The Cantuarian Autumn 1996 - Summer 1997

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THE CANTUARIAN

AUTUMN TERM 1996

THE CANTUARIAN VOL. LXI No.1

AUTUMN TERM , 1996 CONTENTS PAGE

THIS AND THAT

3

SERMON

10

OBITUARIES

II

CHAPLAIN'S NOTES

15

VALETE

16

POINTS OF VIEW

18

FOCUS

29

EXPEDITIONS

41

CORRESPONDENCE

48

IMAGINATIVE WRITING

50

REPORTS AND REVIEWS MUSIC

62

DRAMA

68

TALKS

75

BOOKS

77

SOCIETIES AND ACTIVITIES

78

SPORT

92

THE O.K.S. ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT'S REPORT

107

THE CANTUARIAN i

Editor: Mary Stevens

Deputy Editor: Zoe Fargher

Art Editor: Megan Morris

Editorial Committee: Imogen Anderson , Theresa Boyce, Charles Fordham, Simon Gomersall, Peter Hunt, William Justice, Andrew Ribbans, Rebecca Snow Senior Editor: M.J. Tennick, B.A. THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

How about this for a day: 1230 Lunch in the Officers' Mess.

0830 Visit your Platoon or Troop on the vehicle park carrying out First Parade maintenance on their equipment. Equipment on your charge could be worth ÂŁmillions, and it's your responsibility to ensure it is fully operationally effective.

1400 Represent your Regiment at your favourite team sport against another unit.

1630 Chair a planning meeting to finalise plans for an adventure training expedition to Kenya that you will be leading next Spring.

0930 On the way back to the office visit crews practising their drills on a simulator to satisfy yourself they are up to standard.

1800 An hour's work on your Company's account before you: 1900 Change into formal Mess Dress for a Regimental Guest Dinner Night.

1000 Conduct interviews with three of your soldiers - a good course report (debrief and congratulate), a discipline problem (investigate the case), and a compassionate problem (counsel and grant leave).

0100 Check uniform and personal equipment for an early start to the following day's different but equally varied and challenging programme.

1100 Go to 25m range to conduct SA80 shooting practice to ensure the weapons are properly zeroed for an Annual Personal Weapons Test the following day.

Want to know more? Your first challenge is easy,

See your Head of Careers to make an appointment with your Schools Liaison Officer or post the coupon below to SLO (SE) 17 St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 280 The Army welcomes applications from eligible candidates no maller what their marital status, race, ethnic origin or religious beliet The Army is commilled to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and has a strict code of conduct covering racial or sexual discrimination and harassment.

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POSTCODE

BE THE BEST

D.O.B.

SCHOOL

Lifestyle THE CANTUAR IAN, AUTUMN

1996

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'Jhis & 'Jhat T he Reverend Keith Wilkinson took up his appointment as Headmaster of T he King's School on 1st September 1996. T his is the first edition of The Cantuarian in which we have had the opportunity to w ish him and his family well during the ir time here. T he Headmaster was insta lled as a Canon of Canterbury Cathedral at Evensong on Saturday 7th December.

Ave

We record with sadness the death at the age of 24 on 29th November 1996 of Alexandra B rown (GL 1988-90) after a lo ng illness caused by the shingles virus following a successful bone marrow transplant for leukaemia . Alex took Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology A-levels at K ing's with AS -level History of Art, and then read Psychology at Durham. After obtaining her degree, she j oined Delo itte Touche's London office in their graduate training scheme and was involved in audit work. She had a very acti ve life and was a successful one day event rider on her horse. The funeral was held at the Church of St Mary the Virg in , Lydden, on 6th December, and one of the readings was given by Alex's brother Tony (GL 1984-89). T he Headmaster and a number of members of staff attended, as did many O.K.S., including the members of her tutor set. We extend our deepest sympathy to her fa mily.

We also send our condolences to the family of Jake Summers (MR 1989-9 1), brother of Sara (MT 1987-89) and Francis (MR 1989-94), who was killed in a road accident in Sri Lanka on 25th September 1996. He was teaching science at the Colombo International School. He came to K ing 's from S ir Roger Manwood 's to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics in the Sixth Form, and gained 'A' g rades in all three as well as AS-level French . He went on to read Pure and Applied Bio logy at Oriel College, Oxford. After graduating, he went to Sri Lanka initially for a year, but decided to stay longer. His funeral was he ld there, and there has been a memorial service at Orie l.

We we,.re sad to learn in November of the death of Professor Bryan Keith-Lucas, who was a part-time member of staff teaching Politics from 1977 to 1982. He came to King's after retiring from the Uni versity, where he had been Professor of Po litics and Local Government since 1964 fo llow ing sixteen years as an Oxford don. It was Professor Keith-Lucas who instituted the King's Parliament and mock elections, initiatives for which he will be particularly remembered in this election year. He was an excellent teacher with a passionate belief in grass-roots politics as Requiescant

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T HE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

opposed to centralisation . His interests were not confined to contemporary politics: in collaboration with Grayson Ditchfield , he produced an annotated edition of the Diary, kept in code, of the Reverend Joseph Price, an 18th century scandal-monger who resided in the Mint Yard. Above all , he brought to all his work enlightened scholarship and civilised values, and we were fortunate to have him among us for five years . A fu ll obituary notice is to be found later in this edition .

The School was represented by Mr Paul Pollak at the funeral on 16th August of M rs Pamela Edmonds, widow of Canon John Edmonds, whose death was reported in our last edition.

It was also shortly after the last edition of The Cantuarian had been prepared that the death was reported of the distinguished diplomat S ir Anthony Parsons (MO 1937-39). He served in Ankara and Amman before being posted to Cairo, where he was one of those charged w ith the delicate task of restori ng re lations with Egypt after the Suez crisis. He went on to work in Khartoum , Bahra in and New York , after which, in 197 1, he was appointed U nderSecretary in the Foreign Office in charge of M iddle East and United Nations affairs. He then went as Ambassador to Tehran , where he witnessed the collapse of the rule of the Shah fo llowed by the establishment of the Is lam ic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini . His last appointment, as the U.K. representative at the United Nations, gave him much publicity as it coincided with the Falklands War. We are grateful to Sir A nthony Parsons's contemporary in Meister Omers, Mr Ben Bolt, for sending us a copy of his letter to Lady Parsons on the occasion of the Memorial Service held at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 2 1st October.

He describes the young man with whom he shared a study as 'an amiable, thoughtful and loyal companion, and a realist who was exceptionally aware of the dangerous international situation in which we then lived. H is apparently casual, slightly aloof attitude, tinged with scepticism , masked much of his real intell igence and , not surpris ingly, he became a King's Scholar. Quite unexpectedly, his superior abil ity with a cricket bat led to his selection for the I st XI at a much younger age than usual. He became immersed in historical and literary subjects, and the speed with which he cou ld dash off a notable essay became legendary.' At the other end of his career, he was paid the compliment of being asked by Mrs Thatcher to stay on after the Falklands cris is as her adviser on foreign affairs.

But perhaps the ob ituary notice in The Times best catches the quality which K ing's still hopes to nurture in its pupils , when it speaks of all his work as be ing characterised by a 'gentle and urbane liberalism , an interest in the other man 's point of view, and a concern for the underdog' . Sir C harles Powell (GL 1955-60) has contributed an ob ituary notice on p. 11 of this issue .

T here was a special celebration at Sung Eucharist in the Cathedral on Sunday 22nd December to mark the sixtieth anni versary of the ordination of Canon Derek Ingram Hill (GR 1925-31). The Archbishop spoke of Canon Ingram H ill 's lifetime of ministry in the Diocese and of his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Cathedral , and gave to him a medallion representing St Anselm.

After the service, the Dean was host at a reception in the C hapter House . In reply to the toast, Canon Ingram Hill reminded the Dean that he had been promised that he would be allowed to come to rest under the grass in the Cloisters. As entertaining and enthusiastic as ever, he did not g ive the impression of being likely to do so for some considerable time. We add our warmest congratulations and best wishes .

Derek Ingram Hill

Three new full-time members of staff joined us in September. M rs Lynda Horn , who teaches Econo mics and Po lit ics, has previously worked at Abingdon School and at Maidstone Grammar School. She was educated at Formby High School from where she went to the University of Salford and thence to Manchester. She has a particular interest in the Young Enterprise scheme, whic h is undoubtedly destined to have a high profile among our extra-curricular acti vities . Her husband is Head of Physics at St Edmund 's School.

Mr Nicholas Morgan has moved to K ing's from Dover College to teach Information Technology. After attending Stonyhurst College he read Natural Sciences at the Un iversity of Durham. He has cons iderable experience of competiti ve off-shore sailing, and coaches rugby, hockey and cricket.

Mr R ichard Stamper has taken up the newly-created post of fu ll-time Head of Strings, a position he has also held in the Mus ic Departments of the University of Reading and of Wellington College. He went from Wirral G rammar School to the Royal Northern College of Mus ic . He has wide experience of performing as well as teaching, and lays down his bow onl y to pick up his black judo belt.

While Mr Jackson has been travelling round the world on sabbatical leave , his Chemistry lessons have been taken by Dr Angeline Kanagasooriam , a graduate of the Univers ity of Singapore with postgraduate degrees from Cambridge and U .K.C . A former newscaster

Common Room

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUM N

1996

4

Dr Angeline Kanagasooriam (M .P.H.D.)

with the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, she is also an accomplished singer and was a Choral Exhibitioner at Christ's College, Cambridge. We thank her for her work with us during the Autumn Term and wish her well in her future career.

Anna Duncan and Martin Field-Dodgson have made a very strong contribution to the sporting life of the schoo l during their year between school and university in New Zealand. An na 's help with netball, lacrosse, tennis and hockey has been particularly appreciated . Martin has given valuable time to rugby, hockey and cricket, where his contribution to The Haymakers and The Harvesters was recognised in our last issue . He also impressed as a KiDaCo clown .

A review of Mr Butt's Directory of Railway Stations was spotted by a colleague who was browsing through the Haynes Publishing catalogue. The book is listed as a Best Seller.

And if you mistakenly thought that such a work was destined for a specialist market, bear in mind that all is relative. Dr Mallion 's latest contribution to the ongoing saga of spanning trees and fullerenes has, after a suitable period of publisher's gestation (two and a half years), appeared in the journal Discrete Applied Mathematics . His co-authors are Toby Brown, K.S. (MR 1986-91) and M r Paul Pollak. The conclusion contai ns the enigmatic sequence: ' Although (or, maybe, because) .. .', and a decision is not expected for some time yet. The thirteen pages generate 74 footnotes, including reference to the (h itherto) unpublished correspondence between D r Mallion and Professor K. Balasubramanian of Arizona State University.

M r Woodward has also burst into pri nt in his Martin Field-Dodgson and Anna Duncan (M.P.H.D .) professional capacity - as a linguist. He rightly took issue over a stylistic aberration in The Times, in which Oxford's Director of Rowing, speaking about eligibility for the Boat Race crew, was quoted as saying that they were hoping to achieve 'a level playing-field ' . ' Let us hope,' sighs S .W.W., 'that no one moves the goal posts.'

Donations to the Library this term include eight bound folio volumes of L'Illustration , the eminent French journal covering the period July 1914 to July 1919 - given by Mr Hugo Broadbent.

Another new title covering another war period is USA 1939-1946: The Preview of a New World- how Frank Buchman helped his country move from isolation to world responsibility, mainly told by illustrated contemporary news articles. T his was procured for the Library by Mr Jamie Mackay-Millar, who also presented Michael Ffinch's work on his grandfather, the artist Donald Maxwell.

We are also indebted to current members of staff, Dr Thomson and Mrs S. McGuire for donations.

Amongst items bought by the Library this term are two books Stone and Wood by British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, a hitherto unrepresented artist. T he Science section is enhanced by an encyclopaedia of DNA and genetics , and Richard Mabey's Flora Britannica .

We were delighted to receive copies of two works published from manuscripts in the Walpole Collection . The Adventures of Colonel Peter Aston by James Hogg has appeared in Tales of the Wars of Montrose , edited by Gill ian Hughes . T his first appeared, in a bowdlerised version, in 1835, but can now be read as Hogg intended.

Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather, The History of France, (Second Series) has been published for the first ~ime, in an edition prepared by William B aker and Ian Alexander. This was one of the last pieces Scott wrote, and rt was rej ected by 19th centu ry publishers . (In 1893 Macmillan's took the view that the book 'comes to us straight f rom the failing brain , though considering the condition of the man it is wonderful that he has done what he has.')

T he Northern Illinois University Press has now done the decent thing and made the story available for us to judge for ourst!lves.

Mr Hugh Curtis (GR 1942-47), son of Harry Curtis, the famous School Steward in Dr Shirley's time, has given some books of K .S.C . interest which at one time belonged to his father. They include a morocco-bound special edition of the School Prayer Book with Dr Shirley's inscri ption to him .

Ex libris

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THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

Anthon y Rockley (MR 1955-60) was a hig hl y g ifted young man. A King's Scholar, Head of his House, and State Scholar at Cambridge, he died tragically before he was thirty. He certainly had it in him , intellectually and morally, to enrich the wider world, had he lived .

On 23rd November, Mrs Penny A ikens, formerl y Mrs Anthony Rockley, presented a pair of su itably inscribed benches to Marlowe Hou se, in his memory. T he party, which had earl ier attended House Prayers in the Schoolroom (at which Mrs Aikens read the lesson) included their two daughters and other relatives and friends. Shown in the photograph are (L . to R.) Mr R.C. White (Housemaster of Marlowe House), Mrs Penny Aikens (formerl y Mrs Anthony Rockley) donor of the benches, Mr A .G.S. Douglas, Mr J.R.A. Bird (schoolfellow of Anthony Rockley) and Mr P. Pollak (his Housemaster).

Afterwards there was a showing of the remarkable film , made by C hristopher Neame (LN 1956-60), of the exped ition to Russia organised by Anthony in the summer Presentation of the Rockley benches. of 1960. Travelling in an ex-East Kent bus, which they had bought for the purpose, the thirty King's School boys encountered much friendly curiosity, despite the Cold War, except when a provocative stroll across the Red Square in Moscow was staged in Canterbury Dress, complete with straw hats. This attracted no attention whatsoever. T he film (a copy of which is in Dr Mallion's custody) is well worth seei ng as a piece of cultural history - not least on account of the commentary, spoken by Anthony Rockley.

In memoriam

On 27th November, the Headmaster represented the School at the unveiling of a plaque at Howletts Farmhouse, Bekesbourne, to mark the birthplace of the distinguished fi lm di rector Michael Powell (19 J6- 19) . The ceremony was performed by Sheila Sim (Lady Attenborough), star of A Canterbury Tale, and Columba Powell, the director's son. The event was part of the celebration of I 00 Years of Cinema, under the aegis of the British Fi lm Institute and Kent Arts and Libraries. A week of lectures and film screenings, under the title ' Michael Powell - a Celebration ', was held at Christ Chu rch College.

Peeping Tom, Black Narcissus, A Canterbury Tale and The Small Back Room were shown, and T helma Schoonmaker-Powell , Michael's widow and Martin Sc01¡sese's editor, spoke about the influence of Powell on Scorsese and about her work on Raging Bull. T he School was well represented at all these e njoyable occasions.

F ilm history

Preparatory Schools' Science Day on 7th November.

(Will Ju stice)

Mr Patrick Leigh Fermor, O.K.S ., preparing his address for the unveiling of a plaque to Sir John Betjeman in Westminster Abbey, happened to mention that he fi rst heard Betjeman speak in 193 J , at a King's School lecture. The report of this in The Cantuarian was searched out and proved to be an unusually literate one (could Leigh Fermor have been the writer?). Betjeman was then aged 24. He had been rusticated from Oxford a year or two previously for fa iling the indispensable D ivinity exam ination , a lapse aggravated by his appearing in embro idered bedroom sl ippers for a tutorial with C.S .

Lewis. After the traditional stint of prep. schoolmastering he had been appo inted Assistant Editor of The Betjeman unveiled

THE CANTUAR IAN, AUTUMN

1996

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Architectural Review . But what did he say in his lecture? Phrases like 'we were plunged into the Victorian Age _of Ugliness in architecture'; ' the co~torti_o~ s of the umbrella-sta~d ... a grim exa~1ple of the smug tastes ?f 1ts Phi listine owners'; 'the return to Simplic ity and usefu lness ... w1th modern matenals such as ferro-concrete , are quoted enthusiastically by the reviewer. He plainly wis~ed to be li~ve - he did believe.- that '.a steel armchair ~s made quite as comfortable as any other by means of spnngs espec1all y constructed to su1t the attitude of the body .

Alas, the ' lamentable fact' had to be acknowledged: 'modern architecture is without exception continenta l or American' .

T he Westminster plaque was un veiled on 11th November, thanks to representations made by, among others, The Betjeman Society. This was born in Canterbury and its first open meeting was held in the Old Synagogue on 21st Novem ber 1988. Professor Irwin of U.K.C. spoke on Toothbrush, Tram and Tennis-racket: The Poetry of John Betjeman . Two-thi~ds of the s.o.ciety's C?u~cil ?f Management then had King's School links,. as maste~¡s, parents, or Headmaster's w1fe. Mrs P hil ippa Dav1es IS stil l the Honorary Secretary of the now world-w 1de organ1satton. Mr Leigh Fermor gave an add ress at the unveiling and dedication ceremony. Joanna Lumley, wife of Mr Stephen Barlow (GR 1968-72) read from Betjeman's works. The officiant was the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Michael May ne (MO 1943-49).

Canon N ick Bury (MR 1956-61), until recently the Rural Dean of Thanet, has been appointed Dean of Gloucester Cathedral. He was Head of Marlowe House in 1961 when he won a place to read Theology at Queens' College, Cambridge. He spent a year teaching in Borneo before studying for ordination in Oxford. He was voted 'Curate of the Year' during his time at the City Centre Church in Liverpool, from where he moved, demonstrating spectacular versatility, to be Chaplain of Christ C hurch , Oxford . He moved to Broadstairs in 1984 after ten years in a parish in Stevenage. We wish him well in his new ministry.

Ministry

Dr David Curl (MR 1975-79) has won the 'best newcomer' award at the biennial Wildscreen Festival of fi lms about wi ldlife. His entry, The Call of Kakadu, is a film of the struggle of a young kookaburra's struggle for survival in the context of an account of the lives of animals who live on the fringes of a billabong, which Dr Curl studied for his Ph.D. In the pursuit of relevant information he fo und it necessary to put his hand into a nest where a python was wrapped around the eggs laid by the mother kookaburra it had just devoured. Fortunately it showed no s imilarly enthusiastic appetite for ¡ learned O.K.S.

Down under

It would be a brave python who would tackle our 1993 Captain of Rugby Myles Orsler (LN 1989-94) . He added to his collection of B lues in December by representing Oxford in his third Varsity Match.

Jess ica Barnes (JR 1994-96) won the 1996 Young Musician of the Year competition sponsored by the Kent Messenger Group. She performed Elgar's Cello Concerto. Placed second among the four finalists was Peter Lawrence (GL).

Blues and E lgar

Camill a Pay (MR) has again been chosen to play in the National Youth Orchestra and recently heard that she had gained a scholarship to the R oyal Academy of Music.

Benedict Westenra (SH) won the first prize in the Mathematics Masterclasses competition about the mathematical content of the symmetry of wallpaper patterns.

Charlie Leigh-Pemberton (MR) and Andrew Ri bbans (MO) have both been awarded Army Scholarships .

Pupil honours 1

C harles Munday (LN) , Jamie Green (MR) and Alastair Lewis (MR) have been selected for the Kent U-19 Hockey Team , and Alastair Lewis has also won a place in the South of E ng land U-17 Divisional Team. Christopher Pickering (MT) represented Kent at CrossCountry, while the Senior Gi rls' Team - Caroline Bai ley (HH), Hilary Myska (HH), Jo Pringle (LX), M~ry Stevens (WL) and Rache l Wilkinson (HH) - became District Champions. Frances Houghton (WL) and her sculling-partner won a national event (the double sculls) at Pangbourne; the Senior Girls' Quad - Zoe Arthur (LX), Claire Baldwin (HH), Kate Dover (HH) and Frances - are unbeaten; and Michael Smith (MO) won a superb trophy (carrying such famous names as Redgrave and Pinsent) for the Hampton Sculls. Felicity Wacher (MR) and Caroline Scott (HH) were selected for the South East Cadet fenci ng team; Felicity won the Kent Women's Intermediate Foil and was first in the South East Girls' Intermediate Epee; Josephine Sundt (JR) was first in the South East Girls' Epee; James Rowe (LN) has now fenced on six occasions for Great Britain, is ranked third for the Under 20 foil and is 26th in the adult rankings; and a record fourteen boys have qualified for the Great Britain sabre and epee championships.

Pupil honours 2

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THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

On Sunday 3rd November The Grange p layed School House in a five hour football match.

The charity supported was the Neuro-Fibromatosis Association, which aims to fund research and care for the be nefit of suffe re rs from this condition . James Day organised the event and was able to give us direct information of a suffere r from the condition, of how serious this condition is and the pain, disfigureme nt, mental dete rioration and death that it causes. Peter Prince produced an exciting design for aT-shirt and, with the help of Mr Teeton 's contacts w ith Schools Partnership Worldwide, the des ign was sent off to Nepal. Within three weeks splendid crimson shirts, smelling strongly but only temporarily of petrol, were delivered with Peter's design realised beyond our wildest hopes in e mbroidery. S.P.W. received some of the money f rom the shirts, but £3 pe r shirt was for Neuro-Fibromatosis. Almost every Grange boy played. The photograph shows the sixth formers, who started off the match under Mr Dath's refereeing. Standing are Sola Lawson, Mike Ziegler, Theo Davies, He nry Eccles, Paul Tsergas, Tom Everett, Clemens Guth , Alex Pearson, Jim Day; and kneeling are Max von Hurter, Peter Mayberry, Chris French , Pete Capel, Segun Lawson, A lex Hayes, Peter Prince.

Many thanks to all staff who took their turn with the whistle. Many thanks to School House for making it such an enjoyable occasion. The final score was thought to be 40-17 and the total sum sent off to the charity was £800 .

Neuro-Fibromatosis

When the mezzo-soprano soloist failed to turn up at G lyndebourne because she had put the wrong date in her diary, her understudy was summoned from Newhaven, where she was up a ladder painting her house, and the performance eventually started 45 minutes behind schedule. How, then , were those who expected to catch the last train back to London going to be able to stay until the end in order to avoid spe nding the night (and possibly arousing comment) on the platform? As luck would have it, the Chairman of Railtrack, Mr Robert Horton (LN 1952-57) was in the audience. As we go to press we are de lighted to note in the New Year Honours Robert Horton's elevation to the knighthood , and we offer S ir Robert Horton our congratulations.

The knight train

A review of Something Like Fire : Peter Cook Remembered contains an extract from one of his favourite characters, S ir Arthur Streeb-Gree bling : ' My fathe r was a remote, icy man .. . he proposed to have me reared by wolves. Fortunately, there were very few wolves in the Aylesbury area at the time, so my father dec ided to have me raised by goats. I educated my son the same way.

It was that or King's School Canterbury. I'm not entirely heartless, you know.'

Cooked up? ·

The Biology De partment made three entries fot: a national conservation competition (sponsored by the Willmot Pertwee Conservation Trust). The e ntries were placed second, third and fifth , and consequently a group of pupils will attend the award cere mony in London and the School wi ll collect a ' not inconsiderable' sum of prize money, to be spent on ' conservation-related items' .

Green success

Footage for J.K.S.

Those of our readers who have video film , c ine footage or even still photographs of J .K.S. are urged to read the letter from Mr Robin Edmonds on p . 49.

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

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EX ADVENTV AVGYSTINI CANTVARIA: SCI-lOLA ORTA 597 - 1997 During 1997 we .shal l honour in Canterbury the 1400th anniversary of the arrival in this country of St Augustine, ' the Apostle of the English', and the consequent emergence of Canterbury as a centre of C hristian .education and of the King's School and its pupils as heirs of that tradition.

This year ?f ~reat religious, historical and educational significance will be celebrated by Cathedral, School and the O .K.S. Assoctat10n.

The Cathedral h~s a programme of events from January to October. Information may be obtained from Cathedral House, l l The Precmcts, CT I 2~H. (0 1227 7628~2). Special events include pilgrimages from Rome to Canterbury and from Canterbury to ~~~:ry (only l_t~tted places avatlable); the Becket Chasse on display in the Cathedral (7th April to end of October); an exht?tt.'?n of pamtmgs by John Doyle! depicting his own journey from Rome to Canterbury (24th May to 24th June); an exhtbttton of photographs ~f 1~1anuscnpts , books and artefacts illustrating the coming of St Augustine to Canterbury and the consequences of hts Mtsston (7th Jul y to 3 1st August). There will also be many commemorative services, in add ition to concerts and lectures.

The School 's plans include the following: e The Chapel Choir, Symphony Orchestra and String Ensemble will aive a special concert in London at St John 's Smith Square, on Tuesday 4th March . o ' e A wa!k. fo.r ch~rity is envisaged , retraci~g St Augustine's journey from near the traditional site at Pegwell Bay and fm tshmg 111 Can~erbur~ some I? ~ntles. away._ !he proposed d a~e is Sunday 4th May, and it is hoped that parents and 0 .K .S. mtght ~ tsh to parttctpate 111 add ttton to school puptls and staff. e Because of the 1400th ann tversary celebrations there is an English theme to the Choral Concert in the Cathedral on Sat.urday lOth May: Works include the Coronation Ode by Elgar (written for the coronation of Edward VII and mcludmg a sup~rb settmg of ' Land ?f ~ope and Glory') and the five spirituals from A Child of Our Time by Tippett. e A new.choral ptece has been comm t s~10~1ed for the School Choir. The composer is Jasper Beauprez, O.K .S. e A. clan net concerto has been c~mm t ss to~~d fo r the King 's Week Gala Symphony to be held in the Cathedral thts ye~r (Tuesday Ist July) . It ts an excttmg work by the English composer Robin Holloway, who is based in Cambndge and has had many works performed at the Promenade concerts. The soloist will be the wellknown clarinettist Andrew Marriner, O.K.S . Events durina King's Week wi ll also include three Commemoration Lect~res on t~e School's history by Professors Smyth , Coliinson and Holdsworth; a special exhibition; a series of readmgs relatmg to the School; and a display of school history as recorded in the video archives.

The ~.K.S. Associ~ti on will hold th re~ commemorative events: a banquet on Friday 14th March 1997 to be held in the Banquettng Hall , Whttehall ; a ball on Fnday 4th July 1997 to be held at the School ; and a commemoration service in the Cathedral, arranged by Canon Roger Symon , O.K.S ., on Saturday 15th November 1997.

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Pe-rfect{~ St-raigbt Teetb We have been please.O to accept King's school stuoents for over fifteen ~ears.

Private ano some NHS treatment is provioe.O upon referral b:g ~our famil~ oentist.

Broao Street is locate.O convenientl~ close to tbe scbool ano man~ boaroing houses.

For further information please telephone or fax u s on tbe number above.

M.R

R~BtRT I"'UTCI"'I~~N BD.:>. r-D.:>RCF'.:>. M..:>C. M.~RTM RO(tNO)

e-mail RobHutcbÂŽmsl1..com.uk

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THE CANTUARIAN, A UTUMN

1996

predecessor, and those other educational foundations in Canterbury which go back to the earliest period following the reconversion of England to Christianity as a result of the mission of St Augustine in 597.

A SERMON PREACHED BY A ugustine was a Benedictine monk, and education and learning were fundame ntal to Benedicti ne THE DEAN OF CANTERBURY monasticism, and the Scholars, in particular, by being AT THE INSTALLATION OF members of both the School and the Cathedral THE REVD KEITH H. WILKINSON Foundations, are symbols of this.

AS HEADMASTER But today is important for the King's School, AND THE ADMISSION OF Canterbury, because it sees the start of a year in which the School w ill join with the Cathedral in celebrating KING'S SCHOLARS the fourteen hundredth anniversary of St. Augustine's 8TH SEPTEMBER, 1996. arrival in England, and a distinctive contri bution by the School w ill be to celebrate fourteen hundred years Today is one of those important days in the history of education and learning of a school , and particularly here in Canterbury. Of this important in the history of a of learning, the tradition school which sees its origin King's School is the symbol, going back into the mists of and rightly takes a lead in Anglo-Saxon England. celebrating the Today, a new Headmaster achievements of the past has been formally admitted fourteen hundred years . to his post as Headmaster Today is an important day and one of the significant for the King's School, members of the Cathedral Canterbury. I have been Foundation. Mr Wilkinson , indicating so me of the soon to be Canon Wilkinson , you inherit. traditions comes to this School after a Traditio n is unpopular disting uished teac hing today: everything must be career at Eton , at Malvern new, everything mu st be College, and as Headmaster efficient, everything must be of Berkhamsted School. The productive.

If that is your Governing Body of the view, you are barking up the King's School was wrong tree. This School is a unanimous in offering him Christian foundation, rooted this post. He has the in fourteen hundred years of personality, the sensitivity, Christian history, an integral and the ideas to lead this part of a Cathedral which is into a new School the Mother Church of millennium. K ing's has an England, and of the whole ass ured and distinguished world-wide Communion. reputation which has been The Chri stian ity of this built up since the nineteen School and of this Cathedral thirties, when the great shouts that it is the past Canon Shirley came to this , ""'"'.t.. 1f''"'' which makes us what we are place. B ut to take thi s 1 '""'"¡ .,. now, and only as we enter School into the twenty-first into and understand , and, century needs a person of (Lucinda French) indeed, preserve our past imagination and awareness and our traditions, can we of the forces of the new know how we should change and develop and advance world in which we live, and the Governors' discusnow. Tradition and change need not be in confl ict sions with Mr Wilkinson convinced us that he has the they are not oppos ites, they are not exclus ive of each qualities to undertake this task. He has an awareness of other. The King's School has changed over the what in the past has made this School what it is, but an centuries fro m monastic school to Royal awareness too of where development and change are foundation; from boys' school to coeducation; from necessary, as well as of the type of person a Christian classical learning to multi-discipline education. But school ought to be forming. the traditions of past centuries are the bedrock upon But today is important for the K ing's School, which new developments are to be constructed .

Canterbury, because it sees the admission of e ighteen If this School is to develop, which it will , that new King's Scholars, and thirteen new Honorary development will be true and genuine onl y as it results Scholars . The Scholars are not just members of the from an understanding of and commitment to the School. They are also members of the Cathedral traditions which have formed it over the centu ries . As Foundation , and , as such, they are not only a link with a Christian foundation this is the basis on which we the institution refou nded by Henry VIII in 1541, but here are to grow. also w ith the mo nas ti c school which was its

SERMON

THE CANT UARI AN , AUT UMN

1996

10

(Frances Armitage-Smith)

OBITUARIES SIR ANTHONY PARSONS, G.C.M.G., L.V.O., M.C.

This established firm ly in the world's eyes that the Argentines were in the wrong and opened the way for Britain to eject them from the islands by force. It was a notable victory for Tony Parsons' unrivalled powers of persuasion and advocacy.

It is harder to reconstruct a picture of his early years, partly because he said and wrote so little about them. I am indebted to Paul Pollak, the School Archivist, for information about Tony Parsons' time at King's. For other details, J_have drawn on the eloquent and affectionate address at his memorial service delivered

by Lord Carrington, the former Foreign Secretary.

Tony Parsons entered Ki ng's in the summer of 1937 at the age of 14 . He was in Meister Omers. He did well enoug h in School Cert. to be awarded an honorary

(M.O. 1937-39) Tony Parsons, O.K.S. , who died on 12th August aged 73, was one of Britain's most remarkable postwar diplomatists. In the final phase of his career, he was successively Ambassador to Iran in the last days of the Shah , the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the U nited Nations and the Prime Minister{s Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs. His most renowned diplomatic achievement came in 1982 when he persuaded the UN Security Council, in the face of a built-in pro-Argentina majority, to order Argentina's withdrawal from the Falkland Islands.

II

THE CANTUARIAN , A UT UMN

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.

The 1st XI, Summer 1939. A.D. Parsons is at the extreme right of the back row. The coach is Frank Woolley.

King's Scholarship. He certainly had good teaching in the Sixth Form under G.W.H. Lampe, later Reg ius Professor of Div inity at Cambridge . He shone at cricket , winning his First XI colours at a ti me w hen the great Frank Woolley was School Coach. His best recorded performance was 90 against M erc hant Taylors.

Tony Parsons' time at King's overlapped with two other future Ambassadors: Sir Donald Murray, later Ambassador to Sweden , and P.C.H. Ho lme r, later Ambassador to Romania. A nd, by sad coincide nce, his death occurred very shortly before that of a third O.K.S. Ambassador, Christian Adams, w ho was pre mature ly struc k down w hile o n leave from Thaila nd .

Tony Parsons left King's in 1939 to join the Army.

That was hardly a surprise, give n that he came from a family w hich had for over 200 years been in public service at home and abroad. In a letter not long before he died , he recorded: ' My family background is imperial middle class going back to the East India Company 's service some 200 years ago. Coming from that background , it never really occurred to me that the re were profess ions outside Governme nt. My grandmother more or less ostracised one of my father's first cousins when he went into the City and became a rich man. ' We know that he had distinguished war-time service in the army and subseque ntly stayed on as a regul ar soldier until 1954. We also know that he was decorated. But the only known mention he made of this was in the same letter referred to above: ' I was a g unner in the war w hich I got through without distinction. I got the MC in Italy. I have always THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

wondered why'. It's hard to be more modest than that.

Afte r the war Tony Parsons went up to Balliol , w here he wanted to read English literature . But the army made clear, in his words, 'that they we re not going to pay me as a Captain to read poetry' . Instead he read Arabic and T urkish, and got a First. This in large measure dete rmined the future course of his life .

For virtually all his subsequent career was connected in one way or the other with the Middle East.

After a spe ll as Assistant Military Attache in Baghdad , he abandoned the army and joined the Foreign Office, servi ng in a formidably testing series of Middle Eastern postings: Ankara, Amman, Cairo, Khartoum and Bahrain. This made him one of the Foreig n Office's foremost Arabists, at a time when the Arabists were seen as the dominant te ndency in the Foreign Office. But he never succumbed to the excessive romanticism abo ut Arab po li tics wh ic h marked some of his colleagues, preserving a balance and objectivity which served British interests well.

Afte r a spell as the Assistant Under-Secretary of State in c harge of the Midd le East, he became Ambassador in Tehran in the period w hic h culminated in the fall of the Shah. He subseque ntly agonised that his over-riding concern with pro moting Brita in 's trade w ith Iran , necessarily cul tivating the c losest possible links with the S hah , distracted him fro m spotting the exte nt of the unpopularity of the regime and its approaching de mise. It was e ntirely c haracteristic of Tony Parsons to be the f irst to suggest that he was at fau lt. No one else thought so : and even with all the be nefit of hindsight, it's hard to see w hat he, or anyone could have done to avert the collapse of the S hah 's regime and to extract Britain from the conseque nces .

12

....

Fro m there he went to the United Nations . He certainly had no illusions about that body, likening his job to that of a wicket-keeper or long-stop, to prevent the UN do ing batty things. In fact he achieved a great dea l w hich was positive, piloting the lifting of sanctions against Rhodesia through a very sceptical UN and displaying what Lady Thatcher has described as ' his brilliant advocacy of Britain's cause in the UN in the darkest days of the Falklands War '. He was as undaunted by Lady Thatcher as by the Argentinians, once havi ng the temerity to suggest that he be allowed to complete his remarks w ithout her interrupting him .

A Cabinet M inister wou ld in all probability have been hand-bagged: Tony Parsons survived unscathed - a measure of her respect - and went on to become for a brief period her special adviser on foreign affairs.

But li sting the titles and the achievements, impressive as they are, does not do ful l justice to the man. What really marked Tony Parsons among his contemporaries was his pe rsonal ity. He was a splendidly unstuffy fig ure in the rather conventional world of diplomacy. Robust and forthright where others were cautious and delphic, down-to-earth rather than highfalutin , irreverent rather than po-faced, he punctured the pompous and brought a breath of fresh air to the diplomatic round. To a younger generation of d iplomats suc h as myself, also from King's, he was kind rather than distant, a lways ready to argue the toss, never patronising, invariabl y full of vigour and ideas .

He made the Diplo matic Service a career worth following. His story is a reminder of how lucky we are to have men of his calibre prepared to devote a lifetime of service to the nation.

SIR CHARLES POWELL, O .K.S.

sabbatical leave by a member of the school politics staff was a coincidence Peter Pilkington 's agile mind could not ignore. The headmaster's catalytic charm and the professor's crusading zeal soon ensured that B.K.-L. was being pencilled into the timetable.

T he Rt. Hon. Tristan Garel-Jones, M .P., O.K .S. , adds the fo llowing incident: ' During the Falkl ands War, Mrs Thatcher sent for Tony Parsons and asked his view on a number of points . S he was very pleased by what he had to say : " Why don't the Foreign Office say these sorts of things to me?" Answer: "Prime Minister, I work fo r the Foreign Office".'

(with acknowledgements to U.K.C.) A modest rotulus entry gave little indication of what a remarkable acquisition Bryan was for the school.

Educated at Gresham's School, Holt and Cambridge, where he read history and economics, he qualified as a lawyer and worked as a solicitor in Kensington Town Hall. On the outbreak of World War II he set aside his pacifist instincts and enlisted in the Buffs as a private.

He swiftly earned a commission and served with honour, particularly in North Africa and Italy. After the war he left local government for academia and in 1952, aged forty, he was appointed a senior lecture r in local government at Oxford University. Over the next twenty-five years he established a reputation as an unrivalled expert on local government. T he neglected Cinderella of the constitution could not have found a more valiant guardian.

BRYAN KEITH-LUCAS (STAFF 1977-82) Professor Bryan Keith-Lucas, CBE, who died in his eighty-fifth year on 7th November 1996, was probably the most distinguished academic to serve on the King's staff in modern times . Yet the re was so much more to Bryan than his learning . If the essence of teaching is communicating e nthusias m , then he was the very epitome of a teacher. Arri ving at King's in 1977, at an age when most educationalists never want to see a student again , le t alone talk to one, he blazed such know ledge and inspi ration into a somewhat sleepy Ec.Pol. department that by the time he left in 1983 it had earned a nationa l reputation as a centre of excellence. ...

His was not a n obvious appointment. But the simultaneous retire me nt from fu ll-time academic life of the distinguished Professor of Government at the Un iversity of Kent at Cante rbu ry and the request for

Bryan's championsh ip of local government g rew out of his insistence that democracy stemmed from the needs and rights of the individual citizen, so the parish council - in which he or she was most closely represented - was of fa r greater importance to the democratic process than the distant and s leazy Leviathan at Westminster. When we first met, Bryan casually e nq uired how I approached the 'A' level politics syllabus. I repl ied, somewhat defensively, that I started at the top and worked my way down . 'Me too,' he answered. 'There's nothing like a few lessons on parish politics to get them interested.' Startled, I 13

TH E CANTUARI AN, A UT UMN

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realised that it was not just the pupils who had much to learn from the proselytising professor.

As well as preaching his unfashionable ' doctrine of the inverted triangle ' in lecture and tutorial , Bryan wrote the standard history of the local franchise and ed ited the second edition of Redlich and Hirst 's seminal History of English Local Government. On a more practical level, he served as an Oxford City Councillor, c haired the National Association of Parish Councils and was a regula r advisor o n local government, both in Britain and overseas. In 1965 he was appointed Professor of Government at the Uni vers ity of Kent and fi ve years later became the first master of the newly-created Darwin College, where he .strove with some success to transplant the atmosphere of an Oxford high table . In his later years, however, he was increasing ly apprehe ns ive abo ut what was happe ning to institutions of highe r education in the Age of Qualifications. ' The Prof.' arrived at K ing's in an e lection year.

Amazed to f ind that such events of national importance washed against the Precincts' walls but rarely intruded, he pro mptl y organised a sc hoo l e lection in which staff and pupils voted . To his delight, the yellow rosette attracted a significantl y higher proportion of votes in Lardergate than in the Westgate Hall. The following year, he decided that the best way for stude nts to come to grips with the eccentricities of the Commons was fo r the m to set up an assembly of the ir own. T he St Augustine 's dining hall was booked, party spokespeople chosen and a motion decided upon.

All that was now needed was a speaker. ' A speaker?'

retorted Bryan. ' I think I might be able to get ho ld of The Speaker! ' Presided over by so august a figure, the K ing's Parliament could hardl y fail. It remains Bryan's most singular and valuable legacy to the school.

The Speaker coup introduces another of Bryan's qualities. He did not just know everything about politics and go ve rnme nt, he appeared to kno w everyone as well. School vis its to City Council meet ings, the local courts, Westminste r, party conferences and meetings of the Hansard Society (always preceded by tea and anchovy toast at the Natio nal Liberal C lub - Bryan had his small -c conservati ve s ide) left fortunate pupi ls gasping at the array of political stars that had been paraded before the m. ' This subject concerns real people,' he always told his classes whe n they first met. Then, pointing at the inevitable textbook , he would declare, ' An hour in the council chamber is worth a dozen poring over this co llection of gene rali sations.' H is charges knew at once that they were in for a rathe r special year.

I do not recall Bryan ever making a disrespectful or malevolent remark about anyone. He was invariabl y courteous, eve n to the E-destined disruptives who had e ntered the Politics departme nt because all others had rejected the m . I sense that in s uc h outcasts he recognised fellow critics of the Establishme nt - in the classroom as in the wider world , he was always attracted to neglected causes . We are all the poorer for his passing, but imme nsely gratefu l for the privilege of having known such a fine, kind and libe ral man.

STEWART R OSS. (STAFF

1975-89)

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T HE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

14

CHAPLAIN'S NOTES Du ring ha lf-te rm I made a personal . pilg rimage to the Yorkshire town of M irfie ld , to the Community of the Resurrection. It was a perfect autumn day, and as I walked round the grounds of the co llege where I spe nt three yea rs being trained for the priesthood , I experie nced many memories. It was for me the first return to M irfield , twenty years afte r I first visited it and fifteen years after I started training . It was revealing to recognise retrospecti vely the effect that the place had had o n my spiritua l formatio n; whic h memories were the most powerful and which were the most e nduring.

The most enduring me mory of the M ichaelmas Term is the Carol Service. Every year it is wondered whether the same spirit can be recaptured as in previous years: and every year it seems to be done. This ti me the music, the readings and the sense of occasion were truly aweinspiring.

To experie nce a Cathedral filled with nearly two thousand people, the lights dimmed and s ile nce ke pt is to experie nce the co mmu ni ty wors hi pping God together; in such a contex t the opening Advent Responsory (and I have not heard it sung better than this year, by Richard Coll ins, Tom Savage and Hannah Mackenzie) is inspiring . It is very much corporate worship: everyone present con tributes, not least the mus ic ians .

Simon Peel's setti ng of the specially writte n carol typified this .

For most of us, the School Carol Se rvice is an integral part of Christmas celebration .

/

~

tu("u.d<'.

frr,

.!.tfl<â&#x20AC;˘

I {<l I

(Lucinda French)

T he other e nduring memory of the term for me is the sermon delivered at Mattins by the Director of the Bloxham Project , complete with folded paper. It provoked much d iscussion; not every-one appreciated it.

Certainly it evoked the question ' What is a sermon?'

Canterbury is undoubtedly a place of pilgrimage. It is undoubtedl y a place of spiritu al formation and powe rful and e nduring me mories.

What, it could be wo nde red , w ill the present pupil s recall whe n they revis it, pe rhaps fo r the first ti me s ince leavi ng, in twenty yea rs' time?

Perhaps the most important thing will be fo r people to be able to look back and to acknowledge that in Canterbury and es pecia lly in K ing's they e ncounte red some thing of the reality that is God and his love: that in the ir time as part of Ki ng's life they expe rie nced something of the real ity o f C hristian community.

J.A .T.

T here will be many othe r personal me mories of the term, some mundane and some far-reaching in the ir consequences. For the school, it was a term in which to we lcome a new Headmaster. Whe n he was made Canon of the Cathedral towards the end of term it felt odd that he was not already Canon, so well had he integrated ihto the worship and life of the School. It is that integration of li fe and worship which must underpin the Schoo l as we e nd our fo urteenth century and start our fifteenth .

15

THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

VALETE repertoire to a very high standard . He is perhaps at his best w ith sopranos, but succeeds in stretc hing, improving and blending all his singers . As I was able to witness firsthand on three meticulously planned and much praised tours to Germany, Michael's rehearsals are exacting and tough, with little time wasted; but nobody begrudged the effort to achieve the results, and once the serious business was over he ensured that a good time was had by all both culturally and socially, often be ing the life and soul of the party. Certainly none of us will forget the camaraderie of the minibuses on the fi rst (or 'sausage') tour!

The fact that Michael leaves us not only to become Organist and Choirmaster of St G iles's Cathedral, Edinburgh , but also to teach at Napier U niversity, is a good reminder of the considerable academic calibre of this former organ scholar of St Peter 's, Oxford. He has demanded high standards in his teaching of such areas as A-level harmony and aural skills: his criticism is sharp , but it is well meant.

I have left almost til l last the really tremendous debt that this school owes M ichael Harris for services above and beyond the normal call of duty. Despite his Cathedral commitments he has twice stepped into the breech to save a situation: on the first occasion he took over the Chapel Choir for a year when Barry Rose left us; o n the second he took over the entire department as Acting Director of Music for the recent yearlong interregnum. He was typically not content to be a caretaker; initiating a major concert at StJohn 's, Smith Square, producing a Crypt Choir CD after their tou r, organis ing Opera trips and freshening up the phys ical appearance of the department, as well as keeping all the normal events and daily teaching going . With him and Lynne E lwood installed there, the Music Department was also a good place to drop in for a warm welcome and cheery banter. When the new Director arrived, Michael didn ' t collapse and give up, but seemed to work j ust as hard to ensure that his first year was a great success.

Part of the secret of Michael's stamina undoubtedly lies in the support of his wife, Brigitte, who has not only contri buted a vast amo unt behind the scenes, on tour, in her hospitality, and so on, but who has also taught the recorder and, along with Michael, brought recorder play ing and ensembles into much greater prominence . As a German national she has also in her time very kindly helped me out w ith the odd 'Assistent' crisis in the German Department.

We are very lucky to have had the Harrises for as long as we have. Michael has given so much as a musician and teacher, and he has also been a generous, thoughtful and pleasingly forthright colleague . He is not a natural ' PR' man or blower of his own trumpet, so it has been all too easy to take what he has done for granted. I hope that Edinburgh have by now realised just how great an asset they have gained. The loss, alas, is ours.

MICHAEL HARRIS (STAFF 1986-1996)

(M.P.H.D .)

Michael joined King's in September 1986, having succeeded David F lood as Sub-Organist of the Cathedral. Serving two masters is never easy, and Michael's remarkable success in more than honouring all his commitments to both Church and School, whilst also play ing a w ide r musical role in the local community, has only been possible because he is phenomenally hard working, meticulously organised and a master of his craft.

An extre mely accomplished organist himself , Michael has proved highly effective in passing on his skills, as recent Oxbridge Scholarships for such as Jeremy Bines and Emily Elias bear witness. Again thanks to Michael, we now not on ly have a decent instru ment in St Augustine's Upper Chapel, but also a practice organ in the Music Studio. As an accompanist of school services he has a lways been utterly dependable, and he has s hewn himself in the deepest sense a Churc h Mus ic ian (prov ing the term no oxymoron after all !) both in his sensitive and imaginative choice of Crypt Choir music to support the liturgy of the Eucharist, and in his professional and thoughtful help and advice for the Chaplain .

In concerts as well as services, the Crypt C hoir under M ichael has sung a wide and stimulating THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

M.J.M. 16

NICK SELLERS (STAFF 1992-1996) Nick was a very welcome acquisition to the school and a superb contributor in many different ways.

In the Modern Languages department he was a very effective classroom teacher; if a pupil came to you after being taught by Nick you knew he would be well grounded. Nick achieved some of the best results ever in Spanish, particularly at G .C.S .E. He was the epitome of stability, with his calm air, braces and bank manager's suits; his steady approach was just what the Spanish department needed. Not only was Nick a fine teacher but also a willing hand on Spanish trips . His flamenco dancing was very elegant indeed.

N ick's services outside the classroom will, perhaps, be missed nowhere more than at the Boat Club. On his arrival at K ing's he was to coach a group of youngsters to an excellent result at the National Schools' Regatta, but it was immediately obvious that he was extremely capable as a coach, demanding high standards of his crews on and off the water. After another season with the Removes, he took over the 1st VIII for their Henley effort and a season later ran the VIII in his own right.

He organised two Easter training camps in his native Portugal and fulfilled a childhood dream of seeing rowing boats on the lake alongside which he had grown up. The camps were immeasurably enjoyable and successful. In rugby he was Master in charge of the Under 14 'B' , Colts 'B' and Under 14 'A' XVs. In all these teams he instilled a sense of commitment and purpose, as well as fair play. His assistance on the 1995 tou r of South America was invaluable .

As a house tutor he was superb and most adept at charming difficult parents and pulling awkward tutees into shape. He had the highest standards as a tutor and did his level best - however impossible the odds, however difficult the tutee - to insist on those standards from every one of his tutees. He was a tough tutor, but also a very popular one. The boys recognised him as someone who did not just talk about standards but who demonstrated them himself in all he did .

During much of his time at King's Nick was troubled by a very bad back. However he never used this as an excuse to miss anything; he would not accept excuses from the pupi ls and would not use them himself. He showed himself a doer and not just a talker, and that is why he is so rightly admired and why we shall miss him tremendously.

Nick will not only be missed as the professional he undoubtedly was. He will also be missed as a character of the Common Room. He managed to combine a heavy work load with a busy social calendar, enjoying the rigours of both! He became well known in the New Inn duri ng his time in Tradescant, and it was always amusing to hear the debate at ' last orders' to decide who would take over from the duty tutor! Nick had a great sense of the way things should be done, and as a consequence he and Anna were the hosts of some spectacular evenings . Nick had a real soft centre and he found the departure from friends at King 's quite difficult. It is with the same emotion that we wish him well at Eton and wherever else his career takes him.

C.P.N., R.C.W. AND M.C.L.

(M.P.H.D .)

ANNA SELLERS (STAFF 1992-96) At the end of her thirteenth term at King's, Anna leaves not only with a change of marital status and surname but she also leaves behind a series of positive changes in very many areas of the School. As one of her Heads of Department writes , ' Only when she has gone will others realise how much Anna has worked in so many areas in the School, because she has been so well-organised' .

Organisation has certainly been one of Anna's many fortes, and in both academic and non-academic arenas she has set, and demanded of others, the very highest of standards. She made enormous contributions to the P.E. Department; within its curriculum she was the specialist in swimming, gymnastics and dance, and provided her departmental colleagues with novel ideas in trampolining and aerobics. She established many lunch-time clubs and extra-curricu lar activities, always giving willingly and freely of her non-timetabled time.

Anna took over the running of the swimming from Stephen Davies, and has managed the difficult period of the dry King's pool with great skill and enthusiasm.

She is an able swimmer herself and while the majority of the School slept she was up and on the bus to Faversham wit]l the early-morning training squads, keeping spirits and standards up. In the words of one of her 'stars', ' Without Mrs Sellers we would have got nowhere. We hope she will return to watch us win the Nationals!' Anna also took over the running of the Senior Netball, and leaves behind a flourishing club .

17

THE CANTUARIAN , A UTUMN

1996

Department by stepping in at the last minute to cover al l of Alan Dyer 's Lower and M iddle School teaching when his sabbatical replacement fe ll through right at the end of the summer term. On her own initiative she organised a P.D. coursebook and her contributions to the development of the course are greatly appreciated .

T here had been occasional King's Week dance performances before Anna came, but nothing of the standard and professionalism of ' KiDaCo'. T he rise in standard from the inaugural Shirley Hall performances in Anna's early years to the literally breathtaking King's Week performances in the St Augustine's marquee last summer has been meteoric. Anna's vision enabled pupils to develop their own ideas and extend their gymnastic and dancing skills. Moreover, her dressmaking and design sk ills were in evidence but unattributed , and she was responsible for the excellent choreography of many House plays . Another light kept well-hidden by Anna was her musical talent - some of us were fortunate enough to hear her play ing the flute at Sarah and Martin Lawrence's wedding.

In the classroom Anna has been a valued member of the Mathematics and Personal Development Departments. In the former, her pupils have gained consistently good results and in her last term at King's she prevented the total collapse of the Head of

In her first year at K ing's Anna was Resident Tutor in Luxmoore and her subsequent move out of the Precincts did not diminish the importance of her role within the L uxmoore team or her close and supportive relationship w ith her tutees .

On the social front Anna organised many Common Roo m activities and was in charge of the junior ski trip last Easter. To quote from many colleagues, 'She has been a wonderful friend and a tremendous support' .

She will be missed by colleagues and pupils alike and we all wish her and Nick much success in their future careers and a long and happy life together.

J.D.P.

POINTS OF VIEW How do you regard the media's interest in School life?

INTERVIEW WITH THE HEADMASTER

W ith interest and caution ! Newspapers and telev ision reporters have their work to do and stories to f ind - and most are respons ible people . However,

What were your first impressions of the School?

The School is very positive, confident and busy. It has high expectations in every area of life. T he location is splendid too .

How well do you feel you have settled in?

Although it's early days, I feel very much at home . I've found the community extremely helpful and supportive .

What plans do you have for the development of the school?

T he fi rst thing is to listen and look! I shall review different aspects of the School over the next few terms or even years - it's a conti nuous process.

Then plans and possibilities can be worked out. But, for the moment, it's assessment time.

What do you feel about computer technology and multimedia access?

I do believe that everyone should have access to useful technology to aid study and research. Again, we need to assess what we shall need for the future .

There is such a rapid state of development in computer technology that it would be easy to spend a lot of money and be out of date in a short time . But there are exciting possibilities .

How important is the image of the School?

I hope that image is more than a veneer. The identity of the School is vitally important: it's important that we know what we stand for and believe in. T he values whic h underg ird our co mmunity have to be lived out to the best of our ability.

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

(Mike Waterman) 18

newspapers - especially the national ones - are in the business of co mpetitive selli ng and can sensationalise to draw a crowd. Sadly, it seems inevitable that the med ia will be primarily interested in the abnormal and negative.

expensive toys by the nou veaux riches. Three years ago if a man was seen driving a new Ford amongst all the Ladas and Moskovitchi he was treated with the same respect given to a Ferrari owner. Tod ay Khreshchatyk boasts more new Mercedes and BMWs than Ladas, with passengers wishing to remain incognito behind tinted windows.

Standing in a bread queue is a lesson in endurance.

Since no one knows what time of morning the bread trucks will arrive, people start to queue up outside the bread shop at around nine o'clock in the morning. By ten, the queue winds around the corner as anger and disgust well up and all stand in silence. If by 10.30 the bread is still not delivered , some old lady will blow her fuse and blame everything on the changes from Communism to independence. This speech includes how good it was under communism and how the President of Ukraine is to blame for the miserable pensions, the miserable living conditions, crime and the general chaos.

One of the more frustrating but amusing aspects of life in Kiev is public transport. Few choose to pay, as ticket inspections are erratic. Trains, trolleys, and buses are packed, and when you're ready to be asphyxiated by sardine-l ike conditions, someone insists that there is a little more room, and pushes the passengers further inside, making them actually gasp for air. If you are in the least part claustrophobic or do not appreciate the smell of sweating bodies, I thoroughly advise the use of the underg round. Not only do all the escalators work and every line boasts a service every two minutes, but the surroundings are elegant with candelabras, statues of heroes and mosaics . A trip anywhere will set you back five pence.

The currency has undergone tremendous changes since Independence Day. Originally the coupon, the Ukrainian currency, was worth about one rouble or about thirty-five pence. Then inflation got its clutches on it and the value dropped to 250,000 coupons to the pound. If you wanted to buy something substantial, like a television set, you would have to bring wheelbarrows of coupons into the shop and a good thick book to read while you waited for the shop assistant to count and recount the exact amount. On the first of September 1996 the hryvnia was introduced which luckily saves everyone from long division , as this new currency just knocked off five zeros making 100,000 equal to one .

Kiev is very rich in culture with many excellent theatres, ballets, and operas. The quality of entertainment is amazing considering that the monthly financial reward for a leading actor or opera singer is less than that for a cleaning lady in England .

The city has a rich but troubled history as it has been burned to the ground many times over the centuries by Asiatic hordes, and almost destroyed by the Germans occupying it in World War Two . Yet many architectural splendours remain like the golden domes of Pecherska Lavra monastery, the oldest in the former Soviet Union. Anothei' treasure is Vidybetsky Monastery which dates back to the second century. The Communists used one of the churches to store remains from archaeological digs . The Government still refuses to open it as a place of worship. However

How central is discipline in your thinking about the School?

Very. Discipline is about rules, yes, but far more: it is the whole business of an individual being aware of his or her responsibil ities (which may not be covered by rules) and the effect we have on others and ourselves . Standards need to be set and understood.

The creation of good self-discipl ine has to be the aim, for this will create the right conditions based on trust, for individuals and the community to live positively.

How do you think King's might fare under a change of government?

It'd be interesting and challenging! The present governme nt has had qui te an effect on the independence of schools such as this one so I'm sure we would be able to cope with other changes . I do, however, believe very strongly that education should not be state-controlled. There is great benefit in diversity and choice.

Finally, what do you consider the single most important thing that King's has to teach people?

To look and find what is of ultimate value and worth. This is not easily done and will take longer than the few years here - but it is a matter of crucial importance for every individual and for us as a community. Everything else depends upon it.

M ARY STEVENS AND ANDREW R IBBANS.

VIGNETTES FROM KIEV In a country where Pig is King of all the table, not only can you buy salo or pure fat by the kilo in the bazaar but at the table you are insulting the hospodynia (hostess) if you don't eat the fourth giant helping of potatoes and pork as well as the zakusky, a variety of cold appetisers . In Ukraine tradition has it that the more a guest eats, the more he is liked, and the same goes for drink, the latter being home-brewed vodka, 80% proof . Although the Ukrainians have never heard of baked beans , I would wager that no Englishman has ever heard of vareniky, delicious dumplings with potato or cabbage fi lling. .

T he bustling Kiev bazaars are something of a treat for foreigners. T hey can see carcasses of cows being hacked up, and shrivelled old ladies selling everything from garlands of onions to caviar and smoked fish. If they look at clothing closely they may notice some peculiar details . T he spelling of designer labels sometimes differs by one letter; however, this does not bother many K ievites since they don't know the difference anyway and are only interested in prestige p~¡oducts that they can afford. For example, the dtfferent h ames for popular brand-name trainers I have seen are: Rebock, Ruibeck, Ribeck, Pyla, and Fela.

Khreshc hatyk , the Regent Street of Kiev, has now become the main showplace for the display of new and 19

TH E C ANTUARIAN, A UTUMN

1996

another church on the grounds has been reopened to hold the crowds, some of who m come to worship and some of who m come to stare . The choir that sings the Slavic Liturgy is made up of professional singers. The ancient chants, redisco vered after seventy years of atheism , are inspiring.

Judg ing from the amount of international business coming to Kiev, Ukraine will no doubt prosper as the trade centre between east and west as it did many centuries ago. For the moment, however, it is a painful trans ition.

ADRIAN K OWAL.

NEW YORK Face lifts , I iposuction , stuffed tortoises and palm trees: the norm on Park Aven ue . Anything less ornate would simply be seen as eccentric. Stop to help somebody lugging something heavy up the steep steps fro m the subway, and people stop and stare.

For an is land bought fro m the Dutch for little more than the cost of a main course, it can be seen as a spot odd that New York's uppe r east side has developed how it has, into the bustling hive of fo rced enjoyment, and selfconscious rollerblad ing .

What , it can be asked, is the enormous attraction of this collection of large, mostly shabby buildings, grouped together on the side of a small island by the sea? 'Everyone who's anyone has an apartment here', would be the nasal answer you ' d get from the majority of the Gucci-clad res idents. That is very well , but what insp ired everyone, let alone anyone, to set up shop in the first place? Prices are enormous, the weather often is atrocious (too hot in summer, too cold ...), and for a class who spends the earth and more on 'Edy's 100 percent fat free', 'Glaceau' and the diet menu at one of the Island 's more expensive restaurants, it is certainly not the most healthy place to live, with year round smog, and constant danger from the world (in)famous traffic .

Despite all this glitzy image and advertising, up the road can be fou nd some of the poorest communities in America, where crime runs rampant, and the ' projects' cast their large, rectangular shadows over everything.

U nemployment and under-education dominates, and the prospects for the inhabitants rarely look good. T his great change from riches to rags takes place in the space of about ten street blocks, from 95th to 105th Street, whe re the difference begins to become apparent.

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

(Simon Gomersall)

T here is, however, some com mon ground, w here everyone gets on with doing what they're doing, good or bad , regardless - the park. Central Park, one of the most famous parks in the world , was formed orig inally to g ive New York's stressed inhabitants somewhere where they could access some semblance of a rural atmosphere. Designed and landscaped completely from scratch , it was, and still very much is an important part of New York life, where one can go to relax, to exercise, or simply to s it on one of the many hundreds of benches, to watch the world go by. In the park , just about anything goes , and you won't be gawped at for meditating, dru mming, s ing ing, chanting, or doing just about anything that might poss ibly grab your fancy on a warm, sunny afternoon .

20

New York also has a famous, and extremely good collection of museums, from the enormous, to the eccentric. The M useum of Modern Art, the Whitney, Frank Lloyd Wright's amazing and offbeat Guggenheim, and many others are all outstanding.

Given time, many other less mainstream and slightly more qui rky museums can be discovered, and subsequently enjoyed.

Another, probably more famous tourist attractant that Manhattan possesses , is its medley of enormous buildings, each one seemingly more glamorous than the other. Two of the most notable examples can be seen in the all-famous Empire State building , so named after the 'Empire State' , New York itself, and the weird and wacky Chrysler building, famous for its arched roof, both built in the 1930s , at exactly the same time . T he two buildings ended up, therefore, in

competi tion for the title of 'The Tallest Building in the World', adding on floor after floor after floor, in an attempt to outdo one another. Towards the end of construction it seemed as though the Empire State had clinched the title, until the Chrysler Corporation erected the enormous 100 foot high radio mast, that had hitherto remained concealed. In the classic 'tit for tat' style of the occasion, the Empire State finished construction with the famous observation deck, and airship mooring mast, in anticipation of the blimp boom that was never to come. These two buildings are not only famous for their height, but also because they personify the Art Deco movement of their time. The Chrysler Building was designed as homage to the car. T he Empire State ... it's just there.

Another famous aspect of New York is the so called extremely exclusive shops, found usually along Park and Madison Avenues (less so on the latter), between around 50th to 60th streets, which endeavour to perform the miracle of selling very little for very much.

Certainly a miracle, if you ask me.

Some, however, have taken it one step too far: it is not uncommon for one of these 'absolutely gorgeous' shops to price itself out of a market that has already priced itself out of any normal market, and hence go bust.

At the other end of the spectrum are the equally ridiculous 'closing down shops'.

These shops spend their time, year in , year out, closing down. It comes as little surprise however, when they don't, as, despite offering their ware at supposed ' closing down sale' prices, seven days a week, too few, in my opinion, fulfil their promise. You will hear about one of these shops, selling mainly rucksacks, radios and plastic memorabilia well before you see one , as, very kindly, the overwhelming majority of them place an employee on the doorstep, loud-hailer in hand, proclaiming their 'last day of sale'.

The more upmarket use the more advanced loud-speaker method, comprising what must be a looped tape, or broken record , on to which their messages have been recorded.

New York's a weird place; New York's a fun place, where everybody seems to be different, and doing at least one different thing at the same time.

Despite the snobby old people, despite the bad roads, and despite the distorted, yet eminent crime, New York is a great place to be, simply for the people, the sights, and that world famous 'additood' .

SIMON GOMERSALL.

(Photographs of New York overleaf: Simon Gomersall)

(Simon Gomersall) 21

TRE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

showed that you were from a privileged background.

People readopted their local dialects and were even e ncouraged to write in them. Estuary E nglish developed from a desire to have a classless voice for Britain which Standard Eng lish at the time did not provide .

Through the social processes of the eighties and nineties Estuary English spread. Those who spoke correct, grammatical English with proper diction were considered ' posh' and 'stuck-up ' . Estuary English on the other hand gave yo u instant 'street-creel ' .

Television and broadcasting e ncouraged these tendencies by presenting in programmes and storylines ideas and speakers who used only Estuary English .

The differences between 'U' and 'Non-U' vocabulary (words of Standard English and their corresponding ' lower class' ones) stayed the same, but the 'Non-U ' words became prevalent while the 'U' ones became archaic oddities (e.g. lavatory = toilet or loo).

The influx of immigrants from the West Indies and the Indian Subcontinent particularly made a less complicated version of English even more popular.

Estuary English has spread rapidly among the you ng because of peer pressures and the self- image on which our society seems to put such importance. Increasing numbers of Estuary speakers have influenced their children , and as a result it has become a dominant form of English.

Many people now think that this development is a bad thing: even Gillian Shephard has started a crusade against it. But is this fa ir? I feel that it is not wrong to have dialects as they show the diversity of our language, but I cannot see why an argot such as Estuary English should become so prevalent that we lose the natural vocabulary and grammar of English On the other hand , E nglish is a very organic language which wi ll , as it always has done, adapt to changing times, absorb ing new vocabulary and coining new phrases . Maybe Estuary English is another development in this process. What is sad is that it seems to be much poorer at express ing ideas . An Eng li sh person should be able to speak and write coherently and grammatically, not only for ourselves but for the entire English-speaking world . After all , English is a main international language: should foreigners have a better grasp of our language than we ourselves?

ESTUARY ENGLISH Picture yourself in a cafe, probably in Milton Keynes. There is a dingy cheeriness in the atmosphere , despite the fading flowered tiles on the wall and the greasy off-white curtains at the window. You are sipping what might be called coffee from a cracked and tea-stained mug, trying to catch the eye of the waitress. Eventually she comes and says, ' Can I ge' yoo summ' ink, Sir?' This is Estuary E nglish , the language of the people. Well , not all the people, but an increasing number of them. U nlike Yorkshire or Scottish it is not a dialect. It is rather a way of speaking or argot, derived from London Cockney, which by means of television and the popularity of youth culture has become a favourite version of the language throughout the country.

It slips easily off the tongue and w ith its dropped consonants (mainly ' h's: e.g. horse= 'orse or heart = 'eart) and final consonants (often ' t's: e.g. get= ge' or bat= ba ') it needs little precision for its use. Another characteristic is that it has a simple pronunciation where everything is said as it looks, e.g. cafe is pronounced 'caff' with no accented 'e' .

It also has a very limited vocabu lary. Where Standard English is renowned for its richness of words, Estuary E nglish uses a few words over and over again . It also relies heavily on expletives or 'swear words' to express a whole range of emotions from pleasure and happiness to sadness, dissatisfaction and insult. It even uses them as indiscriminate sentence-fillers .

Its most disliked feature must be its bad grammar.

T hrough laziness or general lack of interest, the speakers tend not to abide by the language's rules and use their own instead. An example of this can be fo und in verb use. While Standard English conjugates verbs (e.g. to go: I go, you go, he goes, etc.) the Estuary speaker uses the third person singular form , ' goes', for all persons. Also the common childhood mistake of confusing 'I' w ith 'me' is used by all generations (e.g. ' me and Jim are mates' instead of ' Jim and I are mates').

Another crime in the eyes of its critics, is that Estuary Eng lish often adds meaningless words or clauses to sentences - such as, 'you-know-what-Imean' , 'sort-of', 'kind-of', ' like' or 'and-stuff' which convey great indecisiveness on the part of the speaker. All these elements together combine to put off speakers of Standard English.

Until the sixties and early seventies Standard English was the accepted form of English for Britain.

It was the language of government, education and broadcasting. People who were ' somebody' spoke it. It was a clear indicator of class and education , therefore parts of society were obl iged to learn it as a second lang uage if they wanted to succeed in these professions. Grammar schools and public schools fostered Standard Eng lish, but were not available to all. ¡ Later on with the Labour Government's support of comprehens ive education, which encouraged equality and frowned on elitism , it was not necessary to have a Standard English accent. In fact , such an accent THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN 1996

H ELEN PRENTICE.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID GOWER, O.K.S. TUESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, I 996.

[After copious communication by fax, David Gower kindly consented to give The Cantuarian an inte.-view. We met him and his wife Thorunn at Winchester's premier hotel restaurant, the Hotel du Vin.] How long were you in the School first team?

T hree years. I first made an appearance at the age of 14 , when I played against the O .K .S. at the end of the 24

Simon Cleobury, David Gower, Zoi/ Fargher. season, and I played for the next three years . My last year, 1975 , was supposed to be the final, glorious showdow n . But it never really happe ned. So I captained the side for one year, and would have done two, if I'd stayed on.

committed to the idea too early. When I went, my father had been to King's in the 30s and I was put down at an early stage. So, when we came back from Africa we had a couple of years in Kent and I started my schooling there, stuck with it and when it came to choosing my next school, I was g iven a take it or leave it scholarship offer to King's . Although Repton was another possibility, because of the offer I didn ' t sit another exam and I ended up at King's. Do the scholars and prefects still wear those gowns?

Who was in charge of the side?

For most of my time, Colin Fairservice. Then in my last year it was Alan Dyer. Colin , who had a long family history in cricket and had been at the school for a long time, was a very senior figu re by then. He's still alive, though he must be pushing 80. He took the rugby, then the cricket. The main good thing, from my point of view, was that he allowed me to develop naturally - a helping, guiding hand rather than an autho ritarian 'you must do this' approach: more general coaching and plenty of encouragement. He allowed everything to develop naturally, sometimes the hardest thing to do. You have to judge, as a coach - whether you ' re talki ng about a school, or a c lub , or even a professional club - when to change things and when to let them develop naturally. You can allow some people as much re in as you li ke, and they' ll never learn a thing. Others just need to be left to their own devices and you' ll get good resul ts. That natural development was the main thing in my cricket at King's, the best thing that could have happened to me o~er those years . Plus , the field was a good field , the p1tch was a good pitch .

Yes, and they still process in the Cathedral: it's still traditional. So, you wet¡e happy at King's?

Yes , I was until that last term. The great thing for the first fo ur years was that there was a combination of abilities which worked - the academic side and the sporting side. I enjoyed the sporting side. C ricket, obviously was the main game, but I also played first team hockey and first team rugby in the end , and I had a pretty good time . That was all good. Then in the summer holidays before my final year I started to play for Leicestershi re. T his took me from the relati vely cloistered existence at K ing's into a professional county cricket dressing- room , which suddenly added a new dimension. Even thoug h I didn't know how long I wo uld survive (or even whether I would s urvive) as a professional cricketer, suddenly it seemed more limiting being behind the walls of the Cathedral Precincts .

Are you thinking of sending your children to King's?

There were_no Supper Leaves then, were there?

No , not that I remember. It sounds quite civilised.

All we had was the odd key to the gate (an escape route!) which meant taking your own leave, and by that you cou ld end up in potentially very big trouble. It was like fl icking a switch. Having done Oxbridge and

i.

Maybe, maybe not. It's certain ly changed a Jot. I wo~ ldn ' t say unrecognizable , but almost. We ll , yes.

Whtle we wouldn' t c lose our minds to that, and in a way it would be nice to do it, we should not want to be 25

THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN 1996

there then. Twenty years on it's actually pretty triv ia l anyway. What counts as something semi-rebe llious or daring at the time has been done twenty times a year s ince. I didn't smoke, or want to smoke, too much.

That at least wasn' t a proble m. It's a bit strange really because for four years a ll went pretty normally. It was just a case of doing what you had to do, a bit of work, a b it of play, plenty of s port. I f lirted w ith a bit of music too , tried to learn the c larinet and the piano fo r a while, but I couldn 't stand my piano teache r!

not really succeeded w ith that, I had a place at U .C.L. anyway, so I wasn't convinced by the idea of doing two more A-levels and the rest of it. So I left at the end of the Easte r, hav ing had a pretty rough term and really havi ng been more trouble than I was worth. It was a shame to end that way because up until then it had all worked very well: by keep ing busy, working, getting three A-levels, having a go at Oxbridge, be ing g iven a place at U.C.L. to do Law - even though I wasn't convinced I wanted to do Law, it was a question of doing something . I took e ighteen months to drop out.

In the e nd it was a case of King's and I parting company by mutual consent. After that, things looked up a bit. I'm very lucky that the whole thing worked.

If three years afte r that I hadn't made it as a professional cricke te r, I would have had severa l questions to answer. Fortunate ly, we don ' t have to worry about that, do we?

On cricket, who do you think will win the Test Series between England and Australia next summer?

We ll, the Austral ians are definite favourites. They are a very good side as they have once again proved through the w inte r with their performances against the West Indies . They are confident and well organised they know who their best players are. England , on the othe r hand , spent a lot of last summer ex perimenting without necessari ly coming up with a ll the answers, a lthough the way the A team played in Australia suggests that the pressure fo r places w ill be very much on w he n the selectors sit down to ponder the Ashes squads. Still , whatever happens in the win ter, the Ashes re main the ultimate challenge fo r E ngl ish and Australian cricketers . It is a lways a very special series .

U nfortunately at this stage Austral ia are definite favo urites.

Have you got any anecdotes you remember about King's? A favourite pub, for instance?

We we re n 't supposed to go to any! I can ' t reme mber, apart from ' Ye Olde Beverlie', which we were a llowed to go to if we were playing c lub sides and the opposing Captain said ' Would you come and join us for a shandy in the pub?' Then we were a llowed to go and have a shandy or two in the pub. That was certainly the only time it was ever legal or permitted.

The y started the J .C.R a coup le of years before I left , but that was limited, so it was a case of evading detection really. I was found in ' Ye Olde Beverlie' once, but the dingier the pub the better, really. One by the ri ver was so close it got overlooked for a long time.

There was one night when about twenty-five got busted , but I wasn't there. The man who'd done the busting was very di sappointed. ' Where were you?' he sa id. It was hope less! No , the main strife I had was that final Easter term whe n the re was a day off and the school closed for a gene ral exeat. I s pent the day in Ashford w ith some g irl from the High School and went to the c inema. By the time we came out of the c inema, having been to the pub beforehand , it was past the curfew for both of us. She was almost arrested on the spot by the Ashford High School mafia , but I thought I was all right, got on the tra in and woke up in Ramsgate. So I had to h itch back from Ramsgate, c limb over the wall, have a cou ple of hours' sleep and hope nothing would happen. Sadly, my absence was noticed! And that was the beginning of the e nd.

What should be done to improve the state of English cricket?

We need to be rather more a lert to the proble ms than we seem to be. The whole essence is to try and make our cric ket in this country more competitive. The Australians and the South Africans are the two sides you should pay attention to at the moment. Pakistan have a different syste m - very talented and on their day unbeatable, but too inconsiste nt. Whereas the Australians are top of the tree at the moment, and the South Africans have got pretty c lose to top in a hurry by using common sense, us ing a system and using their abilities as best they can. They have looked after the ir players and given the m every support possible, w hi le we have been very suspic ious in this country of g iving our national side full support.

In sport world-wide at the mome nt there are all sorts of techniques used by the world's top sports men outside cricket. You look at golfers, ten nis players, motor-racing drivers, the highest paid sportsmen in the world. They all use science as best they can. In motorracing it is pure technology. In American sports, whic h are highly paid and obviously very competiti ve, you have s ports psychologists, dietitians, fi tness trainers .

The sportsme n in those s ituations are used to dealing with that sort of thing and used to being given that sort of advice, that sort of he lp and being made to do it.

Whe reas in cricket we have slow ly acquired a few of these skills. The o ld guard is still very suspicious of modern techniques. The typical reaction of somebody of the era before me used to be that we never used to worry about those things and we won matches, scored hundreds, took w ickets and caught the catches whic h is so reactionary. The cru x is this: at best, the natural sportsman w ill do most of the things that those extra assistants will teach you, and they w ill do it

What was Linacre like then?

Probably not what it is now. Has it bee n refurbished? No, it was fine. I enjoyed it. I spent many a happy hour on the roof putting in phone lines - not the real ones, obviously. We set up a phone system between two studies at opposite ends of the house, but it needed someone to go up on the roof, and that was me. It was an ex periment really - someone had a couple of Bakelite phones, which simply needed a small power source and a wire. It was far classier than yoghurt pots and a piece of string, you understand. To be able to pick up the phone and say ' Hello , yes?' - it reall y was classy! It was a very good roof for climbing on.

It's very difficult to go back twenty years and start dredg ing up stuff. And to understand it you have to be

THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

26

naturally: most of what I did was done pretty naturally.

T he ideas that the sports psychologists give you are in fact the sort of things that the natural sportsman will do automatically in terms of building his own confidence, looking positively at the context and working out how to get the best out of you rself at the time. The point is that if you are tryi ng to get a team to perform, out of eleven not everyone necessarily has all those Godgiven g ifts or the nous to make it work.

- well then teams could be up and down like yo-yos.

You want to try and have an incentive so that the sides that are in D ivision Two feel as though they can get to Division One. But you don't want to make it too easy, nor do you want your elite players disappearing down to Division Two every other year and then coming back into Division One.

Would you keep all the one-day Competitions?

Well, maybe not.

So you think that England should have a full time sports psychologist?

Which one would go then?

In cricketing terms you would get rid of the fo rtyover game .

Wel l something like that - though it doesn' t have to be f ull time. I know that David Lloyd is actually quite aware of this type of thing, and maybe over the next twelve months we will see a bit of a change. He is actually up to speed more than most on such ideas.

And the things that were done last summer, which were derided at times - signs in the dressing room saying "win!"- they have a certain validity. I t is very easy to deride if you are being cynical, especially when you come second. But I think that we just need to be aware that a lot of County Cricket is not so fi rst class as it used to be.

The players don't enjoy the Sunday games that much, though.

Some do, some don't. Some still quite enjoy it because it is a shorter game. In pure cricketing terms it is the least effective of the games. It keeps it open.

Because of the shorter game you can still turn resul ts around in the last five or ten overs of the game- more readily in a 40-over match than you could in maybe a fifty- or sixty-over game - but I think we'll hang onto them for a while yet.

Would you be in favour of a two-divisional County Championship?

How much did beating Geoff Boycott's record mean to you?

Well, I probably wou ld. It goes against the grain but inevitably you concentrate the more talented in the higher div ision.

Well , it was very important, and I enjoyed every moment of passing it. Geoffrey is one of those people who you feel naturally competitive against. You want to beat him, because he sets so much stall out by his own petformance. His own performances and records were paramount to him - he's a very driven man and he lives and dies by his reputation on the field . He wasn 't best pleased when I went past his record . I know fu ll well that the BBC had almost to send out a search party for him to come and talk about it. H e was there somewhere, but he seemed to have gone missing at the crucial moment. But I'm pretty proud to have done that , even if I turned out not to be on top of the pile for too long. It's just a shame to have given the record away to Graham Gooch. The only minor regret is that I didn't have a few more Test Matches in the final years to give myself a fa ir chance of being maybe still at the top - which unfortunately was largely due to his decisions .

Wouldn't that be unfair on some of the lower teams?

Yes.

That is what is needed in English cricket then?

Yes, you are looki ng for a smallish percentage improvement to go to a national side that actually might win a series against West Indies, Australia , Pakistan or South Africa. Because that's what they have to do to regain some world-wide respect and it must do something to he lp that along . For instance, take the existing county system with poor old Durham at the bottom. It is a big shame because they have done eve rything they possibly can up there to make themselves into a big c lub , but they just haven't got the players to get results. A lot of effort has gone in there for nothing on the fie ld yet. It could take a while, it could take a long time yet, and at this rate it might never happen.

Do you regret retiring at the time that you did?

Oh no, I don't regret retiring, because at that stage they were not picking me anyway.

I tend to think that you have got to be harsh at this stage; otherwise the thing wi ll drift along. Tim Lai11b, the C hief Executive of what is now called E .C .B .

(English C ricket Board), is not keen to revolutionise things: he prefers evolution. If you let evolution meander its gentle way, then a ll those other countries who are try ing to hurry the process along and are upto-date with things w ill j ust edge away further and further. That's the danger. If you go for a twodivisiona l system then certain counties are going to get very miffed because they realise that they are going to be pretty much condemned to second-division cricket for. a while. The only way out is if you have a big swmg, with e ight or nine teams in each division. If you then have three of the m relegated and three of them promoted - or even four, as some people suggested

Are you resentful for what Gooch and Stewart did to you?

No, I'm not resentful; but I will remain critical fo r the way they handled affairs in the early 90s. And Graham at the moment seems to be the onl y horse in the race to become Chairman of Selectors next year.

The way is pretty clear for him. But my only hope is that if he does take it on , he remembers some of the mistakes that he made in the early 90s and somehow has acquired a greater degree of f lexibil ity than he showed, say, in 1991 when we were in Australia. That will be the test of hi m. We've still got to see how that role is seen. I was on the Acfield Committee trying to lay down some guidelines for the way in which the England Team should be managed and run , and how

27

THE CANTUARIAN , A UT UMN

1996

look at Ian Botham, and I can't believe that he is a candidate.

selections should be taken care of and the rest of it, and we had in mind a Chairman of Selectors who was a fairly high profile character and well rewarded for it.

Graham in the summer was saying he would do it for nothing. Now he is say ing that, if he is going to do it, he needs to be compensated for lack of earnings at Essex and all the rest of it.

What do you think of his appointment as technical advisor to the England team?

Fine, because the team like hi m. He will like the role. It's not a full time job, and it gets him in there, and they' ll enjoy it. He has done something simil ar unofficially for a while. In South Africa last winter he was in and out of the dressing-room and maintained a good rapport with the players . That's always a good start. If the players like someone and look up to someone then he's got a good chance of doing a good job. As to whether or not he would make a good Chairman, that might depend on whether they could afford him to do the job, because there is no way that he cou ld do it and mai ntain the rest of his lifestyle. If he wants to be Chairman of Selectors, he's got to be prepared to do it properly, and if he doesn't want to do it, he can carry on being a golfer, media pundit and anything else he does . He couldn 't take the BothamLamb roadshow and couldn 't work for Sky and cou ldn ' t write for a tabloid newspaper and also be C hairman of Selectors.

Is it important that he has just come out of the game?

Yes.

Is that why Ray Illingworth failed?

Wel l, largely. Because Ray, who was my captain at Leicestershire when I first started was then and still is a very knowledgeable man about cricket. He's watched a lot and commentated on a lot since he finished playing, and he finished at Yorkshire when he was 50ish. But there was a big gap between him at 63 and the sort of people who were starting to play the game for England , youngsters coming in at 20 to 23, which he was never going to bridge . He didn' t form a perfect working partnership between himself and Michael Atherton. So if you get a man who has just come out of the game, well you' ve got a better chance.

It's just a question of Graham remembering the lessons of his captaincy.

Do you think that he would want the job?

I can't believe that it would work, practically speaking . He would love to be Chairman of the Selectors, but I can't see him giving up the rest of it. I could be wrong.

So you would support Graham Gooch's appointment as Chairman of Selectors?

Wel l not wholeheartedly; I would be happier if there was someone else. But there is no one e lse, unless you

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THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

28

FOCUS THROUGH A VICTORIAN LENS

years earl ier and turned into 'Tar' Turner in Of Human Bondage . The second photograph of Colin Murray, with an unidentified friend (No. 2), was taken a year later: observe the collar. We think they are outside what is now the Catering Office door and amused at some serious sportsmen training on the Green Court.

Other friends were recorded less formally (No. 3).

T hroughout Murray's schooldays the protracted Boer War formed the national background. The Cantuarian

Colin Hay Murray came to Canterbury as a King's Scholar in September 1899 , aged nearly 14. Over the three years that he spent at King's he took many photographs of his surroundings - he was the son of an architect and became one himself - but also of his friends and of school events.

1. The Fourth Form, summer 1900. Colin Hay Murray is on Mr Mason's left.

T his July his son Mr Andrew Murray ki nd ly sent to us all the surviving negatives. T hey are on glass but with the help of the Uni versity Photographic Unit usable modern negatives were produced from them and prints made. Here we print a selection from this valuable record of life at K ing's nearly a century ago.

Fortu nately Colin M urray was a methodical boy and took the trouble to label most of his negatives , so that even somewhat changed places can be identified .

reported the death in battle (or more often of disease) of O.K.S., but rather realistically commented that ' ... thoughts of death and illness do not intetfere with the healthy and vigorous life of an English Public School '. The wider world did mark the Relief of Mafeking (No. 4) . Patriotic touches can be seen (Nos. 5 and 6) in the decor of boys' studies or ' cubes' (for cubicles).

Under Headmaster Dr Galpin - a headmaster with standards (No. 7) - school numbers rose from some 150 in 1896 to about 250 in 19 10, but the school of M urray 's day was still much smaller than it could possibly be and prosper today. The plan (No.8), extraordinarily neatl y drawn by Murray, shows all there was by way of buildings, with the exception of one (and later aQother) boarders ' House in the town. A start to the expansion within the Precincts was made in 1900, when Dean Farrar opened the New Grange (No. 9) . T he enlarged Grange continued to be an annexe of 'the School-house', the one and only boarders' house in the Precincts, for another 28 years. T he dayboys

Colin Murray himself first appears in the group photograph (No . 1) of the Fourth Form , taken in the summer of 1900. He sits on the fo rmidable M r Mason's left, with his scholar 's gown, watch-chain and Eton collar, which a ll boys below a certain age or status had to wear. T he senior 'stick-up' collar, seen on the rather superannuated looking trio in the back row, was repla._ced over the next few years by the present wi ng-coll ar. Poss ibl y rather fopp ishl y, M urray is wearing modern-looking shoes and not sensible boots.

'Tar' Mason - the name stood for tar-barrel - was observed by the young So merset Maugham some 15 29

THE C A NTUARI AN , A UTUMN 1996

company: but there was a good deal of soc ial life in the Precincts, of a rather Bat¡chester kind, and also in the military circles of the garrison. There were , of course, many maids to do the cleaning, wait at table (No. 14), and take care of other domestic chores : but in a properly run establishment they were only glimpsed in passing (Nos . 4 and 15).

Colin Murray does not seem to have taken his camera to Blore 's for rugby or to the county ground where the School played its serious cricket. But stump cricket was very popular - it is mentioned fondly by many reminiscers - and so were gymnastics (Nos. 13 and 16) . Rowing flourished at Fordwich , but not when Murray went down to record it (No.17).

managed somehow, somewhere. D ean Farrar combined the opening ceremony w ith the presentation to ' ... E . MacGachen of the Medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving life. In August 1899 , during a severe storm , he saved the lives of a gentleman and two ladies whose canoe had capsized on The Lake of the Woods' . After these exertions , Dean Farrar deserved his tea (No. 10). A boy whose courage was shown rather later was John Richardson (No. 11). Indeed , Murray and all his friends in these photographs volunteered for the armed forces at the outbreak of the Great War and fought right through it.

It is an astonishing proof of the public spirit of all classes that for the first two years of the war there was no conscription in this country.

The major feminine influence, at least on the evidence of Murray 's photographs, was the Matron , Miss Gadd (No . 12) . One wonders what she did for

I MOGEN A NDERSON AND THERESA B OYCE

with acknowledgements to Mr Andrew Murray and the School Archives.

3 . 'Olive, Bobby and Tuke', in the School House door. Bobby was a special friend , Robert V.L .

Johnston, who became a solicitor in Canada .

Gabriel Olive became headmaster of the well- known prep school, Rokeby, in Wimbledon, and John Tuke a Royal Marine officer and OBE.

2. Colin Murray (seated) and unidentified f riend, 1901 .

THE C ANTUAR!AN , AUTU MN

1996

30

4 . Canterbury Dairies celebrate the Relief of Mafeking, May 1900, after a siege of2 15 days . The cart stands outside what is now our Dining Hall, then houses for some of the Minor Canons .

5 . Graty 's cube' , Ferdinand Hancock Greatrex's cubicle . The military gent is probably his uncle, a major in the Royal Dragoons fighting the Boers .

31

THE' CANTUARIAN, A UTUMN

1996

6. Colin Murray's cubicle. Water for the ewer and basin was brought in by 'Pots', a boy servant who also took out the slops.

7. 'The Headmaster:s¡ old carriage' outside his house, now Galpin's. Dr Galpin's dog has not allowed for the . slow emulsion of the period.

THE C ANTUARI AN, A UTUM N 1996

32

THE:

KINC'S SCHOOl., CAN.T ERBU.R Y. '9 0 '·

I'

/ H

0

I=IHH I

8. JV.an of the Precincts drawn by Colin Murray. Almost all the school buildings have changed function .

The Headmaster's House is now Galpin:s·, which has also swallowed the Dining Hall. The Junior School is now Walpole, Minor Canons ' houses have provided the present Dining Hall, the Shirley Hall stands where tennis was played. The Ch oir School has become the Priory classrooms and the school 'chapel' has expanded from a transept into the whole nave .

33

T HE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

9. The 'New Grange' seen from the Mint Yard across the site of Mitchinson's . The School's sole laboratory, the Alford, stands between the Gatekeeper's Lodge and the Parry Library.

10. Dean Farrar, sometime Master of Marlborough, author of "Eric or Little by Little" and grandfather of Montgomery B.L., for some months of the Junior School.

11. John Percival Abernethy Richardson.

In the Great War he carried out antisubmarine and anti-mine operations, was twice mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the DSC and the King of Italy 's Medal for Valour.

12. Miss Gadd, the Matron, in her rooms.

I 3 . Stump cricket in the Mint Yard. The lime tree shading the Olympians' seat was destroyed in the great storm of 1987.

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

34

14 . The Dining Hall, now subdivided for boys ' accommodation in Galpin 's, also had lockers f or private possessions or tuck. The decorations, lit by gasolier, were educational: pictures of the Colosseum, Cleopatra's Needle and the Leaning Tower of Pisa . ¡

15. No. 25, then and sometimes even now known as Hodgson's Hall, contained sets of masters' rooms. The wrought iron railings were taken away during World War Two to make aluminium Spitfires.

35

TI-lE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

16. Gymnastics was still recreational in Murray's day, though the Boer War shortcomings and the rise of German military might were to lead to Army sponsorship and enormous jamborees at Aldershot for public-schoolboys .

The gymnasium and a fives court are now the Mint Yard classrooms .

17. Sculler and support on the Stour at Fordwich .

THE CANTUARI AN, AUTUMN

1996

36

[The fo llowing imagi native reconstruction , winner of the J996 O .K.S . Salvete Prize for pupils in their fi rst year at the School, was written while the author was in Shell e . His story is set quarter of a century before the period of Colin Murray's photographs .]

disobeying orders would be a heavy beating . I could tell that our early years would be a war of attrition between us and the seniors.

After a long, sleepless night we were given a speech

by Dr Bla re on how we were entering a stab le society in which we had to keep strict discipline. Fol lowing that, we had our first period, Geography. We were taught by Mr Johnston and the lesson started with global location questions, followed in the latter part of the lesson with map drawing. We were told to draw a map of the world and colour in pink the many parts of the British Empire.

Lessons proceeded, with a break for lunc h, until the evening . At that point of the day we were to don some shorts and sports shoes and go out to the field to play rugby. Nowadays the way we played would seem rather unorthodox , but the game was rather new, and proper rules had not yet been laid down. T he School would be split into two sides: those who showed talent would play in the centre of the field whi le the rest of the School would fo rm a disorderly line on the goalline. (In that version of the game, goals were scored not tries.)

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO KING'S ...

I arrived (afte r a tedious train journey) at the School House of the K ing's School, Canterbury, in September I 874. I remember feeling very upset at the thought of not seeing my pare nts for weeks on end, never having been boarding before . My father told me that boarding had made him the man he was, but I was not sure I wanted to be the man he was. He was a successful accountant at the Bank of E ng land but though he earned large sums of mo ney it did not strike me as a particularly interesting job.

Before my parents embarked on the long train journey back to London , they talked to Dr Blare , the Headmaster, and also J.J. Saunders , the Captain of School. They assu red my parents that I would be well looked after and that they should not worry at al l.

Saunders left qu ite an imp ress ion on my parents, but he made me feel awkward. He was tall, with black hai r and pale skin. His short eyebrows, sharp nose and thin lips gave him a cunning expression . There was an ai r of malevole nce surrou nding him.

Eleven other boys were coming into the first year, but they did not seem particularly eager to associate the mselves wi th me as quite a few of them knew each other already. I caught the name of one of them; he was a head taller than me with ginger hair, blue eyes and light freckles dappled round the edge of his cheeks. He was called Be nton and he looked pleasant enough.

W hen I had noticed that my parents had wandered away I felt cold hands clutching my heart as I thought of six weeks without seeing them. Previously I had been to a day grammar school in London, so I did no t know quite w hat to expect from my new surroundings .

I followed the rest of my year as we brought our trunks up to the dorm itory, our home for the coming year. My bed was at the far s ide of the room. Glancing at the bed next to mine, I noticed on the tag was the name ' J.B. Perkins'.

W hen I had assessed my surroundings, I noticed a boy having trouble carrying his trunk. He was very much shorter than I was and he had a meek face covered with long thin strands of curly red hair.

Deciding to do the decent thing, I helped him with his tru nk. Soon after I fo und out that this was Perkins, and he was gratefu l fo r my help.

W hen most of us had finished unpacking , Saunde rs came up to tell us the strict regime of rules and fags. :rf a senior tells you to do something, you jolly well do It without question ing his order' - a sentence which struck me as being rather crue l. He made it quite clear to us that the punis hme nt fo r rule-breaking or

That night we were forced to observe the punishment of a fellow member of our year. Beadesley was beaten with a slipper by Saunders for being two min utes late for bed . We all cringed to see a colleague of ours so brutally treated .

By our fi rst Sunday, I had attached myself to Perkins and Benton, having all engaged in various escapades on the nigger pitch the previous day.

Perkins was not really built fo r the game, but Benton and I not only felt an affinity for the game but excelled ourselves on the centre field .

We started our Sunday with a service in the Cathedral in which the service was so figuratively spoken and so difficult to hear that it went straight above all heads .

For the rest of the day we played games in our room or out in the garden where the sun was shining brightly. We all gathered in the evening for a service in the School Room where we sang hymns , with no accompaniment save a tuni ng fork to give us our first note .

By the end of the first week I had formed strong opinions on most of the subjects . I had a disti nct loathing for Latin, Greek and Mathematics, while I enjoyed and showed strong understa nding in English and History. French was a somewhat haphazard affair, as it was taught by our fo rm maste r who would not be able to order a drink in France without the waiter knowing some English.

Near the start of the second week I had been cured of what had once seemed the incurable . I was no longer homesick. I had made my acquaintances with the rest of my dorm itory, and we seemed happy with each other's company (which was lucky, as we should be sharing a room for the rest of the year).

Looking back on my time at King's, I remembe r rathe r enjoy ing it, and it brought me towards a successful uni versity career at Cambridge.

J AMES M CIRYINE.

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Tl-fE C ANTUARIAN, A UTUMN 1996

A HOROSCOPE

~ARIES LlJ

CANCER 22ND JUNE TO 22ND JULY

21ST MARCH TO 20TH APRIL

March is a distinctly busy month. The Sun's entry into your sign on the 20th presages a period of bustle, and Venus, coupled with the fu ll Moon in your partnership sign of Libra , heralds testing times for relationships through April. Late in that month , your ruler Mars goes direct, so much of the disruption and difficulty of the past few months will melt away. The highlight is on your finances in May, and though Arians are not greedy, reckless spending is a distinct possibility! When Mars potters through Libra in late June, relationships will either pick up or be shaken up , so be warned. July's moon in Aquarius indicates a dynamic time for your social calendar lasting well into August, and with Mars in passionate Scorpio, life could well get... spicy. Do I hear any complaints?

March's full moon in your family sign indicates upheaval within your family. As a Cancerian, home and family are very important, and so you could find this unsettling. April is dominated by work matters, an ideal chance to start new projects or revise old topics (should you want to). May's new and full moons put e mphasis on your social life and routine activities.

Expect drastic changes of routine, which, as someone whose moods are fairly cyclical, may unbalance you.

To others your moodiness may seem baffling, but you know that they balance out overall. Ruled by the moon , luminary of emotion, your sens itivity can also become touchiness . June, as the sun enters your sign , plus its new moon being in Cancer, offers golden opportunities for new ideas to blossom. July and August will be welcome as opportunities to spend time at home . You're j ust so wholesome . It sickens me, it really does.

~TAURUS

~ 21ST APRIL TO 21ST MAY

~LEO

March 's new moon opens a new chapter in Taureans' social lives, which an enterprising bull w ill take advantage of! When your ruler Venus enters Taurus in mid April, Taureans are in for an exciting period of opportunity. When the Sun joins it on the 20th, this effect is redoubled. May's new moon in your sign could be the start of a whole new phase of your life - a good time to start new things and abandon old ones. Cash (always a preoccupation of Taureans) is May's overture, continuing into June; and although cash crises may loom, really you' re entering a new period of financial independence. July will be a busy month , f ull of social obligations, and any party held on or about 11th August, with its full moon in yo ur social sign , is sure to be memorable. Hide the china. Oh , and by the way, Taureans are the most honest, kind, funny, loveable people. (Guess when my birthday is.)

I?(]

~

Leos are the generous, benevolent philanthropists of the zodiac; or, to put it another way, arroga nt exhibition ists with a distressing tende ncy to go bananas when they realise nobody loves them. March may well be a turbulent month , but school matters pick up after the sun enters the education portion of your chart. In April, restriction and difficulty is likely, followed swiftly by family trou bles in May. Rely on your friends - May is also an excellent month for your social life, as is June . July's new moon in your house of secrets will bring a reorientation towards life, and may well reveal deceptions on the part of others.

T he next new moon is in your own sign, so make the most of it to re-assess you r attitudes to certain situations in your life which are ripe for change.

August is a quick and lively month for Leos, with both your ruler, the Sun, and Mercury in your sign promising excitement.

GEMINI

~ 22ND MAY TO 21ST JUNE

m

Geminis have a reputation for being untrustworthy, spiteful, two-faced gossips. This is undeserved (in most cases). Your mind ju st tends to flip from one thing to another, and your li kes and dislikes change quickly. March and April are social months for you, but from mid April till May your ruler Mercury is retrograde, which could start a rather tricky period. In May, Venus enters your sign, indicating poss ible romance. June's new moon is in your sign, joined by Mercury on the 8th , which indicates renewal and a fresh way of looking at things . Why not dump all you r friends for new ones? July brings an upheaval in you r financial security. Generally Geminians don't really care about money, as long as they have enough to buy whatever they want all the time. August, with your ruler's migration into Leo, is an excellent opportunity . for parties and trips . Gossip and bitching: you' ll be in heaven.

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

23RD J ULY TO 23RD AUGUST

~

V I RGO 24TH AUGUST TO 22ND SEPTEMBER

There are always some . After generous Leos come tig ht-fisted maiden aunts . Oh well . Mars is retrograde in your sign all March and April, making you badtempered and catty. No change there, then. With your ruler retrograde from mid April to early May, difficulties and annoying problems are likely to arise and make your life tricky. June's new moon in the part of your chart related to career promises opportunities for rethinking your work-life and making a new start.

With Mercury entering Virgo late in J ul y, you are in for an action-packed August where everything seems to be happening all at once. Whe n joined by the sun on 2 1st July, opportunities for self-promotion are second to 38

tumultuous changes, and unexpected shocks should be ... well, expected . April is an excellent month for all sorts of creative projects - from art work to writing - and new ideas are sure to develop . May's full moon is in your sign, bringing change during that month, and with Venus in your partnership sign, new romance could blossom. In June, your ruler Jupiter turns retrograde, heralding a long-lasting period of minor difficulties which w ill last well into September. But then again, Sagittarians are naturally buoyant in a crisis, so why worry?

none; but, shrinking violet that you are, you might prefer to limit yourself to helping out a friend in need, as shown by August's f ull moon in your partnership sign. But make sure they know exactly who helped them. Remind them, and everyone else, at regular intervals.

~LIBRA

~ 23RD SEPTEMBER TO 23RD OCTOBER

171

March's fu ll moon in your own sign indicates a tense but potentially dynamic period. With your ru ler in your opposite sign in late March and early April, relationships are certain of a boost. Win them over with your enormous social charm. Librans have a natural talent for lounging on arm-rests at parties, then Jauahing so much they fall off. May also will be a period of dynamic change, and certain people may turn out to be other than they appear. With Mars returning to your sign in June, you as a Libran can be assured of renewed vigour and energy to cope with the debil itating excesses of your grotesquely selfindu lgent life-style. July is dominated by social obligations and promises to be a very fulfilling period of your life, but your social life will undergo drastic changes early in August, followed by a general calming down as Mars leaves Libra on 15th. Try to sound pleased.

IQl ~

It has been often said that talking to a Capricorn is about as exciting as a Welsh village on a wet Sunday afternoon. Possibly. But Capricorns are also blessed with an extremely warm sense of humour, and - let's face it - you are going to need it over the next few months. Career and wo rk matters may well be disrupted in March, and with dreamy Neptune uncertain as to whether to leave your sign, you are uncertain where you stand . As Venus meets your ruler Saturn, in earl y April, romance might appear. You will just have to grin and bear it. May is a month of readjustment to life for al l Capricorns, and, with unsettling changes in June, much that is familiar may seem uncertain. July's new moon in Cancer springcleans your personal relationships, and w ith Saturn retrograde from .6th August, annoying but minor problems will appear. Incidentally, Capricorns are meant to be naturally sceptical - so why are you reading this column?

SCORPIO 24TH OCTOBER TO 22ND NOVEMBER

Scorp ios are the little Hitlers of the Zodiac.

'Contro l' is a central requirement in your personality.

Unsettling changes may disrupt your social life in March, and with the sun in your house of health, guard against getting over-stressed in April, particularly with the chaotic influence of the full moon in your sign on the 22nd. May is likely to be a key month for Scorpios, with its full moon conjunct with your ruler Pluto, planet of destruction and renewal. Your finances are likely to undergo changes, and it could be a difficult period. June and July are not particularly eye-catching on the cosmic level, so you can enjoy a well-earned rest. Unfortunately, Mars enters your sign on 15th August, and you can be certain of new activities to absorb you for a few months. Trust me: boredom will not be a problem. A bored Scorpio is a terrible sight.

Yo u will destroy furniture, chew carpets, shred cushions ... You should be locked up, so the world can be safe for ordinary, decent folk.

w lf::::1J

CAPRICORN

~ 22ND DECEMBER TO 20TH JANUARY

AQUARIUS 21ST JANUARY TO 18TH FEBRUARY

The less said about you the better.

M

~

PISCES 19TH FEBRUARY TO 20TH MARCH

There is a saying amongst Astrologers: 'only Pisceans are gullible enough to consult an Astrologer'.

Whilst this may not be entirely true, you are easily deceived. But with Mercury and the sun in your sign in March, your judgement is sound. The new moon in your sign also brings changes, but you will be well able to cope. With your finances under review in April , unsettling monetary changes may be afoot. Arguments and failings-out should be watched for in June , after a quiet Apri l. July's full moon is almost sitting on top of your ruler Neptune, making it an ideal time for reorientating yourself to life, and for new inspiration about changes you should make. Neptune teeters on the edge of leaving Capricorn all year - perhaps a symbol for all Pisceans . Are you teetering on the edge of a new, progressive step? This is particu larly important since Neptune will enter Aquarius, the sign of the much-heralded New Age! (You' re swallowing every word of this , aren't you ... )

SAGITTARIUS 23RD N OVEMBER TO 21ST DECEMBER

Sagittarians are the energetic explorers of the celestial wheel. To you the rest of the world seems populatc:td by a load of s loths on valium, but you Sagittarians still manage to be jovial and goodhu moured. March for you will overflow with social engagements, and you are like ly to fall out with friends. Many Sagittarians w ill also be in the grip of

MARK 'MYSTIC M EG' WILLIAMS.

39

THE CANTUARIAN , A UTUMN

1996

A CROSSWORD A small prize will be awarded for the first correct answer from a King's School pupi l received by Mr Tennick, whose decision is final.

ACROSS

DOWN

1 8 9

I 2

II 12 13

14 16 19 21 23 24 25 26

F inished pottery, tw ice over? (6 ,6) K ing at present Indian reception for expertise. (7) A horse, with male sheep , is alternative arrangement! (7) Weake r from strength in nerves? (7) Had two examples destroyed by boffin. (7) Dance enthusiastically removing nothing-for truck . (5) Omit actual mix-up , without left reflex. (9) The Fre nch send back member to ring a wa rning.

(5,4) About a note in room ... (5) Cut dope - its silt. (7) Bristle after regret is heard to be fo r plant. (7) Marksman's late view. (7) Slight hearing surrounding four. (7) Confused all day, after he cuts domain, taki ng note weekly. ( 12)

TH E CANTUA RIAN , AUTUMN

1996

3 4 5 6 7

10 I5 17 18 19

20 22

I'm no god, confusing and conde mning! (7) Unsettle and di sj oint. (7) M inimise su it, not being in capital. (5,4) Go red and very e mbarrassed initially - then serious . (5) A doubly pointless manly sports union ... (7) L istener po ints to square with inte nt. (7) Fish e n1barked, and used juvenile form of transport? (1 2) Drug shot fo r exercise helper? (8 ,4) E ndured by the French, and judged after. (9) A very quiet rest will soothe. (7) Drink is left inside to beguile! (7) C ha nnel Islands back the Fre nch after their vineyards are vitally needed . (7) B less and adorn , witho ut Uni versity. (7) Abide by sai lo rs c reates lots of warmth. (5) L UCY B UTLER.

40

EXPEDITIONS ICELAND TRIP

where our camp was if the weather was to tu rn bad.

(As a back up, in case that couldn ' t be seen, Dave Higgins brought his orange Day-Gio te nt, apparently a relic of his dad 's o ld festi val-going days.) The CCF te nts were at least waterproof, and we wou ld like to thank the RSM for kindly lending them. I would like to advise those going on s im ilar trips, however, that they do well for one person but two is a bit of a squeeze . I wonder what James Martell would have done in one of them, as he frequently complained that his two-man vango was a tight fit even though he was the only one in it.

Unfortunately the first night saw a torre ntial downpour, though this was not a problem as we were all tucked up in our sleeping-bags, even if there were a few problems the next morning for those who had camped in a wet stream. Anyhow, once everybody had bundled into the marquee for a nice cooked breakfast we were fi lled up and ready to go. We tre kked in the pouring rain in the hope of reaching the glacie r, only to be blocked by a rathe r wide ravine, which looked to be difficult to cross as a torre nt of snow-melt ran beneath and a fall would have resulted in severe injury. Some turned back , while others risked the jump a nd were rewarded by bombardments of ice-falls at the g lacier.

A crampon-equ ipped M r Churcher, declaring Mr Re ill y who also had crampons a ' G randdad ', started to scale the face and promptly tumbled down. Not to be o utdone, Mr Reilly tried in vain to reach as far up the valley as possible by Land Rover, but became stuck.

JULY 1996 O n 8th Jul y 1996 the King's School Iceland expedition set out for a two and a half week tour of the island with the all-important Geography project field work in mind. Twelve of us accom panied by Mr Reilly - he in turn being supervi sed by his son Matt - flew from Heathrow to the sunshine resort of Keflavik.

Sunshine resort? We ll , that is what Mr Churcher had been tell ing us, say ing how lovely the weather had been two years previously. Our vision of the place had bee n trul y distorted ; but this didn ' t stop our perseverance to wear shorts and T-shirts and indeed there were some days of excellent weather.

On arrival we were met by fo ur friend ly faces in the form of M r C hurche r, Ms Phillips, Kate Dover and Claire G illanders, O.K .S. They had arrived early to collect M r Churcher 's own Land Rover and another one sponsored by Barretts of Canterbury, Ltd. I would like to thank them on behalf of all those who went on the trip.

Once we had changed our cash for the lovely Icelandic kronur, which seemed to disappear very quickly every time we bought something, and had packed the Land Rovers, we set off into the tranqu il scene ry of the Ke fl avik peni nsula. Once past Reykjavik we journeyed fo r twelve hours northwards on graduall y deteriorating roads to our first destination, the valley of the Kaldalon (cold lagoon). T he visibility was still good in the valley on arrival at 2 a.m. clue to the close proximity of the Arctic Circle. It was mysterious and beautiful , and we were all aware that we wou ld have to crack its ma ny secrets in the forthcoming days . O ur first objective was to set up camp in orde r to get some sleep before we trekked up the valley the following morning in search of ideas. Our camp was to be on a she lte red s lope, apparently dry apart from the odd wet sheep-dropping .

These sheep roa med the barre n slopes in the otherwise desolate and ~so l ated extremity of an Island inhabited by 250,000 people, half of whom live in Members of the blue Land Rover: Lizzy Stephenson, Patrick Spiller, James the capital city.

Martell, James Firth, Matthew Reilly, Oli Neame, Dave Higgins, Alex Bland, Kate Dover and James Day. (James Day) Those i.who were bright enough brought the ir own tents and unpacked qu ickly, whilst those who were to He was retrieved from the ri ver, some what use. the CCF tents helped put up the large yellow and igno miniously, courtesy of Mr Churc her 's Land Rover wlute marquee which was to be our HQ a nd marker for but only after Helen M .-T. had brave ly con41

THE CANTUA RIAN, AUTUMN

1996

had the rowdiest group , with O li , Kate , and Lizzy as well as Dave, whose squeals could probably have been heard in the othe r Land Rover. The picture (p. 4 1) shows the blue Land Rover 's complement (apart from Mr Re illy). The red Land Rover group, led by Mr Churcher, was getting lost looki ng for the same place: you might see them somewhe re in the background.

Our next stop was Akureri, the second largest town in Iceland, where we enjoyed the luxury of c ivilized fac ilities. However, the shower cost 50 kronur (50p) and if you weren' t quick you didn 't get a warm one.

That night we walked through the town checking out the hot and happening night life to find that it wasn' t quite non-existent but involved youths driving around the roundabout in the ir cars ... interesting! T hi s was probably because a good night on the town wou ld have set the average Icelander back some 100 pounds . The next morning we all had a swim in the swimming-pool there with the steam baths and wonde rful wa rm water.

James Martell was finally at peace with his surroundings. Our next stop was Rauferhofn in the very north-east of the country. We enjoyed a campfire on the northernmost part of Iceland nearest to the Arctic circle and watched the sun rise and fall . Here we met an owner of a hotel who d id pagan weddings at the solstice, which sounded weird to say the least.

nected the tow-rope having kind ly offered her assistance.

Despite any initial, unfo unded misgivings about sheep's head stew or the like, and despite the challenging conditions, the food throughout our tour was quite excellent, thanks to Ms Phi llips. There was one cause for concern however, when I developed a rather severe reaction to some prawns. My face inflated like an oversize foot ball , much to everyone's am use me nt.

That night those of us who had camped in the wet stream jumped into our lovely soaking sleeping-bags for a short night's sleep in preparation fo r the work ahead. I felt ill the next morning, not because of my allergy but because James Martell and others had almost completed their fieldwork, and that afternoon having lost my clinometer and walked back to the camp , two k ilometres from where I was working, I found a few of them drinking coffee and pl ayi ng cards: I was not amused. I should mention that we were blessed with Alex Bland's amazing talents at cards, which became the source of much amusement during the trip. On the way back I was asked to call for help if there was an incident, as Chris Howard and Alex Reynolds were attempting to ford a torre ntial river.

L uckily I did n't have to run back the way I had just come. In this same river Alex Bland valiantl y carried Lizzy across as she had no boots, and subsequently dropped her half way across. Unfortunately I wasn 't there to see it.

On returning to our tents we found that they had been sabotaged by some local youths, who removed the pegs. Our next port of call was Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe at some 44 metres in height and with water-flow in excess of some 2 10 ,000 cubic metres at the siphoning of the Vatnajokull lake, which flushes much like a toilet - though I must add that I wouldn' t like to be there whe n that happens . A drive across the Icelandic desert brought us to Herdubreid in the middle oflceland , whe re we had a swim in the Viti ( Hell 's Gate) crater. T he water smelt of rotten eggs but was truly invigorating. Fortu nately it was quite opaque as people traditionally 'skinny dip ' here.

We moved on to Myvatn in the north of Iceland , where we went swimming onc:e again and found the customary hot pools . We visited a crater which had been visited two years previously by the first group, who had followed the lead of others and written with huge rocks at the bottom: ICELAND 94 POSSE. Some people stayed at the top whi lst others ran down the slope to add AND 96.

The sign will now stay there forever as the crater has recentl y been barred to the public.

We left the steaming mudpools of M yvatn in search of paradise and we found it. Landmannalauger does not sound very tropical nor was it, but it had the nicest natural hot-pool I have ever been in - in fact the only one I've ever been in. It forms whe re a heated stream and a cold stream meet, to ~ake a beautifu l pool or !auger which we all made good use of in our 2 1/2 day stay there. We all went for

Finally our projects were done and it was time to leave the Kaldalon in search of a new part of Iceland to ten¡orise. Mr Churcher, Jef and Helen M .-T. very nearly left in a way they had not planned as harsh winds almost took them and the marquee roof away into the sea . However, they survived and we left listening to the Beatles who were to be the theme music for the blue Land Rover fo r the rest of the trip.

Everyone had to stay in the same Land Rovers throughout the trip. In the blue Land Rove r there were eleven people and in the red one there were six. Those in the blue listened to a far better cho ice of music and

(James Day)

TH E CANTUA RIAN, AUTUMN

1996

42

(David Higgins)

walks exploring differe nt trails. It was optional for some to. walk the 20 km walk , but it was tru ly ~orth w hile: the scenery was astound ing and the picture above shows some of the astounding views.

For most of the ti me we were in the hot pool and o n one occasion we all went in at about 12 p.m. and stayed there until 2. The next morning we had a pancake binge with Cordon Bleu chef Monsieur Reilly on the gas stoves.

qui~e gloomy as we all realised we had to finish a trip

whic h we had thoroughl y enjoyed, though we were cheered up by smoked salmon and scrambled egg for breakfast. We had all had an excellent start to the summer ho lidays and I wou ld like to thank everybody who came on the trip as they were the ones who made it special. And partic ular thanks are due to Mr Churc her, Mr Reilly and M s Phillips, who organised the exped ition - two and a half weeks, two thousand miles, eight very differe nt destinations, and a host of me mories, as well as some learning (pare nts, please not.e!), which I and the others will always re member.

Th1s was a tru ly outsta ndi ng and unforgettable expe rie nce .

We lef~ for the famous southern sandurs formed by the. m~ss1ve ~utflows f1:om the Vatnajokull Icecap, wh ich IS the thi rd largest 111 the world. T he most recent of these flows was after the eruption of a volcano under the cap: this caused massive filling of the underground lake , whic h eventually siphoned out.

Once we arrive? at Scaftafell we set up camp. Here Kat~ .once a~a 1~ showed her school mo nitorship qualities by build111g her tent whilst he r tent-mates Oli and Lizzy, rolled around laughing. We then went 'east to the tip of one of .the outle~ glaciers from the icecap. ~ere we ~1tnessed 1ce crackmg off the glacier forming Icebergs 111 the bay. On the way back we drove past a stranger on the otherwise deserted stre tch of road. We drove past unwittingly until Kate Dover said ' Hey was.n 't that Mr Churche r?' Ms Phillips stopped th~ vehicle and Mr Churcher jumped in: we were miles from anywhere. We asked, 'What are you doing here?'

To whic h he replied , ' I was worried about my Land Rover ' . Thanks for the thought, sir.

J AMES D AY.

VISIT TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND THE TEMPLE FOR THE OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR Each year October I st sees the start of the legal year, and despite the fact that this does not appear to be widely known - surprise was expressed even by a couple of barristers we met - it is marked in Westminste r Abbey with a degree of ceremony rarely seen outside British institutional life and comparable only. to how I w?uld imag ine the State Opening of Parliament . Certamly, although familiar with much of the extravagance of Church of E ngland ritual, I don't expect to witness ever again a service in whic h two thirds of the time is take n up by the procession - an elaborate ceremony to say the least, observing a strict hie rarchy based on the size of wigs, and how many people were required to carry each train. The lower ranks, London's magistrates (we guessed) , were more easily ide ntifie-d by vary ing degrees of obv ious discomfort and mild e mbarrassme nt; and displayed an ~l e '!le nt of social . d ive rs ity, which was certain ly limited amongst their superiors. It reveals a great deal abo ut the legal establishment that the number of

T hat night we all decided to sleep outside in a rina but eventually it began to pour down, so I crawleod back to bed like many others . At about 6 o ' clock the next morning a couple of the group left the camp and wa!ke? to Svartifoss , a waterfall , and proceeded to swtm 111 the freezing temperatures. Wish I could have been there with you , honest! They came back an hour later to see something lying in the grass, and when they went closer to get a bette r view they realised they had forgotten to wake Helen M.-T. whe n it started to rai n.

She was soaked and highly unamused by the whole affair.

We lef{ Scaftafell the next day to do the final leg of our tour, back to Reykjavik . Here we met up with the post A-level woup of O.K.S. , who were starting a second tour with M r Churcher. Our last morning was

43

TI-l E CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP TO MOROCCO

female judges who shuffled past could be counted on the fingers of one hand , and that the representation by ethnic minorities didn ' t require even that.

OCTOBER 1996

Given the current debate about the relationship between church and state, and between public and relig ious morality, it was also revealing to discover the extent to which institutional Christianity underpins the legal establishment. The Lord Chancellor read a passage from Exodus about the judgement of God , with considerable authority. Interesting ly, Moses was encouraged to pick his judges to be representative of his people, a lesson that, on f irst impressions, hasn' t quite sunk in. And I had previously no idea that the legal profession prays annually for justice on earth to conform with justice in heaven. One wonders what God would make of recent legal complications: how does the woman who wants to be inseminated with her dead husband 's sperm fit in with the divine creation?

Ian Botham or Imran Khan?

Day 1 It's 7.30, Moroccan time . We are at Tangier airport and have been for the last forty minutes waiting for the next part of our flight to Casablanca . There we will change planes and fl y to Marrakech in a flying wheelybin , so I've been told. I can't believe that just eight hours ago I was in Palace Block having a Spanish lesson, and now I'm in Africa .

Day 2: Marrakech Our fi rst taste of Moroccan culture . We were woken up at fi ve o'clock this morning by the next door mosque's earl y morning 'call to prayer ' over a loud speaker.

Our first day in Marrakech has come as a real culture shock to most. We have been given a great insight into the differences between rich and poor. It's not often that you see a Mercedes parked next to a mule cart. We've also had many new experiences mint-tea and haggling in carpet shops, Moroccan food , need I say more? T he morning was spent having a tour of the city by horse and cart. We stopped at a Thursday market, where tourists don't usually go. We walked through the crowded pathways, covered in drapes, between stalls. One stall displayed a severed ram's head. T hen we came out the other side and saw a shanty town , and sheep and goats on the heaps of rubble . We felt like such invaders, and guilty for being so privileged. We were shown through a tannery: the smell was horrific, but we were g iven sprigs of mint to sniff. There were holes in the ground w ith animal skins soaking in lime and then pigeon dung, before being dyed with henna or saffron .

The rest of the day was spent seeing the contrasts between the new and old parts of the city, and then shopping in the medina . This is an amazing place - a rabbit warre n of covered pathways, with sho ps opening onto them. People follow you, vei led women selling leather camels and woolly hats. People are really pushy and come out of their shop to grab you 'student price, very cheap' . The evening was spent on the main square. The market was thri ving with activity.

We saw snake charmers, monkey men, beggars, shoe cleaners, orange sellers, food stalls. We also had fun trying out our haggling ski lls!

Exactly how the four of us came to be present was something of a mystery even to us. Invitations had been issued to the school , and Bianca Hoffmann , Leo Fransella, Pie rs Clough and myself had fo und ourselves put forward, e ither due to specific career aims , in Bianca's case, or broad political curiosity.

This curiosity was certainly fired in the afternoon, which involved a visit to the Temple and the Court of Appeal. Our tour of the Temple, a private world hidden away in central London , thanks to two young barristers, Dom and Simon, was impromptu and rather unconventional. ('This is where the Wars of the Roses started ... I think, though why they've only planted red roses I do n' t know ... Here 's where they filmed Kavanagh, QC .') But it certainly gave us an insight into what the ritual we had experienced in the morning means on a day to day basis - what really goes on at Law Society dinners, for example .

Finally, we crossed the Strand and, once Bianca had dealt with security guards harassing her for he r camera, we sat in on an appeal case against the terms of sentence. The case was a d ifficult one: personal re lations were fractiou s, and , give n the rather oppressive court atmosphere, initially rather surreal ; the defendant had , in a drunken stupor, broken into hi s (ex)-girlfriend 's house, afte r discovering details of her affair, and threatened her and her children with a kitchen knife. Apart from making me thankf ul for a sheltered life , I was struck by the pace of the proceedings; despite the defending barrister 's undisguised nerves, he handled compe tently an enormous amount of information , switching from legal precedents to the current complexities with a lot of mental dexterity, and the two judges were particularly im pressive, lucid and carefully considered.

The day opened doors for us all into a world where any previous knowledge was probably tainted by media sensationalism and courtroom dramas. Reality did not prove disappointing but enlightening, and we would like to thank all those whose valuable time we took up and A nn Rafferty, QC , for making all this possible.

Day 3: Leave Marrakech for the mountains We boarded the coach for a tou r of the new town and city suburbs. The houses in the new town were stil l all pink, but much smarter. In the suburbs we saw the really expensive hotels, and upper class residential areas.

We then travelled on to the mountains. On arriving at Imlil we walked up to the kasbah , our luggage carried by mules. We stayed in this kasbah in the mountains. It has a main uncovered courtyard with open roof, bedrooms, and a flat roof where we slept. It was run by Omah, whose w ife Akia d id the cooking.

The scenery here is amazing, and the qu ietness comes

MARY STEVENS.

TH E CANTUAR IAN, AUTUMN

1996

44

'I as a relief after the busy, frantic atmosphere of Marrakech. After a lunch of tagine and mint-tea, which were to become our staple diet, we went for a walk up the mountain side, where we were shown the irrigation projects and terraced farming.

Day 4: In the Atlas mountains Last night we slept on the roof of the kasbah . We lay on our backs looking up at the stars. I didn ' t sleep much because it was freezing cold, less than 0 degrees . At one poi nt, we were covered by a cloud, and couldn't see a thing: we were higher than Ben Nevis!

I woke up at about 5.20 th is morni ng with the cock crowing. The stars were all visible and there was a fai nt g low over the mountains to the east. (We know which way east is Detail of a Berber village in the Atlas mountains. (R.l.R.) because the Berbers pray that way.)

Very gradual ly the glow got brighter and the stars meal of couscous (not tagine!) and another night under began to disappear, and gradually you could pick out the stars. detail in the mountains as they were no longer

DayS Having said good-bye to Iml il, the mules and their muleteers, we set off on ,our long journey to the desert. T his journey took us back through Marrakech and on through the High Atlas, along the windy mountain road. We finally arrived at the hostel where we were staying for the night.

There was a small room where we kept our bags, a restaurant/sleeping area, a Berber tent outside, and very basic washing facilities. We then went for a short walk and saw this amazing kasbah - real Lawrence of Arabia style - followed by more mint tea in a carpet shop . A meal of tagine and bread was followed by singing and dancing in the restaurant.

Day6 Arriving at the Tuareg tents. (R.l.R .)

This morning a few of us got up at five o'clock. We climbed to the top of a rocky ridge not far from the hostel, just in time for sunrise. After admiring the view of pre-desert plains and arid mountains, we tried our luck at fossil and geode hunting. We fo und a few fossils, but didn't have so much luck when it came to geodes. That had to be left to the experience of the road-side sellers, positioned strategically at every stopping point of our journey, ready to haggle a price for their goods . After the usual breakfast of bread and jam, we set off for the second leg of the jo urney to the desert. And tonight we were going to a really nice hotel: can't wait!

On the journey, we stopped at Ouarzazate. The braver ones among us tried out the H ammam bath , a sort of Turkish bath used by the locals, and an

silhouettes . From the kasbah roof we were able to admire the breathtaking view, with the morning mist slowly moving up the valley and the first sunlight reflecting off the mountain tops.

Today we went for a hike in the mountains . We left at nine o'clock and did not return until five. The views were awesome. We rode some of the way on mules, quite an experience! We had lunch by a river where young g irls about five years o ld were washing clothes and had wateria l drying on the rocks in the midday sun. After lunch we continued our walk, through Berber villages and then up the mountainside. After a long trek down to the lmlil valley (and a brief incident with a wild mule) we arrived back at the kasbah for a

45

THE CANTUARIAN, A UTUMN

1996

Day 9

experience for us that we would never forget! The hotel in Zagora was really nice - by our recent standards anyway. There was a pool , a bar, and we had three large rooms between us, or we could sleep on the roof. There was also quite a posh restaurant ... but I'm sure that was camel in the tagine tonight even if they did say it was steak!

We left the hote l at six o'clock this morning, for a ten hour journey back to Marrakech, with breakfast and lunch en route. At four p.m. we arrived , and had a few minutes' rest before hitting the town ... again. We made the most of our last night, pe rfecting our haggling skills, buying souvenirs to take home. We then sat on the roof talking into the night, and savouring our last few hours in Africa.

Day7 We spent thi s morning visiting various places around Zagora. We saw a seminar (a res idence for the very poor), a Koranic library, and a pottery. We then visited Tinfou , a village being encroached on by the dese1t. We were soon pursued by a group of boys, making us bracelets and woven camels out of palm leaves. T hey the n began pestering us for money, biros, and sweets. ' Merci, un stylo' is a phrase I' ll never forget. It made us feel extremely uneasy, as our presence turned young boys into beggars . Denying the m things which mean nothing to us was hard, but did it really do them any good? It was a difficult dilemma .

Lunch a nd then camels. We met the camels and Tuareg men at the 'camel park', mounted the camels and set off for a two-hour trek across the pre-Sahara.

As we arrived at the Tuareg tents, situated among sand dunes, our hosts began dancing and singing, and urged us all to join in . Supper - the usual tagine and bread - was accompanied by more singing , put on for the Dutch film company also stayi ng in the tents . After supper we went out to spend the evening on the dunes, where we invented a new sport: dune-jumping. You run up a dune , jump off the top and land on the soft sand below. The sun had now set. The stars were amazing: hundreds were visible and the sky was just a blur of white dots. We sat on the dunes and talked for ages . The atmosphere was beautiful: soft sand , starlit sky, surprisingly warm te mperature, and the Tuareg singers in the distance. We sat round the glowing fire and a gas lamp that the Tuareg men brought us, sampling the delicious bread that they have just cooked in the fire for themselves . This place was perfect and we did n't want to waste time on sleep.

It was two a. m., and we hoped to get a few hours' sleep and wake to sit on a dune to watch sunrise.

Day 10 After a couple of hours' sleep, we woke and left fo r the airport.

On behalf of the whole group, we should like to thank Mr Reilly, Mrs Lawre nce and Miss Francis . We al l had an incredible time and will never forget this fantastic experie nce.

We should li ke to nominate Mr Reilly the official ' man o' the mountain ' with his funk y blue patterned climbing trousers, with Jamie Shattock coming a close second . Finally, we would like to finish by saying ' Je n 'ai pas de stylo'. Tagine.

J ENNY D UTTON AND RHIANNON NEWMAN-BROWN.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES EXPEDITION TO EGYPT AND SINAI DESERT OCTOBER 1996 After fo urteen hours' travelling, we sat in Cairo airport, and it was B illy 's birthday. Six hours later we arri ved at the beach where we spent the last hours of the night, and afte r a day's snorkelling it was still Bill y's birthday. T he next day, with the arri val of the camels, we had our first taste of pelvic e rosion. What were the names of the Bedouins who led us through the desert? 'Mohammed, at a guess.' The group of us succeeded in squeezing our way through a narrow dead-end canyon, some of us with more difficulty than others. Because it was our last night with the Bedouin camel drivers, we sang around the fire - whilst they proved how very much more skilled at party games they were than us. (Can you stand on a stone, and lifting your body up by your arms , pick up a cigarette with your mouth without touching the sand? We thought not.)

The next morning A.-C. was seen dang ling from her came l whe n it stood up before she had both legs aboard. And after other minor mishaps, including C laire's came l groaning and refusing to get up at all , we set off. We c limbed up a huge sand dune, which was rather like the travelator on ' Gladiators', and we saw the oldest roofed buildings in the world. That night we camped in the extreme cold unde r a very high and dau nting-looking Mount Sinai.

After an absurdly early start, we began the climb passing on the way all the tourists who had already been up to see the sunset - by eight o 'clock. It only took us two hours, an improvement on last year's group. After lunch in El ijah's garde n (where he heard

Day 8 The camel ride back wasn't quite as thri lling as the one there. Once the novelty had worn off, the two hours of discomfort were a true test of endurance. But the experie nce was certainly worthwhile.

After visiting a Jewish kasbah with a jewellerymaking business and another carpet shop, we hit the town. Word soon spread that we were in town, and as we walked down the street , we were bombarded by the usual: 'Come to my shop , just for look, not for buy.

Maybe you find something you like. Low price, no proble m, we can discuss, student price, student price!'

We eventually made our way back to the hotel, passing the signs adve rtising the 52-day excursion across the desert to Timbuktu . Just imagine: 52 days on a camel!

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

46

the 'still small voice of calm '), we walked down to St South Sinai and a Bedouin burial ground where they Cathe rine's monaste ry, whe re we had o ur first congregate once a year and meet their f uture wives . showers.

We also saw a 2000-year o ld bas-relief of slaves The next day we vis ited the monastery, which is in working in the turquoise mines - still in its original fact almost empty place, half-way up of monks because a mountain. the noise of the After an early tourists has driven start we began the the m away. We six-hour drive to saw the Chapel of Cairo , squashed in the Burning Bush, the back of the tiny which was orig ij eeps. We stretchnally built around ed our legs on the bush itself, and the bank of the St went to Suez Canal, where Catherine's vilRupert startlingly lage to buy tacky revealed to us that E g y ptian this waterway is souvenirs a nd not, as has been some much better popu l ar l y Bedou in ones. believed, a canal , After more moun' because .¡ it flows' . tain cli mbing, we I We arri ved in stopped fo r lunch Cairo for lu nch in a desert garden.

Wake-up time in a girls' dorm, desert-style. Spot the teacher. (G.R.C.) a nd ran to the The word paradise luxury of loos, is derived from running water and these desert soap. Our phoney gardens, meaning guide, A laddin , in Arabic ' a walled who narrowly esin the garden caped being sackdese rt' . They are ed , showed us the highly prized by three pyramids their owners, as a nd the Sphinx, they have no and the n we drove natural water supto shop in Cairo's ply and are largest souk irrigated e ntire ly (market).

We spent by hand-dug our last evening in well s; many of a hotel , under a them be ing thouroof, before ansands of years old. other earl y s tart T he follow ing back to London. we morning K ATHERINE SHORT walked back down The King's Sinai party at the Nawamis, circular stone structures AND ANNE-OIRIST'INE to the village by a FARSTAD. believed to be the oldest standing buildings in the world. (G.R.C.) stee p and exGroup list: tre me ly rocky K.M .R., G.R.C ., path, with which A lly Aitke n, Lucy Emma in parB utler, Jod ie tic ular had difCameron , C laire f ic ultie s .

Eliot , A. -C .

Eventually, in her Farstad , Lucy despe ration , she G reenwell , Rupert had to ask one of J age lman , E mma the guides 'Can I K etteley, Harriet tread on you?' as M ilward , He len we came down a Moun sey- T he ar, very narrow tunnel Av is Ngan , T im of rock . There was Rainbird , B illy anothe r long jourRead , Tom ney in ihe j eeps S h e l ford, travelling west to Kathe rine S hort, Cairo, and we saw Mel Siddons, Adam the largest oasis in Climbing on a sand dune in the Sinai desert. (G .R.C.) W i t hri n g t o n .

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THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

CORRESPONDENCE To the Editor,

Z ll , Blue Boar Court , Trinity College , CAMBRIDGE. C B2 I TQ 22nd September, 1996 .

The Cantuarian, Walpole House .

Dear M adam ,

S ince I have been mentioned in a Cantuarian article (Lent and S ummer 1996, p. 11 9) , w ill you allow me the right to re ply ?

I did not mean to attack sportsmanship, which seems to me a very important concept and ide~!. I meant to attack exercise - a diffe re nt matter altoo-ether. Mr Reid in his article aimed to produce a homily on the value of sportsmanship as part of a godly, righteous and sober life. My ~im was to a_m use the assembled masses in the Shirley H all and, through your kind invitation to publish, the Cantuan an readership . Both of us , I suggest , were successful.

In Chariots of Fire, to which M r Reid refers at length , the_re is ~ seen~ whic h shows the 'Great Court Run ' held at this College. It is a tradition here, on the day of the M atl:lc ulat!On Dmner, to attempt ~o run round Great Court during the time it takes the clock to strike twelve. The Court IS enormous, and few _can ac~1eve the tas k. These days : the serious competition over, there is a fa ncy dress run held at a sedate pace and :w1th a pn ze awarded b~ the 'tv!~steJ for the best costume. T his is indicati ve of the attitude to sport I would urge - light-hearted (and held 111 a spmt of sportsmanship , of course) - and , at Cambridge as in life, it's not what we' re here fo r.

I hold sportsmanship and its associated values, esp~ci ally ~fter _M r ~e~d 's, clear a~~ convincing d i ~cussion , to be of the highest importance in society. But I reserve the n ght to Jeer, 111 K1plmg s magn1f 1cent phrase, at the fl annelled foo ls at the wic ket or the muddied oafs at the goals' .

Gentle men , Madam , simply do not run from place to place.

Yours sincerely, T HOMAS TALLON, O.K .S. (SH 199 1-96)

T HE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

48

To the Editor,

Ri ver Cottage , H oughton , Stockbridge, H ants . S020 6LZ 8th October, 1996.

The Cantuarian , Walpole House.

Dear Madam , Thomas Tallon is, of course, quite correct (The Cantuarian , Lent and Summer 1996 , p . 133). The funeral which I and others attended was that of Archbishop Temple, and the enthro ne ment was that of Archbishop F isher.

The discrepancy must have been due to a lapsus linguae on my part, and I must apologise to Ale x. Hardie for the error.

Far from being pedantic, it is gratify ing to know that the School still breeds such accurate and observant Archivists and Historians as Mr Ta llon.

Yours fa ithfully, D R MORR IS BUTLER, O .K.S. (L X 1942-47)

To the E ditor,

Wol verley Cottage, Church Lane, Stuny, CANT ERB U RY, Ke nt. CT 2 OBB 17th December 1996.

The Cantuarian, Walpole House.

Dear Madam , Having retired last July from J.K.S. after thirty-nine years' association with the school, I have it in mind to try to put together a video tracing the history of the school at Mi lner Court. I hope to c reate a visual history on video tape involving cine film, video, still pictures and commentary.

For this I would require considerable assistance from all those parents who took cine f ilm or video of events at the school or of the school buildings . In partic ular I appeal to those who have such treasures from long ago sto red away in the attic . To be effective it is essential that as much of the early history of J .K .S . as possible is included.

Recent events, w hile equally important historically, will have been covered on video by many pare nts and so sho uld be easie r to find . It may well be that still photographs will be inc luded in the video , and so anything that you feel would be relevant could be extre mely useful , although we have a little material of this nature in the Junior School archives. Neverthe less all additions to this would be welcome.

I realise that in many cases the film may be mainly of your own child or child ren , but the events in which they arc taking part will be invaluable to the overall p icture.

S hould you wish to send me 9.5, 16 or 8 mm cine film , I will be able to have it transfe rred onto a v ideo master tape before returning the film to you . A ny video mate rial can be copied onto the maste r tape and returned . Please remember to include the name and address to which the film or video is to be returned.

In itially you might wish to Je t me know what you have. In which case I wi ll reply and if necessary negotiate arrangements fo r send ing or collecting the fi lm.

As to whether the venture is successful , this w ill depend a great deal upon your response to this letter. In any event I expect that creating the video will probably take a little ti me and so do not ex pect a video on sale in the immed iate future. Nevertheless my thanks to you all in antic ipation.

Yours fa ithfully, ROBIN Q. EDMONDS.

49

TilE C ANTUAR IAN, AUTUMN

1996

IMAGINATIVE WRITING Three interpretations of the David and Goliath story 1

David and Goliath

Daniel Brookes (Shell a)

The sun was setting behind the growing crowd.

The atmosphere was tense, ferocious, like a mad dog, Panting, sweating, helpless, wild and violent.

Evening breaks.

A young man, frail, weak, faces death bravely in the eye.

A mad Philistine, muscles rippling, veins bursting, Through the cursed evening's hot, humid form, Sweat drips to the dry, cracking ground.

Silence. Heads turn. A quiet rustle in the grass.

The Philistine roars, echoes heard for miles around And a sword confidently raised up to the skies, A mighty hand grips, trembling, a sultry, shaking Body, nervous, in the depth of grudge and envy.

A fierce barbaric tribe follow, a picture of torn lives, Shattered dreams, idolising a beast.

And then I looked over, across the plain, And then I saw a shielded boy. Not trembling, Fearless in the hands of God, A crimson sky of angels surrounding a weak, Fumbling figure.

The boy starts to run now, fearless, A mighty symbol of heaven, And he ran towards the Philistines Just him and his bag of stones, A faint image of angels running with him.

He pulls a stone from his bag and, With the force of a bull and the might of an army, Slings the stone towards the Philistine, A crack is heard, the towering giant crashes To the ground.

The Philistines flee, their leader, down.

The boy is marvelled in the form of the Lord, Crushed Philistine hopes reverberate Around the cities' crumbling walls, A dark, hell-bound man, And a stone, firmly fixed in a bloody, battered skull. .. ..... -

2

Nemesis

...:j-..... ~ .....

""¡

-

Beaudry Kock (Shell a)

The warm updrafts rustle and lift the wings of a lonely vulture as it spins against the blue. As it idly flaps from air current to air current, it hangs beak up over the massed and seething hordes crawling below.

One parting in the ranks sires a human creature who (Caroline Bagley: Remove b) stands firmly planted in the earth. In a vice-grip, a spear is held, scintillating the rays of the sun in gold~n . . . luminescence. Made fast around his arm is the pohshed strap of an mtncately carved shield, perfectly proportioned and cast in bronze. His hair is a matted tangle dro~ping around his forehead,.and .his ~ace is a solid defiant mask of power. Lips curled up in an angry snarl, encircled ~Y a coarse beard. His voice rmgs out against the massive cliffs, echoing against a thousand ear drums, carrymg the same message for each: 'I am Goliath. Challenge me against your strongest desires. I, tower of my army, ask one of you to step ahead of your ranks and quiver in acceptance.'

TH E CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

50

Deep inside Goliath's twisted, churning mind, a tiny glimmer of darkness grows. As the colossus turns, and spies a tiny figure standing tall, the darkness grows into a roaring, sucking vortex, and the rooted foundations of his being shake and tremble.

David stands in the face of a brewing storm. He cannot think why he volunteered in the place of so many grown men who had crept to their wives and warm fires when confronted by this monolith. But he felt calm within, and his skin was not pricked with anger, hatred or terrible fear.

A flashing signal from the nervous system to Goliath's hand causes the furious powet· of a spear-throw to arc the gleaming metal skyward. Screaming in its flight, it plunges cleanly into the hot, red earth, but far wide of its intended mark.

In reply, the boy reaches with long fingers into the dirt, uncovering a smooth, sand-polished stone, elliptic and sleek. He fits it into a home-made sling, cut ft·om the hide of a cow and still rough and hairy.

Goliath, summoning up all his internal and deeply-guarded reserves, forces his suddenly frozen muscles into jerking movement. David looks up sharply and sees the great bulk of Goliath pouring like a wall of water towards him. As the stone settles snugly into the sling, David begins to swing. It gains momentum and speed, spiralling around his head. At the crucial moment, the stone is released. It flits away, travelling cleanly and slicing the air in a shaft of velocity.

Goliath sees the pebble. Life and time slow, as the rock lances ahead, spinning and twisting in flight. Then it crashes into the flesh and bone, splintering and smashing the skull into broken shards. A bright red curtain lowers over Goliath's eyes and clotted flesh and brains erupt from the insides of his cranial cavity. And the body, having lost its guidance, falls slowly backwards and lies heavily in the clouds of dust.

The muttering armies are hushed. Then, a slow whispering gains strength into a screaming shriek of war cries, and the armies of David break from their stupor and give chase to the horror-drawn faces of the Philistines.

As the thousands of feet and hooves scramble down the valley, a lone boy approaches the already fly-ridden corpse. A fine silt dust has coated the body, and as the boy touches the tunic gently and gazes into the glassy eyes, he sees a tiny spark glowing inside. Taking the sword, he raises it above Goliath's head, the muscles standing out in his forearms, slick with sweat. In a slow sweeping motion, the unwieldy blade parts the flesh of the neck and severs the spinal cord with gentle snags. The still warm blood lies in pools around the body, and its eyes are dark. The boy leaves the valley, and the vultures drop down.

3

Stalemate

A game of chess in stalemate after fifteen years, all tactics wasted, armies concreted in position. A giant named Goliath, the castle of the Philistines, stepped forward challenging any figure to a piece to piece combat. No one answered, Not even the majestic king would fight to save his country, but a puny insignificant pawn rose up to fight the devil. Malevolence Brewed at the brim, bubbling fiercely. Goliath tasted, he thought, the victory sweet when he caught sight of the shepherd. He erupted With laughter, the canyons around ringing with evil echoes, the shepherd boy leant his heart to God and pulled out a sling-shot and a pebble.

He slung.

He shot.

He fell.

Now it w~s not laughter that echoed through, but a gasp of silence. Goliath's sweet taste of victot·y had turned to

Richard Gordon-Williams (Shell a)

...

(Caroline Bagley: Remove b)

The Philistines' bitter taste of loss. Goliath lay shrouded in death with his mouth still open laughing. David took one Clean swipe and Goliath's blood came bubbling out, a cocktail of blood and evil.

'Checkmate!' The pawn had won.

51

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

Thomas Hopkinson (Shell a)

Winter sports Standing in line, Waiting their turn to be Hurled to the ground.

An embrace of hatred.

Ripping, Tearing, Biting, Gaining ground, Only to collapse, Gasping for their Blood.

Feet stamping, Heart pounding, Lungs heaving, Head lolling, Asthmatics falling, Fat men crawling, I ... made ... it!

Ten minutes, Forty-nine.

(Alistair Wildblood: Shell e)

Christopher Mattingly (Shell b)

The Attic

I stand there all alone in complete darkness, nothing to be seen or heard. Only a ladder separates the two different worlds - one the world of reality, the other the world of memories. They rest there in small boxes telling me their stories of different encounters - one of the family's wedding, my birth and many other landmarks. Furniture of long ago leans against the ridged walls untouched for many years. The old chair of my father still sits there clear of the rests he used to have on it. The old table lies alone, intact from when I practised my first dance lesson, too short for grandma to see the movement of my feet. The marks still indented in it bounce out, easily seen. By the foot of the table leans my first tent. Bleached and torn, it rests there worn out and tired, crushed by the stacks of boxes left from last year. Still carrying my torch, I walk over to the light switch only to see the room suddenly alight with objects. Old bikes with wheels missing are left unattended beneath the pile of rubble. Old toys sit there treated in much the same way - wings of broken aeroplanes, arms and legs of dolls, missing heads of Action Man dolls and other evidence of neglect.

Above the unstable pile of toys lean two suitcases full of so called 'goodies'. The top one lies there named 'Dad', printed in big capital letters. Inside the battered case sits my father's treasure. Pictures of last year's holiday are scattered about cleverly covering the underneath. No gold or silver can be seen but instead his treasured memories of his wife and two children. Photo albums and tapes, all packed with his wedding memories, are stacked up taking up most of the room. Thick piles of photos tied up only by elastic can . -·#· hat·dly be missed.

Photos of my birth and --christening rest at the top of the pile, (Anne Davies: Remove a) underneath which memories of my

THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN 1996

52

first day of school are seen. I stand there wearing that cream cap, the one you would only wear to school and nowhere else, talking to my first teacher. Next to me stands my brother, again in the same uniform, laughing at me hysterically. I pick up another pile of photos, this time of my brother. Plump and round he sits, thumb in mouth, saliva dribbling down his chin. In photo after photo I see his cute face staring sweetly at the camera trying to hold back his laugh. These are now long forgotten memories: seeing Mum dance at last year's Christmas disco, or me practising my diving - but for me they will stay clear in my mind. Below, another suitcase stands clean and unused marked 'Grandpa' . I open it to find only one thing. Dusty and old, a photo of both my grandparents sits there. My grandpa stands holding my grandma's hand lovingly, still happily married. I pick up my grandpa's only memento and quietly close the suitcase lid. I turn off the light and slowly walk down the attic stairs meeting my grandma at the bottom, tears in her eyes.

Duncan Irvine (Shell a)

St Augustine's Library

Tall, silent, still.

The scent of ancient papet·, Well established, Fills the air.

Avenue upon avenue of pages Never opened.

A graveyard for books.

The shadows of thousands of words Echo along the cold shelves .

The thoughts of brilliant minds, The efforts of complex thought, Never read, Never seen, Never opened to the world.

Hollow footsteps sound across the bare floor, And hang in the eaves for a few short moments.

Blades of light slot in through the l9ng windows.

Pools of dust tumble down the ledges, Falling in sparkling, soundless turmoil.

The key turns and the sound of the lock rings out, off the walls.

The door closes on its prisoners, Leaving them in their silent frustration.

(Daniel Cartwright: Remove h)

Frederick Hadfield (Shell f)

The Dare

The lights went out. Silence crept across the cold stone dormitory. Every now and again a screeching of bedsprings was heard, but nothing more. The icy cold draught continued to sweep in through the window, purposefully left open by the matron.

Very slowly three boys crept out of their small beds and quickly scampered into the corner of the room, each dragging a dressing gown behind them. They all settled down and tried to get as comfortable as they could.

They were to play 'Dare'. Unfortunately for Jack, he was chosen first. His dare was to run across the playing fields to the carpentry shed, and back. But to prove that he had been there he had to hammer a nail into the carpentry shed table. A lightning strike of fear ran through his stomach when he heard this.

Soon he was out of the school, sprinting across the muddy playing fields in his bare feet. As he approached the carpentry shed door he sped up and bolted tht·ough it.

He turned to his right and quickly fiddled for a nail. As soon as Q.e found the nail, he hurriedly fumbled for a hammer. He then hammered the nail deep into the wooden table. He quickly spun round on one foot and (Miranda MacLaren: darted for the door. But something tugged on his shirt, Remove d) and he fell over and slammed his head hat·d on the 53

THE

CANTUARIAN , AUT UMN

1996

concrete floor. Blood oozed through the split skin, but his fear was far greater than his pain. The thing kept on tugging and Jack started to scream wildly. But he kept on bolting for the door. He heard something rip and he broke free. He flew through the open door and filled with fear ran across the field .

The next morning the Head of Carpentry was bewildered as to why the carpentry shed door was open.

When he walked in , everything was as normal as it always was, except that there was a small patch of pyjama material which was nailed to the table.

Tide of fear near sleep - mortality?

Lawrence White {Shell b)

Gazing at cold stone A memory is sparked; Of glowing fields, Where I once walked, And dreamed, Flew through bounding grass.

Back to the faceless stone.

Steely pillars cast shadows Which group like angry crows.

There is silence, but Still echoes, echoes of Memory.

The shadows beckon thought A memory of a dark night, Quiet waves lap onto an army of pebbles.

The moon delivers its last line Then the curtain of cloud Falls to the applause of the waves.

I close my eyes.

A vast space, a black Universe of cold, with brief Comets of colour - is this sleep?

A surge of emotion stirs my limbs And sparks, perhaps, a tear.

Mates

Tom Pickering {5b)

All was not well with me. I had found my ideal mate. She was perfect: her large, glistening eyes shone in the dewy morning, as she moved with an elegance most antelopes would have envied. And she loved me. So much so, in fact, that once we had had sex she wanted to eat me. After all, that's what we praying mantis do.

I had to escape from the horns of this particularly unpleasant dilemma. Either I could live and fail to see my genes passed on, or I could have a moment of bliss, a moment of agony - and still fail to see my genes passed on. Ever the idiot, I opted for a compromise.

Thousands of plans rushed through my mind. We could feast before our moments of passion. She would then be too tired to eat me, giving me the chance to flee to another field. After all, maybe the grass is greener on the other side. Or maybe I could try reasoning with her. She loves me, so why should she eat me? Who cares if tradition says so? I could hide in our hole and people would be none the wiser.

After many hours of consideration I hatched a plan. There was only one thing for it: the female of the species could not be deadlier than this male. It was eat or be eaten. My plan had to work.

TH E CANTUARIAN, AUTUM N

1996

(George Williams: 5d)

54

As usual I flew to her hole in the morning and told her that today was the day. She looked at me with just the kind of smile you want to see before being eaten. All teeth and no gums. So we flew off together to the place I had spent most of the last few days. As one may expect I was just a bit nervous and decided to forget about everything and let Nature take control - up to a point, of course.

Unfortunately, as praying mantis males only ever mate once, I had no idea how long the deed would last and I allowed far too long a time. I was going to die. ' Urn, righty-ho then. I'll be off now.' I murmured weakly. ' Ha, ha, ha,' all-teeth-and-no-gums replied. 'You are so very funny. I will miss you so, after you're gone', she said, as sweet as can be, edging forwards all the time. ' Then don't eat me.' ' Well, no can do, I'm afraid. After all, it is tradition.' She lunged and took off half an antenna. ' Arrgghh, no, no, no. Please, I love you. Don't eat me, oh please don't eat me!' I cried hysterically. ' Oh honey, don't cry. It'll be over soon. Now just shut up while I eat you.'

I shut my eyes, resigned to my fate. This was a shame, since I only heard the sound as her exoskeleton was crushed. King Fido, Master of a far-off place called 'Walkies', had heard my pleas. I was saved!

Now all is well. I still have my major organs and life could not be better - except that I think that pretty young female is giving me the eye.

Raindrops

Sophia Gold {Shell a) Rain Drops A

tiny drop falls through the air, gathering speed as it goes.

Pear shape tear-shape, flying saucer leaf waits below, a huge, glossy, plastic web.

Splat ....

flat top quivers in the forest canape.

Newly-hatched spider drops spring independently to life following flowing grooves slowing, meandering to their mark.

Snail's trails inexorably meeting at the core and dropping to the forest floor.

Silent night, holy night.

Lawrence White {Shell b)

It was a slow day. The sun was beating down on the bare-chested men as they heaved casks of brandy into the creaking boat. Sweat ran down craggy foreheads and leathery hands slipped on the cold metal rings of the barrels.

Matthieu looked out over the sea, following the path of yellow laid down by the sun onto the restless waves.

'Depeche-toi, depeche-toi! We have little time.'

55

THE! CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN

1996

The skipper was a huge man, resplendent in his obesity and glowing as if he knew something the other four smugglers did not.

'We have plenty of time.' His English accent sounded strange next to the Frenchman's mutterings and the harsh uneducated voices of Ringer, O'Brien and Dug. 'Dug, have you the pistols?'

'Wot?' 'Have you got the guns?'

'Yeah. Is we gonna kill the gobbler?'

'No, we're going to avoid him. Ringer, check the rope then stow it aboard.'

'Yes, sir.'

Dug was a strong, unsubtle oaf. His huge hands had destroyed far more than they had created, but he was the best strong oaf they could find. Ringer was by contrast a thin man, and his gaunt figure and bristly moustache seemed ridiculous and weak. He was, however, alert and cruel, qualities which the skipper much admired.

O'Brien was honest and had good contacts with potential buyers in England, but he seemed reluctant to The Moon fight or discuss his part if they were caught by a landmark.

(Isaac Sibson: Matthieu supplied the French brandy and weapons, but was not Remove b) trusted by the rest of the team.

The boat was weighed down with contraband, and the smugglers busied themselves with small, irrelevant jobs to while away the boredom as they waited for nightfall. The skipper took down the sails with a practised ease. The spray-moistened rope burned his hands as it slithered into a heap, and the sail came down like a wounded owl.

'We'll do it with oars from here. Matthieu, you and O 'Brien on the port side. Dug, you row to starboard.

No, that's the other side, you cretin!'

The air was cool and crisp as Dug hauled the first anker out of the boat. The moon came from behind a cloud and the scene was illuminated briefly. Skipper then realised that the light came from a lantern, and he sprang into action.

'Drop the cask. Shoot on sight if they follow us in a boat.' Skipper turned to the boat, only to see O'Brien drifting away in it.

'Come back, you fool. We're not all on board, and Dug can't swim.'

'Sorry, skipper, but the landmarks pay more than you do. See you in hell.'

A loud t¡eport shook the stillness and Dug yelped. 'They's got my arm, skipper.'

'Run for the caves. Matthieu. See if you can shoot the bastard. We'll split up, then meet at the big cave.'

Dug ran on blindly along the beach, the coarse sand shifting malevolently underfoot. His arm bled freely and he could feel the pulsing of the blood as it escaped through a mess on his shirt that he tried to avoid looking at. He heard shots and yells behind him. His shoes were soggy and they weighed him down. Kicking them off he tried to increase his speed as he saw the sand spray up in front of him where another musket ball struck like a falling meteor. He sprinted over a low line of rock, cutting his feet as he went. He could see the caves at last, but then he felt a punch in the small of his back and his knees gave way beneath him. He could not cry out, as the pain of the bullet had taken his breath away. He turned his head and saw the excise man running towards him, following the trail of blood he had left.

Ringer had dodged into a side cave as so.on as he heard the shots. The steady dripping of water masked his breathing as the excise man ran straight past him. Leaping out he drew his pistol and cracked off a shot.

He missed in his haste, and he watched petrified as the gobbler turned in slow motion and, aiming carefully as Ringer made feeble attempts to reload, fired. Ringer saw the flames beautifully illuminated against sky as the muzzle roared.

Glancing back as he ran, Skipper saw Ringer's head erupt in a welter of gore. Fighting back the tears and vomit he started to scramble up the cliff face . He was about seventy metres up the steep rock slope when he stopped, exhausted. His hands were soaked in blood and the salty water stung his cuts. He tasted the tears flowing down past the corner of his mouth and he felt nausea.

His head whirled as he tried to climb further. His hand slipped along a jagged rock, and he roared in pain as his wrist was severed. Clinging on bravely he struggled further.

T I-lE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

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Matthieu fired several shots, and in the lamp light he saw one of the three men drop , then rise, then drop again. Before they could fight back he set off down the beach in the opposite direction to the others. Turning back, he saw Ringer fall. It happened slowly, and after a brief pause he realised that he was being shot at. He could not be seen propel'ly and he felt chips of rock striking his face as bullets hit the cliff nearby. He reached into his pockets and cursed as he realised he'd lost his ammo. Throwing his gun on the floor, he raised his hands and hoped the gobbler would not shoot him.

O'Brien sat on the boat in misery. He knew that he had no choice in betraying his friends - his mother needed more money to educate and feed the family than the smugglers were earning. The cold sea wind whipped up the water and flung it in his face, and his jaw set as he decided to return and help his friends .

The swift current was beckoning the boat out to sea like a siren, and he leapt off the side and into the water.

He struck out fot· the distant shore and the sound of gunshots sped him on. He knew that his friends would be shot unless they surrendered, as they were well known as murderers. Even then they faced the noose or at least jail foa· life. ' O'Brien realised with a needle-like jab of fear that the undertow was pulling him out still further. His limbs began to tire, and at last he welcomed the flood of cool liquid as it washed through his mouth and into his lungs.

Dug moaned softly as the gobbler rolled him over disdainfully with one foot. Choking on the salty blood in his mouth, Dug looked down at the hole in his belly. He turned his eyes to the excise man and gurgled: 'Finish it, please.'

Nodding almost sympathetically the man drew his pistol, loaded it and placed it against Dug's head.

Skipper had found a ledge, and he lay semi-conscious as the rain began to fall. He had turned sheet-white as the blood drained from the tear in his wrist, and he could feel his strength leaving him slowly. The thought of this slow death revolted him, and he tried to tip himself off the ledge. He had not the energy to do so.

Matthieu felt the metal rings clamp onto his swollen wrists as the handcuffs snapped shut. He decided to keep silent, but he could not help looking at the headless body lying further along the beach.

The skipper stirred slightly in the puddle of his blood. He closed his eyes and, with his last breath, thought of the gl'inning face of O'Brien.

The sun rose over the Channel, and cast that same yellow path along its waters. A bloated body floated along like an obscene boat, and miles away the early light shone on the gently lapping waters as they washed ovet· a body on the shore, sweeping off the flies.

Higher up a pair of unflickering eyes gazed at the heavens, and there was a steady drip as the blood from the ledge fell into a rock-pool below, mingling with the cold water and turning to a ghostly pink. gobbler landmark anker

sea-based exciseman land-based exciseman cask

The Gates of Hell

Sam Young (5b)

Open or closed, my eyes fail me.

As though light has retreated.

My ears deafened by the silence, My tongue dry to the roof of my mouth.

I can sense the cold beneath me, Sprawled on some stone ...

I wait, scared to move lest my imagination should be taunted more.

I wait, wishing nothing to happen, Such is the terrible expectancy of this place.

I can sense something before me, An awesome aura, terrible charisma.

My sixth sense heightened by my mortal sense's frailties.

'------.'The darkness is cleft in a moment.

Two hemispheres of dark, severed by a knife of light.

My ears are aroused, a whistling of winds.

A caressing breeze soothes my face.

The light is beyond a doorway.

The channel widens, light emerges, _ Painting on the shadows of frozen features, Screaming women.

Shrieking babies, Crying men , Caught in some medium, for some horrible instant.

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TH E CANTUARI AN, AUTUMN

1996

High above me - a man sits. .

As though he is thinking, eyes impassively rested on my frail form.

Then he moves, a flash of a hand.

The doors crash open, The faces and souls animated, The din rises, deafening, Wailing, weeping, growling, gnashing, Wanting me ...

I turn to run ...

Anywhere.

Then the wind comes.

Catches me like a puppet - the gales clawing at my face.

Driving me back, Hand in front of my face, Held by some primitive instinct, useless.

I daren't look back, But I can feel, a heat on my back and legs, A smell of sulphur.

Violent gases corrupt my lungs, I slip towards the gates.

My hair singes and burns, I fall to my knees, My skin blackens, I claw at the ground ...

Oh the pain, the insufferable torture.

My senses flooded with distress.

I pray for numbness.

But I am beyond prayer.

(Rebecca Ollerearnshaw: 5d)

TH E CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

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Lawrence White (Shell b)

Guilt

He was a little short for his age, the thick leather boots seeming slightly out of place. The denim jacket was pulled right around his shoulders, and the collar rose close to his glimmering eyes. Dark hair fell either side of a straight line parting his head into two, and thin eyebrows arched slightly. Striding through the cigarettebutt haven of the evening alleyways, he felt a curious thrill. Life had been unfulfilling so far, boring and sterile. Movies helped, but they only suited his thirst for a while, and they weren't real.

He closed his fingers round the cold metal butt of the gun, feeling it hard and cruel under his grasp. He looked wonderingly down at the bullet, seeming innocent in its roundness and small size. He loaded several bullets, well-rehearsed fingers moving as if of their own accord, sliding the magazine into place before he could think about what he was doing, was going to do.

He came at last to a man, looking about worriedly and clamping his briefcase close. But he did not look easy pickings, for there were hard lines in the man's face and his hands were strong and tough. ' All right, give us the case and yer wallet.'

The man turned, and his face set as he pulled his case closer still and took a step towards the youth. He also held a plastic bag, swinging from one wrist independently.

'Who are you to push me about?' The businessman stepped closer still, till they were about a metre apart.

The youth pulled the gun out from its hiding place in his pocket, and tried to still trembling hands. The businessman saw his uncertainty and fear, and swung the case, knocking the gun spinning. The youth scrambled after it, but felt powerful hands grip him. He got one hand free, however, flicked the knife from his breast pocket and slashed blindly backwards. He heard a cry, and the hand released its grip. Grabbing the gun from where it lay in a sodden puddle of rainwater and cigarette packets he spun round. The knife had caught the man on the shoulder, and he bled freely from a jagged tear in the crisp jacket.

'OK, OK. Take my money, you filth.' The businessman dropped his wallet from an inside pocket onto the floor.

The youth, filled with increasing anger that he should nearly be beaten by this man, shook his head. He seemed to be in a trance, eyes glazed over and lips drawn back. Not bothering to aim properly, he pulled the trigger. The businessman slumped backwards, stumbling then falling as though punched by an invisible hand. There was no pain at first, then a sharp throbbing. He looked down at a red mess on his stomach, and at the blood on the concrete and the plastic mountains on his Safeways bag. Red rivers ran along crinkles in the surface, and he turned uncomprehending eyes to the youth.

This time taking deliberate aim, he squeezed the trigger and watched as a red volcano erupted on the man's forehead. Blood sprayed across the man's suit and onto the wall and the dustbins, and a piece of something grey slopped to the ground.

The businessman's head lolled sideways, and the youth gazed in awe at what he had done. Ignoring the money he turned and walked away, stopped, thought for a moment then put the gun to his head. Tears ran down his eyes as he gently pulled the metal curve of the trigger.

(Photographs overleaf' Olivia Arthur~ S6b) 59

TH E CANTUARIAN, A UTUMN

1996

\~

~

.• \ \

-~

,•

REVIEWS HARP RECITAL

BY CAMILLA PAY

RECITAL BY JANE HYLAND-FRIEND (CELLO) AND STEPHEN MATTHEWS (PIANO)

7TH SEPTEMBER 1996, IN THE SHIRLEY HALL

2ND NOVEMBER 1996, IN THE OLD SYNAGOGUE

MUSIC

An enthusiastic audience greeted cellist Jane Hyland-Friend and Stephen Matthews at the piano for this evening of inspiring musicmaking.

Beethoven's A major sonata was strident from the outset, the pianist content to allow Hyland-Friend's phrasing to scene-steal at first, then both performers relishing the relentless syncopation of the Scherzo and the fearsome scalic virtuosity of the Allegro

The first Saturday of the Autumn Term marked a 'first' in the history of music at King's. Never before had a fulllength solo recital been given at the school by a current pupil. Strictly speaking it is impossible to prove this. But it is certainly true that this has not happened in living memory. Given that one of the 'memories' in the audience was the former Director of Music, Mr Edred Wright, it does seem safe to say that Camilla was breaking new ground.

v1vace.

In Martinu 's Variations on a theme of Rossini, there was an admirable ease to Friend's stripping-off of the cellistic acrobatics, and a relish to Matthews' despatch of the chord clusters, his empathy with the composer's style very much on display.

The executional hurdles presented

by Rachmaninov's only significant duo are often discussed, the spellbinding lyricism of his cello sonata (even when set against the second and third piano concerti or the second symphony) less so. In the event, Matthews may well have restrained himself to too great an extent (especially on those occasions where the cello part contains little else than slender percussion).

However, this was a virtuosic yet informed reading from the performers, which probed noticeably deeper than many: the sometimes curious dynamics were in place, the Finale properly culminativc, and the audience's reaction strong.

R.O.S.

What a wonderful evening of music-making it was. An entire recital devoted to music for solo harp might have proved too much for some. However, intelligent programming and excellent playing meant that there was never a dull moment. In the first half we heard: Andante from Sonata No. 2 (for violin) by J.S. Bach; 'Au matin' by

(J

Tournier; an anonymous Variations on a theme of Mozart; 'Fire Dance and Nocturne' from Petite Suite by Watkins; the famous Canon by Pachelbel and the Glicrc Impromptu. The second half was equally varied: the first movement from Parry's Sonata in D major; Etude de ConceJ;t by Godefroid; the Natra Sonatina; Etude No. 21 by Dizi; Sonata in D minor by Nadennan, and the Pierne ltnpromptnCaprice.

Camilla's playing and presentation throughout the recital were professional in every respect. She has an unerring sense of style, a solid technique and an innately musical approach. Two of the highlights for this reviewer were the works by Glierc and Pierne.

They are among the best known pieces for solo harp and it is easy to see why. Camilla gave wonderful interpretations of both.

There was a large audience for this recital which

was very pleasing, especially as the evening was dedicated to raising funds for the StThomas's Hospital Cardiac Research unit. A substantial sum was donated to the charity as a result. Congratulations to Camilla Pay for an evening which was so successful in every

way.

(Megan Morris)

S.W.S.A. Ti-lE CANTUAR!AN, AUTUMN 1996

62

VIOLIN AND PIANO RECITAL FRANK WIBAUT (PIANO) AND RICHARD STAMPER (VIOLIN)

Stamper gave us No. J in E in its original setting, followed by Paganiniana, Nathan Milstein's version of the famous 24th Caprice which inspired variations from several other composers: both Caprices were despatched with panache, the warm double-stopping in the Paganiniana being particularly effective.

Frank Wibaut returned to partner the violinist in the most substantial work of the second half, the D minor Sonata Op. I 08 by Brahms. Richard Stamper's approach to the work was an original one, quite refreshing in its way, and the same verve which characterised all the earlier playing enabled him to emphasise the appassionata aspects of the sonata while not detracting from the sustained lyricism of the Adagio. Frank Wibaut was an admirable partner throughout and lesser pianists in the audience could only marvel at the apparent ease with which he surmounted the formidable closing passages of this great sonata, This was a most enjoyable evening which rightly received warm applause, not least for the artists' generosity in giving two encores, Kreisler's Syncopation and Gluck's Dance oft he Blessed SjJirits, both played with considerable charm.

D.S.G.

8TH NOVEMBER 1996, IN THE SHIRLEY HALL The recital for piano and violin given by Frank Wibaut and Richard Stamper in the Shirley Hall on November 8th attracted only a moderate audience, but

they were treated to a programme of exceptional variety spanning over two centuries of music.

Domenico Scarlatti\ one-movement keyboard sonatas arc an excellent opening for a recital: their ingenuity and inventiveness are a constant delight and the two chosen by Frank Wibaut in C major and D minor arc wholly characteristic. They were beautifully articulated, and subtle variations in dynamics and tone colour helped to convey a sense of their original

freshness. Mozart's C minor Fantasia is a substantial work in which a finn outer structure is used to frame more improvisatory and free-ranging material: Mr

V\fibaut's performance showed a complete command or both these aspects, emphasising the contrast between the dramatic opening and conclusion and the passage-work, by turns brilliant and d;;licate, of the rhapsodic interludes.

A Chopin group concluded the first h<llf of the programme, and this contained some of the finest playing of the evening. The lively B flat Mazurka has nli the characteristics of the genre with the addition of the curious central passage with its faintly gypsy or Arab harmonies. In the Nocturne, Op. J 5 in F, there was some beautiful cantabile playing to frame the fiery F minor section, whilst in the great D flat Nocturne of Op. 27 the soloist achieved a n1agical serenity with his complete control of the melodic line. The same assurance nncl control were evident in a fine account of the Ballade in A flat with

i1s varying n10ods culminating in a splendid bravura c<mclusion.

A CHRISTMAS CONCERT 8TH DECEMBER 1996, JN THE SHIRLEY HALL Hope for the future, an exhilarating present and thanks for the past: these arc the images that have stayed with me since Sunday's Christmas concert.

(Megan Morris)

After the interval Richard Stamper, recently appointed Head of Strings at the School, was partnered bJ-' F'rank Wibaul in a varied selection of music for violin and piano. 1-le opened with four of the salon pic:ccs which Fritz Kreisler wrote in the style of various Baroque composers: these gems of the violin repertoire arc slightly out of fashion these days and it wns good to hear them given a confident airing, especially Pme/udiwn and Allegro in the style of Pugnani and the Variations on a Therne of' Corel/; after Tartini. Bazzini's celebrated showpiece, Ronde des LuJins or 'Dance of the Goblins', is fiendishly difficult and, although there were moments when the goblins seemed to have a will of their own, this was a spirited pcrformanCC which was warmly received. Bazzini was much influenced by Niccolo Paganini who took violin technique to previously unthought-of limits in the Twenty-F'our Caprices for unaccompanied violin. Mr

It is an exhilarating present. The School Symphony Orchestra was in characteristically zestful form; the Brass Ensemble was at its crisp best; the Crypt Choir, perhaps a little tired, nonetheless was, as always, very good; the Choral Society seems to have found ne\1../ depths of

ability. This was not the somewhat jaded Society I recall from a couple of years ago.

There is hope for the future. I am particularly proud of the fact that the male alto and the two male trebles are all in my tutorgroup: after a perhaps inevitable interval in the process of beginning coeducation when, with one or two honourable exceptions, boys did not smg unbrokenly in public, we arc entering an era of full

63

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1996

heeded . In the section 'Come all ye worthy gentle men' there was male unison s inging of a calibre I never expected to hear from teenage voices; nor were the top lines outshone . Stefan Ande rson is to be comme nded for what he has ac hieved w ith the Society.

musical coeducation , when boy and g irl together can sing the top lines . F urthe r, the composer of the music for Christmas Star is another tutee: Ric hard Peat prov ided music that was stunning in its originality, full use of tone and sensitivity towards the words . We have some first-class musicians, not just in my tutor-group , but in the School.

The re are cntlCISms, but they are of a more periphe ral nature. Why were the girls in a mix ture of trousers and long and short skirts? It would have been helpfu l had the re been a list of Society and Orchestra me mbers - short-s ighted chaplains find it useful to know who to commend whe n going round the school the next day. The intervals between the sections of the programme seemed rathe r long - although the use of the Social Centre for the interval itself was ins pired. Long may this tradition continue .

There were thanks for the past. The Crypt Choir dedicated an unscheduled motet ('Locus iste') to that wonderfu l O.K.S. Canon Derek Ingram Hill , whose sixtieth anniversary of ord ination fa lls late r this month.

And it was the last concert as Leader of the Orchestra for Clarence Myerscough. Happily it was not his farewell. He is to coach Chamber Music in the School.

This is a sens ible use of this gifted musician , for it is his subject at the Academy. (It will also e nable pupils to gain valuable experience as leader of what must surely be the leading school orchestra) . This is not a valete, but the very warm applause at the end of the concert for the Leade r testified to the extraordinary contribution to King's music he has made over thirty-seven years with, please God , many more to come.

R ichard Peat, a member of VIa, wrote the mus ic for 'Christmas Star', sung by the C rypt Choir. T hi s was creative music . Justice was done to the words, but the overall impression was of a composer who was not afraid of modern understand ings of harmony and orchestration (the piece, written for the Cathedral, had to be re-worked fo r the Shirley Hall) . The effect was stunning: the re could be no dou bting Richard 's ab il ity, nor the influe nce of Tavener.

To the programme : it was accessible and wellbalanced w ith good contrast, although I would poss ibly have ended with the Tchaikov sky. only disT he (Megan appointment has to Morris) he that , despite music that would truly stand compari so n w ith any school in the land I

In ' Locus iste' the C rypt Cho ir was on more fami liar territory. T he te mpo was a little faster than I would have taken it, but the real test of the piece (the qu ality of the silent bar just before the end) was passed . A fitt ing tribute to Canon Ingram Hill.

John l veson's 'Christmas Crackers' is a whi ms ical arrangeme nt fo r B rass Quintet of carol tunes . T his was pe rformed with pleasing into nation , clarity and restrai nt by the Brass E nsemble (Em ily Hag ue , Charles M iller-Jones, Peter Capel , R ic hard Peat, James Longstaffe). T here is humour in the music: wisely, the Ensemble d id not overplay it. The audie nce enjoyed it.

c a n

Contemplating the programme in the interval and wondering what on earth ' Overtu re: Russ ian and Ludmilla' by Glinka is (it turns out to be one of those pieces that are instantly recognisable yet whose name is never re membered) and tryi ng to re membe r the tune to the Waltz f ro m Tchaikovsky's 'Sleeping Beauty S ui te' and whe ther I have heard Glazunov 's symphonic poem 'Stenka Raz in ', I realise that Colin Mette rs is at the fro nt of the orc hestra agai n. He acknow ledges the applause, spins round and goes straight into the music. Hi s e nthusiasm is infectious .

honestly thi nk of none that is bette r with a programme that is full of tu nes and e motions, the S hirley Hall was onl y¡two-thirds full.

Those ~resent e njoyed a marvellous even mg .

Vaug ha n Williams's 'Fantasia on C hristmas Caro ls' gave my colleague Patri ck LeeBrowne opportunity to demonstrate his control of tone and ra nge of voice. Jennifer Dutton , on the cello , and the everdependable Stephen Matthews provided the continuo thoug htfully . T he cho ru s was laudably sens itive tn its accompanime nt ; the re was good ensemble and the dynamic was properl y

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

The way in which the strings in the opening sections worked together; the contribution of Cami lla Pay on the harp ; the rea l sense of exuberance and commitment; the way in which the romantic nature of the music was brought out, especially in the Glazu nov; the energy; the dy namism; the complete involvement of all p layers and audience in the music: these are the me mories I have . Unless you ex pe rie nce our Symphony Orchestra, you do not experience K ing's at its very best.

J.A.T.

64

Zimbabwe skies

by Isaac Sibson (Remove b)

65

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

GRANGE AND WALPOLE HOUSE CONCERT 29TH SEPTEMBER 1996 IN THE SHIRLEY HALL The Grange and Walpole House Concert began with the House Orchestra performing Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, stylishly conducted by Peter Capel.

It provided a good start to the evening. This was followed by Mary Stevens on the violin, playing the Meditation from Thais by Massenet. She produced a nice sound, and despite slight nervousness, managed this difficult piece well.

A Telemann trio was next, with Helen Prentice on the violin, Anne Davies on the recorder and Jenny Dutton on cello. This was good, and while the Vivace could perhaps have been a bit more vivace, there was still enough of a contrast in speeds between this and the Minuet and Trio. Thomas Everett followed on the clarinet, playing a study by Allen. This was a decidedly odd piece, but it was performed well.

Amusement was provided by the performance of a piece actually called 'Amusement' by Friedrich for two recorders, ably provided by Mary Stevens and Anne Davies. After this, Poppy Savage and Jenny Dutton performed a movement from a cello duet by Kummer. A little more vibrato would have helped to improve the sound at times but the ensemble between the two players was very good.

There was no lack of ensemble in the next item either. Annabel Whibley and Rachel Hill performed two jazz ducts for saxophone by Lennie Niehaus.

These were slickly executed and enjoyed by all.

The first piano piece of the evening followed. Segun Lawson played a Schubert Impromptu. There were a couple of slips but generally Segun coped with this very difficult piece admirably. There was a change of mood next: Rachel Barr, Poppy Savage and Delia Williams sang 'Fain Would I Change That Note' by Vaughan Williams. This was sung well and much appreciated by the audience.

'I'm in a Sentimental Mood' was the title of a saxophone piece played and arranged by Larry Ridges.

Problems with the instrument, and therefore beyond his control, meant that there was a particular note which squeaked. Unfortunately this note come up rather a lot in his piece. Despite this, Larry played well.

Schumann was the composer of the next item.

Rachel Barr sang 'Die Lotosblume'. She performed well, as did Dan Brookes playing the slow movement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. Apart from the odd squeak, this was very good.

Then came the most amusing item of them all. The Grange and Walpole tutors came on to sing 'The Gasman Cometh'. As an encore, they repeated the song with different words, describing pupils' efforts to fill in tutor cards on time. There were some nice solos and the tutors as a whole blended well.

Adekanmi Lawson then performed a waltz by Chopin. He was obviously nervous but overcame these THE

CANTUARIAN,AUTUMN

1996

(Megan Morris)

quite well. The penultimate item performed by Ophelia Beer on the oboe. She played the Siciliano and Allegro from Cimarosa's Oboe Con-certo. She managed this difficult piece effectively.

item was the combined forces of Grange and Walpole singing 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles, ably accompanied by Amy Joynson-Hicks. This was sung well and was a good end to a good concert.

Thanks must go to the organisers of the concert and to Mr Matthews for his accompanying.

JAMES LONGSTAFFE.

BROUGHTON AND TRADESCANT HOUSE CONCERT NOVEMBER 9TH 1996, IN ST AUGUSTINE'S REFECTORY Much of the success of the Broughton and Tradeseant House Concert was due to the friendly setting of the St Augustine's Refectory in conjunction with the superb organisation by Alcid Ford, James Longstaffe and the masters of ceremony, Zoe Farghcr and James Firth.

The evening's entertainment began with the combined House choirs singing the Take That hit 'Back for Good' with great gusto; they were directed

by Aleid Ford with James Firth at the piano, Jonathan Cox on guitar, and contained a strong Broughton contingent. The unenviable task of being first'of the evening's soloists was bravely undertaken by Joel Marshall, performing the first movement of Cimarosa's Oboe Concerto. Alexandra Davies overcame early nerves to give a lively performance of the 'Argentine Tango'.

One of the delights of House Concerts is the discovery of promising young players, such as Rebecca Hamway who played the second movement of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E flat. The virtuoso performance of the evening was delivered by Susanna Oliver playing Chopin's Waltz in E minor. The many talents of Jonathan Cox were apparent from the number of instruments he offered, the piano being the third - with a rhythmic performance of Martinu's 'Nova Loutka'. The soloist part of the programme ended with the two best performances, given by the directors of the concert. Aleid Ford played the second movement of Haydn's G major Violin Concerto very expressively and James Longstaffe's performance of the first movement of Gregson's Tuba Concerto overcame all the problems often associated with solo 66

tuba playing. In addition to his own playing James took on the enormous task of accompanying all items with infallible precision, his own piece being accompanied by Mr Stephen Matthews.

The evening's ensemble playing could not have started with a better performance than that of Mozart's Flute Trio in C, played by Polly Redman, Pippa Bird and Jonathan Cox. This standard of playing was continued by the string quartet who gave a good performance of Pachelbel's famous Canon, strongly led by Aleid Ford. Robert van Allan and Alex Reeve overcame technical problems to give a good performance of a cello duet by Telemann. The characters of Seymour Smith's 'Spider and the Fly' were well put over by Rebecca Arnold as the Spider and Stephanie White as the Fly. Mr Graham, Housemaster of Tradescant, mentioned his House's commitment to rugby. It was little surprise therefore that the song of the England rugby supporters, 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot', was part of the evening's programme. The performing wind ensemble, made up entirely of Broughton girls, played well and with subtlety.

The most demanding offering of the concert, the unaccompanied five-part madrigal 'The silver swan', was sung admirably by the combined House choral group. The male voices, Simon Peel.' James Longstafte and Jonathan Cox, balanced the eight female vmecs very well. The last ensemble item was the first movement of Telcmann's Concerto in F major for treble recorders, played by Polly Redman, Hetty Pound, Susanna Oliver and Simon Peel, who rounded off an evening of quality ensemble groups.

The evening ended with a rousing performance by the combined House orchestra playing Holst's 'Jupiter' conducted by none other than .lames Longstaffe, who looked at perfect ease and displayed all the style of a professional. It must be painful to think of future concerts without James who has helped to run these events for the past three years and remarkable to think that until .lames came to King's he had done no music.

expressive 'Enya' followed from Zoe Davies and a sweet rendition of 'Softly as I Leave You', although sometimes the parts weren't very equally balanced.

The highlights of the programme arrived in the form of Tom Savage and then Peter Lawrence. Tom sang Rachmaninov beautifully, displaying excellent phrasing. Peter's piano solo by Charles Alkan was highly commendable. His technical assurance gave him a basis for high quality musicality. Surrounding these numbers were two jazzy saxophone pieces.

Estelle Davies executed these with control and style.

Readings made up 'A Christmas Gallimaufry', with a range of poetry from T.S. Eliot to the amusing 'Computer Christmas Message' culminating in 'Merry Chris-anthemum'. Yet none could compare to George Taylor and the plea to 'Save da Turkey'.

The House choir sang 'The First Noel' to add to the festive spirit: unfortunately the descants were a little inaudible. The House songs made up for this in terms of decibels. The song from Aladdin ('One Jump Ahead') was enthusiastically sung (shouted!) and the enjoyment was mutual for singers and audience.

Much hair-flicking later came the boys' turn.

Schubert's 'Erlking' was sung with great attention to the characterisation and with effective dynamics prompted by conductor Stephen Bushnell. The dramatic ending was taken by Head of House Ed Sterck. A polished performance.

Congratulations should go to 'Scottie' and 'Bushie' for their co-direction and thanks to Stephen Matthews for his accompaniments. Finally thanks are also due to Mr Brodie and Mrs Wharfe for their organisation.

CAMILLA PAY.

PETER CAPEL.

GALPIN'S AND HARVEY HOUSE CONCERT DECEMBER 7TH 1996, IN THE SHIRLEY HALL This was Galpin's first House concert to be twinned with the newly founded Harvey House, and their talents combined well to make an enjoyable evening.

The concert commenced with Mozart's 'All a 'l'urca', played by Oliver Harvey, and - despite hesitations - this was a powerful performance with good dynamic contrast. The gentle tones of Fleur Howard's voice followed: 'Love Story' was accompmiied by mellow cello (Lucy Greenwell) and piano (Olivia Lee) to provide a relaxing number.

Stephen Bushnell played the slow movement from Haydn's Trumpet Concerto very musically. Some 67

THE

CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN ] 996

THE CANTUARIAN, A UTUMN

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68

DRAMA GHETTO

JOSHUA SOBOL STMARY'S HALL 22ND NOVEMBER 1996

69

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

man so obsessed with his own importance that he actually believes a promise that he will be given a meeting with Goering). Above and around the whole action snakes the SS Officer Kittel, whose relationship with the singer Hayyah is made by Sobol into a pivotpoint of the play. What emerges is, as perhaps one would expect from a Jewish playwright (but none the Jess true for that), a picture of hope where there was no hope, of dignity where life might depend on living in a sewer, of human weakness where every argument weakened the survival of the whole, of asserting what is right even at the cost of the ultimate sacrifice.

The audience did not expect an easy time of it. From the metallic crash of a grid falling to spill its cargo of clothes reclaimed from the dead of Ponary, coupled with a splendidly simple but effective set of corrugated steel and barbed wire, it was plain that not too many punches would be pulled. Physical cruelty underlay the action, but was kept to a minimum on stage: there was a knifing, individuals knocked over, a persuasive beating-up and a final massacre - but these paled into insignificance beside references to the dreadful truth of the Ponary fuel pits and the sheer numbers murdered there, and even beside the regular calculated humiliations practised by Kittel, not to speak of his promise to play Schumann as Jews went to the trains.

This reviewer has nothing but praise for the quality of the acting, not so much because of individual players but because of the ensemble. The whole cast seemed engaged and responsive in a way that one can rarely hope for. They faded quietly into groups when required, but were always acting even when in suspended movement. Eyes and faces registered.

Gestures of comfort and support came easily. As for the principal actors, the audience will not easily forget the tortured face of Gens (Malcolm Todd), working out his impossible calculus of human lives. Kittel the Nazi was given just the right touch of sinister credibility by Jonah Wyn Pugh, resisting the temptation to over-act in the tradition of so many war films. Here was a man who claimed to love art and culture and who plainly knew the civilities of life: 'extraordinaire' he would say. He was also cruel beyond bounds in his taste for humiliation and in the unpredictability of his response, his teasing of his victims with games and bets. A man with a brutish rifle has no need to raise his voice or soil his hands. Srulik, the ventriloquist and artistic director (Matthew Berry), showed considerable range from his preface before the gauze, where his mobile face and eyes captured our attention, to his scenes with his dummy in which quick repartee brought a sliver of humour to the play. And the dummy herself (Charlotte Hunt) deserves particular congratulation: she worked so hard with voice, hands and uncoordinated limbs at persuading us that she was immobile and spineless, that we were properly moved when she walked of her own accord towards Kittel in the final massacre.

(Ironically, of course, it was only the voiceless dummy who had the words to answer back to the Nazis.) There needs to be a lightening of the atmosphere in all plays, and this was also provided by George Taylor's Weiskopf, who had just the right combination of graft and greasiness to amuse but (in the circumstances) also horrify the audience. Kruk (Samantha Goulden) had principles and power in her librarian's soul, and

GHETTO JOSHUA SOBOL A few, very few, survived the October 1941 killings in the Ponary fuel pits near Vilna. One of these, Sara Menkes, found her way back to Vilna and told about what had happened to a former pupil of hers, a girl with wonderful eyes and long-braided hair, while the Jews she was with waited in their undergarments for death: 'An officer ... looked at her searchingly for a long time and then he smiled and said, "Take a step forward." ... She took that step forward and he told her, "What a pity to bury such beauty under the earth. Go, but don't look backward. There is the street. You know the boulevard, you just follow that." She hesitated for a moment and then she started marching ... As she walked slowly step by step, ... the officer whipped out his revolver and shot her in the back.' (This is an abbreviation of the testimony later given in court by Abba Kovner, to whom Sara Menkes told her story.)

This is reality, or at least as close to reality as we can come. Andrew Dobbin's production of Joshua Sobol's Ghetto gave us another approach to reality, a version of reality as painful as we could bear in the weeks before Christmas and amid the humdrum events of school life. The gauze curtain was drawn back to reveal plays within the play and actors who addressed us as if we were part of the action. There was no escaping the obligation to sympathise with the protagonists, to grieve with them and even attempt (as Sobol encouraged) to judge their actions. In the end, how much was real ceased to matter. Was the debate about rationing insulin an actual event or was it a case posed for debate in the ghetto theatre or was it invented by Sobol? If this was plain fact, what about the macabre sight of SS Officer Kittel emerging from a coffin or the ventriloquist's dummy taking on a life of her own? In the end we simply took the whole performance, fact and fiction, real and surreal, as an offering to help us understand. I believe that this production did help us to understand a little, given the patent appreciation and involvement of its actors and the skill of the direction.

It should have been required viewing for all members of our community.

Ghetto, like Schindler's List, is faction. Problems inevitably arise both for the actors, who wonder how they can do full justice to such dreadful suffering, and for the audience, whose response is troubled if not blunted by the cold chill of reality which lurks somewhere in the wings. (Perhaps, we think, it matters if Sobol has twisted the plot for effect; and what about all the countless people, just as valuable who are simply and necessarily passed over?) The play tells in graphic form the tale of events in the Vilna ghetto, reduced by the Nazis from 50,000 to 16,000 in the early 1940s. Based on contemporary diaries, it deals with the attempt to restore cultural pride to the remnant of the Jews in the ghetto by the establishment of a theatre under its artistic director Srulik, and it focuses on the conflicts between Gens (Chief of Jewish Police, a zionist and a realist, who prefers to save many by sacrificing some) and Kruk (librarian, author of the diaries and a supporter of positive action against the Nazis) together with a group of active partisans; and between Gens and Weiskopf (entrepreneur, tailor and a T1-11:

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Samantha was more than capable of holding the audience with excerpts from the diaries as well as the more impassioned speeches. But a special word needs to be said for Hannah Mackenzie, whose quiet dignity as the singer Hayyah spoke to us directly through those sad and lovely Yiddish songs. We were persuaded by her journey from art to action, as she decided to join the partisans wrecking German trains. The lighting (Philip Gladwell and Owen Buckingham) was imaginatively and unobtrusively handled. Dappled lighting on the cold steel set caught the eye, in contrast with the harsh spot effects on soliloquy, but there were other less dramatic effects enhancing rather than distracting from the action.

Let me just mention a few of the details which helped to make this one of the best productions I have seen at King's: ghetto-inmates diving for beans and jam in a degrading rush; the sound of bare feet scraping the floor; the dreadful scene of Kittel dancing with a Jewish girl; the little boys' shorts, reclaimed fmm Ponary, and offered for re-use; the fluttering hands of the women protesting vainly against Gens' selection of children for death; the occasional flashes of colour against the grim steel set, women's dresses, red flags, even the revolve bookcase; the faces pressed to the gauze after the hanging scene; the parody of a party; Kittel's tendency to move too closely into other people's space; the dreadful implications of the 'concept of mutual responsibility' as worked out by Gens in his bargaining for lives; and above all the evocative treatment of the masked cabaret, with its Adolf moustaches and Shylock parody, with which the play concludes. Perhaps the final moments in which the theatre company are threatened with death, given a treat of blackcurrant jam and bread, then gunned down when least expecting it, may take us back to the actuality, the killing of the girl with wonderful eyes and long-braided hair with which this review began.

M.J.T.

forefathers must surely have suffered was painful. I cannot say I love those who died but of whose bloodline I form a part, for I never knew them; they, even had they survived, would have been historical figures to me, names on the family tree or faces in an album. Ghetto touched me in this way: it went some of the way to humanising the relatives I never knew, and letting me get a handle on this, personal side to my understanding and history of the period.

Ghello did far more, I could feel it. The true story of the ghetto in Vilna is typical of those we hear about: for every educated child must learn about what happened to the peoples of Europe, if only to maintain the tradition in order that no such tragedy ever happen again. Rarely, though, are we exposed to such profound exploration of the human side of the genocide. We are all accustomed to the names Belsen and Auschwitz, and we all know that as many as six million Jews were murdered in these places. Yet these are ideas too big for us to comprehend, almost meaningless to a generation as young as ours.

Ghetto did not merely reiterate the talc, the tale which we, fifty years on, find so difficult to comprehend as to shut our ears to it; it did not merely reiterate the tale, for it was immediately very clear that what was going on on stage was something inherent in all of us, and central to our human condition - when morality is destroyed, and men are so degraded, all that remains is to struggle to survive and to preserve. I knew the characters not just because they could be identified with, unlike the figures or the names of the genocide, but because there was something of my past in them. Ghello was something that happened to my dead relatives, Ghetto was one of the things that made me, and to see it was as important as anything else I have done.

ANONYMOUS.

CALIFORNIA SUITE KING'S YOUTH DRAMA IN STMARY'S HALL 22ND SEPTEMBER 1996

REFLECTIONS ON GHETTO I am not Jewish, but I am of Jewish descent: my grandmother was the sole member of her family to escape the death camps, fleeing Saxony in 1933. All her relatives were murdered in Belsen. My grandfather's family was Jewish too, although most of them had left central Europe at the turn of the century.

Many of these facts I have known for a long time, but never fully comprehended. I do not see myself as a Jew, but have recently become far more aware of my ancestry, and as a result have thought more deeply about all the German cousins, uncles and aunts I never knew. Whereas before I would take a detached view of the Holocaust - never mind the reasons for it, it happened and it is now part of history - I now feel that the Holocaust is truly still with us. I was blase about how I came to be who I am, yet I realise now that my existence is part of the story of the Holocaust itself.

These .pre the facts that form a background to my emotions during Ghetto. I know nothing of the precise fate of my grandmother's family, simply that they did uot leave when she did. Witnessing a possible reenactment of the kinds of tension and misery my

Despite my great enjoyment of the evening, I omitted to take any notes: hardly surprising, since I was not the original reviewer of California Suite and was asked to do this review at short notice. What I did sec, and what I can remember, however, was truly funny and deeply impressive as a pupil-led initiative.

That last phrase makes it sound like some kind of marketing strategy, which a play never is; yet there was in it a certain clement of professionalism which made me genuinely jealous of what was achieved.

First the play: the format was of four playlets, whose action takes place each time in suites 203 and 204 of the Beverly Hills Hotel. American, but snappy and dialogue-based, it might have been too much of a challenge for some. It has to be admitted that the evening (I attended the Sunday performance) did not go seamlessly; there were missed lines, technical hitches, lost cues, muffled utterances and even a few giggles. There were some American accents, and others ranging from west country to Canterbury brogu.e. There was occasionally a curious selfconsciOusness.

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silly not because they had been told to, nor because they felt it in some way necessary, but because they wanted to make people laugh, and they wanted to enjoy themselves. No other reason.

And it was that fact that made it all come alive.

Making do with a diminishing audience and severe concussion, on the Saturday Alex Pearson, by all accounts, sprinted about the stage, involved the audience, made them feel uneasy, announced to the technicians that they were too early on a cue for the

telephone, and was never ever afraid to go so deeply into character that anyone would have thought that he really was a gay, effete, cynical English gentleman. On the Sunday he deliberately paused and waited for the ringing, pointing at the receiver and announcing, 'Yes! You were early last night and late tonight. What's happening?'

To go with such exuberance from the director was a magnificent display of comic bravado and energetic over-acting (which was exactly what the part of cuckold Marvin Michaels required) fl-om one Aristide Muganda. Delia Williams and Matt Berry carried off convincing accents; while Delia got the- body language just right too, complemented by Adam's West Coast casual. Rachel Barr, on safer ground with the part of an English lovie, was the most measured and composed of all the players, and the most plausible. But I must not try to congratulate each one, as it was the over-all effect that really struck ~ the delight at hearing the audience's laughter, followed up by ever more assured and canny performing, and an improving sense of timing, rhythm and farce throughout the evening. lt could be said that the fact that it happened at all is commendable. The f~tct that it was so good, and cheered me up so much, merits sincere congratulation.

Delia Williams, Adam Withrington. (M.J.T.) To go with all these (not so petty) criticisms there must be a huge amount of admiration. This was, as I say, pupil-led, or rather led by Alex Pearson and Adam Withrington ~ and as such seemed to be free from the possibility of resentment directed against the director.

Most of all, though, despite the forced accents, tl1ere was a beautiful openness about the whole affair: the players were on the stage and had worked themselves

LEO FRANSELLA.

TOM STOPPARD , DOGG'S HAMLET LlNACRE HOUSE PLAY: 28TH AND 29TH SEPTEMBER IN STMARY'S HALL Stoppard's work, being almost invariably entertaining and amusing, is ideal as material for house plays and has been used successfully as such many times in the past. In this regard, Dogg's Hamlet was no exception. The play borders on the absurd and farcical in both of its distinct halves, and has the potential to be hilarious if carried off with sufficient confidence and precision. There was never any doubt that the cast had the first of these qualities in abundance. This was vital for the success of a play so surreal as this, since, especially in the first half, the tremendous amusement stems largely from the ability of the cast to perform the absurd with the air of characters used to the mundane reality of their world, while the outsider in the audience finds it ridiculous. This Stoppard play was in fact very demanding, and the choreography of the first half needed to be pin-point if the hilarity was to be maintained. Such a slick performance as Linacre achieved is exceptional in a House play and can only

Lizzie Calder, Aristide Muganda. (M.J.T.) THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

72

Henry 1/¡ew, Roland Phillips, Lars van den Hour. (M.J.T)

Hugo MacPherson as Ophelia. (M.J.T.)

be achieved by tremendous hard work on the parts of

the cast and stage crew, and by tireless and thoughtful direction. Those of us who know any of those involved were impressed by their dedication and by the hours put in.

The whole of the play is set in a school. The second half is a representation of the plot of Hamlet run 1hrough twice at a ridiculous and highly comic pace, hut in the f{m11 of a play put on by the school. Here Lars van den !-lout in particular shone as Hamlet. The first half involves the building of a sign by members of lhc school, using assorted blocks and shapes. It lranspircs that the pupils and Headmaster, who speak briefly and usually in single words, understand something completely different from most of us in words such as 'block' ~ to them, this means 'next'.

This leads to farcical goings-on involving conflicts with the English-speaking delivery-man. With blocks hurled across the stage, and other quick visual comedy, this needed to be precise and smooth, and was. All 1hose on stage were impressively and entertainingly involved: Ed Wattis, Sam Knight, Hugo MacPherson, Dom Fendius. and Tom Edmunds.

Using the farce rather than despite it, Stoppard explores areas investigated by Wittgenstcin: the reliance of hmguage upon repeated observation and the independence of understanding from language. In the audience, he cleverly induces an increased understanding of what is being said. The usc of farce and the absurd to illustrate his points is remarkably e!Cctive but confuses the task of the actors, who must llct humorously but with clarity and sympathy for the ideas behind the play. The cast did this well, but they all recognise the importance of the direction of Ms 1-'iona Phil.lips for their success. She worked them very hard, but thev have been the first to tell me that it was her effort anCJ insight that was most important to the production.

JAMES STAZICKER.

SENIOR INTER-HOUSE DRAMA COMPETITION STMARY'S HALL 8TH OCTOBER 1996 On 8th October St Mary's Hall was the setting for another fiercely fought final of the Senior Inter-house Drama Competition. Five houses ~ School House, Luxmoore, Tradescant, Broughton and Galpin's ~ survived the preliminary round to compete for the Marlowe Cup. School House took centre stage first with their extract hom Journey\¡ End, masterfully led by Adam Withrington as a First World War soldier: he gave an excellently controlled performance, charged with emotion. His frustration was evident throughout, both suppressed in the scene with his apologetic commanding officer (skilfully played by Matthew Berry) and released in the scene with his movingly desperate subordinate, played by Aristide Muganda.

Here, Aristide's expertly controlled English accent must be commented on.

On a lighter note, Luxmoore produced an extract from the musical Grease, which included a lively rendition of 'Sandra Dee' by Crcssida Trew and Francesca Langridge. The staging and choreography were deftly orchestrated by Zoe Arthur and Claire Eliot, and all the performers deserve high praise.

A simple but hefty scene change involving two benches introduced the third item in the competition, Zoo Story. A Bermuda-shorts-clad Malcolm Todd proceeded to engage in conversation a rather more conservative gentleman, played by James Stazickcr.

Malcolm's series of probing questions revealed hints

T!-IE CANTUAR!AN, AU'l'UMN 1996

of the unsatisfactory nature of his wary companion's life. Both Malcolm and James impressed the audience by the ease of their performances, leaving us intrigued both as to why Malcolm had gone to the zoo, and what exactly had occurred there.

Be/ween Moutl{fi.r/s was Broughton's entry. Set in a restaurant, this featured two couples, linked by a common discontent. Comedy was provided both by the couples - Lizzie Calder and Poppy Edmunds, and Rebecca Arnold and Madeleine Tyler - and the ever cheerful waiter, played brillianlly by Sarah WellesleyWesley, who successfully amused the audience by her perfectly timed misinterpretation.

Galpin's cleverly chosen entry, an extract from Rosencrantz. and Cui/dens/ern are Dead, was carried off to perfection by George Taylor and Matthew Brooks. The sparse nature of the set did nothing to detract from the superb acting and humour of this piece, which revolved around the characters and their mysterious mission.

After a short period of adjudication Bridget Bree awarded joint second place to Tradescant and Galpin's and the Marlowe Cup to Broughton. She commented upon the difficulty of the decision and the exceptional standards all round. Congratulations to all involved in the competition.

KATtE FtsH.

1/te Grangejunior play. (M..I.T) convinced us that Carling 'Black Label' did indeed refresh the parts other beers can also reach. After a few drinks, washing up is a must - and Tori Hunt kindly gave a hand (or two) - but driving is definitely a bad idea! Poor Nicole, poor Papa! Enough for Plax to wipe the smile off your face. And after all that, just as with Harvesters, we did get some n1ore, didn't we, Oliver?

We were then invited to travel with the Walpole Shells to a land of expression corpore/le, of Marccau¡esque beauty, enhanced by the son el iumiere of Technical Director Paul Tsergas. And what a trip it was, a bad trip, a caution, a bitter pill for anybody to swallow.

THE GRANGE AND WALPOLE JUNIOR PLAYS IN THE SCHOOL ROOM SUNDAY lOTH NOVEMBER 1996

With interim reports looming later that week, the Walpole Fifths were sent on a Mission Impossible.

Their mission, if they accepted it, was to get their tutor card signed on Lime before the tutor period, or before it auto-destructed. or before the House .. mistress destructed the Fifths ... Phew' Action-loaded stuff'

The evening started rather violently, in a typical Monty Pythoncsque manner, with Roger '~(!he Raj, one of the deliciously funny Ripping Yarns by Michael Palin and Terry Jones. Dan Brookes' rendition of Roger was rather restrained considering the bloodshed, mass suicide and rebellion surrounding him. His stage parents, Lord and Lady Bartlcsham, respectively interpreted with gusto by Zach Saitoti (in a dapper striped jacket) and Adekunle Rosiji Canned to the teeth and wearing a beret, Barbour and wellingtons becoming to a Lady) were not really dealing with the typical adolescent problems. Their son was being led astray by his revolutionary Latin teacher Hopper, alias Matthew Haydock. After most of the Bartlesham's entourage had decided to go out of the School Room to do the honourable thing, using powerful pump-action pop guns, the rebels went into action. The entourage, now resurrected into a powerful army, arrived to give a rude awakening to the Lord and Lady who were sleeping comfortably on the dining table (or had they been dining on the bed?). Despite the Lord's sympathetic approach to the whole thing, a terrible battle ensued where everyone mel their end, except Roger and Mr Angel the butler, alias Alexander McDonald, who escaped to Britain to open the haberdasher's shop of their dreams.

The sombre setting of the Dark Entry was to draw us into the poisonous atmosphere of the legend of Nell Cook, read and presented by the Grange Removes and a handful of the Walpole Removes. Nell was superbly interpreted by Helen Prentice, who looked a dab hand at pudding making and quickly closed the (merry) eye of the lustful Canon. Kanmi Lawson as the Dean and the monks walking in file like scholars to Mattins was a sight to behold. The reading of the piece by the 'King's Scholars', Alistair Russell, Emma Hayes, Nivecn Mahmoud and Gbenga Odimayo, was both clear and full of foreboding -¡ which made those of us who had to go hack home through the Dark Entry a little uneasy about the prospect.

The 6b pupils from both Houses deserve to be congratulated for their supervisory role behind the scenes, as do the entire cast for such an enjoyable performance. The Grange Shells had obviously put a lot of effort into learning their lines and the Walpole girls had worked extremely well together to create such original sketches.

Our need for commercial breaks after such a traumatic piece was mercifully assuaged by the Walpole ladies. Katherine Bodey's sound effect

T!!E CANTUAR!AN. AUTUI\JN 1996

M.P.H.D.

74

TALKS

of many Jews and Jewish Christians towards the Jewish /omh at this time.

SIXTH FORM TALK: As well as the problems in Biblical times, the speaker RABBI PROFESSOR also used the events of the DAN COHN-SHERBOK, Middle Ages as evidence ANTI-SEMITISM for his ease. He stated 30TH OCTOBER, that there were many JN THE OLD SYNAGOGUE. 'witch hunts' for Jews that took place all over Europe, ami that this Rabbi Professor Dan Cohn-Sherbok anti-semitic action is a lecturer in Theology at the took place because of University of Kent, and has written prior religious lllany books on Judaism; he and his teaching; he used the wife have also taught here in the example of such an Religious Studies department. His talk event in Canterbury, was intriguingly entitled 'Antiwhere Jacob the Jew Semitism', which left the audience at was killed outside the odds as to what angle he might take on County Hotel on account the subject. Using as the basis for his talk of his faith. horrifying accounts of Jews who lived through the ghettos and the concentration Professor Cohn-Sherbok camps, he posed the question: why? Why did claimed that these examples, Ihe holocaust take place, and who is responsible and others like it, were the lor the brutal destruction of a large proportion of indirect cause of the Holocaust. the Jewish race? Professor Cohn-Sherbok then One criticism may be that he failed attempted to give us an answer, and - despite really to recognise the (with acknowledgements to seeming at times rather extreme and flawed in economic reasons for antiU.K. C.) argument produced one of the most semitic feeling. Throughout engrossing and thought-provoking talks of this history, Jews have been hated year. for their involvement in business and money. An example of this can be seen in The Merchant ofVenh¡e; His basic argument was that the Holocaust was D.H. Lawrence too (in 1916) wrote that the Jews were indirectly the fault of the Christians throughout 'leading the human race to total corruption'. A further history. He used the Bible as his most potent source of criticism is that Professor Cohn-Sherbok failed fully to evidence for this, highlighting the teaching connect this historical evidence with the of Jesus in particular. Professor CohnHolocaust: I was not totally convinced.

Sherbok stated quite categorically that Jesus' teaching was anti1 am, however, nit-picking - for this was semitic, using Mark 7:6 ('And he a lively, engrossing talk. The nature of the said to them, "Well did Isaiah topic left the speaker very open to prophesy of you hypocrites"') criticism; but this is no bad thing, as it nnd Jesus' conflict with the is always very gratifying to hear a talk Jewish authorities. as that makes you debate in your own evidence of this antimind the virtues of the speaker's semitism. He cited this words. attitude of Jesus as an ADAM W!T!-!R!NCJTON. example of behaviour towards Jews that has been subsequently followed by Christians.

UNACRE LECTURE: From the point of view of MR GILES BAKER a biblical critic. there arc scvcrai problems with this ROLLS, GOUGES AND argument: Jesus' conflict BIRD-CAGES with the authorities was I ST NOVEMBER, 1996 aroused not by their faith (Jesus was a Jew himself), but over their different 'The title of a lecture should offer no interpretation (halakhah) of the indication as to \Vhat the lecture is Jewish ]flW. Professor Cohnactually about.' With these heartening Sherbok continued with the same words, the speaker Mr Giles Baker, a senior accusation aimed at Paul, but this librarian at Oxford University's Linacrc again is a flawed argument, as Paul was College, embarked on a journey to the realm of the (Will Jus/ice) Jewish; what he disliked was the attitude relieur, fearless wielder of the Roll and Bird-cage,

75

THE CANTLJJ\RL\N, AUTUivlN 1996

society can be divided into criminals and 'hones{' citizens is both a misconception, and often hypocritical, or disguising deeper prejudices; I in 3 British men under the age of 30 have some form of criminal record, and 1 in 3 black American men is currently serving, or has in the past served a jail sentence.

These are not therchwe issues from which we can divorce responsibility, or which we can consider 111 isolation.

who performed his craft in the Renaissance years. In a remarkable display of ingenuity and inspiration, the speaker successfully devised a complex system of references and tenuous links which took the audience away from the physics of Thomas Linacre, to Venice where he did much of his research and treatise-writing~ and finally to the high-brow and clandestine world of ... bookbinding. Bookbinding is not a high-risk activity; for many it suggests complete banality.

Yet one man and his slide-projector took fiftyfive people on a leap of faith into a secret world of pedantry and haute couture.

This highly revealing and refreshing talk dispelled even the most stubborn conviction that the craft of bookbinding is limited to the amateur application of a little PrittStick and Sellotape to a tattered paperback. How a Gouge is used to bind books should, of course, be general knowledge; it was evidently a statement on how sheltered our lives had been that the lecture was an informative experience. Rolls and Gouges are in fact those tools used by members of the profession to create the (often gilt) patterns and images adorning older and antique books. For arTistes, bookbinding has always been a painstaking affair combining skill, art and mathematics in the endeavour to design aesthetic and complementary covers for the products of the most fertile minds. Adroitness in bookbinding was a source of prestige and wealth (the French court frequently paid substantial amounts of money to have the most modern and influential books bound); to be incompetent consigned the miserable possessor of a badly bound book to the refuse heap of bad taste and social disapproval. Bird-cages were often used as an artist's trademark (which way the incarcerated bird has its head turned being of paramount significance to the enthusiast).

The talk presented bookbinders in a new light, invoking in us a deeply respectful admiration as well as an appreciation for detail and perfection. Picking up a copy of War and Peace will never be the same again.

Dr Coyle, the Governor of Brixton Prison, provided therefore a very timely insight (coinciding with the publication or a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons).

His approach is. and has to be, an inherently practical one; resources arc so limited that as a governor, he 1s confined to providing for little more than basic human needs - food, a minimum of exercise and so on. His subject matter was similarly matter of fact; he began (Will Justice) with two shocking anecdotes about the provision of care for the mentally ill and young offenders, and went on to describe his day-to-day experiences.

What made his talk so fascinating however was his ability to convey with passion the dilemmas which confront him on a daily basis. What is the purpose of imprisonment, and is it being fulfilled? How does he reconcile himself to the fact that he makes a living from depriving hundreds of people of their liberty') Imprisonment, as a system of punishment, developed after the end of deportation, for want of alternatives; its history is therefore an astonishingly haphazard one, devoid of ethical absolutes. As numbers in prison rise, so the pressures both physical (overcrowding, for example) and ethical become ever more urgent. The future of prisons cannot be taken for granted, but must be constantly re-evaluated, keeping at heart the best interests of society as a whole. One wonders what is really being sacrificed for the sake of a few tax-cuts.

.lAMES BRILLIANT AND SAM KNIGHT.

SIXTH FORM TALK: DR ANDREW COYLE THE PRISONS WE DESERVE 13TH NOVEMBER, IN THE SCHOOLROOM

Dr Coyle was challenging and unconventional. He stimulated intelligent discussion, by handing the questions over to us - what sort of prisons do we deserve? On a personal level, he left me with the overwhelming impression that we have probably got what just we deserve, but that our prisoners deserve better, if prisons arc to serve a constructive social function.

Few of us know very much about the inside of prisons, for obvious reasons, and we probably all hope and intend to keep it this way. This attitude is however (in part 1) lamentable; firstly, given that crime and punishment are becoming increasingly political issues, with both sides struggling to outdo each other witl1 ever tougher policies, we can only begin to tackle the issues raised and see through the electoral rhetoric when we are better informed. Secondly, the idea that THE

CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

MARY STEVENS.

76

BOOKS

West Fnmcc. The destruction wrought by Simon de Montfort's Crusade against the Cathar heresy still haunts the landscape and folk memory of Languedoc after so many centuries. In many ways, it was the beginning of much in the Middle Ages that got the period a bad name. The Albigcnsian Crusades did, after all, give us the Inquisition, the prototype of thought-control by violence .

Janet Shirley's excellent translation is of an epic poem written by two contemporary poets, William of Tudela and his anonymous successor. The text provides excellent insights into the history of the times. It is fascinating to sec how Simon of Montfort loses the sympathy of the second poet, and how great issues of loyalty, just conduct of warfare and religious freedom are handled with a sensitivity which is almost modern. The account is extremely lively and full of action, quite gripping to read, though with a fair share of violence. Shirley's translation is thoroughly clear, quite without false 'medievalising', undue complexity, or quaintness. The result is a vivid rendition which works well in prose. The book is beautifully presented too, with maps, an informative introduction, superbly researched footnotes, conveniently placed on the page of the text, and a very useful chronology which tells us what happens after the poem closes. By then we are desperate to know! In short, a splendid contribution to medieval scholarship by King's first ever girl pupil (1945-46) - a book which is also perfectly accessible to the 'lay' reader, and thoroughly recommended.

T.J.A.

THE SONG OF THE CATHAR WARS: A HISTORY OF THE ALBIGENSIAN CRUSADE TRANSLATED BY JANET SHIRLEY, O.K.S. SCOLAR PRESS 1996 One grows rather tired of generalisations about the Middle Ages which so many people regard as a kind of illness of the human spirit which was finally cured by the Renaissance. This however is to do a great disservice to the many great intellects and "chievements of the period. It is also unfair on the Middle Ages as a whole. Between 1170 and 1204, for example, there was a great flowering of culture and of tolerance. This was particularly the case in the South West of France where free and open public debates were held between members of quite different religions, including Catholics, Cathars, Moslems and Jews.

The period covered in The Song of the Cathar Wars was, however, a turning point. From 1204 onwards (the time of the sack of Constantinople) there was a steady decline, both in tolerance and in the high poetry of the Middle Ages, whose soul was the area of South

(Megan Morris)

77

TI-lE

CANTUARIAN, AlJTUtvJN

1996

SOCIETIES AND ACTIVITIES A new school year - a new choir. One of the great challenges of the Autumn Term is to get the Chapel Choir working straightaway for the first service of term. There is less than a week to audition new members of the choir, have two rehearsals and sing an anthem at the first Mattins with Admission of Scholars. .

CHAPEL CHOIR

We lost

n~any

strong singers at the end of the last academic year. However there was a very encouraging response

by new pupils at the school to audition for the choir. It is a pity that so many had to be turned down, but the result was an infusion of some very fine new singers. In consequence the choir has settled very quickly and developed a well-blended and balanced sound. It has been most rewarding to hear these singers go from strength to strength over the course of the Autumn Term. Particular highlights were 'Exultate Deo' by Palestrina and a stirring version of Stanford's 'For lo, I raise up' with an equally exciting organ accompaniment played by Michael Harris at what was his last Mattins before moving to Edinburgh.

Special congratulations must go to the choir for this year's Carol Service. At the end of a long and tiring term the boys and girls must put in hours of extra rehearsals and then sing at one of the most important services of the year.

They outdid themselves this year and sang magnificently. It is a service I will long remember.

S.W.S.A. The term's repertoire has been: 8th September Mattins (Admission of 'Listen sweet dove' Grayston Ivcs Scholars) '0 how glorious' Harwood 22nd September Mattins 'For lo, I raise up' Stanford 6th October Mattins 'The Soldier' Alan Gray lOth November Remembrance Service 'Exultate Deo' Palestrina 17th November Mattins 'A spotless rose' Howells I st December Mattins Matin Responsory Palestrina 11th December Carol Service 'The angel Gabriel' arr. Pcttman 'Riu, riu, chiu' Flecha 'The Infant King' arr. Willcocks Coventry Carol arr. Shaw 'Christmas Star' Simon Peel, K.M.S. Nativity Carol Rutter

Christians need to get together regularly in a relaxed atmosphere to encourage each other CHRISTIAN FORUM in their faith, to get to know each other, and to get to know God better.

This is what Christian Forum sets out to do. A group - consisting of anyone interested, not just Christians -- meets in Father John's house every Thursday evening for an hour or so. An outside speaker

or someone from King's is invited to give a short talk on an aspect of the Christian Faith. Before and after the talk there is a chance to chat (over coffee and biscuits), which gives these meetings a friendly atmosphere. This term the talks have centred on Peter's letters in the New Testament. Among the term's speakers it was good to welcome the Hills' father, the Revd Simon Hill, whose experience of running tea farms in Africa gave an insight into serving God through whatever job one docs. The Headmaster also gave a thought-provoking talk, suitably enough about authority and a Christian's response to the dilemma between obeying God and secular authority at the same time.

Recent O.K.S., Richard Hagan (LN) and Jennie Barbour (BR), also came to speak, giving a recent pupil-perspective on 'living out' faith at King's. Those who were at the final talk of term, by Simon Guillebaud, will remember for a long time to come the extraordinary experiences he could relate about life in Central Africa. . Being_ new to Christian Forum this term I only wish I had started coming earlier. It was very helpful for chscovenng what is involved in the Christian Faith, and I would recommend it to anyone, whatever their present beliefs or views.

AVIS NGAN.

The most significant event of this term was the departure of the Crypt Choir's director, Michael Harris, at half-term. Michael left to take up the posts of Organist of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, and Lecturer in Music at Napier University.

The Crypt Choir was very much Michael's creation. Over the years the choir has gone from strength to strength.

It has proved a fine training ground for future choral scholars - this year, for example, two of the choir have been a~arclcd choral scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge. Touring, recording and concerts arc other important aspects ol the group's work. Their last tour to northern Germany (Bremen and Ratzcburg) was a resounding success. But, above all, the central function of the choir is to sing for the Sung Eucharists on Sunday mornings. This contribution

CRYPT CHOIR

TilE CANTUARIAN, AUTUivlN

! 996

tn the worship of the school community is of inestimable value. Michael was always careful to maintain the correct

b;llance between music and the liturgy. He is very much missed.

S.W.S.A. The repertoire this term has been: ]'ith September 'Locus iste' Bruckner 2'Jth September 'Heilig' Mendelssohn 3rd November '0 quam gloriosum' Victoria 24th November 'Ave verum corpus' Byrd 8ih December '0 taste and see' Vaughan Williams Christmas Concert 'Christmas Star' Richard Peat, M.S. 'Locus isle' Bruckner (sung as a tribute to the 60th anniversary of Canon Derek Ingram-Hill's ordination to the priesthood)

The Geography Society held an ambitious and successful 'action week' from 11th to 17th November. Events included: 'Geography at Oxhml' with Vicky Broom and Luke Williams; 'From Marrakech to the Pre-Sahara' (talks by Fifth form pupils for the Fcmoves): 'Volcano under Vatnajokull' (talk by R.C.); Iceland and Morocco exhibitions and receptions for parents, staff and pupils involved in the expeditions; 'Surf the Net with the Geographers' ('Tony Jarvis, assisted by Ben Reid): Nepal and Tanzania (sixth formers' experiences in the Third World with Schools' Partnership Worldwide); ¡Trekking in the Karakorum' (talk by Mrs S. McGuire); 'Urban Housing: change in post-communist Hungary' (talk

by Professor Christopher Pick vance, Darwin College, University of Kent); World Music evening; 'Marrakech: an LDC City' (talk by S.K.L.): and an inter-House 'Geo-Quiz'.

CEOGRAPHY SOCIETY

This term has seen four talks organised by members of the Harvey society. The first speaker was Dr Philip Mitchell from the University of Reading who lectured on 'The Origins of Life'. Expecting a biology-related talk, we were surprised to rind that it was given, in fact, from a chemical point of view. Dr Mitchell described the importance of clements such as molybdenurn in the development of life on our planet and encouraged a number of interesting questions from biologists and chemists alike. The next talk was given by Dr Mike Robbins from King's College, London, on the subject of ¡cancer'. In his talk Dr Robbins explained the different types of cancer, their causes and treatments available: and outlined future research into oncology. Professor Philip Strange from the University of Kent, Canterbury, posed the question 'What's inside a brain?' at the next meeting. He explained the functions of diiTerent areas of the brain and described the various problems, both physical and psychological, encountered when these are damaged. The final talk of the term was given by Dr Tom Ford from Royal Holloway College, University of London, on 'Life in extreme conditions' - a very interesting talk on ho\:v life (mainly botanical) adapts to different environmental extremes, focusing on the thcrmophiles in particular. All the talks were enjoyable and greatly appreciated by those who <litended them. Thanks go to Dr Bosworth for hosting the talks and to all those involved in organising the meetings.

HARVEY SOCIETY

WILL JUSTICE.

The Club has this term been musically directed by Steve Bushnell and Annabel Whibley; they arc running the Big Band jointly, and dividing the labour on the small groups, with Annabel taking charge of the traditional band and Steve being responsible for the modern combo. The Big Band consists of Steve Bushnell (conducting/trumpet), Annabel Whibley and Simon Peel (tenorsaxophones), Adam Brown, Larry Ridges, and Estelle Davies (alto-saxophones), Joel Marshall (baritone saxophonc),Andy Ribbans, Matthew Berry, Charles Miller-Jones, Emily Hague a nell-larry Pope (trumpets), Richard Peat, Simon Bodey, Sam Parker and Dave Smith (trombones), James Longstaffe (piano), Jonathan Cox (bass), .lames Barker and Julien Madjar (guitars), and lvo Ncamc (drums). The traditional group's personnel arc Annabel Whiblcy (leader/saxophone), Steve Bushnell (trumpet), Rachel Barr (clarinet), Richard Peat (trombone), James Longstaffe (piano), Mark Wharton (bass) and lvo Neamc (drums). The modern group comprises Steve Bushnell (leader/trumpet), Adam Brown (saxophone), Ivo Neamc (piano), and Jonathan Cox (bass).

The next major goal for the Club is the annual Charity Jazz & Big-Band Concert, this year scheduled for Saturday Kth March at 7.30 p.m. in the Shirley Hall.

JAZZ CLUB

R. B.MA. IThe Editors regret omission of the following report from our previous issue. References arc to the 1995-96 ncademic year.-! ;

The Jazz Club has been directed during this academic year hy Nick Tattersall, and two major concerts have been given over the course of the last two terms - the now-annual Charity Concert in the Lent Term (performed on Saturday, March 16th, this time in aid of The Marie Curie Cancer Care Foundation), and the regular King's Week 79

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Jazz Concert, whic h, this year, was on Monday July 1st. The former is reviewed e lsewhere in this Cantuarian by Mr Bill McConnell , and the latter by Professor Roy Chisholm , to both of whom I am most grate ful. Members of the Jazz C lub pe rformed in Mr Browning's informal King's Week event Hothouse (a sequel to the very successful Dizzie Atmosphere , pioneered last year), and the Traditional Band (led by James Capel) played at various internal School events such as Mr White's dinner for the rugby players and the (by now, regular) Broughton House Party in the summer te rm. As last year, Tradsters played on the Gree n Court during Tea on Commemoration Day (Thursday, July 4th). The Big Band was fo rtunate to have had two M asterclasses with Mr James Rae, just before each of their two major concerts this year, on Thursday March 14th and Wednesday June 26th. I am very grateful to the Director of Music, Mr Stefan Anderson , for his kindness and gene rosity in organising and providing these occasions; I should like to take this opportunity of thanking him for his support of the Jazz Club generally over the course of this year.

I must couple his name also with that of Mrs Lynne E lwood, who has done an immense amount of work on our behalf.

The Jazz C lub and its members featured prominently in Richard Collins' Canterbury Local Radio during King 's Week this year. The Jazz Concert was broadcast live, Hothouse was recorded for later transmission , and Nick Tattersall (very professionally) presented a daily one-hour jazz programme.

The Big Band has consisted of Adam Brown , Estelle Davies, Larry Ridges and Louise Robertson (alto saxophones), Annabel Whibley and Simon Peel (tenor saxophones), Jon Murch (baritone saxophone), Andy Brice, Steve Bushnell , Andy Ribbans , Charles Miller-Jones and Matt Berry (trumpets) , Richard Peat, Sam Parker, Simon Bodey and Dave Smith (trombones) , James Longstaffe (piano), James Capel (bass), Andrew Saunders (guitar), and Ivo Neame (drums). Will Tallon , Helena Ancock , Harriet Burgess, Tommy Tallon and Charles Rice have all made vocal contributions to Big Band numbers, and Olivia Neame played percussion, alongside her younger brother, in an encore number in the King's Week Concert.

The traditional group, Tradsters, has cons isted of Andy Brice (trumpet), Rachel Barr (clarinet), Annabel Whibley (alto & te nor saxophones), Nick Tattersall (trombone) , James Longstaffe (piano), James Capel (leader/ bass), and Ivo Neame (drums) .

The mode rn group, Jabbering JAZZtet, again made some excellent contributions in the last two concerts, and their personnel were Nick Tattersall (piano) , Steve Bushnell (trumpet) , Annabel Whibley (alto a nd tenor saxophones), Adam Brown (alto saxophone) , James Capel (bass) and Ivo Neame (drums).

The Barbershop Quartet has been led with conside rable aplomb and style by Tom Tallon, and has consisted , apart from himself (tenor) , of brother Will (bass), (the ubiquitous) Richard Collins (tenor), and Nick Tattersall (baritone).

In addition , Zoe Blausten e nli vened Hothouse with her unique tap-dancing routine, and there was also a reprise stint by Bridget Gooch , former Day House matron, still clearl y regarded with much affection by last year's Dizzie Atmosphere afic ionados. The Hothouse event was also e nriched by contributions from several O.K.S. - Graeme Parkin (who stood in on clarinet, because Rache l Barr was involved in ' Pirates' that night), and informal performances from T im ('Jed ') M arson , Matt Brown and A lex Neame. It really is good to see such support from O.K.S. me mbe rs of the Jazz Club at these events; at the Jazz Concert this year the present band was g iven support by no fe we r than jive O .K.S. , name ly: G iles Te nnick a nd the previous four musical directors of the C lub - Chris Creissen and Tim Marson ( 1992-1993), Ed Millard ( 1993- 1994) and Matt Brown (1994- 1995).

I should like to give especially warm thanks this year to the technical team, who , by their actions on the day of the King's Week Concert, actually saved the show! Mr Steve Bree was extremely he lpful with regard to lighting and equipme nt for our Lent Term Charity Concert within days of his arrival here, and his co-ordination of the team in the King's Week Concert was likewise invaluable . We could not have functioned also we re it not for the stalwart support of Mr Ol lie Nash, O.K.S ., and Mr T im Jackson , O.K.S. , who loyally returned to he lp technically with the Lent Term Concert and the King's Week one (not to mention a myriad of other events in King's Week, including my own presentation from the fi lm and video-film archives). The resident team of Tom May, Richard Collins, O wen Buckingham, Paul Tsergas and Alex Hyatt also gave their quiet and dependable support. I really do adm ire these members of school who do not get the on-stage bouquets, but nevertheless put in cons iderable labour and hours to e nsure that thespian and musical productions are a success. I am especially grateful to those who are leaving and , in this connection, may I especially mention Tom May, who has been quietly loyal over a large numbe r of years. Finally, I thank both Miss Janet Taylor and her large team of Front-of-House workers (too nume rous to mention by name) for their sterling work, and Mr Bi ll Browning for his solid back-up on King 's Week and other events.

I now come to what is always the saddest part of writing this re port, name ly the task of saying goodbye to the leavers . Jazz Club me mbe rs who are leaving are not vast in numbers this year, but those who are departing will , nevertheless, be sorely missed. One person whose departure I was not expecting to have to be me ntioning is that of Mrs Lynne E lwood , Music Department Secretary. She has been a tremendous support to the Jazz C lub , and to me, concerning its activities, over many years . She has been genuinely fond of, and interested in , all the pupils who have passed he r way in the Music Departme nt a nd I know from personal account f rom many an O.K.S. and c urrent membe r of the J azz Club in just how much affection they ho ld her. I suspect that , in her unique way, Lynne Elwood , during he r time here, has done at least as much pastoral work as most tutors do. Everyo ne wishes her well in the new venture at Ke nt College and she takes with her our very warm regards. I also wish well Zoe B lausten , Hele na Ancock and Hattie Burgess, and thank them for the ir contributions; I am grateful also to Andrew Saunders for his THE CANTUARIAN , AUTUMN 1996

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invaluable guitar work this year. Jon Murch has been the real guts of the saxophone section with his baritone, and I thank him very much for providing that solidity. Tommy Tallon has organised the Barbershop men with considerable panache, and for this I am most grateful (as well as for my specwl request that he very touchmgly acceded to, m the Barbershop set in the King's Week Concert.) I first knew James Capel when I taught hun Mathematres 111 the Removes and I was delighted when he in the Fifth form became the Club's bass player. Since then, always cheerful and wonderfully consistent in nature, he has matured considerably as a jazz player and his relaxed approach has served him, and the Tradsters, well, as he has presented that band at the recent concerts. It ever I am feclmg fraught, after encountering James I always feel my nerves considerably calmed, and I thank him for the musicianship and stability that he has provided. Then to the 'gentle giant' of the trumpet scctron, Andy Bncc. Qmct, butwilh a keen sense of fun and joie de vivre, Andy has likewise been tremendously loyal and dependable, and has vaned Ius ever·· maturing styles, 'culminating in his being the proud owner of a 'bent' trumpet, cl Ia Dizzie Gillespie. I am very grateful to him for his immense contributions to the Jazz Club over the last years, both musrcally and by way of hrs calm dignity. He has been a 'big' man in every way ~ in stature, musically and in personality.

Finally, I come to Nick Tattersall. What can I say? The audience at the King's Week Concert said it all, with the only standing ovation (and from a capacity Hall) that I have seen in twenty years of attending these concerts. He has shown incredibly polished professionalism in presenting the King's Jazz Orchestra and being master-of-ceremonies at the concerts. Musically, he has elicited enormous respect from the Bandsthat he has drrected, as well as a genu me affection for him on their part, due to the humane, courteous and considerate way 111 wluch he has mvanably managed to coax the best out of them. On top of all this, he has made it .fun for the members of the band to work tremendously hard and give of their utmost, so that they have really wanted to do well for him, and not simply for the band as a whole. From my personal point of view, I have found it a great pleasure to work with Nick, during this academic session and previously (for he has been in the Jazz Club since his Shell days,having first 'served' under the directorship of Barney Stevenson); I have invariably found him utterly reliable,. affable, punctual, and always cheerful; overall, he has, quite simply, made it great fun for me, as well, throughout thrs year. I am extremely grateful to him for this, and I wish him all the very best indeed as he goes to Pembroke College, Oxford, where he wrll agam meet up - in the august context of the Oxford University Big Band - with those former stalwarts of the King's Jazz Club Tim Marson, Matt Brown and Richard Hagan, who have already blazed for Nrck a Kmg's musrcal trarl in that distinguished ensemble.

R.B.MA. 'This House demands a Republic of Great Britain.'

For: Leo Ft·ansella and Mary Stevens Against: Radi Abdullah and James Rock This House demands a Republic of Great Britain; if we arc to face the 21st century then we must rid ourselves of the burden of the Monarchy and equip ourselves with a practical, effective and representative government, based on undeniable democratic principles - a Republic. There are three basic reasons why the Monarchy's time has come; firstly and fundamentally, it undermines any right to representative and meritocratic government, secondly it perpetuates an unacceptable culture of pnvrlegc and thrrdly rt rs hrndenng Britain's social and economic development. Thomas Paine argued 200 years ago that if Republicanism was the triumph of reason, then Monarchy could only represent ignorance, a belief we maintain; a democratic and representative system responsible to its citizens rather than to what Paine again described as "a silly contemptible institution" is the only logical form of government. It insults our dignity.

Those who support the Monarchy often argue that it personifies the nation._Does this mean they wish also to be characterised by a lack of touch with reality, sexual scandal and undeserved pnvrlege, often abused? And of course, if Prince Charles is seen as being irreplaceable then they would be free to elect hnn as Presrdent - though, according to a MORI poll conducted in February 1996, a majority of people do not believe he is even frt to be King.

Similar polling has also revealed that the Monarchy is perceived as extravagant and greedy and in our view it perpetuates political unaccountability and snobbery, hardly soerally constructrvc values. It scorns unmhented wealth, stifling economic development and initiative. Its abolition would represent a long overdue Bnlish revolution, giving us the impetus to look to the future.

Its dissolution could be effected simply by the passing of a parliamentary bill, and the Republic to supersede it would introduce social dynamism and political professionalism with only mmrmal change. The Queen would be replaced by a non-executive Head of State, elected on an Irish model, and with similar duties as a representative figurehead and constitutional arbitrator. The revenue generated from the dissolution would be substantial, and would be put to the public benefit. The Church would be disestablished. Modest reforms would regenerate the Establishment; the civil service and army would simply switch their allegiance to 'the people', paving the way for accountability. A written constitution is essential; this would encompass the current legal framework with the addition of a Bill of Rights (based on the European Agreement on Human Rights, already ratified by the Government). The largest change would be the introduction of a Supreme Court, indirectly elected from already prominent legal figures, to oversee the application of the law and the legality of any Act passed in Parliament.

Obviously, within a Republican ethos, there is no place for hereditary peerage or governn:cnt without proportional representation (we advocate a German electoral model). People of expcncnce would be mtroduced to the Second Chamber and monetary experts would take a more active role in financial policy. The Republic, in short, would be a careful balance between stability and dynamism, expertise and accountahrhty.

KING'S PARLIAMENT

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'There is one thing more oppressive than the British state as a Monarchy and that is the unreformed British state without a Monarchy'. We would avoid restructuring government as we believe that this would be a waste of time and resources, disadvantaging the country with no concrete benefits. We believe there is nothing inherently wrong with the British Monarchy, but, as John Major put it, 'that there will be changes, is certain, but they will be gentle and they will be consistent with the rhythm and tenor of the age'. Thus we propose a shorter civil list, and a smaller royal household to initiate a degree of economy. Male primacy, anachronistic and insulting, would be abolished but the Head of State would remain on the public payroll, to maintain control. A President represents a risk to national stability; the capacity to abuse such enormous power is unimaginable. This is not the only time the Monarchy or an unpopular Prince of Wales has endured, or even been strengthened by a crisis of confidence, the reason being that the retention of the Monarchy, despite what the pseudo-socialist opposition might wish to convince you, is in the interest of the people as a whole.

The House on this occasion was hardly full to capacity, but none the less the debate was typically vigorous, if sometimes, in true parliamentary fashion, more interested in discrediting the opposition ('Do you oppose inherited privilege'/ Well then, you're a communist 1') than offering a constructive policy in return. And the questioning from the floor was once again broad, if not almost erratic, though centring on a couple of key themes ('Sorry, Leo, could you please explain what you meant by that again?') Recent King's Parliaments have shown a distinct trend against government policy (veering dangerously to the right), and common sense (aided by more detailed preparation Radi did extremely we11 to step in at such short notice) narrowly prevailed. Republicans 26 votes, Monarchists 25 and I abstention. A substantial swing, resulting in a very precarious majority.

MARY STEVENS. Tennyson, Morris, a small town west of London, Aphra Bchn and an exhibition of Andrew Rib bans's legs in a dangerously short skirt - these arc a11 lumps of the mound of knowledge feel to us by last term's Marlowe Society.

Mr Lee-Browne's talk on Reading was the first inte1lectual adventure of the term. Whilst the title was far from stimulating, the talk proved otherwise. He easily tackled this rather wide subject and spoke interestingly about a selection of pieces of literature, cha1lenging the way in which we otherwise approach a text. His views were original and he gave the group much to think about.

We gathered for the second time in St Augustine's Chamber for The 'F' Word, organised by Miss Potts's 6b English set. The subject tackled (disappointingly for some), was Ferninism in Literature, brought to life by the bolder members' experiments with cross dressing. It was interesting and entertaining to discover those blokes who were not afraid to get in touch with their feminine side. The talk moved swiftly and more seriously onto in-depth studies of the lives and works of Aphra Behn, Fanny Burney, Virginia Woolf, and Caryl Churchill. An analysis of the conflicting views of the American and French school of thought was also presented and discussed. The material was well researched and the evening fun. (Thanks to Mr Browning for generously loaning his ties.)

The third and final reunion was to get to grips with Tennyson and Morris. This talk was given by an outside speaker, Robert Douglas Fairhurst. His thorough presentation proved to be not solely restricted to their poetry, but it also gave an insight into their characters and the words of other poets. We were promised a talk on sex and death, yet although these subjects were lacking the talk was stimulating and often amusing.

CHARLIE WESTENRA AND ALEX MARDEN.

MARLOWE SOCIETY

On 25th September, a group of Classicists from King's was lucky enough to sec the production of Sophocles's Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Co/onus in the National Theatre.

Greek theatre is possibly the hardest genre to tackle in front of a modern audience, simply because it is so different from what toclay's theatre-goers have come to expect. Directors have to deal with diverse problems, such as the use of masks and the chorus, and the secondary role of the actual story-line. A lesser director might have been tempted to take the easy option and over-modernise the production. Not so Sir Peter Hall. Given his approach, it is not surprising that he also put on these plays at Epidaurus, where, as everywhere, they met with much acclaim.

The expectations of different members of the group differed greatly. We all had either read or heard about the brilliant reviews, but some knew that Ancient Greek elrama performed as it would originally have been is usually more of an interesting phenomenon and intriguing experience than a gripping tale. The sceptics were soon confounded, though, by a compelling performance which retained the traditional points of variance from modern theatre but also provided real emotion. Even those who had committed the fatal error of expecting a play along modern lines must have found enjoyment in the plays. This was due largely to the tremendous skill of the leading actors in portraying their emotions by means of body-language and tone of voice alone - their faces were covered by masks, The masks of the Chorus were cspecia1ly effective, as the illusion was created that the group rather than the individual was talking.

Although Sir Peter Ha11 produced the play along traditional lines, he did not reject the benefits offered to a performance such as this by modern technology. In fact, he used the cxce1lent facilities available to him at the National to enhance the traditional elements. For example, fires were alight around the front of the stage from the

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Malcolm Todd .

Anne Davies .

Hilary Myska.

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Max Blain on the tiles at Lullingstone. (M.J.T.) beginning of the first play. Using modern technology, Hall managed to employ these primitive tools of theatre in a way as sophisticated as many a complicated modern lighting sequence: the fires died down, apparently of their own accord, simultaneously with the blinding of Oedipus. What was so impressive about the use of technology was the subtlety with which it was employed. Eusuring that the traditional atmosphere was preserved, Hall never allowed the discreet but productive special effects to take anything like centre-stage. The set was always simple and was changed only once, and then to reflect a change in the mood of the play. The lighting was notably inconspicuous.

The music and the choreography suggested well the ritual elements of ancient theatrical convention.

The evening was entertaining but also provided a fascinating insight into what theatre must have been to the Greeks. Those involved made their task as challenging as possible and pulled it off superbly.

The Pater Society also offered a talk by Georgina Salmon, O.K.S., on 'The Oxford Classical Experience' ami C.T.H.'s now traditional visit (for Shells) to Lullingstone Roman villa.

ZoE FARGHER AND JAMES S¡tAZICKER.

Try an anagram of 'Science Matters' ~ if you can produce one, please contact D.M.A. SCIENCE MATTERS since our trusty 'Top of the Bench' team (Ben Carey, Andrew Bailey, Tom Hopkinson, Alex Skilton) just failed to reach the final stages of the Royal Society of Chemistry competition for budding scientists when they were unable to solve anagrams quickly enough. Other important science-based activities this term have included a U.K.C.-hosted hands-on computer-modelling session, and a visit organised by D.M.A. to a lecture on fireworks (well, Alfred Nobel made his fortune from dynamite!)

Amongst pupil-led activities have been the continuation of Doctor's Notes and the initiation of the S.A.S. (Alex Higgins, a group of scalpel-wielders, several dissection guides and a range of abattoir material).

Messrs Parker and Lawrence terrified an audience with the updated information on B.S.E. and the link to Creutzfcld-Jakob disease, and a number of conservationists continued their woodland activities (sec 'This and That'). Mr Parker has continued to introduce potential medics to the hazards of University and Medical School applications, so that long-time Burger King and Macdonalds addicts can rest assured that they will be treated well if the prion gets them.

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A quick look through the 'Activities' section in previous editions of The Cantuarian showed that arguably the most worthwhile activity available to pupils had never been fully acknowledged. Social service provides pupils with the chance to experience working in the community with elderly, disabled and underprivileged people, experience that is essential to those who want to ~-~ 0 into medicine and other caring professions. This term Mrs Wharfc organised one group of pupils to work with ;lisabled children and children with learning difficulties at St Nicholas' school in Canterbury and another to work at , 11 old people's home. I spent an afternoon with Adrian Cheong, Alyssa Nihon-Kufta and Chris Pickering working <It St Nicholas' to get some idea of what community work involves. Below is Adrian's account of a typical Thursday working at the school, which should give you some idea of what it's about:

SOCIAL SERVICES

'Thursday ... Is there going to be another situation today where Matthew (a child I have been working with) remembers my birthday and 1 don't remember his? The thought of seeing the children at St Nicholas' school always ,dvcs me something to look forward to every week. Although these children suffer from mental or physical ;lisabilities, their passion for learning, their refusal to give up, and their laughter, drive me to teach them and help them wholeheartedly. Chris P. helped with the P.E. classes whilst Alyssa and !took charge of a junior l.T. class with Mrs King ~ a caring and experienced form-mistress. We helped to load the noisy and colourful CD-ROM programmes, and the children took over from there; clicking on icons and flicking through dictionaries, only

stopping to ask what 'platinum' was. Although patience was not my strong point, !learnt it by working with them.

At the end of the day, covering the tables were the products of their unlimited imaginations, reproduced in vibrant colours on paper. The children made impressive pictures of buildings last week ~ their houses, hospitals, even an <1ircraft hanger! Sometimes I had to be strict (when Lee tried to jump the queue waiting to usc the computer) but there were other times when we all laughed ~ for example when Sean blushed a bright pink whilst giving Alyssa a nice drawing. It's been an enjoyable experience, and I'm now ever more motivated to work with people in my future career.'

If you would like to know more about Social Services then please sec Mrs Wharfe.

WILL JUSTICE AND ADRIAN CHEONG.

C.C.F. NOTES ROYAL NAVY SECTION Yet another busy term in the section has passed. ln September three members of the Section represented the School at the C.C.F. National Regatta. We were very grateful for all the help and advice during the preparation from Mr David James of Westbere Frostbite Sailing Club. Joel Marshall and Hugh Kingston formed the Bosun crew, doing much better than anticipated especially when up against some of the best young sailors in the country. Chris Elworthy came 2nd in his section of the Topper class, an excellent result.

After the regatta on Sunday we explored the museums of Portsmouth Dockyard, and visited the Mary Rose. Later we were joined by the rest of the Section for a visit to HMS l//ustrious. We went on board in time for a briefing session followed by a guided tour and supper. The following morning we took up Harbour Stations as the ship left its berth in Portsmouth and headed for the Western Approaches. Chris was taken down to the bowels of the ship by !he Ship's Engineer. The highlight of the visit was the flight in a Sea King helicopter from the ship back to Lee-onSolent Search and Rescue Base on Monday afternoon. Our thanks go to Lt. Simon Huntingdon RN for making all this possible.

In October we were back in Portsmouth. This time we invited fourteen potential recruits (Shells) to join our Field Day. Following an overnight stay on board HMS Bristol, we spent the morning looking round HMS Victory ~ nineteenth-century sailors were Shell-sized! After lunch our serious training started. We went to the D.R.I.U. (Damage Repair Instructional Unit) at HMS Excellent. The best description of the experience would be to imagine that you arc in a ship that has suffered a missile attack then starts to sink. The D.R.I.U. was a large tank on hydraulically controlled legs, simulating a rolling ship as it fills up with cold water. The crew are then mean! to plug the holes and pump out the water. After all the safety briefings and an introduction to the available equipment we were issued with waterproof suits and boots. There was a terrific bang the lights went out and water rushed in. They were kind to us: they turned some of the lights back on and did not introduce smoke to the area. Without a good sense of balance you stood no chance. After much work and laughter, soaked to the skin, we finished the simulation, and returned to School.

The re~t of the term was spent practising our leadership skills and introducing the Shells to the C.C.F. With a busy term comes a lot of planning and for this we thank Lt. McConnell very much, and look forward to another good term with our new Shells Cmus ELWORTHY. 87

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Clym Evernden

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R .N . FIELD DAY - A SHELL'S EYE VIEW A mad rush to be in the right place at the right time with the right kit. Marched to supper. Slept on board a destroyer, in a mess deck: I was on the top bunk of three, and apart from the noise of the air conditioning which couldn't be tu rned off, I slept well. Woken at six a.m. Marched to breakfast.

I n the morning we had a boat tour round the H arbour from HMS Bristol to HMS Victory. This was followed by a tour of Nelson 's flagshi p. If you are tall, like me, it is advisable to wear a hard hat, because even the smallest Shell had to d uck at times. Then on to the highlight of the trip - a simulator of a sinking-ship. I was in the mess deck which was on the lowest level, so we got most of the water. It was very often above our waists (and as previously stated I a m tall). If yo u dropped a tool you had to dive for it. The wedges in the holes kept giving way and water poured back in. Our suits were meant to be waterproof, and mine worked. One girl's did not. She quickly filled up and looked like a ' Michelin man ', and had to be carried upstairs, tipped upside down and emptied. It was very funny.

Even she was laughing!

We arri ved home hav ing had a very successful and exhausting trip. I am now thinking of joining the Naval Section. What are we going to do next?

PENELOPE Cox.

ARMY SECTION S ummer camp was held this year at the su nny beach location of Penhale in Cornwall . There was no time to settle in with our 24-hour exercise beginning on the first day. Instead of the woods and heaths we were used to we were all amazed to find ourselves sleeping out on open sand dunes. .

A lthough we practised a ll the usual military skills we also did a lot of adventure training, most noticeably abseiling from the c liffs into the sea, body-boarding, canoeing and power-boating. The camp also had the usual competitions, and considering the average age of the cadets on the camp King's did very well, most noticeably in the March and S hoot competition . At the end of the week the three 6b pupils were promoted to sergeant, and Jon Polloc k was awarded the lanyard for best cadet on camp. Martin Graham was awarded the runne r up prize - an inflatable rubber axe!

A number of cadets went on summer courses, including Frimley Park leadership training, Royal Marines arduous training and a di ving course.

After a general meeting in wh ich the term was planned, the Army got straight down to Shell recrui ting. T his year we followed a new approach , and instead of getting the Shells to walk to Scotland Hills where they would simply get cold , we held it at Blores instead. T he Senior NCOs gave brief talks on a number of different army activities, and then the bolder Shells had a chance to get ' hands on' with the rifles, L.S.W.s and other kit.

We took a rather unusual field day this year. Instead of spending the usual day out on a training area, we went to T he Impe rial War Museum, Duxford. This gave a chance for all the cadets to take a close look at artillery pieces and RAF planes.

Normal weekly trai ning consisted of an advanced level camp-craft lesson, conducted by the SNCOs; and two trips to Shorncl iffe, one of w hich was spent abseiling, and the other on an assault course competition.

Our new ly appointed Company Sergeant Major, James Firth, joined together with Chris Elworthy and the head of corps, Je nna Crouch, fo r one of the best Remembrance Sunday parades that anyone can remember. The excellent drill was made even better by the quiet words of command, which in no way spoi lt the solemnity of the service.

The next weeke nd we staged a night exercise, known as Exercise Iron Fist; brilliantly written by L/Cpls Morrison and Delmotte, it combined a number of important skil ls that even the SNCOs were getting rusty on.

In appalling weather we staged our Shell exercise, a totally voluntary chance for the S hells to come and have a look at what we do ' in the field'. Unfortunately the bad weather put many off, but those who did come enjoyed the mselves immensely, as d id many NCO s who found themselves f iring a massive number of rounds .

After such a lot of mil itary work we had a chance to do what is really the othe r half of the C.C.F. - adventure training . A long w ith the RAF section we went dry slope skiing, an experie nce enjoyed by all. Another adventure training trip consisted of a small group from each of the three sections going to Snowdonia. We managed to f it in two days' walking, in which we covered the Triphan and Devi l's Kitchen climbs. Staying in the Kent Mountain Centre we had to subject ourselves to Mr Franks's cooking, a slightly less agreeable experience than walking in the rain outside!

Charlie Leigh-Pe mberton and Andrew Ribbans were both awarded Army Scholarships at the end of last term , which guarantees the m a place at Sandhurst.

This term has proved useful to everyone, whether it be the Removes getting used to being sen ior cadets, or the sixth-formers settling into positions as sergeants and above. lt only remains to thank the R.S.M . Alan Booth, Major Vye, Captain Franks and Lieute nant Saunders for everything they have done this term and on camp . I would also like to thank James Firth on behalf of the whole Army Section: he has worked extremely hard for the Army and for the whole corps this term.

We now look forward to next term, and the hope that it will bring with it a decent number of new recruits.

CHARLIE LEIGH-PEMBERTON.

89

THE CANTUAR IAN, AUTUMN

1996

ROYAL AIR FORCE SECTION The Autumn term followed a very successful summer camp at Royal Air Force St A than, near Cardiff. Although it is not a true flying station in the sense of Front-line-first, the vast majority of RAF engineering takes place there and, whilst some cadets expected no more than a glorified garage for lame aircraft, the reality was a thriving basewhere cadets could get their hands dirty servicing fi'ont-line aircraft and watch newly-serviced front-line aircraft fly test missions. At front-line stations it is true that cadets can expect to sec a specified type of aircraft fly. At St A than, however, we were treated to a flying display by virtually every aeroplane in service with the RAF. An interesting feature was the Harrier 'jump jet' which hovered and saluted our rounders match at very close quarters. Within the camp, we were a small section - yet we still managed to field the best cadet (Cpl Henry Coltart, who won a tankard) and provided the Senior NCO i/c (CWO Alex Hyatt). It should be added, too, that the second choice for best cadet was also from King's - (J/Cpl Richard Steele). I was certainly very proud of the contribution which all of our cadets made to this camp. It was obvious that they gained as much from it as they had contributed to it.

During the Autumn Term, our major focus was Shell recruitment and this year the C.C.F. presented a much more unified front than in previous years. Our contribution was centred around outward-bound style pursuits in Folkestone and our cadets engaged in climbing, sports and the assault course. The weather prevented us doing the planned abseiling and mechanics and past experience prevented us showing off our two hovercraft. With the forecast of better weather and the skilful know-how of Henry Col tart, however. the hovercraft should soon be back in action.

Weather (and rationalisation of the service) has also hindered the flying programme and we have not been as fortunate as in previous years with our allocation. I hope that in future our cadets will all get to fly the Bulldog from RAF Mans ton; traditionally, we have done rather well in terms of flying hours.

As regards personnel, our current strength is distributed rather heavily amongst fifth-formers and the upper sixth.

It was, therefore, disappointing that a relatively rare offer of an Easter camp in Germany in 1997 had to be cancelled. due to GCSE I' A' -level revision. Had the offer come in 1998, I am sure that we would have easily filled the places with carefree members of VIb. The German camps arc much sought-after and I arn hopeful that our allocation will be postponed until next year, when we should have little difficulty in filling places.

C.C.F. sections tend to have very good years. We were sorry to lose CWO Ryan Mannering several years ago; he is in fact alive and kicking as a member of the University Air Squadron at St A than, in the rank of acting Pilot Officer - indeed, it's good to know that a former head of Corps has gone on to be the senior member of the U.A.S. Mcrnbcrs of the Corps such as Ryan arc few and far between, but we also said a sad farewell to his successor this year, CWO Alex Hyatt. Alex came to us from the A.T.C. and was. from the outset, a thorough professional and a real asset to the section. An obvious choice for the post, she earned the respect of all members of the section and she will be missed: we were all kept on our toes.

We also said farewell to Fit Sgt Charlie Foinettc who devoted five years' loyal service to the section. Without this double-act, we would certainly have been a poorer section. With the departure of this remarkable management team, I was very pleased to promote Henry Coltart to the rank of Sergeant and entrust him with the headship of the section. Henry has attended two RAF camps since leaving the Army section to join us and~ on both occasions, has managed to be voted Best Cadet. This is no mean achievement, and I commend him for it. He leads a keen and committed team of Junior NCOs whom I hope to be able to promote shortly. James Shattock and Tom Calvert arc our hard-men, invaluable on night exercises.

Richard Steele was a close second in the (Isaac Sibson) selection for best cadet at RAF St A than, but will always be remembered for his truly amazing performance at 617 VGS gliding school at RAF Manston. Cadet Lindsay Sharp showed true grit in everything she tried before being seduced to the Jewellery and Silversmithing activity - I hope it won't be too long before we see her back in the section. Last, but by no means least. a special mention to CWO Jenna Crouch- again, it is our turn to lead the Contingent, and we were dclightcd to promote Jcnna to the position of Head of Corps. Occupying the current middle position in the Crouch RAF dynasty, she is bound to serve the Corps well in this Inspection year: I wish her all the best of luck.

I thank all members of the section for their enthusiasm and hope that they gain as much from it as they clearly devote to it. One final welcome: rather like Victor Kyam (who bought Remington after liking their shavers), my wife enjoyed her trip to our Easter camp at RAF Honington so much that she has agreed to join the section. We warmly welcome Pit Off Amanda McFall to our ranks. Cranwell and the dreaded Fit Sgt McGavigan and her drill practices await!

Fr;r Lr A. McFALL, RAFVR(T).

THE CANTUARtAN, AUTUMN !996

90

If you really want to make your mark, you'd be bdtn ofT not joining th(' masses in the city. !:specially now th(' Ri\F arc chann· to

.'i<'("

ofl~·ring you

the

if you have what it takes to lwconw

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To apply, you 1W1'd to be hetwcl'n llft,•en and sen:n\(•pn and about to tah· your GCSEs or SCEs,

apart fro111 giving you a medicd to see if you arc

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ROYAL AIR FORCE SPONSORSHIP

91

TilE CANTUARIAN.AUTUi"vlN 1996

SPORT Rugby Football

an inexperienced side, to lose games narrowly. Indeed, five games were conceded very late in the game after we had been leading. This was as frustrating to the players as it was to those who watched, but at least some lessons were learned, not least the early season habit for example of conceding tries in batches of three, which thankfully disappeared. What was unfortunately constant was a Jack of tactical appreciation and flexibility, and at least three defeats could be directly attributable to this. Our victories, meanwhile, tended to be by large margins, and they had in common that we were able to dominate possession for long periods, allowing us to play some sparkling, pacey rugby.

SCHOOL XV 1996 There are many ways of evaluating a rugby season.

Naturally, statistically is the easiest option, and understandably so, since the prime objective in any game is to win. We have become used to success at 1st XV level, and so this season has to be in bald terms a disappointment. This of course, thankfu!ly, is not the only way to view it, and it is possible to reap a reward

Sadly, although they defended well, the three quarters failed really to spark as a unit in attack. Peter Phipson was more than a handful for any defence, an extremely powerful runner, and was fierce in his own tackling ~ he deserved his selection for Kent. Ben White was steady at full back, but was reluctant to

from a season, even if at first glance it seems a poor one. It

The School XV Back row, left to right: Folarin Alakija, Gareth Williwns, James Hessey, Henry Chamberlain, Chike Okoli, Richard Johnson, Edward lmmink, Simon Lau, Robert Adams, Olukayode Akindele.

Front row, lefi to right: Tom O'Sullivan, David Smith, Wi!limn Bax, Damian Stewai¡t, Peter Phipson, Ben White, Nick Lynch, Michael Ziegler. fully utilise his pace to penetrate as one of the extra runners, and this limited our attacking options. Michael Ziegler, starting the season in the 4th XV, played well in three positions, and made some scintillating breaks, notably against Dulwich, but unfortunately they were made in the wrong third of the field, as a response to being under huge defensive pressure and unable to get away a kick. Folarin Alakija was explosive in defence and attack, and it was a pity we could not get the ball to him wide out more often. It will, however, take him a long time to Jive down the embarrassment of his flamboyant dive when (almost) scoring a wonderful solo try against Eastbourne. Rob Adams, Peter's partner in the centre, was steady, but a little inconsistent powerful in the tackle one minute,

should of course be placed into a context. Only three players remained from the 1995 XV; moreover our best XV this season contained at least nine from 6b, and fourteen in all from the lower sixth gained 1st team experience through the season. We also were unlucky in losing key players through injuries that stemmed from unopposed practice!

Despite the inexperience of the team, we played good rugby throughout the term, training and playing with immense dedication, enthusiasm and heart. We were well beaten only by very strong sides, and even then gave a very good account of ourselves indeed. At the time of going to press St Paul's and Eastbourne remained unbeaten, and in the latter game we might well have won. Otherwise, we tended, as is often the way with

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

92

forward next year. Sam Parker played a lot more than he might have expected at this stage, but he did well - he has naturally good running angle with ball in hand, reads the game well, and also has a great attitude. If he can put on some beef, he could be very effective next year. Last, but by no means least, comes the captain, Damian Stewart. Captaining a side that has got into the habit of losing is not easy, but he never lost form or heart, and led very firmly from the front. He decided that he did not want to try for representative honours this year, but his aggression in attack and defence would have seen him a must in any county XV. I am sorry for him that the results do not reflect what he has put into the season.

J should like to thank all the squad, many not mentioned individually above, for what they have given this season. It began with a very enjoyable and productive ten days in the Dordogne, and I hope I shall find time at some stage in the future to look again at the video of that famously entertaining final session. Next term brings us the sevens, and the challenge of the Sedbergh Tens. Later, in the summer, comes the tour to Canada. I have a feeling we shall be in fine fettle for all of these.

Thanks arc also due to the groundstaff ~ the I st XV pitch was easily the best on our circuit this year - to Alan our First Aid man and the matrons who helped him, and to the kitchen staff. Thanks also to A.R.W. for his assistance with the French tour, to all our common room and external coaches for the high quality of their work this season, to all our referees, society and otherwise. and D.J.R. who worked so tirelessly and patiently behind the scenes to ensure

Simon Lau and Richard Johnson. (M.J.T.) absentmindedly missing someone the next; he was another of whom we saw too little as an attacking threat. Richard Johnson wok the place on the wing of Aki -- who had started the season so well, including a marvellously memorable solo try at the county trials - after his freak accidental collision with Phippo, and performed solidly. At half back, Gareth Williams started erratically, but to his credit returned to reclaim the number ten shirt, and performed his kicking duties with minimum fuss and some precision; he will be an important player next season, and even more eflective if he can add a little adventure to his game. David Smith was a revelation at serum half until incapacitated by housemaid's knee, and the run of defeats from the moment we lost his services is more than coincidental.

Mark Sweny deputised, and gave much in the cause, but was not able to match Dave's confident cheekiness, which constantly challenged back row forwards, or Dave's newly found aggressive tackling around the f"ringes.

Our pack, fairly tall, but not the widest or heaviest, was rarely subdued. The passage of play that led to the lry against Tonbridge was perfection, and a tribute to !heir cohesion as a unit when things went wei!. Our two props, Simon Lau and Ed Immink, will have learned a great deal from the season, and should enjoy themselves next year. Simon scored the individual try of the season, running fifty metres, outmuscling and outpacing allcomers up the hill at Sevenoaks (but what was he doing tm the wing?). Ed meanwhile is a good, old-fashioned prop, who relishes the physical contest, though he must concentrate on maintaining his self discipline; his handling is infinitely better now; he also made many good tackles. At hooker, Tom O'Sullivan was a permanent inspiration to his team, always in the thick or lhings and carrying the game to the opposition. His thrmVing in improved out of all recognition from last year, and his knack of stealing a tight head when we were under pressure was priceless. Behind him were two outstanding locks. Nick Lynch deserved his selection f'or the county XV -- an honest workhorse, who never gave up, won good lineout bal!, but also 111adc countless tackles, and was ever in support of runners; I shall miss his partner, Billy Bax, next year, for he has provided some outstanding moments in the lineout for two seasons with his wonderfully dextrous and athletic catches ~ though his '--~JTcctiveness around the field and in the tackle should also not be underestimated. In the back row, we had to do more often than we would have liked without the services of James Bessey, and I hope he has now used up his share of bad luck. Henry Chamberlain proved to be a great defensive worker, but we hope to sec a little more evidence of him as a presence going

Tom O'Sullivan. (Charlie Fordham) that there always was a thirty-first player on the pitch. A special thank you and 'good luck' to N.C.W.S. R.C.W.

Teamj/"om: Rob Adams, Kayode Akill(lcle, Folarin Alakija'~', William Bax *~', Henry Chamberlain, James Hessey~', Edward Immink, Richard Johnson, Simon Lau, Nick Lynch':', Chike Okoli, Tom O'Sullivan*, Sam Parker, Peter Phipson*, David Smith. Damian Stewart""'. (Capwin), Mark Sweny, Ben White*, (iarcth Williams, Michael Ziegler.

Also played: Angus Blackburn (rep.), Felix Boon, Alex Hayes, Scgun Lawson, Will Mackay (rep.}, Tristram Standen. ''' First Colours ,,,.,,First Colours, re-awarded

93

THE CJ\NTU/\Rlii.N, AUTUMN

1996

RESUJJ'S

Played 13, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 9.

Points for 262, against 255.

Duke or York's

(H).

,. Eastbournc v Craigbousc (Chile)

v St. John's, Leathcrhcad I' Cranlcigh

(1-1).

(H).

(A).

(H).

(A) (A).

(A).

(A).

(H).

(H).

(A).

v Eton

(A).

I'

,, St Paul's K.C.S., Wimbledon 1' Kent College I'

v Bryanston

v Sevcnoaks v Dulwich

v Tonbridge

Won Lost Won Lost Won Won Lost

Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost

Lost

46-0.

15-20.

50-20.

19-46.

35-9.

50-3.

10-29.

8-13.

0-27.

13-21.

10-13.

3-10.

3-44.

DORDOGNE TOUR v Pompadour.

Terrasson.

Rugby Competitions, 1996: l'

Junior Goalkicking Trophy:

Senior Goalkicking Trophy:

Chike Okoli and Peter Phipson. (M.J.T.) Junior Ten-a-sides Senior ten-a-sides Senior Sevens

Under 16 Sevens Under 15 Sevens Under 14 Sevens

Won Won

27-0.

98-0.

D. Cartwright CrR) S. Lawson (GR)

Winners

Runners-up

TR TR GR GR TR GL

GR GR TR MO/GL GR LN/MO

2nd XV This season will be remembered for a number of excellent team and incliviclual performances but also for the numerous missed opportunities and mistakes which allowed the opposition to clutch victory. The season began well with two comprehensive victories against the Duke of York's and Eastbournc, the former being notable in that the opposition called off proceedings eight minutes into the second half. St Paul's forwards were able to obtain enough ball via the lineout to secure the points for their victory. With a touch more possession our backs would have been able to take advantage of a rather shaky St Paul's back division. The defeat against King's Wimbledon, the first for many years, came in the dying seconds of the game. This resulted from appalling decision¡ making on our part and a sense of complacency just at the very stage of the game when alertness was called for. This shock defeat spurred the team on to comprehensive victories against Dover College 1st XV and Sevenoaks. Even here we lacked the 'Southern Hemisphere ruthlessness' to pile on the points even after the result was not in doubt. Just as winning needs to become habitual, so docs the scoring of as many points as possible need to be a feature of play. The highlight of the season was the Dulwich match. The opposition, unbeaten to date, were formidable. Completely outsiz.ed in the forwards we spent 750fo of the game tackling our hearts out. In the last quarter of the game our backs used their increasing share of the ball to run at the opposition. It was probably asking too much to expect a simil~u¡ perfonnance in the following game against Ton bridge, another unbeaten team. Before we had woken up we were 15 points down with little more that ten minutes of the game having being played. Tenacious tackling kept the score relatively respectable. Up until the last fifteen minutes of the St John's game, defeat was staring us in the face. Driven by a sense of pride, the comeback was symbolised by Adesanya, the captain, who scored two magnificent tries. The season ended on a rather disappointing note. We seemed to have lost much of the spirit of earlier games. Combined with the dearth of natural rugby intuition amongst the ranks, the games against Cranlcigh and Eton were lost. Even after we had gone ahead via <m Adesanya try in the Cranlcigh game, the forwards lacked the competitive drive to take their opponents on. But now to the players themselves.

Will Bax (M.J.T.)

At full back Jack Patrick had the physical attributes and the powerful running to be promising at his position. Hmvever, his kicking and positioning around the park were somewhat erratic.

Will Bax. (M.J.T.) THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

!996

94

The right wing was a problem for the 2nd XV because we could not find anyone to play there on a permanent basis. Ed Dale-Jones started off well there; he was defensively sound and ;.1ggressive in attack, but due to a wrist injury was forced to concede his position. Despite this Sola Lawson, Tim Mitchell, ;md notably Dicky Johnson all gave impressive performances in this position.

as his predecessor his kicking game was far superior, whether kicking out of defence (on either foot) or putting ahead chip kicks. His cover tackling was also 'splendid'.

Size was very much in absence from our front row. Ribbo was not a natural rugby player nor was he built like one, and as a result he suffered particularly in the scrummage. However, to his credit he showed great determination and gave the job his best shot - and there's not much more you can ask of a man.

Alex Hayes at hooker, being a converted flanker, added additional mobility to the front row. His experience in the centre paid off against K.C.S., where his beautifully floated pass put .Tide away for the first try. Tris Standen was small for a prop, but this did not hamper his scrummaging; and his supporting of the jumpers in the lineout was useful.

Henry and P.-J. provided unlimited ball at the lineout. In the loose they were like back row forwards: they supported welL made notably huge cover tackles and went on some rampaging runs.

On the blind side, Will Mackay hac\ the hean and the aggression to be good at his positi01l. His game though lacked

Alistair Williams was the complete centre, defensively reliable; in attack he was blessed with vision, intelligence and swift hands. Segun, a.k.a. Terminator, served as our hit man in the centre. He was defensively uncompromising, making big tackles in every game - whether it was on his unfortunate opposite man, or covering for others. In attack, he learnt to Cashion his dummy to such an extent that he fooled virtually the whole St Paul's back division, enabling himself to run fifty yards! Against K.C.S., Wimbledon, and Scvenoaks he scored doing the same thing.

The No. II and Captaincy spot this season was occupied by

.1 ide Adesanya. In attack his motto was simple: 'The try line is my destination', and lhroughout the seaso71 he arrived 1hcre frequently ¡~ Gnding up with 14 tries, none of which was ordinary. His allacking runs were ~!raccful vet \(iiosyncratic ;\nd even though his dc!"encc might have been a little suspect. this aspect of his game improved notably as the season progressed.

As Captain he did his best although he proved to be a controvc_rsial player on occaston.

Three individuals played in the No. 10 position this year: \1 ike Ziegler, Gareth Williams~- and Mark !)reston. Mike was ihe first. l-Ie possessed blistering pace and a ridiculously long pass 10 the left, both of which qualities he used to devastating effect. A common feature or his game saw him either skip the entire back line (12, 13, 15) straight to the wing, or outpace opposition clef'cncc to score himself. Gareth lacked Mike's pace but brought authority to the back line. He was probably our most gifted player, blessed with rare intelligence and vision. He was a reliable goal kicker and proved to have a useful left boot when under pressure. Mark returned from injury and had a brief stint at full back (where he has never played before) before moving to fly half. He looked more comfortable at stand-off, but brought his fortes of quick thinking and intelligence to both positions. His cover tackling was superb and goal kicking useful.

.fide Adesanya. ( M..l.T.)

sophistication. His partner, at open side, was Felix who was ever-present in support and always first to the breakdown.

Chike's impact at No.8 was huge. His breaks from the base of the serum were powerful and each time presented scoring opportunities. He served as our 'pillar of strength' and his usefulness to the side was increased by the fact that he could play in the front, second, and back row.

Special mention must go to those who served the 2nd XV on an ad hoc basis during the season -- namely Theo Davies, Nick Hopkins, Sola Lawson, Dicky Johnson, Henry Trew, Sam Parker, James Squires, Tim Mitchell, Alastair Lewis and also Max von Hurter for his support from the sidelines.

Mark Sweny possessed the makings of a good serum half.

His passes to both sides were accurate, his sniping from rucks and mauls effective, and his dummies were convincing. His pace and defensive qualities also enabled him to make an appearance dn the wing. Due to injuries Mark was promoted to !he 1st XV and Simon Youngman rose admirably to the task of l"illing this position: he was told he would only be required for one match, but ended up playing for the rest of the season! His pass was long and accurate and while not as much of a runner

JJDE ADESANYA AND P.T.

Team from: Babajide Adesanya (Captain), Felix Boon, Edward Dale-Jones, Henry Eccles, Alex Hayes, Olusegun I....awson, William Mackay, Chike Okoli, James Patrick, Mark Preston, Alistair Williams, Gareth Williams, Andrew Ribbans, Philip Stubbings, Tristram Standen, Mark Sweny, Simon Youngman, Michael Ziegler.

95

TJIE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN !996

RESULTS Played 11, Won 5, Lost 6.

Points for 171 , against 154.

I' Duke of York's (A). Won I' East bourne (II), Won I' St Paul's (A). Lost I' K.C.S ., Wimbledon (H). Lost I' Dover College I st XV (H). Won I' Scvenoaks (H) Won I' Dulwich (H). Lost I' Tonbridge (A). L,ost I' St .John's (A). Won v Cranleigh (A). Lost I' Eton (A). Lost

King's Rochester was to become our next win, with strong forward play, especially in the lincout jumping, leading to a greater possession of the ball which the backs used well. Dover College and an unfortunate loss Jed to a results sheet at half~ term of 'Won 2, L.ost 3'.

A strong forward game secured a win against Sevenoaks, with good tries from Dan Robson, Henry Hardy, Jonathan Warren and myself. Against Dulwich an impressive tackle between two of our own side meant that James Swzickcr was off with a bang to the head. Chris French did well to take over serum half and the team played well against a stronger team.

Against Tonbriclge our defence was excellent and we managed to hold them to 0-0 at half time. The second half saw us step up a gear and a superb dodging run from James Caney, leading to a try, helped secure a well-deserved win. St John's wns probably our best show of determination, with the last ten minutes consisting of the forwards battling their way through again and again -- leading to Rob van A !Jan's try and James Caney's conversion, to make it a drawn game. Cranlcigh was our last match of the season and we played well, despite lacking some of our players who were needed higher up: .lames Caney managed an excellent penalty. 'f'he team played exceedingly wei!, and with Peter Mayberry's excellent hooking, Mntt Knight's lineouts and the recycling of the ball for the backs, the forwards played very wei!. The backs, with the size of Henry Hardy, the speed of Malcolm Todd, the dodging of James Caney and the overall willingness to run at and tackle the opposition, played exceptionally well. We would !ike to thank Mr Barham and Mr Dath for their coaching, Mr Fox for refereeing most of our home matches and the parents ancl supporters who came to see us play.

33-0, 32-12.

5-20.

17-18.

27-3.

19-3.

3-14.

0-36.

25-8.

7-15.

3-25.

3rd XV Though not the most successful of seasons this was a very enjoyable one, and the team was admirably Jed by Stephen Bushnell. The more taleJHed players were probably in the backs, but too often they played as individuals; though this resulted in a couple of good wins, repeatedly against good opposition little ground was made and the ball lost. The forwards, lacking any size, always performed with enthusiasm and gusto --- particularly James Squires and Chris Elworthy.

The second half of the season saw a below strength side for the last three games, two of which I feel we would have comfortably won. However the players stuck at it and those drafted in from the 4ths coped well, particularly Tom Byford.

Many of the side will still be here next year, a few will have

a good chance of playing in the seconds, and if Alastair Lewis can work on his speed of pass he may well be of usc to the

Team from: James Caney, James Day, Chris French, James Firth, Simon Gomersall, Henry Hardy, Fraser Hewett, James Hollaway, Tony Keeling, Mau Knight, Peter Mayberry, James Miller-Jones, Alex Pearson, David Ribchestcr, Joe RandallCutler, Dan Robson, James Stazicker, George Taylor, Paul T<>ergas (Captain), Rob van Allan, Max von Hurter, Jonathan Warren, Henry Williams.

firsts. My final word goes to the only two players to play every game for the thirds this season, John Hillier and Will Justice.

DOMINIC SPURRIER.

Team .fi'om: Stephen Bushnell (Captain), James Squires, Tom Davidson, Theo Davies, Hugo MacPherson, Matt Appleyard, Henry Trcw, Ollie Henderson, James Day, Tim Hamlin, William Justice, Chris Elworthy, Tim Mitchell, Nick Hopkins, Christian Smith, John Hillier, Tristan Byrnes.

Also ployed: Tom Byford, Tristan Byrnes, Tom Davidson, Clemens Guth, Tim Hamlin, Oliver Henderson, Chris Letts, Malcolm Todd.

RESUIJ'S Played II, Won 4, Lost 7.

Points for 159, Points against 279.

38-0. v Duke of York's (A). Won v Eastbourne (H). Lost 5-29. v St Panl's (A). Lost 3-22. v K.C.S., Wimbledon (H). Won 26-0. v Kent College (A). Won 13-10.

31-0. v Sevcnoaks (H). Won 16-38. " Dulwich (A). Lost 0-57. v Tonbridge (H). Lost v StJohn's, Leatherhead (A). Lost 8-34. v Cranlcigh (A). Lost 7-14 12-37 v Eton (A). Lost Top Scorers: John Hillier (2 tries, 2 drop goals, 2 penalties, 14 conversions, total points 50); Sola Lawson (5 tries, total points 25); Mark Westlake (4 tries, total points 20).

RESUlTS

v v

v v I'

v I'

v v I'

We approached the new season with a determination to do well, having condemned all previous performances to history.

Some of us had trained together in the summer term and were prepared for a fresh outlook and a change of attitude.

As traditionaL we played our first game against the Duke of York's. Both sides competed for territory and control in the first quarter and despite 'parry and thrust' in forward play the action hardly moved beyond the half-way line. Our elation at taking the lead with a try by Ed Vainker was short~Jived when we lost concentration, became complacent, and failed to counter the Duke of York's aggressive style. Also the sum of early season rustiness, poor back alignment, over eagerness, slowness to the

As usual, our first match against our local opposition Duke of York's resulted in a win. Our forwards played well and a short lineout ball and pass to Malcolm Todd gave a brilliant, ¡vneck' try. From there we went on to play Eastbourne and St Paul's where our speed from the kick ofT unfortunately did not prevail and led to a number of tries against us in the first halves.

In the second half, as was to become our way of playing, we stepped up a gear and managed to hold both teams to only one try.

1996

20-5.

0-39.

0-38.

34-10.

0-20.

41-5.

0-28.

25-0.

12-12.

3-29.

Colts 'A' XV

4th XV

THE CANTUARIAN,AUTUMN

Played 10, Won 4, Lost 5, Drawn I. Points for 135, against 186.

Duke of York's (A). Won Eastbourne (H). Lost St Paul's (A). Lost King's, Rochester (A). Won Dover College (H). Lost Scvenoaks (H). Won Dulwich (A). Lost Tonbridge VI (H). Won StJohn's (A). Drawn Cranlcigh (A). Lost

96

loose ball and a lack of cohesion up-front allowed the opposition back into the game. In the second half we faced an up-hill battle ·-- a slight slope on the pitch, low-angled sun, Jack of confidence in defence and an inability to clear our lines under pressure.

The match against Dulwich saw a spirited performance. We were able occasionally to recycle the ball quickly and play entertaining rugby with exciting attacking play, one such flowing movement resulting in a try for James Mitchell. In defence, unfortunately, more than a few questions were asked of our tackling and this was exploited by Dulwich. At the end of the clay we were worth more points than the score suggested but conceded that we were outplayed. The story continued against Tonbridge - spirited performance against a robust and purposeful side who gained their points from our weak defence.

Our lineouts were sound where Tom MacAdie was able to hold our throw-ins and we were solid in the set serums.

Unfortunately, we failed to control or drive our own ball at the base of the serum and our half-backs were faced with the most severe pressure from the Ton bridge back-row.

Against Eastbourne we faced a large pack of forwards vvho were quick to gain the initiative particularly in the rucks, mauls and speed to the breakdowns. They also produced determined drives and good Jines of running in the backs. Jim Morrison showed early dominance in the !ineouts and produced quick ball but we were found wanting in defence particularly in midfield and too often lost our way in attacking situmions, though again we had a purple patch when we shook off a!! signs of lethargy and started to play.

A pleasing victory w;1S reversed against St Paul's, when we were put under enormous pressure by their pack who were able to maul and drive for the entire afternoon. Their backs when they had the ball were quickly closed down by our defence.

Making the interception his speciality, Mark Wharton again snatched the ball between the opposition centre and wing and sprinted from our 22 to score under the posts, allowing an easy conversion for Ed Wyand. St Paul's side returned to their lOman style and played with added vigour. We appeared resolute in defence but unfortunately, we could not endure the St Paul's pressure as we lost valuable Jineout ball and became guilty of too many basic errors.

If there was a low point to our season it came against St John's. We were no match for a back-line who ran incisively and another aggressive pack. We failed to compete against this accomplished side who were quick to recycle the ball when stopped, displayed excellent support play and who ran from depth into space. It must be said that we were undaunted in spirit and continued to compete despite scant rewards. On the positive side we were secure in the lineout. The individual performances of Ewan Cameron, who tackled bravely on the wing, and the solidity and competitiveness of John Knowles at serum-half were inspiring. Phil Cridge drove into every ruck and maul and Tony Burton, it seems, went in search or the physical encounter. Credit must also be awarded to Jon Ellis, our most competitive forward on the day, who fought hard and bravely in his bid to secure the ball in loose and set play. Sam Young showed himself capable of making big hits from flank forward but all could not prevent St John's from moving the ball with speed and accuracy.

At K .C.S. Wi mblcdon we played on a narrow pitch and in the opening encounters put our theory to practice. Oood ntcking by Phil Cridge, Tony Burton, Carl Margetts and the rest of the pack produced quick ball which Ed Sixsmith at serumhalf used to launch the backs. A good try was scored by Tom Bell running at speed from the flank of a loose serum; he took an inside pass from Ed Vainker and scored wide out. Our disciplined play was maintained and we came close to scoring a number of times with penetrating drives to the oppositio~1 line. We were adjudged not to have grounded the ball on two occasions, during which time both sides were involved in interminable mauls on the K.C.S. line, at one time embracing the goal posts! We then made the mistake of relaxing while K.C.S. stepped up a gear. We were put under pressure by a team gaining in confidence and were committing more than one player to the tackle, failed to regroup and did not realise the promise shown at the beginning of the match.

With a stronger team, we faced Cranlcigh; and for the first quarter of the game the competition was even. We were facing another school whose flagship side was their Colts. However, we were unable to capitalise from quickly taken penalties as we ran laterally and the ball was either dropped or retrieved by Cranlcigh from poor kicks. Again there were some excellent individual performances from Phil Cridge at loose-head prop, Ed Wyand at centre and Roland Phillips at No.7.

The Eton game was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining game for both players and spectators. The game see-sawed from end to end of the field, both sides sharing the honours for territory.lnthe first half we Jed by 10 points from a try by Mark Wharton and .lim Morrison. In the second it was Eton who had the superior support play and who were quick to move the ball to players running from deep positions. They drew level with two scores and added a conversion to lead 12 points to 10. This had the effect of motivating our team: they stepped up a gear and played with greater purpose. We pressed hard until the final whistle, but failed to take the opportunity of a penalty awarded in front or the posts and the chance of victory was lost.

We bounced back to a resounding success against a Dover College 3rd XV. It was very satisfying for the players to put into practice what had been !earned and rehearsed in training.

After an even start we began to put on the pressure by securing our own bal! and winning the serum count mainly through the services of our front-row of Andy Foinette, Nick Clinch and Phil Cridge. We were also winning a high proportion of loose possession. At an early stage in the game it was possible to detect determination and confidence in the team and we ruckcd and mauled splendidly, and within minutes two scores were on the board and we were beginning to 'buzz', choosing to run rrom kickable penalty positions. We were firmly in the driving scat, but for a brief spell became individual in our play rather than relying on teamwork. Following half-time we returned to playing good rugby. And it was pleasing to witness ·an ,;ntertaining game of rugby where the quality was all ours.

To sum up our season: an improved record in terms of points conceded, and, although the number of wins was low, on more than a few occasions we gave victory to the opposition rather !han take it for ourselves. It was a time of growing up in rugby terms, to Jearn the importance of fitness, skills and techniques, menta! toughness, decision making and teamwork. We had faced a challenging season but emerged at the end with credit as people and players. The successful games taught us selfbelief and confidence to go forward and when unsuccessful to reflect and examine our approach. Some players came of age. I cannot end without thanking the captain, Jim Morrison, for his leadership and organisation; and Ed Wyand who (the top points scorer) stepped into his shoes when he was injured. I would also like to thank Mr Milford for the thankless task of sitting for long hours on coaches and standing on touchlincs. His refereeing expertise was also greatly appreciated. A special thanks also to my fellow coach, Mr Matthew Mitchell, for all his support and efforts this season; his motivation of the players, expertise, and humour.

A two-week layoff at half-term meant that in our first match we \\'ere unable to stay on the crest of the Dover wave.

Unfortunately, our selection was limited by the loss of five first choice players through injury and matched against a side that was the pride of Sevcnoaks School. We faced a difficult task.

We lost all the sharpness and mental discipline that had been honed on earlier games, forgot how to tackle, and played well below our potential. We Jacked the tight forward play for such an encounter and our level of skill was exposed against a strong side. Despit~ this there were passages of play which gave hints of how we Could perform as a team. We won second phase ball nn a number of occasions and although we crossed our opponents' line twice we failed to finish. f•'or most of the game we played a defensive role and had to lick our wounds for <mother day. There were no easy fixtures now it seemed.

A.R.W.

97

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

REsut:rs

Team from: Anthony Burton, Thomas Bell, Kenneth Brookin, Nicholas Clinch, Philip Cridge, Nicholas Davies, Robin Doble, Aliocha Delmotte, Edward Everett, Andrew l'oinctte, John Knowles, Samuel London, Thomas MacAdie, Carl Margctts, Thomas McHugh, James Mitchell, James Morrison (Captain), Lucas Ochoa, Roland Phillips, Charles Rice, Edward Sixsmith, Edward Vainker, David WellesleyWesley, Mark Wharton, Edward Wyand, Samuel Young.

Guest: Timothy Hamlin.

v

v v

v v v

v

RESULTS

v v v v

v v

v v

v v v

Played I 1, Won 2, Drawn 0, Lost 9.

Points for 183, against 302.

Duke of York's (H). Lost Eastbourne (A). Won St Paul's 'B' XV (H). Lost K.C.S., Wimbledon (A). Lost Dover College (H). Won Sevenoaks (H). Lost Dulwich 'B' XV (A). Lost Tonbridge 'B' XV (H). Lost StJohn's (A). Lost Cranleigh (H). Lost Eton 'B' XV (A). Lost

19-21.

12-27.

22-32.

15-12.

10-12.

0-54.

24-28.

Junior Colts 'A' XV

19-3 I. 19-15.

12-22.

5-26.

96-0.

5-40.

10-32.

7-29.

0-68.

At first glance with five wins and six losses it would be easy to think that this term was not particularly successful. Closer scrutiny of the results reveals that there was only one score separating us from the other sides in four matches, and as only two members of the squad (Rob Pracey-Smith and Fadel Banda) managed to complete all the games, this could have been a season where all the matches had been won. The first half was disrupted by injuries and absences, most notably five missing against K.C.S. Wimbledon, and James Hume and Peter Davidson missing several matches. Unfortunately our captain l'adel Banda was needed to play in the centres, making the pack a less effective unit. However, his presence in the centre against St Paul's contributed to us scoring two tries.

Against Eastbourne we scored the first three tries, only to relax in the second half. However, had Kofsy Randle been available his physical presence would have hindered Eastbourne's back row from clawing back to win 24-25. After this demoralising run of four losses we went on to play Kent College. After scoring three tries our captain Fadel Banda retired from the pitch and we went on to win 45-0. This win boosted our confidence and we returned from half-term to play against Sevenoaks - during which match the team was far more alert, with James Edmondson being involved in all sequences of play as we ran out convincing winners by 45-5.

What was emerging as a team strength was the ability to keep the ball alive while showing progress in our set piece play.

The setting of the second XV pitch proved to be a motivating force when playing Dulwich and later StJohn's, in which the strong running of Fadel Banda and Kofsy Randle in the forwards, and Richard Bayley and Gbenga Odimayo in the backs, capped impressive team performances. The scalp of Tonbridge was very much within our grasp, but failure to convert early pressure allowed the home side to settle. It was a mark of our team that we showed tremendous character when behind and scored three tries in the second half, causing several Ton bridge parents moments of anxiety as we finished much the stronger side. A similar situation occurred away at Eton where an impressive second half saw the team score our try of the season after keeping possession for five phases and seeing Odimayo, as he had done on several other occasions, scoring a vital try. The progress made by the players individually and overall as a team could be clearly seen from the touch line, as several parents remarked. We just hope we don't forget it all by next season. The experience of the thirty players that have played for the 'A's will prove valuable next year.

RoB PRACEY-SM!TJ-1.

0¡27.

10-12.

Colts 'B' XV The Colts 'B' have had another difficult year, but in fact their record suggests the continuation of the improvement they made over the course of last season, even if the hoped for wins did not quite materialise this time. A number of the games were very close indeed, and but for a missed kick or two would have been won. The record might easily have been 'Won four, lost three'- a considerable achievement for this squad.

The start of the season, under Ben Carey's captaincy, was very promising, with three good performances, followed by a win against K.C.S., Wimbledon. Ben, however, then missed a number of games in mid-season due to glandular fever which also explained his sluggishness around the pitch early on! Tom McHugh took over the captaincy.

In the early games, John Knowles showed the way forward with some splendid breaks, and was looking for action, the ball, and to 'play a game today, sir?' at every opportunity. At lineouts, Ed Kiernan, our prop forward drafted in from the NFL, refined his quarterback skills, while Eel Reed gradually worked out how to catch the ball after Tom MacAdie was drafted (like John Knowles) into the 'A' XV. Ed became effective at the back of the linemlt, and Lucas Ochoa improved at the front.

The team was constantly changing, and did well to make up for a lack of expertise in key positions. David WellesleyWesley probably played in every position except for front row, finally settling on the flank, and new talent was unearthed at serum half and stand off in Ian Meyer and Ewan Cameron respectively. Given the kicking duties, James Mitchell impressed with fantastic hanging drop kicks, but had too few opportunities to demonstrate his place kicking ability. Aliocha Del motte worked hard to make the 'A' XV towards the end of the season, whilst Enzo Labrosciano was the most consistent member of the team, claiming the Number 14 shirt each week, and was unlucky not to play for the 'A' XV. The players in general showed a good commitment to training whatever the weather, and special mention is owed to, among others, Charlie Wells, Miles Brice and Mark Nunn for their contribution. The most popular squad name was Edward (6), with Thomas (4) a close second! Many thanks to all for an enjoyable, if frustrating, season.

RESULTS

v v v v v v v v v v v

MAITI-IEW MITCHELL.

Team from: Miles Brice, Ben Carey (Captain), Kenneth Brookin, Aliocha Delmotte, Edward Ellis, Edward Everett, Edward Kiernan, Enzo Labrosciano, Tom McHugh (Captain), Ian Meyer, James Mitchell, Mark Nunn, Lucas Ochoa, Tom Pickering, Edward Reed, Edward Sixsmith, David WellesleyWesley, Charles Wells.

THE CANTUARJAN,AUTUMN 1996

Played 7, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 6.

Points for 102, against 186.

Duke of York's (H). Lost Eastbourne (A). Lost St Paul's (H). Lost K.C.S., Wimbledon (A). Won Sevenoaks (A). Lost Tonbridge (H). Lost StJohn's (A). Lost

98

Played II, Won 5, Lost 6.

Points for 262, against 154.

Duke of York's (A).

Eastbournc (H).

St Paul's (A).

K.C.S., Wimbledon (H).

Kent College (H).

Sevenoaks (A).

Dulwich (H).

Tonbriclge (A).

St. John's Leatherhead (H).

Cranleigh (A).

Eton (A).

Lost Lost Lost Lost Won Won Won Lost Won Won Lost

15-19.

24-25.

14-19.

5-34.

45-0.

45-5.

31-0.

12-21.

25-5.

31-7.

15-19.

Team: Fadel Banda (Captain), Oliver Baker, Richard Bayley, Anthony Brooke, Tom Caney, Oliver Collins, Tom Dunn, James Edmondson, James Humc, Kanmi Lawson, Joel Marshall, Gbenga Odimayo, Robert Praccy-Smith, Kofsy Randle, Henry Walpole,.

Also played: Simon Bolshaw, Matthew Chataway, Peter Davidson, Edward Eccles, David Farrar, William Gould, Sam London, Oliver Robinson, Alex Smedley, Dorian Soancs, David Stephens, lain Weir, Jonathan Wood.

Coach's report: This year group has the potential to be successful higher up the school. The results of the 'B's and 'C's were very impressive and it will be important that the majority of players continue next year, as several of them will challenge for places in the 'A's. All players have learnt a great deal this term as we have been very fortunate to have had help from a number of people. Firstly thanks to Qin Wiseman and Jonathan Murch Jamie Winner, Marco Nardini, Josh Pollen, 1bnr Evans, Alex Prince, Fabio Diu, (O.K.S.) for their help at the 1(Jby Lewis. ( M.J.T.) beginning of the season before embarking on their gap years in New Zealand. Secondly thanks go to Scott Truss and Leon White, two current Kent players, who and the jumpers did well during the season. The half-backs Will provided valuable coaching on a regular basis; and finally to Gould and Ed Eccles linked well and pulled off some G.D.W. and .I.A.T. for all their hard work in guiding the '13' and impressive moves. Our centres David Burrows and Oliver 'C' XVs to successful seasons, and to the referees D.J.R., Harvey did some strong running and were solid in defence. Our R.B.Mi, D.M.A. and P.W.F., without whom the games could wingers were unsettled due to injury but much credit was due not have been played. I would like to thank Fadel Banda for his to Martin Graham who worked hard on the wing and to Alex captain's role both on and off the pitch, the players for their Harborne, our all-purpose back. Dan Cartwright who played as tremendous commitment in matches, the parents for their a flanker was moved to full back and in his first match there, touch line support, and the grounclstaff and caterers for all their against Scvenoaks, he scored a hat-trick of tries. hard work. My thanks to R.C.W., Master i/c Rugby, on behalf Throughout the season the whole team played hard and only of the players, for all his time and the organisation required for at Tonbridge were we outclassed by the opposition. One of the creating the fixture list and ensuring that the boys arc provided team's most impressive performances was against Eton with the opportunities and resources to improve their skills and College.

Tries from Oliver Baker, Simon Bolshaw and David understanding of the game.

Burrows enabled us to win 19~10. The season was enjoyed by S .E. A. everyone and many thanks arc due to our coach Mr G.D. Wood Awards: who gave us very colourful and inspirational team talks throughout the season.

Fadel Banda was the 'A's top try scorer with 11 out of 44. lAIN WE!R. Ollie Collins was 'the most improved player' in the 'A's.

Dan Cartwright, Alex Prince and James Edmondson were RESUJ;rs the least punctual.

Played I 1, Won 8, Lost 3, Drawn 0.

S.E.A. Points for 235, against I 54.

I' Duke of York's (A). Won 41-10. v East bourne (H). Won 41-7.

I' St Paul's (A). Won Junior Colts 'B' XV 14-10. v K.C.S., Wimbledon (H). Lost :l2-20. v Dover College 'A' XV (H). Won 17-14.

F'or many players this was their best season ever. We ended v Sevenoaks (H). Won 46-5. the season with the best set of results in the school winning 8 I' Dulwich (H). Won 18-12. of our I 1 games. We were also the only team to beat St Paul's. v Tonbridge (A). Lost 42-5.

Throughout the season V¡/C had a steady set of forwards and " St John's (H). Won 7-0.

Dorian Soanes,Andrew Hickman and David Farrar, along with v Cranleigh (A). Lost 12-7.

Simon Bolshaw, did well controlling the front row. Matthew " Eton College (A). Won 19-10.

Fyjis-Walker deserved much praise throughout the season, he Team: Weir (Captain), Bolshaw, Burrows*, Cartwright*, fought with determination and never lost faith. The back row Eccles, Farrar, Fyjis-Walker, Gould, Graham, Harvey, was very i1ppressive and together saved many close matches.

Harborne, Hickman, Robinson, Soanes, Stephens. lain Weir ahd David Stephens played well together in defence and attack. Oliver Robinson did well at flanker and scored a (* played every game of the season) match-winning try against Dulwich. Dan Cartwright, lain Weir, Also played: Baker, Chataway, Diu, Evans, Lawson, and Ed Eccles all tackled bravely and decisively throughout the Marshall, J.J. Martin, O.J. Martin, Smedley, Wood, season. In the lineout we proved to be superior even to the 'A's Woods.

99

THE CANTUARIAN,

AUTUMN ! 996

Some showed signs of giving up. but in these games the spirit of others was admirable, particularly of Tom Morey, who ran himself into the ground and of Beau Kock, a player of real intcl!igence. talent and commitment. Victory against Cranleigh restored some morale, and when a scratch side played against Eton B in the final game it proved to be the best rugby of the season: exciting, flowing rugby, with the forwards quick to the breakdown and the backs working move after move. ln a season that looks disappointing on paper, some consolation should be taken from excellent individual play.

Jack Martin played in every match except the las\. His size was

Junior Colts 'C' XV Thanks must go to 'T'om Evans, the captain, and Scott Truss, the coach: this has been a good season. It is possible to write this not just because our results have been good, with the exception of a royal defeat at Eton - we did beat Dulwich but because this has been in many ways the most coherent team that I have worked with at King's. The team spirit has always been positive, and has sustained us even when faced with the challenge of St Paul's and Ton bridge: in both cases vve ensured that our opponents earned their victory. It was that resilience that helped us achieve a last minute try to beat StJohn's; it was that sporting approach that meant that we were gracious in victory.

The memories of the season will include Marco Nardini scoring our first try in Jess than a minute against the Duke of York's; Jamie Martin's courageous tackling it exemplified the team's positive approach; Tom Evans's complete commitment as captain; Oliver Robinson, as befits a 'B' player, scoring four impressive tries against Sevcnoaks; Andrew Bailey, Fabio Diu and Yorick Moes playing in every match; and above a!! the fact that we played as a team and supported each other as a team.

J.A.T.

Team from: Andrew Bailey, Jamie Briggs, Fabio Diu, Tom Evans (Caplain), William Heddle, Mark Hi!!, Toby Lewis, Duncan McGregor, Jamie Martin, Yorick Moes, Marco Nardini, Alexander Prince. Joshua Pollen, Jonathan Pollock, David Reynolds, Jonathan White, Jamie Winner.

Also played: Charles Bryant, Alexander 1--Iarborne, Andrew Hickman, Wil!iam MacAdie, Rory MacEwen, Jan Panman, Philip Prince, Oliver Robinson, Dorian Soancs, Richanl Woods.

Alex Prince. (M.J.T.)

RESU\J'S

v v ,.

1'

v

v v v

Played 8, Won 5, Lost 3.

Points for 164, against 179.

Duke of York's (A).

Eastbournc (H).

St Paul's (A).

(A).

Scvcnoaks (H).

Dulwich (A).

Tonbridge (H).

StJohn's (A).

Eton

Won Won Lost Won Won Lost Won Lost

always an advantage, his commitment absolute. He perhaps learnt most from the season, including how to pass !he ball.

Raymond Owens learned to play serum half from scratch, and often showed remarkable intelligence in that position. considering his lack of experience. Peter Gardiner was a one man team in some games (notably the Kent College match).

Alex Foster developed as a promising centre in attack, and as a ferocious tackler in defence.

The group should ignore mere results. There is plenty promise for the future, if they make a real commitment to training. I should like to thank Nicko Morgan, Martin Field·· Dodgson and Joss Smallman for all their stalwart support during the season.

39-0.

44-0.

10-59.

39-0.

10-7.

5-45.

17-12.

0-56.

or

Under 14 'A' XV

N.C.W.S

Team from: Tom Morey (Captain), Henry Aldridge, Simon Darroch, Alex Foster, Peter Gardiner, Richard Gordon· Williams, Beaudry Kock, James Ludbrook, James Macfarlane, James Mainwaring, Christopher Mattingly, Richard Miller, J.,...uke Montgomcfy, Raymond Owens, Jonathan Reeve, Zach Saitoti, Michael Stephens, James Wel\s, Lawrence White, Alfred Williams

Within a few days it was clear that this was a squad with few outstanding players. With the exception of Luke Montgomery, Jack Martin and Michael Stephens, it was also clear that there was going to be a size problem.

Caveats now listed, the team played their first match poorly, neither defending nor attacking with any structure, despite the victory. Their second match was also a disappointment; they only woke up from the journey to Eastbournc halfway through the second half. It was only in their third match that their true clunactcr started to show. Against a very big St Paul's side they played with real courage. The score could have been much greater in St Paul's favour, but it was to prove a costly match.

Michael Stephens tore his cruciatc ligament making an awesome try~saving tackle, and a player of obviously outstanding ability played no further part in the season.

K.C.S. were a very well disciplined side, but with five players injured the size factor was becoming the most significant. The win against Kent College just before half term was welcome.

There followed a truly disappointing game against Scvcnoaks. The season wore on, with defeat at the hands of Dulwich, Tonhridgc (through a Jack of fitness) and StJohn's.

THE CANTUARIAN.AUTUMN 1996

RESULTS

v

v I'

v v v ,.

v I'

v v

100

Played 11, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 7.

Points for I27, against 250.

Duke of York's (H). Won (A). Lost Eastbourne (H). Lost St Paul's (A) Lost K.C.S., Wimbledon (1-1). Won Kent College (A). Lost Sevcnoaks Dulwich 'B' XV (H). Lost (A). Lost Ton bridge 'B' XV (II). Lost StJohn's (H). Won Cranleigh (A). Won Eton 'B' XV

19-15.

O-:l4.

15-19.

7-48.

25-5.

7-26.

12-19.

0-42.

0-20.

12-5.

30-17.

Girls' Hockey

pieces, but unfortunately the team as a whole lacked the final flare or scoring open field goals' Thankfully, the short corners worked like a dream all season with Amy as 'straight' and Beth 'the dummy' producing some spectacular strikes; Penny even got the 'slip' once! Emma Hayes must be commended and congratulated on her determination. dramatic improvement and 'player or the season' a\vard.

1st XI The return of Mrs Lawrence as our coach gave us a new look upon the forthcoming season as the did the arrival of our new 'rctro' strip.

Finally, we would like to thank Matt for all his help, entertainment and lifts back to school! A special thank you must go to Mrs Lawrence for her expertise, support and fitness

Having got oJl to the traditional slow start we soon picked up the pace of team work and impressive individual skill to stun

The lsr XI Girls' Hockey squad Back row, lefrro righr: Karherine Lells, Louise Squires, Nicola Murch, Julia Warfe, Alexandra Airken, Temila\'o Akindele, Sophie Jones, Emma f-la)'es, Ernil)' Hague. ' Fronr row, lefr lo righr: Mary Srevens, Elizaberh MacPhee, Am)' Joynscin-Hicks, Jo Pringle (Caplain), Berh Hicklin, Penny Dain, Annabel Whibiey.

Sir Roger Manwood's wHh a 5-0 v1ctory. UnfoHtmately. through<~ut the se.tson we mddc d habit of <!J awmg dg,unst !cams alter hetnQ tn the ledd at half time Fnness levels and concentration wCre mainly to blame, but at the end of the season we had two impressive matches against Tunbri<lo:e Wells Girls' Grammar and Kent College where we played 'to our full potential but were up against very strong opponents.

The combination of Ally and Emily in goal gave us a reliable i"inal line of defence, and both made many excellent saves.

Sadly we lost Ally once again through injury for a week or two, hut were glad to sec her return. Julia settled in well to her new position and became a key player who always managed to create problems for their forwards. Supported by a combination of Beth, Liz, Nikki and Amy, the defence became a solid framework whose elliciency disrupted many determined oppositions.

sessions. Thursday afternoons won't be the same without them!

Jo PRINGLE ,\ND AlvlY J(YYNSON-J-{JCKS.

Teom.fi"om: Ally Aitken, Temitayo Akindclc, Penny Dain*, Emma Hayes, Beth Hicklin*, Sophie Jones, Emily Hague, Amy Joynson-Hicks*~' (Vice-Caplain), Katherine Letts, Liz MacPhee*', Nikki Murch, Jo Pringle''' (Cop!ain), Mary Stevens, Louise Squires'~, Julia V./harfc, Annabel Whibley*. ''"'' First Colours Re-a warded, ''' First Colours RESUlTS

\'

v l'

In midfield, Annabel, Catherine, Louise and Penny formed the vital link from defence to attack. Louise's efficient ball distribution coupled with Catherine's smart dodges often left {:ur opponents wrong-footed. Annabel's reliability and support lor Jo on the left was invaluable and enabled them to break down the wing together and create opportunities on goal. Penny has been dedicated throughout the season, as always, and was a key member in the short corner routine.

The rolling forward !inc enabled Timmy, Sophie, Emma, Louise and Jo to all work together and develop set attacking

v v \'

l' l' \' l'

\' \'

v

I0I

Played 13, Won 4, Lost 4, Drawn 5.

Goals for 31 , against 15.

StLawrence (H). L-ost Sir Roger Man wood's (H). Won Craighouse (1-1). Lost Ashford (H). Won Cranbrook (H). Drawn (II). Won Dover College Bryanston (A). Lost Sutton Valence (A). Drawn St Edmund's (H). Won Tunbridge Wells (A). Drawn City of London Freeman¡s (H). Drawn Brentwood (A). Drawn Kent Col lege (A). Lost

0-1.

5-0.

0-1.

4-0.

2-2.

5-0.

0-1.

2-2.

6-0.

1-1.

2-2.

2-2.

2-3.

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUlvlN 1996

fixture on grass, reminding us just why everyone now tries to avoid it ¡-¡ both the ball and the pitch seemed to have lives or their own, and only lack of skill and co-ordination prevented the goal tally from being much higher. Two of our toughest matches came at the end, against City of London and Kent College; the latter was evenly-matched and tense, and it was disappointing not to finish the season in style.

Everyone deserves a mention, since reliable team play with quick passing certainly developed throughout the season, helping us to dominate much of the action. Emily Hague played in goal, gaining a lot of confidence, and making some increasingly impressive saves. The defence was composed of Nancy Colchester, who took over as captain after half term (though sadly, clue to injury, not for long) and kept the defence firmly together - Jenny Dutton, Jessie Gullancl (when she managed to turn up on time) and Lucy Trail!, all of them making up a reliable team. The mid-field were ambitious and detcnnined, with often very high quality passing; Eli, when managing to stay on her feet, demonstrated a lot of very skilful play, (almost) always energetic, in all the right places, and deserves a special mention for keeping up team spirit.

Madeleine Tyler, Felicity Wacher, Kate Shaw, Kate Emary and Sarah Martin all adapted well to different formats and positioning, particularly Kate Emary in more defensive play, with Kate Shaw providing everyone with good back-up. And

Beth HickUn. (Isaac Sibson) The end of this season brings with it some mixed emotions for me as First Eleven coach. I have to say goodbye to seven 6a pupils who have given so much to school hockey since their arrival at King's. They have been such fun to coach and it has been very rewarding to watch them develop as players as the years have gone by. I only hope that they will have the desire to keep up with the game when at university and beyond.

I must thank Jo and Amy in particular for the time and effort that they have willingly devoted to carrying out their roles as captain and vice captain. They have made my life very easy indeed.

Now the time has come to plan ahead for the future. A squad of 17 players has already been chosen to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe in the summer of 1997. The future certainly looks exciting, for there are some very young and very able players waiting in the wings.

S.K.L.

Jo Pringle. (Isaac Sibson)

2nd XI

some of the most impressive goals of the season were scored by Sarah Martin, with controlled hits from the very edge of the circle. Special mention for scoring goals has to go to Sarah Clarke, however, the highest goal scorer from all the teams this season; helped by the end of the offside ruling, good positioning, and a very scary hit, everyone lost count early on.

Also up front were Mary Stevens, captain for the first half the season, Rachel White, and Emily Perkin~ congratulations on being a very well-deserved player of the season, improving phenomenally to show almost unstoppable driving down the wing, and some fantastic goals.

So thanks to everyone who coached us this season, to Bev, Mrs Lawrence, and especially to Matt, \vho got more than he bargained for in taking us 011. And thanks to everyone who made it so enjoyable - good luck for next season!

This was a second team which for the most part kept up a recent tradition of success and high scores, despite some tough opposition. Without a permanent coach at the start of the season, the team was bound to be unsettled, though many thanks to Bev Sharp for putting up with a rather erratic standard of play and giving us plenty of encouragement early on. Our toughest fixture was one of our first, and we showed a great deal of stamina to stay in the match against Tunbridge Wells.

Perseverance paid off, with some notable victories ( 11-0 against Eastbournc; at least it was nearly worth the trip) and some remarkable goals, particularly from the two Sarahs. By this stage Matt Walker had taken over as coach, bringing with him loads of energy, enthusiasm and entertainment (watching the opposition try to chat him up). Another memorable game would have to be against Dover College. This was our only

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

or

MARY STEVENS AND N,\NCY COLCHESTER.

102

Team fi'om: Emily Hague, Nancy Colchester (Caplain), Jenny Dutton, Jessie Gulland, Lucy Traill, Sarah Martin, Kate Shaw, Kate Emary, Eliana Katsiaouni, Madeleine Tyler, Mary Stevens (Captain), Sarah Clarke, Emily Perkin, Rachael White, Felicity Wacher.

Also played: Harriet Shere, Temitayo Akinclelc, Frances Houghton, Sophie Jones, Georgina Zucchini-Watts.

narrowed uncomfortably against Ashford, and the team was lucky to make a draw against Cranbrook, having lost several members to an enforced break from school. A 4-0 win against St Edward's in the second round of the UJ5 cup tournament (there was a bye in the first) led to the team's first defeat, against Braintree H.C. Two victories against St Edmund's and City of London Freemen's redressed the balance, but the season ended on a disappointing note, with losses against Tunbridge Wells, Brentwood and Kent College.

Individual performances from Sophie Chapman, Adela Bottomley and Daisy Lloyd-Smith should be noted, and Georgina Zucchini-Watts did well in her first season as the A team goalkeeper. However, without two key players in the side, winning matches was going to be harder this term, and the team did not always put in the necessary extra effort, in practices or in matches, to play together as a team and adapt to the circumstances of each fixture. The tail end of the season reflects a lack of staying power which, with luck, individuals will address when they join the senior teams next year.

P.A.L.-B. Team ji'Oin: Caroline Bagley, Adela Bottomley (Captain), Lucy Bridge, Sophie Chapman, Camilla Cook, Anne Davies, Nicole Kwan, Daisy Lloyd-Smith, Miranda MacLaren, Frances Marden, Toro Ogundoyin, Louise Robertson, Emily Smitham, Philippa Townsend, Georgina Zucchini-Watts (Goalkeeper).

RESULTS

v v v v v v v v v v

Played I 0, Won 6, Lost 4.

Goals l{H· 37, against I 0.

St Lawrence (A).

Tunbridge Wells (H).

Sir Roger Manwood's (H).

Eastbourne (A).

Cranbrook (H).

Dover (A).

Sutton Valence (H).

Epsom (A).

City of London Freemen's (H).

Kent College (H).

Lost Lost Won Won Won Won Won Won Lost Lost

0-2.

I -3.

6-0.

11-0.

3-0.

6-0.

5-0.

3-0.

0-2.

2-3.

3rd XI Rejected from the firsts, rejected from the seconds, the thirds was the place to be. Unfit, unskilled, and unsure of the rules we started the season. It was cold, it was wet and we wanted to be inside, but no! Short corners were drilled, suicides repeated and complaints never ending; the thirds were going to be the best yet. The training paid off as a strong team was created, although this isn't reflected in our results as most of our fixtures were against first teams. Once we worked out what plan 'B-2' was, we were ready to start. Our goalie was very skilled. Pity she had to miss one match, forcing one of us to fill in (what a joke!) but making us realise how skilled she really was. We had an excess of defence enabling us to substitute frequently and yet always retain a forbidding back line, preventing the other team from doing too much damage. The mids took longer to discover, but once established created a very strong line with diverse ability. The forwards tried relentlessly to score goals, but somehow the opposite defence got in their way a little too often for their liking. And finally the goal hanger - enough said! It would be unfair to finish this report without mentioning our short corners: ready, ready, ready, ready, now!

It's been a great season. Thanks to everyone for making it such fun and thanks to Miss Reidy for putting up with us.

RESULTS

v v v v v v

v v v

v v

The 'B 's had a successful and enjoyable season, with several dramatic injuries (in particular, Caroline Gentles took a nasty rising ball on the eyebrow against Duke of York's) and some difficult playing conditions. We battled against many strong sides - several schools fielded their only side (sometimes including county players) against us rather than the Under 15 'A's ~ but we managed to end up with a respectable results sheet. Positions in the field rarely stayed the same from one match to the next, owing to injuries, illness and suspension, but the team coped well, and learnt a healthy degree of adaptability.

Many thanks to Mrs Fox and Mr Lee-Browne for their coaching throughout the term, and for putting up with our constant moans when we didn't want to play or when the weather was too cold.

SARAH HUBBARD-FORD.

Jackson, Fleur Moes, Megan Morris, Rhiannon NewmanBrown, Victoria Perry, Jean Richardson, Lindsay Sharp, Harriet Shere, Charlotte Tydeman, Alice Walker.

RESUUS

v v v 1'

v v v

Won 9-0.

5-0.

Won Won 5-0.

2- I. Won Drawn l, I. Won 1-0.

3- I. Won 2-1.

Lost 5- I. Won 3-0.

Lost 3-0.

Lost

Under 15 'B' XI

Team jhm1.· Sasha Ball, Ophelia Beer, Sadie Chave, Athena Chenery, Iona Coltart, Sarah Hubbard-Ford (Captain), Camilla

Played 7, Won 2, Lost 2, Drawn 3.

Goals for 9, against 9.

Westgate Ladies (H). Drawn King's, Rochester (H). Lost Ursuline Convent (H). Drawn Duke of York's (A). Lost Ursuline Convent (H). Won Westgate Ladies (H). Drawn Brentwood (A). Won

St Lawrence.

Sir Roger Manwood's.

Eastbourne.

Ashford.

Cranbrook.

Sutton Valence.

St Edmund's.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar.

City of London Freemen's.

Brentwood.

Kent College.

CAROLINE BAGLEY.

2-2·.

0-2.

2-2.

Team .from: Katherine Adams, Caroline Bagley (Captain), Sam Brunner, Robey Crouch, Caroline Gentles, Katherine Hardy, Andrea Hunt, Catherine James, Katie Lambert (Goalkeeper), Katie Loden, Frances Marden, Kathryn Peel, Laura Phillips, Vicki Sully (Goalkeeper), Philippa Townsend, Jacquetta Wheeler, Kate Wrattcn.

0- I. 3-1.

1-l.

1-0.

RESULTS

v v v v v v v

Highworth.

King's, Rochester.

Ursuline School.

Cranbrook.

Barton Court.

Duke of York's.

Sevenoaks (15 'A's). v City of London Freemen's. v Tunbridge Wells.

Under 15 'A' XI Having- been unbeaten last year, the team faced the challenge of maintaining that record again this season despite losing both Katherine Letts and Emma Hayes to the 1st XI. Things got off to a good start, with comfortable wins against StLawrence, Sir Roger Manwood's and Eastbournc, but the margin of victory

103

Lost 4-1.

1-0.

Lost 2-1.

Won Lost 2-0.

Won 1-0.

Drawn 0-0.

Lost 6-0.

Won 2- I. 2- l.

Won

THE CANTUARtAN, AUTUMN 1996

Under 14 'A' Girls' Hockey team Back row, from left to right: Julia Dawes, Lami Akindele, Laura Elliott, Remi Sijuwade, A.M.M. Front row, left to right: Rachel Heslop, Karen Smith, Tessa van den Hout, Clem1nie Wellesley- Wesley, Harriet Torry, Sophia Gold.

RESULTS Played 13, Won 12 Lost 0, Drawn 1.

Goals for 87, goals against 9.

Under 14 'A' XI The team deserves nothing but praise. To have gone the whole season undefeated is a great achievement. They have played very good hockey throughout the season, which has been praised by virtually every opposition's coach. Their win in the District Tournament was fully deserved and achieved very comfortably.

The forward line were more than a match for their opponents on each occasion. They made excellent use of the fact that there was no off-side rule this season and piled on the goals in some games. Karen, Tessa and Julia showed excellent skills up front and scored the bulk of the goals, but many of these were created by the pace and attacking skills of Lami, Rachel and Clemmie.

They were collectively able to break at great pace with swift passing and good following up. Every good team needs a good right and left half, and we were fortunate to have just that in Sophie and Laura. Their tireless work, both in attack and defence, was a great asset. Our defence, Remi and Chrissie, showed themselves to be very solid, when they got the chance!

Between them they made countless tackles and then set the halves and forwards going again. Finally we get to our goalie, Harriet, who showed on numerous occasions that she is very good indeed. In the close games she showed great courage and co-ordination and kept us in the game. In the less close games she showed great patience!

Not only are they a fine team but they were also a great bunch of people to be with day in day out. I hope that they have as good a season next year.

A.M.M.

THE CANTU ARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

v StLawrence College. v Sir Roger Manwood's. v Croydon High School. v Cranbrook. v Sutton Valence. v Ashford. v City of London Freemen's. v Brentwood. v Kent College.

District Tournament v Simon Langton. v St. Anselm's. v Chaucer. v Kent College (Final).

Won Won Won Won Won Won Won Drawn Won

14-0.

8-1.

8-0.

3-1.

5-1.

11-0.

4-2.

4-4.

9-0.

Won Won Won Won

5-0.

9-0.

4-0.

3-0.

Goal Scorers: Karen Smith (30), Tessa van den Hout (30), Julia Dawes (18), Rachel Heslop (5), Laura Elliott (1), Clemmie Wellesley-Wesley (1), Remi SUuwade (1), Majen lmmink (1).

Team: Lami Akindele, Chrissie Barton, Julia Dawes, Laura Elliott, Sophie Gold, Rachel Heslop, Remi Sijuwade, Karen Smith, Harriet Torry, Tessa van den Hout, Clemmie WellesleyWesley.

Also played: Sarah Johnson, Emily Gomersall, Talia Radford, Chrissy Stoodley, Antonia Dixey, Majen Immink

104

Under 14 'B' XI

The first Head of the term was Maidstone at which Alex Reeve won the 115, Pete Sharp the 116, and Zoe Arthur the JW single sculls. Reeve as well as winning also decided to investigate the stunning underwater world of the Medway as shown by Jacques Cousteau last year.

On the first day of half-term King's achieved another two wins at the Kingston Junior IV s Head by the senior girls in the WJ 4X (Becca's first ever win), and the 115 boys in the 115 4X+ , where winning also provided a new birthday experience for J.B. The weekend after half term found us back in Kingston for the Kingston Small Boats Head, at which the senior girls won again in their quad (minus Franky this time). Large stretches of freezing cold water seem to hold a fascination for Alex Reeve because he came a cropper in his single again; masking his amphibious nature by his ineptitude with a screwdriver which prevented him from tightening the buttons on his blades properly. Mike Smith also simply forgot to tighten his, and almost ended up in the drink with Reeve.

A week later Frances teamed up with her mate Izzy (with whom she is now training as a rower!), to win the double sculls at Pangbourne, where Franny also won in her single and Jl5 boys in their quad again.

At the next race, Hampton Junior Sculls, we had a very successful day with both Michael Marcell Smith and Zoe winning their single scull events (Mike's having been won in the past by Messrs Redgrave and G. Searle). Pete Sharp (grrrr) and 'Mad Jack' Kelly (roar) also won in their pair, as well as the Remove girls in their W114 quad (a first for them as well). Leo D.-B. decided to try the Reeve trick, and went for a dip in the Thames.

Internationally this term has also been a success. Trials for the '97 Great Britain squad started at the end of September with an 'Early Identification' weekend on the Trent at Nottingham, where Michael and I won the pairs event on both days and Becca Snow and Claire Baldwin also competed well in a double and singles. Smith, Frances and I were invited to four days of training with other athletes from around the country during half term, as well as at Christmas - where we are also being joined by the Club's 'infant', Kajsa, as a cox.

Although not everyone has won, the term has still been enjoyed by everyone down at the Club, and I think that a special 'Well done!' should go to the following people: Crazy Ravey Davey (the beast) and Thomas Martin (short-legged though he may be) for being the most improved oarsmen. The J14 girls (a.k.a. 'The Mike Smith Fan Club') for really putting their best in and getting good results. Their only male peer Nick K.-P. for being the only 114 boy to scull this term. And lastly the J 15 blokes for a very successful first term as members of the top squad and providing non-stop entertainment.

Of course the term would not have been so successful without all of the coaches, who have helped and encouraged us throughout. And so a vote of thanks goes out to Mr Parker, Miss Kerr, Mr Woodward, Mr Churcher, Mr Reilly, Mr Lawrence (for being a great Master in charge of Boats), and Mr Willis (for being a splendid Boatman).

However not all is joy and happiness for unfortunately we are losing one of our number to the enemy. Yes, it's true, Mr Sellers is leaving us for Eton (ha - traitor!) During his time here Mr Sellers has done a magnificent job coaching the Jl5 Boys' VIII for two years, and the 1st VIII for two years. He has also organised two very successful and enjoyable (for those who enjoy pain) training camps in deepest Portugal. And having spent three years coaching some of us all the way through our rowing lives, he is going to be sorely missed. We wish him and Mrs Sellers much happiness at Eton, where he will no doubt be coaching the J14 'C' oct., and look forward to seeing him at various races next season.

On 5th December the Boat Club held a formal dinner attended by some present members of the club, staff, and several O.K.S., in order to celebrate the successes of last year as well as to say goodbye to Mr and Mrs Sellers, and Mr Woodward (who is leaving at the end of the year) and Mrs

As reflected by the results, the Under 14 'B' Girls' Hockey Team has had a stunning season. Of the two losses, one was to an Under 14 'A' team, which was unfortunate. The team has worked very hard and their dedication has obviously paid off.

Their skills have improved immensely, and they should be very proud of their season's results.

ANNA E. DUNCAN. RESULTS Played 10, Won 8, Lost 2, Drawn 0.

Goals for 30, against 7.

(A). Won v StLawrence 6-1.

(H). Won v Tunbridge Wells G .S. 1-0.

(H). Won v High worth 2-1.

(H). Won v Croydon High 3-0.

(A). Won v Cranbrook 6-0.

(H). Won v Duke of York's 4-0.

(H). Lost v Seven oaks U 14 'A' 3-0.

(A). Lost v City of London Freemen's 2-0.

(H). Won v King's, Rochester 7-0.

(H). Won v Wellesley 1-0.

Team from: Emily Gomersall, Sarah Johnson, Talia Radford, Caroline Hollywood, Claudia Whibley, Chrissy Stoodley, Nayla Ghantous, Daisy Greenwell, Caroline Jones, Frances Shere, Antonia Dixey, Majen Immink, Penny Shaw.

The Boat Club Rowing World ChampionshiP-s 1996: Strathclyde County Park King's was represented by three athletes in this year's Junior World Championships held in Glasgow in conjunction with the Senior World Championships. In the boys' eight, Michael Smith rowed at three and in the girls' quadruple scull, Lucy Heise and Frances Houghton rowed at three and at two respectively.

The boys' eight, needing to win their heat to qualify directly for the A final, failed to do so by 0.02 seconds (about an inch and a half) - being beaten into 2nd by the Russian eight - but qualified with ease in the repechage. In the A final they raced in superb fashion: they beat the Russians, took the bronze medals and came in third behind the Rumanians and Germans, whilst also beating the Americans and the Swiss. This was an extremely well received success since, in a crew of nine boys, eight different schools were represented.

No British girls' sculling boat had ever made an A final before this year and so qualification for this crew was a real target. Needing to win their heat to do so and despite breaking the British record for 2000m, the girls came in third behind the Swiss and the Germans and so were forced to qualify via the repechage. In the repechage only the first two crews were to qualify and with the British lying third with 500m to go it took a scintillating sprint for the line to overhaul the Ukrainians and the Spanish to qualify in first place. In the final they came fourth behind the Dutch, the Germans and the Swiss.

The crews with King's pupils on board were the two most successful boats in the team.

ED STERCK.

The Boat Club reP.ort For once the Autumn term weather has remained uncharacteristically kind and settled, bar one week before halfterm, and this has allowed us to get a lot of time on the water, which has resulted in an altogether successful term.

105

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN 1996

Woodward. Nick Strange, King's only Olympian in Atlanta, who reached the semifinal of the lightweight men's doubles sculls, gave a speech about his experiences and named a single scull after himself. Two pairs were also named Anna and Monique by Mrs Sellers and Mrs Woodward, and an official presentation of blades to commemorate each of last season's successes was also made.

After such a great sculling term, all looks promising and we will all return to face a frozen February expecting the Head and Regatta seasons to be as good.

ED STERCK.

Chess Club There have been one or two encouraging signs this term, although the first match of the season, against Maids tone Girls' Grammar School did not make a promising start: losing on top board to one of the strongest girls in the country was not unexpected, but two other games drifted away unnecessarily and this, coupled with the default we had to give (and which I promised not to mention ... ), led to a winnable match being soundly lost. The loss against Harvey Grammar School was less dispiriting, though, as it was a much closer contest: Toby Bond, on Board 1, again had to face a very stiff opponent and did well to stay in the hunt for quite a long time; while the two wins on the bottom boards spelled some hope. Against Borden Grammar School we were, for a change, the recipients of generosity as our opponents (who were expected to put up a decent fight) contrived to give away some games, and a welcome emphatic win was recorded. Unfortunately the opportunity to repeat the feat, against Oakwood Park Grammar School, was wasted by a return to the bad habit of failing to press home the advantage in what should have been easily won games. Some eagerness to learn more about opening principles and general strategy, and to practise tactics, would go a long way towards avoiding such sad reverses in the future.

Simon Peel. (Isaac Sibson) victory against them we remained unbeaten all term, and we also had our first ever all-girls' match against Farringtons.

Individually we were successful too. James Rowe remains our best fencer and has represented Great Britain on several occasions, being ranked third in the Under 20 Boys' foil and twenty-sixth in the adult rankings. Felicity Wacher and Caroline Scott were chosen for the South East cadet team. We picked up more than fifty medals in King's Challenge competitions, and in regional ones our tally was thirty. We have eighteen qualifiers for the Great Britain Nationals, many in more than one weapon - one of our largest entries.

We have also been joined by many new members, ensuring a strong team in future.

Finally, this term has seen the retirement of Mr Jennings from his role as Master in Charge, and we thank him for his support and dedication to the club. Paul Romang, our dedicated coach and Little Chef eater, and his wife have as ever given much time and energy to help us. Thank you to all of them.

We now look forward to next season, when we hope to pick up medals and top places in the National finals and Public Schools Championships.

Team from: Toby Bond, Rupert Jagelman (Captain), Junliang Chew, James Brilliant, Will Pritchard, Toby Lewis.

RESULTS

(A).

(A).

(H).

(H).

Maids tone Girls' G .S. v Harvey Grammar School v Borden Grammar School v Oakwood Park G .S. v

Lost Lost Won Lost

1-4.

2-3.

4-1.

2-3.

A.R.A.R.

Fencing Almost six months after the end of last season, the fencing club slowly woke up. However, thanks to the efforts of our resident fitness enthusiast, Mark Gilchrist, we were soon back to full fitness. Our first match, against our old enemy Rochester, set the scene for the rest of term. After a resounding

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

THE FIRST TEAM.

106

THE O.K.S. ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT'S REPORT This is a year of welcome and celebration; welcome to the new Headmaster and his family, and celebration of fourteen hundred years of education in the Cathedral precincts. The 0 .K .S. Association IS delighted to be fully involved with both.

Many O.K.S. have now had the opportunity of meeting Keith Wilkinson, either at an informal dinner at the East India Club last July, or at the November meeting of the O.K.S. Trust & Bursarship Society, or on other occasions, and we find ourselves both impressed by his knowledge of the School and the City, and excited by his vision for the School in the years up to the Millennium and beyond. He appeared to 'hit the ground running' and he can be assured of our support.

The Association's celebrations for 1997 are well in hand and, of particular interest to anyone leaving the School this summer, might be the O.K.S. Service to be held in the Cathedral on Saturday morning 15th November, followed by a buffet lunch. The Service is being arranged and led by Canon Roger Symon, O.K.S. Although the logistics of a Saturday morning are not easy for the School, we very much hope that there will be as much participation as is sensibly possible by pupils and staff. Also of interest could be the possibility of a dinner/dance being organised by Fiona Shoop in London in early September, targeted specifically at younger O.K.S.- with ticket prices to match!

At the November Service there will be a significant contribution by members of the 0 .K.S. musical community. Indeed, O.K.S. music is on the march, for in addition to the Service, there will be a strong musical element at the 1997 O.K.S. Banquet on 14th March; Michael Law, O.K.S., will provide the music for dancing at the O.K.S. Ball on 4th July; and there will be also a musical O.K.S. contribution to King's Week.

Links between the School and the Association continue to grow. The next (second) Committee Meeting of the Association in Canterbury, with the Headmaster, members of staff and, hopefully, the Captain of School all present, is scheduled for 1Oth February. One item on the agenda is the possibility of the Association financing the provision of The Cantuarian free to young O.K.S. for a limited period after they have left the School. Shortly after the Committee meeting, the O.K.S.-organised Careers Day takes place on 17th March. Mike Bailey has been the inspiration behind this activity for many years and I would like to thank him and his team on behalf of the many pupils who have benefited from their efforts. I hope that this year's gathering is both successful and useful.

I referred, earlier in this report, to the 0 .K.S. Trust & Bursarship Society. Whilst not, strictly speaking, part of the 0 .K .S. Association, these two 0 .K .S. Charities play a very important part in the life of O.K.S. affairs and their praises are often left unsung.

The Bursarship Society was established in 1951 to provide funds for pupils at the School, with the original intention that monies would be provided for sons of O.K.S. who found themselves in difficult financial circumstances. The O.K.S. Educational and Benevolent Trust, to give it its full name, was founded in 1966 with a donation of ÂŁ10,000 from Reg Fisher, O.K.S., with the intention that the Fund should be an extension of the Society, allowing a wider spread of beneficiary. Many pupils and others connected with the School have benefited considerably from these charities over the years and the Chairman of the Trustees, Peter Valpy, O.K.S., is always ready to consider applications through the Headmaster.

May 1997 be a successful and enjoyable year for everybody associated with King's.

PETER VENN, O.K.S. PRESIDENT.

107

THE CANTUARIAN, AUTUMN

1996

THE CANTUARIAN EX ADVENTV AVGVSTINI CANTVARIJE SCHOLA ORTA 597 - 1997

1

LENT AND SUMMER TERMS 1997

T EK

lB. ARY

THE CANTUARIAN VoL. LXI No.2

LENT AND SUMMER TERMS,

1997

CONTENTS PAGE

EDITORIAL

110

THIS AND THAT

112

SERMONS

118

OBITUARY

122

CHAPLAIN'S NOTES

123

VALETE

124

POINTS OF VIEW

130

FOCUS

139

EXPEDITIONS

153

CORRESPONDENCE

158

IMAGINATIVE WRITING

160

REPORTS AND REVIEWS MUSIC

180

DRAMA

186

ART

194

TALKS

195

SOCIETIES AND ACTIVITIES

200

SPORT

212

SPEECH DAY

258

KING'S WEEK

266

THE CANTUARIAN

Editor: Andrew Ribbans Art Editor: Megan Morris Editorial Committee: Sarah Clarke, William Gold, Victoria Hunt, William Justice, Matthew Knight, Charles Miller-Jones, Lucy Traill, Lawrence White, Eleanor Woods

i

Senior Editor: M.J. Tennick, B.A. 109

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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EDITORIAL tradition n. 1. the handing down of beliefs or customs from one generation to another, especially without writing.

2. a belief or custom handed down in this way; a long-established custom or method of procedure.

This is the dictionary definition, and, while it might seem churlish, and indeed a trifle unnecessary, to remind people that 1997 is the 1400th anniversary of St Augustine's arrival here in Kent, ultimate cause of a certain school not unconnected with Canterbury, it is important that we do remember what has gone before, and its influence on our present life.

'History is bunk', said Henry Ford. But, on the other hand, 'He who cannot remember history is doomed to repeat it'. Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, in creating Ford as the God of modem times, attempts to do away with the past, and everything associated with it, so that we may have the perfect, unchanging State. Of course, this leads on to the second quotation. The world created in Huxley's novel has disturbing consequences which we have seen in many modern-day societies, not least in those of Hitler and Stalin, both of whom were guilty of trying to destroy history for their own ends. It would be crass and inappropriate to launch into an attack on revisionist history at this point, but we must never forget the dangers.

This is not to say that we should have an unblinking, steadfast belief in, and reliance on, the past. Indeed, sitting here in the light of England victories in the first Test and the Tournoi de France, I am exceedingly grateful that certain historical traditions are no more. There must always be room for change, for renewal, and for a fresh outlook on life - as in this year's General Election (albeit not reflected in our School Election, where tradition ruled).

Traditions and customs should not be regarded, as in the case of certain ceremonial events, as being merely for the benefit of the tourists' cameras, but should be viewed with a real sense of the reasons .behind the tradition. St Augustine probably had very little idea, when he stepped ashore in 597, that he would be remembered in such a way 1400 years later, but as the reason for our celebration - as with the rest of History itself - he should certainly not be forgotten or, worse, consigned to the bonfire.

King's Week 1997. (M.J.T)

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How about this for a day: 0830 Visit your Platoon or Troop on the vehicle park carrying out First Parade maintenance on their equipment. Equipment on your charge could be worth ÂŁmillions, and it's your responsibility to ensure it is fully operationally effective.

0930 On the way back to the office visit crews practising their drills on a simulator to satisfy yourself they are up to standard.

1000 Conduct interviews with three of your soldiers - a good course report (debrief and congratulate}, a discipline problem (investigate the case}, and a compassionate problem (counsel and grant leave).

11 00 Go to 25m range to conduct SA80 shooting practice to ensure the weapons are properly zeroed for an Annual Personal Weapons Test the following day.

1230 Lunch in the Officers' Mess.

1400 Represent your Regiment at your favourite team sport against another unit.

1630 Chair a planning meeting to finalise plans for an adventure training expedition to Kenya that you will be leading next Spring.

1800 An hour's work on your Company's account before you: 1900 Change into formal Mess Dress for a Regimental Guest Dinner Night.

01 00 Check uniform and personal equipment for an early start to the following day's different but equally varied and challenging programme.

Want to know more? Your first challenge is easy,

See your Head of Careers to make an appointment with your Schools Liaison Officer or post the coupon below to SLO (SE) 17 St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 280 The Army welcomes applications from eligible candidates no matter what their marital status, race, ethnic origin or religious beliet The Army is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and has ¡a strict code of conduct covering racial or sexual discrimination and harassment.

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~his & ~hal The last edition of The Cantuarian had just gone to press when the death was announced of The Very Reverend Ian White-Thomson, Dean of Canterbury from 1963 to 1976. He was 92. His father was Archdeacon of Canterbury and became Bishop of Ely. From Harrow and Brasenose College, Oxford, he went to Cuddesdon Theological College and was ordained in 1929 to a curacy in Ashford. In 1934 he became Rector of the oldest parish church in England, StMartin's, Canterbury. Five years later he was invited to become resident chaplain to Archbishop Cosmo Lang, and he retained this position under the next two Archbishops, William Temple and Geoffrey Fisher. After the war he was Vicar of Folkestone, Rural Dean, a chaplain to King George VI and then to the present Queen. It is believed that his appointment as Archdeacon of Northumberland in 1955 was designed to prepare him for the office of Dean of Canterbury in succession to the politically controversial Dr Hewlett Johnson. But all this says little about the man known to so many who may read these lines. To know him and to meet him made one feel better. His natural generosity of spirit, his gentleness and his wit enriched all who came into contact with him. The writer of his obituary in The Times pointed out that 'right into his old age, people wanted to listen to him' . He and his wife Wendy had a real affection for the School. As Chairman of Governors, he appointed Peter Pilkington as Headmaster. His sons Stephen and John were in Marlowe, and John was Captain of School in 1981. His younger daughter Lucy married a member of staff, Stewart Ross. To them, to daughter Morwenna and the grandchildren and especially to Wendy we send our sympathy over a loss which saddens us deeply but leaves those of us who knew Ian with a sense of gratitude for an acquaintance which was a privilege, partly because he would never have perceived it as such.

Earlier this year we also learned of the death of The Reverend Canon John Kelly, who was a Governor of the School from 1963 to 1980. He succeeded an O.K.S., A.B. Emden, _~s Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford, in 1951, having been Vice-Principal since 1937. During their periods of office, he and Emden transformed St Edmund Hall from a public hall within the university and little more than an annexe of Queen's to a full college with a particular reputation for excellence in sport. By 1959 Teddy Hall held the rugby, soccer and athletic cups and was Head of the River. He also presided over the physical expansion of St Edmund Hall. He was a considerable scholar and writer on theological matters. At the time of his death he was compiling a dictionary of the Archbishops of Canterbury.

Requiescant

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Mr Charles Cracknell, who taught the bassoon at King's from 1981 until1992, died in May at the age of 81. He was brought up in Hastings, where he often went to hear the local Municipal Orchestra and was, in his own words, 'bitten by the bassoon bug, to which there is no known antidote'. He began his musical career as a stand-in in the Eastboume Municipal Orchestra, and after the war he enrolled part-time at the Royal Academy of Music. After an audition with John Barbirolli in the summer of 1945 he was appointed Principal Bassoon of the Halle Orchestra, a post he held for over 30 years. He gave a number of historic performances, among them the British premiere in 1949 of Richard Strauss's Duet-Concertina for Clarinet and Bassoon. He was by all accounts a highly respected player and inspirational teacher. When he retired from the Halle, he and his wife Pat moved to Kent and Paul Neville invited him to teach at King's, where he gave tirelessly of his expertise and support to many pupils, and played in the Symphony Orchestra. His last King's Week concert was reviewed by Mr Alan Rooke, who observed: 'A true gentleman and an exc~llent musician, h~ will be missed by many, both pupils and staff. It was fitting that the audience was able to grve Charles a specral round of applause, and that the Sibelius (Finlandia) enabled us to hear clearly just a few of the last notes he produced in the Shirley Hall.' Mr David Goodes, in his valedictory article for The Cantuarian, recorded the gratitude felt by many King's musicians to 'this fine musician and lovable man'. We send our condolences to Pat and to their daughter Gill.

The fourteen hundredth anniversary of the arrival of St. Augustine and the establishment of Christian education in Canterbury has been marked by a number of events recorded elsewhere in this edition. On Monday 26th May there was a service in the Cathedral attended by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. The School was represented by the Headmaster, Lower Master and twenty King's Scholars, who accompanied the Cathedral Archivist and two Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, as they brought the Canterbury Gospels to the altar. After the service, Prince Charles was entertained to lunch in the School Dining Hall and signed the Visitors' Book.

The School lent its Dennis Flanders water-colour of the Great Gate at St Augustine's to an exhibition mounted by the Friends of the Canterbury Museums in the Royal Museum and Art Gallery in April and May. Caelestis origo

Visitors' Book Entry

There were two additions to the Common Room back in January, following the departure of Nick and Anna Sellers. The latter has been replaced by Miss Natalie Duff, a native of County Armagh and a graduate of Loughborough University, who teaches Physical Education, Mathematics and Information Technology. Our new teacher of Spanish and French is Mr Marc;al Bruna, both native and graduate of Barcelona, who joins us from Maidstone Grammar School. Although he does not teach P.E., he does take a frightening amount of exercise and is no mean footballer. We wish them both an enjoyable and fruitful time at King's.

Common Room

The Library

The School Library, sited at St Augustine's, has been conscious this year of its geographic link with the original library created when Augustine first brought books to Canterbury in 597 A.D. Those sent by Pope Gregory were most precious and kept on a shelf over the High Altar: they remained in Canterbury until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538.

In 1848 the new library was opened to house the collection of books of the Missionary College. It was designed by William Butterfield to complement the surrounding medieval buildings, and housed the theological books for 140 years.

Now it houses the School Library- still predominantly books but also, acknowledging that information can be disseminated in various forms, including videos and electronic media and online services.

Donations recently added to the present stock include Christopher Marlowe and Edward Alleyn by A.D. Wraight; and Dr W.R. Pickering~s new Conservation in Britain along with Life Chemistry and Molecular Biology which he coauthored with E.J. Wood and C.A. Smith. Two books- Greek Theatre and Original Olympics by Stewart Ross (Staff 1975The Library. (K.J.H.) 89)- were also added to stock.

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This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of Meister Omers. Some 100 O.K.S., from founder members to last year's Head of House, attended a lunch which was followed by a tour of the House and a concert in the Shirley Hall. To commemorate the occasion, The Lord and Lady Walpole, who are the parents of a current .memb~r o~ t~e House, most generoll:sly gave six rose bushes for the front garden celebrating the sixty years over which theu ongins range: from two which were bred in the thirties to the new 1997 rose called Horatio Nelson.

Sexagenarian M.O.

The Royal School of Church Music has conferred a Fell?wship ?n our fo?TI-er Dir~ctor of Music Mr Edred Wright (1954-79~ . He sang at the opemn.g serv~ce at Chisle~urst m 1928 and regularly helped out in the chm~ of the C?lleg~ of St Nicolas m t~e RSC.M s ea~ly days.

Sir Sydney Nicholson, under whose direction he was a chonster at We~tmmster Abbey, app~mted hi~ .Chmrmaster of the College of St Nicolas at Canterbury. He trai~ed the RSC~ ~ho;Isters !or the Coron.atwn C~ou m 1953. The Church Music Quarterly comments as follows on his career at King s: He built up the music to ~pitch ?f e~cellence which few schools have equalled, and which, at the time, set new standards prevwusly thought Impossible. Among his many admirers he cannot, alas, count the 1960s shopkeepers of Palace Street. In Jul.Y 1964, a fishmonger c~lle,d Mr Kinnaird wrote to the Daily Mail to complain about the 'non-stop sound of music from ÂŁ450 .a year King s School' which was 'driving him potty'. Practice apparently. started at 7:15 ,a.m. and w.ent on untl~ 10.20 p.m., breaking only for meals. The newspaper contacted Edred Wnght, who said: We are tembly busy with rehearsals for King's Week and I haven't time to discuss this matter.'

Mr Edred Wright

Mr David Reid offers the following comment on a local aspect of the 1997 General Election: 'Although now retired from full-time teaching and devoting himself to his duties as a County and City Councillor, M~ Martin Vye is ~till on t~e School staff as C?fficer Commanding the CCF and as an occasional teacher of Russian. ~e ?nee agam ~tood m the General ElectiOn as Liberal Democrat candidate for the Canterbury constituency. Having m 1992 achieved a strong second place and slashed the Conservative majority to under 10,000, there was thought t? be ~ chan~e of vict?ry this tim_e, especially in the context of a probable strong anti-government swir:tg and ~fa possible big ta~tical vote m the c~nstltuency from Labour supporters. Mr Vye mounted a vigorous campatg~, which impress~d p~rticularly those pupils ~ho attended the public hustings and the three who asked him in the High Street about his views on the .Health Service. Sad~~ for him, voters who wanted a change decided that Labour was the bette~ bet, th~ Labo~r and Lib.eral Dell!o~rat positions were reversed and the Conservative incumbent returned. Dr Malhon agam obtamed special permissiOn from the Returning Officer to be present at the count in order to record the event for the video. archives, but will ha~e to ;vait a little longer to see King's provide a successor as local M.P. to John Twyne~ th~ Sixtee~th-century lummary. Mr Reid was also active in the campaign. Describing himself as a mere foot-soldier m the Liberal Democrat army, he canvassed hard in the Precincts and other parts of the city, taking comfort fr?m t~e national results and from. t~e. reelection, albeit narrowly in a three-way split, of the Liberal Democrat councillor m the Canterbury Central DiViSIOn.

Vying for election

Blazing saddles

Our Common Room Racing Correspondent informs us that on Tuesday 3rd June Life of Riley won the 3.15 at Pontefract at 311: after ~nning. ra~her green, and Mr B~owning won the 4.00 at Brighton at 9/2, after a senes of disappmntmg performances. This completed a rare K.S.C. double at 21/1.

Two O.K.S. politicians have been mention~d regularly in these columns in recent years, a~d once again their careers have progressed smce last we sat at the word processor. Mr Martm Mansergh (LN 1960-65) becam~ a Fianna Fail adviser more than fift~en .years ago.

Described by one commentator as an 'austere intellectual (th~refore a m~mber o! .an oppress.ed mmon~y~, he ~as been working for the cause of a united Ireland and is now considered to be m a posi~lOn to doll!mate Dubln~ s pohcy on Northern Ireland. Back in Downing Street, it was to be expected that Mr Blau would give one of his clos.est advisers a senior position, and thus it was that Mr Jonathan Powell (SJL 196~-73), ~ho not long. ago w.a~ Fir~t Secretary in the British Embassy in Washington and got to know President Clinton, iS now the Pnme Mimster s political chief of staff. One 'senior Labour figure' told a reporter that Mr Powell _was very discreet: 'He's.wallpaper, but obviously very important wallpaper.' For future refere~ce, the ~uropean Polley Officer at Co?servative ~entral Office (where breeding, we are reliably informed, matters) iS Cathen~e F~ll. (WL 1~83-85}. We will not mentiOn her father this time, but hope that she can shake off the dreadf~l appellati?n diplobrat . She IS repute?. to ~ow. how to deal with difficult customers, and to have a circle of acquamtance which extends well beyond politics: As hkely to be dining with Howard Davies from the Bank of England as with a grande dame of ballet.'

Mr David Hubert Boothby Chesshyre (GR 1954-59) has bee~ appointed Cla~enceu~ Ki~g of Arms. Clarenceux is the first of the two provincial Kings of Arms, under ~art~r ~ng of ~rms. His province I~ England south of the Trent, whereas that part north of the Trent was his provmce m his prevwus role as Norroy King of Arms.

O.K.S.

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We now go a little further afield. At the time of writing, Dr Michael Foale (SH 1970-74) is waiting on board the Mir space station for repairs to the solar panels damaged recently in an accidental collision with an unmanned supply vehicle.

When he took over from American astronaut Jerry Linenger, Mir had already suffered a serious fire, an anti-freeze leak, broken oxygen generators and problems with its ventilation system for removing carbon dioxide. Before lift-off he said: 'It will be like working on a second-hand car.' We wish him well, not least in order to look forward to the possibility of showing him his old school as it now is, as compared with the institution he described to the press as being an ideal training ground for life on board Mir: 'no personal privacy, the food is rotten and there are no women, but after a couple of days you get used to it - it is just the same as school.' Dr Foale will presumably want both to restore Mir to full efficiency and afterwards to correct any impression he may have given that King's is still as he remembers it. After all, Mr Raymond Butt told the press that Michael 'was never satisfied until he had gained complete understanding of any problem'.

There is yet more evidence that King's prepares people for a full timetable when they are in gainful employment.

Professor Richard Talbert (MR 1960-64) is spending 'twentysix hours a day, nine days a week' on a multi-million dollar project to produce a complete atlas of the ancient Greek and Roman world. Assisted by ten classical scholars from around Dr Michael Foale, with acknowledgement to N.A.S.A. the world, he is co-ordinating the operation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Apart from coping with the risky business of fund-raising, he had to take care in 1988 to enlist the help only of scholars who would be likely to survive until the end of the twelve year collaboration, and who were considered reliable with regard to the delivery of work on time. Additional obstacles have appeared in the form of floods which obscure the territory to be charted and blanks on the map caused by the closure of frontiers in areas of political upheaval. Professor Talbert expects the research to be completed by early next year and then to spend eighteen months proof-reading. He notes that the atlas will be unique - another O.K.S. 'first'.

The Daily Telegraph of April 4th carried a picture of Sarah Lonsdale (GR 1981-83) breaking a school rule by eating a burger in the street. At least one can say that she is looking extremely guilty. But as her article makes clear, the guilt was generated not by the Rotulus but by her husband, who has strong views about beef and BSE. She has publicly confessed to becoming a closet burger buyer, terrified that her husband will catch her going to McDonald's or detect that incriminating aroma which is bound to linger on one's frock after a secret date with a quarter pounder.

We dimly recall that similar problems surrounded her fondness for a little drop of Scotch at bedtime in Bailey.

Although known principally in his youth as an entrepreneur with a particular predilection for old telephone boxes, James Phipson (SH 1988-93) famously appeared as a policeman in one of Mr Dobbin's productions, performing an hilarious silent routine with a step-ladder. At Bristol University he became a volunteer special constable, and on April 24th found himself near an off-licence in which two men were carrying out an armed robbery. He was told that they were armed with knives, but managed to chase them and corner one of them while maintaining radio contact with his colleagues. The money was recovered and a man jailed for three years. James was awarded a special commendation by the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police.

As is his generous and much to be commended practice, Mr Norman Scarfe (WL 1936-41) has presented a copy of his most recent work to the Library. It is entitled Jocelin of Brakeland and was written at the request of the Provost of St James's Cathedral at Bury St Edmunds, to serve as a guide and historical account for the general reader of the great abbey, whose church it had been. The Provost was well advised: Mr Scarfe is the doyen of writers and lovers of East Anglia, and of Suffolk especially, and was honoured as such by a Festschrift for his 70th birthday in 1993 and by an honorary doctorate of the University of East Anglia. Jocelin was a monk of the abbey, which he entered as a boy in 1173, and a chronicler of its history and the doings of Abbot Samson, in some ways a Canon Shirley of the day. Mr Scarfe skilfully intertwines Jocelin's account with the wider purposes of the guide and even manages to run a kind of lesson, with preps. alongside, for younger readers. They would need to be as scholarly as Mr Searle already was in his King's Scholar days to earn full marks; but their attempts would reward them richly. The book is copiously and beautifully illustrated and is published by Gracewing Books.

Mr John Taylor (LN 1955-59) was pictured in The Times on March 15th after leading a rebellion against South West Trains, who foolishly stopped his Exeter service at Salisbury. He prevented the automatic doors from closing, thereby making it impossible for the crew to take the train into a siding. Even~when another crew volunteered to take the train i:on to Exeter, the local Railtrack management refused to allow them to do so. Mr Taylor reported: 'I happened to know Railtrack's chairman Bob Horton from school. We were in the same House, and I said I would call him on my mobile phone. Then there was an announcement that we had got our train.' If the locals had realised that Mr Taylor was only in the Removes when Sir Robert was in 6a, they might have raised the stakes.

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Francis Summers (MR 1989-94) has had a painting exhibited at the National Gallery in London. Students from a number of art colleges -Francis has been studying at the Wimbledon School of Art - were asked to select a painting in the National Gallery and create a work of their own in response to it. His painting, an interpretation of Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne, was the one selected to represent the exhibition, entitled Back to the Future, in The Sunday Times.

Diana de Cabarrus (JR 1993-95) is featured in the Trinity 1997 issue of Oxford Today. She writes about her experiences as a 'very junior co-presenter on a drama review show' with the Oxford undergraduate radio station Oxygen (107.9 FM).

Prudence Dailey (MT 1982-84) wrote to The Daily Telegraph to protest at the 'incredible supposition' that the large number of new female Labour Members of Parliament would make the place more civilised. Drawing on her experience as a Conservative City Councillor on a Labour controlled council, she warns that a significant minority of these women are 'far more belligerent and venomous than anything to which their mere male colleagues could aspire'. Reactions to Miss Dailey, please, not to us.

Kathryn Spall (MT) produced a piece of practice coursework which has attracted an even more appreciative readership than the members of our '1\ Level examination Board. Her essay on Middlemarch is to be published in The English Review in January 1998.

Avis Ngan (MO) won the second prize in a national competition sponsored by BOC Gases and the Royal Society of Chemistry for designing a poster on the theme 'Anaesthesia 1900-2000 and beyond'. His montage was about 'Gain without pain', and won £100 for Avis, which he has given to a mission in Rwanda, where the volunteers, in Avis's words 'do their best to spread God's word in that isolated area under harsh conditions'. He also won £100 each for the Art and Chemistry departments. He was presented with his prize

by Lord Dainton.

Presentation to Avis Ngan by Lord Dainton Richard Peat (MO) has had a number of compositions performed this year, most recently and memorably at the Serenade in King's Week. He also had a piece performed professionally in the Canterbury 'Sounds New' Festival in February. The Artistic Director of the Festival was Mr Nicholas Cleobury, father of Simon (MT).

Pupil power

King's celebrated Valentine's Day 1997 with the usual carnation scheme. Flower, ribbon, card and hand-written messages were on offer for a mere £1.20. Once again the response from both pupils and staff was outstanding, with more than 1900 carnations bought and £1900 raised for Marie Curie Cancer Care. This money will be used to help provide free specialised medical and nursing care for cancer patients, or to fund research into better methods of cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Beaucoup de bouquets

1

11

Benedict Reid (MR) no doubt foresaw the downfall of the Conservative Government when writing to The Times at the beginning of March. He made it clear that Mr Major had failed to discard his Christmas and New Year message on the Downing Street Internet site in favour of something more immediately relevant, whereas the White House site was updated every few hours. Mr Major had thus failed to register the fact that technology in education was an important election issue.

Conservative Central Office would perhaps take the line that the apparently obsolete message could have been part of the run-up to Christmas 1997, considering that hot-cross buns now go on sale from January 2nd, and Sainsbury's customers were being urged to join the Christmas savers' scheme during Lent.

Nettingthe past

Rachel Barr and carnation. (Kentish Gazette)

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J.P.D. with Mark Cresswell and W.R.P. with Alex McDonald at The Grange Fete.

(M.P.H.D.)

T~is year's Proms Programme carries a 'celebrity choice' item by Old Cliftonian actor Simon Russell ~eale wh~ comme_nts on his first experience of hearing Sibelius's second ~ymphony. The Inference IS that this was a performance ;by the King's School orchestra He remarks that he always listened to this piece after rehearsals for Ibsen's Ghosts. ¡ Ghostblasters

'A grand memory for forgetting'

Me~ber of staff: 'Why didn't you go to breakfast?'

Pupil: 'I forgot, sir.'

Jean McCallum of Marie Curi~ Foundation receiving the cheque from Sam Goulden.

(M.P.H.D.)

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SERMONS 'How much we suffer from the cold ... the ink freezes in one boy's inkhorn, the very brains freeze in the head of another. Our teeth chatter, we hit out at one another in an insane fashion ... some of us have such chilblains that we can neither run nor jump.'

So there is much to celebrate. But a long history is not in itself a continuing guarantee of excellence. That challenge has to be faced afresh in every generation. It is good therefore to know that King's can still celebrate its excellence both in its academic results and in its wider curriculum of cultural and sporting activities. Unlike many other boarding schools you are full to overflowing. Indeed, many would claim that King's is the best coeducational boarding school in the country today. And this service gives us an opportunity to thank God for the dedication of benefactors past and present. For the vision and commitment of Governors, Headmasters and staff down the ages: most recently for the outstanding work of Canon Shirley, Canon Peter Newell and Lord Pilkington; for the contribution of Canon Phillips in the building up of coeducation at King's; and for the fresh vision and dedication of Canon Wilkinson and his colleagues - for all these, and much more besides, we thank God. But, as I have hinted already, a record like yours brings with it the danger of complacency if you begin to feel that you can now afford to sit back, confident that you have some kind of inalienable right to possess the Promised Land.

So let us then re-visit that text and see what lessons you can learn to keep you in good health for the future.

First, Joshua provided the people with both a warning and a promise. No journey in this life is ever over and at every stage of that journey they needed to hear God's word again and again: 'Be careful to do all that is commanded in the Book of Law. I will not fail you or forsake you. I am with you wherever you go.'

This passage of scripture has been a comfort and strength to generations of people, promising - as it does - that those who walk closely with God will find their strength renewed even at points of great discouragement and difficulty. This is as true for schools, churches and families as it is for individuals.

For a school such as this it is a reminder that a Christian foundation is something not to flaunt but is certainly something to celebrate and be proud of, as you strive to maintain its high standards.

The Christian basis for education was well expressed by Archbishop William Temple years ago when he said: 'Education should remain primarily corporate rather than individual, primarily spiritual rather than intellectual, primarily concerned with giving people the power to pronounce judgement on any facts with which they may come into contact rather than supplying them simply with facts.' Notice that he was not denying the importance of intellectual endeavour, but he was putting education into a moral framework - a framework in which young people can grow into caring people who are concerned with practising the values they believe in, rather than with the mere pursuit of materialistic success. Likewise a school such as this with its history must be concerned

SERMON BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AT THE KING'S SCHOOL, CANTERBURY COMMEMORATION OF BENEFACTORS SERVICE 3RD JULY, 1997.

illll ,Ill

I am delighted to be with you today for your Service for the Commemoration of Benefactors. On the Green Court stands a simple but attractive model of a small boat with the Christ Church Crest on its sail. It represents the momentous voyage of Augustine to this country in 597 A.D. We know that Augustine and his monks came with books, because without books he could not teach the Christian faith. Through his influence the books led to the development of education; and education to the schools from which King's emerged at the end of the Middle Ages. We can confidently claim, therefore, that Augustine's little ship carried on board the seeds of education, and that the great school we celebrate today can trace its origins to that frail craft and its precious cargo. Such a legacy is indeed worth commemorating and celebrating.

As we come then to give thanks for God's faithfulness over many generations listen again to these words from the book of Joshua: 'Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' The words were directed to people who had reached their destination. Israel, the chosen people of God, had at last arrived in the Promised Land. But their danger was that they could so easily think that no difficulties, no temptations, and no problems now lay ahead of them.

I wonder if this is a word to the School. For you too can look back on a long journey that began with that ship crossing the Channel 1400 years ago; a journey co-terminous with the Church in England as we know it; a historical journey far longer than our present form of Government or Monarchy can boast. It has been a journey of faith and extraordinary courage. Among Old King's Scholars you can count Christopher Marlowe, the playwright; Thomas Linacre, the physician; William Harvey, the scientist; John Tradescant, the gardener and collector; William Somner, the historian; and Somerset Maugham, the novelist. Even at this moment one of your old boys, Michael Foale, has risen to dizzy heights as he circles the earth in the Mir space craft and seeks to bring a damaged vessel home to mother earth.

It is clear then to everyone present here today that this is a school with a distinguished history.

Nevertheless, as we look back I imagine that many of you are glad you are at school now and not in earlier times when, as in the 16th century, boys in the top form had to speak to each other only in Latin or Greek, whether in their classes or at play!

Then, again, you can be thankful that today you work in centrally heated classrooms. Four hundred years ago one scholar wrote somewhat plaintively: THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

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I am with you.' It is a command to obey and an attitude to adopt. A school such as this can easily give an impression of elitism and superiority. Girls and boys at King's are indeed immensely fortunate. But from those to whom much has been given, much will be expected.

You must use your good fortune as a springboard for the service of others. Joshua commanded his people not to be complacent. They had arrived in the Promised Land, he told them, but the task of settling down, the job of making the land beautiful, prosperous and flowing with milk and honey still remained to be done.

There would be giants to confront and defeat. There would be times when they would be close to despair.

At moments like that he called on them to be of 'good courage' and to remember that the presence of God is always with those who walk with him.

Of course, I realise that school days are not always the happiest days of your life. Life can be hard. Times can be as difficult as they were for the children of Israel.

But a good school must seek to provide an environment that can absorb both pain and disappointment. By providing a secure, loving and hopeful environment for its pupils it can enable them to discover the grandeur of life and the benefits of sound scholarship and learning.

Above all it should give them a desire to serve the purposes of their destiny as they walk with God and seek to serve their fellow human beings.

And all these things we celebrate today. King's School, Canterbury: a school which has had its ups and downs; a school with an unrivalled history; a school with a deep Christian tradition; a school with a proud record of achievement. But all that will be in vain if it ever begins to rely on past glories. Our task is to make sure that never happens and to strive afresh to possess the Promised Land in all its fullness. And, like the Children of Israel, God calls on us to press on and never to seek to return to what we have now left behind. So hear again the words of the Lord in Joshua: 'Be strong and of good courage, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'

to encourage its pupils to set out on their journey through life with ideals and nobility of purpose.

Surprises will abound on such a journey. Parents, and teachers in particular, are often surprised by the capacity of their pupils in later life to reach into themselves and draw out talents that their teachers never thought existed. David Gower's talents were, I know, spotted when he was still here, but I am reminded that Gary Lineker, the former England footballer and captain, was told at school that he must really work harder because he would never make a living playing football.

But a school like this must also give freedom to the idealism which young people have in abundance and the passion they often display in expressing it. I urge you never to lose this, even if in time it will be tempered with greater knowledge, wisdom and experience. It was Christian idealism which brought Augustine to this country in the first place; his passion for God and a desire to make him known. That Christian idealism may take many different forms. It may emerge in a decision to serve your fellow women and men, in some poorly paid job or, equally, in the dedication to a profession which will transform the lives of others. It may guide you to take a leadership role in our society or to confront the serious environmental issues that so urgently need to be addressed. It is, after all, young people in the main who are the most conscious of the damage we are causing our tiny and over populated planet. The world population is now 5.3 billion people. By the year 2030, when you leavers are about 50, the world population will be 9.3 billion. What a colossal bill my generation is handing you to pay. Such issues are moral issues and Christian schools above all are places where this moral idealism can be sown and cultivated.

But, secondly, when confronted by this challenge to put faith into practice and to face the future, what can we do in response? Once again Joshua tells us in no uncertain terms: 'Be of good courage, don't be afraid.

32 pupils were confirmed by the Bishop of Maidstone. (M.P.H.D.)

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a Labour and much respected District Councillor, by the way, to redress the balance), defined sin as 'Seeking for yourself a real or supposed advantage, without respect for the hurt inflicted on others'. Not a bad definition. Clearly true in the case of a burglary or a rape; but also true of that hasty word, said in temper, or that long considered slight, spoken before a carefully selected audience to ensure maximum hurt.

We are told sins can be of thought, word or deed.

Theologically you might ask how sins of thought could possibly come within Quaker Headmaster's definition.

I would reply: God is always hurt by our sins.

Lent begins next Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, and I want to give you something to think about during Lent.

I don't know if many of you keep Lent, if you make a Rule for Lent: perhaps some of you still do. I was brought up to give up something for Lent, some pleasure, something I should miss. In fact, looking back, I cheated. It was during the war, and we were rationed to 12 oz of sweets per month. I used to give up sweets for Lent, but save my ration and have a real blow-out on Easter Sunday! Well, giving up something for Lent is a good discipline: the Bible says that he who conquers himself is greater than he that taketh the city, and if you think that self-discipline is easy, you try it.

But I am going to suggest a positive Lent. I suggest that you resolve actively and specifically to come to grips with your own sins. No, I am not referring to your gross or technicolor sins - you know, smoking and drinking and taking pretty girls to the disco; or in the case of the young ladies, being taken to the disco.

Let those rip. But get to grips with behaviour that brings injury to others. And this includes what you say and what you think. There is a saying, Sticks and stones may break my bones But words will never hurt me.

That dictum is profoundly untrue. Words can wound more than petty violence. Likewise, evil thoughts in the mind are the seedbed of vicious behaviour later.

We are all sinners. We are all less than in our best minds, we would want to be. I read in the scientific article now a feature of The Economist - my second Bible; I have taken it since 1947- that man is DNAwise 99% chimpanzee. We all have a lot of the animal left in us. Christ calls us to rise out of that towards what man can become, as exemplified in himself.

The A.S.B. topic for today is 'Jesus, Friend of Sinners'. This is normally approached as one who sees all our weaknesses and gets us off on the Day of Judgement. Well, that is a legitimate approach. But I suggest another. Jesus is the friend of sinners in this sense: he knows us for what we are, capable of animal behaviour - and by the way, since England dropped its Christianity, many Englishmen have reverted to a wide range of animal behaviour. You think about that one.

He sees us for what we are, and knows what there is in us to become, by His grace or help - and that's another sermon, this matter of grace. Being a friend, he wants the best for us. His ambition for us is breath-taking. He said, 'Be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.'. You won't get that far, I imagine: but make a start this Lent.

A SERMON PREACHED BY THE REVD CANON FRANK PICKARD, HONORARY CANON OF PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL IN THE QUIRE, QUINQUAGESIMA 1997

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I was brought up in the last days of the feudal era. It had its advantages; it was not without its humour. For example, I was not allowed to know and did not discover until I was well into manhood, that the old benevolent lady in black, who sat in church in the front pew every Sunday at Mattins and Evensong, flanked by her professional companion, equally grave and equally respected, one Miss Larkin, who put a pound on the collection plate every service - and that was money in those days - who paid for and presented not only all my day school prizes but also my Sunday School prizes, and paid the church's diocesan quota, that this lady, Mrs Bartholomew of Blakesley Hall, was not the late squire's widow, but his erstwhile mistress!

Let me tell you about its advantages. There was no crime. We never ever locked our doors, day or night. I came home from school at 4 p.m. to an empty house most days - my mother would be out on a country walk: she was an inveterate walker, and I was made to go with her until I revolted against the habit - and the house was unlocked. So was the church; so was the school. In those days we paid 1/2d a day, that is a quarter of one pence, for a bottle, one third of a pint, of milk, each day. Mrs Thatcher abolished that, I believe.

The money was collected in on Monday mornings, left in piles on teacher's desk all lunch hour in an unlocked classroom, and never a penny was taken. In 1940 some London evacuees arrived. There was a theft. A few coloured crayons were taken. We talked in hushed tones in comers of this heinous crime, and could not imagine the utter wickedness of the capital city in producing young criminals of this water.

This was Christian England. England the Christian country. England where Christian values were axiomatic. Read even such light literature as Jerome K. Jerome, and you get the flavour. It assumes that all men are Christian men and are to live according to standards accordingly. In those days the clergy did know the Ten Commandments, and so did everybody else. Kipling's soldier in the Road to Mandalay can lament of that city, 'Where there ain't no ten commandments'. He clearly thought there ought to be.

I can recite them, in the catechism version. I had to recite them daily at primary school.

Why are things now different? What makes them different? The answer is an old fashioned word, now discounted: sin.

Sin has been defined in many ways. Theologically, sin is the transgression of the law, the law not being the Ten Commandments, though including that, but the entire gospel of Christ: his ways, his teachings. My Headmaster at Grammar School - you know, a 1906 job, abolished by the wicked socialists in the 60s - no New Labour in those days, no Blunkett assurances of their survival - my Headmaster, a devout Quaker (and THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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work, the reading, the sports trammg, the duties at home and in the House, at School - others' expectations of us. But living is about facing up to a situation. Living in the present is about recognising our potential, making the most of our opportunities for good, and working with others to create well-springs of hope, streams and rivers of faith, and ultimately, an ocean of love.

If I interpret Christ's teaching aright and the teaching of St Paul, it is when we say 'yes' to the present moment that we say 'yes' to God himself. God is in the here and now. The Kingdom of God is now.

The question is: do we respond?

Perhaps the most famous Security General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold, a man whose life was spent in the pursuit of peace, wrote back in 1961: 'I don't know who, or what, put the question [into my mind], and I don't know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer 'yes' to someone, or something, and from that hour I was certain that existence was meaningful and that therefore my life in self-surrender had a goal.'

I believe that saying 'yes' to God is tied in with taking on the responsibilities put our way - wanting to serve others, wanting to play your part in an on-going community, wanting to give of your talents, wanting to be generous with your time, talents and energy. It is, as St Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, for each of us to pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building.

But there is one further test; one further compulsory examination question which the rubrics make clear.

There is a further question we cannot dodge.

Let us go back 1400 years to those days when Augustine and his forty monks were here in Canterbury, living as he and they did in this same locality where we today now live. They were days in so many ways very different from ours. If the testimony of Bede is correct, Augustine had responded, actually, to the task with which he had been charged by Pope Gregory. But it had been a struggle: the conversion of the pagan English was not something he had relished, and although he had been received with much generosity by King Ethelbert, no doubt thanks to Queen Bertha and her chaplain, Augustine and his band of brothers still had the responsibility of convincing the King and the people of Canterbury of the worth of the Christian life and faith.

As Canon Ingram Hill made clear in his address to us at the beginning of King's Walk (on that windy stretch of Thanet shore earlier this term) it was the Christian monks' care of the sick and suffering, the feeding of the hungry, the support of the weak and the burying of the dead that enlightened the King and that led to faith. The discussions and debates, the rhetoric and reasoning, all the words were overtaken by the practice of selfless care and love. That was the creative, determining factor in 597, and it still is today.

In our success-orientated world where power, ambition, mom~y, status, cleverness and possessions count, we are challenged by those who are deemed to be rejects and failures - and let us not pretend we do not know who they are. Our 1997 King's Walk, our modem day St Augustine, Fr Mark who runs the St

ON 15TH JUNE 1997 'Each of us shall give account of ourselves to God' _ Paul's letter to the Romans.

It's exam time! We've all been through it. We know what it's like: the preparation or the inability to get started; the revision or lack of it; the optimism and doubts; the hard slog, or slothful escapism; the hopes and fears; the cool confidence or the sheer panic especially on reading past papers. Then exam day itself: the apprehension; the relief that it's now too late to do any more (that Christmas Eve 5 p.m. feeling).

And then the almost detached curiosity of finding out what's on the actual paper and whether it matches with what we know. Finally, hopefully, a joyful response: lucid, pertinent, relevant, sparklingly intelligent answers. Fulfilment and an eager anticipation of the results to confirm and reward all . our endeavours, industry, intellect, time and testing. Well, that's the hope.

Sitting exams is exhilarating stuff and setting exams is so too. Questions need to be engaging: they should make us think, and think again before putting pen to paper. The best stretch us and enable us to respond positively so that our answers can be celebrations of talents after due struggle.

One of the most memorable questions and answers I ever came across was set by the London Metropolitan Police Training College in North London. This is the place where men and women train to become police officers who can deal with any eventuality. Cadets have to face tough examinations, and there is a story told of one question in the final exam which went something like this: 'As a result of a 999 call you are told to go to a street where there has been a reported explosion. You are the first member of the emergency services to arrive. You find a large crater in the road in front of a row of houses. There is a crowd of people gathering and one person appears to have had a heart attack. A water main has ruptured and a fountain of water is shooting into the air. A man comes running from one house calling for an ambulance for his pregnant wife who has gone into labour. Someone else runs up to you and says there is a strong smell of gas about twenty yards away. It is then that you notice that a wall of one of the houses is starting to break up and fall on the group of people below it.'

The question asked: 'In a few words describe what you would do.' One cadet wrote: 'Remove uniform and mingle with the crowd.'

Well, that response was a celebration of a certain wit, though not the expected response. But no doubt that cadet went on to become a Chief Constable or a leading member of the Home Office's Traumas and Catastrophes Operations Programme - HOTCOP for short!

But seriously, positive and purposeful responses are vital whether in exams, in life, wherever, whoever.

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Thomas' project for the homeless, and the Director of REACT, Chris Pulford, have told us of just some, earlier this term.

What we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, those in need, those without a voice, the powerless, the

homeless, the terminally ill children of REACT - that is the test and the stretching question of questions. It is perhaps the most searching and uncomfortable question, and yet potentially, the most purposeful and joyful one of all. Amen.

OBITUARY and worthy of his attention. He never spoke down to anyone.

He had a ready smile that was so appealing, and Speech Days took on a new lease of life as soon as he became involved. In the early sixties they were unbelievably boring. Long lists of prize winners were read out in the same monotonous way after two or three short plays were performed on the stage in which all the participants spoke only in Latin! There were no memorable speeches and the whole occasion was best avoided if possible.

THE VERY REVD IAN WHITE-THOMSON (DEAN OF CANTERBURY, 1963-76, DIED JANUARY 11TH AGED 92)

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My most lasting memory of Ian White-Thomson goes back over twentyfive years to the time when I first moved into Luxmoore in the Autumn term of 1971. I had asked him to take prayers one evening in my first term and he instantly agreed. He was, of course, of the Chairman Governors at that time and so I was naturally a little apprehensive. My father-in-law was staying with us then and he seemed concerned at the prospect of meeting the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, Chairman of the Governors of the King's School! My father-in-law was not a religious man and he felt he would not have a great deal in common with a Cathedral dignitary of such high standing. We need not have worried.

Immediately these two, arguably the two most popular men that I have ever known, found common ground in Rugby Football.

There was an instant rapport between them as they discussed great players and momentous matches of t~e 1920s and 1930s. My father-in-law was a G.P. m central Wales for 46 years and when he died, before retirement, in 1973 the grieving that resulted was widespread and profound. He has become a legend in the Tregaron area of central Wales. Ian White Thomson had similar qualities. He had immense natural charm. He was one of those people who was always concerned about your welfare. Though he was a man of considerable intellect he could strike up a conversation with anyone about any topic and always make that person feel that their opinions were valuable THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

When Ian WhiteThomson arrived, however, the clouds lifted and his smiling face shone through. He was clear!y happy to be given the chance of addressing the parents and in his first speech that I can recall he said: 'Generally speaking, clergy are generally speaking.' A ripple of laughter went round the hall and everyone sat up and waited for further gems. They were not disappointed and the applause at the end was prolonged, heartfelt and sincere.

He was such an easy man to get on with and there was real harmony between the Dean and the Headmaster. I well remember that in 1976, his last year as Dean, he opened the batting with Canon Pilkington in a cricket match on the Green Court arranged by Hugh Aldridge to commemorate his retirement. He didn't score a great many, but all who saw his innings were agreed that his timing was that of a natural games player.

When the White-Thomsons left the Deanery later that year something very special went out of the Precincts.

BoB BEE.

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CHAPLAIN'S NOTES Augustine, Ethelbert and Bertha. Inevitably and rightly these people have dominated the sermons and addresses heard this year. As our Archbishop reminded us in the Commemoration sermon we are their inheritors; as Canon Derek Ingram Hill, O.K.S., reminded us in a memorable service at the mouth of the River Stour, their story provides an excellent example of the need to combine good works with good thoughts. Had not Augustine and his monks palpably lived according to their faith, by demonstrating practical as well as spiritual care for the disadvantaged of Canterbury, then the good work of Bertha in preparing their way might well have been unrequited.

Ethelbert obviously knew the Biblical text 'by your fruits ye shall know them'.

On Ascension Day a hundred of us gathered at the altar of the crypt of the original abbey of St Augustine.

And five days later, on St Augustine's Day, many of the scholars and some of the staff were in the Cathedral for the National Service of Thanksgiving for St Augustine and his mission and shared in the very English exuberance of that celebration. There was a very powerful sense of the significance of Canterbury as a place of pilgrimage.

How appropriate that the School's Charity of the term this term was StThomas' Fund for the Homeless.

Named for the other focus of Cantuarian pilgrimage, Thomas Becket (who himself showed considerable practical care for the homeless), it is concerned with the present plight of homeless people in Canterbury.

The founder, Father Mark Elvins, represented St Augustine at the mouth of the Stour, and started our service by reading to us the greetings sent by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal

Archbishop of Westminster. The sponsored pilgrimage that followed raised funds for the ill children helped by the charity REACT; any lingering anxieties that we might not be retracing the path of St Augustine himself were dispelled by the realisation that the walkers between them covered most of the footpaths of East Kent.

On a personal note, this has been a defining moment in my time at King's. The members of VIa who leave this term started at the same time as I: consequently they have a particular place in my thoughts. The Sacristan, James Miller-Jones, has been superb. Seen at his best at the Servers' Dinner (enhanced this year by presence of the Dean and Chapter), James has been utterly reliable, thoughtful and faithful. Rachel Hill as Head Server has also been a model of Christian commitment. The Headmaster provided me with an interesting clash of loyalties when at the end of term he asked me to cease to be a tutor in M. 0. and transfer to The Grange. Undoubtedly my new House will be just as good, but I leave my tutor group with genuine regret; my debt to M.J.M.and M.O. is considerable.

And loyalty to the School has to override loyalty to the House, just as loyalty to God comes above all else.

It is this loyalty to God that is demonstrated each year by the confirmation candidates: thirty-two this year were confirmed by the Bishop of Maidstone. And it is that loyalty to God showed by Augustine, Bertha and the people of the Abbey, the Cathedral, the School and the city of Canterbury through the centuries that enables us both to celebrate fourteen hundred years of Christian education in our School and to start our fifteenth century with faith, hope and charity.

J.A.T.

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VALETE hundreds over the years - all the more so when they did not go off quite as planned! This was part of the fascination: pupils were always wondering quite what would happen next, did he really know what he was doing? This question was answered in the affirmative in everything that has made Dick such a fine teacher and, for ten years, such a successful Head of Department. His superb designing of the basement laboratories (the raw sewage problem was not his fault!), his immaculate organisation of the day to day running of the Department and the 'show pieces' such as the 'A' level practical examinations are just examples of the high standards he has set over the years. If he will forgive me for saying so, Dick has sometimes been very good at making big dramas out of small crises. In a real crisis, however, he has been an absolute rock, as many of us will bear grateful witness.

Departmental Meetings will lack the sparkle and colour that he has brought to them and life will be much duller in his absence.

The Social Services group was started up by Dick and this typifies his attitude to life - always concerned for others and anxious to help in any way that he can.

Although the numbers involved have ebbed and flowed, the School's excellent record in community and charity projects has a lot to do with his enthusiastic leadership in the formative years. Some of us will remember the visits of Stan to King's Week, organised with characteristic efficiency and care by Dick - just one of many equally sensitive and thoughtful contributions. Dick, a talented swimmer himself who represented Trinity College Dublin, has run the swimming for many years, creating a proper club atmosphere where everyone has felt welcome, involved and happy. In the earlier days, despite the limited facilities of an outdoor pool, he was still able to produce teams that could successfully take on the likes of Tonbridge and Eastbourne. During this time Dick was even in charge of the boiler and cleaning system, but never managed to secure a second salary! During the long period that we were without a pool he kept morale high, despite the inconvenience of travelling to J.K.S., Faversham, etc. He, above everyone, thoroughly deserved the excellent facilities that we now have. Due to Dick's commitment, Water Polo remains one of the most popular and keenly contested of the Inter-House competitions. During his last season, Dick generously donated a ¡ cup for an InterSchools girls' gala, which we hope will become an important annual event.

(M.P.H.D.)

DICK BARHAM (K.S.C. 1967-1997) Dick Barham was born in India, a country for which he will always have more than a passing affection, having returned to teach there before going to university and having almost gone back as Headmaster of the same school a few years ago. He arrived at King's via St John's School Leatherhead, Trinity College Dublin and the London Department of Education. A blend of his natural tenacity and his experience on teaching practice in inner London comprehensives made him the ideal person to take on the onerous teaching load that awaited him; thirtythree periods out of thirty-five (and 45-minute periods too!) including 7th Term Oxbridge - and still he managed to teach Chemistry to the Junior School pupils as well!

From his very early days Dick became an important member of the Common Room, respected by colleagues and pupils alike. His enthusiasm and passion for his subject immediately communicated itself to his pupils and this enthusiasm has never seemed to wane. Generations of School chemists have benefited from his first class teaching. He has always had high expectations of his pupils and they have responded extremely well - working very hard for him and producing excellent examination results and jolly good coursework. Although he denies it, he still really cares about how they do. He is a master of chemical demonstrations: he knows all the tricks of a good 'performance' and his list of favourite exothermic reactions is a treasured departmental document. End of term demonstrations of explosives have captivated THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Dick's contribution to School rugby has been considerable and Birley's without his 'silhouette', in faded blue shorts and red shirt, running round on the 3rd/4th XV pitch will definitely not be the same again.

As for the colour of his socks, he did have to vary it at tim~s for refereeing purposes. Indeed, his refereeing skills and ability to think on his feet were once put to the test when a flanker mistook Dick's legs for one of the opposition's and broke off from the pack to tackle him fair and square! As an ex-flanker himself, Dick did not admonish the player, but kept the story to liven up

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our matches ' 'third half ' in various common rooms.

Many generations of 3rd/4th XV players will remember with affection Dick and Min's end of season meal at their own house, where their home grown vegetables were used to satisfy our players' chronic hunger. 'Doctor Barham', as many of the pupils call him, is a genuine character who gives his all to whatever he does. As an ex-forward, he has always been very keen that his 'chaps' give of their best on the pitch. One of the coaching techniques he used for members of the team who were less than fully committed, ¡ was to threaten to demonstrate on the aforementioned individuals how to tackle properly.

Most youngsters used to decline the offer and get back to training with this prospect in mind to keep them focused!

The summer barbecue, which Dick ran so successfully for years, started as a private affair on a day when Dick and Min had the idea of entertaining friends in an informal setting, until a colleague complained to Dick that he, or she, had not been invited to the staff barbecue! Dick saw the opportunity to involve the majority of the Common Room and the summer barbecue was born. In order to reduce the cost, he crossed to France to bring back wines and beers and all this in the good old family Ford Fiesta (in the days before the Land-Rover) which saw its rear suspension put to the test year after year. The barbecue has always been held at the lovely Cellarer's Garden, restored and tended over the years by Dick and his many Activities gardeners, who have also provided fruit a~d vegetables, at a competitive price, for the School kitchens.

Starting in School House, moving on to Walpole (hoys followed by girls) and finishing with a year or two in Mitchinson's, Dick has been a brilliant tutor in the sense of really getting to know his tutees and in getting the very best out of them. Moreover he has always been prepared to stick up for them and to point out their positive attributes when the World was against them. He pointed many in the direction of social service (and the swimming pool), entertained them at home and kept the barbecue fire burning on all outdoor _House occasions. None of those present will forget h1s appearance as Wolf of The Gladiators in a Walpole tutors' sketch. . With Dick around there is never a dull moment. He Is_ a gr.e~t talker and has never been afraid to express his ol?m1ons. Just set up the subject and off he goes!

He Will be greatly missed- as teacher, tutor, coach ... the list is endless - but perhaps most of all as a coll~ague and friend who could always be relied upon to. giVe 100% in everything he did. Our very best Wishes go to Dick, Min (assistant School Librarian during the move of the Library to St Augustine's and who, contrary to rumours, will continue to work at C~rist Church) and the boys, and we hope that they will soon find that perfect country property (about two acres would do nicely) not too far away from Canterbury. They will then share their time between Ke!lt and ~the Pyrenees, making the prospect of early ~etuement for those of us not too far behind seem an Increasingly -attractive one. ¡

STEPHEN WOODWARD (K.S .C. 1967-1997) With the early retirement of Stephen Woodward, the school loses a true gentleman and a great schoolmaster. He has spent nearly all his teaching career at King's, having gone from Winchester to Sidn~y Sussex College, Cambridge, before arriving here m 1967 after a year at Tonbridge. Beginning as a Tutor in the old Riversleigh Waiting House, he moved on to Galpin's in 1969 and has been there as a Tutor ever since. Between 1978 and 1986 he was Housemaster there and will be forever remembered and not just by those in Galpin's, for the animals which he and Monique introduced. The House and surrounding areas were increasingly filled with animals of all types - rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, to name but a few - as a microcosm of French rural life bred rapidly in the Precincts. The animals could not be confined, of course, and the then Headmaster, Canon Pilkington, found this hard to come to terms with, once famously encountering late one night a rabbit in the old library and taking time to realise that it was a pet and not a port-induced hallucination.

(M.P.H.D.)

But there was much more to Stephen's time in Galpin's, as P.J.B. - the present Housemaster and a Tutor there under him- reports. He describes him as 'modest, gentle, astute, with the rare capacity to make you feel really valued and capable of important achievements. He and Monique brought civilised excellence to Galpin's, attempting to get everyone involved in activities that would stretch and enrich them; the easy rapport with pupils, the love of cooking and of food shared - all these left their mark on anyone who entered Gqlpin's. He handled difficult situations with charming diplomacy and those in his House and his tutees since owe an enormous debt to his care.'

Stephen will also be remembered with similar gratitude by the Boat Club, which he has served

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civilising influence being something of value in any age. We will all miss him tremendously and wish him and Monique every happiness in a well-earned retirement, with much more of their time now to be spent in France.

D.J.R.

throughout, missing only one term when he was away on sabbatical leave. He coached 2nd and 3rd Eights in the early years under D.S.G. and all age groups below since. He helped to ¡introduce girls' rowing, which has been so successful since then, by coaching the girls' 1st Eight between 1991 and 1993. Peter Willis, our long-serving Boatman, comments that Stephen has always been there, always willing to do whatever he is asked to do or what needs to be done, from coaching crews to loading boats and everything in between.

Nothing has been too menial a task for him to do and to do willingly. When one thinks of the huge commitment of time which anything to do with rowing involves, this is an extraordinary contribution and he will obviously be greatly missed by the club. It was entirely fitting, therefore, that he should have been presented earlier in the year with a magnificent 'throne', crafted by Peter from Squire, the boat used by the very first King's VIII to row at Henley.

He has also somehow found time to serve in the Army Section of the CCF for ten years, to coach 3rd XV rugby and to win several 'caps' as prop for the Common Room XV against the 3rd XV, a fixture long since banned. As a highly cultured man, he rightly takes pride also in his 1969 King's Week production in French of Le Barbier de Seville, in his many years' membership of the Choral Society and in his participation in barbershop and light music items in the 1984 Jazz Concert. More recently, he has been the School Press Officer, an important and sensitive post, in which his eloquence with words, tact and diplomacy have been vital in dealing with some difficult situations, and his urbane unflappability has made him an ideal spokesman for the School.

If I have left Stephen's teaching until last, it is not because this is less important or unimportant, but because I hope it will bring me back to where I began.

He has taught German and French (and General Studies, and once even Religious Studies) under five Heads of the Modem Languages Department. The present incumbent, T.J.A., describes him as "calm, kind, modest, positive, loyal, helpful, supportive to all and extremely generous of his time, always offering to do more rather than less, an excellent teacher and a much better academic than he would care to admit. So patient! D.P.H. once described him as 'un saint laic' and often one finds it hard to believe that one is in the presence of such a good and kind person. My favourite memory of Stephen is of a 6b girl waving enthusiastically to him, as if to a favourite uncle. Then she turned to her friend and said 'I really love that guy'. She really meant it and so do all of us."

If one can usefully add anything to that, which says it all, it is that Stephen is never anything but a perfect gentleman. Pirandello wrote that 'a gentleman is something you have to be all the time, which isn't easy'. But Stephen has proved that wrong, because it has been so natural with him. He is a schoolmaster of the old type, which is praise indeed; wholly committed to his profession and a model to us all. Professor Patrick Collinson recently told us in a King's Week lecture that the goal of seventeenth-century schools and schoolmasters was described at the time as 'turning pupils from barbarism to civility'. Stephen would have fitted in as well then as he does today, his THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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(M.P.H. D.)

DAVID BRADLEY (K.S.C. 1980-1997) David joined the RAF Education Branch, serving in The Isle of Man, Cosford, Cranwell and Henlow, before joining Merchant Taylors School at Northwood and eventually moving to King's. He has been an outstanding all round sportsman - representing the RAP at rugby (a lock forward with Larter) and athletics (discus) as well as playing soccer for Corinthian Casuals and playing cricket and squash to a high standard. He took Under 15 'B' XVs here for a number of years, instilling discipline and a sense of purpose, and carried on refereeing and helping part time with junior groups until recently. More generally David has been a very committed contributor to the games programme. A fine cricketer himself, he has given many years to cricket at King's, regularly hitting runs for the Common Room XL He fitted in at once as a tutor in Luxmoore, first on the New Dover Road with its own games fields and tennis courts and subsequently in the Precincts; and then in The Grange when the Luxmoore boys moved there. The service background was apparent in David's efficiency in doing duties, the punctual attending of meetings, in his meticulous care of his tutees and the straightforward advice he gave them. His tutees always knew exactly where they stood - praise given when deserved, but none of the easy flattery which allows any fool's paradise. David has given both the Housemasters he worked with his complete and loyal support. Being a tutor sometimes requires you to don Victorian garb or have a moustache painted on your face and sing parlour songs in House entertainments, 126

all of which David took in good part being one of the few who had actually learned the words.

When David first came to King's from the RAP, he kept away from the cadet force until he realised there was a desperate need in the RAF Section. Then he voluntarily signed up and proceeded to run a very efficient and well-organised section. His training as a regular officer was a great advantage in coping with the inevitable paper work but his main concern was to make the training as interesting and varied as possible.

He also made sure he had a worthy successor before retiring. The whole CCF and the School are very grateful for his ?edicated contribution, and t~ere are quite a few servmg members of the Royal Air Force who are thankful for his furtherance of their interests . in their career.

David has been a solid and dependable member of the Mathematics Department for the last seventeen years, always uncomplainingly taking on whatever load that was asked of him (and, having the misfortune to have one of the largest classrooms, he has frequently had to have very large sets!) and- whilst not always being lavish in his praise on Tutor sheets and reports quietly expecting (and, usually, obtaining) the very highest of standards from his pupils. Over many years, he consistently obtained impressive results in the Fifth Form with the fast-flyers, those taking early '0' level and G.C.S.E., initially the old 'Additional Maths' and latterly the somewhat less romantically labelled 'Pl/M l Modules'. He has also often managed to get the maximum potential and sometimes extremely gratifying results out of many small 'A' level sets of only limited talent. It is typical of David's conscientiousness and attention to detail that, only the other day, he spontaneously provided a detailed breakdown and description of every pupil that he is currently taking, analysing the progress of each and clarifying the exact, current situation with regard to the progress and the work covered by each of his sets.

David is very much a man of few words, but his succinct, astute and wise counsel and views will be much missed.

H.E.J.A., R.B.MA. AND PAUL WENLEY.

RANDALL THANE (K.S.C. 1980-1997) I can remember being jolted the first time I heard a pupil express a preference for the House that his Y<_mnger brother should go in. He wanted him to go to Lmacre. I asked him why Linacre. He wanted his brother to be looked after by Randall and Liz for five ?f the most formative years of his brother's life. That Is a tremendous vote of confidence to the quality of care that he knew his brother would receive. I have heard similar comments since. I was speaking to a parent whose son had just been in trouble. They thought that he may have been treated harshly but ~dded the caveat that they had total trust in Randall's JU~gement and perception and, knowing that the wellbemg of their son was Randall's primary concern were very happy to accept it (indeed, they later acknowledged Randall's wisdom).

Randall has run a boarding House at King's for twelve years. First in Lattergate, the then waitinghouse, and for ten years in Linacre. Living in a boarding House with 50-60 boys there is no way that

(M.J.T.)

you can hide your personality for twenty-four hours a day. What you see ;is what you get. That is why the younger brother's destination is so important. It proves the quality of Randall's character and of his Housemastership and of Liz's contribution too. That character is honest, devoted, disciplined and caring.

Few boys in Linacre or Lattergate will know of the hours that he and Liz have put into their care, and they would not want them to. Even when he has been short of time because of the demands of marking, preparation or administration, he would still give freely to those who needed to talk and would then get up at five the following morning to mark or prepare.

Both he and Liz gave freely and at times sacrificially of their time and energy. Linacre boys will remember many things: the Sixth Form Dinners, the Loser's Cup, the remarkably neat notice board, Liz's food at 'socials', the schoolmaster counting down the days to exams, the elephants and knocking on the door to ask for Sky Sports. I hope too that they also remember the character of their Housemaster: if they can match that and his dedication in later life it will be a legacy of some quality that Randall has left.

Randall has been fully involved in the School right from the first term back in September 1980. His Geography lessons have inspired many. Not only have some gone on to teach but he has also taught an 'A' level pupil who gained a special certificate of excellence in 1993. He brought his usual brand of humour to lessons and many were the times when laughter could be heard coming from his classroom.

There was also the odd 'wobbly' that would terrify those in other classrooms: it must have been horrible inside. But such moments were well chosen and appropriate. The Geography department was known

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House she moved across to St Augustine's, where she spent a year in Bailey House before moving to Broughton in September 1993. June's final move happened during the summer of 1994 when she moved from the matron's flat into the former resident tutor's flat.

During her four years in Broughton, June has shown herself to be patient and good-humoured with the girls and ever-willing to lend a caring ear, even at stressful times such as 1.45 p.m. on sports afternoons when the

throughout the School for its combination of fun, industry and academic excellence - Randall was a key player in establishing such a reputation, heading up the Human Geography, teaching Oxbridge, being a major player in a 'whopper' war, decapitating teddy bears and starting very funny rumours. As the longest serving member of the Department he has provided a degree of stability and fair-mindedness with diplomacy and fun.

Randall has thrown himself into this School and it has been a better place for him having done so. He was Master i/c Swimming for six years and i/c Girls' Swimming for a further eight years. He ran the 2nd XI Hockey for nine years and toured with them to Spain and Holland. The Naval Section of the CCF was under his command for seven years. There has not been a year of his time at King's when he has not served on one committee or another. More recently he has played a major role in one of the best schemes there is for those taking a year out: Schools' Partnership Worldwide.

Since 1995 he has been a member of the HMC School Inspection Team - independent recognition of his experience and understanding of boarding schools, his perception and wisdom. Few will know of the demanding nature of this work. What is most impressive about all the above is that much of it was done whilst carrying the additional burden of being a Housemaster.

This School will be much the poorer without the dedication, humour and character of Randall.

But Randall could not have done all this without the support of Liz. Liz is a splendidly loyal lady whose care for those in the House has been exemplary.

Without her tolerance of the demands that working in this kind of school brings, Lattergate, Linacre and Randall would not have been so successful. And all this whilst working herself, formerly for a company in Chilham and more recently in the School Library.

The care that both Randall and Liz have shown to the pupils has also been lavished on friends. They have always been willing to help and more importantly in the hectic life that is King's give of their time. The affection that was shown recently whilst Liz was in hospital is a testament to the high esteem they are held in and the love that their friends have for them.

They leave to go to the West Country, a favourite with them both. They very much enjoy walking and have spent many weeks walking in that part of the world. It seems most appropriate then that they should be off to Blundell's where Randall is to be Deputy Head. Blundell's is very fortunate indeed.

N.L.P.

(M.J. T.)

queue of potential malingerers stretches down the stairs and out of Temple door! June's easy rapport will be greatly missed both by parents and tutors as she retires to her cottage in Whitstable to spend time with her daughters and an increasing number of grandchildren!

We wish June well on her retirement and hope that she will look back with fondness on her years at King's and perhaps with some amusement, especially when remembering the good times - such as late night patrols in the ruins, cornering an intruder in the Shell dorm. at 1.30 a.m. and extracting Broughton scholars from the back row in the cinema in time for the Scholars' Dinner!

As June will not be far away, we hope she will keep in touch with all of us in Broughton and drop in for a chat from time to time.

P:A.W. AND K.M.R.

RITA SMALLWOOD

JUNE BOOTON

(MATRON 1992-1997)

(MATRON 1990-97)

When Rita,joined The Grange in 1992 we knew at once that a person of great personality and truly positive approach had arrived. Mrs S. - as she immediately became known to all - has brought an excitement and enthusiasm to everything she has done which has infected the whole House with a sense of confidence and eagerness to get involved in life.

Rita has worked in so many different ways for The Grange, but always unflaggingly and for the good of

How many times would you think that a King's School matron could move House in the space of four to five years? It is our opinion that June Booton, now retiring from Broughton, holds the record. On arriving at King's in 1990, June took up the position of matron of Luxmoore House for its last year as a boys' House. In 1991 she moved with the Luxmoore boys into The Grange, with Hugh Aldridge as housemaster. In 1992, having made the decision to become matron in a girls' THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

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all. It is due to her medical care that The Grange has largely avoided illnesses going round the school, and that the few pupils who did become unwell were so quickly restored t? health. She has als~ looked after the fabric and cleanmg of the house w1th consummate expertise,. literally in some. cases because the windowseat cush10ns to be found m two of the Grange public rooms were made by her, and her good taste (she was once a fashion-buyer) is evident all round the House.

Her sense of humour has also been a great asset to all, enabling her to manage her staff with a light and effective touch, as well as coping with the occasional boy needing to have his smile restored. We will remember her particularly however for her devotion to duty in looking after the Shells in Algy's. Dealing with the needs of a dozen thirteen-year-olds is no easy task, but Mrs S. managed the task with aplomb and still found time to cheer up any of them who needed a sympathetic ear.

Mrs S.'s contribution has gone far beyond just her duties however. She has been an unfailing supporter of The Grange at concerts, plays and House matches, and her obvious joy and excitement at pupils' successes spurred them all on to greater things. She never left any doubt about her opinion of the high quality of every goal scored by the House's five-a-side teams, for instance, and seeing her delighted touch-line celebrations was a tonic for all! Her loyalty and care for all her pupils has been a remarkable strength and she would always go out of her way to defend the interests of Grange pupils - woe betide anyone, staff or pupil, foolish enough to criticise a Grange boy in her hearing, for they were soon put right in no uncertain manner.

All those who have come under Mrs S.'s care will remember her boundless energy and unstinting generosity of time and effort with the utmost affection.

We wish her great happiness as she moves on.

T.J.P.

(M.J.T.)

On the sports pitch or in the recreation centre Andy has been compared with a 'jack in the box'. He never disappears for long. He arrived from Durham with a reputation as a rather useful hockey player. His skills as a hockey coach combined with the attributes mentioned above combined to result in his record with the girls Under 14 'A' teams being nothing short of phenomenal. In the last three seasons just two losses have been recorded.;Undoubtedly the success of senior teams in recent years owes much to the grounding laid

by Andy. On Nick Phillis's year-long departure for South Africa, Andrew took up the reins of heading boys hockey. Few could complain about his organisational skills and Nick must have been quite envious of the playing record of the1 st XI that season.

As well as running a boys' hockey team in the Lent term, Andy has built the Golf Club into such a successful operation that that demand outstrips supply. The 1996 season was an unbeaten one. With courses such as Royal St George's providing the home venues, King's is a very popular school to have on the fixture list for any good schools in the southeast.

ANDREW MILES (K.S.C. 1993-1997) Many have said that Andrew Miles is a boarding school Headmaster's dream come true. After a varied and colourful time at Durham he arrived at King's with a zeal and enthusiasm which was both contagious and exhilarating to all with whom he came into contact.

Having been a boarder at Sutton Valence he knew what a boarding existence entailed for staff and for pupils.

Andrew has thrown himself into nearly every facet of boarding school life from the academic to the supervision of school discos. ¡ Andrew or 'Andy' as he has come to be known, has b~en able to gain the respect of pupils and colleagues ahke. In the classroom the only standards set were of the ~igh~st order. Success in internal and public exanunatwns has been combined with his innate a~ility to organise groups of people _and to inject them With the same zeal with which he tackles life. His unique skills have enabled him to inaugurate successfufly the Prep Schools Science Days, which are now an annual event. Countless pupils are grateful for A~drew's knack of making Chemistry fun and ell]oyable. This has particularly assisted weaker pupils.

It goes without saying that Andy has hardly ever missed a staff hockey or cricket fixture. For the Haymakers and Harvesters cricket clubs he has been a prolific run and wicket machine. His dexterity in the field has made up for the more gentlemanly pace of older members of the Common Room.

Andy Miles is someone who knows that 'man is not saved by bread alone'. He has been a pillar of strength in the life of Christian Forum and has always been willing to take House, Crypt and School prayers.

It came as little surprise when Andy announced that he was to take up his new post as Head of Chemistry at Hillcrest School in Nairobi. He exemplifies the meaning of the word 'all-rounder'. Andrew Miles will be sorely missed. However, he has asked me to say that there could not have been a better place to start one's teaching career than at King's.

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POINTS OF VIEW to enjoy' was not untypical. Another pupil, while broadly in agreement (as most were), added that School 'often begins to bear down upon you and there are often times when I simply want to get out and away from everyone.'

Turning to more practical issues, where in 1947 boys were asked whether it is best to rely on punishments or people's honour, we sought more realistic views on the system of punishments, and inquired whether people could generally be trusted. Despite the fact that it is probably on this score that public schools have received (and receive) the most persistent criticism, not least from those who feel they are the victims, the general consensus both now and then is that punishment is necessary, though regrettable. Some serious concerns voiced were a reflection of changing times: the issue of turning mealtimes into ordeals (breakfast-gating, for example) appears likely only to worsen problems of eating disorders that in some cases it is designed to solve.

And some comments were very embittered: 'Jockers detention is daft and impractical. What would I rather do; spend an hour getting hit by a hockey ball or sit comfortably in a chair for half an hour.. .' All those bearing grudges have been reported to their relevant Housepersons (of course not- anonymity was strict!)

Next to more familiar ground; the dreaded uniform, and the ever-popular school food. On the former, in 1947 almost all scholars demanded 'a greater laxity ' , with one 'courageous spirit' who begged for its abolition. Today, it seems not to be quite as dreaded as one might have expected in a rather more fashion-conscious age: 'different, smart, distinctive, flattering (!)' were recurrent adjectives. In fact, seventeen were in favour of uniform in its current state, with only two against. Determinedly so, as it happens: 'It is absolutely appalling. I hate every moment I spend in it. I'm embarrassed and uncomfortable. It's unflattering and unnecessary' - comments so impassioned that they couldn't be omitted. 'Funerallike' was also not quite in line with the majority. Some things don't change however: 'expensive' was/is the biggest protest. As for school food, one 1947 scholar wrote that 'I don't like the rocklike slabs of stale bread we sometimes get. That dreadful macaroni thing might well be omitted. The pastery (sic) might be less soggy, and the potatoes varied a little more from the everlasting mash.' (Catering cannot have been easy in 1947.) The 1997 responses were far too dull to deserve a mention, though the majority thought the food was rather good. Join the Catering Committee if you are in the minority that don't.

yRESENTINa

THE KING'S SCHOLAR PLUS <;A CHANGE? Fifty years ago, the then editors of The Cantuarian decided to carry out a short survey (from which we reprint some of the illustrations by Brian Sutherland) into 'the actual material of the school, the average boy', or to be more precise the average King's Scholar.

As part of the 1400 celebrations, The Cantuarian decided to carry out its own minor retrospective; today's editors have made their own inquiries.

Obviously times have changed - we were no longer interested just in the average boy for a start, and we also chose not to discriminate on the basis of intelligence; our efforts were rather more random. But nonetheless, we thought it would be interesting to compare how current pupils see themselves and spend their time with the views and habits of their predecessors. The 1947 editors envisaged 'the historian another 1350 years hence lighting on this number, and producing from it the "the human story", to make the thesis to end all theses'. Obviously, we didn't want to mislead, and certainly Walter Pater's description of a pupil as 'like youth's very self, eternal, immemorial, eternally renewed about those immemorially ancient stones' (whatever that may mean), as quoted at the beginning of the original survey needed a little updating. About sixty questionnaires were distributed, from which we received a response of 19 well spread throughout the School. The original survey drew on 18 replies, so we feel our results should compare well, if not on quite such a scientific basis: we didn't subject our chosen few to IQ and general knowledge tests! Anyway, we hope this is a fair representation. Here are our findings.

Asked to weigh up the School's pros and cons, one 1947 respondent asserted that 'I enjoy school life because there is purpose and order in it, and that makes me feel I am an integral part of the School. I do not find the conditions bad in any way, or the regulations irksome'. Sadly, we received nothing half so lucid; your average pupil feels the constraints of time, and seems disinclined to sit around worrying about these things. But there were no serious complaints! 'There's so much on offer that one can always find something THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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advantage of what is available: 'SLEEP' appears to be our number one pastime. Our predecessors would be strangely disappointed: for an hour's relaxation they chose to 'read books in the bath' and 'drink ice-cream sodas' . And if anyone today can beat the admission that 'I spend nearly all my holiday time ... making my puppets for my Model Theatre, or window-gazing in antique shops. I think I discovered china through my interest in eighteenth century life. It is impossible to follow my hobbies at school, except in designing the decor for my Model Theatre' then they can only be a refugee from the wrong decade. Apart from sleeping we shop or just go into town, socialise, watch TV, play sport, go to the cinema, work, read and go to the tuckshop- so there's a surprise. It was a matter for surprise in 1947 that one pupil claimed that he had no hobbies and did not wish to have any.

Favourite sports? The 1947 choices were almost evenly spread between cricket, tennis, boating (what a gentle sound to the word!), hockey, soccer and squash. Today's selection was much wider, with mention of cross-country, netball and cycling, and increased popularity for rugby - rugger had unaccountably been omitted from the list of favourites in 1947. Nobody this time tried to get away with card-playing as their favourite sport. Certainly everyone has an opinion on sport's purpose, and whether it should be compulsory. The 1947 scholar who was clear that 'hard daily exercise is one of the necessities of my work' probably followed an unnecessarily punishing schedule, but nonetheless there is still a general belief in mens sana in corpore sano. Plenty of people were rather more cynical about why sport is compulsory: 'it stops us doing things we'd rather do' - though if some sport wasn 't compulsory 'there would be peer pressure not to go' . Sixth formers made (justifiable) requests for more flexibility, but you still can't argue with the 1947 view that the purpose of compulsory games is 'to fill up your afternoons.'

The final section was dedicated to ideas and ambitions. The original editors had been interested in the possibility of unearthing a future Marlowe or Harvey, though our research hasn' t extended to discovering whether they ever found one. Professional targets were realistic, as they have remained; current favourites include journalism, law, medicine, even teaching(!) . Oddly enough, the person who wanted to become an international rugby player, and someone else who envisaged a career sheep-farming in New Zealand, didn 't feel that the school really offered them enough support. Career choices usually corresponded to what had been stated as a person's main ambition in life, but hardly in the case of the 1947 scholar who firmly announced that his main ambition was 'to be a bachelor'. The following 1997 response is unbeatable: 'My main ambition is to go out with a famous supermodel (and then dump her). To achieve this I would bribe her with the £100,000 I was supposed to give to the school' . Fair enough.

My personal favourite was the response to what should be done with a notional gift of £100,000 to the School. (In 1947 the figure was £5,000 - I doubt whether our estimated increase was quite right, but judging from the replies the actual amount was fairly arbitrary.) Anyone who thought £100,000 would build a new music school and a theatre would be in for a serious disappointment. One thing is certain, that our replies were far more imaginative than 1947 requests fo r a 'decent fiction library' and 'better study furniture', though more than one person thought extra common rooms in Broughton would be a legitimate use for such a sum (a bizarre St Augustine's conspiracy? We don't actually have the money!) Music and drama were popular beneficiaries, but other suggestions included buying some land, which the school could farm with the assistance of its budding farmers ; temperature controls on every shower; and the fantastically surreal purchase of explosives to blow up the Shirley Hall ('it is so ugly') and put back the original tennis courts. And on the whole people would be fairly generous: 'a scholarship fund for effort' and 'bonuses for the security guards' might go down well with those who feel undervalued.

Nothing however was more surreal than the 1947 response to the question of whether one gets bored with the history of the school: 'Yes. Especially in Winter, the City is very cold.' Excuse me? We were rel ieved to see that no one understood this one at the ti me either. Our responses, besides being infinitely more comprehensible, were pretty evenly split between 'it is always being forced down our throats' and 'it is not forced upon us' (those expressing the former sentiment were also largely suspected of being in the middle of the Shell History course - fair enough then). And although the authorities might well glow with pride at the idea that 'it puts our lives in context' they might find the smile wiped away all too quickly at the (genuine, I think) question: 'The school has a history ? I only knew it was old'. Maybe some of the Shells might like to pass on their wisdom.

School Services v. Cathedral Services on a Sunday (1 947)? Choice Sunday v. Mattins (1997)? Again, a pretty even division, though the 1947 scholar who preferred the School service because 'it's shorter' would certainly have struck a chord with some of our contemporaries. And although the talks seem to go down well with the sixth form (reasons varying from 'an escape from religion' to 'informative and relevant'), support for the Methodist service was not so widespread, though 'embarrassing and dreadful' was one hopes the voice of a lone extremist.

Free time and holidays were one area where our predecessors certainly seem to ~ave had the upper hand when 1t comes to the weirdest or most individual ways of passing the time, despite the ~act that the modern pupil is Infinitely better travelled, with broader liorizons and higher expectations. When it comes down to it, we're probably all much too tired to take 131

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GHETTO REVISITED

In 1947 the survey offered a choice between 'amusing oneself, or working' as a life-plan. A life of independent means is almost certainly a thing of the past, so we asked whether it is more important to work or to have a good time - the general (and wellbalanced) conclusion being that you can have too much of a good thing. How many people want to be rich and/or famous? An altruistic 1947 answer was 'rich enough to be generous', and famous enough to 'do some good by it'. These days, only six people wanted to be neither, and many followed in a similar vein: 'rich, obviously '. And anyone who longed for fame was quite aware that it might not be all it is cracked up to be. For many people, there was a clear correspondence to their professional ambitions seeking enough money ' to be comfortable' and that their name should be known within their field. Not that people were always inhibited by practicalities; one medic professed that 'a reasonable six figure salary and lots of private patients would be nice!! ' .

Very reasonable.

Finally, we came to politics. A controversial issue fifty years ago, particularly in public school circles, and in the run-up to the 1997 general election it was hard not to draw comparisons. In relative terms, the political spectrum has changed out of all recognition in the intervening years and it was interesting to see the contrast between the impassioned responses received in 1947, and the prevailing current state of political apathy. In 1947 King's Scholars were broadly ' agin the Government' though one individual wrote that 'I don ' t like the Labour policy and the Conservatives haven't got one'. If two things really do appear to have died by 1997, they are altruism, and the unspeakable Sword. Regarding the former, at least 'I would vote out of self-interest and not for the good of the nation ' was honest (though rather odd, coming from the potential doctor), whereas 'I believe that the rich should not have to pay taxes to support the poor ... they shouldn ' t have their money taken away to support people who don't even try to pull their lives together' was just distressing. Better to turn to 'I' m probably really a Conservative, but I shall vote Labour' or 'Don' t understand, I'm only a Remove' or the pupil who thought the Raving Loony Party was 'cool' while Tony Blair was just 'trying to be cool' . And as for Socialism, in 1947 'one ardent reader of the Daily Telegraph described his views as "extreme Socialist"'.

Our survey did not reveal a single serious supporter of any party other than the Conservatives, thou gh there were plenty of ' don 't knows'. One individual concluded : 'Never trust a politician'.

Perhaps one should never trust a survey either.

Those who attended the School's production of Ghetto in November 1996 may have some idea of the impact that this play had on both the actors and the audience. Ghetto recounted the horrifying true story of the Jewish community ofVilna in Lithuania during the Holocaust. It centred on the fate of a small theatre group that evolved against this unlikely background, supported by the Ghetto leader, Jacob Gens (played by Malcolm Todd). Through this medium, using characters who actually existed, Joshua Sobol presents the audience with the terrible dilemmas that faced the Jews, concerning the survival of the Jewish people and the Jewish spirit against a regime that intended to annihilate them. Ghetto was undoubtedly an ambitious play to attempt, and it would be fair to say that when rehearsals first started, the majority of the cast were unaware of the emotional demands that it would make on us. We found it extremely hard to try to understand even in some small way the shattering reality of the Holocaust. Fortunately, one of the cast had connections with Lithuania, and two of the actors (Nisha Diu and myself) were able to visit Vilna, now called Vilnius, in the Baltic States to see many of the places mentioned in the script, including Ponar - the site of the murder of 70,000 Lithuanian Jews - and a small museum staffed by survivors of the Holocaust.

We returned to England having seen the ghetto itself and bringing photographs of many of the characters played by the cast in Ghetto. We were profoundly affected by all that we had seen, and tried to communicate this to the cast, with the feeling that we had a duty to represent faithfully the events and characters so that the 70,000 who died could not be forgotten.

Ponar was simply a series of circular trenches in a clearing in a secluded forest through which ran an old railway line. The place seemed tense, as if waiting for the very first carriage of people, with a dense almost tangible silence. In about ten trenches, Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators shot approximately 100,000 people, among them 70,000 Jews. Photographs in the museum showed these trenches overflowing with naked bodies. The museum itself was located in the centre of Vilnius in a small green hut, and we were shown around by an Austrian Student, Marcus Ebenhoch, who had been brought in to translate documents and artefacts for the Holocaust exhibition, dedicated to the Jews of Vilna. He showed us photographs of the characters in Ghetto , and told us the story of the Ghetto: how the people lived and how at its liquidation, Kittel (played by Jonah Wyn Pugh) the Nazi officer placed in charge of the Ghetto - pulled a piano to the Ghetto gates and played while its people were transported to Ponar.

Suddenly the events and characters described by Sobol in Ghetto came to life, as the cast realised the bleak reality of the trenches at Ponar, and that the characters that we were acting had actually lived. Vilna was the birthplace of the Zionist Movement, and had been known as the "Jeru salem of Lithuania" for its rich Jewish culture, helping us to understand further the importance of the theatre to Jacob Gens as a means of preserving the Jewish spirit. Every actor became

MARY STEVENS

(with the help of SARAH CLARKE AND MEGAN MORRIS).

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Tho 111 as Ma can, British Ambassador to Lithuania (centre) with Emanuel Zingeris (rt.) presents a cheque to Rachel Kostanian, Scientific Secretary of the Jewish State Museum, Vilnius. Note the photographs

of photographs from our production of Ghetto.

Thomas Macan (the British Ambassador to Lithuania) presented the donation, and a film of our production of Ghetto was shown. Articles about the ceremony were printed in several newspapers. The exhibition itself was ' a wonderful success ', and the money will help to purchase permanent housing for the museum, so that it may continue its research and education programme.

It is likely that the actors of Ghetto will never forget the Jews ofVilna who died so many years ago. It seemed only fitting to support an organi sation dedicated to preserving that memory.

CRESSIDA TREW.

HONG KONG BLUES

personall y involved in the production in a way that had not been anti cipated. Although it was sometimes painful, principal parts worked extremely hard under the direction of Mr Dobbin to try to understand the person they were trying to portray. We realised that we were dealing with something completely beyond our own experience, but wanted to communicate something of the tragedy to the audience as far as we possibly could . Each actor represented a person who had actually lived.

My earliest memories of my maternal greatgrandmother are of a dignified lady of about four foot, with a desperately fragile frame, a sparkling mind dancing through letter-box eyes set in a chiselled face - but above all, her very Chinese- ness. She conformed neatly to the Western stereotype of the Qing Dynasty Woman: self-sacrificially loyal to her husband (to whom she was his third wife), clothed anonymously in black cloth, and with horribly deformed feet moulded into 'lotus-blossoms' by the bindings she had worn as a young girl. She was a woman who had witnessed the decay of th e world's longeststanding empire, gone through two bloody world wars and suffered during a Comm uni st revolution, and yet here she was, sitting in front of the telly, squinting at this pale four-year-old in jeans, a T-shirt and baseball cap, trying hard to make sense of his (Will Justice) garbled English.

As a child of mixed race - a Eurasian hybrid sociologists would selfimportantly label a prOduct of the Chinese glasnost Hong Kong was the best pl ace in the world to live.

Our home was never the East-West collision that modern politicians would have the world believe it is, but more a fusion of these two cultures which were both equally a way of life. On the playground, my

During the fifty years of Soviet rule in Lithuania, people were forbidden to talk about the Holocaust, and thi rty tons of documents about Jewish life in Vilna (including information about the Holocaust) were sent to papermills in the Soviet campaign against Cosmopolitanism and Zionism. Coupled with the obvious embarrassment that many of the murders were carried out by a minority of Lithuanian collaborators, many Lithuanians know little of the tragic history of Lithuanian Jewry. The Jewish Museum in Vilnius has no permanent place of residence, due to low funding, despite the fact that it is perhaps one of the few bodies attempting to record the history of Lithuanian Jews.

The museum has also set up an educational scheme aiming to help schoolchildren to unders tand the importance of tolerance to different cultures, and the history of the Holocaust. It is staffed by people whose families were directly affected by the Holocaust in Lithuania.

After Ghetto there was a strong feeling amongst the actors that the Jews of Vilna should never be forgotten.

The cast felt that it would be appropriate to donate some money to the museum. One half of the proceeds from the School Carol Service collection was allotted to the museum through the British Embassy in Vilnius.

The museum responded enthusiastically, and suggested a presentation ceremony with an exhibition 133

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THAT LITTLE ISLAND CALLED HONG KONG WHERE I LIVE

friends and I would swap Marvel stickers and enthuse over the latest craze to hit the school with all the vitality and verve of any other Anglo-American kids; but at my grandparents' I would instinctively slip into Cantonese and behave with all the respect and respectability that was due in the company of Chinese Elders. Well, perhaps not all the respectability; my great-grandmother would sometimes be provoked into emerging from her room (for it is usual for Chinese ladies of her generation to live under the same roof as their eldest son), and would let us know in no uncertain terms that we were too boisterous, too inconsiderate, and that had we lived half a century ago we would have been disowned by The Family and left to fend for ourselves. She was probably right. My father, ever the English diplomat, would apologise profusely and take me away to deal with accordingly.

When it came to bridging the Sino-English culture , chasm, my father could teach Chris Patten a thing or two.

Few people can deny that Hong Kong is a miraculous place. Only a hundred and fifty years ago this was a simple, rocky outcrop in the South China Sea, and now, it is a major financial centre able to rival London; a place where property prices are second only to Tokyo; a city of Lexuses and Rolls-Royces; the jewel amongst Her Majesty's Crown colonies. As many people know, Her Majesty's Crown colony of Hong Kong is about to become the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (S.A.R.), the People's Republic of China.

Hong Kong in the early 1800s was a collection of small fishing settlements around the island with the odd temple and fort on the Kowloon Peninsula. The opium trade was booming, with large fleets of British opium clippers speeding cargoholds-full of Indian Patna opium to Guangzhou, the thriving capital of the south-east province of Guangdong. Rightly the Ching Emperor issued edict after edict prohibiting the use of opium, and eventually the opium trade was banned. British ships were not allowed up the Pearl River leading to Guangzhou and the Portuguese colony of Macao, near the mouth of the river, did not want to have anything to do with opium. Opium cargoes were burned in large batches. The Opium Wars that ensued will remain one of the many ugly scars in the history of the British Empire: spurred on by disgruntled opium traders, an expeditionary force was sent to China, and the fearsome broadsides of the men-of-war pounded the pathetic Chinese navy into submission. In 1842, Hong Kong and a part of Kowloon became the colony of Great Britain, or rather her opium trading post. The new territories joined Hong Kong island in 1897, on a lease lasting 100 years.

Thirty-one days remain before the People's Republic of China resumes sovereignty over Hong Kong. Every day in The Times I read articles concerning her political and economic future: it's good to see that the general British public shows concern for Hong Kong's future.

Every person I meet asks about my future and how the change of sovereignty will affect me. The British Government seems to show a genuine concern for the welfare of the people of Hong Kong after the handover - fighting China for every single political step until a reasonable agreement is reached. Britain has at last matured into the parent, the leader it so much fancied itself to be in the last century.

It is inevitable that many people of Chinese descent speak of Hong Kong with pride, as it best exemplifies the industrious, successful tradition of the Chinese.

Hong Kong is the type of place that cannot possibly be commented on unless one has been resident and immersed in the culture for a considerable amount of time. The other major cities of China - Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing - all have their own unique cultures, being geographically separated; Hong Kong has a highly capitalist, hard-working culture. School ¡ children are ushered into crammer schools by anxious parents; builders work around the clock to complete magnificent commercial buildings within the central area in record time; the aged work at McDonald's for a measly £1.50 an hour around the clock to supplement their already generous Government benefits.

At home, we were all subjected to the same domestic schizophrenia. Our mothers would sing Chinese lullabies and make Chinese tea while our fathers sang rude songs in the shower and taught us how to drink beer. Mum taught us the noble art of calligraphy, Dad the finer techniques of armchair football-criticism. The Mid-Autumn Festival and Rugby Sevens bore similar prominence in the social calendar. But more importantly, as we are coming to realise this summer, this was an existence we all took for granted. When I return to Hong Kong this August, the 'Royal' will have dropped from the 'Royal Hong Kong Police', Victoria Park will be called something like the Podium of Eternal and Celestial Harmony, and the Crown will no longer adorn the red pillarboxes. Instead, a different Red will flow through Hong Kong's veins, but the new blood pumping through Hong Kong's political heart will not be the first sign of the new era to strike us. No, it will be the little things that we miss the most: the bilingual road signs (who will ever forget that postcard of Fu King Road?), the Army barracks, and the White people, foreigners we had once joked of as being 'gweilos' or foreign Devils, a term dating back to the days of the Opium Wars. Of course, we always used to gloss over the fact that by our logic, we were all sons of the Devil ourselves.

My grandfather, a newspaper editor, coined the Chinese phrase for the Beatles, 'pei tao sei', meaning literally 'four mop-tops' . He, like so many Cantonese, is an Anglophile, and it is difficult to see in what way the People's Liberation Army will be living up to its name in this small colony on July 1st. Will 'one country, two systems' work? Or will Hong Kong become a new Tibet before we know what's happening? And what of Hong Kong's cosmopolitan children, the multi-racial Eurasians? Confucius say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

For us, the so-called Chinglish Hongkongers, the hard part will be to work out in which direction this step is, and, once Socialism has banished us for good (and exorcised its own Devils), to see if we can all find our way back home, to the West.

JAMES BRILLIANT.

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134

I myself still struggle to adapt to the culture shock every time I return home from England for the holidays. At ~eathrow one does not _need to fight for a lace in the airport elevators, and mrport express bus ~rivers will wait patiently whilst people fumble with their change and their luggage; at Hong Kong International airport- one of the busiest airports in the world - if you are not quick enough, someone else will get into the lift and you will be stranded in the lift lobby with your 40 kg of luggage; be a bi~ slow with pushing your luggage cart and the bus, leavmg spot on time, will zoom off, leaving you to contemplate a rather nauseating cloud of exhaust. It all seems very harsh and inhuman to the average Englishman, but one grows to accept it and most people will accept that this is the prime model of efficiency. Only thus will the transport systems in the airport system run according to schedule and benefit the travellers as a whole. This competitive, efficient system is, I think, what has made Hong Kong what it is.

There have been many success stories over the 150year history of the colony: companies and people pulling themselves out of poverty to world fame and multi-million dollar turnovers. Li Ka Shing, one of the richest men in Hong Kong, is a property magnate whose companies Cheung Kong and Hong Kong Land control most of the new property development in the territory now. He came to Hong Kong in 1949 after the Communist victory in mainland China, along with many skilled craftsmen from such capitalist treaty port enclaves as Shanghai and Xiamen on the coast. These people were young - in their early 20s at the most, and they are the people who created the Hong Kong miracle, the people who created the successful society and the wealth that we, of the younger generation, are greatly privileged to enjoy. They worked hard in those humble days, living in wooden shacks and not receiving any schooling, for they had to work to support their families.

Mr Li started off as a factory worker who had to abandon school, and he had the wisdom to invest in zip-making, envisaging the boom in demand for these basic clothing components. From there he moved on to property investment, strategically purchasing land at cheap prices and developing the land to give generous returns. The pattern of development for most millionaires in Hong Kong now follows similar lines starting out from scratch as refugees, then investing cleverly in core industries - be it plastic flowers or mass-produced clothes - and then diversifying into property and financial services. Then there are also the opium traders and foreign companies riding on the wave of success in the colony. Jardine Matheson is amongst the biggest trading companies and cardistribution-to-fund-managing conglomerates in Asia.

It started out as the main British opium trading company in Hong Kong, and its Scottish co-founder, William Jardine, is believed by many historians to have encouraged the British in starting the Opium Wars. Now that it has established itself, and its archrivals - the Chinese Government- are retrieving Hong Kong, Jai¡dine's has moved to Bermuda for fear of ~et~bution. No matter what, these companies and Individuals have all contributed to the prosperity of Hong Kong and deserve a big hand.

People now look to the future with uncertainty.

Unlike in Britain, one does not wake up every morning, take the 06.59 to London Waterloo and complain about the state of the Labour or Tory Government. In Hong Kong, the political situation changes daily with mammoth swings . Tung Chee Hwa is our next Governor, or Chief Executive as he is officially known. A Liverpudlian marine engineering graduate, Tung was elected last year by an apparent sham of an election. The Chinese Government handpicked a selection committee of mainland supporters and had them vote to decide the future leader and 'provisional legislature' of Hong Kong. Mr Tung is not as popular as Chris Patten, our present and last British Governor, even though Patten is accused regularly of destabilising radicalism by local politicians.

Mr Tung has taken on a hard job, having to please the international community, the Chinese Government and the people of Hong Kong at the same time. A demonstration of the colossal task ahead of him is the recent issue of civil liberties. The National People's Congress decreed that protests had to be approved by the Hong Kong police and that local political parties were not to solicit funds from foreign sources.

Obviously Mr Tung had to oblige, but this triggered widespread outcry and the Chief Executive elect had to climb down, relaxing the proposed laws. For the time being he can only warn and discourage the people of Hong Kong from any 'subversive' pro-democracy behaviour aimed at the Chinese Government, though without much effectiveness. The annual candlelight vigil in commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Victoria Park, one of the major public parks in Hong Kong, attracted record numbers of people this year - a stubborn demonstration by the people of Hong Kong to their new masters that they will not go quietly into the night, intimidated by the 100,000 People's Liberation Army (P.L.A.) officers to be stationed there after June 1997.

It has been made fairly clear that the 'democratic' system hurriedly introduced by Mr Patten is being taken apart limb-by-limb, there being a parallel S.A.R. government meeting weekly just across the border in Shenzhen. Mr Tung receives more media coverage than Mr Patten these days, and whereas Mr Tung was invited to offer his televised New Year's Eve greetings, Mr Patten was left at home. The political situation is uncertain for the moment, and will remain so for at least a year after. Democratic Party members are certain to be out of office next year, but will the voice of the opposition still be heard? The answer appears to be yes - Tony Blair is boycotting the new legislature; the international court of human rights has ruled that Britain has a legal responsibility for the continued observance of human rights until at least 2000. China has many good reasons to treat Hong Kong leniently and sensitively as well. Hong Kong is a showcase for the Taiwanese, who still overwhelmingly favour the maintenance of their independence. Compared to Hong Kong, Taiwan is a far larger prize, and will proportionately - demand more substantial and impressive dowry. Whether or not Hong Kong is well managed will decide how long it is before Taiwan is returned to Chinese rule. The US, while still enjoying her status as the primary economic, military and 135

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high-tech sector to Singapore, and political instability will erode Hong Kong 's position as the region 's premier financial centre. If there is one industry in which Hong Kong is unbeatable, though, that is the tourist industry. We have some of the best hotels in the world and a thriving bargain shopping community.

These, coupled with breathtaking views and an incredible selection of fine restaurants found within the compact city make tourism Hong Kong's second largest foreign exchange earner.

Representing Hong Kong at the school, we, Leo Siu, Jane Ho, Steve Ho, Billy Kwok, Avis Ngan, Vanessa Li and I would like to express our gratitude to Britain for allowing Hong Kong to develop independently and so successfully for the past century or so. Britain has made some good efforts to enhance the lives of Hong Kong people, but whether she has given in proportion to what she has taken I will leave for you , the readers, and history to decide.

political power, will be blackmailing China over the M.F.N. status partly by monitoring Hong Kong.

The majority of the seven million people in Hong Kong are ethnic Chinese. The ones who have not emigrated to Canada, England or Australia - like me have absolute confidence in the city's future; and, if not, at least it is the place to make money, shop and enjoy life! Even those who fled in horror after 1989 are returning to reap the economic benefits of working in Hong Kong, being fed up with their minute salaries in Canada. The reasonably large but affluent community of people from the New Commonwealth do not perhaps share the same optimism, since they become nation-less after the handover. The small Caucasian community - virtually isolated from the other races in the community in their large Victoria Peak mansions will not enjoy the top executive positions that they have always had since the early days of the colony.

Rather, now we have a huge influx of 'FILTH' as coined by The Economist - Failed In London Try Hong Kong. Bands of young men, no longer able to get the easy, well-paid jobs once available in the colony, end up working as manual labourers on the many civil engineering projects in the territory. The surprisingly large number of Filipina domestic maids will continue working as before, perhaps worrying only when Jiang Zemin, the Chinese premier, has his next scuffle over the Spratly Islands with Fidel Ramos, the Filipino President, Hong Kong has a lot to offer to China in terms of economic developmental stimulus in the southern regions and also her world-leading financial expertise.

Her foreign exchange reserves, standing at US$70 billion, and her huge annual budget surpluses will provide, as Mr Patten suggests, ' the largest dowry since Cleopatra'. Large civil engineering projects have been undertaken in the territory to improve the already impressive infrastructure: a new high speed motorway has been completed; a high-speed link railway to Beijing is planned and a new airport is to be completed next year, ready to handle 70 million passengers per annum. The nostalgic value of the old airport will be lost, but the hairy approach to the present airport in the middle of the city - the wings of the plane nearly clipping the roofs of high-rise buildings - will not be missed by many. This is all to secure the competitive edge of the territory into the 21st century. The basic needs of the society are also well addressed: we possess one of the most successful tower block public housing schemes in the world; the public health scheme, though under immense pressure, still provides low-cost healthcare to the masses; nine years of schooling is compulsory and free, giving an impressive 90% literacy rate. Hopefully, changes made to this system will be for the better, but some have their doubts.

The economic survival of Hong Kong will depend on how well the red tide of bureaucracy and corruption is fended off by the local business community. Hong Kong people will also have to adapt to the soaring wage costs and make a rapid and smooth transition into a service-based rather than an industrial economy.

Countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan are becoming major competitors in the region. Hong Kong has already lost a considerable amount of ground in the THE CANTUARTAN, LENT

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ADRIAN CHEONG .

QUALITY DEFLATION: RATS 'N' CATS Last holidays, unable to concentrate on my revision, I turned to my videos and, incapable of choosing what to watch, picked a random unmarked tape, wound it to its beginning and pressed ' play'. I watched all afternoon, shocked. I didn't really know how to react to the images I had found hidden on the forgotten tape. I was stunned, as the images represented a terrible threat to everything I had come to take for granted.

Channel Five, is cheap, unambitious, lowestcommon-denominator television; it cannot even compete with Sky One, let alone any of the terrestrial stations. But Channel Five, in comparison with some of the viewing available elsewhere, is not really that bad. We in England are just used to high standards, as anyone who has spent any time abroad will appreciate.

The fact, though, that Channel Five can be such a universal disappointment, while at the same time 'not really all that bad considering', is due to two specific factors: rapid improvements in technology, and the deregulation of broadcasting.

It is now easier and cheaper to set up a TV channel than at any previous time. The imminent advent of digital television will merely accelerate the already startling growth in the number of TV stations.

More channels, each with less money, can only lead to the screening of ever greater numbers of third rate American mini-series, Australian soaps and other lowbudget visual , candy-floss. The quest for audience share, in order to maximise revenues from advertising, will lead to lowest common denominator viewing on all stations, including even the new-look Birtian BBC, since justification for the licence fee rests not in quality of production but in audience share.

The theme for today is the very serious issue of quality deflation. Although rarely discussed in this country, quality deflation poses a risk to us all. Let me 136

tell you, then, what it was that so amazed me about my video.

The decade from 1973 onwards was a time of crisis for the whole world, but for Britain in particular. The British film industry was dead, theatre was stagnant, popular television of the time today makes us cringe, and the musical scene was embarrassingly infantile.

The punk reaction of 1976, in the midst of a globallywarmed summer, would be seen today as just about the last straw. The musical fall from grace was absolute.

The early eighties were dark times of reaction and revolution, of recession and famine, of Roland Rat and TV-AM, of Falklands and Tony Benn.

The video I watched was 'Rock and Roll Years, 1979-84' . I was enthralled and horrified, amazed, not just because I recognised many of the events and remembered some of them vividly, but because of just how good the music was. That was what amazed me.

That's a very unfashionable thing to say, so I'll say it too: eighties music is good. Really good.

New Wave was a reaction to Punk rather than to Mrs Thatcher, so started as a movement in 1977. It is tuneful, varied, ballad-based, serious music for serious people. The Jam, The Smiths, Elvis Costello, The Police, New Order, Madness, Blondie, Eurythmics, Jan Durie, The Specia1s. By 1979 the anodyne, banal, cringe-making popular music of the mid-seventies, which had metamorphosed so disastrously into Punk, had regained all the tunefulness, vitality, lyrical qualities, originality and inventiveness of the latesixties. The words really meant something. The tragedy though is that 1985 signified the return to the trashy, commercial sound of pre-Punk 1970s.

The boom in music quality thus coincides almost exactly with the time of troubles, 1979 to 1983. Here I wish to pick up the trail of 'quality deflation '.

Sociologists in America, notably Marvin S. Weinberg O'Neill of the University of Michigan, have proved this concept to be a fact. The theory is quite simply that the quality of TV, film and music, like the price of goods, is inflated and deflated by changes in the levels of supply, demand and costs.

Thus when, during a deep recession, the young have much less money per head to buy records, and the very young (the section of society that buys Spice Girls records) have no money to spend on music at all, there foll ows quality inflation: that is to say that the general quality of musical endeavour rises steeply, as only the best quality can survive in the market. Thus the rise in the quality of popular music in 1979-83 was directly cau.sed by the drop in living standards over the same per~od. The stark drop in quality in the late 1980s, whtch all the older members of the school will remember only too well, was due exclusively to the affluence of the country.

Demand for TV has, if anything, dropped slightly in the last ten years. But the enormous increase in supply will lead undoubtedly to 'quality deflation ', as opposed to the quality inflation which might be expected, for the simple reason that when faced with a soap opera and a real opera, something like forty-nine out of every fifty Britons choose the soap. Thus the way to make sure you sell your product is, perversely, to lower quality.

Americans do amazing things. Scientists from Weinberg-O 'Neill's group teamed up with the Illinois Institute for Feline Research to investigate an even more astounding theory. They suggest that quality deflation is in fact an ineluctable result of animal and human - nature. You may have noticed the demise of the Whiskas '9 out of 10 cat owners' adverts. This is because their claim is simply no longer true. The cat food market has expanded and there are now more brands on offer than ever before. In tandem with this development, the multi-flavoured culinary delights of Whiskas 'Salmon 'n' Trout ' and the like have been superseded in US demand by the unoriginally named and far more insipid brand 'CatNosh' and the Swedish product from entrepreneur Per Ulrick Johann Anders Van Den Laffing-at-you Steffansson, called 'SmorCatsborg '. The institute's hypothesis is that this is the direct result of quality deflation as a natural, instinctive process.

Expect, then, quality to plummet from now on, on all TV channels, apart from in the most specialised and esoteric of niches. This is a serious threat to everything we have come to take for granted, from advertising to political rhetoric to the standard of our professional sportsmen and women, and will undoubtedly lead to similar crises of quality elsewhere. Professor Weinberg O'Neill will be turning in his grave. Or will he?

The plain fact is that, with our sincerest apologies and regret, we have now to admit that quality deflation does not exist. Neither does SmorCatsborg -nor CatNosh. We never had the intention offooling you for the sake of it. We both assume that you will have realised quite early on that we were inventing things.

But we did have a serious point: during the last few weeks of the General Election campaign the country sat back and allowed the spinners and deceivers of the political classes to pontificate on just about every issue under the sun. John Prescott himself admitted at one point that some politicians have to lie some of the time.

We are concerned here, though, to make sure that when you listen to something, you consider it carefully.

Accepting advice on face value is as bad, if not worse, than taking no counsel at all. Question the facts that you are given to be digested at face value. It is one of the great democratic rights to do so.

LEO FRANSELLA AND JAMES STAZICKER.

137

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King's Walk au naturel. (Greg Williams)

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FOCUS KING'S WALK 1997

(not all did!) along the fifteen miles or so back to Canterbury, and the walk began. Not all walkers followed the approved route: J.R.P. later published details of some of the variations, among which were those who did a great deal of walking only to find themselves back at the starting-point! Certainly there were many who walked far further than fifteen miles. But for those - the great majority - who kept going, the weather and the scenery (it has to be said) improved in the second half of the walk and much fun was had. Unfortunately the poor weather meant that the splendid pig-roast had to be taken inside, but this was achieved at very short notice and food supplied with customary efficiency on the part of the Kitchen Staff.

Thanks are due to large numbers of people who either helped on the day or had done preliminary planning. Thanks in particular must go to J.R.P. , without whom it would be difficult to imagine such an event taking place, and to J.A.T. for his important part in the proceedings.

A cheque for ÂŁ8,100 was presented to REACT in King's Week, and this was later supplemented by sales of sponsored balloons to make the grand total in excess of ÂŁ10,000.

M.J.T.

Members of School, in company with many parents and well-wishers, walked for charity on Sunday 4th

(Greg Williams)

May 1997. Two things were uppermost in our thoughts on a less than welcoming day: the arrival of St Augustine in this country in 597 A.D. and the children with potentially terminal illnesses supported by REACT, the Charity to which we were giving our support.

Transported by doubledeckers some 360 members of the School arrived at Pegwell Bay close to the traditional site of St Augustine's landing, and welcomed the arrival of our latter-day Augustine in the shape of Fr Mark Elvins, O.F.M., bearing greetings fro m the Archbishop of Westminster and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He landed by dinghy from the yacht ably brought in by H.R.O.M. and his crew. A service was held in celebration of 1400 years, and Canon Derek Ingram Hill, O.K.S., preached memorably in the rain and the wind. (He later asserted stoutly tJ:iiat he would not have missed the occasion for the world.) Then marshals rushed to find their places

(Greg Williams)

139

A Shell view Things did not start as best they could, with our bus getting lost on the way to the service, and the rain beginning as we waited for St Augustine to arrive. His inflatable was not an aweinspiring sight, but I doubt whether the group of bedraggled monks 1400 years ago would have looked spectacular. The service was fairly short, and I'm told that the School sang well.

We started off full of optimism, amongst the first of the 360 or so doing the walk. There was a Spartacusstyle mass climb over the fence as we were pushed from behind at the first few stiles. The rain continued, THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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The Headmaster, Fr Mark, R.B.Ma., J.A.T. (M.P.H.D.)

many other walkers, culminating in a wet wait in a village while help was summoned in the form of Mr Parker in his minibus - a saviour of many weary walkers.

By the time we reached lunch the general mood in our group was foul. Then we ate our food, the rain stopped and the scenery improved. The thought of the mobile tuck-shop kept us going and as we walked along the riverbank it was serene and qui et, with bird-spotters lining the path. Then we got lost again, and by the time Mr Parker rescued us our little Shell legs were about to collapse.

Apart from those dreadful hours wandering vaguely through the wet and leafy orchards, completely lost, the walk was quite enjoyable and a fitting tribute to the work of St Augustine - as well as a fine way of earning money for REACT.

and walking along, listening to my Walkman, I was unimpressed by the scenery at first: a re-cycling tip was perhaps not the best place to start.

One of the best things about the walk was that everyone had different experiences. I just wish that mine hadn ' t included a two-mile detour along with

Presentation of King's Walk cheque to Mr Christopher Pulford of REACT. The Captain of School, Vice-Captain, Rebecca Frere, Mr Pulford and the Headmaster. (M.P.H.D.)

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142

MOCK ELECTION

to say Mr Wichter did his rounds on the morning of polling day, and reaped his reward. In Mint Yard North, where two leaders faced each other, Mr Fransella secured the seat with a majority of 19. Mint Yard North was the only seat to show any willingness to vote Labour - incredibly, in the other three the Labour candidates lost their deposits, and Labour overall polled only 5%, lower than the Greens.

This was of course a serious campaign. The assumption everywhere seemed to be that you should vote on national (policy) issues. Thus debates and arguments centred in general on genuine political differences, such as the voting system, minimum wages, tax rates and the relationship Britain maintains with Europe. This was helped, and, to a certain extent, caused by the dominance of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats across the School, while vociferous pockets of Referendum party support and mellifluous Green Groupies tended to drown out any whimpers from new Labour: there were thus four opposing and mutually exclusive manifestos scrapping for the electorate's vote - very little 'we won't promise anything we can't deliver' rhetoric.

It would be nai:ve, however, to think that character and style did not also come into it. Mr Rickie, with the aid of an inordinate amount of Goldsmith goodies, was the star performer and/or campaigner, and was chiefly responsible for dragging his party's vote up to such ludicrous levels. In Greater Triangle, Mr Wichter seemed the more sincere out of himself and Mr Abdullah, although whether this was actually the case or not is moot. Mr Fransella gained some sympathy votes, and certainly gained an extra few by sending out personal 'good morning' letters on the morning of election day. However, his campaign team in Mint Yard North was the most organised, with a fiercely dedicated canvasser/agent in each House. In the end, though, it appeared that a great many pupils simply voted (unthinkingly) the way their parents would have done, a pity for the candidates. The most visual (and, perhaps, obtrusive) side to the election was without doubt the poster campaign, to the detriment of the I. T. budget. The Referendum Party had the most extensive (if a little trite) 'professional' publicity drive, beating the Tory Central Office wares. The Liberal Democrats were the most original and organised out of the other parties who went 'home-made'. Overall, then, there were all the elements of the real election: if the point had been to mimic the rest of Britain, then this aim was clearly not achieved. However, if the aim was to educate, to have fun, and to continue a strong tradition of debating at King's, these all were achieved: on a 90.6% turn-out, this was a valuable exercise.

A view from the Liberal Democrat leader

Leo Fransella. (Will Justice)

As the country suffered from a six week bout of election fever in March and April of this year, King's went to the polls too. The Mock General Election had an educated and cultured electorate of 740 or so; four constituencies (Mint Yards North and South, Greater Triangle and St Augustine's); a Chief Returning Officer (D.J.R.); secret ballots and polling booths in each House; extensive canvassing and poster ~ampaigns; an independent (EMAC - Ed Sterck and James MacAdie) opinion poll; five parties, each with a leader and campaign team; and a Shirley Hall hustings.

The Tories, led by James Rock, were the natural early leaders, but faced challenges from the Greens (Cressida Trew), the Referendum Party (Charles Hickie), the Liberal Democrats (Leo Fransella) and new Labour (Mark Williams). Campaigning ran from April 23rd to polling day on the 30th.

The result of the 1997 King's School Mock General Election was in effect a 3-1 home win for the Tories, despite a swing away from them during the campaign, ~ith_ the Liberal Democrats and the Referendum Party prcking up almost all the swing vote. However, the actual breakdown of votes cast shows that once again the electoral system thwarted the efforts of the Liberal Democrats, who scored 33.7% to the Tory 38.5%, but came away with only one seat. The Referendum Party scored a very impressive 15.4% while fielding only three candidates, and in Mr Rickie's ward came very ~lo~e to unseating the Tory. In St Augustine's, sources mdrcate that a late swing back to Tory James Bride! from the Liberal Democrat James Stazicker gave the Conservatives an easy win where things had previously been very close indeed. In Greater Triangle, t~e Liberal Democrat Radi Abdullah was literally prpped an.the post by Philipp Wichter, largely it seems because Mr Abdullah- who had a clear lead three days ?ef~re polling - omitted to canvass any support at all 1ll hrs constituency's biggest House Marlowe; needless

LEO FRANSELLA.

MOCK ELECTION 30TH APRIL 1997 Extracts from an address to the School on 1st May I, David Reid, being the Chief Returning Officer in the King's School Mock Election, held on 30th April 1997, do hereby declare that the total number of votes cast for each candidate in the various constituencies, was as follows: 143

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~!ll~~ ~r~1WN

PT (M.J.T)

Linacre polling station. (M.J.T)

Leo Fransella, Liberal Democrat. (M.J.T)

Mark Williams, Labour. (M.J. T)

Cressida Trew, Green. (M.J.T)

James Rock, Conservative. (M.J.T)

Roland Phillips, Referendum. (M.J.T)

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PARTY VOTES Mint Yard North Green 14 FOX, Oriana Liberal Democrat 69 FRANSELLA, Leo 20 MUGANDA, Aristide Labour Referendum 17 NEAME, Ivo Conservative 50 ROCK, James Mint Yard South Liberal Democrat 36 BRAY, Helen Green 11 BURTON, Anthony Referendum 51 HICKlE, Charles Conservative 59 PERKIN, Thomas Labour 2 WILLIAMS, Mark Greater Triangle Liberal Democrat 72 ABDULLAH, Radi Referendum 35 PHILLIPS, Roland Labour 7 RIBBANS, Andrew Green 19 TREW, Cressida Conservative 81 WICHTER, Philipp St. Augustine's BRIDEL, James Conservative 67 MADJAR, Julian Green 6 STAZICKER, James Liberal Democrat 48 WOODS, Eleanor Labour 4 and I further declare that Leo Fransella, Thomas Perkin, Philipp Wichter and James Bridel have been therefore duly elected to serve as members for the said constituencies.

So far as the state of the parties is concerned, this means that there will be three Conservative members and one Liberal Democrat in the new Parliament. The Conservatives therefore have an overall majority, so at King's at least - this means that Conservative government will presumably continue for another five years, and I assume that the Headmaster, as Head of State, will shortly be inviting the Leader of the Conservative Party to form a government and become Prime Minister. There is, however, an unusual constitutional problem here, in that the present leader, James Rock, was- unfortunately for him- not elected, so the party will have to choose another leader from its three MPs to become Prime Minister. This does open up the interesting possibility, which could not happen in the real world (not yet at least), of a German Prime Minister!

unconnected with Charles Hickie, but I wouldn't be so sure!

The figures also demonstrate some of the peculiarities of our strange first-past-the-post electoral system. Only one candidate got more than 50% of the vote and two were elected with less than 40%. Of the two parties with one third of the overall votes, or a little more, one got 75% of the seats and the other 25%. The other parties got no seats at all.

Sadly for them, four candidates lost their deposits, having failed to achieve 5% of the vote in their constituencies. So ÂŁ20 will be given to the charity REACT, though through gritted teeth I can say that ÂŁ5 of this is mine, as I unwisely offered to put up the deposit for a fourth candidate from a party short of financial resources. Those who retained their deposits, incidentally, may reclaim them from me at a mutually convenient time.

I have left the most important statistic until the end and that is of voter turnout. 668 of you voted, a turnout of 90.6%. This is a magnificent figure and I congratulate you all on your enthusiasm and willingness to participate on such an overwhelming scale. If the turnout today gets within 10% of this, it will be considered quite exceptional. The fact, incidentally, that there was not a single spoiled ballot paper testifies to your considerable intelligence.

May I take this opportunity, therefore, to thank everyone involved: party leaders, candidates, helpers, Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, colleagues in the EcPol Department and, above all, you the voters, for the part you have all played in what I hope you have found to be an enjoyable, interesting and perhaps educational experience.

D.J.R.

INTER-HOUSE DEBATING Throughout the Lent term of 1997, every Tuesday morning two members of two different Houses would receive a cryptic and pseud letter from the organisers of the Inter-House Debating competition, explaining the motion and rules for the debate that Wednesday.

All the first round bouts were chaired and organised by pupils, and judged by an impartial (and silent) member of staff, while the semis and final were four-way affairs. All the motions were thought up by the organisers (Max von Hurter and Leo Fransella), and in each case two days appeared to be long enough preparation time; topics ranged from genetically cloned sheep, to the National Lottery, to fashion victims, to animal vivisection, to the old chestnut of sexual inequality, and the like.

The eventual winners, Linacre (Tom Edmunds and Dom Fendius), faced Walpole, Mitchinson's and Broughton in the final (about American popular culture), which was judged by a panel of pupils.

Linacre had in fact already beaten Walpole in the first round and met Broughton in the semi-final - 'best losers ' from previous rounds had to make up numbers in the semi-finals. This worked well, since the quality of debates in the first (randomly chosen) round did vary, and to lose Mary Stevens immediately just because she came up against the Tom And Dom Show

The percentage share of the vote of the parties is most interesting: Conservative 38.5% Li beral Democrat 33.7% Referendum 15.4% (with three candidates only) Green 7.4% Labour 5.0% You may have noticed that the share of the two leading parties is almost exactly that predicted in the EMAC Independent Opinion Poll conducted during the campaign, a success which professional pollsters may envy later tonight. It is true that EMAC und~re stimated the share of some other parties, ~arttcularfy the Referendum Party, which is no doubt hnked to their high-profile campaign. I am informed that.the plane which flew over the Precincts yesterday towmg a banner saying 'Vote Referendum' was 145

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early on seemed curiously silly. Both first round losers (Walpole and Broughton) certainly outscored the winners of other first round ties on the criteria given logical development of argument, etiquette, eloquence and speed in replies, clarity of speech, and crowd-pleasing rhetoric.

The format - 3-5 minute speeches, proposition then opposition, then twenty minutes or so of debate involving the floor, summing up and decision - was much the same as last year's, which allowed those with previous experience to shine more than others. Helen Bray was throughout the most combative of the debaters, and she and Kayt Spall ran Linacre very close indeed in the final. The Meister Omers team were rapid and eloquent, and were also pipped by a Paul Galatis resurgent Walpole.

(Tradescant) was the most authoritative and clear of the speakers, and a very good judge too. Matt Berry got laughs a-plenty in the first round. The Linacre pair probably came out on top for 'witty ripostes' and teamwork, although their reasoning left a little to be desired in the final.

It was gratifying that as the rounds progressed, attendance if anything increased and the quality of debate improved markedly too, after a low point before half term when the proposition got the wrong end of the stick about the meaning of the motion. (It was about constitutional reform, not how bad the UK is.)

The audience was too tense about the England football match currently in progress - or too polite to say anything - to keep comments sensible. This was unfortunate. The standard of 'chairmanship' was also variable, with some Chairs opting for a kind of handsoff approach which made for more organic and unwieldy debates. Others, notably the Chair for the final, were more interventionist in an attempt to streamline and prune the arguments, and this in general produced better results.

Rachel Hill debating.(Tim Rainbird)

It remains to congratulate the winners (for winning) and everyone who took part (for overcoming fear of public speaking and for providing so much entertainment, both deliberately and by accident), and to thank Mr Teeton for overseeing the whole exercise, all the judges who gave up a Wednesday evening to help out, and Mr Browning for understanding.

LEO FRANSELLA AND MAX VON HURTER.

THE SENIOR HOUSE FINAL DEBATE The Motion: 'The dominance of US popular culture in Europe should be greatly reduced' Chairman: Leo Fransella (GL) FOR: AGAINST: Linacre Mitchinson's Broughton Walpole ..,...... ___,

_

Ed Wattis, Fergus Reynolds, Tom Lloyd-Smith, Dave Wellesley- Wesley and others.

(Tim Rainbird)

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All the participants should be congratulated for their efforts, which resulted in an informative, entertaining and challenging evening. The arguments presented by the speakers were both forceful and convincing.

The first person ¡to test the water was Tom Edmunds (LN). He began the debate by outlining key points in favour of the motion, such as the necessity of redressing the balance between English and American popular culture. One of the many points that arose included the indisputable superiority of European classical music (and composers) compared to America's; which provoked the humorous comparison between our celebrated composer Beethoven and the USA's film star, a slobbering St Bernard dog!

Chanel, Gucci, Armani and many more.

Thus we should pay more attention to the European industry rather than purchasing American goods.

Rachel Hill (WL) made us all sit up straight by telling us to 'forget any patriotic nostalgia' we might have and to 'think realistically' . She then embarked on an articulate speech for the defence, reinforcing previous points made about the huge demand for American viewing, not to mention fast foods , beauty products and more. As she rightly pointed out, America' s marketing tactics are exceptional, mostly because of all the money they can afford to back it with. The World Trade Agreement in 1944 stated that all trading should be based on the American dollar, which would mean that Mary Stevens, Rachel Hill, Leo Fransella, Aleid Ford, Zoe Farghe1; Tom greatly reducing American trading in Edmunds, Dom Fendius and others. (Tim Rainbird) popular culture would as a consequence create difficulties for British exporting.

The extraordinary success of The English Patient After all, we were reminded, freedom of choice begins was inevitably mentioned, and was pinpointed as a with freedom to trade. step towards restoring our national identity. There was America gives friendly, healthy competition to other also a very strong emphasis placed on the need to businesses, and so raises quality standards for the create British jobs and to support British industry, customer. America also set up the Internet, which has rather than to pay for Pamela Anderson's endless benefited the whole world. The reason Europe has luxuries. It seemed that in Tom Edmunds' eyes British perhaps not been quite as successful as America is not Entertainment was, by and large, far better anyway. because we have been dominated, but because our For who could doubt our Spice Girls' infinite geographical size is so much smaller than theirs. supremacy over the Backstreet Boys?

Aleid Ford (BR) continued the proposer's The first to speak for the opposition was Helen Bray arguments by pronouncing all American entertainment (MT). The prime arguments in her speech were that to be 'vacuous' and 'misguided' because of their lack freedom of choice, speech and expression are the very of our inherent history. She also pointed out that essence of democracy and equality. To reduce the beautiful people, such as Pamela Anderson (her availability of any American entertainment which is again!), flaunting themselves could provoke low selfwatched and listened to by choice would be an esteem in viewers who may feel socially inadequate infringement of our civil rights, as choice is a after watching Baywatch. If American dominance fu ndamental key to our society. Liberty, according to continues we could be in danger of losing our cultural John Stuart Mill, is the only unfailing source of choice. identity. A reference was made to American on-screen Apparently we appreciate and enjoy American culture violence. Apparently the young murderers of James for what it is, and thus in Europe there is a high Bulger saw one of the Childsplay series which could consumer demand for it. The strongest point in Helen's have enticed them into doing what they did. (An argument was the undeniable fact that any drastic interesting point to make, but is it really fair to try to reduction would be economically unviable. blame the USA for our child killers? Hundreds of Zoe Fargher (BR) came back with a fast response children must have seen the same film, yet without a perhaps a little too fast, although she had many valid similar horrific conclusion.) points. She began by stating that the proposers were Kathryn Spall (MT) ended the speakers' time by not in favour of eliminating all American culture, and claiming that Britain can accept American dominance that cutting Beverly Hills 90210 is hardly an because we have the national strength of character to infringement of our civil rights! She then went on to retain our traditional principles. 'How,' she asked, 'is enlarge upon the merits of The English Patient, as it our culture going to develop without the influence and was made with a British director and European actors. diffusion of other cultures?' 'We' have EastEnders and This proves that Europe does have the talent to brilliant costume dramas whereas 'they' have excellent produce a creation worth nine Oscars, even if we lack sit-coms which we have tried (unsuccessfully) to the (vital) funding. Secrets and Lies was English, emulate. Blur, the pop group, has had amazing success Fargo was made with English money and Shine was in the US but they still retain their British flavour. The Australian. The rhetorical question then asked was: 'Is English Patient did have a British director and American popular culture really still dominant?'

European actors, but it also had American funding.

Which is all very well, but rather off the point of the Why should these credits be separated? The success of motion! the film was the result of a combined effort. It was The American fashion industry was next in the clear that the point being put across was that we should firing line with the statement that while 'they' gave us not attempt to fight American dominance, but to coCalvin Klein, 'we' (Europe, I presume) gave back operate with it, possibly even to our advantage.

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I have to say that Scottish dances are often not so very good, especially south of the border. So it was all the more pleasing that the spirit of the entire evening was so very memorable and remarkable. It was a sight to see so many pupils with so many teachers (many of whom we see now in a somewhat different light) enjoying themselves side by side.

However, aside from the great atmosphere, that 'throng' in true King's fashion was raising ÂŁ364 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. As I explained on the ni ght, the charity has special connotations for me because I have a lifelong friend who suffers from this hereditary di sease. On his part, I feel so grateful to all of those who were willing to contribute.

As the judges were deciding on the winners, there then ensued a gripping question time, with several tense answers and more than a few withering looks exchanged between candidates! The sorts of questions going round were: 'How do you propose to go about cutting down on USA popular culture?' To which the answer was: ' General public opinion'. A question the defenders of the motion faced was: 'The Americans brought in fast food restaurants which are bad for your health, therefore surely you agree they are to blame for people becoming fat? ' To which the answer was, quite simply, 'Um, yes.'

Finally the winners were announced: Linacre, whose team comprised Tom Edmunds and Dom Fendius, came first, closely followed by Mitchinson's (Helen Bray and Kathryn Spall), Walpole (Rachel Hill and Mary Stevens) and Broughton (Aleid Ford and Zoe Fargher). Dom Fendius certainly scored high marks for etiquette - or could that be debated?

TORI HUNT (REMOVE H).

THE HIGHLAND FLING Now that I've come to write about the Scottish dance, it is difficult to remember firstly how it was that it all came about and then what exactly happened on the night of the 19th March 1997.

Certainly the atmosphere was an experience in itself. It was an amazing feeling for the organisers to look around at all those sweaty, happy people and know that our efforts of the previous months had paid off.

(Will Justice)

The rumour spread very quickly that the dance was going to happen. We were conscious that there was a lot of enthusiasm, and when we set up a practicesession during After Hours one Wednesday evening, we were delighted that at least forty people came. The Dashing White Sergeant was an instant success, with everyone whooping and calling out the time. In the run up to the big day we tried out some of the more complicated dances such as The Reel of the 51st Highland Division and Hamilton House, but The Dashing White Sergeant remained a clear favourite.

Mrs Woodley, never at a loss, taught us several more during the actual evening of the dance, in its highly original venue of the Dining Hall.

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(Caroline Bagley)

Sam Goulden, Rachel Hill, Frances Houghton, Sam Knight and I owe gratitude to all who supported the venture. To all who came, thank you for coming. Let's hope that there will be another such occasion soon.

We owe special thanks to Mrs Reid and Mrs Woodley for their time and patience.

HUGO MACPHERSON.

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there is a very great sense of achievement, and if it is extremely successful, the profits are so rewarding that they speak for the effort put in.

At King's, three companies were set up in September 1996. These were Crescendo Management, Cheers! and Gimmix. In the Young Enterprise Competition, both Crescendo and Cheers! reached the area finals, and the latter made the regional ones too.

This reflects the degree of commitment and aptitude for business which is latent in King 's students - so if you have a head for enterprise, then all those involved in the scheme would . tell you to participate without hesitation.

Yo u n g Enterprise is a scheme which is sponsored by l ea din g organisations such as Nestle and Midland Bank. It aims to help people between the ages of fourteen and eighteen learn through the experience of (Will Justice) running a business. Mrs Horn is the link teacher at King's: she has introduced the idea to year groups of Removes and upwards, and encouraged students to come along and set up companies. After the deci sion to participate, and votes cast as to who was to hold which position in the hierarchy of the company, the meetings were then in the hands of the board of elected directors.

Advisers from local businesses were called in, and were always there to be used at the companies' disposal. They were very helpful, able to offer tips of wi sdom which they had learned from experience themselves, and so not only did the company learn from its own mistakes, but from their advisors' too.

The specific tasks which were involved in the roles of the various directors were specialised, while they also had to be congruent with those of their fellow achievers. To ensure everybody had their say and that all ideas could be expressed, order had to be maintained . Making sure people turned up to all meetings and pursued the projects they had been allocated that week, were also problems which had to be overcome so that the running of the company could go smoothly. This was easier said than done, since disciplining friends is very difficult. Jobs like thi s are a test to see if you are cut out for business, or for positions of authority at least.

Young

ELEANOR WOODS .

CHEERS! Cheers ! began in September 1996. It was created by nine Remove girls from Walpole who all had high money-making ambitions, and (of course!) a wish to gain a new and exciting insight into the real world of business. This was done with the aid of Mrs Lynda Horn (our link teacher), two advisers, and the Young Enterprise Scheme itself.

The first task was to choose the Directors, and a blind ballot proved to be successful, satisfying every member present. After many brainstorming sessions we came up with the bright idea of producing wrought iron wine racks in the shape of a bunch of grapes.

Thanks to the artistic skills of our production director, Anne Davies, as well as one of our extremely capable Marketing Directors, Annabelle Hird, the design was quickly finished and production could begin.

There were of course a few problems, both practical and morale-wise. We had to learn to overcome them and to work and co-operate as a team, even when things were looking bad. Every worker in the company

Enterprise,

~ espite these seemin gly

tiresome aspects, is great fun. You learn more about how to relate to people, a~d especially how to deal With business in the real world, which is not as daunting a's it may at first Once your appear. company 's product is on the market and selling,

Cheers! at work. Tori Hunt, Caroline Gentles, Catherine James, Helen Prentice, Anne Davies, Katherine Bodey, Bella Hird. (M.P.HD.)

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was greatly supported by our superb Managing Directors, Helen Prentice and Sophie Chapman, who also had the difficult job of delegating tasks fairly. In this they were aided by Denise Kesson, who acted as our Personnel Director. Once the production line was running smoothly, Catherine James and myself, as Marketing and Sales Directors respectively, got to work making orders come flooding in and, fortunately, enthusiasm within the company reigned once again!

Cheers! has come a long way since that early period.

Our chief successes have included beating at least eighty other companies to win, after two rounds, the Young Enterprise Kent Final championship. This enabled us to get through to the prestigious South East England Divisional Final, where we were the youngest company to take part. Sadly, here our winning streak was cut short, due to immensely fierce competition.

But despite our disappointment we are all very proud of what we did achieve; for in fact we were the youngest company ever to represent Kent at this stage in the competition.

We have also decided to expand our external market, and are currently looking to sell our wine racks in wine shops and various department stores around London. Meanwhile we have contracted the work out to a professional manufacturer, who will make the product in batches of fifty. Our accounts were able to afford this order as a result of lots of hard work by our Financial Director, Katherine Bodey, who was assisted by our extremely organised Company Secretary, Caroline Gentles.

We have all greatly benefited from our experience with Young Enterprise throughout this year, and would like to recommend it to all those who have a lot of spare time (!) and who enjoy seeing their hard work well rewarded, as Cheers! has.

It all began with a football kicked with youthful enthusiasm and inaccuracy over the City and Cathedral wall into the local primary school playground. I set off with two rather shamefaced fourteen-year-old pupils to reclaim the offending ball and apologise. As I pushed open the wooden gate of this town centre Church school, I was as surprised as the boys. From the King's classrooms, we see only the quaint nineteenth century roof of the old school; now, I could see the whole thing: an imposing, tall stone building, but no grass or trees, not much space, and lots of small children racing about the bare playground and making the usual din. The quest for the now famous football led me up to the Headmaster's unpretentious office, piled high with papers, adorned with children's drawings, and heated by one bar of an electric fire. A tearful child came in with a grazed and bloody knee, and the whole scene took me in an instant back to my earliest days of teaching in innercity London and Birmingham. A cup of coffee with the Head initiated a friendship that has flourished over the years. I was all too aware that we at King's were so well provided for, yet just over the wall- a world away - was a small school serving one of the poorest areas of Canterbury, which always seems so prosperous to tourists. On a quick tour that first afternoon, I met children from broken homes, from one-parent families on the breadline, and from gypsy encampments, and some living in desperate surroundings. Victims of violence and abuse and poverty, their haunted eyes were slow to trust. It was the dark side of the moon: the one we know exists, but we never see.

I met large classes and friendly teachers doing a brilliant job against all the odds: insufficient books, children without coats or pencils, and those unable to share or to play in groups. Many of their parents could not themselves read. It was clear from that first visit that there was so much to do.

The Head Teacher was delighted by our offer of extra pairs of sensible, kind hands, so once a week our boys and girls began to visit the school in Activities Time, ready to help out whenever they were asked. Our older pupils thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering the delights of painting, plasticine, cutting-out and ballgames. It was good to see big rugby players with fiveyear-olds, hearing them read or telling them a story; they became the older brothers and sisters these children did not have; in tum, our pupils learned that all children respond to a friendly smile, a hand held out and lots to do. They learned, too, the importance of reliability in their fragile young lives.

As the weeks turned into months, we offered to hold a decorating marathon to transform the battered and dingy school hall. It was an exercise in ingenuity!

Could we beg enough paint from the wholesalers and manufacturers? Could we find enough brushes and rollers? Could we provide an army of painters to do the job between Saturday lunchtime after lessons and Monday morning? The boys and girls organised themselves into gangs of six working for an hour at a time, and by (very late!) Sunday evening, the hall was transformed. We had painted roughly the area of the Green Court and all had learned a good deal about D.I.Y., including how not to do it!

TORI HUNT (REMOVE H), CHEERS! SALES DIRECTOR.

Caroline Gentles. (M.PH.D.)

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The paint sessi~m was a great success, and. we went n to build the children playground benches m C.D.T. 0 ut of odd bits of steel, and toys in carpentry. Then ~ame a mural, and the butte~fly and i~sect garden we created in a dull corner with the .children, most of whom did not have a garden of thmr own. At the end of term, we were invited to their Nativity Play and Christmas Party, and we knew this was a friendship that would grow with the years. And it has. Since those early days, our involvement in the community has expanded to includ~ many, varied activi~ies, sue~ as helping disabled children to learn to swim and nde; visiting the housebound and the elderly; helping at the hospital shop; . shopping f<;>r a ~tudent with badly disabling Multiple Sclerosis; qmte often we have worked alongside the local branch of the Lions Club to raise money for our projects.

KING'S TIMES PAST (EXCERPTS FROM THE CANTUARIAN) 1897 On Thursday, June lOth, the Archbishop of Canterbury paid his first official visit to the school. His Grace, who was accompanied by Mrs Temple and the Dean, was met at the Norman Archway by the Head Master and the Masters. He was conducted to the Head Master's Seat by Mr Galpin, and was introduced by the Dean in a brief speech. Dr Temple then made the School an excellent speech partly humorous, and partly very earnest and serious. He ended by asking for a holiday for the School. Mr Galpin then said a few words in which he begged to welcome the Archbishop to the School, and thanked him for his kind words to us, adding that he would be pleased to grant us a halfholiday. Dr Temple then left amidst rounds of thundering cheers.

It seems to me important that our privileged children should share their good fortune by giving their most precious commodities: time and care. It is no one's fault that they grow up on one side of the wall or the other, but it should be our concern to forge those links, then the walls that divide us will come tumbling down.

Without doubt, we have benefited quite as much as the children 'over the wall'. We do not need to look far to find the need; it took only two boys and a football to help us see it.

F.E.T. (reprinted, with kind permission, from Community Action 1996-1997)

1922 FIRE! "Fire! Fire!" shrieked a small boy with a mouth full of bun, embracing a stone-mason as he took a header out of the Tuck-Shop into the War Memorial. A long curl of flame was seen devouring the Digestive Biscuits (2d. on every tin sent back in good condition).

Mrs Benn was seen vainly pouring bottles of Cherry Cider and Raspberry Port on the conflagration; a little help and all would have been well. But no! We knew our duties too well for that. We followed the exact steps we had practised in our fire drill.

There was a general exodus from the Mint Yard, gym shoes were hastily donned and we were quickly assembled in the dormitories where a roll-call was taken. Fire-Chutes were taken out, and within threequarters of an hour we had all escaped safe and sound from our dormitories, our only casualties being three Middle Front windows.

The fire escape was rushed round from the Forrens, but having found the ladder was unnecessary - it wouldn't have worked any way - the squad with commendable presence of mind, propped it up against the contractor's shed and left it there. Meanwhile the hose-parties had not been idle. The Grange side quickly ran their hose into the Parrots' Playground, enthusiastically cheered by the occupants who assembled on the Headmaster's rose beds. The School House with great success watered the lime trees.

But in spite of all our noble efforts, we were doomed to disappointment. The Digestive Biscuits were all consumed. Eheu fugaces, his cacti Huntli Palma!

During the Break on the following morning we were surprised to hear a loud crash at the Mint Yard gate.

But the mystery was soon explained. It was the Fire Brigade arriving at speed, under Captain Dash, at the scene of the fire. The quickness of their arrival can hardly be appreciated, as they have to tuf!l a corner before arriving at the School Gates. But disaster had overtaken them at last; on trying to enter the Mint Yard one of the three cyclists drawing the cart had broken the cord by which he was attached to it, and the engine,

CROSSWORD SOLUTION The prize for Lucy Butler's crossword in the Autumn Term 1996 edition was won by Lizzie Calder.

The correct answers were as follows:

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blogged because she didn' t notice anything queer.

Trying to work up some sort of conversagger, she said, 'Oh, granny, what wizard eyes you've got!' This foxed the wolf for a spell but playing for safety he muttered, 'All the better to see you with', or some such wet remark. Now it was R.R.H.'s turn to be foxed. But she stuck to the oil and went on, 'What lovely ears you've got!' To which the wolf, now committed to a passstandard, flung back: 'All the better to hear you with' .

R.R.H. with her next crack nipped right out: 'What keeny teeth you've got!'

No one could blame the wolf for regarding this as a cue, so he leapt from the bed and made for little R.R.H., who got a load of the situagger without much help and made for the ancestral home. It was a pretty close thing with the wolf slowly catching up till little R.R.H. suddenly spied her old man taking a sort of shooting green in the forest. The old papa, taking immediate grip of the situagger, pranged the wolf in the aftermath, just as the tail end of the purple was in his chops. Which was a pretty decent nip-in for R.R. Hood, don ' t you think?

drawn unequally, had crashed into the stone-work.

Most of the water in their bucket was spilled. However we tied their machine together again and they drew it off quite happily, having borrowed a piece of string from Brown secundus to replace the broken piece.

They expressed great surprise at our having put the fire out as they had only heard of it in the Stop-Press news of a London Paper the night before. We hear their engine was safely housed before the next alarm.

1947 SCHOOL SLANG THE LEGEND OF R.R.H. (abbreviated) Well, it's a pretty wet story about a little dame called Red Riding Hood. I thought everybody had heard it.

Now, she had a granny who was ill and had confined herself to the sicker in her little ho. in the middle of the forest where she lived all alone. And one day R.R.H. was told by her old man to take a basket of eggs to the old dame, but this didn't brace R.R.H. at all, because it was an awful shag, but most of all because there were some pretty grim wolves polling around in said forest.

However, she couldn't cut the visit, as that would have brassed her Pa. So she whipped off with the intention of getting rid of the eggs and making a little dough on the side, maybe, and eventually made granny's ho. without being eaten by wolves, which was a sizeable nip-in and braced her quite a heap.

But meanwhile one of the wolves, a cunning type, had made the grade shortly before R.R.H. and wound his chops around the old dame as she languished in the sicker. He was just licking afore-mentioned chops when he took a peek out of the window and got an eyeful of a dame in a purple advancing upon the little ho. all shy and innocent-like.

Well, that was enough to make any wolf grin, so he fairly shot into the granny's nighties and into the bed.

When R.R.H. polled up, there he lay, groaning like an ailing granny, and she must have been pretty

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1972 A HUNDRED YEARS AGO 1972 may be our Rugby Centenary Year but in 1872 it was not sport which captured the headlines.

'How well I remember that warm September morning! We were droning away in the close schoolroom, over some particularly disagreeable work,* when someone rushed in and said something which didn' t reach me, but which had the effect of making master and boys spring to their feet, and after a momentary glance at the sky (as it seemed), rush headlong out. I honestly confess that I thought the end of the world had come and was not a little relieved to find that it was only the roof of the Cathedral that was in flames.' *Mathematics - see Woodruff & Cape History of the King's School, Canterbury (1908)

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Italian grandmothers a-plenty crying a tearful 'Mille into their delicately embroidered grazie' handkerchiefs, the Maestro told us it was the best singing we had ever done.

Everyone's energy reserves the next day were pretty low, so it was a welcome rest to queue for two and a half hours at the Uffizi gallery, unfortunately positioned next to some over-zealous young men from Basilica- still, I wasn't arguing ... The same afternoon we sung Palestrina at the 17.30 mass in the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, our last performance, which was much appreciated by the priests and churchgoers.

By Saturday morning we were back in Canterburyahead of schedule and all wishing we were still in Florence. There are, of course, many things that I've left out: e.g., the trip to the captivating village of San Gimignano, the Medici chapels, the hotel 's consistently stale bread-rolls and, of course, the Ponte Vecchio. But I have to leave space to say the most important thing of all: thank you! Everyone had a fantastic time, largely due to Miss King, for taking care of us all, sitting through every single rehearsal and performance and watching the food on the coach (which was a little too close to Mr Anderson for comfort); to Mr Miles for his sense of humour, excellent company and brilliant organ playing; and finally to the Maestro himself, for never losing his temper, being a constant source of inspiration and, as always, a true comrade.

APRIL 1997 After a few scales, arpeggios and a jolly rendition of Panis Angelicus, the happy band of Crypt Choir singers, accompanied by Miss King, M .J.M. and Mr Anderson (hereafter referred to by his preferred title 'Maestro') set off en masse for Florence. The Pride of Dover took us safely across the Channel and to everyone's relief the sea was not agitee. At Calais we met our bus drivers for the week, Trev and Rob , who ploughed steadily on through the 26-hour journey.

Time was passed by Messrs Savage, Tallon and Legge singing songs in true campfire style (yes, of course Richard brought his guitar), but after the seventeenth performance of the same number everyone resorted to watching Sense and Sensibility on the video system to screaming protests from the boys.

Arriving in Florence with sore backs and cricks in our necks, we met the lovely Roberta (our designated guide for the five days) . She was excellent fun but unfortunately knew her way around Florence about as much as we did! However, after a few wrong turns lugging suitcases and music stands a mano we finally reached the Hotel Veneto in the late afternoon, and many breathtaking sights were to follow.

On the first day we were left to our own devices for lunch and my immediate impressions of Florence, or for that matter Italy, were completely dominated by my first glimpse of the infamous Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore. Then came my first taste of authentic tagliatelle al salmone, sitting opposite A.-C. Farstad in a little trattoria, after which, in true Italian style we headed for the gelateria. I can safely say that neither of these experiences will be easily forgotten.

Our first concert took place in the Chiesa Santa Maria dei Ricci. James Longstaffe kicked off by translating the programme into Italian, and everything ran smoothly apart from the Maestro's music stand collapsing. The Tippett spirituals were particularly warmly received by the locals.

Wednesday 9th April saw us in Siena cathedral (for a cultural visit) and this was, for me, the highlight of the trip. Packed with tourists and cameras this Duomo :vas still spine-tinglingly magical and hugely m~pirational. Everyone wanted to leave a memory in th1s beautiful building. We did an impromptu performance of Antonio Lotti's Crucifixus (sans musical accompaniment) right under the massive dome - during which most of the tourists immediately fell silent, sat down and gawped. The moment was extremely special to say the least, and I don't think I'd be wrong in saying that by the end of the piece I wasn't the only one in the place with goosebumps all over my arms. At the end the other tourists broke into rapturous applause aod cheering. (Are they allowed to do that?)

The amazing feeling carried on into the night as the concert in the Pieve di San Marino in Sesto Fiorentino that night was just as good. With larger-than-life

DELIA WILLIAMS.

P.S. As we left Florence I asked Trev, the driver, why he never came to any of our concerts. To which he simply replied, 'Nah, love. I don't do classical music.'

Oh well, you can't win them all...

CERN, GENEVA PHYSICS TRIP MARCH 1997 On Saturday 22nd March thirteen 6b physicists departed for the Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire, CERN in Switzerland, under the watchful eye of Dr Bosworth.

The journey started at 12.08 p.m. with a short Network South East connection to Ashford International. We arrived, tired and hungry, in Geneva at about 8.30 p.m. We waited for an appropriate bus and pondered over what lay ahead of us at one of the world's most advanced research centres for particle physics.

Coming off the bus at the entrance to CERN we were met by a tall security guard and his over-zealous Rottweiler. After¡an apprehensive start we signed in and received the keys for our rooms in the hostel as well as maps - which we definitely needed as we were surrounded by hundreds of similar-looking buildings.

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(anti-electrons) hurtle round the ring in opposite directions until they collide and try to annihilate each other. An incredible amount of data is collected from each collision, all of which requires careful analysis.

One question we had to ask was what is all this high-precision, time-consuming work in aid of? The whole point of these experiments is to discover more about the particles we and the rest of the universe are made of, and to understand more about particle interactions.

We were all fascinated by the information we were being bombarded with, but nevertheless we needed the odd break from it to recover. In many of the short breaks we logged onto an Internet convers~t:lon page.

Unknowingly, at the same time, somewhere else in CERN, the other half of the group had logged onto the same page. Some very amusing and confusing conversations followed!

On Tuesday, we had a final summary talk by Dr Bosworth, which turned into an interesting debate about time dilation and other such complicated topics.

We watched Apollo 13 in the afternoon which seemed quite fitting after talking about cosmic rays and the like.

In our short stay, we had had a satisfying taster of particle physics and its spin-offs. We had also learnt quite a bit about using one of the most common ¡ technological by-products of Cern - the Internet.

Sampling the local cuisine was enjoyable too, handmade pizza coming high on the list, as well as the fondue. We returned on the Wednesday, full to the brim with particle physics. Fond memories such as getting soaked by the huge fountain sprang to mind but, apart from that, mental activity reached an all-time low due to sheer exhaustion. The journey back was quiet and ¡ relaxing as a result. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile expedition. Our thanks go to Dr Allday and Dr Bosworth who made it all possible. Each day, physics is getting closer to discovering the beginnings of the universe_and predicting its future. Keep your eyes on the changing horizon.

F.A.S.

CERN a few years ago whilst studying for his Ph.D. and convinced us that he knew where we were. We'd been traipsing around for ages with all our luggage and Dr Bosworth was looking more and more uneasy.

Rupert then pointed out that, somehow, in the dark, we had been reading the map upside-down. He then led us back the way we came, and sure enough, hostel 39 appeared in front of us. It's a good job physicists don't need to use maps too often!

The next morning Dr Bosworth gave us an introductory talk, after which we went into Geneva. As a warm-up exercise, Dr Bosworth suggested we try to calculate the speed of the water in the famous waterfront fountain. In the evening, we went out for a traditional Swiss eating-competition where each contestant tries to eat as much bread, dipped in molten cheese, as they can - otherwise known as eating a fondue before everyone else has lost their pieces of bread in it.

On Monday we had a video and exploration of the CHORUS and ALEPH experiments. The sheer scale of the equipment was amazing enough but the atmosphere was incredible - the importance of the place, its power and clinical organisation that still allowed for exploration and investigation. It was a busy place, humming with scientists of international significance who appreciate much more than we could the historic work going on there, but it was obvious to us all that it was a remarkable place. After all, the prime concern of CERN is the matter that makes up the universe - which should make us even more interested in and aware of what is happening there as it is relevant to us all.

Each experiment has a specific purpose. CHORUS is effectively a microscope, watching neutrinos. The scientists hope to attribute the missing dark matter of the universe to these elusive particles, which at present have no known mass. What everyone is waiting for is a specific particle track, created by the transfer of one particle to another, implying one particle having mass.

If some types of neutrino are shown to have mass, many of the problems of the standard theory of the universe will be solved. The computer print-outs looked like incredible complicated dot-to-dot pictures to me but our guide assured us that the scientists could tell us at a glance which particle each line and dot represented.

The ALEPH experiment was in many ways more exciting. It was on the huge LEP ring for a start, which has a diameter of 27 km. Particles are accelerated to very high speeds around this ring, and forced to collide at certain points. ALEPH is at one such point: it is a gigantic detector which records movements, decays, and lifetimes of all the particles produced in the collisions.

Usually electrons and positrons

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pROJECT KUMERAU FALLS, GUYANA JULY 1996 Guyana is unique in that it is the only part of the Caribbean on the South Amencan mainland. Instead of sandy beaches and tourist resorts, Guyana can boast unbro~en primary rain-forest punctuated by massive 1000-foot escarpments. Guyan.a was a Br~tish colony until 1966 when It was given independence. This potentially prosperous country suffered years of poverty under the dictatorship of Forbes Burnham. After the years of dictatorship, the country is slowly starting to turn itself around but it has little money with which to do so.

Project Kumerau Falls was undertaken by a group of twenty Officer Cadets from Southampton University Officers' Training Corps. The project had a number of aims - to s_urvey the Mazaruni River for levels of mercury pollutiOn as a result of gold mining; to collect whitefly and their larvae for research to be carried out by the International Institute of Entomology and to carry out research on behalf of the Tropenbos Foundation. The OTC is a part of the Territorial Army which draws its members from students at Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth Universities. Training and selection were carried out over a weekend in Snowdonia Snowdonia and Guyana being noted for their similarity! The Officer Cadets were split into two groups of ten. One group would carry out surveying in the south of Guyana with the Tropenbos Foundation, wP.ile the other group would canoe from Kumerau Falls to Skull Point (near Bartika) collecting data en route for the mercury and I.I.E. projects.

The expedition was due to fly from Heathrow on Sunday 14th July -forty-eight hours after finishing a two week military training camp in Wales. Arriving at Heathrow, we found that the flight was delayed for twenty-four hours due to the plane breaking down. The carrier, B.W.I.A. (British West Indies Airlines), appeared to be doing everything to reinforce its nicknames: Britain's Worst Investment in an Airline, But Will It Arrive and Better off Walking If Able, to name some of the politer ones. After a short stop at St Lucia we landed at Trinidad. Yet again we were delayed for about five hours until 1 a.m. When we got on the plane we found it was double booked, so seven of us had to get off and wait for four hou~s until the plane returned. The only problem with this was that the airport was too cold! The flight was finally airborne at 5.20. On the walk-out to the plane it became clear that the heat was going to be virtually unbearable especially if this was the coolest part of the day. As we approached Georgetown, with the dawn breaking behind us, I got my first sight of a rain-forest through the breaks in the clouds. The sight was amazing - an e_ndless carpet of green, broken only by the brown n vers . z

Primary virgin rain-forest. (John Firth)

Tenko and a World War II film POW camp. Later impressions didn't do much to improve on this. The group which had made it onto the first flight had spent the night here: Trinidad airport was lu:cury by comparison, but fortunately we were not .staym.g here.

Later that morning, we got a boat from Timehn docks (a small wooden jetty) to Timberhead resort (owned by Forte) where we would acclimatise and carry out jungle training for a few days. '!'his involved tr~velli~g by river. The most striking thmg about the ~ver~ m Guyana is the black colour of the water. When It rams, the rainwater percolates through the dead leaves on the forest floor. As it does this, it leaches out tannin, the colouring which makes leaves brown. The ta!lni.n also gives the water a sweet taste although It IS not advisable to drink it, unless hand-pumped through iodine filters. Where possible, rainwater was collected for cooking and drinking. This had to be boiled or sterilised using chlorine tablets, which made it a bit like trying to drink a swimming pool. A common belief is that you cannot swim in the water. There is nothing wrong with swimming in the rivers, although it's not advisable near industrial areas. There are piranhas in the water but they're only a problem in the north. In the area where we were, the only thing they bit was a fishing line and became quite a good curry.

The rivers were the only washing facilities that were available. These were used for washing yourself, your clothes and anything else which needed it.

After four days at Timberhead the two groups split up and headed off to their separate destinations. My group set off by road to Parika, crossing the Demerrara river by the longest floating bridge in the world ..At Parika, we picked up a boat to Banganrra Island, which acts as a staging post for Correia's mining c?mpany.

Hayden Gonzalis, who ran boats on the nver for Correia's, was going to take us up to Kurupung, feed us and give us a place to sleep co!llp~etely. free of charge. The island was on the Esiqmbo nver, the largest and fastest flowing in Guyana. The current close to the bank was strong enough to make swimming against it hard work. If anyone ha~ been caught in the main current they'd have been m the Atlantic in no time.

Once we had collected our luggage we went to the local G.D.F. (Guyana Defence Force) barracks. The first impression of this place was a cross between 155

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r~pellent. in the evenings and clothes had been dipped m Premethrin prior to departure.

Every member of the expedition took the antimala.rial drug Lariam (the strongest available, despite t~e alleged side-effects). The only ?ther maJor problems were sand flies (which JUSt hurt when they bit you), tarantulas and snakes, which would literally go out of their way to avoid you. In the entire time I was there, I saw only one tarantula and two snakes, both of. which were travelling away fro~ me at the ~Ime. Two snakes over a period of ei~ht weeks IS apparently a lot for a visitor.

Despite all ~f these the greatest risk to any of us was falhng out of a canoe, hitting our heads and drowning.

The following day we were up at 7 a.m. and made the one-hour trek up to the top of Kumerau Falls. The sight at the top of the falls, as we cut our way through the unde~growth to the edge of the escarpment, "Yas .breathtaking. I had certainly never seen anything hke It. As we started on our way back down the hill it started to rain and the paths which we had been walking up turned into rivers flowing down the hi~lside. By the time we had reached the bottom, the ram had stopped and within an hour our clothes were dry. ~here was more rain that night and the tarpaulin covenng the camp proved not to be as waterproof as hoped, so a few people's hammocks were filled with water.

That morning we set off with a mixture of canoeing and drifting to Kurupung. Over the next two days we canoed dow~ the Kurupung Creek to the junction with the Mazarum and a mile up the Mazaruni. We'd been told that there was a shop there where we would be able to bu~ drinks and other luxuries. There was a shop there, but It only sold orange juice at about ÂŁ1 a can.

T.he next day we arrived at Enachu. We stayed at the village, a few hundre~ yards upstream from the mining settlement. The mam ad_vantage that the mining settlement had. o~er the VIllage was porcelain loos.

Even though this mvolved a special trip to the mining settlement, t~e loos prove? t~ be a luxury compared to long-drop tmlets or JUSt diggmg a hole in the ground.

That Saturday, we w~nt on a two-day trek (one day out ~nd. one. back) Into the jungle to visit an Amenndian VIllage. This would be one which was ~elatively untouched by the mining activities and mvolved a 1'/2 hour canoe-trip into th~ bush, cutting our way through some of the overhanging trees. When we had landed the canoes, we had to do a three hour (nine mile) trek with all our clothes and food to the village. On the way a number of people came down with hea.t ex~austion a~d one other person got speared, by a twig, m the grom. When we arrived we were greeted with prayers and song. The villagers' there said that a group from the village had received a premonition of our arrival and had gone out to meet us.

Unfortqnately they must have known a better route since we ~adn't seen them throughout the journey. In the morm~g we were sent from the village with prayers asking for our safe journey: after the events of the trip there we'd need them. The return journey was nowhere near as eventful as the journey out, but when

John Firth at the top of Kumerau Falls

II

IIâ&#x20AC;˘ "I

The night on. Ba1_1ganara Island was to be my first attempt at sleepmg m a hammock. Tying it up proved to be a challenge in itself and I needed some help after two failed attempts, much to everyone else's amusement. We had to get up at about 4.30 a.m. to be ready for the boat to leave at 6 a.m. (first light). In true Guyanese 'j_ust now' style, the boat finally left at about 7 a.~. T~e JOurney up the river took about eight hours ~nd 1t ramed most of the way. The only problem being In an open boat travelling at about 20 knots is that the rain felt bitterly cold - like winter - not much fun when you are wearing only a T-shirt and shorts. We reach~d the mining camp of Enachu, where we spent the m~ht, at about 5 p.m. that evening. This was the first ~Ight . when we had a serious risk of catching malana, ~Ithout proper precautions being taken. The next 1normng we had our final hour in the power boats wh~n they took us and our canoes to Kurupung. It was obvwus that a problem was going to develop with the number of people and canoes and the amount of luggage. People were already sharing one rucksack between two, with five large rucksacks for food and a quantity of sampling equipment. The group was now fourteen people (one from the G.D.F., one outside canoe instructor and two students from the University ~f Guy an~) and group and kit simply was not going to fit safely m the canoes. This problem was solved by Father Charles Roland, a friend of the leader who came with us and gave us the use of his boat. He told ?S that he'd ~ad malari~ seven times and looked upon It as though It was a clmm to fame. From this point on we had to canoe ourselves with only the benefit of two small motor boats for carrying kit. The first bit we were to canoe was about four miles upstream, to Kumerau Falls, the project's goal. This took about five hours against a strong current. . After the two previous nights' attempts at sleeping

~n a hammock, I decided to try sleeping on the ground In the har_nmock. T~e hammocks were entirely

enclosed With a mosqmto net so there was no risk of an~ inse~ts or other creatures getting in. The main ammal nsk came from mosquitoes, and exhaustive efforts were taken to prevent them biting and transmitting malaria. Everyone wore very strong THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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nuggets. The mercury is then burnt off. It is this we got back into the canoes the skies opened and we were all drenched within thirty seconds. You could burning process which causes the problems with the look up and down the river and see clear sky and mercury pollution. It was made even more interesting later that evening when the owner took the entire group sunlight in either direction. to the shop with an open bar tab. In the boat on the way On the way to Oranupi we stopped off at a diamond to the shop we hunted laba (a rat-like animal) with a mine for lunch. Afterwards we were shown around the searchlight and a Winchester 12 gauge. Then we took operation and allowed to have a go on the highfull advantage of the open tab and were a bit merry by pressure water cannons which are used for cutting the end of the evening. away the quartz gravel. ¡After being cut, it is passed over the filters to remove the diamonds. This two-acre Not surprisingly things went at a very slow pace the site would produce a £50,000 profit within five weeks. following day. After a few hours of looking green I Oranupi is located on an island, and the next day a was capable of trying to steer the canoe for my first group of us tried to canoe around it. This proved to be time, and kept it surprisingly straight. This took us to harder than it sounds and took us over an half and hour Issanu where we were due to stay for a few days. This to canoe the quarter-mile length of the island, due to was the closest we had come to civilisation for a long the water flowing faster as it was funnelled around it. time. It even had more than one shop. But Issanu was The experience can be likened to trying to walk up an a dump: there was rubbish everywhere and it stank. escalator travelling down. When we left Oranupi, the While we were at Issanu, we went to visit a nearby villagers in the usual friendly spirit found in the bush, Amerindian village. This looked like a disaster from were only too happy to help carry our rucksacks to the the moment we arrived. The villagers were all there, water's edge - the only problem was that we hadn't dressed in their Sunday best waiting to meet us and finished filling them. Maybe they just wanted rid of us. nobody knew what to say: we couldn't even talk about the weather. Things got a bit better when we asked if The next camp was to be a proper bush camp. It we could try out their woodskin canoes and they tried required cutting poles, clearing the ground and driving out our canoes. With our canoes having received high the poles in. We moved to Falls camp the next day, praise from the Amerindians, we set off for Middle with a twenty-eight mile canoe. There was supposed to Camp (Newmarket), be a shop here but it where we would was even less of a meet the boats to shop than the take us back to previous one. At Banganara. On the least that had four way up, it had been walls and some sort decided that the of stock. This one rapids were unonly had three walls canoeable and this and a supply of was even more firewood. At 3 a.m. evident on the return the following mornjourney. In six days, ing we learnt a new had the waters thing about the dropped far enough Amerindian way of to expose some very life. If a member of difficult rapids. the village cannot sleep they get up and We were woken at sing for a couple of 4 a.m. when a boat hours. The belief arrived to take us to presumably being: Banganara Island. It John Firth at the top of Kaitieur Falls 'If I can't sleep then left at 6 a.m. with nobody else will only half the group either!' This was supposed to lead to one of the and we were told that another one would be along highlights of the canoeing trip - the rapids. 'just now'. This 'just now' proved to about two hours.

Unfortunately the wet season had gone on longer than A few of us got to try some lab a before we left. It had usual and the waters were still thirty feet up. Had the the texture of chicken and was very tasty. You water been five feet lower, some exciting rapids would wouldn't guess that you were eating an overgrown rat. have been formed. We were intending to camp up the By mid afternoon, we were at Banganara and three Semang River, but a small group of us managed to hours from civilisation. The boat wasn't due to leave travel past the camp and ended up at a shop where we until 5.30 in the morning. This became 6.15 and by met the owner of a mining operation in the area. He 9.15 we were in Georgetown and the Pegasus Hotel. seemed to get the impression that we were a group of We went to a Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch: environmental activists, and went to great pains to Mac Donalds hasn't reached Georgetown yet. Aside explain how safe his operation was. The tour of the from the K.F.C. Georgetown hasn't changed much, and the Dutch --and Victorian influences are still mining operation was very interesting. We were shown how the mud slurry was passed over filters (like a very evident. The only difference is that it carries carpet). The carpets are cleaned every two weeks and thirty years of disrepair. With some money put the gold particles are separated out using a panning into it, Georgetown could be made into a very nice method. Mercury is used to bind the particles into city.

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~

(plastic trays and sandwiches with a strange coloured filling). Oranduk Falls sit on the border with Brazil and while it doesn't hold any records for anything, it is still a spectacular sight.

At the time of writing, everybody has returned to the UK and we are awaiting the results of the research. Out of a group of twenty people who set off, all returned with no major injuries. This project was one of the best experiences of my life and I will always look back on it as such. If ever I got the opportunity to go back to the Guyanese interior I would take it without a single hesitation. I would like to express my thanks to everybody who contributed to and supported me in the expedition.

Tuesday saw us taking a plane trip to Kaitieur and Oranduk Falls. At 763 feet Kaitieur is the largest single-drop falls in the world. There are higher falls , but they are not single-drop. These falls were an impressive sight as the plane flew over them before landing. You also couldn't help seeing that a hundred feet from the end of the landing strip was a 763 foot drop. One of the things you noticed on the ground was you could get right to the edge. People are advised to craw1 to the edge, rather than walk, to avoid the sensation of vertigo caused by standing so close to a sheer drop. Anywhere else in the world, there would have been a barrier (and probably a souvenir shop). All that there was here was one house with one of the best views in the world. After two hours we flew on to Oranduk Falls where we had an 'airline style' lunch

JOHN FIRTH. (BRIBL 89-94)

CORRESPONDENCE 1, Upper Bridge Street, WYE, Kent.

TN25 SAW 18th April, 1997.

To the Editor, The Cantuarian, Meister Omers House.

Dear Sir, I am secretary of Wye Historical Society, and Bryan Keith-Lucas, whose obituary by Stewart Ross appears in the previous Cantuarian [Vol. LXI No. 1, Autumn 1996], was our President until shortly before his death. Last summer I persuaded him to reminisce into a tape recorder, and this was edited and combined with a small narrative of his own, written soon after he left King's, to produce an informal memoir. Wye Historical Society has just published this as a tribute to Bryan. It is priced at ÂŁ2 including postage and it is available from me at the above address.

Yours faithfully, AVERIL CLAYTON

Flat 3, 13, Sussex Square, BRIGHTON, East Sussex.

BN25AA 6th June, 1997.

To the Editor, The Cantuarian, Meister Omers House.

Dear Sir, In this anniversary year of the foundation of the school, could you consider including in The Cantuarian a fairly long poem in a traditional verse form that rhymes and scans?

I know that this is unfashionable, but King's is able to create fashion.

Yours faithfully, ALAN BAKER. W.A.C. BAKER, M.B .E., O.K.S. (S.H. 1930-35) The Editors await a response from budding poets with a more traditional approach to their Muse. They will award a prize for the best such poem of publishable quality received by the end of the Autumn Term 1997, with due regard to the age of the poet.

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If you really want to make your mark, you'd be better off not joining the masses in the city.

Especially now the RAF are offering you the chance to see if you have what it takes to become an officer, through a sixth form scholarship .

To apply, you need to be between fifteen and seventeen and about to take your GCSEs or SCEs, with the intention of going on to sixth form .

apart from giving you a medical to see if you are

So if you'd like to find out how to make a

fit in body, we'll put you through a series of tests

name for yourself, ask to see the RAF Careers

to see if you are fit in mind.

Liaison Officer who can be reached through your

'We'll bend, stretch and strain you and still

Careers Information Office (you'll find the address

day other people's lives may depend on it.

in the telephone book under Royal Air Force).

If you pass, your parents will receive an

Of course, we'll want to know if you have all

your studies. You will also go on a two week leadership training course in Scotland to get you

examination grades to make an officer.)

familiar with what's to come , and you may be -··-

s~end

three days at Cranwell where ,

WE ARE EQ U AL O PP O RTU N ITY EM PLO YERS UN DER T HE RACE RELATI ONS !\ CT

AN D W ELCOME ENQ UIRIE S AN D APP LI CATI ONS FROM ALL ET HNI C GR O UP S.

annual tax free grant to help with the cost of

the right credentials. (It takes more than just good

You'll

Careers Teacher, or contact your nearest RAF

expect you to make split second decisions. One

offered a course of flying lessons.

ROYAL AIR FORCE SPONSORSHIP

159

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IMAGINATIVE WRITING Four imaginative pieces, each responding to one of a selection of short paragraphs from Geoffrey Hill's 'Mercian Hymns' (1971).

Flaminio to Ostia

Nisha Diu (5d)

'He wiped his lips and hands. He strolled back to the car, with discreet souvenirs for consolation and philosophy. He set in motion the furtherance of his journey. To watch the Tiber foaming out much blood.'

The bolt had been carefully locked from the inside with the aid of a penknife, the bags put in the boot and the engine left running. The young man went briskly down the hot, dusty stairs, hurrying past the dwelling of his landlady. Having passed it, he stopped at the yellow window that looked down upon the red, lonely Stadio Olimpico, Stadio dei Marmi and, to their right, the Ministero degli Affari Esteri, all possessions of the Flaminian region of Rome. Their imploring look, like that which a flimsy aluminium cathedral, smoothed of its carvings, might have, sickened him each time he saw the structures. He averted his head in distaste, and thought of the road ahead of him. It would tack him onto the end of the summer crowds, and take him to the pretty seaside at Lido di Ostia. The bands that compressed his head and the stiff elastic his muscles had become convinced him that it was time for a holiday he could not afford.

The little white Fiat bumped along, whirring frenetically, inching nearer and nearer to the region of Villa Borghese. His debilitated leg shook with the desire to press sharply down on the brakes, but by now he could already see it. It stretched itself out, tall among the trees of the trim green park and the wealthy Villa Giulia museum and Galleria Borghese. Struck hard by the white sunlight was the Scuola Superiore di Architettura, where careless, clumsy hands would be, at this moment, handling his precious drawings, and crumbling his wonderful plans in their fingers as they hurried to clear away the work of their failed pupil. Their only failed pupil. He could sense the frantic activity within those great, clear walls, but outside it was horrifyingly still.

It matched too closely the frozen-in-time image he had imprinted in his mind with a festinate glance as he had scurried, ashamed, through the surrounding park. Yet, the unreality crept about his shoulders and became a comfort, soothing his feverish mind enough to force him into acknowledging his pestilent hunger. ¡ He kept the Fiat jolting along as his eyes raced in a frenzy to find a coffee shop cheap enough for his shallow pockets. He left the car by the pumps, and walked jerkily into the interior of the greasy-walled cafe of a petrol station. The oily food shot down his gullet, and dropped like a lead cannon ball into his expectant stomach.

Immediately he had eaten it, he got up and wandered, with practised ease, into the adjacent store. Carefully watching the convex mirror's gloopy figures move about the aisles, he admired five items discreetly, before slipping them into the copious space of the bag he held draped across his shoulders. The young man had stolen an orange, a mint rock candy walking stick, a small box of chocolates and a darning needle for his frayed summer overcoat. He was courteously reminded, sir, that it was law to travel with a spare tyre, and so, selecting the cheapest, he threw what he had acquired into the back, and continued with his long journey. He turned towards the Tiber, in the quest of following its dense, grey-green meandering all the way down to its mouth at Lido di Ostia. He drove, with expeditious glances alternately at the road and at the river, searching the thick water for its occasional fulgurations of deep, brilliant turquoise. As he turned his head with quick, nervy gestures, he noticed an orange dappling on the water, dulled by the shiny surface. He flung his head up and saw, lining the road, twin rows of orange trees. He touched his own sun-saturated fruit with jabbing fingers, and he broke through the tough, dimpled skin. With a repelled cry, he flicked the fruit (Megan Morris) away and its dark, soupy flesh splattered on the tired seats. He had rejected the orange, and the moment they realised this, the angry trees thrust their own rotting fruits at the frail little car. The revolting fruits ' entrails were hurled at the furiously swishing windscreen wipers. The trees hated him.

'Get out! Get away from here! Leave our patch! You snub us, so we repudiate you! Leave! Leave!' they shouted, enraged.

He wanted to cry with the pain of this renunciation, but was startled by the sickening, rotting insides dripping on the glass into lumpy, disdainful faces. He recognised them at once; the hard, discarding faces of his masters and friends. Their mouths consumed the papers of his designs, then spat them out, so that they flew maddeningly about him, the lines of his ambitious project flashing tauntingly into view. He knew the trees spoke true; he had snubbed his friends and his masters. He had been so proud and so conceited.

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He drove on and passed by the hot, red-brick Palazzo di Giustizia, with its elegant, fluid lines, and soft, triangular form. Beside it, its heavy neighbour, elegant in its circular bulk, stood the Castel Sant' Angelo, now a museum. A square perimeter of walls enclosed the museum, and its four turrets watched over the green river and the Palace of Justice.

An old, bent man trailed across the road, leaning on his candy wal~ing stick. He turned t~wards the young man with huge, coruscating, blue eyes. The young man's beautifully structured housn~g plans swung languidly in the light-refracting prism of the Nestor's beautiful eyes. The young man drew In sharp _breath, and clamped his teeth down hard, splitting his trembling lip. He almost slammed shut his eyes against !he agony. Instead he watched, in vile fascination, as the lined man's eyes metamorphosed, with consternating speed, from sumptuous, lapis-lazuli prisms into hard little grey pebbles.

'Glory-chaser!', rasped the nonagenarian bitterly, and the young man was tortured because he knew it was true. The fabulous estate for the pensioners of Rome had never been intended to be o~ benefit to an! ot~er than himself. And how he had craved recognition, reverence, beautiful gold and rose hght around him, hke the others had. All those others who had succeeded: his friends and his masters.

He drove on past the Isola Tiberina, an oval island formed by the forking of the Tiber. On the other side of the river, over the Ponte Garibaldi, was the place where the Italian politicians pulled each others' hair: the Palazzo di Montecitorio.

The young man felt a sudden weight on the battered Fiat, and several sets of beautifully cared-for fingers booked themselves onto the bonnet and the roof and the boot of the little car. The fingers pressed down hard, so that the young man thought the car might be pulled to the ground, and they hauled up their bodies an~ sat sprawling, all over the car. Still the Flat trudged torpidly, like an old elephant. His eyes ampli~ed a spht sec~nd before he cried out in torment; it was his successful friends and masters, obscuring his future!

Between them sat his exiguous box of cheap chocolates stuffed with eager hands. He was greedy, though, and the sight of those hands plunging into his box of chocolates was loathsome to him.

'They are mine! They are mine!', he screamed out at the intolerable sight. They were thieving his fuel from them, because he would never share with them. The bile-like tears burned on his eyes. He knew he had been selfish and covetous of his knowledge.

His pain grew more and more exorbitant as he drove on. The tyre in the back floated past his head, then, ad hoc threw itself onto the back of a purple Range Rover, where it suckered itself, fixed. The impact shook the sil;er heads inside the vehicle, so that they all bobbed round to face him. He could not bear it! It was them again, gloating at his inevitable humiliation! ¡ 'It had to happen,' they cackled. 'We all saw it from the start!'

He burned in abasement. Soon his rage simmered and bubbled, then exploded, sending glowing droplets of lava, slashing the glass of the Range Rover, but they all just laughed at his helplessness.

He could see around him that he was in Ostia, and the sharp fumes from the Officine di Gas shot up his labouring nostrils and slapped his fragile forehead, hard, from inside his head. The resentment and ranco~r grew rapidly, like a busy clump of bacteria, doubling, splitting, growing stronger until it could take his feverish mind absolutely. As he crossed the bridge, Ponte G. Marconi, that led to the beautiful cathedral, San Paolo fuori le Mura, those ridiculing faces stayed, and the acerbity won suzerainty over his weak mind, ~nd he grasped the darning needle and thrust the exquisitely shari? point ~t the f~ces in the Range ~over,. lashing at the mocking smiles. The gall-stone of shame, self-hate and bitter, painful failure expanded~ filling his who!e chest and pressing against his dried ribs. He smashed at everything around him, teanng the faces In uncontrollable wrath. He swerved violently past the cathedral and tumbled, still striking out with strident screams, into the dense, grey-green Tiber. He watched, with dilated eyes, as the .red ribbons of blo~d swirled smokily from his battered arm in front of him, and were caught among the septic bubbles of the thick water.

With each gentle wave, a new red crescent imprinted itself on the sandy bank of the foaming river.

The Children

Emily Perkin (Sa)

'We have a kitchen-garden riddled with toy-shards, with splinters of habitation. The childr~n shriek .and scavenge, play havoc. They incinerate boxes, rags and old tyres. They haul a sodden log, hung Wlth soft shlelds offu ngus, and launch it upon the flames.'

Edward had been pressing down so hard that his pencil lead had snapped again. As he began to sharpen it, the teacher reached his desk; she leant over the page of thick black sums and smiled.

'Well done, Edward,' she said, and moved on. Directly behind Edward sat Jane, and to her right, her twin sister, Mary. The teacher sighed as she looked at the two sheets of doodles, the two freckled faces and the fol!r jet-black pig-tails. The twins were trying to suppress their laughter by covering their mouths, but the look In their eyes showed everything. She moved on. But the teacher should have looked closer at the 'doodles'- there were dark forests, hobgoblins, rats, witches, fires and a distorted image of a burning tre~. As the t~acher ~alked away, the twins burst into an excited burble of conversation, pronouncing a sen~s of Incomprehensible sounds which only they understood. Edward silenced them with a frown and continued with his sums.

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Meanwhile in the senior classroom Margaret and Benedict were studying Latin. From time to time they would exchange a knowing grin across the room. (The teacher had positioned the class according to ability with the under-achievers at the front; Benedict was three rows in front of Margaret and, by coincidence 0 ~ the opposite side !lf the room.) Benedict was sixteen, and a favourite with the village girls- he liked to t~Ik. Margaret was quieter and more thoughtful. In the notes on her desk she had written: = wood silva arbor = tree = black niger incendium = fire A small room at the front of the school housed the juniors; it was story time. Toby and Dolly sat among the rest of the children, sucking their thumbs. At eight, everything pleased Toby: he was innocent and obedient and the teacher loved him dearly. His younger sister, Dolly, had blonde hair, blue eyes and rosy cheeks.

She sat with four other tiny girls and listened attentively to the story.

At three-thirty the bell rang and children began to pour out of the school door. The senior class was the first out. Margaret and Benedict emerged with three other girls: Benedict was talking and the girls were giggling. After a few steps, the brother and sister emerged and automatically turned round to wait for the others, leaving the girls to discuss the beauty of Benedict's nose as they walked to their homes in the village.

Dolly and Toby came out and said hurried good-byes to their companions who were being dragged in the opposite direction by their older siblings. Then Edward appeared, triumphantly clutching a book which his teacher had lent him. He was followed (Mark Williams) by the twins who were chatting in their incomprehensible language.

Now that they were all united, the siblings began to walk home. After twenty yards, the twins turned around to scream farewell to their classmates: they found this very hard to do because they were laughing so violently. The classmates gave muted smiles in reply, but the twins did not notice. Toby and Dolly walked ahead, singing a skipping rhyme which they had learnt in the playground. Toby held Dolly's satchel in one hand and her hand in the other: his satchel was on his back. Margaret and Benedict were a short distance behind. Benedict kicked the rocks on the path and pulled out chunks of grass from the verge, while Margaret picked a big daisy, admired it for a second, and then proceeded to pluck the petals and squash them into a paste between her forefinger and thumb. They were followed by Edward who walked alone in silence, gazing fixedly at the woods further down the valley, not in pleasure, not in disgust, more in intrigue. The twins skipped along at the back, chattering noisily.

The children were now out of sight of the village and well into the one and a half mile walk which they did twice a day, every day of their lives.

'Dolly!' Benedict called ahead. 'Did you paint anything today?'

'Here,' she said as she handed him a carefully folded sheet of paper. Dolly had drawn a tree, but it had no leaves on it: it was black and its branches were sharp and twisted, like the fingers of an accusing witch.

'The Tree,' said Margaret to herself with a smile as Benedict showed her the six-year-old's painting.

At that moment they turned a corner in the path and about ten yards ahead of them on the left (the ground fell away sharply on the right) stood The Tree. It was remarkably similar to the painting; big, magnificent even, and just black. The children immediately slowed down and stopped at a respectful distance. Without saying a ~ord, the~ set about ~aking daisy chains.. They worked quickly, plucking, sitting and linking the flowers with very nimble, practised fingers. From this place, the valley could be seen in its full glory with the thickly wooded right slope, the fields which covered the valley floor and the open grassland on the left which was speckled with sheep and occasionally wild ponies. About half way up the left slope there was a farmhouse, tiny in the distance. The path led directly from The Tree to that house, which was where the children lived.

There were no other houses in sight.

Edward was the first to finish. He approached The Tree with his chain, removed yesterday's slightly withered offering from a branch and replaced it with today's. He took.a step back and smiled slyly at The Tree, then returned to the others. The children then replaced their chains in turn until everyone had paid their respects. They then gathered up their satchels and continued the journey.

They were more animated now, and walked the rest of the way chattering, with Benedict issuing commands. A short time later they came crashing through the door of the farmhouse, panting (they always raced the last stretch of the journey). Their mother greeted each one with a kiss and shepherded them into the kitchen where there was a large jug of milk. They threw their bags aside and gulped down their drinks before running out of the back door in the direction of the wood, leaving their mother staring after them. She watched them run down the hill, led by Benedict, all shrieking with excitement.

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When they reached the wood, Benedict slowed down, allowing Margaret to catch up with him. The children's aim was to collect as many interesting and unusual combustible materials as possible which they could then burn in honour of The Tree. Benedict had picked up a stick which he was stabbing purposefully ¡nto the ground with every stride he took. Margaret walked at his side, suggesting that they collected this roll ~f carpet from such and such a place or that they investigated some particular area of the wood. 'Investigated' was not really the right word for Margaret to use as all the children (except perhaps Dolly) knew every single twig in the wood. However, every day the expedition was different as more and more obscure objects were recover ed.

This time they visited the old gypsy camp. The gypsies had abandoned their pitch several months ago, opening up a whole new world of exploration for the children. Even now it was still a source of intrigue for all of them. They scraped about in the mud and fallen leaves, shrieking with pleasure as they scavenged. The twins were the noisiest of all; they sang and chanted and danced through the trees. Margaret headed for the areas where the saplings were only very young and the branches had been cut back - these places were obviously where the gypsies had pitched their tents. Benedict saw Margaret and went to search near her as she always managed to recover something interesting, but Benedict searched in the branches a few yards away. Edward disappeared on his own.

Suddenly the twins appeared from around a corner lugging an old tyre which Jane had tripped over as she danced. They had had a hell of a job in removing it from the web of undergrowth which had attached it to the earth, but they had managed and now they were singing triumphantly and showing off that prize to the others.

Dolly and Toby had been ordered by Benedict to investigate a particular area near an oak tree which Margaret had shunned. Benedict therefore considered it unlikely that anything remotely interesting would be unearthed there. They however ran up to Benedict brandishing two soggy cardboard boxes. Both Benedict and Margaret congratulated the two ecstatic youngsters on their find and sent them off to look for more boxes.

Eventually Margaret's careful excavations were rewarded when she discovered three old shawls. They were caked in mud and debris, but it was possible to make out that they were a deep crimson. She said nothing, but sat cross-legged with the shawls on her lap and proudly picked off the woodlice, one by one, placing them upside down on the ground with their legs kicking frantically in the air.

Edward ran up to Benedict and announced his find: 'I've found a log.' He gasped for more air. 'It's magical.' More air. 'We must go and fetch it.' Benedict's eyes lit up with excitement, and he called the others over to him and explained the situation. The six children set off after their twelve-year-old brother in the direction of the log. It turned out that Edward had climbed a tree in order to see the area with more ease and had spotted the log. As he showed his brothers and sisters, they gasped in amazement. The log was covered with bright yellow shields of fungus.

Benedict immediately began to give directions: 'Margaret, you take that end. I'll take this end, and Edward, you support it in the middle. Toby, you and Dolly carry the boxes and the shawls, and the twins can take the tyre.' The children all set about their tasks with enthusiasm and with much effort the log was hauled back to the house.

The log, tyre, rags and boxes were ceremoniously placed in the kitchen garden and the children went in for tea. They washed their hands and sat down at the table. Mummy and Daddy listened lovingly as each child described their day at school.

By the time Dolly had finished, the meal was over. Dolly was led off to bed despite her protests and the others rushed out, eager to carry out the ritual.

They lit the fire, using some twigs to get it going and then they burnt the boxes, the rags and the old tyre.

The twins danced around the fire chanting songs which they had invented about The Tree. Edward gazed at the flames, transfixed, as Benedict ordered Toby to fetch more twigs. Now the time had come to incinerate the log; it took three of them to throw it onto the fire. The children stood back and yelped with glee as the bright yellow fungi, shrivelled up in the fiercely hot flames.

'Let's get the skewers!' said Margaret to Benedict. Toby was promptly sent to get the skewers. He returned, smiling, carrying a handful of metal skewers and a few slices of bread. The children stabbed the slices of bread and held them in the flames until they scorched. They were talking noisily, shouting, laughing and singing and praising The Tree.

A beetle happened to crawl past Margaret; seeing it, she stabbed it with her skewer and began to toast it.

For a while it writhed in agony, and then it was still and its body was left to shrivel in the heat. Benedict caught a spider and toasted it in the same way and all the children laugh~d. Then a chick fell out of a nest in a nearby tree. It called out for its mother and thus attracted the attention of the children.

Margaret looked at the chick, then at her skewer and then at the fire, paused for a moment and then put her skewer down. The six glowing faces regarded the chick in the light of the fire. Suddenly Edward leant forward and thrust his skewer into the naked pink flesh of the chick and then held it in the flames to toast.

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Charlotte Inglis (Sa) 'We ran across the meadow scabbed with cow-dung, past the crab-apple trees and camouflaged nissen hut. It was curfew-time for our war-band.'

The school bell began to ring, and we were up and out of the classroom before Mr Fogerty had had time to tell us what our homework was.

Already the sweat had begun to build up round my furrowed brow. I read the anger on Matt's face, and saw the tears welling up in Josh's eyes. Without saying anything to one another all four of us ran across the meadow which was scabbed with cow dung, past the crab-apple trees, to our welcoming run-down hut. It was meeting time for the war band.

No sooner had Bennie scrabbled up the ladder into the comforting boundaries of our tree house (or 'hut' as we liked to call it) than he threw down his satchel in exasperation, gripped onto his small little hand, and burst into tears.

'It's not fair, it's not fair,' he cried. 'It weren't my fault we got caught.'

'Course it weren't,' Matt offered.

'No,' said Josh in agreement, but being the least intelligent of the four couldn't think of any other encouragement.

All through morning class Matt had kept it in his school bag. Its white fur had become matted together and as he opened the bag a pungent stench oozed out. Matt slipped it into Josh's hand. 'Psssssst! Greg!' said Matt, trying to grab my attention. Matt sat to Josh's left, then I sat directly in front of Matt. The rodent felt cold and the smell was beginning to make me feel quite queasy, so I elbowed Bennie in the ribs and then handed him the dead mouse as quickly as possible.

Bennie had had the hardest job of all, so it was no wonder that Mr Fogerty had caught him lifting the wooden lid to John Sewell's desk, and trying to slip it in. John Sewell was Matt's biggest rival on the games pitch, and this rivalry also extended into the classroom. The mouse was to pay him back for last Wednesday's game where the Reds (of which John was captain) had beaten us Blues 2-1. Matt assured us that he wouldn't have minded half as much if it wasn't for John's intolerable gloating. As Matt was boss, none of us dared dispute this judgement, and so went along with the plan quite happily.

'Bennie, what are you doing?' Mr Fogerty's voice boomed across the classroom, making Bennie jump.

'Urn ... er, well I was ... urn ... trying to borrow a rubber from John's desk, er ... yeah ... a rubber.' And so it went on, but Mr Fogerty was having none of it. 'Benjamin Elliot, come to the front of the classroom!' The whole room fell deadly silent. Without moving my head I shot a questioning glance at Matt, who did not flinch. Josh was slowly melting lower and lower into his chair and I was swallowing hard. 'Greg, what was that look for? This isn't something to do with Matthew is it?' he said, suspending the mouse in the air by its tail.

Before long he had found out all four of us and you can guess what happened next. Mr Fogerty had this amazing capability of not only rooting out the 'guilty' ones, but making those who had done nothing feel guilty. Many a time I can remember feeling myself blushing under his accusing glare, when I was entirely innocent.

'Revenge!' said Josh 'Quite right,' agreed Matt.

'Our only option,' I added. 'But what shall we do?'

'I've thought of something,' said Bennie. 'Follow me!'

One by one we climbed down the ladder and went over to the water trough. Many years ago the water trough used to be the place where the cows, who grazed in this field, drank. However the cows had been removed a long time ago and the trough now collected rain water. This rain water mixed with the clods of earth which were stuck to the inside of the trough; and all in all it made the most fabulous war paint. Matt smeared it across his forehead and then the rest of us followed by painting two Indian-like lines on each of our cheeks. To begin with the mud felt soft and smooth and ever so slightly warm, however by now it had set and had started to flake. The caked mud left a taught feeling against my skin.

We ran across the field and then by the houses along its southern edge.

'Hey there, Bennie. Having fun?' It was Bennie's mother who had come out of one of the houses. She was American, very friendly and the kind of mother who was constantly baking good things to eat. In fact, even now she had a pair of oven gloves on and was holding a steaming pie in her hand.

'Make sure you're home in half an hour in time for dinner.'

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'It won't take us more than half an hour,' Bennie said under his breath. 'OK then, Mum,' he yelled back.

'Bennie, where are we going?' I asked. ' Oh, you'll see.'

We traipsed after him. Bennie's determination and anger were so apparent that the more we followed, the more angry we too became.

'Re-venge! Re-venge!' At first Josh's war chant began quietly, and then as we all joined in it got louder and louder until we were shouting at the top of our voices. 'Re-venge! Re-venge! Re-venge!' Matt then began to leap round in a circle, ululating as if performing the ritual dance Indians do before entering into war.

Naturally we all joined in. 'Hah who bah who bah who,' we hallooed.

By now our anger had turned to mirth and we were so dizzy that we collapsed in a pile on the floor, too exhausted to speak. However we were not going to give up that easily. Bennie was the first to move. ' Come on,' he said, 'let's go!'

Eventually we found Mr Fogerty's house. It was no different from the other semi-detached, red-bricked, slate-roofed houses in his row. His Austin Seven, the only differentiating factor, was parked along by the side of his house in his little gravel drive.

'Bingo!' said Bennie, as he caught sight of it.

He bent down and scooped up a handful of gravel. 1\uning it over in his hand until he had found four sufficiently sharp stones. After handing one to each of us, he brushed the rest from his palm.

We approached the Austin Seven, stones in hand, and each squatted down by one of the wheels. There was a huge 'hisssssssssss' as the pressure from Matt's tyre gushed out.

'Revenge,' he said proudly as he withdrew his stone from the tyre.

'Hisssssssss. Hissssssssss.' Josh and I let ours out at the same time.

'Serves him right,' I said.

'It sure does,' replied Josh.

Bennie's stone had been too blunt so he was rummaging around on the ground for a new one. Once found, he stabbed it into the tyre with such satisfaction and strength that his 'hisss' was more of a 'whooooooosh'.

'That will teach him!' He spat out each word as though it were a poisonous berry.

'That will teach him,' came the reply. The reply however had come from none of us. All at once we swivelled round to see who had spoken, and there, to our sheer horror, leaning against one side of the doorway, was Mr Fogerty.

Rebecca Snow (A6b) 'He adored the desk, its brown-oak inlaid with ebony, assorted prize pens, the seals of gold and base metal into which he had sunk his name.'

He adored the desk, its brown-oak inlaid with ebony, assorted prize pens, the seals of gold and base metal into which he had sunk his name. Emma stood over the precious table, the special desk, this piece of furniture which Simon looked upon with more admiration than he did upon Emma herself. Her eyes scanned the old table top, the swirls and dents in the wood so highly polished and cared-for with proud hands. When had Simon last been proud of her? It hurt her head to think back that far. Her mind swirled back seven years or was it seventeen?

They were invited to a neighbour's summer barbecue. Emma was excited. They rarely received invitations.

She had gone out after her morning shift at the diner and bought herself a new pair of stockings for the special occasion. When she had arrived home that afternoon, Simon was at his desk. She crept into the front room which was his study.

'Leave me for a while,' he had said- the familiar daily greeting to his wife.

'Simon, we'd better get ready for the Gorings' party.'

'How can you possibly expect this from me? What do you think I have been doing all day? Do you think that I can afford to leave my writing now that I've made some progress?' His unreasonable, confusing manner was at its worst when he was working.

'I'm sqrry. Well, shall I go and apologise to the Gorings as we can't go? ' 'I don't see why you can't go, Emma.'

Emma backed-up instinctively. She shrunk into the doorway, stuttering 'No, I can't possibly, I wouldn't know what to say... ' .

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'Oh, don't be pathetic, Emma. Go on, leave me. I'll ask you about it later.' He had done the usual thing of burying his head in hands which meant that he was thinking. Emma knew not to answer back. She had crawled upstairs, put on her new stockings and her summer dress and left for the party. When she arrived back, very late, Simon was not in his study. He was in the kitchen over a cup of coffee. Emma couldn't keep the smile from her face.

'It was good then,' Simon said happily. 'I'm glad. Come here, honey. You look lovely.' Emma could now not hide her surprise. It was the first (and the last) time that he had called her 'honey'. She could feel he was proud of her.

Emma ran her hand over the smooth wood. Occasionally her fingers came across grooves in the surface.

She lifted up a pad of paper. Her hand felt what it was searching for. The pad had been concealing a huge gash in the table top. She broke into a smile as she ran her little finger up and down the uneven gouge. The vivid images of the past drifted towards her again.

She had arrived back from the hospital. She walked into the study, steadying herself on the back of a chair in case she fell over with weariness. She stood with her hands clasped over her stomach as her husband looked up from his desk. The paleness of her face must have warned Simon.

'It's gone,' she whispered.

'What do you mean?' he gasped.

'The doctor - he said, it's gone. She's gone.'

Simon wrinkled up his eyes. He thumped his fists on the desk and let out a strangled cry. Emma was shocked. This was the first time he had let his emotions show. He resumed his 'thinking position' and Emma left the room. She gently closed the door behind her and suddenly her knees gave way. She slid to the floor, still clutching her empty stomach. She listened to her husband inside, weeping. And she wept too. In between sobs she heard a strange scratching noise from inside.

'Why won't he weep with me, why can't we be together?' she whispered to the empty hallway. The only thing that would have brought them together was now a lost dream. They both knew this and they both wept separately. Later that day, while Simon was out, Emma went to his desk and found the reason for the scratching noise earlier. In his anger, Simon had run a sharp object down part of his desk and dug a groove in the precious oak. Emma had suddenly felt happier. She knew that they had felt the same about something for once.

That was a part of her life that she remembered so well. However much she had tried to forget it, the dent was always there. Still staring at the desk, she sat down. Simon had sat there so often. In fact she hardly ever saw him out of his desk-chair. She laid her ear to the table surface. It was cold and hard. Closing her eyes, she whispered, 'Tell me about my husband.' The favourite desk must have known more about her husband than she did herself. In the silence she heard a muffled voice. It was her own, years and years ago on the day that they had returned from their honeymoon.

'Simon? Simon? ... Simon?' She was shouting through the closed study door.

'What?' his irritated voice returned.

'Open the door, I want... ' 'Want what?' he had broken in.

'Please open the door.'

'You want what?'

'I want ... to be with you,' she had whispered.

It was their first day in their new house and new life together, and Simon had locked himself in his room with that damn desk.

'What do you want? I'm busy, Emma, please.'

Emma had not replied but kept knocking on the door.

'Leave me.' The cold words pierced Emma through the door and her eyes stung. She turned and walked upstairs to lie on the broad bed alone. That was the first moment that Emma realised she would never really know her husband.

Her eyes were stinging as she lifted her head from the oak desk. There was a knock on the study door.

'Yes?' she called out.

'Is there anything else to take, Ma'am?' shouted the bailiff. Emma's eyes fell back onto the desk. Through the blur of her tears, she scanned the table-top again. This piece of furniture was the only memory that she had of Simon. It bad always stood between her and her husband, but it bad meant too much to Simon to show him disrespect by selling it.

'No, thank you. That's all,' she answered. Then softly, from behind the desk she muttered those familiar words. 'Leave me.'

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166

Andrew Ribbans {A6b)

Storm (for Sophie) Slowly, Drop by drop, the Rain begins. I Search for Shelter, but there is Nowhere, nowhere to 'furn, until I see her Eyes.

The Thunder rolls, like some Dramatic prologue. The first Act starts, Lightning forks, and I reach Into her Soul for Shelter.

The Delicate, impossible Structure I have built Cracks, and Rain pours in. My Tears mirror its Course, running down a Face Contorted in Pain.

Suddenly, Loving arms Envelope me, and her Eyes offer Comfort and Shelter. The Pain subsides, the Rain withdraws, and Sunshine briefly shows its Face.

I turn to Her, her eyes are Calm, tranquil Seas of Beauty. I Gaze, Transfixed, and all is Well. The tension Gone, we Embrace, as if for the First time.

Outside, the Sun bursts through the Cloud, and the World, Renewed, Smiles again, As blue meets brown, and our Souls, refreshed, are One.

Nature's Flake Fighters

Sam Knight {A6b)

He simply couldn't believe it: it was extraordinary, unfeasible yet probably (and it would be) true; the innovations department wanted four, four, extra orders of limeblossom and matricaria chamomilla for their next formula of Originsâ&#x201E;˘- 'invisible bodysuit to correct dry skin.' He was utterly baffled; four extra tonnes of blossom! He could imagine no possible scheme that would need so much chamomilla. Yet he had not yet reached the point where questioning was an option. Imagination had recently been made acceptable, though it was suggested that it should be a leisure activity restricted to employees' spare time. What annoyed him most was the lack of respect; whereas he could fully understand why the innovations department required more limeblossom and matricaria chamomilla (though four tonnes stretched even his patient comprehension), they obviously had taken no pains to empathise with his lengthy task of devising a suitable financial scheme and justifying this expenditure to 'his great wisdom' the Natural Resources Manager.

The incident passed without repercussion, and for the next two weeks the small order form that had caused Paulo Dublin so much distress progressed serenely through the various machinations and departments of the Originsâ&#x201E;˘ headquarters.

'Come up to #023 re limeb. and matric. chamom. CDL' Paulo's eyes skimmed the memo and smashed into the initials at the end: CDL. Clifford (a mysterious 'D' ) Longchamp was the pinnacle of authority at OriginsTM London. Rum our had it that he even held a certain amount of leverage at the New York office, the summit of the flake protection ziggurat. His wealth was untold, his estates were mythical and the loyalty of his minions unfailing. Paulo had scoffed at the aura of infallibility surrounding the 'Batcave', CDL's office, but now he felt the force and the fear that had permeated so many Natur al Resource trainees on the reception of any memo containing the capitalised letters so like a death warrant.Clifford Derek Longchamp sat, or as he would like it said, poised in the bowl shaped pit that was the centre of his Conran high backed, smooth finished black leather and stainless steel chair. He had a rounded belly Which extruded below his ribs; when he slouched he could feel it sag against his belt. Clifford tried to forget 167

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about h!s belly bu~ when all was ~aim he could rarely think of anything else, for he was a vain man. His legs were thin and straight whereas his upper body was stocky and rumpled. He was displeased by this inequality and though he followed the advice of his two personal trainers, the diet of his nutritioner and the routine devised by his spiritual guide, he had never been able, despite his wealth, to make his body a possession of ":hich he was proud. He sipped cautiously at his freshly pressed orange juice. The mussels in a marinade of ginger and balsamic vinegar which he had consumed at 'The Bistro' had left him feeling slightly hungry and ?i~ digestive apparatus more and more unsettled. Clifford decided to pop two drops of herbal remedy into the JUice, le~n ~ack and listen to some song birds. He pressed ~ discreet black button which lit the red 'Occupied' beacon In his personal foyer, fished a small brown bottle with a rubber nozzle out of his 'Supplement drawer' and switched, by remote control, his CD player to disk four, The Forests of Uruguay. ' Mr Dublin, trainee, placed the terrifying memo first on his desk and then, thinking that it might be asked for by 'Batcave' security, folded it into his inside pocket. He began to dredge up memories of the day when he worked on the innovation department's demand for four extra tonnes of limeblossom and matricaria chamomilla. As it often did in times of great anxiety Paulo's mind began to blur details in the same way as a h~at wave distorts fields of corn: the basics are there but the finer details lost. He presumed, as he rose from his desk, that he had made a pedestrian error in filling out the form. Then why was he not consulted by his Area Supervisor? He was beginning to pace quickly through the Environmental Department when he conceived the idea that his blunder was more serious. He had caused a massive influx of limeblossom which had led to huge investment in the exclusively Senegalese industry; Origins™'s subsequent return of the unused limeblossom had caused, due to an insider's tip, panic selling. Paraben Resources Ltd were on the a~vice of a top corporate lawyer, suing for an unprecedented eight million pounds and CDL needed' to vent his anger. Paulo slowed down considerably as his imagination created this nightmare scenario. He ducked into the men's room to relax and cogitate.

Dubli!l emerged after splashing water all over the upper thighs of his new chinos. The impression which he would g~ve CDL was of~ young trainee who was able to bring about a multi-million law suit against Origins™ yet was Incapable of using the lavatory. Again Paulo slowed, this time to examine his reflection in the mirror which was the east wall (on the insistence of the spiritual committee there were no 'lefts' or 'rights' in the Origins™ London bureau) of the Servicing Department. His mind swung to the other extreme; CDL wanted to congratulate him on his discreet handling of the lime blossom and matricaria chamomilla affair, and while his superiors were to face 'discipline' (a CDL favourite) Paulo was to receive an unprecedented promotion to the rank of Secretarial Understudy.

The two predictions settled into an unsteady equilibrium as he approached the lift. He was so shaken with mental effort in his attempt to find a sensible reason for his being called down to the 'Batcave' that he was totally unprepared to find the red 'Occupied' light glowing in CDL's foyer. He was not ready to wait. He was thrown.

Was this an attempt to put him off his guard? Paulo was not to be distracted. He managed to sit down and pick up the Economist (in case CDL was watching). He settled uneasily into the leather sofa to watch the red light above and beyond an article on the principal areas of, and possible dangers facing, the Senegalese economy.

Clifford hacked his way through the thick Uruguayan jungle which was his stationary mind, to reach his customary alert state. He reached forward for the yellow memo which his secretary had sent, requiring the presence of an obscure trainee in the Resources Department. Clifford had objected from the outset to the 'Personnel Awareness Scheme' which the expensive Spiritual Equality Consultant had recommended in the most recent board meeting. It involved his secretary selecting unknown members of the junior staff with whom he was supposed to meet, converse and 'bond'.

What CDL had been unable to raise at the meeting was his personal aversion to the concept of 'bonding' .

At Winchester, during his spirited but lonely youth, he had been encouraged to bond with his fellow males on the rugb~ pitch, a sport he despised due to the odours and textures which adolescent bodies produced. During wre~tles 10 the dormitory! another pastime.for 'Yhich he had.both insufficient dedication and energy, he was denied another opportunity to find the Grad which was bonding. Now he was being asked to bond, spiritually ahead of physically, with a fresh-faced trainee who had, no doubt, loved his rugby and had taken every chance for healthy male confrontation. . The finer points of the 'Scheme' were left to its mother, the Spiritual Equality Consultant. She had Introduced the idea that the senior figure should start the 'session', an awful word, by referring to the most recent piece of work that the junior employee had successfully managed. The yellow sheet in front of him showed CDL that Paulo Dublin had successfully ordered four tonnes of extra limeblossom and matricaria chamomilla from Senegal, information which failed to interest him in the slightest. But CDL had been brought up to make good use of money spent and he therefore resigned himself to adopt the easy air of natural superior yet approachable employer. He poked the black button which sat to the south-west of his blotter.

As soon as the red light was extinguished Paulo affected to look absorbed in his Economist, hoping for a distraction or the arrival of an important but impromptu businessman. God was either frowning or detained else":here a!ld the secretary, with all the energy that normally _accompanies the printing of a P51, called Mr Du~lin~ Trmnee, to the door of the Batcave. He faced the handle-less Malaysian mahogany entrance without an Inkling of what to do next. The secretary was again busy, yet no doubt watching him, and he was standing, utterly defeated by a door. Paulo then spotted a discreet, matt, metal tablet which appeared set into the door fra~e. ~e pushed. it and the door disappeared: CDL was standing facing Paulo not more than two feet away, smiling like a cynical demon. Then Paulo realised that they were exactly the same height.

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' Come in, take a seat. Would you like something?'

'What do you mean "something"?'

Stupid question. ' To drink.'

'No thanks.'

The conversation ground to a halt, despite this promising start.

CDL decided, as he hitched up his Givenchy pinstripe trousers under the desk, that he would look at Paulo Dublin and wait for him to open the conversation. Thirty seconds later Dublin was still, doggedly, trying to look interested in the wallpaper and the surrounding skyline. The bonding, for CDL, was as difficult as the rugby and random wrestles. Dublin was unaware that bonding was the aim of the exercise, the purpose for his torture. He was wondering why CDL was delaying the ugly words of false sympathy, the implied friendship and warm wishes for the future. Neither man wanted to be where he found himself now. Neither man had anything to say to the other, and both were very conscious of the work that was mounting in their respective in-trays.

'So do you like working at Originsâ&#x201E;˘,'- a quick glance at the memo- 'Mr Dublin?'

'Yes, very much.' Did he say, 'Sir', 'Mr Longchamp' or nothing? The end of Paulo's answer died to a barely audible hum.

CDL was called to use his trump card earlier than planned.

'So you recently ordered four tonnes of limeblossom and matricaria chamomilla from ... Senegal.'

Paulo's nerve broke.

'Look, sir. It wasn't my fault. I just filled in the form. I didn't make the decision. Please don't blame me, sir, Mr Longchamp.'

At least this is exciting, thought CDL. Clifford suddenly had the sadistic impulse to find out the source of Mr Dublin's guilt.

'What do you mean Mr Dublin?'

'I wasn't thinking. I was just doing my job, filling in the form.'

Suddenly CDL was bored. Mr Dublin's conscience was of no concern to him. He began to think of his belly again, the way it was so passive, so dependent. His attempt at bonding had been as empty as his spectator role at Winchester. Mr Dublin was much happier in his (glance at the sheet) Natural Resources Department.

Dublin saw CDL look at the sheet he had in front of him, probably consideJ"ing the paltry compensation he would receive. CDL's overweight features examined Paulo's face, which (unhelpfully) blushed a deep red. ' Thank you very much, Mr Dublin. Our meeting has been very revealing.' A flagrant lie. And CDL was sure it sounded like one, even to a trainee.

'Yes, thank you.' Again the uncertain murmur which replaced 'Mr Longchamp' or 'Sir' or whatever. Paulo just wanted to escape, to leave the Batcave, and feel the open carpet of the Servicing Department corridor.

When Paulo had put a good twenty-five yards of oatmeal carpet between him and the Batcave, he began to consider the interview. How his reaction had affected Mr Longchamp, and what the fearsome man had meant by 'most revealing'. He was suddenly elated, invincible and young, then terrified of the future, then just indifferent, as he ducked into the toilet halfway back to his desk in the Natural Resources Department. Within thirty minutes, probably twenty-five, CDL had entirely forgotten Paulo's name, though the idea of a large Irish city kept swimming into his semi-conscious state, for Clifford was in the jungle again.

The cookie tin: a cautionary tale

Benedict Westenra (Shell b)

There was the corpse in the cupboard. This was certainly a threat, considering there was no way of locking the cupboard door. Plus, it could be opened from the inside. To pass the cupboard would be to risk capture and tor ture and whatever else the living corpse was capable of doing to innocent five-year-olds.

There was also a distinct sound of crunching bones coming from the toy chest, occasionally interrupted by the odd burp or two. The monster devoured all and left nothing. The lid of the toy chest was ajar. A pungent smell emerged from within.

And then, of course, there were the hands. The hands that reached out and grabbed at you occasionally from under the bed, and that forced bed-goers to take a running jump at the mattress before going to sleep at night. They were definitely another peril of the bedroom and should be avoided at all costs. For who knows how far the hands can reach?

Plus, something inside the wardrobe was drooling, one could assume, at the thought of little children crossing the room in their red and white striped pyjamas. And what delicious crunchy centres they had. ~owever, all the evil intents of those night-time shadows put together would still not make them Tommy's Primary concern. Tommy's primary concern was for the alligator that appeared to be slinking casually around the bedroom floor, smacking its lips voluptuously.

Cookies.

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Tf!mmy's tummy was making odd rumbling noises as it often did, and the only way of satisfying thi r~"!Inder fro!" t~e stomach department was to fill it with as many chocolate biscuits as it could hold at on! s!tt~ng. The. biscuits that Tommy had in mind were the ones sitting comfortably in their wrapper in the cookie tin In the kitchen. A plan of action was needed. Tommy thought of one. . He needed his torch. He always kept his torch sandwiched in between the mattress in his bed and th Sideboard. He fumbled for the torch in the dark. He found it and dropped it. A hand promptly emerged fro~ und~~ the bed, s!lat~hed it, and disappeared to where it came from before the torch even touched the floor. A malicious grembn-hke laugh was uttered from below. · To~my, though slightly put-off by this, decided to continue with the plan without the torch After all h could JUSt about make out the ?bjects in the room by the moonlight that was streaming through. the curtains~ To!"my reache~ out from his bed and placed his hand on one of the handles of the chest of drawers the only Item of furni.ture that wasn't infested with blood-sucking limb-crunching monsters. He slowly op~ned the sock drawer silently, so as not to alert the monsters that he was awake.

He put his !tan~ if! and fished out some of the Quality Streets left over from his birthday that he kept stashed away In his hidden storage centre. . ~e unwrapped the sweets delicately, and threw a couple at the alligator. The alligator snapped them up VICiously. He plodded about the floor impatiently.

Tommy ~cattered so~e more sweets over the floor, and watched the crocodile gobble them up slowly. Now that the alligator was diverted, the plan could be put into action. . Tommr leapt off the bed, so as to avoid the hands that grabbed at his ankles. He took the chair and propped It up ag~Inst the cupboard door to prevent the corpse from taking him as a captive. He then took some of his recent birthday presents off the shelf and dumped them on top of the toy chest, so that the whatever-it-was that was crunching bones could not lift the lid. Tommy whisked the duvet off his bed and flung it over his wardrobe ..The pudd!e ~~drooling was getting bigger. Having done this Tommy slipped out of the door just as the crocodile was finishing off the last hazelnut whirl.

Cookies.

Now that he was out of the bedroom, there were new perils to be faced, such as avoiding the second set of hands that gra~bed you through the banisters on the stairs, and secondly not waking up Mummy. ~ommy consid.ered these problems, but heard the Bogeyman flushing the toilet in the bathroom and decided to act quickly.

Cookies.

Tommy edged along the wall, clutching Teddy with his right arm, and began to descend the stairs. He car~fully pl.aced each step so as not to allow the steps to creak, and hit any hands that came through the banisters With Teddy. Step by step he got to the bottom of the stairs, and he numbed his bare feet on the hostile stone floor. He slowly turned the door handle on the kitchen door and opened it. He poked his head through and ~urveyed the scene, eyes as big as saucers. There were certainly no monsters to be seen in the kitchen and If t~ere were, they were obviously hiding. Tommy brought the rest of his body through with him. ' Cookies.

Tommy crept up to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair.

Cookies.

He put first his right knee on to the seat of the chair. and then his left. ' Cookies.

He stood on tip-toes and caught sight of the cookie-tin.

Cookies.

He climbed onto the table and crawled across the surface to where the tin was.

Cookies~

Tommy lifted the lid.

(Megan Morris) Cookies.

His tummy rumbled.

Cookies.

He put his hand in.

Monsters. , \ Tof!Imy was not to be found the following morning, and the only clues as to his midnight entertainm~nts were the sweet wrappers in his bed, the torch lying on the floor, the mess in his bedroom, and Teddy lying bewildered on the kitchen table.

The cookies remained untouched.

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1· ~

{' . '. ( . . , · _· -·.·:·:.....L.,.. o~-. .. • · .

170

. ..

Benedict Westenra (Shell b)

One day I saw

The seeds, that, in the morning, so gracefully form, our Winter's Spring, the birth of new life, the life That is so precious, that for one day Lives.

Midday, and the once bare trees flirt In their matrimonial dresses, with No groom, just the wonderful champagne Air. The trees are bare, their youth is lost, they Drop their summer blossoms on the ground, and Weep silently, with their newly-formed tears, that are Lost.

Evening falls. Not far beneath the surface, lie the Black streets.

Fade, fade away.

Night time.

Lawrence White (Shell b)

A Snowball In Hell

The army marched like a column of ants, relentless, slow, mindless. Most of them had never seen 'the great Napoleon, conqueror of all.' Most of them didn't want to. They walked silently, eyes forward. If they looked up, they could only see myriad falls of twisting flakes, and if you looked for too long the brain began to hurt and you fell, dizzy, to the floor. To look down was to see the corpses, frozen wraiths, men who had died of exhaustion or frostbite or had simply given up. So they walked across the lunar landscape in silence speaking wasted heat and energy. They walked in ankle-deep slush, tainted by the footsteps of a thousand predecessors. Behind them Moscow burned, ahead of them was the pacl~ of the man in front. Someone dropped every couple of minutes, crumpling into the snow as though there was an invisible sniper picking off the unfortunates. Most directed their hate (of which there was plenty) at the cold, the snow, even the Russians.

Those were the ones who had not met the military genius who had marched them to Moscow, found it burning, then ordered them to march back.

The horses suffered more, dragging the cannons endlessly through the slime. They were often killed mercifully. Then eaten.

The trees were taller, but lost their majesty under the weight of the snowdrifts burdening the branches.

A bird flew mockingly overhead. Several rifle shots smashed the stillness and in a welter of feathers and beak the animal dropped. As it hit the ground men were already clawing aside others, fighting to be the first to feast on the small bag of bones. One reached it, and ripped off the head. He stuffed the flesh into his mouth before it could be stolen, spitting out bones, feathers and the bullet. The others turned back to the column, and those who had spent their last energy in the rush sank to their knees.

A young man, his face still fresh, turned pleading eyes to one who could still stand. He shook his head, and pulled out his rifle. The young man's tears froze as he nodded, but a smile crossed his face before his meeting with eternity.

The scene attracted no interest, it was common enough. There were rumours that they were near the end of their march, but these rumours were treated with well founded scepticism.

The landscape seemed ethereal, ghostly - if you looked to left or right to avoid the sluggish column of men and bodies. Would history record them?

The sun was there all the time, floating in and out of the clouds. Its light was terrible in its incredible strength and no one dared to look at it. The horror of the march was changing the men, toughening the survivors and changing their outlook on life dramatically.

No one was foolish enough to share any food they had left, for the conditions destroyed any idea of 'decency or comradeship'. Would history record them, as it celebrated their leader?

And still Moscow burned, its fires miles behind them. Not many could remember what heat felt like. Would they be remembered?

The air ahead of the men at the back stank, as the corpses at the fronLdecayed, though very slowly in the weather. Rivulets of frozen blood rolled on the hills and valleys of the snow at their feet.

Napoleon-was smiling to himself, to the world, to anyone who would listen. You could hear his smiling, his quiet assurance, just as you could hear the wind tear at the faces of the men.

Each man pondered his own private hell, alone among thousands. C'est Ia vie.

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One Sunday moment

Benedict Westenra {Shell b)

I was lying on my back gazing into the sky.

We made out across the lawn with the regular clicking of his crutches as they flattened the grass which swept over the hill and dived into the trees and joined them as the sun melted them into that autumn watercolour which we merged into on that evening when the sun was setting earlier and earlier each day in that autumn when the pine trees dropped their cones before us as we walked slowly towards them on our own in silence for we had nothing to say on that day as we headed for the cones for nature spoke for us.

I was lying on my back gazing into the sky.

The trees passed us that we had so often hid in when we were smaller and worryless as we were then as we approached the cones alone with no soul in sight in the serenity with only the clicking of his crutches as they flattened the grass which swept across the hill and dived up into the trees made golden by the days and season which made them drop their leaves for the snow to take their place and turn the picture into a winter wonderland but that was yet to come as we made our way towards the pine trees.

I was lying on my back gazing into the sky.

The sky was burning as we approached the cones for our childish five-years-old game that came the same each year as the trees dropped the cones for us to play that day under the sky while I gathered my ammo in my arms and started as he did without his crutches but hopping on one foot with the cones in his hands as we hurled them at each other missing comically and peacefully until we tired.

I was lying on my back gazing into the sky.

We hurled them at each other missing comically and peacefully until we tired which we did on that serene autumn evening with not a soul in sight as he and I had walked out on that evening from the hustle and bustle of the classrooms now empty as we sat down found nothing to say but watch the golden leaves and then collapsed on our backs and thought thoughts to ourselves silently and I thought of nothing for nothing needed to be thought of and so I found that.

I was lying on my back gazing into the sky on that perfect autumnal water-colour evening.

George Williams {5d) He woke covered in insects and surrounded by rat-like creatures. They eyed him up suspiciously, but ran off into the undergrowth as soon as he moved toward them. They had nasty, spiteful eyes. He didn't like them at all. He rolled over and stared at the sky. It was just as blue as it had been the day before. It would probably be the same blue tomorrow, he thought. He turned away, unable to face it. He winced as he tried to stand. It must be more serious than he had thought. He stared at the wound in his ribs. At least the bleeding had slowed down. He tried to stand again, and failed. He resorted to crawling, going round in a big circle, mumbling apologies to no one in particular. No one in particular responded to his ramblings, and so he crawled on.

He realised that he had gone round the same tree stump several times now, but decided that he would carry on until he had a better idea, or died. Whichever came first. At least he still remembered. Then again, that was not necessarily so good. Now, he had destroyed an¡y thing that had ever meant something to him. He closed his eyes, momentarily thinking back, trying to understand it all. He gave up. His efforts to rationalise it seemed inadequate, somehow irrelevant. It was over now, and he could not change it, regardless of how hard he thought or how much he wanted. It was over now, and he could not face it, not any more.

He decided that the hardest thing to accept had to be endings. He had always been able to accept change with an open mind, even if not always with open arms. No, endings were usually worse than change. He had in fact masterminded several fairly dramatic changes himself. Now he came to think of it, changing things was one of his specialities. But now it was all at an end, an end from which there would be no miraculous escapes or resurrections. He would die if they did not catch him and give him the medical help the wound in his chest required, and he would die if they found him.

'You could have stopped all this at the beginning. You knew the consequences.' This was new- voices in his head. He wondered whether this was a conscience of some sort, or if he had begun to go mad. He even THE CANTUARIAN, L ENT & SUMMER

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wondered, briefly, if there really was someone hiding behind the tree stump, against which he was now resting. He decided to go along with whatever it was - at least it was company, and he needed something to keep his mind off the pain in his chest.

'How could I? How could I know that all this would happen, that all these people had to die, that it would all amount to nothing in the end?'

'Because of how it all (Megan Morris) started. It was obvious to even the most illiterate and untalented political hack what was going to happen. It must have been even more obvious to you, the originator of all of it.

You masterminded the whole thing, therefore you had to know. You can't blindly lead people without at least a murky Idea where it is all leading. Therefore, you were either an evil, amoral dictator with no regard for anyone or anything and to whom nothing was sacred, or you were an incompetent, a puppet for the real players - a weak-willed nothing with no real import or power. And we both know that of the many things you could be described as, weak-willed and incompetent are not amongst them.'

He looked about, and was still completely alone. A solitary rat looked accusingly at him. 'Not you as well,' he thought. The rat shot him a final accusing glance and ran away.

All those years, and what had he achieved? Nothing. When everything he had done was looked at in comparison to the massiveness of everything, it amounted to nothing. He had all the trappings of power, all the appearance of being in control, in charge. He had every right to be happy. In fact, it was almost an insult to those less fortunate who remained cheerful that he had never, not even once, been more than satisfied with it all. He envied others, other people who were unimportant, irrelevant and insignificant - they didn't matter, so their actions were totally inconsequential. If they screwed up, if they were wrong, no one cared. Everything he did was scrutinised, examined, checked for the least sign of weakness. He had needed to appear strong, convinced and sure even when his facts were inaccurate, his advice misgui<;led and his superiors unhelpful.

No one could deny that it had been hard for him, but even so - nothing could justify what he had done. He had surpassed previous evil, and ascended to new levels of hypocrisy and lies. He had betrayed their trust her trust - and now he had to atone for the guilt with his own unceasing pain, pain which had lasted for years no.w, pain which would soon be over.

He lay back, almost welcoming the numbing blankness that death would eventually provide, blankness which would end years of torment, tortured by dreams where he lived through it all again every time he closed his eyes, constantly taunted by the continual waking nightmare.

'Not yet. Forgiveness isn't just a matter of feeling guilty, saying sorry and then everlasting bliss. You're going to have to work for this.'

'All those years! You think that was easy? I faced it by facing it. I had to go back, had to finish it. Isn't that enough for you? Any more and I wouldn't have made it this far.'

'Oh, I'm not denying it was hard, just that it's not over yet.'

'There's more? More pain, more suffering?'

There followed a pause. Silence. He had never heard real silence before. Then once again he could hear his own slow, laborious heartbeat and his wheezing, painful breathing. Soon they would stop too.

'So. Had time to think it over?' ' Think what over? I don't remember you making a business proposal.' ' Now is no time for sarcasm - we haven't got long.'

'Well, whatever it is you want me to do~ I can't. I've got nothing left, no energy. It's all gone.'

'Don't give up on me yet. We were so nearly there. If you give up now, all that effort, all that agony will mean nothing, will have been for nothing.' ' No, if I've already gone through that much for so long, I want it to mean something, to be worth something.' ' Of course, you realise no one will ever know about this. You will be forever remembered as the most evil man in the memory of this civilisation. And as civilisations go, this one has a long memory.' .'Posterity? Don't talk to me about posterity. History is meaningless _:: we invented all that. People will remember what the next me wants them to.'

'So we're .agreed then. You, me and Henry Ford- "History is bunk". You're in good company.'

'I thought you said this was no time for sarcasm. If redemption is going to be long and arduous, I want to get it over with.'

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'Redemption? Redemption is not a process to be hurried. If you are ready, and when you are ready, then you will have finished. You can't just choose a convenient moment.'

'So explain to me- what is redemption? How would one go about it after a lifetime of wrong?'

'In a way, this is. Talking about it, going over it, returning to the scenes of the crimes. Taking responsibility for your actions comes into it in a big way. Blaming other people for what was obviously your free choice will get you nowhere.'

'So how close are we? Can I die in peace or have I got to put up with you in my head for longer?'

'Charming. Redemption isn't just a matter of talking to me for a bit and then a happy handshake and a certificate and a "thank you very much". It's soul searching, pain, it's ... ' 'Yeah, yeah. We had the pain and torment bit before.'

'Yes, but you don't seem to fully understand its relevance to our present situation. You can't just accept that there will be pain. You have to stand up to that pain, take it into yourself and come out the other side stronger for the experience. You will always carry some of that pain inside you, but that's good. It serves as a reminder, a sort of prevention. You remember when you were young and stole biscuits from the kitchen when your mother wasn't looking? This is the same thing - if you just went out and stole more as soon as your mother had forgiven you for stealing the last lot, it would .nullify any worthwhile attempts at redemption. It has to mean something.'

'You know as well as I do that I'm hardly likely to rush out and repeat the process.'

'Which is good. If all this was to be in vain I would be severely upset. We would have come so close to making something of your life. Anyway, in your present physical condition you're not going anywhere.'

'Thanks for the timely reminder. Have I mentioned to you yet how much this actually hurts? You don't come free with painkillers do you?'

'Don't be ludicrous. I'm not some sort of free gift. I represent all that civilisation has come to mean. That's C-1-V-1-L-1- ••. ' 'I know what you mean.'

'Sorry, cheap gag.'

'So what are you then? Some sort of arcane good manners brigade? A representative from my family, come to cheer my final hours?'

'Your family? I hope you think more highly of me than that.'

'Well, you are starting to get a little condescending.'

'That is the last great challenge of your life. The great unsolvable - who am I? The big one, the 64,000 dollar question, the •.• Sorry, I'm getting a bit carried away. Always was my ambition to tread the boards. I would have made a great Hamlet, don't you think?'

'Yes, but aren't we getting away from the point a little? What are you? My mother?'

'We already discounted family.'

'My best friend from primary school? A long lost brother? Marilyn Monroe?'

'Don't be silly. You know who I am. You just need a little time to think. You'll get it in the end.'

'Yes, that sounds reasonable. I'll get back to you later, when I've had some ideas.'

Another pause in the conversation. More silence.

Last love, stupid question

Lawrence White (Shell b)

Oh I thought I heard you crying out, In words unspoken.

Your aqueous eyes proclaimed a silent shout, Their crystal shimmering triggers my emotion.

I seemed to see a smile My pride perhaps, before the fall.

Your quiet beauty is part of the trial And what I saw was nothing at all Nothing at all.

Stupid to hope you wouldn't say 'Never'.

Oh sorry, am I boring you?

I thought maybe you'd 'Love me for ever'.

Too close to romance to be true.-Well I'm wrong, it was probably nothing, A trick of the light, I - I'll be leaving now.

If only I could make these words sing.

Why do we just plan for Here and Now? THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

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Whispering Jim - Chapter I

Lawrence White (Shell b)

BELFAST 1985 There was a quiet acceptance in (Megan Morris) those eyes which spoke of calm and inevitability, and there were a few grey hairs nestling amongst the brown ones which spoke of stress.

Harry shifted slightly, releasing the slow ache which had slowly crept up on him. He re-sighted the binoculars on the dirty windows of the whitewashed home he had been watching for five hours. There were stains on the walls and paint splashes on the broken fence, and a forlorn apple tree seemed to bend slightly under the apprehensive atmosphere of the dirty back street.

In the window Harry could see a table, with a few items of cutlery in a heap. Slowly moving into his doublering-shaped field of vision was a young man. His crop of black hair bobbed slightly as he walked slowly round the table and disappeared. He returned carrying an orange, which he proceeded to peel with battered fingernails, smiling slightly all the time.

Liam sat in the moulting armchair flicking through the channels listlessly. The paint was beginning to peel off the walls and he had to slap the TV every five minutes or so to stop the background static noise which slowly built up. His clothes seemed to be plastered to his body, with dirt forming a sort of second skin. He smiled at his daughter as she scurried through the room and spent an amusing minute trying to turn the TV off with his big toe.

Slightly out of range, he moved closer and managed to jab the button. The newsreader's smile seemed to freeze as the screen dwindled into a small pinpoint of light, to be replaced with a black void.

Harry watched the figure peeling at the orange, then zoomed in on the face. Comparing it to a sketch beside him, he frowned and took the binoculars away, as if that would improve his vision. He picked up the radio and muttered.

'I can't be sure. Recommend we postpone.'

'There'll never be another time. Do it.'

'Negative, HQ. I don't know if it's him.'

'Do it, Harry.'

'I can't, I ... ' The voice on the other end cut him off: 'Harry. Kill that man or we'll court-martial you. Fancy a life in jail?'

'Affirmative. You take the shit if I'm wrong.'

'No Harry, you do.'

Harry swore and threw the radio to one side. It clattered across the floorboards of the second-storey room, coming to rest among a pile of Harry's clothes. He had divested himself of his army jacket and boots, and he felt the cold tugging at his limbs. Bringing the rifle up from beside him, he sighted down the scope.

He saw his target creep into the centre of the cro~shairs, and judged the range. He studied the 7mm Remington Mag bullet which would shortly tear into that man's skull. The man was either an IRA bomber responsible for five deaths, or he was an innocent civilian eating his orange.

He jammed the bullet into his Model PM single shot rifle. He sighted once more down the Schnidt and Bender PM 12 x 42 telescopic sight. The wind was blowing at ten miles an.hour at an angle of 45 degrees, his instruments told him. At 900 yards, the deflection would be four feet and a quarter of an inch. The bullet would take two seconds to reach the man, to make him drop his orange as his head came apart.

Harry squeezed the trigger.

Liam got up from his chair and walked towards the stairs.

A bullet, spinning in the afternoon sun. Elegant, malicious.

Liam walked up the creaking stairs. He opened the door. A figure lay sprawled on the floor. Blood lay across the unstable old oak table. He noted, as he stood in shock, a half-eaten orange clutched in the fingers THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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of his cousin. Shaking violently, Liam slipped to the floor. Before he could stop himself he I~t out a scream, and deep. He heard the patter of his daughter's footsteps on the stairs. He heard, beating slower than Iong ¡ of h"Is Wile "4-' ' her quick steps, the staccato tapping s h"Igh h eels.

THREE WEEKS LATER . . . . .

Har ry could still hear the voices of the people he knew, speaking at the same time In his head as If trying to be heard above the roar of the London traffic.

His boss at the Headquarters in Belfast: 'Harry, kill that man.'

The Army Judge: 'You will be dishonourably discharged following the murder of an innocent civilian whilst on duty.'

His girlfriend: 'Never again, Harry. We're over. You'll never see me again.'

He remembered the newspaper headlines, the photographs, until heads turned in restaurants at the sight of the man who killed a civilian.

'Never again, Harry.'

BELFAST 1990 'So you're decided. We can't stop you?'

'No. They killed him; he was innocent. We've never had anything to do with the IRA. Bastards. But now, now they pay. When that bomb blows up those English people I shall phone the newspapers and tell them who I am and why I've done what I did.'

Liam's daughter came into the room, smiling innocently.

'Are you going away, Daddy?'

'Yes, precious. I'll be back soon, don't you worry. Keep your mother occupied and perhaps I'll bring you something, from England.'

Liam walked over to the boat and resisted the urge to look back. Never look back, they say. Life goes on.

Liam's family turned and began to wander back down the street, his wife crying softly with his daughter.

Liam pictured the face of the man in the papers, strangely distant and unfamiliar. Trooper Harry something or other. .

Like a browser in a library he discarded that thought and selected another. He had no plans, no contacts.

Just a bomb in his bag and head full of hate.

LONDON 1991 Harry stirred from his bench and sat up, rubb.ing his eyes ~nd then grimacing at the world. His fall had been swift and crushing.

Everyone knew his face, no one was listening to excuses. He shuffled over to the bird table in the far corner of the small park by the pub and took a sip of the stagnant water. He. gaz.ed at the sparkling, inviting fa~ade of the pub and sea~ched I!-1- his pockets again. He began to wander aimlessly towards It, hoping to beg for a pint.

Harry was just beginning to reach the door when the ~ub exploded. There was a blinding, yellow flash and a flat, crackling sound as the glass shattered and flew outwards in pieces.

The building blazed furiously and people who had been sitting ~n the garden ran screaming, several with pieces of glass embedd~d In them. A figure ran from the building, arms flailing. It looked hk.e a child of about five but it was hard to tell as the figure was burning all over. It fell to the floor and rolled over and over, scorching the grass before lying still. Liam drove furiously away from the sce~e, smiling grimly as he jammed the wheel hard around, swerving (Peter Prince) down a side lane.

He was heading for a safe house he knew in Sussex, and there he would rest. A voice inside him spoke the words his wife had been saying. ' Come home, Liam. Stop it now. You've tasted revenge, now come home.'

Liam stopped the car and got out. Pausing to light a ~igarette he Iook~d o?t over the deserted. alleys. It began to rain, slowly, picking up pace gradually. By the time he was back-In his car there was a thick storm of rain all about Liam, which he rather enjoyed.

The fire had spread to the garden, turning the benches into shelters of black bone. The flames danced round the windows, as if trying to dodge the steady pouring of the firehose. The ambulance people were tending to the wounded, but no one knew quite what to do with the charred corpse of the child. Perhaps 177

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someone would claim it if they left it there, some parent would have to accept that the solitary pile of ashes was their son or daughter.

Harry lay where he had been blasted, until a paramedic turned him gently over. His face was red and black blotches of burned skin contrasting vividly with the ash that was collecting on him. He struggled free of th~ medic and ran towards the pub.

'Stop, we've got them all out!'

The fireman started to sprint towards him, but Harry was already inside and running up the blazing stairs to the room where he had seen the face at the window. He burst in and found a small boy jumping up and down at the window of the bedroom. The curtains were lying on the floor, forming a mattress of flame which the boy could not cross. Harry jumped through it, swept up the boy and leapt out the window, cradling the little boy in his arms. There was a sickening crunch as he hit the ground. The boy ran over to his mother immediately, leaping into her grateful arms. Harry lay ominously still.

Blinding light, and stabbing pains all over his body. Harry opened one eye cautiously, then the other. The hospital bed smelled of antiseptic, and the sheets were crisp. He looked down the length of his body. His legs were both up in splints, and there were bandages on all of his body bar his vision slits, nose and mouth. He tried to move, but couldn't. He tried to speak, but only a whisper came out.

'Oh, you're awake. I'm Nurse Jones. How are you feeling?'

Harry looked at her. She was unattractive but he smiled at her smile, and tried to tell her that he felt really bad.

'Rrrr st.' It was a low mutter.

'Sorry, I can't hear you.'

'Rrrry St. St. St. Shht.'

'I'm sorry, but I don't think you'll ever speak properly again, Jim. Oh, we couldn't find any ID on you and no one seems to know you, so we'll call you Jim.' 'Jm. Jm.' 'Yes, Jim. Do you like it?'

'S ... sss.'

'Good. The doctor will be along to tell you about your condition.'

FIVE YEARS LATER Skimming his hands along the two rubber wheels of his Jim propelled wheelchair, himself along the road towards home. He smiled at Mrs Glover coming the other way down the pavement.

'Afternoon, Jim. It's a fine day, don't you think?'

'Ss.' 'We're going down to the woods to walk Sandy. Want to come?'

'Ss. Gddd. Sss.' 'OK, see you there. Bye.' 'Yyye.'

Jim thought of the little child who had run out of the burning building, and how it had changed his or her life, and of how the fire had turned him from Harry the Killer to Whispering Jim the Hero. Life had never been fair, but Jim still saw visions of that black little corpse that no one would touch.

'Never again, Harry.'

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

(Greg Williams)

178

FROM THE KING'S

WEEK ART EXHIBITION George Williams

Malcolm Todd

Charlotte Prince

Dan Coutts

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REPORTS AND REVIEWS missionary hymn, Saviour, sprinkle many nations, composed especially .to ~ommemorate t~is year's great celebrations of the miSSIOn of St Augustme 1400 years ago, stood up very well to the august company which it had its place in the programme. Perhaps we may have a chance to hear it again later in this anniversary year.

After the interval came the Five Negro Spirituals, which Michael Tippett inserted at intervals during his much acclaimed oratorio A Child of Our Time, these being sung with full orchestra~ accompaniment on th~s occasion. No greater contrast m both words and mus1c can be imagined than between these poignant songs of an enslaved people (sung with great feeling by the whole body of voices) and the Elgar Ode for the Coronation of Edward VIII which was the piece de resistance of the evening, bringing into play not only the choirs and orchestra but also four soloists. Today, nearly a century after its first performance, the fervent patriotism of A.C. Benson's libretto and the characteristic 'nobility' of Elgar's setting of the words may cause this to seem just a 'period piece' but it i~ a product of the maturing genius of a great Enghsh composer who was to produce the masterpieces ?f oratorio, The Dream of Gerontius and The Apostles m the next few years. Certainly choirs and orchestra threw themselves into the performance with gusto. The Ode began with a grand chorus Crown the King in which the soloists, Kerrie Sheppard (soprano) and Hilary Summers (contralto) made their first appearance, followed in due course by Stephen Rooke (tenor) and Mark Wildm~n (bass). I.n the. fol!r following numbers, Elgar skilfully uses h1s solmsts m different combinations culminating in a quartet for all four soloists and chorus, and then in the penultimate, a number for unaccompanied quartet and chorus. The composer reserved his full. forces for the grand finale which turns out to be the first appearance of the most famous of all Elgar's compositions, Land of hope and glory!

Elgar had a special affection for the contralto, so Hilary Summers had the privilege of leading. the whole .body of musicians in a glonous rendenng of the 'National Song', to quote the concert programine. Mr Colin Metters and the forces under his command received a great ovation from the large audience in the Nave and so ended a most interesting and unusual concert.

MUSIC GRAND CHORAL CONCERT 11TH MAY 1997, IN THE CATHEDRAL

The programme for this year's concert in the Cathedral which has now become a great feature of the Musical Year at King's saw the tradi~ional ass~m~ly of choirs from senior schools of the city and distnct to augment the School's own Choral Society and Chapel Choir.

This year the programme opened and closed with the full resources of choirs and the school orchestra conducted by Colin Metters in music which has close associations with the coronation of English monarchs over the last hundred years. I was glad, perhaps Parry's best known piece of ceremonial for the church, made a splendid start to the c.oncert, a fe~ture of which was English music of different penods.

Though Parry's anthem has found a .pl~ce i!l the repertoire of every Engli~h cathe~ral chmr smce It ~~s first sung at the coronatiOn of Kmg Edward VII, It IS not often heard with the full resources of a symphony orchestra, as well as a large chorus, so the audience ~n the Cathedral at this year's concert listened t.o this noble anthem under ideal conditions. Later m the evening another anthein with Coronation associations was sung to conclude the first part of the programme - Gibbons' masterpiece in eight parts, 0 clap your hands, which was sung as a Homage anthem at the coronation of King George VI. I happene~ to be sitting just under the splendid bust of this great English composer on the north wall of the Nave. and found myself hoping that in a better world than this ~e was aware of the fact that this, and many other of his compositions for the church of his day, still appear .on the music lists of Canterbury and every other Enghsh cathedral.

The Civil War of the mid-seventeenth century effectively closed down both the cathedra~s and churches of Anglicanism until the restoratiOn of Charles II, when another great composer for church and court appeared in the person of Henry Purcell. It was a delightful contrast to the major works performed during the evening to include one of the best and most attractive of his verse anthems, My beloved spake, which was sung by the Chapel Choir with string accompaniment and continuo. The chorus plays a small part, as in most of the composer's verse anthems, but by doubling the voices - alto, tenor and bass parts - a good balance was obtained. Very necessary CANON D. INGRAM 0 HILL. ?~< / / in a building the size and height of the Cathedral ;/ Nave. ,) I' ,'}'f~( Gibbons and Purcell were followed by S.J.R. //,)\:'J (Megan Morris) Matthews one of the school music staff, whose carols /,t~.:::,/¡' have bee~ heard at the end of term services in i December in past years. Mr Matthews has a ~ift ~or fj~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=:=:: writing anthems and carols for competent chmrs l~ke the Chapel Choir and his setting of the words of a fme

{fl:.¡-1.'/ '

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CERT

The Chapel Choir itself seems to be im~roving every time it is heard in dunng the 4TH MARCH 1997 IN STJOHN'S, middle chorus the German sch was perhaps too SMITH SQUARE evident, the final chorus was superb: crisp, clear and This was an evening to remember: on our return to sung with restrained feeling.

There are two caveats in this paean of praise. First, prestigious venue, the School's musicians excelled why could there not have been another choral piece? themselves. Not only V;'as t~e Symphony Orche~tra Second, why could not the text and a translation have characteristically exhllaratmg, but the Stnng been printed in the programme? These are counsels of Ensemble, newly formed this year, sh?wed ~reat depth expression and the Chapel Chou achieved new perfection: what was heard was not far off heights. And the organisation. required to. e~able oneperfection. ,,ixth of the school's pupils to participate was ~\..\ That wonderful trademark - Colin ~~emplary. After every c<?ncert it is. doubted whether IlK\.~ Metters' introduction - which never ,(\~~· fails to excite (onto podium, a stand~rd can ~gam be attamed; and yet the ~.)ilt acknowledge-applause-swingstandard contmues to nse.

Elgar's Serenade for Strings (Opus 20) is perhaps If!\.~ round-and-straight-in) heralded a ~Q second half that was full of best known of his early work. It has ~II the characterist.ics: lifting. lyricism, Wistful ~ exciting music with contrasting moods. To mention individual romanticism, melodiOus evocatiOn of the Malvern players is invidious, but Camilla Richard Stamper, in his second term as of Strings, had chosen an ambitious piece e.; ~ Pay once again showed what an --~ amazing harpist she is. The Overture the first concert of the String Ensemble. And,

CON

conc~rt. ~!though

fi~~~ F~~:~bli~ ~~~ef~~~f~{~~~alin!~~a,~~~i~~

(~ r:a't:::~:a:;~e!:~i~f th~ystr?r!~~~~

... rendition. It ~as ensemble work of the high~st ~ the opening; led for the fust time m order: this surely presages a renaissance m stnng ~t)A. concert by a pupil, Aleid ~?rd, they ~0 responded magnificently. Ir:Itrally the playing.

Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (Actus fJ-.. timpani seemed rather too obvw.us; as the ~\ ~ evening progressed Ivo Neam~ adjusted and tragicus; BWV 106) by J.S. ~~ch is & ~ ~v showed his command. The work IS one of thos.e similarly a well-known and ambitiOus choice: it is also a well-known early ~ which everyone reco&nises but few could name; It Written for his uncle's requires and received not only exuberance, it contrasts the apparent energy and vitality but also close control stark reality of d~ath with the ~h of tempo.

Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleepin_g joyful proclamatiOn of the Gospel teaching. It is. an Beauty is regarded as one of h1s intimate piece, an~ re.qm~es ~ ~ masterpieces. It is full of proper musiciar:ship In . Its i!) melody, changes of mood and ~ exciting codas. ~er~ . was execution. That It was bemg ..0 opportunity for Ir:divi?~al by a large choir might, in sensitive hands than ' sections to show their ability, Stefan Anderson's, have ~ and well they took it. The ?estroyed the personal feel of ~f.. audience could not but warm to It. ~ this performance: wonderful 'I'he work makes great (Megan Morris) music wonderfully played. demands upon the accompanists. ~~ h · h ~- 0 Glazunov's symp omc poem Stevens and Polly Redman, t e lrAA "'¥ Stenka Razin requires a different skill n.~c·o,,..~"~{.,"',... players, were a little uncertain I"' . .

0 of the orchestra. There has to be a sense tuning in the opening passage, but d of brooding and understated malevo1ence an composure was complete once the vocal . of a fairy story where the main characters d.o not had entered. Alison McGilleray and Caroline on the viola da gamba showed true live happily ever after. This del?ands D?-~tunty of feeling·, Jennifer Dutton on the cel_lo and interpretation as well as mustcal abthty. That Tilnothy Noon, the newly appomt.ed Colin Metters evoked this from the Syhmphony h Orchestra says much for everyone on t e stage.

School Organist, were bot ce~am There was a very real sense of ensemble: the and appropriately undemonstrative D'Artagnan approach (all for one.and one for all, in continuo. with a certain elan) triumphed agam. . pupils to be able to ,take th~ solo parts shows a depth of talent m This review is complimentary because nothmg the school. William Tallon and James less would do the evening justice. It is not !O Longstaffe (the basses), ~ichard suggest that perfection has been reached: doubtl~ss m Collins (the tenor), Andrew Ribbans (the the next concert another step towards that will be countertenor) Emma Lewis (the soprano) all showed a taken. comma~d of the range required, and pleasing .A. T. 1 with feeling for the texts.

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anything, then for me it is about expressing smnething of yourself through a spontaneous musical gesture.

This is certainly what The Four demonstrated.

Neame, deftly swapping drums for piano, accompanied well and soloed very competently showing that the music was not just learnt but internalised. Steve Bushnell searched the chord changes for wise riffs and also tried some Arturo Sandoval-type stratospherics. Jon Cox walked the bass like he was born to and Tom Morey kept everything just where it was meant to be. It was an innovative part of the programme and complemented the trad band very well. Occasionally I felt that the band hadn't quite grasped the feel of the piece, like the double time middle section of A Night In Tunisia, but maybe I was just getting picky!

The Big Band, as if not wanting to be outdone, bounded back for a sweet rendition of Satin Doll to whisk us to the interval. Solos once again well played

by Annabel on sax and James at the old Joanna.

The second half began with Shufflin' the Blues Away and at once I was in some 70s cop movie. The saxes were in danger of being drowned by the sheer funk of the rest of the band, particularly the drums, but we just about made it through after a choice guitar solo from James Barker cooled the band down. Phew!

Ivo Neame now surprised us all with his own version of Someday My Prince Will Come for complete big band. It was a cracking piece developing to a tutti section that had the band clinging on for dear life. The energy was tremendous - Ivo, unforgiving on drums, almost beating them out of the hall and down Palace Street. It is no small task to arrange for big band and although some of the voicing was in need of refinement it was a fine beginning. I feel that a glance at the work of Gil Evans would benefit.

So with a loosening of the collar or cummerbund as the case may be, four gentlemen ('The Four More', presumably) glided on stage ready to woo the audience with D.J.s and velvet vocals. And woo they did. So much so, it seems that Delia Williams just could not resist it and sauntered on stage herself to join in. Wonderful.

Occasional hiccups and slightly confused finger clicks never spoilt the harmony of the group, providing a wonderful cameo to the rest of the evening. Slow Motion Time was delightful, with Adam Brown reaching notes that surely a blue whale would be proud of. My favourite though was Toot, Toot, Tootsie! with neat work from Richard Collins, Simon Peel and Tallon. All I can say is, 'Mmmmmm!'

So to The Four once more. Minor Blues was their entree with Stephen sounding very late night with a harmon mute helping to add a Miles Davis touch to the evening. The beauty of Davis's playing is his restrained phrases allowing a little to say a lot, and Mr Bushnell had clearly done his homework. He continued in the same style, but muteless, for Funny Valentine and was well accompanied by Jon and Tom who added a sparse backing, giving the space needed for such a mournful tune. This was a band with attitude, even instructing the audience when to clap. The sheer cheek of it!

St Thomas, that infectious Sonny Rollins tune, finished off their set - with another Neame by the

A CHARITY JAZZ AND BIG BAND CONCERT IN THE SHIRLEY HALL 8TH MARCH 1997 KINGS OF SWING Proud parents and cheerful students filled the Shirley Hall for the concert that brings out the red trousers and outrageous ties. An expectant hubbub finally subsided and after an excited introduction the King's School Big Band filed onto the stage. To hearty applause, bandleaders Annabel Whibley and Steve Bushnell led the way - dressed in a scintillating dress and a white tuxedo with black trousers (Annabel in the dress). If you thought that they were elegant, wait until you heard the band.

It was finger clicking stuff as the musicians struck up with that old Gershwin classic, But Not For Me. The trumpets blew out the tune like it was a paper bag and were matched by the warm sound of saxophones and trombones. The rhythm section was beginning to swing and I could feel the audience relax into the evening. Annabel was first to solo, negotiating the chords with aplomb followed by the ebullient Larry Ridges looking every inch a jazz man.

Cute by Neal Hefti was next for the cooking pot and it was during this tune that I thought the band loosened up a little, paying more attention to dynamics that are often forgotten in big bands, and generally starting to enjoy themselves. The ending was right 'on the nose', and it was rewarded by an already exuberant audience clapping with all their might.

The Traditional Band is one of the satellite bands that King's students run and next we heard three tunes arranged by Harry Gold. For those who don't know, Harry Gold is one of those incredible institutions of the English Trad Scene. A band I was playing with supported him three years ago at Cork Festival and at well over eighty years old he was still going strong. I couldn't help thinking how proud he would be to hear such youthful musicians playing his arrangements with such panache.

The danger with trad music, I feel, is to treat it like a museum piece rather than a living, breathing art form, and although I occasionally thought it needed to let go a bit the sound was great. Annabel's tone was big and she held our interest along with Rachel Barr on the clarinet and Stephen Bushnell on the trumpet. Again the rhythm section of James Longstaffe, Mark Wharton and Ivo Neame was solid and the banjo added that distinctive Dixie sound. Well done too to Richard Peat playing the trombone and a thousand thank you's for not playing too many of those raspberry noises that trad trombone is renowned for.

After some jokes from 'The Intruder' which, although delivered well, seriously threatened the success of the evening, we gladly moved on to the modern group, or, The Four as they are called. John Cleese might as well have appeared and said, 'And now for something completely different,' for this was something else. Gone were the music stands and on were the hats. They began with one of their own compositions and firmly established a more contemporary improvisational style. If jazz is about THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

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name of Olivia adding congas to the already steaming cauldron of sound. Such was the atmosphere no one have batted an eye if the musicians had jumped the stage and run around the Hall beating an agogo ... which is exactly what they did.

The musical baton was passed quickly to the Big for the last two tunes. The first was an elegant _.,v~"'' ..'"'.., of September In The Rain complete with the singers, Charles Rice and Delia J,UA•~L~L~, who must surely make future appearances the band. The last piece was Tequila and the band let rip. The trumpet sound was great and every -vv-·""''"1e::~n was giving their all. I think the technical term 'welly'. The final chord nearly blew the lights out the audience gave back as good as they got with applause. A swift encore and the band off for a swift ... orange juice?

For me perhaps the best thing about the concert is I never had that feeling that 1 was listening to a scratch band. I heard confidence and accomplishment that any musician would be proud of. heard the rough edges of musicians searching for own voice and with it the energy and vitality of Well done to all the band and of course to the rnru~nc.>r~· who help to make it possible. the words of Adam Brown: 'a storming PETER

Next on the programme was something entirely different: Hannah Mackenzie playing and singing her own compositions. Hannah showed originality in her own songs and we were treated to a performance which showed a superb rhythmic sense, a sublime mix of guitar and voice and a versatile voice range.

Nancy Colchester and Edward Cotton played Sonata in D minor by Boismortier (cellos), showing nice contrast with each other's playing.

Clair de Lune by Debussy was next, played by Julia Wharfe. A very popular piece is always hard to pull off because it's so well known; but Julia certainly did this, showing an immense maturity to her playing, despite a few slip-ups.

The next item was Nocturne by Glinka for harp.

Camilla Pay was astounding and this performance certainly brought a tear to my eye. Camilla is a true performer in every sense of the word.

Iona Coltart and Madeleine Morgan (violins) changed the tempo next with The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel. This was a difficult piece and they managed it well.

The orchestra brought the concert to a close with three numbers - Sleigh Ride, Trumpet Tune and the Allegro from Symphony No. 104 (London) by Haydn.

The intonation could have been a little more precise but what we heard was a confident orchestra with a rich, full sound which brought a very successful concert to a superb end. Well done, Marlowe!

CooK.

RACHEL BARR.

MARLOWE HOUSE CONCERT 1ST FEBRUARY 1997 IN THE SHIRLEY HALL

MEISTER OMERS AND LUXMOORE CONCERT

Marlowe House concert began with an ambitious and yet successful performance of Handel's from the Occasional Oratorio, melodies from and Pleyel's Allegro from Sonatina No. II,

9TH FEBRUARY 1997, IN THE SHIRLEY HALL This concert celebrating Meister Omers' sixtieth anniversary, was accompanied by a health warning from the Housemaster, referring to lack of rehearsals due to illness, and Luxmoore reinforced this with the absence of their Housemistress. She was ill. The huge variety of the programme must therefore be praised for the very fact that it took place at all - and not many Houses can boast of three world premieres performed in one concert.

The evening commenced with one of these, a fanfare by Stephen Matthews, which enabled three trumpets and two trombones to give a demonstration of the effect that co-ordinated changes in dynamic can produce. Initial nervousness quickly gave way to enthusiasm and a crisp finish to what was an ideal opening piece. The transition to The Renaissance Suite was impressively quick, and Richard Peat's change to recorder made use of the excellent balance of instrumentation to produce a tone which came floating through the texture. The tightness with which the strings had been playing was momentarily lost in the Tourdion movement, but was quickly regained for the Finale.

In the specially commissioned and aptly titled Em, 0 Concelebrantes, the words of Mr Paul Pollak were put to the music of Richard Peat, by now a regular composer of King's repertoire. For this work he must

was smoothly followed by Leonora Dawsonsinging Smoke Gets in your Eyes. Leonora her voice off well with great expression, "''r'-"'"''"'"~--. at times some words were inaudible. in a Classic Style by Grandjancy was our next in the form of Cmnilla Pay (harp), Iona Co hart and Madeleine Morgan (violins), Nicola Murch and Edward Cotton (cello). These five showed amount of sensitivity in their playing, with and tuning spot on and the balance of sound each other exact Colchester came next with Novellette by (piano). Nancy showed an extremely PYrw"''"'"'= style to her playing. next piece was a Sonata by Daniel Purcell,

by Adam Brown and Emily Hague (recorders). playing was both calm and sustained and neither dominated this pretty piece. Alastair Lewis a concerto movement by Haydn on the oboe. displayed a superb tone, very sweet, and his notes were held on well with the tuning exact. was a very musical and sensitive performance and ~'--'"''"'"'"''--' of a piano accompaniment was a lovely contrast

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which Carl Margetts must take particular credit, and as a .group. the t?ge!herness produced an impressively cnsp fimsh. Cnsp Is a term that could also be attributed to the usual standards of choreography of M.O.'s entrance for their House Song, There are Bad Times just around the Corner. I am not sure whether these lyrics were chos~n deliberately to contrast with Em, 0 Concelebrantes, or whether the House was hedging its bets as to what the future might hold. It is, however, highly impressive to create such a dynamic range when using some sixty male voices: restraining them was a feat. Charles Rice was in particularly fine voice once more, indulging in a rubato solo.

The next two items, Tip Top and Metal Merchant, were certainly a change from the norm, and very well received. Like the House Song, they were conducted

by Richard Peat. There was effective sound management, seemingly handled with little trouble.

The sound produced above a firm rhythm was controlled and effective. The highly impressive, improvised solo by Andrew Ribbans would have been even better if projected over the stand, and highly versatile guitar riffs in both pieces prepared the audience for the skills of Piers Clough in the next piece, which he had composed himself. August through Winter showed an amazing technical ability: to be able to write, sing and play with such evident enjoyment made the performance remarkable in its demonstration of talent.

Edward Sixsmith, Carl Margetts, Philip Cridge, Athena Chenery in rehearsal. (M.J. T.)

be congratulated, the only criticism being that the pitching was slightly high for voices carrying with them the inevitable anxieties of holding a solo line.

However, Thomas Hopkinson grew increasingly confident in his handling, not only of the high range, but also of the intricately moving ornamentation. The bass lines provided a firm support for Tom, and Andrew Ribbans on counter-tenor and Charles Rice also produced a rich and powerfully mature tone when it came to a solo line. Having supported the harmonies of this piece on her cello, Caroline Ritchie swapped to the viola da gamba for a solo performance which displayed her versatility still further. The piece by Marais was technically challenging and demonstrated her skill as well as her musicianship.

The next item saw the return of Tom, taking up a violin to play Monti's Czardas, accompanied by AnneChristine Farstad. Tom managed to sustain the dynamic range, together with a rich and remarkably developed tone, throughout some fiendishly difficultsounding passages. The tempi were used by both players to indulge on the slower chords, with AnneChristine providing a firm and attentive base and succeeding in supporting rather than ever coming over the line of the violin. After this the mood was relaxed by four recorders (again featuring Caroline) playing Chacony by Purcell. The length of this piece means that there must be some sense of direction present, and there could have been more. Tuning is one of the great problems for recorder players, and sustaining the tone at the ends of phrases would have helped this.

However, by the time the tune began to be passed from part to part, a dynamic compromise seemed to have been effectively established.

Luxmoore showed their vocal strengths in the second half with a piece by Faure and a Negro spiritual which enabled Naomi Chamberlin to demonstrate a voice that is powerful enough for the numbers involved in the harmony, but sensitive enough to produce smooth and flowing phrases. In Newfoundland Folksong Cressida Trew gave a superb harmonic base, with Franki Langridge and Caroline Ritchie adding to the fine balance, and together they produced some very expressive phrasing and dynamics, whilst never compromising the tempo.

The saxophone group must also be commended for this. Their powerful sound was kept in strict time, for THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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Olivia Neame, Katie Loden. (M.J.T.)

The House Orchestra was to finish the evening with a selection from My Fair Lady. To produce such a number of musicians (including a strong woodwind section) with such an impressive volume, whilst being highly responsive to changes in dynamic, is something that not many Houses, even when combined, could achieve. The players were also very quick to respond to changes in tempi and to the different musical requirements of such a selection. Laura Perrin must be particularly noted for the oboe playing which came clearly through the texture. And this only leaves me further to congratulate Mr M.J. Miles for his conducting in this and many other pieces, as also for the enthusiasm necessary to produce an evening full of thoroughly enjoyable music of such high quality.

ADAM BROWN.

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IVIITCHINSON'S HOUSE CONCERT 2ND MARCH 1997, IN THE SHIRLEY HALL Any House concert requires enormous effort from and staff, but for a day house to put on a concert more than impressive in terms of the level of commitment shown, especially in the ensembles.

Mitchinson's Ensemble started the concert Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. Alex Lister conducted the group, controlling the sections verJ:' competently, leading them through the different tempi to a rousing finale.

Richard Collins took the stage to sing Haydn's .. ~~,~/'l"'"".ov in which he showed good sensitivity and technique. In La Conocchia by Labrauche he demonstrated a knowledge of Italian and the spirit we have come to expect from him.

26TH APRIL 1997, IN THE GRANGE LIBRARY The setting of the Grange Library put us in the mood for the various pieces performed in front of parents, friends and staff on Sunday 26th April in the afternoon.

The piano was the most popular instrument, with five pieces of varying difficulty. Schubert's Impromptus by Segun Lawson and Scherzo by ~ola Lawson were bravely attempted and both acqmtted themselves well of the technical intricacies of these works. Alex McDonald's waltz by Heller was performed with a great deal o~ sensitivity ~nd soul an,d left the audience mesmensed. Kanm1 Lawson s

Simon Cleobury and Jon Nicholson well together in Shostakovitch's Duet. Their volume and expression was outstanding in both the slow Praeludium and the faster Gavotte but better intonation and communication would have produced a more complete performance.

The Barbershop Trio sang two songs: Pastime with Good Company by Henry VIII To all you ladies now on land by Dr Both songs were very enjoyable, though the trio's slow, expressive performance of Pastime led to a few intonation problems.

Emma Lewis played the cello solo La from Saint-Saens's Carnival of the with exquisite technique and sensitivity. Two rather unusual pieces a love song and Mandolin Boogie

by Budd Orr (arranged for mandolin and mandolin banjo respectively). In both contrasting pieces Caroline Bagley showed her expressive use of dynamics and tempo

(Megan Morris)

Harpist and Olaotan Towry-Coker'~ Sona~a in D also required a certain degree of techmcal skill but both kept at it successfully.

Saint-Saens's sonata, the second piece, masterfully played on the clarinet by Dan Brookes, gave the concert a quality which was the target for the rest of the performers, although the alte~ation of piano ~nd wind instruments enabled the audtence to appreciate each piece separately without falling into the trap of comparing the participants. Pete Capel's Horn SonCfta

by Beethoven was movingly played; the accompa~ust, James Longstaffe, did not let himself lead the p1ece and helped Pete's excellent rendition.

Both saxophonists added their own feel to their choice. Larry Ridges' arrangement of Imagina~io~ by J amey Abesorld definitely had the Jazz Concert s 1e ne sais quoi, which makes it such a popular event, and Enzo Labrosciano's rendition of Eight days a week, by Lennon and McCartney, ended this informal concert on an energetic seventies rock 'n' roll note.

M.P.H.D.

House Choral Sextet sang two songs, Deep River (arranged by Brian Trant) and a madrigal by John Dowland. Both pieces were performed sensitively despite losing tempo a little bit and a lack of depth in the bass line. Perhaps Alex should have used his new found conducting After a slightly hesitant start, Hermione Race performed some ballet, a fluid performance which was weB-matched with the music. The string quartet then Bach's Air in D, in which, after a false start, all players showed good technique and expression. end the programme, the Mitchinson's Jazz group Water Melon Man by Herbie Hancock, ""'""'¡"-'"".lu;:;;. outstanding saxophone and piano solos. is surely a measure of King's musical ability that House can produce a concert not only with but with groups of up to fifteen players. thanks go to Mr Matthews for accompanying of the items.

WILLIAM TALLON.

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Walpole House on song. (M.l.T.)

THE HOUSE SONG COMPETITION

DRAMA

lOTH MARCH 1997, IN THE SHIRLEY HALL

APHRA BERN, THE ROVER THE GRANGE AND WALPOLE HOUSE PLAY IN ST MARY'S HALL, 1ST FEBRUARY, 1997

The House song competition was judged by the Lower Master, Dr Humberstone.

The programme was as follows:

Under the direction of Patrick Lee-Browne, Grange and Walpole took on the ambitious task of producing Aphra Behn's most successful play, written in 1677.

They decided to modernise it somewhat and set it in the 1930s; this was a useful practical step as it brought the action closer to the audience's mind and experience and it added to the tangibility of the humour.

The play is set in carnival time on the Mediterranean Riviera and Steve Bree's crafty stagework brought out the surreal nature of the place. Cotton columns, decorative arches and a gaudy house were made excellent use of and echoed the bizarre nature of the plot which is laced with sauciness and debauchery.

Behn's tale focuses on the antics of a group of young men 'on the pull'. Led by the eponymous rover, a boisterous English soldier named Willmore, played comically by Charlie Hunt, the band become entangled in a web of self-imposed sexual exploits. The aptlynamed Blunt (Larry Ridges) manages remarkably well, and beds up to hysterical effect with a naughty young kitchen wench (Emma Torry). Their bedroom scene is given the mystic touch as everything is turned vertical! Two other friends, Belville (Chris French) -

Broughton Mama Mia Tradescant The Bare Necessities School House Three Lions on the Shirt Linacre It Must Be Love The Grange South African National Anthem Luxmoore Hey, Jude Meister Omers Bad Times Marlowe Mrs Robinson Walpole Money, Money, Money Jervis Big Spender Mitchinson's Just Help Yourself Galpin's Der Erlkonig Harvey The Boxer The winners were Galpin's who gave a superb performance, in German, of one of Schubert's most famous songs. Meister Omers came second and Jervis was awarded third place.

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has a secret lover - and Frederick CJ?nz,o Labrosciano) complete the raucous rabble. Belville s 1 ·'-'r Florinda (Dorelia Adeane) has her own troubles ov,,., ' is to enter an arranged marriage to D~n Antonio as Hayes) who is her brother's best _fne~d ~Don played by Aliocha Delmotte_). Flonn~a s sister, (Zoe Nathan) is frustrated smce she Is about to a convent, and was played with a te~singly touch. The girls' governess, Callis, was ma.,::;!J•·•v~w.uo·~n·~d~erfully by Lotte Tydeman as a sweetly old woman knitting her way through the scenes. all the furore are Angelica Bianca, the famous courtesan, who was played most seductive~y · Williams, and her sidekick Moretta (Opheha Together they manipulate the one-track men, turn struggle over who shall win the he~rt. of - which they decide upon by ex~mmmg length (nice one ~lioc.ha!). Morahty and friendships are thrown out m this escapade .of selfinterest and thoughtless quests of passwn, as esn1onage on Sebastian's part (Olusegun Lawson) and co~tume buffoonery by the pages (Mike_ Ziegler, Henry and Tom Calvert) take a hold of the fated plot.

The play ends happily ever after when. Florinda. and Helena both marry their lovers. A classic play with a result - comedy in a nutshell.

MATTHEW

P. Z.

BERRY.

The Rover: Zoe Nathan, Charlie Hunt, Delia Williams (M.l.T.)

The Rover: Larry Ridges, Aliocha Delmotte, Chris French, Charlie Hunt. (M.l.T.)

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concerned with the question of what is natural and unnatural. As happens in Shakespearian love comedy, things are joyously turned upside down. At first, the survivors of the wreck cling to the accepted social rules, and Crichton the butler's bravery and courage are underplayed. In a fit of aristocratic pique, Crichton is unfairly dismissed.

J.M. BARRIE, THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON JERVIS AND SCHOOL HOUSE PLAY IN ST MARY'S HALL, 25TH AND 26TH JANUARY 1997 As we waited in St Mary's Hall for the curtain to rise on the 1997 Jervis and School House production, excitement mounted- as did the audience's curiosity, since some of us were not entirely sure what the evening had in store for us. Not that we had any anxiety about the quality of the play we were about to see, as it was stamped with the Victoria Browning hallmark of success, but more the subject matter. My own personal relationship with The Admirable Crichton did not extend much beyond a dim memory of watching the film version on a wet Saturday afternoon in about 1978. One of my neighbours in the audience was labouring under the delusion that we were about to see a desert island musical complete with singing palm-trees.

Although this production could not, in the end, come up with these, it did turn out to be a highly enjoyable evening's entertainment, boasting energetic and attractive performances, some hilarious and memorable one-liners, and two quite different, but equally impressive sets. All this and a delightful dash of star-crossed romance. What more could any reviewer ask for?

J.M. Barrie described his play as a fantasy, which is a fair description. The fantasy is however mingled with a healthy dose of social satire, although one is never allowed to outweigh the other. Victoria Browning and Alison Potts's impressive direction never put a foot wrong, and was carried out with the light touch and sophisticated humour the writing demanded.

Judicious casting helped a great deal. The Jervis Removes were particularly impressive, but all the actors seemed completely at ease with their roles, with no one appearing at all awkward or unconvincing.

The play opened with the stage decked out as an Edwardian drawing room, the well-chosen props and costumes hinting at luxurious opulence. Augusta Ogilvy, Adela Bottomley and Emily Smitham languidly draped themselves over the furniture in the manner of some Pre-Raphaelite nymphets, utterly exhausted by the burden of their sophistication. They all delivered their lines with a deliciously weary irony, but Emily Smitham deserves particular mention for her remarkably mature and good-humoured performance.

Her subsequent transformation on the desert island into a strapping Betjemanesque savage was a delight.

Matthew Berry played the part of the Earl of Loam, the well-meaning patriarch who energetically claims to despise all social and class distinctions. Unbeknown to him, the play gives him the chance to put his ideals to the test when his family (plus servants) are shipwrecked. This was a well-rounded, sympathetic and entertaining performance from one of the school's star players, and Mr Berry is to be commended for being so convincing in the role.

The shipwreck on the island and the subsequent reversal of social roles allow the play's central issue to come to the fore. Barrie, like Lord Loam, seems THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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Admirable Crichton. Aristide Muganda. (M.P.H.D.)

However, as Act 3 begins, it is clear that a metamorphosis has taken place. Lord Loam has proved his point by becoming the island handyman, vaguely flirting with Eliza, the 'Tweeny' back home but now his social equal. Kate Wratten was excellent as Tweeny, her performance managing to combine headstrong sarcasm and touching vulnerability.

Of course, the most obvious reversal of fortune is the admirable Crichton's. From being adored and patronised at the play's beginning, he is now adored and revered as the Guv'nor, assuming power with ease, and reminding me of a benign amalgam of Delia Smith, Grant Mitchell and Stalin. (Admittedly farfetched, but that's how it struck me!) Aristide Muganda gave the play's central performance as the eponymous Crichton, and he inhabited the role with a magisterial ease. Needless to say, Lady Mary and Crichton fall deeply in love, but their idyll is brought to an abrupt end when our castaways are rudely rescued by the Navy.

The final Act of the play was an exact mirror image of the first. Everything has firmly fallen back into place, and Crichton's benevolent dictatorship has been placed under wraps. The family's complicity in this cover-up is nearly blown apart by the appearance of the formidable and extremely nosey Countess of Brocklehurst, who tries to sniff out the truth with the tenacity of a tabloid journalist. Oriana Fox was superb 188

interchange between Rebecca Arnold and Sadie Chave (Diana and Evelyn respectively) set the tone for what was to follow. The subsequent introduction of the vibrant Lizzie Calder and the energetic James Stazicker added vigour to the script and the emotional characters.

A combination of inspired casting and the natural ability of the actors and actresses created the vital which gave a dialogue laden with and witty the healthy response it needed to the piece a success. A moment which stood out during an evening of entertainment was the uninhibited display of grief which Rebecca Arnold offered after her anecdote concerning her ambition to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police: it contradicted both the mood on stage and in the auditorium to create a hysteria that was almost tangible. It was indicative of the Admirable Crichton. Anna Shadbolt, Ivo Neame, Adela Bottomley, confidence of the actors and the relaxed Smitham, Matthew Berry, Aristide Muganda and others. (M.PH.D.) nature of the audience that when James Stazicker's replica cigarette disintegrated, his poise remained unruffled as ever while the crowd Lady Bracknell-esque role. I particularly showed their enjoyment at the technical slip. Perhaps '""'u¡"""''" her all-conquering delivery of the line 'I am a Simon Youngman and Sadie Chave were not done justice by the script, for it was their respective So at the end of the day, social norms ruled OK, and of ceaseless energy (squash rackets and contributions I sure that I was not the only member of the hat manoeuvres) and depression (absorption in a trashy audience to have found the play's final moments truly magazine) which formed a marriage that arguably toucmng. The cast made a fine ensemble, and there contributed most to the background of uneasiness so were many enjoyable performances and funny important in highlighting the insensitivity of Colin moments: William Tallon must be congratulated on his (James Longstaffe). pedantic, and strangely believable, Rev. James Longstaffe had been handed the unenviable and I enjoyed Yuka Mizota's brief role of Colin, the recently bereaved but effortlessly ""'~""'"'"""'"""' as Gladys the maid, scuttling on stage like tactless ex-friend of the other characters. He managed tortoise. to mould the part to create a loveable but unbearable backstage crew must also be congratulated for of the past. His long speeches were delivered recounter amazingly smooth scene changes, especially naturally and his ability to make the words his own the vast number of props they had to contend was admirable.

Lizzie Calder, who balked at Mrs Mrs Gillian Smith's costumes were a triumph, Wakeham's suggestion that the actors had been typeit was clear that a great deal of care and attention cast, was a great success in her portrayal of the been taken here. Steve Bree worked his usual irritating yet perpetually innocent relation that we are In short, I had been worried that last year's all convinced that we can never become.

Her emphatic production of Under Milk Wood could entrance laden with shopping bags and a horrendous noJ be bettered. I was very wrong. And this despite the pair of shoes was instantly recognisable as Aunt X, and ~UU'""H'''"' of singing palm trees! when she opened her mouth the image was complete: GILES SMART.

her consistent prying never lost its intensity.

The most remarkable quality of this production was however not found on the stage, it was that shown by Zoe Fargher and Lucia Sydney. They created two hours of dynamism by months of continued effort an.d determination in their production of this play. The1r drive was aptly expressed by the script and the performances of the actors yet it cannot be emphasised enough that almost every attribute of Absent Friends was ultimately due to their invention and skill. Your critic, who had crept in silently, left an admirer and the auditorium was far from hushed as the audience responded loudly to a memorable and excellently worked production.

AI..~AN

AYCKBOURN, ABSENT FRIENDS

TRADESCANT AND BROUGHTON HOUSE PLAY IN ST MARY'S HALL, 8TH AND 9TH FEBRUARY 1997 critic crept silently into the hushed auditorium; clam1py interior of St Mary's Hall, so often the fot the triumphant or disastrous House Plays of past, was tickled by the expectation of another of weeks of effort and extra-curricular The opening chord struck by the terse

SAM KNIGHT.

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Absent Friends. James Longstaffe, Lizzie Calder, Rebecca Arnold. (M.J.T)

Absent Friends. James Stazicker. (M.J.T.)

Absent Friends. Simon Youngman, Sadie Chave. (M.J. T.)

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MICHAEL FRAYN, NOISES OFF GALPIN'S AND HARVEY HOUSE PLAY:

Mary's on the Sunday evening, and I enjoyed every second of it. It was fast, slick, very well acted and very funny. The audience hardly ever stopped laughing.

How did they do it?

Noises Off, to repeat, is a very tricky play to perform not least because every exit is an entrance. Whereas in most plays the actor ¡ ..

T) steps off stage, and can Noises Off Matt Broo ks. (M.J . then either relmquish his role or make a conscious effort to stay in character until the next call, in Noises Off each character steps in or out of another intersecting play on a stage that dovetails with the one that the actor has just left. Every entrance or exit is a step into a concurrent drama. Furthermore because Noises Off is farce, the on-stage and off-stage dramas are conducted at hyperactive pace. With so much at so many levels happening so fast, the cast produced a brilliant combination of tempo, rhythm and attack to give the play its impact.

True connoisseurs of Frayn might have experienced a minor shock in one aspect of this excellent Galpin's/Harvey production. In unexpurgated versions of the play the entire set is dismantled, turned around and reassembled between the Acts, and audiences have been known to sit doggedly through the extended intervals observing the stage crew at work. One of the big i1nprovements in the Leo Fransella adaptation was that such laborious procedures were eliminated by a simple but ingenious solution. The symmetrical design of the set meant that it could serve either as front or back, depending on the props placed on stage. For Act One the set was the interior of a country horne. At the end of the Act furniture and wall pictures were removed and back stage items brought to the front.

Before you could say 'sardines' the stage had been turned around.

The technical side apart, Frayn's wickedly funny script is, of course, an essential ingredient of any successful production of Noises Off But even the funniest of scripts takes its sparkle from the way it is performed and what I admired most about this production was not just that the individual acting was amazingly good - more on that follows - but the way that the actors worked so imaginatively and so well for each other. It takes a special chemistry to achieve such fluency in all the interactions of this highly interactive play. With actors constantly darting through different doors, the cast has to get it right, as smoothly as firstclass relay runners, keeping up the pace, intensity and 'hook on', taking and passing the baton smoothly, being part of the race, while also giving his/her own performance. In Noises Off the baton takes many forms - a whisky bottle, a fireman's axe, a cactus plant, those plates of sardines, to mention just some of the 'batons' that are handed, grabbed or snatched from actor to actor. Great teamwork, and as for the catalyst in the

15THAND 16TH MARCH IN STMARY'S HALL Noises Off is a highly entertaining farce showing on-stage and off-stage during the provincial tour of an hilariously awful production of another appropriately called Nothing On. The audience views the action, first frmn the front, then from the and, as the off-stage disputes of the cast converge the acting on the other side of the set, from the front again.

Noises Ofj: George Taylor, Andrew Kesson, Alex Marden, Charlie Westenra. (M.P.H.D.)

Because Noises Off combines a traditional farce the para-farce of the off-stage activity, it is a very play to perform. As the cast are playing two plays at the same ti1ne, Noises Off is a play, or rather a play-within-a-play that makes you think as well as laugh. The set directions require, 'an extensive range doors on two floors', through which the cast stampede in and out, while the entire play rotates through 180 degrees to enable the audience to go 'back stage' in Act II, and then back to front stage again for final Act. The timing of lines and movement, of entrances and exits, are important enough in any play, demand even more concentration on the part of the actors for a play that is two plays. It proved to be a superb choice for the inventiveness and skills of this highly successful Galpin's and Harvey House production. I went to the second performance of lvoises Off, which was performed to a packed St 191

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Another challenging role for modern King's girl, is the part of the cheery charlady, Mrs Clackett of Nothing On, or Dotty in the cast of Noises Off, as played by Charlie Westenra. In Act I, as Mrs Clackett, she has to contend with plates of sardines in one hand, and 'an award winning modern telephone', which has a habit of ringing at the most awkward moments. By Act becoming central to the off-stage disputes as Dotty, even greater demands on the actress's dexterity are made. One of the funniest moments of this play is the point at which Dotty begins to pull cactus needles out of a male character's bottom. Such was the refinement of Charlie's technique that audience reaction to this spectacle was total and unrestrained laughter. Using a London accent for Mrs Clackett and a Yorkshire accent for Dotty was Noises Off. James Patrick, Mel Siddons. (M.P.H.D.) also a rather good ploy, especially as the accents became mixed up, chemistry, the cast reaction at the end of the play said intentionally or not, but very fittingly, as the play everything: Leo Fransella produced a superb reached the heights of disorder in the final scene. performance from his talented cast.

Alex Marden played Belinda, who plays the Nothing On character Flavia, the two parts being polar More academic analysts of Frayn have drawn opposites of each other. Belinda displays all the true comparisons between Noises Off and such Brit qualities that once ran the Empire, hell or high masterpieces as Stoppard's Rosencrantz and water, to keep the show on the road. As Act III crashes Guildenstern are Dead and Chekhov's Three Sisters. into 'strife and uncertainty' and a dazed Director For students of Theatre Studies, 'Turning plays through 180 degrees' is no doubt a significant theme.

What happens to characters when they step off the stage and their lives go out of view? Much has been written about the dramatic techniques employed by these playwrights, revolving around the significance of a character's off-stage life. Fortunately such erudite considerations seemed far from the mind of the audience who came not for the philosophy but for farce. We expect to see trousers fall down, people charging on and off the stage, and lots of vulgar jokes.

Given that Noises Off is a farce-of-a-farce, Frayn evidently makes the most of his opportunity to give us a glorious farce.

Any intelligent young lady who is willing to play one of Frayn's female characters needs a brilliant sense of humour, to say the least, for not even the Fransella adaptation made the least concession whatsoever to feminist objections to farce. Full marks to the Harvey girls for taking on these outrageous parts. Take, for instance, the part of Brooke, who is described in the programme notes as, 'best known for wearing nothing but "good, honest, natural froth" in the Hauptbahnhof lager commercial'. On-stage, as Vicki, Brooke is always being got into bedrooms, progressing, in Act II, to being tied up in sheets. I just hope that Mel Siddons, who played this part, will not get me wrong when I say that she played it superbly. She is a very good actress.

Her timing, movement, looks, the blinking and peering whenever Brooke lost her contact lens, and the squeaky blond voice made for a very funny performance.

Noises Off. George Taylor, Alex Marden. (M.J. T) THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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The Fransella adaptation, in making cuts to the original, lost nothing in the plot while positively developing some of the male roles. Matt Brooks was given free range for his zany talents as a re-invented Gary, 'a graduate in Peruvian Studies from the Iowa State Central School of Dramatic and Performing Arts'. Here too was a part of contrasts between the smooth talking, confident Roger of Nothing On, a man 'used to handling the best proportioned real estate', and the inner Gary, insecure and resentful, catching glimpses of his beloved Dotty's apparent off-stage infidelities and drawing all the wrong conclusions.

Never missing a trick, with an astonishing range of facial expressions, and immense energy, Matt was a revelation in his acrobatic skills, especially with the entrance he made after Dotty had tied his shoelaces together. Set against the hypertensive Gary, the laidback character of Frederick, marvellously played by George Taylor, supplied the antidote to the frenzy in just the sort of chap who, on-stage or off, ambles through his part, reacts to hitches with a puff of his pipe, relaxes, and has a little rest: The thing I like about technicals is you get a chance to sit on the furniture.

He sits.

Incidentally, the pipe was a masterly touch. As an actor George has a wonderful way with his lines. Take this speech: Darling, I can't come to bed. I'm stuck to the sardines!

The line is funny enough as it stands, but George made it very funny indeed. He gave it a touch of everything: matter-of-fact, straightforward serious, tragedy, comedy, slice-of-life, and with a little hiatus to point up the second statement. A Big Laugh from the audience, my review jottings tell me. This combined with his expressions: wide open eyes, jaw dropping, pipe sagging, and, as he beheld the cactus, a picture of perplexity. Matt and George ought to have their own show on TV. Another part to be modified in the Fransella adaptation was Lloyd, the Director of Nothing On, played by James Patrick. We become aware of him when, in Act I, his voice is first heard from somewhere among the audience, and we realise that what we are watching is not a performance but a rehearsal. James Patrick's Lloyd is an actor's dream director sympathetic, helpful, sensitive and kind: Dotty: And I take the sardines.

I leave the sardines.

I take the sardines.

Lloyd: You leave the sardines, and you put the receiver back.

Oh yes, I put the receiver back.

She puts the receiver back, and moves off again with the sardines.

Lloyd: And you leave the sardines.

Dotty: And I leave the sardines?

Lloyd: You leave the sardines.

Dotty: I put the receiver back and I leave the sardines.

Lloyd: Right.

Dotty: We've changed that, have we, love?

Noises Off. Andrew Kesson, Mel Siddons, James Patrick, Charlie Westenra. (M.P.H.D.)

arrives on stage, in mid-scene, to exclaim that he does not know where they are or where they're going, Belinda tells him: Here is where we are, my sweet. On is where we are going.

Contrast the level headed Belinda with the outraged she plays in Nothing On: Him and his floozie! I'll break this over their heads.

Alex has great acting ability and used it- another entertaining performance.

Poppy Norton-Taylor, an ex-Cheltenham Public Girl and the assistant stage manager in the cast of Noises Off, Fleur Howard had one of the smaller but, as her part showed, smaller parts are often difficult than some of the larger ones. This is those with long stints can attune their ~~ .u..._...,..., to the required level, but the actor who one really significant line, has just one chance it absolutely right. The timing of Poppy's one important line is incredibly tricky because the comes right at the end of a frantic mime sequence ~~''·'·'"'''-'CU.'"''"' , at the very moment that the play being on the other side of the set comes to an end. crucial point in both sets of action Poppy, who P"n"'~·"1-"' needs to talk to the Director, suddenly vent to her pent-up feelings: Well I'm sorry, but you've got to hear, because I'm pregnant. immortal line is the cue for a gasp from for Lloyd to subside on to the cactus, and for to fall on Act II. The audience collapsed. one, Fleur.

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What a nice man. But in Act II we discover that in the whole stellar system of rogues, charlatans, meg~loman~acs and Svengalis, this producer has very specific designs, for Lloyd is revealed as the seducer of Poppy, while carrying on with Dotty, and out to get his wic~ed way with Brooke. When the cactus plant was applied, James's pained expression convinced all that he really had got his comeuppance.

I enjoyed Andy Kesson 's performance as the alcoholic Selsdon, playing the Burglar. Because ~elsdon is invariably sozzled and misses his entrance, m ~ct III twc: ~ctors come on in his place when in fact he Is there, giVmg us three Burglars in unison: No bars. No burglar alarms. They ought to be prosecuted for incitement.

Another immortal line. James MacAdie's cameo as Tim, the Company Stage Manager, emergency reserve Sheikh and second emergency reserve Burglar, was also typical of the versatility of this outstanding cast.

Yet, again, the success of this remarkable production owed more to the whole than the sum of the individual parts. Galpin's and Harvey showed that the best. of acting is entirely selfless, each actor reacting contmuously to the others, thinking and working for each other. It was the funniest play I have ever seen and the cast_ made it all look easy. But it wasn't easy of course. I thmk Act II of Noises Off probably has the fastest and most complex actions of any play that has ever been written and to synchronise so much at so many_ levels, with such tempo and attack, provided a stunmng performance that leaves great memories and brought back fond memories of my own from yesteryear.

H.R.O.M. who produced Noises Off by Mitchinson's House in April 1989.

ART WALPOLE HOUSE ART EXHIBITION 1ST AND 2ND FEBRUARY 1997 Some might have thought that it was rather optimistic to expect one House to produce a whole room full of good artwork, but Walpole was able to these critics t? _rest. It was all instigated by Alice Walker and Ohvia Arthur, who saw the event throucrh ri~ht from the embryc:nic stages to the handing out ~f drmks on the last mght. Almost everybody in House contributed something to the exhibition, and this was not only limited to pupils' work: Mrs Watson had some pottery on display and Mr Watson some very fine pieces of silver jewellery. One of Walpole's tutors, Mr Cordeaux, was able to show off his arty talents as well. One can only deduce that his skills must have rubbed off onto the rest of the House, because everything was of a very high standard.

There was ~uge variety ir: the work on display, using a wealth of different techmques and materials. Alice Walker's textile exhibits brought colour and dimension to the room, and there were also a number of excellent pottery pieces. One could not help but notice Olivia Arthur's _black and white photographs which captured provocatiVe French scenes superbly, adding that je ne sais quoi to the exhibition. Paintings and drawings were ?umero~s, but An?e Davies' painting was exceptiOnal, bemg so beautifully intricate and detailed.

The monitors stamped their mark on the show in more ways than one, rounding off what was a very successful and enterprising exhibition. It would be good if other Houses could now do the same although this will be a hard act to follow. ' MEGAN MORRIS.

(Olivia Arthur) THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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TALKS

Woolf's The Leaning Tower, both of which expressed the disenchantment of their era; which stemmed from the Great Depression, the rising numbers of the unemployed and the policy of appeasement. Dr Montefiore read extracts from these essays which she had quoted in her book. Inside the Whale is a polemic of the avant-garde, attacking communist writers and their politics. Orwell's view was that too many of his contemporaries were writing with communist sympathies, and he said: 'No decade has been as barren of imaginative prose as the 1930s'. Dr Montefiore disagreed with this, listing a number of anti-Fascist women whom Orwell had ignored, who had helped with the war effort by working with refugees in Munich.

The Leaning Tower includes the names of a group of authors, known as the Auden Group. Woolf criticised their self-involvement, an opinion which Dr Montefiore shares. This is shown by the fact that all of them, apart from Auden, wrote memoirs and extended autobiographies. Indeed, the memoirs of the 1930s are so numerous that they almost constitute a small literary genre of their own. However, the writers did see themselves as revolutionising the typical subjectivity of 1920s modernism by writing objectively about history. This is ironic, because from our 90s viewpoint they do seem to be subjective, just like their literary predecessors. The necessary subjectivity of memoirs reminds us of the earlier point that experiences of history are relative. It seems surprising that the tendency to subjectivity should have been so strong when there were so many important social developments at a time which could have been written about objectively. For example, in The Road to Wigan Pier Orwell managed to include many of his childhood experiences, although the book is ostensibly about industrial development. This point was raised at the end, when Dr Montefiore was asked whether she thought that such influential literature would emerge from the 90s, as there now seem to be relatively few important social developments. Her answer was that in the future the events of the 90s would in fact seem as important as the events of the 30s do to us now, although anyone as influential as Auden would be a surprise, because our culture of poetry is not so homogeneous now as it was then.

The feminist issue in Dr Montefiore's book is that, although they had to assert themselves as writers, the women writing at the time were less self-absorbed. It was revealed that the proportion of those women who were educated was far less than the proportion of men; Orwell is the exception, not having gone to university, but joining the Burma police instead. This difference in education, as well as generational perspective may well explain why none of the women wrote autobiographies, with the exception of Storm Jameson.

We drew the conclusion that the 30s were important years for women writers because they heralded a greater awareness of women's writing as an accepted part of the canon. Although not published till 1990, Naomi Richardson expressed the feminist sentiment of the time with the words: 'You cannot chain us now!'

SIXTH FORM TALK: DR JANET MONTEFIORE, MEN AND WOMEN WRITERS OF THE 1930s 24TH JANUARY, IN THE OLD SYNAGOGUE

(Will Justice)

Feminisn,1 and Poetry, Language, Identity and ,,,l/I,.O in Women's Writing: this is the title of the book that Dr Montefiore has written, and the subject of talk to us. She told us that she had decided to write book after giving a general talk some years ago about writers of the 1930s. After this talk she was asked: 'Were there any women writing then?' Her answer to this question (Winifred Holtby, Stevie ... and Virginia Woolf, of course) caused her to consider not so much the answer to the question, but fact that the question had to be asked at all. Her conclusion was that in a time remembered for its style of writing, the women had been forgotten. vn,, ..

The reason for this is that the women were, in effect, different generation from the male writers of the having been brought up in the years preceding War and reaching maturity during the years of the Therefore, although the War had as dramatic an on them as the male writers, they perceived it in a different way. All the writers had powerful memories of these years, but they wrote from different perspectives because of the differences in politics and time. Dr Montefiore had originally wanted to call her The Dangerous Flood of History, but this had to used as only a subtitle, because of the publishers' wishes. This title reflected her interest in the relationship between history then and history now; that that the same events had made different impressions writer~ of the same decade because they were of different generations.

Her main source of material was two essays, both \Vritten in 1941: Orwell's Inside the Whale and

JUSTINE MCCONNELL AND KATHERINE SHORT.

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SIXTH FORM TALK: PIERS PAUL READ, LIFE AS A WRITER

respected characters. He then went into the natures of the two film versions of his book, of variable success and accuracy. Particularly interesting was his account of going to see the earlier, and less accurate, of the two versions with one of those originally involved.

Altogether, the evening was immensely enjoyable, both from an academic sense, and in the sense that talk was simply extremely interesting, whether your interests were literary or otherwise.

27TH FEBRUARY, IN THE OLD SYNAGOGUE

SIMON GOMERSALL.

SIXTH FORM TALK: LORD SNOWDON, PHOTOGRAPHY 20TH MARCH, IN ST MARY'S HALL

(Will Justice)

On arrival at the Old Synagogue, I had little idea who Piers Paul Read was, or indeed what exactly he had written. On leaving, all my questions were answered, and more.

The talk took on the many themes of his books, the most notable of which being the struggle between good and evil. Many ask why one of the best known Catholic writers of our times produces books so full of 'immorality'. That's the way it is, we were told.

Another main issue was the relevance of an author's real life experience to his writing, and to what extent his actual experiences of life have been incorporated into his books. Piers Paul Read's Catholic upbringing in North Yorkshire and his strict schooling were examples given of experiences that have been incorporated into his books. We were also told about the immense amount of luck that was involved in his becoming a writer, and getting the break that he did.

Perhaps his most famous work, Alive - about survivors of an air-crash in the Andes who were forced to resort to cannibalism- seemed to generate the most interest amongst the audience: certainly there were a lot of questions on the subject at the end. He told the audience the exact process of how he came by the job, the luck that was involved in that, and how he won the confidence of the protagonists, not by offering them the most money for their story, but by being the most unintimidating and, of course, a Catholic. He then told the audience of the long process of interviews, often incredibly emotional, and of the problems involved in translating these interviews onto the pages of a book.

The end result, he said, as well as a book, was making the acquaintance of several incredibly strong and THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

(Will Justice)

On March 20th 1997 the sixth form were treated to an entertaining and informative talk by the celebrated photographer and designer Lord Snowdon. A diverse range of his favourite photographs spanning approximately forty years was presented to us in the form of a slide-show; these he felt were representative of his life's work to date. A lively commentary accompanied this, from which we learned that many of the people he photographed were known personally to him. Humour and humility permeated all that he said.

The photographs in his collection fall into various different categories, the largest of which is perhaps unsurprisingly 'known celebrities'. This includes a phenomenal selection of theatrical people from Laurence Olivier and Audrey Hepburn, to Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson. Members of the Royal Family the Queen and Prince Philip with a very youthful Prince Charles and Princess Anne - were shown in a Buckingham Palace setting. Sporting personalities such as Gary Lineker, Nigel Mansell and Frank Bruno, and of course musicians and artists like Bryan Ferry 196

Damien Hurst (shown as if in a tank of formaldehyde), were all in this comprehensive collection. Snowdon told how he carefully researched read about his subjects if possible before photographing them but that he also always hoped that something visually exciting or unusual might happen the day. It was clear that he is conscious of the potentially intrusive nature of photographic journalism; therefore whoever his subject may be their is always respected.

People who represent the struggle and strain of everyday life - 'the unknowns'- are among those Lord Snowdon finds most interesting to photograph. These i~ages po~tray sc~nes in hospital~, third world countnes and mner c1ty poverty. H1s commitment to the disabled in our community continues to be evident in much of his work. He is careful never to patronise and aims to illustrate rather be voyeuristic.

Snowdon made a point of the fact that in his v~nu .. ..._,u., photography does not belong to the world of art. However, like any artist he uses his skills and awareness to sensitise people to the world around them. His photographs reveal to others ordinary things they may not have noticed. For example, his image of 'London 1958' captures an everyday moment in time and place, beautiful in its technical simplicity. To conclude, Snowdon's photographs are elegant, understated yet thoroughly interesting, like the man himself.

After a King's education, as a member of Linacre, Jeremy Paul moved on to St Edmund's Hall, Oxford, where he read English. It was during this time that he discovered his talent for writing for television, a talent which he has used to great effect, most notably for Lovejoy, or, for the slightly older generation, Upstairs, Downstairs, and the versions of the Sherlock Holmes stories starring Jeremy Brett. However, he cut his authorial teeth by writing for our very own Cantuarian.

Indeed, in his last year here he was the Editor, and his farewell was his Editorial. His impression of it was that it was a rather fine 'meaning of life from the viewpoint of an 18-year-old' piece. However, while he was spending his year out sweeping the stage of the Hornchurch Rep. theatre, he learnt that it had caused quite a stir, especially amongst the O.K.S., many of whom wrote in to condemn it as 'pretentious drivel'.

This was not exactly what I wanted to hear, having just completed my own offering!

After this setback, he decided to give up writing, and decided to become an actor. A year later, he gave up acting and wrote a one-off television play - whilst still at university. To his surprise, it was taken by ATV, who gave him a contract to write three plays a week, on a retainer of ÂŁ30 a week. He had found his career, and from then on he never looked back.

He proceeded to inform us how television drama had developed through the years - a process of which he had a first-hand view. In the sixties, when he started writing, the one-off television play was in its heyday.

Many of them were treated as if they were theatre plays, although there was the added bonus of five or six different sets in the studio. No one really knew what this thing called television drama really was, or how it worked. A limiting factor, of course, was the technology available. At the time, there were no fully mobile cameras and most directors were averse to using film or film inserts in their work. Thus there was very little outdoor photography. Methods were developed to overcome these problems, and the writers had to work closely with the directors, who had to be ingenious and crafty to bluff their way through with the technology available to them. This was especially important when adaptations of books started being used more and more.

He then moved into the seventies, when the idea of the series became ever more popular. In fact, he told us that he wrote no one-off plays in the 1970s, as they were no longer really wanted. This led to a new way of working, which meant that it was much more difficult for young, developing writers to find a way into the profession. Up till then, the single play had been the ideal way of breaking through, but this was increasing! y more difficult, with established series being written by established writers. The new working style meant that teams of writers would take it in turns to write a number of episodes each, as happened in Upstairs, Downstairs. This led to some writers handing over the 'relay baton', as he termed it, with a character in all sorts of difficulties which the next writer would have to resolve- only to leave a different character in trouble. This also meant that different writers would give the characters slightly different personalities, thus fleshing them out and being a beneficial element of the writing process.

JODIE CAMERON.

SIXTH FORM TALK: JEREMY PAUL, O.K.S., FROM LINACRE TO LOVEJOYTHE LIFE AND TIMES OF A TELEVISION PLAYWRIGHT 1TH JUNE, IN THE OLD SYNAGOGUE

(Andrew Rib bans)

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Moving on to the eighties, he spoke of how television drama became more film-based. It moved ~mt of the st~dio, and more young writers became mvolved, helpmg to breathe fresh life into the medium.

Fili.n co~ld avoid the limiting effect of television, which still seemed to have one foot in the theatre.

American culture had an increasing influence on what was written, as did what the Japanese wanted to see. Jeremy Paul said he particularly enjoyed writing Lovejoy since it broke the 'rules'.

After this whistles top tour of television drama history, the floor was opened for questions. The first question dealt with the difference between the American way of working and the British way. It seemed that the main difference was that the Americans are mostly concerned with the structure of a series, whereas the British seem more to reflect real life. Hence the anecdote about the series Mata Hari, for which Paul was writing, in which he was forced to put his great love scene three episodes earlier. This meant an historically ridiculous situation, which in real life would have made the hero about minus twenty years old. It was clear with which style Paul's sympathies lie!

The next question threw up the matter of censorship, as someone asked whether declining ~oral standards in society could have been mfluenced by television. The answer was that there was a need to be wary of censorship, and that there is a clear difference between 'blatant pornography' and art. Reservoir Dogs was cited a~ an example of the latter, despite its explicit vwlence. Paul summed up his answer by saying that the issues should not be ducked, but that there should always be a standard of artistic integrity, which should be maintained - in other words, violence, sex and other such issues should have an artistic justification. .~sked whether ~nyone had ever grievously miSJUdged one of his characters, he replied that they had not, although he had occasionally been surprised by some of the interpretations he saw. He did say that, for him, Jeremy Brett had captured the true Sherlock Holmes in his performance.

The renaissance of the British film industry was the next topic raised. With the success of British films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Trainspotting, one might have expected the British film industry to be undergoing rebirth. However Jere my Paul argued the opposite - that people were still afraid of small, low-budget films, because they believed them to be commercially unworkable.

However, he said that we need to take our cue from America, where small productions are becoming more popular, and successful in the marketplace.

We would like to thank Mr Paul for taking the time to come and speak to us, and for providing us with an interesting, informative and witty talk, full of anecdote, which may well have inspired future O.K.S. to follow a similar path, though maybe not sweeping the stage at the Hornchurch Rep.!

POLITICS TALK DR ANTHONY SELDON, HOW WILL HISTORY REMEMBER JOHN MAJOR? 7TH FEBRUARY 1997, IN THE SCHOOLROOM

(M.J.T.)

Dr Anthony Seldon - Founding Director of the Institute of Contemporary British History, and Headmaster-elect of Brighton College - came to deliver a lecture on John Major. As Mr Major's biographer, and co-editor of several books on modem society (some of which he kindly presented to the library), Dr Seldon is in perhaps a unique position to do this, as confirmed by the breadth and depth of his talk. If what Dr Seldon said was not exactly controversial, then it was at the very least both stimulating and wide-ranging. . Choosing not to stick rigorously to the proposed title, Dr Seldon covered aspects of John Major's upbringin~ - his apprenticesp.ip as a Young Conservative and then as a hard-working member of Lam.bet~ council; his early career in politics; his years a~ a JUmor member of Mrs Thatcher's government; and his (to use the cliche) meteoric eighteen-month ascent to the post of P.M. Dr Seldon analysed in some detail the 'three distinct phases' of Mr Major's premiershipNovember 1990 till September 1992, September 1992 till July 1995, and the last two years- and expounded what he termed the 'four lines of attack' often directed at the Prime Minister: the Liberal, Labour, governmental and High Tory attacks. Dr Seldon did

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unelectable opposition leader with an ungainly taxand-spend manifesto, and (surprise, surprise!) won.

His premiership has coincided since Spring 1993 with gentle non-inflationary economic recovery, initially export-led thanks to a shambolic devaluation. Mr Major took far less of the blame for the ERM crisis in September 1992 than his Chancellor, when the crisis was largely due to his own too-high entry into the ERMin October 1990. Maybe, then, Honest John has not been quite so unfortunate after all.

The speaker had just finished a ten-minute sidetrack into the architecture of Downing Street (complete with visual aids) and into the details of our PM's daily routine, followed by a brief analysis of Mr Major in history, when the most interesting part of the proceedings arrived: the chance to quiz Dr Seldon. His style was combative to say the least, but every answer came well qualified and explained, as would be expected from a man whose first job it is to teach. The fact that the speaker obviously knew John Major well lent an air of credibility to his responses, where on these occasions informed but contentious answers just occasionally lack it. We certainly received the most sensible answer to one query: why did Mr Major go for the job if he was so unprepared? Answer: because he is, after all, human; and he was, on reflection, the best man available for the job, and he knew it.

Dr Seldon had invited the audience to be challenging, yet seemed uneasy when faced with challenging, if imperfectly-formed questions. It was unfortunate for one questioner to have used the highlycharged word 'hypocrite' when a mere 'inconsistent' would have sufficed, for he promptly drew a highlycharged response from Dr Seldon, who had, in fact, been a little inconsistent, it was generally felt, in that he had at one point during the evening derided John Major for failing to tie his tie in 1974, and had the next minute derided the Guardian's Steve Bell for noticing that the Prime Minister once had his shirt tucked into his underpants and exploiting this in his cartoon strip.

Yet there was no shortage of questions - those who attended may have been intimidated or out-reasoned into asking more general, 'Don't you agree ... ?' style questions, but they had certainly not been bored.

the talk by briefly summarising what he had said, in so doing gave a summary of how he thinks historians will remember this strangest of men - that as a deeply nice man, whose achievement is not merely to have survived, often suffering appalling bad but to have come so far, so fast, from such humble origins, and to have followed Mrs Thatcher so successfully, given the scale of the task.

How could John Major be called unlucky? Dr Seldon's argument rests on five facts: that John Major a difficult and unpromising childhood; that he had follow so radical and so successful a predecessor as Thatcher; that he took over the reins at a time the Tories were on course for an unavoidable collective spat over Europe; that he had hardly two minutes to prepare for office (let alone five years like Thatcher); and that he has been a leader naturally the left of the party when the right has been in the ascendancy. Dr Seldon provided one extraordinary clue to just how unprepared John Major was to succeed Margaret Thatcher, a 'back-of-the-envelope' manifesto: the notes John Major wrote to himself during the five minute journey back from Buckingham for the first time - notes which, scrawled in somewhat childish handwriting, portrayed every angle John Major's unpreparedness, liberal instincts, and decency.

The speaker failed to mention, though, that Major served his Cabinet years ( 1986-89) efficiently, cutting public spending at a time when the Lawsonian blJdget surpluses and the economic prerogatives of the made it very easy for him to achieve this. His in this department endeared him to his mentor, IVIargaret Thatcher,¡ who at that time was becoming increasingly isolated in her Cabinet, and led ultimately to his selection over two other candidates, neither of whom in retrospect could have led the country: Heseltine because he was not trusted, Hurd because he was too much a man of the upper classes and, it seemed, of the past. Dr Seldon said so himself.

Moreover, for the first three years of office, John bland and amiable, if weak, style of leadership suited the moods of both the Tory party and the country at large, after the excesses and extremes of 1979-90. In 1992 John Major faced in the polls an

LEO FRANSELLA.

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SOCIETIES AND ACTIVITIES ~ridg~ has c~ntinued to be played by a variety of different peo le at a varie times m a vanety of diff~rent places, but chiefly in the Durnford)jbra y f t~

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y~ar ~unnmg. Here the kamikaze methods of Gal s and Bush

n. ge .u tort e second this time and who wanted to go to the final in PSheffield y were?not .always succes~ful but we did beat Maids tone :practice his place was taken by Tom Lloyd-Smith and th ~nywd iv~Ith Cha~es Mil~er-Jones needed for a tunes ~~;~ their po~iji~n. There w~ll be op~ortunities for themeto ~~~~e nex~~~~~~it~~~{~~~ ~~~~e ~f 1the :previo~s year, overt~: ~:~cfour y~v;s~ppreciated then loyalty and enthusiasm and enjoyed their sometimes uno~:~~~~:~e~~!

1

What proved to be the final hand of the year was of some interest" Neither side vulnerable. Dealer South. .

North ~ 7,3,2 ¥ A,l0,8,5,3 • J,7,6 +Q,9 West Q,J,l0,4 • 9,6,2 • Q,5,2 +K,J,5 ~

East 9,6 ¥ K,7,4 • 8,4,3 + A,10,6,4,2 ~

South A,K,8,5 • Q,J + A,K,10,9 + 8,7,3 ~

G.D.W. THE CHAPEL CHOIR

~~t

~he Chapel Choir has gone from strength to strength over the past two terms. There have

.ee~ some memora~le performanc~s of anthems at Mattins, especially William Tallon si ngmg the solo part m The Three Kzngs, the ever-popular Lotti Crucifixus and Gibb ,0 1 your hands. The Lenten Devotion which . cap h d b ons Choir was very moving and remarkably well sung, especially give:a~h:t ~~ookypl~~e ~~all,~ !;~okay~~

Two concerts deserve mention 0 M h 4 h h Ch · Smith Square. The choir's erf~rm~ncea~f t t, e apel Chmr and School.Orchestra performed at StJohn's, ac~o_mplished and mention ~ust also be ma!a~~ ~h;~~\~~~ts1.06, complet~ With record~rs and v~ols, was very Wilham Tallon and James Longstaffe. The Chapel Choir also to;rumat ~ew~s, ~dr~w Ribban.s, Richa~d C:ollins, beloved spake by Purcell, 0 clap your hands by Gibb d par. m t ~ . ora Concert In May smgmg My Step.hen Matthews. The new work was written to mar~~~ea~40~t~ew p~ece, avwiur.b, lo~ The isles are waiting, by received by the audience. anmversary ce e ratwns and was very warmly

haJ::'~c~~~~f.eserves a very special thank you for all its hard work over the year. Congratulations on all that you S.W.S.A. THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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Lent and Summer terms' repertoire has been: The Three Kings The Lord hath been mindful of us Glorie, Lob, Ehr (Cantata 106)

9

16 21

10

Smith Square) (Confirmation) (Lenten Devotion)

(Choral Concert)

(Commemoration)

Cantata 106 (Actus tragicus) Communion Service in E (Coll:Reg:) Ave verum corpus Crucifixus a 8 A Lent Prose Kyrie eleison (Collegium Regale) Ave verum corpus Crucifixus a 8 My beloved spake Saviour, lo! The isles are waiting 0 clap your hands Dostoino yest (Hymn to the Virgin) 0 clap your hands Saviou1; lo! The isles are waiting

Cornelius S.S. Wesley Bach Bach Darke Elgar Lotti Plainsong Darke Elgar Lotti Purcell Matthews Gibbons Tchaikovsky Gibbons Matthews

For the summer term the group has had an excellent range of outside speakers, as well as staff and pupils contributing, and it has been good to see newcomers joining in, to the extent that Father John's sitting room has on occasion had all its seats and every available inch of carpet well covered! The broad theme of the term was a look at the resources, spiritual or otherwise, available to Christians. Talks ranged from Simon Scott's slide presentation of the Iwerne Holidays in Dorset which he helps to run, where all sorts of activities from jet skiing to archery are laid on, as well as a programme of talks explaining the Christian message- for which a group from King's is booked this summer- to a talk by Amy Joynson-Hicks' mother on God's promises. The latter will remain particularly memorable because of the treasure chest full of Quality Street chocolates involved as an illustration! Tom Smiley, a newly qualified psychiatrist, gave a lucid talk challenging the question 'Why is Christianity so boring?', while Andrew Miles gave an excellent 'valedictory' talk to this group for which he has done so much over the last four years; we hope he as much laughter and wisdom to his new school in Nairobi. We were privileged to have two visits from Jon the American Baptist minister who has worked for a number of years on the idea of a mission to the visitors in Canterbury during St Augustine's anniversary year. His description of some of the encounters with people of all nationalities and backgrounds in Canterbury over the two weeks of the 'Thank you, Canterbury' mission was extraordinary. It was fitting, after an earlier session on styles of worship, led by Kayt Spall, Avis Ngan and Rachel that a group was able to go to the 'youth celebration' of the mission in St Augustine's ruins, and hear, among other things, the Christian rock band Devotion. This was a loud awakening for those who were unaware of the existence of such musical styles within the Christian church! The whole of Broughton and Tradescant next door were made fully aware of this during that particular week, and can at least be grateful that they will not be in residence during the next centenary year. For those able to experience the full effect, it was a memorable time, and ended the school year on a high (and loud) note. Many thanks to A.M.M. for his help with the group, to J.A.T. his generous hospitality, and to our 6a regulars for all they have given to Christian Forum over the years.

C.T.H.

CHRISTIAN

The Crypt Choir has had a very exciting and demanding time over the past two terms. The highlight was, of course, the tour to Florence in April, for which a separate report has been written. The choir was magnificent, both in its singing and its behaviour, and I certainly found it a very rewarding tour. There is nothing like singing together on a daily basis to improve a choir's blend, intonation and phrasing.

Michael Harris' influence continues to be felt. He established the Crypt Choir to sing at the School's Eucharists and this continues to be the choir's principal function. The fortnightly participation of the choir in the liturgy is central and I have always been impressed by the pupils' commitment. Members of the Crypt Choir never (officially!) a Sunday off as they are all members of the Chapel Choir as well. My thanks go to all of them - especially to leaving this year. You have been wonderful.

S.W.S.A.

CRYPT CHOIR

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The Lent and Summer terms' repertoire has been: 19 January 0 sacrum convivium When to the temple Mary went 2 February (Candlemas) Panis angelicus 2 March 21 March (Lenten Devotion) Cantique de Jean Racine Agnus Dei Panis angelicus

Croce Eccard Franck Faure Palestrina Franck

The repertoire for the Crypt Choir tour to Florence in the Easter holidays was as follows: Missa Aeterna Christi munera Palestrina Exultate Deo Palestrina Sicut cervus Palestrina 0 quam gloriosum Victoria Exultate justi Viadana Crucifixus a 8 Lotti Cantique de Jean Racine Faure Panis angelicus Franck Christus factus est Bruckner Locus iste Bruckner Five Negro Spirituals Tippett 20 April (Mattins) Cantique de Jean Racine Faure 27 April Christus factus est Bruckner 8 May (Ascension Day) Exultate justi Viadana 11 May (Mattins) Christus factus est Bruckner 18 May Hymne ala Vierge Villette 8 June Ave Maria Stravinsky 29 June The eyes of all wait upon Thee Berger

An alternative to sign language, cued speech provides an opportunity for deaf people to enter the hearing world. It works by assisting lip-reading with various hand shapes and positions around the mouth. It is a relatively new concept and has taken some time to get off the ground as it is a rival to sign language. However, things are really beginning to move and centres are appearing right across the country. Learning cued speech can be done as an activity, community service, or as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. Spreading cued speech into the hearing world really helps its development.

CUED SPEECH FOR THE DEAF

JENNY DUTTON AND EMILY PERKIN.

In September 1997 thirty-six pupils will be doing their assessed expedition, which forms one quarter of the Bronze Award. This involves a fifteen mile walk and camping overnight in the North Downs. It involves planning a route through the countryside and sticking to it, cooking two edible meals over a gas stove, carrying a full rucksack, pitching a tent successfully and putting up with other peoples' snoring! It is likely to be quite a character building experience.

The following intrepid pupils will be involved: Emily Perkin, Lotte Tydeman, Jenny Dutton, Rhiannon Newman-Brown, Athena Chenery, Franki Langridge, Alice Trillo, Laura Cameron, Monica Filby, Charlotte Inglis, Gemma Wheeler, Sasha Ball, Stephanie White, Katherine Adams, Hannah Gibbs, Rebecca Inglis, Tori Hunt, Caroline Gentles, Sophie Chapman, Emma Hayes, Tom Holliday, Simon Bodey, Matthew Knight, Oliver Henderson, Oliver Fraser, Avis Ngan, James Barnes, Marc Nunn, Tim Adams, Charlie Wells, Yorick Moes, Peter Lawrence, Andrew Bailey, William Gold, Nick Kenwrick-Piercy and Paul Fairbairn.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD

D.M.F. THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

Peter Lawrence. (M.J. T.)

202

Yorick Moes. (M.J.T.)

Nick Kenwrick-Piercy. (M.J.T.)

203

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The French Reading Club meets on Wednesdays in the Green Room or, when driven out by FRENCH jazz bands in the Shirley Hall, in J6. Unashamedly intellectual, so far we have tackled READING CLUB poetry by Baudelaire, Verlaine, Rimbaud and Hugo, as well as stories by Constant .

Flaubert, and Gide. The club exists for the impassioned reader of French literature, and t~ giVe a taste of what might lie ahead for Oxbridge linguists. It is also fun. In the summer term there are plans a banquet, and a trip to Paris. Members of this exclusive club can be recognised as follows. Just say, 'stuffed parrot'.

The club member will give themselves away by launching into a disquisition on the link between a stuffed parrot (Flaubert' s) and the meaning of life.

T.J.A.

FE.T.'s cooking (and eating) activity. Penny Cox, Rebecca Frere, Louise Ollerearnshaw, Lucy Lake, Rumina Shivji. (M.J.T.)

The Jazz Club, directed by Steve Bushnell and Annabel Whibley, had a busy Lent term, preparing intensely for the annual Charity Jazz and Big Band Concert that, this year, took place in the Shirley Hall on Saturday 8th March and was in aid of the Meningitis Trust (also the School's Charity of the Term). The concert is reviewed elsewhere in this Cantuarian by Mr Peter Cook, to whom I am extremely grateful for taking on the job at short notice. The personnel of the Big Band has been: Adam Brown, Larry Ridges, Estelle Davies and Louise Robertson (alto saxophones), Annabel Whibley and Simon Peel (tenor saxophones), Joel Marshall (baritone saxophone), Andrew Ribbans, Emily Hague, Charles Miller-Jones, Matt Berry an.d Harry Pope (trumpets), Richard Peat, Sam Parker, Simon Bodey and Dave Smith (trombones), James Longstaffe (piano), James Barker (guitar), Jon Cox (bass guitar) and Ivo Neame (drums). Charles Rice and Delia Williams provided the vocals in September in the Rain. The Traditional Band comprised Annabel Whibley (tenor sa~ophone/leader), Rachel Barr (clarinet), Steve Bushnell (trumpet), Richard Peat (trombone), James Longstaffe (plano), Mark Wharton (bass), Jon Cox (banjo) and Ivo Neame (drums). The modern group, The Four, consisted of Ivo Neame (piano/leader), Steve Bushnell (trumpet), Jon Cox (bass) and Tom Morey (drums). Iva's sister, Olivia Neame, ~ontributed. on percussi~n in .st Thomas. There was o?ce again participation from the Barbershop Quartet, led by Richard Colhns (tenor), With S1mon Peel (tenor), and Wlll Tallon and Adam Brown (basses); they were joined for one number by Delia Williams. (It was claimed to be a historical 'first' to have feminine representation in the Barbershop slot, but those of us with longer memories and who have clocked up more years know that it was not!)

Before the concert, the King's Jazz Orchestra gained enormous benefit from yet another mastcrclass from Mr James Rae, on Wednesday 26th February, ten days or so before the concert itself. This event always boosts the Ban~'s co~fidence and puts the final 'icing on the cake' and I am very grateful to Mr Stefan Anderson for generously makmg this possible once again to the Jazz Club, and indeed for his support generally to the Club. Other unseen heroes of this event are Mr George Neeve and Mr Lee Rigley of the King's School Press, who produced an elegant programme literally overnight.

The Jazz Club also had an eventful Summer term, with involvement in three events in King's Week this time, as w~ll as a charity engagement in (of all places!) a church! The Traditional Band and the Barbershop Group played this unusual venue (which, however, had splendid acoustics, as my film of the event bears witness) on Saturday April JAZZ CLUB

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at the invitation of the Revd John Allan, Vicar of St Vincent's, Littleboume, and at the instigation of Mrs Jean coates. The concert was in aid of St Vincent's roof repairs. I am very grateful to Mr Bill Browning for his services as mini-bus driver on this occasion. Other events have been a Masterclass with Mr James Rae on Tuesday, June 24th, O.K.S. Jazz Dance in a marquee in St Augustine's on Wednesday June 25th, the intimate 'club' event, Groovin' High, performed by Ivo Neame's group The Four (and others) in the Pupils' Social Centre on Friday June 27th, and King's Week Jazz Concert itself, which finished the Week on Wednesday July 2nd.

With the exception of the substitution of Jutta Maschler for Joel Marshall on baritone saxophone in the King's Orchestra, the personnel of the Big Band, the Traditional Group, The Four and the Barbershop Group were as the Lent Term Concert, and are detailed above. The vocalists were Anne-Christine Farstad, Delia Williams and 'L./U~~~.~- Rice. Alex Higgins and Will Justice were saxophonists in Groovin' High. The personnel of the O.K.S. Jazz Dance were as follows (former Musical Directors of the Jazz Club - eight of them, all from within the last ten ! - are marked with an asterisk): Alto-saxophones: Ed Millard* (SH 1989-94), Dan Bartlette (MR 1991-96); Tenor saxophones: Annabel Whibley* (WL 1992-97), (also Ollie Syrus, StJohn's College, Oxford); Baritone saxophone: Bill McConnell (Staff 1979-91); 1rombones: Nick Tattersall* (MT 1991-96), Alex Neame (SH 1990-95), James Lawrence* (GR 1983-88), (also Woolf, Royal Academy of Music); Trumpets: Damian Simpson (MR 1985-90), Matt Brown* (MR 1990-95), Tim Marson* (WL 1988-90 and TR 1990-93), (also Alex Gallafent, Oriel College, Oxford); Piano: Jasper Beauprez (LX 1986-91); Guitar: Tom Robertson (MT 1990-95); Bass: Sholto Byrnes* (SH 1985-90), Chris Creissen* (SH 1988-93); Drums: Tim Weller (TR 1983-88), Peter Morgan (J.K.S. 1950-56); Clarinet: Graeme Parkin (MT 1990-95); Vocalists: Seb Dawson-Bowling (MR 1987-92), Chris Jepp (GL 1987-92), Mark Dobell (GL 1987-92).

The O.K.S. Big Band was directed by James Lawrence, and the whole event was masterminded by Tim Marson, Matt Brown and James Lawrence. An O.K.S. member of the sound team was Tim Jackson (MT 1990-93).

Inevitably - and as always - large numbers of current members are leaving. Jutta Maschler is returning to Germany at the end of VIb, but her contributions on baritone saxophone on her very last day at King's were much appreciated. Will Justice likewise appeared right at the end of his King's career as a saxophonist in Groovin' High.

Rachel Barr has been our clarinettist in the traditional bands from the moment of her arrival here in the Sixth-Form.

Richard Collins has managed to combine organising the Barbershop Groups, and contributing some beautiful tenor to them, whilst somehow, in several concerts, still managing to run the technical sound-control (about which more, later), as well as, on some occasions, a simultaneous radio-broadcast! Simon Peel, in addition to playing - as Nick Tattersall once famously described it - 'with attitude' in Big-Band saxophone-solos, also provided beautiful tenor in the Barbershop Groups. Adam Brown was his 'mirror image' in that he was a bass who quietly injected considerable humour into the Barbershop performances, and, like Simon, was a mainstay of the saxophone section of the King's Jazz Orchestra; he was also a valuable member of some of the more modern small-groups. The altosaxophone section is also losing Estelle Davies, long a feature of K.J.O.'s front-line. We are also now bereft of pianist James Longstaffe who came fairly late in his musical career at King's to the Jazz Club, but has, nevertheless, blossomed, especially in his increasingly splendid contributions to the Big Band. The trumpet section is diminished by the departure of Matt Berry, a tremendously modest and loyal member who, in his quiet way, has laid down some distinguished solos, which he leaves behind in the Club's Film and Video-Film Archive. The Trombone section with the loss of stalwarts Richard Peat (who also played in the Traditional Group) and Dave Smith.

This leaves the duo who musically directed the King's Jazz Orchestra this year: Annabel Whibley and Steve Bushnell. Their respective talents have complemented each other gratifyingly. Both have had valuable musical input; had the flamboyance and drive to stand 'up-front' and wield the baton; Annabel followed up with her formidable organisational ability (that certainly kept me on my toes regarding the 'admin.' side of the proceedings!) which ensured that music and people were always in the right place at the right time. Before that, Steve was, for many years, a major player in the trumpet section, and Annabel likewise among the saxophones. Each has contributed also to a variety of traditional and modem groups over the years. I am very grateful to both of them. I thank Annabel for keeping the torch of the traditional jazz alive by running that group; I also take the opportunity to thank Ivo Neame (although, mercifully, he is not leaving!) for his part in organising and running the splendid 'modem' side of things this year (including an impressively professional Groovin' High delivered with considerable aplomb and panache). close saying a very fond farewell indeed to several departing people on the technical team, who have been tremendously loyal and supportive over a number of years, and without whom occasions like the King's Week jazz events just could not proceed. I would especially mention the trio of Richard Collins, Owen Buckingham and Paul Tsergas; all have worked incredibly long hours before and, especially (when others are 'partying'!) after major jazz events - and this despite the fact that Richard and Owen have been day-pupils living a considerable distance from School. We have also had long-standing technical support once again this year from Mr Tim Jackson, O.K.S., and 205

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

Mr Ollie Nash, O.K.S. And, of course, the whole thing has been overseen by the benign and discerning eye of Mr Steve Bree who, as always, in his quiet way has been a tower of strength, despite an especially harrowing King's Week for him this year, because of the weather. Finally, I thank Mr Bill Browning for his continuing support and of course, Miss Janet Taylor and her Front-of-House team for all the un-sung work that they do. ' R.B.MA. During the Lent Term the Marlowe Society enjoyed the guest appearance by Sue Tompkins, a local poet. She combined a reading of her poetry with a discussion about her inspiration.

This was particularly interesting as her poems reflected so much personal experience and feeling which we could all relate to. She touched on topics as diverse as window shopping, love and nature. Her poems were varied in structure and often poignant, or so thought the youthful among us, while the old cynics of Jervis were slightly more sceptical. By demonstrating her abilities to find inspiration from such simple things, she encouraged us to explore our own certainty.

A.A.P.'s 6B SET.

MARLOWE SOCIETY

Once again, the Pater Society has been busy, organising a variety of 'After Hours' activities.

The Sixth Form got the year off to a really good start by presenting a pair of lectures. Mark Williams spoke compellingly on 'Goddesses' and James Brilliant gave a scholarly exposition on 'Women in Antiquity'. Both answered questions effectively at the end of the evening: they \tVere informative and entertaining in the right measure.

All the Sixth Form students were able to get involved in the production of a Roman comedy, 'The Haunted House', which attracted a wide-ranging audience. Rehearsal time was short but (some!) lines were learnt, costumes appeared as if by magic, and the whole thing captured the spirit of the original. There were some wonderful cameo roles: these stock characters are alive and well and living in Canterbury!

We were very pleased to welcome Dr Virginia Webb from the Simon Langton School for Girls. She gave an interesting illustrated lecture on 'The Building of the Parthenon' which was much appreciated. It helped to support work done by the Removes, who study Greek Architecture as part of their GCSE course and had just been to the British Museum to see some of the sculptures there, and was of general interest to sixth-formers.

The Shells went to Lullingstone Roman Villa for the day, filled in the famous worksheets, and generally had a fine time out in the countryside.

PATER SOCIETY

Haunted House. Delia Williams, Will Tallon. (M.J.T.)

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

Haunted House. Dorelia Adeane. (M.J. T.)

206

Haunted House.

Mark Williams.

(M.J.T.)

Haunted House.

Claire Baldwin, Nat han, Delia Williams, Lizzie Calder, Hugo MacPherson, Sarah WellesleyWill Tallon, Williams.

(M.J. T.)

What follows is an attempt to mention some of the things that haye happene~ over th~ last

SCIENCE MATTERS few months. The Biology Department gained second and third places m a natiOnal conservation competition (offered by the Willmot-Pertwee Conservation Trust). Members School collected cheques at the award ceremony held at Regent's Park-:- proc.eeds were used to pur~hase t:wo of complete workstations for the Biology Department. 'Doctor's Notes' has contmued m Aft~r.Hours and a fr~ghtemng presentati,on on 'The Science of B.S.E.', given by J.R.P. and M.C.L., wa~ an excel~ent add~twn to the meetmg~. T~e annual Physics trip to CERN went ~head as u.sual and was much enJoye~. Avis Ngan s B.O.C. poster pnze lS mentioned in This and That. James M1ller-Jones 1s to be congratulated on gettmg through to the last ten of the R.S.C. International Chemistry Olympiad, but unfortunately he just missed out on making the B:iti~h team forth~ wo~ldstages. To show that women are alive and well in science, we were represented at the Sc1ence and Engmeenng 207

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

for Women at U.M.I.S.T.' and 'An Appreciation of Chemical Engineering at Birmingham' courses. A party attended the ~.H.S.-sponsored 'The Appliance of Science' exhibition at Maidstone and two members were lucky enough to receive free ~ody scans! To mark the National Science and Technology Week, we sent a large party of Sixth Formers to a talk entitled 'Drug Delivery and Drug Metabolism' given by Dr Serge Jezequel and arranged by Pfizer.

C.J.R.J.

Members of J.A.'s 6b Physics set working on a model of a DNA molecule.

Top: Susanna Oliver, Sophie Macfarlane, Tom Holliday.

Bottom, left to right: James Squires, Neil Thomas, Susanna Oliver, Frances Armitage-Smith, Sophie Macfarlane, Harriet Chater, Tom Holliday. (M.P.H.D.)

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C.C.F. NOTES ROYAL NAVAL SECTION The first part of the term was spent preparing for the Inspection, which ~ook place on a la~e at Hythe. For many it was an introductiOn to the art of wmdsurfing, for most It was a guaranteed swim! Others drove our Dorey and sailed the Bosun or Topper. The rest of the term was spent gaining dinghy sailing experience on Westbere Lake.

James Berry and Christina Nihon-Kufta practised their powerboating skills on the local Sea Cadets and were awarded an R. Y.A. level 1. Matthew Gray and Claire Gilchrist have also been awarded R. Y.A. level 1 powerboati.ng c~rtifica~es. Chrissie and James have also achieved Fust Aid certificates.

Matthew, Addie, Hamish, Richard, Alex and James represented the Secti.on at the South East Area rega~ta at Upnor. Equipment f~Ilure put our f_lrst crew out of actiOna pity as at one pomt they were m fifth place out of 19 crews. Hamish and James managed to remove the navigation lights from an army boat whilst trying to avoid a huge merchant vessel who was obviously not going to 'give way to sail' as it ploughed through the racing fleet. It was a different sort of day - even one of the rescue boats had to be towed away by a dinghy when its engine failed - but all agreed it had been a worthwhile experience!

Chris has achieved the R. Y.A. Dinghy Instructor Certificate. It has been a very successful term. As usual we say goodbye to a number of Shells who have been with us for two terms. We hope they enjoyed it and have learnt something. For the rest we hope that they will all have sailing and powerboating qualifications by half term. Chris has been appointed Head of Corps for next year, so Claire will be helping to take some of the administrative pressure from him.

Bosun dinghy - rudderless. (David James)

'

'

Following our successful recruiting efforts last year involving a training session in a simulated sinking ship, this year we plan to give the Shells an opportunity to leap into a cold lake at the Sea Survival School in Portsmouth as an introduction to the RN section! Other things are planned during their stay on board HMS Bristol.

James will be flying out to Malta to join our affiliated ship, HMS Illustrious, for a fiveday trip to Gibraltar.

Matthew and Jack complete their year by joining a part of the Tall Ships race between Aberdeen and Sweden.

S.McC.

209

THE CANT_UARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

ARMY SECTION CCF Easter Camp- A Shell's eye view I Having to be in school at 6.30 the morning after the end of term, is not my .idea of the start .of a holid~y, played along. The journey, without hitches, was surprisingly short. The bulk of It was ~pent readmg m~ga~mes and eating. We were ready for some fun after such a long journey. yve di~ not expect to fin~ It at the first statiOn m when a five foot tall old Welsh woman told Jack to go away (m a slightly more offensive manner). Then we went to Brecon, where we made the acquaintance of Gary, one of the instructors â&#x20AC;˘. w~¡10 drove us to the c~ntre. When we arrived there, those who were so gullible to believe Mr Franks when he said It was a hotel, got q~ute a shock. for others, it lived up to expectations. We did not expect sue~ a shock when we ~ere merely s.ettmg ou~ beds, sure enough, Cern - complete with mattress and bedding - shd off the top bunk Without damagmg anythmg but ego!

Our first walk was a bit tough going for the first day, considering many of us had never climbed before and we were climbing the highest mountain we were ever going to climb in the h?liday. There was some amusement w!1en Ed Ellis fell flat on his face. It was very tiring, but when we got t<:> the nnddle, we were all cheered. up at the. s1ght of Roshan, in his bright orange waterproofs, Thomas the Tank Engine hat, and bo?ts that were four s1zes too big .for him. And when we had a choice of a flat, simple itinerary, or an arduous, mountamous route, there was no questmn as to which route to take. We all took this route, including Enzo.

The next day, we went canoeing. Jack and Si in a canoe was not a good idea: they managed to capsize twice in total, both times trying to splash others. The only pupil in the end not to get wet was Roshan, who just sat in the middle, doing nothing but saying to the people paddling, 'Get a move on', and generally to everybody, 'I am a pirate!' We went to a campsite and set up our tents, and it must be noted that James, Si and I beat Camp-a-Matt and Neil Thomas. On the night navigation, we navigated ourselves all the way, and we were confronted by the other group, halfway through, who just lay down in the mud, so as not to be seen .. When w~ got to some houses, there was a small gap in between them where an RAF Tornado shot past ?n low flymg exercise. One membe.r of our group, named James Berry, shouted 'Hit the deck!', which everybody ~Id- al?art from Mrs Saund~rs, who JUSt stood th~re in hysterics while everyone else tried to burrow into the earth With the1r teeth. When we arr1ved at the hedge wh1ch we had to cross to get to the minibus, there was no gate where th~re should have been. So we went thro':lgh a hole in the hedge and waited for the seniors, who had run the ~hol~ thing, :vhereas we had merely been st~ollmg. In the evening we went back to our campsite. This was our practice mght and It w~nt very. well, apart from bemg very cold.

In the morning it was a case of eat your brecky, pack your bags and go. Th1s we did and walked back to the centre, about seven miles away.

The next day, the seniors set off on their expedition, and we went abseiling and climbing: The indoor cli~bing centre was very impressive, as was the fact that Jack an~ ?i managed to scale the wall as h1gh as. ro~e permitted, when we were only on the 20 feet practice wall. The abse1lmg :vas also very ~ood and everybody tned 1t, ~xcept for two. In the morning, we set off on our expedition. Some parts mvolved walking al~ng roads, others walkin~ across rivers, and others walking on top of hills amidst the clouds. When we got to the rums where we were campmg,. we got straight into setting up our tents. When it was time to coo~, ou~ tents stopJ?ed to hear .The Sound of fv!uszc courtesy of Andrew Ribbans, singing while washing in the freezmg ~Iver. That ?1ght was qmte peaceful, unt1l there was a thunderstorm. But this did not bother us, as there was a lot to discuss. So m the mormng we cooked our rather undesirable breakfast and restarted our never-ending trek back to the centre - but this was cut short by one leg, due to the generosity of Mr Franks, who picked us up in the minibus. This was the end of our holiday activities.

We would like to thank: Gary, Mrs Saunders and Colonel Morrison (who did most of our act~vities wi~h us and were very helpful), Mr Franks for arranging everything, and the Booths for, above all, managmg the kitchen of 'Meals on Usk'.

JAMES BERRY (SHELL E).

ROYAL AIR FORCE SECTION As the Summer term draws to a wet and windy close, we prepare to depart for our annual Summer Camp at Royal Air Force Lyneham in Wiltshire. The weather forecast for the west of England is depressing, yet it is hoped that our camp will, nonetheless, be a good one.

Despite, apparently, being the wettest June since early in the ni~eteenth century, w~ have managed to enj<?y a very successful term; we had the biennial inspection and our troops enjoyed the opportumty to use the Electromc Target Range at Hythe followed by an exercise on the steep hills ~hie~ seemed to be enjoyed by all. We have some exceedingly 'gung-ho!' cadets who relished the chance to let np with the Cadet GP! However, flying is what we're all about and it was maryellous to be grant~d two c~nsecuti:re flyin~ day.s at Royal Air Force Manston when all eligible members of the SectiOn were able to.enJOY an A1r ~xpenence Fhght m the new cadet training aircraft, the Bulldog. It's a vast improvement on the Chipmunk an~ virtually ~11 members of the section have now been aloft- and many have subjected themselves to death-defymg ae~obati~ ~anoeuvres. All enjoyed the experience and word soon spread. We face the year ahead as the str~ngest sect~on w1thm the CCF and, I am delighted to say, look forward to welcoming members who have had no prevwus expenence of the CCF as well as those who have decided to transfer from other sections.

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Vve are still not as strong as, perhaps, we would like to be but those people that we do have are of high calibre I that they will remain with us. I have been able to make well-deserved promotions and these have included -'"''·nn•~ru--.n..: to the rank of Cpl for James Shattock, Tom Calvert and Richard Steele. Each of these now head a flight, supported by newly appointed J/Cpls Robeira Crouch, Lyndsay Sharp and Fraser Hewett, headed by the very Sgt Henry Coltart as Head of Section. I am both proud of their abilities and grateful for their contributions. Each every one of them does both the Section and the School a great credit.

Having mentioned the NCOs, I'd also like to mention the new recruits. Again, it is clear that in these we see some extremely high calibre cadets and I only hope that they will maintain the high level of enthusiasm which they have far demonstrated: Cadets Beaudry Kock, Zachary Saitoti, James 'I want to be a J/Cpl' Wells (he will be more a J/Cpl one day if he bides his time!), Simon Darroch, Sachin Premnath, Max Blain and Sam Loy-Fripp have out in particular as excellent examples of what we are about and I am delighted that the majority of them decided to remain with us. I wish them a happy, lengthy and successful career within the Section. i\s I started out by saying, we are now preparing to embark on summer camp at Royal Air Force Lyneham, which is home to virtually the entire RAF Hercules fleet. It is hoped that all cadets will get a flight in a 'Fat Albert'. programme also includes Bulldog flying, a night exercise, swimming, sports, ten-pin bowling, shooting, a to Yeovilton Air Museum, a trip to Bath, work experience and visits to areas such as the RAF Regiment, the Fire 1...1'-'''·'u."'u' the Police Dog Section and the Tactical Medical Wing. RAF Lyneham is very much alive-and-kicking and cadets are assured of a great time. For less than £30, it represents great value. Our cadets have made a very ~"''",..,.,.., choice in joining the RAF section and some - at times - have had to endure ridicule from those who are content to opt for softer options. At the end of the proverbial day, our cadets will have had the advantage and I salute and all for having the guts to do what they enjoy and benefit from. Each and every one has something to be of.

This is, of course, the term in which we say farewell to members leaving the Section. It is with great sadness that I bid farewell to Cadet Warrant Officer Jenna Crouch who has held the position of Head of Corps this year.

A committed member of the Corps - and Crouch RAF dynasty - she has been a valued member of the Section and the Corps well during a difficult year. I wish her all the best for the future. It only remains for me to thank Headmaster, RSM Booth, Major Martin Vye (Contingent Commander) and my wife, Plt Off Amanda McFall, has recently joined the section, for the support they have offered to ensure that our Section flourishes. I'm not Attenborough, so I'll keep the thank-you's to a minimum, but a successful Section does not happen without keen cadets. They are certainly the most important members of it and I thank them all.

FLT LT A. McFALL, OC CCF(RAF).

I

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SPORT Cricket 1st XI With shorter summer terms the matches in Cricket Week represent an increasing proportion of the season's fixtures. This year's non-s_top rain at this time therefore had a disastrous effect, reducmg the number _o f matches played dramatically. In contrast ~he season began With dry and fast wickets and the XI w~:m their first match against Highgate convincingly by 9 WIC~ets. A week_later, on a splendid batting wicket, the XI, havmg bee_n put m to bat, declared at 218/3 with Will leading the way With 86 no~ out. However, Dulwich batted positively from the s~art and With the XI only setting defensive fields too la~e, Dulwtch reached their target for the loss of two wickets With t~ee overs to spare. It was, though, a well-judged declarati<?n and although it was the XI's only defeat of the season, It was a splendid match. A wasted journey to Eastbourne for a game rait;led off a~ter an hour's play was followed by a drawn game With Cranletgh. The opposition were allowed to score too freely and then, losing wickets at crucial mom~nts, the _XI we!e never on target to reach the 226 required for VIctory. Either SI~e of half-term very convincing victories, by 133 runs and 9 Wickets respectively, were recorded against Dover C<:>llege and Sutton Valence. The highlights of the drawn match With the Band of Brothers were Gareth's fine century

and Alex's five wickets, which nearly secured a last mi victory. At K.C.S . Wimbledon the XI having won the to nute "bl · b ' ss and sen~I .Y optmg to owl_ ~n a damp and slow wicket, failed to capttahze on the conditions and allowed the opposition to escap_e _from 35 for 3 after an ~our 's play to 193/7 declared. A promismg reply of 40 for no Wicket after 50 minutes' batt" tea, then faded with the loss of 3 quick wickets and the XImg at left to comfortably bat out time. After a monsoon ~er: downpour on the first day of the O.K.S . match it was a miric)e ~ha~ we played on the second. With the match reduced to one mmngs, the XI proved comfortably the better side bowling th~ O.K.S. for 143 and reaching the target for the ioss of onl~~ ~Ickets .. The last _game of the season was also spoilt b mterruptwns for ram, but at least a match was played. The b~wled out The ~tragglers of Asia for 135, but then losin Wickets at regular mtervals, they could only finish on 114 fo6g off 30 overs. r

x)

W~th so_ few m~tches and two of those played being very ~:me-sided, It was di~cult fo~ several players to get sufficient! mvol~ed to fulfil t~eir I?otential. Will and Simon formed a goo~ opemn~ part?ership With the former driving particularly well ~nd_ usi~g his two years' exp~rience to mould many useful mmngs, and_ the latter playmg very straight, gaining in confidence With every match an_d scoring more freely at the end of the season. Gareth, an attacking !!umber three with plenty of good ~hots, was th~ top sc?rer With 374 runs including his sple~did century. Mike and Simon, as well as sharing the duties of WI~ket-keeper most successfully, were an attacking pair in ~he. middle or~er. Mike sometimes attacked too early in his m?mgs and ~Id not make as many runs as he would have Wished, but Simon confirmed his potential for n·ext year with

Cricket 1st XI 1997.

J. Hardy, M. E. Ziegler, 0. D. Fraser, T. H. Davies, p Shah.

Slttmg. A. G. B. Wzllzams, A. C. Reynolds, W R. Bax, G. J. R. Williams, S. C. Youngman. (Paul Dixon)

Standing:·~-~- Cleobury, ~.. A.M. O'Neil-Dunne, H. R.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

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BATTING AVERAGES AND BOWLING AVERAGES Innings Not Runs Highest Average Out Score Williams G. 9 3 374 100 62.3 4 2 115 45* 57.5 Williams A. 40.5 Bax 8 2 243 86* Youngman 5 2 118 40* 39.3 158 36 22.6 Cleobury 8 1 Ziegler 8 1 81 26* 11.6 Also batted: Davies 4-2-29-26-14.5; O'Neil-Dunne 4- 1-56-3318.7; Shah 2-2-13-12*-; Wyand 2-1-32-32*-32.

Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Average Reynolds 143.1 41 301 25 12.0 Davies 30.1 5 97 7 13.9 168 12 14 Williams G. 47 8 Fraser 69.1 19 192 11 17.5 Shah 22 1 88 4 22 17 185 7 26.4 Hardy 63 .2 O' Neil-Dunne 40 4 145 4 36.3 Also bowled: Bax 3-0-27-0-; Carey 9-1-27-0-; Hamlin 2-020-0-

(M.J.T.)

good in~ings in his limited opportunit!es. Alistair showed in ?is few innmgs both very sound techmque and good attacking shots and he should score heavily next year. Theo and Chris had few opportunities but shared a match saving partnership against Cranleigh, and the majority of the remaining members of the team did not bat throughout the season. The bowling attack was led by Alex who bowled by far the greatest numbers of overs and with much better control this year, finished the season with a very creditable 25 wickets including 5 wickets in an innings four times. Henry, with good control and movement off the pitch, bowled very well but with little luck in the early season matches, but once his back injury reappeared he lost his rhythm and eventually had to stand down. Ollie was a model of consistency and could be relied upon to bowl a good line and length. Gareth always made something happen and averaged a wicket every 4 overs, but the other bowlers, Theo, Chris and Prateek, suffered from not getting the opportunity of bowling regular long spells.

I would like to thank Will for his cheerful Captaincy and keeping everyone's spirits up, especially during the wet spells; Sam and his colleagues for once again producing excellent wickets and nets and Alan Ealham and Mark Benson for their very much appreciated and excellent coaching at all levels.

Lastly, congratulations to Grange for winning the Junior House competition - rain prevented the Senior from being completed - and to Gareth Williams and Tom Bruce on winning the Barnes Cricket Prizes.

A.W.D. Team: William Bax* (Captain), Simon Cleobury, Thea Davies, Oliver Fraser, Henry Hardy, Christopher O'NeilDunne, Alexander Reynolds*, Prateek Shah, Alistair Williams*, Gareth Williams*, Simon Youngman, Michael Ziegler.

Also played: Benjamin Carey, Alexander Forrest, Timothy Hamlin, John Hillier, Edward Wyand. * First Colours awarded or re-awarded.

RESULTS Played 9, Won 4, Drawn 4, Lost 1, Abandoned 4.

Highgate, 126 (Reynolds 20-8-31-5); K.S.C., 128/1 (Williams G. 50*). Won. K.S.C., 218/3 dec. (Bax 86*); Dulwich, 221/2. Lost.

Eastboume, 49/ 1; K.S.C. Rain: abandoned.

Cranleigh, 225/5 dec.; K.S.C., 136/7. Drawn.

K.S.C., 197/4 dec. (Williams G. 81 *); Dover College, 64 (Reynolds 15.3-7-25-5, Hardy 12-6-26-4). Won. Sutton Valence, 58; K.S.C., 59/ 1. Won. K.S.C., 244/7 dec. (Williams G. 100); Band of Brothers, 102/9 (~ynolds 18-6-28-5). Drawn.

K.C.S. Wimbledon, 193/7 dec.; K.S.C., 127/5. Drawn.

O.K.S., 143 (Reynolds 16-3-31 -5); K.S.C., 147/3. Won. Stragglers of Asia, 135 (Davies 10-4-13-4); K.S.C., 114/6.

Drawn.

(M.J.T.)

2nd XI It hardly seems appropriate to comment on a season that never really was. It was apparent in net practice that the team was likely to be more than a little cavalier in its batting, and not quite have sufficient variation and penetration in its bowling, so that a repetition of last season's unbeaten run was not likely. So it proved.

The match against St Lawrence was nothing on which to base our judgment of how we might fare in the tougher games.

Ollie Fraser was in deadly form, and ripped through the visitors with twelve maidens in fifteen overs for three runs and five wickets. We generously allowed them to put on 39 for the last wicket, more than doubling their score for the first nine. We contrived to lose a couple of silly wickets before sanity was restored and an easy victory was secured. Some pacy bowling by the home side at Dulwich made it difficult to score, but a smash and grab innings by John Hillier led the way until his weakness on the leg stump was exposed, and the innings slowed. Our declaration was far too generous, and made worse by the way the opposition pillaged the bowling to take victory forty -five minutes early. Against Cranleigh we seemed to have learned our lesson, and after some fine hitting from Greengrass and shrewd running_from Parker, we set a challenging total to chase. Unfortunately, having been shorn of Ollie, whose accuracy was being employed to good effect in the 1st XI, our attack could not contain the home batsmen, and a muscular but crude century from their opening bat saw them home with an over or two to spare.

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Oliver Henderson, Declan Marriott, Alistair Williams and Mark Westlake.

It was a pity the season was so truncated. This was an enthusiastic and entertaining side. The batting was risky, the running between the wickets even more so, since most of the side believed in silent communication two run-outs in three innings for Alex Hayes bore testimony to the ineffectiveness of the method. Technically we were not great, but we did punish the bad ball well, and our batting was always good value for the spectator. Our bowling, frankly, was just not good enough, neither straight nor penetrating, and so we were always going to struggle to win games. Our catching was erratic, and at Cranleigh we missed several sitters that cost us the match.

Nonetheless, it was fun, such as it was, and with the majority of the side - most of whom practised hard - back next year, and perhaps with some work in the winter nets, who knows what we might achieve next season. Thank you to everyone who played, and especially Ed for his efforts as captain in a frustrating season.

R.C.W. Team from: Ed Butler (Captain), Rob Adams, Alex Forrest, Oliver Fraser, David Greengrass, Tim Hamlin, Alex Hayes, John Hillier, Matthew Knight, Chris Letts, Declan Marriott, Jonathan Norris, Sam Parker, Philip Stubbings.

RESULTS StLawrence, 75 all out (Fraser 5-3, Marriott 2-7, Knight 2-28); K.S.C. *, 77 for 5 (Norris 21 not out). Won. K.S.C., 172 for 5 dec. (Hillier 65); Dulwich*, 173 for 4 (Fraser 3-47). Lost.

K.S.C., 194 for 9 dec. (Parker 57, Greengrass 55); Cranleigh*, 197 for 3. Lost. *Home team

RESULTS K.S.C., 117 all out; Dover, 116 all out. Won. Dulwich, 190-6 dec.; K.S.C., 103 all out. Lost.

K.S.C., 107 all out; Cranleigh, 108-6. Lost.

K.S.C., 109 all out; Cranbrook, 63-6. Drawn.

Colts XI After the first few practices and nets, the view of experienced observers was that this must be one of the least talented teams for many years. A glance at their record seemed to confirm this. Perhaps, thought the masters-in-charge, this might be the worst Colts XI ever.

What went wrong? Against Dulwich, Andrew Foinette and Ed Vainker cemented a remarkably tenacious opening partnership, and Ed Wyand and Dan Holdstock added over a hundred together. The bowlers responded and Dulwich never looked like winning until Nico Berry's astonishing last over: needing 21 with six balls to go, they needed just two off the last. The middle stump was hit. The Cranleigh match provided the only dull ending. After a modest performance with the enlivened by some swashbuckling tail-end hitting (but end was the tail?) Ben Carey and James Mitchell reduced the home side to 11 for 4. Thereafter the win was just a matter of time.

The Tonbridge match was perhaps the highlight of the term.

Again the Carey-Mitchell duo restrained their batsmen a helpful wicket. An apparently generous declaration looked conservative as the wickets tumbled. Ed Wyand then played the class innings of the season, and with help from Paul Broxup and James Mitchell took us to the brink of victory. But six runs needed with four wickets left became two runs needed with the last man facing. The captain then secured the win the exciting way: being dropped behind, and hitting the next ball to the boundary.

Could this now amazing eleven top that in their last match?

Of course they could. Kent Schools were restricted to 130 thanks to an effective all-round effort in the field. The batsmen then embarrassed themselves and their supporters as good bowling, bad luck and inept shots reduced our world-beaters to 22 for 9. Meanwhile Ed Vainker, the opening batsman was still there, having amassed five runs. He was joined by Junior Colt Henry Walpole, who put bat to ball in uninhibited fashion.

When Ed, after an astonishing feat of concentration and determination, was finally adjudged LBW, he was on seven and Henry on 68 not out; the total was 97, and one of the most remarkable recoveries in the history of the game was cruelly cut short.

It was a season that few of the players will forget. Special praise goes to the captain, Ben Carey, for his canny leadership, and to the whole team for proving the pundits wrong in such dramatic fashion.

P.G.H. and H.E.J.A. Team: Ben Carey (Captain), Nicholas Berry, Paul Broxup, Anthony Burton, Andrew Foinette, John Knowles, Daniel Holdstock, James Mitchell, Richard Steele, Edward Vainker, Edward Wyand.

Also played: Matthew Chataway, George Gossage, Jonathan Nicholson, Marc Nunn, Henry Walpole.

RESULTS K.S.C., 177 for 3 dec. (Holdstock 76*, Wyand 53*); Dulwich, 176 for 7 (Berry 4-64). Drawn.

K.S.C., 137, Cranleigh, 105 (Mitchell4-20, Carey 3-18, Berry 3-28). Won. Tonbridge 'A', 119 for 6 dec. (Berry 3-37); K.S.C., 122 for (Wyand 60). Won. Kent Schools, 130; K.S.C., 97 (Walpole 68*). Lost.

3rdXI 'There's never been a game like it!' 'The tension was unbearable!' 'They were gutted!' These might have been the following day's headlines. But the third XI never make the headlines, so the magnificent one-run victory over Dover College in the first match of the season went unremarked beyond the walls of the Precincts. It was an excellent performance, set up by some good batting from Brooks and Adams, and some niggardly bowling from Hillier and Hayes.

The rain saved Highgate (we didn't actually begin the game, but we would have won had we done so), but unfortunately didn't save King's at Dulwich. Dulwich scored an exciting 190 for 6, helped by a generous bout of dropped catches, and, despite some resistance from Brooks and Captain Peel, King's managed only 103 all out - the hoped-for drizzle was not enough to convince the umpire that we should return to the Pavilion. The trip to Eastbourne gave the lie to those who complain about Britain's changeable climate- it was raining when we left Canterbury, it rained throughout the journey, it rained whilst we ate lunch, it rained all the way back to Canterbury. Nothing very changeable about that: we didn't play any cricket, obviously, but we used up a lot of time. Cranleigh came to Birley's Piece, and were introduced to Byford's belligerent bat - 35 runs from as many balls, together with a more reserved approach from Peel and Stubbings, left them a total of 108 for victory. Despite an excellent bowling performance from Marriott they managed this with a couple of overs to spare. Byford's bat was joined by Collis's caressing cudgel for the final match, against Cranbrook. Our 109 on a vicious, lifting, seaming wicket looked good. It seemed even better when Marriott and Westlake reduced the opposition to 45 for 6, but an ill-judged substitution of wicketkeepers reduced the collective zeal, and two of the most inept batsmen extant somehow managed to keep our bowlers at bay for 17 overs. The match was drawn, the season was over.

The following represented the School during this abbreviated season: Philip Stubbings, Matthew Brooks, John Hillier, Alex Hayes, Tom Byford, Simon Peel, Christopher Letts, Sam Parker, Robert Adams, Mark Hill, James MillerJones, Richard Johnson, Laurence Ridges, Alastair Lewis, Adam Withrington, Joshua Collis, Charles Leigh-Pemberton,

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Junior Colts 'B' XI As the results below confirm, this was not a good season for the team or indeed any individual. The captain remained enthusiastic throughout and never failed to encourage his players. However, the results were all too predictable from about 30 minutes into each game. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr Bradley for giving of his time. He is retiring at the end of term, and it would have been nice to have won a game for him!

P.W.F. RESCLTS Played 5, Lost 5.

Dulwich, 208-3 dec.; K.S.C., 41. Lost.

K.S.C., 110-9 dec.; Cranleigh, 111-3. Lost.

Simon Langton, 163-7 dec.; K.S.C., 46. Lost.

K.S.C., 38; Tonbridge, 40-3. Lost.

Ursuline College, 136-7 dec.; K.S.C., 47. Lost.

The team was selected from the followinf?: King A.J. (Captain), Hume J.C.T., Jackling T.D., Lethbridge B.M., MacAdie W.E., Panman J.A., Papa-Adams A.T., Pritchard E.A.C., Quayle C.M., Sandeman-Allen J.D., Webber G.T., Wijesurendra R.S.

Tony Burton, Ed Wyand, Matthew Chataway, Richard Steele.

(M.J. T.)

This was a season severely disrupted by bad weather in

Under Fourteen 'B' XI

which the team's results did not reflect individual potential,

a promising start. Sadly, at no stage did everybody at their best at the same time and more than one game ended frustratingly as far as the team was concerned.

The batting flourished at times but failed to discover any real consistency (apart from at Dover, Dulwich and Cranleigh), it very difficult to 'chase' runs when batting second.

However, Matthew Fyjis-Walker did emerge as a much im11ro'ved opening batsman who, together with the Atherton temperament of Olly Robinson, gave the team solidity when it mattered most. The other top-order players Matthew Chataway, Alex Harborne, Gbenga Odimayo and Ed Eccles all played their shots, occasionally very effectively, but tended to out too often. Of the all-rounders, Henry Walpole saved his innings for the Colts (we needed him then) and in the nets, whilst Dave Farrar scored well for short periods. They were both, however, our most effective bowlers and could, in be match-winners. Lower down in the order, Richard chipped in with some valuable runs and Joshua Pollen to be very difficult to get out.

With some keen fielding, when the ball was stoppable and catchable, it was the bowling that was our real weakness. In addition to Henry and Dave, Josh Pollen, Matthew Chataway and Oily Robinson all had their day but failed to reproduce line and length regularly enough. The ball found its way to the boundary far too often and games slipped, then rushed, away us. Nevertheless, this was a season that was enjoyed by all thanks go to Mr Cocksworth and Mr Bradley for their help.

Rain washed away most of the hopes and aspirations of what looked to be a most promising season. Three of the eight matches were cancelled and in one other conditions were very poor. The losses to Dulwich and Simon Langton were to superior teams (and on the latter occasion we played badly as well). If we had held our catches we might have beaten Highgate though by the end the ball was a bar of soap. If the opening batsman had not been told to get out against Cranleigh we might have won there too, but at least it meant that the rest of the team did not have a wasted journey. And if one's only victory of the season is by a mere run it suggests that the team has potential, both technically and, more important, mentally.

Two opening partnerships of over a hundred (Lawrence White featuring in each) gave the batting confidence. James Murden was the leading run scorer including two sixties (one in only just over half an hour). He hits the ball mighty hard, though he is selective: if he could discipline himself more on the off side he could become a good batsman. What Lawrence lacked in technique and elegance he more than made up for in determination and tactics, and his bowling was also very effective on occasions. The other main bowlers were Sachin Premnath and Roshan Aliyaratnam, both of whom looked good when they tossed the ball up: it was Sachin's second spell that won the Tonbridge match. Raymond Owens would have scored a lot of runs and taken a lot of wickets had he not moved to the 'A' XI. Over the season as a whole the fielding ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again. A bit like England, really. It was James Murden's fine boundary catch that clinched the Tonbridge game.

Some good moments, despite the rain. The non run-out at Dulwich, will stay in the memory for a long time So will the overall enthusiasm. Let's hope that next year the weather allows the players to develop their potential.

MATTHEW CHATAWAY. Team (played more than one game): Matthew Chataway (~~aptain), Edward Eccles, David Farrar, Matthew FyjisWalker. William Gould, Alex Harborne, William MacAdie, Odimayo, Joshua Pollen, Oliver Robinson, Alistair Henry Walpole, Richard Woods.

RESCLTS Played 10, Won 1, Drawn 5, Lost 4. v Dover College. Won by 150 runs (Chataway 53). v Highgate. Drawn (Walpole 6-23). v Simon Langton. Lost by 75 runs. v Dulwich. Lost by 8 wickets (Harborne 86, Odimayo 66*). v St Edmund's. Match abandoned: drawn. v Cranleigh. Drawn (Robinson 58, Eccles 86). v StLawrence. Drawn (Chataway 53). v Sutton Valence. Drawn. v Kent Schools Ul4. Lost by 100 runs. v K.C.S. Wimbledon. Lost by 120 runs.

G.D.W. RESULTS Played 5, Won 1, Lost 2, Drawn 2.

K.S.C., 158-2 dec. (Owens 82*, White 46); Highgate, 136-8 (Owens 4-23). Drawn.

K.S.C., 113 (Aldridge 21, Wood 21); Dulwich, 116-2. Lost.

Cranleigh, 168-9 dec. (White 6-43); K.S.C., 156-8 (Murden 60, White 38). Drawn.

K.S.C., 146 (Murden 60); Tonbridge, 145 (Premnath 4-27, Ludbrook 3-23, White 2-44). Won. Simon Langton G.S., 235-8 (30-over game); K.S.C., 116 (29.4 overs). Lost.

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THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

willow. It was a superb performance from the bowlers. The of the match award however was undeniably the property of Bob Bee, who in his last match ever for the Haymakers took a trick to conclude the day's proceedings. It was a magnificent way in which to end a most distinguished cricketing career. Vve wish him all the very best in his retirement.

It is hoped that the weather next season will be a little more conducive to the playing of the game. Many of the Haymakers will be 'Harvesting' in Dorset after the end of term. Let us hope that their good form follows them down to the west country.

Team selected from: Henry Aldridge, Roshan Ariyaratnam, Nicholas Carty, Nicholas Cullen, Alexander Foster, Richard Gordon-Williams, Oliver Humphrey, James Ludbrook, Edward Marno, Luke Montgomery, James Murden, James Northern, Sachin Premnath (Captain), Raymond Owens, Jonathan Reeve, Lawrence White (Captain), Alistair Wildblood, Hayden Wood.

Under Fourteen 'C' XI There is great joy in working with a team that not only enjoys the sport but also enjoys working as a team. There is great joy in seeing people, who at the start of the season were protesting that they simply were not cricketers, being willing to work at the basics (line and length for the bowlers; the batsmen keeping their eye on the ball). Consequently by the end of the season they were cricketers playing with zest and pleasing competence. Stuart Rowan and Charles Wacher are proof that perseverance provides results. Indeed, Stuart's nonchalant plucking of the ball out of the air at square leg at Tonbridge is firmly in the memory, together with Hamish Backhouse's inspired fumbling of a catch in the same match to run out the non-striker (the more dangerous batsman). Freddie Hadfield scoring runs merrily; Miles Leahy captaining positively; James Berry batting earnestly and 'D.-C.' striking the ball outrageously against Dulwich: these are also among the memories of a happy season. Martyn Ballards has been an admirable coach, inculcating technical advice with great enthusiasm and success. A member of the team asked that it is not said in the Cantuarian report that this was the team that had been best to work with since no one would believe it: that is said, routinely, every year about teams whose results are not brilliant. Yet, regardless of the results, it is true: this was indeed a team that not only played cricket positively but also was simply a joy to be with.

J.A.T. Team: M. Leahy (Captain), H.C. Backhouse, T.P.M. Barnes, M.J.E. Berry, N.J. Carty, N.B.J. Cullen, F.G. Hadfield, E.C.S. Marno, J.A. Northern, S.A. Ribchester, A.E. ('D.-C.') Rosiji, S.T.R. Rowan, L.R. Silver, C.N. Wacher, A.J. Wildblood, R.C.R. Young, C.E. Ziya.

PT. RESULTS

Played 4, Won 2, Lost 1, Drawn 1.

Haymakers, 129 (P.J. Stubbings 46, B. Simon 27); Hicks Forstal, 133 for 4 (B. Simon 2 for 17). Lost by 6 wickets.

Canterbury Diocesan XI, 142 (A. Forrest 3 for 17); Haymakers, 143 for 4 ( P.J. Stubbings 66 not out). Won by 6 wickets.

Wandering Minstrels, 208 for 4; Haymakers, 167 for 7 ( P. Shah 79 not out). Drawn.

Haymakers, 145 (A. Bee 69); Alkham, 39 (R. Bee 4 for 1 Won by 106 runs.

CANTERBURY HARVESTERS' TWENTY-EIGHTH TOUR The wettest June since 1860 was the prelude to another week of blazing Dorset sunshine, with records broken and landmarks achieved - a typically successful Tour, in fact. At Sandroyd, Paul Fowler hit his second century in three years as the bowlers toiled on the slowest wicket anyone could remember and all the opposition batsmen enjoyed themselves on their way to the record score against us of 290 for 3. The target was always too great, especially when the first four batsmen had demonstrated just how not to play in these conditions. It was left to N.J.M. (46*) on his debut, well supported by P.T. and J.S.H., in his fiftieth match, to play out a dull draw.

Monkton Combe were soon in trouble at 45 for 4, thanks to a good spell from Brett Simon, but were rescued by some fine hitting from John Dixon, dropped early on. The eventual total of 175 was formidable on the slow wicket. After a disastrous start, however, sensible batting from J.S.H. (54), supported M.J.Ha., G.C.A. and B.S., made victory possible, but challenge faded in the face of lobs out of the sun. Compton House, as so often, provided many of the Tour's highlights.

Their apparently strong batting line-up succumbed to some superb catching, especially by B.S., and they were dismissed for just 62. An opening stand of 55 between H.M.R. (32) and D.M.H. (30*), then set the stage for M.J.Ho. to dispatch a toss to the square leg boundary and thus to reach his 1,000 on Tour and become the first Harvester to do the 'double'.

Presentations after the game recognised the remarkable feats R.P.B. and M.J.Ho., the team's two senior stalwarts.

It was business as usual on the Terrace. G.C.A. rediscovered his form, and useful contributions from (32) and H.M.R. (38), who also passed his 1,000 runs in and N.J.M. (29*) took us to 190 for 5. A middle order vV1lU!o'"'"'' with M.H. catching everything off his own bowling, and at his meanest, gave us the scent of victory, but a superb 71 from Graham McKinnon threw the game open. Only when he was caught on the boundary did the game subside into a draw.

Finally, at Salisbury, came our first defeat in two years. Bill Teeton bowled well, and our 144 never looked enough.

Although our Mr Teeton made an early breakthrough, and A.M.M., in possibly his final match for a while, juggled the bowling ingeniously, their overseas player, again, proved too strong, and the series is all square at two all. The Tour ended with a wonderful barbecue, as we reflected on the continued superb hospitality at Sandroyd and Abbey lands, the amazing tie in the skittle alley (well done, Carol), and the contributions of all players, young and old, on and off the field, to the continuing success of this remarkable enterprise.

THE HAYMAKERS C.C. With a fifty per cent winning record, it could be said on one level that this has been a very successful season. However the fact is that only four matches have been played, the others having been cancelled on account of the weather. The season got off to a mediocre start with a loss against Hicks Forstal. P.J. Stubbings and Brett Simon were the only batsmen to succeed with the bat. The target of 129 set for the opposition proved a very gettable one. The match was lost by four wickets. The next game was a midweek one versus the Canterbury Diocesan XI. The target of 142 set by the opposition was too little given the predictability of the pitch and the short boundaries. Yet again P.J. Stubbings weighed in with an invaluable unbeaten 66. The wicket haul was evenly shared out, Alex Forrest being the tightest of the bowlers.

The Wandering Minstrels chalked up 208, including a knock of 103 by one of their batsmen. They had batted on for too long, which made the result a little too predictable. An undefeated knock of 79 by P. Shah gave the team some hope of coming close to the opposition's total. However, it wasn't to be and the game ended in a rather pedestrian draw.

'Revenge' was the word most frequently heard as the Haymakers dodged the heavy showers on their journey to the picturesque village of Alkham where a year earlier they had suffered a crushing defeat. After tea the Haymakers took to the field fearing that the meagre total of 145 would be surpassed by the 'village masters'. Only Andrew Bee had been able to master the eccentricities of the pitch and the accurate bowling of th¢ locals. However, the music after tea which resounded around the ground was not that which the opposition wished to hear. It was not the sound of willow hitting leather but of willow hitting

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

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216

Tour Party: M.J.Ho., P.G.H., R.P.B., M.J.Ha., G.C.A., J.S.H., H.M.R., D.M.H., P.T., R.A.M., A.M.M., M.H., B. Simon, C. Mitchell.

Also played: M.J.C., J. Barker.

Runners-up in the Kent Cup This is the first season that King's has got to the Final.

Winners of The Frank Mason Tournament In winning this, the unofficial County Championship, the Eleven scored nearly twice as many goals as anyone else. This is the first time the School has won it since 1973.

No matter how loudly these facts may trumpet the success of this team, they cannot tell of the style with which the team played. It is the quality of the passing, the effectiveness of the build-up, the patterns running off the ball and the clinical finishing that I shall most remember of this side. Throughout, their performances often made me speechless - which is a shame, for I should more often have told them of the quality of their playing.

Yet, despite all this, the season did not start well. Out in Barcelona we experimented with a new formation. We were not mature nor experienced enough to play it and although we ran rings around Rugby (who had already played that day) scoring several goals, we were found wanting in defence when we played a fresher side. Back to 3:3:3:1. It took us a couple of games to settle to the formation and we never really played to our full potential. The dream of winning The Royal Polo Club's Tournament disappeared when we probably had the manpower to do it.

The edge that our pre-season tour normally gives us was much smaller this year. A prolonged spell of snow meant that it was ten days before we could get on a pitch and the momentum was lost. Our first game back was against Simon Langton. After last year's drubbing we were very tense, too tense to start fluidly. We had a poor first half, played disjointedly and failed to move the ball effectively out of defence. But things changed in the second half. There was passion, cohesion and dominance and we drew against the same team of players that put ten past us last year. Fired up with this second half performance and the

RESULTS

Sandpipers, 290-3 dec.; Harvesters, 158-6 46*, 31 *). Drawn. rvionkton Combe Cavaliers, 175-6 dec.

3-48); Harvesters, 138-7 (J.S.H. 54). Drawn.

Compton House, 62; Harvesters, 68-2 (H.M.R. 32, D.M.H. 30*); (20 overs) Won. Harvesters, 190-5 dec. (G.C.A. 56, H.M.R. 38, M.J.Ha. 32); Sherborne Town, 181-8 (M.H. 3-30, J.S.H. 3-44). Drawn.

144-8 (R.A.M. 36, P.G.H. 32); Salisbury the Close, 146-4. Lost.

has been a splendid season. The achievements of this Eleven stand by themselves: Playing Record There have only been three unbeaten sides since 1953. This year's Eleven, losing one school match, have the next best record.

Goals The 1997 team has broken all records. A total of have been scored in 14 matches, an average of 5.3 per There is only one side with a better average and that is 1951 XI who scored 6 per game.

_ ', Boys' Hockey 1st XI 1997.

Back row: N. L. P., Ed Sixsmith, Ali Lewis, Paul Galatis, Chris Letts, Simon Youngman, Dave Ribchester, Adam Withrington.

Mike Wharfe, Jamie Green, Rob Sixsmith, Charlie Munday (Captain), Dave Smith (Vice-Captain), Chris O'Neil-Dunne, lonny Norris.

217

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

goal spree. Cranbrook have one outstanding individual with countless national honours who opened up our defence on two occasions and we were slightly unlucky to have a penalty flick given against us. To our credit we fought to the end continuing to play attractive but purposeful hockey. Cranbrook were worthy winners.

In the Frank Mason Tournament we played some splendid hockey scoring 14 goals and conceding just two in the first five twenty-five minute morning matches. We had just one scare when we played below par against a vastly improved Sir Manwood's side, but sneaked a victory in the last minute a brilliantly struck short corner by Charlie Munday. Our semifinal victory over Tonbridge by two goals to nil soothed the wounded hearts from the first half of term, though also paradoxically intensified the pain. All semblance of pain was a banished when we won the final, beating St Lawrence riveting twenty-five minutes.

My lasting memory of this Eleven's hockey will be the many ten-to-fifteen minute spells of one or two touch passing at pace.

Some of the passes would never have been on but for some wonderful support play and running off the ball, often made possible by the way the defence moved the ball forward. And all this achieved in one of the best team atmospheres for many years. The record is outstanding, and we played some tremendous hockey to be one of the best sides the School has ever had, but had we learned to cope with tension and apprehension, and been willing to push home the advantage all the time, and not just enough to get on top, this side could, on paper, have created even more history.

Ali Lewis. (N.L.P.) belief that the game gave this side we put up a splendid display for 50% of the time against King's Rochester. Our pattern of play and the forwards' running was outstanding. Although we won comfortably (8-2), it could have been more if we had played hard for the whole game.

Trinity Croydon arrived with an awesome reputation which, again, froze us. We were too frightened to get totally involved, even though we were on top. We totally dominated in the first half but could not push home the advantage. We won comfortably but the margin could have been bigger.

One of our best spells of hockey came in the first twenty minutes against Cranleigh. It was an awesome display of passion, support play and running off the ball. We scored 3 goals in the first 12 minutes and could have been into double figures at the end of the half but we took our foot off the accelerator and did not push home our advantage. We won 4-3, but this was too close for comfort. In another great display we beat Chatham House 8-1 in the Kent Cup the night before the Tonbridge game.

This was always going to be a difficult game. There is an intense sporting rivalry between the two Schools and we froze a little because we allowed the tension to get to us, rather than using it in a positive way. We played enough good hockey though to win comfortably. They only had a few attacks but made them count. We created countless chances in front of goal and won more than twenty short corners. It was one of those days when nothing seems to go in! The team was very def1ated after this match. The unbeaten record had gone and we all knew it shouldn't have.

We were never really troubled by any side we played during the remainder of our school matches. The match against St Lawrence was tight, but again should not have been. We missed two open goals in the first five minutes and played without a full complement of players for fifteen minutes.

We had an untroubled passage to the Kent Cup Final where we played Cranbrook (whom we had beaten earlier in the season). We started very strongly indeed having a couple of shots at goal in the first few minutes. But we were to be undone by a mixture of brilliance and bad luck in a fifteen minute three

THE CANTUARIAN, LEI\T

& SUMMER 1997

Charlie Munday. (N.L.P.) The cast in this amazing season were: Alastair Lewis, a mercurial player of considerable talent His timing of the tackle and runs from the back often opened up a defence and once he had developed an understanding with Jamie Green at centre half they were a very effective pairing. (If the circle at Polo Farm was not larger than normal Ali would have made a very effective No. 1 runner.) David Ribchester improved greatly as a central defender. He worked tirelessly and made many a splendid tackle. Few attackers dominated him. Chris Letts played well against good teams, having

218

particularly good games ag~inst Simon. Langton and Cranleig~.

Simon Youngman played With a very big heart all season and m concert with the other forwards was a principal player in some stunningly orchestrated patterns of running and passing. He has vision and a feel for the game.

Paul Galatis arrived from the heights of an African summer to the depths of a very deep English winter. He warmed us with hi.s charm, commitment and play, and quickly became an member of the side. Mike Wharfe has been involved the 1st XI for two years. His desire to get things right and well is exemplary. In his final year he was a fearsome Ar,+n.-.,-!Ar who became increasingly confident going forward.

Norris was very unlucky to have played when there were so many good forwards in the School. In any other year he would have been a regular player. Although many will remember him for his loyalty and patience, many others will of his dedication to improving his skills and his u""l-o'"~c·~ to try them on the pitch. His contribution has been '""-''-'··~..,.. Adam Withrington was a good keeper without his with them he could be outstanding. 1t is a testament to that his peers voted him the most improved player of season. Robbie Sixsmith is a player of skill, and a big heart.

Probably the fittest in the side, he worked exceptionally hard the team, playing a vital role in the opposition 25 and in defence. His chirpy disposition made a difference to the side.

O'Neil-Dunne is a man of deceptive speed and immense with the hardest hit on the circuit. His eye and accuracy pass over 60 yards was incredible and this exceptional set up many a fruitful attack. He, like Robbie, has had a impact on the side over the last two years. Jamie Green has also played for two years. He possesses the greatest balance and hockey poise in the team. At centre half, he directed play admirable style and played a pivotal role in all our most attractive hockey.

Dave Smith, as Vice-Captain, was inspirational. He has had a huge impact this year and much of the team's success has been down to his influence. A couple of years ago he was given the nickname of 'silky' because of his skill. This year he was 'silkier' than ever. Some of his runs down the wing were mesmeric to those watching from the side, and impossible to with on the pitch. The players voted him the player of the season. His commitment and loyalty were exemplary. I am very to him.

Charlie Munday has captained an historic side. His leadership has been authoritative and powerful, commanding reE;pect and a response from his team. On the pitch his contribution has been invaluable. He has scored more goals any other King's player has done in one season and only five teams in King's history have managed to score more than he< Without his marksmanship we would not have done so well.

It \Vas so pleasing to have someone who could finish off some of the amazing passages of play that this side was able to create. is strong on the ball and skilful, and willing to run his heart up front. T am very grateful indeed for his perception and wisdom. His understanding of the game and the players was invaluable to me. He has done a splendid job and I am very to him. The success of his captaincy can be judged by results and the spirit. thanks also go to the groundsman, Stewart, Gary and the team and the other coaches. The snow presented a at the start and I am grateful for their patience. And to the parents for their support and especially to Gary who has stood on the touchline for almost every 1st XI season and over the past four years. That the players wanted to invite him to the team dinner is a testament to his support.

And finally my thanks to the players. It has been a tremendous season.

Also played: William Carleton, Ollie Harvey, Ed Sixsmith, Lars van den Hout. * First Colours RESULTS

v v v v v

v v v

v v v

Played 11, Won 9, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

Goals for 55, goals against 19.

Simon Langton (H). Drawn King's Rochester (H). Won Trinity Croydon (H). Won Duke of York's (A). Won Kent College (A). Won Cranleigh (H). Won Tonbridge (H). Lost Cranbrook (A). Won Sir Roger Manwood's (H). Won St Lawrence (A). Won Dover College (H). Won

3-3.

8-2.

3-0.

5-2.

8-1.

4-3.

2-3.

4-2.

8-0.

3-2.

7-1.

Kent Cup Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1.

Goals for 19, goals against 9. v Chatham House.

Won Won v Kent College. v Cranbrook.

Lost The Frank Mason Tournament Played 6, Won 6.

Goals for 18, goals against 4.

Goal scorers (excluding The Frank Mason) Charlie Munday 36 Dave Smith 15 Simon Youngman 9 Jamie Green 3 Chris O'Neil-Dunne 3 Robbie Sixsmith 3 Alastair Lewis 2

8-1.

7-3.

2-5.

2nd XI We started the season with a loss, and finished the season with a loss. I knew the feeling all too well, being a Coventry City supporter. Going the rest of the season without a win, however, was even outside my experience.

The team was full of interesting characters, who, despite everything, kept a sense of perspective and thus made for an enjoyable season. We had a young and talented goalkeeper in Toby 'Biffa' Bond, supported by a rock-solid defence of Tommy 'Sol' Byford (whose screaming shot into the top corner against Cranbrook was one of the high points of the season), Matt 'Ruddock' Hill, Ed 'Gary Breed' Cotton, Simon 'Pearce' Peel and at times Michael 'Neville' Wharfe. Filling the midfield role were Tom 'Andy Sinton' Perkin, Richard 'Beckham' Homewood and Ed 'Poborsky' Butler, who finished the season as top goal scorer. Their tireless play created many an exciting attack. The strike force of Dave 'Collymore' Greengrass, James 'Bergkamp' Hollaway and Dom 'Darren Huckerby' Fendius (Captain) never quite fulfilled their potential but still seemed to enjoy playing.

Thanks must go to Mr Miles for an exciting, if statistically poor season.

D. FENDIUS.

Colts 'A' XI This season was not one of great achievement for the team.

On the other hand, though, it was possibly the most productive as far as experience and practice goes. Being coached by Danny Laslett (a Canterbury striker) was a huge advantage.

Ben Carey, saving as many goals as he could possibly be expected to do, had a tremendous season from a personal improvement point of view. In the backs we had Andy Foinette

N.L.P. The 1999 First Eleven: Charlie Munday* (Captain), Dave (Vice-Captain), Paul Galatis, Jamie Green*, Chris Alastair Lewis*, Jonny Norris, Chris O'Neil-Dunne*, Ribchester, Rob Sixsmith*. Mike Wharfe, Adam Simon Youngman*.

219

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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Annoyed with themselves for this lapse, the team's performance at the Peter Firminger Tournament for U 15 teams was exceptionaL They were unfortunate to have been placed in the same group as Simon Langton who had already demolished us once this season, but managed to lose this only 2-0. won all their other games and went through to the afternoon group for teams who finished second in their morning group.

After a good game with Kent College they won this as well. One of the ironies of these tournaments is that only one game all they finished fifth behind teams that could easily have beaten had they played them.

As if to hammer home their improving form, they a few things to Dover College a week later by defeating them 51 at Birley's in front of an admiring First XL All in all, an excellent season when one bears in mind that most of the draws were more due to bad from us than good ones from opponents. I was more frustrated our loss at Cranleigh than the one at home to Manwood's. '--"-'¡'-'H""E,u a game that we should not have a draw Manwood's on the other have loss. Sir Centre-half -- and one talented as the First XI you about Cranbrook, can make a of difference.

This is a team that I would like to for next at Colts level has with

in charge, with Jon Nicholson, Charles Wells and Marc Nunn to support. As a unit, the backs played well and did the right job.

When they did not play as a unit is when it showed!

Unfortunately, we were only victorious once during the season.

In the halfs we had a somewhat stronger line: Lars van den Rout (right), Will Carleton (centre) and Nick Pope (or on occasion Richard Steele) on the left. Again, when working together we worked well.

Up front our players were again strong when thinking, but somewhat reckless when they got carried away with displaying their skills. In general, this season was disappointing as far as match-winning goes, but encouraging improvement was gained.

WILL CARLETON.

This season has given all involved with the interests of school hockey a great deal to be pleased about After a very mixed season last year the team consolidated around a new Oliver who was freshly back from his first Tour with the XI in Barcelona, and looked every bit a very good hockey side.

The pre-season warm-up game against Simon brought a disappointing result, which included a lot of goalkeeping practice for Oli Robinson in a three period game during which we conceded about nine goals! A week, and lots of different practices later, we faced a reasonable Rochester side and drew: a fair result.

The team was now beginning to work well together, in particular the attacking group of Collins, and Odimayo were getting the goal-scoring manoeuvres to work. This was evident in our next game, a 3-3 draw with Trinity, Croydon. We opened our account with the best goal of the season, a good run down the right wing from Gbenga who hit a firm cross, which was taken first time by Tom Caney and smashed into the corner.

This said our defence looked weak at times and we should never have allowed them to score three. Next came Duke of York's, a reasonable side who met us on an extremely bad day and drew 2-a-piece.

Three disappointing draws in a row and we were a much better side than the results gave us credit for. A few tactical changes were made and we started exploiting our combination of speed on the right wing and hard hitting power at the back to take advantage of the new offside laws, or rather lack of them.

We went away to Kent College confident that Henry Walpole coming forward to play a part in short-corners and free hits outside the 'D', and Oli and Gbenga hassling on the Penalty Flick spot was unbeatable. So it would have proved too, but for some difficulties with umpiring at Ul5 level which forced N.J.M. to stop the game when one of our perfectly worked free hits was deflected superbly by Oli Collins straight into the mouth of a defender on the line knocking out his front teeth. At senior level this would have resulted in an ambulance, a Yellow card for the defender and then a Penalty stroke, but at this level safety must come first. We also managed to miss a stroke that was awarded, and that at any level is unforgivable.

Our next game, away at Cranleigh, was a disaster. Our wellrehearsed moves went to pot and we went down to a solitary goal, which should never have been scored. Things had to change.

The next away game, at Cranbrook, was a delight to watch.

Having been encouraged by the First XI's good victory before our game, we went out and scored three goals in less than 10 minutes, which had the opposition's game in tatters. Even when we allowed them to get two back we were clearly a side which was beginning to find form.

We followed a First XI victory again at St Lawrence and again we found form and defeated a good team 3-1 in a very professional way. The Gremlins returned and helped us to throw away our game with Manwood's, allowing them to score a very soft goal through their South of England centre-half.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

1\'.J.M. Team from: Richard Oliver Collins, Edward Walker, Oliver Jones, Gbenga Odimayo, Wood.

RESULTS

v v

v v v

v v v v

Played 9, Won 3, Lost 2, Drawn 4.

Goals for 19, goals against 14.

King's School, Rochester Drawn Trinity School, Croydon Drawn Drawn Duke ofYork's Kent College Drawn Cranleigh Lost Cranbrook Won St Lawrence Won Sir Roger Manwood's Lost Dover College Won

1-1.

3-3.

2-2.

2-2.

0-1.

3-2.

3-1.

0-l.

5-1.

It has been a mixed season. Under the guidance of Matt Walker, the team improved much throughout the term. We got off to a great start with a win at King's Rochester, but were unable to repeat this achievement against Trinity Croydon, who proved to be stiffer competition. It was a tight game against a good side and it was pleasing to see that we had learnt a of lessons from the previous game. We played well Duke ofYork's as a team.

Following more useful advice from Matt Walker, the team travelled to Cranleigh. Although it ended in a heavy defeat, still resulted in the goal of the season - a move that ended with Dan Cartwright putting the ball in the top right hand corner of goal, leaving the goalie stranded.

Next came Cranbrook, and despite the poor pitch, we managed a victory 2-1. Throughout the season, we were captained by Marco Nardini, who proved to be a sound choice.

We would like to thank Matt Walker for his time and effort, and P.G.H. as well, who filled in when Matt was unavailable.

TIM JACKLING.

Team from: Oliver Robinson, Tim Jackling, Yorick Moes, James Hume, Will Gould, Daniel Cartwright, Tom Evans, David Burrows, Marco Nardini, Tom Dunn, Alex Harborne, Simon Bolshaw.

220

RESULTS

RESULTS

1-5.

Lost 3-1.

Won 0-8.

Lost v Epsom 1-5.

Lost v Trinity, Croydon (A). Lost 0-6. v Cranleigh Team: Simon Bolshaw, Martin Graham, Andrew Hickman (Captain), Steve Ho, Hugh Kingston, Benjamin Lethbridge, Nicolas Marceau, James Mclrvine, Andrew Papa-Adams, Edward Pritchard, David Reynolds, James Winner.

Also played: Andrew Bailey, Daniel Cartwright, Matthew Chataway, Henry Cockburn, James Edmondson, Franklyn Gaye, Duncan McGregor, Joshua Pollen, Christopher Quayle, Oluseye Soyode-J ohnson.

v Duke ofYork's 'B' v Duke ofYork's 'C'

Played 6, Won 3, Lost 3.

Won 4-1 (Gould 3).

Rochester.

Lost 0-1.

Croydon.

Won 3-1. of York's.

Lost 1-3.

Cranleigh.

Won 2-1.

Cranbrook.

0-1.

Lost St Lawrence.

'C' XI This report ought to have been written by Lewis Carroll, in to convey the paradoxical 'through the looking-glass' nature of the season. The team practised entirely on astro, but only one match on that surface. The first game took in a thick fog. At Trinity, Croydon, we found the net more than our opponents but lost: three 'own goals' spoiling a display from our keeper, Simon Bolshaw. The weakest side we out secured the only victory. And the Epsom game took in circumstances that were at once farcical and embarrassing.

Il1ness, injury and other complications meant that no fewer 22 players were used in the five matches. Special congratulations are due, therefore, to Andrew Papa-Adams and Jamie Winner who played in all the games, and to Andy Hickman who missed only one and captained with great enthusiasm in adversity.

P.G.H.

(A).

(H).

(H).

(A).

Under 14 'A' XI The statistics do not suggest a successful season but success can be measured in different ways. If success means improvement, progress and enjoyment then this was a successful season.

We had a very tough start against Simon Langton who went on to the National Championships. With no real time to train or even pick a side because of the snow at the beginning of term it was always going to be a struggle.

With a little more time together to work on the basics, we improved greatly against King's Rochester. It was a tight but encouraging game. Duke of York's provided us with another

(M.J.T.)

221

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

Jack Martin. (M.J.T)

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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222

stern test for they have been together as a team for a couple of The closeness of this game was a testament to our ~-"'"'",.r"'<;:" and character.

RESULTS

Cranleigh was a good side. We attacked very well indeed were looking increasingly cohesive but could never put the in the back of the net.

It was not until the game against Dover College that we our first victory. Here, against a weaker opposition, we played some of our best hockey. There was inventiveness and incisiveness in attack and a tremendous team

v v

v v v v

This side was often at a disadvantage physically but never up. Their guts, determination and enjoyment made pleasure to work with them. This season of progress will laid a very solid foundation for the future, and I to see some of them in the 1st XI in the not too distant

Under 14 'C' XI For the Under 14 'C' team and indeed for the whole squad there was trouble from day one, in the shape of three inches of snow! When the thaw came the outdoor season flew into action.

Teams were quickly assembled, and the members soon got into a good routine. The practices were a little monotonous at times, but did us good, and once given the chance, some of those new to hockey turned out to be very good at the sport. There remained one problem: illness. Flu hit us very hard because, being at the bottom of the pecking order, we lost to the 'B' team those of our better players who were not already ill themselves, so at times it was difficult to raise eleven players. By the end of the season, every available squad member had played in at least one match.

JOHN EVERNETT.

By any yardstick this has been a very unsuccessful season. the seven games played only one game resulted in a victory. true that most of the boys have had very little experience of the game at prep school where football increasing]y seems predominate. Whilst enthusiasm never waned, more success could have been recorded if the boys had played more as a team. There are undoubtedly a large number of skilled and talented players and when one looks at the success recorded at the top the school, it is clear that as this year-group moves through the school the drought of victories will end. This point is reinforced by the fact that physically the team always found themselves at a disadvantage. At this age, to be dominated physically can be quite intimidating. It is fair to say that there is ample skill in this team and a far more successful season is expecte~d in 1998.

Our first game was away against the Duke of York's. As we had trained on astroturf the grass pitch proved heavy going, particularly as the sea fog was so thick that you couldn't see the goal posts from the halfway line. Our game left quite a bit to be desired, and the co-ordination of our effort was poor, but team spirit was good. The goalkeepers were able to sit down for much of the game, owing to the fierce midfield play. Lessons were learned.

RESULTS

v v v v v v v

Played 7, Won 1, Lost 6.

Simon Langton.

Lost King's Rochester.

Lost Duke ofYork's.

Lost Cranleigh.

Lost Cranbrook.

Lost StLawrence.

Lost Dover College.

Won

Played 6, Won 1, Lost 4, Drawn 1.

Goals for 4, goals against 7.

King's, Rochester (A). Lost 0-1.

Trinity, Croydon (H). Lost 0-l.

Duke ofYork's (A). Drawn 1-1.

Cranbrook (H). Won 1-0.

Cranleigh (A). Lost 1-2.

StLawrence U13 'A' (A). Lost 1-2.

The next fixture, away to K.C.S. Wimbledon, was rained off. The following Saturday we played Trinity Croydon, away again. Our start was much better co-ordinated this time. But as the game wore on our play grew sloppy, which was a shame. It must be said that our marking was appalling.

When we finally got it together, it was too late, and we lost heavily.

0-10.

0-1.

0-1.

0-3.

0-3.

0-3.

5-l.

Our final match was at home against Epsom. The field was arranged differently this time, and our work on tactics paid off. We played in perfect synchronicity, formation and spirit.

A most tremendous example of this was when Epsom were about to score; the ball was intercepted and went uninterrupted all the way up the pitch to Roshan Ariyaratnam, who followed through and scored the only goal of the season.

14 'B' XI The season began with a large squad of enthusiastic boys, of whom had very limited experience of the game of Given that the learning curve had to be very steep in order to compete, the record is not a bad one at all. At no stage were we totally dominated by the opposition. Indeed it could be said that on at least three occasions we were extremely unlucky to go down. In the games against the Duke of York's and Cranleigh, an early lead was eventually lost due to slight lapses in concentration at the back and bad luck. A goal against Trinity Croydon was conceded in extra time. Even when our backs were to the wall in the last game, we came back from a two goal deficit to put the opposition under pressure with a superb goal

by Edward Marno. I am confident that with at least one season behind them, the boys that made up this team - a far more mature unit than that which commenced the season - should go on to record more victories in the years that lie ahead. A number of the super First XI started their hockey careers in the under 14 'B's.

A special mention must be made of the goalkeeper, Lawrence White, and of Freddie Hadfield, James Northern, Roshan Ariyaratnam and Nick Carty for their skill and dedication. Everyone learned a good deal and enjoyed themselves, which is what it's all about.

JAMES BERRY.

Team from: Roshan Ariyaratnam, David Arnold, Tim Barnes, James Berry, William Blackburn, Daniel Brookes, Nicholas Carty, Nicholas Cullen, Justin Davies, Peter Gardiner, Matthew Gray, Frederick Hadfield, Ryan Kerrison, James Northern, Sachin Premnath (Captain), Adekunle Rosiji, Stuart Rowan, Lo1c van der Heyden, Charles Wacher, Benedict Westenra, Lawrence White, Alistair Wildblood.

RESULTS

P.T. Team: 1 David Arnold, Hamish Backhouse, Thomas Bruce, Ri~hard Gordon-Williams, Frederick Hadfield, Oliver Bumphrey, James Macfarlane, Edward Marno, James Murden, James Northern, Michael Page, Zachary ' Saitoti.

v Duke ofYork's Trinity, Croydon v Cranleigh v Epsom

v

223

Played 4, Lost 4.

(A).

(A).

(H).

(H).

Lost Lost Lost Lost

0-6.

0-12.

0-4.

1-4.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

Special thanks to Miss Duff and Miss Tobin (and to Mrs McConnell for covering when Miss Duff was ill with chicken pox.) iMuchas gracias, senorita!

THE TEAM. I'd like to congratulate the team for their positive teamwork throughout the season, and for their successes which have brought us all much enthusiasm and pleasure. Well done!

N.R.D.

Netball 1st VII It's been an encouraging season. It's been a great season. In fact it's been a fantastic season. We won all our games but one (against Sevenoaks).

1st Netball squad 1997.

Louise Squires, Sarah Hubbard-Ford, Beth Hicklin, Hannah Ludbrook (Captain), Camilla Jackson, Kate CarroLl (Vice-Captain), Amy Joynson-Hicks, Alice Walker. (N.R.D.)

Our netball sessions provided us with entertammg new warm-ups, Hannah's stunning fitness leading the way!

Having adjusted to the accent of our new Irish coach, and sweating through her evil fitness sessions, the team swiftly gelled. Under her professional guidance we produced very skilful and accurate netball which enabled us to beat even Cranbrook.

Mills stunned us all with her 'Inspector Gadget' arms and legs, whilst Amy shocked Kent with her boxer shorts. Together with Hannah, they have been a great shooting trio producing a high percentage of accuracy throughout the season. Alice, as WA, proved to have a key role in the centre court play. Her quick dodges left her opponents dazed and trailing, resulting in easy fast passes to the circle. Beth continued her fetish for goal posts as well as black nail paint, while managing to mutilate every opponent with her constant aggression. Sarah, like her name, remained the 'hub' of the team, providing the central link and continuity. Despite her many aches and pains she battled on, not missing a match. Louise, little though she may be, was a tower of strength always on her 'man'. She, together with Beth, made a strong impression on the opposition, leaping and grunting about the court! Kate, whose obvious height advantage helped deter shooters, was a stalwart in defence.

The highlight of the season was retaining our title as District Under-18 Champions.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

v v v v v v v v v v

RESULTS Played 10, Won 9, Lost 1.

(H).

Benenden Walthamstow Hall (H).

(A).

St Edmund's Dover Grammar (H).

(A).

Cranbrook Sevenoaks (A).

Ashford (H).

Dover College (H).

Simon Langton (A).

(H).

Kent College

Won Won Won Won Won Lost Won Won Won Won

47-22.

39-28.

32-18.

28-7.

26-17.

18-26.

43-18.

45-12.

33-29.

41-13

2nd VII The team has done remarkably well this season. Having fought through the first few weeks of an illness-disrupted Lent term, the girls worked valiantly together to remain unbeaten during the whole of that term.

Credit must go to Laura for her steady influence at the back, and for her captaincy role in the absence of Amy. Solid defence work was also evident in the shape of Theresa and Ally- Ally grinning her way around the court, every match and practice.

224

225

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Midcourt positions were often juggled due to illness and injury, but between Claire, Sophie, Alex and Athena, a fine job was done. Up front, Lucy's and Rachel's shooting skills became very accurate indeed, resulting in our runaway scorelines.

N.R.D. Squad: Laura Perrin (Acting Captain), Ally Aitken, Theresa Boyce, Alex Marden, Claire Eliot, Sophie Jones, Athena Chenery, Lucy Traill, Rachel Johnstone.

cool interceptions and tight marking under the post. The defence generally has shown great improvement, learning to use her height more to her advantage- 'crowding' her player - and Moni Filby, who has come on by leaps and bounds (literally- it must he the new contacts!). Meg stunned us all with her heightened levels of fitness. In the absence of Timmy, Meg ran endlessly about the court fighting for every pass and interception. Also changing in throughout the season as midcourt players were Athena, Ellie, and Freya who did their bit with much ease. It's a pity only seven can be on court at one time.

With our regulars Julia and Timmy, the Under 16s were a force to be reckoned with, some scorelines reaching 34-4 (against Duke of York's) and 49-12 (Walthamstow Hall). Our only misfortune was to meet Dover Grammar away, during exam time and with a line-up that disturbed the usual form of play. Next time, girls ...

M~n.y congratulatio~s must. go to you all. You are very prom1smg players With a VIew to next season. Special congratulations must go to Julia Wharfe who gained much experience and played very well at the Kent Schools' U18 trials in May. Well done!

RESULTS

Played 10, Won 10 v v v v v v v v v v

Benenden Walthamstow Hall Bethany Dover Grammar Cranbrook Sevenoaks Ashford Duke ofYork's Dover College Kent College

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(A).

(A).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

Won Won Won Won Won Won Won Won Won Won

24-10.

35-3.

23-19.

23-8.

14-9.

12-9.

27-5.

27-2.

32-7.

31-5.

N.R.D. This has been the best season for our netball team so far. We have won seven out of eight matches, beginning the season on a strong footing, beating Benenden 40-35 and Ursuline College 49-10. In the one match that we lost the score was 24-15 which was good, considering that we had five absences out of a team of seven.

During the season the stable players were Becky Seath Captain), Lowri Fox (GA), Julia Wharfe (WA), Timmy Akindele (C), Alex Elliott (WD), Nikki Murch (GD), Kate Emary (OK). And at every match Meg Tyler was ready to stand in as WD, WA or C; and Lotte Tydeman as a shooter.

Thanks go to all those people who were playing or reserves in any of the matches. We also appreciated the help and support from our coach, Miss Tobin.

BECKY SEATH. RESULTS

v v v v v v v v

Played 8, Won 7, Lost 1.

Benenden (H).

Walthamstow Hall (H).

Cranbrook (H).

Sevenoaks (H).

Duke ofYork's (A).

Dover Grammar (A).

Dover College (H).

Simon Langton (H).

Won Won Won Won Won Lost Won Won

40-35.

49-12.

19-15.

28-18.

34-4.

15-27.

25-9.

33-16.

Under 15 'A' VII With only two losses, and a number of pretty spectacular wins, the Under 15 'A' team had a very successful season. The first few weeks saw both snow and endless bouts of flu disrupt practices a lot, but the team still managed to play impressively when it came to matches.

Of particular note were the high scoring matches against St Edmund's and Dover College, where the shooting of Jack and Toro was superb. Louise, Laura and Frances made a good team in defence, with many spectacular intercepts from Laura. The consistent and skilled work of Sophie and Emma in the centre court was invaluable.

The team finished runners-up to Kent College in the Kent District Tournament, and congratulations must go to Jack and Emma for their selection for District Colours. Well done also to Emma who has since been selected for the Kent County representative side. Thanks to Sophie for her captaincy, and to everyone for such a fun and enjoyable season. Best of luck for next year.

Ally Aitken. (M.J.T.)

Under 16 VII This year's Under 16 side showed considerable teamwork and sportsmanship regarding the many illnesses and injuries that occurred throughout the Lent term. Captained by Becky Seath, they won all but one of their matches, mostly by a large goal difference- thanks again not only to Becky but also Lowri and Lotte who conveniently were off sick or injured on separate occasions.

The squad improved immensely this year, making good use of their outside coach, Sophie Tobin. New circle techniques are now prevalent - with Lowri Fox split-landing in the circle, keenly watched by father. Kate at the back has had some outstanding games, remaining calm at all times whilst her defence has been swapped around her. As OK, she had some

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

CAROLINE PLUMMER.

226

Team from: Sophie Chapman (Captain), Laura Eldon, Emma Hayes, Frances Marden, Adetoro Ogundoyin, Louise Robertson, Jacquetta Wheeler.

Also played: Adela Bottomley, Camilla Cook, Nicole Kwan.

RESULTS

Played 10, Won 8, Lost 2.

v v v v v v v v v v

Benenden Dover G.S. Walthamstow Hall Cranbrook St Edmund's Sevenoaks Ashford Dover College Simon Langton G.S. Kent College

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(A).

Won Won Won Lost Won Won Won Won Won Lost

21-7.

28-11.

32-15.

21-24.

35-8.

24-12.

27-12.

45-3.

25-20.

23-34.

Under 15 A lot of matches were arranged for this short term. We had another very dry term (apart from an early snowfall!) with no cancellations due to bad weather but several through sickness and ill-health. In fact, I have never known a term like it. Our original Under 15 team squad, consisting of some eighteen players, moved flexibly from the 'B 's to the 'A's and vice versa, depending on who was fit and what position was vacant on any given day. A few members of the squad attended practices at the beginning of the term, succumbed to the 'bug' fairly soon afterwards and, despite a brief return to the netball court in the middle of term, promptly succumbed again. In fact, some girls outside the squad were surprised to find themselves being invited to represent the school when they least expected to do so, so we were very grateful for their contribution and congratulate them on their performance. A measure of their skill can be demonstrated by the fact that we won three of the six matches that were played - a very creditable overall result and, besides, other schools did not seem to be similarly struck down!

Netball is a very exciting game when matches are close; most of our matches were tight whether we won them or lost them and, in these situations, a lot of pressure is brought to bear particularly on the shooters. Our reasonably constant shooters for most of the term were Nicole Kwan (Captain) and Camilla Cook (when they weren't playing for the 'A's) and they played very well under pressure. It is an advantage to be tall when playing in the circle but Nicole compensated admirably for her lack of height by being quick and agile and often passed the ball to Camilla, allowing her to shoot and make the most of her height.

In the centre, the most regular players were Catherine James, Laura Phillips and Miranda MacLaren. All three players played well during the term and a good competitive spirit developed within the team. In defence, Anne Davies was our most flexible player, sometimes substituting in the centre but usually working with Rosie Phipson who was particularly strong and reliable.

J.A.W. Team from: Nicole Kwan (Captain), Adela Bottomley, Lucy Bridge, Camilla Cook, Anne Davies, Melissa Gainsford, Catherine James, Lucy Lake, Katherine Letts, Katherine Loden, Miranda MacLaren, Laura Phillips, Rosie Phipson, Emily Smitham.

Emma Hayes. (M.JT.)

RESULTS

v v v v v v v v v

Toro Ogundoyin, Emma Hayes. (M.J.T.)

227

Benenden Ursuline College Walthamstow Hall Bethany Sutton Valence Cranbrook King's Rochester Simon Langton G.S. Kent College

(H).

(H).

(H).

(H).

(A).

(H).

(A).

(H).

(H).

Won 18-13.

Won 16-11.

Cancelled.

Cancelled.

Cancelled.

Lost 11-26.

Lost 9-11.

Lost 13-18.

Won 32-5.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

Under 14 'A' Although initially the Ul4 'A' team had a slow start due to the flu outbreak, as players returned to fitness the team took on a settled. look. Tessa and Rachel or Christina used every opportumt~ to score goals at all stages of a match. Any tips passed their way by Miss Duff being quickly learnt and used to good effect. The centre of the court was always dominated

by Amy, Lami and Christabel, and these three developed a sound awareness of where the others were on court. In 9efence,. Laura and Talia always managed many good mter~eptwns and all in all the team had fun as well as playing to wm.

It was unfortunate to lose two matches, especially as for three-quarters of one of them the team seemed to be in complete control. However, this is the nature of a team sport a~d I?any lessons were learnt as a result of losing as well as wmnmg.

All in all the season was enjoyable and we wish to thank Miss Reidy and Mr Fox for managing to control us!

AMY MANSELL. Team: Olulamisola Akindele, Tessa van den Hout, Amy Mansell (Captain), Talia Radford, Christabel Stoodley, Laura Elliott, Rachel Heslop.

v v v v v v v v v

RESULTS Played 9, Won 7, Lost 2.

Benenden (H).

Walthamstow Hall (H).

Cranbrook (H).

St Edmund's (H).

Ashford (H).

Dover College (H).

Simon Langton G.S. (A).

Kent College (H).

Duke ofYork's (H).

Won Won Lost Won Lost Won Won Won Won

22-10.

28-10.

20-22.

46-9.

18-26.

43-17.

26-18.

21-14.

38-16.

Amy Mansell. (M.J.T.)

Under 14 'B' The 'B' team had an extremely successful season, being one of two school sides to remain undefeated throughout the season. Illness affected us (more than it did the 'A' team) as we constantly had to move our players up. However, this allowed us to incorporate 'fringe' players who performed better than expected. The players and team soon became settled into a pattern of wins, beating Walthamstow Hall, Bethany and even Cranbrook, the opposition by whom most teams were defeated.

We then went on to beat Ashford, Duke of York's, King's Rochester, Simon Langton and Kent College. We were playing the 'A' teams of Duke of York's and King's Rochester, so our success is far-reaching! The team has been very happy as well as successful, with everyone getting on very well, regardless of who was playing. The success was due to our extremely tall defence, fast centre play and accurate shooting. We could not have h<:>ped for better results and I hope we will keep our unblemished record next year. We like to think we gave the 'A' team good practice by pushing them hard in mid-week sessions.

Thanks to Miss Reidy and Mr Fox for their encouragement and presence.

RESULTS Played 8, Won 6, Lost 0, Drawn 2.

Team from: Christina Nihon-Kufta, Aderemi Sijuwade, Julia Dawes, Charlotte Marnham, Emma Van Allan, Karen Smith, Victoria Lloyd, Penny Cox (Captain), Rosamund Ashton.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Tessa van den Hout. (M.J.T.) 228

Top Squad Boys' Report

Boat Club

As usual we lost the first half of the Easter term unable to get any quality time on the water because the lakes were f~¡oz~n over. After attempting two outings on the Stour at Fordwich m quads we decided that it was safer to opt for the Medway and ergos. It took five weeks for Westbere to ~haw, and by tha~ time our first event was almost upon us. The time that we lost m the first few weeks of term was to affect our fitness and hence our chances for the rest of the season as we were constantly trying to make ground (or perhaps water) on other schools who were not so unfortunate.

This meant that we travelled to Hampton for the Hampton Head of the river with a very under-prepared crew, and treated the race more as a training outing. Unsurprisingly this me~nt that after training all morning whilst everyone else was restmg we were soundly thrashed by everybody, but this did not perturb us as we had at least finally done some work on the water.

A week later we travelled to Burway for the first noncancelled Head there that I have ever known. We competed in fours and the eight. The two coxed fours finished first and second in the junior event and the coxless four also won. the senior 2 event (because everyone else scratched). In the eight we only had one crew (Shiplake) to compete against, and we lost to them by one measly second.

Four of us on the first weekend of half term participated in Great Britain long distance trials (very, very long distance) at Kingston. Mike and Ed started 2nd and 3rd on each day, and finished 5th and 6th. Pete and Jack started in the twenties, and finished there as well. This was followed by the retirement of Mike Smith due to work pressures.

After half term, hotly contested seat trials, and an uncharacteristically clement Putney Practice, we announced the 'official' 1st VIII. At the Schools' Head, Tom bowed out at the last second due to illness, and so we scratched the 2nd four and subbed in (Terminator) Dave. However things all went horribly wrong when, after a good warm-up, we collided w~th ar~other crew who were on the wrong side of the river, breaking Jimmy Graham's oar and injuring him. That put paid to all our plans, and we had to paddle back to Putney with only six people rowing the boat.

Rather secretly and with an air of perceived lunacy the nin-ety or so members of the Boat Club make their daily trip down the Sturry Road to Westbere. Here they endure some of the foulest weather and arduou.s t.raining schedules in Pl!rsuit of distant goals. It is, at times, difficult to understand qmte what them at it, but the regattas of the Summer Term, those at Henley (both the Women's and Royal provide some answers.

The year's crews were led in terms of ability by one individual, Frances Houghton, who carries more talent for the than would seem fair. Frances has trained for three terms the express aim of gai~ing .selection in the Grea~ Britain Junior Team in a coxless parr with a partner from Edmburgh, Isobel Walker. The two girls were first ~ut together in October 1996 and since then about once a fortmght they have met and have gradually progresse? tow~r? their. common goal. In between meetings the darly trammg regime has had to be followed individually, and for Frances this has been particularly difficult seeing the 'School' crew doing other things.

Throughout the year she has stuck religiously .to her work, thinking in those winter months abo~t a regatta. m Augu~t. for which she would not necessarily qualify. At the time of wntmg, she has completed the first half of the G.B. trials ~nd s~e~s to be on target for competing at the World ChampiOnships 111 a coxless pair.

Once Frances had made the difficult decision not to race in the quad in the summer's regatta, the attitude of the other girls (and particularly that of Zoe Arthur). w~s exemplar~ .and allowed their quad to perform as well as It did. The boys eight has also had a good season and the medal at the National Schools' Regatta should act as a spur to this group of boys to move up the Championship event seeking similar success, bolstered by some of the talent and power o~ this year's Jl5 This eight promises much for the 1st eights of the next two or three years'- which should be able to return to some of the glory of the beginning of the 90s.

M.C.L.

King's successfully battle to hold off Cheltenham College for the bronze medal.

229

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

The Easter Holidays arrived, and we all got a good rest before leaving for sunny (?) Seville, where it rained. However we achieved huge improvements, especially in the younger ~embers of the top squad. We all had a thoroughly enjoyable time and returned to Canterbury very happy people.

The summer events began with Poplar Regatta, and some more G.B. trials the day before. At the trials Mike made a comeback to compete with Ed in one race in which they finished sixth. In the next race Ed rowed in a scratch pair with Tom from Abingdon, finishing fifth. Pete and Jack also did a trial, but thought that it would be sporting to wind down before the finish, allowing almost everyone to beat them.

At Poplar the next day Pete and Jack finished third, and Ed Everett and Johnny Ellis fifth in the J16 pairs. Pete Hunt tried his expertise out in a single, and unfortunately just failed to qualify for the semi-final. The N4+ had a storming race, and ended with a photo finish containing four crews, eventually coming fourth by 0.36 from third. The S3 4+ had a poor race, not even qualifying for the final as they had literally just stepped out of the eight. The first eight qualified easily for the final but, after a quick start, allowed almost everybody to row through them, finishing fifth. Unfortunately this was to be Shuttle's last race, as a back injury was to put him out for the rest of the season.

After a fortnight of intensive training we travelled abroad to Belgium, to the startlingly boring city of Ghent. On the Saturday the 1st VIII started fast, and gained a length's lead over Hampton, which we thought we would just let them take back - before they beat us to take third place. Later in the day in our junior four we annihilated the Hampton four, finishing four seconds behind Westminster who were racing in another heat. Jack and Pete caught a crab off the start, stopped, started again, moved three lanes to the left, took back the three lengths that they lost, and finished second in their heat. Pete Hunt and Dave also raced in the junior pairs, and finished behind Jack and Pete.

On Sunday we were out for revenge in the eight and raced har~, beating both Westminster and Hampton, but coming third behind Sport Ghent and Boulogne. A different coxed four from Saturday raced well against strong opposition, but finished well down the order. The coxless four, consisting of most of the coxed four from the day before and Pete, had a nice relaxing rest after the eight's race, having been told by Mr Lawrence that we had a couple of hours before our event. Fortunately Mr Reeve, leafing through the race programme, noticed that in fact it was in twenty minutes' time. This news was followed by five minutes of panic before racing down to the start, turning round and racing back the right way and being beaten by most people.

Never mind, Mr Lawrence!

On we paddled to National Schools where we entered the Child Beale, racing well in the heats and semi-finals, almost missing out on a medal in the final, but finishing hard to take third. All of this was especially impressive considering that our stroke, Jack, was rushed to hospital with a septic knee just forty-eight hours beforehand. We shuffled the crew around, sticking Ed in at stroke and dragging Jimmy G. out of the second four to do a wonderful job in the eight. The second four entered the School fours, and had a disappointing race, having also had their crew juggled around, and ended last in their heat.

After half term and the House regatta we began the build up to Henley, pausing only for Marlow Regatta, where, having frigg-rigged the eight and moved Pete to stroke, we rowed hard in the S2 sprints beating Kingston and Bedford Modem in the heat, but losing by a canvas to St Edward's, the eventual winners, after an enormous crab. The Kingston coach was so irritated at his crew having lost to us that he took their school minibus and went home, leaving the Kingston 1st eight, J 15s, boats and trailers all on their own at Marlow. Poor Kingston!

Later on in the afternoon, we raced technically better over the 1600m course, catching no crabs, but not rowing so hard, and losing to Monkton and Hampton.

Henley Royal Regatta is now looming, and we approach it with high hopes given that we were a canvas off Teddies, and

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

King's receive their medals

they won Championship ~eights at N.S.R. If we combine the guts with which we rowed the sprints at Marlow, and the technique of the longer course we should exceed expectations.

Thank you very much to Mr Willis for being a marvellous boatman for forty years. He is always on hand when Pete Sharp breaks something, and does a fantastic job introducing the Shells to life on the water. Thank you very much also to Mr Parker for acting as a great finishing coach for N.S.R. and also coaching us in Seville. Lastly our thanks also go to Mr Lawrence who has been a great coach throughout the season, dragging us through the winter months, and eventually turning a very inexperienced crew into one with great potential, especially for the coming years.

ED STERCK AND KAJsA McLAREN. Peter Hunt David Sprake 3 Dan,Kelly 4 Alex Reeve 5 Aristide Muganda 6 Tom Martin 7 Edward Sterck Stroke Peter Sharp Cox Kajsa McLaren Also rowed: James Graham (N.S.R.) James Shattock (Schools' Head) 2nd IV from: Ed Everett, Jonny Burr, John Ellis, Ken Brookin, James Graham, William Proudfoot (Cox).

1st VIII:

230

Bow 2

Zoe Arthur, Becca Snow, Kate Dover, Frances Houghton. (M.J.T.)

We then decided Fanny was not good enough for our quad, so left her to train in her single for G.B. rowing. Actually, she deserted us, leaving the quad as Becca at stroke, Claire at 3, Sarah at 2 and Zoe at bow.

Poplar, the first regatta of the season, was successful (and cold)- Clazza and Becca beating Zoe and Sarah in a doubles semi-final, just qualifying for the finals (for which they were too lazy and knackered to race). The quad, after the ?lost horrific warm-up (Shell rowing all over again!) stormed 1t off the blocks, moving steadily away to win gold medals by 25 seconds.

At Ghent, Belgium, Zoe caused immense problems, ha':ing been born 10 days early, and so we had to enter as semors (FISA regulations). Zoe and Sarah had a shockingly early heat in doubles, which was an average race, though an improvementon Poplar. Clazza in her single pushed through Becca, who led off the start, in junior singles with very windy conditions. The quad on Saturday was more rowed than raced, whi~h. made us even more determined on the Sunday. We had a bnlhant race, missing the final by 1h length to Dublin, having had the most amazingly powerful push at 1750, taking 3/4length. Our U?der 23 doubles, with both crews having qualified, provtded interesting results: in neighbouring lanes, Zoe and Sarah hung on _to Clazza and Becca, pushing through in the last 500 and powering away from 'the skinnies' to come 4th and 5th.

The same weekend, Frances was rowing for Great Britain in Munich winning a Gold Medal in the four and a Bronze medal in the pair with Izzy.

Two weeks' intensive training was hindered by Becca being chronically ill in the week before National Schools. Kind Mr Lawrence decided to enter Zoe along with Clazza, Becca and Fanny into Championship singles, as ~ou_bles w~ren't allc?wed.

Sarah smiled sweetly and got away with It, as dtd Becca m the end, but we enjoyed it really! Claire had a tough draw so didn't qualify for the semi-finals, where Zoe, Fanny and Faye all

Senior Girls' Sculling Squad This year, starting with a smaller top squad than usual, competition for the top boat was high and perhaps our apparent potential lower. Training at the beginning of the Easter term was disrupted by a frozen lake - oh, how we love ergos - and steering at Maidstone was amusing. Our first event was Hampton Head with a weird arrangement of Zoe at stroke, then Fanny, Kate and Becca at bow, underrated but winning by 20 seconds. Clazza and Sarah did a 'for fun' double with no competition - what fun! Then with an ambitious coach entering us in Senior 2 Quads at Burway- with Frances at stroke, then Zoe, Clazza, and Becca at bow- we lost to Thames R.C. who raced in nicer conditions in the afternoon, much to our objection!

Our Great Britain trialists, Fanny, Clazza and Becca, went to Kingston Long Distance Trials, with Fanny winning both days, and Becca pushing through Claire in singles, thus forming the Schools Head crew of Frances (stroke), Kate, Becca, Zoe (bow). A very eventful day too. Faffing around at the start and intensely irritating the start people, we managed to leave a huge gap, so Zoe encountered no horrific steering problems.

Catching a crab though - thanks, Fanny! - 10 strokes after the start, with our entire 1st VIII cheering from Emmanuel, was not stylish. We made up for it just, by winning with a 50 second margin, and being presented medals by Miriam Batten.

The Easter Seville training camp was brilliant fun as ever, with two mad Scotswomen, Izzy and Faye, joining forces with us six. Then, at the last minute, the ginger one (Kate) dropped out to work for 'A' levels, so we borrowed a certain Zoe Jagelman from the J15 quad, who coped and improved impressively over the week. The intensive training proved worth it, making the transition from winter Head races, to shorter summer Regatta racing, nicely balanced with the nonrowing scene.

231

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

to see Miss Scatterbrain's (Claire) meals for the second time that weekend. Keep it up, Clazza, or should I say down?

Frances is now at Final Trials for the Junior Rowing Great Britain selection, winning her first race in the pair with Izzy by 18 seconds and should go on to race at the World's in Hazewinkel, Belgium in August.

Thanks, Mr Reilly, for keeping us amused, your excellent coaching and your patience with such a demanding and manic crew. We've all loved it.

Looking back, it's been a brilliant season- loads of success, fun and friendship. Cheers everyone, and good luck for next year and after.

Zo:E ARTHUR.

Frances Houghton. (M.J.T.) The Quad: Rebecca Snow*(stroke), Claire Baldwin*(3), Sarah Martint (2), Zoe Arthur**(bow).

Also rowed: Kate Dovert (Schools' Head) ** First Colours re-awarded * = First Colours awarded = First Team Colours t The Single: Frances Houghton

ended up in the same race. Zoe had a brilliant race, shocking herself, and only losing by 1 length to Faye, coming fourth.

Frances in an impressively high-standard final and appalling conditions, sculling in third place for 1500, pushed through a Swedish sculler finishing second to Kate Holton.

The Quad, after crews pulled out of Championship, had no one to race, so they merged the categories, leaving Zoe to steer a course in lane zero. An amazing race (straight final) with a manic start: striding to 37, we won easily, 11h seconds off the course record, winning Championship gold medals. Although we received no cup (apparently we had no competition!) it's O.K., as it was more than made up for- we can call ourselves 'jolly good', says P. Politzer himself! Wow, thanks!

Then in the midst of our three weeks' training to sharpen up our sculling for Henley, we were all splashing around at the House Regatta, which of course Luxmoore won overall for the second year running. (Yes, Alex, not Trad. !) At the same time Fanny was doing herself proud up at Docklands Regatta, coming second to the Australian Olympic senior women's pair, with Izzy.

Then Henley arrived, but though Becca was far from well, she was adamant that she was going to race. In a tough draw, Becca and Clazza lost to Izzy and Faye, who went on to win the doubles. Sarah and Zoe, rowing like 13-year-olds, managed somehow to beat some actual13-year-olds from L.E.H. Then in the semi-final against Christchurch, we raced our best ever, losing by 3 lengths. Our Quad was disappointed when, in the quarter finals, our opponents scratched, leaving us with an enjoyable row-over. By now Zoe was really not enjoying steering this dead straight course. Then in the semi-finals against the G.B. composite crew, we led off the blocks from a manic start striding to 39. (Help!) They powered through. We pushed at 750, holding them. They went on to win by 3 lengths, never letting up. Disappointing, but a stonker of a race. Lovely

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Under 15 Boys There were many doubts as the group gathered in January that there would be too few to form an eight, that the group was lacking enthusiasm and that they felt their prospects were poor, for instance. Every one of those views turned out to be absolutely wrong. This group has been positive in all respects and has produced an eight of good quality which has met with considerable success.

There have certainly been some difficult moments along the way. The first three weeks of the Lent term were spent searching for liquid water, which led to some great fun attempting to navigate unfamiliar, narrow and winding reaches of the Stour or alternatively spending many hours on the journey to Maidstone to row on an excellent stretch which had the added advantage of making it almost impossible for a coach to stay in contact with the crew. And then, as the lake unfroze, illness and injury struck. One way or another, effective training was rather unsatisfactory and the term produced only one newsworthy success, a win at Burway Head, but even that was against opposition rather limited in number and nature ...

Emanuel only. The Schools' Head seemed to sum up the term.

We started the day with seven regular members of the crew but by the time we raced there were only six (and two able

232

substitutes) and our sixth man was rowing on stroke side for the first time that term! Understandably the result was unspectacular until you noticed that a time two seconds faster woClld have put the crew into the top eight places.

The Summer term produced happier times in most respects.

The crew trained as hard as ever but remained much more intact, and had also begun to listen rather more intently to coaches. Progress was therefore rapid and the real assets of the crew, strength and a great deal of raw determination began to show through. Poplar Regatta produced no medals although the crew did reach the final, but the next reoatta, Wallingford, saw the eight's first win in the B-event.

Tl~e final was a hard-fought affair with the lead actually changing hands more than once, but King's won through by half a length. Unfortunately, King's were then disqualified as a result of a vociferous sense of humour loss from somewhere in the middle of the boat. .. Pangbourne magnanimously rescued the situation however by presenting their pots to King's.

Thames Ditton presented its usual bizarre course. In the final we pulled the longer lane (well, there is not supposed to be a longer course but we all know T.D.) and then got clouted by some wash from a cruiser, allowing K.G.S. (a good crew to slip us by half a length, which we could not regain.

Excuses, excuses ...

have achieved a great deal. They have proved those who worried in January very thoroughly wrong.

The crew's thanks go to Mr Lawrence and Kajsa MacLaren for all their organisational hard work, and to Mr Willis for keeping the equipment in first-class order.

The following represented the school in the J 15 eight: O.H.G. Baker, A.C.B. Brooke, P.J. Davidson, O.W.R. Gold, N.E. Kenwrick-Piercy, A.G. Laing, J.A.H. Marshall, R.D. Pracey-Smith, D.J. Stephens, I. C. Weir, P.R. G. Lawrence (cox).

S.J.G. AND T.J.P.

Junior 15 Girls We started the year with a new boat, new blades and a new coach but no new rowers, so we were at least used to rowing with each other. At Hampton Head, our first regatta, we split into Luxmoore and Broughton quads which when we raced were separated by only five seconds. (Luxmoore won). At Burway Head, we had to race as J16s and therefore had to go coxless. There was no competition and they kindly gave us five minutes to get ahead before letting go the university crews. We had a friendly race against Kingston which the 'A' crew won.

The Schools' Head was the most important event but the conditions were so appalling that only the 'A' crew raced because (as Mr Lawrence tactfully put it) we were 'larger, not heavier' than the 'B' crew - and we started a long tradition of coming third.

Due to this result, the 'A' crew represented South East England at Poplar Regatta in the first week of the Summer term, wearing ever-so-tasteful pink and blueT-shirts. They also represented the School and came third both times. The 'B' crew did at least get on the water, if only for 30 seconds before they capsized. They did row to the start, but unfortunately missed their race and had to row down being chased by eights. We had a 'return match' against Kingston at Westbere in torrential rain and the score was one-all at the end of the day. A week later we were back to Kingston for Thames Ditton Regatta where both the 'A' and 'B' crews lost in the semi-final, but you could say we came third and fourth respectively. National Schools was the most important event of the term and both crews got into the semi-finals but, coming third and fourth respectively, just missed out on the final. Thames Valley Park was our last regatta and both crews reached the final. The 'A' crew managed to break the monotony of coming third and came second, with the 'B' crew close behind. We also raced four doubles, with mixed results. There was one disqualification (on the third stroke), one withdrawal (broken rigger), and the 'B' crew beat the 'A' crew (broken blade ... excuses, excuses l) getting into the final and ending the season by coming- guess what- third!

In the last week we tried our hand at rowing, and the boys were disappointed to find out that Kadams coped with the steering they had carefully altered and that what they had done to adjust the blades made no difference. It was a fun end to a very enjoyable season, and this has mainly been due to Mr Mitchell. He may have run over a Shell boat while coxing and gone to sleep in races, but he did invite us round to his house and bought us pizza. Thanks go to him for a great season and to Will Gold for stepping in to cox the 'B' crew and staying permanently.

ZOE JAGELMAN, RACHEL LYONS AND BECCA INGLIS. Crews: Katherine Adams, Alice Collins, Hannah Gibbs, Will Gold, Rebecca Inglis, Zoe Jagelman, Rachel Lyons, Cordelia Stirling-Aird, Katarina Weir, Steph White.

So to the big one - National Schools. Being gentlemen we entered the 'A' Division (there are 'B' and '2nd' as well!) so we knew it would be very tough. It was. In a nailbitingly close race we came third, thus securing our place in the final: the list of those who did not get to the final, let alone those who did, reads like that of 'Great Rowing Schools'. But there was barely 40 minutes' rest before the final, and now we came to regret all the tin:1es in the Lent term when we had not managed proper outings. These lads just had not done all the earlier training needed for the stamina this level requires they just could not recover in time. They had one great race in them, but not two.

Frustrating, but a place in the top six in G.B. is quite something! And I hope they will see the point of all that boring state in February.

After half term the only regattas were at Marlow and Thames Valley Park. At Marlow they had an easy win in the first round, but in the final they were in the middle lane and, bashed first by Abingdon then by Radley, they rather lost heart- it is always difficult to get back into serious rowing after N.S.R., which is of course the race.

Still, a night at the de luxe Holiday Inn was fun. (Should we have pushed Blobby in as the pianist? The tips might have been good.) And all caution- and dietary advice- was thrown to the vvinds with a huge meal of tons of old fashioned greasy chips and gross quantities of battered jumbo sausages .. . ugh! The perfect preparation for Thames Valley Park (well, it seems it At Thames Valley Park the course is only 500m, so the crew was able to enter in several events. The 116 pairs proved be rather out of their depth and went out early having found exceedingly eccentric routes over the course: I'm sure Pangbourne didn't lend us a stroke-steered boat deliberately, even though it was Pangbourne who proved to be the opposition. The four also failed to progress, but the singles performed better. Oily Baker reached the semi-final in the 114 category and Joel Marshall reached the final only to have his stretcher fail half way up the track. The last race for the eight was a straight final in the 'A' event against St Edward's (who had been medallists at National Schools) and this provided a fitting end to the year. King's grabbed a lead by finding an effective rhythm in the stride and hung on to win by just a canvas. It was a tough race and confirmed that the crew had the raw speed to match anyone in the country.

Overall the crew have certainly worked hard and they thoroughly deserved their success. Three wins and a place in National Schools' final is actually a very impressive record.

Their stren~th and mental toughness will bring them further success in the future if they aim to improve endurance and technique, and there are many members of the crew who have great deal of individual potential. There were enough to form good eight, they have been unfailingly enthusiastic and they

Junior 14s The season has been one of mixed success for Jl4s. After a thoroughly freezing first few weeks of the Lent Term on the river at Fordwich, the competitions began with two quads, boys and girls, sent off to the Kingston Head - a 'friendly', but nevertheless good practice, with the girls coming a surprising

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THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

114 'A' Quad, Lent-Summer 1997. A. Lewis (cox), B. Kock (str.), R. Miller, M. Stephens, J. Burrett.

first and the boys a meritable third. The main event of the term was the Schools' Head at Putney, one which we attacked in force. Many weeks of careful and painful development came to nothing as high winds and the temperamental nature of the Thames resulted in the J14 category being cancelled.

And so with the Summer Term the main season of regattas began, and much refreshed and battle hardened (or is that battle weary?) we sent a flotilla to the Poplar Spring Regatta at Docklands. Unfortunately, a combination of the sombre and terrifying Docklands course, nerves and lack of fitness saw off the quads in the first round, although two doubles - B. Kock and J. Burrett, K. McLean and S. Herbert - made it through to the final. It was a great experience for all who took part, not least for the 5.30 a.m. start on a Sunday morning!

Our most successful regatta was at Thames Ditton. All four quads performed well, with the Boys' 'P.: storming through to win the season's only trophy in the 'B' category in what were disappointingly easy races.

Barely recovered, the next stop a week later was the National Schools' Regatta at Nottingham. Faced with the windswept plateaux of Holme Pierrepoint, many of our crews underperformed and failed to advance past the first round, however the Girls' 'A' quad produced their very best sculling, making it through the heat and going on to finish 3rd in their semi-final. Unfortunately it was not enough to get into the final, although it should be noted that their semi-final was won in a faster time than the final itself, and by a different crew. Above all, an excellent achievement in the premier event of the country.

The season was rounded off at Thames Valley Park, where we attended with several entries in doubles and singles as well as quads, with the Boys' 'A' quad finishing second in a close final.

Everyone who took part in the racing, or who came down and practised, including the long -suffering coaches should be commended on a thoroughly enjoyable, sometimes successful, and most exciting season: a good introduction for many to the sport of rowing.

BEAUDRY KOCK. National Schools' Crews: Boys' 'A' Quad: B. Kock, R. Miller, M. Stephens, J. Burrett, A. Lewis (cox).

Boys' 'B' Quad: D. Irvine, J. Martin, A. Williams, M. Blain, E. Ellis (cox).

Girls' 'A' Quad: K. McLean, S. Herbert, H. Torry, C. Knight, S. Gold (cox).

Girls' 'B' Quad: E. Gomersall, L. Hovey, P. Cox, E. Linacre, M. Gray (cox).

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Girls' Tennis lstVI Following a good tum out at the trials at the beginning of the season, it was easy to choose three teams of a high standard to represent the School. In the 1st VI, two of the three couples chosen had never played together before, so the first match, our hardest fixture, against Sevenoaks, was a challenge which was overcome impressively. Each couple won one of the three sets which was an excellent effort considering the number of county players in their team.

Alice, playing for the first time in the 1st team, having improved magnificently from last year, formed a good partnership with Louise whose form improved throughout the term to a superb standard. Kim and Jo, having played together before, continued to create problems for their opponents particularly with Jo's left-handed cross-court shots and Kim's lobs. Another new partnership was created between Theresa and myself. Theresa proved an invaluable partner. Her determination and power were vital assets.

Our second match, against Ashford, was more successful the team winning all nine sets convincingly. For this match, Majen Immink, our national junior player, joined the team as a practice match for the next round of the Aberdare Cup which was due to be played the following week. It was a great pleasure for me to play with someone of such a high standard.

Against Benenden, our other difficult fixture, we each played the best of three sets against our own couple, thus having an excellent game, but disappointingly not winning any of them.

The Aberdare Cup match against Brighton and Hove High School was another tough game. We had hoped Majen might be available to play for us, but unfortunately she was injured and so without her, sadly, we progressed no further than this round despite Alice's valiant attempt, being the only one to win a set in her singles. The remaining matches, being played with slightly depleted teams due to the exams, were still won convincing!y.

Finally, a big 'thank you' goes to Mrs Woodley for her endless perseverance and volley coaching. And good luck to Theresa in captaining the team next year.

AMY JOYNSON-HICKS. I have been very lucky to have Amy as a tennis captain this year. Despite working hard for her 'A' levels, she has managed

234

Girls' Tennis 1st VI 1997.

Standing: Kim Farrar, Theresa Boyce, Louise Squires. Sitting: Alice Walker, Amy Joynson-Hicks, Joanna Martin.

Under 16VI

to carry out all her duties as captain superbly and has remained completely calm throughout the term, attending every practice session and playing in every match. Her strong influence gained the respect of the rest of the team and created a marvellous team spirit (sometimes difficult to create in the summer term when exam. nerves can prevail). Her own game gained in confidence and improved enormously.

I like to think that her volleying improved with my coaching!

J.A.W.

This season, for the Under 16s, has been extremely successful with a wide range of girls playing because many had G.C.S.E. commitments. Our best win was against Sevenoaks at the beginning of the season, with everyone playing exceptionally well. However, our greatest achievement w~s getting to the semi-finals of the Kent Cup, but we had to forfeit the game due to absence of players because of work experience and King's Week rehearsals.

I would like to thank Mrs McConnell and Mrs Woodley for their help and support.

NIKKI MURCH.

The team was: Amy Joynson-Hicks (Captain), Theresa Boyce, Kim Farrar, Jo Martin, Louise Squires, Alice Walker.

The team was: Nikki Murch (Captain), Tessa Dain, Emily Perkin, Rebecca Potter, Harriet Shere, Lottie Tydeman, Julia Wharfe.

RESULTS

v v v v v v v v v

Sevenoaks.

Cranbrook.

Ashford.

Benenden.

Ursuline College.

Kent College.

Simon Langton G.S. Dover College.

St Edmund's.

Aberdare Cup v Brighton and Hove H.S.

Lost Cancelled.

Won Lost Won Won Cancelled.

Won Won

3-6.

Lost

0-4.

RESULTS

6-3.

Won v Sevenoaks.

0-3.

Lost v Benenden.

5-1.

Won v St Anselm's.

Kent Cup v King Ethelbert's~-Won 6-0. v Simon Langton G.S. Won 5-l. v St Edmund's.

Won 4-2. v Folkestone G.S. Won 28 games to 24.

We were due to play Sevenoaks in the semi-finals of the County tournament but unfortunately had to scratch.

9-0.

0-3.

3-0.

3-0.

3-0.

2-1.

235

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Theresa Boyce. (M.J.T.) RESULTS

Under 15 Squad UNDER15 'A'

Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1.

This year has seen a depth of talent within the Under 15s, giving the squad choice and variety of players and providing competition for places on match teams. Out in front all season have been Nicole Kwan and Emma Hayes as our number one couple, winning against all but Benenden with enthusiasm and fervour. Camilla Cook, despite the odd injury set back, has been an inspiration, showing a strong serving technique and, alo!lg with partner Daisy Lloyd-Smith, the aggression needed to wm.

Katherine Letts and Miranda MacLaren have been steady throughout - Miranda placing accurate serves and Katheri~e striking powerful volleys when she gets to the net - even 1f often they were just too nice to their opponents. In the words of Katherine's grandmother: 'Give them a jolly good thrashing!'

v Sevenoaks (H). Won 9-0. v Dover College (A). Won 9-0. v Benenden (A). Lost 0-3. v Kent College (H). Won 9-0. v Simon Langton (H). Won 9-0. v Ashford (A). Won 6-3.

Team from: Nicole K wan, Emma Hayes, Camilla Cook, Daisy Lloyd-Smith, Katherine Letts, Miranda MacLaren, Melissa Gainsford.

Midland Bank 'A' Tournament v Maidstone v Gravesend v Sutton Valence

Melissa Gainsford and Louise Robertson have recently come together as strong contenders for top places as have Kathryn Peel and Katherine Bodey. Also vying in the wings are Catherine James and Laura Phillips. Some very steady players here, to be watched out for next year.

6-0.

6-0.

2-4.

UNDER 15 'B' Played 4, Won 3, Drawn 1. v Benenden v Ursuline College v Kent College v St Edmund's

Well done to all the girls on their hard efforts this term.

Winning 13 out of 17 matches in total is a very commendable score, through all weathers, rain and shine. Perhaps the most memorable occasions though, will be of those stealing into the pavilion fridge to check what tasty cakes were on offer for tea.

Naughty but nice!

(A).

(H).

(H).

(A).

Drawn 1-1.

9-0.

Won 9-0.

Won 9-0.

Won

Team from: Katherine Bodey, Kathryn Peel, Laura Phillips, Catherine James, Louise Robertson, Frances Marden, Pippa Townsend.

N.R.D.

& SUMMER 1997

Won Won Lost

Temn: Nicole Kwan, Emma Hayes, Camilla Cook, Daisy Lloyd-Smith.

Congratulations to the Midland Bank 'B' team who reached the tournament semi-final but narrowly missed out on the final when beaten (away) by Sevenoaks.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

(A).

(H).

(H).

236

Bank 'B 'Tournament (H). Won v Kent College (A). Won Edmund's v (H). Won v Dover Grammar (A). Lost v Sevenoaks ;ream: Katherine Letts, Miranda MacLaren, Gainsford, Kathryn Peel, Katherine Bodey.

be commended on their efforts this term. There is great promise for the future.

D.M.F.

5-1.

6-0.

6-0.

RESULTS

1-5.

Melissa

v v v v

14 'A' and 'B' VIs

v v

v

This has been a most enjoyable season for the Shell girls at They won five of their matches and lost four. The "''""ct<u-... of tennis has been excellent throughout the term.

Some of the results do not show the high standard of the girls' All of those involved in playing were very enthusiastic committed. The matches against Cranbrook and Walthamstow Hall had to be cancelled owing to inclement weather. The girls faced particularly tough competition against Sevcnoaks and Ashford, but put up a good fight. first couple in the 'A' team was Julia Dawes and Tessa van den Hout who repeatedly demonstrated good tactics and concentration and excellent strokes. The second couple was Xaxa Panman and Amy Mansell who both played with energy and enthusiasm.

Rachel Heslop, Clemmie Wellesley-Wesley, Annabel Martin, Emma Van Allan, Laura Elliot, Rossie Ashton, Victoria Eliza Dunn, Hetty Pound, Rumina Shivji, Juliet Ridley, Clara Govinden, Elizabeth Chenery, Daisy Greenwell and Claudia Whibley all played tennis this term. Many of them matches for the 'A' and 'B' teams.

Everyone played some memorable shots. All the girls are to

v v

Played 9, Won 5, Lost 4.

Dover College.

Won Kent College 'A'.

Won Kent College 'B'.

Won Ursuline College.

Lost Sutton Valence.

Won Sevenoaks '/'\:.

Lost Sevenoaks. 'B'.

Lost St Edmund's.

Won Ashford.

Lost

5-4.

9-0.

6-3.

4-5.

6-3.

3-6.

4-5.

5-4.

4-5.

Association Football 1st XI Pre-season tou.:r to Seville We all met on a freezing New Year's Eve, most people rolling up in their cars at around 4 a.m. Sweny limped in already complaining of an injury sustained trying on his boots.

Wall and Hillier strolled out of the nearby Hilton. The first day in Spain was spent talking to the local F.A. and checking out the local grape eating tradition on New Year's Eve. After having spent the first full day training we were already a second man down, with last year's Mr Reliable, Ali Williams,

1st XI Soccer 1997.

Back row: C.P.N., Gareth Williams, 0. Akindele, Ed Wyand, Mike Ziegler, Sam London, Rob Adams, John Hillier, Segun Lawson, Angus Blackburn.

Front row: Sam Parker, Damian Stewart, Peter Phipson, Matt Wall (Captain), Henry Eccles, James Hessey, Mark Preston.

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THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

Individual Players

twisting the dreaded knee. Somewhat of a baptism of fire greeted us on the gravel-strewn lake that was to be the venue of both our 7-1 thumping and an opportunity to hear some of the more colourful Spanish lingo from the opposition's coach.

From the lake to the indoor arena - where we conceded the quickest goal of all time after merely three seconds. We ended up losing that one 6-5 but still walked away with three trophies!

The next surface was to prove one that we fared well on, since we won our first match of the Tour on the beach with Preston scoring a memorable free kick. On the final day we at last found some grass. We ended up playing a well fought match, coming out at the end a man down and Preston injured and on the wrong end of a 4-3 result.

We visited the stadiums of both Sevilla and Betis, where we received a celebrity welcome as Henry Eccles told the adoring fans that we were the Under 21 England squad as Aki chatted with Finidi George. The game between Betis and Valencia was a 1-1 draw and we were really able to sample the European atmosphere with bits of shrapnel flying overhead. We were now gelled as a unit and ready for the new season.

Matthew Wall (Captain): An excellent skipper, who was invaluable on tour with his ability to make speeches in Spanish. Led the team well all term with gutsy determination and a willingness to play for the team out of position on the left side of midfield, where he did very well. Scorer of some key goals, particularly the quick free-kick which caught Brentwood napping and our solitary goal to secure victory over K.C.S., Wimbledon. (Best game: Sevenoaks.)

C.P.N. Henry Eccles: Took over in goal due to an injury but did not give Gareth Williams a chance to get his place back. He got better and better as the term went on and saved the team on many occasions.

Added a great deal of confidence to the defence with his very individual style. (Best game: Colfe's.)

Rob Adams: Worked very hard to get into the team after not going with the team on tour. Turned out to be the ideal replacement for Ali and was always solid at the back with many a goal-line clearance. A definite prospect for the future. (Best game: Maidstone.)

Sam Parker: Awesome in front of goal. Towering header from at least twelve yards against the bar looked to be his best chance of scoring before he notched that beauty against Reigate. Always solid at the back and always loved to get the ball. (Best game: Tonbridge.)

James Bessey: Adapted very well to the new role of sweeper. Scored a cracking goal. Bossed the troops at the back brilliantly and often made forward runs that ... went forward. Always useful to have a cannon to launch in the long throws. (Best game: Tonbridge.)

John Hillier: Always looked for the biggest person on the opposition team so that he could pick a fight. When not complaining he was often the rock at the back and made many overlapping runs culminating in his scoring two vital goals. (Best game: Brentwood.)

Edward Wyand: Adapted extremely well to first team football and ended up playing four positions. Did fantastically well against Brooking jnr. on his debut and scored a well taken goal against the O.K.S. (Best game: Brentwood.)

Michael Ziegler: Battled his way into the team having missed out on the tour.

Made many darting runs down the right flank and curled in many inviting crosses. Always teased the defences with his pace and skills. The one thing that was Jacking from his season was a goal. (Best game: Tonbridge.)

Sam London: One of the many midfield battlers that we had, although he stood out for his ability to see the pass to make. Scored a brilliant free-kick against Tonbridge. Always worked hard to regain possession. (Best game: Brentwood.)

Damian Stewart: Player of the season and midfield inspiration. Always the more attacking of,the midfielders and finished with four goals to show for it. Worked very hard in both attack and defence and got in many crunching challenges that flattened the opposition.

(Best game: Maidstone.)

Mark Preston: Midfield general; and swept the area in front of the back four magnificently. Scored an absolute corker against Sevenoaks and often made penetrating runs forward. Always the sure bet to come out of the 50/50 challenges the better. (Best game: Ton bridge.)

1997 Season

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As on tour, we faced a massive task in our opening fixture: Brentwood would be the challenge with three capped internationals. A capacity crowd turned up to see Phipson score the goal of the season only for it to be cancelled out by one of their internationals. All was not lost, however, as in the dying minutes we were awarded a free kick outside the area and while the internationals argued Wall sent over a cheeky chip to seal the win. Many a fan was squashed as a rampant Mr Newbury marauded up and down the touch line: the champagne was flowing and we had played only one match.

The next match brought us down to earth. Dulwich, playing on their own turf, took an early two goal lead. Phipson halved the deficit and Aki levelled the scores with three minutes remaining. Henry Eccles as goalkeeper (his debut) made a breath-taking save at the death that was reminiscent of Gordon Banks. Stafford House were obviously the insurance team put in by Mr Newbury to make sure we were not without a win all season: we slaughtered them 9-0, with Phipson netting four.

After a 1-0 win against K.C.S. Wimbledon, we faced Sr Bruna's old team, Maidstone Grammar. This was a harshly contested game, with Damian Stewart netting our equaliser and Rob Adams saving us by preventing a certain goal in the last minute by a despairing goal line clearance. After a 3-1 win over the O.K.S. and a 3-2 victory in the mud over Simon Langton we went into half-term undefeated.

We came back with high spirits but were not given our bananas on match day and subsequently lost 1-7 away to Westminster; this was to be our only defeat of the term, so the less said the better. Our frustration was to be enhanced in the next game as we dominated Colfe's away from horne but were unable to find an opening and they scored. We bombarded the~r goal: Phipson hit the bar and it looked like a second defeat until Hillier popped up at the far post to knock in the equaliser - his celebrations (Asprillaesque) shall not be forgotten.

Our best football was to come in the first twenty minutes of the Sevenoaks game, with early goals corning from Phipson and Hillier and an outrageous screamer from Preston. Sadly the exertion of such total football was to take its toll and we ended up hanging on for a 3-2 win. Our hectic away schedule took us next to Tonbridge, still in search of that elusive away win. It carne, much to the joy of both us and the whole school, in the form of a sublime free-kick from London after Wall had put us ahead. A special mention should be given to the defence in this game as they reduced Tonbridge to one chance, which the rapidly improving Henry saved. The Reigate game was not very memorable apart from the first goal of the season for Parker, scored with his shin. So to the final game and the Ursuline College, which was a disappointing match to end the term with (a 1-1 draw), although it will not tarnish what has been a wonderful season. Only the 1989 side has a better record!

MATT WALL.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

238

Damian Stewart. (M.J.T.)

Peter Phipson. (M.J.T.) Special thanks: to Angus Blackburn, Segun Lawson and Gareth Williams, who all contributed considerably and wholeheartedly to the cause although between them they were either hampered by injury or late to come onto the scene; to Mr Smith and the kitchen staff for supplying the allimportant bananas and specials; to Tim and the groundstaff for preparing the pitches and letting us play in the mud; to Mrs Newbury for all her work on the organisational front of the Tour that helped our season become the memorable one that it was. Also we thank her for doing the washing and having Parker's socks in her house!

M W ATT

ALL.

RESULTS

Played 13, Won 8, Drawn 4, Lost 1.

Goals for 34, goals against 18.

The record-breaking 1989 team won 9, drew 3 and suffered no defeats; the 1997 side has the second best record ever. v Brentwood (H). Won 2-1. v Dulwich College (A). Drawn 2-2. v Stafford House (H). Won 9-0. v K.C.S., Wimbledon (H). Won 1-0. v Maidstone Grammar (H). Drawn 1-1. v O.K.S. (H). Won 3-1. v Simon Langton (H). Won 3-2. v Westminster (A). Lost 1-7. v Colfe's (A). Drawn 1-1. v Sevenoaks (H). Won 3-2. v Tonbridge (A). Won 2-0. v Reigate Grammar (A). Won 5-0. v Ursuline College (H). Drawn 1-1.

Team from: Rob Adams*, 0. Akindele**, Henry Eccles**, James Bessey**, Johnny Hillier**, Sam London*, Sam Parker*, Peter Phipson**, Mark Preston**, Damian Stewart**, Matt Wall** (Captain), Ed Wyand*, Mike Ziegler*.

Also played: Angus Blackburn, Segun Lawson, Mark Sweny, Ali Williams, Gareth Williams.

Colours: * awarded first team tie; * * awarded First Colours.

Harold William Warner Cup for Players' Player of the Season: Damian Stewart.

Scorers: Phipson 10; Akindele 7; WallS; Stewart 4; Preston, Hillier 2; Bessey, London, Parker, Wyand 1.

0. Akindele. (M.J.T.) Olukayode Akindele: Awesome with the ball in front of his red boots and seemingly sticking to his feet, Aki offered us what few others could have done. He has now added the skill of heading to his ~epertoire and can boast to be the joint leading scorer of headers m the season. Formed a great partnership with Phippo. (Best game: Simon Langton.)

Peter Phipson: Top goal scorer and winner of 'goal of the season'. Always a threat to the opposition when in possession and used his electrifyi~ pace and brute strength to their full potential; yet again he improved incredibly as the term went on. Worked very well in tandem with Aki and they ripped apart most defences, including the internationals from Brentwood. (Best game: Brentwood.)

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THE CAN!UARIAN, LENT

& SUMMER 1997

Douai Six-a-Side Competition Group results Won v Douai/Stonyhurst. v Marlborough.

Won Drawn v Wellington.

We were therefore group winners.

Semi-final v Haileybury.

Lost

The Senior 11-a-side knock-out cup was a dramatic competition this year in that two of the quarter-finals and both semi-finals went to penalty shoot-outs. In the latter, M.O. defeated The Grange 5-4 after 10 penalties each! Meanwhile School House were qualifying for their second final in successive years by beating Linacre. In the final M.O. were too strong for School House and ran out easy winners with a 4-0 victory.

C.P.N.

2-0 (Phipson, Hillier).

1-0 (Akindele).

0-0.

2-3 after extra-time; 2-2 at full time (Phipson 2).

A splendid performance, for Gareth Williams was injured in the second group match and handed the gloves to John Hillier.

Haileybury, the 1996 champions, went on to win this year's competition, fielding Ardiles junior, but we ran them close.

Team from: 0. Akindele, John Hillier, Sam London, Sam Parker, Peter Phipson, Matthew Wall, Gareth Williams, Ed Wyand.

C.P.N.

2nd XI This was a happy-ish sort of team in a happy-ish sort of season. Happy because everyone got along fine and some good football was played; '-ish' because at times everyone got along a little too well, becoming a little too laid-back, and as a result didn't play quite as much good football as there might have been. There was never any question of this being a joke team, but it was nevertheless a team that had a good time first and foremost. Here, for the sake of tradition, is a brief comment on each team member, working forwards from the back: Goalkeepers: Henry Eccles, before 'demotion' to the 1st XI, claimed two assists against Brentwood; Henry Hardy was taciturn but resolute; Gareth was one of the few people on the field to know exactly what he was doing, all of the time; Hugo earned us a point (we were on course for three).

Defence: Staz relied on his foppish charm and good looks to cope with the 14-stone wingers he had to mark at left back; Ben captained and swept with all the skill and bravado of Silent Cal, apart from when he wasn't playing and I had a go in the captain's armband (there wasn't really an armband); Rob kept on pining after Henry, so had to join him; Tommy E. played just about every position at the back, which says something, but I' m not sure what; Charlie Rice has the distinction of having used his head more often than his feet in the games he played, from each of which he tended to emerge slightly dazed.

Midfield and Attack: Tom Bell was lusty and headstrong (if those are compliments) and otherwise very determined; Sam played out of his skin on several occasions, each time also firmly in the centre circle, except when he chose to miss vital penalties (from the penalty spot); James Caney was (how can I say?) a tad erratic, given the quality of his winner against Maidstone; Segun (up front) was surely the team's mouthpiece, style-guru, joker and translator, if that particularly dubious accolade doesn 't go to 'Baresi' playing just behind him; Sweens managed to fall dangerously ill before every away game, but was well worth it (what?) when he did play; Fergus fell into the pernicious habit of scoring a plethora of blinders one game before either getting himself dropped or just losing interest for the next; Alex Hayes finally scored a goal after many 'only justs'; finally, who could forget Sola? Ah, Sola ...

That's that then. We scored some excellent goals: the winner against Westminster was a sweeping, graceful, elegant lengthof-the-field move, started by a firm challenge from myself and culminating gloriously in a neat and deft flick over a wrongfooted goalkeeper... Not really, that was just what it felt like; it was really an ignominious goalmouth scramble off a long (hopeful?) throw by the team 's premier retailer, luckily poked in. On the bench, Mr Cocksworth gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Director Of Football' by being both visible and worthily occupied, while Sr Bruna genially added a new twist to the concept of 'Coach' by allowing the players to outline the shape of training sessions. The fact that this was on balance a good 2nd XI is a result of both the dedication of the Managerial Duo and the rapid rise of football as a (the?) major sport in the last two or three years. If the losses to Ton bridge and Sevenoaks were regrettable, the victories over Dulwich, Maidstone, Westminster, and Brentwood were of the top drawer, and next year's 2nd XI may just find themselves having a hard act to follow.

LEO FRANSELLA.

Waiting for action. (M.J.T.)

Inter-house competitions The Shell indoor cup was won by The Grange, who had come top of the league and went on to beat Mitchinson's in the semi-final and Galpin's 3-1 in the final.

The Grange secured the Double by winning the Remove indoor cup in a hard-fought final with a 3-1 victory over Tradescant, who had knocked out league winners M.O. in the play-off semi-finals.

Jervis did well to take the Girls' trophy, having finished third in the league. They defeated Walpole in the semi-final and produced a shock result to beat league winners Marlowe 1-0 in the final.

Many thanks to Mr Cocksworth and Sr Bruna for helping to referee these matches.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

240

Team from: Ben White (Captain), Robert Adams, Tom Bell, James Caney, Henry Eccles, Thomas Edmunds, Leo Fransella, Henry Hardy, Alex Hayes, Olusegun Lawson, Olusola Lawson, Fergus Reynolds, Charlie Rice, Mark Sweny, James Stazicker, Sam Webster, Gareth Williams, Mike Ziegler.

v v v

v v v

v v v v v

RESULTS Played 11, Won 5, Lost 3, Drawn 3.

Goals for 21, goals against 15.

Brentwood (H). Won Bethany (H). Drawn Maidstone (H). Won Colfe's (A). Drawn Tonbridge (A). Lost Reigate Grammar (A). Drawn Dulwich (H). Won K.C.S Wimbledon (A). Lost Westminster (A). Won Sevenoaks (H). Lost Kent College (H). Won

v v v

v v v v v v

5-2.

1-1.

4-1.

2-2.

0-2.

4-4.

2-1.

0-1.

2-0.

0-1.

1-0.

RESULTS Played 9, Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 4.

Goals for 13, against 15.

Brentwood (A). Won Dulwich (A). Lost K.C.S., Wimbledon (H). Drawn Maidstone G.S. (H). Lost Ursuline College, 2nd XI (H). Lost Westminster (A). Drawn Colfe's (A). Drawn Tonbridge (A). Lost Ursuline College, 2nd XI (H). Won

3-0.

1-3.

0-0.

3-5.

0-2.

1-1.

1-1.

1-3.

3-0.

4th XI Though not the most successful of football seasons, this was an enjoyable one and the team was often unlucky rather than outplayed.

Our first match of the season was at Brentwood where the team played poorly in the first half and went in at half time four goals down. We then came out in the second half more willing to fight, with Colombo scoring two goals - before we let in another two, giving a final score of 6-2. Our next match was at home to Dulwich where once again we went in at half time a few goals behind and then fought back in the second half with a goal from Keeling and hard work from all the team.

Unfortunately we were again unable to come back from the deficit created in the first half, losing 5-l. By the next match the team was beginning to show itself and the positions had been sorted out. The first half against K.C.S. Wimbledon saw us go two down but in the second half, particularly at the end, we fought our way back to 2-2 with goals from Labrosciano and Smith. We almost clinched it with a shot in the last minute cleared off the line by a defender charging in. We came away happy knowing we had got our first point. The next three matches were all defeats at the hands of Bethany's 2nds, Colfe's and Sevenoaks where Keeling scored our only goal.

Against Tonbridge we played admirably but went in at half time 1-0 down although we could easily have been three goals up.

Once again we fought our way back playing with almost a man down as there was no substitute and Keeling had injured himself and was unable to run. Our first goal came from Colombo who finished off a rebound after a corner had been headed against the crossbar, but then we conceded another two.

3rd XI The season started superbly with a first ever away win against Brentwood. With Henry Hardy, in goal, in the excellent form he showed throughout the term and with the other defenders making few mistakes, the result was seldom in doubt after Tim Hamlin netted from his first chance. He went on to score a fine hat-trick. With two influential players rightly promoted to the 2nd XI for the rest of the season and with two other key players lost to illness and injury for some of the other matches, the team was never quite as effective again. However, it always competed well, defended effectively and made enough chances to have deserved a slightly better playing record, against the best set of opposition teams that I can remember.

On a bumpy, small pitch we never really got going against Dulwich, conceding a goal in the first minute and two late on in the second half. Despite the scoreline, the K.C.S. match was a thriller, with plenty of near misses for both teams. With a fair number of large, fit rugby players in their side, Maidstone were a bit too fast and too strong for us, but the game provided some good football nevertheless. Early chances were missed against Ursuline College and we were punished by the more effective finishing of our opposition. We should probably have clinched the Westminster game, but shots came back off both bar and post and it was just not our day. As usual, the Colfe 's match was tough and competitive and a draw was the only fair result. With four regulars missing, the performance against Tonbridge was the worst of the season, with two of the Tonbridge goals being contenders for the 'what happened next?' round of 'A Question of Sport' ! The season ended as it had begun- with an excellent 3-0 win. This time it was Fergus Reynolds who provided the hat-trick.

I have been delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm shown by all of the squad and I would like to say a big ' thank you' to Henry Trew, who, as captain, has been a great support to both team and ' manager' . I am sure that those who will be here next season have the ability to ensure that King's soccer will maintain the improvement shown at all levels this year.

C.J.R.J. Team from: Simon Bodey, Tom Broxup, Tristan Byrnes, Peter Capel, Josh Collis, Justin Gardner, Tim Hamlin, Henry Hardy, Richard Johnson, Ian Meyer, James Morrison, Leo Siu, Henry Trew (Captain), Ed Vainker.

A lso playe"d: Folarin Alakija, Tom Bell, James Caney, Simon Cleobury, Matteo Colombo, Nick Hopkins, Sola Lawson, Fergus Reynolds, Charlie Rice, Chris Smith, Sam Webster, Mark Wharton.

M.P.H.D., Matteo Colombo, Alex Forrest. (M.J.T.)

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THE CANTUARIA._N, LENT & SUMMER 1997

After a we_ll deserved brea~ during; half term, we were ready to face Ursulme College agam. Possibly the most entertai ning football was played in the first half. A powerful blast by Oli Fraser at their Coventry Youth Team keeper eluded his full grasp and was helped on its way by Chris French. Ursuline then equalized. A beautifully curled ball (or was it the wind?) from the corner flag by Chris French floated in, but again they equalized. An unfortunate clearance off the line from a powerful blast by Simon Middleton prevented us from taking the lead before half-time. Clear evidence of our improvements flew out the window in the second half: perhaps we were missing the expertise of James Squires in defence. However, we had the last word in the match, with an arrogantly placed ball past the keeper- again by that Italian fellow.

Even though we lost the last match against Sevenoaks, all credit must go to James Brilliant for his effort in goal, when he had only been recalled at the last minute, and to the determined and relentless defence of Tom Shelford.

Overall this was an admirable season for all those that represented the Fifth Eleven, and we owe many thanks to H.R.O.M. for his great efforts in making it all work and to Mr Bradley for refereeing our home matches.

CHRIS FRENCH. Team from: Simon Cleobury, Alex Forrest (Vice-captain) , Oli Fraser, Chris French (Captain) , Tom Harrel , Enzo Labrosciano, Simon Middleton, James Mitchell, Ivo Neame, Tom Pickering, Tom Shelford, James Squires, David WellesleyWesley.

Also played: James Brilliant, Nick Clinch, Nick Hopkins, Hugo MacPherson, James Morrison, Ed Vainker, Sam Young. v Brentwood (A) . Drawn 0-0. v Ursuline College (H). Lost 0-2. v K.C.S. Wimbledon (H). Lost 1-7. v Bethany (H). Won 2-1. v Ursuline College (H). Lost 3-7. v Sevenoaks (H). Lost 0-3.

In the last eight minutes of the match the team decided to claw its way back with goals from Meyer and Smith, before the whistle was blown and the match ended 3-3. The final match against Ursuline College was also a defeat, despite a fine goal

by Forrest. Last minute illness and injuries forced us to use Squires, a defender who bravely volunteered, in goal: considering the circumstances, he acquitted himself admirably.

A season with no wins and a few draws, yet still the team was rarely outplayed. Often one goal would simply follow another swiftly before the team woke up from the first. There seemed to be quite a lot of promise in the team and so the next season will hopefully be a good one.

We would like to thank all the parents who came to support us and Mr Dath for coaching us.

TONY KEELING. Team from: James Barker, Felix Boon, Tristan Byrnes, Simon Cleobury, Matteo Colombo (Captain), Alexander Forrest, Nicholas Hopkins, Sam Knight, Hugo MacPherson, Christian Smith, Edward Wattis, Mark Wharton.

Also played: Folarin Alakija, Simon Bodey, James Brown, Thomas Broxup, Peter Capel, Joshua Collis, Thomas Davidson, Henry Hardy, Enzo Labrosciano, Ian Meyer, James Morrison, Alexander Reynolds, Edward Vainker, Harry Walker.

RESULTS Played 8, Drawn 2, Lost 6. v Brentwood 2-6.

(H). Lost v Dulwich 1-5.

(H). Lost v K.C.S. Wimbledon (A) . Drawn 2-2. v Bethany, 2nd XI 0-4.

(H). Lost v Colfe's 1-3.

(A). Lost v Sevenoaks 1-3.

(H). Lost v Tonbridge (A). Drawn 3-3. v Ursuline College 1-3.

(H). Lost

5th XI

Athletics

The footballing elite of this Academy played six matches this season, and would have played seven had Dulwich College not declined. With thirty-nine potential football players to choose from, our coach, Dr Maltby, was spoilt for choice; and after a few days of trials, and hours of work with H.R.O.M., we were ready to begin a challenging season.

Our first match, supposedly one of the toughest to be played, was against Brentwood away. Last minute tactics - yes, even we have them - were discussed on the coach. In the event the quality of football left something to be desired but determined play from the whole team and a fortunate miss from a yard out by the opposition gave us a well deserved draw and plenty of action for James Morrison in goal.

Feeling mildly confident with ourselves we faced Ursuline College on a bleak Tuesday afternoon at home in late January.

Unfortunately two goals in quick succession just after half-time destroyed any chance of an unbeaten season in one fell swoop.

However. the quality of football was improving. The defence was rock solid; mid-field, led by the determined Alex Forrest fulfilled their role admirably; but the strikers, as yet without a shot on goal worth mentioning. were struggling.

Next we played K.C.S. Wimbledon at home. I will not dwell on this upset too long, but higher-ranking teams affected by illness deprived us of players and we subsequently suffered our worst loss of the season. The highlight of the match was easily Ivo Neame's screaming volley which resulted in our first goal of the season, even if it was courtesy of a right wing-back.

It was time to change tactics, and Dr Maltby 's change to a 44-2 formation resulted in a win against Bethany at home.

Overall confidence in the team improved rapidly. Fluidity flowed from the mid-field, especially Alex Forrest and Oli Fraser, to the two strikers - which resulted in two goals from that Italian fellow. Unbeatable defence from David WellesleyWesley and James Mitchell provided morale-boosting support.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Being the first 6b captains, we had a responsibility to ensure the season went successfully. However, we only had a few junior boys this year so we found it hard raising a team for any of the competitions. Many of the boys had to do 6-7 events in every competition, which led to less specialisation but more versatility. Hopefully next year when they are combined with the present Removes this should allow them to concentrate on their individual events . Many did compete and train very well and a special mention is owed to Mark Cresswell in the high jump, James Wells in the 1500m and Luke Montgomery in the 400m.

We had a strong inter boys team with old hands like Mark Wharton and team gossip Fadel. There were also new faces like Nick Davies who did very well in the 200m with a personal best of 25.6 seconds and a District entrance at the Kent Trials. Mark Wharton was consistent in the lOOm and he also ran 56 seconds in the 400m. Fadel was a phenomenon: not only did he do all the throwing events very well but he also ran the lOOm and did the high jump and triple jump - quite an athlete.

The girls were very successful and had an unbeaten season.

There was healthy rivalry between the Akindele sisters in the sprints: Timmy had, the upper hand in the school events but Lammy won the Kent Under Fifteen 200m in 27.3 seconds, a qualifying national time. Toro was in full spring in the long and triple jump and she won all the events she entered with a personal best of 4.75m and 10.97m respectively. A distance good enough for the national U20s.

Caroline Bailey was a great asset to the team for her relentless stamina in the 1500m. Caroline and Sadie were almost unstoppable and were a great team. Sadie remains unbeaten with a personal best of 2.51 minutes.

242

lain Weir. (Greg Williams)

Andy Ribbans. (Hugo Philpott)

Sarah Hubbard-Ford. (Hugo Philpott)

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THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

I should like to thank Mr Mathews for putting up with us, and our coach Mr Barry Rice for all his tips and help. I wish Rachel the best of luck for next year.

C. A. HOWARD. Team from: Chris Howard *(Captain), James Martell*, Paul Bainbridge*, Matt Appleyard, Justin Gardner, Rachel Hill*, Catarina Cardoso*, Fergus Reynolds and Simon Lau. *=colours Also played: Richard Homewood, Avis Ngan, David Greengrass, Rohan Wijesurendra, Junliang Chew, Simon Peel, Greg Williams.

RESULTS Played 14, Won 11, Lost 3.

Home Away v Dover College Won 8-3.

Lost 3-6.

Won 6-4.

(Lent) Won 10-0. v St Lawrence College Won 10-0.

Won 8-1.

Won 7-4.

(Lent) Won 10-7. v Gravesend Grammar Won 14-3.

Won 11-7.

Won 8-6.

(Lent) Lost 3-6.

Won 13-5. v Bethany v Sevenoaks Won 9-7.

This year we had strong participation from the Shells and especially in the field events where we gained two good throwers, Karen and Remi. Oaf and Chrissy were our two hurdlers with Chrissy developing a very impressive style; however, Oaf still had the upper hand throughout the season.

Special thanks go to Abi for agreeing to be a substitute for the junior boy relay team and giving the boys a run for their money.

We had an outstanding relay team this year which proved unbeatable. This success was achieved by Steph Smith, Timmy Akindele, Lammy Akindele, and Toro Ogundoyin.

Senior boys had a good year. We were two points away from beating Tonbridge for the first time ever and we dominated the sprints wherever we went. Flo was very fast in the lOOm and proved equally capable in the 200m with 23.9 seconds at Tonbridge. Jide was our strongest lOOm sprinter. Even despite the pressure of 'A' levels he turned up to every practice and match. His blistering 11.1 seconds in the lOOm at Tonbridge was a just reward for his efforts and the fastest time this season.

He also jumped the longest with 6 metres 70 at Tonbridge.

We also had a trio of good long distance runners, including two with Kent Cross Country honours. Chris, Andy and Ieuan ran all the long distances from the 800m to the 2000m with Chris remaining unbeaten.

In the field events we relied on the colossal pairing of Si Lau and Chikes who were eagerly assisted in the javelin by Chris.

They were often top in the throw disciplines despite being a year younger than the other competitors.

Finally, there was Hess, not content with very fast times in the lOOm (11.2 seconds) and 200m (23.8 seconds), he ran the 400m in 54 seconds. He was also our top hurdler and triple jumper and he even took up the javelin and became our top javelin thrower with 42 metres. He was the perfect athlete always winning but ever very modest. Thanks, Hess!

We did very well in the Achilles Relays this year, and the girls defeated Millfield for the first time in the 4xl00m with a time of 52.5 seconds, missing the record by two milliseconds.

We also received silver in the 4x200m.

The inter boys did very well to get into the final, but the loss of Mark Wharton as well as the team being a year young played against them in the final. However, they did achieve a commendable 5th place.

The senior boys came third in the final behind two very strong teams but three of the members will be here next year when they hope to do better.

Thanks to all the coaching-staff and their patience, which was very helpful, but especially to Mr Holland and Mrs Lawrence who not only trained but organised us effectively. We can only hope that next year is just as successful.

0.0. AKINDELE AND S.E. SMITH.

Cross-Country The 1997 season proper (not counting some limbering up by the keen and select runners of the Autumn term) got under way with our 2nd 'Center-Pares' training camp for the senior boys, accompanied by W.R.P. (chef extraordinaire) and C.T.H. (king of Step Aerobics, perhaps?). As well as some excellent snowrunning around the wooded perimeter, a great deal of exercise was gained battling (literally) down the 'sub--tropical paradise' rapids, where Will Tallon seemed to be the most cunning exponent of foul play. The realities of competition hit hard at the Knole run for Open boys and girls in the first week of term: only Chris Pickering (11th- an excellent first effort, but at the cost of a slight injury), Andy Rib bans (45th) and Ewan Cameron (98th) managed to finish in the top 100 of the 300strong field, and the team was placed 18th out of 35 -fair, but modest. The girls, led home by Caroline Bailey (23rd out of 52) came 6th of the 10 girls' teams. This term saw a growing nucleus of keen senior girls, the biggest group we have ever had, in fact, and well able to field teams most weeks despite the early absence through illness of Jo Pringle, and the disappointing loss of Rachel Wilkinson from the squad, again through illness. At Knole, both boys and girls were placed 2nd of the 10 or so Kent School League teams which we were to meet most weeks in the course of the term. These positions were maintained in the early weeks for both teams, but for the boys there was gradual improvement depending on whether we had the services of Chris Pickering, sorely missed when away through injury or representing Kent, and also on how well Will MacKay's lamentable early unfitness was being eroded by some decent training: his 34th at King's Rochester in January, and 7th at the final home fixture in March says it all! Our fortunes were greatly improved by the signing of Tom Everett into the club (the fee being a closely guarded secret). As he got to work with the training he increasingly made up for the absence of erstwhile Captain Todd, sadly kept away by some interminable ailments.

Early in the season, then, the Senior boys' team lacked that extra edge of fitness- at the five schools' races (now expanded to seven) at Harrow, we struggled to come 5th, despite a rare guest appearance of Jide Adesanya. Had the team shown its later form, the story would have been different, although Harrow, 2nd in the Knole run, were always going to be formidable. The turning point for the team was Sutton Valence, where Sevenoaks, Duke of York's and King's Rochester were comfortably defeated, and then, at Cranbrook, Tonbridge also succumbed to our growing momentum. Thereafter we remained

Badminton This was another extremely successful season for the Badminton team. Except for two occasions, when weak teams were fielded, we were unbeaten. We can take particular heart in beating a Gravesend team which contained two Kent players.

Chris Howard and James Martell were our strong first pair, seeing off most of their opponents, and Paul Bainbridge and Matt Appleyard were an able second pair. However, the players of the season were Cat Cardoso and Rachel Hill, who saved us from defeat on several occasions, refusing to be put off by the hulking brutes of the opposition. Many other people also played on occasions, however, even Removes, and Rohan Wijesurendra deserves a special mention; both he and Junliang Chew promise well for future years.

In the East Kent Tournament our first pair (Chris and James) were knocked out in the semi-finals, but King's came 2nd out of seven schools overall. Paul and Justin were our second pair.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

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THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Results highlights: The Knole Run: Open boys 18th out of 38; Open girls 6th out of 10 schools.

Tortoises Schools' Relay, Oxford University: Open IV 5th out of 32 schools.

Kent College Relay: Open boys' VI 1st out of 10 schools; girls' IV 3rd out of 4 schools.

Kent Schools' League: Open boys 2nd twice, then 1st 4 times: Overall team placings: 1 Tonbridge 2643, 2 K.S.C. 3 Sevenoaks 2474 out of 10 schools; Individual rankings: 1st Pickering, 3rd Ribbans, 5th MacKay, 7th Cameron, 15th Everett, 26th Elworthy, 32nd Pritchard, 34th Thomas, 41st Tallon, out of 49.

Open girls: 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 2nd.

Overall team placings: 1 Sevenoaks 1301, 2 K.S.C. 1215, 3 Cranbrook 1205, 4 Dover College 1164.

Individual rankings: 8th Coltart, lOth Pringle, 11th Stevens, 12th Bailey, 21st Myska, out of 34.

Intermediate boys: 5th, 4th and 3rd.

Overall team placings: 1 Duke ofYork's 1694, 2 Tonbridge 1634 3 K.S.R. 1556, 4 K.S.C. 1442, 5 K.S.R. 'B' 1321.

Individual rankings: 12th Tomlinson, 22nd Knowles, 36th Calvert, 28th Delmotte, 33rd Coltart, 35th Coutts, out of 50.

Juniors: Individual ranking: 16th Kingston, out of 43.

Kent Schools' Championships: Ribbans 18th, Cameron 31st out of 45 senior boys.

Pringle 12th, Bailey 17th and Stevens 18th, out of 26 senior girls.

A. Ribbans and C. Bailey represented Kent at a Southern Counties fixture.

English Schools' Championships: C. Pickering 36th out of 360 senior boys, 4th in the Kent team, which carne 2nd.

unbeaten at Dover College, at the Kent College Relay and our own final League fixture on Scotland Hills. It seems something of an anomaly that Ton bridge, because of high early season scores in the League, were able to take the overall trophy, even though we had beaten them at our last three encounters.

Nevertheless, our largely 6b team looks set for a fine reposte in 1998. The team would not have been as effective, of course, without the solid middle-order results of Chris Elworthy, Will Pritchard, Neil Thomas, Will Tallon and Charlie LeighPemberton (alias the Duke of Plazatoro?). Will Pritchard rose splendidly to the challenge of being in the First VI for the Kent College Relay, and doggedly held onto the lead he had been given, leaving Chris 'Whizz' Pickering to finish in style with a record individual time. Chris also deserves congratulation for coming 4th in the Kent senior team at the English Schools' Championships, 36th out of some 360 runners. This is a remarkable achievement at such a competitive level, especially as next year he has the opportunity to aim even higher. Andy Ribbans and Caroline Bailey also earned the right to one of those tasteful light blue sweat tops for representing Kent at a Southern Counties fixture.

The Open girls' team kept its steady 2nd place in the league throughout the term, behind a powerful Sevenoaks squad. Their finest hour was the team win at King's Rochester (on the course with slopes to put black ski runs to shame) beating Sutton Valence, Cranbrook and Dover College, while 2nd place at the Kent College Relay was also noteworthy. Iona Coltart could be relied upon to finish in the top 10, her best performance being 3rd place at Cranbrook. It was a shame that she was not able to join Jo Pringle, Caroline Bailey and Mary Stevens at the Kent Championships, all of whom came in the top 20, and therefore merited County representation at a Southern Counties match.

The Intermediate and Junior boys' teams suffered from lack of numbers, particularly in the latter case, although our stalwart Shell, Tom Kingston, kept the flag flying valiantly. The Inters took time to develop into a squad with enough commitment to training, as well as suffering from key absences for several fixtures. By the final two races, however, they recorded respectable 3rd places in the League, led by James Tomlinson (12th place in the rankings overall) and the maverick John Knowles, 11th in our final home fixture, but nowhere to be seen for most of the serious training earlier in the term! Perhaps awards for most improved runners should go to Aliocha Delrnotte (his progress unfortunately interrupted by illness) and Tom Calvert, with Henry Coltart and the reluctant but secretly talented Dan Coutts not far behind. I hope they manage to develop their potential in the next two years.

This has been a most enjoyable term from the coaching and fixtures point of view, and it is an exciting prospect looking ahead to how things might develop in 1998 if everyone in the club (and more recruits in the lower school) catches the vision.

As ever, we are immensely indebted to W.R.P. for his enthusiasm and expertise (every team needs a resident physiologist. .. ), as well as his smooth organisation of the January training camp. One final award needs a mention: Andy Ribbans was the proud winner of the cheeky chilli competition at the end of season meal in the Cafe des Amis; Chris Pickering was speechless for a change ...

C.T.H. Teams from: Senior boys: Jide Adesanya, Ewan Cameront, Chris Elworthyt, Torn Everett*, Charlie Leigh-Pemberton, William MacKay*, Chris Pickering (Vice-Captain)*, William Pritchardt, Andy Ribbans*, William Tallont, Neil Thomast, Malcolm Todd (Captain).

Senior girls: Caroline Baileyt, Iona Coltart*, Hilary Myska, Jo Pringle (Captain)*, Lindsay Sharp, Harriet Shere, Mary Stevens*, Rachel Wilkinson.

Intermediate boys: Torn Calvert, Henry Coltart, Dan Coutts, Aliocha Delmotte, John Knowles, Alastair Laing, Robert Pracey-Srnith, Jamie Tomlinson (Captain).

Junior boys: Torn Kingston. * First Colours t First Team Colours

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Inter-House Cross-Country 1997 This year saw a new experimental venue for the competition at Kent University. It proved a welcome change for those used to the roughness of terrain and blistering winds of Scotland Hills, both the runners and marshals, while the course still had some variety, including a mud splash at the valley floor for the hardened outdoor type. The main problem proved to be the smooth transport of so many people up the hill to the start: M.J.T., S.W.W. and J.A.T. offered a minibus shuttle service with great patience - they may like to know that a coach or two will be booked for 19981 It was a great shame that several senior boys did not reach the start line in time, for a variety of reasons, as it undoubtedly affected the overall result, but for the vast majority the consensus seems to have been that the University is a more pleasant venue for the event.

There were many notable individual runs, the top ten being recorded below, while the team events were perhaps more hotly contested than in previous years, with only one point separating Linacre from Tradescant, and Walpole from Jervis in the Junior Boys' and Girls' competitions. The Intermediate Boys' proved to be a fairly close encounter between Tradescant and Linacre again, but their incomplete senior teams (not all managed to get to the start, as mentioned above) then left the way open for The Grange to take the Senior and Overall cups. Harvey House should also be congratulated for giving Walpole such a close run in the Senior Girls' event, while their Juniors, all Shells of necessity, can expect to build on their success next year. As ever, all who ran deserve congratulation, and I hope many enjoyed a sense of achievement in finishing, throughout the field. Great thanks too are due to the many staff who helped to mark the course and organise things at the finish.

C.T.H.

246

Andy Ribbans establishes the lead on the relay 1st leg. (C. T.H.)

Ewan Cameron, with Tonbridge trailing on the 5th leg. (C.T.H.)

Chris Pickering seals the victory in the 6th leg, running a record time and lapping several other teams. (C.T.H.)

Corrie Stirling-Aird, Laura Phillips and others in the House Cross Country. (M.PH.D.)

247

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SOMMER 1997

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

RESULTS SENIOR BOYS The Grange 67 129 Meister Omers Mitchinson's 153 Galpin's 168 School House 177 (LN, MR and TR did not have 6 finishers)

Individuals C. Pickering A. Ribbans W. MacKay E. Cameron T. Everett C. Letts N. Thomas M. Sweny J. Hessey T. Mitchell

MT MO MT MO GR MR GR TR TR GL

SENIOR GIRLS Walpole Harvey Luxmoore Marlowe Broughton Mitchinson's Jervis

30 35 36 61 65 109 138

Individuals l I. Coltart 2 J. Pringle 3 C. Bailey 4 M. Stevens 5 L. Squires 6 0. Beer 7 R. Snow 8 F. Houghton 9 K. Carroll 10 C. Baldwin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

INTERMEDIATES Tradescant Lin acre The Grange Marlowe Galpin's Meister Omers School House Mitchinson's

JUNIOR GIRLS 1 Walpole 2 Jervis 3 Luxmoore 4 Broughton 5 Harvey 6 Mitchinson's 7 Marlowe

Individuals 1 E. Hayes 2 K. Letts 3 C. Marnham 4 S. White 5 S. Gold 6 T. van den Hout 7 T. Radford 8 L. Phillips 9 C. Stirling-Aird 10 H. Torry OVERALL BOYS 1 The Grange 2 Meister Omers 3 Galpin's 4 School House 5 Mitchinson's LN, MR and TR did not have 6 finishers

MR LX HH WL LX WL BR WL HH HH

OVERALL GIRLS 1 Walpole 2 Luxmoore 3 Harvey 4 Broughton 5 Marlowe 6 Jervis 7 Mitchinson's

62 66 126 149 173 185 246 249

Individuals 1 J. Tomlinson 2 E. Everett 3 R. Bayley 4 A. Reeve 5 E. Sixsmith 6 L. van den Rout 7 A. Laing 8 A. Delmotte 9 M. Nunn 10 A. Foinette

TR GR TR TR MO LN LN GR TR LN

JUNIOR BOYS Lin acre Tradescant School House Galpin's Mitchinson 's Meister Omers The Grange Marlowe

28 29 51 75 86 87 91 112

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Individuals 1 L. Montgomery 2 R. Owens 3 S. Darroch 4 0. Baker 5 J. Mainwaring 6 C. Mattingly 7 S. Rowan 8 L. White 9 R. Gordon-Williams 10 Z. Saitoti

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

SH LN GL TR TR LN MT TR LN GR 40 41 44 62 66 78 85 WL MR JR BR JR LX WL LX LX WL

284 401 416 4 74 488

70 80 101 127 146 179 187

Fencing After the Christmas br~ak, the fencing club returned _ rested and ready - for what promised to be a very successful term. Ahead of us were the G.B. finals and the Public Schools Championship as well as several school matches and minor competitions.

Il!tensive training ~allowed (!)with Mark Gilchrist as usual leadmg the way. Dunng those early days in January when we were moyed from St Augustine's over to the Recreati~n Centre and ru~mmg became part of our sporting afternoon, Mark would lead his merry band of men round the Canterbury back streets as throug~ they wer~ training for some marathon, although Zara and Sophie never did seem to get the hang of it.

However, ~oon the ~ompetitions and matches started, and Sunday mornm_gs saw tired fencers crawling out to the minibus ready ~~d rarm~ .to go. As well as many of the smaller competitiOns which we ~ook part in (and for the most part creaJJ?ed) t~ere ~er~ t~o Important competitions that term, the GB fmals m fml, epee and sabre and the Public Schools ¡ Crystal Palace. m

248

January 25th was the day of the foil finals and the school had three qualifiers: Felicity Wacher, Josie Sundt and James Rowe.

It vvas Josie's first final and she did well to reach direct elimination. Felicity narrowly lost her last 16 round eventually being placed 11th. However, James Rowe was placed 2nd in the Boys' Under 16, losing 15-14 in the final.

The epee and sabre finals occurred in Edinburgh on 8th February and a whole minibus-full of King's pupils driven by the singing Prof. arrived in Edinburgh. It was one of the largest contingents that the school has ever put through to the final and five people finished in the 20 best in the country. In the epee Under 18 Girls, Felicity came 9th, Caroline Scott 13th and Yuka Mizota 17th. In the epee Under 16 Boys, Mark Gilchrist came and in the sabre Under 18 Boys Rupert Jagelman came The journey back was one which no one will ever forget: Mark's songs!

The Public Schools competition happened during term time this year, so for once almost everyone could go. It took up three and a number of the boys went on all these days to compete in all three weapons. The competition was a great success, with King's coming 4th overall amongst all the public schools. There were two people who picked up individual awards: James Rowe, our 'Resident Star' came 1st in the Junior foil, 3rd in the epee and sabre - and this meant he picked top Junior Boys award, the Mountbatten award. Felicity came 3rd in the Senior Girls epee and 6th in the Senior Girls foil. This meant she was 2nd and 3rd overall. One major question came out of the competition: where did Adam go? He disappeared after Day 1 and we haven't seen him since.

The school matches which took place this term were not quite as successful as last term. We lost narrowly to Eton at the beginning of term due to illness and absence. We came 2nd in a three-way match against Rochester and Haileybury. However, beat Worth a few weeks later, away.

The news for which we had been waiting for years now finally came: we are getting a new fencing salle. All being well it will be open in September, but for those of us in 6a we will never get to see it unless that is we come back to visit!

However, there was much excitement to see the plans.

The squad this term has grown enormously, even if we did misplace Adam half way through the term. Mark and Rupert ate their way through most of the Little Chefs from here to Edinburgh. They said it was to help them fence, and yes, Mark, we all know that you are invincible!

Our Junior team of Lo!c van der Heyden, Mark Cresswell Matthew Haydock, a truly European team, won most of their matches. The Senior teams were drawn from Alex Bland, James Brilliant (Secretary), Mark Gilchrist, Rupert Jagelman, Yuka Mizota, James Rowe, Caroline Scott, Adam Sibson (whenever he was here), Felicity Wacher and Phil Wacher. This team will be mostly intact when the new season comes. Alex Bland, leaving at the end of this year, managed to turn up almost every day this term- and we're still to see him actually fence.

As ever, we would like to thank Paul Romang for his tireless energy on our behalf, and we hope that he will learn some new songs over the break. Both he and Joy have spent many weekends driving us all over the country.

THE FIRST TEAM.

against Wellington. This was played at the very start of the summer term at Tandridge G.C. A close match ensued, with our second pair nearly pulling off a remarkable win. However, on the day only the third pair (and the staff) could claim victory.

The only disappointment after this was a poor performance against Cranleigh at Royal Ashdown. Then the team went from strength to strength with convincing wins against both Charterhouse and Tonbridge, both of which matches were played at St George's, the latter in a very heavy hail storm for several holes! By now we had got used to winning and victories followed against King's Rochester and St Lawrence. The final match of the season was, as ever, against The Common Room and I must thank my colleagues for salvaging at least one point on what was a very enjoyable evening.

The inter-House competition was played in very friendly conditions at Prince's G.C. and the trophy was retained by Galpin's in another very impressive performance. Once again the Senior Putter, and this year the Junior Putter, were competed for at Chart Hills G.C. by kind invitation of Mr Mitchell. On a remarkably dry day, given the weather elsewhere, Chris O'NeilDunne won the senior competition with 27 points off scratch and Nico Berry won the junior competition with 24 points. The season finished with the Kent Schools' Championship at Woolmer and Kingsdown G.C.: we played creditably but could not quite match the low scoring of the victors.

My thanks must go to those leaving, of which there are seven, for all that they have contributed to golf at the School over their time here. I hope that they will continue to play as well after they leave, and that we will see them in due course at the O.K.S.G.S. match. My best wishes go to next captain, Jonathan Warren, and also to N.L.P. as he takes over as Master i/c Golf upon my departure.

A.M.M. Team from: Sunil Abraham, Stephen Bushnell, Edward Butler*, Merlin Nicholas*, Jonny Norris, Chris O'Neil-Dunne, Tom Savage, Jon Warren, Anil Abraham, Alistair Williams, Nick Berry*, Will Burgess* and Andy Hickman. *Minor Sports Colours awarded.

RESULTS Played 10, Won 8, Lost 2. v Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Won Won v The O.K.S. Golfing Society. v Cranleigh 2-1.

Won (H.M.C. Foursomes). v Wellington College 1-2.

Lost (H.M.C. Foursomes).

2-4.

Lost v Cranleigh.

5-1.

Won v Charterhouse.

4-2.

Won v Tonbridge.

3-0.

Won v King's Rochester.

3-0.

Won v St Lawrence.

3-1.

Won v The Common Room.

acrosse This season started off well with an enthusiastic response to the term's lacrosse schedule. With 18 keen players consisting of two county players as well as seven beginners, we started the serious training needed for success in the forthcoming matches.

However, despite practices against the Christ Church rugby team, when we faced Benenden's 1st team and Queen Anne's we realised that no amount of training would prepare us for the onslaught.

An outside coach, 'Squiffy', was brought in from Christ Church College and taught us many new, erm ... interesting and often illegal techniques, but unfortunately the right situation to show these off just never arose. However, we entered all our matches full of enthusiasm and spirit, and left, slightly battered, but still smiling.

This has arguably been our most successful season for a very time. Although we did not manage the unbeaten season of year the number of matches won is twice that of the previous season. In the Autumn the season got under way with wins ~gainst the Regiment and our first win against the ..._.,..,J.uâ&#x20AC;˘.\J. since 1988. I'm sure that they will both be out for revenge next year. We also played against Cranleigh in what 'vvas the quarter-final of the South East H.M.C. Foursomes competition- a good win, putting us through to the semi-final

249

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

)] [']

v1

v

J

. ~inding a goalie for all our matches proved to be more difficult than expected (I can't imagine why), and so many thank_s g~ to Emily Hague, Lizzie Calder and Emily Perkin for steppmg m.

J:Ialfway through the cold, wet term we were faced with the NatiOnal Schools Tourname_nt at Milton Keynes. Having barely s_craped a_ team together, with over four beginners and a firsttime goalie, we packed into a minibus with Miss Plummer and "':ith our ample tape collectiOn of Disney tunes (thanks, Lizzie!) and set off.

An hour later, sitting in a service station with a blown tyre, things were not looking good. However, nothing Burger King couldn't solve.

We arrived finally at Milton Keynes in good time. We played five 14-minute games against Queen Anne's 1st Benenden 1st, L.E.H. 1st, St Mary's Wantage and St Catherine's. Although we lost the majority of them - well, all of them - the matches proved to be great fun, although challenging. Many thanks go to Miss Plummer wh? spent all day supervising us m the cold.

Rugby Sevens Given th_at_ the 1st XV season had been a disappointment, it was not P?S~Ible to look for:vard to the sevens campaign with ~reat ?Ptlmism, although 1t had to be said that the vital mgredient for the shortened form of the game - pace _ was

Our last match of the season was of course against the purples and having learnt that some of the blokes had shown a particular desire to play dressed as girls (no comment),_ we dressed up for ~he occasiOn. Interestingly, Items of clothing ranged from 1st XV ties to a particularly fetching camouflage hat.

Looking back on the se_as<;m, the progress made Withm the team was amazing and I was very impressed by the dedication of the team especially the beginners wh~ often proved to be the most enthusiastic.

Many thanks go to Mrs Woodley, Mrs Lawrence Miss Frances, Miss Plummer' ' Squiffy and Dan. SADIE CHAVE. Team from: Sadie Chave (Captain)*, Hannah Vaines* Elsp~th McGregort, Joann~ 1st Sevens Squad 1997.

Ma~tmt: ~elanie Siddonst, Back row: Alakija) Swen.y, Adams. Middle row: Akindele, Lau, Williams, Hayes.

Deha Williams, Ophelia Beer Front row: Phzpson, Hessey, Stewart (Captain). (M.P.H.D.) Caroline Baileyt, Tessa Dain' Sophie_ Dain, Emily Perkin: Josephme Sundt, Rhiannon Newman-Brown, Jennifer Sutton, present in the squ~d _in. abundance, and if ball winning and Emma Torry and Annabel Whibleyt. defe~ce could be disc!plmed and organised, perhaps we could * = 1st colours awarded. acqmt ourselves wellm the tournaments. t

= 2nd colours awarded.

. In fact, we exceeded our expectations by far, and ended up With as good ~ set ~f performances as we have had in this form of the ~arne, m which we have now established a considerable reputatiOn.

RESULTS v Benenden 2nd.

Lost 5-8.

Lost 4-9. v Walthamstow Hall.

Lost 4-11.

Milton Keynes Tournament: 5th in the section.

v Cranbrook 1st.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Our ~raditiona~ warm up has been the Maidstone event.

PreparatiOn for this_, tha~ks to the we~ther, ~odules, field trips and sundry other mvaswns of the httle time available, was 250

and we went into it far less ready than before. However, we were to use it as learning/training experience, and had ironed out few wrinkles by the end of the afternoon, during which the First Seven ran up 144 points in winning its four games, although the Second Seven lost its first game in the event for five years.

Second Seven had performed heroically last year in the Plate at the Kent Sevens. Unfortunately, it could that this year, and made an early exit. The First however, continued to improve as it worked its way cL-,,n<>chAlllt the pool matches. We had to come from ten points to beat a much improved and strengthened Maidstone side, The real test came in the semi-final against Tonbridge; we fell behind, but rallied to draw level. We conceded another try second half, and time was running out when Peter scored; Gareth Williams converted from the touchline, post, to take the match into sudden death extra time, James Hessey scored the 'golden try'. The final against a competent and confident St Olave's side was tense too. It ten minutes each way, which was tiring enough to contemplate, even without the fact that we had had to play extra in the semi-final. We sailed into a 21 point lead, but then, a little, saw it whittled down to 2. We managed to rally to score again, and then hang on for a hard earned victory, and win trophy which we had last won in 1994. the opinion of many, the Surrey tournament is as hard to as the Rosslyn Park event. It has a high class field of over one- and two-term rugby-playing schools, and in order to one has to play seven matches in one day. We have often under-performed here, though in 1994 we lost in the final to Millfield. Once again we made a sluggish start, losing by one score to John Fisher, a team which had already won two tournaments, but which we might easily have beaten. Against Harrow we struggled to assert ourselves, despite winning. The competition however allows the possibility for two sides to go through who have not won their group, in order to compensate the possibility of an unlucky draw; we therefore went into last match against John Hampden with the knowledge that had simply to win by as many points as possible if we were have one of the two places for runners-up, which go to those score most points in their group games. In scoring 64 in seven minutes each-way match we actually threw away two certain tries, but fortunately the end result saw us through. the knockout stages we once again came up against St and it proved to be another closely fought affair. We exrJected stern opposition from Sevenoaks, the holders, in the semi-final, but we demolished them in perhaps our best game the season. Ironically, we then found ourselves in the final John Fisher, again. We fancied our chances, given that ''Ne had almost won in the first match we played in the morning, in the event, they played extremely well, and we looked a tired; the score was emphatic, though exaggerated by a score we conceded in desperation at the end of the game.

Consolation for this defeat came from the fact that John Fisher \vent on to win the Open event (for two-term schools) at the Park National Schools' Sevens.

The Rosslyn Park Festival is of course the culmination of efforts. The draw this year pitted us against Wellington in group games. Despite their early exit at the Surrey competition, they had won other top tournaments this season, they have a high reputation at the game, having won the Festival several times. Our encounter always looked likely to be group decider; this is how it turned out, and in a highly exciting, see-saw match which drew large numbers of spectators from the adjacent pitches, we were just edged out.

Sadly there is no second chance in this event, and we did not make the knockout stages, despite the ease with which we had dispatched our other opponents.

It would be invidious in some ways to single out anyone in squad which worked so hard for each other - essential when there's less than half a XV on the pitch. The team was notable 1 for the way in which everyone played their part, in different ways. Even so, the work rate of Damian Stewart and James Hessey in particular stood out. They were prepared to hit hard the tackle, and grovel selflessly for the ball; they could also operate at pace with the ball in hand, and had the capacity to

sprint for scores. Sam Parker also worked at the unglamorous part of the game, as did Alex Hayes; Simon Lau surprised opponents with his speed. Gareth Williams, Mark Sweny and Robert Adams were the essential link players, with Rob proving versatile, but also providing stiffness to the defence. Flo Alakija provided the blistering pace (though he was troubled by an ankle injury), and Kayode Akindele and Michael Ziegler gave us more ability to strike from long range. However, our man of every tournament was without doubt Peter Phipson. This form of the game suits his abilities perfectly, and one lost count of the number of times he chased back to not only catch but utterly demolish a player who thought he was clear for the line, and then secure the ball in an instant; he was our main force, totalling twenty-nine tries in four tournaments, nearly from long range. His stamina was quite phenomenal.

All in all then, it was a very rewarding if demanding, and I would like to pay tribute to all of who played for the immense physical effort they put in over the term. I am extremely grateful to Mr Watson for his assistance throughout, and I should also like to thank Mr Newbury in particular for his forbearance and co-operation in helping the boys, many of whom were 1st XI soccer players, be able to represent the school so well.

Of the squad who played, nine return next year. This of course is no guarantee of success, but they now know what is possible, and what it takes to succeed. The Under 16 Seven meanwhile undertook two tournaments, and in winning three out of five matches at the Dover competition exceeded expectations. Their form continues to improve, and they will be expected to make a positive contribution to the senior squad next year. Thank to Mr Anderson for the trip to Q.E. Barnet on their behalf.

R.C.W. First Seven Squad: Robert Adams, Kayode Akindele, Folarin Alakija, Alex Hayes, James Bessey, Simon Lau, Sam Parker, Peter Phipson, Damian Stewart (Captain), Mark Sweny, Gareth Williams, Michael Ziegler.

Second Seven Squad: William Bax (Captain), Felix Boon, Alex Hayes, Edward Irnmink, Richard Johnson, Segun Lawson, Sola Lawson, Nick Lynch, William Mackay, Chike Okoli, Mark Preston, Philip Stubbings, Mark Sweny RESULTS Maidstone Sevens 'A' Squad 'B' Squad Won 26-5. v Maidstone G.S. Won 28-7. v Judd.

Won 24-5.

Lost 0-19. v Gravesend G.S. Won 50-0.

Won 17-14. v Rochester Maths.

Won 42-0.

Won 68-0.

Kent Sevens Pool Matches v Duke ofYork's R.M.S. Won 26-5. v Leigh C.T.C. Won 21-10.

Quarter Final v Maidstone G.S. Won 26-15.

Semi-Final Won 17-12. v Tonbridge.

Final v St Olave's G.S. Won 28-26.

Surrey Invitation Sevens Group Matches Lost 7-14. v John Fisher.

Won 28-20. v Harrow. v John Hampden.

Won 64-0.

Knockout Stages Won 26-7. v Glyn. v St Olave's Won 15-12.

Won 31-14. v Seven oaks.

Final Lost 10-35. v John Fisher.

Rosslyn Park Festival Won 38-0. v Bloxham.

Won 31-5. v Worth.

Won 40-14. v Queen's, Taunton.

Lost 12-17. v Wellington College.

251

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

SPECIAL REPORT: THE RETURN OF THE SEVEN Just as the sequ~l to that most famous of Hollywood westerns, The Magnificent Seven, did not include the original stars, Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, in the same way our 1997 Rugby Sevens team no longer featured the old established hands of lrone,. c;raddock and Orsler. Instead this team featured ne~ and promisi~~ young stars such as Stewart (the Captain), ~hipson and AlakiJa. What I am about to write may seem biased m .f~vour of our victor~ous King's Sevens side, but if one was pnvileged enough to Witness t~e sheer brilliance of the side (as a ~ew of u~ were) then any bias would be justified. I am not ~mng to wnte about the whole tournament or even the final but mstead the semi-fina!. Why? Because, even though both' the tournament a?-d the fmal were impressive, the semi-final was the match which really stood out for me. ~he semi-fi~al at th~ Kent tournament between King's and the, o~d, enemy , Tonbndge, can be described as nothing short of ~pic ¡ It was a match that was on a par with the All BlacksSp~mgbok test series of 1996 where Sean Fitzpatrick's men claimed that most famous of honours which had so eluded New Zea!and throughout the amateur era, by beating the South Afncans .2-1 on their own soil. It was both thrilling and breathtaking to watch. It was a match that would have had us on the e~ge of our seats had we been sitting down instead of watchmg from the touchlines.

King's went into the match as the-underdogs and seasoned punters would have put their money on Tonbridge. After all, they were the form side and had not so much beaten but destroyed the teams that had ventured into their vicinity. They

to han~ and King's played a style of rugby that could have c?me nght out ?f the Fijian textbook of Sevens, scoring three tnes to snatch victory from Maidstone. . Damian Stewart's men were undaunted by the opposition's m-form performance so far, .and no ~oubt banished the memory of a narrow de~eat by To~bndge dunng the Fifteens season, for th~y played .with a passiOn that Francois Pienaar's world cup ~mmng Spnn~boks would have been proud of. Tonbridge drew first b~ood, skilfully manufacturing an overlap (a characteristic of !heu style of play) going to the left. Simon Beamish was their flyer on the end of the movement and he went in to score under ~he posts and ~onbridge duly converted making the score 7-0. King~. were qmck to r~ply, working the ball down to our flyer, Ala.kiJa, who, faced With a one on one situation managed to beat his man and score. Unknown to us at the time the try was not converted. ' ~he King's supporters consisting of the 'B' -squad Mr White. ~nd Mr Bee, were rocked with fear when Alakij; our best fimsher, ha~ to come off due to injury, but he_was 'ably reJ?laced by Akmdele our other flyer. Fears were further heightened when Rob Adams took a blow to the head and also had to come o.B; momentarily. The second half was tense with son:e very exclti?-g ~ugby played. Tonbridge managed to extend their lead by spmnmg the ball to the left and releasing Rob N?rt~n, but he was .bri~liantly hauled down as he entered the Kings 22 by th.e ubiqUitous Phipson. However Tom May was on hand to rec.eive the pass, and after stepping out of a King's ta~kle s~ored m the corner but was unable to convert King's With their 'never say die' attitude battled on and were r~warded for their bravery. Akindele received the ball, dummied his man and accelerated through ~he gap. He then drew the oncoming defender and released Phipson on the outside for the try, which was converted by Gareth Williams.

Soon after, the whistle went and the match ended. The King's supporters sto~med the pitch like schoolboys at Twickenham, only to find out that King's had not won the match. Gareth ha~ not converted Flo's try as widely believed and the scores were in actual fact tied? thus sending the match into ~xtr~ ~Ime. R.C.W. said a few msJ.:matwnal. words during the short penod leadmg up to the extra-time match. As King's and Tonbridge lined ~p to face each other again one final time, there was a tension in the air that was so thick one could almost taste it.

The. game kick~d off a?d Tonbridge received possessiOn. Their skills were once again impressive, but the King 's defence held firm and Tonbridge were unable to penetrate. What ensued was some tense but .exciting interchange b~tween the two Sides. Then Akindele, a t~Icky customer, received the ball on the nght and with dazzling footwork that Sevens squad with the cuP. for the Kent Sevens. Back row: Alakija, Lau, Akindele, Hessey. ~oul~ have come right out of the Front row: Phzpson, Stewart, Williams G., Adams. (Jide Adesanya) Asta1re Academy', went on an elusive run, .cutti~g back against the grain, . . weavmg his way through an array of were brilliantly led by the excellent Tom May, their England black and white J~rseys. On piercing the Tonbridge defence, he centre, wh~ for me s~ared the 'outstanding player of the h~aded for the lme but was tackled well by Beamish, their !ournament award with Peter Phipson. Tonbridge had w~nge.r. However ~ames Hessey seemed to materialise out of Impressed all onlookers with their dazzling repertoire of skills thm ?IT to take Akmdele's try-scoring pass, which sent us into a~d ~ecord try-count. ~ven th?ugh we .were the underdogs, the fmal. T~e ~ro~d were ecstatic and could not hide it. Wild Kings had also been Impressive, playmg consistently well scenes of JUbilatiOn followed. Some jumped for joy some t~roughout the tournament. Although a somewhat lack-lustre screame.d and shouted, but all - this time rathe; more first half performance in the quarter-final against Maidstone appropr~ately - stormed the pitch to congratulate their G.S., a school we had thrashed the week before, threatened an compatnots. early ret~rn to school, a stern half-time talk by R.C.W. and a It was a match that could have been made for the Big Screen fresh pair of legs. in the form of Flo Alakija, who then It had all the ingredients of Hollywood: suspense tragedy and _proceeded to play hke a possessed man scoring one of three success. Just f<;>r the record, King's went on' to win' the second-half tnes by King's, seemed to do the trick. We shook tournament beatmg St Olave's in the final. off the cobwebs and started to play with purpose, passes went }IDE ADESANYA.

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

252

The Sailing Club . was closely involved in the commemorative re-enactment of the landing of St Augustine at Thanet. A practice run in the yacht Wongga before the start of term, had shown the feasibility of sailing up the channel The Sailing Club has built on the well-developed partnership through Pegwell Bay into the Stour Estuary at high tide. On the with Dover Water Sports Centre to enjoy sailing in Dover day, Sunday May 4th, weather conditions were more Harbour on three afternoons of the week, with an additional challenging, as we tacked up the channel against a force five wind, and 'Saint Augustine', in the person of Father Mark, seemed glad to be On landed safely. return to our home port at Dover we encountered a southwesterly Force 6 against tide, but Wongga rode the waves well and our passage was assisted by Port Control permitting us to enter harbour before a waiting ferry.

Over the term, club members have enjoyed many hours of sailing.

Colours (minor sports) were awarded to Christopher Elworthy (Captain of Sailing), Thomas Everett, Tristram Standen and Paul Tsergas.

In addition Christopher, Thomas, Tristram and Adela Bottomley successfully completed a five-day sailing course at Dover and were awarded the R. Y.A. Instructor's Paul Tsergas, Thomas Everett and Christopher Elworthy preparing to sail on Wongga. (J.R.P.) Certificate. This is a remarkable afternoon for those sailing as an activity, as well as occasional achievement and reflects highly on their sailing skills and off-shore yachting in a MacWester 26. enthusiasm.

The Club would like to thank Dr H.R.O. Maltby and Mr A. We generally sail Toppers or Lasers; Wayfarers are also Watson for all they have done this season for Sailing. available. Some 23 pupils sailed regularly this term, including novices aiming for R. Y.A. levels 1 and 2, and more advanced CHRISTOPHER ELWORTHY. sailors aiming for the higher levels.

TEAMS AND RESULTS In view of the resurgence of the sport over the past two Inter-Schools Regatta at Dover, 17th May 1997 - sailing years, it was possible to organise competitive sailing events. An Toppers.

Inter-Schools Regatta, held at Dover on 17th May, proved to be Team: Thomas Everett, Christopher Elworthy (Captain), an enjoyable and successful event with a light breeze and ideal James MacAdie, Henry Coltart, Adela Bottomley, Hugh conditions. King's won by a convincing margin and a special Kingston, Tristram Standen, Jamie Martin, James Mclrvine. mention should go to Hugh Kingston and Adela Bottomley for first and second positions respectively in three races. We hope 63 King's that this event will become a permanent fixture in the future.

Duke of York's 149 After half-term, the King's Sailing Club was invited to take Dover College 172 part in the annual regatta between Calais and Dover, which was Kent College 174 held this year at Calais (June 7th). Departing 'on an early H. Kingston, 1st; A. Bottomley, 2nd. morning ferry the ten members of the King's team were guests Calais Yacht Club Regatta, 7th June 1997 - sailing 2 of Calais Yacht Club and enjoyed an excellent day of exciting Catamarans, 4 Lasers, 4 Optimists and 1 Windswf in each sailing, fine weather and superb hospitality. At Calais we sailed race. in unfamiliar boats against an expert team, and it was not Team: Adela Bottomley, Jamie Briggs (windsurfing), Christopher surprising that the honours went to our hosts. Next year it will Elworthy, Claire Gilchrist, Hugh Kingston, Katie Loden, Jamie be our turn to be hosts to the French team at Dover.

Martin, Laura Phillips, Tristrani Standen, Paul Tsergas.

The Inter House Sailing Regatta (June 11th) was very well Calais won 2 races; King's/Dover won 1 race. supported. Eleven Houses entered teams of a minimum of three sailors, and competition for the trophy was keen. Each of the Inter-House Sailing Regatta, June 12th 1997 at Dover three race&:,involved up to 22 Toppers, creating a splendid scene sailing Toppers. in Dover Harbour, again in ideal sailing conditions (Force 3).

Tradescant 11 points 1 point Galpin's Marlowe, Tradescant and Jervis were strong contenders, but 11 points Jervis 2 points Meister Omers victory was claimed by Linacre, thanks to the fine sailing of 19 points Linacre 9 points The Grange Fergus Reynolds.

Winners: Linacre.

10 points Marlowe

Sailing

253

THE CAN'_TUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Squash

wine glass as a retirement gift; our sincere thanks go to him for many years of work on behalf of the swimming club.

To be quite frank, it wasn't a stormer really, was it?

Statistically speaking, we shouldn't be too pleased with ourselves. No_b~dy wants to hear excuses, but ... tough!

Thr~ugh Martm s faultless endeavours we started to make a confident showing against really very good opponents: playing Crownwoods, who had England Internationals at number one and numb~r four, followed by a number of county players seemed_ at fust s~mewhat pointless. To say this, however, would to ~Iss th~ pomt. As a team, we are very philosophical about It, playmg t,o m~prove _our respective goals, not to win, although we wouldn t rnmd domg both.

?e

~v~rybody put a weat deal into their training. Merlin and Suml Improv~d steadily throughout, being markedly better at the end. Suml came close to winning most of his matches mo,re so th~n the rest of the team put together. Nico disappeared at some pomt, but nobody really noticed, since despite being a talented player he needs to care more about the team - we prefer de:'otwn to talent. Luckily we got both of this in Brooky ~nd A?nan, who _came towards the end of the season Improvmg all the time and giving invaluable support in th~ lower half of the team. Hannah was a shining light keeping eve!yb_ody hapl?y with her endless buoyancy and ~isguided :preJudices!. ~enously though, Hannah put in a huge amount mto her trammg, and ~e.emed constantly to be going 'up north' for numerous competitiOns, putting us all to shame; so good luck t~ her. Jonah had a good time, in his own special way.

T~Is report would be pointless without a huge thank you for Mar~m and Dr Allday, without both of whom we would be nothmg.

JONAH WYN PUGH. . Squad (in order): !onah Wyn Pugh, Nicholas Berry, Merlin Nicholas, Hannah Vames, Sunil Abraham.

Also played: Anthony Brooke, Adrian Fradd.

Swimming_ ~aving started the year with our own pool out of action no one m the squad could have predicted the success of the se~son to follow. However, thanks to the skill and inspiration of our coach, :M_rs Murray, (and our own determination!) the squad has reached Its full potential. Thanks are also due to Mrs Sellers who_overcaf!l~ all obstacles last year and ensured that we could contmue trammg, in the pool at Faversham.

Out of a total

of:? fixtures, we ~on 13, with the senior girls

unbe~ten. T~ be fau, the boys did have a bit of help on

occasiOns, ';"Ith so_me girls swimming in the boys' team when !here ~asn t a girls_' match. Up with coeducation! Most ImpressiVe was the. fmal triangular fixture against Eastbourne and Epsom, at which our greatest rivals were overcome and new records set _by both captains: Tim Mitchell swam the 50m butterfly ev~nt m 29.38 s, beating Tom Collins's record, and Estelle Davies swam the lOOm freestyle in 1 'OR.32.

v Benenden v Brentwood v Brentwood v Bethany v Tonbridge v King's Rochester v King's Rochester v Sutton Valence v Eastbourne v Eastbourne v Epsom

TIM MITCHELL.

U15 Boys Senior Boys U16 Boys Senior Boys 016 Boys Senior Boys

61-56-50.

75-53-37.

46-24.

28-52.

55-24.

60-38.

Won Won Won Lost Won Won

46-24.

39-30.

44-26.

43-37.

36-24.

33-47.

40-40.

Senior Girls Won Senior Girls Won

97 1/z-72 /2-37.

54-26.

U15 Girls Won U16 Boys Lost Senior Boys Won

75-66-27.

58-24-86.

62-51-55.

1

Boys' Tennis 1st VI The first match of th~ season, against Sevenoaks, resulted in an expected defeat, but It gave us a chance to sort out the pears from. t~e apple~ so ~o speak. Sam and Adrian played some prmmsmg tenms ~hilst ~att and Merlin played well, losing narrowly to the first pair 6-4. The team consisted of three players from 6a, one 6b, one Fifth and one Remove - and two of these are golfers. We hoped to win the next match but unfortunately the two !?olfers had prior commitments and 'their presence was sorely missed. We showed complacency and lost 3-6. T~e best perf~rmance ?~the season was against Brentwood away, m some trymg conditiOns. Brentwood is a strong tennis schoo~ and we have ~ot_ ~on against _th_ef!l in the last five years.

For this mate?, ~d was InJured s~ And JOined Sunil at third pair, but ~hey had a disastrous day Iosmg all sets. However, Sam and Ad~1an playe? som~ excellent tennis, winning a crucial tiebreak agan~st the third p~Ir, and also_ beating the second pair. Matt and Merlm played _theu best tenms of the season, winning all their sets and secun?g a memorable victory. The last match of the sea~on was agamst St Lawrence: their rubber courts took a little gettmg used to, but we came away with a victory after a good all round performance.

I? the Glanville Cup we won the first match convincingly but m the ?ext round came across some strong singles players.

However, m the _doubles contest we appeared to be well on the way to a good victory when the rain came down and the match w~s abandon_cd. Consequently the opposition went through bemg ahc~d m completed matches. This was a disappointing ~ay to exit the tournament but there was simply not enough time _to rearrange the match. The weather proved to be an ongm~g problem throughout the se~son, with matches against Tonbndge and Sutto~ Valence havmg to be cancelled. This season Sam and Adnan have gained valuable experience and complem~nt each ?ther's game. Adrian's strong ground-strokes and Sam s volleymg at the net show great potential. Sunil demonstrated t~roughout the season. his ability to volley with style but sometimes he could be a httle too ambitious. Merlin and Ed rely on power fo: most of their shots and as the season :progressed they became mcreasingly consistent. All the players Improved over the .short season and I would like to wish Ed good luck as Captam for next season. I would like to thank Mr

r< On the run-up to the National Public Schools' relays at '-'rystal Palace, even the toughest of the 'iron men' rowers ~ouldn't keep up ,with th~ pace of our 6 x lOOm training. So nuch for M.~.L. s theones about the swimming species! On ,he day the guls caJ?e 6th and 8th out of 40 in the medley and reestyle events. while the boys came 8th in the medley, out of >0. Conwatul~tlons to all_ who took part on achieving so much md makmg this a rewardmg and memorable occasion. ~irst Colours ';"ere aw~rded to Adrian Cheong and Rachael Yhite, next year s captams, and to Tim Strange. First Team ;olours went to Tom Holliday, Sarah Clarke and Alyssa Nihon.ufta.

We ~inished t~e season with a celebratory dinner at The 1andann, at which R.E.B. was presented with an engraved

HE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

v St Dunstan's

ESTELLE DAVIES AND RESULTS 015 Boys Won 016 Boys Won Senior Boys Won U15 Girls Won Senior Girls Won U15 Girls Lost Senior Girls Drawn

254

3rd VI

Anderson for his patience and advice and also !he other n1 embers of staff who were always there to help and giVe words encouragement.

MATT APPLEYARD. Team: Sunil Abraham, Matt Appleyard (Captain)*, Adrian Fradd, Ed Immink*, Sam London, Merlin Nicholas*.

Also played: Anil Abraham, Chris Howard, Ben White. * denotes First Colours RESULTS Played 7, Won 4, Lost 3.

(H).

Lost 0-9.

Sevenoaks (H).

Lost 3-4.

St Edmund's (A).

Won 6-3.

Kent College (A).

Won 5-4.

Brentwood StLawrence (A).

Won 5 1/2-3 1/2.

Glanville Cup Tunbridge Wells G.S. (H). Won 5-0.

St Olave's (H).

Match abandoned l-3.

My thanks to the players, esp~c~ally Matthew Appleya~d vvho led by example and was an efflctent and courteous captam off the court and a determined and forceful player on court. i~oth he and Merlin hit the ball with tremendous force and on Jheir day were a match for any of the pairs we played.

Unfortunately, due to commitments after exams, we could not field a team for the Youll Cup in a year where Merlin and Matt and Ed and Sunil would have made a strong team. As Matthew mentioned in his report, we were 'sharing' players with golf and so I thank A.M.M. for his co-operation. Which leaves me with a 'thank you' to C.J.R.J. for his a_s~istance with team~ and to M.B. and A.A.P. for their supervision of the recreational tennis on Blore's for seniors. Thanks to the catering staff, especially Ann serving the teas, the groundstaff and Danny Wynne who provided valuable coaching, no matter who turned up.

S.E.A.

Apart from the weather which caused two m~tches to be cancelled, the other disappointment was the number of players who did not make themselves available for matches. Too many of last year's 6b players made no commitment and some of the current 6bs placed exeats above fulfilling the Scho?l's fixtures. Nevertheless, thanks to a number of players who persisted and made themselves available when not injured, the team managed three wins and I hope that those who took part enjoyed the matches.

There was a nail-biting finish to the Eastbourne match, with Fergus Reynolds and Henry Trew winning 7-5 against the opposite pair after Mark Preston and I:farry Walker had w~n all their sets and Ed Wattis and James Bndel had stunned the1r 1st pair by winning on a close tie break. Against Brent:vood, pavid Ribchester and Alastair Lewis worked well as a pau despite the distraction of female opposition. They recorded a straight sets win in a friendly match against Ursuline College to round off an unbeaten run- of three matches.

S.E.A. Players: Simon Bodey, James Bridel, Alastair Lewis, Hugo MacPherson, Fergus Reynolds, David Ribchester, Henry Trew, Harry Walker, Edward Wattis.

RESULTS Played 3, Won 3.

Won 5-4.

(H). v Eastbourne (A).

Won 61h-2 1h. v Brentwood Won 5-4.

(H). v Ursuline College

Under 16 VI With the Tonbridge match a victim of the weather, the season seemed almost over before it had properly started!

However, for the few matches played, we fiel~ed com_petitiv_e teams that did themselves and the School credit, both m theu play and in their excellent court behaviour. In the 'friendly' matches, Sevenoaks, for a pleasant change, were beaten comfortably and Eastbourne also succumbed in a tight match which was only decided in the last rubber. How~ver, we_ lost a little disappointingly to Brentwood. Two good wms, agamst St Edmund's and Kent College, were secured in the Kent Cup, but we were then beaten by a strong Simon Langton side.

Despite the brevity of the se~son, I hope tha~ the team members have enjoyed what tenms has been possible. When Adrian Fradd and Sam London were not required by the 1st VI, they showed impressive form, winning 5 of their 6 do~bles comprehensively and all of the singles t~ey p~ayed. Simon Jennings and Ian Meyer also made an effectlv~ pm~mg and won 9 of their 12 matches. Ivo Neame and Ed Sixsmith showed a pleasingly aggressive approach and, at their be~t, were a match for most pairs. Jonathan Cox and James To~lmson co~pleted the side when Adrian and Sam were not available, and d1d well to win 2 of their 3 matches against Sevenoaks. It bears repeating from previous years to say to all up and coming players, 'If you wish to become a re~lly good player you must join a well organised club that provides a proper struct_ure f?r its juniors. You cannot expect to become a world-beater m a SIX week period, which is always interrupted by the weather.'

C.J.R.J. Team: Jonathan Cox, Adrian Fradd, Simon Jennings,. Sam London, Ian Meyer, Ivo Neame, Edward Sixsmith, James Tomlmson.

Also played: Andrew Hickman.

RESULTS Friendlies: (H). Won 6-3. v Sevenoaks (H). Won 5-4. v Eastbourne (H). Lost 2-4. v Brentwood K.. C. L.T.A. Cup: (H). Won 5-1. v St. Edmund's (A). Won 5-l. v Kent College (A). Lost 2-4. v Simon Langton

2nd VI We had a short season but were fairly successful as there were a number of players who had played in the lst or ~nd VI last year. Chris Howard (Captain) was one of these expenenced players who along with Ben ~hite started the ~ea~on so impressively on the Sevenoaks mdoor courts by wmnmg all three matches. Chris's serve has improved from last year and he no longer relied on his effectiye forehand; and Be~ is alwa~s very competitive and athletic at the . net. J_amw Gree~ s availability strengthened the team, especially With Ed Imm1~k against Eastbourne where they won 3 sets, and then_ later with Ben White against Brentwood. Unfortunately, neither were available for the match against Dover lst and despite impressive serving from M~rk Pr~ston ~nd Chris Howard who won all their matches as first pan, Anil Abraham and Harry Walker were unable to win the deciding set. Nevertheless, to go down 4-5 to a 1st team was a fine effort and showed the overall strength of the seniors compared with the other local schools.

With a few of the 3rds involved against St Lawrence the team ended with a convincing victory. My thanks to all those players who often made themselves available at the very last notice.

S.E.A. Team from: Christopher Howard (Captain), Ani~ Abraham, Jamie Green, Mark Preston, Harry Walker, Ben White.

Also played: James Bridel, Fergus Reynolds, Henry Trew.

RESULTS Played 5, Won 3, Lost 2. v Sevenoaks (A).

Lost 3-6.

(H). v Eastbourne Won 7-5. v Brentwood (A).

Won 8-l. v Dover College lst (A).

Lost 4-5. v St Lawrence (A).

Won 6 1/z- 2 1/2.

255

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

nder 15s

'B' Played 5, Won 3, Lost -2.

(A).

Lost 4-5. v Cranbrook Midland Bank (A).

Won 4-2. v King Ethelbert's (H).

Won (29-24). v Simon Langton 'B' Won 6-0.

(A). v Heme Bay High Semi-Final (A).

Lost 2-4. v Judd School Tradescant House won the Junior Boys inter-House competition.

Adrian Fradd and David Farrar braved the elements to take part in the Kent Schools Championships held in the pouring rain on St Lawrence's astro courts. They played exceedingly well as David is normally involved full-time with cricket, but wer~ unfortunate not to qualify for the semi-finals due to not winning enough games compared with Sevenoaks' second pair whom they had beaten 4-2. .

At the P.S.L.T.A. Championships held at Eton during King's Week, two pairs were entered in the ThomasBowl'(Under 15) competition. James ~ainw~r~ng and Davi~ Farrar, ?o~h cricketers, showed their versatility to beat a Hruleybury pau m their first match but lost concentration in the third set against K.C.S. Wimbledon to go out 5-7, 6-0, 2-6. As first pair, Sam London and Adrian Fradd continued the impressive form they had shown in the 1st VI matches this term. They have a good understanding and Adrian's backhand returns com~ine well with Sam's effective net play. After a comfortable wm on the first day against U.C.S. 2nds, they disposed of a dejected Eton pair 6-1, 6-4 before losing to a seeded pair from Bradford Grammar 4-6, 2-6. This was no disgrace, but both knew they did not play well, having had a long wait and losing the initiative early on in the match. My thanks to the_ parents for their support at this event a_nd we hop~ we can contmue to keep up the tradition of entenng, especially as the ~umbers of schools involved in the Youll Cup has reduced considerably.

S.E.A.

Staffing and court time are in such short supply that the mbers of boys playing tennis three afternoons a week has had be severely limited.

For the committed tennis players it has been a successful yet finished season with the U15 Midland Bank team winning ough to the Kent final against Sevenoaks - who could not nage a date at the end of term and prefer to play them at the rt of next term! However, it has been a fine achievement as r boys have very little opportunity to play singles on a regular sis and the format of the competition is weighted in favour of 1gles matches. The U15 'B's also had a fine run in the dland Bank losing to Judd in the semi-finals. In the friendly tures the variation of standards of the opposition made the mlts difficult to analyse as Sevenoaks proved to be a little too ong and yet when playing Dover College 2nd VI we never Jked like losing a set! There is enough strength in depth in s year group for a reasonably strong VI to emerge together the school if they remain committed to practising nscientiously. Special mention should go to Andrew Bailey 10 was one of the most consistent players, always willing to n out for any team.

Teams: Andrew Bailey, Oliver Collins, James Edmondson, l1 Gould, Andrew Hickman, Alastair Laing, Oliver Martin, 1ry MacEwen, Pritarn Mukhi, Jamie Winner.

Also played: David Farrar, Pravin Mukhi, James 1cfarlane, Henry Walpole.

Midland Bank 'A' Team: A. Fradd, S. London. A. Laing. 0. Collins.

'B' Team: A. Bailey, J. Winner, A. Hickman, W. Gould, 0. trtin, P. Mukhi.

RESULTS

Played 9, Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 1 Sevenoaks (A).

Lost 3-6.

St Edmund's H).

Won 4-2.

Brentwood (H).

Drawn 3-3.

Dover College 2nd (A).

Won 6-0.

Cranbrook (A).

Won 6-3. ¡lland Bank Chatham House (H).

Won 5-1.

Kent College Won 3-3 (H).

(30-24 games).

Simon Langton G.S. (H).

Won 6-0.

'1-i-final Eltham College (A).

Won 3-3 (28-27 games). al Sevenoaks - to be played.

. CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

Under 14s Team from : Andrew Bailey, Tim _Barnes, Ed Bosher, Tom Garrod, Charlie Harrel, Ryan Kemson, James Macfarlane, Alex Shipman, J arnie Winner.

RESULTS

v v v

v v

256

Played 5, Won 2, Lost 2, Drawn 1.

St Edmund's (H). Won 4-2 . .

Brentwood (H). Drawn 2-2.

Sevenoaks 'A' (H). Lost 2-7.

Sevenoaks 'B ' (H). Lost 2-7.

Kent College (H). Won 4-2.

KiDaCo. Ground: Chrissy Stoodley. Standing: Caroline f!ollywood, Sarah Hubbard-Ford, Sophie Ch~pman. Middle: Tessa van den Hout, Maddy Morgan. Top: Alzce Walker.

(M. P.H.D.)

KiDaCo. Remi 'Sijuwade, Allissa Brookin. (M.P.H.D.)

KiDaCo. Bella Hird (front), Hermione Race. (M.P.H.D.)

KiDaCo. Bella Hird, Hermione Race, Eliza Dunn, Abi Peel, Sophie Macfarlane. (M.P.H.D.)

257

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER 1997

SPEECH DAY 1997 HEADMASTER'S SPEECH

results would not occur without dedicated teaching; pastoral care takes endless hours of commitment, patience and understanding; the huge programme of extra-curricular activities involves a massive input of time, energy and enthusiasm. King's is most fortunate in having a splendidly positive and purposeful team: without them how could we excel in the ways in which we do? Even in this technologically advanced age teachers are the most important people in the whole educational enterprise. That meeting of minds between a pupil and teacher is still the vital liturgy which creates thought and ideas. I thank all members of the Common Room for their work which empowers what happens day by day, as well as the high festival days, King's Week and all such wonderful similar occasions which we're blessed with here. Thanks also go to all members of the Household of the School Bursary, Maintenance Department, Caterers, Matrons, San Sisters, Administration and many others.

First, welcome to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress - we are delighted that you have been able to devote much of the day to be with us. This is not, however, your first visit to King's: over half term the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were guests of honour here at the School on the occasion of the first commemorative day to honour an ex-pupil of the King's School who wrote a few plays and has a claim to rival or be Shakespeare. It was a remarkable occasion, held in our historic Refectory of St Augustine's. The Secretary General of the Society, so grateful that the Lord Mayor was present managed to introduce him and the Lady Mayoress at least three times, if not four, between reading letters of apology from other invited guests who perhaps had some trepidation of the proceedings. Full marks to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress who with quiet poise and diplomacy raised not even an eyebrow as the drama unfolded. We are indeed honoured to have you both with us and wish you well in your term of office.

Inevitably at the end of a School Year there are special thanks and goodbyes to say to those leaving.

First, two important members of the pastoral side of the School take their leave today, two Matrons. Mrs Rita Smallwood has been a pillar of The Grange and Mrs June Booton a keystone in Broughton (and before that Luxmoore ). We wish them both well in their retirements. We're very grateful for all that they have done.

Secondly, though in his absence, it is with great pleasure that I thank the Archbishop of Canterbury for being with us today for what was a most significant occasion in the School's historv and life. We were delighted that the Archbishop wa~ able to be with us to preach; through the apostolic succession his presence was a living reminder of our origins and founder, back to the days of St Augustine and Pope Gregory the Great from whose time the King's School traces its history.

Mr Andrew Miles in his four years here has contributed a good deal as a teacher of chemistry, as a resident tutor and assistant Housemaster in Tradescant, as well as a multi-talented sportsman. He goes to Hillcrest School in Nairobi where he will be Head of Department. God speed to him.

May I also welcome our governors. I'm sure this is entirely the wrong thing to do - similar to when in 1978 as Chaplain to the Bishop of Peterborough, I witnessed a parish priest, a senior cleric in Northamptonshire, welcome the Bishop to the parish for a confirmation service. The Bishop boomed from the Episcopal throne, 'You're not allowed to welcome me. It and they are all mine, so hands off!' But welcome the Governors I do. I myself have governed several schools over the years and still do. I suspect that Governors' work and commitment is far too easily taken for granted. It has been excellent to work with a Governing Body which is committed to the School, which has even slogged round the streets of Canterbury with me on a freezing winter's night looking at problems and possibilities. We're fortunate in having a Governing Body which is involved and which is prepared to look to the future with confidence and imagination. I've no doubt that the essential task of laying the track upon which the train of the school runs is in excellent hands. (I fear this analogy is a subconscious one given the elevation of one of our distinguished governors. To Sir Robert Horton we give congratulations on his Knighthood. May some of your new track lead swiftly and smoothly to Canterbury!)

In any school the engine is the Common Room.

Things don't just happen: academic achievement and THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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Mr Randall Thane is leaving to become Deputy Headmaster at Blundell's School in glorious Devon.

He came here 17 years ago and has exemplified everything that is noble and true. His integrity, humour and understanding will stand him in good stead for what is to come. Every good wish to him in contending with those wild folk of the West Country.

Mr David Bradley is the first of three who retire today. He came here in 1980 after a career in the RAP to teach Mathematics and with the deserved reputation of being one of the Armed Services' most reliable and distinguished sportsmen. He has been generous in his time and talents both in the classroom and on the sports field. All good wishes to him on what will undoubtedly be an active retirement.

Mr Dick Barham today completes thirty years at King's. In his time he established the Chemistry department as one of the most distinguished in the land, Dick himself being a most talented teacher and successful Head of Department. Whatever he's done he's put his heart into it and this was nowhere more evident than when he directed swimming and Social Services. The countless hours he has given to the service of others less fortunate is a measure of the man.

We wish him every happiness.

258

Finally, another ninety terms is completed today by Stephen Woodward. Stephen has been an anchor of the Modern Languages Department: ever cheerful, utterly conscientious, and again a person of integrity. Stephen has shown insight, patience the ability to take an original line - especially as Housemaster of Galpin's when he introduced a taste European rural living to the confines of the Mint In addition he has given countless hours, days masses of expertise to the Boat Club, sharing with so many his quiet but infectious enthusiasm for rowing. We wish him every hap-

REACT - a charity that works to help terminally ill children.

Conditions tested morale; patience and stamina were stretched, and the lunch stop seemed an eternity ahead. But imagine my incredulity when trudging on the path I encountered Mr Wood in the middle of an orchard (sitting reading a dictionary unde.r an umbrella it was a wonderful scene which remmded me of something from Alice in Wonderland). He told me that I was the first one through his checkpoint, whereas I was certain, as I'd planned, that I would be the last one through. I thought he was joking. But, no - it was true: the School had wandered from the narrow path that led to Canterbury ... indeed, later we learned some even ended up back at the recycling unit! It was one of those defining moments. I knew I had purpose. My predecessor told me last summer that a year ago on this occasion he'd described his headmastership as being in the tradition of Moses leading the people to a view of the Promised Land.

Pressing this idea further, that makes me Joshua, and I wouldn't like to begin to recount the problems he had in taking over all that was promised! Jericho was a pushover, that was a relatively easy bit of the operation! But on May 4th the stray were found ~n? redirected and afterwards there was a great spint abroad as we trod the way in ever-brightening conditions. Evidently St Augustine had had similar problems in 597: he and his forty com_panio~s had not come straight to Canterbury but had hidden m Thanet for a couple of weeks - poor souls. I only hope the weather was better 1400 years ago. The good news today is that we have raised ÂŁ10,000 for REACT, so reaching our target.

All our leavers have added immeasurably to the rich of the life of King's: to all of them our heartthanks. Thanks also go to Mr Hugh Aldridge and Mrs Aldridge who today complete a distinguished tour duty in The Grange. Hugh has been a marvellously supportive and compassionate _Housemaster of Luxmoore and Grange and, agam, we are very grateful. nr><>C'T1'"

There is one other departure which I must anticipate now as by this time next year it will have happened! The Archbishop of Canterbury is to blame - not the present one but Archbishop Edmund Grindal who founded a school up on the wild Cumbrian coast in 1583 ... St Bees. Well, as I'm sure all know, the newly appointed Head of that Hive to be one of my deputies, Mrs Janet Pickering. She will be greatly missed here and for many reasons, not least because she has been the undoubted principal architect and engineer of co-education at King's. The fact that co-education was so skilfully and successfully introduced is due in enormous measure her. She has been indefatigable, energetic, courageous and determinedly clear-sighted. You'll be interested to know that she will be irreplaceable as Senior Mistress: the Times Educational Supplement two days ago refused to accept an advertisement for such a post. They said it was sexist, suggestive and against the United Nations Declaration on Something! And a Senior Mistress implied junior or under mistresses. How many did I have, they wanted to know! Thank you, Janet, for all that you've brought and given to King's and many congratulations on your new appointment.

There is a great spirit about King's. Everyone remarks on it who comes here. We're all caught up by it and at certain times and places, through the achievements of individuals and groups, we become aware of it with particular force. In the academic and intellectual life of the School it is clear. It is a sparky place. The public examination results ar~ qu~te outstanding at both '.N level and GCSE. Umvennty entrance successes are impressive, including the very significant achievements we had this yea~ in gaining offers of places at Oxfor~ an? Cam~ndge, with thirty this year. All this Is testimony to the ability and industry of pupils and teachers.

Well, what of the School itself this year?

Pilgrimages tend to bring out the truth as Chaucer knew, and King's own pilgrimage day on May 4th was no exception. It was a wind-swept, bleak and grizzly Sunday morning when we gathered where Thanet meets the sea to watch the good ship Wongga wend its way against a fearsome headwind to deliver our modern-day representative St Augustine on to land ... or rather mud! He came bearing greetings from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. We braved the bleak elements, sang and prayed and then listened to our beloved Canon Derek Ingram Hill tell us about that first landing 1400 years ago and the gradual acceptanc~ of the Christian faith in Canterbury. Then we set off from the County Council recycling unit to walk the miles back to Canterbury and thereby raise whatever we could through sponsorship for

That creative spirit which infuses our life here is also so evident in all those things which happen outside the classroom: in the pastoral life of the School; in time spent beyond the call of duty -. ~he support, the encouragement, the acts of self-s~cnf1ce and generosity which make King's a commumty and not just an institution ... and that's important.

The sporting life of the School is another s~here where that energy is evident. Day by day there IS so much happening, .there is diversity and depth of achievements. In major and minor sports we have excelled. Last term I asked the Director of Sport to summarise what had been taking place in sport that term and the tally was awesome! In Badminton, Cross Country, Fencing, Rowing, so many individuals and 259

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Hugh Kingston mounts guard in King's Week. (M.J.T.)

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260

teams had risen to new heights. The Rugby Sevens teams were outstanding: they were winners of the Maidstone Sevens and Winners of the Kent Sevens, and runners up in the Surrey Invitation Sevens. The Soccer players had a brilliant season. The First XI played 13 games, only losing one and drawing four.

The Netball First, Second and Third teams and the Under 16, 15 and 14 teams are rightly renowned as the giants of the circuit. The Firsts played 10, won 9; the Seconds played 10, won 10, and so on. The Hockey season was one of the best ever: the First XI played 14, won 11, drew 1. Only one school XI before- in 1951!

-scored more goals (there were 74 this year). Charles Munday scored 34 of them! This was the most successful season in living memory.

of adult life and to promote their spiritual/ cultural/mental and physical development. This means that in planning for the development of the School we need to be aware of the kind of world our pupils will need to cope with. We need to remember this is the age when a former member of the School is a member of the crew of a space station (we pray that Michael Foale will be safely delivered from his present uncertainty and darkness). Technologically we've come a long way from Augustine's landing on Thanet. Our young people, all of whom will be setting out in life at the beginning of the new millennium, will need to be able to use technology as part of their everyday life and work. And, of course, technology is changing at an astronomical rate. It will be vital that the pioneers of the 21st century have the ability, initiative, willingness and flexibility to continue learning throughout their lives, and to use opportunities for good.

The future will also bring difficult questions and dilemmas through the advances of medical science, biotechnology and genetic research. We are seeing the beginnings of all this. But there will be a bewildering set of options about life, death, values, relationships; and questions about meaning and purpose will be at the heart of the matter.

There will be other significant developments too, but what is abundantly clear is that change is not going to slow down: just the opposite, it will accelerate. It will bring exciting challenges and opportunities, new ideas, new ways, as well as fears, conflicts and in all likelihood huge environmental problems. Above all, there will be the need for education in the fullest and deepest sense to equip young people to meet the future with confidence.

Now, turning to the Arts. What is achieved has been amazing, and I refer to more than the marvellous King's Week events - amazing indeed though King's Week has been. I'd be interested to know of any school able to produce the range and diversity of opportunities in the Arts which we have here, or of any School which could meet the test of excellence in so many of those areas. Throughout the year I have been privileged to see superb productions on stage and to hear much splendid music. Who can forget that chilling production of Ghetto, or some of those sparkling House plays, or the power, pace and effectiveness of Tamburlaine? I recall with admiration that wonderful Concert in StJohn's, Smith Square, the Choral Concert, the Spring Jazz Concert and, of course, the great feast of music throughout King's Week, culminating in that dazzling Gala Symphony Concert in the Cathedral with the world premiere of the School's commissioned work - composed by Robin Holloway and played by Andrew Marriner, O.K.S. It was simply brilliant, and the soloist himself told me that he had to remind himself that the orchestra were not professionals.

They played with real professionalism. And then last night, the Jazz Concert: another dazzling triumph for what is a purely pupil led and organised event.

Yes, we shall need to develop skills for the new millennium, as the preamble to the 1988 Education Reform Act envisaged, and that will be central for future planning; and equally we shall need to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, as well as the mental and physical development of young people. The creative spirit in each individual and the corporate spirit of the school community are inextricably linked, and utterly vital. If we focus on this then I believe we shall develop self-understanding and give to others a sense of their own worth and value. Hopefully this may lead to what I believe to be the crown of the whole educational process - a 'world vision' and an acceptance of responsibility for others, which is what Christian education is all about. If education is not about accepting unconditional responsibility for others, whether they be one person or many, near or far, and for the world, then it is ultimately pointless.

It was that sense of responsibility, I believe, which impelled Pope Gregory the Great to send Augustine here; it was that sense of responsibility which led to the founding of this school, and it is that sense of responsibility which is ours to strive for today, to live and pass on for future generations. There is no greater task for Governors, Heads, teachers, parents and pupils than that. It is what I firmly believe education to be ultimately about. It's the task ahead for the next 1400 and more years. I look forward to sharing it with you on this my tour of duty.

Education is about creating opportunities so that young people may discover their talents and develop them, and this is something which has to be at the root of all our thinking and any development plans. It's something of which we must never lose sight. In all the changes and chances of educational reforms over the past decade, there has been a fundamental confusion: schooling and training have been assumed to be synonymous with education. They are not. The Education Reform Act of 1988 got it right and it remains for me as the touchstone for all educational thinking. The opening section of that Act declares that the life of a School must be a balanced and broadly based one which should aim to achieve two things: first it should promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils; and secondly it should prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. l,.

They are remarkable words; they embody a vision of what education really is - the development of .the whole person. That is what we seek to do: to prepare young people for the responsibilities and opportunities 261

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DISTINCTIONS 1996-97 SCHOLARS ELECTED 1997 KING'S SCHOLARSHIPS RONJOY SANYAL ELIZABETH MILLIGAN ALEXANDRA FIELDING CONRAD BAKER VICTORIA PARRISH ANNA HOLMES KATHARINE HUNTER-JOHNSTON JAMES ELLIS EDWARD BRADLEY KATHERINE REDSTONE DANIEL O'DONOGHUE STUART FINLAYSON

EXHIBITIONS CLAUDIA WILMOT-SMITH JONATHAN LYNES JAMES AUDSLEY SELMA OLIVER AIMEE AU ALEXIS P. S. GIBBS

SIXTH FORM SCHOLARSHIPS CAMILLA JELBERT LAURA TRELFORD ELLEN WEAVERS

HONORARY KING'S SCHOLARSHIPS ADRIAN CHEONG NANCY COLCHESTER MATTEO COLOMBO IONA COLTART THOMAS DAVIDSON SIMON GOMERSALL RACHEL HILL MATTHEW KNIGHT MEGAN MORRIS JEAN RICHARDSON RACHEL WILKINSON

ART SCHOLARSHIPS EMMA-LOUISE EDMONDSON CHARLOTTE STERCK

CLEARY ART SCHOLARSHIPS FRANCES ARMITAGE-SMITH CLAIRE BAGLEY EDWARD EVERETT PETER PRINCE JEAN RICHARDSON CHARLES WELLS GEMMA WHEELER

ART EXHIBITION FREDERICK CLOUGH

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS CONRAD BAKER MIRANDA HURST AMY MARSHALL SELMA OLIVER HANNAH REDMAN ALESSANDRA RUSSELL THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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The Junior King's School The Junior King's School Wellesley House The Junior King's School Holmewood House Milbourne Lodge St Paul's Girls' School Ashdown House The Junior King's School Vinehall School The Junior King's School Holmewood House Combe Bank School The Junior King's School The Junior King's School St Bede' s School Windlesham House School Ashdown House James Allen's Girls' School South Hampstead High School Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The Junior King's School Windlesham House School The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury The King's School, Canterbury Dulwich Preparatory School, Cranbrook The Junior King's School James Allen's Girls' School Copthome School St Bede' s School Northboume Park School Windlesham House School 262

SIXTH FORM MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS LAURA DERAIN

Newstead Wood School for Girls

HONORARY MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS ALEID FORD RACHEL HILL BRIAR HITCHEN HENRIETTA POUND ANDREW RIBBANS

The The The The The

King's King's King's King's King's

School, School, School, School, School,

Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury

lVIUSIC AWARDS STEPHEN BUSHNELL PETER CAPEL NANCY COLCHESTER NANCY COLCHESTER IONA COLTART SAMANTHA GOULDEN RACHEL HILL FRANCES HOUGHTON JAMES LONGSTAFFE CAMILLA PAY RICHARD PEAT RICHARD PEAT SIMON PEEL ANNABEL WHIBLEY RACHEL BARR EMMA LEWIS JAMES LONGSTAFFE LAURA PERRIN WILLIAM TALLON

Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Trumpet) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Hom) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Cello) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Piano) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Singing) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Flute) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Recorder) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Flute) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Piano) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Singing) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Recorder) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Singing) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Saxophone) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Saxophone) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Clarinet) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Cello) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Singing) Passed Associated Board Grade VIII (Oboe) Performance Certificate - Trinity College of Music

Pass Distinction Pass Pass Distinction Pass Pass Pass Merit Merit Merit Pass Distinction Distinction Merit Merit Merit Pass Pass

1996 LEAVERS ENTERING FURTHER EDUCATION CLAIRE ALDER KATHERINE ALDRICK HELENA ANCOCK RICHARD ASHENDEN REBECCA AUSTIN PETER BAINES CHARLOTTE BARKER JESSICA BARNES DANIEL BARTLETTE MICHAEL BAUGHAN SIMON BIRD ZOE BLAUSTEN KEITH BOLSHAW ESPIN BOWDER KATHARINE BOWER ANDREW BRICE BENJAMIN BROWNING HARRIET BURGESS JAMES CAPEL MANUEL CARDOSO ADAM CHATAWAY MELISSA CLARKE THOMAS COLLINS SARAH COOK TESSA COOMBE BARNABY COWIN KATE CUPPAGE CHARLES CURLEWIS TIMOTHY DAVIS LAYLA DAYANI THOMAS DEAN ALEXANDERFENNEMORE NIGEL FIELD

Edinburgh Newcastle Jesus College, Cambridge Oxford Brookes Newcastle Edinburgh Bristol St Catherine's College, Oxford Liverpool Aston Edinburgh Hull London Imperial Trinity Dublin Edinburgh Cardiff Manchester University College, Oxford Edinburgh London Imperial Newcastle Selwyn College, Cambridge Bristol Princeton Bristol Leeds Oxford Brookes Oxford Brookes Newcastle London Leeds London UCL London UCL 263

Spanish Geography Medicine Surveying Theology Economics & Politics Politics & Spanish Geography Music & Popular Music Business Admin. & French German & Linguistics Biology Geology Geography Geography Medicine History Classics Economic & Social History Civil Engineering Social Studies Modem Languages Geography Humanities History of Art & Italian Environmental Science/Chemistry French & Italian for Business French & Business Physiology Financial Economics & Sociology Economics Medicine

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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SIMON FOGARTY CHARLES FOINETTE KATHARINE FORREST ALANNA FRASER JANE GANN SIMON GARNETT ROBERT GASKELL MAXINE GIBSON CLAIRE GILLANDERS TIMOTHY GOMERSALL JAMES GOODMAN THOMAS GOODMAN ALEXANDER GORT-BARTEN JENNIFER GRAY ALEXANDRA HARDIE JAMES HARVEY LUCY HEISE ALEXANDRA HYATT ALASTAIR IRVINE OLIVER JACKLING SARAH JOHNSON ROBERT JUSTICE EMILY KEIM TAK LOON KHONG ELEANOR KINGSBURY OLIVIA KIRBY SARAH KNIGHT PETER LAMBERT SOPHIE LAMONT PRIYAN LANDHAM GEORGINA LEIGH-PEMBERTON RICHARD LETTS ANNA LEWIS SALLY LEWIS-JONES TERENCE LING PHILIP LOBB IAN MACKAY BARNABY MARTIN THOMAS MAY JAMES MCNAUGHT LEWIS MITCHELL THOMAS MORTON CHRISTOPHER MOUNSEY-THEAR JONATHAN MURCH CLAUDIA NANNINI CAROLINE NG RACHEL NICHOLSON CHRISTOPHER NORTH ALEXIS OCHOA TIMOTHY PALMER SIMON PEACHEY SARAH PETRIE JAMES PIPER MADELEINE PRESTON NICHOLAS PULESTON JONES DANIEL PULLEN EDWARD RADCLIFFE OLIVER RAINBIRD EDWARD RICE GEORGINA RICHARDS TIMOTHY RIDGES NICOLA ROSS CHARLOTTE ROSS-GOOBEY LUCY ROWE TARA ROXBURGH

THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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Manchester London UCL Edinburgh Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge Liverpool Trinity College, Cambridge London Veterinary East Anglia London Wye London ECL Leeds Leeds Sheffield Edinburgh Somerville College, Oxford Pembroke College, Oxford Durham Southampton Southampton London LSE Southampton St Andrews StJohn's College, Oxford Edinburgh Bristol Edinburgh Newcastle Manchester Edinburgh London Imperial Nottingham Birmingham Durham Manchester London LSE Oxford Brookes Warwick Balliol College, Oxford London UCL Edinburgh Durham Edinburgh Bristol Loughborough London KCL Trinity College, Cambridge Pembroke College, Cambridge Manchester Magdalene College, Cambridge Keble College, Oxford Edinburgh King's College, Cambridge Brunei Sheffield Kent Institute of Art & Design London Charing Cross Leeds Oxford Brookes Christ Church, Oxford Cardiff Newcastle Exeter Camberwell Durham St Andrews 264

Social Anthropology Egyptian Archaeology Geography Theology Hispanic Studies Theology Veterinary Medicine Film & American Studies Environmental Science English Biochemistry History Business Studies Psychology Classics Law Spanish & Portuguese Engineering/Aerospace Ship Science & Naval Arch.

History Medicine Arts Modem Languages Medicine German & Italian Drama Environmental Chemistry Combined Arts English & Drama Medicine History Geology & Geography Modem Languages French & Spanish Economics Cell & Molecular Biology Mathematics & Computing Mathematics Geography Geology Economics Geology Social Studies Physical Education & Sports Science Law Mathematics Theology Physiology History PPE Politics Classics Engineering/Incl. Design Psychology & Sociology Art/Design Medicine Zoology Computing Science History European Union Studies Geography French & Italian Art Theology English

LEONARD SAMUELSON JAMES SANDRY ANDREW SAUNDERS UMAR SHARIFF JESSICA SKILBECK BEN SMITH-LAING AFOLABI SONAIKE GEORGE STILL SASKIA STIRLING-AIRD AMIKO STRANGER-JONES JENNIFER STUBBINGS JAN SUNDT THOMAS TALLON ELIZABETH TARRY NICHOLAS TATTERSALL :LUKE TAYLER VENETIA TAYLOR ROBERT THOMAS JULIE THOMPSON-DREDGE SUSANNAH TYDEMAN GORDON VAINES JANE VIRDEN ALEXANDER WALKER PAUL WHARTON

Manchester Cardiff Southampton London Manchester Bath Birmingham Durham Durham Oxford Brookes Newcastle Nottingham Trinity College, Cambridge Oxford Brookes Pembroke College, Oxford Manchester Christ Church, Oxford LondonQMW Durham Sheffield Southampton Newcastle Leeds Nottingham

ADAM WILLIAMS GEORGEANNA WILLIAMS ADAM WILTON SARAH WINCHESTER QINWISEMAN BEN WYAND

Newcastle Trinity College, Cambridge Edinburgh Newcastle Newcastle Nottingham

Zoology Business Administration Music Dentistry Structural Engineering & Architecture Mechanical Engineering Psychology & Artificial Int. Computer Science Archaeology International Hospitality & Tourism Sociology Economics English French & Italian for Business Modem Languages Social Anthropology English Medicine Combined Arts English Biology Medicine History Engineering/Manufacturing & Management Geography Oriental Studies Geology Social Anthropology Social Studies Archaeology

PRESENT HOLDERS OF EXHIBITIONS McCURDY EXHIBITION

Leo Fransella, Mary Stevens, Annabel Whibley, James Miller-Jones, Adam Brown, James Longstaffe, Helen Bray, James Stazicker, Katherine Short

SIDEBOTHAM EXHIBITION

Michael Wharfe, Simon Peel

GENERAL EXHIBITION

Kathryn Spall, Paul Tsergas, Samantha Goulden, Felicity Wacher

BUNCE

Naomi Chamberlin, Stephen Bushnell, Zoe Arthur

CRAWFORD

Thomas Everett, Matthew Appleyard

GIFTS GILBERT & SHEPHERD

Richard Peat

ROSE

Justine McConnell

WADDINGTON

Adam Withrington

O.K.S.

Marui Craze, Thomas Edmunds, Aleid Ford

STANHOPE

James MacAdie

OLIVER JOHNSON

Christopher Howard

265

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KING'S WEEK 1997 GALA SYMPHONY CONCERT This feast of English music was a treat for all those privileged enough to hear it. An extremely wellprogrammed concert, its first half - a chronological ~oumey from Purcell through to Tippett- provided an Ideal balance. for the culmination of the evening, the world premiere of Robin Holloway's Clarinet Concerto op. 82. . The members of the orchestra acquitted themselves With great professionalism throughout, both in their playing ~nd in their general demeanour, particularly in responding. so calmly to the challenge of accompanying such a distinguished O.K.S., the clarinet soloist Andrew Marriner. Under the baton of the Head of Orchestral Studies, Colin Metters whose indi~putable dynamism and easy manner ~ith the pupils shone through, the various sections of the orchestra had clearly perfected the art of listening to one ~nother;. the ensuing performance gelled together very Impressively. . The first half of the concert began strongly wtth Elgar's ceremonial Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 written in 1901. Rhythmically, the per~~rmance of this was very tight and full of exciting brass and woodwind colours. In fact the excitement became too much at one point and an over-enthusiastic downbeat from Metters sent his _score flying through the air. The Chacony for Strzn_g s that followed, written by the great English composer, organist and singer Henry Purcell, showed off this section of the orchestra to great advant~ge. Some very sensitive playing produced a luscious texture, of which any string ensemble would have been proud.

Holst's Somerset Rhapsody, based on the folk songs from the West Country collected by Cecil Sharp, at whose request the work was written in 1906, provided a forum for individual groups within the orchestra to show themselves off as soloists. Again there was some fine string playing and, dynamically, there was much sensitivity. This was evident once more in the fo_ur movements of Tippett's Suite for the BzrthdC:y of Prince Charles commissioned by the BBC m 1948. Purposefully designed to be accessible and popular, the composer used wellknown tunes (the hymn tune Crimond, the famous French lullaby of the Berceuse, the Carol based on Angelus ad Virginem and the Helston Floral Dance) but retained a strong sense of his own compositional style. Poignant woodwind, graceful harp and some rousing brass playing all combined, making for a very assured performance.

But surely the highlight of the concert came after the interval. Robin Holloway maintained that the challenge of writing a work for the School orchestra to celebrate the 1400th anniversary of St Augustine's arrival in Canterbury was irresistible and that he THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

1997

determi~ed fr_om t~e very b~ginning not to patronise the pupils whilst still observmg the technical common sense guidelines necessary when writing for a young orchestra. ~~e resultant work proved to be challenging, cleve~, excit~ng, f~ll of both ex?berance and delicacy and highly VIrtuosic for the solmst. Andrew Marriner's performance was truly captivating and enthralled the whole Cathedral; the orchestra rose to the occasion magnificently and with great flair. The composer's orchestration was inspired and, although a number of players admitted to quite understandable apprehension, every member of the ensemble shone on the night. During the final applause the orchestra exuded a strong sense of corporate achievement to the obvious de~ight o! ~etters, Marriner and Holloway.

The only disappomtmg part of the evening was that there was ~ot a full house, since the resounding theme as the audience left was that the playing had never been so good!

T.D.N.

(M.J.T.)

266

CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT

Another well-prepared work was Alphorn for soprano, hom and piano by Richard Strauss, a rarely heard piece composed when he was only twelve younger even than the youthful performers at this concert. Iona Coltart projected a clear vocal line with excellent intonation and sensitive phrasing and she was only occasionally overshadowed by the accompaniment in her lower register. Adam Brown (hom) and James Longstaffe (piano) were her able partners.

The next pleasure in this evening of contrasts was the Crypt Choir's performance under Stefan Anderson's direction of Deux Choeurs Op. 68 by Saint-Saens. Calme des nuits and Les fleurs et les arbres are two anonymous poems essentially pastoral in character and Saint-Saens's gentle setting matches their mood perfectly. Stefan Anderson produced some magical sounds from hi~ choir ~i~ excellent bal~~ce and intonation, impressive fortissimos and sensitive pianissimos - altogether high-quality singing.

Since Peter Lawrence's mentor is Ronald Smith, the foremost exponent in the country of Alkan's music, it was not surprising that he chose to present three contrasting pieces by this extraordinary nineteenth century piano virtuoso. The opening Toccatina was the least successful of these as despite impressive finger technique it was rhythmically unsteady, perhaps because the tempo was a little over-ambitiot:ts for the Shirley Hall acoustic. The more l~rical Esqz_-tisse.- 'Z:a Vision' was shaped most musically with hmpid cantabile playing while the concluding Allegro fully lived up to Alkan' s marking of barbara; this was exciting playing, underpinned this time by a very firm rhythmic pulse - a tour de force in both senses of the phrase.

In conclusion we had the first movement of a Malcolm Arnold brass quintet played by trumpeters Emily Hague and Charles Miller-Jones with Adam Brown (hom), Richard Peat (trombone) and James Longstaffe (tuba). The older membe~s of this group a~e now experienced performers and this was reflected ~n their technical assurance and the confident way m which they dealt with Arnold's cross-rhythms and exuberant tunes, full-blooded playing that was never overblown. It was a performance of panache conveying the players' own enjoyment to the audien~e who rightly marked with their generous applause this rumbustious .conclusion to an excellent evening.

D.S.G.

It was disappointing that the group of O.K.S. musicians who several months previously had undertaken to provide half the programme for this vear's Chamber Music Concert withdrew only a t'ortnight before the day. Nevertheless this was the only disappointment of the evening as the current King's School musicians presented their large audience with an attractive and varied programme, conscientiously rehearsed and well-executed on the day.

The concert opened with one of the many Trio Sonatas which the Flemish-born J.B. Loeillet composed when he settled in London in the early years of the eighteenth century. This was a confident performance from the first bar wit~ excellent intonation and ensemble and good control In the faster passage-work. Balance was mainly good though occasionally Caroline Scott's oboe was a little too strong for Rachel Hill's gentler record~r which _came into its own in the Menuett. They received admirable support from a finely-etched continuo by Emma Lewis (cello) and Stephen Matthews (harpsichord), and it was altogether playing of great charm.

Pachelbel's famous Canon in D is usually performed today by a full string orchestra and it was interesting to hear a version for four cellos from Jennifer Dutton, Nancy Colchester, Emma Lewis and Christina Barton. The decision not to use vibrato in the early stages made the opening sound rather tentative, but their confidence grew with the increasing warmth of the succeeding variations. Greater dynamic contrast would have allowed each of the three main players to project their entries in tum more clearly but the overall effect was pleasing.

Beethoven's variations on La ci darem la mana from Mozart's Don Giovanni presented a considerable challenge to oboists Ophelia Beer and Alastair Lewis and to Caroline Scott, now playing cor anglais, and for the most part they surmounted the technical difficulties creditably. A steadier tempo in the faster variations would have avoided occasional stumblings in the passage-work and there could have been mm;e dynamic contrast. Ensemble was good and Opheha Beer's tone after a hesitant start bloomed progressively whilst the cor anglais throughout was immaculate.

Perhaps another time it might be wiser to cut one or two of the variations but this was a bold choice with a brave result to match.

The string quartet is a demanding medium but none more rewarding when performed successfully.

Boccherini wrote over a hundred quartets, full of inventive and graceful music, and Aleid Ford and Mary Stevens (violins), with Susannna Oliver (viola) and Jennifer Dutton (cello), chose two characteristic movements from a quartet in D. The opening Presto received a spirited performance with sound intonation and good ensemble and there was some welcome contrast in dynamics. The succeeding Rondo, for which the violinists changed places, was played with considerable charm; the main theme, pastoral in character, flowed pleasantly with real warmth of tone and the contrasting passage-work was always secure - this was a musical treat, obviously wellrehearsed.

THE SERENADE There, 0 there, where-e'er I go, I leave my heart behind me.

(Thomas Ford) As if to acknowledge its 1400-year anniversary, the School's musical greeting to King's Week 1997 chose the unusual and performed in the Nave rather than the Cloisters of the Cathedral. A delighted audience enjoyed an eclectic choice of vocal and instrumental music from Celtic origins, Renaissance and Elizabethan times to modern American schmaltz, as well as a premier work by departing Music Scholar 267

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CAll THE STUDIO ON 01227 595687

Richard Collins masterminding our King's Week radio station. (M.P.H.D.)

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Richard Peat. A well-balanced symmetry was achieved by presenting instrumental and vocal pieces in an alternating programme for the evening.

foreign intruders. In the former, the melody stood out boldly between the supporting parts, whilst in the latter, a low placid and graceful style confirmed its place among such songs of history, romance, and tales of daily life. The American folk song, Sourwood Mountain (arr. J. Rutter), transported us to the Tennessee barn-dance. The sopranos, tenors, and especially the solo parts of Simon Peel and William Tallon were vigorously supported by the choir's imaginative perception of a world of gingham and jeans, and abruptly snapped shut with the tremendous reverberation of the ringing last chord: Hi-o!

The Captain of School, Annabel Whibley, was given the honour of closing the Serenade's final full instrumental work. The second movement of Ronald Binge's Concerto for Alto Saxophone was played skilfully and with a degree of emotional engagen1ent that helped to confirm Binge's reputation, more as a composer for small orchestra than one the silent cinema. The choir's penultimate numbers were modern and entitled 'Something Different'. Henry Mancini's Moon River (from Paramount Pictures, Breakfast at Tiffany's) offered a sophisticated popular style, sentimental, and all that goes with that slice of pumpkin pie! Vivian Ellis's satisfyingly up-beat mood in Spread a little happiness as you go by permitted the audience a gentle freedom from self-restraint. An observed balance between the parts was sustained and the choir's intonation was sound and firm. Jerome Kern's Just the way you look tonight (from the film Swing Time) - American, yet of distinctly European influence - is in the first rank of lyrical song writing.

The choir mastered the highly chromatic inner parts, as also the first tenor parts, to perform outstandingly.

The concert's finale, Amazing grace (Scottish traditional: arr. S.J.R. Matthews) was an aptly-chosen end to a lovely evening. Like all Mr Matthews' compositions, his anangement was full of rhythmic subtlety. From the beginning Hugo MacPherson's bagpipes restored the mood of sobriety to an audience in danger of excitement and participation. The concert ended on a note of literary and musical refinement in a Scots song for the enjoyment of the drawing room rather than the cottage or farm bothy. 'tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

As if to bestow upon the audience a safe homeward journey after a care-worn day, the choir's final words helped to confirm a splendid experience.

I congratulate the Director of Music and Choirmaster, Mr Stefan Anderson, the choir and all the soloists for such a musically-rich and heavy cargo, stage-managed with apparent effortlessness in incomparable surroundings.

R.B.M1.

Boismortier's Concerto inC major (Allegro)- played by a recorder quintet: Polly Redman, Mary Stevens, Caroline Ritchie, Anne Davies and Rachel Hill - began the concert. In music aptly directed towards small groups, Boismortier's tunefulness, simplicity and elegance was delivered with clarity of line: little appeared lost in acoustic. Described by La Borde as an 'abandoned mine' in music, the players ensured there were enough grains of gold here to make an ingot.

Works by John Bennet, Thomas Ford, Claudin de Sennisy and Pierre Certon supplied an interlude of Madrigals and Chansons. In Bennet's Oriana madrigal (All creatures now are merry-minded) the choir's knowledge of the composer's command of the forthright festive manner was warmly applauded by an appreciative audience. The singers displayed the charm and exquisite sensitivity of Ford's Since first I saw your face - a legato piece, among the very best madrigals of the period - with something of the metaphysical mood. One of Sermisy's 175 Chansons, Tant que vivrai, captured in a fast-moving style the dactylic pattern and trade mark of the Renaissance Chanson, in a sound unequivocally tonal. The love theme ended with Certon's La, la, la, je ne l' ose dire in a skilful transmission of the rhythmic nuances of the poetry.

This memorable evening acquired a new gravity with the considerable brilliance of harpist, Camilla Pay. Giovanni Battista Pescetti's Sonata in C minor, originally scored for organ, is noted for its fiendishlydifficult demands on the pedals, yet Miss Pay played with authority, intensity and a presence that might yet anticipate a Jacqueline Du Pre of the harp; her fingering produced notes of deep lyricism. Honegger's Danse de la chevre, played by flautist William Tallon, exploited the openness associated with the composer's glorification of speed. This was a craftsman-like performance, worthy of the post-Grade-8 soloist with his prestigious performer's certificate. For sheer sensuous beauty in sound, harp and strings were brought together in the Aria in a classic style by Marcel Grandjany. Alongside the harpist were Iona Coltart and Aleid Ford (violins), Susanna Oliver (viola) and Edward Cotton (cello). Grandjany's fecundity as a composer of solo and ensemble harp works was embraced in a performance that communicated the players' genuine feeling for the score.

Richard Peat's 1997 composition The Ecstatic enjoyed pre-eminence among the Partsongs and Folksongs. After a poem written in the memory of Heather Searle, the work is rhythmically unusual, notable for its dissonance and glissandi, and also memorable for the challenging solo soprano's top C. Well done, Rachel Barr! As the music died away, I felt the suspension of sound left me pitched somewhere between heaven and earth. The two following songs from Camtda, Ave Maris Stella (arr. J. Churchill), and the Newfoundland folksong, She's like the swallow that flies so high (arr. E. Chapman), captured that sense of heritage and spirited defiance that resisted

THE BAND CONCERT The programmes for the concert had disappeared somewhere in the system, but Phil Hughes' announcing each item created an upbeat informality which suited the occasion. The band started with a bit of serious music, Sibelius' Finlandia, which established a mood which was not to persist for long, 269

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as

down to some the the

showed off Annabel Harlem Nocturne and a

from that there aren't tunes in the musical. Let's have some Rutter next year: there's someone who can write tunes.

So much for the with excellent ...h~d-h-..,.,

resonant and range. intonation was former, it was an "'v 1-..."''-y\""h' and I'm sure we will hear the Lawrence performer, both showing and

was an excellent passages the for a Shell

II I The first Lunchtime Concert with Handel's Trio Sonata in F Redman and Caroline Ritchie Dutton

a vocal item and the only piece composer- Purcell's Tell me from ""¡" fl"''"''Wl sung Emma Lewis and William accompanied on cello by Caroline Ritchie and Stephen Matthews on the harpsichord. Both soloists gave polished performances, and the balance between the voices in the final duet was good; a little more dynamic variation in Lewis's solos would have been welcome.

Another instrumental piece, Loeillet's Sonata in C was played by Caroline Scott on the oboe. The first movement enabled her to display the quality of her legato playing, whilst the second movement she showed a commendable incisiveness.

A number of pieces for the voice were then performed. This group commenced with Emma Lewis singing Handel's aria How beautiful are the feet from The Messiah, and continued with Leonora Dawson1

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Hermione Race and Scarlatti's Sonata in and upon the Jutta The gave a very musical became performance, but some of the ends of lost as the performers breathed; a touch slower would have enabled phrases to rounded off and still leave time for breath. Maschler achieved a of each fine dynamic contrast between the phrase and their echoes, where but I sometimes felt that she was playing not so much a sequence of phrases but rather a individual notes; a bit more legato within some of the phrases have been beneficiaL 270

III

Non so cosa son from Mozart's was then sung a Telemann's

VL'I-'.4'-HU;:::,

remainder of the concert consisted instrumental works.

Prelude in starting off rather too comfort, and to change gear now control. He the younger the and can settle down in future to a more realistic tempo, he will have learnt a lot from the experience. He was Stephen Matthews, Falla. He in a performance of showed a maturity beyond his years, intonation and pizzicato 0BJJ_vuâ&#x20AC;˘u.LU range and the as this requires. He was Prentice, together with Anne William Davies (viola), Caroline Ritchie indefatigable Stephen Matthews on the harpsichord, to play Suite in A minor Telemann.

The first and third movements were very well executed, the melodic line standing out well against the background of the accompanying instruments; the second movement didn't quite match up to the same standard, some of the runs losing the occasional note.

Alwyn's Cinderella was then played James Longstaffe, who played very expressively upon the piano, and~,the concert was rounded off by a bassoon trio, Alastair Long, Alfred Williams and Jonathan Reeve, playing an arrangement by Stubbs which 'sent three well-known melodies by Tchaikovsky, generically entitled Jazz Tchaikovsky. Although a nhnnn...-v.,

and Nocturne in F minor Helen Prentice. Pound Air spot-on in places, in the higher register the tone was lacking in richness. Prentice's rendering of the Nocturne was, I felt, a little lacking in but was nevertheless an otherwise promising performance.

Overall, the standard of these three lunchtime concerts was on a par with those of recent years, and indicates much promise from some of the younger members of the school. Once again, Mr Stephen Matthews, by his accompanying so many of the pieces (in some cases due to the indisposition of Mr Timothy Noon due to illness), has probably been involved in the performance of more items than any other member of the School.

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is that, without careful listening to one's own playing, the performance can become a little relentless, and I felt that there was a tendency in this direction.

Nocturne, by Glinka, was performed by Camilla Pay, again upon the harp. As before, she played with great sensitivity. She was followed by a Barbershop quartet in the form of Richard Collins, Simon Peel, William Tallon and Adam Brown, who sang a number of items with rhythmic clarity and good intonation, sometimes not an easy thing to master when singing in close harmony.

Finally, a brass quintet in the shape of Emily Hague and Charles Iva Neame, Charlie Rice, Jon Cox and Anne-Christine Farstad at Blue Champagne. (M.JT.) Miller-Jones (trumpets), Adam Brown (horn), Richard Peat (trombone) and James Longstaffe THE GARDEN CONCERT (tuba), played a selection of pieces under the generic title The Roaring Twenties arranged by Nagel. As with The Garden Concert was to have been in the the saxophone quartet, they are all experienced Archdeacon's Garden, but the inclement nature of the players, and they well captured the lively spirit of the weather resulted in a move to the Shirley Hall to avoid third decade of the century. rotavating the garden!

This was a concert with music executed to a high The concert got under way with three pieces for standard by many senior pupils who will not be with us recorder quartet, played by Polly Redman, Caroline in the future; they will be sorely missed.

Ritchie, Lindsay Sharp and Richard Peat. First out of R.V.J.B. the starting blocks was Handel's well-known Alla Hornpipe. The ensemble was well together and wen balanced, with good contrast where the melody is echoed. The balance and accuracy was maintained in the following piece, L'Ardina, by Banchieri; the third ST AUGUSTINE'S CONCERT piece, Bernstein's Bergamasca was not quite together This was the fourth St Augustine's Concert to be in the opening phrase, but otherwise a very polished directed by Richard Peat, and it has become virtually a and musical performance. tradition that it opens King's Week. This year's Camilla Pay then played Impromptu - Caprice by Concert was really a celebration of English Music Pierne, upon the harp. Her love of the instrument is just from Dowland to Matthews. about as passionate as was Jacqueline du Pre's for the The concert opened with Organ Prelude by cello, and she gave a most passionate performance Leighton, played by James Longstaffe. There is very with a wide dynamic range and splendid contrast little reverberation in St Augustine's Upper Chapel, so between the melody and the accompaniment. it is always an unnerving experience playing the organ A bassoon quartet is fairly unusual, and King's unaccompanied. Longstaffe's playing displayed great delights in the unusual; so, Mark Williams, Alastair clarity, but the phrasing was less good, most of the Laing, Alfred Williams and Jonathan Reeve came piece being a succession of notes rather than a together in ensemble, each with his bassoon, to give a sequence of phrases. But, as stated, this is really a fault performance of Lucy Long by Godfrey, arranged by of the acoustic.

Whitehouse. It is not easy to play the bassoon with Next came two pieces for a recorder trio, played by subtlety, and it is much more difficult to play four Jessie Gulland, Rachel Hill and Hetty Pound. Fantasie simultaneously with subtlety; I felt the opening in G minor by Purcell was followed by Organ passage was a bit garish, but the piece was Grinder's Tune by Christopher Ball. In the first piece, rhythmically sound and the ensemble playing was very there was a nice balance between the instruments, and good. phrasing and breath control were good. Changes of From bassoon quartet to saxophone quartet, in the tempo were accomplished without difficulty. In Ball's shape of Annabel Whibley, Adam Brown, Simon Peel piec~, the accompaniment to the melody was always and Jutta Maschler. They are all senior pupils, and precise. displayed a maturity and confidence in their playing of Three vocal pieces followed. First, Richard Peat four pieces, including Miniature Jazz Suite No. 3 by sang Music for a while by Purcell, accompanied (as Niehaus and You took advantage of me by Rogers and were all the pieces) by James Longstaffe on the organ.

Hart. One of the problems with increasing confidence Most people will know this as a piece for counterTHE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

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nor Peat sang it in the baritone register. The and the balance bet~een the voice and the organ was good; the lower register was, if anything, a little breathy, and the vowels we:e not always as well-form~d, as they should be- I d1d begin to tire of 'mewsic . Rachel Barr then sang Dowland's Sweet, stay for a whiZ~. This . was . a delightful, haunting performance, a .little he~Itant m the later stages of the piece, and hk~ Peat .s low~r a little breathy in the upper register. FI_nally m section, Polly Redman sang another piece _by Purcell, I attempt from love's sickness. Her voice seemed more mature, and she coped well on the higher notes.

The songs were followed by a recorder quin~et, Anne Davies, Rachel Hill, Polly Redman, Carolme Ritchie and Mary Stevens playing Andrew Challenger's Ballad, in which the melody ~oyes from one instrument to another, the others prov1dmg the accompaniment. The .melody . was well .sustained as it moved from vOice to vOice, but at tn_nes the accompaniment was . a little t?o obtrusive.

Nevertheless, it was qmte a polished performance.

After last year's Concert, we were l~ft in no doubt about Peat's high regard forth~ music of John Tavener, incidentally, like your reviewer, a fellow Orthodox. This year's piece was Lament of the Mot~er of God at the Cross, for solo cello, playe~ by Carolme Ritchie. A solo stringed instrument IS always a challenge to play with good intonat~on, a!ld more especially so when the composer's musicological ~oots lie in the ancient tones and rhythms o~ Byzantmm.

Ritchie overcame these obstacles With ap.lom~; excellent intonation and rhythm, and good phrasmg, m this piece which is so expressive of the Orthodox interpretation of the events at the end of. Holy Wee_k. I would have liked a little more dynamic ex_presswn, although Tavener is son:etim~s mor~ than a htt.le short on this point - one thmks 1mme_dia~ely of his, short choral piece Eternity: Jasmine which IS marked To be sung without expression'.

The concert ended with four pieces by Stephen Matthews. The first, Ritornello, is for recorder duet, cello and organ. With the instrumentalists at one end of the Chapel and the organ (and organist) at the other, I was prepared for the worst; but I need not have worried; all four instruments were. very well together in the opening octaves, and remm~ed so ~h~oughout the piece. Secondly, Sarabande wzth Vanatwns, for recorder quartet. In the exposition of the Sarabande, a strong, courtly rhythm w~s established: b~t in son:e of the variations some of this was lost - It IS so~eti.mes easy to forget, es~ecially when the var~atwns seemingly become a little remote from the subject, to maintain the rhythm of the dance. Next, Echoes, for recorder trio. Not quite as together as some <?f the earlier instrumental pieces, and not very m~ch m t~e way of echo - more dynamic expressiOn agam required. And, finally, Child's Play for the sa~e instruments as the first of Matthews' pieces;. and like the first piece very well together and w1th good balance between the organ and the recorders and cello.

All in all, a nicely balanced concert, with some good, confident p!aying by musicians who clea:ly enjoy making music and who all show great promise for future years. Our thanks must go to Richard Peat, for this his organisational Swan-song, who has given us four splendid concerts over the last four years. And the presence of the Headmast.e~ must have made it seem all worthwhile to the participants.

;eerfo~mance was confident,

1

R.V.J.B.

THE COMPOSERS' The Composers' Concert comprised items from the pens of sixteen composers, an_d, overall, the standard of the compositions and of their execution was high.

The opening piece was Duet for 2 recorders by Caroline Ritchie, played by the composer and Polly Redman. This is a pleasant, easy-on-the-ear pastorallike piece, consisting of a m~lody and variations thereon. Two more instrumental Items followed, Violin Duet by Jonathan Nicholson, played by the composer and Leonora Dawson-Bowling, and Rondo Duet by Leonora Dawson-Bowling, played by the composer and Jonathan Nicholson. The former starts off with the two violins in canon, and I wondered at one point if the composer was indulging in quarter-tones, but I came to the conclusion that probably the intonation wasn't quite as it should have been. The second piece was a slow, pleasant piece to hear.

It was followed by the first vocal piece, 0 my love is like a red, red rose, by Charles Miller-Jones, sung by Rachel Barr accompanied by Stephen Matthews. This was loosely' based on the familiar song of the same title and had interesting changes of key and tempo bef~re and after the second verse. Barr sang with a good tone, but the higher end of the register was a little thin. Back into instrumental mode, and time for Take me down by Jonathan Cox, played on the saxophone

by Ivo Neame, accompanied at the piano by the composer. The opening sequence was of a somewhat reflective mood, but subsequently developed into a rather more lively piece, but I did feel that the accompaniment was a little relentless; more variation in the style of the piano part would have been a little easier for the concentration.

Readers may have wondered, at the opening of this review, how thirteen pieces could require sixteen composers to produce them. Well, the next piece, Serial Suite, was just that; a sequence of movements, each composed by a different composer. The movements were: Moderato (Caroline Scott), Morn (William Tallon), Quite Slow (Madeleine Morgan), Adagio (Emma Lewis) and Con Brio (Rebecca Arnold). The Suite was played by Stephen Matthews, and the movements are atonal with dissonances and much chromaticism in the first movement; the second a slow movement; a staccato opening to the third with a somewhat jaunty bass line; the fourth opening and closing in octaves, covering .all twelve no~es ?f the chromatic scale, and developmg some tensiOn m the middle; whilst the final movement was in the style of a toccata.

After 'composition by comm~ttee' back to a couple of vocal items. Firstly, When wtll the stream by Amy 273

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programme selection the cnenn-lno- in their execution. its recent succession of Hln,rth'\7 holder of the 1nrP•0t=>1_,t the first to be no ,. . ,.,,, .... ," . . " constructed musical slices of bread Widor's central HH-'CI

u - HJ.

as if one were The score calls for a and •-nC'f"1"n;rna-n+ to the full. It is a far French School to School which reached its apogee with Johann Sebastian Bach.

'T'"''"'"' Noon continued with Bach's "---'-'-JlV-'-'"'-'-'"'-l"'-'""'"''"'= o liebe Seele, BWV Achtzehn Chorale von verschiedener known as the Leipziger Chorale or, even more concisely, The 18. Schmiicke dich was written during Bach's Weimar but was subsequently slightly - very slightly, truth be known - revised at Leipzig, hence its ascription to Bach's Leipzig period. The Lutheran Chorale Melody appears in the upper part over a ornamented accompaniment. Timothy Noon's execution of the piece was masterly indeed, but I did tire a little of the Tremulant used for the melodic line; was no fault of the organist's, rather of the organ itself. The final piece before reaching the central slice of the sandwich was Four Sketches for Pedal-Piano Schumann.

These are all in Sonata (A-B-A) form, contrasting keys and 1noods, and form a delightful, and rarely heard, quartet of quite short pieces. The first has an and a opening section largely of detached legato middle section. Timothy Noon let in lots of space between the chords; one had time to listen! The second one has an almost jaunty opening with a quietly contrasting centre section with a rather peculiar (at first listening) quaver motif lurking in the middle, between the upper and lower parts. The third sketch has a florid opening section with another quiet middle section, this time rather chromatic; and the final one comprises a rather subdued opening section with a compelling dotted rhythm, and a legato central section moving subtly in a restless manner.

And so to the centrepiece of the Recital. The World Premiere of Richard Peat's Truly this was the Son of God, a set of three meditations for organ in the style of Messiaen. For me, this was the highlight, not just of this Recital, but of all the eight concerts I attended ""'-H<-U-'--'-'-'"-'-'-·

pzzzlcato in one u<:>•·,..-,t-.,.,.., movement with lower register of the quietly. Finally, we heard Scherzo in two pianos by Simon Peel, and performed by - yes, you've guessed - Stephen Matthews and Stephen Matthews! I have to say, though, that the two pianos were not played simultaneously, despite Mr Matthews' undoubted virtuosity. One part was pre-programmed electronically, and played back whilst the other part was being played live on an electronic piano. This is a thrilling piece, restless and vibrant, and had the reviewer on the edge of his seat. Towards the end, I detected Stephen Matthews getting out of time with himself, which, I was assured, was to prove that he was actually playing one piano and superimposing it simultaneously onto the part All in all, a very illuminating concert, showing a great deal of inventiveness and depth of composition from members of the School; and it also showed what an enormous debt of gratitude the School and the Music Department owe to Stephen Matthews, not only, incidentally, in this concert, but in so many of the other smaller-scale concerts during King's Week.

R.V.J.B. "'..,.,,.r"''"'''''"""

RECITAL Timothy Noon; the name is familiar- or is it? The face almost certainly isn't. For the organist's lot is often not a happy one; ensconced in the organ loft, out of sight, and therefore, almost by definition, out of mind. It is always the organ that plays, never the organist. This, the first recital by the school's new organist (and also the Cathedral's assistant organist), was stunning. Stunning in the design of the THE CANTUARIAN, LENT & SUMMER

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saw, but m the

274

Week. The or rn,.~,""-.-n""-....t-" without a break and are based on the events of Peat

A The excitement was pa1pmJ1e. wondered how on how start festive atnam;pnere wound their way the helium balloon

more _,_._.__._.,. ,._.,[._. with some nice muted trH-.--nnp.f Ribbans and sax work from Adam which the This gave way to the Trad Jazz waistcoats of Mark Wharton and nrr~U1K'1t=>r1 a feast for the to match the re1namea nameless to of Annabel "'"'""'"'of

a to Almost as if to recover from their with No.

to go The Four - Steve Hats then came to the Jon Cox and Tom who between

wind chests time to Noon followed ,___."",~""'"' ... -.- Howells. A

as its in this case, of as the crumhorn and is a little on the

from Peel and Charles After a Frank Sinatra the audience was asked to welcome conductor 'Ribbo' who with Gatta Ivo Neame as the The second half nrr--.rnntP•ri with Steve now .---Jn.·n-.--. trews and a technicolor waistcoat. included wonderful effects on the drums and what seemed like a emu on the while Cute elicited some neat staccato work from the whole Band. one of the slot visual distraction which I halfwere stuck the well the variations in rumbustious 'rum-ti-tum's of When Roses ~~'--''"'''~· and Adam Brown's in It's Time to while Delia Williams' intervention transformed the barbershop into a unisex salon!

1 '"..,.

a return to Widor's Sixth last movement thereof. The minor as the before ~'V~U.U~,_._...,_.__._~_._~a,..,, it was to be a contest between the organ the was most rl=·h-.--.-·+=l'u As in the movement, there was hodhu"~"' ..... the that was as evident as it had h"'''"'-nnn,,n- of the recital, despite the reverberation the Cathedral at high levels. The final chords cut through the atmosphere like a knife. Well Mr and well done Richard Peat! In your different you treated those to a memorable R.V.J.B. 275

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through young adulthood, and through the nineteen nineties, but they mingle angst with irony and humour rather than with self-pity. We should rejoice in just as we rejoice in the achievements of Richard and I vo Neame.

The Difference are Piers Clough, Krawczyck, Richard Legge, James Patrick, Tallon, and they will be looking for a producer believes in them enough to nurture them, to them and to package them. A school which has produced, besides clerics, scientists and administrators, writers, film directors, and jazz and classical musicians, might one day also be famous producing rock musicians. Let us hope so.

H.W.B.

The Four's second set began with a memorable rendition of The Girl from Ipanema, with Charlie Rice's Gallic seductiveness counterpointed by an icecool Anne-Christine Farstad, her dress conjuring up the blue waters of Rio Bay. The soothing trumpet melody lines and gently tickled ivories in Stella by Starlight gave way to a rousing Watermelon Man, the audience being encouraged to clap along by cheerleader 'Ribbo'.

The Jazz Orchestra rounded off the evening with two lively big band numbers - Scoot and Tequila although they still had enough energy left to offer two encores, by the end of which the whole band bar the pianist was on its feet and the audience were in raptures. A captivating end to the King's Week with a difference.

One closing thought: the musicianship was outstanding, but the performers still need to refine their stagecraft a little. One golden rule: if you're using a mike, don't turn away from it!

STUART WHA:fTON (M.O. 1976-81)

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE, TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT What an extraordinary beginning to the major period of English drama Tamburlaine is. What an imagination the shoemaker's son from Canterbury must have had! As a distinguished speaker in King's Week said, it is extraordinary still to be able to go into the grammar school at Stratford-upon-Avon, see little changed, and reflect that from these benches came Hamlet. So too, the Headmaster of King's when Marlowe was a boy here had a copy of Pedro Maxia's Life of Tamburlaine in his library. Those savage depredations that stretched from the China Sea to Kiev (anyone who has seen the width of the Dnieper at Kiev will pause over the thought of its being choked with corpses) and thence down to Hungary, the 'scattering of savage princes with their slant-eyed boyish faces from Chinese Tartary' (another O.K.S., Patrick Leigh Fermor), who were in turn the Golden Horde destroyed by Tamerlane: what a canvas! And thence the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396, Christendom's last attempt to throw back the Turks before they captured Constantinople in 1405; the French are routed, and 'their great Captains slain with all their followers in a shan1bles of beheading lasting from dawn to Vespers; three years later the victorious Sultan Bayazit was defeated at Ankara and taken prisoner by Tamburlaine: caged in a litter, he expired frmn grief and shame among his Mongol captors.' (sorry: Leigh Fermor again!).

How to encompass so much space? Remarkably, in a summer that would certainly have been seen as an apocalyptic forewarning in 997 A.D. (nine weeks of drought in spring, flooding rain around midsummer), not one of the four performances of Tamburlaine was lost, though such were the rehearsal cancellations that the very first time the cast had performed out of daylight, the very first run-through with lights, was the opening performance. Between that and the fourth and final performance, the production grew in confidence, fully satisfying the packed last-night audience.

Encircled by high scaffolding, confronted on stage by wooden climbing grids, the whole set a credit to the imaginative eye of Sally Gibson and to the supervision of the invaluable Steve Bree, the audience found the1nselves drawn into a world of restless movement,

THE DIFFERENCE The (last ever) Difference Concert at King's took place on the Saturday of King's Week. The first had taken place in 1995 playing to a largely quiescent audience, but the response this third time was more positive, the music much more sophisticated in presentation, and what was played was a street ahead of what is on their first tape, so I suggest you buy their second. They are all so much better than they were, and are accomplished and impressive performers.

They know they usually play better even than they did in the concert, but they entertained consistently even so, played to time, gripped their listeners, and did everything with unassuming confidence: professionalism is about delivering on cue, and they did. They performed as a group, not as individuals, and there was scarcely a false note. Solos were limited in favour of collectiveness, though there were highlights on lead guitar, electric mandolin, bass guitar, flute, keyboard and drums, and the singing throughout was clear and powerful. In the encore, it was tissue-tearing.

Through no fault of their own, set-up time was limited, and there was some muddiness in the sound~ there might have been some songs which were too much the same, which is perhaps one reason why the different rhythms of The Orgasm Waltz seemed like a tour de force; there was some uniformity of tone overall; but one tends to forget, in the over-heated and largely over-produced world of rock, how much musicianship can be involved (Gil Evans knew, for he was preparing to make an album with Jimi Hendrix when Hendrix died). Did King's Week offer any pupils' performances more impressive than the playing of The Difference? Was there anything written by pupils more creative than The Difference's original music and lyrics? They are well-written and memorable songs. There is an autobiographical element in rock, and songs such as Who Will You Have Today?, Dick Tracy And Friends At The Bottom Of My Garden, The Desert Song, and Etiquette are expressive of the experience of living through boarding school, THE CANTUARIAN, LENT

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amoral ambition, and pitiless action. (Requiescat in pace Calvin Hoffman, but one did start thinking thank goodness it was Marlowe who died early, not Shakespeare, or we'd never been taken into 'daisies pied and violets blue', let alone beyond tragic desolation into 'daffodils that came before the swallow dares.' The Avon must have run more sweetly than the Stour!).

The figure of Tamburlaine has - alas! - a modernity different in context but akin in defiant energy to Marlowe's Dr Faustus: 'Somewhere in desert sand' (as Yeats wrote) there are today these murderous tyrants, a Saddam Hussein among his mock-Babylonian palaces and his torturers provided with acid baths for their more stubborn victims. How much of this can be simulated on a Mint Yard stage? How much of such a character would one even want a 6a boy vicariously to create?

Tamburlaine is very much a vehicle for the main character (Marlowe had the great Edward Alleyn for the part), and Malcolm Todd is an actor of considerable physical force, here commanding his underlings and petrified opponents with head, neck, body and eyeball movements. That he had difficulty in also communicating Marlowe's mighty line was understandable: we captured Is it not passing brave to be a King And ride in triumph through Persepolis? and Rolla, ye pampered jades of Asia but not all of the other lines that marked Marlowe's emergence as a poet of genius besides a dramatist.

Nevertheless, Malcolm Todd carried the part with conviction and vigour, a centripetal force at the heart of the action.

A well-known feature of coeducation is its tendency to accelerate gender groupings, and so a contemporary King's Week play is likely to need to employ in it many girls as marauders, thugs and exterminators.

Some of these spoke Marlowe's verse particularly well, notably Hannah Mackenzie as the dastardly Theridamus and Rebecca Arnold as Ortygius. How good it is to hear clear, musical speaking in an open-air production! Really it is essential to the audience's enjoyment, as these two did it; and Hannah had a substantial role throughout, played with energy and commitment. Assistant butchers (subsequently Kings of the East) were Charlie Westenra and Elspeth McGregor- who manifestly enjoyed their roles. The provocative susurration of these and other followers in Tamburlaine's company provided an effective warning to their master's successive victims that their time had come.

As Bajazeth, Emperor of Turkey, Alex Pearson was a success. Standing well, speaking forcefully, he moved from pompous arrogance to brave defiance in a difficult role, being hauled into and out of the steaming pit as the grill was at intervals lifted, and then used as a footstool by his conqueror, before making his quietus with theiheavy chain around his neck. Not an easy part, but well enacted.

Others brought to grief as Tamburlaine swathes through the Middle East are the Soldan of Egypt

(George Taylor, a change from his role in Ghetto) and the Governor of Babylon (Andrew Ribbans - but having his revenge in returning as the figure of Death).

There is a limit to the ways the butchery of half a continent can be played, but Ken Pickering's adaptation of the two parts of Marlowe's play skilfully saved two of the most effective scenes for after the interval. As daylight lapsed, the face of the set was thrown into shadowy relief for the death of the 'divine' Zenocrate- a woman's role played well by Temitayo Akindele, who moved athletically and spoke her lines with feeling. Come forward the next generation, Tamburlaine's brats, Ed Wattis and Gbenga Odimayo, all would-be muscle and aggression, and Matthew Brooks nicely contrasted as the timorous son, drawing real laughter from the last-night audience. The extended battle-scene with the next Emperor of Turkey, Calipine (Nicholas Davies), was the most extended choreography of the evening, and all credit to Paul Romang that in the stylised, slow-motion play of (nevertheless) real knives there were no injuries all weekend.

But the nature of the whole production was that so many were involved, and so well (there is something to be said for a play in which characters are diminished by their roles). Bit parts were well played

by Matthew Berry, Charles Rice and Adam Withrington, but the real hero was the whole cast (thirty-eight of them, I reckoned) and the theatricality of the entire production: the petals strewn before the Emperor's path, the extraordinarily effective rainstick held and manoeuvred by Hannah Mackenzie during Zenocrate's death scene, and once again the sound and lighting skills of Richard Collins and Owen Buckingham, two of the less-noticed but most dedicated heroes of King's drama over the past few years.

And then of course there is Andrew Dobbin! It is now eighteen years that we have had the privilege of watching his productions, and both the quality and the range of them continues to astonish. Best tribute of all is possibly the self-discipline and commitment he extracts from successive generations of members of the school; and all this whilst housemastering. It is a remarkable achievement.

For Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die.

Just hours before Malcolm Todd did so for the fourth time, some of his audience would have been listening to Nimrod and watching the astonishing symbolism of the Black Watch beating the retreat as Hong Kong was returned to China, and 150 years of imperial history ended. A colony taken in one of the less attractive episodes of the British Empire, and handed back in honour. Will other subjugated peoples be so lucky? I don't like the Theatre of Cruelty- and my uncomfortable sense that life is inclined to imitate Art has been growing over the past thirty-five yearsbut if one wants a play to capture in voice, movement and lighting something of the barbarousness of too many empires then Tamburlaine is it~ and the King's School production did a good deal of justice to this.

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Kate Emary and Nick Davies Charlie Westenra (left), Josephine Sundt (behind) and Zoe Nathan

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Charlie Hunt

Matt Brooks and Zoe Nathan

Charlie Rice

Alex Pearson and Malcolm Todd

Hannah Mackenzie

(Photographs by Hugo Philpott, O.K.S.)

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Alex Pearson and Malcolm Todd

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Oliver Humphrey, Dan Brookes and Abigail Peel. (M.J.T.)

THE INSECT PLAY

Lawrence White. (M.J. T.)

Marcus Yorke. (M.JT.) Nick Cullen, Alistair Wildblood and Lucinda Devenish - ants. (M.J T.)

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KAREL CAPEK,

to be the setting of one of the more sinister plays in the Theatre of the Absurd tradition, during the course of which ordinary townsfolk turn, for no apparent reason, into rhinoceroses.

The play gets off to a gentle start with Ed Cotton ~s Jean, patronising Christian Smith (Berenger) about his scruffy appearance and hangover. Allegations ?f typecasting aside, the two were excellent fml~, .Ed providing the aggressive e!lergy, and Chn~tlan mingling habitual cool With not so habitual articulateness. Christian revealed real talent here, and one hopes to see him do a lot more acting in the future.

The gestures and mannerisms were very French too.

It is easy to forget just how entertaining this play is, and the cast extracted a lot of humour from the odd, contemporaneous crossed dialogues, .the diverse reactions to the first appearance of the rhmoceros, not to mention Rachel Hill's touching relationship with her cuddly toy cat, in both its squashed and unsquashed state, a curious zoomorphic counterbalance to the rhinoceros. Any younger members of the audience less practised in French aural comprehension will have been grateful to our French assistante for laughter cues.

Throughout, the play was allowed to SJ?eak for it~elf, and there was no heavy-handed over-mterpretatwn.

The idea of the spread of fascism was hinted at, particularly in the last scene as Ed is transmogrifi~d into a uniform-wearing rhinoceros, and this interpretation is certainly supported by the fact that it is the esprit methodique of Jean which succumbs to t~e attractions of rhinocerosdom rather than the more laid back Berenger. However, the purport of the play was left ambiguous, and could just as easily have ~een targeting Communism, or even red braces, as fascis.m.

The general denunciation of all forms of collective hysteria was perhaps particularly timely just before CommemDay. The acting and the French accents were very impressive, the only occasional flaw in the former being the cues needed every now and then, heralded by the odd unscripted man Dieu! Lucinda French, Emma Lewis, Alyssa Nih on-Kufta, Vick~ Perry, Rachael White Patrick Nihon-Kufta and Jessica Shaw were all excell~nt supporting characters. Dorelia Adeane .was very clear as the Logicien, sending up the conventiOns of reason in this absurd context. She was also very entertaining as she hammed up Mme Boeuf in the second half (more zoomorphism!), provoking diverse reactions from the others. Simon Gomersall revealed real comic talent as the Vieux Monsieur and Botard, with excellent timing throughout.

The play is not an easy one to produce, and the Absurd certainly intervened in the run-up to the performance, not least in the l~st-n:inute disappearance of lighting in the general d1rect10n of the main school production! Despite all this, Jenny Dutton (sound effects) Madame Rodes, Kirsten Luther and Jess Shaw (producers and directors) kept their cool, Berenger-like, and are to be congratulated not only for a very enjoya?l.e production,. but also the evident sense of team sp1nt and the feelmg of warmth amongst members of the cast.

THE INSECT PLAY It would be foolish to think that The Insect Play has any subtle message or any deep hidden inner meaning, though some of the points it makes have more validity in post-Thatcherite Britain than they did when I first experienced the play in the early 1960s. Rather it should be regarded as a fun vehicle for actors to play cameo roles: in this respect Fiona Phillips's production succeeded admirably. Forced to change venue at the last moment because of the weather, the new location inside the marquee succeeded very well and the simple but effective set, together with the imaginatively chosen costumes meant that the visual impact was very pleasing.

The play is a series of scenes, starting with the butterflies, going through the creepers and crawlers and ants and ending with the moths. The butterflies are the most difficult to portray, perhaps because they are the least unsubtle and arrive before the audience has fully tuned in to what is going on, but eventually the ephemeral nature of the characters became ~pparent.

Felix the poet (Dan Brookes) and the thick Otto (Oliver Humphrey) contrasted well with the innocent and not so innocent Clytie and Iris (Abigail Peel and Vicki Lamb), the scene being tied together with the cynical remarks of Victor (Marcus Yorke). It was well choreographed and all the actors moved well, though they could perhaps have been a little more voluptuous.

Then to the Creepy-crawlies: Mr and Mrs Beetle (Lucy Hovey and Marcus Yorke) were a repulsive couple (I was so glad to see them return later as snails), as was the Ichneumon Fly (Alex Foster), a splendid yuppie; though I must confess I felt a little s.orry for Mr a~d Mrs Cricket (Oliver Humphrey agam, and Antoma Dixey). Of the ants, the Chief Engineer and his sidekick (Nick Cullen and Lucinda Devenish) complemented each other very well and quite frightened me at times; and the worker/soldier ants clearly had a lot of enjoyment. The death scene with the moths was really quite moving.

Tying it all together is the Tramp, a demanding ro~e as he is on the stage for the whole of the play. From his first drunken fall one realised that in Lawrence White we had an actor who could cope with the part. Always clear, able to change mood, and able to get the .laugh where it is required, he proved an excellent gmde to the insect kingdoms. And behind him the Chrysalis (Rebecca Hamway) proved an excellent foil.

Congratulations to everyone on giving us a really enjoyable afternoon.

G.D.W.

EUGENEIONESCO RHINOCEROS On the Monday of a rather rainy King's Week it was a treat to walk into St Mary's Hall and be greeted by a French ambiance, complete with cafe music, sunshades;: an Epicerie and a Cafe des Amis - no reference by Olivia Arthur and Alex Marden, the set designers, to favourite Canterbury haunts, I am sure.

Despite the welcoming atmosphere, however, this was

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Delia Williams. (M.P.H.D.)

Tom Edmunds. (M.J.T.)

Xaxa Panman, Toro Ogundoyin. (M.P.H.D.)

Koji Randle, Alex Hayes. (M.lT.)

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â&#x20AC;˘

Jon Woods, Elspeth McGregor. (M.P.H.D.)

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FASHION SHOW

Miss Potts at the beginning of the show. And about Bella Hird's futuristic number? Great imagination. Lots of silver and chains dominated Futuristic section, along with bare-foot simplicity complimenting the household cast-aways.

Personally, a Jean Richardson gorgeous blue and white mini skirt with panels of can ring pulls and matching knitted white halter-neck top were my favourites of the day. Though I must add that the scene was the most interesting and enjoyable then again, I do like men in uniform!

Congratulations to all those involved, whether model, witty cmnpere or committee. The proprietor of 'That Hat' considered the show to be the most professional and well-timed of her previous three shows, and not just a parade. Well done.

N.R.D.

Saturday 28th June, middle of a not-so-summer's afternoon and packed into a hot and steamy St Augustine's marquee for King's Fashion Show '97.

With proceeds going to the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and support from some of the top local fashion houses, it was destined to be a special affair.

Stately Edwardian dress kicked off the show with Toro Ogundoyin looking particularly stunning in a deep red full length gown. The men too, of course, were quite dapper in their suits. Unfortunately two shoe stores pulled out just days before the show giving the models little choice but to don their own for the event. What a pity they hadn't discovered shoe polish in those times!

Moving on to the Charleston era, with much brighter colours, swing dresses and accompanying music, not to mention the dancing - this gig was starting to liven up.

Through the 50s, 60s and 70s we travelled historically, stopping briefly to sample the reminiscent delights of Teddy boy suits, long hairdos, fluorescent colours, flower power and hippie ethnic tent dresses.

To sounds of The Monkees and others we saw the likes of Jon Wood and Tom Edmunds model Gallagher Bros. type wigs and shades - an improvement, guys!

Through the 'summer sun' I saw Oli Price looking absolutely lovely in a Jeffrey Rogers pale blue and biscuit thigh-length dress with matching suede mules.

Great! Also in this scene were the daring exposures of Sophie Jones and Louise Robertson sporting bikini tops and beach wrap-overs. Other teasingly short Miss Selfridge dresses in pastel blue and purple were worn

by Toro Ogundoyin and Xaxa Panman.

The Baggies and Clubbing sections of the display gave us a quick reminder of funky streetwear, not to mention 'cool' dancin'! Again, anything goes these days. Back in are the block-heeled mules, feather scarves, sparkly tops and visible belly buttons. But hey, didn't the guys look good in that Burton gear?

On to Suits - to which I think not enough attention was given. On and off raced the day suits, preventing me from studying the Sarah Smith pinstripe trouser suit or the linen look worn by Alice Walker. The first men's suits from Burton were of the shiny neutral type, easily overpowered by the superior cut of three-piece suits from Savoy Tailors Guild. I have never seen Chris Smith looking so smart - and what a spicy tie! Sadie Chave blended in well with orange blouse under a black fitted trouser suit. Very chic.

Evening wear was wonderful; silky negligees and an intimately seductive accompaniment. Kate Carroll in a flattering full length brown gown, Sophie Jones in that fabulous gold dress. Men's red hunting jackets and white tuxedo with matching tartan bow-tie and cummerbund looked just the part for the best of parties. And for those who detest stuffy collars, a most wonderful granddad-style shirt and jacket. However I do think that the authentic 50s cerise over-the-shoulder gown by Lyndons stole the show.

Hats. Amazing, and what elegant choreography to boot! I particularly fancied the millinery sported by THE CANTUARIAN, LE:"-JT & SUMMER

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THE COMMEMORATION LECTURES The 1997 King's Week was billed as celebrating a 1400th anniversary. It seemed appropriate that the occasion should be marked by a series of historical lectures. The recent past- the last 300 years or so- are well documented and relatively uncontroversial. The speakers were therefore chosen to cover the earlier periods. Their brief was to set the history of the King's School, in its various incarnations, within the wider context of English history from the 6th to the 17th centuries.

The hardest task fell to Professor Alf Smyth, who had to begin at a very uncertain beginning. With neat hibernian footwork he side-stepped swiftly past A.F. Leach, and was nonetheless able to proclaim that the King's School was 'the spiritual heir of the earliest school in England'. Although the precise details are unclear, it seems certain that Augustine and his successors established a school, including a school of music, at Canterbury. In that respect at least we are entitled to join in the celebrations of the arrival of Augustine. Admittedly it was made clear that the influence of Gregory and his Pastoral Care was probably more significant. And we were also reminded of the failures of Augustine and of the importance of the 'second wave' of teachers led by Theodore and Hadrian. With an obligatory nod to Alfred the Great, we were whisked to the age of Dunstan and Eadmer's description of annual floggings before Christmas.

Professor Christopher Holdsworth spoke on the monastic contribution to education in the medieval period. At first this included teaching children as well as monks, but changes in the twelfth century in the role of oblates led to a new emphasis on education as charitable work, often in almonry schools at the monastery gates. The development of early 'universities' and the arrival of the friars further modified the system. He concluded with a discussion of the nature of this education, the significance of reading and writing, and the dilemma of studying immoral texts.

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Professor Patrick Collinson, remembered by many as the Commemoration preacher in 1993, entertained the audience with a lucid, elegant and well illustrated account of the early modern period. This was a time of conspicuous expansion of education, and also one of lively debate on the problems of failing schools and on just who should be educated. The significance of 'civility', attacks on 'puffers of tobacco', the use of the birch, and the importance of speaking Greek and Latin all struck a chord with the audience. In this period, at last, it was possible to say something directly about the King's School itself. The Statutes established the largest of Henry VIII's schools, and its changing significance within the community could be traced.

Thus its importance in the careers of Marlowe, Thomas Stapleton or the Earl of Cork could be demonstrated, as could the character of its masters, such as John Twyne ('not a great Headmaster'), John Gresshop and John Ludd. Despite, or because of them and the Dean and Chapter, the King's School did not become one of the great schools of the day.

The Chairman, Robert Franklin, summed up the themes of the talks: the need for a clear sense of purpose in any educational system, and that change and reform are constant. And the audience went out to enjoy the rest of King's Week with a much enhanced sense of the historical significance of 597 and all that.

P.G.H.

the Archdeacon's garden: the glimpses through the open doors of peace and sunshine beyond the Shirley Hall are reminders of the caprice of English summer weather.

On duty in M.O. this evening, I am able to listen to King's Week Radio, which (after a slightly lightweight start) has been impressive in concept and execution.

Richard Collins is to be congratulated.

Saturday One of the pleasures of King's Week is the O.K.S. who attend. During the interval of Tamburlaine Miriam Lwanga, our first female Captain of School, appears with several contemporaries. One of the advantages of living in the Mint Yard gate house is the ability to offer drinks during play intervals.

Meditations, in a packed Memorial Chapel, are both musically and spiritually spot on. These are the only events I manage: the J.K.S. Speech Day has claimed my attention for much of the day. And (for such is the reality of King's Week) there are plenty of people 'phoning and calling after Meditations.

Sunday The Crypt Eucharist is full; the Sixth Form talk is excellent; the Lower School speaker is myself. Then a mad rush of social engagements. All of them are pleasant; my ability to do any desk work is precluded by the opportunities to meet people. Thus disappear my intentions to attend lunchtime concerts or the video archive show. But why is there no fringe play to view this Sunday of King's Week?

Monday This afternoon it dawns on me that it is possible to attend two events simultaneously. It is possible to listen to the Band Concert while viewing the photographic exhibition (by Hugo Philpott, O.K.S.) in the foyer of the Shirley Hall. The music is as good as ever: the photographs are first-class, showing sensitivity, tenacity, perception, opportunism. The conjunction of G.D.W. and Churchill is impressive; the King's pupil in his CCF uniform is chillingly authentic. If only the prose of the captions had the same wit as the picture. Later, the arrival of the Green Court marquee prompts more entertaining amidst the viewing of Tamburlaine.

Thesday It is very difficult to overlook the annual CCF guard, since it is mustered outside my study window. A properly martial sight. Listening to Chris Elworthy's and James Firth's confident commands, it seems this year to be crisper and smarter than I recall. And this evening, after the excitement of the announcement of next year's Purples and the unexpected advent of owls on Green Court, to the Gala Symphony Concert. The plethora of salespeople for a wide variety of commodities before such events can be a little irksome, but then mine may not be a typical view. And the concert itself is a triumph of programming, performance and panache. Which other school would commission such a significant addition to the modern repertoire?

Wednesday The final School Prayers of term. The French film crew are impressed by the singing of the School: even

A KING'S WEEK DIARY Thursday As I leave the Shirley Hall after Prayers, my spirits are lifted by the sight of the giant yellow ball that each year anonymously materialises in the middle of Green Court. King's Week has started, although 'amid the encircling gloom' it is hard to credit. By lunchtime, handsome blue drapes have appeared either side of the Lattergate arch. This is more like it; and the annual Green Court King's Week design has also appeared.

This year it is on the far side: a sail and a stylised boat reminding us of Augustine's landing 1400 years ago.

Afternoon performances are not attended: I am with the Remove at that place of modern culture, Dreamland in Margate. P. W.F. and A.McF. show themselves more intrepid than I in their choice of ride; but it is fun (save for illness on the return coach!).

And in the evening to the Serenade. Although the Cloisters would have the greater ambience, there is no doubting that the Nave has the better acoustic.

Splendid.

Friday This is the day on which the traditional Green Court diversions appeared. Unicycles and juggling acts (which require great legerdemain) are supplied by R.B.Mi. The Shells and Removes make such things look deceptively easy. Just too late for The Insect Play in St Augustine's marquee (which is so vast that it makes the dovecote look different) and therefore to the StJohn's concert. The uncertain weather has ruled out 285

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the psalm is tackled with gusto. And Sports Day is damp, but properly competitive.

Today I managed to view both the Grange art exhibition - from which I recall chiefly the pottery of Larry Ridges and the artwork of Ed Everett - and the School art exhibition at Blackfriars. I took the Precentor, who, like me, was struck by the skill of Alex Reynolds. Ewan Cameron's work also impressed, as did Felix Boon's unusual sand sculpture.

The stage crew is dismantling the set in Mint Yard: from my vantage point I realise how much Steve Bree and people like Paul Tsergas, Peter Mayberry, Owen Buckingham (to name but three departing 6a pupils) contribute. The Box Office also has been pleasingly efficient. J.T., David Greengrass and Fleur Moes together with the traditional Galpin's Shells have been ever-present.

After the Jazz Concert the Sacristan and I discover some O.K.S. awaiting Meditations in the Memorial Chapel. We say Compline with them instead; then, inevitably, back to the gate house for a drink before repairing to my desk to check up on the plans for tomorrow's Commem Service.

J.A.T.

5. King's Week Lectures 1996, by Tom Tallon, Fransella and Chris Howard.

6. Tom Hopkinson playing Monte's Czardas at the M.O. and Luxmoore Concert of February 9th 1997.

7. Interview between M.O. founding members and current Shell Tim Jackson, at the M.O. 60th Anniversary event, same date.

8. Performance of specially commissioned piece by Richard Peat and Paul Pollak, Esq., O.K.S., for M.O.'s 60th Anniversary, same date.

9. Tribute to the late Tom Kenwright, K.S. Excerpt from It's All in the Timing, King's Youth Drama of February 5th 1995.

10. Scenes from Ghetto, November 23rd 1996.

11. BBC interview with Dr Michael Foale, O.K.S., in Space Shuttle Atlantis, June 1997.

12. St Augustine's 'Landing' and King's Walk, Sunday May 4th 1997.

13. The Traditional Jazz Band (Leader: Annabel Whibley) playing at St Vincent's Church, Littlebourne, on Saturday April 26th 1997.

14. Interview on June 20th 1997 with six King's pupils from Hong Kong, on the eve of their departure to Hong Kong for the Handover at midnight on June 30th.

15. Steve Bushnell conducting the King's Jazz Orchestra on March 8th 1997.

R.B.MA.

FILM AND VIDEO-FILM ARCHIVES, 1997 On Saturday June 28th, and - in its modified form, with the (topical) Hong Kong item - on Monday June 30th, R.B.Ma. presented a film compilation entitled King's 1996-1997. The running -order of the film (total running time: 80 minutes) was as follows: 1. Thine Be the Glory, from the Headmaster's Congratulatory Assembly on March 19th 1997.

2. Farewells to Anthony and Vicky Phillips, Commemoration Day 1996.

3. Farewell to Miss Shirley Brine, Tradescant Matron, Commemoration Day 1996.

4. The James Lawrence, O.K.S., Big Band at the O.K.S. Dance on Wednesday June 25th 1997.

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QUIZ 1997 For the last five years a quiz has been produced to entertain members of the lower school during King's Week. This year there were some entries of high quality, the joint winners being James Rowe (LN) and a team effort by Charlie Harrel (GL) and Alfred Williams (GL). Congratulations to them on their perseverance.

G.D.W.

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Edward Cotton and Christian Sm.ith in Rhinoceros (reviewed p.281 ). (M.J.T.)

Rachael White, Rachel Hill, Simon Gomersall, Dorelia Adeane and others: a tragic moment not unconnected with a rhino. (M.J. T.)

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