the butler gets his own back on his whingeing master with an exaggerated injury (left) angelique pleads with her father to be allowed to marry her true love, cleante netherhall news 17

D

uring the Muslim conquest, Islam was spread by the sword but never forced on people. During the Arab conquest, people were free to remain Christian or Zoroastrian or of whichever faith they might have chosen to be, although they had to be obedient to their Muslim Arabic rulers and were eventually encouraged to convert to Islam.

This was one of the main conclusions reached by Professor Hugh Kennedy in his talk at Netherhall on the rise of Islam and the Arab conquest during the seventh and eighth centuries AD. The body of his talk consisted of a historical analysis of why the Arab conquest should have been so successful in such a short space of time. Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African studies and one of the world’s leading scholars of Middle Eastern history, Professor Kennedy emphasised that an unbiased historical analysis of why Islam rose so quickly in the world to such prominence and from such humble beginnings was important given the status of Islam and the Arabic language in our world today. A proper understanding of the Arab conquest is necessary because its effects are still with us today, much more so than the effects of Alexander the Great’s conquest or the Mongol conquest led by Genghis Khan. As he said, if the Arab conquest had never taken place we would all be living in a very different world today.

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Th in fam an H no to

Af by a th rel fai fu th or sh

culture, conqu frank pells reports

professor hugh kennedy 18 netherhall news

Kennedy began his talk by giving us a description of tribal, nomadic life in the deserts of the Arabian peninsular before and around the time of Mohammed. He explained how the Arabic peoples had survived various outbreaks of bubonic plague simply by living in the desert (even though these same outbreaks had decimated the citydwelling populations of Byzantium and Persia) and how they were generally a tough people, resilient to hunger and thirst from having lived all their lives in the desert and easily able to defend themselves from their experience of frequent inter-tribal conflicts over water and other resources. These extreme conditions led to the establishment of meritocratic-aristocratic systems of leadership in many of these nomadic tribes. Although leadership would generally stay within the same family, the eldest son would not necessarily inherit the leadership of the tribe but, rather, the son most competent at leadership, survival and warfare. This produced ‘good’ leaders among all the Arabic tribes as a general rule. This was a people who were accustomed to hardship and prided themselves on their self-sufficiency and physical toughness.

Another aspect of the culture in these nomadic tribes, he explained, was the existence of certain universally-acknowledged ‘special sites’ or haram, which were guarded by particular ‘holy families’. These were places at which tribes could meet in peace to share ideas, trade and negotiate and their neutrality and integrity were universally acknowledged to be inviolable. To attack a haram would be to gain pariah-status among the whole inter-tribal community, and in so doing, to ensure one’s own destruction. These well-led, proud, resource-

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ul tribes traded in ideas as well as resources and it was precisely from his, Professor Kennedy argued, that the famous Arab hospitality is erived: it pays to take good care of a guest who may then share inormation with you.

The rise of Islam, Professor Kennedy stressed, should be understood n this context, since Mohammed was born into one of these holy milies (the one guarding the haram at Mecca, as it was at the time) nd then had his ‘experience’ in which the Koran was revealed to him.

He was then able to share his ideas about God with all of the Arabic omadic tribes passing through the haram at Mecca, who then took o this new religion very quickly.

fter Mohammed’s death, the Arabic tribes, which were then united y Islam in a way that they never had been before, were faced with choice: to conquer their larger but weaker neighbours, spreading heir faith and taking resources by working as one, or to continue in lative obscurity and allow the old political divisions dissipate their ith and their zeal. They chose the former option and their resourceulness, toughness and zeal made them well disposed to take over heir weaker neighbours who, despite their superior technology and rganisation, had been plagued by epidemics, poor internal leaderhip and internal wars.

gued, that they had no interest in establishing themselves in any one particular place and preferred to enlarge the area of land which they could call their own and over which they could roam.

Professor Kennedy also reminded us that the Arabs valued knowledge very highly and were largely motivated by the acquisition of knowledge. They held themselves aloof from the petty affairs of the weak, soft pagans and gentiles over whom they now ruled, he claimed, due to their own physical toughness and religion - which they believed had been divinely revealed to Mohammed, their prophet, in Arabic, their language, and not in any other language.

In time, non-Arabs within the Arab Empire wanted to be part of this ruling class. Consequently, they converted to Islam and learned Arabic of their own volition. In some cases, the attraction of fervent devotion to Islam meant that many people converted to Islam, much like anybody living today might convert to a different religion - and these people learned Arabic so that they might speak what was believed to be God’s language as well as assimilate themselves into the Arabic-speaking ruling class. And this, Professor Kennedy stressed, was what underlay the subsequent spread of Islam and the role of the Arabic language as the ‘main repository of human knowledge for much of the Middle Ages’.

uest and the rise of islam

rofessor Kennedy made no apology for this, and he balanced what might have seemed to be a kind of ‘sugar-coating of Islam’ with this ement of realism that speaks to a common contemporary underanding of empires in general: that a degree of suppression of the onquered class is a part of how they are run and that the conquerors ften hold themselves aloof from the misery of their subjects. In the ase of the Arabic Empire, the Arabs would routinely bring states into ubmission and then offer their leaders very generous terms of surrener, which the leaders would then accept. Not all of the conquest was eaceful, of course, as Professor Kennedy acknowledged and Spanish nd Portuguese residents emphasised. Nonetheless, such states were ormally granted full autonomy subject to a tax being imposed, with he Arabs themselves simply moving on to the next state. Professor ennedy reminded us at this point of what he had said earlier - that he Arabs were a nomadic people - and it was because of this, he ar-

the great muslim polymath, ibn sina http://students.ou.edu/K/Bradley.J.Kinder-1/images/avicenna2painting.jpg

rofessor Kennedy then went on to talk about a tactic of the conquerng Arabs that proved particularly effective and conducive towards orging and running an empire: a policy of religious tolerance. The rabs, Kennedy explained, conquered by force in many areas. But in many other areas, they were spared the necessity of doing so. They neotiated treaties with their conquered subjects that allowed religious nd cultural freedom and even autonomy in the day-to-day running f cities and states, with the proviso of having to pay taxes to their ew Arab overlords. Officially recognised Muslim ‘Arabs’ within the onquered regions, from present-day Syria to Spain, would have enoyed elevated status from being a part of the ruling class.

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eBooks: replacement or enhan max majewski on the future of the written word

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n the fifteenth century Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing process. This new technology changed the world forever. One specific task was made incredibly easy — the spreading of written words. eBooks take us to the threshold of a possible shift in the way we read books. eBooks have been the chief subject under discussion at book fairs this year. Amazon may be the most prominent player in the growing market of eBook readers, at least in the US. Here in Europe the market is just opening up to this new way of experiencing books, the premise of which certainly is very tempting: you are able to carry hundreds of books with you, and read whatever you want at the ease of a click. Just like iPod revolutionised the way we listen to music on the go, some expect the same success for eBook readers.

Publishers agree that they don’t want to behave as insusceptibly as record companies did in the wake of online music stores. Amazon did recognize the potential at an early stage, which explains their rising success in selling eBooks and offering the necessary hardware too. Only this month, however, two years after the U.S. launch, did Amazon decide to offer their Kindle reader internationally. This will surely put some pressure on Sony and the other combatants who are trying to win the battle for market share in Europe. The refulgent victor could emerge as soon as summer 2010.

Personally, I don’t share the enthusiasm for eBook readers. I don’t read many novels, mostly just reference books or non-fiction. And I prefer the texture of a printed page. As an eBook, every book feels the same; they are all transformed into valueless digital files. When I open a beautiful photo book I can appreciate both the art of photography as much as I do publishing. Digitizing books also categorically impugns the art of printing.

Before I continue lengthening my list of cons, though, I will list the pros.

Psychologically we always rebuff the new. Fact is, the word doesn’t need paper to spread. Likewise, clay tab-

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“Personally, I don’t sha eBooks...I prefer the tex As an eBook, every boo are all transformed into

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are the enthusiasm for xture of a printed page. ok feels the same; they o valueless digital files”

lets, papyrus and parchment are media of the past. For thousands of years, humanity has always relied on the ability to communicate. It is clear now that there’s no argument against the advent of the digital distribution of books; since, there is today a powerful force that drives it: economy. There is however, yet another force facilitating the rise of eBooks: climate change.

I must confess that I love to exaggerate sometimes, and I certainly do by saying that we are destroying our planet.

That is no secret anymore; it was made clear in several striking documentaries, released over the past few years.

Still, I’m not a pessimist. I like to believe that we may yet turn the tides. eBooks could help us do that, by reducing the number of trees chopped down. This would also reduce greenhouse gases emitted during the transportation of wood. It’s only one very small contribution surely, but every bit helps.

A fervent reader of paperback novels will love the prospect of being able to carry hundreds of them in a device thinner and lighter than just one. So, there are practical reasons in favor of eBook readers. On a long and tedious flight, your children can read all the Harry Potter novels, if they so choose. Technology can also rekindle excitement for reading with tomorrow’s generation. They have a very different perspective on computers and Smartphones — strictly speaking computers are new to my generation, too. I can vividly recall the first time my father bought a computer, back in 1991. I may not be the target group for eBook readers, but I can still recognize the positivity it can pass onto the book industry. The printed page doesn’t last forever; if not kept in a very controlled and secured room, books rot and fall apart — there is always a way of retrieving data from a file.

At the moment, Google is involved in an ongoing legal dispute over its Google Books service. The harshest critics call Google’s undertaking of scanning the world’s books simply an expropriation. A final settlement could be decided at a U.S. court on 9th November. Generally the response to Google’s plans of digitizing the world’s literature and knowledge is one of excitement. The trend

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seems to go in the direction of a happy end for everyone. By the time they launch Google Editions, an eBook shop platform, in the first half of 2010, the eBook might have made it to the European mainstream.

As a writer I understand the concerns authors have. I studied creative writing in London, and so I track the dislike of digital book distribution. Unless a novel sells more than a million copies, an author will never make a lot of profit. Now, with the rise of eBooks, the author’s royalties threaten to diminish yet more.

Only bestseller authors will be able to continue to make a living with their favorite pastime. Copyright issues have always been in the way of the digital age. With music it was no different. The artists want more than they are getting; this is of course understandable. If I wrote a novel I would want to make money from it. No artist today is bohemian enough to claim that they only pursue higher ideals. I’m an artist myself so to speak; besides writing I also work as a freelance photographer.

At the beginning I was also very careful with my photography. Even though, amongst my friends, I’m known as the great tech geek, I never posted my photography online. For a time I showed my work on Yahoo’s photo service Flickr, but honestly I never felt comfortable. As I read more about online rights, I became even more sensitive to the notion of showing my work online. Then I decided to make my own personal website, which I can control completely. However, I digress.

What I’m trying to say is that authors have the right to be protective of their work. They invested vast amounts of time in their writing; if success is not the natural result, then they should be allowed to keep the rights of the work they publish. Right now a literary work is protected by law until 75 years after the author’s death. This law doesn’t regulate, however, the way publishers are allowed to deal with their literary stock. At a book fair in Frankfurt which I attended a general euphoria was apparent, though. I felt that people genuinely desired to learn how to use digital technology to make literature last forever. The benefits over the printed page are very similar to those digital photography has over analogue film. Yet in both cases the big difference is what digital technology lacks altogether — the sense of touch.

An analogue black and white photo always has more life in it. Now it’s possible to mimic the visual aspects of an analogue film, but it’s cheating. I myself use digital photography, of course, but perhaps I should say that I could have learned much more yet had I started with analogue film. It’s not that authors are generally technophobes, regardless of their age. However, digitalization gives the impression that a work loses its substance; the tactile is transformed into an abstract illusion — we must solely rely on our six senses to know how a book or a photo feels in print.

Reading an eBook is the same as reading an article online — it feels like I’m simply collecting information. When I open a book, on the other hand, I have to make an effort to find my favorite passage, for instance. Turning the pages of a book is as natural to us as reading itself. Future generations may find reading on an eBook reader just as natural as we do reading today. I grew up with the computer and the Internet, but eBook technology is one threshold I refuse to lope. And I dare presume that we won’t see hundreds of millions of eBook readers around. I highly doubt that eBook readers will become as ubiquitous as the iPod has.

Former resident Max Majewski originally published this article at Neowin.net

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http://artandlove.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/old-book-shelf.jpg

“A fervent reader of paperback novels will love the prospect of being able to carry hundreds of them in a device thinner and lighter than just one”

create, inspire, connect architects in the 21st century simon jared reports

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http://hoklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/scr-samsunr4-cx093.jpg

http://hoklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/scr-samsunr4-cx093.jpg

reat architecture is never the work of an isolated genius but always the combined effort of a well coordi.......nated team.

Samsung Electronics R&D Building in Suwon, South Korea, a building designed

by HOK architects

William Lopez Campo, who spoke at Netherhall on 8 February, is Associate and Project Coordinator for HOK Architects, an award-winning global provider of planning, design and delivery solutions for the built environment.

William Lopez Campo, Associate and Project Coordinator for HOK Architects, impressed Netherhall residents last February with a series of mind-blowing examples of twenty-first century architecture, and explained what it is like to work for a large, international firm, and the processes behind designing modern buildings.

HOK was founded in 1955 with a vision of diversity. Based in the U.S, it has now spread its operations across the globe. A modern building such as the Samsung Electronics R&D Building in Suwon, South Korea, is by no means an individual artistic vision, or a personal architectural endeavour. Twenty-first century architecture is a collaboration between a team of individuals, and in HOK these individuals come from a variety of different professions, from architects to interior designers.

While the portfolio of buildings designed

by HOK was impressive and would have looked at home in the latest Star Trek movie, one could not help but notice that apart from one or two exceptions the majority of buildings were computer-generated-images, even the ones that have been completed.

Mr. Lopez Campo himself admitted that one of the drawbacks of the modern industry is that it is very rare for the designers and the creative team behind a project to see it through to the completion of the actual building.

The modern architecture industry, it seems, is producing futuristic buildings that are truly breathtaking, even if they exist, for the designers at least, only in CGI. For details of forthcoming guest speakers at Netherhall House, please visit the website.

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marital breakdown, social solution luke wilkinson reports

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ddiction, binge drinking, violence on the streets; most of the ills of our society come back to the same, cracked root: broken homes. Over 40% of marriages now end in divorce. If stable, loving families are the cells of the body of society, then this ‘disease’ is completely out of control.

Sounds like gloomy stuff with which to address a roomful of single young men on a Monday evening, and indeed the subject matter was very serious. However the main thrust of Sir Paul Coleridge’s talk at Netherhall on 25th January was surprisingly positive, with much for those gathered to take away and think about as, hopefully, many of us move towards getting married ourselves. As a high court judge in the family courts, Sir Paul is more than qualified to comment on what he perceives to be the single biggest social malaise of our time: the decline of marriage and the negative effects of this on the raising of children. He outlined what he sees as the three major changes causing the development of this problem over the past 50 years.

Firstly there has been the breaking of taboo about having children outside of marriage. Back in 1960, children born out of wedlock were commonly kept quiet and spirited away to (often Catholic) adoption agencies. Nowadays it is very common and acceptable to have children outside of a marriage environment, and legislative changes in the 1980s and 1990s reflected the erosion of illegitimacy as a status with cultural repercussions.

Secondly, people would very rarely live together without, or before, getting married. Similarly, sex before marriage was, socially speaking, out of the question, and certainly didn’t happen openly. Now it is considered normal and healthy to be sexually active from a young age, and to move in with someone long

before considering marriage, if at all. Marriage now seems to have a quaint feel about it – something to think about after a few years of ‘seeing how it goes’.

Thirdly, there was a stigma attached to divorce, which was seen as ‘thoroughly distasteful’. Now, over 40% of marriages end in divorce, and the law courts are swamped. Sir Paul explained how legislation has evolved to try and keep pace with the growing number of family cases the courts have to deal with, and that this underlies the impression that divorce is now easier.

But all that has changed is an easing of the legislative process; the pain and scarring are as bad as ever, as are the negative effects on children.

Since the 1960s, many of these taboos have been debunked in the name of freedom and equality. This is not all bad – many taboos have had very negative effects on some people, and in any case our behaviour should not be determined by social acceptability but rather on what is right or wrong. But, he continued, the morality of the major religions which used to underpin our law and social norms – the ‘rules of life’ which were never questioned – have been done away with and hold no weight in public discourse.

Sir Paul did not dwell on the negatives or try to point the finger.

This was not a religious or a party-political issue. ‘I wouldn’t apportion blame,’ he stressed, ‘it doesn’t get us anywhere’. What can be done to move us, as a society, out of this black hole?

The answer, Sir Paul suggested, comes back to public attitudes.

Since it was changes in social mores that got us to this point, rather than arguing the moral case for marriage, the response has to be to make marriage socially attractive again.

He drew an analogy with Jamie Oliver, who has made it his mission to make healthy food attractive to children. His response to seeing our national rates of obesity spiralling was not to get on a soapbox and bleat about how vegetables are better for you than hamburgers, but rather to meet the issue head on and show that healthy food can be tastier than junk food. Likewise, what Sir Paul wants to do is to show that getting married and staying together ‘for better for worse’ is desirable and fulfilling and good in its own right, rather than engaging in moral debate. It is also important to show that, like obesity, divorce is not just an individual problem but has effects on society as a whole. It is not just obese individuals who suffer, but the taxpayers who support them through the NHS. Likewise, it is not just the couple who divorce that suffer, but their children, friends and family. The pain gets perpetuated in very real terms, as children of divorced parents are less likely to marry and more likely themselves to divorce.

sir paul coleridge 24 netherhall news

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at does all of this mean to the thirty men gathered in hall, for most of whom marriage is not top of the agenda ow, at least until studies are over? Well, for those of us o hope to marry one day, there are real steps that can n now to safeguard any future relationship and to honfuture brides. Developing a healthy attitude of respect men is important for any relationship with the opposite d we should be careful of the things that creep into our ts and habits that undermine this. Recognising patterns ul or derogatory thoughts is important to deal with betering a marriage, where the effects can surface in a very way later on. It can be helpful to develop friendships her men, maybe a friend, mentor or priest, in which n be honest about things you are struggling with and age each other.

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end, Sir Paul is currently gathering support for a NaMarriage Foundation, whose purpose will be to reaffirm ge as the gold step in stabilising society. The entire issue o be removed from political life and addressed rationally. tistics speak for themselves. For example, married coufive times less likely to split up before their child’s fifth y than cohabiting couples. This is the voice that needs eard: the one saying that a myopic view of relationships much more suffering in the long-term. Such a foundaould lobby government, raise awareness, and provide re. Sir Paul has been in discussion with big groups already g to promote marriage, including Nicky and Sila Lee Holy Trinity Brompton, whose Marriage Course and asd resources are in use in churches around the country.

marriage: what’s it all about?

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ondon - one of the most cosmopolitan, vibrant, multi-cultural cities in the world; a place of cutting edge style and forward thinking.

A city at the centre of the 1960’s movements for liberation and sexual freedom. With couples looking for their romance mountaintop experience on Valentine’s day, 8-14th February has been officially designated National Marriage Week. It’s maybe a good point to consider what marriage really means.

In essence marriage is about a promise. A mutual promise. To love and to hold, one man, one woman, together until death brings parting. The wonder of the promise is that it brings the couple into a new space. It’s a space which is surrounded by the promise, a safe space to plan life, to develop a new unique story that is only yours, to laugh, to cry, to comfort, to understand, to learn how to forgive. And it’s a place for most, if not all, to bring new life into the world. Children thrive in safe places, where their parents are, where there is consistency, love, attention, and peace. Marriage is for the couple, but it is also for children, for family.

A recent briefing paper on Family Breakdown from Iain Duncan Smith’s Centre of Social Justice looks at the impact on our nation following the decline in marriage since the early 1970’s. The paper reports on the far higher percentage of unmarried couples with children who split up than those who are married: ‘European data shows that by a child’s fifth birthday less than 1 in 12 (8%) married parents have split up compared to almost 1 in 2 (43%) cohabiting parents.’ The promise gives people strength to hold together, it gives a view beyond the present pressures, particularly in the early years of raising a family.

In the first book of the Bible, marriage is declared to be at the centre of God’s plan for relationships: ‘therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.’ Marriage is not just a Christian concept; the public celebration of a couple’s marriage promise has resounded across the nations and faiths from the earliest times. Marriage is still the aspiration for most; Care for the Family (a family support charity) report that over 90% of young people aspire to be married at some point in the future.

Keeping the marriage promise fresh takes tending and attention. I know in my marriage, the stresses and hardness comes when we fail to carve out time to chat about things, or to go out for some fun. But when we write marriage times into the diary, and we experience life together, whatever it may be, a movie, a play, just a meal and a stroll, then you soon remember the promise, and why love is great, with or without Valentine’s Day. Andy Keighley is the Vicar of Holy Trinity Swiss Cottage (www.htsc.org) the local Anglican parish church where some residents worship, and with which Netherhall has close links.

This article was originally published in Camden New Journal

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but fate ordains that dearest friends

luke wilkinson applauds as a stalwart of the netherhall stage takes his bow

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unday 21st February marked the end of an era in Netherhall history, as one of the longest serving inmates came up to his release date. The lounge was packed with current and former residents all come to pay silent witness to a grave and serious occasion: the final appearance of Archan ‘Hot Chilli’ Boonyanan on Desert Island Discs. The room is full, not just with people but also with the thick air of anticipation. A hush falls upon the crowd as the great man faces up to his interrogator and long-time warden, Peter ‘Yorkshire’ Brown. There’s history in the meaningful look they exchange as Brown clears his throat and the spectacle begins…

Archan first came to Netherhall on 15th September 1996 to study for an MSc in Construction Refurbishment Management at that much esteemed London college, UCL. In his characteristically bashful style, his application gave away no clues as to the talents that were to emerge over the coming years. His interests were stated plainly: ‘music, film, books’. He was welcomed by Michael Lowenthal, then secretary of Netherhall, and began to settle in and make friends.

Having moved from Bangkok to a new country, he handled moments of loneliness with the help of some of his favourite music, and so we listened to Anita Baker’s Only For A While, which had been of particular comfort at the time.

However Archan soon found that the house spirit, fostered by the management and embraced by the residents, binds people together in community, and noted how over the course of the academic year his conversations had developed from ‘What’s your name?’ ‘Where are you studying?’ ‘What room are you in?’ to genuine supportive friendships. Two friends in particular were made at that time: Aidan Morley (whom Archan intends to visit soon in Washington DC) and Gurpeet Brar (whose wedding he attended in August 1998).

Besides his academic pursuits in the field of architecture, Archan is a keen theatregoer and critic (Ed - although he has repeatedly refused to review for the Netherhall Magazine!). During his time in London he has spent up to three nights a week at the theatre, enthusiastically sampling the best of all genres – plays, opera and ballet – but with a particular penchant for the story-telling techniques of musical theatre. As we listened to Steven Sondheim’s ‘No-one Is Alone’ from Into The Woods, Archan recounted a talk he had heard Sondheim give earlier that week, where he explained the shift in musical theatre in the 1960s from glitzy spectacle to more serious and emotional plays, where the music became integral to the plot.

It was no surprise then, that over Archan’s time in Netherhall it gradually began to emerge that his accumulated wealth of experience of and passion for theatre were valuable gifts to share in the production of the house plays. Since his first encounter with the Netherhall stage whilst working on The Real Inspector Hound with Rob Devlin in 2004, Archan has doggedly worked away, usually alone, in the miserable autumn weather, to produce the set and props for A Christ-

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must part

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mas Carol (Rob Devlin, 2006), The Government Inspector (Luke Wilkinson, 2008) and most recently The Imaginary Invalid (Alex Tylecote, 2010). Besides his contributions to the house plays, Archan’s helping hands have busily worked away in the background for many other house events: receptions, band nights, Fr. Joe’s big Welsh birthday, and various events with the Thomas More Institute.

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archan reflects on the end of his time in netherhall q building the set for the government inspector

So with the precious moments slipping by, we listened to Archan’s final piece of music, taken from his favourite show, La Cage aux Folles.

Jerry Herman’s ‘The Best of Times’ represents a particularly difficult time when Archan was changing universities halfway through his PhD, and as the mournful song played out softly, a reverent stillness fell upon everyone. We paused with Archan to mark another significant time of change in his life, and with it the departure of a central character of Netherhall life.

Archan is moving home to Thailand to begin a job with the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Thammasat University in Bangkok.

He spent many years as the House over two stints in 1996-1998 and 2003-2010. On behalf of everyone in Netherhall to whom you have been a generous friend and supporter, thank you, and God bless.

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passing through news of former residents

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zhideaki nagashima

(2002-2003) luis blasquez p (1995-1996) . charles blishen and his wife agatha recntly had another baby t

andreas weber u (2005) .

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photos from joao bettencourt’s recent baptism into the catholic church

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