THE KING’S SOCIETY
MICHAELMAS TERM 2016
The King’s Society Michaelmas term The King’s Society aims to provide opportunities for the enhancement and enrichment of the King’s community. We hope to enable members of the Society to enjoy social events together and appreciate the educational and cultural facilities that the School, the Cathedral and Precincts have to offer. We organise a variety of events here in Canterbury, London and further afield. We liaise closely with the Visitors’ Department of Canterbury Cathedral and have arranged many tours within the Precincts. There are frequent theatre trips, visits to art galleries and guided walking tours in London. We enjoy our garden visits and have visited Highgrove, Kew Gardens, Sissinghurst and the Chelsea Physic Garden amongst others. We liaise closely with the PSHE department here at King’s and host talks which we open to all King’s parents on matters relating to pupils’ teenage issues. We hold regular lectures, craft and culinary workshops, wine tastings and dining evenings. Over the years, we have had guided weekends away together in Seville, Florence, Paris and Berlin. In addition we regularly organise battlefield tours and recently spent a weekend staying in Bayeux visiting the beaches of the D Day Landings in Normandy. The Society has over 340 members. We are a non-profit making organisation and the Society exists solely for the benefit of its members. There is also a branch of The King’s Society in Hong Kong and events for the King’s community in Hong Kong are held on a regular basis there. The Society is run by Mrs Ali Huntrods, an ex-parent of two daughters at King’s, together with a committee made up of current parents, OKS and members of staff. We try to cater for a wide range of tastes and interests on all social, cultural and educational fronts and can assure you of a very warm welcome.
Cover images Main: Image courtesy of Red Photographic on behalf of IMG Tennis. Right (from top to bottom) © The National Gallery, London: Shutterstock/Baloncici; Shutterstock/John Gomez; Shutterstock/CBCK.
King’s Society Reception for New Parents Tuesday 6th September 5pm
Lattergate Garden (Pupils’ Social Centre if it is wet) We are delighted to host a reception for new parents to the School on the first day of term. Following the Headmaster’s welcome in the Shirley Hall, parents will be invited to join the Headmaster and members of the King’s Society Committee (identified by badges) for champagne and canapés in the Lattergate Garden.
Drinks Reception for the King’s Community in Hong Kong Saturday 17th September 6.30pm-8.30pm
The Hong Kong Club, 1 Jackson Road, Central, Hong Kong All members of the Hong Kong King’s community are very warmly invited to this drinks party hosted by Mr Graham Sinclair, the School’s Registrar, and Mr Will Bersey, Director of Music. Website booking is not available but please do email Ali if you would like to join us. This event is free.
Stage, Sex Shops and Stir Fry – Viv Haxby’s Guided Walking Tour through Soho Wednesday 28th September 10.45am
Trafalgar Square, London WC2 Join Blue Badge Guide, Viv Haxby, on a stroll through London’s theatre-land, Covent Garden and Soho and hear the story of the area’s salacious past and its recent gentrification. We will take in the history of Chinatown, John Snow and his study of cholera in the nineteenth century, the origins of Marlboro cigarettes, Ronnie Scott and the Raymond Revue bar, and the Swinging 60s. And much much more… We will meet at 10.45am in front of the main portico to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square. Places limited to 20. Price per person £12.50. Website booking available.
King’s Society talks by Artemis Cooper, Justin Marozzi and Colin Thubron Thursday 6th October 7.30pm
Shirley Hall Members of the Patrick Leigh Fermor Society have arranged to visit King’s this afternoon for tea, an exhibition and a walking tour featuring Patrick Leigh Fermor’s life at King’s. In the evening, three distinguished writers Artemis Cooper (Paddy Leigh Fermor’s biographer), Justin Marozzi (OKS travel writer and historian) and Colin Thubron (President of the Royal Society of Literature) have very kindly agreed to come and talk to the combined audience of the PLF Society, the King’s Society, pupils, members of the Common Room and the wider Canterbury audience.
Their talks are as follows: Artemis Cooper: The Reluctant Subject: Writing the Life of Patrick Leigh Fermor Justin Marozzi: Remembering Paddy: From King’s to Kardamyli Colin Thubron: Paddy the Writer In addition Waterstones will be present to launch the publication of Dashing for the Post: The Letters of Patrick Leigh Fermor, edited by Adam Sisman and we are delighted Adam will also be present signing copies. There is no charge for this event but places should still be reserved. Drinks and nibbles will be served. Website booking available
King’ Society Cycling Trip “from cloisters to oysters” Saturday 8th October 11am
The Malthouse, Malthouse Road, Canterbury, CT2 We will enjoy seven miles of traffic-free cycling along the Crab and Winkle Way between Canterbury and Whitstable exploring a delightful slice of East Kent, packed with history and nostalgia. We collect our school mountain bikes from the Malthouse and cycle along the old railway line from the Winding Pond to the outskirts of Whitstable. On the way to Whitstable, we will cycle through Blean, with its 13th Century Church of St Cosmus and St Damian, Blean woods and the conifer-dominated woodland of Clowes Wood. Once in Whitstable, we will have lunch in one of the town’s seafood restaurants before cycling back to Canterbury. Places limited to 15. This event is free but members will be asked to pay for lunch. Website booking available.
Private Tour of Canterbury Cathedral for New Parents Saturday 15th October 10am
Pupils’ Society Centre The King’s Society has organised a tour of Canterbury Cathedral for new parents to the School. We will meet in the Pupils’ Social Centre for tea/coffee and breakfast consisting of bacon butties and pastries before we head over to the Cathedral. The Cathedral guides have a wealth of knowledge about the Cathedral and its remarkable history. We will be guided around this splendid building dating back to the arrival of the first Archbishop, Augustine, from Rome in AD 597. We will learn about the fabric of the building and its architecture ‒ Romanesque, Gothic and later additions from the Middle Ages ‒ and the historical events that have taken place here over the centuries. We will visit the shrine to the murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket and the medieval tombs of King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince. Sadly we are restricted to a maximum of 50 places. Website booking available. This event is free.
Beyond Caravaggio Exhibition at the National Gallery with Art History UK
Tuesday 18th October 10am
National Café at the National Gallery, London WC2N Rome in the 17th Century was a city of bandits, brawls, sex and scandal. The art scene was dominated by the violent and enigmatic Caravaggio. On this contextualizing tour in the permanent collection, together with our guide from Art History UK Catherine, we will look at Italian art in the closing years of the 16th Century. She will set the scene for the exhibition by looking at Caravaggio’s contemporaries, including the Carracci brothers and Guido Reni. Understanding how radical Caravaggio was in creating a new dramatic and dynamic language, we will then visit the ‘Beyond Caravaggio’ exhibition in the Sainsbury Wing. This important exhibition is the first in the UK to explore the impact of Caravaggio’s work both on the art of his contemporaries and followers. Although Catherine is not able to guide us around the exhibition she will accompany us and so be able to answer questions we might have and chat informally. We will meet for coffee in the National Café first before our tour commences in the permanent collection. Places limited to 15. Price per person £33. Website booking available.
The King’s Society Annual General Meeting Monday 14th November 7.30pm
Gateway Chamber, St Augustine’s Please let Ali know if you would like to attend.
King’s Society talk by Michael Naxton ASFAV, the Curator of the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection Wednesday 16th November 7.30pm
Schoolroom Michael Naxton, the Curator of the Ashcroft Medal Collection ever since Lord Ashcroft bought his first Victoria Cross back in 1986, will be speaking about the fascinating history of the world’s most prestigious award for bravery. Using many examples from the Ashcroft Collection – which now owns an extraordinary 195 VCs and is the largest collection in the world by a significant margin – Michael will recount the exploits of some of the remarkable men who have won it as well as telling the story of how the world’s most famous medal became established in 1856. There is no charge for this event but places should still be reserved. Drinks and nibbles will be served. Website booking available.
King’s Society visit to the Champions Tennis at the Albert Hall Wednesday 30th November 7.30pm
The Albert Hall, London W8 The Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall is the season ending finale to the ATP Champions Tour. Former Grand Slam Champions, World No.1 tennis players and national icons compete in one of London’s most famed and iconic venues. Champions Tennis has welcomed a host of the sport’s biggest names and personalities to play competitively in both singles matches and entertaining doubles matches. Over its 20 year history, Champions Tennis has boasted some of the game’s biggest names, including: John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic, Tim Henman and Andy Roddick. Places limited to 20. Price per person £55. Website booking available.
Christmas Wreath Making
Tuesday 6th December 10am
Jolly Lovely, Little Boy Court, Boy Court Lane, Headcorn TN27 9LA Join Amanda Taggart from Jolly Lovely at this fun workshop where we will have the opportunity to create our own fabulous Christmas Wreath. Everything we need will be provided including ribbons, stunning foliage and festive decorations. Our day will start with coffee and cake and after a busy creative morning we will break for a glass of fizz and a light lunch of homemade soup and bread followed by mince pies and coffee. This will be a great way to ensure we all get into the festive mood before the end of term. Places limited to 10. Price per person £55. Website booking available.
King’s Society events are open to all members. Most events can be booked using the school’s online booking facility at www.kings-school.co.uk which is the easiest and most efficient way of booking tickets. If you are paying by cheque, it should be made payable to The King’s Society and sent to Ali at The King’s School, Canterbury, CT1 2ES. Please note, payment is required prior to an event as places cannot be guaranteed until payment has been received. If an event is full, it is always worth your name being put on Ali’s waiting list as spaces do often occur at the last minute.
Committee Members Manager: Mrs Ali Huntrods Treasurer: Mr Andrew Bruce Parents: Mrs Caroline Bagshawe, Mrs Claire Burns, Lady Carr, Mrs Eloise Coulson, Mrs Frances Gerth, Mrs Alison Streeter Staff:
Mrs Lisa Cousins, Mr Richard Ninham, Mrs Liz Worthington
Hong Kong Committee Members Parents: Mrs Rosanna Chan, Mrs Amanda Snow OKS: Mr Darrin Woo
For all King’s Society Enquiries re membership and events Please contact the King’s Society Manager Mrs Ali Huntrods Tel: 01227-595774 Email: ah@kings-school.co.uk Mobile: 07825 016282