The Cantuarian Autumn 2003 - Summer 2004 by OKS Association | The King's School, Canterbury

THE CANTUARIAN Vol. LXVii No.1

Autumn Term 2003

Contents

page

i~ i

Th is a nd That

Valete

Obituaries

Focus

Creative Writing

Expeditions

Societies and Activities

Reports and Reviews

Sport

Final words

The Cantuarian Editorial committee: Catherine McDonogh, Diana Francis, Lee Rigley, Simon Wilson, Annabelle Flower, James Fish, Georgina Darroch, Venetia Clark, Yordan Agov, Karan Katariya, Chinedu Nwuba

----=-~~-~~~=~_., _.o~~~, ~

Requiescant

The School was saddened to lose two of its most loyal friends within a week of each other. Canon Derek Ingram Hill (GR 1923-25-31) died on Monday October 20th after a short illness. He was always proud of

his connection with the School, and on September 21st, just ten days after his 91st birthday, he was delighted to be able to celebrate the 80th anniversary of his arrival here. Much of his time as a priest was spent in Kent, culminating in his years as a Canon of Canterbury, and in giving incomparable tours of his beloved Cathedral, reviewing concerts for The Cantuarian, or, latterly, dining in the Common Room, he remained a good neighbour and friend. The funeral was held in the Cathedral on Monday, November 3rd. Our condolences go his son Martin, and to all his family. An obituary appears on page 8. Paul Wenley died suddenly when walking his dog on Saturday, October 25th. He taught here from 1952 to 1989, and in his long and distinguished career he was housemaster of Meister Omers, head of the RAF. section and of the C.C.F., and lower Master. He will also be remembered for his rugby refereeing, his bassoon playing, and his expertise with stage lighting - and explosions. The funeral was on the morning of Wednesday, November 5th and there was a service of thanksgiving in the Cathedral that afternoon. Our condolences go to his children, Clare, Joanna, Mary and James, and to his nine grandchildren. A tribute appears on page 10. Another former lower Master, John Wilson (staff 1953-62), died on August 29th. He taught Classics and was housemaster of Walpole. After spells at the Universities of Ontario and Sussex, he headed the Farmington Trust's research unit in moral education at Oxford University and later became a Fellow of Mansfield College. He wrote several books on moral and philosophical issues, but is perhaps best known in these parts for his book Public Schools and Private Practice (1962), which included a 'day in the life' section about an imaginary school, featuring, among others, Bloggs of Pippin linpole House. The School community was shocked by the death of Roger Short, the British consul-general in Istanbul, in the terrorist attack on Thursday, November 20th. Our condolences go to his wife Victoria, his daughters Katherine (JR/HH 1995-97) and Lizzie (JR 1998-2000), and his son Thomas (SH).

Common Room c:

.2 8'" Q.;

:EO

We have been joined by several new members of staff this term.

Miss Elize Behr is the new Head of Girls' Games. She was born in Tanzania, but moved to South Africa and completed her schooling in Durban. She studied PhYSical Education and History at the University of Stellenbosch in Cape Province. She taught for ten years at Port Natal High School and was then Head of Department at Durban Girls College. She has played netball at senior level, still plays golf, and enjoys the outdoor life: travel, fishing and a good South African 'braai~ She is a tutor in Mitchinson's. Mr William Bersey joins us as Assistant Director of Music. Born and bred in Cornwall, he went to Plymouth College and then to Trinity College of Music. He was a freelance cellist for several years, a member of the Capriccio str'lng quartet, a jazz pianist, a peripatetic

teacher and a music technician. He was Assistant Director of Music at Holmewood House before coming here. After half a term as a commuter, he now lives in Sturry, which enables him to arrive at the Shirley Hall piano stool in good time for morning assembly. He is a tutor in Walpole. Mr Philip Chaundy, who joins the Art Department, grew up in South London and went to Tonbridge School. He studied Fine Art at the University of Humberside and then took a jazz course in London, playing all the saxophones. After a spell as a freelance artist with a studio in East London and doing multi-media work in the National Gallery, he turned to teaching. He is still actively creative, in various styles from painting and drawing to digital and video art, and plays in jazz groups and salsa bands as well as composing and arranging for big bands. His interests include travelling, especially in Eastern Europe, and films, especially from China. He is a tutor in The Grange. Miss Emma Egan, who joins the P.E. and Girls' Games Departments, comes from Central Coast, New South Wales. She took a degree in Teaching and Physical Education at Newcastle Un'lversity, Australia. She then taught in a board'lng school in Northern Queensland for two years before coming to the U.K., where she has been travelling and teaching. Her interests include swimming, squash, aerobics, painting and music, and she has already introduced many to the pleasures and pains of 'spinning'. She also lists 'beaches' among her leisure activities, but while in East Kent she will have to make do with being a tutor in Luxmoore. Miss Elena Garcia Rodriguez is not quite new, as she moves from being a language assistant last year to becoming a part-time member of the Spanish Department. She is a law graduate from Oviedo University in Asturias, a region, she tells us with pride, that has green mountains, beautiful beaches and no tourists. A great sports fan, she has already participated in modern dance, aerobics and keep fit, but her favourite sport is snowboarding. Whenever she gets the chance, she grabs her snowboard and heads for the hills. Opportunities may seem limited in these parts, but she is not one to be put off by the apparent flatness of East Kent. Miss Sarah Janowitz was born and bred in Baltimore, Maryland. A fellow graduate of Miss Fisher's from Virginia's Washington and Lee University, where she studied English Literature, she is here on a placement via the English Lacrosse Association. She lives in St. Radigund's and is attached to Bailey House. Miss Jaspreet Kaur has joined the Chemistry Department. She comes from the Punjab, and took her master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Punjab. She taught at an independent boarding and day school in India, before coming to England in 2001 to work in an 'lnner London grant maintained school. One of her main interests is in high altitude trekking, and she has organised Adventure Camps in the Himalayas for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. As well as travelling, she enjoys gardening and photography. She is a Resident Tutor in Harvey House. Mr Andrew Goodson joins the Classics Department during Mrs Richards' maternity leave. After St Paul's School and New College, Oxford, he has had a richly varied cosmopolitan career, including a spell in Iran (he has written a guide to the historical monuments of Isfahan) and five years as Head of Classics at Kamuzu Academy in Malawi. His interest in languages has led him to teaching English as a foreign language in Europe and the Middle East, and to writing a paper on tenses in Persian. Greek, Latin, and a flat in Broad Street must seem mundane by comparison.

c.c.

Mr Anthony Lyons joins the English Department during Mrs Cook's maternity leave. After Brentwood School, Reading University and a brief spell in the City, he turned to teaching. He was Head of English at Cheltenham College, before completing a master's degree at the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford, with a dissertation on imagery. He has published articles on music, film and Shakespearean critical history, and has already made an impact here by taking on the Marlowe Society. He relaxes, he says, by writing about modern hedonism and hysteria. Living next door to the Miller's Arms may help. Mrs Price has taken over Luxmoore House. Mrs Richards is on maternity leave after the arrival of William at the start of the summer holidays, but she is stHI runn'lng BaHey House, which is now (and once more) attached to Broughton. Mrs Garces Ramon departed on maternity leave at half term, and Isabel was born on November 25th. Congratulations also go to Ms Larkman and Mr Paul Young, and to Mr Hutchings and Miss Elizabeth Harrison, on their marriages in the summer. And finally, the Year of the Three Bursars ends with Mrs Susan Meikle safely installed in Hodgson's Hall. As the daughter of the Right Revd Richard Cartwright ISH 1927-32), formerly Bishop of Plymouth, and niece of the late Brigadier John Cartwright ISH 1918-22), she is already one of the family, and we wish her well.

Parker's Gate

The increase in the numbers of day pupils this term presented the problem of how to provide additional accommodation without creating a new House. The plan was to establish a Mitchinson's wing (and a new Careers Department) in the buildings vacated by the former Forwood's and the neighbouring bakery in Palace Street. The conversion took longer than hoped for, however, and so the accommodation was temporarily placed on the other side of the Mint Yard, in what had been the Careers Department (Of, for those with longer memories, the gymnasium changing rooms). A more than usually harassed Mr Parker, in charge of both these displaced institutions, has been left holding all the relevant babies.

Th N

5 h I

Towards the end of term, the Schoolroom was refurbished. In the dozen or so years of its post-library C 00 room existence, this conveniently central space has been used for lectures, concerts, dinners, music and drama lessons, exam'mations, dance, parents meetings, tea parties, wedding receptions, etc., etc. It is now furnished with an imposing bank of retractable seating for 100 and audio-visual equipment to facilitate its now primary role as a lecture theatre. The old bright red heating and the not quite so bright red ceiling have gone and will be missed by a few. In other respects, the new arrangements await the judgement of experience.

e ew

,t'

'ee"

'' ::;,

'"ue <U

..c:

a1:-

1%:

On Saturday, October 11th The Grange celebrated the 75th anniversary of its independence from School House. This was a well-attended occasion, and nostalgic reminiscences and forward-looking optimism, in the right proportions, were aided by tours of the House and the School, a display of books by Grange authors, as well as by the refreshments. The luncheon took place in St Augustine's, which is perhaps appropriate as the house inches its way towards its new home in the East End.

The Old Grange

Congratulations to ... the 1st XI, who won the Millfield Tournament in September. The team went on to become Kent champions, and then, on November 28th, were runners-up in the East of England divisional championships. The Under 16 team won the Kent indoor championships, and the Under 14s narrowly lost in the final of the Kent tournament. Juliet Chapman (WL), who scored her first goal in the National League for the Canterbury Ladies 1st XI, and Katriona Pengelley (JR), who has scored regularly for Canterbury 2nd XI, have both played for the East of England Under 17s; Tania Hayes (WL) and Fenella Pengelley (JR) for the East Under 15s. Emily Schwarz (JR) and Alexandra Cagney (WL) have played for the Kent Under 16s; Emily Stewart (WL), Rebekah Marsh (LX) and Sarah Ventress (WL) for the Under 15s; and Sarah Healy (MT) and Sophia Nichol (WL) for the Under 14s.

Congratulatory Assembly

... the fencing team, who won eight gold medals at the County Fencing Championships. Christie Waddington (MT) won the Girls' Under 18 Foil, Epee and Sabre; Emma Turner (HH), in her first competition, the Under 16 Foil; Harriet Johnston (WL) the Under 16 Epee; Jacob Colligan (MO) the Under 18 Boys' Foil and Sabre; and Robert Jennings (TR) the Under 18 Boys' Epee. At the South East Championships, Marc Chapman (MT) won the Under 18 Boys' Foil and Epee; Jennifer Armstrong (MR) won the Under 18 Girls' Foil; and Christie Waddington won the Under 18 Girls' Sabre. Marc has now been selected for the England Under 18 team at Epee . ... the 1st XV on an outstanding season. Highlights included victories at Tonbridge (thus completing a 2003 hockey-cricket-rugby hattrick over our Kent rivals) and against King's Parramatta . ... several lacrosse players who have been selected for Kent: Georgina Emary, Olenka Hamilton and Juliet McCredie (all LX) in the Under 19 As, Aimee Baird (HH) and Alice Moir (BY) in the Under 19 Bs, Fiona Stuart and Rosie Guest (both JR) in the Under 15 As, and Helen Streeter (HH) in the Under 15 Bs . ... Alexander Shannon (MR), who ach'leved the top mark in the Salters Horners Physics A level. In add'ltion to a cash prize, and an award for the high quality of his coursework, Alex was presented with a magnificent Horn Snuff Mull, given by Mr Lynn Walters of the Worshipful Company of Horners . ... Sophie Roper (MT), who has been accepted into the National Youth Orchestra . ... Fenella Fletcher (MTl. who was a finalist in the Marlowe Young Musician of the Year competition on Wednesday November 26th . ... Paul Dixey (MRl. who was awarded the Daily Telegraph Wicketkeeping Scholarship at the Bunbury English Schools Cricket Association Under 15 Festival. He will have a week's training at the National Cricket Academy at Loughborough in January. ... Christopher Robinson (MR) and Sam Middleton (TR), who played for the South East Under 15 hockey team which won the national title. Christopher has also been selected for the final England training squad. Graham Sweetman (GU has played for the Kent Under 16s, alongside Chris and Sam; Oliver Bromfield (GR) for the Under 14s; and William Newman (SH) for the Under 13s. ... Emma Hiddleston (BRl, who won the Senior Girls' race at the District Cross Country Championships . ... Susannah Jacques (BR), who was the first lady Speaker for the King's Parliament, when it debated a confidence motion this term.

St Augustine's Past

As part of the Canterbury Festival, the Cathedral Library put on a fascinating exhibition on the history of St Augustine's College in order to celebrate the opening of the new theological library in Burgate. (Most of the books that went from St. Augustine's to Oxford in 1989, thus vacating Butterfield's building for the School Library, have now therefore returned to Canterbury.) The photographs showed how little the buildings have changed over the last century and a half, while the theological college rules of the 1950s may have seemed not unfamiliar to the present-day residents of Broughton and Tradescant. Much of the exhibition was later put on display in our own Library, and we are grateful to our neighbours for the loan.

OKS

The range of achievements of former pupils continues to astonish and deserves a separate 'congratulatory assembly~

Edmund De Waal (MR 1977-82) 'celebrity potter' featured in an article in The Times on Saturday September 13th. (His book on 20th Century Ceramics in the prestigious Thames and Hudson 'World of Art' series has just been published.) The article also included a reference to an exhibition in Cambridge by another OKS. potter, Suleyman Saba (SH 1985-87). Jan Hruska (LN 1974-5) was the subject of an article in the Financial Times on September 3rd. He is co-founder and chief executive of Sophos, the antivirus software maker, and users of the School network will have noticed his systems doing their good work. The OKS acting community has been especially prominent in recent topical productions. At Richmond's Orange Tree Theatre, Susie Trayling (BS 1990-92) had a widely praised leading role in John GalsworthY's 1913 play The Mob, which was given a revival for its debate on war, while Oliver Ford Davies (LN 1952-57) both wrote and starred in King Cromwell. At the Tricycle Theatre, Justifying War featured the Hutton Inquiry, The author is Richard Norton-Taylor (WL 1957-63), a distinguished investigative journalist who has largely cornered the market in dramatisations of contemporary controversies; Thomas Wheatley (MO 1964-69) was in the cast; and Charlotte

Westenra (JR!HH 1994-98) was assistant director. The trio have been invited to give a collective Marlowe Society talk next term. On the small screen, Olivia Lumley (HH 1997-99) featured strongly as Philippa Brocklehurst in IlV's drama Between the Sheets. We were pleased to receive a copy of Kelly's Burma Campaign from the author Desmond Kelly (GR 1948-53). The book is about his father, Norman Kelly of the Burma Frontier Service, who organised the Chin Levies to resist the Japanese in 1942. Congratulations go to Professor Richard Talbert (MR 1960-64), now of the University of North Carolina, who has been awarded the litt. D. degree by the University of Cambridge, in recognition of his work in the field of Ancient History, and in particular, no doubt, for his editorship of the Barrington Atlas of the Classical World. This year's Canterbury Festival was the last to be run by Mark Deller (SH 1952-57). He has been connected with the Festival for over fifty years, having first appeared as a young singer in 1949. Paul Edmund-Davies (GL 1969-73) returned to give a flute masterclass in the Schoolroom on Tuesday September 16th. After lunch he was joined by Roy Carter (oboe) and John Alley (piano) for a well attended and much appreciated trio recital. Michael Foale (SH 1970-74)' the new Commander of the International Space Station, took off from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on Saturday, October 18th. On Monday December 8th, he became the NASA astronaut with the longest time in space, passing the previous record of 230 days, 13 hours and 3 minutes - and stili counting. If all goes to schedule, Mike will return in late April, having clocked up 375 days in space. But he still has some way to go to catch up with Sergei Avdeyev, who has the all-time record of 748 days.

Space Time Continuum

Raw

The autobiography of Antony Worrall Thompson (GR 1964-69), celebrity chef and television personal'lty,

caused something of a stir because of its revelations about aspects of life in the Junior School in the 1960s. However, in the book and in radio interviews Mr Worrall Thompson emphasised that he had enjoyed his time at school, and that he had received an excellent education here. Our readers are invited to taste Raw for themselves. We merely note that the senior school Headmaster, Peter Newell, observed in his leavers' notes on Antony: "he could be a success in the hotel and catering line". The sharp-eyed (with a magnifying glass) could spot Mr Churcher and his tractor in the background of a photograph published in The Guardian on Tuesday October 14th. He was participating in a demonstration against genetically modified crops.

Press Cuttings

Miss Reidy, who is no stranger to the national media, was featured in a Daily Telegraph article on Saturday, November 22nd. The subject was what used to be called 'sex education' but is now but a small part of the growing empire called P.5.H.E. The article, by Sarah Lonsdale (GR 1981-83), expounded on the head of department's unembarrassed and modern approach to the birds and the bees. "Tall and determined-looking, Reidy would put the fear of God into any schoolboy who dared cross her" we read. The accompanying photograph made her seem much less intimidating.

Votes at 16?

A formidable delegation from the School, under the benevolent supervision of ex-Councillor Maltby, played a full part in Canterbury City Council's Local Democracy Week. Alexander Shannon (MR), Max

Thompson (GR), William Jennings (TR), Arabella Jennings (HH), Alex Blessley (SH), Jennifer Armstrong (MR) and Isabel Coles (WL) joined pupils from seven other local schools in the Guildhall. They debated the 24-hour economy and the development of Kingsmead under the chairmanship of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff. The Rugby World Cup Final on November 22nd provided a welcome distraction (for some at least) to our normal routine. Saturday's periods 1 and 2 took place on Friday afternoon (so there was no rugby practice), and normal lessons were due to begin with period 3. The Director of Studies had not allowed for extra time, however, so in the event Saturday 3 disappeared altogether. The general consensus seems to have been that it turned out ail right in the end.

Wilkinson puts the boot in

A few weeks later, the Anglo-Australian encounter was re-played on Birleys, with the same result: in an exciting finish, the School defeated the visitors from King's Parramatta 13-12.

t:::

.g c

'"ct:::

Co <U

-t::: ~

I I

~ f@

Valete Maudie Behrens Maudie Behrens is an exceptional person and served King's devotedly as an outstanding Matron from 1987 to

December 2003. No one could have been more caring or more concerned for the well-being and all-round development of

those in her charge. To Maudie, being a Matron meant far more than looking after medical issues and running the

domestic side of a House - although she fulfilled both those roles brilliantly and with good humour, no matter what

dreadful hour of the night she found herself in casualty or coping with some

teaspoon of sherry in the bottom of a vast cauldron. When King's became fully coeducational in 1990, Maudie moved to Walpole, where she played a pivotal role along with Housemistress Janet Pickering in making coeducation such a success. Of those exciting pioneering days, Janet says:

adolescent disaster. Maudie had great listening skills, strong values, much wisdom and an instinctive sympathy with

the young and underdog. She loved to be involved, was inventive, and had enormous integrity, saying and doing what she believed was right and unerringly respecting numerous confidences. She had a pervasive concern for others and saw far beyond school walls, caring passionately about the world around her and the role that we play in it. Her drive raised good sums for charity through such means as auctions of unclaimed clothing or property and the vast bottle in which she collected everyone's loose change. But, above all, such activities were ways of nurturing care for our fellow beings, which was fundamental to Maudie's life. Maudie enjoyed three incarnations at King's. In 1987, she was appointed as Matron of l attergate in the days when it was a House for Shells who were waiting for places to become available in their chosen Houses. Housemaster Martin Miles found her a superb Matron, without whom he could not have done the job. Always there for him and the boys, she was ready to take on, in effect, the role of Housemaster's wife as well as Matron in hosting events. She was utterly professional, even under personal tragedy, continuing to throw a dinner party despite news of a terrible family accident. Determined and principled, nothing and no one could defeat her - not even the infamous Shell who refused to make his bed: Maudie gradually took his bedclothes away and finally his mattress, at wh ich point he was most certainly cured. When on one festive occasion in those less alcohol concerned days the Shells begged for alcoholic fruit punch, not even the Housemaster could persuade Maudie to concede more than one

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to write a few lines about Maureen's (as she was then known and forever wifl be in the Pickering household) role as Matron of Walpole for the first four years of its existence as a girls' rather than boys' boarding house. Immediately after accepting the role of Housemistress of the first full (in the sense of age-range) house, I approached Maudie the Matron of the Lattergate waiting house, to see if there was any possibility of her considering a transfer and working alongside me to ensure the smooth integration of girls below the Sixth Form as King's took its first steps towards full co-education. To my immense relief - and great pleasure - Maureen eventually consented and we opened the frant doors to Sixth Form, Shell and Remove female pupils - and BBC cameras - at the same time as the painters left by the back door having hidden their equipment in my study. The fun and laughter we had that day continued throughout the next four years. Maureen was never other than strong, kind and caring, firm and fair, hardworking, and of total integrity. Her intelligence, sense of humour and balanced view of life were invaluable and she was totally committed to the welfare and safety of 011 those, pupils ond staff, in her care - one example out of many being her raising of funds to ensure that one of the cleaning staff could pay for the lenses (having organised the necessary opticians' appointments) that would transform her sight and hence her enjoyment of retirement. Moreover, Maudie instilled in Walpole girls an awareness of global issues and the needs of others in the world outside King's. She was always a patient

and sympathetic listener, but girls found it extremely difficult to pull the wool over her eyes. She directed house plays, enthusiasticafly wrote, directed and performed in Christmas reviews, supported all house events, never failed to impress prospective as well as current parents, never complained when girls stayed late or arrived early at the beginning and ends of terms, supervised holiday lets and only ever lost her cool when people exhibited inappropriate behaviour that adversely affected others. She was also a keen bowler to our sons' cricket bats and a mean shot with a snowball. Above all she was a friend and confidante through thick and thin and 1- and all generations of girls from 1990 onwards owe her a tremendous debt for her vital role in the transition from part to full co-education with equality of opportunity for all. I hope that her retirement will generate much deserved time for herself after so many years of looking after the needs of others. In 1998 Maudie was appointed Senior Matron and moved to Galpin's. Taking over the role of anyone deeply respected and phenomenally good at their job is always a bit of a poisoned chalice, and this is compounded when the house is in mourning for the death of their former matron as you arrive. But Maudie's compassion and commitment made the role her own and she won the considerable affection and gratitude of boys and parents. Amongst Maudie's many contributions to the house were her

kindness, gentleness, thoughtfulness and vision, qualities she developed admirably in others. Maudie was involved in the boys' lives at many levels, dispensing wise advice as well as paracetamols and taking a real interest in all they did, which extended to freezing on Birley's whilst supporting them in their matches. Maudie left the spirit of Galpin's the richer, but she also left the House tangible reminders of her time, including the beautiful wall hanging that she coaxed the boys into producing. This was a real labour of love for her, involving hundreds of hours with paint pots all over her dining table as, one after another, boys, tutors and Housemaster painted squares of canvas with designs that meant something to them. We had long known that Maudie was unerringly there for us, but it was not until I sat. paintbrush in hand, for a couple of hours with her that I grasped fully just how much her life has been like living in the middle of Clapham Junction: there was a constant stream of people wanting everything from elastic band to pastoral care, all ably dispatched. Everyone and everything was well cared for: even Maudie's cats, Peeping and Thomas Aquinas, had ladders made for them to come and go from her windows at will. And to this day, I cannot fathom how Maudie managed to line up impeccably a complete set of photos on a newly plastered wall when each photo had a differently positioned fixing point. Typically this feat was achieved from start to finish in my absence and I have often thought that if I never returned Maudie would have made a remarkably good job of running the empire, and much enjoyed doing so. Maudie's time at King's was full of innovation, be it introducing and producing girls' plays, starting the tutor

sketches at Walpole parties, bringing in regular Matrons' meetings, achieving a day off (oh joy!) for Matrons, and even getting the ladies to do the haka dressed in rugby kit for the staff revue. Above all, Maudie's determination almost invariably triumphed no matter how long it took: Matrons' lore has it that it was 3.00 in the morning when a mouse in her flat which had avoided Maudie all day finally met its Waterloo. Maudie could certainly be stubborn in what she felt was a good cause, and she was certainly a good friend and good company for a great many people. She has given much to hundreds of lives through her time at King's, A very happy and fulfilling retirement is richly deserved.

PJB

Gavin S%m on Gavin Solomon was an exceptionally loyal tutor and always concerned to do what he believed to be the right thing. He gave generously of his time to help anyone who was struggling with preps in a wide range of subjects: as a fine linguist as well as a mathematician and computer expert, Gavin was able to solve most people's problems, and so many turned to him for support. He had high expectations of his tutees, was never afraid to point out areas for improvement and set them demanding targets. They certainly did not escape lightly in tutor sessions, for if he was devoting time to just a few of them, everyone would be expected to bring work along to the tutor period so that they did not waste the session. In this Gavin was characteristically concerned to support School policy and encourage academic focus, just as he was always keen to execute House policy when on duty: if he

thought someone could do better, he said so, even if that was no way to instant popularity. He had a fine sense of humour, much enjoyed by those who knew him best, and his logical mind relished absurdities and inconsistencies. He had also a tendency to attract the dramatic: seeing two of his tutees lurking late at night disguised in Bedouin outfits in the hope of leaping out to surprise him, it was clear that life with Mr Solomon would never be less than interesting. It was certainly something of a bon viveur's life, for as befits a Francophone Gavin valued good food and wine, was a very gifted cook, and treated his tutees to memorable gastronomic experiences, some of them probably involving bottles of wine I had given him, which when he knew me well enough he let slip that he considered fittest for cooking rather than drinking. Fortunately for the House, Gavin's standards extended to the sympathetic execution of his massive task of floodwiring the school. He went to considerable efforts to ensure that cabling was sensitively installed in historic buildings, and where it wasn't he and his team responded immed'lately to my requests that it be relocated with more aesthetic consideration. Boys particularly enjoyed his company in the JCR, where they appreciated his serving their drinks, playing table football with them and being interested in how things were going for them. Many had very engaging conversations with him. He leaves with our very best wishes for his continuing success with the degree course he is taking and for his future happiness.

PJB

<::

t:>

'",

t:>

j~:

c;,

<::

;:J t:>

Q,J

'is 7

Obituaries Canon Derek Ingram Hill

Cathedral music that Sunday: Te Deum and Benedictus Palmer in B Flat. and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Smart in B Flat and Hymns 339, 386, 388 and 295.

Address at the memorial service at Canterbury Cathedral on 3 November 2003, given by Roger Symon.

So, at a very tender age, he began his love affair with the Cathedral. From then on Canterbury inspired his imagination, his historical studies and his astonishing energy. Even while a boy at King's, he wrote his first Cathedral Guidebook to the Cathedral for his mother, and in 1928 at the age of 16 he joined the newlyformed Cathedral Friends. On leaving school for Oxford he took to cycling, and

Derek's enthusiasm, spontaneity, energy, love of beauty, sense of history. and

astonishing gift of total recall - all these gifts he gave to the service of God and his Church with his own inimitable zest. It is the great good fortune of all of us

whose lives he touched - in the Diocese, City, Cathedral and the King's School that he was called to serve his Lord here, and we share with his family our gratitude for God's generosity, so wonderfully evident in this good and faithful man. He married Vi Orton in 1940 and they sha red nearly 60 years toget her. Their partnership started while Derek was serving his first curacy in Buckland -inDover. and, being Derek, he recorded the words of his proposal, "Miss Orton, will you marry me?" and Vi's immortal response, "But Mr Hill, this is so sudden." Indeed it was, but despite this Trollopian eXChange, Vi became a wonderful wife to him, conti nuing her work as a teacher, but assisting him in every practical way. In those years at least. Derek never cooked, seldom typed, hated packing, and drove the car only occasionally - perhaps mercifully, as he was much more interested in the buildings on the street, and the peop le on t he pavement, than the ca rs on the road. Derek knew how much he depended on Vi, and she was not the sort of clergy wife who could be taken for granted lightly: nor was he the kind of dedicated priest who had time for everyone in the parish except his own family. I like to think that Derek's intimate care for Vi in her last illness was his own tribute to all she had given him. Latterly Derek measured his life in anniversaries. And there was one date in particular, just over 80 years ago, that meant the world to him: September 21st. St Matthew's Day, 1923. He was 11 and it was his first day as a schoolboy at Junior King's, and the first day in which he set foot in this Cathedral church. He wrote his first letter home. Like any young boy he told his parents about football results, collecting cigarette cards, and about buns and lemonade, but also, unlike most 11 year olds, he listed the

somehow in his undergraduate days, managed to bicycle to all the ancient Cathedrals of England, write a pamphlet about Oxford's stained glass, and get a good second-class degree. Eventually he knew at first-hand every ancient Cathedral in Britain - except one - St Magnus, Kirkwall. Sadly, a plan to go there with a television crew a few years ago fell through. But his prodigious appetite for medieval churches never abated, and in six successive pre-war summers he spent his holidays bicycling round the Cathedrals and Abbeys of Northern France, adding a vast store of

first-hand experience to his growing knowledge of Church history. Meanwhile, all this time Derek had never known any other ambition except to be ordained; since the age of 7 he had been utterly convinced that this was his vocation, and the Church his home. When he joined the Canterbury Chapter in 1976 he had already spent 42 years in parish ministry. These long and difficult years at least in the war and post-war per'lod shaped the character of the man. He never lost the instincts of the pastor and the intercessor, and he never lost touch with the parishes in which he worked. All his life he continued to receive letters and Christmas cards from former parishioners in Buckland, Croydon and South Norwood. Nothing pleased him more than when he was approached in the street by someone he had baptized or married years before. He was an encourager, always positive, always interested, always remembering names and what people were doing when they last met, always believing that - however bleak the present - the future was bright with promise. Back in his beloved Canterbury in 1957 he devoted himself to nearly 20 years of parish ministry, and plunged enthusiastically into the life of the Diocese and the City - he was Archbishop's Adviser for Diocesan Schools for many years (young people Javed him), he wrote about the almshouses and ancient hospitals, contributed to the Festival, joined the Choral Society and the Kent Archaeological Society (he was President of both), and of course absorbed all the Cathedral offered him. His studies of Canterbury issued in a constant stream of papers and pamphlets; articles and reviews in the Cathedral Chronicle, which he edited for 19 years; and lectures, broadcasts and addresses. His popular books on the Cathedral for the general reader are still recommended reading for those training as Cathedral guides. And his love for Canterbury was publicly acknowledged on his retirement in 1983 with the Freedom of the City and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity at the University. In 1976 Archbishop Coggan invited Derek to join the Cathedral Chapter as a Residentiary Canon. It was the climax of his ordained ministry, and for seven years he revelled in the opportunity it gave him to tell the Canterbury story. It was on those fortunate enough to be taken round the Cathedral by him personally that he made the deepest impression. Why did he make such an impact? Two suggestions.

First - and paradoxically to some because he loved the prayer and liturgy of the Church more than its buildings. Visitors realised that for him the Cathedral was glorious because it was Christ's Glorious Church. The incomparable building embodied something yet more glorious - which he knew but they might not - the beauty and majesty of Christ. He helped people to understand its purpose and to see themselves, if only for a while, as potential members of the Church itself. Nobody understood better than Derek how profoundly the Gospel can stir the imagination and the heart, how it goes deeper than words, and can be illuminated in the poetry of stone, glass and above all music. His evangelical roots and his love of Catholic worship had opened him to the full power of the gospel. When his sight failed, and he could no longer read the Daily Office, music sustained his prayer - actually I think the two became indivisible in his mind - and he ended his devotions every evening by playing a Bach cantata. He never abandoned the I'lkes of Henry Smart, indeed asked that his body leave the Cathedral for the last time to Smart's joyful Postlude, but his musical taste never stopped developing and he welcomed the introduction of new music for the Choir, even into the 21st century. No voluntary or anthem ended without a comment from his stall below the pulpit here, (usually "splendid, really splendid') and no singer or organist could fail to be encouraged by his constant appreciation and support.

would be his fiftieth annual retreat there. But it was not to be. He used to send me postcards from the convent, and last week one of them fell out of one of his books, his Bell's Guide. It said, "This is a

lovely place. The sun shines and af! is beauty, peace and devotion." I have no doubt that in his last days, as perhaps he sensed the end was near, that Derek longed for the beauty, peace and devotion stili to come. So, we pray that Derek will find his eternal peace in the vision of God that Jesus promised to the pure in heart. Roger Symon

And the second reason why people were so attracted to him was quite simply his own vivid irrepressible spirit, his vitality, his transparency. Nothing touched h'lm more in his last years than the friendship given him by his old School, and the portrait by John Ward which King's commissioned in his 85th year. It catches Derek in a rare moment of repose, and to me he wears a faraway look. It's a little known Derek, lost in his own thoughts. Derek was loved because he was utterly true. His faith was unswerving uncomplicated by self-doubt, incapable of pretence, undeterred by his own increasing fragility. He was grieved beyond measure by the loss of Vi and the tragic death of his daughter Katherine, but never entirely overwhelmed. I finish with one final Derek anniversary. Derek loved the monastic lik and especially our brothers and sisters at Bee. But it was with the community at West Mailing that he made his annual retreat. Three weeks ago he told me this year

::0,"

:-g;

<::

.'....,cc" :;,

<::

to <U

:S 9

it!

~ ~ ~

~ %

;;m

Paul Wenley ( 1929 - 2003 )

Paul Wen ley was my colleague and friend for just over 51 years. He came to King's in September 1952 to teach Mathematics and to help with rugby and he became a tutor in Meister Omers with which he

remained associated for the next 37 years. The Housemaster was R.H. 'Sam' Prior, an ex-RAF bomber pilot from the Second World Wa" and there was little difficulty in persuading Paul to join the

RAF section of the School's Cadet Force. which he served with loyalty and enthusiasm, eventually reaching the rank

of Wing Commander. He had a passion for military history and an encyclopaedic knowledge of war sites and types of

aircraft. In 1960 he became Housemaster of Meister Omers, his main post for the next

15 years. His daughters recall that it seemed strange to be brought up in a house of some 60 boys but they watched him refereeing, helped to move chairs in the cathedral, and went to school plays and concerts. Paul was firm but understanding in running his house with genuine interest in the welfare and progress of his boys, he was a shrewd judge of character as his reports showed and sometimes knew them better then their parents did. In 1976 Cannon Pilkington appointed Paul to be Lower Master, a post in which he shouldered many of the administrative duties of the school. These particularly included liaising with the Precentor or the Head Verger of the Cathedral over school services, a task which he carried out with tact and quiet diplomacy. When one sees the School at a Sunday service or on a special occasion such as a Royal Visit, it is easy to forget that smoothrunning ceremony has involved much hard work behind the scenes. When Paul retired from King's in 1989, his successor at Meister Omers wrote: 'It is service of his calibre which is the life-blood of the schools such as King's, and with Paul's Departure we lose a man of immense stature whose loyal service will be sadly missed'. David Goodes (Staff 1951-1986)

A note from Martin Vye, who followed Paul as Officer Commanding the CCF: Paul Wenley was involved with the CCF

for over 40 yea rs. He ran the RAF Section with great enthusiasm, then for over a decade he commanded the CCF as a whole. This was no mean task in a school

where the CCF is voluntary, and there is a wealth of other activities to choose from. The survival of the contingent in good heart into the 21st century is owed to him, in very great measure. Beneath the exterior of a senior schoolmaster and a senior officer there was a very warm personality, with an irrelevant sense of humour. My abiding personal memory of him will be in his vehicle, on some rain or snow swept mountain pass, always there to help in an emergency, always there to give support and encouragement. He was a good friend and comrade.

Focus

Thot'il Teach

'Em'l i n~up

Last summer Dr Pidoux of the English Department had a spell in the limelight as she took to the small screen to be part

found the confiscation of certain personal items very difficult to cope with. Now we tend to bring ideas and discussion to the classroom, then everything was black

wanted conflict, tensionand fa ilure in what is nowadays called 'car-crash TV, because it earns the high viewing figures.

Channel Four called, "That'll Teach 'em." The programme took modern day secondary pupils from comprehensives, grammar schools and public schools and placed them in a boarding school with the harsher rules and discipline of a

and white, students merely regurgitated

nineteen fifties education.

Well, in some ways it was not different at all, the children had to get up very early and endured a long day with academic sessions, assembly and a lot of sport in the same way as is done here but it was very alien to most children involved in the programme, except the Radley boy In general it was not as much fun for them as it is for pupils here and they felt that they were bullied into it. We were working in a heat wave which didn't help.

If you had the chance to make a longer runn ing television series, would you give up teaching to do it? No, I definitely wou ldn't give up teaching. I would perhaps consider doing something more in the holidays but nothing too permanent.

of a reality I V show broadcast on

Did you have to change your method of teaching for the programme? Yes, absolutely. I had to remove all humour from my presentation and to be coldly formal is a very difficult thing. When I teach here, I try to use humour to make a point in a positive and

communicative way. There was no dialogue or real discussion between myself and the class, I was simply delivering facts black and white, it was very cold and also unfulfilling. It is often said that education in the fifties

was much harder than it is now, do you think that the programme showed this to

be true? In the programme there was a certain

distortion of reality. Despite their efforts they couldn't recreate the true atmosphere of the education. It's not just the rules and discipline but the society of

the time and the attitudes were entirely different. Many children on the programme were very homesick and also

the facts, although they were taught to do it efficiently.

Overall how different or similar would you soy the school was to King's?

Did you feel that the programme was edited fairly, in terms of the teacher and pupil relationships? No, not at all. Many of the staff felt disappointed by the situation in that we were all portrayed very negatively when most of us had a good off screen relationship with the pupils. For example we put on a production of A Midsummer Nights Dream that t he pupils had to learn in two and a half weeks which we all had a great time doing despite the long rehearsals of two to four hours a day, it was entirely cut from the series because it was so successful. The production team

Did being on the show bring you any interesting fan mail? Yes it did. It was sent on by the production company and some of it was by far more interesting than I would have liked! Alii will say is that there are some very strange people out there. Ho w did you and your family react when you saw yourself on television? It was rather strange, and there was definitely a certai n element of disbel ief. For me, watching it didn't have very much relevance as I was there mostly to experience the process and I was abroad when most of it was transmitted. My family were also very supportive especially conSidering that I wasn't around as much as they' re used to, but they were very enthusiastic and proud. Did you find that many of the pupils on the programme played up to the cameras? Very much so yes, the production team effectively rewarded the badly behaved

ones by giving them centre-stage which made it harder for them to be disciplined. They deliberately included a delinquent boy and girl in the hope they would cause trouble, which the boy certainly did but the girl knuckled down soon because she rose to the challenge. They replaced her as central female focus with a girl who made herself conspicuous in other ways.

\/ -./\

How different were the pupils' attitudes to

learning and education compared to those at King's? Not that different on the whole. They were all very eager to learn and coped admirably under the difficult circumstances. If the pupils from the series were placed in King's there would be no difference between them and our own pupils. On the whole education was presented positively and many chi ldren gained a lot from it.

If you were asked to do it all again, would

you agree to it? No, but anyway it was made clear to us that they wouldn't ask the same staff

The team set out on the yacht, Betelgeuse on a quest for speed and glory, to raise money for RNIB (Annabelle Flower JR)

again because th ey wanted teachers who hadn't experienced it and so wouldn't know what to expect. I have been approached about another project but talks are in the very early stage.

BI87

There and back again, The Azab

2003 On Saturday the seventh of June Peter Flower OKS embarked upon the voyage of a lifetime, a two and a half thousand mile yacht race to the Azores and back, the AZAB. Th e AZAB has taken place every four years since 1975 when just four boats took part, th is year there were 48 competitors. The race consists of two legs, the first from The Roya l Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth to Pon ta Oelgada in the Portuguese Azores; the second begins there and then fin ishes in Falmouth. Overall the race is 2442 miles long. Each time the race takes place, more boats compete but not many do it for charity. On the seventh of June two grandads Peter Flower OKS and his crew Robin Owens set sail on Betelgeuse, a Starlight 39, aiming to complete the race to raise money for the Royal National Insti tute for the Blind. The RNIB is a vita l charity that carries out the necessary help and support for those who are blind or visually impaired. Not only that but it provides a network of conselling and other resources for the families of those who suffer from sight related illness.es. The race began with an overcast sky yet strong winds. However, after enduring an exhausting storm with waves the size of houses that put fourteen boats out of the race as well as ca usi ng damage to part of Betelgeuse's mast, and making a navigational misjudgement, their luck ran out. The pair decided to sail into the storm as opposed to skirt ing it as others were able to do. After the storm had passed, the wind died and the pair were

Full steam ahead. making for the line (Annabelle Flower JRJ

Creative Writing The Seven Ages of Man Sighs of admiration welcome this newborn to life, And the sight of pale. mellow skin smoothes the hearts of those who touch, Full-grown eyes spread awe of those who trust. Yet, acutely aware of their influence, They cloud his unquestioning mind with shaped thoughts Strengthening character all the while.

Shortly though. day-old mud is grazed on

scabbed knees, And it is playground thoughts that wake a curious mind. The health of exertion beats through roaring cheeks, Gracing a smile of nostalgia onto those

of watchful gaze. Unaware, he bounds through the years, Pausing not to chance on appreciation. However, once adolescent, Swollen thoughts messily conduct his mind, Like a fledgling. unable to grasp a beckoning branch. Ignorant of the future, yet he is eager to explore Experimental adult concepts

That as yet swarm his judgement. Then middle age creeps forward. The overlapping wires of adventure loosen themselves, And relax into a recurrent overcast week. Roles reverse as new life breeds delight, Provoking change and upheaval Which, once again entangles the days with prospect.

The final stage is yet not a sad one, nor is it turbulent, But diseased with the sway of time, As its appreciating hands presage the future bold. Memories are all but a haze in the baCkground. like the warmth of that ti red fire coal, Gradually melting into the dusk of the horizon. Poppy Mitchell (MD

The Prisoner The sky wept on The day he lost his soul;

Caught in a cage of dementia Imprisoned by alcohol.

He retches emptily, Convulses with the strain; He fingers the bars, cemented By his pain. His throat is raw, With the shouting and tears His hands are sore From pummelling the bars in his fear But what could you expect After the winter of his life? In suffering and sadness,

He looked to the bottle to end his strife. The keys lie tantalisingly close But out of arms reach;

His arm bleeds, efforts in vain; His prison is his brain. I spoke to him, But there was no reply And his eyes raised, his gaunt face grim

Bloodshot eyes raised to bitter sky. Fra ncis Brown (Shel l C)

Exped itions Trans-Siberian Railway 2003 The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest

looking, feeling and smelling good and clean (something I'll always appreciate) . The simplicity of moving through the various checkpoints in England was not to be repeated down in the depths of Russia and Mongolia, but I didn't know

and most famous railway on the planet, 9289km through forests, over mountain

that then.

ranges, over rivers and vast expanses of

I can't say it was exactly comforting to arrive at an airport that was still being built, but everything went according to

steppes. The sheer length of the journey and differences in culture are surely enough to whet any traveller's appetite. Ou r Trans-Siberian trip would take us to Moscow, on to Lake Baikal, then through the Trans-Mongolian to Ulaan Baatar, and then onward through China to Beij ing. Unfortunately, SARS came to light and the trip was put into jeopardy! In the end,

we had to settle on spending a few extra days in Mongolia. We were about to find that this was really no chore at all.

plan. After a lengthy wait at passport control, we met our guide, Yelena, who took us to the bus and we got under way to the Hotel. Moscow seems poorer and wealthier than I had imagined. Massive, decaying power stations loom for miles around feeding the city, connected to it with equally decaying electricity lines, and servicing modern glass clad buildings. But Moscow is an extremely optimistic place, and the people seem very

After many meetings and group

(righ tfully) proud of their city. We

gatherings, the day to leave finally arrived, up and early at 4:45 am to meet the others at Heathrow. There we were,

eventua lly found our way through the maze of Moscow to the Hotel. The hotel was functioning, (much like the power

stations were functioning). but it was clean and comfortable enough. After a much needed shower, we met up with everyone and we took the metro to Red Square. Stepping down into the Metro system was like being confronted with the mines of Moria! Strange, I thought, that the soviets spent so much money on the metro, and yet the country was decaying around them . Red Square was a fantastic sight that evening. It didn't seem real to have woken up in my own bed, and to be wandering around Moscow that evening. It was a fantastic taste of the real sightseeing that would begin the next day. Our day in Moscow was orchestrated by Yelena and we saw a lot in a short space of time. We visited the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, St Basil's, the British Embassy and the Kremlin. Afterwards we had time to wander around Moscow ourselves, soaking up the atmosphere. It was so hot and grimy, and as if to answer our prayers, we were hit by the most

dramatic thunderstorm I have ever witnessed. It proved to be the best shower of the entire trip. After supper, we were taken to the Station, and hauled our bags down the never ending train, which must have been about a kilometre long! We settled into our cabins and waited for the train to start so that the airconditioning would work. Do not be fooled, I say air-conditioning, but it was remarkably temperamental and when it was switched off, the cabins heated very quickly. We were to be on the train from Moscow to Irkutsk for three days and four nights. The train day consisted of us slowly decomposing into the metal, but this gave us time to talk, and when you are in close proximity with people, it is a fascinating past time. I learnt so much about the group and we really got to know each other. Other activities included trying to wash your hair in a moving basin, (and before you do that, you have to discover how to get the water to run) eating in the dining car (where most of the discussions took place) and walking down the carriage is also a lot of fun, because as the train lurches from side to side, so do you. Every now and again the train would stop off and local people would be standing on the platform selling local goods. It was wonderful to see them and to catch a glimpse of their existence, which is so strange to us. Much of what I

bought I didn't eat, but it was fun to try and communicate with them. They were normally old ladies behind old scarves, gleaming at you behind an old leathery nose and eyes that seemed to stare and yet stare at nothing. When you approached them, they would lick their lips and start haggling before you even knew what was happening. It's best just to go with the flow and let them do all the talking and haggling amongst themselves. It was a long time before we managed to make contact with the (noticeably attractive) assistant on our carriage. We offered to play cards with her. She looked at us, and turned away. What had we done wrong? Was this against Russian etiquette? She did eventually return with a throng of other assistants and we sat down for a serious game of cards. It is remarkable how much one can communicate with other people when you don't know their language. It was easy to know when you were doing something correctly because there would be shouts of "Nyet! Nyet!" or "DA! DA!': The morning we arrived in Irkutsk looked like something from Hell. The sun was behind a red haze, which we were told la ter was from forest fires burning around the city. For something that looked like Hell, it was very cold, which was a relief from the train. We met our Irkutsk guide, Alex, who was a great guy, and for someone who has never been to an

English speaking country, his English was very impressive. Firstly, we were shown the sights in Irkutsk, of which there isn't much, but what there is is interesting nonetheless. On the way to Lake Baikal, we also stopped off in a museum showing the traditional wooden architecture of the region, but 1 couldn't wait to see Lake Baikal. It is the largest fresh water lake in the world, so big that it has a fifth of the entire world's fresh water supply. It is so clear that some people get vertigo, as you can see through 40 metres of water. 80 0/0 of its flora and fauna is unique to the lake, and it is also the deepest lake in the world, 1637m at its deepest point. It is also surrounded by interesting legends. 336 tributaries run into the lake and only one river, the Angara, runs out. Eventually we met up with the local families who we were to stay with for two days in a town on the shores of Lake Baikal called Listvianka. Our families were very nice and welcoming, but they were quite poor compared to the average Englishman, which emphasised that the vast majority of Russians were very poor as our families were most certainly middle-class. Lake Baikal was certainly fascinating. We arranged to meet a boat that would take us further down the shore to part of the old Trans-Siberian Railway for a walk along it, and (if we were feeling

particularly courageous) a swim. The boatman had to run aground to let us off, but we still had to wade to shore, getting a taste of the icy waters. After shoving the boat out to sea, we began our walk. By lunchtime, I was so hot that I looked forward to plunging into the wate r. Standing on the edge of the pie r, I have to say I felt slightly dubious, but arrogant enough to be the first in. Between the pier and the wa ter's surface, I wasn't su re I wanted to go th rough with it, and on entry, I was shocked by t he cold, which blasted the air from my lungs and all my body could think about was swimming to shore. It was a wonderfu l thing to be able to brag about afterwards, to have swum in an aoe lake Baikal. The next morning, we had to get an early train from Moscow to Ulaan Baatar. The Trans-Mongolian train wasn't nearly as nice as the Trans-Siberian, but t hen again it was only a 24-hour trip. Visa and Passport control was horrendous between Russia and Mongolia. l arge assistants boarded the trai n and checked our pictu res and baggage, and at poi nts seemed qui te agg ressive. Afte r si x ho urs of checks, we sett led down for th e early arrival in Ulaan Baatar. I woke with the light streaming onto my face. I looked out of the window. Gone were the

everlasting Siberian forests, to be replaced by vast grasslands. Mongolia 1 This enigmatic country was being seen through my eyes first hand. There were horses, gers, and the odd person milking goats. Ulaan Baatar unfolded in a great, majestic valley, and it was not a pretty sight. It was like Moscow, (decomposing power stations) but with none of the good bits. I was distraught to see t his, and I thought of Genghis Khan turni ng in his grave. These we re meant to be the warl ike nomads of the an cient Silk Road, what had happened? It wasn 't all ba d, the people were truly Asian, and always had a smi le. It was a very happy place and in no way had any of them forgotten their roots. We were met by the Mongolian guide, Turuu, a small man (but in no means slight) with a wide face and warming smile. He took us to what was thought to be the most decayed hotel on t he planet from the outside. Inside, it was extremely plush, much nicer than anything else on the trip. Horrid exteriors and beautiful interiors were the norm in this country. That day we visited the sights of Ulaan Baata r, t he Gandan Khiid Monastery, the natural history mu seum, and t he Zaisan Memori al, from wh ich we could get panoramic views of the ci ty. Here we met a man selling paper cut outs. We soon realised he was a very

special person to the Mongolians. He could sing Mongolian Hoomii, the guttural whistle that the Mongolians are famous for. His name was Enkhnaran, and he was a fascinating insight to Mongolian life and culture. He had been a nomad, taught at a sacred monastery and learnt his paper cutting art at a special school. It was a wonderful experience to stand on top of a hill, with the wind in you r face listening to En khnaran singing, and listening to his incredible li fe. My estimation of the Mongolian people was al ready high, but I now had a respect and interest that will probably last my lifetime. Too soon we had to leave Ulaan Baatar, but the holiday was only about to get better. The little bus lurched and danced over the main road out of the city, and when we got on to the minor road, it was like a roller coaster ride built on an erupting volcano. The cityscape left to be replaced by the rolling grassland of the Mongolian steppe. As we penetrated fu rther and further into the country, the terrain became more mou ntainous and al pine. The lack of any agric ulture allowed the mountains to be a riot of colour from the many beau t iful flowe rs, but with no herbicides, there were no insecticides, and caterpillars far

-= outnumbered any other creature, they were big, hairy ones too. We eventually came to our ger camp, and settled into life there. We were free to roam the countryside. The walking was fantastic, we climbed any mountains that took our fancy (within reason), and the sweat was always rewarded with a truly magnificent view, which no one can describe in any human terms. We also went riding around the area. There were none of the timid English regulations, rather, the Mongolians gave you a horse, reins and a word to make the horse run "Chuul and then, when you weren't expecting, they gave the horse an alm igh ty whack and away you went! We learnt amazingly quickly, and were all galloping, racing each other in the middle of this vast expanse of wilderness by the end of the t rip. After a while, we became more adventu rous, and started tal king to the locals. They were always friendly and always invited you in for some fermented mare's milk, yak's yoghurt or cheese that had been drying on the fe lt roof of their ger. To say that I enjoyed thei r cuisine would be a lie, but I very much enjoyed and appreciated their hospitality. Too quickly, the four day stay was over, and we had to return to Ulaan Baatar to get a flight to Moscow the next morning. It was an awful thing to leave the location, H

the people, the horses, the camels and atmosphere. The next day we had to get up early and brashly as if getting back into the western, time-slave culture, which came as an unpleasant shock. It was so easy to melt into the Mongolian way of th i ngs. We landed at Moscow on time, and continued to go sightseeing. It was made difficult, as security was very tight after the suicide bombings that week. We did see the plastic looking remains of Lenin, and had an opportunity to shop. The holiday was over. I have gained so much from this holiday; an understanding of the diverse people of a little known part of Asia, friendships and an insight into what it must be like to be a true t ravelle r. I shall never forget Mongolia partic ularly, its cal l is strong enough now and for a long time to entice me back! Richard Heywood-Wa ddington (M O)

Netball and Lacrosse Tour to Canada The King 's Net bal l and Lacrosse tour to Canada was a great success! The girls practised th rough out t he su mmer te rm in pre parati on for the t our. All of thei r hard wo rk paid off in the end as both th e Netball and Lacrosse tea ms pl ayed some brill ia nt mat ch es. Than k yo u to all the coaches: Miss Jenkinson, Miss Fisher, Mrs. McCo nnell, M iss Oldacre, Janet O'Neil l, an d Li liane W idd ows. Here is our tou r diary, court esy of Ann a Br idel: Day 2: Monday The most action packed day! We all got up early at 7:30, feeling very keen and excited, though slightly grumpy at the drizz ly weather. This was made up for, however, by the prospect of a workout in the corridor-a Mrs. O'Neill special-after which we all felt much better. Breakfast was a well-deserved fry-up and on return to the halls, we were all excited by the camera crew who were demanding our talent in the new film, The Prince and the Freshman, starrin g Julia Stiles and out on Valentine's Day. After filming, it was

straigh t to the shopping mall for a whistle-stop run around the shops before lunch. Probably the highlight was the

all ground balls and winning the 2nd half

N Tower-very scary, especially on the glass floor. Apparently it can support 14 hippos; very reassuring when people were jumping on it. After a tour by Vic down

Man of the Match: Katie Steibelt for awesome defensive checks. Day 4: Wednesday

the longest street in the world. we went to support the netballers who did us proud with a draw and a win. We also filled up on cookies and ice cream and watched the baseball before meeting our hosts at 10pm in a bit of a weary state. Day 3: Tuesday After spending the morning with our hosts, we all met up at the Nero's park for lunch and some activities. Sunbathing, volleyball, and a dodgysounding game of "greasy watermelon ," in which Bella indulged in a few close

encounters, was the order of the day, until we all pitched up at "Sweet Dreams" ice cream stall for the most enormous ice creams imaginable, even for America! Few could sustain the quantity, and some left with hands dripping. The Match .. .19:00 King's v. Drillia A really good game in which we all pushed ourselves and did each other proud. The score was very close, 7-6 to Orillia, but this didn't matter because we played so well, winning around 70% of

Day 5: Thurday

5-3.

After spending the morning with our hosts, we all met up at lunchtime for the long journey down to Burlington for our second match. The Burlington team was really friendly and hospitable, giving us pins, shirts and a watermelon tea. We were all really relieved at the state of the pitch, which was a definite improvement on the jungle at Orillia. Watching Die Hard on the way down clearly prepared us with good fighting Bruce Willis spirit as, after losing the first half 3-4, we came back in the 2nd half to win 10-4. Georgie sco red innumerable goals and Olenka joined the luminous luggage tag group, being awarded the player of the match. This match also included the "formidable black," which forced the opposition's goalie to hold the ball for at least five minutes, unable to find a free player.

After our last morning with our Orillia hosts, we said our goodbyes and got ready to play Brompton. The rainy weather did not destroy our spirit and after a quick lunch at Tim Horton's, we did some preparation and training for the match. Unfortunately, the infamous "rainbow passes" stilted the first half, leaving us with work to do in the second. We dominated the second, with good defence and winning all the ground balls, proving that we are most definitely a second half team. Aimee was deservedly awarded player of the match for her leadership and producing noise inconceivable in such a petite body. We were well looked after by our hosts, who put on a gastronomic barbecue after the match. It was home to our Brompton hosts who looked after us for one night. Day 6: Friday We were all up bright and early today for our extra match against Heathfield who we re also on tour in Canada. We really demonstrated how far we had come on since last year, winning ground balls, using moves, and with impressive play from Venetia. Alice made some fantastic saves and her and Georgie were made players of the match. We spent the afternoon with our new Kawartha hosts.

Day 7; Saturday Another early start for the match against Kawartha producing possibly a few sore heads! It was a good match though Kawartha were just too strong, winning

14-6. Star performances from Alex and Rosie, and also consistently great play from Olenka, who was awarded player of

the match.

In the afternoon, we were offered a range of activities with our Kawartha hosts, including speed boating and an appearance at the Guinness Book of Records competition from Georgie, Rosie and Jules to see how far they could throw. We then all met up by the lake

for a barbecue and a game of volleyball, and an enormous farewell cake from Kawartha parents. The activities that night included an impressive talent for "funnelling" from Katie . Day 8: Sunday After an early goodbye to our hosts, we prepared for the long journey down to Niagara and our last night. We stopped off for some well deserved retail therapy and arrived at Niagara just after lunch time. We then managed to fit in some

sunbathing beside the pool at the hotel which we took over for two hours. We then got ready for the men's lacrosse match. It was box-lacrosse so there were rolling subs with only six players on at a time-a completely different style to what we were used to. It was also quite violent and very exciting. Unfortunately for ou r team, St. Catherine's, were closely defeated but that didn't stop Miss Fisher's "thing" for number 26 who was apparently "not as hot without his helmet." In the evening, we went out to the pizzeria around the corner and blew up loads of balloons for Georgie's birthday. The food just kept coming un til they bought out Georgie's birthday cake. Miss Fisher and Rosie than hosted the "Miss Canada Awards": Georgie-"Miss Moves" (attack) Venetia-" Most Improved" Vicky-"Congen ial ity" Katie-"Defence" K-"Munchies" Rosie-"Mexico Olenka-"Player of the tour" Anna-"Miss Mellow" Anna Bridel (BR)

Morocco We left london in the afternoon, haYing sat in class during the morning, and arrived in Marakesh for evening dinner. Such a sta rk contrast from the precincts in Canterbury could not have been clearer as we walked around the dusty city

centre, watching the snake charmers, listening to the story-tellers, and smelling the delicious odours of steamed snails and fried oysters. Marakesh itself was a heaving hustle and bustle of people from all walks of life. We took a horse and cart ride through the

cobbled streets and then walked through

a food market situated on the very edge of a rubbish tip. People scoured the rubbish for material that they could recycle while sheep grazed what very

little vegetatio n there was. It was here that we we re all given a sprig of mint and then led into the tannery to see people dipping fairly fresh leathers into pigeon excrement and other rather smelly liquids. The following day we escaped into the mountains and the fresh air to stay in the most luxurious old fortified kasboh you can imagine. It was located on the top of a small hill in the middle of a valley, surrounded by towering mountains of snow and harsh rock-falls. We spen t one day and a night hiking out over the top of a pass and down into the neighbouring valley to sleep in a local's house. It was here that we really bonded well as a group [only 11 pupils and 2 stam, with the lack of electricity and even television.

Once out of the desert we were filthy and dusty and so we went to one of the local baths to wash. This was an experience and a half as we were massaged with vigorous attention, and muscles that we didn't know we had were stretched to their limits. Although we felt much cleaner for it, we were secretly very glad to have come out alive. Back in Marakesh we spent our last few hours shopping to our heart's conte nt. Christmas presents we re on the agenda, and there certainly were a lot of bargains available. We had had a fantastic ten days. Mr Sanderson and Miss Edwards were superb as our teachers and leaders, and we would like to thank them a great deal. The sun had been hot. Our suntans were certainly better than they would have been if we had stayed in England, and our memories will last with us forever. It was a fantastic trip.

Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award Expedition, Brecon Beacons 2003 Six hours in a minibus driven by ARW was an inauspicious start to our Gold expedition in the Brecon Beacons National Park. We arrived at the 'bunkhouse' at the Gromlech headquarters of MW Guiding Services

who were to be our assessors for the next five days. It seemed to be miles from civilisation, surrounded by hills covered in sheep. Had we made a mistake? This was where the SAS trained! We were soon to receive our briefing, rucksack inspection and much to our annoyance, mobile phone confiscation. A Chinese takeaway was the first evening meal before settling down to a cold night's sleep in our stone shelter. We woke to the bleating of lambs, enjoyed the lUXUry of a full English breakfast, (the provisions bought the night before in the camp shop), our boil in the bag meals would have to wait. Another briefing from Dawn and Mike our assessors, a cheery wave from ARW and we were on our way. A new day and we were excited, full of merry conversation, laughter and singing. This soon petered out at the first hill and the expended energy was replaced by a kit-kat and water. Later the onset of blisters, aching shoulders and backs caused occasional stops and silent walking. At our fi rst campsite we pitched tents in evening sunshine, three of the girls squeezed into one tent in order to save weight. It was here that we met Epsom College who were travelling on a similar course to us but the next day became rivals as we climbed to the summit of 'Pen -y-fan', the highest peak around. Much to our glee Epsom came second in the race for the top. However, we felt exhausted by the climb and took a well earned rest at the summit. Lunch consisted of crackers, fruit gums, and a Mars Bar. The way down the mountainside proved more difficult. A

After a few days in the mountains we made our way down in to the desert, not without incident. There had been a lot of rain in the mountains the night before and so flash floods in the wadis were common. In fact it was incredible to drive across one ford safely, to only have to be forced back because the next river had completely swept the bridge away. We climbed a small tor and watched the waters rise and fall within as little time as 45 minutes. Well, we made it to the desert, and indeed there was no water to be seen. The highlight of the trip was next. Camels. All 13 of us mounted our own came l and then loll oped off into the sunset to sleep the night under Bedouin tents and sit around the camp fire singing songs. The peace and tranquillity was something to marvel, and many took the opportunity the following morning to get up and see the early sunrise over the sand dunes and mountaintops.

Gold expeditions 2003

navigation 'slip up' meant we moved down steep slopes, through bracken, thorny bushes, a flock of sheep and across a stream to come face to face with Dawn our assessor who appeared on the opposite side of a barbed wire fence, which (it must be admitted) we did contemplate climbing as it would provide a huge shortcut. A short discussion and debrief with Dawn confirmed our position and we walked off to our second night under canvas. Campsite number two was luxurious, a huge field with no sheep. However, we had to contend with a golden Labrador which stole our boots and slobbered over the tents. Nearby was a small shop where we spent our 'phone

money'. Crisps and chocolate never tasted so good. An early start on day three, some road walking and then back on slopes, woodland tracks and paths. Group discussion sometimes became heated, there were disagreements but morale was high as long as the gradient didn't get too steep. Leadership of the group changed from time to time and we generally had faith in each other. We met others who were seeking gold and swapped food, beef stew and dumplings for tomato ketchup which was complementary to chicken casserole and bacon and beans. You can't go to Wales

and get away without rain, it caught us

at the end of the day as we huddled in our tents aga inst the cold and downpour. On the bright side it did give us the opportunity to compose and rehearse our poem for our assessors as we were informed that the project would take the form of an oral assessment. We received our final day's briefing from Mike, broke camp in the rain but couldn't wait to get back. The fina l trek took us through bogs, mud, razor grass and vegetation found only in tropical jungles and Wales. The incentive of course were thoughts of a hot shower, dry socks and clean clothes. We arrived back at base to the applause of Dawn, Mike and ARW, used the centre facilities before delivering our bal lad of a Gold Expedition. We were later informed that our record books would be signed and registered as passed. It was time to go and find the nearest Burger King! It was a fun trip, tiring rather than exhausting. we learnt a great deal about ourselves and each other and learned to work together as a team which consisted of Aimee Baird, Venetia Clark, Georgie Darroch, Grace Walpole, Jess Watson,

Theo Webb and George Coltart. We appreciated and respected the Brecon Beacons and found the whole experience rewarding and satisfying and would highly recommend it. Many thanks to

ARW for making it all possible and helping us through. Th eo We bb (GR) a Grace Walpole (WL) Checking the mobile - ARW and IMRP

CCF Army Section Summer Camp 2003 Wathgill Barracks, Catterick Garrison Summer Camp always has been the highlight of the CCF year, and it was no surprise that this year's camp met

everybody's expectations. We attended CeF Central Camp in Catterick, along with about a dozen other School CeF Units and it was obvious to us that the Cadet Tra ining Teams involved with the

training had put a tremendous amount of

effort into their work. The high quality accommodation and catering were a little extravagant for our taste but fortunately the NAFFI was on hand to bring a sense

of balance to the week. As usual, the week started off with the less physically challenging non-military activities such as rock-climbing, abseiling and orienteering all of which were tremendous fun. This first day helped everyone to gain the teamwork skills that they were inevitably going to have to rely upon over the next five days, as by day two we were plunged into full military training such as section battle drills and platoon attack scenarios which with the use of blank ammunition and

pyrotechnics were certain to get the adrenaline flowing. A great effort was made by all of our cadets, as the temperatures were constantly soaring to around the thirty degree mark. Everybody coped excellently with the considerable amount of physical activity that was expected from the training team but is not normally expected for the summer holidays! At the end of the 24 hour exercise we were all rewarded with an evening of social activity at the local, which was a great chance for everybody to relax and discuss the week's trials and tribulations. From this point onwards, the week began to slow down slightly, with command tasks and the obstacle course putting an end to the week. By the day we left, most were hanging off their chinstraps, but all had had a thoroughly good time. Our thanks go to the Cadet Train ing Teams, and to all the CCF Officers and Directing Staff who gave up their free time, and our congra tu lations go to Evan Jones for earning the title of 'Cadet of Camp', and to Sgts Christie Wadd ington and Jenny Armstrong for the ir achievements at Frimly Park l eadership Course immediately after Summer Camp. My own personal thanks go to the NCOs of the CCF for helping to make this summer Camp one to remember. Alex King (MOl Head of Corps

RAF Summer Camp The newly reformed RAF section of the

CeF went on their first camp between August 2nd and 9th. The camp was held at RAF Marham in Norfolk, a front line fighter station which has two squadrons of tornados (9 and XIII) and one Canberra squadron (39). On arriving at camp we were introduced

to the other twenty six cadets and accompanying staff. These included pupils from Merchant Taylor's, Sevenoaks, and Wymondham College. After finding our way to our accommodation, tents for the cadets, officers' mess for the staff, we familiarised ourselves with the layout of the station.

The first day of camp started slowly with a visit to the swimming pool and lots of drill. Things got more hectic the follow ing day with a fascinating visit to 39 Canberra squadron, which had just come back from reconnaissance missions in Iraq. The Canberra, although 50 years old, is still in service. The week continued with various activities ranging from shooting, night exercises, visits to various parts of the base for "work experience" and of course lots of drill and inspections.

The highlight of the camp, for the cadets, was the air experience flying. This was held at Wyton airfield near Cambridge. All twenty eight cadets got at least thirty minutes in a Grob Tutor training aircraft. as used by the University Air Squadron. Despite the heat of nearly 100Â°F and a

lot of waiting it was still worth it. The camp was rounded off by a visit to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford which has an interesting new display based purely on American aircraft. This was followed, in the evening, by a barbeque and prize giving back at Marham. Janessa Bobby and Fiona Levey, both acquitted themselves particularly well and were a credit to the school, with Cadet Levey winning the "Most Improved Cadet" award. Overall, an excellent camp and many thanks to all the staff and people at RAF Marham who made it possible and with special thanks to 5gt. Gary Constable. A. Smith

Nuestro visita a Sevilla

Spanish Trip to Seville On the 19th of October some of the remove pupils arrived at Heathrow airport to go and spend a week in Seville. At this time we were slightly worried about having to stay with families that we had never met before. On arriving in Seville we went to the school where the fam ilies who we were going to stay with were. I think that the families in general were very nice and looked after us well. Lots of the families lived in flats in the centre of Seville, qu ite near the school, but some lived in flats thirty minutes walking distance from the Plaza Nueva, which is next to CLiC. I stayed with Sa ra h Archer with a very nice family.

cue

Every morning we studied in CLlC; the lessons were two hours long. Then we returned to our ~homes" to have lunch.

They gave us traditional food of the region, which was very tasty. During our stay we went to lots of interest ing places, most of them were

tourist attractions but we also enjoyed ourselves at the theme park, Isla Magica. One of the most incredible sites of the city is its cathedral and the beautiful view from its bell tower. I really enjoyed the trip to the Jerez sherry factory where we saw mice drinking wine from a cup and getting drunk.

Every afternoon we had some free time to go shopping, and I know that all the girls made maximum use of the time. Usually we spent the evenings in the flats talking in Spanish and watching N with the families. On the last night we had a party with some Spanish children who practised English and we practised Spanish. We had a great time. I think that we all had an excellent stay in Seville and we also learnt lots of new vocabulary. Hannah Kay (LX)

EI 19 de Octubre algunos estudiantes del Remove Ilegamos al aeropuerto de Heathrow para ir a pasar una semana a Sevilla. A esta hora estabamos un poco preocupados por tener que alojarnos con unas familias que nunca habiamos conocido. A Ilegar a Sevilla fuimos al colegio CLiC porque alii estaban las fam ilias con las cuales nos ibamos a quedar. Creo que las familias en general eran muy simpaticas y nos cuidaron muy bien. Muchas de las familias viven en pisos en el centro de Sevilla, bastante ce rca del colegio, pero algunas como la mia viven en pisos a treinta minutos a pie de la plaza Nueva que esta al lade de CLie. Yo me quede con mi amiga, Sarah Archer, con una familia muy simpatica. Todas la s mananas estudiabamos en ClIe, las crases eran de dos horas. Luego regresabamos a nuestras "casas" para almorzar. Nos dieron comida muy tradicional de la region, era muy rica y nos gusto mucho. Durante nuestra visita fuimos a muchos lugares interesantes, bastantes eran lugares turisticos pero tambien nos divertimos en La Isla Magica (el parque de atracciones). Una de las atracciones mas increibles de la ciudad era su catedral y la vista muy bonita desde su torre de campanas. Me gusto mucho la visita a la Bodega de Jerez, donde vimos unos ratoncitos tomando vi no de una copa y emborrachandose. Cada tarde teniamos un poco de tiempo libre para hacer compras, y se que todas las chicas aprovechabamos al maximo la ocasion. Normalmente pasabamos las noches en casa charlando en espanol y viendo la tele con las familias. La ultima noche tuvimos una fiesta con unos chicos espaiioles, ellos practicaban el ingles y nosotros el espanol, 10 pasamos muy bien. Creo que a todos res gusto su estancia en Sevilla y tambien aprendimos mucho vocabulario nuevo. Hannah Kay (LX)

Societies and Activities Sixth Form Talks This term we were treated to talks on a wide variety of topics, given by a selection of excellent speakers, all experts in their field; they covered

aspects of history from several millennia, politics and culture both local and international. and even the works of two distinguished OKS.

The first of these was given by Dr P.R. Roberts of UKC, winner of the prestigious Calvin and Rose G. Hoffman Prize, and was entitled "View but his picture in this tragic glass: Christopher Marlowe's Image and Identity". We were presented with a comprehensive, almost encyclopaedic, account of Marlowe's colourful life, the subject of the speaker's research for the prize. Marlowe's time as a King's Scholar was certainly given a mention, along with the important subject of his role in sixteenth century espionage and the many political plots in which he was involved. Given the limited direct information available concerning Marlowe's life, we were given a very vivid picture of his turbulent times, with every aspect explored pursued most definitely to a full conclusion. Moving somewhat further back in time to the second millennium BC, the second talk, "The People of La Manche", was given by Mr Pete Clark of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Heavily involved in the discovery of and subsequent work done on the Bronze Age boat found recently at Dover, his subject was 'the people who built the boat'. Presenting considerable archaeological evidence from both sides of the Channel, he concluded that the presence of the boat at Dover indicates far stronger trade links across Europe at that time than previously thought. However, what was most remarkable was the enthusiasm with which he presented the archaeologist's art of drawing remarkable conclusions from seemingly inconclusive evidence; only an expert eye could have deduced, from the several slides showing essentially 'holes in the ground', similarities of house design and the implications of this for the organisation of a community. In the third talk, we saw a guitar replace the projector as the speaker's prop, as we heard Mr Mike Hurst, a former member of 'The Springfields', giving a history of popular music (musical excerpts included!) from 1500 to the present day, entitled "The Music Makers". In an evening which was as entertaining as it was informative, we

heard many myths dispelled concerning the cultural origins of various forms of popular music, as well as accounts of the often colourful lives of some of the most influential figures in its history. However, possibly most interesting was hearing the view of Mr Hurst on the popular music of today, that the sentimentality of previous generations' music has been lost, a point which attracted much discussion in the subsequent time for questions. The fourth talk was given by a rather more recent OKS, Mr Sebastian Rosato of the University of Chicago, on "The Bush Wars". As an expert on international politics, he examined the US's public justification for the recent conflict in Iraq, and found it wanting in almost every aspect. He then went on to discuss in detail the possible real reasons for the decision and their roots in American political thought, and presented a striking scenario for future US foreign policy based on this. His conclusion was that the perceived links between democracy and peace would drive the US in the future to follow the pattern of the Iraq war in spreading their own system of government, and he warned of the possible adverse consequences of this, unforeseen by the majority of American political thinkers. Alexander Shannon (MR)

Pater Society Talk How the Artist Creates His Illusions The Parthenon has been a subject of study for scholars since it was built. Miss Taylor gave a very informative and visual talk on the illusion created by the Frieze that surrounds the temple. Firstly Miss Taylor demonstrated how artists manage to create the illusion of movement, using colour, tone, audience participation and displacement from a central position. The Frieze itself is of the Panathanaic Procession and is sculpted using a relief of only one and a half inches, however as Miss Taylor demonstrated in reality this is made to appear to have a much more 3D form. She then moved on to how the repeated patterns and even disproportional sizes of the horses and their riders created the impression of constant movement. Overall the talk was educational and enlightening. Charlotte Morrish (JR)

Harvey society talk by Dr. Dan Lloyd On Tuesday 23rd of September, Dr. Dan Lloyd, a professor at the Research school of Biochemistry in the University of Kent, gave a talk, which was titled "Why do we need to repair our genes?" Dr. Dan Lloyd got his PhD in London doing research based on cancer cells. After this, he moved to Stanford University in California where he further specialised in DNA repair. He is now giving lectures to undergraduates and postgraduates at the university. The talk was based on the research which he himself had done and discussed several factors which affect our genes. Genetic diseases can help scientists understand what occurs in our cells by observing how they function. Scientists can study cells derived from people to see what went wrong in their cells. He then proceeded to talk about a very rare disease named Xeroderma Pigmentosum. This is an extreme case of cancer, which has provided scientists with very important information about processes which control cancer. It is so rare a disease that it only affects about 50 people in the United Kingdom and about 200 in the United States. People who have the disease tend to die between the ages of 20 - 30 years old. The factors, which cause cancer, include: UV radiation which can cause skin cancer Tobacco smoke which contains carcinogens A persons' diet, as certain food additives are carcinogenic and could cause colon or breast cancer. Red meat or the charred parts of meat contain carcinogeniC chemicals as the proteins are converted into mutogenic carcinogens.

:£

,?;

*i 0:

[£

There are five stages to DNA repair: the lesion is recognized DNA is unwound by enzymes An incision occurs - an exonuclease cuts out the DNA either side of the damage. Excision occurs - the damaged piece floats off. Repair replication - the DNA is repaired. With xeroderma pigmentosum patients' DNA repair does not work properly, therefore whenever any damage is made to DNA it cannot be changed or mended and may mutate. This mutation could be fatal.

:1'

;l,'

;::

'" '"u

""'"c: <U

im I•~

• ~

lli

Dr. Dan Lloyd had been experimenting on a substance found in tobacco smoke, which is the most carcinogenic substance known to man, called, benzo cazpyrene. When it is inhaled, it binds to the DNA and damages it. He also experimented on protein 53, which was found to be mutated in over 500/0 of human cancers. This would suggest that the protein is a major factor in cancer. Dr. Lloyd grew human cells in dishes to try to identify what protein 53 did. He had cells with the protein and without the protein which he exposed and damaged with benzo cazpyrene. In the cells that had protein 53 the damage was removed but then cells without the protein were not able to repair the damage. Therefore, without p53 normal people could eventually get the symptoms of xeroderma pigmentosum form exposure to carcinogens. This experiment proves that p53 is indeed very important in cell repair and in cancer research. I found Dr. Lloyd a highly inspiring speaker, who was able to capture everybody's attention. He was an intensely interesting speaker who spoke with obvious passion. Many questions were asked at the end and he was thanked several times over. I hope to hear him speak at King's sometime in the near future. Lola Soyode (LX)

Byzantine Art: an insight by an expert On 4th November, Liz James from the University of Sussex came to King's to speak to the Sixth Form History of Art students about Byzantine Art. The main focus was on the S. Apollinare Nuovo church in Ravenna, Italy. It contains some of the best examples of mosaics that were used to tell stories. The speaker used two projectors on either side of her so that the audience could visualize how a walk down the nave of the church would look. The figures on both walls also process in the same direction, in chronological order of the events they represent. The most detailed area of the building is the apse, the area around the altar, where on the walls are exquisite mosaics of the Emperor Justinian and his beautiful wife Theodora, portrayed separately but both with their attendants. The Byzantine period is not known very well. but remains a huge and varied topic of interest for specialists such as Liz James. She conveyed her enthusiastic curiosity for it in a vibrant and inspired way. The extravagance of the art was particularly fascinating, as many people would have worked on the mosaics for many weeks, all to build a beautiful

religious church. Also mentioned were some subtle illusions, such as one in Justianian's mosaic where his cloak appears to be over the bishop's arm, yet the bishop's feet are in front of those of the Emperor, and so neither man is behind or in front of the other, making them equal in status.

to see and do a number of "exciting experiments - making nylon, oscillating reactions, chemiluminescence, volcanoes and explosions. The small group that attended enjoyed the experiments. There will be another opportunity to do these at the end of the Lent term during Science Week.

The talk was excellently presented, giving a thorough insight into this fascinating phase of art, and aptly illustrated with a variety of images. Everyone enjoyed the focus on this period and learnt a great deal about the types of Byzantine Art. Olivia Nairn (BL)

At the end of the week a number of Sixth Form pupils attended a RSC sponsored lecture in the Cathedra! International Studies Centre given by Angela Janousek of Coty (Ashford) on "Cosmetics - Science or Dreams?" She revealed the ingredients of the latest lipsticks and eyeshadows and discussed the science behind these products. Sometimes people ask, "What can you do with a Chemistry degree?" Certainly working in the chemical industry gives opportunities to travel. Ms Janousek had flown into Heathrow earlier in the day, travelled to Canterbury to give this lecture and then had to go back to Heathrow to fly out to Monaco in the evening. We were grateful that she had taken the time to come to talk to us and to other local schools.

Chemistry Matters During the summer, Lab Services and the Premises department completely refurbished Chemistry Lab 3. This followed on from the modernisation of C4 and C5 the previous summer. There was a lot of work to do since the lab was made larger by removing the wall between the lab and the prep room. As we!1 as lowering the ceiling and installing modern lighting, IT equipment and fume cupboards this lab is distinguished by having octagonal benches which enable discussion work to take place more effectively. Each of the refurbished labs has been constructed to a different design and anyone who remembers the old ones is welcome to visit to see the transformation which has been effected. Many thanks go to all involved in this work. Every two years the Royal Society of Chemistry designates a week in November as "Chemistry Week". The theme this year was "Chemistry's Pleasure" and a number of events were arranged. DMA gave a Harvey Society talk on the history of alchemy to some thirty 6b pupils. As well as demonstrating the (apparent) transformation of copper into gold, he tried to show that. although complicated, the language and symbolism of alchemy did have its own internal logic which was not dissimilar to the language of modern science. Surprisingly, nobody could name the alchemist in Harry Potter (Nicholas Flamel) or recall the alchemical hymn which we sing regularly (284 - check it out). During Chemistry Week RPC organised the annual Top of the Bench quiz competition. This year the team of Emily Schurr, Craig Sawyer, Catherine Roberts and Lawrence Percival narrowly missed a place in the final round. 5ths and Removes had an opportunity

The following week all 6b Chemists attended a conference in London. This was well worth the early start as we were addressed by, among others, Sir Harry Kroto (who was awarded a Nobel prize for Chemistry in 1996 for his discovery of the structure of e60 or buckminsterfullerene). He too, does a lot of international travel and had flown in from Japan that morning. Sir Harry spoke briefly about the discovery of buckminsterfullerene but concentrated mainly on developments in nanotechnology and the work of the Vega Trust in promoting the understanding of science. Tony Ryan (Professor of Chemistry at Sheffield. who gave the 2002 Royal Institution Christmas lV lectures) spoke about the materials used in body armour by the police, military, skateboarders and cyclists. Dr. Dave Alker (Pfizer) described the processes involved in the discovery of new medicines and brought us right up to date with some of the most recent work on looking for treatments to combat AIDS. In the afternoon Colin Baker (Bedford School) entertained us with dramatic experiments from colour changes to pyrotechnics and explosions to chemiluminescence and the production of prodigious quantities of coloured foams. Finally, a youthful Dr. David Smith of York University gave a superb lecture on how chemists enable drug molecules to be delivered to the correct target within the body. In summary, this was an excellent day which showed the work of chemists at the frontiers of the subject. DMA

The School Play KES The School Play of the Autumn Term is consistently an exciting taster of what can be expected in King's Week. Although Kes could be interpreted as a one-man show, its thoughtful use of ensemble between the children, teamed with the brittle relationship between Billy and his bully brother Jud, ensured talent did not

go wasted. Kestells the story of Billy Caspar, a boy branded as a lost cause by his family, teachers and school friends. Growing up

in a poor, northern mining town, he finds solace when discovering a love for a young kestrel. Ignoring work and the will of his single mother and Jud, he turns his back on society, embracing the freedom of the bird, while revelling in his ability to feel control over such a pivotal part of his life.

The central role of Billy was handled with dazzling maturity from George Chilcott. Billy Caspar is a double-sided coin, behaving one way in company and only revealing his true character with Kes. In the programme, director Mr Banfield spoke of the problem of how the bird should be portrayed, yet the bird could be seen in Billy's eyes during those

potentially difficult scenes. Billy transformed from fidgety and awkward to confident and relaxed in the bat of an eye, and George's true performance was in his physicality. His drunken brother Jud, man of the house, was a character you just wanted to hit. Dan Gilmore was perfect at getting under the audience's skin just when you think Jud cannot sink any lower; a frustrating blend of swaggering arrogance and idle narcissism. Strong support came from Robyn Ellis as Billy's single working mum, refusing to put her life on hold for her sons. Robyn's manner was dismissive and impatient, and her performance gave valuable insight into the origin of Billy's character. Flo Norman's sympathetic teacher appeared the only character to want to help the children, and her scenes with Billy showed how Flo can develop a character beyond face value. She conveyed a woman eager to help the children out of the same social difficulties she encounters. The remainder of the cha racters were shared between an inspired and versatile ensemble cast, capable of poor comical opera, even worse hymn singing and a wonderful display of Patricks Loughman and Allies in the shower (something for the ladies in the aUdience). This cast was directed by a great asset to King's drama, who constantly produces delightful mixtures of comedy and tragedy. Mr Banfield's use of space and sense of timing always gets the best out of the actors, resulting in productions that often exceed the expectations of a school play. Six months feels far too long to wait for the next senior play, but, nevertheless, Kes was a much-enjoyed prelude to King's Week. Susie Jacq ues (BR)

Velada Espanola EI Viernes 26 de Septiembre todos los alumnos pertenecientes a la clase de espanal se reunieron en St Mary's Hall. Bastante malestas al tener que haberse vuel to a poner el uniforme a esas alturas del dia, esperaban a que se les dejase entrar y calentarse. Una vez lIena la sala, todo el mundo se preguntaba de que exactamente iba este teatro, y por que el departamento de espana I les habia hecho ensayar todas esas canciones sin sentido

clase tras clase. Pronto 10 entendieron. Como si de la nada, una serie de 10 que parecian convictos cordan de arriba a abajo por tad a la sala a la vez que sana ban sirenas a todo volumen. Si no se tiene en cuenta el hecho que nuestros tfmpanos estaban

a punta de reventar, fue bastante entretenido. Una vez que los policias "atraparon" a los fugados, fueron presentados uno a uno al publico. Habia de todo : el jefe, la guapa, el gracioso, la borde, y... en fi n, el bateria. A partir de aqui fuimos sorprendidos can una serie de canciones contemporaneas tipicamente espanolas. Las melodias se entrelazaban unas can otras, y nos cantaron de todo menos Sabina. Se represento a Shakira, Alex Ubago, Cristina Aguilera, La Cabra Mecanica, la version espanola de Disney (Aladin, La Bella y la Bestia), y por supuesto las Ketchup .... una vez mas, y para la vergiienza de todo aquel al que Ie gusta la musica y se considera espanol, se Ie recorda al mundo entero de que pais provenia esa cancion. Entre cada actuaci6n se repas6 brevemente la vida de todos los componentes del grupo de convictos/cantantes. Con un toque de humor pudimos acercarnos a elios, yean sus mon610gos nos transmitieron las facetas principa les de cada uno de los personajes que interpretaban. Sorprendieron al publico repetidas veces con acciones inesperadas y canciones que poco a poco todo el mundo iba reconociendo. Fue, desde luego, la ocasion perfecta para aprender toda la jerga que nuestros profesores se niegan a ensenarnos en clase. Y asi termino la velada ... unas cuantas canciones "clasicas" y muchas risas. Ojala podamos tener otra noche parecida dentro de poco, ya que fue bastante divertida. Lo un ico que espero es que algun dia se

invite tambien a alguna persona de la cua l se pueda decir que representa a la cultura espanola en sf. Veronica Webster (BY)

BR/BL/TR Play From cheesy chat up lines to marriage proposals, Broughton, Bai ley and Trad's performance of Shakers was a remarkable and hilarious experience. With the majority of the play taking place in a cocktail bar, the play itself brought together a blend of different and unashamedly stereotyped divisions of society, including the over-bearing and snobbish upper class, and the lagersaturated lads and unsightly dressed girls of the lower class. Mix in a constant supply of cocktails and regular use of colourful language and you have an unforgettable dramatic experience. It was a rare treat to watch a house play with a cast exceeding a dozen, let alone double that. Congratulatiuons must go to Miss Ellener on this, and for organising and directing the play in such a short amount of time without a hiccup. One of the most memorable performances in the play was without doubt that of Arabella Willing as Elaine. Elaine's short temper and tendency towards violence, teamed with her exaggerated accent and ridiculous outfits, ensured that her very presence on stage brought grins to the faces of the audience. Her finest moment however was her exuberant punch in the slowmotion fight scene, which had the audience in hysterics, and even t he cast fighting to keep a straight face. Another moment to remember was the comical enactment by Jasper Goring as Daz, James Coleman as Trev, Tom Mills as Baz and Ed Callaway as Kev of their arrival by 'car' at the club. The dramatic performances of all four cocktail

waitresses, Nicki, Ade le, Carol and Mel, ensured that the hearts of the audiences went out to each of their individual characters who were wishing and hoping for a different life, but meanwhile having to cope with the customers' varying levels of obnoxiousness without question. Nicki's (played by Claudia Kennaugh) speech was particularly well acted and caused the audience to have misgivings about the respectability of the supposedly stylish dancing job she had received in place of her waitressing. Laura Moncreiffe as Adele successfully portrayed the difficulties of being a working mother, without losing the essentially comic theme of the play. lona Roberts equally demonstrated a convincing portrayal of her loudmouthed, outgoing character Mel. Maia Gibbs, assuredly demonstrated the fears of her character Carol that she would never make it as the photographer that she so yearned to become. As is so often the case, it was the smaller parts that had the effect of bringing the whole play together, and congratulations must go to the whole cast for working so well together to produce such a competent performance of a comedy with undertones of sad realism . Diana Goyder (BR)

Walpole /Grange Cabaret The WljGR Cabaret was a fantastic event which showed tremendous effort from all those involved. The idea was originally conceived by Dr,Pidoux, a tutor in Walpo le, to organise a charity dinner show instead of the annual house play.

The cabaret was to combine a fundraising dinner with stage entertainment by the twin houses, Walpole and Grange. It was

set in the theme of the 19205 and all the entertainment was set in this period. The costumes were one of the many highlights and a large amount of time and effort had been spent making them

as authentic as possible, thanks to Mrs. Whittingdale, Mrs. Smith and Candy Woodgate. Even the guests were reminded to dress up in 19205 style,

Music was mainly jazz, reflecting the jazz loving 19205 and was organised by Mr.

Bersey, a tutor in Walpole. The Close Harmony Group and the Jazz Group entertained the: guests whilst the drinks were served and the Jazz Group also started the sit down dinner with'S Wonderful to give a true feel of 19205 cafes of music and chat. Those who were aware of Mr.Chaundy as an art teacher seemed surprised by his wonderful saxophone playing too. Act ing was

but also generous donations from the parents for the Auction of Promises. Thanks are due to all the two hundred people involved in this successful production. Hee Jae Li m (WL)

Inter-House Senior Drama Report organised by Dr. Pidoux and Mr. Wood, who kindly came back to the school following his retirement to help prepare for the event. Some Like It Hot certainly received enthusiastic applause with Mohammed Abdalla's female acting followed by Lucinda Newman's singing. Private Lives brought such a great laugh among the audience with Laura Dixon and George Blessley's comical love actions. Just William showed very high standards of acting with many Walpole shells involved, not to mention Mrs. Tennick who appeared as a cameo. Blithe Spirit which concluded the event's entertainment was enough to reveal the fantastic individual talent of the actors involved. Dancing was organised by two Walpolians; Marina Kemp for Top Hat Tails and Sophie Clark for Charleston. Although many felt rather embarrassed by their costumes, on the stage the dancers were full of confidence, grinning ear to ear and even drawing a few wolfwhistles from the guests. Everyone from Walpole and Grange was involved either directly or indirectly whether it was music, dance, drama, stage management or waitressing; over 200 people participated in the cabaret, making it a tremendous success. The food by King's Catering Service was delicious, as well as the quality of service by the amateur waiters and waitresses of Walpole and Grange. Following the Auction of Promises, the Cabaret ra ised an amazing amount of ÂŁ5700 in aid of the Afghan Educational Trust, a charity established by Dr. Afzal to help with the education of girls in Afghanistan. This great evening would have been impossible if all parents, members of WL/GR, the staff had not cooperated so well. Not only did it requ ire a huge amount of dedication and commitment,

This year's senior drama competition was a great success. A wide variety of styles and approaches were demonstrated, ranging from Broughton and Bailey's satirical demonstration of St Augustine's dining hall to Marlowe's thoughtprovoking piece exploring the topic of murder. The evening began with a hysterical portrayal of many of the characters we all know and love in Claudia Kennaugh and Charlotte Cray's piece entitled "The St Augustine's Dining Hall Uncovered The Big Brother style commentary was amusing and all performances were excellent. H

â&#x20AC;˘

Th e competitors from Harvey House also found inspiration in their own characteristics. In this case the events of a typical girl's night out were interpreted in the fo rm of mime and dance. The theme throughout was that of a stunning ring which all the girls coveted. The convention of silence was finally broken by a dramatic scream as the owner of the ring realised it was missing, and the adjudicator commented on how effective this was. luxmoore performed a section from Other People which highlighted the difficulties of living in a house of conflicting personalities, a situation with which I'm sure we're all familia r. Again the performances were convincing and the adjudicator commented on the effective use of offstage action in the final scene. Jervis presented a series of scenes performed in the style of a documentary, written by Tali tha Pollock-Hill. This was an insight into the traditional Finishing School including a reference to the

notorious "bend and snap': There were some interesting lessons to be learnt for any aspiring socialites and good performances by all. The only house to bring a serious and more contemplative approach to the evening's entertainment was Marlowe. Their entry was written and directed by Alex Cocksworth and told the story of five murderers and the unfortunate innocent who suffered for all their crimes. It was an interesting and well thought out idea which provided a contrast to the other more light hearted dramas. The adjudicator decided in favour of Broughton and Bailey although he had positive comments for all entries. Congratulations to all those who took part. Rachel Stratton (BL)

Chamber Music Concert Sunday 23rd November 2003 Despite being an afternoon event, the Autumn Term's Chamber Music Concert began with the morning, in the form of the Allegro from Haydn's Symphony No.6, 'le Matin: After its gen tle introduction, this movement was given a vivacious performance with sparkling, animated dialogue in the wind solos above a string section whose control of dynamics was excellent. Following this was the Handel aria 'Haec est Regina Virginum', sung by Harriet Jones with a combination of precision and sensitivity which conveyed well the very simple beauty of this wonderfully lyrical melody. Equally lyrical, and executed with great ease, was Fen ella Fletche r's performa nce of the Adagio from Mozart's Violin Concerto No,3 in G Major, the whole of which she performed the following week at the Marlowe Young Musician Competition to great acclaim. The next item represented a con trast in style with the strains of English folk song

to be found in Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on 'Greensleeves', The atmosphere of the piece was conveyed very clearly, especially by the beautifully controlled solos from flutes and harp (Edmund Rex, Rose Wilson-Haffenden and Jack Lawrence-Jones), We then returned to Mozart with the duet 'Sull'aria' from 'The Marriage of Figaro', This was sung by Annabelle Flower and Talitha Pollock-Hill with a fine sense of line, and of course well acted too, whilst their melody was echoed by a duet of oboe and bassoon, Following this was the Adagio from Albinoni's Oboe Concerto in D minor, performed by Alexander Shannon - another work with soaring lines, growing from a mere whisper in the strings at the opening and fading back at its end, And appropriately enough, the concert concluded with an evening work - the Allegro from Haydn's Symphony No,8, 'Le Soir', This was performed with vigour, and formed a lively contrast to the proceeding items, concluding a highly atmospheric, largely reflective and very enjoyable programme, Alexander Shannon (MR)

Chapel and Crypt Choirs Both the Chapel and Crypt Choirs have had a busy term, performing choral music at an impressively high standard, The regular weekly services for both choirs have required a large amount of repertOire, The term started off with a rousing performance of Vaughan William's Let all the world by the Chapel Choir at the Matins for the admittance of the new King's Scholars, The Crypt Choir tackled the double choir unaccompanied mass by Joseph Rheinberger, This work has particular challenges for a choir in terms of balance and intonation - the Crypt Choir rose to these challenges admirably, Movements of the mass were performed at Eucharists throughout the term, The Advent Liturgy came on the last day of November and gave members of the Chapel Choir solo opportunities, Elly Ruthven and George Coltart sang the respective soprano and baritone solos in Stanford's Evening Canticles in G, Charlotte Greenwood performed the alto solos in Gibbon's This is the record ofJohn with great confidence and style, The final service of the term was the annual Carol Service, The atmospheric candlelight beginning to this service was

heightened by solos of the Advent Responsorary performed antiphonally from opposite ends of the Nave by Alexandra Cocksworth, Ed Rex and Jack Standen, The remainder of the service was sung with great precision by both the choirs, as well as a carol sung by the Chamber Choir, Of particular note was the stylish performance of Pearsall's setting of In dulci jubilo, Vet again, the Chapel and Crypt Choirs have worked extremely hard and added great spiritual value to our School Cathedral services, HJPI

Music Master Classes A series of master classes took place during the term that proved to be highly stimulating and thought provoking for all who took part. The first master class was given by two woodwind principals of the London Symphony Orchestra - Paul EdmundDavies (flute) and Roy Carter (oboe). It was interesting to see two very different approaches from these top-class class performers towards the pupils, both with equally successful results, David Lowe visited the school the following week to work with some of our best singers, David teaches at The Royal Academy of Music and also coaches many Cambridge Choral Scholars, Members of the three choirs watched throughout the day as David worked at a high level on individual singers' vocal production and musical interpretation, Guitarist Phil Robson gave the final master class, His sessions were far more group orientated and focussed primarily on chord work and different styles of guitar performance, It was clear from the sheer concentration on the faces of those taking part that they were fully absorbed by what he had to say. Three successful master class days that complemented greatly the work undertaken on a weekly basis by our Visiting Music Teachers, HJPI

Trio Recital

Alley (piano), is unquestionable, Their short recital was flawless and thoroughly enjoyable as anyone who went will reiterate, Their repertoire included a number of trios with The Gypsy Song from Carmen as the impressive grand finale, Paul and Roy are both principals of the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as touring the country and giving recitals as a trio, With the enthusiasm that they put into the recital and the pleasure that they seemed to have received from it after performing, I wouldn't be surprised to see them doing more and more performances of this kind, Sarah Welby (LX)

Opera Trip to Margate When I was told that I'd be going to see Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, at the Theatre Royal in Margate, I didn't think it could get much worse having never heard of anything positive about Margate and knowing nothing about Britten except that he was a modern composer. Before I went I was informed that the opera house was falling down, but I was relieved to know that my seat was in the stall and not in the balcony, ! thought that the opera itself would be very modern and wouldn't have a flowing rhythm to it, but I have since changed my opinion, Once I saw the inside of the theatre I was delighted at how charming and petite it was, and as the curtain rose I couldn't help but feel excited, The orchestra and their conductor, Gary Cooper, despite the modern style of the music that neither I nor the conductor have been renowned followers of, was performed with such grace that it seemed to flow endlessly, Tim Carroll cast the opera brilliantly especially when he chose Sarah Walker as the "atrocious Lady Billows", but having heard her voice I don't think that anyone could have upstaged her, Saving the best till last, was the singing. I thought that it was wonderful and got more than a little carried away in it all. I would thoroughly recommend going to see this at some point even if you don't think it's your cup of tea because it may make you change your view about this style of music, as it has changed mine, Sarah Welby (LX)

The musical talent of Paul EdmundDavies (flute), Roy Carter (oboe) and John

Sport

Rugby What a season! The excitement engendered by the Rugby World Cup

seemed to inject a dose of real enthusiasm into rugby at the school. We had no difficulty in raising a 4th Wand

indeed might even have managed a 5th Y0I for the first time in well over a dozen

years. That the fo rmer did not have a full set of fixtures was due only to the failure of scheduled opponents to provide opposition. The C teams flourished at

every level as well as a 0 W at Under 14. Results, especially in the senior school,

were encouraging and the majority of teams enjoyed winning seasons. Our

parents gave positive support, which is much appreciated and to which the boys responded. The groundstaff did a magnificent job in the face of trying

1st XV

weather conditions, the catere rs looked after us well, not least at the very splendid rugby club dinner at the end of the season. Alan Katcher and the Matrons manned the First Aid station with cool efficiency. Thanks must go to them, to the referees and of course above all to the coaches, who gave so generously of their time. Congratulations to the winners of the house competitions: U 18 Sevens: U 16 Sevens: U Sevens: U 14 Sevens: Junior Tens: Senior Tens:

Tradescant Ga lpin's The Grange Tradescant The Grange Marlowe

The School team of 2003 contained severa l players with a keen inquisitiveness about the history of rugby at the school and a need to know where they might rank in the pantheon of King's Y0/s. They need not have worried, for in the course of the season this side proved itself to be among the best we have had, and indeed had bad luck not cruelly intervened, it may even have gone unbeaten. Only two games only were lost. The first of these, against Eastbourne very early in the season, was one of the most remarkable I have seen in many years. We had trained well in South Wales and there was a good mood in the squad. The season began with the usual "friendly"

match with Cranbrook in which we played with some cohesion and looked to be in reasonable shape for the season to come. Playing at Eastbourne the follow ing week, in perfect conditions for a running game, we began the match in tremendous style, playing some superb, fluent rugby which the home side found difficult to contain. We led by three tries to one at half time, but significantly Toby Humphrey had missed the easy conversion of a Chuko Esiri special. Tragedy struck early in t he second half when scru m half and captain Peter Archer had to leave the field but when Ben Cryer seized on a loose pass from Eastbourne to race in for our fourth try and a 26 - 7 lead with about twenty minutes to go, the game still looked to be ours, Unfortunately, Peter's replacement at scrum half, Jack Munro, then also had to leave the field. We started to find it

difficult to clear our ball from the scrum, Eastbourne rallied and capitalised on our mistakes. They scored two tries, each converted from the touchline with a superb kick. One easy penalty brought them within two points of our score, and then with a minute to go, another gave them a simple chance under the posts, which was taken. In the short t ime remaining we managed one last drive close to their line, and almost scored the winning try, but it was not to be. What had seemed impossible minutes before had happened and we had lost. This defeat might have broken our season and it undoubtedly affected the first moments of our next game against St. John's. We were short of three of our best and most influential players - captain and scrum half, wing, and number 8 (who lost his teeth in a bizarre training accident) - and we began tentative ly. From the kick off we allowed our visitors to keep the ball through endless phases and were seven points behind after two minutes, having not touched the ball. This was the point at which the whole season could have disintegrated, but tellingly it was the momen t when the team showed its character and ability, and from which , in a sense, the season was launched. We came back strongly. Rhodes EdeworThorley proved a handful for the opposition every t ime he touched the ball and he scored a tremendous try under the posts. Perhaps the decisive moment in the game came when we drove a lineout twenty metres, but could not convince

the referee that we had touched the ball down. However, despite losing by the odd score, we realised that for the second week running we had given a very good performance for much of the game, with a weakened side. The key to the season was whether we could succeed in susta ining our best levels of performance for the who le match. Ironica lly, th is did not actually happen the following week in our victory against KCS, the game which set us on the path to a nine match unbeaten run. Once aga in (and like the opposition) we were nowhere near full strength. Fortunately the pack took hold of the game in the second half and the decisive try came when Jon Watler fed Chuko on the blindside of a ruck and he raced in. Despite build ing up a fourteen point cushion, largely courtesy of Toby Humphrey's boot, we did not feel secure, given the experience of the Eastbourne game, but we held on well to gain the victory. The side was almost back to full strength against Felsted. The match began sloppily, but once the initial fumblings were over, we moved into our stride and the whole team reve l led in having time and space to play. We scored nine tries, of various kinds, some of them from very fine play indeed and we might have had more, but for the understandable (but frustrating) over-indulgence in the second half by the forwards, who wanted to get their hands on the ball too often and kept driving at the opposition, when simply moving the

ball wide from an early re lease was the easiest and most productive route. The match against Haileybury was frustrating. We began at pace and the backs carved holes in the home defence. We moved into a seven po int lead when Peter Archer accelerated down the blindside of a scrum, but we also failed to convert some other fairly simple opportunities into tries. Unfortunately we also allowed the opposition a score on a rare incursion into our half and so a half time lead of 7 - 5 did not do us justice. When Ben Cryer sped in for a second try it Jooked as if we would go on to better things but the Haileybury pack gained the lion's share of possession and in a match punctuated by whistle, they began to come more and more into the game. We conceded two unusual tries - one from a novel penalty move and the other when a ball flew out of a scum close to our line, and we suddenly found ourselves three points behind at 12 - 15. We fought back and frequently opened up the home defence, but once again could not f inish. With moments left in the game, however, we gained a penalty and with the last kick of the match Toby Humphrey made up for his miss at Eastbourne, holding his nerve with a kick which was far from straightforward, to salvage the draw. Half term followed . Preparation for the fixture at Tonbridge the following week was far from ideal.Yet what fo l lowed was probably the performance of the season. Tonbridge were confident, having been

unbeaten in their first six games of a strong fixture list and it was no surprise that they began strongly in the first few minutes, using the wind well to pin us in our half. Yet we defended exceptionally well and we were composed at half back. After spending the first ten minutes on the back foot. we came into the game and began to threaten, taking the lead when Chuko untypically forced his way over from close range after we had taken a strike against the head at a five metre serum. Tonbridge responded minutes later with a good effort from their backs, but as the conversion was missed, we went into half time with a two point lead. With the benefit of the wind in the second half, we dominated. Rhodes Edewor-Thorley picked a brilliant angle onto Toby Humphrey's short pass and dotted down under the posts and although Tonbridge responded with a further try, bringing the margin back to two points, we picked up the pace and really started to play excellent rugby. Rhodes scored his second, finishing a good combined move strongly and the icing on the cake was the final try scored by the forwards, who drove over from a five metre serum having been denied what seemed to be a legitimate try from a lineout. Given that Tonbridge had conceded only one try and twenty points in their previous six games, to score four tries and 27 points was an outstanding effort. This victory gave the team huge confidence and at home against Eltham

the following week we began well, Ben Cryer finishing off some fluent play and scoring the opening try before Eltham had touched the ball. Perhaps this caused us to relax mentally, because we then allowed them to equalise. This was the pattern of the game for all but the last twenty minutes. At one stage we led by only one point. but a burst of two tries and two penalties gave us a winning 3718 margin, although we still contrived to allow our opponents a consolation Score on the final whistle. By the time we took the field the following week against Duke of York's, we had all exhausted all our adrenaline watching England's World Cup triumph in the morning. After that experience the soulless muddy, dark and cold fields of Dover did not seem to be the place to be. In addition we had lost Toby Humphrey and Chuko in the match against Eltham and Paul Dixey, a fifth former, was making his debut, but the week had been severely disrupted for a variety of reasons and we had not had one opportunity to practise as a team. Taking the benefit of a strong wind down the pitch, the home side began the stronger and we allowed them to build up a half-time lead (21-10) which was flattering to them but also, if not alarming given the conditions, did demand that we raised our game after the break, making better use of the ball and tackling more decisively when the opposition had it. This we did, though we owed the eventual victory to some shrewd kicking by Paul Dixey and superb

finishing by Ben Cryer, who scored two of our five tries. In the first really damp conditions of the season at home to Sevenoaks, we played some very good, controlled rugby, especially in the first half. Playing with the wind at our backs, by half time we had established a 24 point lead, with the forwards well on top and the backline penetrating and finishing well. Against the elements in the second half, we could not gain such control and there was a sense in which we seemed to coast, saving ourselves for the match to follow on Tuesday, but the visitors never threatened and we finished with a flourish with two late tries for an emphatic victory. There was a very special atmosphere on Birley's when we hosted the King's School Parramatta. We have played them twice in Australia, in 1990 and 1993, and have hosted them in 1995 and 1999. They are a large boys school who have recently had great success in their prestigious competition, the GPS, and out of all of those occasions, despi te the matches often being dose, we had hitherto only one drawn game (in 1995) to our credit. For this match practically the whole school seemed to be at the field. There was a real sense of atmosphere at the game and there were echoes of the World Cup Final in the singing of the vast numbers of home supporters in the tension of the game. We scored first after twenty minutes with a scintillating run

by full back Sen Cryer who sped into the line and beat the Parramatta full back to score. With our smaller pack in the ascendancy, especially in the scrummage,

flowing rugby, though we tried our best to play with pace. Determined opponents made sure that we had to work for our points but the tries came regularly.

further chances were created, but crucially were not taken and in the ten minutes before half time, Parramatta came back. Using their physique to knock

holes in our defence they scored twice to lead 12 - 5 at half time. The whistle

came at an important time for us. We regrouped and responded magnificently in the second half, especially the forwards, who tore into the Aussie pack

at the start of the second half and scored a try through hooker Robin Bailey from a lineout drive. The difficult conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 10 12. We spent most of the remainder of the game in the Paramatta ha lf, but aggressive defence denied us any fluency. Patience and determination were rewarded however, when Paul Dixey, showing remarkable nerve for a young player, stroked over what turned out to be the winning penalty with his left foot from the left of the uprights with ten minutes left. The final game of the season on the next Saturday, against King 's Rochester, had a sense of anticlimax, but we completed a week of symmetry with a comfortable 34 - 0 win away from home. The environment and conditions, with an icy wind blowing, were not conducive to free

So how do we assess this side? It had a few stars, certainly, but essentially this was a strong all-round effort from a side with few weaknesses. It won its own ball, had good pace and could use the ball effectively in a variety of ways. It defended we ll and it had unity of purpose. As always, the foundation for success has to be the pack, and this set of forwards, fit, fast and technically sound, was rarely beaten all year. At prop, Ed Ca llaway and Ed Herbert made encouraging debuts the former solid in the set piece and strong at close quarters, the latter more like an extra flanker. Both have excellent hands and good rugby brains. Jasper Goring, who played on a number of occasions, was also very mobile in addition to scrimmaging well. Between them, Robin Bailey has a superb season, and his seven tries (equal second top scorer) are testimony to his mobility and support work. He also contributed significantly to the solidity of the defence. The two Toms in the second row complemented each other superbly. Tom Ransley was the unseen hero, toiling indefatigably at the "coal face", doing excellent work in the loose, and he was in

addition a vastly improved lineout jumper. Were there to be an award for most improved player, he would win my vote. Tom Mills, as our main lineout forward, took the limelight more and some of the ball he won was of the highest order, but he was another who worked incredibly hard, was quick across the ground and tackled often. At number 8, Howard Bryant had another very good season indeed. He had an important role as a lineout forward, yet it was his cavalry charges from the base of the scrum or in the loose which caught the eye and often ignited the side's play. He also tackled very hard. On the flanks we employed various combinations of three more newcomers. James Shilston gradually refined his running lines and began to make more of his fitness and hunger for the fray; he scavenged well and played particularly strongly against Tonbridge. Henry Synge worked ceaselessly and showed an awareness of the game, as well as good ball skills. Faz Akoi was a novice as an openside, but ran himself into the ground in every game and contributed a welcome physical ity and straightforwardness which intimidated opponents, whether he had the ball or not. Behind them lay a back line which was arguably the best we have had in a very long time. None has been quicker - with two county sprinters and everyone else

Team (from): Peter Archer (capt.)', Raidev Akoi , Robin Bailey', Howard Bryant' , Ed Callaway, Ben Cryer', Rhodes EdeworT horley~, Chuko Esiri", Jasper Goring, Bill Hamilton, Ed Herbert, Toby Humphrey', Calvin Lau, Tom Mills", Tom Ransley'", James Shilston, Henry Synge Also played: Paul Dixey, Jack Munro, Tom Pritchard, Ed Stephens, Luke Thorne, Jona than Watler .. First Colours

Results Played

Won

Drawn 2

Lost

Points For

313

Points Against

157

v Cranbrook

(H)WonI5-8

v Ea stbourne

(A) Lost 26 - 27

v St. John's

(H) Lost 13 - 20

v KCS Wimbledon

(A) Won 17 - 10

v Felsted

(H) Won 54 - 7

v Haileybury

(A) Drew 15-15

v Tonbridge

(A) Won 27 - 12

v Eltham Co llege

(H) Won 37 - 25

v Duke of York's RMS (A) Won 28 - 21 v Sevenoaks

(H) Won 34 - 0

v King's Parramatta (H) Won 13 - 12 v King's Rochester (H) Won 34 - 0

2nd XV Memories of the season I shall remember Jonathan Stevenson's ever-cheery disposition and quality propping; Daniel Schwarz's beautifully crafted try against Eastbourne; Tom Pritchard playing through the pain barrier at Haileybury; the outstanding work-rate and ball- carrying of Jasper and Min, particularly against Duke of York's and Ki ng's Rochester; Fred's key contribution in the second half down at Sevenoaks; ally becoming the heartbeat of the side; Richard's development into an excel lent second-row; the line-out work and aggressive defending that George provided; Nick becoming an excellent

leader; Tim winni ng us the Sevenoaks match and Dan Johnston displaying at the breakdown skills as good as I have seen in a sixteen year old.

Results

I will remember Tom Rodwell running the game against Duke of York's; Johnny's tackling at Eastbourne; thinking we were a far better side when Nick Gent was involve, Alfred's hat trick against Felsted and enjoyment at seeing him become an excellent inside centre; the eulogising of the masters in charge of Duke of York's and King's Rochester over Jack's performances; the finishing throughout the season of Robbie Wetherell; the excellence of Tom Boucher'S rugby brain and Robbie Gordon playing the game of his life against Duke of York's after he had seen his mother country lose the World Cup! I will remember thinking that a couple of referees will never make it onto my Christmas ca rd list, the support that many parents and other family members provided, but most importantly I will remember enjoying coaching this team more than any other I have worked with - "Cheers lads!" Dunca n Hine

Team (from): N. Hinves (capt.), T. Boucher, A. Butrous, C-M. Chung, R. Everall, J. Fox, N. Gent, R. Gordon, J. Goring, D. Johnston, F. Jones, T. Macl ehose, O. MacSwiney, G. Mawdsley, T. Pritchard, T. Rodwell, D. Schwarz, J. Stevenson, J. Watler, R. Wetherell

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Points For

255

Points Against

118

v Eastbou rn e

(A) Drew 19 - 19

v St. John's

(H) Lost12-20

v KCS Wimbl edon

(A) Drew 8 - 8

v Felsted

(H) Wo n 53 - 12

v Haileybury

(A) Lost 16 - 21

v Tonbridge

(H) Lost 12 - 24

v Eltham

(H) Won 22 - 5

v Duke of York's

(H) Won 44 - 0

v Sevenoaks

(A) Won 6 - 3

v King's Rochster

(A) Won 63 - 6

3rd XV The start of the rugby season is always a testing time. To say we were unprepared would be an understatement. Mr Teeton put this down mainly to the fact that we were sitting down for most of the warm up time. However many constructive

ideas were taken away from the game and th e potential of many of the new rec ruits became apparent, none more so than Angus "The Legs" Davidson. Mention Eastbourne and the next five minutes are spent groaning about ridiculously long coach journeys. However, du e to the crazy lottery that is the Friday practi ce session, we had come up tru mps an d left with an all star team. Yet, gu est appearances from Bill Hamilton, Tom Boucher, Robbi e Weth erell and Alfred Butrous could not help us in arguably the toughest match of the season. Considering the pitch looked like Tony Hawks had designed it, the 2nd half proved literally to be too much of an uphill struggle to regai n lost ground. Unfortunately, we fared no better against St. John's the followi ng week. We seem ed to be stuck in a rut. Our pack changed little from week to week, so we were able to cement ourselves as a unit which consisted usually of Chris Cork, Ato Peterside, Mikiya Morioka, Chris Walsh, Andrew Northern, myself, Tom Pedley and Al fred Siu, who consistently gave and gave. This created a solid platform on which our regular backs: Esmond Brown (serum half), Hugh Davies (fly-half), Harry Smith, Bernard Chiu, Dan Gilmore, Terence Leung and Angus Davidson, could work from. In my absence, Sam Nussey led the team to our first victory against KCS Wimbledon, and yet the only comm ent on the game I was able to get out of anyone was that James Mc Donald scored for the opposition. Why he was playing for th em I will never know. Next up was the oddly named Chis Et Sid (dangerously difficult to pronounce at the end of a match). However, we seemed to be on a roll and our skill shon e out as we began to play fluid rugby that ran rings around our opponents, although I seem to remember becoming complacent when it came to taking conversions, as we let Andrew Northern take a few too many. However, we were quickly brought ba ck to earth in the blistering heat at Haileybury. The return of Chris Walsh added some extra oomph to our pack, giving us an edge in what turned out to be a closely matched game, and new faces Lawrence Kerr and Shaun Githuku provided fresh strength in the backs. In the lead, we utilised Hug h's steady kick to try and use up time. However, a few tiny mistakes ultimately cost us a lead that we fought fantastically to hold onto.

The rest at half term obviously did us some good as we ca ught Tonbridge completely off guard with not even our full strength tea m. Thanks must go to Dan Schwarz, Ato and Mikiya for some phenomenal defensive play in the pack, and Matthew Humphrey who decided that the one rugby match he was fit to play for in th e entire season was this effort at Tonbridge. El tham weren't going to be brush ed asid e so easily, but finally fell under th e well oiled machine that the 3rd x:v now were. Eltham were showing their discontent when I was thrown in a tackle over th eir heads into a rather spectacular somersault under the posts. The resulting penalty try soon shut them up. New players Fre d Jones and Nick Brown injected welcomed strength and speed into our ga me. A stronger Chis & Sid were back for a rematch the following week, but they hadn't taken into account that they were now up against 15 Johnny Wilkinsons (or so we thought !). Pumped by World Cup glory, both sides played ferociously. At times, we seem ed to slip, yet an everready Nick Brown was able to clear things up at full back, with an oddly fami liar sidestep. As always, our incredible wingers Angus and Terrence applied constant pressure and Harry Smith provided invaluable attacks in the centre. Another victory and my suspicions were con firmed ; we we re on fire!

Richard Lamb (Captain), Terence Leung, Mikiya Morioka, And rew Northern, Thomas Pedley, Atowari Peterside, Alexander Quayle, Daniel Schwarz, Alfred Siu, Harry Smi th, Thomas Tyler, Thea Webb.

Also played: Richard Ankerson, Thomas Boucher, Nicholas Brown, Roland Bunge, Alfred Butrous, William Hamilton, James Hamway, Matthew Hum phrey, Frederick Jones, Lawren ce Kerr, Henning Liddiard, Charles Marnham, Samuel Mount, Samuel Nussey, Simon Redstone, Sam Rudgard, Christopher Walsh, Robert Wethe rell. Results Played

Won

Lost

Points for

171

Points against

106

v Cranbrook

(H) Lost 8 - 20

v Eastbourne

(A) Lost 5 - 12

v St John's, Leatherhead (H) lost 0 - 15 v K C S Wimbledon (A) Won 15 - 10 v Chisleshurst & Sidcup (H) Won 40 - 0

Sevenoaks greeted us with pouring rain and a muddy bog full of sandy grit, and we loved it. The weather meant that our handling quickly became poor, so we adapted, making shorter passes and using our bru te strength to move the ball into the corners whe re we could break through with Angus; our standard procedure for scoring tries. We soon dominated the game and our victory was sealed with a cheeky drop goal from Hugh. The weather favoured a forwards' game, and Mikiya, Chris Cork, George Coltart and Alex Quayle all had exceptional performances. Dan Schwarz pu t the last nail in their coffin with a brilliant run, fu ll of dummy passes, resulting in a superb try between the posts. This ended a great winning season for the 3rd xv. I would like to thank everybody who played in our matches as we ll as Mr Oa th and Mr McGilch rist for coaching us. Ri chard Lamb (MT) Team from: Esmond Brown, Bernard Chiu, George Coltart, Christopher Cork, Angus Davidson, Hugh Davies, Dan Gilmore,

v Haileybury

(A). lost 17 - 20

v Ton bridge

(A). Won 12 - 0

v Eltham

(H). Won 26 - 17

v Chisleshurst Et Sidcup (H) Won 24 - 12 v Sevenoaks

(A) Won 24 - 0

4th XV Ou r first day was a wa rm, sunny day, the ground was the texture of dehydrated clay. Our coach arrived, seeing before his eyes a team of power, imagination, creativity, innate skill, determination and dedication - he had gone to the wrong pitch. After moving away he saw a group sunbathing in a va riety of casual clothes and games kit, either lounging on the floor or playing wit h a football - this was his real team and not the mirage he was praying for. Perhaps though, the greatest shock was not for the coach, but for the group of individuals on hearing, "Twice round the pitch, nowl"

Yet through the season, this group of misfits became a strongly bonded team who shared victory, defeat, pain and joy thanks mostly to our coach who did not give up on us the moment he saw us and one must never forget the value of motivation in a team. The coach thought he could implant in us a sense of pride, and during a speech that Cicero would have been proud of, he hit upon the key work - shirts. This was a prime motiva t ion for the 4t h XV, not just any shirts, but shirts that looked better than the 1st XV and smelt better too. It was in this light that one of the most epic games in the history of King's rugby was fought. It was against Eastbourne on a pitch that was baked hard and was the shape of a severely bent banana. To start with, those wearing boots found the studs drilled into their own ankles, yet with the help of climbing equipment and the strength of the pack we conquered Eastbourne, surviving with only a few bruises. The final two games were played in our new shirts and as such we were playing

purely for fun. The pack fought hard throughout the season and I could not have asked for a more committed and fearless group - l awrence and Sam in the second row provided the very strong support that our front row needed and the excellent hooking of Quayle attracted more than a few girls and members of the opposition. Our flankers were quick and the shape-shifting number 8s (we had no permanent player) filled in well. showing no aversion to running with the ball at the slavering packs of the opposition. Ato as the other prop did a superb worm manoeuvre against Epsom that earned us some pride.

James McDonald (GR) Team: A. McGilchrist (coach), James McDonald (capt.), Alexander Quayle, Lawrence Kerr, Sam Rudgard, Charles

Marnham, Theo Webb, Patrick Holt, Nick Brown, Fren lewis, Patrick Loughman, James Hamway, Billy lau, Patrick Allies,

Tom Tyler, Chris Cork, Bobby Ankerson and Chris Binks Also played: Nicolo Luccini, Christian Henning-Liddiard. Shaun Githuku, Stephen Eisenhammer and Atowari Peterside Results

Played

Won

Drawn

lost

Po ints for

Po ints Against

v Eastbourne

(A) Won 26 - 12

The backs found they could play quick ball with good hands and a kamikaze

v St. John's

(H) Won 31 - 0

attitude. We hired in muscle with Luccini and the kick and chase abilities of Hamway cannot go without comment, or the annoyance that he caused to opposition fullbacks. Our backs relied on one name alone - Paddy - well there were three of them! Billy, as in previous seasons charged into people twice his size, somehow leaving the opposition on the floor or getting them sent off. However, at times the backs crumbled into a Swaffer thin layer trying to wing it. On the subject of wings, let us not forget Webb, who played wing in a scrum cap. A straightj acket would have been more appropriate.

v Cranbrook

Match cance lled

Overall this season we achieved our main aims - shirts and enjoyment (in order of precedence) with a team that I am proud to have called my own. They gave

everything the coach asked for and I never asked them to do more than I could do - this might have explained our supreme lack of fitness. The pack equalled that of the 3rd XV, weighing far more and our backs had their moment of glory too. Not too many people will remember this season, but it has been a special one - a successful 4th XV can on ly show hope for the future and the comradeship even in our defeats showed a strength of character that was in some ways more pleasing than a win. A fine season lads wear your shirts with pride!

v Tonbridg e

(A) lost 12 - 24

v Epsom

(H) lost 5 - 27

Coach 's report At the start of the Autumn term I offered my games time to Roy White. Without hesitation he handed me the whistle and

games list, telling me that although there were a lot of names on the list (45), not to worry as we would, as in the past, struggle to get a 4th XV out; the same was said of the fixture list which is actually quite extensive.

To do the boys justice they played their games with a lot of heart and even with the threat of their Saturday afternoons being taken up with long bus rides. they

still demanded a game, which is more than can be said of some of the opposition. Over the season we managed to get the balance just right; we played a few games, improved our skills, passed our better players up to the 3rd XV and won a couple of matches. J have enjoyed my first season coaching rugby at King's and will be back for more next year.

AMcG

Colts A XV Rugby seasons come and go but some

stay in the memory. Colts 2003 may be remembered as the side who beat Tonbridge away for the first time in nine years. On a hot afternoon and with high hopes we took the field against Eastbourne who already had a game under the belt. Lack of match practice for us was obvious from the early encounters and the first quarter of the match proved a valiant fight in defence. After what seemed an age we settled and started to play with greater cohesion and shape to our game. Greater confidence also brought its rewards in terms of territory and dominance and we spent the greater part of the second half at our opponents' end of the field. We were quicker to the breakdown, tackled with greater resolve and crossed the Eastbourne line three times, but were three times denied a score. Unfortunately, an error in midfield gave the game to Eastbourne. A new game, a new side against St. John's. Graham Sweetman moved from back-row to hooker, Charles Harvey from hooker to scrum-half and Jon White came in as a No 8. We started with a positive approach and with improved rucking had Stjohn's on the back foot. Ritchie Gardiner pressured the John's 10 continually and it was no surprise that with quick handling the ball was moved to the wing for Olu Adeosun to register his first score. We continued with this competitive edge and with classic catch and drive again released the ball to the backs. This time Diu turned the ball inside to Tom Burley who weaved through the defence to score. We continued to dominate and Paul Dixey. now receiving an excellent service from Charlie, was able to orchestrate our play and use his vision to produce creative situations;

before half-time he added his own try from on outside break between his opposite number and inside centre. His passing was excellent, one such flighted ball found Marcus Gwyer who cut through the John's defence to score. A

disciplined platform provided by the forwards meant that we continued to

move the ball wide and Olu was able to show his pace on the outside and record his second try. Graham Sweetman supported by the strength of Stavros Stratas and Man Su Han in the front row was revelling in his new found position and heeled four against the head and Ritchie concluded a solid afternoon at 7 by supporting Tom Kemp's run on the wing. Stopped by the John's defence, Tom turned to allow Ritchie to wrestle the ball free and dive over for a score. Paul Dixey was able to convert all the tries apart from his own! However, we received

an early wake-up

call against KCS Wimbledon. Their early score was a result of our lethargy or perhaps complacency. Paul Dixey brought us back with a penalty kick and then we began to work. Good rucking ensured domination in the loose and our set play was secure; Leo Flindall and Harry Lancaster were playing a particularly important role at lock. Their takes in the line outs allowed the ball to be spun wide and finished with two scores from Olu and two conversions by Captain Paul Dixey who further added two penalties. KCS were now 'under the cosh' and spilt a ball at the lineout, the resulting ruck saw the ball come King's way, Charlie Harvey snapped the ball away to Paul Dixey who floated another of his long passes out to Marcus Gwyer who drew the opposition defence before off-loading the ball to Olu to finish an excellent move. Unfortunately, the game against Felsted was a tetchy affair. From the early encounters it became obvious that the game would be hard-fought and so it proved. At times, we lost our composure, made mistakes and conceded two scores before rallying to produce several fluid movements despite the loss of Tom Burley through injury. Our first try came when the ball was moved wide, before being turned inside to the hands of Jon White who crashed over for the score. Paul Dixey kicked a penalty before halftime. We turned around with the wind and Felsted in our faces and although Olu scored through the centre, the bad temper surfaced all too frequently. The result was settled by Paul Dixey's kick on the final whistle.

The Tonbridge match was by far the highlight of our season which just goes to show how unpredictable our game is.

The players had enjoyed a long half-term lay-off, there was a less than committed approach to training and the team was less than settled because of injury problems, Things did not bode well particularly when Tonbridge scored first

and we were 7-0 down minutes from the start. Was this a question of history repeating itself? However, good sides retain their composure, stay focussed and remain patient. We worked at our game, cohesion in loose scrums and good teamwork provided us with attacking ball so that we in turn press uri sed Tonbridge with added frequency. We varied our game and used the conditions to achieve good field positions. Ritchie Gardiner showed speed to the breakdowns and Graham Sweetman was leading the pack both verbally and 'up-front'. Stavros Stratas gave a huge performance at lock, 'a force to be reckoned with', The breakthrough came when Paul Dixey

drilled the ball down into the Tonbridge 22; this he chased and gathered to score an excellent individual try. Tactical kicking proved a winning strategy in the first half where we dominated territory. Two further high kicks from Paul were

gathered by Olu who added two further tries. In the second half we were made to work for our lead but were able to absorb the Tonbridge pressure. Tom Kemp fielded

the high ball and resolute defence kept our opponents away from our line and our fight proved the stronger with heroic loose forward play notably by Man Su Han, The backs also gave no quarter and we ran out eventual winners. In contrast, Cranbrook 3rd XV was a physical side and a game could be likened to a contrast between two duellists, one armed with a club, the other a rapier. At times we played excellent rugby with superior skills in the set pieces and open play. We were made to work in the lineout with Jon White and Leo Flindall having to compete for ball and dominance and were forced to absorb the pressure of a much heavier scrum, Tom Quested opened the scoring with a powerful drive and support play and two tries came from Marcus Gwyer, who produced his predictable dummies and hit the space to break the opposition defence. Jon White also crossed the line after a gutsy performance, Paul Dixey was successful with three conversions, Unfortunately, we came unstuck against Duke of York's, A rain soaked day, the loss of our captain to the 1st XV and injuries to other key players was difficult to sustain. There were notable individual performances but unfortunately we did not function as a team so that opportunities to score were not taken, Mention must be made of Stavros Stratas who took to the field and completed a full game despite a head wound sustained in the previous game and Will Harvey who joined the backline for Paul Dixey.

We also came unstuck against Sevenoaks where we were lacklustre, lacked agression, passion and precision. Too often we allowed a Sevenoaks side too much space and accumulated our own score of basic errors. 'Ails well that ends well: we were a different team and in our approach against King's Rochester were clinical and disciplined and able to exert a great deal of pressure on their defence and secure a hard fought, but convincing victory. Olu Adeosun opened the scoring with a try under the posts, converted by Marcus Gwyer who had started the movement. Olu received his pass on the half-way line rounded his wing and cut inside to beat two men and score. Our dominance at ruck and maul led to an excellent finish by Ritchie Gardiner and minutes later Ndubi Ajukwu substituting for the injured Olu ran the length of the field to score in the corner again converted by Marcus, Our

game plan had been to kick for field position and move the ball wide deep in the opposition half, following such a move saw Val O'Donoghue receive a pass from

Chu Chu Ajukwu's (twin brother of Ndubi) to register his first try after a season of solid rugby, The best was saved to last it seemed when Tom Burley having played a faultless game gathered a Rochester kick on our 22 metre line, he brushed off a tackler and with good footwork and balance beat two others before opening his legs for a run to the try-line and beat the cover defence, Possibly the try of the season, Congratulations must be recorded to Ritchie Gardiner for being selected for

the Kent 'A' XV after all his hard work. We say goodbye to Jon White who has made such a massive contribution to

Colts 2003 and wish him well down under. Thanks go to our Captains Paul Dixey for his quiet leadership and quality of play before being removed to the 1st XV and to Charlie Harvey who now shows potential in his new position, Thanks also to Mr D. Turner for refereeing our home games, A very special thanks must also go to Justin Benjamin who coached and managed the Bs so efficiently that those not reluctant were able to slot so easily into the 'A' Squad. To Mr I Price also go thanks for his stewardship of the Cs.

ARW Team :Tom Kemp, Max Stanley, Marcus

Gwyer, Paul Dixey (Capt.), Charles Harvey(Capt.) Man Sui Han, Graham Sweetman, Harry Lancaster, Stavros

Stratas, leo Flindall, Val O'Donoghue, Ritchie Gardiner, Jon White .. Also played: Jackie Truong, James Graves,

Phil Spicer, Ryan Noades, Chukwydifu Ajukwu, Ndubuisi Ajukwu.

Results

Playea

Won

Lost

Drawn

conti nued against Felsted, with Tunji Lawson, down from the As, showing excellent form in a very convincing win. Yet another close game followed, and for the second time we were edged out. Once again, victory was taken from us, this tim e by Haileybury, in the last seconds.

Colt s B XV

Our first half display against Tonbridge was the best of the season. The forwards dominated all set phases, wi th Duncan Morpe th taki ng the opposition's ball as well as his own, and Harry Wa ll and Josh Hill took all the lineout ball. The ball was moved wide and we scored tries. We faded a little in the second half but at least did not concede a try. We moved con fiden tly fo rward against Epsom and dominated the game totally in all phases. We ought really to have scored more. Against Duke of Yorks we had to wo rk hard, especially beca use we were short of five key players. The forwards played tremendo usly in difficult conditions an d Sam Middleton enjoyed his debut as a winger. Over-confidence was our downfall in the final match of the season against Sevenoaks and we conceded two tries in the first half. A strong second half revival was not enough and although we twice crossed the line, the scores were ruled out.

Eastbourne in the first game of th e season proved to be too strong for the boys. King's wo n th e first half but were weak defensively and lacking in confidence. They did however play with heart and showed some potential. The follow ing match against St. John's was a really close affai r. We led 3 - 0 fo r most of the game and then conceded a controversial try in the last minute. We

The season had started slowly, but the boys worked hard to improve. We were well beaten in only one game, and with a little more luck (and perhaps fitness) we might have almost gone unbeaten. We had a talented pack and had a quick and agil e back line. Sometimes players moving to the As left us witho ut our strong er players, but the team had huge heart. Practices we re well attended and

Points for

164

Points against

v Eastbourne

(H) Lost 0 - 5

v KCS Wimbledon

(H) Won 27 - 12

v St. John's

(A) Won 42 - 0

v Felsted

(A) Won 16- 15

v Tonbridge

(A) Won17-14

v Cranbrook 3rds

(H) Won 31 - 0

v Duke of York's

(A) Lost 3 - 0

v Sevenoaks

(H) Lost3-16

v King's Rochester

(H) Won 28 - 0

always fun . A number of these players could go on to play at a much higher level in the future and I hope that they will accept the challenge and try to do so in the senior school. Justi n Benjamin Team (from): Bernard Ng, Duncan Morpeth, Ryan Noades, Pako Fung, James Graves, Alex Blessley, Dom Berry, Phil Spicer, Ade Adesanya, Harry Wall, Josh Hill, Dan Munns, Tu nji Lawson , Will Harvey, Alfred Yu , Chuchu Ajukwu, Oliver Lyons, Ed Rex, Ndubi Ajukwu, Simon Pound, Sam Middleton, Tom Quested Results

Played

Won

Lost

Points For

158

Points Against

v Eastbourne

(H) Lost 7 - 19

v St. John's

(A) Lost 3 - 5

v KCS Wimbledon

(H) Won15- 14

v Felsted

(A) Won 44 - 7

v Haileybury

(H) Lost 5 - 7

v Tonbridge

(A) Won24 - 0

v Epsom

(H) Won 26 - 0

v Du ke of York's

(A) Won 29 - 3

v Sevenoaks

(H) Lost 5 - 12

v KCS Wimbledon

(H) Lost 0 - 52

v Felsted

(A) Lost 5 - 24

v Haileybury

(H) Lost 7 - 21

---

v Tonbridge

Junior Colts A XV Forwards Harry Quested - A skilful hooker, Harry threw well at the line-out and won many serums against the head. Also passes and kicks very well for a front row forward. Saint Vayakornvichitr - A ball carrying front -row in the southern hemisphere mould. Saint is a powerful scrummager and in the loose he secured a lot of

second phase possession. Fred Coltart - Did the simple things very well, giving the team its bread and butter in contact situations. Developed into a dangerous attacking option, as well as working tirelessly tackling. Never complained despite having tough opponents in the serums. Wil l Fox - Monumental second row who never took a step backwards all season. He grew in confidence charging into contact. Will also provided a safe option in the lin e-out. Dominic Collingwood - The team's toiletduck: he does the hard work so we don't have to! Dom was never far away from the ball and worked incredibly hard rucking and scrimmaging as well as being instrumental in line-out moves.

Ryan Phanph ensophon - Probably the team's most consistent tackler: I ca nnot remember a time anyone ran past him. Ryan also worked hard to offer an attacking option, becoming a much more complete forward by the end of the season. Kevin Chiu - A really strong flanker, Kevin possesses raw power, pace and an incredible work ethic, making him one of the team's most dangerous players.

Starting off at prop, but using his speed at No.8, to good effect. Fred Robe rts - A beast in the back row, Fred 'Bad Attitude' Roberts could change the course of a game with his enormous hits. Always on hand in contact situations, Fred gave the team a new dimension in attack and defence.He needs to learn when to release the ball.

Leopold MacLehose - The utility player every team needs, Leo started the season in the front row, then became a lock, then a winger. Wherever he played, he brought Gallic flair, commitment and a good nose for an opening. Steven Wong - Another good all-rounder and our super sub, Steven really could play any position on the pitch. Whether it was as a strong winger or a quick prop, Steven always brought something unexpected to our play. Teddy Groves - Slow, can't pass, hangs off too many rucks and prone to injury. I don't see why he was in the team, personally. Tedd y Groves (GL)

Resu lts Played

Won

Lost

Points For

133

Points Against

241

---

v Eastbourne

(H) Lost 0 - 19

v St. John's

(H) Lost 0 - 21

(A) Lost 0 - 54

---

v Eltham

(H) Lost 7 - 43

v Kent College

(H) Won 29 - 0

v Duke of York's

(H) Won 31 - 7

v Sevenoaks

(A) Won 29 - 0

v King's Rochester

(H) Won 25 - 0

Inter-house 7-a-side won by The Grange Junior goal kicking camp was won by Richard Griffiths (GR) Inter-house lO-a- side was won by The Grange.

Juni or Colts B XV Captain's Report

John Wu - Prop : Made the step from the C team to the B team very well and his game improved. His willingness to run with the ball, but also to tackle anyone on the other team were very useful assets. Most Improved Player of the Season. Matt Wells - Hooker: Moved to hooker as no one else wanted to. He gradually got better at his throwins and made many good tackles on the fringes of rucks or mauls. Valeri Avdenko - Second row : Very good in the scrums and made some good tackles, but lacked imagination when going forward with the ball and very often tried to pass the baJJ too early. Alex Hatt - Second row: Shared the role with various other people, but never complained when it wasn't his turn. An able runner and determined tackler. Matt Price - Second Row/number 8: Good defensively and in the scrums, but his inability to see the baJJ without glasses even when it was coming right at him was unfortunate.

Rob Watson - Flanker: Played most, if not all matches and provided a runner with good hands from the pack. Fearless tackling, but gave away the ball too often in the rucks by conceding penalties.

Evan Jones Flanker/Second row/Number 8: A very versatile player who didn't complain wherever he played. Always first at a ruck and got stuck in quickly. Very strong tackles and good runs were very useful to t he team.

Ollie Bri stow - Winge r: Had a dubious start to the season, but started catching the ball towards the end and when he did, he ran with aggression and pace. He also had a deadly hand off, which rendered many opposite winge rs on the floo r.

luke O'Don oghue Num ber a/Second row : Very good season offensively, but lacked a certain wi llingness to run when he didn't have the ball which was unfortunate because he is very st rong and many losing rucks have been won thanks to a mighty push from luke.

Tom M arnh am - Winger : His season was troubled by injury but he managed to play well anyway. Very quick with t he bal,l but fo und it absol utely impossible to run strai ght. He found it necessary to run past every player on the pitch and then score, which did happen on occasions.

Pete Gray - Serum Half: Distributed the bal l well and early enough to let backs run with the ball. Not the biggest guy on the team, but his determination to tackle anyone meant th at he saved ce rtai n tries on occasions.

Chris Barker - Full back: Good season, but nowhere near as good as last year. He defended well, but t he spark was gone when going forward. Made crucial tackles in many games and made good dart ing ru ns which mesme ri sed the othe r and even us on most occasions.

Thibaut Bertlin - Fly half: This position was fought over intensely with three or four willing contenders, but Thibaut foug ht off any opposi t ion. Even t ho ugh t he kicking duty was passed on, his safe hands and the abi li ty to throw good long passes meant that he was a necessity for the team. Dan Hurl ey - Centre : His place kicking on t he left proved to be useful on occasions and slotted into the centre role very well being a natural fly half. Made very good passes to release the wingers with very good timing, but also ra n well to score some vital tries. James Loudon - Centre: A very good runner of the ball and made good bursting runs through the heart of the opposition's defence, creating space fo r ot hers or opportuni t ies fo r himself. His kicking ability meant we had three good kickers in the team.

Alex Allen - sub centre: Very useful in games as he added an extra runner for the fly half. Andrew Clar ke - sub centre: A very capable player, but wasn't picked for t he starting team. Very good at tackling and running. 8en Crosland - Flanker/Centre/Fullback: Provided a fill - in for any injuries during the games. Great tackle r and what he lacked in pace, he made up for in footwork. Father Fred - Coach: Great fun to have as a coach and always believed in us even if we could n't win the games. Thanks to him, we all had great f un in matches and practices which is t he po int of any sport really. So, fro m everyone in the team , thank you very

much for support ing us, coaching us and for taking us to Super Noodle! I would like to thank Father Fred, Mr Ande rson , Joe and the team for trying their best, listening to the coaches and for making a good environment to play in. I really enjoyed the season and I hope you did too. Chri s Heslop (MR)

Junior Colts C XV The season began with heavy defeats at the hands of Eastbourne, KCS Wimbledon and Whitgift. There was a show of what the boys woul d produce later, however, when we pushed St. John's hard in our second game. The tenacity shown in this game was apparent in the second half of our season where we began by defea t ing Haileyb ury and ran Tonbridge and Epsom close. By the last game of the season Against Sevenoaks the boys rallied together to ensure that this approach would finally convert to a well-deserved win . In driving rain and wind we held on tightly to an early first half lead and defended grimly during th e second half to come away with a tough 5-0 win, thus completing the total whitewash KSC delivered to Sevenoaks on their home territory t hat day. The individual brilliance of boys like Fred Thompson at fly half paved the way for others to follow. With superb timing and accuracy off the boot he led from the f ront, con troll ing and directin g ou r gam e. This domin ance allowed Giles McSwiney and Hikari Tatsuzawa to spot gaps in the midfield on attack and also let us spread the ball wide to ou r flyer, Tim Leung, who managed to score a hat-trick of t ries against Haileybury.

Sharp and Tom Macintosh provided power and pace at second row. They both won. some good lineout ball and were effective with ball in hand. On the flanks, Tim Brown and Charlie Johnston tackled heroically. They defended the fringes extremely well and ran some good lines to ensure that their presence at the breakdown was felt. Tom Westray at number 8 was dynamic in possession and, at times, made gaining yards look easy. He too scored four tries during the season.

The forward pack showed grit and guts, with no better example of this than Oleg Ignatiev, John Wu and Charlie Trew. They are not the biggest of boys, but the sIZe of their heart dictates that they are the first to roll up their sleeves and engage where others feel apprehensive. This team should not be discouraged. They had a tough fixture list and learnt a great deal. They improved steadily and will enjoy greater success in the future. DMFu Team : M. Price (capt.), N. Balmforth, H. Colville, B. Crosland, B. Davey, M. Hamza, B. Hillen, O. Ignatiev, E. Lavery, T. Leung, e. Lyons, B. McGee, G. McSwiney, B. Pentecost, S. Saran, H. Tatsuzuwa, F. Thompson, C. Trew, J. Wu Results Played

Won

Lost

Points for

Points against

184

v Eastbourne

(H) Lost 0 - 48

v St. John's

(H) Lost 5 - 15

v KCS Wimbledon

(A) Lost 0 - 52

v Whitgift

(H) Lost 5 - 42

v Haileybury

(H) Won 25 - 0

v Tonbridge

(H) Lost 5 - 12

v Epsom

(A) Lost 5 - 15

v Sevenoaks

(A)Won5-0

After a slow start to the season, when the team took several weeks to gel, the cream of the Shell rugby players improved enormously and ended ~p playing some impressive rugby. It IS to their credit that they stuck to the task throughout the season, when many teams may have become despondent a~d finished by winning three of their last four matches. The high points of the season were a gutsy win over Felsted and some impressive 'total rugby' tries against Eltham and King's Rochester. Just running out of time against a then unbeaten Haileybury outfit was also a commendable effort. The forwards, in particular, made enormous progress through the course of the season. They rucked aggressively, turning over huge amounts of possession, and made some tough yards with ball in hand. Rohan Premnath and Alasdair Muller provided a firm foundation in the scrum and both props proved to be of the modern mobile variety, with Rohan making some charging runs and Alasdair having the temerity to score four tries during the season. Robin Bridge worked tirelessly at hooker. He was fast to the breakdown, rucked efficiently and won a number of scrums against the head. Robin

The backs took a long time to get used to each other, hindered by personnel regularly changing. However, they . finished the season strongly and ran In some superb tries in the last game, in particular. At scrum half, Tristan lee provided some good service and he was amongst the best tacklers in the team. Alastair Seaton was a jinky fly half, capable of carving openings and he linked well with Alastair Edmondson and Sayo Folawiyo in the centre. Alastair ran so me punishing straight lines and his defence was impeccable, whilst Sayo took a more graceful approach and put a great pair of hands to good use. On the wings Adnan Bashir, Renw ick McAslan and Oliver Bromfield had limited opportunities with the ball in space, but all three ran with determination and skill and made invaluable contributions. James Kent chose some excellent running lines from full back. He has a lot of pace and is also fearless in defence. George Christie was a talented back with an excellent rugby mind. He was adaptable enough to fit in a variety of position s when needed and made some really good contributions. Overall the team should be pleased with their progress and look to reverse so me of the defeats next year. As they go up the school I am con fident that they will develop into a very good 1st X:V. RPC

Team: Alastair Edmondson (capt.), Adnan Bashir, Robin Bridge, Oliver Bromfield, Tim Brown, George Christie, Sayo Folawiyo, Charles Johnston, James Kent, Tristan Lee, Renwick McAslan, Tom Macintosh, Alasdair Muller, Rohan Premnath, Alastair Seaton, Robin Sharp, Tom Westray, Also played: Henry Berliand, Alex Gilmore, James Lamb, Edward Syson. Results

Played

Won

Last

Points for

lOS

Poin ts against

lB6

v Eastbourne

(A) Last 10 - 27

v 5t. John's, Leatherhead (A) Last 0 - 39

Thankfully we bounced back in the match against Felsted, the beginning of a long run of success. The game saw a complete change from the weekend before, our skills and continuity were brilliant and our opposition were swept aside. There were great performances by Alex Gilmore, Josh Jackson and OIi Tennant and we scored seven great tries out wide. We sustained our form at Haileybury, and played very well at times, scoring some really good tries. Once again, however, our mistakes kept our opposition in the game and only some impressive defence stopped them from scoring. Oli 5andeman-Allen and Ed Wilkins played really well in this match. The Tonbridge match was by far our best performance of the season. Our continuity and hard running left our opposition shell-shocked. Alex Gilmore, Tiny Tynan and Harry Coombe played outstanding games and our fearless captain, Henry Berliand, had his best game of the season, leading from th e front. Hugh Bird must also be mentioned for an excellent, committed game.

v K.C.s. Wimbledon (H) Last 0 - 39 v Felsted

(H) Won 5 - 3

v Haileybury

(A) Last 10 - 15

v Tonbridge

(H) Last 0 - 41

v Eltham College

(A) Won 39 - 17

v Duke of York's

(A) Won 17 - 0

v Sevenoaks

(H) Last 0 - 5

v King's Rochester (H) Won 24 - 0

Under 14B XV It is always hard to get a team together when all the boys are new to each other but the season started auspiciously. In our opening game against Eastbourne our forwards really dominated from the first whistle and we never gave our opposition a chance. Alex Gilmore played really well and Alasdai r Muller kept us on the front foot. Most of our tries in a really good away wi n were scored straight down the middle by the forwards. However, two defeats then followed. At 5t. John's we didn't play well at all; we let our opposition play their style of rugby and struggled as a consequ ence. We had possession for long periods of the game but too many mistakes cost us dearly and we lost the game for ourselves. KCS however were a very good side which outgunned us and we really missed some of our star players.

We again played very well at Eltham at times but did not sustain it throughout the game, even though we won well and scored some good tries. Harry Coombe and Oli Sandeman-Allen combined in the last play of the game to score a cheeky cross kick try to cap a good victory. The win against Duke of York's was a very good, disciplined performance, in which we totally out-played our opposition. Our continuity and rucking skills were excellent and that gave a good base for our backs, who ran in seven tries. Josh Jackson, Hugh Bird and James Lamb really won the game for us up front. Alex Gilmore had earlier been watching the World Cup Final, and he clearly thought he was Mike Tindall, putting in some really awesome tackles. In our final victory over Sevenoaks, we defended we ll after a very good first half. Hugh Bird and Josh Jackson had been getting better with every game and really played out of their skins in unpleasant conditions. All in all then, it was a fine season. History shows that a very large number of people who have started out in the Under 14B team end up playing regularly for the School x:v by the time they leave King's. I hope the boys in this team, who have given me so much fun, continue to apply themselves so that they might be the stars of the future. Murray Campbell

Team (from): H. Berliand (capt.), A. Barron, H. Bird, F. Brown, F. Clark, J. Collins, H. Coombe, J. Geidt, A. Gilmore, J. Jackson, J. Lamb, A. Muller, O. Sandeman Allen, B. Stratton, O. Tennant, D. Thompson, H. Todd, T. Tynan, E. Wilkins, T. Yates Results

Played

Wan

Lost

Points For

204

Points Against

v Eastbourne

(A) Won 26 - 5

v leatherhead

(A) Lost 7 - 14

v KCS Wimbledon

(H) Lost 0 - 34

v Fe lsted

(H) Won 43 - 0

v Ha ileybury

(A) Won 24 - Q

v Tanbridge

(H)Won19-Q

v Eltham

(A) Won 27 - 7

v Duke of York's

(A) Wan 39 - 7

v Sevenoaks

(H) Won 19 - 1

U1 4C XV Overall, this has been a great season. Even if we only won 3 of the 8 matches we played, it has been fantastic to see how the team took shape very quickly and most players showed an impressive commitment in every single game. Although there were constant changes at the beginning of th e season and many boys tried their luck in different squads, a superb team spirit was very soon created and remained one of the most enjoyable aspects of the team throughout the season. It has also been particularly remarkable to see some of the boys with little or no experience at all becoming indispensable members of the team. Looking at the sco res, it is not difficult to see a pyramid shape in the performance of the team throughout the season; the matches against Haileybury, Tonbridge and Epsom being the pinnacle of their power as a coordinated, effective and highly motivated squad. However, on many occasions, the side relied too much on a few individuals, particula rly Benedict Stratton, Edward Syson, Ch ristopher Waller and Christopher White, all of them powerful and intimidating forwards. This, in the long run, proved to be a serious drawback, as it prevented the team from working more as a solid unit.

The team was successfully led by its captain, Luke Arnold, who was a tremendous scrum half and was always at the heart of the action, never afraid of tackling and always in posi tion to quickly pick up the ball and deliver it to his backs. Our first row found it difficult to keep continuity as the talented Benedict Stratton (prop), Edward Syson (prop) and Vincent Boeckler (hooker) were very soon spotted by the upper teams in the year group and had to share their abilities between two sides. However, this allowed players like Quirin Grossmann, who had never played before, to show his worth as a hooker. Hugh Alder, Thomas Kelly, Jack Lawrence-Jones, Laurence Malpass, James Munro, Vasa Supachok, Matthew Swaffer, Christopher Waller and Frederick Iron played in different positions in the serum throughout the season and they all contributed enormously to the performance of the pack. On top of that, Hugh Alder and Laurence Malpass proved to be excellent tacklers. Christopher Waller, for his part, was superb at playing havoc with the other side by always charging the opponent side with an unstoppable determination and ability. Leo Scarfe was an excellent number 11, although he did not receive as many passes from the scrum half as he would have liked to. Mark Thomas played his best rugby as fly half and he was definitely the second man on board in terms of ability to organize the game. Inioluwa Atoyebi, impressively quick, gave us a good deal of excitemen t and tries (mainly when he played without gloves!). Rishi Melwani, despite his complaints

that he "got bored" playing full -back did an excellent job and was always there as our last resource to defend the try line in adversity. There is no doubt that this has been a very good season as far as enjoyment and progress are concerned. It was a delight to see the boys fighting until the last minute in every single match and I am sure some of them will join A and B ranks in future years.

JG Team: luke Arnold (Capt.), Hugh Alder, Inioluwa Atoyebi, Vincent Boeckeler, Frederick Clarke, Simon Englander, Quirin Grossmann, Frederick Iron, Thomas Kelly, Jack Lawrence-Jones, Alexander Maisel, Laurence Malpass, Rishi Melwani, James Munro, Leo Scarfe, Thomas Scurr, Benedict Stratton, Vasa Supachok, Matthew Swaffer, Ed ward Syson, Mark Thomas, Christopher Waller, Christopher White.

Results

which to show off th eir skills. A defeat in the heat at Eastbourne was followed half a term later by a narrow loss to a big Tonbridge side. On the strength of the Eastbourne match a number of players were promoted to the Cs. Quirin Grossmann proved to be fast learner and Mark Thomas and Rishi Melwani also impressed with their skills. The progress between the two matches was marked and I am sure that many of the boys will go on to represent higher teams in the future. RPC Team: William Coles, Max Eisenhammer, Simon Englander, Quirin Grossmann, Jack Lawrence-Jones, William Lundy, Alex Maisel, Rishi Melwani, Bibek Mukherjee, James Munro, l awrence Percival, Alex Roper, Aymen Saleh, l eo Scarfe, Thomas Scu rr, Vasa Supachok, Mark Thomas, Zayd Tippu.

Results Played

Played

Won

lost

Points for

For

105

Points against

Against

147

v Eastbourne

(A) lost 0 - 19

v Tonbridge

[H) lost 10 - 20

Under 14 0 XV Finding fixtures for the D team is never easy and they only had two occasions on

Girls' Hockey Once again, the girls as a whole have had a very strong season. The 1st XI continued as Kent, Plumptre and John Taylor champions, and got one step further than last year by coming 2nd in

the Divisional tournament. Other teams have also been very successful: The under 165 reached the semi final of the Kent tournam ent, losing on penalty strokes, and the under 145 lost 2- 1 in the final of

their respective Kent tournament. The 3rd XI were unbeaten, under the fine leadership of Charlotte Reardon and inspirational coaching of Mr Warnick. We have regularly put out 10 girls' hockey

teams on a Sa turday, even man aging 11 against Seven oaks. Thanks to all those players and coaches who have made this possible, especially Joachim Wilcke (Gb) who has, for his fabulous hockey skills I am sure, been a highly popular coach of the under 15Bs! On Sunday 7th December, the under 16 indoor team beca me, fo r the first ti me, Kent champions, and will progress to the divisional round on Saturday January 3rd. Hopefully we will be able to report more success on this by the time the next Cantuarian is published.

1st XI The 1st XI have once again experienced an excellent season: winners of the Kent under 18 tournament, the Plumptre tournament and the John Taylor tournament. The great highlight of the term, undoubtedly, was winning the Millfield tournament, not least by beating Millfield for the first time. The team were desperately unlucky to lose 2-1 in the Divisional final, thus losing out on a place in the na tionals, but it was a very tigh t game which could have gone either way. However, a marvellous season overall, not least because of the magnificent team spirit generated, in a squad which over the course of the term contained 1 Shell, 5 Removes, 4 Fifths, 3 GBs and 7 GAs. Saturday fixtures were mixed: we were overpowered by a strong Felsted team , but all the other matches were relatively close results. In most games we played some fine hockey, but this was not always reflected in the final score. The team has been led most ably by Amy Sul livan, and t he player of the season, in her new role as striker, was Kara Kock. Kara will now be infamous for her contribution: her head seemed to magnetically attract the ball, resulting in stitches in the first game and concussion against Cranbrook! Rebekah Marsh won

the award of 'most improved player~ Many thanks must go to outsi de coaches Susan Webber (South Africa and Canterbury Ladies) and Mel Clewlow (Great Britain and Canterbury Ladies) for their ongoing support and encouragement of the girls.

Team: Kiri Barker, Julia Brooks, Juliet Chapman, Tania Hayes, Kara Kock, Tiffany Landale, Caroline Lawrence, Lucinda Leigh-Pemberton, Rebekah Marsh, Laura Moncreiffe, Amy O'Sullivan (captain), Fenella Pengelley, Katriona Pengelley, Rosanna Perkins, Rebecca Perkin-Jones, Emily Stewart, Pippa Tregear, Jessica Watson (vice captain) Also played: Rosan na Cocksworth, Sarah Healy, Katie Lark, Emily Schwarz RESULTS

Played

Won

Drew

Lost

Goals for

Goals against

v Canterbury LHC

(A) Lost 0 - 3

v Haileybury

(H) Won 3 - 0

v St Lawrence

(H) Won 1 - 0

v Felsted School

(H) Lost 0 - B

vKentU1BXI

(A) Drew2 -2

vSevenoaks

(A) Won 2 - 1

vSt Bede's School

(H) Lost 1 - 3

v City of London Freemen 's (A) Won 1 - 0 v Cranbrook School (A) Drew 2 - 2 Millfield Tournament: Winners Plumptre Tournament: Winners Kent Schools Under 18 Tournament: Winners John Taylor Tournament: Winners East Tournament: Runners up Kent Under 16 Clubs and Schools Indoor iTournament: Winners

2n d XI The 2nd XI had a convincing season despite fielding a relatively young side. They won six and drew two of their eleven matches, their only losses being recorded against 1st XI opposition. The team played with an excellent spirit right from the very start, coming back f rom a goal behind in the first game at Epsom to level with the last play of the match. The highlights of the season were definitely the heavy defeats inflicted on St.Bede's, Cranbrook and Kent College. These sides succumbed to some instinctive attacking hockey and the sharp finishing of Laura Headley and Katie Taylor, supplemented by the

Everyone played a part though in making this an extremely enjoyable and rewarding season - one that will be remembered for some splendid hockey and the fine team spirit that prevailed throughout. We are all hopeful of continuing this success next season.

JM HTeam: Kid Barke r, Rosanna Cocksworth, Lucinda Egleton, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, Laura Headley, Emma Hea ly, Caroline Hobbs, Tope Imasekha, Caroline Lawrence, Sophia Leigh-Pemberton (captain), Sophie Middleton, Joanna Moncreiffe, Nicola Redstone, Emily Reilly, Lola Soyode, Katherine Tay lor, Pippa Tregear. Also played: Sarah Welby

energetic Rosie Cocks worth. The re were some outstanding performances

throughout the team, with Lola proving to be a rock in goal, ably assisted in repelling attackers by the tough tackling of Uzzie Fitzsimmons and Lucy Egleton in particular. The midfield worked tirelessly, with the skills and experience of Sophie L-P and Pippa Tregear complemented by the vibrancy and style of Sophie Middleton. Emma Hea ly, Nicola Redstone and Jo Moncreiffe battled wil fu lly for every ball and impressed with their reliab le passing.

3rd XI This was an excellent season from the 3rd XI, the best in memory. We were unbeaten and our teamwork was truly immense. Here was a team that liked to win matches, with a coach in Mr Warnick, who agreed with our 'play, play, play' philosophy and so fitness and stick skills became attributes to be gained through match practice and 'training' and 'drills' became dirty words. Hence match days were big events and competition for places was fi erce.

The game against Bethany was undoubtedly the most frustrating of the season. Indeed, apart from being the only game where we dropped points, for most of the match it looked as if we would lose. The omens we re not good; the game was the only one played on grass and while the team warmed up, the umpires carried around a bucket of soil to fill in the rabbit holes. During the game, we were camped in the Bethany half and had dozens of short corners but could not score. Bethany ventured into our half once in the first half and scored and a handful of times in the second half scoring once again. It was with huge relief, minutes before time, t hat the normal sound of ball clattering backboard was heard at the right end of the pitch and we managed to salvage a draw. In other games goal-scoring rarely seemed to be a problem. When Charlotte Reardon was on form, the scoreboard would tick over regularly and on two occasions, she finished with hat tricks. Both wingers were also adept at finishing, Poppy Mitchell has a knack of being in the right place at the right t ime, while Charlie Crosland enjoyed the more spectacula r dribble from the left through confused defenders before putting the ball away.

<::

.g <0

.:0 <::

8 <U

Anna Broxup at the centre of midfield was the playmaker of the team, with good dribbling and passing skills. Either side of her were the two positions that seemed to vary most through the season, with interesting combinations with Rosanna Lewis, Anna Brown and Nicola Redstone providing an impressive workrate and blistering speed, while Emma Healy showed lovely stick ski lls. At the back, the side showed huge composure and great timing when it came to making tackles. Indeed, most of the high scores above reflect games where the opposition just crumpled in the second half due to a frustration of their best efforts being swept up with ease by this very able defensive unit. lucinda Newman and Suzie Johnson read the game so well that they make their craft look easy and Anna Basden-Smith, the most improved player of the season, soon learned to dispatch the oppositions best efforts with the same ease. Sarah Welby showed versatility all over the pitch and could fill the role of cool-headed defender or hard shooting attacker with equal ease. Poor Sophie Roper, in goal, had a very quiet season, sometimes going whole games without touching the ball, but it was with the reassurance of her solid keeping behind them and her support and advice from the back, that the team were able to play with such confidence.

From the results it might seem that the thirds knew nothing but success, but this is far from the truth. One match not appearing on the results sheet was the one against the U15A team, which resulted in a convincing loss. In several of the joint training matches, the 4th XI also put us to shame with their own talents. But these were just learning experiences and where we strug gled to match the younge r sid es in either skill or pace, we played and learned good teamwork and how to defend effectively against quality sides. Come Saturday match days we were awesome and determined come out victorious! The spirit of the side was excellent throughout the season and this is much to the credit of the excellent captaincy of Charlotte Reardon. In summary, th is was a hugely enjoyable season in every respect. RNW EI Ch arlotte Reardon

Team: Anna Basden-Smi t h, Anna Broxup, Catherine Crosland, Emma Healy, Suzannah Johnson, Rosanna lewis, Poppy Mitchell, Lucinda Newman, Catriona Ramsay, Charlotte Reardon(captain}, Nicola Redstone, Sophie Roper, Sarah Welby Also played: Philippa Bonsall, Anna Brown, Alexandra Cagney, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, Rosanna James, Katherine lark, Emily lunn, Sarah Perkins, Claire Rumbell ow. Results Played

Won

Lost

Drawn

Goals for

Goals against

v Epsom College

(H) Won 3 - 0

4th XI Th is has been an excellent season for an enthusiastic and capable squ ad who consistently demonstrated commitment and good team spirit. Despite open ing with a heavy home defeat in the rain against Epsom College, we progressed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the last minute away to Dover College 1st XI. After duly promoting Charlie Crosland and Cat Ramsay to the thirds, Rosie lewis guested for us in return, guiding us to a comfortable home victory over St Edmund's. An uplifted team continued to grow in con fide nce with two more easy victories against Duke of York's 2nd XI and Felsted. King's Rochester 1st XI pushed us to a hardearned home draw before we returned to the winning habit at Seven oaks on grass. After half-term, we suffered a reve rse by falling all over Kent College Pembury's sloping grass pitch but finished the season on a high note with an inspirational away demolition of Haileybury. Sabrina Chapman turned on the heat by scoring 4 goals in the first half, to secure her position as leading goal sco rer, with a second-half hat trick from Lucy Wells consolidating her runners-up slot alongside Captain Claire Rumbe llow. Through out the season, forwards Sabrina Chapman, Kim Bailey, Lucy Wells and Anna Brown have chased energetically up-front, with Diana Goyder, Jules Dickson and Charlotte Sayer providing effective midfield linkage. Claire Rumbellow has captained effectively, calmly running the middle of the park alongside Julia Bird and Jossie Clayton. Helen Porter and Anna Green have developed into a formidable defence in front of Amanda Chalmers, our reliably composed and volunteer goalkeeper. Congratulations and thanks to my entire 'Kit-Kat' squad who have been a delight to coach and umpire because of their positive attitude.

JIB

vSt. Lawrence College (A) Won 3 - 0

v Felsted

(H) Won 4 - 0

v Bethany

(A) Drew 2 - 2

vSevenoaks

(A) Won 4 - 0

v City of london Freemen's (A) Won 4 - 1

v Duke of York's

(H)Won7 - 0

v Haileybury

(A) Won 6-1

Team: Kim Bailey, Julia Bird, Anna Brown, Amanda Chalmers, Sabrina Chapman, Josceline Clayton, Catherine Crosland, Ju lia Dickson, Diana Goyder, Anna Green, Rosanna Lewis, Helen Porter, Catriona Ramsay, Cliare Rumbellow (captain), Charlotte Sayer, Lucy Wells

Results Played

Won

lost

Drew Goals for

Goals against

v Epsom College

(H) lost 0 - 5

v Dover College 1st XI (A) lost 2-3

v51. Edmund's 2nd XI (H) Won4-0

v Duke of York's 2nd XI (A) Won2-0

v Felsted

(A)Won3-0

v King's Rochester 1st XI (H) Drew 1 - 1 vSevenoaks

(H) Won 3 - 0

v Kent College, Pembury 1st XI (A) lost 0-3 vHaileybury College (A) Won 8 - 1

U15 A XI This particular year of girls are blessed with a lot of skill. So much so that seven of them have played for Kent regularly (Rebekah Marsh, Emily Stewa rt, Emily Schwa rz, Katherine Lark, Emma Wilso n, Alexandra Cagney, Sarah Ventress). As a

result it has been very difficult for anyone else to get into this team. However, those tha t have, have made incredibly val uabl e cont ributions and have shown themselves to be more than able team - mates of the ir county colleagues. Emma Shilston was awarded the most improved player prize at the end of the season fo r her unfaili ng abili ty to never lose the ba ll. She would make interceptions from out of the blue and then always do the right thing and maintain possession. In the last 6 matches I am certain that she never once gave the ball away to the other side. Her development as a hockey player has been a real pleasure to see and all of the team voted unanimously fo r her to re ceive th is accolade. Katie Lark was voted as the most valuable player of the season. 5he played in the centre mid - field position for all the matches and never once stopped running. She scored three goals for the team, but more importantly was a never-ending battery of en ergy and determination. She quite simply has got tremendous skill and a very promising future. One of the more humorous custom s we in itiated this term was the introduction of The Tigger and The Eric at the end of every ma tch. These we re voted for by the players for the most val uable player of the match, and the most in teresting or funny individual contribution corresponding ly. The Tigger was shared by many throughout the course of the term, not to forget one noticeable performance by Emily Stewart while playing against the City of London Freemans, which we won 3-1. Emily dri bbled the ball from the 25 ya rd li ne arou nd 3 players and in towards the goal. Unfortunately it was

here that she met face on with their goalkeeper who was tough and came out more like a stea m- roll er. Em ily was bowled over and ba dly wind ed, but she still managed to use her stick to knock the ball into the goal before curling up with pain on the pitch. As for the Tigger, well these varied from Chloe Mitchell getting it for blood and attention seeking, to Pippa Bonsall having to stick like glue to an England player from Felsted. This sums up the great determination all the members of the team had. Sarah Ventress was superb in goal when given the chance to play, but more often than not Emma Wilson and Alexa ndra Cagney managed to tackl e the opposition before they got close enough to shoot. Chloe Mitchell turned up all over th e pitch to intercept wayward passes, and offer support to our mid-field, while Flo Welby got stuck in to tackles and showed her great stick skills to the awe of the crowds (NB I would like to thank all those parents who turned up to watch every week. It was greatly appreciated.) Victoria Bartley has be en fantastic on the right wing, not just fo r her fearless playing but also her laughter and overall team encouragement. Pippa Bonsall played like our secret weapon, out there on the left wing, scoring th ree fantastic goals in the term, but most notably a fantastic sweep at th e start of the City of London Freemans ma tch. All the girls have been a rea l pleasure to coach this year, but I cou ldn't have done it without the wonderful support of Emily Schwarz the captain. Emily is permanently smiling and is a wo nderful ambassador for the school and English people as a whole. She is ever graceful when losi ng the toss at the start of the match, and yet immensely humble when having just trounced over th e opposition five minutes later with her fantastic skills. We have joked throughout the season that Emily only has one gear with regards to her pace on the pitch, but I wo uld not swap this for anything if it were to cha nge her personality. She has been a fin e leader and a great example to us al l. In her own words she sums up the season very wisely: We had a great time, we played, we scored, and we won practically everything. Thank you everyone. RPS

Team: Victo ria Bartley, Ph ilippa Bonsall, Alexand ra Cagney, Katherine Lark (vicecaptain), Rebekah Marsh, Chloe Mitchell, Emily Schwarz (captain), Emma Shilston, Emily Stewart, Sarah Ventress, Florence We lby, Emma Wilson

Results Played

Won

Lost

Eleanor Hill, Letitia Leigh-Pemberton, Alice Newell-Hanson, Christine Pond (captain), Abigail Schade, Lavinia Swabey, Erica Symonds, Florence We lby Also Played: Lu cy Cronin, Eleanore Dixon-Roche

Drew

v Espom College

Goals for

Goals Against

v 51. Edmund's U15A XI (HI Lost 2 - 0

v St. Lawrence v Canterbury LHC

(HI Lost 0 - 3

(HI Won 1-0

v Sir Roger Manwood's School

(AI Lost 1 - 8

(AI

v King's Canterbury 3rd XI v Felsted

(AI Won 5 - 2

v Sevenoaks

(HI

(HI Drew 2 - 2

v Ashford School

(AI

v Felsted

(HI Lost 1 - 3

v 51. Bede's School U15A XI

v Sevenoaks

(HI Won 3 - 0

v Sutton Valence

(HI Lost 0 - 3

(HI Won 4 - 1

v King's Canterbury U14A XI

(AI Lost 0 - 2

v City of London Freemen's (AI Drew 1 - 1

v City of London Freemen's (HI Won 3 - 1

v Duke of York's

(AI Drew 0 - 0

v Cranbrook

(AIWon2-1

v Haileybury

(AI Drew 0 - 0

v Kent College

(AI Won 2-1

v City of London Freemen's (AI

Kent U16 Tournament:Semi - finalists Played

Won

Goals for

Against

U15 C XI

RPS

U15 B XI

Team: Isabel Ackers, Olivia Brown, Lucy Carter, Cara Chapman, Lucy Cronin, Eleanore Dixon-Roche, Eleanore Cunningham, Gurpreet Daheley, Eleanor Hill, Stella Lee, Jade Montgomery, Elizabeth Pope, Stephanie Thomas

Results

v Espom College We had a very successful season. Our first hal f a dozen matches went unbeaten, and on the whole we lost very few matches. The whole team played splendidly. All the girls improved as team players through out the season. The most improved player was Cara Chapman and best player was Georgie Davidson. Thank you to Joe Wilcke and Miss Behr for thei r coaching and help during the term. Christine Pond (BRI Team: Isabel Ackers, Charlotte Beale, Emily Beck, Cara Chapman, Emma Corbett. Constance Cunningham, Georgia Davidson, lona Emlyn - Williams, Amy Fox,

(AI Drew 1 - 1

v King's Canterbury U14C XI (HI Won 3 - 1

v Duke of York's

(HI Drew 0 - 0

v City of London Freemen's (AI

v Kent College, Pembury (HI Lost 3 - 0

v Sevenoaks

(AI Drew 1 - 1

v Bethany School U15A XI (HI v City of London Freemen's

U1 4 A XI This has been a most successful season. I cannot recall a time when there has been so little change of players over the term. After our first match, a sq uad of twelve was selected; remarkably the season finished with the same twelve. Players made tremendous progress; they listened to coaching advice and kni tted together effectively as a team. Tha t is not to say that the matches we re won convincing ly from the start. It took a couple of games to decide who should play where, and it then took a few more games until we were organised. Th e season began with a co uple of draws, un til our biggest win of the term against Cranbrook U1 5B. We outclassed and outpaced th em, giving those on the touchline an idea of the potential of the players. The next game, against Felsted, came as a big disappoin tm ent. Afte r a two hour journey, we were beaten by a tidy side that simply outplayed us. We had opportunities to score but only converted one of them. Al though we we re fairly even ly matched in terms of skill, we were beaten by the more organised side. However, we learned from our mistakes, and produced a good win the next week against the Kent U13A squad. The previous week's loss was in fact the only loss in a Saturday fixture over the whole term. One of th e most memorable games was probably against St Bede's, where everything seemed to go right. We were fast. skilful and committed. Our short corner routine produced a nu mber of the goals, and the team began to show their real potential. Th is was repeated towards the end of the season with wins against strong Haileybury and Kent Colleg e sides. One of the high points was our success in the Kent Schools' Tournament: we won all qualifying matches (in the toughest group), with 10 goals for and none against. The hardest match (and the most memorable of the day) was against Tunb ridge Wells Girls Grammar School. We kn ew it woul d be demand in g, but all gave thei r best. and we cam e away with a much needed and thorough ly deserved 1-0 victory after marking their Two key players out of the game. We progressed through th e quarter and semi finals with some relative ly stra ig htfo rward games. In the final, we faced TWGGS again, and conceded our only goal of the day to lose 1-0. The girls are to be commended on giving thei r all. By the 7th game, ti redness had set in. Th is, tog ether wi th the fact that the captain An na Storer was unable to play in any of the matches, meant tha t we were beaten at the last hurdle by a strong TWGGS team.

(HI I was tremen dously impressed by the

Claudia Tapp, Olivia Wacher, Pollyanna West. RESULTS

Played

Won

Drawn

lost

Goals for

Goals against

v Kent College

(A) Drew 2 - 2

v King's Canterbury U15A (H) Drew 2 - 2

still managed to get back up and keep playing against City of london Freeman's School. Something the parents, players and mysel f will certainly not forget. We ll done girls for the great hockey season! ElE Team: Rosie Atkinson, Charlotte Bradley, lara Chapple, Marina Cooke, louise Ford, Alexandra Holt, Emma Hooper, Georgina Merriam, Alexandra Prescot, Claudia Tapp, Olivia Wacher, Pollyanna West, Rose Wi lson-Haffenden Also Played:Georgina Williams Results

Played

Won

v Cranbrook U15B (A) Won 11 - 0

Drew

v Felsted

(AlLost 1 - 7

lost

vKent U13A

(A)Won6-1

Goals for

v 5evenoaks

(H) Won4-0

Goals against

v 51. Bede's School (A) Won 5 - 1 v City of l ondon Freemen's

v Epsom College

(H)Won3-1

v Haileybury

(H) Won2-0

v Kent College

(H)Won4-1

Kent U14 Tournament: Runner Up

Played

Won

lost

(A) Drew 0 - 0

v 51. lawrence College (A) lost 1 - 2 v Felsted

(H) Won 1 - 0

v King's Rochester

(H) lost 0 - 1

v 5evenoaks

(H) Won 6 - 1

v Sutton Valence School U14A XI (H) lost 3 - 4 v City of london Freemen's (A) Drew 0 - 0

U14 B XI

v Duke of York's

(AlLost 1 - 4

I would describe the U14Bs as a team of personality, humour, fun and good hockey players. The season started well with the girls playing exceptionally, considering they have never played together before. The first game clearly depicted the girls are team players, with skills to match their upcoming opponen ts. The season saw many close matches, resulting in the girls having draws with Epsom College, City of london Freeman's School and Cranbook. Things seem to fall in to place when the U14Bs met Sevenoaks. In th is game, the girls' attacking skills were on great display winning the match 6-1 , with a strong defence breaking only once. Congratulations to Polly West and occasionally Charlotte Bradley for captaining a very social and skilful group of girls. Also thank you to Alex Holt who performed a great 360 somersault, and

v Cranbrook

(H) Drew 0 - 0

v Wellesley House

(H) lost 1 - 3

rotated around the pitch, forming the mid and forward lin es. These girls displayed the ir energy and motivation through dynamic play and team work, driving towards the goal and putting pressure on their opposition's defence. Before and after training sessions and matches, the team enjoyed Alice HJ's 'team chats', which served to inspire and motiva te the team with Alice's wise words of wisdom. Captain and talented mid-field player, Katy Schurr proved to be a key player and the team's proud leader and play-maker. Katy was an excellent captain and team player. She was named Player of the Season. Camilla Westlake worked hard in all aspects of the game to develop her skills and game play, always playing to her full potential. Camilla was named the Most Improved Player throughout the season. Thank you and congratulations to all players on a very enjoyable and fulfilling season of hockey. Anna Pank Team: Melissa Dear, Emily Hartland, Alice Hunter Johnston, Alice Huntrods, Yasmin Keel, Emma Kemp, Ondine King, Catherine Morpeth, Claire Pargeter, Amanda Redstone, Katherine Schurr (captain), Claudia lapp, Camilla Westlake Also Played: Marina Cooke, l ouise Ford, lucinda Holland, Georgina Merriam

Resul ts

Played Won lost

Drew

Goals for

Goals against

v Epsom College

U14CXI

(A) Drew 1 - 1

v King's Canterbury U15C (H) lost 1 - 3

The U14Cs certainly were a spirited team. When asked at the beginning of the season what they hoped to gain from their hockey train ing and matches over the next thirteen weeks, 'fun ' was what the girls came up with, and that, they undoubtedly did achieve! With the determined Claire in goal and the unrelenting defensive efforts of Camilla, Yasmin and Emma in protecting the circle, the team's defence was solid. Alice HJ, Alice H, Emily, Melissa, Catherine, Ondine, Amanda and Claudia

v Duke of York's

(A) lost 2 - 4

v City of london Freemen's (A) lost 0 - 4

v Sevenoaks

(A)Won2-1

v City of london Freemen's (H) lost 1 - 4

Basketball Senior Inter- Hou se Compet ition linacre started their defence of the cup with a comfortable win over a spirited and well-supported Tradescant side. If the outcome of the game could be judged on the warm up, then Tradescant led by "118" and "Calers" would have won. Despite the height ofTom Mills and Hugh

Davies. lin acre's confident ball handling demonstrated by Nick Gent, Ken Kam and Tim Maclehose led to the scoring of many baskets, despite the best efforts of

debutant David Deregowski for

Tradescant. School House were in front by 8 points in their first match, until Mr White's

appearance on the courtside jolted the Marlowe team into action, ably led by Tom Ransley and supported by Alfred Butrous and Ben Cryer on the fast breaks. Marlowe eventually won by just 4 points. Meister Omers looked comfortable in their opening match against Mitchinson's, whereas Galpin's were pushed hard by a young Grange side, Galpin's always had the height advantage of Andrew Northern and Karl Pau ls, plus the ball play of Ro land Bunge and Dan Gray to call upon. Grange had skilful individuals in Tunji l awson and Jackie Truong and a guest appearance for two baskets by Chuko Esiri. The semi-final between Meister Omers and Galpin's was very close and just after the Inter-house Rugby 7s. Meister Omers were always in the lead through ChongMin Chung and Ikenna Ukiwe and relied upon Alex King's height in defence. Galpin's never gave up and kept the scoring close until the last few minutes, where they took the lead through Andrew Northern and then put pressure on Meister Omers in the last play preventing them a score, to win by 1 point. In the other semi- final , lin acre entertained the crowd, going through their repertoire of tricks and scoring at will, despite the valiant efforts of Tom Ransley for Marlowe. The final saw the same two teams as last year. In front of very few supporters there was an intriguing competition between the flair of Linacre's individuals and the teamwork of their opponents, Galpin's. linacre looked in control in the form of Nick Gent as playmaker, [in the absence of Kenneth Kam) and the rebounding of Tim Maclehose and Faz

Akoi in attack, while Rhodes EdeworThorley and Joachim Wilcke were impressive in defence. Galpin's kept the ball well and through good positioning allowed Andrew Northern to keep the score ticking along, always pegging back linacre's lead. At half-time it was 12 points all and Linacre, with no substitutes, now had to rely on Nick Gent to sink some of his jump shots or 3 pointers, that he hit in the first half. In fact it was Roland Bunge and Andrew Northern who both successfully shot from the 3-point line that started to push Galpin's into the lead in the final part of the match. The last 3 minutes were very frantic with chances on both sides, but it was through a good passing move involving Dan Gray, Roland Bunge and fittingly the player of the competition, Andrew Northern who scored the last basket leaving Galpin's worthy winners, reversing the fortunes of last year. My thanks to all the houses for their support of this competition, which has to be squeezed into a Wednesday evening just after games and lessons. To Mr White and Miss Reed for helping with the refereeing duties and to our Gappers, Justin Benjamin and Murray Campbell. for their scoring and timekeeping. SEA Results linacre v Tradescan t

27 - 3

Marlowe v School House

14 - 10

Meister Omers v School House 39 - 2 The Grange v Galpin's

10 - 13

Semi Finals linacre v Marlowe

35 - 14

Meister Omers v Galpin's

13 - 14

Final Galpin's v Linacre

25 - 22

Winners : ll.aIp.iJis: Roland Bunge, Tom Burley, Dan Gray, Marcus Gwyer, Andrew Northern, Karl Pauls Runners up: J.i.na.cr.e:: Farid Akoi, Rhodes Edewor-Thorley, Nick Gent, Kenneth Kam, Tim Maciehose, Ato Peterside, Joachim Wilcke

live up to this time around. However, as basketball is an extra-curricular activity at Kings, it became increasingly difficult to fit it in alongside all the demands of sixth form work and sports. Although we had barely any practices as a whole team and some players dropped out altogether, we sent a squad of six to Hayes School to contest the 2nd round of the U19 Kent School's tournament (having received a bye in the 1st round). We lost the first quarter heavily [1 7-0J. due to three factors: Rustiness - having not played competitively for a considerable time. The opposition's physical style of play, The court, which had a completely different surface to ours, and some bizarre rings, which we re difficult to come to terms with. Nevertheless we overcame each of these factors and started to compete in the next quarter. With renewed confidence, we went from strength to strength, winning the third quarter and then putting in a titanic effort in the final quarter, which forced them to question whether we could achieve the unthinkable and go on to win the game. But unfortunately, it was too little too late, and Hayes prevailed by a twelve point margin. Chong-Min Chung led the team in scoring with his remarkably consistent shooting, and Tom Ransley's work rate was phenomenal, grabbing rebound after rebound, and surely breaking the record for the number of times a player has been pushed to the ground and then been called for travelling!?! The Galpins quartet (Roland Bunge, Andrew Northern, Dan Gray and Karl Pauls) all chipped in with valuable points and rebounds. I would like to thank Mr Anderson on behalf of the team for giving up his time to coach and organise our team for the past three years, reaching a high standard and putting our school on the basketball map. Results King's v Hayes School

30 - 42

Team : Roland Bunge, Chong-Min Chung, Dan Gray, Andrew Northern, Karl Pauls, Tom Ransley. Andrew Northern [G L)

King's Basketball After astonishingly reaching the final of the Kent Cup last year, we had a lot to

Association. The final fixture of the term was a match to be sailed against the Cadets of Downs Sailing Club at Deal, but as this match was postponed at the request of Downs SC we shall look forward to holding the fixture next year. The 2004 season promises to be very exciting. King's Sailing Club will be back on the water in March for a pre-season match against Sevenoaks and our first race train ing camp is planned for the end of the Easter holidays. However, I think it is important to remember that our sport is not just about winning. The enthusiasm with which our regular and novice sailors took part in training this term is a testimony to the fun that everyone had on and off the water. Well done to all those involved.

Results v Dover College (H)

Drawn

v Sevenoaks Gunio,,)

lost

Kent Schools Best position: P Spicer and E Watts, 14th /55

v Trinity School, Croydon

Won

v City of london

Won

v Tonbridge

lost

v Downs SC Cadets

Postponed

Team from: Catherine Gabriel (capt), Philip Spicer, Mickey le Blanc, Andrew Lewis, Edward Watts, Inese Smidre, Hannah Gold, Victoria Havercroft, Jack

.----' --.

Lawrence-Jon es, Helena Richardson.

Fencing This was an exceptionally busy term wi th competitions taking place most weekends.The club would like to give its thanks to Paul Romang for the dedication he puts in and to Jamie Millar. our new assistant coach. The term had an encouraging start. William Jennings (5th) gained a 3rd place at the liverpool Open, and Jacob Colligan (6b) seemed to have lost his 'gremlins' from previous years by coming second. The excellent results continued when we

took a virtual clean sweep at the Kent Championships in November. Special mention should be made of Christie Waddington who was first in all three weapons. Jacob once again produced a fine performance gaining a first in the foil and sabre. Newcomer Emma Turner (Remove) gained a first in the Ul6 girls' foil, with Harriet Johnston (5th) achieving the same in the Epee. At the South East Qualifiers Christie gained 1st place in the Sabre with Philippa Walker-Smith (6a) hard on her heels with second. Philippa had her revenge in the Epee where she gained 2nd place and Christie 3rd. Once again

Jacob produced a fine 2nd place in the sabre. Marc Chapman (6b) at last realised his potential with firsts in both the foil and Epee. These results enable the fencers to go to the Great Britain Championships, which determine the selection for the National teams. We wish them well. Finally, we would like to thank Mr Winrow-Campbell for his help and guidance as Master in charge. of fencing. He is now handing over to Mr Evans. but we are delighted that he will continue to help with coaching.

Final Words In a change to the conventional editorial, the final words is a new feature of The

Cantuarian, a further stage in the various changes taking place to modernise the magazine. As editor, it gives me great

pleasure to introduce this new aspect. yet it is certainly challenging in that to some

extent a precedent must be set and above all a good impression made. First and foremost, it is an opportunity to extend our immense gratitude to all those who have made contributions to this edition

as well as our appreciation to the entire editorial team who spend hours slaving over disks and poring over print to ensure The Cantuarian is as perfect as can be. Secondly, Final Words is also a chance to invite more contributions from pupils, staff and parents alike; variety is what makes King's and what makes The Cantuarian. The Cantuarian is essentially a collection of all things King's. It shows the wide

range of sports, music and drama on offer here and not only that but also the range of abilities within those aspects of school life. At King's there is no such thing as extra-curricular, everything is integral and crucially it is entirely unique in the same way that we, as individuals, are all unique. Annabelle Flower (JR)

THE CANTUARIAN Vol. LXVII No.2

Lent and Summer Term 2004

Contents page This and That

Valete

Obituaries

Points of View

Focus

Expeditions

Societies and Activities

Reports and Reviews

King's Week

Sport

Final Words

127

The Cantuarian Editorial committee: Catherine McDonagh, Diana Francis, Lee Rigley, Simon Wilson, Annabelle Flower, James Fish, Yordan Agov, Mohammed Abdalla, Hee-Jae Lim, Karan Katariya, Anna Hadfield, Robyn Ellis, Joshua Sutton, Chinedu Nwuba

7~&7W Edred Wright died on Saturday January 3rd. Edred joined the staff in 1955 and was Director of Music from 1958 until his retirement in 1978. His contribution to the School's music was outstanding. In November 2002, at the magnificent O.K.S. Jubilee Concert in his honour, he had unveiled a plaque that will go in the new Music School, to be named after him. A Service of Thanksgiving was held in the Cathedral on Friday, January 30th. Our condolences go to Jane, to Jeremy and Susie, and to his grandchildren. A tribute appears on page 16.

Requiescat

Ronald Smith, who taught piano at the School for some forty years, died on May 27th at the age of 82, just four days after giving his last recital at Hove. He was a virtuoso performer, not least at King's Week concerts, and was associated particularly with the music of Alkan, whom he championed. We send our condolences to his widow Anne and his daughter Becky. A tribute appears on page 18. Tony Wortham (SH/MO 1933-39) died on February 15th at the age of 84. He was Headmaster of Mount House, Tavistock from 1955 to 1984, and was a particularly loyal O.K.S., serving as President of the O.K.S. Association in the late 1980s. He has left the School a fund to recreate a Tradescant Garden at St Augustine's. Pat Davis, formerly a most distinguished badminton coach, died on Saturday February 21st at the age of 88. We were also sorry to hear of the death of Arthur Porter (MR 1927-32) on March 31st. He was Mayor and then Lord Mayor of Canterbury, and was, at crucial times, very helpful to the School. We send our condolences to his widow Annette, and his sons John (MO 1964-68) and David (MO 1973-75). The ashes of Kern and Su Gross were buried in the Galpin's garden in a small ceremony on -Thursday March 4th with the family present. The plaque by the Kern Gross tree has been inscribed accordingly. In the Lent Term we welcomed Mr Peter Wales, replacing Mrs Richardson away on maternity leave. We congratulate her on the birth of Anna on March 13th. Mr Wales is probably the first sometime (Lord) Mayor of Canterbury on the staff since John Twyne in the sixteenth century.

Common Room

And after you wait four centuries for one, two come along at once. Congratulations to Councillor Martin Vye (staff 1969-95) who was elected Lord Mayor on Wednesday May 12th. The School was well represented at the election ceremonies and at the official reception to celebrate his inauguration. He has already visited us in his official capacity, inspecting the C.C.F. and attending Speech Day, and the Lady Mayoress, Jennifer Vye, opened the St. Augustine's fete (in aid of her charity) on the Saturday of King's Week. We wish them both well for the rest of their year in office.

We congratulate Mr Paul Taylor on his appointment as Lower Master in September. He is at present a Housemaster at Tonbridge. He is no stranger to the School, having scored a century against the Common Room cricket team, the Canterbury Harvesters, at Canford in 1985. We are pleased to have him on our side. We congratulate Mr Mark Smiley and Miss Elisabeth Parish, sister of Priscilla (WL 1990-95), who were married at Frittenden on August 21st, and Mr Paul leeton and Miss Elizabeth Eardley, who were married at Alton Castle, Staffordshire on August 24th. We wish both couples every happiness. There are no signs of intellectual relaxation as Doctor Mallion nears retirement. On the contrary, and he has sent us copies of two of his recent articles to prove it. The first, entitled 'An Autobiographical Account of Chemical Graph Theory in the Years Surrounding the Launch of MATCH: an Oxford Participant's Highly Personal and Parochial Reminiscence about the Period 19691976', was published in Mathematische Chemie (MATCH for short) and is anecdotal and informal. The second, 'A Theorem for Counting Spanning Trees in General Chemical Graphs and Its Particular Application to Toroidal Fullerenes', is the result of a fivefold scholarly collaboration over ten years and appeared in a special issue of the well-regarded Croatica Chemica Acta. Mr Pollak was another of the co-authors. Mr Winrow-Campbell was Team Leader for the United Kingdom team at the International Biology Olympiad. Under his tutelage the team came second, with individual students (none from King's) securing two gold and two silver medals.

New Year Honours

We extend our warmest congratulations to Patrick Leigh Fermor (GR 1929-31), who received a richly deserved (and belated) knighthood in the Diplomatic and Overseas List for services to literature and to U.K.-Greek relations. If anyone needs a reminder of his literary distinction, then they can now turn to Words of Mercury, a recently published selection of his writings. It is edited by Artemis Cooper, who is actively preparing a biography. Also in the Honours List were Vice-Admiral John Armstrong (SH 1938-40), chief executive of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, who was awarded a C.B.E. for services to the property profession; and Hubert Chesshyre (GR 1954-59), the recently retired Secretary to the Order of the Garter, who received the C.V.O. Congratulations also go to Tim Brett (WL 1952), who was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent in April, and to Michael Spurr (LN 1969-70), who has been appointed Head of Westminster School. The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance was launched on International Dance Day, April 29th, at Otago University, New Zealand . Caroline, who was a gap student here in 1997, died of cancer last year and the trust has been set up in her memory. Those who would like further information or would like to contribute should visit the website www.carolineplummer.org.nz.

Caroline Plummer Memorial Trust

Chloe August and Sophia Leigh-Pemberton (both LX) were the winners in the enterprise category, sponsored by D. lsom printers, at the Canterbury district Try Angle Awards. These are for youngsters who have shown bravery or good citizenship. Chloe and Sophia were recognised for raising ÂŁ8,000 in aid of the Make a Wish Foundation and Scope by organising a fashion show. The event was held in the Shirley Hall on Saturday, January 31st. They were presented with their awards at a ceremony at Rutherford College, University of Kent at Canterbury, on Friday June 11th. A report of the Fashion Show itself appears on page 44.

Not puffed up

Left to right: Christine Payne from 'Make a Wish', Chloe August, Amy O'Sullivan, Georgina Emary and Sophie Leigh-Pemberton

A Talent Show was held in the Shirley Hall on Thursday, March 18th in aid of the Afghan Educational Trust. The judges were James Fox, Amanda England, Leslie Smith and Nigel Wheeler. The acts, varying from tap-dancing to 'beat box', entertained a packed hall. The winners were the singing duo of Emma Turner (HH) and Letitia Leigh-Pemberton (LX) - and the Trust, which received over £2,000. A full report appears on page ##. John Simpson, the B.B.C. World Affairs Editor, was the guest at a charity reception in the Chapter House and dinner in the dining hall on Friday March 12th. The occasion was in aid of Health Unlimited, which provides healthcare in developing countries. Bailey House, of course, was largely responsible for organising the evening. An account appears on page ##. Congratulations to ... the Under 16 team, who won the Higgins national indoor six-a-side hockey tournament at Worcester defeating Millfield 2-1 in the final. The team was: Katriona Pengelley (JR), Tania Hayes (WL), Katherine Lark (WL), Caroline Lawrence (JR), Rebekah Marsh (LX), Fenella Pengelley (JR), Emily Stewart (WL), Anna Storer (WL) and Sarah Ventress (WL). Katriona was the captain and Fenella was the tournament's top scorer.

Congratulatory Assembly

... the girls' open cross country team which won the Kent Schools' League, with Chloe Mitchell (MT), Anna Brown and Kara Kock (both LX) taking the first three individual places . ... the School's tennis teams, who excelled at the Kent Schools championship. We were the only school with teams in all four events. The Senior Boys - Jonathan Macfarlane (GR), Hamish Pound (LN), and last minute replacements Joachim Wilcke (LN) and Thomas Boucher (MT) - won their competition, defeating Langley Park in the semi-final and Colfe's in the final. On the same day, the Senior Girls - lphigenie Kiefer (BY), Frances Steel (HH), Pippa Tregear (HH) and Josceline Clayton (LX) - reached the final, only to lose to Benenden. The intermediate boys and girls both ~eached the semi-finals .

(M~· .

... Matthew Humphrey (MT), Paul Dixey (MR) and William Bruce who scored centuries for the 1st XI against Trinity, Croydon, K.C.S. Wimbledon and the Kent Under 17 XI respectively. Even more remarkable was the achievement of Hugh Alder (GL), who scored a century for the Under 14 C XI against Epsom College. They were each presented with a bat to mark the feat. ... the Director of Music, who ran the London Marathon in a fraction over 4 hours and raised £1,436 in aid of a Cheshire residential home. The School was well represented at the 10th annual Canterbury and District Sports Awards in January. Sports person aged 14 to 16 was cricketer Paul Dixey (MR), recognised as a member of the Kent C.C. Academy, the England Under 15 team, and the Under 17 squad. Sports person aged 17 to 24 was hockey player Juliet Chapman (WL), a member of the Canterbury Ladies team which also received the senior sports team of the year award for winning the Hockey Association Cup and finishing second in the National Indoor League.

Sports Persons

Both have more than justified this recognition. Juliet went on to win a silver medal with the Canterbury Ladies hockey side in the European Cup-Winners Cup competition at Easter, to add to the gold from last year's English cup final. The team won all their pool matches to reach the final, only to lose 2-3 by a lastminute goal to the host club Laren of Holland. Juliet scored twice in the first match and once in the second. And in the summer holidays, Paul made his debut for the county 2nd XI. As well as Paul and Juliet, eight other pupils have been members of international squads this year. The full list is: Paul Dixey: cricket; Juliet Chapman, Christopher Robinson and Jessica Watson: hockey; Olenka Hamilton: lacrosse; and Robert and William Jennings, Marc Chapman, Philippa Walker-Smith and Christie Waddington: fencing .

r·-4

SateH ite Radio

On Wednesday, January 28th, the Schoolroom was turned into a studio for the much hyped link-up with Michael Foale (SH 1970-74) on the International Space Station. The occasion was a great success, and it snowed. The B.B.C:s Peter Whittlesea (MT 1988-91) was the reporter on the spot, and although it was not exactly a slow news day, with the publication of the Hutton Report, the event featured prominently in the local bulletins. Alexander Shannon (MR) and Dr Allday, who has now come down to earth, were our eloquent spokesmen. A full report, and a transcript of the conversation, appears on page 24. It was a double welcome back for our Lent visitor Fr David Houlding. He is not only a former member of The Grange (1967-72), but also an 'old boy' of St Augustine's College. He is now Vicar of All Hallows, Gospel Oak, and Master of the Society of the Holy Cross. He was accompanied by Fr Robert Mackley, Curate of the Holy Redeemer Church, Clerkenwell. We hope that they both enjoyed the first week in March here, as much as we appreciated their Lenten Addresses and their company.

Lent Visitors

At the end of the Lent Term, a set of school playing cards was produced by the Young Enterprise company E.M.S. Each card had a portrait of a pupil or a member of staff. The aces in the pack were Peter Archer (clubs), the Captain of School, Hamish Pound (diamonds), Caroline Hobbs (hearts) and Mr leeton .(spades). The Queen of Hearts was Marina Kemp and the Jokers were the Chaplain and the Beadle.

King's Aces and Queens

During the Summer Term, the builders moved in on Birley's. The area beside the tennis courts was cleared, the groundsman's house was pulled down, and a new pavilion is rapidly rising. The old pavilion, which has stood since 1938 (except, of course, for the scorebox blown over in the 1987 hurricane) will be demolished when the new one is completed. At the same time, work has started on the expansion and upgrading of the artificial hockey pitch. This development of the field is, along with the Music School, one of the major projects of the King's School Foundation. Fundraising is in full swing, and the first major event in support of this is a sporting dinner and auction at Merchant Taylors' Hall on November 5th.

Birley's Field

One of the most enjoyable O.K.S. Reunions of recent years took place at St Augustine's on Saturday May 15th. Those invited were the girls who had entered the Sixth Form between 1971 and 1989. 58 Old Girls (if that is a not unchivalrous description) were present, including the pioneering Jane Pearce (MR 1971-73). Felicity Lyons (SH 1975-77) spoke in her own right, as well as on behalf of her husband Nicholas (MR/LN/BR 1972-77), the President of the O.K.S. The occasion was a delightful one in every respect, and much appreCiated by all who were there.

Special Sixth

It is a truth not yet universally acknowledged that Christopher Marlowe (KS c1579-81) was murdered at Deptford in 1593. He refuses to die quietly, and recent months have seen a more than usually fruitfuJ outpouring of Marlovian literature. David Riggs with The World of Christopher Marlowe has much of interest about King's and Canterbury; Rodney Bolt with History Play: the Lives and Afterlives of Christopher Marlowe 'playfully' takes the staging of Marlowe's death as its starting point; and Louise Welch's novel Tamberlaine Must Die allows the imagination even freer rein. Michael Dobson's article in the August 19th edition of the London Review of Books is a notably sane assessment of the present state of scholarship on the subject. There appears to be no shortage of ammunition for anyone within or without the School who is thinking of tackling the Hoffman Marlowe Prize.

1593 and All That

O.K.S. authors have long taken an interest in the activities of Central Asian rulers. By a nice coincidence, John Man (WL 1954-60) published his major study of Genghis Khan just a few weeks before Justin Marozzi (MR 1984-89) came out with his Tamer/one. After Marlowe

Closer to home, subject-wise, is James Hamilton-Paterson (WL 1955-61 ), who was featured in a substantial Guardian Profile by lan Thomson in the issue of June 5th. His novel Cooking with Fernet Branca was very favourably reviewed (and long-listed for the Booker Man Prize). It should be of particular interest to those who holiday in Tuscany. We are very grateful to Jeremy Mallinson (MO 1950-54) who has sent us a copy of his latest book The Count's Cats. After a career in zoos and conservation, the subjects of his previous works, he has written a story of 'adventure, vengeance, intrigue, jealousy and friendship among cats', set in a chateau on the French Riviera in the 1930s. Our warmest congratulations also go to Charlotte Mendelson (SH/BS 1989-91) who won a Somerset Maugham Award for her novel Daughters of Jerusalem. She is the second O.K.S. to do so, following on from Peter Benson (WL 1969-71) in 1991. Somerset Maugham himself continues to attract interest. We are grateful to Jeffrey Meyers, who has sent us a copy of his biography of Maugham, partly researched here. Lady Selina Hastings, who is working on another biography, recently visited the Maugham Library and the Archives. She has sent us a copy of her Evelyn Waugh for the Library, and we look forward to her take on WSM. March 24th was the GOth anniversary of the 'Great Escape', when 76 prisoners of war broke out from Stalag Luft Ill in Silesia. Some sections of the press paid undue attention to Steve McQueen and his motorbike. It was good to see, therefore, that Squadron Leader 'Jimmy' James (HH 1928-32), who really did escape and is one of just six survivors, was duly honoured at a reunion at the Imperial W<J.r Museum. The Great Escape

Mock Election

In June staff and pupils had the opportunity to vote in a European election organised by the Politics Department. The School was divided into constituencies, and the results determined by the party list system. The Conservatives won 23 seats, Greens 10, Liberal Democrats 8, Labour 3 and UKIP 3. Meanwhile, in the real thing, Richard Ashworth (SH 1960-64) was elected as a member of the European Parliament for the South East region. Among those invited to this year's Buckingham Palace summer garden parties were harpist Camilla Pay (MR 1992-97) and our own Mrs Bev Skilton, of the Lattergate office, who was recognised for her work as Chair of Governors of Stelling Minnis School. Garden Parties

It has been a magnificent year for leading British rower Frances Houghton (WL 1993-98). Having Olympians won a World Cup gold medal in the women's quadruple sculls, she went on to win a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games. She has already vowed to go one better at Beijing. We also congratulate Georgina Harland, who won a bronze medal in the Modern Pentathlon in Athens. Her mother Claire coaches swimming at the Recreation Centre and Georgina has done some of her own training there. In August Natalie Greer (JR) was one of a group of ten people who swam the Hellespont. The 27 kilometres were covered in four days and this exceptionally challenging sponsored swim enabled Natalie to raise over ÂŁ1,000 for the Mary Sheridan Centre in Canterbury. This is a physiotherapy unit for children, who may suffer from conditions such as cerebral palsy, juvenile arthritis or brittle bones. Being covered in petroleum jelly was undoubtedly worth it. Byronic Heroine

d th G eat Alexander Shannon (MR), already successful in the national Chemistry and Physics competitions, was exan er e r selected as one of the six members of the British team for the International Mathematics Olympiad in Athens. He won a bronze medal and the team came 20th out of 85 competing nations. When the A level results came out, Alex had secured 8 A grades, and he was featured in the national press and on the television as probably the most successful A level student in the country. (His record equalled that of Ronjoy Sanyal (MT 1997-2002) two years ago, and stands as a challenge to their successors.) We wish Alex well at Christ's College, Cambridge. We were interested to hear from Dr Paul Humberstone, sometime Lower Master, who has now recovered from keyhole surgery on his ankle. The operation was performed by Simon Moyes (MR Masters 1971-76) and the video of the inside of the offending limb is available for the archives. Dr Humberstone also tells us that he is responsible for organising the team that will inspect the School early next year. He is not of course, allowed to join in the fun himself, but he will no doubt take a keen interest in proceedings. His boss is Tony Hubbard (MO 1959-64), and it is reassuring to know that our fate is in such good hands. Inspecting Lower

Heads

There is a new picture in the Shirley Hall. Perched above Henry VIII and Christopher Marlowe is a copy of a portrait of Richard Monins (1692-1750), who was both O.K.S. (1704-11) and Headmaster (1734-47). It was painted by Oliver Trowell (staff 1981-89), from a photograph of the original, now in Jersey. We are grateful to the late lan Monins, who gave permission for the photograph to be supplied, and to Robin Pittman (staff 1966-78) for his assistance in obtaining it. The family also has a portrait of John Monins, son of the Headmaster and another O.K.S., who was responsible for the building of Walpole House c1780. Anthony Phillips (Headmaster 1986-96) is also represented in the same corner of the Hall. He dropped by in person during the

summer holidays and kindly gave us a collection of schools' histories, given to him personally when Imps of Promise was being produced. Both the Archives and the Library are grateful for the gift. If you keep your head down, you can see the red crowns painted on the pavement of Palace Street through the Borough and into Northgate. These signify that this area is now designated the Kings Mile. (The apostrophe appears to be optional.) A Festival (and street party) over the weekend of 19-20 June launched this enterprise, which is intended to remind shoppers and tourists that there is more to Canterbury than the main shopping centre and in particular that there are many interesting small shops in this area. All of which may be further encouraged by the fact that Palace Street (which is rapidly becoming a King's half-mile) is now pedestrianised between the hours of 10.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. as an experiment. Point de Vue

We are grateful to Dr Maltby for bringing to our attention the 7-13 April issue of the French magazine Point de Vue. This contained an article on the King's School, illustrated by what appears to be a photograph of Eton College Chapel. Among the more interesting pieces of information, the King's School was apparently: "fondee au XXe siecle par un directeur visionnaire"; former pupils are: "le top model Jacquetta Wheeler, l'ecrivain Patrick Leigh Fermor, et le joueur de cricket David Gower"; "elle possede un uniforme elegant tres traditionnel"; and "l'enseignement y est exigeant done pas de place pour ceux qui ne peuvent pas suivre, et les enfants rentrent chez eux epuises Ia fin de chaque trimestre." We were pleased to see from a later edition that Toby Alleyne-Gee (LX 1979-84) was able to point out in impeccable French, that "Ia King's School est Ia plus ancienne ecole d'Angleterre, meme plus ancienne qu'Eton!" and to correct some other errors. ("Et comme vous voyez, Ia King's School, j'ai eu un prof de fran~ais genial!")

The last School photograph was taken in 2000 as part of a 'traditional' five year cycle. This summer the Lower Master agreed to a request to bring the event forward a year. The School Monitors, it seems, were reluctant to be remembered in perpetuity in their Shell personae. The result was pleasing, but we see a slippery slope. Snap Judgement

The May edition of Your Family Tree, the magazine for amateur genealogists, included an article on education records which featured a page from the King's School Register 1859-1931. This served to illustrate just how much it is possible to glean about someone's schooldays, taking Somerset Maugham (KS 1885-89) as an example. This volume has always been very useful, and it now has a worthy successor. A King's School Canterbury Register 19302000 has been prepared with great care and attention to detail by Robert Scott (staff 1956-91 ). It is a magnificent piece of work, and although it is at present only available in a very limited edition, it has already proved its worth to researchers, and indeed to the compiler of 'This and That'. School Register

A Âˇ

t d M d On Monday June 14th we delighted to welcome His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and nclen an O ern Catholicos of All Armenians on the final day of his first official visit to the United Kingdom. Armenia was the first Christian country in the world, converting in the early fourth century, nearly two hundred years before Augustine arrived in Canterbury. It was a particular honour, therefore, to meet representatives of an institution even older than the King's School. At morning coffee, our guests were able to meet our own Miss Astin, who has Armenian ancestors, and they were also very much interested in the carpet with Armenian features in the Common Room. After a tour of the School, there was a lunch in the St Augustine's undercroft. As it was the birthday of the Archbishop of Canterbury, our Visitor on an unofficial visit a discreetly candled cake was added to the menu. And Dr Mallion will be pleased to hear that the party included Mr TerGrigorian, Videographer, so that the event was properly recorded for posterity. On Saturday July 3, the 21st Oxfordshire blue plaque was unveiled at 2 Brad more Road, Oxford. It commemorates Walter (KS 1853-58) and Clara Pater, described, respectively, as 'Author and Scholar' and 'Pioneer of Women's Education'. They lived there from 1869 to 1885. To reinforce the O.K.S. connection, William Thomas (LX 1950-54) of Christ Church spoke on Pater's time at the King's School. Walter is well known, and Clara should be. She was a member of the Oxford branch of the Association of Education for Women that helped establish Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall, the first women's halls (later colleges), and when Somerville opened in 1879, she was its Classics tutor. Blue Pla_ques

Coincidentally, the Times Literary Supplement of August 20th included an illustration of Richard Samuel's 1778 picture 'The Nine Living Muses of Great Britain', with portraits of two sisters of O.K.S., Elizabeth Carter and Catharine Macaulay. Mr Pollak feels a sisterly thesis coming on. While on the subject of plaques, Canterbury City Council has recently honoured Joseph Conrad as well as Sidney Cooper and lan Fleming in this way. Isn't it about time that we had a blue plaque scheme of our own? The Christ Church University College's Gifted and Talented summer school, held during August is part of the government's programme to broaden the educational experience of the country's ablest youngsters. The School played its part by providing the Space Science programme, under the expert guidance of Dr Allday and Dr Taylor. Good use was made of the laboratories as well as of the Green Court. G and T

The School also organised and hosted a Conference for Sixth Form Historians on Thursday March 18th. St Mary's Hall and the Schoolroom were the venues for speakers from the University of Kent at Canterbury and Canterbury Christ Church University College. Pupils from a number of local schools attended, and the occasion was a great success.

Valete Brian Turner

qualities were obvious, despite his shaggy appearance".

Brian Turner has retired after 35 years of highly distinguished service at King's, most recently as Lower Master. Appointed by Canon Newell in 1969, after a short period of teaching at his old school, Watford Grammar, his impact was immediate: even allowing for the more relaxed attitudes of the time, Brian's shoulder-length hair created something of a sensation. But, to paraphrase something which he said to me at the time, any school willing to take him on, despite his appearance, was the sort of school in which he was happy to teach. Moreover, as the present Headmaster said in his remarks on Brian's final Speech Day, presumably having looked through the files, " his

It is much to the credit of Canon Newell and the then Head of History and Master of Studies, R.W. Harris, that they saw these qualities, for it was these which helped him to be such a successful teacher, Head of Department, Housemaster, Director of Studies and, finally, Lower Master, as well as such a fine colleague and friend. As a teacher, Brian was first and foremost an excellent historian, befitting his background as a Scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge and therefore from the same "Jack Plumb" stable as his distinguished contemporary, Simon S~hama. It was History that Brian was Ja ppointed to

teach and his love of the subject, especially its "broad sweep", together with his obvious intellectual gifts, shone through his teaching and not just of History. As was not unknown in those days, a late need arose for teaching in another department and it fell to me to break the news to him on his arrival, newly married and new to the school and area, that his help in the teaching of Economics, specifically British Economy and Economic History, was urgently requested. His protestations that he knew little or nothing of either discipline and that, without notice, he had had no time to prepare, were understood but to no avail. It was enormously to his credit that he accepted the situation and, armed with the syllabus, textbook and appropriate advice, his sheer intellectual ability and application enabled him to make a great success also of teaching these subjects. Later he added the teaching of Politics to his repertoire, with equal success. Though perfectly capable of what were in those days quite innovative approaches (a hugely enjoyable school trip to Normandy, which he organised in 1972 to follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror, is a striking example), Brian's teaching style can best be described, with approbation, as "rigorous". He expected pupils principally to listen carefully, discuss, make notes and to write wellresearched essays. The great majority responded well to such first-class teaching, achieving exceptional results. Unsurprisingly, quite a number of former pupils who have themselves gone on to achieve distinction in their careers have paid public tribute to the inspiration which Brian gave them through his teaching. It was no surprise, therefore, that he was in 1972 asked to take over as Head of Economics (later Economics and Politics), a post he held for an extraordinary 23 years. Under his leadership, the "EcPol" Department became one of the most successful in the school and one of the leading such departments in the country. The Daily Mail once ran an article on the school's Economics results, intrigued to discover how any school could do so well. Brian ran the department with a very light touch, trusting his colleagues to get on

Brian Turner

with things without needless interference and constant review, to the extent that none of them have any clear recollection of any departmental meetings during that near quarter century, or perhaps not more than one every five years or so. But we all knew who the leader was and who could rig htly take the overall credit for the department's success, one which was in directly recognised by Brian's appointment by the then 0 and C Board as Chief Examiner in Economics, with specific responsibility for Economic History. In 1976, Canon Pilkington appointed Brian (up to that point a tutor in the old Luxmoore) as Housemaster of Marlowe, then the only day house, with -at its peak- 108 pupils crammed into quite inadequate facilities. Succeeding the legendary and longserving Paul Pollak was a tough proposition but Brian soon showed his considerable pastoral skills, becoming a very effective and successful Housemaster. Nonetheless, it must have been a relief to him when Canon Pilkington quickly recognised the need for a second day house and it was Brian who masterminded the transition from one to two houses, both now to be fully co-educational. He opted himself to move with three of the Marlowe tutors and their tutor sets to start up Mitchinson's in March 1982 in the splendid new building in the Mint Yard. It was one of his proudest moments when the late Queen Mother came in 1981 to open Mitchinson's formally and to be presented to her. Brian completed his twelve years as Housemaster in 1988, having been being very well respected by pupils and parents alike. David Goodes, one of his tutors and close friend, emphasises the extremely caring attitude which Brian showed to his charges, many of whom live still in the local community and who remain indebted to Brian's care and guidance. There then followed some years when Brian's future direction looked a little unclear, but, on the retirement of Chris Millar in 1995, Canon Phillips invited applications from both external and internal candidates to succeed him as a newly-styled Director of Studies. Brian put his hat in the ring, no doubt seeing hi mself as very much an outsider and it may have been even to his own surprise t hat he got the job. As one who was present said to me, however, as soon as Brian got the opportunity to express his ideas at interview, it was absolutely cl ear who should be appointed. It was an inspired appointment, as Brian

quickly showed his considerable administrative and management skills. At a time when the post involved some functions which were later delegated to others, such as the arranging of cover lessons, and with less formal assistance, this was an exceptionally demanding post. Ultimately Brian had to take responsibility for maintaining and increasing the school's academic standards in an ever more competitive environment, driven inexorably by league tables. Colleagues and pupils responded well to his leadership and initiatives, not least because they knew that he personally cared about them and their welfare. For example, Brian unfailingly enquired about anyone whom he knew to be ill or in distress, doing all he could to help. It was a fitting choice, therefore, when Canon Wilkinson appointed Brian as the 5oth Lower Master, when Paul Humberstone retired in 1999. His formal role as a member of the Cathedral Foundation was to lead the King's Scholars and to liaise in the organisation of services between the school and the cathedral. This he did with appropriate efficiency and dignity, in keeping with the ancient tradition of the office and also with his life-long commitment to the church. His spirituality was also obvious in the brilliant and never-to-be-forgotten sermon which he delivered at Matins in his last term. The Lower Master is also Deputy Head, of course, and in Brian's case, this meant first deputy. This role is by its nature less obvious to the outside world, but is is clear from Canon Wilkinson's tributes just how highly he regarded his deputy, drawing attention particularly to his "wit, knowledge and understanding". It is also clear that standards of discipline have been maintained and that Brian's skill in dealing with prospective parents has helped keep the school more full than it has ever been. It is appropriate, therefore, that he has been asked in retirement to represent the school in links with possible projects abroad and to continue to contribute to the school's link with proposed new academy in Folkestone. Senior management also brought Brian some unexpected "perks", such as an invitation to go abseiling with the CCF in North Wales and another to tour the United States with the Crypt Choir. As a Common Room colleague, Brian made an immediate impression, and not just because of his hair. His interest in horse racing quickly gained him "street cred" among the pupils, but also an

enthusiastic following among the staff. The most surprising people clamoured to join the syndicate he formed to invest in Saturday race meetings and to enjoy the weekly rush of adrenalin, his expert knowledge ensuring that the initial "pot" lasted many months. A shared passion for racing was also the source of his long friendship with the late Colin Fairservice. Brian later revealed himself as a keen and far from incompetent cricketer, batting once with David Gower for the Haymakers and captaining the team on the occasion of its most famous victory: having been bowled out by Barham for 21, yet winning by three runs. As a Harvester, Brian is best remembered for a brilliant instinctive catch at Milborne Port in 1971, which he was rumoured still to be re-enacting in the classroom until quite recently. More seriously, and probably unknown and unacknowledged by most, Brian worked for many years as a senior member of relevant committees to help oversee the school's finances, his shrewd financial brain being always deployed for the benefit of the school as a whole and of colleagues in particular. As a friend, none could be better and those of us who have been fortunate enough to count him as such can only feel enormously privileged to have done so. Finally, in all this, of course, Brian has been supported by Janet without whom, as he has publicly acknowledged, he could not possibly have achieved as much as he has and to whom the school is also hugely indebted. With Anna and Lee and Becky, they will be greatly missed and we wish them every happiness in their retirement in their lovely new home in Faversham DJR, with thanks to PGH.

Jonathan Allday Jonathan Allday came to King's thirteen years ago as the youngest member of the Physics department. Jonathan has never been 'an ordinary teacher' and his abilities have been recognised as he moves now to higher things. He leaves us having been Head of Physics and Head of Science. His most significant legacy could well be his bridging role between the distinguished and long serving department in place when he arrived and the equally distinguished thriving new department he leaves behind. Under Jonathan, the Physics department was fun to be part of. It was bubbling

an d the Schrodinger wave equation were un iquely privileged to be taught by a top flight Physicist. Even the Particle Physics section of the Salters' A level cou rse seemed to be largely Jonathan's work! (His PhD thesis was on 'The Strange Quark'.) Encouragement of the very gifted is as much part of the role of a school like King's as bringing the whole cohort through and Jonathan did both. How many schools would be brave enough even to allow the making of Tesla coils let alone letting the massive sparks be demonstrated in a tent in King 's Week? Jonathan is the author of several very well received books ('The Apollo Missions', 'Quarks, Leptons and the Big Bang', 'Light and Sound' as well as a massively successful textbook 'Advanced Physics' written with Steve Adams) and he combines a friendly, informal and approachable style with a determination never to cut corners so that the Physics is explained at every stage.

Jonathan Al lday

with new ideas, very friendly, sometimes hilarious, always co-operative and sociable. Jonathan had the confidence to ask others for suggestions and the expectation that everyone was as genuinely interested in the subject as he was boosted the self-confidence of the department and the expectation that everything would be done as well .as possible. As Head of Physics and also as Head of Science Jonathan had the skill to cope with the nightmare of coursework, internal moderation, project work and inspection without losing sight of what was really important - the nurturing of a love of Science. Head of Science is a job requiring vision and the ability to find solutions to complex problems and keep the team together without stifling the initiatives and ambitions of some very talented and unusual people - not at all easy, but he did it.

He is a dedicated communicator. His Sixth Form talks and lectures to the Harvey Society (to which high flying younger pupils were welcome) were given with such expertise and flair that even non-specialists were able to understand a lot about some pretty Âˇabstruse subjects with plenty of telling detail which only an enthusiast would think of. Did you know, for instance, that the computing power available to send men to the Moon is exceeded significantly in your domestic washing machine? Or that the first American in space was a monkey called Ham? Topics ranged from WMAP (the mapping of the microwave background and radiation in space - the last glimmer of the Big Bang) to the authenticity of the Turin Shroud. High flying pupils who attended his Extension Classes which covered such first year University topics as Quantum Mechanics, vector calculus, relativity

Schoolteachers, even of Science, can lose touch with what is going on at the forefront of their subject. Jonathan kept us in contact with Real Physics with, for example, the encouragement of trips to CERN, visits to places like the Aston Martin factory and of course arranging the amazing contacts with Michael Foale (OKS), the astronaut. The whole visit of the Foale family three years ago, culminating in two talks by Michael to pupils, was one of those truly inspirational events which noone will forget. Later on the arrangement of the day when a radio link enabled pupils to talk to Michael aboard the International Space Station was another stunning achievement. Jonathan is definitely not your caricature drab science teacher with leather patched elbows! For a start his PhD gown dazzles! He cut a dash in straw hat. sandals and shades as he walked to his bright yellow Fiat- now superseded by a dignified Citroen which talks to him. It never ceases to amaze that someone as busy in the Science world would also have considerable pastoral duties as a tutor, would take on many drama and theatre productions and also be involved with running school sport. Anyone who looks at the results of Squash matches during the time Jonathan ran the sport can only be amazed at the success he encouraged and he also helped with cricket another sport he loves.

I remember fondly Jonathan's very fu nny production of 'The Dracula Spectacular' with pupils of Walpole and The Grange with the Lawson brothers in green wellies acting their hearts out to impersonate cretinous Transylvanian peasants. No Staff Review would be com plete without Jonathan doing the Rowan Atkinson school roll call. Some remember his 'Plectrum!'; others remember 'Heisenberg! Heisenberg? Make your mind up Heisenberg: During King's Week Jonathan regularly re-enacted the Goon Shows. I hope he finds in Essex some kindred spirits who love the Goons, Dr Who and t he Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; fo r it is to the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook - the largest HMC co-ed school in East Anglia - that Jonathan moves as Director of Studies. We wish Jonathan, Carolyn and their three boys every happiness and success. We are to ld that the garden of their new house is big enough for cricket and can only reg ret that the boys will end up playing fo r Essex and not Kent. Hugh Aldridge

and contacts. Demanding very high levels of interest, competence and industry from his pupils, Mo has proved himself a first-class teacher at all levels and the examination results of his sets have been excellent. The Science Research Initiative has been a t remendous tribute to Mo's abi lity, energy and tenacity. He gained support and sponsorship from Pfizer Central Research, AstraZeneca and The Royal Society for Chemistry amongst others, as the various organisations soon realised that his plans were unrivalled in schools in this country. The vision and sheer hard work required to arrange two science conferences for schools from all over the UK. were considerable and 'Challenges in Science' (1999) was followed by the even more successful 'Frontiers of Science (2001 )'. With no less than six FRSs giving lectures, nearly 500 delegates and over thirty schools exhibiting their research projects, the day showed British science education at

its very best. The first of a series of editions of the nationally circulated science magazine for Sixth Fo rm students, 'N-Lighten', was launched in 1998. This publication gave King's students, and others from around the country, the chance to write articles about up-to-date issues and research. One of the editions won The Stationers' Company Pre- media Cup, demonstrating not only the academic quality of the contents, but also the design quality of the magazine itself. Perhaps the most exciting part of the initiative, however, was the original biochemical research carried out by chemistry students at King's. The first team had their work published in the international journal 'Tetrahedron Letters' and were awarded The Royal Society Prize by the Princess Royal at the British Youth Science Fair. A new team won The British Association Prize a year later and further success followed, with, in consecutive years, five students winning prestigious scholarships to the Weizman

Mo Afzal Wh en Mo was appointed to the Science Department at King's, it was with the joi nt objectives of securing an outstanding teacher of Chemistry and someone who would have the initiative, expertise, energy and connections to raise the profile of an already successful an d flourishing department. He soon produced the blueprint of his vision for th e future and the post of Director of t he Science Âˇ Research Initiative was created for him. Surviving with very little sleep and working hours that would have produced burn-out in most, he achieved remarkable success in a short space of time and an attempt to do justice to his efforts follows later. A perfectionist who sets very high standards for himself, Mo expects the sa me from others, but is also friendly, ou tgoing and good company. Many of Mo's chemistry pupils have been inspired by his active involvement in 'cutting edge' science. He was awarded his PhD from St. Andrew's during his first year at King's and is now an honorary research fellow at University College, London, supervising PhD students. He is fully aware of the latest scientific discoveries and his lessons benefit from his anecdotes from t he world of academia, in which he is well-known and has a wealth of friends

Mo Afza l

Institute, to collaborate with young scientists from all over the world. Gold medals in the British Chemical Olympiad were secured and both TV and radio made a series of visits to King's. Once upon a time on the Leicestershire CCC staff, Mo played cricket to a very high standard and he ran the 1st XI with great success from1999 to 2002. During this time he was instrumental in gaining the services of ex-Kent Captain Alan Ealham as a coach for both the senior school and for JKS, and he also expanded the fixture list for a variety of the school's teams. He expected very high standards from his charges, both on and off the field, and instilled in them the virtues of aggression and sportsmanship - at least one of which was learnt while playing in the Yorkshire Leagues! A high spot of his four years at the helm was the tour for both boys and girls - to Barbados. Mo's energies were not exhausted by his dedication to science education and his whole-hearted involvement with cricket. He also recognised the urgent need to create opportunities for the education of girls and women in postTaliban Afghanistan and, with the help of contacts such as lmran Khan and Baroness Susan Greenfield, founded the Afghan Educational Trust. for which he has worked enthusiastically for some years now. Much of his holiday time has been spent in Afghanistan and Pakistan overcoming considerable obstacles - and experiencing dangers along the way - in setting up new schools. Whilst not everything has gone smoothly, the Trust has made a very significant impact on the lives of many young women. Fund-raising has been an essential part of the Trust's activities and Mo has been tireless in his pursuit of money for this good cause. He exploited his contacts in the cricket world to the full when he brought a Bunbury Club celebrity XI, and an impressive selection of Kent and international players, to Birleys.The afternoon was a memorable one and, with the help of large numbers of pupils and staff, made a considerable profit for the Trust. Undoubtedly the most exciting personal moment of Mo's involvement with the Trust was when he met Sue. In typical whirlwind style, or so it seemed to most of us, Mo returned from holiday in Australia married, after a wedding on the Gold Coast. I am pleased to report that his all night work sessions in the labs have not been in evidence since the happy event!

As a tutor in Grange, Mo's efforts have helped to foster an increasingly positive academic atmosphere. Initially he could not understand why some of his tutees lacked the zest for study that he has always had, and he set about persuading them that his path was the correct one. A few may have felt that he was always on their backs, but slowly the message got through and they began to reap the rewards that his tenacity and concern provided for them. Through his work for the Afghan Educational Trust Mo raised the boys' awareness of the need to dedicate time, effort and money to charitable organisations. He also soldiered on with the least popular, Friday night duty, only asking for a change in his last two years: "marriage oblige". Mo is moving on to become Head of Science at Warwick S~hool, where he immediately faces thl ' exciting challenge of masterminding the construction of a new Science Department on a budget approaching ÂŁ7 million. Judging from his recent redesign of his laboratory at King's, we

Taryn Oldacre

can be sure that he will accomplish the task with efficiency and imagination. Working with the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth, Mo is already in the process of creating a national consortium of schools dedicated to improving post-16 science education. The essential thrusts are based on the pattern of activities original research, the publishing of a widely circulated magazine and the regular staging of national science conferences - that he developed so successfully at King's and we are delighted that he wants us to be one of the participating schools. Pupils at King's have been extremely fortunate to have had as a teacher and mentor someone of Mo's calibre as a scientist and someone who is such a passionate advocate for science. We wish Mo and Sue good luck, fulfilment and happiness for the future - King's loss will be Warwick's gain. CJRJ

Taryn 0/dacre

Taryn was appointed to teach Biology and Chemistry in 2001. She had trained to be a teacher of Science in South Africa and had taught for a year in London before coming to King's. Taryn had a less conventional background t han others in the departments since her degree was in Physiotherapy. However, these skills were put to good use as she fulfilled the role of resident t utor and matron in Harvey House for t wo years. As a teacher Taryn quickly established herself as someone who was we ll-organised, popular and who had qu iet authority. Pupils taught by 'Miss 0' did well. Outside of the classroom Taryn was a committed coach of U 16 and U14 netball and was one of the staff who travelled to Canada with the tour party earlier last year. A number of pupils will also be grateful to Taryn for her help with cooking on Thursdays as part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. She will be greatly missed in both departments, in the house and in the school in general. She now takes up a new position as teacher of Biology at the Harrodian School in London. DMA

Dane Fuller Dane Fuller

Dane joined the Boat Club Coaching team two years ago, eager to show his expertise as a New Zealand Lightweight Single Sculler. In the Autumn term he could often be seen gracefully sculling on Westbere Lake before the pupils arrived for their outings. He began coaching the Shells, and although he would have preferred the more experienced athletes, he got down to organising them and teaching them all with great enthusiasm. This was characteristic of Dane's willingness to accept any task given him without com plaint. His hard work and logical t hinking was a great help to Zara Tho mpson and Andy Turner in the org anisation of the S.E. Junior 14 Rowing league, the first event to be hosted by the Boat Club. This event has now grown to provide a six venue event circuit for youngsters from all over the South East. Du ring his time at King's, Dane made ma ny friends, both in rowing and particularly socially, his dry sense of humour and eye for talent was quite unique. Dane was adventurous and loved to travel in his holidays, partly to see the sights and partly perhaps because he thought there was more room in his suitcase than in his accommodation. His travels took him all

over Europe, Russia, Nepal and Egypt giving him plenty of interesting tales to tell. When Dane arrived in The Grange two years ago and his status in the school remained a mystery for him and me for a while. However, he was keen to get involved in the House and his offer of help was quickly taken up. Over the past two years, he has been a superb resident tutor. Nothing is ever too much or too late for Dane and desperate calls to be on duty within five minutes have been gracefully answered on several occasions. He managed to strike the right balance in creating a rapport with the boys and the metamorphosis from Dane the rowing coach to Mr Fuller was a success. In addition to having to endure the noise emanating from the television room below his flat. Dane also had to suffer the disconnection of the TV plug every night. just as the boys did! Regular Saturday morning phone calls took place this year when New Zealand was on Sky, thrashing some poor European side at rugby, with Dane asking if the TV could be switched on again. With a Frenchman at the helm, one might be forgiven to think that a New

Zealand rowing coach might feel the need to mention a little quarrel between our two countries, but no ship was sunk and a peaceful collaboration enabled us both to look beyond the rainbow! Now on his way to Toulon, a famous French port. Dane looks thrilled at the prospect of learning French and teaching English in Provence. I wish him all the best and hope to go and visit him in situ at some stage over the next few years. Andy Turner/MPHD

Courtenay Fisher Ms Courtenay Fisher joined the staff of The King's School, Canterbury in September 2002. She was employed initially to teach Lacrosse. Later she was appointed as a Resident Tutor and taught Economics and History of Art. Courtenay is a person of integrity and loyalty. Her very strong work ethic has been evident in all that she has undertaken as a member of staff at King's and she always performed her duties in a professional, methodical manner. She gave generously of her time beyond the parameters normally associated with her position. She is an

extremely creative person, who is never afraid to try new methods and ideas. These qualities undoubtedly contributed to her new venture into the business world. EB Courtenay was a much loved Resident Tutor of Luxmoore for one year. She was always admired by the girls for her very stylish wardrobe! A great help to me in my first year as Housemistress, Courtenay will be missed by us all, but we wish her luck for her future and thank her for all she has contributed to the House. SAP

Emma Egan Emma joined the PE and Games departments as a replacement for Kate Jenkinson. She took her degree in Physical Education and Teaching at Newcastle University (Australia) and taught for two years at the Cathedral School of St. Anne and StJames in Queensland, before heading abroad for some experience of teaching in England. After a spell of teaching in London, Cornwall and Reading, Emma ended up at King's and proved to be an enthusiastic and energetic teacher of PE. Her expertise in swimming and

Emma Egan

water polo was invaluable with both Shell and Remove classes and she

successfully motivated the Shells in their Dance course. While based at the Recreation Centre, Emma made good use of the fitness suite and added to her aerobic instructors qualifications by undertaking a 'spinning' course. Both pupils and staff were then introduced to this new form of bike work, which had several members of the Common Room commenting on discovering muscles that they never knew existed! Emma's contribution to the PE department extended to the summer activities of Athletics and Softball, as well as teaching the AS module of Contemporary Studies. I am grateful for her help in setting up a database of resources for the PE AS course and for her efficiency in recording the pupil's performance in lessons. She was a positive and well organised teacher, who found the life in Canterbury to be in the 'slow lane' compared to London and so has moved on to teach at a prep school in Battersea. I wish her well and thank her for her short, but positive contribution to the department. SEA

Courtenay Fisher

Jaspreet Kaur Jaspreet taught in London for two years bef ore coming to King's in 2003. Prior t o t hat, she taught in an independent school in the foothills of the Himalayas. As a resident tutor in Harvey House she was always available to help individuals with their problems. After a year in Canterbury, Jazpreet was lured back to t he bright lights of the city and returns to her previous school in London. DMA

Kay Hoar Kay came to King's eleven years ago as the first full-time, professional librarian in t he school. She was responsible for several major changes in the library, the first being the computerisation of the catalogue. This huge enterprise involved re- classifying every volume in the library, as well as adding 'keywords' (the main topics covered) to each entry. The result is a user-friendly catalogue accessible from anywhere in the School as an efficient issuing system. This was so successfully carried out that the li brary even appeared in advertisements for the Heritage system.

Other advances under Kay's initiative include the sliding doors at the entrance, a practical improvement that is very much in keeping with Butterfield's design; the new bookcases for the old books, further enhancing the entrance hall; and even the cushions in the window seats. Individual departments are grateful to Kay for the enhancement of their resources, in particular the development of the video and DVD section in recent years. The rapid expansion of first CO-Roms and then internet subscriptions has enabled the library to keep pace with changing technology. The library has also hosted several exhibitions, especially of pupils' art. The result has been to make the building both attractive and effective. Kay has also participated in theatre trips and has combined her love of travel with some in-service training, organising an exchange trip to the USA. Indeed, her extensive contacts with other libraries have been very much to our benefit. She will, no doubt, use her retirement for further international exploration, as well as relaxing closer to home on the golf course. We thank Kay for providing such an efficient and well-stocked library, with such a friendly and helpful staff, and we wish her all the best for the future. PGH

Anne Miller Anne Miller took over as matron of Broughton House in September 1997 and soon established herself as a very colourful part of the St. Augustine's community. She looked after the girls very well indeed and took on a wider responsibility as one of only two resident matrons on the St. A's site. Although not a trained nurse, Anne had a wealth of experience in dealing with the health and emotional problems of teenage girls. Her door was open from early morning until late at night and on stepping through the door one entered another world. Anne was a collector, and her sitting room was full of photographs, books, COs, china, glass, pictures and plants. I always felt that it was truly in keeping with the Victorian House of Broughton's time. Anne loved the view from her window and took pride in the appearance of the gardens. She encouraged me to buy plants and to provide wooden benches so that the girls could sit outside in the summer and enjoy their surroundings. Anne is a very jolly character who loves music of all kinds. I have many vivid memories of her 'bopping away' at our Christmas discos, but one of the highlights of the year for her, was the King's Week concert in the Archdeacon's Garden. Anne also loves to travel and she was the instigator of the "Matrons' Travel Club". The four members of the club spent lots of holidays together in warmer climes including several Christmases in Tunisia. I believe these holidays are to continue in the future as matrons past and present meet up to share the gossip from King's. In her retirement Anne hopes to spend more time with her family. Both her son and daughter now live in Spain and she hopes to buy an apartment there so that she can spend the winters in the south of Spain and then return to England in the summer to her flat in London close to Epsom Forest. I am sure she will think of us as she relaxes with her espresso coffee in a cafe close to the Mediterranean Sea and we all wish her a very long and happy retirement. PAW

Kay Hoar

Obituaries Thanksgiving address for Ed red Wright (1911-2004) The following address was given by Jonathan Horsfall Turner during the memorial service held in the Quire of Canterbury Cathedral on 30th January 2004. We are gathered here today to celebrate the life, work and friendship of Edred Wright- and in what an appropriate setting: the Cathedral and Metropolitan Christ Church of Canterbury; not because it is the burial place of royalty (although Edred had his own connections with royalty), not because it is the burial place of archbishops and cardinals, not even because it is the burial place of one of England's most esteemed choral composers and church musicians, Orlando Gibbons (sometime organist of Westminster Abbey), but rather because it was in this very Quire that at 9.45 a.m. on almost every Sunday in term time Edred as Choir Master of the King's School conducted en masse some 600 plus boys in performance of Stanford's great Te Deum in B flat. A triumph indeed. Some were musical, some were decidedly not, but they all wanted to sing. It left an impression (and I am happy to say in most cases a favourable one) on generations of King's School boys and many of them could still sing the Te Deum by heart today. Edred's enthusiasm in this, as in all things which he did, permeated the school as a whole. As Sir Sidney Nicholson (a later Abbey organist and choirmaster) said of Edred's choral directing, "he was simply the best". The progress of Edred's life and achievements has been well documented . In brief, he was born in 1911 on Valentine's Day, sent to Westminster Abbey Choir School at the age of eleven, and when his voice broke, to Dulwich College where he took up the trombone. He then joined the family firm, a press cutting agency called Durrants.While at Durrants Edred kept up his music, playing the piano for the local police jazz band in Catford and playing the trombone for operatic societies and at St. Martin-inthe-Fields and All Saints Margaret Street where his performances in a brass quartet behind the iron grill near the choir (Decani side) are still recalled. In 1927 Edred was asked to help with the

newly founded Royal School of Church Music, first in Chislehurst, later in Tenbury Wells and later still when it was housed here in Canterbury in what is now Linacre House. The RSCM recognised their debt to him in 1996 when he was appointed a Fellow. After the war his aunt who owned Durrants thought quite rightly that he would not wish to return to press cuttings and she senthim ÂŁ1,000 to study music. A good investment, certainly for us! In 1951 Edred directed a special choir drawn from public schools and leading churches which sang the daily choral service in Westminster Abbey for three weeks. The organist at the time was Sir William McKie and tbe opportunity of seeing Ed red's way Qf working with choirs . I probably led h1m to ask Edred to select twenty four boys to sing at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II along with the traditional choirs of the Abbey, the Chapels Royal, and St. Paul's. Edred ended up being asked to be one of the assistant conductors which function he performed standing in the middle of some of the trebles, precariously balanced and with hardly anywhere to put his music. It was in the 1950s too that Edred published his book on Basic Choir training: a masterly summary of the problems of singing and their solutions. To repeat: "he was simply the best."

Edred's time at King's (approximately twenty-five years) was certainly the highpoint of his career. Canon Shirley had an enthusiasm for the dramatic and musical life of the school, and he snapped up Edred (who was then in Canterbury at the RSCM) to oversee the musical development of the school, leading to many memorable public performances in a setting of sheer loveliness. Shirley and Edred collaborated to produce in 1960 a Hymn Book (including music) for the school. It was a monumental task the majority of which I suspect fell to Edred. I still have a card from Shirley to Edred which is customarily brief- "how progresses the Hymn Book?- I die daily!". Incidentally, the Hymn Book was how we all worked out exactly what age Edred was- turn to Hymn No 495 in the original version, "Tune: Shirley, composer Edred Wright born 1911': Not only did Edred promote the music of the school but also that of choirs generally. He was particularly fond of conducting Christmas Carols in the old Marlowe Theatre car park here in Canterbury in aid of the Mayor's fund, something which he did for twenty years. Canterbury was indeed made the richer by his contribution. The award to him in 1969 by Archbishop Michael Ramsay of the Lambeth Degree (Mus B-Cantuar) was

a long overdue recognition for a man whose practical knowledge and ap plication far transcended the academic expertise of many of his better known co ntemporaries. My own friendship with Edred began in 1959 in the week of my arriva I as a new boy at King 's. Summoned to the customary choir auditions, at which I was cla ssified very firmly as a bass, I also co nfided that I had a penchant for Gilbert an d Sullivan, of which Edred was something of a devotee. This led quickly to my being cast in my very first term as the Duke of Plaza Toro in the school production of The Gondoliers. My brothe r, then in his final year, convinced me that I was but the understudy and it was not until the first night that the truth dawned that I had indeed got the part and was singing alongside such fut ure professional musicians as Christopher Seaman, David Thomas, Sim on Carrington and Robert Hammersley - all under Edred's baton. Edred's encouragement continued throughout my sc hool career. He not only introduced me to Peter Tranchell the then Director of Music at Gonville and Caius College Cam bridge, which was to be my next academic home, but also revived for me in the final year the then defunct post of school monitor for music. In this post Edred insisted that I was available to him during the time that the school cadet force was on parade and he had me exe mpted. I was not to know then of Edred's pacifist past in the 1930s, many wi ll have learnt of it for the first time in the recent obituary columns, but su bsequently he talked to me of that pe riod in his life. Suffice it to say my exemption from the cadet force suited me very well. It was in December 1962 that Edred ma rried Jane (in Westminster Abbey of cou rse) and as you can imagine it was th e talk of the school that the fifty-oneyear-old Director of Music had finally bee n swept off his feet, proposing to Jane within the first week of having met her. Wh at a happy change this made to his life and disposition and what a happy and en during marriage Edred and Jane had for t he next forty-one years. No longer could he always be found in the Music School, a fact usually confirmed by the old dark green MG parked in the Green Court. Ja ne has given so much loving support to Ed red over the years and Edred had a great delight in seeing Jeremy and Susie grow up to become successful people in th eir own right with families of their own and all are musically talented. Edred was generous with his praise but

no less forthright in his criticism if he felt it justified. I remember when my wife and I were guests of Jane and Edred at a concert given by an internationally acclaimed diva who had previously "retired" on a number of occasions. An announcement was made that she would be unable to sing any encores, as she had to return to London on the 9.40 p.m. train. Edred was heard to remark after her somewhat less than stupendous performance that as far as he was concerned she could have returned to London on the 8.40! Ed red was a man of the highest standards. At the same time he encouraged boys of whatever standard to believe that they could do better and achieve their best. However, as King's Week or a major concert approached Edred often despaired of the standard of performance which would result: "What are we to do?", "We'll never be ready on time", "We just haven't got the trebles nowadays", and "The posters are up- we can't cancel it now", "Will I ever be able to show my face in the Precincts again?" It was never going to be enough. Rehearsals were sometimes stressful and difficult with a less than full complement of performers as Edred persistently fought to retain his players and singers in the face of competing sporting activities and then there was the frozen shoulder! The rehearsal ended and Edred sometimes retired to seek the solace of friends in the Precincts before returning home. "A little whisky Edred? - with ginger?" soon restored him to his good humour: it goes without saying that the performance was always a triumph, as indeed he knew it would be. What marvellous performances there were over the years from the orchestral concerts to the incomparable Serenade in the Cloisters with the Madrigal Society and Chamber Orchestra. 0 the perfection of Gibbons' The Silver Swan as the notes died away in perfect harmony with the text and its sentiments on the breeze of a warm summer evening. We remember the great Oratorios: Messiah, Creation and the Mozart, Brahms and Verdi Requiems performed in the Nave. Indeed, his conducting of the Verdi Requiem led to Sir Charles Groves, who was in the audience, complimenting Edred and comparing favourably his conducting of the work with that of the great interpreter of Verdi, Carlo Mario Guilini. But if these were the great triumphs there were also the more intimate moments which will always be remembered by those who took part in them and specifically the singing of carols after ascending Bell Harry and then subsequently from the top of Prior

Sellingate on Ascension Day morning. Much has been written of Edred's royal connections: singing at the wedding of the late Queen Mother while a chorister at the Abbey and conducting at the Coronation of our current Queen, but he also sang at the Coronation of George VI and the Queen Mother in 1937. He was invited by Sir Ernest Bullock, Organist at the Abbey, to choose six members of the Purcell Club (a male voice choir of Abbey Chorister alumni) and of which Edred was a founder member to sing with the Westminster Abbey Choir. Edred also conducted on several occasions before the Queen Mother in his later career. At Wye College near Ashford in the 1950s when the Queen Mother came to visit he had taught the choir to sing 0 Praise God in His Holiness in a new setting by George Dyson which had been sung at her Coronation in 1937. He also conducted the school choir in 1962 when she unveiled a plaque to the soon to be retired Headmaster (Canon Shirley) and renamed the Great Hall as the Shirley Hall (the only time, as she remarked that she had ever been asked to unveil a memorial to a man who was still alive).ln the Cathedral afterwards Edred conducted the Dyson again. It brought a tear to her eye. Much later the Queen Mother entertained all the ex-Abbey Choristers who had sung at her wedding to lunch. At Edred and Jane's house there is a photograph of the occasion in which the Queen Mother is pictured with thirteen ex-choristers on the steps of the Jerusalem Chamber, the date 1986. Sadly only two of these are still alive but at least one of them, Harry Abbott, also a Canterbury resident, and a life long friend of Edred's is here today. I believe that it was at the lunch that Edred was so bold as to mention that he had a photograph, at home, of himself being presented to the Queen Mother at Wye in the 1950s which showed the Queen Mother's coat hem quite adrift. "Really!" the Queen Mother riposted, "I shall have to have a word with my dresser about that!" Both Edred and Harry were proud invitees and attendees at the Queen Mother's 10oth anniversary thanksgiving service in St Paul's. It is a fitting postscript to Edred's royal connections to record that on Maundy Thursday less than two years ago Edred was present in the Nave when the Queen came to Canterbury to distribute the Royal Maundy Money. To Edred's amazement she stopped in front of him having spotted the medals he had received for singing at her parents' Coronations and conducting at her own Coronation. Edred was very chuffed to be

able to recall with her those two occasions. The name of Edred Wright will not be forgotten. It will live on in the memories of his many friends and the love of his family. He will be remembered too in the name of the new music school to be built at the King's School, a facility sorely needed and "not before time", as he himself commented, but then as he also acknowledged back in the 1960s this lack of facilities made the music staff and boys fight all the harder to excel and make music at King's the equal of sport, a goal which he undoubtedly achieved. He was simply the best. Edred, we thank you for your work and friendship as well as for your example but above all for your spontaneity, your enthusiasm and your inspiration which have been a guiding light for so many you have taught and for those who have sung or played under your direction. May the celestial choirs sing for you into eternity (under your baton and in accordance with your principles of choir training of course). I know I speak for all when I say we will miss you more than we can say. I feel proud indeed to have been asked to give this tribute and above all to have been your friend. Jonathan Horsfall Turner (OKS)

Ronald's appointment at King's came in the same era as the inspirational appointments of the late Edred Wright as Director of Music and the late Clarence Myerscough as principal violin teacher; it is somewhat piquant that they should aII have passed on in such close succession. These three were to usher in a golden age in the music of King's which reached its peak in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s; some might say the golden age.

The many generations of KSC musicians who passed through the hands of Ronald Smith will have mourned his passing on 27th May 2004. His magnificent career as a concert pianist, and no less as prime protagonist of the neglected French composer Alkan (1813-1888), has been properly recorded in the quality press; but no less notable was his work on the teaching staff of the music department at The King's School for almost forty years, and his profound influence on his pupils, many of whom have gone on to occupy leading positions in the profession, imbuing their pupils in turn with those same standards of musical perception and excellence which he himself had inculcated in them.

Ronald's timetable quickly settled into a regular pattern, in which three pupils would have half-hour slots on a Thursday morning before lunch.time, using after its construction in 1958;the Great Hall (later re-named the Shirle~ Hall), and five other pupils would have 45-minute afternoon slots at Nunnery Road, where he lived with his parents, occupying the front downstairs room as his studio. Let us qualify that. The first of the morning pupils would usually have 45 minutes, the second 30 minutes, and the third a compressed 20 minutes or so, arriving breathless (and usually too late) for School lunch. The first afternoon pupil would usually have at least an hour, with the rest on a sliding scale which normally meant the last foregoing School supper. Those who from year to year constructed his timetable quickly learnt to rotate the times so that all received an equal share of his time, with day-boys usually occupying the late afternoon slots in deference to their colleague boarders' need to be back in the Precincts in time for prep, if not an evening meal. That was Ronald; always generous with his time, and generous also in offering (one could hardly refuse) extra uncharged lessons during the holidays to those who lived near enough to Canterbury. In the earlier years there were also regular group technical exercise sessions on Tuesday afternoons at Nunnery Road. Wise students would sometimes change into games gear before cantering to and from his home for their afternoon sessions, claiming the event as a changing exercise.

Ronald Smith was appointed to the music staff of King's in 1952 by the evershrewd "Fred" Shirley, who knew a good appointment when he saw one. Ronald had since 1943 been teaching at Harrow School, along with developing his international performing career; he spoke in his last weeks of a punishing schedule

A measure of Ronald's standing was the fact that he would often encourage his students to attend local concerts during the week, either his own or those by other prominent musicians, in order to broaden their awareness and outlook. Michael Sullivan recalls that this meant a visit to "Fred" Shirley's office to seek

Ronald Smith (1922-2004)

which involved catching the 6.47am train from Canterbury four days a week, returning home late in the evening to catch up on his own professional preparation.

permission for an exeat. "Please, Sir, may I have permission to go to such-and-such a concert?" would usually be met by a lifting of the lofty eyebrows and a questioning expression. The addition of the magic words "Mr Smith says I should go" would always elicit the reply "But of course, m' dear': Ronald's list would usually embrace the more advanced keyboard Music Scholars. Not all of them would necessarily be seeking to be pianists, though he would always treat them as if they were, imparting a broad musical awareness which only later they would recognise as having included significant transferable skills, both musical and personal, for whatever path they chose in the profession. In assessing those who came for preliminary audition, usually as aspirant Music Scholars, his first reaction would not be so much "how good is his technique?" as "what can I do with this musical potential?"; and he was an uncanny judge of what might be done with the product, thus far, of limited teaching who would benefit from his personal injection of musical awareness and breadth. Inevitably, given the intake at King's from choir schools, many of those who passed through his hands were first and foremost organists, so far as they might have developed any preference at that stage. For them, his initial reaction was usually "You must drop the organ until I have sorted out your keyboard technique"; and his eventual acceptance that they might resume organ lessons from Sidney Campbell or Allan Wicks would usually be somewhat grudging. Yet he would delight, with instinctive modesty, at their subsequent prowess, knowing that he had made a contribution to their development, not least in the cases of several who proceeded to Oxbridge organ scholarships, particularly Stephen Davies, the first Cantuarian to obtain ARCO whilst still at the school in 1962, and the writer, who gained the first FRCO by a Cantuarian and one of the very few by any schoolboy in 1968, coming second only to the organ scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge. Ronald's appointment coincided with the introduction of King's Week. It was not long before the summer Symphony Concert emerged as a central feature of the event, and Edred Wright would arrange that Ronald and Clarence Myerscough would perform concertos in alternate years. Many will remember Ronald's galvanising performances with the school orchestra of, amongst others, Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto on what

being disqualified for playing a piece originally laid out for four hands, for all that he and they had adapted it all too well to the new medium, to the evident ignorance of the adjudicator. Ronald would often rail at the blinkered policy of the local festivals in consigning candidates to classes based on their age, rather than their ability. "I don't see why you should enter with the 14-year olds; that's child's play. I'm putting you in for the 18-year class." His determination usually succeeded with the beleagured organisers.

was then the somewhat intransigent black grand piano of the Shirley Hall.1968 was the first year in which th ere were two Symphony Concerts. Ronald, due for his biennial performance, su ggested to Edred Wright that two of his senior pupils, the school's first Monitors for Music, were of sufficient calibre to undertake the concerto slots, setting a trend which continued for many years thereafter. It would have been easy for Ronald to operate in a vacuum from other music staff at King's. However, he soon recognised the strong keyboard skills of Robert Scott, who was to prove an adept duellist in adapting the orchestral parts of concertos, and for many years the opportunistic off-hours visitor to the Shirley Hall would stumble into Ronald preparing for a forthcoming solo concerto, with Robert supplying the accompaniment on the second grand which had by then been purchased for the hall, largely, one suspects, at Ronald's behest. Towards the end of the 1960s, pupils with afternoon lesson slots at Nunnery Road started to notice a subtle change in the pattern. The last pupil, nominally at 5.30pm (which usually meant 6.30pm) would have a severely abbreviated session, with the muttered apology "I've got to catch a train to Dover". Early in 1969, Ronald, hitherto regarded as a lifetime bachelor, announced his engagement to the cellist Anne Norman. Their wedding, in September 1969, was

officiated by the Rev Roger Job OKS and the author was the organist. Ronald and Anne moved 100 yards down the road into Nunnery Fields, and the hospitality to pupils of their new home expanded. Later in the 1970s they moved to Tanners House at Saltwood, near Hythe, from where Ronald continued to come into Canterbury each Thursday to teach his pupils. Following the retirement of Edred Wright, Paul Neville was appointed to head the music department. Ronald quickly forged a sympathetic link with his new colleague, and over the next twenty-five years performed regularly with Paul's orchestras in the East Kent area, the last of these being earlier this year. His pupils continued to be entered for the Kent Music Festival, and sometimes the former Folkestone Music Festival, to the chagrin of other local teachers, whose candidates almost invariably found themselves wiped from the scene. There were occasional blips in this process of supremacy. One was in the 1961 Kent Festival, where Ronald's brightest and best were trounced in the Open Class at Dover by an upstart eleven-year old from Folkestone playing the Mozart Fantasia in D minor, who before many months had passed was on his list at King's. Another was at Canterbury in 1968, when flash floods led to Edred Wright ferrying the adjudicator and Ronald in his Volvo estate through the waters into the Longport hall for the six hands at one piano class, only to hear Ronald's entry

It was to the immense benefit of King's for four decades that Ronald turned down invitations to teach at the major London conservatoires, preferring the warmth and flexibility of his private practice to what he regarded (despite, or perhaps because of, being one of its products), as their "factory" environment. Early in the 1990s, Ronald, still a performer and teacher in his prime, was called to the office of the then Headmaster to be told that he was considered too old to continue teaching at King's. There can be no doubt that this decision was severely misguided, and although Ronald was not usually a man openly to bear umbrage, it was a slight which he bore for the rest of his days. The loss of King's was the gain of pupils from other institutions, who gained access to his private teaching at Saltwood, often on a semi-residential basis. A consummate performer to the end, Ronald gave an enthralling and challenging 80th birthday concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London in December 2002, defying illness to complete his programme. His last performance was at Hove just four days before his passing, as part of the Brighton Festival. He died suddenly but peacefully, having intimated in characteristic vein to many in his later months that "when I go, you can simply chuck me in the bin". A private family burial was held on 7th June in the idyllic grounds of Saltwood Church, where he had worshipped quietly for many years at the Bam service, followed by a service of thanksgiving at which the Rev Roger Job OKS paid tribute and the author played the organ. He is survived by Anne, and by their daughter Rebecca, who has continued the artistic streak of the family in art and design. He will be sorely missed in the profession; but his spirit lives on in the continuing work of his pupils, and their pupils.

Requiescat in pace. Nicholas King (OKS)

Points of view The Valedictory Sermon by the retiring Lower Master, Brian Turner Sunday 13th June 2004 I had thought that I had escaped! Nobody can be more surprised than I am to find myself here in this pulpit today! On a rough and ready calculation I have heard well over a thousand sermons and homilies delivered to the School at Sunday Services over the course of my 35 years at King's, most, I fear, long forgotten, many of some fleeting interest and edification, a handful or possibly two handfuls truly memorable. Over the years I had often thought what a difficult task it is to hold the interest of aII the age groups in attendance, from 13 year-old Shells to colleagues nearing retirement, and even those beyond retirement, and now, rather like that scene in all James Bond films where he has fought off the villains and seems to be safe but then falls into their clutches, I too, having thought myself safe, find myself brought down at the last fence and being put to the test. One lesson that I have learned over these years is that sermons can be too long indeed it is hard to recall one that disappointed for being too short - and I think it is important to reassure you that I intend to be relatively brief, at least in comparison with recent experience. Indeed the Bible gives us a vivid example of the danger of going on for too long as it is reported in the Acts of the Apostles that on one occasion St. Paul preached until midnight,

'And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead' [Acts 20 v9] In fact it was not quite the tragedy at first assumed as he survived the fa II! I hope that you survive this morning without any such mishap. I stand here before you then as a prisoner, as one who has failed to escape and finds himself enchained by expectations and obligations, and it is about prison and freedom that I want to

speak this morning. I suspect that you find the idea of prison deeply alien, something outside your frame of reference and something highly likely, if not certain, to remain outside your experience save perhaps for the occasional hour in 'Jockers'. I hope it does, for do not believe what you may read or hear about how easy life has become inside prisons. I know, for my wife has spent two years inside Canterbury prison but, I hasten to add, as a Welfare Officer rather than a prisoner, and consequently I know that they remain nasty places, full of those who have, of course, done wrong and deserve punishment but who are overwhelmingly the young and vulnerable and not infrequently the men!ally ill, living lives impoverished both ~-aterially and spiritually to an extent that I suspect you would find it hard to imagine, the flotsam and jetsam of modern society. Loss of freedom is a terrible thing and Christ would surely have been concerned for these 75,000 or so prisoners, numbers unparalleled in modern times. I would therefore ask that you show compassion and seek constructive solutions, however hard they may be to find. Their loss of freedom is self-evident and yet I believe that we have all allowed ourselves to be taken prisoners to a greater or lesser extent, albeit less transparently. I wonder what may have captured you? Are you a prisoner of Mammon, a slave to material things, wanting more and more money to buy more and more things, measuring your 'worth' by your possessions rather than by your moral worth? Have you been taken captive by the Green God, envy, resenting that others may have more than you do even though what you have is more than sufficient to meet your needs? Are you enslaved by vanity, preening yourselves like peacocks? Do you feel it is important for your self-image that you buy your clothes at the King's Road boutiques with their designer labels rather than in George at ASDA, that their colours be this year's rather than last's, that your 'shades' should be cool and expensive, and that your tan should be all year, even if acquired by sun-lamps rather than sun-rays, rather than merely seasonal? Is it your appearance rather than your character that is making the loudest statement about you? Do you eat too much -obesity is the concern of the moment but is perhaps more applicable to me than you, although I note that a recent Methodist competition to devise new commandments came up with:

'Though shalt not consume thy own bodyweight in fudge' And I might add in passing another suggestion is that,

'Though shalt not dance like your dad', an injunction my own daughters would readily endorse]. Are you addicted -an addiction is merely another word to indicate captivity or enslavement- or are you in danger of becoming addicted in the years ahead to tobacco or to alcohol? And make no mistake statistically the odds strongly suggest some of you will. Has hedonistic indulgence snared you in its net so that people too become mere possessions? Earlier generations would have identified these traps with a good number of the Seven Deadly Sins, deadly I think in the sense that they close the door to the real richness of life for, as the advertisement tells us, 'There is a Better Way' than this worldly path that ultimately leads into a blind alley, a way that makes us truly free and leads us to wholeness as human beings. In my own life that way was clear to me when I saw as a child , admittedly with the assistance of the illumination provided by my parents' moral values, but the way became clouded with fog in my student days, only to emerge increasingly clearly as the path to true fulfilment during these last thirty-five years. This great Cathedral has provided the clearest signpost, being a perpetual reminder of the spiritual dimension to life, an everpresent reproach to me when I've failed to live up to my ideals. You yourselves, even if only here for five years or even perhaps only two and even if you think yourselves impervious to its influence, will, I suspect, be surprised in the years ahead by how much has rubbed off upon you, finding those everlasting values for which it stands something upon which you can lean and draw strength. During the Second World War and the dark and terrifying days of the Blitz, St. Paul's in London and Canterbury Cathedral became in a sense symbolic of the struggle against evi l, beacons lighting our path. It is significant that their call is heard more widely in times of difficulty and of danger. I was strongly reminded of this by an experience on the Crypt Choir's Easter trip to the States. When we were in New York the Choir gave a recital in St. Paul's Chapel, a small and by American standards old church,

sa nd wiched between the end of Wall Street and, until September 11th, the Twin Towers, perhaps at best 60 or 70 feet against their 1400, a still small voice crying in the materialist wilderness amongst all those Temples of Mammon so many of which we had seen earlier in t he day from the top of the Empire State Building. The chapel is still there virtually unb lemished but the Twin Towers are, of course, no more, having been reduced to Ground Zero to see which is a deeply moving and shocking experience. For me th is was a striking symbolic reminder of t he permanence of the spiritual and transience of the material, of the fact th at things in this world will pass away. I fo un d symbolism too in the use to which th e church had been put in the im mediate aftermath of the atrocity for it ha d been occupied by nurses as a base to tend to the needs of the rescue workers, in particular in cutting off their scorched boots and in bathing their feet. As so often adversity brought out the best in peop le or put another way made them Ch ri st-like. How then do we cast aside these chains

of material affluence and moral poverty that blinds us? Christ said that 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: This is what I believe. I am no theologian but one does not need to be to grasp the essential truths that will set you free. It is in following Christ's teaching that true freedom is to be found: it is He who will break down the prison doors, He who will remove the bars that block the prison windows. What then does He ask of us? No more than that we love God and love our neighbour. As John put it in his epistle in our first reading [1 John 4:721] 'And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loveth his brother also:

'Nowhere is it truer than in childhood that we become what we are inspired to be .. . Childhood needs its visions and aspirations .. . When we are young we want to change the world: During Half Term I returned to Canterbury from London by train and heard the usual announcement about the train dividing at Ashford and to make sure that I was in the right half of the train for my destination. As you travel on life's journey make sure that you are on the right half of the train, the carriages with a spiritual destination rather than those hitting the buffers in a purely worldly terminus. Be inspired! Feed His lambs, feed His sheep. Amen Brian Turner

Over the years I have seen so much good in so many of the young, such generosity of spirit, such a strong desire to put our world to rights. In yesterday's 'Times' the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Jonathan Sacks, wrote:

Focus Marlowe SocietyInterview with film director James Rogan 1) How did you become a film director? I love films. Becoming a film director seemed a natural continuation.

me want to turn it into a story which I can tell. I tell stories endlessly probing them and trying them out in front of people. Kubrick says there's a great danger of turning a film idea into an anecdote, but for me all ideas are stories and a good way of testing them out is by telling them. Of course, pretty much all I do in meetings nowadays is pitch my film ideas, which is just a truncated form of storytelling. I'm very good at pitching, not so good at writing.

3) How much did others contribute to the making of Dead Bolt Dead? Hugely. This is a James Ragan/Paul de Villiers film (Paul wrote and produced). It came out of Paul's mind and I delivered. The idea of having a single author for a film goes against the practical aspect of film making. Films are made by teams of highly competent, highly creative people. The director persuades each member of that team to do their job better than they could ever imagined doing it - and that is all. In a sense, the director is merely a highly skilled manager of creative people. Paul wrote the film, Tom shot it, Staffan made it happen, the actors made it liveto negate these people would be to negate the film.

9) Has film-making been lucrative so far? Not massively.

5) Do you write material yourself?

10) Have you received any negative reviews? If so, how have you responded?

I have started writing myself this year. Generally I tend to adapt stories by great writers, because I know for certain they are good, but I am wprking on a couple of original ideas. Th f problem with writing is that, for rfle, it confuses the directing process. As a director I come to the material as a constructive critic. I know its strengths and weaknesses and I direct it with those in mind. When I write for myself it is much more difficult to keep that perspective. On set I see myself as an audience member rather than an author and I make my decisions on the basis of what I would and would not want to see in the cinema. If I have written the film, it's easier to suspect I may be deluding myself.

I received a bad review in the Oxford student press which criticised my credentials, as a public school boy, for making a gangster film. It was poorly written and poorly thought out. The charge laid against me was absurd. Dead Bolt Dead has very little to do with the real world and everything to do with film. I did my research in the cinema. There is a lot to criticise in the film, but I hated it that my film was being mocked because of my background. It was very important to me how my peers received the film and I felt pretty annoyed that it got judged not on its merits but on my upbringing.

2) How does it feel to direct? It feels like being alive on several different levels at the same time. You are faced with the immediate problems and excitement of making the film on set, but you have to keep in mind where the film is coming from and where it is going. You are thinking on at least three different planes. It burns a lot of energy. I read once that film director and American air force pilot had come first equal in a list of the most stressful jobs. My immediate thought was for all the doctors and nurses out there making life and death decisions every day. Perhaps the reason people might think directing is more stressful (which by the way I don't agree with at all) is this problem of trying to exist in the past, present and future all at the same time.

would say that we hoped in our wildest dreams that some of the characters might be Shakespearean. I also think Paul shifts between comedy and tragedy in his writing very well, which is something I have always admired in Shakespeare.

6) Have you ever considered acting in your own films? I had a role as an extra in Dead Bolt Dead. I saw it in the edit suite and cut it immediately. Never again.

11) How have you coped with the attention your success has caused? I am not sure there has been any attention, which I have not directly solicited. 12) How do you cast your films?

7) What is the difference between making a short and a feature? In a feature you are telling a longer story, you can afford to meander and take in the scenery if you ultimately deliver. Shorts are like jokes- they need some kind of punch line. That's why there are so many better features than shorts. People are more forgiving of features. 8) What inspiration do you gain from the past? For example, The Assassin reminded me of lago?

I don't. I use a casting director. 13) Did you ever consider another profession?

Acting. 14) What do you have planned for the future?

I would love to direct a film in Spanish, one in French and one in Italian. 15) Who are your idols?

4) Can you explain the way an idea for a film develops? For me ideas develop one of two ways. Either I think - I would love to do a film in this or that genre, say a thriller,- and go from there, or I come across something in life, film or art that makes

Everything I read and watch goes into my film making. I don't believe in originality as an arbiter for art. If it's good use it again. Steal where you can. If you can steal from Shakespeare- so much the better for you. I am very pleased that the Assassin reminded you of lago. I cannot say that was intentional. More broadly I

Orson Welles, David Lynch, Bob Marley. 16) What are your favourite films and why?

Wild at Heart and Chimes at Midnight. Watch Âˇthem and you'll see. I love films

and directors who constantly challenge the medium. 17) How do you choose the music? 1am pretty tin-eared and have very lim ited taste in music. Generally I try to get someone else to help me and then I wittle it down to what I want. Also I try an d build the soundtrack out of ambient so un ds.

18) What have been your most enjoyable moments so far?

A Dinner Date with John Simpson Bailey House were the proud organisers of 'An Evening with John Simpson', the World Affairs Editor for the BBC. Friends and family were invited for drinks and dinner, and to listen to the man himself, all in aid of Health Unlimited, the charity of which Mr. Simpson is a patron.

20) How has becoming a film director affected the way you see films?

The Chapter House looked exquisite, with beautiful flowers arranged by Mrs. Stephens and candles illuminating the ancient chamber. Not to forget the attentive service of the Bailey girls and the hearty welcome by Mrs. Richards and Miss Ellener. The evening began with a glass of wine and some merry chatter prior to the dinner, while John Simpson circulated among his fans. We were truly honoured to have Mr. Simpson with us, surrounded by the stunning scenery of King's, somewhat different to his recent exploits in Iraq.

It means that watching a film can never be boring for me. There is always so mething to see. If a film gets made gen erally there will be some talent in the re somewhere, even if it's only in the costume department.

Dinner was much enjoyed by everyone, but Mr. Simpson's speech inevitably stole the show. We think people will agree with us when we say that his wise words will stay in our minds for a very long time. It was a unique experience to hear

Wh en you direct an actor to the point tha t he knows his character better than you - it is so exciting. It's like watching a statue come to life. 19) What is the most difficult part of film - making?

Keep ing a grip on telling the story. And answering a 1000 questions a day.

Mr. Simpson's own opinions, rather than the usual facts, and to hear in response to questions, how he has dealt with the tragedies he has seen. What was particularly astonishing was that tonight John Simpson was in Canterbury, yet the very next day he would be in Baghdad, resuming his more familiar role behind the camera. The only problem that Bailey House has now is how on earth are we to match such a dinner? We certainly will never have another date like that! Emma Findlay and Olivia Nairn (BY)

21) How has your profession changed your view of life? It has made me watch people more closely. I also think that everything is a sto ry. 22) Has your English degree been useful in f ilm-making? Invaluable. I feel I have grounded myself in the tradition of storytelling in English. Now all I need to do is tell some stories on celluloid. 23) What is the best route to becoming a f ilm director? Watch a lot of films. 24) What drives you? The thought that my films might be watched with the same kind of excitement as I have when I go to the cinema. 25) Does 'I'm a film director' work as a chat-up line? I hope not. Christopher Robinson (MR)

Top- The Headmaster speaking at the Charity Dinner Botttom- John Simpson speaking at the Charity Dinner

Audio Link with Michael Foale On 28th January 2004 The King's School established an audio link with O.K.S. astronaut Michael Foale on The International Space Station. This is a transcript of the live interview conducted by King's students. Amanda - Is the training you receive an accurate simulation of what it is really like in space? Mike Foale - Amanda yes it is pretty close in as far as how to use the equipment. It is nothing like the real thing in terms of the environment though. The weightlessness, the view and the brightness of the sun and the darkness of space are something that cannot be equalled in simulators.

moving around. Of course, we have to learn how to not move too fast otherwise we crash into things.

Thea - Do everyday things like electric toothbrushes, shavers and ink pens work in space, or do they have to be specially designed? Mike Foale - Most electric things do work exactly the way they do on Earth in space. We do have electric toothbrushes, but to be honest I just use a regular toothbrush. Ink pens work just the same as they do on Earth. Pencils of course, just break, when the leads break they just float off and they can get into things and that's not so good.

Adebusola - What adjustments do you have to make between daily life in space and on earth? Mike Foale - I have to adjust to not washing quite the same way as I do on Earth, in particular we don't have running water. All water forms under surface tension into balls and so washing is probably one of the hardest thing we have to deal with. The other thing is basically Above- Michael Foale

Lawrence - Given that you are a role model for pupils at King's, is there any advice that you would like to pass on from your experiences? Mike Foale - The best thing people can do is to choose something they like doing, at any point in their lives, but especially in school, and then work at that as well as they possibly can, because that way they will always be motivated and get the most out of life. Alex- What manner of routine maintenance and navigational tasks do you need to perform on board the ISS? Mike Foale - Routine maintenance

basica lly is concerned with the hygiene aspects of the things. We eat food, we throw things away, we wash, we change clo thes, so all those things have to be dealt with and put in a trash or garbage spa cecra ft which we actually separated today and is already entered into the atmosphere above the Pacific. Other than tha t, we have to fix equipment that breaks periodically and we have a number of spares on board.

Alex- Do you have any spacewalks pla nned for this mission, and if so, wh at activities will you be performing? Mike Foale - Well Alex, actually in about a month's time, I think on 29th February, we'll be using Russian space suits to go outside and to collect a number of Japanese and European .~xperiments that have been put outside the Service Module and at the same time we will deploy some other experiments out there to be retrieved by future crews. These experiments are mostly concerned with studying how the space environment, in terms of radiation and ultra violet and particles in the solar wind, affect materials on the outside of the space sta tion. Alex - What do you see as the main ben efits of sending manned missions into space as well as unmanned probes? Mi ke Foale - People of course get the most out of it. I mean the people make the ro bots in the first place and they do that for a reason: to find out what the robots learn. When the people get there they actually experience it first hand, they can communicate it better, but most importantly they can understand the un usual things that are observed in a way tha t the robots never could. Of course, the fin al thing that people do very well right now is they can fix things and that is something I do a lot of up here. Alex - Do you think that we are currently entering a crucial phase for mann ed spaceflight? Mi ke Foale - I'm not sure what you mean by crucial. Certainly there is a new stage defin itely coming. I think the United States President's speech recently about re- focussing NASA's goals towards the M oon and Mars was a good speech and will help add focus to the world's space programme. I think the fact that China launched a human being into space last year is also very significant so yes, I think at the beginning of this century there is a change going on. I think the most significant one will be commercial space flight opportunities.

Students put their questions to Michael Foale

Thea - Are there any experiments being carried out on the ISS at the moment that you find particularly interesting? Mike Foale - Well Theo, there's a whole bunch of experiments going on. There is Biology, cell Biology in particular, towards looking at how cancer cells develop, for example, in micro-gravity and then seeing how you can actually attack them. Secondly we are looking at how human beings change in space and we are the guinea pigs in that case and thirdly, we have experiments looking at the physical environment in terms of radiation, in terms of solidification processes in metals for example, that melt and then solidify. The crystals are different here in space in the micro-gravity environment, the freefall environment. The experiment /like the most is watching the earth, watching climate changes on the Earth and watching erosion, watching human habitation development and watching the changes in ecology.

Amanda, most of the time /look down at the Earth. However on the night side, if I have been exercising I go and cool down by looking at the Galaxy. You can see the whole Milky Way from up here and it is absolutely tremendous. The stars have different colours- reds and greens and blues and yellows.

Today's link-up would not have taken place without a great deal of hard work and organization. We are especially grateful to the representatives from ARISS who have been esssential in making everything possible. Above all, we thank Michael whose personal representations to NASA have been the launch pad for today's historic event between the International Space Station and King's. Canon Keith Wilkinson - Headmaster The King's School Canterbury (January 2004)

Hello this is Thea again: Are you able to see the Northern Lights from space? Yes you can and the first time I saw the Northern Lights was when I went on a space mission even living in England and then living up north in Scotland for a while. The Northern Lights are tremendous to see. They're green; you kind of fly over them but they have red hair that goes up above the station and they kind of shimmer as a curtain, basically a ring around the North and South Magnetic Poles of the Earth. Hello this is Amanda: When you have some free time, do you prefer to look down on earth or up at the stars?

Sinai Trip Having been told by previous pupils that this trip was never likely to be bettered, we boarded the plane, sleeping bags in tow, with our guide Amelia (OKS) and high expectations in mind. Our first night proved to fulfil these dreams; the five star hotel in Cairo, after a long journey, was a welcome surprise as everyone finished their supper of chocolate biscuits and water, noticing the warm evening air of Egypt's capital, alive with the buzz of noisy traffic and surreal neon lighting around many temples. An early start the next morning led us to the much anticipated pyramids; their magnitude was hard to swallow as our guide for the week, Mohammed, told us how each block of stone can weigh more than two tonnes alone. Looking down on the pyramids a little later and then walking around the Sphinx, everyone became aware of the impact of tourism upon the area as young boys tried desperately to sell whatever they could as we posed for photos and dodged the spitting camels. We moved on to the Sphinx, busy with more tourists like ourselves, and remembered the crowds at Canterbury Cathedral as everyone piled back onto the bus, anticipating the eight hour journey to St. Catherine's Monastery. We stayed in accommodation at the monastery; our beds seemed all too comfortable, however, as we rose the following morning for our tour around the monastery and the climb up Mount Sinai. The monastery's breathtaking iconography and original church records that dated back to the twelfth century mesmerised most, and I doubt that anyone failed to get a photo underneath the 'burning' bush! (I..J

By this time we had all been kitted out

Bottom right-Taking a break in the Shade

Top- Camel trek in Sanai

with Kafirs, the traditional 'tea-towel' type headwear of the area, and once we were loaded up with plenty of water the hot trudge up the mountain began. The sun strongly beat down as we stopped for breaks, ran behind tttJ shes for the lao and breathed in the fresh air and stunning views. Lunch was at the base of the last leg of the journey, a long and jagged run of steps to the summit. We filled ourselves up on pitta bread, cheese and beans; watching a man in the distance climb to a similar height to pray on a large open rock before heading swiftly down again made us once more aware of the holiness of the area, despite the hostile, dry landscape before our eyes. Reflecting back on the week at the end of the trip, many of us voted reaching the top of Mount Sinai as the highlight of our experience. It was astounding that in such a remote part of the world we were able to meet people of so many nationalities and circumstances on top of a single mountain, yet the views were like none other and as G.R.C. told us a small history of the mountain and the monastery whilst we rested on the summit, it became clear why such a destination remains so popular, despite the pressures that popular culture implies today. Back at the bottom, having all recovered from our 'jelly legs; we were taken in jeeps to our first campsite. The journey was exciting as the jeeps bumped across the desert land, racing one another in the

dark desert as people gazed eagerly out of the rattling windows, desperate to spot where we might be staying. It was here that we met the Bedouin, who in conjunction with Mohammed and Amelia, were to help guide us through the desert and provide an idea of their traditional way of life for the next four days. This first night in the desert, under the stars, was one of the best since the experience was still so new to the whole group- yet the novelty of the clear sky never wore off. During our stay with the Bedouin, we learnt from their overwhelming kindness how to make bread, we saw and jumped off the largest sand dune in the Sinai desert, slid down stone slides, drank traditional tea under the shade of the rocks and passed by ancient tombs that are so old that should the Moses stories be true, they would have been standing as he passed by them on a similar route to our own. Every night we would gather around the campfire and eat feasts of lamb sausages or pasta before being taught party games such as leg wrestling with the Bedouin. Our camels became our companions, each being branded with an English name, and it was amazing to be able to ride for hours at a time, in the seemingly barren desert, and still spot women dressed all in black herding sheep upon a hillside or come across tiny hamlets of houses inhabited by different tribes.

The Crypt Choir Tour New York

Leavin g the desert was both a welcome return to washing and a sad departure for eve ryone. There were many tears as we left behind our guides for the last five days and climbed back into the jeeps, hea ded for the national park of the Red Sea. Here we snorkelled in the warm wa ter and saw some of the most unto uched coral in the world, noticing the bright colours and flittering move ment of the tropical fish in co mparison to the still yet stunning lan dscape of the desert. Ou r last night was spent in another hotel, where everyone relaxed by the pool and took buses to the nearby and well known market, bursting with jewellery, sheesa pi pes and exotic rugs. Th e 2004 Sinai trip had proved to live up to all expectations, and given the chance I th ink that many of us would return. Jossie Clayton (LX)

As the coach drew away from Union Street, a little too early on a dull and notably average March morning, a marked change in the atmosphere within began to take place: bleary eyes widened, as the inimitable "end of term syndrome" (well known to any student or teacher at King's, but that sort of permanent bad mood mingled with and exacerbated by, exhaustion, is especially familiar to the musicians among us) gave way to a quiet (well ... it's all relative) excitement at the prospect of a choir tour quite unlike any other. Obviously, in geographical terms, the choir has never strayed quite so far from home, to my knowledge ours was the first one to leave Europe - though I am open to correction. Yet this leap across the Atlantic had initially unforeseen ramifications: as anyone associated with the choir will know, they are a sociable bunch to say the least, they work/sing hard but adhere dogmatically to the principle of playing hard; the latter of which usually involves a responsible glass of wine or a pint (all in moderation of course). However, responsible or otherwise, drinking under the age of twenty-one is illegal in the States, and so an odd fusion of anticipation and apprehension took a firm hold on the (occasionally) unruly rabble that constitutes the Crypt Choir. The first time you visit New York, you find yourself almost overwhelmed by the odd sensation of inhabiting a rather bright

and glitzy toy box. The most striking aspect of the city is without doubt its height and I know I was not the only member of the choir who found herself gazing forever skywards. The New York element of the tour was a concoction of sightseeing, shopping and, of course, singing: despite the thrills and spills of the ferry trip, the Statue of Liberty, Fifth Avenue and the stunning/terrifying (vertigo sufferers, you know who you are Patrick Allies and Mr. lonascu himself!) views from the Empire State building. I could quite possibly commit myself to citing St. John the Divine Cathedral as the highlight of the New York component of the trip, if not the tour as a whole. An eight second echo is a rare and thrilling acoustic to sing in, an experience to be savoured, and certainly, never to be forgotten. The other element of New York that is similarly etched in my mind, albeit for thoroughly different reasons is, of course, our visit to Ground Zero. Whatever your political sympathies, I challenge any tourist to wander the perimeter of the profoundly empty space where the Twin Towers previously stood and maintain an unaffected attitude towards America's self-professed "war on terror". Whether 9/11 justified such a war is for every individual to decide, but the sobering experience of Ground Zero, though not excusing or justifying it, certainly explains and illuminates the fear which is rooted . Having finally shaken off the jet lag -as we all know, tiredness can kill -the choir was in high spirits. The singing was going well and as such everyone felt inspired to explore some different venues: be it the

coach, restaurant or even the street the choir was forever a singing (Thomas Bradley and Susie Jacques even perfected a new arrangement of Blow the Wind Southerly one evening that involved Bradley strumming away .. .). So on ward to Boston. After a highly stressful (sweet flights and Adam Sandier films were never my cup of tea) coach journey we arrived at Yale. This was possib ly the most nerve racking performa nce I have ever given as a member of the Crypt Choir: it is one thing to sing services in some of the world 's most stunning venues- be it St. Paul's or John Divine- but it is quite anoth er to sing in front of unknown contem poraries. Thankfully these conte mporaries were most impressed with th e classic Crypt Crew numbers:

Blue Moon, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and of course The Bare Necessities (I thin k they liked the line about" ... the fancy an ts"); indeed, they in return impressed us with their rendition of severa l gospel numbers. The tim e the Choir spent in Boston was a good deal more relaxed than the rushing streets of New York; a highlight was a visit to the Boston Concert Hall: a fantastic venue, a stunning performance and a bri lliant night. Afterwards, the Cho ir was on a bit of a high and as such, in th e tradition of previous tours and to the (slight) aggravation of the staff, valiantly resisted the appointed bedtime. Alth ough we were successful for quite som e time, our own enthusiasm got the better of us as our cheers guided Mr. lonascu to the hub of our late night antics, causing him to walk in on a rather biza rre scene (even for the Crypt Choir): directly in front of the door there lay a panting Edmund Rex, red-faced and whi st ling, his fellow bass George Coltart kneel ing over him with an oddly guilty exp ression. On the bed the resident dram a queen reclined raising her big tearf ul eyes to anyone who would sym pathise; one such individual being Dam Colli ngwood, who seemed to have grown a number of extra limbs, managing to have a comforting arm about almost every female member of the choir. Mea nw hile, the most responsible and senior members of the choir, pillars of respectability that they are: Barnaby Race and Rob in Bailey persisted in prancing abou t the room bedecked in overly-tightand- not-in-a-good-way pink t-shirts. A motley crew indeed. Our penultimate perfo rm ance of the tour was one of the most enjoyable, not least due to the relaxed atmosphere of the whole evening. Mr. lon ascu kept his cool (as ever) throug hout, despite Tristan Hamilton's

errors (a misplaced "doo" and an odd alteration to "die craft ver sh ... "): uncharacteristically numerous, characteristically notable. The trans-Atlantic tour drew to a close all too soon, and the choir, though thoroughly exhausted, boarded the plane grudgingly. The experience of America will certainly remain fixed in my memory forever; one can only hope that the vocal delights of the Crypt Choir left a similar impression. Alex Cocksworth (MR)

Tennis Camp Portugal After a long and disastrous journey, which included a four-hour flight delay and an unforeseen three-hour bus ride we finally arrived at our destination, the Val De Lobo resort in the Algarve, at 1:30 in the morning. We were split into groups of four, assigned a teacher and had a self-catering villa to ourselves. They were very comfortable and spacious. All of the facilities were within striking distance and they had great ocean views. On our first day we were all (even the staff) assessed at the tennis academy and put into groups according to standard. The trip was open to anyone with an interest in tennis and no particular level was required. Every morning we had a two-hour coaching session from 9-11 am, we were then allowed free time until the late afternoon when we participated in tournaments. The tournaments not only allowed us to improve our game but encouraged us socially. We all grew fond of our coaches and by the end of the week we all felt that we had greatly improved. During the week that we stayed in Val de Lobo we had full membership to Barrington's, a sports club with great facilities, such as an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna and steam-room, a Jacuzzi and a gym. This was incredible and we made good use of it. Most evenings each villa took turns to cater for another. This method proved to be fun and on one occasion Mr. Sanderson and his 'crew' entertained us with a rap. On two occasions we ate out in the Algarve, sampling Portuguese cuisine, which was marvellous. On the final evening the Tennis Academy held a barbeque for all those who had received coaching that week giving more opportunity to mix with the other visitors.

One afternoon the staff treated us to a game of crazy golf, which turned out to be highly entertaining. On another afternoon a voluntary trip to the Ocean Club Hotel was offered and so half of the group ventured to another part of Portugal. There, we enjoyed a delicious buffet, organised by Mr. Crosland, the owner and a King's School parent. We participated in a mixed doubles tournament, with prizes to be won before heading back to our villas. Meanwhile the other half of us spent the afternoon on the beach in Val de Lobo, playing rounders, flying kites and building sand castles. We were incredibly lucky with the weather; only on one occasion was it cloudy. Not only that but we were blessed with fantastic members of staff. Miss Reidy who we lived with for the week was amazing and she had a never ending supply of conversation and sarcasm despite her dubious prawn cocktail! Miss Ellener provided comedy both on and off of the court with her unique tennis skills and fear of wasps. An evening with the pair of them was never boring. Mr Sanderson enlightened us all with his rapping ability, talent for kite flying and was always on hand with a camera and a game for every occasion. Mr leeton and Liz were definitely the best hosts and are the King and Queen of BBO's! Last but certainly not least the ever efficient Mr Anderson who really held the trip together. Without his hard work and diligent organisation the trip would not have been the same. The tennis trip to Portugal was a fantastic opportunity for us to improve on our tennis and soak up the sun. It was a great experience, which allowed us to make new friends within the other year groups. Thank you to everyone who made it possible and above all Mr Anderson. Pam Gent (LX) and Jo Moncreiffe (BR)

Easter Snowdonia Experience, King's CCF Saturday 20th March to Sat 28th March Day 1 - High Ropes Course Is there a better way to spend a Sunday, than to go on a high ropes course, fifty feet in the air, based at Conwy Centre on Anglesey? No, because a high ropes course is exciting, very dangerous, quite scary in places (well, it scared Mr Hutchings anyway) and involves the

participation and concentration of everyone in the group. The way it goes is this: first we had to climb up a tree, on staples that act like a ladder, then walk across a log to another tree, then walk back to halfway along the log, and jump off. Next we had to climb another tree with staples in, stand on a platform fifty feet in the air, jump off, and catch hold of a bar, it did not matter if we missed, because we were held up by a rope held by three or four people, so there was little chance of falling. Lastly, we did the main course, fifty feet high, attached to trees that kept swaying in the wind. Most of the course involved us walking along ropes with little to hold on to; we were securely roped in as before. In the last part, we had to get down. How did we do this? We jumped! Don't worry, we only fell a few metres, then the harness caught us, and we were swung down on a zip wire. The day was a very enjoyable one, made even better by Mr Hutchings either screaming or whimpering whenever he had to jump off an obstacle. Lawrence Percival (LN)

was a very enjoyable experience. We were unable to climb to the peak of the mountain due to the snow and insurance. We also had the best hot chocolate ever at a little teashop at the bottom and were informed in detail of the latest celebrities to show their faces in Snowdonia such as Lara Croft and Neil Morrissey. Daisy Hooper (MT)

Day 2 - Snowdon

As soon as we got of the bus and started on our trail around the rocky foothills of the nearby mountains, we were faced with a steep drop down a winding country road. As this part of our ride ended another began up the single woodland tracks between the pine trees and ferns. The greatest effort made by a member of our group was the laborious run made by Lawrence Percival who managed with great efforts to keep up with the rest of the group. Our ride finally came to an end after a long steep climb and a fast descent back down to the main road where we waited with our other instructors whilst MJWS began the next steep climb to retrieve the bus from further up the hill. Alex Hatt (TR)

Watkin Path: Our hearts were light, hopes were high and Tom Pollock's face was a rictus of terror as we set off on the hard route up Snowdon, with its myriad of trials and obstacles, many of which came to us in the celestial form of Tom Kelly stopping to take a picture of the sheep dotted landscape, or yours truly stopping to take a picture of the sheep themselves. Our path steadily became challenged by wind as we approached and ventured past the furthest reaches of the chilling snowline. We lunched when our little legs could carry us no further, when, to our obvious dismay, Mr. Franks in his infinite wisdom decided we should go no further, but turn around and walk south along a narrow and treacherous ridge 'pan which many a frayed temper was lost and our method of transport became closer to bouldering and climbing rather than the brisk waddle we had grown accustomed to. As we finally approached flat ground about 700m above sea level, our erratic scrambling turned into a high-speed descent, and in very little time compared to our ascent, all parties concerned were happy to reach the van before anyone collapsed. Evan Jones (MT) Pyg Track: We battled the elements and hiked our way up the notorious Mount Snowdon. Despite the frozen conditions and the notable lack of a cafe at the summit, it

Day 3 - Choices Day Climbing: We arrived at a steep facing Tor, which was to be our climbing spot. The weather was in our favour. There were five different climbing routes and everyone tackled each one. We practised our belaying skills and became more confident as climbers. We also had the chance to abseil doWn the thirty-foot rock face. I Emma Corbett (LX)

certainly wasn't quiet. The wind howling along the valley and bashing into the side of our tents was quite an experience, as were the toilets! Still, we survived a cold and very wet night, only the bravest ventured outside to use the loo, the rest of us made other arrangements! By the morning the wind and rain had eased a little so we struck camp as quickly as possible then headed off on the final leg of the expedition. As there was a low cloud base it was decided for safety reasons not to tackle the peaks, which meant the regular soldiers whom, had been walking with us were given the day off. We discovered later that they had driven into Bangor and gone to the cinema while we were slogging it in the damp and muddy tracks, nice one lads. We made it back to the vans by lunch and spent the afternoon back at the Base recuperating, although some did venture out for a visit to Bangor. Group 2

Mountain Biking:

Day 4/5: Overnight Expedition Expedition Walk and Camp: The day started well with sunshine but as we progressed across the barren wasteland the weather turned a little cloudy but nothing to spoil the day. This was a hard day's walking, navigating a_nd listening to our friends singing! The Shells walked a slightly shorter route and low level, while those wild Removes yomped with Mr Franks, Mr Jones and Mr Hutchings, across some of the peak.s. The campsite was rather busy when we arrived as another huge CCF unit were aIready erecting their tents, so we moved down the road to the next site which was a little quieter. Well, there were fewer people, but when the wind and rain hit it

This group consisted of all the girls ... and John Wu. We were led by the formidable Chris who had a wicked sense of humour ... not! Carrying everything apart from the kitchen sink, we steadily ascended the first leg of our challengean almost vertical hill. After scaling the side of Mount Eilio for several hours we caught sight of our lunch stop- at the corner of the Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir. We met up with the first group and set off on the second leg of our route, which was a lot easier. We battled through thick bracken and many a muddy bog. The cliffs were towering above us, and as we passed we saw the third group saluting from the top of one, looking like tiny ants. When we finally arrived at our campsite we pitched our tents and started to cook our delicious army ration packs. We smelt the staff sneaking in some local cuisine curry, which Tom Pollock 'vultured' afterwards. The fearsome Mrs Saunders had ejected Lawrence out of the older girls' tent, who had seduced his way inside by using his knowledge of the periodic table! The weather worsened through the night and the tents were almost blown away. In the morning we attempted to strike camp in the rain. We set off on our last leg of the expedition -a low level walk into Capel Curig, in which Mr Fuller fell kneehigh into a smelly bog! We all walked extra fast after Mr Franks had promised us an ice-cream, only to find the shop was shut! This didn't spoil our enjoyment of the expedition and we're looking

forward to the next time, kryptonite for anyone?! Rose Wilson-Haffenden and Camilla Westlake (WL) Expedition-group 3 We started our six hour-long journey just outside Dolgarrog, a town in Snowdonia, where we climbed steeply through woods and fields and also, at one point, having to scramble over a fence. We proceeded on to a mountain named Mount Eilio and along the way we could see the other group walking along the side of the hill but almost straight after we went off course, due to a navigational error from Alex, causing us to change our plans, so we set off for a mountain called Pen Lithrig y Wrach. We were steadily walking for about two hours before we stopped for lunch, when Lawrence gave us the atomic numbers of any elements in the periodic table we could name. We carried on with Mr Jones leading with everyone else plodding on behind steadily but after about half an hour we arrived at some boggy ground that extended for quite a large distance. After a few more tiring hours of climbing and wading we arrived at the summit, which was covered in patches of snow and sharp rocks. Mr Franks talked to Mr Smiley on the walkietalkies before we decided to climb the next peak, Y Braich, which was joined by a saddle to Pen Lithrig y Wrach, and about an hour's walk away. On the way Alex tested certain people by giving them the question: "What is 722 ?"We arrived at the second peak at roughly the estimated time, and before we set off down the mountain Mr Franks showed us his life saving orange bag, which we almost all fitted in, but Mr Hutchings took up so much space the bag didn't fit all around us, so we continued our descent.

rain and thunder, and the sight of the campsite transformed in to a miniature bog. Having eaten breakfast and dismantled our tents we set off towards the town of Capel Curig, led by Mr Smiley, where we completed our expedition. The cafe/shop was closed and so the ice cream Mr Franks had promised was not to be. On to the minibuses, and back to Indefatigable for a hot shower and a bowl of soup, beans on toast and chocolate swiss roll. Thomas Pollock (MR) and Lawrence Percival (LN) Day 6: .Gorge Walking We started off on the chilliest day this week to go and get wet and cold. Mr. Franks said 'imagine the coldest you've ever been ... then d{ uble it'. Afon Ddu Gorge presented a formidable challenge to even the most experienced gorgewalker. We were thoroughly prepared wearing a multitude of layers to protect us against the elements, and a helmet and harness to enable us to ascend numerous waterfalls. It was fun scrambling over rocks and sliding down the mini waterfalls in our bright red waterproof outfits and wellies, ably guided by our instructor Dave. Mr. Hutchings dived in at the first opportunity to rescue a lost wellie from a previous gorge-walking victim. Our hands and feet were completely numb by the end of it, but it was great fun. It ended in an awesome plunge-pool dive. Everyone loved it, but looked forward to their warm sleeping bags and hot showers! Livvie Brown (LX) Summary of the week :

We carried on down until we fell on some difficulties, one of which was a stream, which Lawrence slipped down on his backside. We arrived at the campsite at around five o'clock where our companions had already set up our tents. We were allowed to cook our meals straight away, so we set up our stoves and cooked our boil-in-a-bag army rations and ravenously ate them with much enthusiasm. The weather during the night was abysmal, howling wind and rain. We woke, in the morning, to the sound of Rowing Tra ining Camp

Once again another successful week, lots of fun and no injuries. Thanks as always to those who gave up a weeks holiday to run the Adventure Week, especially our beloved chefs without whom we would have starved, Mr and Mrs Booth. Thanks also to the other staff who could have been at home with their families or enjoying a proper holiday. MJWS

Rowing Training Camp With a mixture of boys and girls, junior and senior, and even a girl from J.K.S, we made a long, but exciting journey to the far off destination of Aiguebelette. By the time we arrived we were ready for the onslaught of what turned out to be the most incredible week, training hard, but having lots of fun both on and off the water. We were welcomed by a lovely family who ran our hotel. The rowing centre where we trained had amazing facilities as the lake is of international quality and frequently hosts training camps for Olympic crews. We had two outings every day and a land based session, which was immensely amusing especially watching members of the 1st VIII trying to do Superman impressions on top of the gym balls! The setting for early morning sessions was breathtaking and really encouraged us to train harder and make the most of our distraction-free week of rowing. One morning we were alerted to the fact that the French Olympic VIII would soon

Easter Train ing Camp- King's Boat Club girls and French Olymp ic VIII

be appearing. This sent the girls into an absolute fren zy and they were delighted wh en the Fren ch custom of 'bisoux a tous!' kicked in! Rosanna still can't work out how sh e neglected to kiss the most good-looki ng member of the crew th ough ! We then had to pose with the guys an d th e boys even had a chance to give the m a run for their money! Th e food was tremendous and the hospitality superb. Three courses for each meal ke pt us all stocked up to burn the ca lories for the three hour rowing session s we .had twice a day. We also had two hou rs of studying time for those with examina tio ns, which was put to good use while th e ju niors spent their time explorin g the surrounding villages with Sa rah Beever and Mr Parker. Th e last evening was full of enterta in ment! Various magic tricks proved a little too contrived for certain membe rs of the senior crews! However, we wo uld like to congratulate Mr Parker on his im aginative ideas. Th e trip was such a success and ~verybo dy involved enjoyed it. We would l1 ke to th ank Mr Parker for agreeing to tow th e boats out with Andy. We would al so like to thank all of the staff for organising such an incredible and enjoya ble trip. Rosanna Tennant and Charlotte Greenwood (MT)

French Trip to Nice The French Trip to Nice was a cultural extravaganza; the varied foods, museums and expeditions led to a thoroughly enjoyable week. After the two hour delay at Heathrow the trip could only get better. Having arrived at Nice airport we were greeted by the weird and wonderful hosts: tall, short, thin, steatopygous, old and not so old. The first day we were left to our own devices, so we explored the labyrinthine maze of streets that is Nice. I think everyone appreciated the cafe culture which is stereotypically French and laid back (but rather expensive). Dave displayed his dancing skill, or lack thereof, as he joined Michael Jackson for a quick dance on the beach. Each day we had a morning of lessons mainly to prepare for our orals; we covered many interesting topics and found out that Drews was angry about being pregnant to a priest and a doctor... poor Drews. In the afternoon we would undertake a cultural expedition (if we could catch the correct train ....... Mr Jennings). Among these we went to Antibes - the home of a worldrenowned jazz festival, Eze- the home of a collapsing castle and a smelly perfumery, Monaco/Monte Carlo - in

which we saw the Aquarium, and many, many rich people and their trappings. At the end of the day we had to take the long trek back home. For Drews and me it was a long way; for Grace and Jane it was more of a marathon as our accommodation was too far away from the centre. Others were luckier, Dave and Russell being literally two minutes away, Dan and Bill about ten minutes away and Pippa and Rosanna being slightly further from the main street. The trip was also a culinary experience; some families' cooking was equal to any gourmet chef whereas others were under-nou rished (not that I'm gloating Jane and Grace). The early departure of Bill on the Friday somewhat dampened our spirits, but we struggled on .... remembering Drews's immortal line 'Je vais pukerais'. The flight back home was less delayed but Mr Jennings and Mme. Rodes still needed reassurance on take-off and landing that the plane could actually fly. All in all, it was a great experience, benefiting our French (when the waiters would actually let us speak in French), our cultural knowledge and our tans. A big thank you must be given to our courageous maman and TIJ. Andrew Miller-Jones (GL)

Saturday Florina and I went into Munich city centre for the last time and watched the famous town hall clock chime 9.00am. We bought our last supplies of German pretzels before saying our goodbyes and then sadly flying back to England. Altogether, der Urlaub war 'fantastisch'! By Fiona Levey (HH)

History of Art trip to Rome 14-20th Feb 2004

Munich Exchange Visit Monday After getting to London Gatwick at 6.00am, we arrived in Munich at 11.45. We met with our partners, said goodbye to each other and went to our exchanges' houses. I met my exchange partner, Florina's mother, father and three brothers and had a traditional Bavarian dinner of Sauerkraut (which wasn't my favourite meal, but nevertheless interesting!) Tuesday In the morning we went shopping and Florina told me about the town. We met up with the rest of the English students and their exchange partners at 2.00pm at their school where, over coffee and cake, we got to know one another. One of the teachers then took us around Munich and acted as our tour guide, showing us the new and old town hall with its amazing working clock, the Hofbraukaus (HB) where lots of Bavarians go to drink traditional beer, the Opera house, the Prince's Palace, the Bavarian Houses of Parliament and the meeting point of Hitler's famous failed rally, The Beer Hall Putsch. Wednesday c

As soon as we had our breakfast, Florina took me to the Altes Pinakothek, the Neues Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne. These are the three main art galleries in Munich, containing old, relatively recent and modern pieces of art. My favourite piece by far being Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' in the Altes

Pinakothek. In the evening we went to see Un bolla in mascf!era by Verdi at the Munich Opera Hou ~ . It was an exceptionally interesting and modern performance but nonetheless well conducted and still terribly sad. Thursday We left our partners at the station as we were going to visit a fairytale castleNeuschwanstein. As we sped past the Alps it began to snow and the Disney dream seemed to have become a reality. Neuschwanstein was amazing; its white bricks and turrets set on the edge of a gorge, with rooms decorated with amazing pictures in rich colours. My favourite room by far was the throne room, as it was decorated with the stories of the six kings who had led heroic lives. King Ludwig II, who commissioned the building of this, and many other magnificent buildings, died mysteriously before he could live there. He was inexplicably found drowned in the lake overlooked by the castle. We travelled down from the mountain in style taking a horse and carriage down and chatting to the Bavarian driver. Friday In the morning, I went round the Residenz museum with Florina and we . looked at the amazing collection of crown jewels and art displayed there. In the afternoon we went around Schloss Nymphenburg, another castle built by the mad King Ludwig II. After a tour of the Castle we went to the museum Mensch, full of amazing wedding, coronation and funeral carriages from the times of the German monarchy. We went back to our exchange partner's house in the evening for a final meal.

Having studied various aspects of Italian art and architecture since September, the 6th form History of Art students departed for Italy to see the real thing. Although the flight was short, when we finally arrived it was late in the evening and the weariness of travelling was starting to creep over a few. This was not helped by the fact that our hotel was on the sixth floor and there was only one ancient lift; however we were rewarded for dragging our suitcases up twelve flights of stairs with a quick trip to the nearest Irish bar- conveniently located just down the road, for a night-cap. We were pleasantly surprised by the party atmosphere created by the fact that the England rugby team were in Rome to take on Italy the following day, an event which a lucky few got to witness. The next morning there was a gentle introduction to the gloriousness of Roman architecture and sculpture as we explored Trajan's market and the Capitoline Museums. Although extremely interesting, I personally could not bid the afternoon to come quick enough since Mr Price had managed to get hold of a few precious tickets for the Six Nations match. After lunch we went to experience the awe of the Colosseum, (unfortunately without Russell Crowe), but it was impressive all the same. And so from one amphitheatre to the next, eight elated rugby fans set off for the Flamino stadium to watch England annihilate the Italians. The evening's entertainment was found at yet another of Rome's fine Irish establishments where we celebrated victory over the home nation. So far however the experience of Italian culture had been slightly hindered by the abundance of 'merry' England rugby enthusiasts. There is no doubt that Rome is a beautiful city but the sunshine we awoke to the next day made it even more so. We

travell ed out to Trastevere to see Bram ante's charming Tempietto at San Pietro in Montario and then visited the Villa Farnese and its stunningly frescoed room s by Raphael and Sebastiane; the 6bs fi rst experience of High Renaissance paintin g. In the afternoon, thanks to Mr Felto n's early booking we were able to have a scheduled tour of the Palazzo Farnese, which is now home to the French Embassy. Despite the fact that our tour was in French and accompanied by guard s, it was not hard to appreciate the majesty of such an edifice, the building of which was completed by Michelangelo. On Tuesday we tackled the Vatican which meant a fairly early start. I was intrigued as to what it would be like inside the smal lest country in the world but it is fair to say it left a big impression. The main attracti on, the Sistine Chapel, was much antici pated but the excitement of seeing it wa s somehow regulated by the way in which one is ferried through the corridors and ro oms like a sheep. Due to the crowds it was at times hard to take in the sp lendour of the many frescoes in Pope Julius ll's apartment rooms, which were decorated by Raphael and had helped to establish his reputation in Rom e. Out of these quarters the most impressive was undoubtedly the infamous School of Athens in the Stanza della Seg natu ra; it aIso served to prepare us for Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. The craning of necks certainly helped build up our appetites! The restaurants around the Vatican take full adva ntage of the fact that it is such a major tourist attraction, therefore we left feeli ng considerably poorer as we retu rn ed to tackle St. Peter's basilica. There was much reminiscing of Dan Brown's Angels and Demons as we walked across StPeter's Square, and once inside we were left to explore for ourselves. Even th ough it had been an exhausting day and we had worked hard there was need to play even harder as we went out to ce lebrate Chloe August's 18th birthday amid th e Roman nightlife.

had been a stressful afternoon, it was decided that everyone get an early night, ready for our 5 o'clock wake-up call. Walking to a station at five-thirty in the morning is demanding at the best of times, particularly for fifteen or so teenage girls, so moods were not brightened by the fact that we were going to be accompanied on our excursion to Florence by unrelenting rain. The journey was surprisingly quiet as we attempted to catch up on sleep, but once we caught sight of Brunelleschi's dome over the Santa Maria Novella, eyes widened and spirits lifted. We spent the morning in the Cathedral and then split into two groups to scale the heights of the Bell Tower and the Dome to get a spectacular bird's eye view of the city. After lunch we again divided, but this time it was a decision whether to visit the Uffizi to see Michelangelo's David or to take full advantage of Florence's outstanding range of shops and cafes; it was a tough decision! We took an early evening train back to Rome just in time for a our last pizza of the week and a brief exploration of a few more Italian night-time hot-spots, this time accompanied by party animals Miss Fisher and Mr Felton. Friday was always going to be a depressing day as we knew we were going home, but the fact that the sun was shining again made it even harder to leave. We arrived back in England later that night somewhat fatigued, but with fantastic memories of what really had been a memorable few days. Claire Rumbellow (MR)

The Versailles Exchange

Some people look at the world and see a happy place, where carefree men daily reap the bounty of plenteous nature, where the birds sing in the trees, happy that they Iive in the best world imaginable. Those people have yet to endure the deathly silence on the April 14th Eurostar as it mercilessly, inevitably hauls its exchange-bound cargo to a quiet land beyond the English language. The Orangina sits heavily in its glass and the train makes a clicking noise every twenty or so tracks. We exchange looks, but no one dares speak for fear of exposing the terrible gravity of the situation. Just as the piece of bread must endure the fires of the toaster, so the Versailles trip brought out the best of those involved. As the Eurostar lumbered into Paris to pick up the returning passengers, it was surprised. Who were these jabbering creatures who so gleefully and fluently exchanged remarks with their erstwhile jail keepers? Surely not the same hushed corpses that had fallen out just a week before? It was not the elation of the last day before school that the train observed that day. No, it was something even more satisfying: the feeling when a position that seems so terrible at first turns out not so bad after all. So, as the exchangees looked out of the window between conversation on the way home to see lazy birds surfing the evening currents and the tractors finishing the last rounds of the fading day, they allowed themselves to suppose that the bad times in life might just exist to make the good ones taste sweeter, that perhaps we really do inhabit the best possible world. Teddy Groves (GL)

Wed nesday was a slightly easier day as we covered the main sites of central Rom e including the Borghese Gallery and the Pantheon. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side which made the day slight ly less enjoyable, and it meant the ocu lus of the Pantheon served to make the interior rather wet and grim instead of all owing it to be bathed in warm and heavenly sunlight. The day ended on a slig htly sour note as some of the group unfortunately became targets for pickpockets whilst enjoying a well-earned McDonald's. Since we had the earliest of all starts the following morning and it Versailles exchange visit

Offshore Expedition: Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award May 28-31, 2004 The Offshore Expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme bronze award was again held this year at half-term during the Summer term. No sooner than it had been announced the expedition attracted eight Remove pupils, Alexander Allen, Charlotte Aylward, Frederick Coltart, Georgia Davidson, lona Emlyn-Williams, Caroline Monaghan, Robert Watson and James Williamson, who with members of staff Dr Richard Maltby and Mile Florence Zanardi made up the crew. Sailing a 12 berth ketch, "Ocean Scout" which is owned by the sail training organization Adventures Offshore, few of the crew had any previous experience of taking a boat to sea. The accounts of the expedition were written by some of the pupils:

seafarers set off. The rest of the morning was spent on how to manage and master the boat under sail. Then it was the turn of 'Group Georgie' -Georgie, Freddie, lona and James- to take the helm and led us into their expedition through the Selent. From Cowes their course took us back across the Selent towards the mainland, navigating between shipping

----~~----------------~----~

(i)Robbie's saga Our tale begins in the dark waters of Portsmouth harbour. Eight youthful, adventurous seafarers struggled through the bustling shopping district of Gun Wharf Quay and ventured onto the marina. And there, before their very eyes was the most amazing sight ever beheld to man, to be their home for the next three nights and days .... it was Ocean Scout! Supper cooked and eaten on board, safety drill covered, they spent the first night moored up in Gun Wharf. At the crack of dawn the next morning the mighty Top - Offshore expedition Bottom - Rob Watson at the helm

lanes and sand banks, and then all the way up Southampton Water to finish by taking us into Ocean Village Yacht Marina. (This proved to be an excellent place for an overnight stop complete with a multi-cinema) Then next day, Group 'Tinkerbell' (it may be said that I had no say in the name) - Charlie, Rob, Caz and Alex - took us back down Southampton

Water and into the western Selent. This was quite tricky as the wind was against us and we had to sail close-hauled putting in a tack every two_to_thr:e miles. This group took us w1th1n s1ght of the Needl es - another exercise in offshore navigation brought to a successfu I conclusion. As t he tide turned and now with the win d beh ind us it was an easy run back up to Cowes. Here we took one look at the crowd ed marina - catching sight of a King 's housemaster on a yacht and giving him a great cheer!- and sailed on to Portsmou th harbour. We spent our final nigh t at Port Selent Marina before return ing to Gun Wharf and the end of our sa ga. We al l had a thoroughly enjoyable trip, which tau ght the intrepid travellers a lot. Som e learned more than others- social skil ls were needed living in such confines. More importantly, the whole group chip ped in with the necessary tasks such as cooki ng and washing up- quite a job whe n the re are 12 people to feed . Then there wa s the actual sailing, navigation, hau lin g sails up and down, and, finally clea ning the boat out at the end. It was a grea t expe rience for me and I wish to express my thanks to Dr Maltby for org an ising it all, to Mile Zanardi for puttin g up with us, Skipper Bob for being an exce llent captain and Derek for tea ch ing me so much. Thank you! Robert Watson (MT) (ii) Charlie's venture We set off from Portsmouth harbour and beg an our practice day. We were split in to t wo groups to have more control and

understanding of navigation and sailing. I was in the second group to take charge and the following night we decided to sail down the west side of the Selent to view the Needles. This was a very challenging and long course but was enjoyed thoroughly by all. We had to learn how to use the charts and plot a safe and then sail the course that we had plotted.

Charlie and I generally worked the sails, but we all had to cope with other tasks such as stocking up with water, preparing meals, cooking and doing the washing up. We learnt how to attach the fenders, prepare the sails and jib sheets, and how to tack and jibe which I enjoyed the most. We had to learn how to work as a team because the 49ft boat could not have been sailed single-handedly.

When we were not occupied sailing we would make cups of tea for everyone. We also did the cooking and washing up while sailing, which turned out very interesting.

We were split into two groups of two boys and two girls and we each had a day to plan and sail for our expedition. My group decided to head from the Ocean Village marina on Southampton Water to the Needles on the west coast of the Isle of Wight. This was a long and lengthy process once in the Selent, as we had to keep tacking to make ground against the wind

I most enjoyed sailing in the strong winds as the Boat tilted 25 degrees, which felt like 40 degrees. On a very sunny day I managed to learn how to tie special knots including the bowline. This proved very useful as later J was asked to tie knots when others couldn't. Overall this has been a very enjoyable trip and if you get the chance to go on an Offshore Expedition I recommend it. Charlotte Aylward (WL) (iii) Caz's Expedition On Board the Ocean Scout On our first sailing day we set off from Portsmouth harbour and headed into the Selent where we spent time learning knots and taking turns at the helm.

The best part of the sailing was when the wind was up and the sea was a bit rough because the boat would tilt to about 30Â° and it would pick up speed. When big speed boats went past their wash would rock our boat and we'd all fall over, which was quite amusing. There were only a few things that I did not enjoy, but the showers in the yacht marinas made up for the hardships on board! Caroline Monaghan (WL)

To p - Where are the needles? Georgie Davidson Bottom - Alex Allen at the Helm with Mile Zanardi heading for France

Shell Trip to Ypres We left early in the morning, a torrential downpour on the way to the shuttle started the day off! The shuttle journey was relatively painless as we were allowed to wander in front of our coach: within 40 minutes we arrived and were ready for a fulfilling day. So many men were killed in the Great War, the men killed on the Western Front were buried in war cemeteries in Belgium or France. We were about to witness the evidence of this devastation. Our first stop was Tyne Cot cemetery at Passchendale. It was then the impact of the war hit us with row upon row of perfectly kept graves. We were all given a poppy to lay on a grave that was of significance to us. We were there for an hour which was nothing like the amount of time you needed to take in the moving sight. If you looked at the names on the memorial many of them would be familiar to you. I counted at least 30 with the same surname as myself which I found moving. Our next stop was Sanctuary Wood. We started with lunch and then we went round the back of the museum to the reconstructed trenches. Sanctuary Wood gave us some idea of what the trenches would have been like even though they

were in slightly bett~.r condition than they would have bel n. We wandered round for half an hour, a never ending trail of corrugated iron and sheer mud. Some of us were even brave enough to venture through an old war-time tunnel that reached across the wood. Unfortunately time was against us and we could not stay at Sanctuary Wood all day so we hopped on the bus to be taken to our next destination

5 minutes down the road was Essex Farm, another graveyard, but this one was of special significance to the school as we laid a wreath on a stone belonging to McCiear an OKS. This was particularly poignant as it brought us to realise how real the war was.

Hill 60, a crater produced by a mine was

The last cemetery we visited was

particularly interesting. It was an immense sight, to see the sheer scale of what a mine can produce.

Langem arck - the only German cemetery. Th is was th e most disturbing place we had been all day. At Tyne Cot each man had his ow n grave whereas at this ce metery t here were 5 or 6 crammed into one. Th e gravestones here we re not a clean whi te but a morbid grey. It had a co mp letely different atmosphere, but again t ime was against us an d we had to move on. We arrived at Ypres around 6, where we had ha lf an hour to look round the town. We were made particularly welcome by the ch ocol ate shop assistants who were desperate ly t rying to persuade us to buy their goods, although we didn't need much persu ading! We had a typical Belgian su pper on the square, which consisted of chicken and chips - this was a we lcome meal and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. But the highlight of the day was yet to come! Around 7 we all crowd ed round the Menin Gate. There were over a hundred people here but that was noth ing compared to the hundreds of thousan ds of names we were about to pray fo r. Th e minute silence really was the hi ghlig ht of the day, although it was sligh t ly ruined by the continuous flash photograp hy. I think everyone on the trip will re mem ber that as the most horrend ou s but powerful sight we had seen all day. Emma Hooper (MT)

Societies and Activities The Pater Society As usual, plenty has been going on under the auspices of the Pater Society. In March, Remove CC went to London with RPM and GRC to see a performance of the bawdy political comedy, Aristophanes' Lysistrata. Much fun was had by all and the students gained a valuable insight into some aspects of Greek comedy which should help them when they write coursework assignments on the Greek theatre. JT and RPM took 6b CC to the British Museum for a study visit to consolidate AS level work on Greek vase-painting and scu Iptu re. It was very good to have the opportunity to see objects in the collections which had previously been familiar only from illustrations in text books and JT's infamous PowerPoint presentations. Oxbridge hopefuls went to Cambridge with JAR and RPM for the annual Oxford and Cambridge Classics Open Day and, later on in May, the department took almost one hundred and forty pupils to see the latest blockbuster, Troy. This was an extremely successful visit- pupils were very knowledgeable about the Homeric tale of Troy and were able to spot examples of the film-maker's dramatic license over some aspects of chronology and plot. And finally, the Shells enjoyed visits to Richborough Roman Fort during the Shell Activity Week in June. Divided into groups, they explored the site, made Roman legionary armour and engaged in some Roman engineering, calculating the height of the surviving walls by trigonometry, and building a replica arch - not quite on the scale of the famous Rich borough triumphal arch! JT

Chemistry Matters Ouest International Open Day t::

Three 6b chemists, Tom Fox, Rahul Mukherjee and George Blessley spent a day at Ouest International, Ashford on

'i:: 0

:::s

t::

March 4th 2004. Along with about thirty students from other schools they spent

<.;

<1J

..s:::

-'i:

t he morn ing learning about the chemistry behin d pe rfumes and how the structures of molecules can be determined using spectroscopic techniques. In the afternoon the students were divided into groups and given the task of creating a shower gel based on an extract from the Keora plant. This was great fun, since one could mix up to 11 other chemicals in varying proportions in an attempt to make a fragrance that was fresh and invig oratin g. As well as creating the fragra nce the students had to give a prese ntation to convince one of the perfum ers from Ouest that theirs was the one to buy. Tom Fox excelled at this and his team (Smells R Us) was judged to be the wi nner. DMA

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award It was an interesting and varied term which began with tales of intrepid mountaineering from the 5th and 6b . . after their 'epic' unaccompanied Gold Practice Expedition in Snowdonia over Easter. The Common Room had received a Duke of Edinburgh's Award INSET on day one of term and the Shells were inducted into the Bronze Award taster programme, which they will continue until the end of the Lent Term 2005. The number of Physical Recreation activities was expanded to include climbing, instructed by Colin Camper, alongside cycl in g with MJWS and SPO, canoeing with JG and

instructor Lucy Fernie, sailing with SAH , and power-boating with SMcC. The initiative and Leadership training groups were reduced to more manageable numbers under the leadership of MJF and EB and a new First Aid programme designed by ESL and FZ was led by Alan Tranter who joined the team. Subsequently, a dozen participants gained their First Aid Certificates and virtually completed their Service Section. Preparation for expeditions was led by RNW and AMcG and Bronze Expeditions took place in May and June. At half-term a successful group completed a practice and qualifying expedition aboard a 41ft yacht off the South Coast, sa iIi ng from the Solent to Cowes, thanks to the organisation of HROM and assistance of FZ. Two groups ignored the rain to camp and walk from Dover to Canterbury via the North Downs and then after exams return to the Elham Valley to show they could spend two days and a night out on their own without getting lost. Well done to them. The sixth form are completing preparations for their Gold Qualifying Expedition in the Brecon Beacons National Park as I write. The largest numbers of participants however, will be the Shells who complete their first overnight stays on the Co-curricular activity week at Northbourne Park. The Removes continue to complete Service and Skills sections and Fifths move on to the higher Award . We are delighted that six members of the School - Aimee Baird, Georgina Darroch, Grace Walpole, Jessica Watson, Theo Webb and George Coltart will leave this year with a Gold Award. Congratulations to them for this excellent achievement. ARW

Top - Ouest International Ashford- Tom Fox, Rahul Mukherjee, DMA, George Blessley. Botto m - Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

Gold Practice Expedition Snowdonia 2004 We were prepared for the rain, the cold and the extremes of nature as we headed for Wales. The expedition consisted of a four day camping and trekking trip over Llanberis Pass, and the Ogwen Valley under the great mountain itself. The team consisted of Sophie Clark, Lucy HunterJohnston, Nicola Kent, Lizzie Fitzsimmons, Gigi Barker, Lucy Egleton and Robyn Ellis. The first night we enjoyed a comfortable lodging with the CCF at HMS Indefatigable, close to the Menai Bridge, but woke up at an inhumane hour on our first real morning of expedition to set off for the mountains. It was not long before we took a wrong turn, ate into our emergency chocolate rations and lost Robyn who took a flying leap into a bog!

However, we needed to put things 'back on track' and through astute map reading involving a number of detours and climbing a rock face, we reached our first campsite before dark and enjoyed the unforgettable experience of a boil-inthe-bag meal with ~atery tea and powered milk. I The next morning, wet and cold from a night's soaking we set off for Snowdon. This was undeniably the hardest day and we were warned off the mountain by a local sheep farmer. We stuck to our route which was a battle with steep climbing and torrential rain. The downpour meant that our intended campsite was closed and we had to return (via a short cut and a lift) to the previous nights site, 'not another sleepless night', we thought. Day three proved to be the longest, perhaps because of our lengthy breaks, but we needed them. There did come a time when we imagined ourselves to be in survival conditions, all hope being lost and needing a helicopter! Lucy Egleton however provided Iig ht entertainment by

Top- Snowdonia National Park Bottom- Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Practice Expedition

planning to wade through a shallow stream and found herself practically waist deep in water. Fortunately, she made a quick exit. From then on things did not seem so bad, for everyone else at least, as we marched on to the final campsite, wet, tired, but surprisingly in high spirits. Day four we walked out, were put on the train in Bangor and arrived home ready for our first shower in four days. The occupants of our shared train carriage were not impressed by our appearance or smell. The expedition had at times seemed physically gruelling, it certainly had been wet but had remained entertaining throughout. Surprisingly we are looking forward to coming together as a group again and repeating the experience on a qualifying expedition in the summer. Brecon Beacons here we come! Lucy Hunter-Johnston and Sophie Clark (WL)

Reports and Reviews Chamber Choir Concert This year's summer concert at St. Thomas' Church, Burgate was presented by the Chamber Choir with the help of some Shell and Remove soloists. The concert opened with Benjamin Britten's Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury, played from the organ loft by trumpeters Tristan Spencer (MT), Edward Watts (SH), and Benjamin McKee (GL). The Chamber Choir's first set followed with Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus. Robert Watson (MT) and Ondine King (MT) were next on the programme with a clarinet duet, Haydn's Minuet from Sonata no 12, and Sarah Ventress (WL) and Annabel Dight (BR) then played Handel's Largo and Allegro from the Sonata in G minor for two cellos. The Chamber Choir then returned to the stage with Ronald Corp's Elegy for Himself, Jacob's Pretty Polly Pillicote and Stanford's Blue Bird. The popular return of Tristan Hambleton (MO) ended the first half with Bach's Come ponder, 0 my soul.

The performers and audience alike were treated to an amazing display of puddings and cakes during the interval, provided by the parishioners of St. Thomas', with the ÂŁ700 raised going to Our Lady's School, Otukpa, Nigeria. The second half began with violinists Lucy Cronin (BR) and Phoebe Thirlwell (BR), playing three Bartok duos and then the Chamber Choir returned with three short anthems, Witchell's Fill Thou My Life, Ccesar's 0 for a Closer Walk with God and the ever popular Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter. Two more violinists followed Chloe Mitchell (MT) and Maristella Lee (MT) with the impressive Spohr Duet no 2 op 67. The Chamber Choir took the stage once more with some light hearted numbers to end the ~oncert, Gardner's Waly Waly, Errol Gal'ner's Misty and finally When Sunny Gets Blue by Fisher. Thanks to Mrs Frances Gerth for organising the concert and the wonderful puddings, and to Mr Howard lonascu for accompanying the concert on a rather awful Clavinova in much need of repair! WMB

Luxmoore House Fashion Show Lining up in silence behind the stage in the Shirley Hall, everyone nervously bit their glossy lips as an emotional video from 'Make a Wish' Foundation for children opened the evening, reminding everyone of the Fashion Show's cause. The opening models quickly checked their Entrada outfits and before they had time to pause, the music had started and the show was underway. Among those following on from Entrada and Dizzy Heights were Poppy and Ellen Arvidsson for George at Asda Kids, whose confidence made everyone smile at their resemblance to Father Fred. The clothes were bright and everyone coordinated their 'walks' effectively; thus giving the first dance performance of the show, choreographed by Claudia Kennaugh, Marina Kemp and Claudia Alder, a strong standard to live up to. This they did, whilst their costumes represented creatures such as a woodlouse, (Lucy Leigh-Pemberton), a fly, (Lola Soyode) and

even a fifties-style wasp (Charlotte Grey.) The tone soon changed as male models including Nicolo Luccini and Jonny Macfarlane strolled into the spotlight wearing suits selected from Burton's Menswear collection, and many girls went wild as Chuko Esiri, Shaun Githuku and Nick Hinves paused to smile at the end of the catwalk. Such a serious tone was relaxed in the next section, Fat Face, as the audience saw woollen beanies worn by Charlie Teale and an abundance of denim set to the music that Jack Munro and Georgie Emary organised impeccably throughout the evening. Adding more variety, Letitia LeighPemberton, accompanied by Ed Rex, sang Angel of Mine'with astonishing sensitivity to rapturous applause whilst the theme served as a poignant reminder of what the evening was really about. Hats from Fenwicks and Jewellery by Cousins marked another memorable performance as the elaborate designs and unique jewels stood out against the models' allblack outfits amid clever choreography to a slower beat of music and soft lighting. The teachers made their first appearance, (ladies first), modelling Viyella, and their bravery at letting the pupils 'do' their make-up proved t? be rewarded as they outshone many pupils, although the star of the section was Tom Horn, wearing Gap, as he was carried out by Mrs. Horn, exemplifying the way in which charities such as Scope affect those all around us. Rounding up this staff section were Miss Ellener and Miss Fisher, for Phase Eight;

Miss Ellener's appearance and grinning twirl at the end attracted extra cheers as the first half drew to what seemed like an early close. The Jazz Band, led by Robin Bailey, entertained the audience in the Shirley Hall throughout the interval with a fantastic degree of professionalism, their set providing an exhilaratingly impressive take on many well known tunes. The Luxmoore girls, all uniform in 'Make a Wish' shirts, served drinks and nibbles to the buzzing crowd as buckets circulated the room, burning holes in many generous pockets. To kick-start the second half, models including Robbie Wetherall, Emma Corbett, Kiri Barker and Karl Pauls erupted onto the stage to the energetic sound of The Darkness' /Believe in a Thing called Love -once more an apt title for the cause of the evening. The effect was memorable as the audience clapped along to the make-believe 'families' who walked up and down the catwalk with big smiles. This lively atmosphere was maintained with the second dance performance of the show, choreographed by Aislinn Mulligan. The larger cast, again portraying a different element of fashion in their colour-coded groups, presented various styles of dancing; particular mention to Nicola and Amanda Redstone's gymnastic performance and Jo Wilcke and Florence Norman's swing dancing routine must be added on account of the audience's subsequent gasps!

MEtS Suits, the first opportunity for male teachers such as Mr. Phillis, Mr. Thornby and Fletcher Banner to show off their swaggers, was another hit with the girls! Andre, modelled by Maia Gibbs and Lola Soyode, gathered many cheers and laughs as their mimed 'attitude' on the catwalk contrasted the pink and black of Poppy Parker, modelled wonderfully by Sophie Middleton and Alicia Swannell. The Close Harmony singers' outstanding performance raised one of the loudest applauses of the evening; their rendition of Good Vibrations, was especially memorable whilst special mention must be made of James Geidt who excelled in the upper octaves.

The School Shop, marking an entirely contrasting section of fashion statements, was another highlight of the show as the 'mystery models; a.k.a. The Beadle and Mr. and Mrs. Price, paraded in various states of disarray to the delight of the pupils in the crowd . Concluding the evening was an elegant display of evening wear, where Rosanna Tennant stretched her enviably long legs in a stunning black dress. The finale was the ending compilation of Canterbury's finest at its best, and went down to rhythmic applause. The star organisers of the show, Sophie LeighPemberton and Chloe August, bowed to the audience and ended one of the most enjoyable nights of the term, having raised an astonishing amount for such worthwhile causes. Jossie Clayton (LX)

Ch amber Concert The Lent Term Chamber Concert provided anoth er audience with a chance to listen to th e amazingly high standard of the music here at King's. The programme opened with a brass quintet arrangement, organ ised by Kevin Abbott, Head of Brass, who al so conducted the wind octet when they pl ayed Porgi amor and fcco Ia marcia. The chamber orchestra performed a selection of pieces by Haydn, and they acco mpanied Catherine Gabriel in her beautiful rendition of the psalm from the Six Celan Songs, which sounded as if it had come straight out of The Lord of the Rings. The other soloists all performed as fl aw lessly as ever despite their slightly modern styles, emphasising the rights of som e of them being in the crypt choir. Overa ll I found it a pleasant afternoon of music with a friendly air to it. Sarah Welby (LX)

Luxmoore and Âˇ Meister Omers Concert The Lu xmoore/Meister Omers House concert took place on the 8th of February in the Shirley Hall. The range of pieces performed was staggering, from classical wind groups to modern day pop songs and fi nally to a spoken piece of music (to which the performers truly understand the ph rase "It'll be alright on the night"). Th e va ri ety of instruments and the sta nd ard at which they could be played was wonderful; it meant that a wind quintet and a horn trio could be pulled togeth er with relatively little hassle. Before I forget (if that's possible), there was th e earth shattering rendition of the Luxmoore House song Be a Man, taken from t he Disney film "Mulan". We were privileg ed enough to have Stephen Matthews compose A Little Serenade especia lly for Tristan Hambleton to sing and myself to play the horn, accompanied by stri ngs and piano. The world premiere performance of the piece was received with am azement at how someone as busy as Stephen can manage to write such brillian t music. The Meister Omers House so ng we nt very well, and I enjoyed heari ng it again after the house song competition in which it also sounded great. We were fortunate to have some amazi ng soloists who increased the stand ard of the evening. Sophia Gerth Played her clarinet, Joe Bao on the piano; Letitia Leigh-Pemberton sang beautifully

as you would have heard if you were at the fashion show, and then Rosie Lewis and James Geidt sang angelically, accompanied by the house choir. There was a rendition of Confusa played by six clarinets which was most enjoyable and the rendition of a Sting song sung again by Tristan was breathtaking in my opinion. For the grand finale we had the House orchestra, which I found so much fun to be in. We played a medley of traditional tunes that everyone in our large audience must have recognised. Last of all I want to mention MJM, without whom none of this would be possible and hope that he thinks the hours of rehearsals and effort he put into it all paid off.

Mitchinson's House Concert As ever, Mitchinson's produced an evening of outstanding musical ability that surprised both parents and pupils alike. It always amazes me how talented my fellow House members are, and the Mitchinson's House Concert confirms this. Mitchinson's is often perceived as a house that doesn't contribute to school life, a house that doesn't get stuck in or involved, but frankly if one was to look at all the groups and clubs in the school, Mitchinson's represents itself fantastically. The concert was particularly successful through the addition of some parents, which was pleasing because it brought together all parts that make up Mitchinson's, which rarely have a chance to meet together because of the business of day-to-day life. The evening began with a fun and lighthearted 'magnetic rag' by the house orchestra, conducted by Poppy Mitchell, bringing together a large number of musicians, whether Grade 3 or Grade 8 (or plus!). Fred Maltby again impressed with his piano playing and it was a pleasure listening to his performance. I had the privilege of sitting next to Alex Sanne for the one of the following acts, which was highly amusing, as he turned a violent shade of red as his father proceeded to set up 'Barbie' (not the doll, his shocking pink electric guitar) on stage. I think it is fair to say that it was a performance the Shirley Hall has never experienced before! Other highlights included the 6b girls singing the popular barbershop song Goodnight Sweetheart. This was mainly thanks to Charlotte Greenwood who managed to organise rehearsals, and produce a performance that was both impressive and in tune.

Another highlight was Mr Parker, on ... well. .. the bicycle. I don't know how he managed to do it, but he managed to play the recognisable Rondo by Mozart whilst keeping a straight face. Barnaby Race must also be mentioned who graced the stage in the House Concert for the last time. He played and sang his own arrangement of Somewhere over the Rainbow, and showed just how much Mitchinson's has been privileged to have had such a key member of the music department and the school in general. He then directed the house song, for the finale, Something Inside So Strong, rounding off a memorable evening. Special mention must go to all the other musicians who took part and who deserve to be praised for their worthy contributions. Finally, thanks must go to Poppy and Barney and of course, Mr. Fox, who managed to put the whole show together. Lucy Wells (MT)

Recital Prize The Recital Prize once again produced fine performances from a handful of the 6a musicians. Ten pupils auditioned in the preliminary round, with five going through to the afternoon recital, adjudicated by Mr Chris McDade, Director of Music at St. Edmund's School. Two pianists- Ping Sangiambut and Franklin Lancaster, flanked the programme. Both had marvellous techniques but highly contrasting styles of playing. There were also two singers - Robin Bailey and Emma Hiddleston. Both voices had clearly benefited from excellent vocal teaching in terms of technique. Coupled with this, their stage presence and presentation made for highly engaging performances. The fifth performer was oboist Alexander Shannon who produced a wonderfully sweet sound and played with effortless musicality. Franklin Lancaster was awarded the prize and went on to play Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Symphony Orchestra in King's Week. Ping Sangiambut (GR) - piano

Sonata in A minor KV310

Mozart (1st movement)

Prelude Et Fugue in F minor

Op 35 No. 5 Mendelssohn

Robin Bailey (SH) - tenor

Where e're you walk

Handel

Mozart

0 mio tesoro

Schumann

Die Lotosblume

Sleep Alexander Shannon (MR) - oboe

Gurney

Sonata in FOp 1 No 5 Adagio Allegro

Handel

Epitaph for oboe and piano

Lutoslawski Fran~aix

L'Horloge de Flore

12 heures- Nyctanthe du Malabar (Malabar Jasmine) 17 heures- Belle de Nuit (Belladonna) 19 heures - Geranium Triste (Mourning Geranium) 21 heures- Silene Noctiflore (Nightflowering Catchfly) Emma Hiddleston (BR) - soprano

Music for a While

Purcell

Agnus Dei (Mass inC 'Coronation' K 317)

Mozart

Wid mung

Schumann

Come, Sing and Dance Can't help Iovin' that Man

Howells Kern

Franklin Lancaster (GL) - piano

Sonata in A minor Op 164

Schubert

Allegro ma non troppo Allegretto quasi Andantino Allegro Vivace

The Harvey and Galpin's Concert

t:::

Âˇ~

:::s ...... t:::

t.J

<1..J

...c:: ......

The concert opened with the Galpin's House song, a moving rendition of the Take That classic, Back For Good. It was evident from the dynamic subtlety and impressive harmony that this piece had been skilfully managed and one must congratulate Edmund Rex on the sensitivity of his direction. Edmund performed remarkably twice during the evening in quick succession, demonstrating the range of his musical talent. He performed an unaccompanied Bach piece on the flute, which was, for want of a better word, stunning. However, Georgina Merriam and Katie Schurr wÂˇere not to be phased by such an exhibition, the Shostakovich violin duet

they performed added to the spice of a varied evening and revealed promising talent lurking in the lower school.

known number, the harmonies were tight and the timing impeccable, bravo!

The tone was once again altered as another of the younger musicians, Jack Lawrence-Jones, daringly showed his worth on the harp. The audience welcomed Rachel Nevill's lighter contribution as she sang a Gershwin favourite, The Man I Love. The jazzy atmosphere was pleasantly sustained by Edward Lavery's saxophone piece and Abigail Schade performed sonie challenging flute pieces admirably.

The Senior InterHouse Debating Competition

The first of two interludes that are not strictly to be considered as musical, was the Galpin's Shell play, "The Mystery of Tower House", displaying not only a tangible degree of dramatic talent from the Shells, but some witty comic writing on the parts of Henr;y Synge and Andrew Swaffer.

Andrew Miller-Jones returned the audience to the musical agenda with a charming piano performance of Cornick's Modulations. The promised second interlude was then delivered, it took the form of a dance to Love at First Sight choreographed and performed by Claudia Alder, Florence Norman and Frances Steel. Despite their protestations, the three girls acquitted themselves very well and seemed to have enormous fun in doing so. The light ambience was upheld by the fast becoming annual comedy appearance of Archie Ahern and William Pound; they presented "The Gas Man Cometh" with genuine character and in doing so delighted the audience. The Harvey Harmony Group brought a peaceful aspect to the concert as they sang the memorable Carpenter's number, Close to You. Tom Bradley demonstrated his ability as both composer and performer in a touching performance of his own Darker. His contemporary, Emily Schurr, then took to the piano and wowed the audience with what was clearly a challenging Ravel piece. Similarly, Ben McKee tackled Jericho with enthusiasm, revealing a natural flair for the trumpet. Harriet Jones, once again astounded the audience with both the power and quality of her voice, demonstrating her musicality and flexibility in her performance of The Look of Love. The concert was drawn to a close by the upbeat and slick performance of the Harvey House song, We Go Together. One must congratulate the director Emily Kilner for her originality in interpretation and her sensitive direction of such a well

The Final of the Senior Inter-House Debating competition is an event always eagerly anticipated, and this year even more so, given the extremely high standard of the first four rounds. The four houses, Meister Omers and Walpole (for the proposition) and the Grange and Galpin's (for the opposition), were set the motion, 'This House believes that society revolves around sex', but admirably avoided tackling this on a superficial or populist level, giving an excellent debate examining the relative importance of many issues in today's society. Meister Omers were most notable for their excellent style and presentation. Richard Heywood-Waddington and Will Hill took the dispatch box as their 'stage', and won a large part of the floor through dramatic presentation of their arguments and a willingness to engage with their opposition in points of information and in rebuttal. Walpole's strength lay more in their arguments; both Marina Kemp and Hee-Jae Lim presented well-constructed speeches which displayed clear reasoning, and indeed, their opposition did not always address the full implications of their excellent points. On the opposite side of the table, the Grange gave a presentation as dynamic as Meister Omers, if slightly less theatrical, and included a very wide variety of arguments in their opening speeches to support their case. Both Max Thompson and Sam Calvert were very active in addressing a large number of floor questions. Galpin's then excelled in wit and style, winning many laughs with their occasionally self-deprecating humour, and yet there was also excellent coordination between the arguments of both Tom Tyler and Dan Gray. The adjudicator, Mrs Reid, was in an unenviable position with such a high allround standard of debate, but in a clear and helpful adjudication speech, she awarded Meister Omers a well-deserved victory, and chose the Grange as worthy runners-up. Alexander Shannon (MR)

School House and Jervis Play Und er Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas was orig inally a radio play that Thomas transferred to stage shortly before he died in 1989. It is a play that provokes t he audience to use their imagination to beco me a part of the story. Though there is no central plot, the audience is given insi ght to the individual lives of the inh abitants of the quaint Welsh town, a town that thrives on gossip. Sch ool House and Jervis's production of Dyla n Thomas's classic play was a lively and memorabl e spectacle that did not fail to amuse. Directed by Mrs Browning, it incl uded a large cast of students from all yea r groups who all looked to be having a thoroughly good time on stage. The play foll ows a day in the lives of the eccentric inha bitants of the Welsh town of Llaregyb, which led to some interesting interpretations of Welsh accents ranging from Liverpudlian to Irish in some cases! Dod gy dialects aside, the cast brought t he qu irky characters to life fabulously. Jam es Shilston's dirty cackle for Nogood Boyo was hilarious, as was Isabelle Acke rs' acerbic Mrs Pugh with her huge t inted glasses and the unforgettable sigh t of Jack Fox in a priest's collar. The act ion was smooth and effortless on stag e, supervised by the narrative skills of Alexander Blessley and Natasha Li. Had Dyla n Thomas been in the audience, I am sure he would have been very happy. Lucinda Hill (BY)

Sixth Form Talks The term began and ended with talks fro m two Oxbridge Admissions Tutors, Mr Rich ard Partington from Sidney Sussex Coll ege, Cambridge and Dr Emma Smith fro m Hertford College, Oxford. These both provided a very comprehensive ove rview of Oxbridge admissions procedures, the many opportunities avai lable at both these institutions and mu ch helpful advice on preparation for prospective applicants. Th e second talk of the term was given by La ura Parrish, a member of the winning team in the BT Global Challenge of 2000. Sh e spoke enthusiastically about her year spent as part of a yacht crew racing 'the wrong way' round the world, illustrating her talk vividly with video footage from th e race itself. As well as emphasising th e human aspect- the interactions between crew members and the building

of a strong team - she provided an inspirational example of someone who was prepared to dedicate herself to a huge extent in order to achieve her ambition. The other sixth form talk this term was given by Mr ian Garrod from Pfizer Global Research on 'The Use of Animals in the Discovery of Medicines'. Mr Garrod gave a very clear exposition of the complicated procedures now involved in applications for animal research licences, dispelled many common misconceptions concerning the nature of the experiments which are carried out, and explained why animal testing was still an important element of pharmaceutical research. We were shown examples of the great care and attention paid to research animals, especially in providing them with a stimulating living environment, and the possible implications of animal rights protests were also discussed. Thus, once again, this term's programme of talks included a great variety of subjects, all of them highly thought provoking , always leaving their audiences with plenty of questions for the speaker, but certainly also intellectually well satisfied. Alexander Shannon (MR)

Talent Show Review The Talent Show was a successful event which showed tremendous effort from all those who participated. It was organised by Laura Moncreiffe (BR) and awaited with great anticipation. The show was performed} y nine individuals or groups, who boasted their talents, which ranged from dancing, singing, beatboxing and the magic show. These contestants had been through various stages of competitive auditions and selection processes in order to perform on this day, before a panel of 'Pop Idol' judges, including the prominent actor and parent James Fox. They were advised to be as cruel : cynical and moody as Simon 'with the high trousers' Cowell. Dancing was in many forms, which represented the various talents that King's is privileged to have. The Redstone sisters, Nicola and Amanda, showed off their well-known skills in gymnastics through their stunning performance of acrobatics. With back flips, cartwheels, handstands and many more gymnastic moves the girls provided a stunning kickoff to the successful event. Alex Swain's self-choreographed dance

certainly caught the eyes of the audience and proved that she was a gifted dancer, dedicated as well as talented. Her selfmade costume and expressive gestures added to the quality of her contemporary dance. With the elegance of her moves, she made sure that she communicated with the judges with her sheer energy, and confidence. Nicola Carey's tap dancing was described by the judges as entertaining. Her grin from ear to ear together with her brisk, energetic movements of the feet, and of course, the top-n-tail hat she wore made the performance more dynamic. She certainly made sure everyone recognised her presence on stage. Next came the only acting contestant, Lucy Wells with her monologue, 'Her Big Chance' from Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. Extremely enjoyable, she showed her true talent as an actress, especially as a monologue is known to be very hard to perform as well as engaging the audience. Her stage actions and manners were later praised by the judges. The unique experience of being entertained by the amateur magician, Andrew Northern, lasted a bit longer than everyone would have expected. First faced with the technical difficulties of the camera and the microphone, 'the magician' of the show found it hard to recapture the audience's attention. However, when it got under way, his magic tricks were indeed very good for an amateur, which was complemented by his outfit of a black cape (i.e.scholar's gown) and a magician's hat. Although not treated with much magic, everyone applauded him with great sympathy and affection at the end of his show, admiring his patience and perseverance. Singing, or using voice, rather, was to be the central talent to be presented throughout the show. Letitia LeighPemberton and Emma Turner, both juniors, sang with tremendous confidence and ability. The song, Tell him was accompanied by Ed Rex on the piano; the harmony between the two singers and the piano could not have been more perfect. Claudia Kennaugh, not surprisingly, also made it to the talent show, and again showed off her experienced stage manner and incredibly powerful, yet refined voice, with the beatboxing from Pat and Nick to accompany her. Henry Synge, showing that he was a true musician, accompanied himself on the piano while singing. As the camera closed up on his concentrated face, the song came alive with its emotion and sincerity.

s:::

Âˇ~

~ ......

s::: 0

C,.)

<1..J

...c:: ......

Beatboxing was in the 'ghetto style', which provided a contrast to the RnB singers. Wonderfully prepared and performed by Pat Loughman and Nick Gent, it proved to be the most popular event of the show, hence winning the popu Ia r vote by miles. For the benefit of many teachers who would have doubted that they were playing some percussion music, Pat and Nick made sure they announced that all sound heard was to be made with human voice. Joined by Howard Bryant towards the end, their incredible beatboxing was enough to silence the audience and make them concentrate on each beat. Their 'ghetto' costumes and 'ghetto' moves went well with the beatboxing and the rap. Their fantastic multi-tasking was very impressive. The nine contesting groups were afterwards narrowed down to Alex, Letitia and Emma, Pat and Nick, and Henry Synge and the winning award was given to Letitia and Emma, as the judges concluded that their mature talents, despite their lack of experience, were the most impressive. However, congratulations must go to all those who participated, performers with talents from the preliminary auditions to the show itself, the 'colourful people' who were helpers, the photographers, and the organiser of the event, Laura Moncreiffe. Overall, it was a delightful show which provided the school with something quite unique and amusing. Hee-Jae Lim (WL)

The Harvey and Galpin's House Play Alan Bennett's "Habeas Corpus" is the farcical tale of the Wicksteed household, a world revolving around sex (or for some, the lack of it) and propriety. Arthur Wicksteed, a middle aged doctor, resigned to his marriage and sexual promiscuity at any opportunity was portrayed flawlessly by co-director Patrick Loughman. His wife, Muriel Wicksteed's struggle against her desire was performed hysterically by Frances Steel; as a couple both Patrick and Frances presented a highly comic display of the politics of marriage. Their children, Dennis and Constance, were played by William Steel and co-director Florence Norman, both managed to accentuate their respective eccentricities brilliantly, delighting tbe audience with their complexes, be id iypochondria or a flat chest. Mrs. Swab t the cleaner, played by Claudia Alder, was an utterly believable whilst ridiculously comic narrator and Sophie Middleton delighted the audience with her contribution as promiscuous young Felicity Rumpers. The shockingly recognisable arrogance and snobbish corruption of both her mother, Lady Rumpers, and (unknown) father, Sir Percy Shorter, performed by Amanda Harrison and Charles Harvey provided some side splitting moments of comedy. The cameo appearance of Mr. Shanks was simply hilarious, as a lucky William Pound managed to fondle every girl on the cast bar one and to lose his trousers in the

process. Similarly, Andrew Swaffer's momentary appearance as the suicidal Mr. Purdue supplied much laughter. However, I cannot conclude without mentioning Canon Throbbing, better known as Henry Synge. Henry's characterisation was superb and resulted in moments of uproarious humour as he petted and stroked his unwilling fiancee Constance and zoomed across the stage on his scooter. This production was fantastically directed and produced; congratulations are due to all involved, particularly to the directors Florence Norman and Patrick Loughman. I laughed from the outset and found myself still chuckling on the walk home. Well done one and all.

the audience later commented on how much they had enjoyed this calmer and gentler piece. The most impressive aspect of the concert was the large number of people taking part in it, pupils and staff alike. Overall the concert was a huge success, with a lively atmosphere, smooth changes between items, and polished performances of a high standard. It was certainly a most enjoyable evening. Many thanks must go to the organiser Elly Ruthven, who clearly worked hard to make the concert the success it was. Thanks must also be extended to Hee-Jae Lim, James MacDonald and Dominic Collingwood who worked hard as her reliable assistants, Mr Bersey for his continuing cheerful support at rehearsals and for accompanying the performers, and finally Mrs Watson and Mr Oath for their constant and unrelenting support.

Linacre House Concert

Th e Walpole and Grange House Concert

musicians in both houses. Bess played by Tom Marnham on the trombone stood out as a particularly special solo, as did Dominic Collingwood's vocal solo, Elly Ruthven on the violin and Sarah Ventress on the cello.

The Grange and Walpole annual house con cert has been of a very high quality in recent years, and this year was no exception, featuring an impressively wide ran ge of music.

A special mention must be made about all of the group vocal performances. The close harmony group was the first one to make an appearance (special thanks go to Barnaby Race for his contribution). This was an impressive performance with the fine voices of the entire group working well with each other, to give a very enjoyable rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Blue Moon. The Walpole choir were next with The Snow and just seeing the large amount of people on stage really demonstrated the talent that Walpole has, especially from the large number of younger years that were present. Although slightly timid at the start they soon picked up enthusiasm and

The concert was opened by the Grange and Walpole orchestra with S'wonderful by George Gershwin, arranged by WMB. The orchestra blended well and with the majority of the players in the fifth form and below we can certainly expect good thi ngs to come. In addition there were a number of very good solos in the concert, which hig hlighted the number of talented

On the evenings of the 24th and 25th of January, Linacre House presented a warmly received performance of music and verse. Linacre continued its tradition of hosting a concert completely independently, without any collaboration with other houses, and the result was a varied programme of a consistently excellent standard. The programme took the form of a chronological progression through the music of many centuries, starting in the Linacre front hall resounding to the sound of plainsong, and ending on an altogether more modern note with the Linacre House Jazz band. Directed by Andrew Laing, their performance of Cantaloupe Island and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy put everyone in a perfect mood for the refreshments that followed in Mr. Teeton's flat. Highlights along the way included Gerard Baker's beautifully reflective performance of Adagio for 'cello by Vivaldi, Adam Baker's performance on the piano of Toccata in E minor by Bach, and Jack Gahan's rendition of The Scientist by Cold play, which he accompanied on the piano. Perhaps the high point of the whole evening was Jack Standen's rendition of his own composition, Song, showing his wonderful tenor voice, which he accompanied on the piano. Special thanks go to Gerard Baker and Mr. Outram for their organisation and planning of the event, and to Mr. Teeton for hosting the evening.

America Concert The annual gathering of students from Simon Langton Girls' School, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Barton Court Grammar School and, of course, King's, were this year given the ominous Âˇtask of performing some of the most technically challenging music the school has heard in this type of concert for a long time. Although all of the music performed was the work of just two composers, the programme reflected some of the wonderful diversity found in American 20th century music. The concert opened with Leonard Bernstein's Candide Overture, which the King's School Symphony Orchestra played beautifully. The Overture has long been a concert favourite with its memorable tunes and climactic ending, and the orchestra pulled it off with precision under the baton of Colin Metters. But this was only a taster of Bernstein's music; without delay the choir, consisting of pupils from all four of the participating schools, launched into the Chichester Psalms, a different style of music altogether. Probably the most difficult piece of the night, not only are the three movements in Hebrew texts, but the music itself is extremely complicated, with everything from ear-splitting discords to calm, sweeping melodies sung

rendition of Mozart's Allegro Moderato, getting the concert off to a smooth start. One of our many new talents in the Shells, Alice Huntrods, performed another piano piece, For Elise, which was clearly well prepared and just as convincing as Harriet Pritchard's and Thea Backhouse's clarinet duet. Another example of our new talent came from Annie Madewell's and Kitty Synge's upbeat saxophone duet, revealing astonishing potential through their wonderful debut. Another clarinet performance was that of Heidi Reichhold's Allegretto, accompanied by Ms. Astin on the piano, which added a moving feel to the concert. A contemporary touch was added to the concert with Hannah Robinson's and Octavia Alper's rendition of U2's In a Little While on guitar and bass. by female voices. One particular highlight was the treble solo sung by Sebastian Payne, a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral, wh ich contrasted nicely with the female voi ces who later repeated the tune. But most impressive was the way the choir ma naged to shift so suddenly from the lou dest moments to quieter, more expressive singing. Next on the programme was the Porgy and Bess Concert Suite by Gershwin, and it was not surprising that this was the most well-received work of the night. While the choir, accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra, performed the ch oruses of such favourites as I got plenty of nuttin' and 0 I can't sit down, the two sol oists, soprano Maureen Brathwaite and baritone, Ronny Sam really stole the sh ow. A stunning rendition of Su mmertime by Maureen Brathwaite was eq ualled by Sam's memorable perform aneeÂˇ of It Ain't Necessarily So, du ring which he got so into the spirit of th ings that he turned around and started to conduct the choir. The combination of th e choir, the orchestra and the soloists certainly lived up to the high expectations that surround any music by Gershwin, and the audience showed their ap preciation at the end, when the soloists and Mr. Metters were required to return to the stage and bow several times before be ing allowed a well-deserved drinks break. After the interval came another Gershwin cl assic, An American in Paris. Purely orchestra l, the work reflects the im pressions of an American tourist strolling the streets of Paris, negotiating th e traffic, the hooting of taxis and wa ndering into cafes where he hears local musicians. Although tonight it was a slightly shortened version of the original, it was played with gusto, and

the orchestra clearly enjoyed playing it, which is always important. Finally came four songs from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein: I Feel Pretty, Jet Song, America and Tonight Quintet. All famous songs, the joint choir and orchestra had a lot to live up to, and finished the concert on a very good note. The singers really got into the character of the songs, and afterwards the audience were very appreciative. No-one can deny that the concert was a success, and I am sure that people are already anticipating the next concert of its kind. Ed Rex (GL)

Jervis House Concert The Jervis House concert was an event that revealed the many talents present in our house. The concert started out _) strongly with Kat Pengelley's confident

Tali Pollock-Hill added a lively and jazzy sense to the evening with her performance of The Man I Love, sung with great expression and feeling, followed by our second alto, Octavia Alper singing Send in the Clowns. Our Sopranos also delivered pleasing performances, such as that of Alice Gerth's powerful Andrew Lloyd Webber rendition and Annie Flower's performance of Adele's Laughing Song, showing us once more her pleasing voice and good handling of high notes. Annie also performed a duet with one of our younger sopranos, Rosie Guest, who from the start of her time in Jervis has proved her astonishing vocal capabilities. The Jervis House Belles made their close harmony debut with Mr. Wonderful, which they chose to dedicate to the Headmaster! Finally, the whole House finished off with a second and final performance of the 2003 House Song, Breaking up is hard to do. Hermione Sharp and Francesca Parkin (JR)

Th e Serenade

song with ease, albeit with a few page turning difficulties!

Frid ay 2nd July This year's Serenade, as always, posed the difficulties of outdoor performance, and the Serenade Choir, a group formed solely for t his occasion rose to the challenge adm irably, especially with the windy con ditions. This was especially shown in the arrangement of Londonderry Air whi ch started the concert, which began with a peaceful trumpet melody floating across the Cloisters from the Green Court. The tune was picked up by the choir sea mlessly and was sung beautifully. The variation of the choir's repertoire was rem arkable, ranging from up-beat songs such as Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat and Is you is or is you ain't rna baby? to lively madrigals such as As Vesta was to mu sic which so peacefully harmonized with the beautiful sunset that was taking place above the cloisters like the Skye Boa t Song. Cho ral music was dispersed between instrumental and solo voice 'interludes: The first C (No.7 Deux poemes de Louis Aragon}, was sung brilliantly by Barnaby Race, who also sang a long solo in one of the full choral pieces Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat, one of the highlights of the concert. The second solo was performed by Howard Bryant, playing Mozart's Horn Concerto in E flat K 47 7 (ron do}. He played a seemingly difficult

Atmospheric music for the evening hours was provided by Rosanna Lewis and Alexandra Cockworth, who sang Purcell's Music for a while and The Singer by Michael Head. Both singers captured the night time mood superbly. Alicia Swannell (BR)

Songs from the Shows This year's Songs From The Shows was an impressive display of a variety of show music and voices. The songs included well-chosen numbers from Les Miserables, Guys and Dolls, and many other favourites. The performance was in the relaxed atmosphere of the Green Court Marquee, this tone enhanced by the inventive costumes and the obvious enjoyment of all concerned. Solos from countless old hands received great applause from the appreciative audience, with leavers like Alex Cocksworth, Robin Bailey, Claudia Kennaugh and many others leading the way. The cast for the big songs was all-star, with most contributors also singing solos or duets. This pupil-led event sparked great enthusiasm from all who watched, and added to a highly successful King's Week. Sarah Ventress (WL)

Jazz on a Summer Sunset This was a perfect way to get into the King's Week mood, a rainless evening accompanied by some truly amazing Jazz. As the performers came onto stage in their matching pink shirts, and Andrew Laing in his old-school sunglasses, I couldn't help but feel excited. Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man opened the evening and settled any last minute nerves along with grabbing the audience's undivided attention. The Modern Jazz Group this year consisted of Robin Bailey on the sax, Ed Rex on flute, Andrew Laing on bass, Barnaby Race on keys, Max Stanley on drums, Andrew Miller-Jones and Chloe Mitchell on trumpets. Some other items they played included Summer Samba and Prescription for the Blues, along with Horace Silver's Song for My Father and Devil may Care by T.P. Kirk and Bob Dorough, which also featured in the Jazz Concert in the Shirley Hall. The soloists for the evening were wonderful. Alex Cocksworth's rendition of Shadow of your Smile and Tina Turner's What's love got to do with it? kept you on the edge of your seat, along with other superb performances by Jack Standen (It's the Good Life}, and Harriet Jones, who could have stunned the

audience just in the dress she was wearing, let alone her version of Somewhere over the Rainbow. As lucky as I felt at this point, things were about to be turned up a notch. We were introduced to next year's modernjazz group, consisting of James HarveyKelly on sax, Patrick Allies and Chloe Mitchell on trumpets, Ed Rex on keys, Max Stanley on drums, and the everreliable Andrew Laing on bass. They effortlessly pulled off Miles Davies' Solar and Wading in the Water. Emma Hiddleston sang Jessie Harris's One Flight Down and then End of the Line accompanied by her lovely backing singers (Alex, Harriet and Claudia). Claudia Kennaugh really got the audience involved and certain members of it dancing with Stevie Wonder's You are the Sunshine of my Life and another classic Dancing in the Street. Along with a large Spanish hat, came A Quiet Place which in Robin's own words was "originally a close harmony number but we're going to try it as an instrumental". Special mention at this point must go to Max Stanley, Andrew Laing and Barnaby Race for being reliable throughout and keeping everything going. Then to my personal favourite of the evening, My Shadow and Me written by Barnaby and Robin who are, as the song implies, never seen without each other. This was so much fun to listen to, especially with lyrics such as, 'start off at Penny's and then to Ha Ha's', which I am sure many people can relate to. Finally once the sun had set on the Green Court, we finished with Chameleon. A thoroughly enjoyable, and certainly unforgettable evening. Congratulations to everyone who took part in it, and best of Iuck to the leavers in the future, whose talent will be sorely missed. Sarah Welby (LX)

Archdeacon's Garden Concert The beautiful Archdeacon's Garden was unfortunately unable to be used for this year's concert due to particularly unpredictable showers, and so the concert was held in the Shirley Hall. However, the performers did not let the miserable weather dampen their spirits and they managed to create an inspiring atmosphere despite the change of venue. We were indulged in a fabulous mixture

of music, ranging from lively songs by Gershwin to the pure and intense arrangements for the Close Harmony groups. The Wind Band, conducted by Mr Bersey, opened the concert with a rousing piece by Gershwin aptly named Strike up the Band which was immensely enjoyable and light-hearted. Their next piece, 'Puttin' on the Ritz' brought a shot of instant glamour to the afternoon and set the perfect mood for the stunning performance from the King's Swingers, comprising some of the best female voices in King's who brought us four delightful arrangements including Sound of Silence and Fly Me to the Moon. The Wind Band then brought the drama of the action-packed epic Lord of the Rings to the Shirley Hall with an arrangement of the Symphonic Suite which demonstrated t tf talent of the players in such a challenging piece. Calm was restored when Emma Turner sang Someone to Watch Over Me, with captivating originality and strong vocals which balanced perfectly with the

accompanying Wind Band. The Percussion Ensemble performed Sabre Dance with large amounts of energy and conviction which made the piece a great success with the audience. The King's Men then treated us to three pieces, clearly enjoying their time on stage and performing with spectacular skill and spirit, particularly in the charming version of Every Breath You Take. Emily Reilly then sang Embraceable You with the Wind Band and enchanted the audience with her ease on stage and her soulful, engaging voice. Wind Band ended the concert with the powerful and impressive Birdland and gave an enjoyable encore of the same piece. The afternoon was wholly entertaining and the performers deserve congratulations on presenting such a polished and skilful performance. Melissa Lloyd-Jones (HH)

An Italian Straw Hat If you listen carefully to the first five mi nu tes of a farce, and understand the sig nificance of what you hear~ you will often be able to work out the denouement long before it actually occurs: this is certainly true for 'An Ita lian Straw Hat: The scene is set by Mme. Beauperthuis' maid, Virginie (not, pe rhaps, the most appropriate of names) an d Fadinard's manservant, Felix (rather more felicitous a name), played by Emily Jenkinson and Max Stanley who got the evening off to a vibrant start. Soon deaf uncl e Vezinet (John Hamway) appears with a mysterious wedding present co ntained in something that looks su sp iciously like a hatbox. And we are off. Everyone, it seems, is either having or has ha d an affair with everyone else and th ere are the usual cases of mistaken id entity, cross purposes and class differences, all going against Steve Bree's lu rid pink set (reminiscent of blackberries and custard) with its three pairs of doors to assist the going on (and off) and a multi-purpose screen so essential to vaudeville. Th e central character is Fadinard (James Shilston), a philanderer bachelor, who dominated throughout, largely blustering, often harassed, sometimes tender, always scheming, rarely sincere, usually controlling; his stage presence was co nsiderable and he guided us through t he complications of the plot. (Unless one listened carefully one might have missed t he fact that the wedding had actually taken place offstage during the mad rush from venue to venue to seek replacement for the hat that has been eaten.) Just occasionally his asides were misdirected but James's was an accomplished, versatile and convincing performance of a demanding role.

Nonancourt (or, in this production, a most successful Mme. Nonancourt), played by Robyn Ellis, was a rustically rural market gardener with more than a soupc;on of Clarrie Grundy about her and a veritable market garden on her hat (thanks to Diana Francis's needle). She is determined to climb the social scale without quite appreciating how to behave in a more exalted station, protective of her daughter, suspicious of her son-in-law to be ('young man, it's all off') but she is, at heart, a dear old softy and Robyn played her for all that she was worth. Her daughter H~lene (Emma Findlay) was superlatively simpering with wonderful facial expressions (particularly when fighting a recalcitrant but invisible pin). An injured innocent-or not so innocent? We shall never know but there are certainly sinister undertones (or

overtones) in her relationship with cousin Babin (Patrick Holt) who is as wet and whimpering as Fadinard is firm and formidable. The supporting cast are largely cameo roles but cameos that were very finely defined. AnaÂˇfs and Emile (Florence Norman and George Chilcott), the former an unfulfilled wife, the latter an apoplectic Lieutenant of Zouaves, were nicely contrasted as were the Duchess of Champigny and her niece (Charlotte Alberry and Kara Kock). The performance of Claudia Kennaugh as Clara, a hatshop owner, made it quite apparent why Fadinard had first fallen for her and then left her and that of the cantankerous hypochondriac Henry Synge as Beauperthuis made us realise why Ana"fs sought her pleasures in other fields. Tardiveau (Edward Stephens) almost enabled us to feel the heat. Trouillebert (Edward Callaway) drilled his motley crew with the pomposity expected of his type. The wedding guests and bridesmaids, unaware of where they were going or why but quite happy to make the best of whatever situation was presented to them, showed the correct well-drilled reaction to each twist of the plot and among them all wove Vezinet, never really knowing what was going on, making a comic virtue of his deafness, eventually finding solace in his potty and finally failing Uust) to give the game away. Chris Banfield's production went with tremendous pace with slick scene changes, the effective use of a wide variety of props (thanks to the supervision of Christine Coleman), the intricate business of the hat getting snared and then freed, the bucket of water narrowly missing a distinguished member of the audience and, not least, the sleek and professional transfer of the play to the marquee on one rain-sodden night. A tremendous evening of fun even if one was left wondering why everybody had spent so much time to preserve the honour of a lady who was not quite honourable. But that, of course, is farce. Graham Wood

A Midsummer Night's Dream The Archdeacon's garden played green and golden foil to an erotic and psychedelic Dream in King's Week 2004. A script so often gelded by schools (a fate shared by Romeo and Juliet) that we sometimes box it as 'great for the kids', Shakespeare's tall tale of love's magic and madness was refreshed in a sassy, raunchy and irreverent Sixties rendition by Liz Pidoux and Arabella Jennings. A bold stroke of the pen had changed Athens to Waking, where hot pants, tight-leather and bell-bottom trousers cavorted to flower-power classics; the local wood was home to a legion of hissing, bog-monster fairies with streaming hair and angry blue masks of Celtic woad; and a mob of multi-racial mechanicals, stunned with stupidity,

blundered about as if in search of a United Nations building site. Athens was ruled with sardonic suavity by Max Thompson as Theseus, who was mildly amused by the matronly hauteur of his latest spoil of war, Lucinda Newman (Hippolyta). In her tweed skirt and pearls she was having none of his erotic blandishments in the opening scene, and it was even questionable whether he would have his way when the new moon finally arrived in Act Five. They made a comically uncomfortable pair as they drank tea from china cups incongruously served by the convincingly

cam p, bling-heavy Andrew Swaffer (Ph ilostrate) in a wide-lapelled space suit. The lovers squabbled childishly over the pom pous pleadings of the mouthy Tho mas Fox (Egeus) and showed the right deg ree of adolescent petulance in every scen e. Alexandra Cocksworth (Helena) and Lucy Wells (Hermia) were a brilliant 'pai nted maypole'/'acorn' combination, enu nciating their comic viciousness and vulnerability with precocious RADA clarity. Nicholas Page (Lysander), in a CND necklace, sparred sneeringly with the bullish and afro-haired William Jen nings (Demetrius), whose skin-tight candy-striped bellbottoms amazingly spared him blushes during his athletic antics in the wood. The fairies were potent and pungent. Neith er sweet nor endearing, they fought, in t he manner of Homeric Olympians, savag e internecine battles with crackling eroti c charge. Thomas Pritchard (Oberon), pea cock-proud, held the reins with virile stateliness, but struggled to contain his dia phanous dominatrix, Rosanna Tennant (Titania) who, with cutglass BBC articulation, marshalled her less-thanladylike t rain of man-eaters, whose nearorg asmic delight in their mistress's asi ni ne adventures was neither PC nor PG. It was a masterstroke to split Puck (bot h Jasper Goring and Emily Reilly) into waspish male and female, given the tricksy spirit's hermaphroditic spitefulness (why Puck is so often portrayed as male is beyond me).

The portrayal of the mechanicals was pitch-perfect. They were endearing for their ineptitude and suitably, in an age of global this-that-and-the-other, their ineptitude was international. A beefy Gloucester-farmer Bottom (Richard Heywood-Waddington), wearing big heavy wellies and a seaside-postcard handkerchief, veered from Tyson-size square-ups to child-like pogoing; William Hill played Quince with an absurd Irish pretence of practicality reminiscent of the dappy loser who moved the door in Fawlty Towers; Patrick Loughman (Snug) lampooned the vacuous drawl of the US Southern States with satirical panache in election yea r. Francesca Kozui-Wright, in a boiler suit, was superbly touching as Moon played by an earnest and nervous Spanish Snout. Sitting at the end of a row, I found Patrick Loughman's efforts most memorable: when Bottom appeared as an ass, the terrified Snug fled the stage with flailing arms, and gave me a shiner.

Apart from the direction and acting, which I thought were outstanding, the set was superbly supportive - the ramps draped in sacking and ivy with the rags snared in netting provided a powerful visual metaphor for the experience of the characters and for the thematic architecture of the play. This was an intelligent, proficient and provocative outing for a well-loved classic by an expert team. To a newcomer to this school like myself, it was an astonishing testimony to the quality of drama at King's, and to the unique value of King 's Week. AJWL

On The Razzle It was no wonder that such a plethora of people turned up to watch this superbly directed play, such was the young talent involved. David Elms, Oliver Carr, Amy Fox, Alexandra Hamblin and Lucy Cronin were just a few of the all-star cast that burst onto the stage in this rip-roaringly f un ny piece. The audience whispered to each other in excited tones seconds before Mr Sanderson made the formal introductions. And then the lights went up, and we were off. David Elms, driven by emotion and sheer ski ll played the part of Herr Zangler fabulously. He delivered his lines with the intellect of a chief-sales assistant and was always able to make the audience laugh, even when he wasn't speaking. Olive r Carr, true to his nature, was, in a word , ridiculous. Fortunately, that is just wh at the play demanded of him. Not one moment went by when he was on stage when the audience weren't in hysterics, be it from his uncanny knack of doing so mething stupid or from his really rather st range voice during the restaurant scene. Al exandra Hamblin was brilliant as Madame Knorr, her flamboyant dress as bright as her personality. She proved to be one of the best actresses in the year for her performance in this play and she continues to shine in many other school plays now. Amy Fox (Madame Fischer) had a dress that proved itself more than a match for t hat of Madame Knorr, as did her skills on stage. She turned up for every rehearsal wi t h a ready smile and was truly a pleasure to act alongside. Ah yes, the young Charlie Lyons. Brilliant, comical, entertaining and cherubic are just a few of the words that have been used to describe him since this performance. Charlie had a presence on stage, however, which cannot be described through mere words. So, I will not try to. Lucy Cronin, despite sporting one of the weirdest hairstyles ever to grace the stage of St. Mary's Hall, was simply superb. A mixture of confidence, intelligence and maturity as an actress made Lucy Cronin a household name. Congratulations must be made to the t hree waiters: Fred Thompson, Tristan Hambleton and Matt Price. Were it not for them, the play could not have been carried out with such complete precision. Special praise goes to John Wu. He

proved a marvel, displaying some frighteningly good dance moves and an attitude to match. Charlotte Aylward and Morwenna Loughman made quite an impact as the maid Gertrude, always understanding of Zangler's needs. Rupert Lee and Charles Trew played the handsome Herr Sanders, somehow managing to seduce Herr Zangler's niece Marie, played by the gorgeous Georgie Rumbellow and the enchanting Emma Shilston. Georgie and Emma were both excellent on stage; they displayed raw talent and a few seductive looks of their own. Best supporting actor goes to Will Iron, brilliantly cast as the tailor. He was superb, producing as many laughs in the short time he was on stage as many of the main characters did. Alasdair Sladen proved unorthodox yet talented. Olivia Brown and Rosanna Dawes played the beautiful Lisette, a naughty maid who manifested the disturbing ability to take off her clothes without anyone noticing. Rob Watson and Chris Barker were magnificent as the Coachman, managing to fit a startling amount of sexual innuendo into their lines without really meaning to. Halfway through the play the German couple made their guest appearances all showing a quite excellent grasp of the

German language. The Scottish pair burst onto the stage, before disappearing, almost as suddenly as they'd come. Oleg lgnatiev was another to make the stage, suitably picked as a foreigner. He in turn provided a lot of laughs, and his long fur jacket made his constant smile all the warmer. Will Steel and Tristan Spencer added yet more humour to this piece, unbelievable though that may be. There is of course, still to come, one of the greatest names ever to hit the world of theatre, Miss Ellener. She displayed patience beyond the likes of which I've ever discovered and is, without a doubt, the coolest director I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Could I sum it up in one word? Classic. Nick Balmforth (LN)

My Three Angels Shell Play The Shell play made a welcome return to King's Week courtesy of Mr Anthony Lyons. The performance took place in the rather unusual setting of the St Augustine's refectory. The director made innovative use of the dining hall by placing the majority of the action in the centre of the audience. The play was 'My Three Angels' by Albert Husson set in Cayenne, French-Guinea during the Christmas period of 1910. Lawrence Percival convincingly played the character of Felix Dulay, the hapless general store manager with Lucy Withrington, his longsuffering wife Emilie. When the astute shop owner, Gaston Lemare (Lucas Boulding) discovers unspeakable confusion, Felix and his family are threatened with destitution. A romantic twist comes in the shape of Mary Louise (Louise Ford), but unfortunately the recipient is Gaston's effete nephew Alex Gilmore. The last thing that the family need is a difficult customer and this comes in the shape of Lara Chapple. A special mention must go to Lara as she stepped admirably into the role of _ Madame Parole as Georgie Mayhew was Âˇ taken ill. The three convicts (Walter Miles, Ed Syson and James Kent) from the neighbouring prison, would appear to be an additional nuisance, but their sympathy for the underdog allows the family's destiny to be re-routed. All in all, AJWL's production of the play provided an entertaining afternoon and I look forward to more Shell theatrical delights in the future. No doubt some of names mentioned above will be making further appearances in King's Week reviews in the years to come! KMR

KiDaCo: A Dance Extravagan za King's Week 2004 saw one of the most exciting KiDaCo performances ever. The show opened with a ballet piece entitled 'Night Flights' choreographed cleverly by the eight girls performing and their dance instructor Sarah. The black costumes with sparkling wings enhanced the dancing greatly, adding to the fluid movements to convey the motion of flight. Following this performance a second ballet group took to the stage performing in an untitled piece. The light mood of this contrasted well with the previous dance,

and the delicate steps combined in a series of synchronized moves made it a pleasure to watch. Next up were some individual dances and duo performances. Claudia Alder and Marina Kemp showed off their dancing skills in a robotic piece choreographed perfectly to tie in with the unexpected changes in the music. The solo pieces provided refreshing interludes with a wide range of moves and music. Aislinn Mulligan, Alex Swain and Polly Mills formed the female group of a piece to 'Roxanne', and their complicated gymnastic moves were assisted by the capable hands of Hamish Pound and Jo Wilcke to create a moving and sensuous dance. The second half of the show was a theatrical dance piece, entitled the 'House of Bernarda Alba'. The dance told the story of an old widow, creatively portrayed by Claudia Kennaugh, and her five sexually repressed daughters, confined in their mother's house, choreographed by Miss Ellener. Using frames to act as doorways and blocking mechanisms, the frustration of the five girls was starkly obvious and their dance moves compelled the audience as the story unfolded. Alex Swain, the youngest sister, showed us how she was in love with her eldest sister's (Claudia Alder) fiance, and how this unleashed secret brought destruction and death to the family. Both Claudia and Alex's performances were exceptional, and supported by Fiona Levey, Charlotte Cray and Marina Kemp, who played the other sisters, the suppression of the five girls under the domineering force of Bernarda was portrayed to the audience through a series of changing scenarios and movements, yet with a steady motif each part of the story was woven into the bigger picture. A cast effort had ensured a range of suitable music, and despite the sadness required by the dancers for the piece, they were clearly enjoying showing their skill and training. The costumes were very appropriate for each individual, hinting at some kind of aspect of each character's personality, but without revealing too much prior to the dancing. The 'House of Bernarda Alba ' became more like a piece of dramatic theatre, so convincing were the roles played by the cast. Overall the whole show was a great success and left the audience in awe of the talent and creativity of the King's students. Olivia Nairn (BY)

The Com posers' Concert 5th July The composers' concert is always a fantastic occasion for all types of people to appreciate the quality of the music that springs from the pupils of King's, and this year the enthusiastic audience were certainly well entertained. Alicia Swannell started the concert with Two Miniatures for flute and piano. The first was lively, using interesting rhythms and fast flowing passages that were able to display that a technical ability was needed to play this piece. The "cutting edge" of music was seen in Landey Patton's string ensemble piece simply entitled Blue. Thi s, had only been completed minutes befcv'e its performance. The use of counter-melodies created a rich texture, and this was often sharply speared by the first violin with great effect. Ev'rywhere I Go, by Patrick Allies really touched the hearts of the audience. The melody was moving, the range and dynamics were able to convey great emotion and the strings and voice blended together perfectly. The music itself represented the ideas and feelings in Patrick's lyrics, which were effective and well written. Kate Roberts' Arioso used a good range of dynamics, varying speeds and a delicate pretty melody. The middle section contrasted with this and portrayed anger and frustration in the minor key. Hell's Promenade was a truly harrowing piece and this dark insight of Robert Watson's view of the underworld took the audience by storm. Fortunately for the audience the theme of death and destruction was quickly washed away by Sophia Gerth's Le Garden. It had a pleasant, flowing and flowery melody that helped to lift the spirits of all 12 members of the audience. Chloe Mitchell's Impromptu in G minor was dark and majestic. Influences from great piano composers such as Prokofiev and Rachmaninov were evident and Chloe used the full range of the keyboard in an impressive manner. The double bass has often been the source of amusement for both musicians and non-musicians. However Sophie Roper's Study for Double Bass put all

these criticisms to shame. She managed to show that the double bass should be considered a serious instrument and she displayed all aspects of the instrument's technical capabilities. Her plucking was excellent. Rhapsody by Kammy Pike used interesting harmonies to capture the audience. One of the great voices on the King's singing scene is Dom Collingwood. It is now apparent that he has sprung onto the preposterous composition scene as well. His Five Metres Apart was touching and brought a tear to everyone's eye and he has a real talent for singing and song writing. I feel that a contract is imminent. Purple Wigglies received a standing ovation after it was performed. Jack Standen managed to use two pianos to respond well with each other, and although the recording quality was poor, one could feel huge potential in a live performance of this great work. Harriet Jones' piano solo called Those in Love was delicate and was reminiscent of flowers in the spring. All the harmonies in this piece were romantic and lush. Prelude on Vexilla Regis written by Alex Shannon was an interesting organ piece Âˇ that used a full range of dynamics and a full range of the organ. The bass in the pedal notes were timed to perfection and used with great effect. Tom Bradley is obviously influenced by a great number of artists. A few spring to mind : Charlie from "Busted" must have been the inspiration for the more rock and pop moments; Kylie Minogue for the diverse melodic lines of his composition; whereas the Flamenco guitar can only have been inspired from music from "EI Mariachi': This was a very sophisticated combination of many guitar techniques and styles. Andrew Laing, DipABRSM, is no puss in boots. He contributed to the concert with a vigorously virtuosic and emotionally draining piece. The title, The Cat's Lamentation, was conveyed through a feline melody, and he really got his claws into a variety of area and pizz. techniques. Andrew Laing, DipABRSM looked like he was having kittens whilst purrrforming purrrrfectly this difficult composition. Have a break, Andrew, have a kit-cat. This piece was later described as "the eat's pyjamas" and as "catastrophically climactic':

Cho irs in th e Qui re Choirs in the Quire this year included four of t he school's vocal ensembles - Chapel Choir, Crypt Choir, Chamber Choir and the Consort. Th e Crypt Choir had come to the end of a very busy year, including a tour to New Yo rk and Boston and successfully co mpeting for a place in the semi-finals of t he BBC Choir of the Year competition. Th e two pieces they performed at either en d of the concert - Bach and Rheinberger- had been established as fi rm favourites from the year's repertoire. Th e Chapel Choir gave a repeat pe rformance of the Chichester Psalms, which they had performed earlier in the year in the Shirley Hall. Harriet Jones performed the second movement 'treble' so lo with great poise and precision. Th e Chamber Choir, directed by Mr Bersey (the Assistant Director of Music), pe rformed with great conviction, producing a very full and colourful tone. David Wi II cock's setting of Psalm 150 was particularly striking and sung with great energy. Th e Consort consisted of just eight si ngers, all drawn from the Crypt Choir. Th ey gave a very stylish performance of Monteverdi's Beatus Vir (singing one or t wo to a part) and were wonderfully accompanied by senior string players.

The atmospheric and beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral Quire once again provided a wonderful setting for this feast of choral music. HJPI

Programme: Crypt Choir: Komm! Jesu komm Johann Sebastian Bach Chamber Choir: Stabat Mater

Giovanni Pergolesi

0 for a closer walk with God Anthony CCÂŁsar Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi Arthur Bliss Psalm 150 David Willcocks Chapel Choir: The Chichester Psalms Leonard Bernstein The Consort: Beatus Vir

Claudio Monteverdi

Chamber Choir 8: Crypt Choir: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen Josef Rheinberger Crypt Choir: Agnus Dei (Mass for Double Choir in E flat) Josef Rheinberger

However, at the conclusion of the piece the players once more induced an atmosphere of calm. Next, a collection of folksongs from around the world, arranged for an eclectic mix of instruments and solo voice by Berio. The first La donna ideale from Italy was sung in an extrovert manner by Barnaby Race. Malurous qu'o uno fenno from France (sung by Charlotte Greenwood) was calmer, with a very clear flute tune as the dominant accompaniment. I wonder as I wander (USA), sung by Jack Standen was more melancholy in mood, with complex intertwining melodic lines of flute and clarinet which provided a gentle conclusion to the piece. Loosin yelav from Armenia sung by Susannah Jacques continued the gentle, reflective mood. By means of stylistic contrast followed Mozart's String Quintet in G minor, K.516, Allegro. The lower players provided a dancelike current of repeated quavers which created a mood of restlessness which pervaded the entire movement. Over this, the first violin played a chromatically falling melody with intensely emotional expression. Although the piece often employed this arrangement- of a dominant first violin accompanied by the other players - the group demonstrated effective ensemble and communication.

Virtuosi This was this year's Chamber Music Concert, under a new name chosen to encourage more to come to what is undoubtedly one of the highlights of King's Week. This concert featured the School's best musicians playing a wide variety of works from Praetorius via Baroque and Classical to contemporary music. The quality was, as ever, superb. Under Mr Pollock's leadership, this concert has expanded over the last seven years from a relatively low-key event, with a variety of quartets and other small chamber ensembles, into a major musical occasion. Mr Pollock's 45-strong Chamber Orchestra provided music on the most ambitious scale of any of these concerts in recent years. The concert opened with Haydn's Symphony No.6 Le Matin, played by the

Chamber Orchestra. The first violins played the tranquil Adagio introduction with great purity of tone, before the entire orchestra entered with a sprightly Allegro. This was followed by the Menuet and Trio. The Menuet was played boldly with a full tone and formed an impressive contrast with the quieter Trio, played by a smaller group of pizzicato strings with solos from the double bass and cello. An unusual combination of accordion and string quartet followed, in Piazzolla's Tango Sensations. The accordion (Adam Baker) opened the movement Asleep with a peaceful melody which was later taken up by the first violin, whilst the three lower strings produced some beautifully shifting harmonies. Anxiety began sharply, in stark contrast to the preceding movement, with heavy marcato bowing from the strings. A restless, unsettled melodic figure was passed from first to second violin and then to the cello.

The unsettled atmosphere was relieved by the gentler, more relaxed Allegro from the Wind Octet in E flat by Beethoven, Op.103. Here the different timbres of the wind instruments blended beautifully and the internal dialogues between the players were well executed. The string section of the Chamber Orchestra returned in Vivaldi's Concerto for two cellos in D minor, RV531. The two soloists, Gerard Baker and George Coltart, opened the Largo, displaying their capacity for flowing, lyrical melodic lines, with a subtle continuo from cello and harpsichord. The remainder of the orchestra entered in an energetic, driving Allegro, which set the smaller group of soloists and continuo against the main body of the strings. A varied selection of wind instruments then joined the strings in 'Psalm' from 'Six Celan Songs' by Michael Nyman, a contemporary composer. The solo singer was Catherine Gabriel, who produced a powerful and sonorous tone in the melody line, complemented by pulsating rhythmic playing from the orchestra. The piece gathered momentum as it progressed, and the abrupt conclusion was dramatic and striking.

The second half of the concert was heralded from the gallery by the brass ensemble performing Two Dances from 'Terpsichore' by Praetorius/Reeve. The tone was full and clea r and the first dance was played cheerfully in the style of a fanfare. The second dance was slower in pace but retained the liveliness of execution. The strings of the Chamber Orchestra and the Crypt Choir then combined in Beethoven's Elegischer Gesang, Op. 718. The strings opened with a quiet introduction, before the entry of the choir with the melody. Written in memory of the composer's dog, the piece's more turbulent and unsettled middle section is flanked by two sections of gentleness and tenderness. The conclusion was peaceful and tranquil. The strings were joined by two solo flutes (Edmund Rex and Rose WilsonHaffenden) in the Andante - Presto from Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.4. The

flutes produced a singing tone in the Andante, which preceded a lively, quickmoving Presto. This gave prominence to a solo violin (Fenella Fletcher) who demonstrated a virtuosic command of the instrument whilst maintaining a pure tone throughout. Three more of the Berio folksongs followed. Rossignolet dubois (France) was sung by Robin Bailey with a sweet and gentle tone and harp accompaniment. The melancholic mood was sustained by the resonant tone of George Coltart in Black is the colour from the USA. This also included a striking violin solo from Megan Williams. The mood was lightened by the lively, wittily executed Azerbaijan Love Song (Azerbaijan), sung by Susannah Jacques. The strings of the Chamber Orchestra and harp then performed Adag ~etto from Mahler's Symphony No.5 ij C sharp minor. In the peaceful opening, the harp provided gentle rippling beneath a thick,

slow-moving carpet of strings. The central melody was then passed around the strings, before a more vibrant, animated section, which was succeeded by a recurrence of the opening. Towards the end, there was a momentary blaze of excitement from the strings, before once more subsiding into calm. The first violins and cellos ended the movement with a long, sustained, diminuendo chord which displayed a superb control over dynamics. The programme finished with the Allegro con spirito from Mozart's Symphony No. 29 in A, K207. Some wind instruments joined the strings to produce a lively, sprightly performance, demonstrating great wit and humour even in the more lyrical second theme. The mood was enhanced by slick runs of scales from the violins and the orchestra produced a sparkling conclusion to the movement. Adam Baker (LN)

The Leavers' Concert Lucinda Hill opened the Leavers' Concert this year with Can't Say No from Oklahoma. Lucinda was very dynamic and had a great American accent, which is essential in this piece. After Lucinda there was a small choir with 6as from St. Augustine's consisting of Frances Steel, Laura Moncreiffe, Emily Kilner, Susannah Jacques, Emma Hiddleston, Alexandra Cocksworth, lnderpreet Daheley and Rachel Nevill. This talented group sang a sad song about looking back. Their stunning voices suited the melodic nature of this piece and it was an excellent performance. The third piece in the concert was James McDonald who sang a piece from the St. John's Passion by Bach although he doesn't know the exact name of the piece. James's German was very good and he pulled off a very good performance. Alex Shannon played the 1st movement from Pou lenc's sonata for oboe and piano. Alex Shannon always plays a perfect performance and this time was no different. The high notes can be very hard to reach on the oboe and to make them sound good is most impressive but Alex did both and his Âˇplaying was stunning. Ping Sangiambut played Etude in Don the piano which was a very notable performance; the piece is very impressive and Ping played it exceptionally well. Rosie Lewis and Annabelle Flower then sang The Flower Duet by Delibes. Like James's German their French was very good and their voices were very powerful allowing the high notes of the piece to ring out around the Shirley Hall.

Franklin Lancaster and Alex Shannon then played a duet by Antoni Bourge. Both of t hem are remarkably good at the piano and their playing showed this. Their cooperation was very good and they added another outstanding piece to the leavers' repertoire. Following the piano duet Adam and Gerard Baker changed style completely with a piece for t rombone, played by Gerard, and the accordion played by Adam. There was

also a star appearance from Conrad Baker who turned pages. Not many people can boast that they're good at the accordion but Adam can and Gerard was most impressive on the trombone. To finish the concert, although there was a bit of confusion, Johannes played the piano which was extremely good. His piece was very grand and he played it well after which he left the stage with a large smile.

The Leavers' Concert this year was a success as usual as I'm sure everyone who went would agree. It is very hard for the leavers to get enough together to put on such a big concert as they are also studying for exams and playing in other concerts. To put in enough practice to play a concert of this size is a remarkable achievement and this year the Leavers' Concert was phenomenal. Landey Patton (TR)

The Gala Concert Following close on the heels of one of the week's most violent rainstorms, the Gala Concert started in style, with the customary full house in the Shirley Hall. This is not only the crowning glory of King's Week but also of the whole musical year, and a quick glance at the programme was enough to tell us of the treat in store. The pace was quick, with shorter pieces for the most part and it was an evening of soloists, in particularnot just of the pianist, the oboist and the singers, but of a great many other unnamed individuals in the orchestra who were given their chance in this adventurous programme to show their talents. They did so with skill and enthusiasm. First of all, the orchestra launched into Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture. As

befits something drawn from Benvenuto Cellini, it was operatic in character, but as befits Berlioz it was symphonic in breadth, and the orchestra did it full justice. The cor anglais played beautifully against the delicate pizzicato of the orchestra, whose playing grew in confidence and drive as we moved through the piece. As always in this concert, the individual solos were memorable. The percussion provided the pace and accuracy which gave the music so much presence; the brass section gave the tonal depth essential to Berlioz. It was memorable especially in the closing phrases which projected that sense of excitement and perpetual motion which this music requires. We were then treated to some pieces of an entirely different nature, Franc;aix's "Horloge de Flore", four pieces for solo oboe, played with astounding precision by Alex Shannon. As he came onto the platform with his characteristic and engaging smile we knew to expect a confident and expert performance. The first piece was accompanied by a neurotic pizzicato reminiscent of Franc;aix's string quartet. The balance between soloist and orchestra was perfect, the jazzy modulations were clear and the beautiful, fluid clarinet part played by Jack Standen (another of the evening's unsung heroes) was the perfect foil to Alex. They acted the ideal duet. There followed the soft, lilting rhythms of the second piece, the playfulness of the third and, with its change of mood, the fourth piece was, appropriately, the "silence noctiflore" which brought the

whole thing to a fitting close. The accompaniment of these four pieces was mainly a string affair. It required texture qnd accuracy, and the players did justice to it. Alex's technical mastery was impressive, with a wide dynamic range applied with careful dramatic effect. He was at his best against the foil of Jack's clarinet. The first half finished with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, a piece so well known that it could have been difficult for it to make its mark, but make its mark it did with an extraordinarily virtuoso performance by Franklin Lancaster. This was certainly the work in which the orchestra felt most at home, and the sound of the strings towards the end was quite electrifying, the whole thing leading to rapturous applause. Franklin's playing was at its most successfu I when at its most idiosyncratic, with his confident and masterful use of rubato in the most exposed solo passages. His mastery of the sudden changes of mood and tempo showed enormous understanding of the inner depths of the music and this was the climax of the evening. Afterwards, continuity was provided by yet more Gershwin with An American in Paris. The orchestra was in fine fettle after the i nterva I and the opening was confident and convincing. The trumpets were in fine form for this one, and soloists again had their opportunity, with the brief Ravel-like chamber miniature in the middle of the piece (a mannered and self-conscious Parisian element).

The operatic section followed, and by choosing three pieces from Mozart operas, the atmosphere was transformed from the bluesy and expansive to the intimate and harmonious. We started with II mio tesoro from Don Giovanni. The solo, Robin Bailey, sang in a tenor expressive with drama and range - a voice which will grow with the years in amplitude. In the Cosi fan tutte piece, the three singers (Susannah Jacques, Emma Hiddleston and George Coltart) were stunning in their vocal strength and harmonious delivery. The final piece, from the Magic Flute, was the most operatic performance of the three, acted as well as sung, by Susannah and George, rounding these pieces off with style. The Gala concert (and King's Week itself) ended with the stately and graceful L'Arlesienne Suite by Bizet, and its finale was as upbeat and as resonant as one could have wished for at the end of such a week. This was a clever intertwining of two concerts in one, an orchestral one and one for soloists. It was not only the fruit of this week's work, but of many individuals' efforts over a long period. It was a triumph for Colin Metters, the conductor, who carried it off to perfection. In his speech he (quite rightly) pointed out the tremendous pressure that young people are under, thereby underlining the extraordinary achievement of a concert of this quality. We all agree with these sentiments. It was an evening we will not forget. TIJ

right- Franklin Lancaster MS (soloist- Rhapsody in Blue)

Sport Boys' Hockey 1st XI It you were to plot the emotions, performance and expectations of the First Eleven of 2004 it would very much look like one of the diagrams one sees in a paper the morning before one of the mountain stages of the Tour de France. It would go up on the back of a great performance then fall as the team did not quite produce the goods, then up again as the emotion of a fine victory took over, then down as ... but at the end you will always have reached Les Deux Alpes, a place much higher than where you started. And so it was with this team. They reached great heights during the season but also some lows, but at the end they had arrived at a place far above where they had started back in September 2003. The first real competitive hockey was out in Barcelona. It is aII very well training amongst yourselves but the cut and thrust of competition is needed. And that is what we got. We were ragged to begin with, but soon looked more polished and played some great hockey against some feisty Spanish opposition. Pre-season tours set out to achieve several thingsimprove skills, develop tactics and build team spirit. I have rarely seen a squad as united as this. It meant we had a great season. As I looked ahead at the season I was a little worried. There were just two or three players in 6a on a circuit that . looked the toughest for some time; many sides had their best teams for a number of years. But those worries were banished against Sutton Valence. Player for player they were better than us but we kept them at bay. Joachim was man of the match; not only did he show just how skilful he was, particularly on the reverse stick tackle but his work rate was phenomenal. He linked wonderfully with our goal-scoring hero from Spain, Will Bruce, in the closing minutes but the ball did not want to go in the net. The performance was great but we were left wondering what might have been: both their goals were scored within three minutes of the start of each half. We were to play the National Indoor Under 18 Champions, Trinity, Croydon, next. We were under the cosh for the first fifteen minutes but our close

Right- Sam Middleton

defence was great. Working the ball out of defence was not. We created so much unnecessary pressure by panicking and distributing poorly. In the second half we had several chances and could have rapped up the match: Mike Hunt's first time rising shot rocketed towards the goal and drew one of the best saves of the season and an unsighted umpire had to give the benefit of the doubt to the defending side when he was unable to see whether the ball had crossed the line. And then we went downhill. One of the aims of this match against King's Rochester was to carry the effectiveness of the warm up into the first quarter of the game. We did, indeed our brilliant start was one of the best of the season. But we could not capitalise and they gradually got back into ~ hat became a very physical game. We then passed badly and were lazy in one to one defensive

situations. The ability to draw together as a team seemed to have deserted us. The only bright light was the performance of Paul Dixey. Unable to play on tour and early in the term because of cricket commitments he had not benefited from the preparation of the others, but his innate skill shone through. When able to play he made a big difference. We began to climb out of the valley in our match against Simon Langton. Again we started well but could not convert our chances. In the second half, the quality of passing was superb, a lot of one-twos made it difficult for the opposition to defend. However, it was not intricate passing that brought the best moment of the game. Tom Burley has been improving all the time as a player and plays with a maturity beyond his fifth form years. His individual goal from halfway was a highlight of the season. Having thought

Tom Burley, Jack Fox and Will Bruce

the valleys were behind us we dipped into one of the deepest for some time. Haileybury were not three goals better than us though in every department they dominated us. It was a performance best forgotten. We then climbed very steeply indeed to reach a peak of performance against Felsted whom we have not beaten for several years and who made it to the fi na I of the nation aI school championships last year. Graham Sweetman played a big role in the side all season. His performance here was great. Good vision and a quick witted reaction saw a pass to Jack Fox who first timed it into the goal. Tom Pritchard had his most accomplished game of the season against the toughest opposition and Mike Hunt did not put a foot wrong as a central defender. All who supported King's who saw the team's reaction afterwards will understand just how united a bunch they are. What goes up. We started very well indeed against Tonbridge. They did not get in our half apart from a very brief foray for fifteen minutes. But again we did not convert the pressure. Their first attack led to a goal and within minutes they had scored a second. We were shellshocked. But we could just not get anything to go well. The season ended with three very fine wins. Our passing, decision-making and

team tactics were very good indeed and none of the sides looked liked beating us. In these games Sam Middleton finished a fine season. He is a talented player who has become stronger on the ball and developed some very fine skills indeed. Jonathan Watler has played in all bar one of the games this season. His versatility and willingness to play in a few positions on the pitch has made it easy to maintain the balance of the side. Charlie Teale's veins of form book ended the season. He is a very willing forward, keen to run and with an almighty shot on him. His goal against St. Lawrence might well have pierced the backboard. We have been very lucky indeed to have England's number three Under 16 goalkeeper, Chris Robinson, as our reserve. He has been unlucky with illness arriving at the wrong time but there is no doubting his prodigious talent, or the quality of his character. This has been an important and valuable season. A few players in 6a leave us this year. Jack Fox has been the most positive, enthusiastic member of the squad. His desire to improve and commitment to his team mates has been unparalleled and painful; no one has dived to score like him. He will leave a large hole. Matt Humphrey has been a revelation in every department. Ever si nee the match against Kent College in the Kent Cup semi-final last year he has performed at the highest level. His tackling has been strong and his runs from the right back position piercing. He also has a level head, which

has been important on some occasions. The Frank Mason tournament matched the season. There were great highs and infuriating lows. We played very well at times and were hoping to make the quarterfinals. We did not get through by the smallest of margins; equal on points, equal on goal difference, but not on unconverted short corners. We had done enough between the 25s to win the group but lacked the fire power up front. Chances created must become chances taken. Sam Mount deserves much praise. At the start of the season he was faced with competing with an England 'keeper for his place. Then Chris was called up for England during the pre-season tour. Sam went to Spain wondering what chance he might have of playing for the First Eleven in his last season. On tour he played out of his skin. He was the natural choice to start the first game. He then hardly put a foot wrong all season - his 'keeping was of the highest standard. Without Sam between the posts, without his encouragement and perceptive comments and calling on the pitch, and without his shrewd advice and wise counsel to me, this would have been a very different season indeed. Ben Cryer has been the First Eleven Captain whilst in 6b. It is not an easy task but he has done it very well indeed. There are many ways of leading; Ben's

style is rather less 'up front' except when on the pitch, when he demands the highest standards from his players and leads by example. The quality of the cohesion and spirit within the side has much to do with how he has dealt with this year. I am very grateful for his efforts. 1 have really enjoyed this season. It is a young side with just three in 6a. We will need to take the positives from this season and learn from the negatives to give ourselves a chance of enjoying a view from on high next season, rather than having to visit a few valleys en route.

King's hockey continues to maintain high standards, with a desire to ensure excellence and the improvement of everyone's skill and enjoyment. I would like to congratulate the following on their representative honours: Chris Robinson England Under 16 reserve 'keeper South East Under 16 Kent Under 16 Sam Middleton South East Under 16 Kent Under 16 Graham Sweetman Kent Under 16 Oliver Bromfield Kent Under 14

Ben Cryer, Will Bruce, Mike Hunt, Sam Middleton, Graham Sweetman and Jo Wilcke

Humphrey*, Graham Sweetman, Joachim Wilcke*, Mike Hunt, Tom Pritchard, Sam Middleton, Paul Dixey, Tom Burley, Will Bruce, Jack Fox, Charlie Teale, Jonathan Watler * First Colours Also played: Alex Pemberton

My thanks to all who make the hockey at King's so successful. To all the coaches, especially MJWS and RPS who mastermind the Under 14s and Un der 15s respectively; and a special mention for AJH: for his patience with me as I have taken players and the enthusiasm he gave his players; to the groundsmen and the caterers who do an invaluable job behind the scenes. The First Eleven Ben Cryer* (Captain), Sam Mount* (Vice captain), Chris Robinson, Matthew

Results:

v Sutton Valence

lH}[ost 1-2

v Trinity Croydon

(A) Lost 1-2

v King's Rochester

(A) Drew 3-3

v Haileybury

(H)Lost 1-4

v Felsted

(A) Drew 2-2

v Tonbridge

(A) Lost 0-3

v Duke of York's

(A)Won 2-1

v St. Lawrence College

(H)Won 6-0

v Chatham House

(H)Won 3-1

Played

Won

Lost

Drew

v Simon Langton

(H)Won 3-0

For

v Sutton Valence

(H) Lost 0-6

Against

Kent Cup

Goal Scorers Joachim Wilcke Graham Sweetman Charlie Teale Mike Hunt Paul Dixey William Bruce Jack Fox Âˇ Tom Burley Jonathan Watler

3 3 3 3 3 2 2

Frank Mason Hockey Tournament

v Dover College

Won

2-0

v Eltham College

Drew

0-0

v Cranbrook

Lost

0-2

v Maidstone GS

Won

2-0

Graham Sweetman

2nd XI The 2nd XI played some great hockey this season and although not successful in terms of statistics, the spirit and camaraderie of the team was a credit to t he school. Under the captaincy of Nick Hinves, this young side showed determination and fortitude against some skilful opposition. Esmond Brown had a superb season and Chris Robinson, in goal, played particularly well and has a very promising future. It was a well deserved win against Chatham House Grammar School and a positive way to finish the term. This has been my first season as coach and I have enjoyed it immensely. AJ H Team: Alex Pemberton, Ben Reed , Chris Binks, Chris Cork, Chris Robinson, Esmond Brown, Harry Wall, Henry Lo, Henry Simmons, Josh Hill, Leo Flindall, Nick Hinves (capt), Richard Wildish Results: Played

Won

Lost

Drew

For

Against

v Sutton Valence

(H)Lost 0-4

v Trinity

(H)Lost 0-4

v King's Rochester

(H)Drew 1-1

v Haileybury

(H)Drew 1-1

v Felsted

(A) Lost 0-11

v Duke of York's

(H)Lost 1-2

v St. Lawrence

(A)Lost 1-2

v Chatham House GS

(H)Won 3-2

3rd XI At the beginning of the season the idea of getting the ball in the back of the opponents' goal seemed to be quite distant but fortunately, by the end, the boys managed to make a habit of scoring goals. The team was constantly improving from the beginning of the season, and this is evident in their results. The boys started off with a mind set that the 3rd team was not supposed to win matches or score goals but by training three times a

week and positive spirit, they were able to change all that. Even though we concentrated on James McDonald being a "wall of defence" at the back, we knew that we would need more help. Luckily we had John Hamway's dive and roll tactics as well as Alex Bolshaw's fierce aggression. Stephan and Bernard played their pa rt on and off the field. Although the team goalie changed a few times as the season progressed, we must remember the importance of MJ who bravely wore the armour and took a beating in the beginning few matches. Chris Cork was an amazing defender and was lucky enough to play alongside Billy T, who was able to pass the ball in any direction. Some strong players namely Chris Binks and Richard Wildish, when playing for the thirds, made some great plays and created possibilities for the rest of the team . The captain, Daniel Scarfe, was responsible for the motivation of the team and the game plan, which ultimately changed the season from a bad one to a great one. It was also a good idea not to mess with Joe Sevier's temper on the pitch as he was totally focused. Passing was a vital training point at practices, and thanks to the incredible ball distribution by Henry Hird, the team's passing and receiving drills were made a lot easier. This attractive and more enjoyable play caused the boys to draw three of the next four matches and only lose one. At the beginning of the season the boys laughed at the idea of receiving a talk by the coach during half time, but by now the team would jog to the goals and insist on chatting about the weak and strong points. The wings, Jack Withrington and Fred Miles scored some amazing goals when cutting into the "D" area. The invincible Leo Flindall had some good runs and set up a few goals. By the end of the season the team's attacking skills were first class and our forwards Harry Wall and Josh Hill made some incredible finishes. They were yet to win a game until their last match against Duke of York's. The spectators witnessed eleven boys play as a team and come away with a deserved victory of 4 goals to 2. The first and last win of the season. It is a pity that the boys peaked so late but the team and I had an enjoyable season. Bryce Constable The following players represented the 3rd Hockey team during the season: Daniel Scarfe, Andrew Miller-Jones, William Thompson, James McDonald, Chris Cork, Henry Hird, Alex Bolshaw, Chris Binks, Jack Withrington , Fred Miles, Joe Sevier, John Hamway, Richard Wildish, Harry Wall , Stephan Wassermann-Fry, Bernard Ng Lung Kit, Josh Hill and Leo Flindall.

Junior Co lts A XI Watching this team from the sidelines during training sessions, and before a match, it was clear that they were a group who would work together. The team spirit was fantastic. Dominic Collingwood was a superb captain who managed to develop this wonderful sense of belonging that everyone in the team had. There was never once a moment of difficulty when getting the team to warm up. In fact, the amount of energy they showed complemented their enthusiasm and motivation. An overall feeling of good-natured fun pervaded the team on all occasions. We were incredibly lucky to have a Canadian international hockey player, Paul Bundy, to help coach during the week and at weekend matches. Each day, as the bus took us up to the water-based pitch at Polo Farm we would pick Paul up by the side of the Longport roundabout. Boos and hisses would come from the back of the coach as we got closer to him, brought on by the daily fitness sessions he would make the boys do. However, as he came onto the coach he would be greeted by a huge cheer and vibrant jubilation, enough to make anyone smile and laugh. It was, without fail, the most consistent and heartwarming start to every afternoon. Richard Thomas was one of our most stable players of the season. Although slight in stature he really made his presence felt at left back, and would often be found on the goal-line making some incredible saves. Fear was never an issue for him, he would put in a tackle whenever he could. Teddy Groves was another of our celebrated defence unit as he stuck to the drills we had practised during the games sessions, stoically receiving the ball and hitting it as hard as he could down the line to the right wing. Henry Piechozcek is a very gifted player. From a distance you can spot him as having loads of potential and so necessity called to put such a valuable player into our defensive line-up. Every now and then he would get tempted to make too long a run up the pitch, but then I can understand the temptation if you have that much talent. Fortunately Dominic Collingwood was always back there at sweeper, shouting encouragement and giving his aII. I could not have asked for a better captain . The mid-field was dominated by Andrew (Dex) Clarke whose fantastic burst of pace would often leave an opposition wondering where he had just disappeared to. Having a large range of talented

players either side of him (Peter Gray, Giles McSwiney, Ali Holmes, Alex Davies) certainly gave our mid-field strength, depth and the potential for attacking.

Results

This brings us to the Forwards. This season we were blessed with a plethora of natura I goa I shooters and so we decided to run a system of two strikers and a support striker. James Loudon played the support-striking role with finesse and skill, while the two up front worked as pairs. Rupert Lee and Stephen Wong, a mixture of pace and style, were one of these alternating pairs, while Freddie Thompson and Justin Williams, a blend of fantastic first-touch ability and speed, were the other pair. This system worked well as the boys were able to work at full pace for ten minutes and then have ten minutes rest on the sideline. This way we always had the faster and fitte r forwards on the pitch.

Drew

The only person left to mention is George Chilcott, a fantastic goalkeeper who unfortunately broke his arm halfway through the season. (I'll never forget his amazing diving save against Cranbrook .... he did later admit that he slipped as he went for the save and that made it all the more dramatic, but nevertheless a save.) So, halfway through the season Saint (aptly named) came into the breach and made the finest goalkeeping performances I have seen for a long time. And so our season comes to an end. We have laughed a lot and have all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. No injuries. Several wins. Plenty of goals. What more can you ask for? Well done. RPS Chilcott G. (GK), Clarke A., Collingwood D. (Capt.), Davies A., Groves E., Gray P., Holmes A., Lee R., Loudon J., McSwiney G., Piechoczek H., Thomas R., Thompson F., Williams J., Wong S. Results Played

Won

Drew

lost

For

Against

Kent Schools Boys' Under 15 Tournament

Played

-------------------

Won

4 3

lost

Junior Colts B XI The summary of results for the B Team might suggest a very even season, with as many matches won as lost, as many goals scored as conceded, but the real story is one of significant improvement. The results listed below are in chronological order and the reversal of form from a team suffering heavy losses to one inflicting savage defeats over the course of the season was a delight to note. It would be true to say tha tthe first two sides we met were quali1~ opposition and there is little doubt that we were convincingly outclassed. But the Junior Colts Bs were not a team happy to participate and to be dictated to- this was a side that was keen to improve. The match against Felsted was the pivotal point of the season, for Felsted were every bit as good as Sutton Valence or Trinity, but we showed the composure and self-belief to match their skills and from this point on the season was to be very successful indeed. Throughout the season there was little to choose between the weaker players in the A team and any of the Bs. There was quite a lot of interchange between the two squads and all players chosen to play for the As acquitted themselves well, including some drafted in at very late notice to cover injury or illness. Even when this was the case, there was a wealth of talent to choose from to make up the Bs and squads of 15 or more were common on match days, with substitutes rolling on and off to keep everybody busy and used. In goal, Elliot Kingsman played well for the first half of the season to be replaced in later matches by Saint Vayakornvichitr, who had a much quieter time and managed to make saves look easy. Competition for places was particularly fierce in the defence. Benjie Pentecost was impressive in his reading of the game and in timing tackles from the position of sweeper and once he got his distribution skills under control became a strong contender for an A team place. Andrew Lewis played a far steadier role in the same position , with less spectacular, but very effective play. Indeed this steadiness under pressure was the hallmark of the

defence generally, with all of Ben Crosland, Adam Pickett, Som Saran and Matthew Wells linking together well, backing up tackles effectively and making their craft look easy. The midfield players were all comfortable and strong on the ball . James Loudon, Richard Griffiths and Nowa lmasekha had all the skills to hold places in the A team, while Chris Barker and Oliver Ford were able to make important tackles and then show good dribbling skills. At centre half, skipper Ben Davey led by example, with uninhibited enthusiasm on training afternoons and a serious approach to match - days. It was much to his credit that the fortunes of the season reversed so dramatically. Another reason for the transformation was that our forwards were keen to score goals. Fred Thompson, Giles McSwiney and Stephen Wong had such terrific work rates that it was somehow inevitable that by the end of the season they would be holding regular A team places. Not to be outdone, Leo MacLehose, Roti Williams, Ryan Phanphensophon and Thibaut Bertlin all showed themselves to have a turn of speed with the ball and good control under pressure. All added contributions to the goal tally over the course of the season. Overall, this was a hugely satisfying season, with significant progress made throughout the term . All of the players will more than hold their own in the senior sides next year- indeed as long as a significant proportion stick with hockey, the prospects for next year's 2nd and 3rd XIs seem bright. Finally thanks must go to Paul Bundy, for keeping training sessions challenging and interesting on those bleak winter afternoons in the early part of the season and to Mr Sanderson and Mr Warnick for all the administration and, of course, the inspirational team talks. Ben Davey (GL) & RNW Team from: Christopher Barker, Thibaut Bertlin, Benjamin Crosland, Benedict Davey (Captain), Oliver Ford, Richard Griffiths, Nowamagbe lmasekha, Elliot Kingsman, Andrew Lewis, James Loudon, Leopold MacLehose, Giles McSwiney, Benjamin Pentecost, Ryan - Phanphensophon, Adam Pickett, Som Saran, Frederick Thompson, Soravit Vayakornvichitr, Matthew Wells, Rotimi Williams, Stephen Wong.

Results

illustrious Combined Dream Team include:

Played

Won

Drawn Lost

For

Against

v Sutton Valence

(A)lost 1-5

vTrinity

(A) lost 0-6

--------------------------------

v Felsted ---- -------------------

(H)Draw 1-1 -~--------

v St lawrence

(H) Won 5-1

v Dune of York's

(H)Won 6-0

Junior Colts C XI This year we operated a combined C and D development squad to widen interest and commitment, even though fixtures were few and far between. Our away visit to Trinity Croydon resulted in a clinical 3-0 defeat against an excellent side on their brand new astra pitch. While there was no shortage of effort we were beaten by their slick passing and ability to take chances. We gained an honourable 1-1 draw away to Tonbridge, on grass, assisted by a heroic last-minute penalty save by Chris Heslop. By now we had lost one of our goalkeepers- Saint Vayakornvichitr- to the B team, shortly to be followed by the promotion ~f pacy forward Tobi Pearce. Undaunted, we finished the season in style with a 5-0 demolition of Ton bridge in the return fixture on astra, where all our potential was converted to achievement. Throughout the season we have looked solid at the back (Chris Heslop, John Wu, Tim Leung, David Elms, and Mustafa Hanza) creative in midfield (Tom Cook, Henry Fincham, Ben Bunyard, captains Max Montgomery and Hamish Colville) and dangerous in attack (Hikari Tatsuzawi, Tristan Hambleton, Noah Strang, Jake Hennings, Ollie Bristow and Fabian Sherwin) The attitude of my entire KitKat squad has been exemplary and I thank them for their excellent company and remarkable enthusiasm, aided and abetted by gapper Ryan MacDonald. JIB Players who have appeared for my

Ollie Bristow, Ali Clark, Hamish Colville ( D Captain) Tom Cook, David Elms, Henry Fincham, Tristan Hambleton, Mustafa Hanza, Jake Hennings, Chris Heslop, Bertie Hillen, Ed Lavery, Tim Leung, Max Montgomery (C Captain), Tobi Pearce, Fabian Sherwin, Chris Shaw, Noah Strang, Hikari Tatsuzawa, Soravit Vayakornvichitr and John Wu.

Under 14A XI The word that sums up the season is 'progress: It may seem trite to use phrases such as, 'we don't have easy games' or, 'most schools have been training since aged 11 ', (all of which are true), but it is undoubtedly the case that much ground has to be covered in September and October to build a side that plays as a team and wins matches. We did struggle a little early on. Against some strong opposition (Sutton Valence and Trinity Croydon), we looked disorganised and failed to keep possession. It didn't take long for things to improve though, and we soon looked like more of a hockey side. The match against King's Rochester was a close one. We began to play more effectively in attack, and to pass the ball square. However, the opposition played a strong second half and scored the deciding goal with three minutes remaining. Our goal against Cranbrook was memorable for two reasons. One was the weather: a bitterly cold and extremely windy day. The second was our play, which was by far the most disappointing of the season. How things changed though! The next match was down in Folkstone, the Kent Cup qualifier. We faced Harvey Grammar School. They had some excellent players and finished the first half three goals up. The outcome seemed inevitable. However, we rose to the occasion and came back to level the match at full time. Despite going on to lose at flicks, I consider this to be the turning point of the season. From this point on, we played as a team, and played like we wanted to win. Two defeats followed, at the hands of strong sides away at Haileybury and Felsted. Our first win came away at St. Lawrence. We were the stronger side. More organised, more disciplined and more skilful. As a result, we kept possession for much of the game. Although there was no score by half time, goals seemed inevitable, and after some persistent pressure on their excellent keeper, we had what we wanted: a 3-0 win. Play just got better and better from this point on. We beat strong and fast Duke of York's and Chatham sides, in tense end-to-end matches. A surprise, but thoroughly

deserved win, was away at Kent College. We knew they would be strong, but in amongst the snow showers, we battled away and proved to be the better side by some margin. In defence, Adnan Bashir amazed us with the quality of his pass and the way he seemed to effortlessly dribble past attackers. He was a little complacent at times, allowing players through with little challenge. On most occasions he seemed to think a cheeky grin would make up for it. Tim Brown also played in defence. A late, but very welcome addition to the team, he never gave up and made some excellent tackles. Robin Bridge was a versatile player- moving up to the As after an enlightening A vs. B match. He could play anywhere on the pitch. He had a good eye for the ball and masses of energy. Hugh Bird was a sweeper; this can be a lonely position, but he had plenty to do in the first few matches. He was dependable and quick thinking. Alex Gilmore played centre back and was captain for the majority of the season. A key figure in defence and attack. He has a ferocious hit, and learnt how to organise his team as the term progressed. In midfield there was plenty of competition for places. Charlie Johnston ended up in the centre, as he was strong, driven and never gave up. He improved hugely as the term went on. Oliver Sandeman-AIIen played on the left, linking up very effectively with the forwards. An unassuming player, but essential in the team. On the right, William Newman was instrumental in pushing through the defence to create an attacking position. His stick skills developed greatly as the season progressed. In attack, Tristan Lee was a determined and tenacious right wing, creating or scoring many goals in the last four matches. He had a surprisingly hard hit and took no nonsense from inept defenders. I expect more goals would have come had he kept the ball on his strong side. Oliver Bromfield played on the left, or more accurately, anywhere on the pitch that took his fancy. He had the knack of dribbling round even the best defenders and created many opportunities. A wiry fellow who never seemed to be able to sit or stand still, but who was invaluable to the team. In the centre was James Kent. With his pace, he seemed to get past defenders without really touching the ball. As with many members of this team, he will be a player to watch in the future. Finally, and most importantly, the goalkeepers Alex Baron and Fred Clarke made a tremendous effort in goal. There was very little between them. Both had a good eye for the ball and both made some excellent

-o c:

"' ..,c:

saves. The Felsted match wa s particularly memorable - in which Fred thwarted many a relentless attack from quality forwards. Although we were beaten in the end, he kept the score well below double figures. Even the Felsted parents congratulated him afterwards. Both Fred and Alex played a vital role in the season for which I am very grateful. Well done to the team for some fantastic progress over the term . My thanks to PGH and Andrew Dunn for their invaluable coaching support. MJWS

Team: Oliver Bromfield, Alexander Gilmore (Captain), James Kent, Oliver SandemanAIIen, Adnan Bashir, Hugh Bird, William Newman, Tristan Lee, Charles Johnston, Robin Bridge, Timothy Brown, Frederick Clarke. Also Played: Benjamin Varian, Alexander Baron, James Geidt, Harry Coombe, Laurence Malpass, Alastair Edmondson. Results Played

Won

lost

For

Against

v Sutton Valence

The remarkable thing about the side was that they coped well with the regular switches of position arising from the rotation system within the squad, and yet still, most of the time, played as a team.When they got it right, as at Haileybury, and in the first half against Felsted, they looked very impressive indeed. They deserved their success for thei r spi ri t and enthusiasm, as well as their skill. PGH

(H) lost 0-3

v Trinity Croydon

(H) lost 0-6

v King's Rochester

(H)lost 1-2

v Cranbrook

(H) lost 0-3

v Harvey Grammar

(A) Drew 3-3

(Kent Cup)

Team: Harry Coombe (Captain), Luke Arnold, Alexander Baron, George Christie, Felix Cohen, Alastair Edmondson, James Geidt, Frederick Iron, Alexander Maisel , Walter Miles, Rohan Premnath , Benjamin Varian, Edward Wilkins, Thomas Yates. Also Played: Robin Bridge, Timothy Brown , Charles Johnston, Rishi Melwani.

v Haileybury

(A) lost 2-5

Results

v Felsted

(A) lost 1-3

Played

v St. lawrence

(A)Won 3-0

Won

v Duke of York's

(H)Won 1-0

lost

v Kent College

(A)Won 4-0

For

v Chatham House

(H)Won 2-0

Against

Under14B XI This has been a splendid season, as the record of four wins out of five demonstrates. In several practice sessions the team even gave the As a run for their money, and although this meant that several players were then promoted, this did not weaken the side's positive play and will to win .

Up f ront a rolling combination of George Christie, Felix Cohen, Walter Miles and Rohan Premnath provided vision, speed, guile and strength, and the ability to attack from any angle. The power house of the team lay in midfield, where Harry Coombe, Benjamin Varian, Edward Wilkins, aided by Thomas Yates, Alexander Maisel and James Geidt, turned defence into attack with real incisiveness. At the back, Alex Baron was a superb goalie, especially as he was sometimes called into dramatic action after long spells of watching the play from a distance. Luke Arnold, Frederick Iron and, latterly, when he moved into central defence, Thomas Yates covered tirelessly, and Alastair Edmondson, who was not, he said, a natural defender, nonetheless filled the roving role of sweeper with real skill. That the team kept a clean sheet in three of their five games is a tribute to the collective efforts of the~back five.

v Sutton Valence

(H) Won 3-0

v Trinity Croydon

(H) lost 1-4

v Haileybury

(A) Won 10-0

v Felsted

(H) Won 2-1

v Duke of York's

(H) Won 2-0

Under 14C XI This season was characterised by plenty of enthusiasm and a commendable commitment to the sport. For many, this was the first time they had played hockey. However, this did not stop them enjoying themselves and making significant progress as the term went on. Sadly, they were only able to take part in two matches, both against strong hockey playing schools. Competition for spaces was hotly contested, with squads of up to 16 each time. The players adapted well to the changes of position as the rolling substitutes came on, and all who watched the two games were impressed by the determination of all those involved and by some moments of real skill. A special mention must go to the captain Vasa Supachok, who was excellent at motivating his team, and who lead with boundless energy. MJWS Team: Vasa Supachok (Captain), lnioluwa Atoyebi , Lucas Boulding, Thomas Kelly, Rishi Melwani, Bibek Mukherjee, Thomas Pollock, Charlie Roper, Leo Scarfe, Robin Sharp, Matthew Swaffer, Mark Thomas, Zayd Tippu, William Coles, Michael Lung, Christopher White, Quirin Grossmann.

Also Played: Laurence Malpass, Alexander Maisel. Results Played

Won

lost

For

Against

v Trinity Croydon

(A)lost 1-3

v Felsted

(H) lost 0-1

Under 140 XI A special mention must go to the D team . It is always a satisfying achievement to have every available pupil in the year group representing the school on a Saturday afternoon. Playing against a bigger and stronger Tonbridge side was a daunting prospect, but the team rose to the challenge and played some exciting end-to-end hockey. The final result went against them, but this did nothing to dampen their enjoyment of the match. All who coached the D team squad were impressed by the progress made over the season, and the sense of fun which accompanied practices. MJWS

Team: Thomas Kelly, Rishi Melwani, Bibek Mukherjee, Charlie Roper, Robin Sharp, Matthew Swaffer, William Coles, Michael Lung, Christopher White, Quirin Grossmann, Oliver Johnson, Ralph Johnson, Thomas Scurr. Results Played

------------------------

Won

lost

-----------------

For Against

v Tonbridge

(H)lost 1-3

Netball To the coaches, umpires and players well done on a season of good hard netball. The weather was not kind at times but coming from South Africa I have been impressed with the players attitude when it comes to conquering the harsh conditions they often need to train or play matches in. When looking at our team results there are many mixed fortunes. Congratulations to the U16 team that did not lose a match. We look forward to your performances in the future. Good luck to our senior players that leave King's at the end of the year. I hope you will continue to play netball at club level. Thank you for the contribution you have made to netb_all at King's. I would like to thank our Catering and Grounds departments for always making sure that our players and opponents have the very best teas after matches and very well kept courts to play on. To our coaches and umpires- thank you for all your time, effort and enthusiasm. Our teams can never perform the way they do without you being there. To the players, "Set the germ of enthusiasm afloat in your being; carry it in your attitude and manner; before you realize it; it spreads like contagion and influences every fibre of your life. It means increase in joy and pleasure; it means virile life; it means spontaneous bedrock results- the vital things that pay dividends." (Henr\{ Chester) EB

1st VII

2nd VII

This season has yielded mixed results, but bearing in mind that the team consisted of young players, we had a successful season overall.

This has been a really enjoyable season with only one loss out of 7 matches. Everyone has proved to be a great asset to the team even though the team has not always consisted of the same players. With solid defending from Claudia Kennaugh and Rosalind Webber, not too many goals were conceded. The team had much energy and enthusiasm on the court with our zippy centre, Charlotte Sayer, and wing attack, Claudia Alder, passing and intercepting the ball at all points. Goals were in abundance from our shooters, particularly Sarah Erridge who joined the team later in the season. Both as a team and as individuals we improved a lot during the season as we began to open up spaces and decoy before receiving .

The highlight of the season was regaining our title at the district tournament. We were placed 4th in the Kent Schools' Championship and lost only to the eventual champions in the semi finals. The key to our success has been our versatile players, the ability to adapt to adverse situations and our great team spirit. Congratulations must go to Harriet Jones, nominated as star player, who will be taking over the captaincy role next year. Also to Lola Soyode who has been voted player of the season by the team members. Kate Taylor was awarded best defence and Katie Yawitz best attack. We should not forget to mention the rest of the team however, who all played superbly throughout the season. Special thanks goes to Miss Behr, for her support and organisation of the season's matches and to Lillian for the umpiring and high level of training that she has given us throughout the season. Charlotte Reardon (MR) and Katie Yawitz (HH) Team: Charlotte Reardon, Katie Yawitz, Pippa Tregear, Rebecca Powell-Jackson, Claire Rumbellow, Rosy Perkins, Harriet Jones, Katie Taylor, Lola Soyode, Jessie Clayton Results

One of our most rewarding matches was against St Lawrence when we played 6 players to their 7 and, owing to determination, great fitness and team aggression, managed to finish with a draw. Thank you to all the players, including Emily Lunn and those from the firsts for stepping in when needed. It has been a great pleasure playing in such a team. Laura Moncrieffe (BR) Team: Laura Moncrieffe, Claudia Alder, Claudia Kennaugh, Rosalind Webber, Liz Graves, Charlotte Sayer, Sarah Erridge Results Played

Won

Played

lost

Won

Drew

For

137

Against

lost -----

---------------

For

165

Against

138

v Epsom

(A) lost 4-24 ------

v Epsom

(A) lost 14-17

v King Edward's

(A)Won 15-6

v King Edward's

(A) lost 5-11

v Sutton Valence 1st

(A)Won 19-13

v Benenden

(A)Won 22-21

v St. Edmund's

(H)Won 28-5

v Caterham

(H)lost 19-15

v Caterham

(H)Won 16-11

v St Edmund's

(H)Won 25-9

v Sevenoaks

(H)Won 24-11

v Sevenoaks

(A) Won 28-14

v St. lawrence

(A) Drew 21-21

v Kent College

(A) Won 38-10

v District Tournament

(A) Won

v Duke of York's

(H)Won 28 -19 ---

-~------

v District Tournament

(A) Won

3rd VII The 3rds had an enjoyable season and our matches were primarily played against 1st and 2nd teams from other schools. We had a rough start but improved throughout the season ending with an impressive victory against St Lawrence. The team members proved versatile as everyone demonstrated their ability to play a number of different positions. We remained determined and positive despite the disappointment of not having a full time coach . The team would like to thank everyone who did coach us, especially Mr Fox for his helpful advice during matches. Anna Green (HH) Team: Anna Green, Emily Lunn, Sarah Perkins, Julia Dickson, Julia Bird, Melissa LloydJones, Grace Selous, Emma Findlay, Khatija Verjee, Charlotte All berry

attack with Pip Butler, Emma Healy and Rosie Cocksworth rotating at wing defence and our centre was Lucy LeighPemberton. Although our games occasionally reached break-neck speed in the centre court they remained controlled most of the time. Our centre players provided a vita I role in our games, usually executing play with the utmost skill and style. Our last match, against Sevenoaks was our finest game of the season. We were down 9-1 in the first quarter, down 11-7 in the second but had fought for 17-17 by the third. In the final quarter we pulled back, scoring 4 more goals to reach a final score of 21-17. It was an aggressive but highly enjoyable game and an excellent finish to a great season. Lucy Leigh-Pemberton (LX) Team: Lucy Leigh-Pemberton, Lucy Eagleton, Stephanie Kwan,j Polly Mills, Caroline Hobbs, Philippa Butler, Tope lmasekha, Emma Healy.

Team: Georgina Rumbellow, Letitia LeighPemberton, Ellie Hill, Emily Schwarz, Emma Shilston, Alexandra Hamblin, Abigail Schade, Georgie Davidson. Results Played

Won

lost

Drew For

125

Against

123

v Epsom

(A) lost 18-24

v King Edward's

(A)Won 15-6

v Benenden

(A) lost 30-4

v St Edmund's

(H)Won 25-4

v Sevenoaks

(A) lost 18-1 5

-----------------------

Results

v Caterham -----

Played

(H) lost 23-20

~----~----~~~---

v Kent College

(A) Won 20-15

Won

v St. lawrence

(A) Drew 3-3

lost

v District Tournament

Won

~~-------------

Won lost

For ----

For

156 --------~-------

~~---~~~-~~-~~--~~--

Against

108

v Epsom

(H)lost 11-19

v Sutton Valence 2nd

(A) lost 21 13

v Dover College 1st

(A) lost 25-21

----~----~~-~~~--~-----------

v Bethany 1st

(A) lost 28-14

v St lawrence 2nd

(A)Won 21-15

Against v Epsom

(A) Won 24-18

v Dover College

(A) Won 60-1

~~~~--~~-~-~-~-------~---~-~-

v Caterham

(H) Won 25-15

v Sevenoaks

(A)Won 21-19

-~---~-----------------------------------~--

v Duke of York's

Under 16 VII We have, more or less, been the same team since the U14 season and this has definitely been our best yet - we are unbeaten. Our matches ranged from being down in the first three quarters and only pulling back in the fourth, to a straight 60-1 win. Our shooting remained consistent, and to an incredibly high standard throughout the season, thanks to Polly Mills and Stephanie Kwan. In defence Lucy Egleton and Tope lmasekha rotated as goal keeper, supported by one of our strongest players, Caroline Lawrence, as goal defence. Together they have all made a valuable contribution to the team. In centre court Caroline Hobbs played wing

(H) Won 26-15

Under 15A VII Overall, the U15 As have had a successful term. Unfortunately, we have only had a fixed team since half term and this has hindered our development. Over the course of the term we have lost only a few games, winning the majority. Every single member of the team has improved greatly under the influence of our coaches, Kerry and Mrs McConnell.

Under 158 VII The U15B team had mixed success this season, but it has been really enjoyable. We've had a great team and we've really learnt to play together. The shooting has been really great from Amy Fox and lzzy Ackers and I think that we have improved in all aspects of our game. Player of the season goes to Holly Catto and most improved goes to Flo Welby. Alice Newell-Hanson (HH)

Team: Phoebe Roberts, Charlie Aylward, Holly Catto, Flo Welby, Alice Newell Hansen, lzzie Ackers, Amy Fox, lona EmlynWilliams, Annabel Dight. Results Played

The highlight of the term has been winning the district tournament. I would like to thank the entire team, including Tania Hayes who joined us for this match and our coaches Kerry and Lilian for making it possible. Alexandra Hamblin (BR)

Won lost

For

Against

117

V ~Jl.SOm

(H)lost 12-26

)Tost21-15 v Dover College

(A)Won 23 12

v Sevenoaks

(H) lost 16-6

v Caterham

(A) lost 14-9

v St. lawrence

(A) lost 28-10

Team: Anna Storer (Capt.), Adebusola Ogunsanya, Alexandra Holt, Rosie Atkinson, Charlotte Bradley, Theodora Backhouse, Kitty Synge Emma Howard-Smith, Georgina Merriam

Under 15C VII

Played

9 ----------

We had a fairly successful season. Some excellent goals were scored by Coco Cunningham and Olivia Brown. The team worked well together and spirits were kept high throughout the season. The most improved player was Christine Pond and player of the season goes to Lavinia Swabey. Many thanks to Kerry for all her help and encouragement during training. Emma Corbett (LX) Team: Emma Corbett, Christine Pond, Olivia Brown, Sarah Archer, Lavinia Swabey, Caroline Monaghan, Coco Cunningham, Rebecca De Haan, Flossie Walker, Lucy Cronin.

Won

lost

Drew

For

141

Against

127

For

Against

v Epsom

(H)Won 18-7

v Sutton Valence

(H) Won

v Bethany 1st

(A)Won 9-2

v Sevenoaks

(H) lost 14-7

------------

lost

----

Under14AVII After being thrown together for our first match the whole team became cohesive within an instant. Throughout the term we have only lost two out of many matches, with the highlight being the match against Caterham, where with players missing through injury, we finally became a team. It has been a great season with exceedingly promising future players, every single one has shown determination throughout training and matches. A great thank you to everyone who has contributed to this great season of Netball. Anna Storer (WL)

For

Against

v Epsom v Sutton Valence

(H)Won 15-12

v Sevenoaks

(H)Drew 14-14

v Kent College

(H)Won 9-8

--~----~-~-------------

(A)Won 14-11

Under 14CVII

v King Edward's

(A)Won 11-4

v Benenden

(A) lost 24-16

v Duke of York's

(H)Drew 21-21

v St. Edmund's

(A)Won 33-7

~--

---

(H) Won 17-12 ····- ...

v Kent College

(H)lost 21-14

v St. lawrence

(H)Won 3-0

v Caterham

(H) Drew 25-25

--~~--~~-~----

__________

------,.__

lost

-------

---------------------

--------~---------- --~--

Won

(A) lost 11-13

v Epsom

v Sevenoaks

Won

v Caterham

---------·--·-

Results 4

Played

Drew

Results

Played

Results

Under 148 VII This season the U14Bs have had their ups and downs, good points and bad points. In some of the matches the team excelled themselves and played very well with great team spirit. Others however, have not been so good, due to illness of members of the team and other commitments taking away our vital players. However, the team pushed through this and certainly managed to improve over the term. Overall, it was a fun and successful season. The following awards were given : Most Committed: Sophia Nichol Most Improved: Claudia lapp Player of the Season: Rosie Cornick and Annabel Gray Polly West (JR)

Team: Polly West (Capt.), Rosie Cornick, Louise Ford, Claudia lapp, Sophia Nicol, Irene Ramsay, Annabel Gray, Rose WilsonHaffenden, Lucy Withrington

The netball year for the Cs has been varied. At times there has been great difficulty fielding a side due to other commitments a~d injury, therefore it was also hard to develop continuity within the team. When we did have our full team we managed to give the other schools a good match, and our general level of play improved significantly. Each member of the team always gave 100% and that was what pulled us through those difficult matches, to gain a win. Well done team! Lara Chapple (LX) (Team Captain) Team: Lara Chapple, Marina Cooke, Laura Boeckeler, Amanda Redstone, Alice Huntrods, Katie Cameron, Aaminah Aziz

Results Played ------~-

------------·

Won lost

For

Against

v Epsom

(H)Won 18-13

v Bethany 1st

(A) lost 14-4

v Sevenoaks

(H) lost 18-9

Association Football 1st XI We departed for Malaga on New Year's Day for the pre-season tour. The group enjoyed temperatures of 25-26 degrees and seemed to bond well from the start in the relaxed surroundings of Southern Spain. Ex-Boca Juniors World Club Champion Mario Husillos was on hand to train the boys, who really enjoyed the sessions, and Mario's sense of humour. The boys lea rned much about the passing game and clearly felt privileged to be in such company. The facilities were first class, both in terms of the grass pitch and the artificial surface we trained on. The encounters against local club sides were all hard matches, with the team notching up an impressive 4-1 victory, but losing the other two games. On the Sunday we thoroughly enjoyed our V.I.P. box at the Malaga v Real Sociedad match. Although the tour was very valuable it was disappointing that for various reasons five influential players (Archer, EdeworThorley, Gent, Kam, Ukiwe) could not join the group, which made preparation for the season very difficult. In our first match back in Canterbury we put in a fine display against Westminster, edging the first half. One of the referee's assistants then changed the game and

tipped it in Westminster's favour, by awarding a penalty against us, when the referee was waving play on. We seemed to go backwards against the Ursuline College, performing really poorly. Dan Gray bundled the ball across the line in the final minute to snatch a scrappy win. Next up were Dulwich College; this was a very similar match to the Westminster game, in that we played the better football in the first half, only to have another debatable penalty awarded against us, which changed the game again. For the away fixture at K.C.S. Wimbledon we drafted Edewor-Thorley into the side. He threatened with his pace and power, combining well with Archer and Calvert, who opened the scoring, only for K.C.S. to hit back almost immediat);ly. After losing two games t { the snow we welcomed Ashford to Birley's and soon went 1-0 up with a fine solo strike from Edewor-Thorley, who looked as though he would go on to score many more goals in the season. The old stagers played a high offside line, which Archer and EdeworThorley almost breeched on numerous occasions, but were frustrated by the assistant's flag. This was a disappointing game to lose, but the boys were taught an interesting lesson about possession football.

Our last match before half term was against Epsom away, the first of three successive 0-0 draws. We were the better side, on a bumpy rugby pitch, and were left to rue our missed chances, and the . clear penalty, which was deemed to be nothing more than a free kick outside the box. Ukiwe came on as sub in this game, for his first match, having recovered from a knee injury sustained in the Rugby house sevens. Tonbridge were a lively side, but this was a match in which we played very well, with our strikers racing through on occasions, only to be caught by last-ditch tackles frorn the opposition's exceptionally quick centre-backs. Sevenoaks were rather toothless, but played the better football in midfield. This was, therefore, a less satisfying game than the previous two, which we felt were winning draws. So it was that we went into our ninth game with only three goals to our names! We faced an awkward tie at Bethany, on a bobbly pitch, but everything came together, particularly Ukiwe's finishing, and we ran out impressive winners. Brighton College were difficult to break down, and our scoring touch deserted us again. A draw was probably a fair result in the end.

Corinthian Casuals followed, with exEngland cricket captain Alex Stewart clinching the man of the match award. When Ukiwe equalized it looked as though we had the energy and the young legs to worry the old pros, but they had too much footballing nous for us. On paper the O.K.S. side looked very impressive, with most of the superb 1998 team returning. In atrocious conditions we actually played some of our best football, and thought that we were going to sneak a victory when Howard Bryant drilled one in from the edge of the box. Unfortunately, yet another draw ensued. All in all, this was a disappointing term, where we struggled to score goals and win matches that we ended up drawing. Our passing through midfield was not good enough, and we did not seek to do the simple things properly. We did not support the strikers adequately and failed to vary the play enough. We were, perhaps, unfortunate, with decisions going against us, and in the sense that it took a while before we achieved a settled team. I also wonder whether the boys rea lly benefited as much as they should have from the coaching, over a sevenweek period, from the Argentinian international Gabi Calderon. On the positive side, we were only beaten by two schools, Westminster, who play over two terms, and Dulwich College. We

were extremely resilient and very difficult to break down. Tom Wilson was superb in goal all season, ably supported by an impressive back four. Rex developed well in the course of the season, while Humphrey was often outstanding as a very elegant left back, who marauded forwards more and more as the term went on. Gray was a tenacious marker, and Bryant an absolute powerhouse at sweeper. The team kept a record four straight clean sheets in mid-season and only conceded 14 goals, sharing the second best defensive record with the unbeaten 1989 side (after the 1998 team, which conceded 10). Archer had an outstanding season in midfield, breaking up the opposition's moves in every match he played in. His athleticism was marvellous and a key component in making the side so competitive; he did the work of two players. Calvert made lots of penetrating runs, while Redstone was superb in his delivery from set pieces and with crosses from the left. When Macfarlane passed smoothly we tended to play well, and he was valuable in the air in midfield. Up front Ukiwe was a breath of fresh air (and top scorer), but by the time he had settled into the side Edewor-Thorley was on his way out with a groin strain, so their opportunities of playing together were very limited. Gent showed nice control, Gwyer made many intelligent runs and Eisenhammer covered well with excellent pace. These two, along with Rex and Calvert, have gained

valuable first team experience, which should stand them in good stead next season. I should like to thanks Mark and his team of groundsmen for preparing such good surfaces in such terrible weather, and Gary and the kitchen staff for looking after us so well. CPN Team from: Peter Archer**, Howard Bryant**, Sam Calvert**, Rhodes EdeworThorley*, Steve Eisenhammer*, Nick Gent*, Dan Gray**, Marcus Gwyer*, Toby Humphrey**, Jonathan Macfarlane+, Simon Redstone**, Ed Rex*, !kenna Ukiwe*, Tom Wilson**. Also played: Jon Campbell, Will Harvey, Ken Kam, Terence Leung. Colours:* awarded first team tie;** awarded First Colours, + re-awarded First Colours. Results Played

12 -Âˇ--------Âˇ----- ---

Won

Drawn

Lost

For

Against

v Westmmster

I Lost 0-2

v Ursuline College

(H)Won 1-0

v Dulwich College

(H) lost 0-3

v K.C.S. Wimbledon

(A)Drew 1-1

v Colfe's

(H) Cancelled

v Brentwood

(A) Cancelled

v Ashford Post Office

(H)Lost 1-2

v Epsom College

(A) Drew 0-0

v Tonbridge

(H)Drew 0-0

v Sevenoaks

(H) Drew 0-0

v Bethany

(A) Won 7-0

v Brighton College

(H)Drew 1-1

v Corinthian Casuals

(H)Lost 1-3

----

v O.K.S.

Drew 2-2.

Harold William Warner Cup for Players' Player of the Season: Howard Bryant. Scorers: Ukiwe 5, Calvert, Gray 2, Bryant, Edewor-Thorley, Gent, Macfarlane, Redstone 1.

Inter-house competitions The indoor five-a-side league produced some exciting football this year. Both the Shell and Remove Grange sides remained unbeaten in the leagues, and won the play-offs, too, with victories against Tradescant Shells (4-2) and Meister Omers Removes (2-1 ). They thus secured their third successive Shell and Remove Double - a hugely impressive performance! Furthermore, they clinched the treble by winning the Senior 11-a-side Knock-out Cup, with a superb solo effort from Sam Calvert to defeat Linacre in the final. Many thanks to CJRJ, SAH, MB, MJTh and the gappies for refereeing these tournaments. CPN

2nd XI The 2nd XI of 2004 acquitted themselves superbly throughout a challenging set of fixtures; their results included some superb performances, some farcical moments and some missed opportunities. The first week of term brought a rather disappointing 3-1 loss at home to Westminster and then a far more routine 5-1 win against Ursuline college. The following week was to be the highpoint of the year- a magnificent 2-2 draw against

Dulwich College. This performance was the best total footballing display by a 2nd XI in the past 5 years by some margin. The highest compliment I can give both teams is that I would have paid 'good money' to watch the game. This was followed by a 'damp squid ' of a performance against KCS Wimbledon, King's had enough chances to have won the game and the final score of 3-0 reflected the fact that King's played the last 25 minutes with 10 men. Fixtures against Colfe's and Brentwood fell victim to the usual Lent term weather. The next match was an entertaining 12-1 win over a Stafford House Internationa I XI with Marcus Gwyer scoring 4. Next followed a high-energy performance at Epsom, which resulted in a 3-1 win. After half-term King's deservedly lost to Tonbridge having taken the lead in the first minute- a 2-1 victory did not flatter the opposition. Next followed comfortable victories over Sevenoaks and Brighton College, 4-1 and 3-0 respectively with Terence Leung on the score sheet in both. The game against Brighton College will be remembered for the goal of the season scored by Max Stanley- a 35 yard screamer! The last weekend brought fixtures against Ursuline 1st XI, which King's lost 3-0, and the visit of the OKS. The latter was played in foul weather conditions with King 's running out 6-1 victors - a couple of 'old-timers' Thornby and Bruna being responsible for 5 of the 6 goals. On the whole this was an excellent season containing some of the best footba II I have seen at the school. Specia I mentions must go to James Ferrett who completed his 3rd year in goal for the 2nd XI, Jon Campbell and Will Harvey who formed a magnificent centre-back partnership, Marcus Gwyer and Olu Adeosun who sparkled up front and demonstrated that King's football will be extremely healthy over the next couple of years. A special mention must go to the Captain and player of the year Ken Kam, a fantastic leader and the best 2nd XI midfielder on our fixture list by a mile. My thanks go to all the squad for making this yet another most enjoyable term. Team from: J. Ferrett, S. Pound, M. Stanley, W. Harvey, J. Campbell, C. Esiri, J. Truong, T. Maclehose, K. Kam (capt), D. Gilmore, T. Leung, M. Gwyer, 0. Adeosun, S. Eisenhammer, R. Russell, L. Thorne, R. Reid, T. Lawson. MJTh

Results Played

Won

Lost

o~w

Goals for

Goals against

3rd XI This has been a very successful season, despite suffering many injuries and often having to find last minute replacements to cover for players who were off-games. Under the supervision of Mr Heath and Mr Hutchings, training began with enthusiasm, but also a sense of fun. Our starting team was strong, and it needed to be with Westminster at home as our first match, potentially one of the hardest of the season. By the end of a difficult first half, Westminster were 2-0 up, but by no means in full control. The score line might have been greater, but for the on-the-line clearance of Nick Brown, keeping us within sight of their lead. The second half proved to be far better. After a tenacious fight back, we scored in the last five minutes, James Hamway shooting from the edge of the box. In the dying seconds of the game, with all our players in the opposition's box, Robbie Reid equalised with a fantastic header straight past the goalkeeper and the defence. The final score was a draw, but with the celebrations that followed the final whistle, you would have thought we had won. Our next match was against Stafford House, at home. We won this match fairly convincingly 6-2, with goals from Bill Hamilton, Henry Synge, James Hamway, Tunji Lawson (Penalty) and two from Seb Shaw. We scored soon after kick-off and dominated the rest of the match, although slack defending at the end allowed two goals into our own net. Even so, it was a good win and our future looked promising. Dulwich away was the following weekend and it proved to be very difficult. We started off well and played some decent football, with some close opportunities, but a mistake in defence left us 0-1 at half time. After that things got worse, as Dulwich scored more goals and we conceded two penalties, which they capitalised on. There were some good signs, especially on the attack, when we proved strong and did play well, but 0-5 was a disappointment for everybody.

We played KCS Wimbledon away next and it proved to be a very close game, which could have gone either way. The result was a 0-0 draw, although both sides had a number of chances to score. Towards the end of the game, we applied a lot of pressure and came agonisingly close to scoring, but the finishing shots were either blocked or did not have quite enough power. However, the match was very enjoyable. Things then turned around when we played Epsom away. We left with a 3-0 win, Seb Shaw, Bill Hamilton and Faz Akoi having scored some fantastic goals. Seb scored what may have been the goal of the season with a superb shot from far outside the box, lobbing the keeper and putting us ahead 1-0. Bi II then scored, after running on to a header from Faz and carefully slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Faz scored the final goal with a good volley and a clean strike. It would have been four, but for the crossbar. It was a great victory and we played some very good football. Tonbridge were up next, whom we played at home. It seemed that we were never going to score at one point, thwarted by the crossbar and the post on at least two occasions. Seb Bota na was unIucky not to score from a free kick and a header from Pancho Lewis hit the woodwork. However, we were soon awarded a penalty and Seb Botana put us ahead. After this goal, things began to flow: Pat Allies scored two lovely goals and a fourth derived from some good one-two play between Bill Hamilton and Max Stanley. The opposition did get one goal, because of a rather dubious handball on the goal line by Nick Brown, who was subsequently sent off. The end score was 4-1. Our next match was Sevenoaks at home, which we disappointingly lost 0-3. Sevenoaks scored two quick goals during the first 15 minutes, but after half time we picked up and were unlucky not to score at least two goals. Unfortunately our hard work did not pay off and with a few minutes to spare, Sevenoaks scored a final goal to seal their victory. It was a good match, however, and even though we lost, we had learnt some valuable lessons. Our penultimate match was against Bethany at home. Plagued by injury, our team was weak. However, this proved not to matter on match day, as we won 5-0. Andrew Begg scored a hat trick, with another goal coming from Will Hill. The final goal was not of our making - a pass back to the goalkeeper from the opposition defence, of which any striker

would have been proud. The score could easily have been higher, with some painfully close shots from a number of players, but we were sti ll very happy with the victory. The last match of the season was Ursuline at home. Everybody was fired up and it paid off, as we won 4-0, with goals from Seb Shaw, Pancho Lewis, Henry Synge and Faz Akoi. It was a fantastic end to a successful season and I th ink that the whole team can look back and remember some great moments. Player of the season, in my view, was very difficult to decide on, as many of the players excelled themse lves during training and matches, but in the end I decided on Nick Brown for his determination and persistence, never letting the opposition have a free moment. Tom Boucher also played very well, strong in the air and taking control of the area with some huge clearances. I am also particularly grateful to all those that we re asked to play at the last minute and hope they enjoyed themselves. Harry Smith (MO)

Team: Faz Akoi, Patrick Allies, Andrew Begg, Seb Botana, Tom Boucher, Nick Brown, Roland Bunge, Min Chung, Bill Hamilton, James Hamway, Charlie Harvey, Will Hill, Patrick Holt, Alex King, Adetunji Lawson , Francisco Lewis, Val O'Donoghue, Simon Pound, Robbie Reid, Seb Shaw, Harry Smith (captain), Max Stanley, Henry Synge, Jacky Truong. Goal Scorers: Seb Shaw : 4, Andrew Begg: 3, Bill Hamilton : 2, James Hamway: 2, Henry Synge: 2, Faz Akoi: 2, Patrick Alliers: 2, Robbie Reid: 1, Will Hill: 1, Harry Smith: 1, Francisco Lewis: 1, Seb Botana: 1, Adetunj i Lawson: 1. Own Goals: 1.

Results Played

Won

lost

Drawn

2 ~-----

For

~~~~

~~~~~~~~~

~~-~~~~~~~--

~--------~------

A) Drew 0-0

v Epsom College

(A)Won 3-0

v Dulwich College

(A) lost 1-2

(H)Won 4-1

v KCS Wimbledon

(H)lost 0-2

(H) lost 0-3

v Brentwood

(H)Won 5-0

v Tonbridge

(H)Won 4-0

v Sevenoaks

v Ursuline

5th XI

I The Academy

The King's Academy of Football (5th/6th XI squad) again fulfilled its important role for King's Soccer in developing skills and team ethos, blending the youthful talent of a majority of 5th formers with the experience of a few Sixth Form players. The team provided one of the strongest defences to be seen at this leve l in recent years and a good attacking midfield might have produced a hig ~ r tally of goals if more matches hadAl een played. It was a shame that the fixture list was reduced by nearly half on account of the late cancellation of matches by other schools. The squad nonetheless showed excellent commitment playing increasingly impressive soccer, with the 3-3 draw against Bethany probably the most exciting match of the term. Credit should be given to the quietly effective organizational skills of captain Tom Tyler, to Val 0 Donoghue as goalkeeper, who finished the season promoted to senior teams, and to the tremendous enthusiasm of all players many of whom will go on to play for senior teams next year. I enjoyed coaching the squad - a pleasure shared with Mr Oath who kindly refereed the home games. HROM Team from: Adetokunbo Adesanya, Chukwydifu Ajukwu, Alexander Batten, Dominic Berry, James Devonshire, William Boucher, Bernard Chiu, James Coleman, Pako Fung, Michael Gold, David Griffiths, Oliver Lyons, Simon Norman, Valentine O'Donoghue, Harry Osborne, William Pound, Ryan Noades, Samuel Rudgard, Philip Spicer, Thomas Tyler (capt).

Results

Against

Played

Won

lost

Drew

v Westminster

(H)Drew 2-2

Goals for

v Stafford House

(H)Won 6-2

Goals against

v Dulwich College

(A) lost 0-5

estmmster

(A) lost 0-1

v Bethany

(H) Drew 3-3

v Brighton College

(H) Cancelled

6th XI After the usual first two weeks of sorting, 'The Academy' made up of the 5th and 6th XI squads started to take shape. However goalkeepers were in short supply and most of the 6ths comprised inexperienced 5th formers, which made the first match against Dulwich somewhat difficult. Our match reporter lvar MacSween remembers the first ha lf as being "an enjoyable yet physical encounter against Dulwich's 4th XI which comprised only 6th formers': In the second half our lack of match fitness and their greater speed and strength led to C 0 Adesanya's goal being bombarded. He did well to stop many of the attacks, but eventually the floodgates opened and the goals came quickly and easily. lvar writes, "despite the score of 0-11, there were some encouraging signs of play from our side and the score did not reflect our efforts." Our other match was also away, but after half-term and proved to be an interesting experience.A slightly different team emerged for the Sevenoaks game with guest goalkeeper Dan Johnson stepping in at the last minute along with super sub Alex Trigle. We waited at the prescribed pitch for the opposition only to find that the home team were nowhere to be found. So our match began against Seven oaks U15A team who were having a practice, and it was fairly even after 20 minutes as we used the wind and slope to good advantage with several attempts to score. When Sevenoaks finally arrived, it was a complete team change and they soon scored only for it to be disallowed once the referee noticed that they had 13 men on their side. However, when equality was restored, it was plainly obvious that although the Sevenoaks team comprised many nationalities, the language barrier was not a great hindrance to the fact that they could play skilful footba ll. We were 0-2 down at half-time with the slope and in the second ha lf had our goalkeeper to thank for his stirling efforts at reducing their goal tally to 6. Despite some excellent clearance work by Captain Ozzie Osborne the front two of Alex

Batten and Tom Short were unable to hold the ball up in time for the midfield of Pako Fung, Ryan Noades and Duncan Morpeth to support. Defensively Alex Blessley and Ollie Lyons competed well but were often outnumbered. Ollie Lyons in his match summary comments that, "King's should have taken advantage of t he lack of language cohesion and the 'sin-binning' of one of their Russian forwards. Although it may not have been reflected in the result, keeper Dan Johnson played extremely well, saving more shots than he let in. Along with our inspirational captain Harry Osborne, Dan was joint man of the match for King's." My thanks to the players, JMH for travelling to Dulwich and JWO for helping with the games afternoons. wish the players more success next season. SEA Team from: C.O. Adesanya, D. Ajukwu, A. Batten*, A. Blessley, P. Fung, J. Gahan, D. Johnson, A. Kandeel, 0. Lyons, I. MacSween, D. Morpeth, R. Noades, H. Osborne, W. Parrish, T. Short, A. Trigle. *Table football champion Results Played

2 -~--------

Won

0 --------------

lost

For

Against

V Dulwich 4th XI

(A) lost 0-11

V Sevenoaks 6th XI

(A) lost 0-6

Cross-Country The October Districts produced a healthy crop of Kent trialists, and one podium finisher, Chloe Mitchell, who was to go on to great things in 2004. With her gazelle- like stride and fluid motion, Ch loe captured a top-twenty position at Mote Park in January, and so ran for the county in the All-England Championships on the same course later in the term, finishing well up in the top hundred. She has an extremely bright future in cross-country running. Recapturing the Open Girls' title in the Kent Schools' League was the club's major achievement. Chloe secured three wins, as Anna Brown, Kara Kock, captain Emma Hiddleston, Alex Sayers, Amena

lmasekha and Poppy Mitchell exercised a stranglehold over the top places. The profile of girls' cross-country has radically improved in recent years, and this season's runners were arguably the best ever. Two fixtures were lost, Duke of York's to a gale and our own, improbably, to a mumps epidemic at UKC. For the senior boys, whose numbers were appreciably down on previous years, the truncated card produced lean pickings. Captain Fred Maltby loyally led by example, finishing 20th; George Coltart, the only runner to complete four qualifying races, enjoyed better success (11th), while an improving Max Thompson (21st), Henry Domenge (23rd) and Sunil Khemani (24th) all competed in three races. At U17 level, Tom Marnham (3rd) continued his impressive progress, and Ritchie Gardiner (6th) was not far behind, while Dan Hurley (12th) made up a promising triumvirate. Numbers were thin here: Mickey Le Blanc (25th) was our only other U17. Mention should be made of

debutant Lawrence Percival, who finished 22nd in the U15 league. Emma Hiddleston was a model girls' captain, whose level-headedness and commitment calmed and inspired. Fred Maltby, too, gave his heart and soul to the club in his valedictory season. Both captains provided true leadership, and I thank them, and all the leavers, for their huge contribution to cross-country over their time at King's. MB, JGr, SPO and ARAR all provided vital support: thank you, colleagues. DJF

Fencing Once again the Lent term turned out to be a busy one. It started with the South East Epee and Sabre Championship. At this first meeting Tom Mulvaney (Shell) became the South East U20 epee champion. This was an excellent result conside ring his age and the fact he was fighting much older fencers. Christie

Waddington, at the same competition, became the South East sabre champion. The next major competition was the Great Britain Qualifiers. Christie came second in the U18 sabre and as a result qualified for the Scottish U18 sabre team. The Public Schools' Competition was held during the term time this year which meant three gruelling days for all concerned as we travelled up and down to Crystal Palace. On the first day Christie came third in the epee. Because of the schedule she was only able to manage seventh in the sabre. Tom Mulvaney achieved a creditable 9th in his class for the epee. At the Great Britain Schools' Team Championship we did not achieve the results we hoped for. Tom led his team, Harry Dalton (Remove) and Toby Clapp (Remove), to a fine second in the U16 epee. Also worth a mention here were the 3rd places obtained by Justin Yu (Shell), Felix Wong (Shell) and James Lamb (Shell) in both the epee and foi I. All three only started to fence this term so we are looking forward to them achieving good results in the future. In the final competition of the term, The lnvicta Open, once aga in Christie came 1st in the sabre, with Casey Godfrey 3rd and Philippa Walker-Smith 5th. It was very pleasing to see Casey finally having the upper hand over Philippa. SJW- C

Lacrosse 1st XII The 2004 Lent term proved to be the most successful season yet for King's Lacrosse. The 1st XII finished the season with the most wins in the history of our programme. The girls worked hard this season and improved a great deal. Our captain Aimee Baird was dedicated to the programme and led the team by example, working hard each day at practice. Our vice-captain Georgie Emary came early each day to work on shooting. Her extra efforts truly paid off as she became one of our sharpest shooters on the pitch, and a big threat to the other teams. She was named the Attacker of the Year. Our most passionate player was the gritty and determined Juliet McCredie. She was named the Player of the Year for her dedication and excellent play. Our steady and reliable goalie Alice Moir was our Defender of the Year. She prevented more goals that any other player on the pitch.

She worked hard all season, often helping to coach the other goalies. The team was also proud to have a player make the East Regional team. Olenka Hamilton, a Kent county U19A player, was selected for East trials at the Kent v Hertfordshire match. She made the squad and later qualified for an England trial. She has been playing on one of the England U19 teams this year and for the Lacrosse Centre of Excellence. We have all been very proud of her achievements and look forward to watching Olenka over the next two years at King's. The team's greatest achievements this year occurred at the National Schools' Tournament at Berkhamsted Collegiate School and at the Small Schools' Tournament at Princess Helena College and at St. Mary's in Wantage. At the National Schools Tournament, King's defeated Royal, Bedford 2nsJ team, and St George's Ascot. King's dre~f" against St Mary's Caine, and lost only to Haberdashers' Aske's. The National Schools' is a very difficult tournament, and we were pleased to have such a successful day with three wins. At the Small Schools regional tournament, King's lost to Haileybury and ended up in 2nd place at the tournament. Luckily, the top two teams qualified for the Championships, so we we re on our way! At the Championships, King's won every match in their pool, defeating Dunnotaur for the first time ever, as well as Uppingham, and Saint James'. We made it to the semi-finals where the girls faced their old foe, Haileybury. It was a close match, but King's pulled out ahead for a 4-3 win and a trip to the final. In the final they faced Marlborough College and gave them a good match, but lost 2-4 in the end. The girls were proud of themselves and pleased to be Reserve Champions. They had come such a long way since last year when we lost all our matches in the Small Schools' Championships. It will be sad to see our wonderful 6as leave this year. They were the start of this great programme, and they have built it up into what it is today. To Aimee, Georgie, Venetia, Georgie, Juliet, Alice, Alex, Frances, Bella, and Katie, I wish you all the best next year, and hope that you will find ways to continue your lacrosse at your universities. To the rising stars at King's lacrosse, let's get excited because there is still so much to be accomplished. CCF Results v Haileybury

Lost 5-7

v Benenden

Lost 4-6

Small Schools' Tournament

2nd place

2nd XII We were all impressed with the 2nd team this year. They improved a great deal under Miss Janowitz's coaching. The 2nd team also had the most successful season in the history of the programme. The highlight for me was seeing the 2nds win a very tough match at The Nationals this year. It was our first win at the National tournament! The 2nds secured several wins this season, and gained a lot of confidence on the pitch. Thank you to their Captain Hermione Sharp for her dedication and leadership each day at practice. Thank you to Sophia Gerth for being an amazing goalie and saving during some difficult moments. Good luck to all the players next year. Everyone looks forward to next season, and to seeing some of you join the 1st team. Results v Haileybury

Won 8-3

v Benenden

Lost 2-9

U15 XII The U15 squad had true team spirit and determination to win. Most importantly, they simply enjoyed playing together and had fun everyday. They were undefeated in regular season matches, and they played some great matches in tournaments as well. A big thank you to Fiona Stuart, our Captain. She is one of the best players in the King's lacrosse programme, an U15A Kent player, and a very responsible leader. Thank you to Emily Beck for being our goalie. Well done ladies, and good luck next season. Results v Baston

Won 7-5

v Walthamstow hall

Won 8-3

U14 XII The U14 team was full of enthusiasm as they learned to play lacrosse. We had great fun learning new skills and finally playing our first match. It was a good season for the squad. They mastered the basic skills quickly, and bonded as a team. I was proud when we went to the National tournament and the girls won their match against Walthamstow Hall's U15 team. Well done to all the U14 players. I hope that you will all continue to play lacrosse next season and I wish you lots of luck. CCF

Results v DCPS

Lost 0-11

v Walthamstow Hall

Lost 1-12

v Benenden

Lost 3-5

Int er-House - Luxmoore

Girls' Hockey U16 Nationa l Indoor Finals On Thu rsday 22nd January the U16 girls left King's fo r Worcester where they were to take part in the National Indoor Finals for the first time. The tournament was first a 'round robin', with the top two teams in each group qualifying fo r the semifinals. We started slowly, against Sharnbrook School f rom the Midlands, and drew 1-1. Having taken some time to get ou r tactics together, we went ahead but failed to score again and then let the opposition through with only a minute to go. Determined to do better in the next match, we talked through set pieces thoroughly and in a very professional performance defeated Exeter School 3-0, the highlight being a roofed deflection by Ca roline Lawrence. The third group game

There was little to choose between the two sides, but we were very determined. We went 1-0 up through an open play goal from Tania Hayes, but following a desperate, and illegal save on the line, Millfield were awarded a stroke which they duly converted. We went into the second half and were soon under significant pressure, with Becky Marsh making a superb save on the line. With three minutes to go Fenella Pengelley converted a superbly executed short corner, and despite being under significant pressure we held on until time. The whole squad contributed in the final, with Katie Lark and Anna Storer making valuable contributions when they were on the pitch, and captain Katriona Pengelley controlling the midfield as she had done throughout the tournament. This was a superb team performance, and a credit to a squad of highly talented and extremely determined players. They have benefited hugely from some excellent coaching, from outside coaches Andrew Dunn and Andy Richardson. Many thanks also to Miss Reidy, the manager of the year, who has become a national champion manager on her first outing! On the day the way the team conducted themselves both on and off the pitch earned them the respect of other teams as well as the officials. It was an added bonus that Fenella Pengelley, with 6 goals, was the highest scorer of the tournament. SAR was the one to win, against Sir William Borlase from the South, leaders of our group, coached by Karen Brown, one of Great Britain's most capped international players. In an end to end game, we came out victors by only one goal to nil, thanks largely to the incredible efforts of Sarah Ventress in goal.

Going into day 2, we needed to win our game against Wakefield School to win the group, and thus avoid Millfield, winners of the other group, in the semifinal. On a high following the victory against Borlase, we won 3-0 in a game where Wakefield failed to threaten. We drew Newport School from Cambridge in the semifinal. We had played them in the East tournament and drew with them, but felt sure we had identified their weaknesses second time around! We scored fairly early on, through Fenella Pengelley, and dominated the first half with Emily Stewart running rings around the opposition defence, earning us plenty of corners. We hit the post and forced some excellent saves from the Newport goalkeeper, narrowly failing to score on a number of occasions. High drama occurred just a few minutes later when a penalty stroke was awarded to Newport. With the stroke saved by Sarah Ventress, Newport failed to score again, and we progressed to the final where we were to meet Millfield.

Team: Katriona Pengelley (c), Caroline Lawrence, Fenella Pengelley, Katie Lark, Emily Stewart, Tania Hayes, Sarah, Ventress, Becky Marsh, Anna Storer

Rugby Seven-a-sides The seven-a-side season was anticipated with relish. After all, we would have at our disposal, or so we thought, perhaps th~ quickest squad for many years, and though questions remained over the balance of the side, and whether we would be quite big enough to have a realistic chance of winning the major tournaments, we had at least the most important ingredient for success and we might have expected to challenge seriously for the tournaments we entered. As one has had to become used to in recent years, preparation was never as one would like. Practice sessions, limited

to once a week, were hampered by appalling weather and a lack of consistency in attendance. Once again, there was no warm up tournament prior to the Kent Sevens - though we were grateful to our neighbours, Duke of York's, for giving us valuable opposed practice in the week before and this is something we shall do again next season, perhaps also inviting others to join us. We approached the county tournament with guarded optimism. However, we were done no favours by the unseeded draw, which pitted us with two of the other fancied title contenders in the same group. In the event, we gave each other hard games, which probably influenced the outcome of later rounds. We began well against the fourth side, Chislehurst 8: Sidcup GS, showing more fluency as the game progressed, and winning comfortably. The second match against Sutton Valence was played on the worst of pitches, a 'banana' of Under 14 dimensions. Consequently there was little room for either side to manoeuvre. Two sides with a great deal of pace throughout engaged in a titanic struggle and the game see-sawed entertainingly. Sadly we scored two tries apiece but we lost because of a missed conversion. In the final game of the pool, we started poorly against Gravesend, who had beaten Sutton Valence in a similar game to ours, also by two points, but thankfully we recovered our sense of purpose to run out convincing winners, thanks to an injection of no-nonsense 'kick and chase'

before and partly through A level excursions. Expectations were not therefore particularly high. However, although we started slowly in our first game against Wallington HS we recovered, to win more comfortably than the score suggested. Thereafter we played consistently well, especially in defence. We were delighted to win our group, with two further good wins, against City of London Freemen's and Worth - two wellorganised sides. In the absence of our normal speedsters, Ben Cryer was called upon to do a lion's share of the running in, although Nick Hinves took over where he had left off with the 2nd VII the previous week. One cover tackle in which he turned a player over on the line to prevent a score was outstanding. In the next round we once more encountered Eltham, but with our lack of cover in the backs, players were visibly tiring. We were a shadow of ourselves and although we didn't quite capitulate, we gave away early scores and were never in the gÂˇame. Nonetheless, given the constitution of the squad, overall we had done ourselves justice with a "par" performance.

by Ben Cryer. The match schedule, however, meant that Sutton Valence played their last game against Chis. 8: Sid. after we had finished, knowing that if they won, there would be a three way tie at the top of the group, but with the priceless advantage of also knowing exactly how many tries they needed to score, against a side that had lost its first two matches and had nothing to play for. In the event, Sutton Valence won and scored the vital late try that put them on top of the group. We were therefore consigned to the Plate competition. We played the semifinal against our own 2nd VII , which had done remarkably well to beat two first teams and come second in their group, playing some superb, basic rugby, based around good ball retention and support play, allied to the finishing of Nick Hinves. Our 2nd VII did not do the honourable thing and lie down, but on the 'banana postage stamp' even had the audacity to take the lead just after half time and continued to contest until the final whistle. An amusing interlude was provided by the three members of the 2nd VII - Faz Akoi, Fred Jones and Ed Stephens - who helped Ravenswood,

100

otherwise reduced to 4 players, to play their semi-final match in the consolation event and scored the (only) tries for them. In the Plate Fi na I the 1st VII we had another exciting, close match with Eltham College. The lead exchanged hands throughout and we were especially indebted to two storming try scoring runs directly from the kick off by Howard Bryant. Unfortunately we also were rapidly losing players- Paul Dixey and Chuko Esiri left the field as a result of the same passage of play early in the game and they were joined by Jack Munro and Ben Cryer. A solo effort from halfway by Rhodes Edewor-Thorley tied the game in the final seconds of normal time but Rhodes also then had to leave the field so that we had a back line in ('sudden death') extra time which had only one genuine back, and two back row players. The outcome was therefore inevitable, as Eltham used their extra pace to score the 'golden try: The following week, we went to the difficult Surrey Sevens with a hugely depleted squad, partly through the injuries suffered at Gravesend the week

Sadly we again went under strength to the National Sevens at Rosslyn Park, held after the end of term for us. Most of the injuries that had depleted our side at Surrey had not healed and other members of the squad were unavailable because of a field trip, the choir tour, the need to return home to distant lands, or personal holidays. We did tolerably well but it was a frustrating day. Our group turned out to be one in which all the teams were of a decent, even standard and in which all teams beat each other. We began sluggishly against Dean Close, who, on a tiny pitch, were able to pressurise us into errors. We conceded an early score but managed to respond with a try by Rhodes, returning from injury, but as at the Kent Sevens, his break from nearly halfway was enough to pull his muscle again and he played no further part in the game or tournament. In an even second half we gave away the ball too easily and conceded the losing try. We were much more aggressive in our approach to our next opponents, Dean Close, and did not allow them to settle. We worked tigerish/y to win and retain the ball and tries from Nick Hinves and Tom Mills saw us to a narrow victory as the weather changed and the hailstones drove horizontally into our opponents' faces. The match against the Oratory was another even one, with each side scoring two tries apiece, but on this occasion were denied a deserved victory in a bizarre passage of play, when we touched down under the posts, while the referee called "advantage" to us, only then to be

called back to where we were given the penalty five metres out. Had we won this match, we would have progressed to the next round. In a sense, this encapsulated the sevens season. Anticipation before the tau rna ments was not matched on the field, but largely through no fault of the players. Chuko Esiri and Rhodes EdeworThorley were potential tournament winners and their injuries in particular were a body blow to the squad. In addition, quite apart from the injury count, we did not have the rub of the green in any respect. Nonetheless, a depleted squad performed, for the most part, to its ability, and was always competitive. Everyone contributed of course, but some individuals emerged with particular credit. Ben Cryer ignored the fatigue and ran and ran. Howard Bryant played in every match and did so heroically. He won ball, was potent as a runner and defended aggressively. Praise too must go to an unsung hero, Nick Hinves, who showed the ability to finish well and tackled magnificently when chasing back, as did his captain, Peter Archer, who played in two tournaments and oozed class in all that he did. RCW A Squad: P. Archer (capt.), R. Bailey, H. Bryant, B. Cryer, P.Dixey, R. EdeworThorley, C. Esiri, J. Goring, N. Hinves, E. Herbert, T. Mills, J. Munro, H. Synge, J.

Watler. Also played: M. Lambert B Squad: R. Akoi, N. Hinves, W. Hamilton, F. Jones, C. Lau, T. Maclehose, T. Pritchard, J. Shilston, E. Stephens, H. Synge, M. Lambert, J. Watler

Sedbergh Tens Just as with the sevens season, our hopes for a good showing in this event were dashed by the absence of ten first team squad players who were unavailable through injury or because of alternative commitments. All those who took part played with enormous commitment and some skill. Against some very strong rugby schools they held their own. Even though the balance sheet showed only a draw against Filton College (a rugby "academy") and losses against OEGS Wakefield and Millfield on the first day, and a win against Hartpury (another rugby "academy") and losses to Brighton College and Bristol GS on the second, we were always competitive and played with shape. Peter Archer at serum half led the side wonderfully, with pace in attack and defence and huge determination. Paul Dixey at fly half showed a composure beyond his years and did not shirk from the big tackles. Bill Hamilton showed good pace and awareness in the centre. Nick Hinves on the wing made the most of limited opportunities. Jack Munro was

a reliable last line of defence and Jonny Watler showed his versatility and performed well wherever in the backs he was asked to play. Hooker Tom Pritchard took ball against the head and scavenged to good effect in the loose. The props, Jasper Goring and Ed Herbert, joined in the front row union by the press-ganged Henry Synge, coped with some huge opponents and often drove them back in the set piece. Howard Bryant was competitive and battled to the last whether with ball in hand or when defending. He and Tom Mills were outstanding in the lineout and around the field. George Mawdsley, Ritchie Gardiner and Alfred Butrous had limited opportunities but threw themselves into the cause when asked and I am particularly grateful to Ritchie and Alfred for answering a last minute call. It is inevitable that one wishes we could have had a full strength squad, but there is little point saying "if only ...... ", for as the saying goes, "if my auntie were a man, she'd be my uncle". As always, it was a hugely enjoyable, if demanding, weekend from which the boys who did take part benefited enormously. Huge thanks must go to them all: P. Archer, H. Bryant, A. Butrous, P. Dixey, R. Gardiner, J. Goring, W. Hamilton, E. Herbert, N. Hinves, G. Mawdsley, T. Mills, J. Munro, T. Pritchard, H. Synge, J. Watler

Badminton The badminton team had its most successful season for many years. They were unbeaten in all their league matches and finished third in the Kent Schools' Tournament. The year saw Edward Chuck gain representative honours for Kent in the Under 17 age group; he played in the successfu I Kent team that beat Essex 9-7 on 22/11/03. Ed and his partner won the match-deciding doubles rubber. King's students Will Pound, Henry Lo and Tony Sze were selected to train in the Kent County age-group squads for the second year running. In November, four members of the King's team travelled to Gravesend for the Kent School's invitation Doubles Tournament. Eight schools entered, sending two pairs each. Each pair played each school's opposite number making a total of 14 possible wins. Gravesend won the tournament with 11 wins. King's, St. Olaves and Norton Knatchball finished with 10 wins each. When total points were added King's had 195 to St. Olaves' 198, so finished third. Edward Chuck and Henry Lo finished 3rd as an individual pair winning the 3rd/4th place play-off. Although winning 11 games, Gravesend's total points were 191, less than any of the other three schools that were in contention for first place. Knowing this, Ed and Henry went on court against Norton Knatchball for their final game with the knowledge that a win would bring them level on games with Gravesend, but with more points would make King's top Kent school; sadly they lost 15-11. Congratulations to all the team for a very successful season. The following students represented King's in league matches Alex Batten, Robin Bailey, Edward Chuck, Ali Holmes, Stephanie Kwan, Henry Lo, Adam Pickett, Will Pound, Pin Sangiambut, Sam Shirley, Tony Sze, Richard Thomas. E.J. Stri lesky

Basketball Junior Boys' Inter-house Basketball Com petition The knockout competition was held on Wednesday evenings and involved players from both the Shell and Remove years.

102

In the early rounds only Tradescant and Meister Omers failed to score, whereas points were no problem for Galpin's and The Grange. Galpin's beat School House 40-2 with Saint Vayakornvichitr scoring 18 and Teddy Groves 14 points, with the 4 man team of School House having only Ed Watt's basket in reply. The Grange points came from Richard Griffiths 11, Eliott Kingsman 14 and Stephen Wong 6 against an enthusiastic Tradescant side, whose inaccuracy of shooting was their downfall. Linacre had a close game Âˇ against Meister Omers with just one basket scored by half-time. However, Tobi Pearce, Leo Maclehose, Tom Macintosh and Justin Williams all ended up on the score sheet and despite Nowa lmasekha's flu id handling skills, Meister Omers couldn't score. The day houses saw a committed Mitchinson's side overcome the depleted Marlowe team and Noah Strang, Robbie vf tson, Mustafa Hamza and Thibault Bertlin all scored baskets, as they overcame the height advantage Marlowe had with Will Fox and Frederick Colta rt, by 14 points to 8. However they were not in the same frame of mind when playing The Grange in the semifinal and conceded victory early on, once Richard Griffiths dominated the game scoring 19 points. Galpin's and Linacre had a much closer match with nerves showing in the first half, Galpin's being just 1 point ahead as Saint Vayakornvichitr was matching Tobi Pearce for baskets. However, Galpin's, with the support of M J Thornby and help from Roland Bunge, used their height advantage and pulled ahead in the final quarter. The final promised a great deal with Galpin's obvious height advantage coupled with the skills of Saint Vayakornvichitr and the ball handling of Ryan Phanphensophon, matched by the speed of Stephen Wong, the shooting of Richard Griffiths and the tenacity of Elliot Kingsman for The Grange. It was Richard Griffiths' early jump shots that settled The Grange who under the guidance of Yordan Agov hassled the Galpin's team and James Loudon did an impressive job of marking the taller Teddy Groves. The difference in the accuracy of shooting was a telling factor that meant The Grange were 14-2 at half-time with R Griffiths responsible for 10 of their points. Galpin's made a spirited comeback in the second half with Teddy Groves effective near to the basket, but they had left themselves too much to do, so The Grange retained the trophy. I would like to thank all the players and Housemasters for their support and to

RCW and Cla re Reed for officiating, plus Ryan McDonald and Bryce Constable for setting out the court and doing the scoring and time keep ing. SEA Results

MRv MT

8-14

MOv LN

0-8

GL v SH

40-2

Semifinals:

GL v LN GRv MT

14-18

27-2

-------

Final: GR v GL

15-8

Sport - Summer Term Boat Club Senior Boys' Squad. The major news was that we had a top squad not just of eight (or four!) but twelve promising oarsmen. A huge relief that we could start to repair the damage of the earlier season. It would be silly to expect a first rate VIII, but at least we would have an VIII this year. The Lent term was very short with little room for many fixtures, but the real blessing was that the lake did not freeze over, so we could get on with the vital training. As well as work on the water, much was done in the ergo room (watching Tom Ransley melting the machines) and weights room. It soon became clear that whilst we couldn't do much about the squad's lack of experience, here there was a great deal of enthusiasm and potentially a lot of power. Our first event was the Henley Head. The weather was bizarre and the stream very high . We'd entered as a novice VIII and they cancelled that class, so we blagged our way into Senior 3. By lunch time it

seemed a tuna roll had done for Dan Schwarz, but Mr Graham bumped into Nick Strange, one of his J15s in the late Middle Ages. Mr Strange said he'd be happy to jump in if necessary which might have been interesting, if a slight cheat, as Nick is an Olympic lightweight rower and now Coach of the GB lightweight Squad. We had to fit in at the end of the event, but a good solid row put us up just behind Eton and Pangbourne, two crews who we had thought would be way above our league. Then half term and the Schools' Head. With the VIII now allowed in the Empacher. By now a 'core' of five had emerged with the other places up for grabs, so we raced one crew in the Schools' Head and a different one for the Head, a few days later. With no VIII last year we started low down and made good progress passing three crews. The result at first had us 51st. On recalculation we emerged as 13th; a bit disappointing not to be in the top 10, but quite an achievement from nothing.

We were all geared up for a really strong race in the Head, but by noon it was clear that conditions on the Tideway were so bad as to be unrowable and the Head was cancelled. Very frustrating (and more so for those who come from Scotland and Germany). Clearly going up from 13th would depend on a really productive training camp at Easter, which we certainly had. The Aigubilette site is superb; anyone watching the BBC coverage of the Olympic rowing will have seen it, as that is where the GB men went to train prior to Athens. So to the Summer term, with the belief that we now had not just 'an' VIII but a strong one. So it proved. Our first event at Wallingford (Dorney) showed promise and some oddly adjusted oars! Then to Ghent. Pretty miserable weather but as ever a well organised and friendly regatta, in which bureaucracy comes second to the rowing. Dickie Everall won the Aiden Dent Prize by not having his passport and despite

millions spent on mobile phone calls between Mr G and GHQ, had to return from Dover. But Sophie Gold, now coxing for TCD rallied round and found us Eamon to help out. The 'young' VIII went well; the smaller boats not wonderfully (including the odd collision with the bank ... ). On Sunday the grand old men arrived for our under 23 VIII. The competition was international and fierce so it was a remarkable achievement to win through to the Final; the start order for the Final being the German National Under 23 VIII; the French National Under 23 VIII; the Belgian National Under 23 VIII; the Irish National U23 Development VIII; the Dutch National U23 VIII and the King's School Canterbury. Whilst we lost, we put up the fastest time of any School VIII in the regatta. So suddenly things looked interesting. Then home to the bosky lunacies of Thames Ditton. Our first meeting with our Nemesis - Canford School. We led them off the start, but then our inexperience showed as they attacked and our rhythm went. They won by half a length. Mr G was not happy- Canford; who are they? They went on to beat every other school crew by at least 3 lengths. And Mr G discovered they had five GB juniors this year in a mainly 6a crew. And had hopes of being the top UK crew this year. "Thanks for our best race" said their

coach "hope we don't get you at Henley': Ah well, at least half of the VIII, thrown together at random , romped home to win the Senior 3 IVs Cup. Then the final selection ; vital to be able to select but heart-breaking when everyone worked so hard. So on to National Schools. Given their lack of experience we went for the Chi Ide Beale 1st VIII's Cup. Our first round showed just how well we could move a boat- ahead from first to last. In the semifinal it became clear that only King's Wimbledon (with a great VIII this year) were a threat. So it proved in the final. In a very close race we couldn't quite take them, so we ended up with the Silver meda I. But that's something for a crew rowing together fo r their first season. 1':

i Then after half term, Marlow

-the traditional Henley warm-up. At multilane Dorney again.

30 Schools and Universities entered Senior 3 VIlis. In a nail biting final, Eton won - 2 seconds behind were St Paul's; King's College School Wimbledon and KSC- all within 0.7 of a second. The finish judge put us in that order. Radley and Bristol

University were some way behind. To get an idea of the achievement, over three 2,000 metre races, the VIII beat the following:Abingdon School Bedford School St. Edward's School Radley College Buckingham Brown & Nichols School, USA St. Paul's School (we beat them by 0.7 sec in one race; they us by 0.3 sec in another) Bath University Exeter University Durham Unive~sity Edinburgh University Bristol University Maidenhead Rowing Club And finally, Henley Royal Regatta. As ever, the draw is critical. After Marlow we knew we wouldn't win the PE but at around 5th fastest UK crew we hoped for some good races. If the draw was kind. It wasn't. We were nervous anyway; then we faced Canford on the first day- at it was clear they could claim to be the second fastest UK crew. It was a good race, with King's pushing all the way, but Canford got a canvas up by the Barrier and did not break. By the enclosures we had nothing left and Canford won by a length and a half. They were later knocked out by a South

K.S. and OKS at the National School' Regatta

African crew and the fastest UK crewAbingdon - were beaten in the Final by a huge USA crew. Funny thing Henley- grown men in tears. But the high point of this boy's year can be summed up simply. A year ago we had no first VIII and our Senior Boys Four did not qualify for Henley. In just one season, this year's first VIII have created a crew who have gone from nothing to being, by any estimate, one of the five or six fastest school crews in the UK. That is a remarkable achievement. And I think it's got the 'buzz' back into the Club, which I hope will see our numbers on the way back up, as the youngsters have seen what can be done. So the Club owes these young men a great deal. And most exciting of all, five of the VIII are back next season! It's not fair to mention individuals, but it's vital to thank those who worked so hard but didn't make the VIII this year. And also our 'grand old men' of 6a, Tom Mills and Mike Newton. And above all the Captain, Tom Ransley- literally a tower of strength in every way. And perhaps a mention of Alex Scott stroking the boat when only a 5th former. And all the Club's supporters deserve thanks, led by the Captain's parents, who

did a huge amount of catering and hospitality work at NSR and Henley. Really above and beyond the call of duty. And finally our Andrew (who has huge problems at Henley because everyone stops him for a chat) who keeps the show on the road in so many ways. And the other coaches who turn up rain or shine - even if the pupils don't.. .. And on a personal note, this group of young oarsmen have been the greatest fun to coach; they have made what might sometimes be a duty into a huge pleasure; RMH, RIR and I have enjoyed every moment. SJG/Thomas Ransley (Capta in of Boats) (MR)

Girls' Rowing This year has seen a change in coaching for the girls after the departure of Zara Thompson. Andy Turner took over her position as Senior Girls' Coach being assisted by Sarah Beevers from Kent University. This has proved to be a successful alteration, helping us to improve and fulfil our potential. The first challenge for the Senior Girls' quad in the Lent Term was the Henley Fours Head. The girls faced strong competition, but managed to come

fourth. This was an encouraging performance as it was the girls' first outing together since their last regatta in the summer. Two girls quads were then entered at the Schools' Head: a J15 quad and a J18 quad made up of Sophie Devonshire, Janessa Bobby, Charlotte Greenwood and Julia Brooks. The J15 quad came 18th/25 and the J18s came 20th/22. Nothing outstanding some might say, but this is the fiercest competition that we encounter at a Head, with crews participating from clubs and schools from all over the country. One of Kings' favourite Heads is the Medway Head. Having competed here on a number of occasions in the Christmas Term the girls were pleased to hear that the trials for the Inter-Regional Regatta were to be held on this familiar stretch of water. Sophie Devonshire and Rosanna Tennant qualified in their J16 double and the J16 quad of Sophie Devonshire, Daisy Hooper, Emma Newton and Rosanna Tennant also qualified and won the event here. Emma Newton and Daisy Hooper also succeeded in qualifying in their J15 double. Then came the holidays and in the final week the Senior Girls, Chihiro, Emma Newton and Freya Svedberg went to train on the lake up in the mountains in Aiguebelette (France). Surrounded by

105

beautiful scenery this was the perfect way to train for the busy summer term ahead. The lake was 7km by 4km, making our outings long and tiring, but definitely well worth it. The whole week was such fun both in and out of the boats! The three crews that had qualified at the Medway Head then went on to represent the Southeast at Nottingham at the beginning of the Summer Term competing against eleven other regions. All three crews got through their heats in to the Grand Finals. The J16 double came 5th overall and the J16 quad and J15 double 6th. This was excellent experience for all of the crews involved and under the intense heat conditions of the day they should all be commended on their efforts, especially as so many of the 1500m races were scheduled so close together that sometimes it was necessary to jump out of one boat straight into another! Two weeks later we were all off to Belgium for the weekend. However, it was not for a luxurious weekend break, but to race at the Ghent International Regatta. This 2000 metre course is a brilliant opportunity for our crews to race against scullers from different countries and gives us the chance to experience varied competition rather than the familiar and rather scary faces we meet on our usual circuit in England. Rosanna and Sophie started the day with their single races. Due to a different system of age

The Schools' Head 2004

106

categorising in Europe they had to row against scullers two years their senior. Rosanna came 28th and Sophie came 34th out of 49, which was a pleasing result for both of them. The J16 quad of Daisy Hooper, Emma Newton, Janessa Bobby and Chihiro came 8th /9, Chihiro and Camilla Westlake came 9th/13 in their J14 double and Chihiro also raced in a single. Our next event was Thames Ditton. This regatta had fairly limited entries and so the Senior Girls found themselves rowing a four and singles. The four was good fun, and almost some light relief, but sadly we lost. However, Sophie Devonshire excelled herself and won the J16 singles event, taking home a lovely, shiny tankard . On the Friday of ha If term the J14 girls raced a quad at the National Schools Regatta. They did not qualify_, but beat the times of Grenvi lie, Ki ngi''Worcester, Warrington and Queen Eliz ~beth HS. The J15, J16 and Senior Girls travelled up to Nottingham to join them on the Friday night after various exams to compete the following day. Daisy Hooper and Emma Newton narrowly missed out on qual ifying for the semi-final by 0.13 of a second, coming fourth in their eliminator heat for the J15 2x. The J15 girls quad had a incident two thirds of the way down the course involving the breaking of Chihiro's blade (oar). This meant that only three of them were able to row the remaining 670 metres. This was a real

shame for the girls as they were doing extremely well and accidents such as this are completely unexpected and do not usually happen! The J16 quad rowed a fantastic race having never sculled together, but did not qualify. The Senior Girls quad divides in two when doubles need to be entered resulting in Rosanna and Sophie in one boat and Julia and Charlotte in another. Due to the lay out of the races Sophie and Rosanna found themselves again rowing against older girls in the Championship Doubles, but managed to come 4th in their heat. Julia and Charlotte were in the same category and also failed to qualify. The Senior Girls Quad had an atrocious race, partly caused by the horrendous headwind that they faced, causing water to be splashed up all over the place! However, this defeat made the girls stronger and more determined to train even harder in preparation for the Womens Henley Regatta, which was to be held three weekends afterwards. These three weeks passed incredibly quickly for the Senior Girls with training and ergo sessions having to be squeezed in around exam schedules and rehearsals for Kings Week. Although slightly anxious at having been drawn against the wellknown and strong Marlow Rowing Club, we knew that we had come on along way since National Schools and that we could give them a good race. We sat at the start, blades buried, each one of us running through the race plan in our

minds. The starter ran through the roll call and then the red flag came down. Two long strokes, five three quarters and then five lengthening out. We had practised this so many times at the lake in Aiguebelette on training camp and at the lake at Westbere, but it had never felt quite as powerful as this. The rating was 51 and we were ahead! We came out from Temple Island ahead and held them for the first half of the race. It was too good to be true. Due to our lack of selfbelief and perhaps surprise at our own performance we started to let our lead slip and slowly Marlow eased thei r boat through us at 750 metres gone. We wound it up for the finish gaining on them, but ended by losing to them by a length and a half. This was such an amazing race for the four of us to end on and with another year still in hand for all of us we know that with more hard work and experience next year looks set to be a very successful one. But the fun didn't end there! The next morning we were off to Thames Valley Park with a full day of racing ahead of us. A J16 quad consisting of Rosanna Tennant, Emma Newton, Janessa Bobby and Sophie Devonshire lost to Reading in a good race, but sadly they had not had enough practice beforehand to make it a really successful outcome. The J15 and J14 quads also lost their races, but to very good crews and their efforts were definitely not doubted. In the J15 and J14 doubles consisting of Daisy and Emma, and Chihiro and Camilla respectively all sculled good races, but narrowly missed out on qualifying. Daisy and Emma then went on to row in their singles and both came second in their heats, not qualifying for the finals, but they rowed strongly and with great determination. This is fantastic, as they no doubt will go from strength to strength in the next few years. Alice Gerth came first in her heat and went on to row in the final coming third. This was a great result for her and she should be really encouraged by it. As there was no category for the Senior Girls to take part in their quad Charlotte and Julia combined with Sarah Beevers and Catherine from the University of Kent to make up a composite four. They won their heat, but sadly lost their final. Sophie Devonshire won the whole J16 single event proving that she really is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to single sculling. She sculled powerfully and with true determination. Sophie and Rosanna then went on to do a double in the J16 category and won their heat and then went on to win the final against LEH who are renowned for their excellent sculling. This was a lovely way for us to end the season and we are now looking forward

to the Head season when we hope to compete in the Boston Marathon as we did last year, managing to raise three thousand pounds for the Afghan Educational Trust. I would like to congratulate all of the girls on their efforts this year. I know that the crew spirits that have developed over the seasons are a key factor as to why rowing is becoming more popular and why numbers are increasing in the Boat Club. I know that they have all worked hard to make the Girls side of rowing more successful than in recent years and I look forward to next term for some even better sculling and results. Senior Girls' Quad: Rosanna Tennant, Charlotte Greenwood, Sophie Devonshire, Julia Brooks. J18 Quad: Sophie Devonshire, Charlotte Greenwood, Janessa Bobby, Julia Brooks. J16 Quad: Rosanna Tennant, Emma Newton, Janessa Bobby, Sophie Devonshire. J14 and J15 Quads f rom: Daisy Hooper, Emma Newton, Chihiro Fukishima, Alice Gerth, Camilla Westlake and Freya Svedberg. Rosanna Tennant (MT)

Coach's Report This winter's weather has been hard on the rowing athletes who have trained on the lake through everything - hail, snow, showers, low temperatures and choppy water. They have persevered throughout and all of the hard training is at last beginning to show in the results. In the gym, weight training and plyometric tra ining has not only improved their strength and endurance, but their ability to produce fast muscle reactions. The coaching team made the decision to train the J14-15 girls alongside the J1618 squad to help increase their learning curve to prepare them for the competition that they will face in April. Since the beginning of the year (the head race season) the girls' squad have competed in long distance races over 3000-4500m. They have competed in four national events and two regional events bringing home a total of 6 wins, 2 second places and 3 third places. A brief resume: Hampton Fours Head Women's J16 single scull - R. Tennantthird place Henley Fours Head

Women's J18 Quad sculls- S. Devonshire, R. Tennant, C. Greenwood, J. Brooksthird place Medway Head of the River (Inter Reg ional Selection) Women'sJ16 Quad sculls- S. Devonshire, R. Tennant, D. Hooper, E. Newton winners Women's J14 double sculls - D. Hooper, E. Newton - winners Women 's J14 sculls - C. Fukushima winner It is likely that seven of our nine girls will be chosen to represent the region at the inter-regional championships to be held in Nottingham in April. The Schools' Head of the River Race The girls' entry consisted of two crews. Women's J18 coxless quad scull rowed the 41/4 mile Oxford and Cambridge boat race course from Chiswick to Putney. Women'sJ15 coxed quad scull rowed half this course. Results showed an improvement on last year. Andy Turner

Remove Rowing As ever the Lent term is a cold one down at the lake and this tends to zap the enthusiasm of rowers, so combining regular ergo sessions and outings was key to keeping warm, keeping up moral and keeping them coming back for more. The first event that we entered was the Henley head, but unfortunately because of heavy rain the week before, junior events were cancel led. It would have been of great use to us to let us know how we were doing. Fortunately the weather started to get better and our minds focused on interregional first round selection (Medway) and the School's Head. We changed from doing regular ergos and outings to doing the work on the water, starting with seat races in smaller boats and several timed pieces each outing. This allowed us to get the fastest crew and it allowed the crew to bond a bit as well as increasing the speed of the boat. On the Thursday before the Medway head we had a training day on the Thames in preparation for the School's Head. We picked possibly one of the windiest days of the year. We did two outings; the first one was a warm up and familiarisation exercise. The second outing had to be a

107

quick one in the afternoon, we did a piece similar to the race, into the wind and against the tide; 3km took us twenty minutes, a very hard row. We entered a single (1x), two doubles (2x) and a coxed quad (4x+) in the Medway head. It was a cold windy day with a reasonable amount of Scottish mist in the air. The first race was the quad, a nice aggressive row; unfortunately the cox could not keep the boat off the bank and we came second. In the afternoon it was the turn of the smaller boats. The doubles, a bit knocked by the result in the morning came third and fourth. Unfortunately the single was never given a time or position after having completed the course in the worst conditions of the day. On the Tuesday after the Medway head it was the Schools' Head. We set off at 7 am in order to get our boat on the water at 10:16 am, we managed to get there at 10 am due to heavy traffic; not the best preparation. The row looked together and on a good course, unfortunately because of the practice row the Thursday before, they (Fred, Will, Matt, Craig and Evan) rowed a little conservatively. The result was 22/31, better than their result last year. Next term we have many more joining us, so hopefully we will be able to get out an eight and a four, certainly very promising for the future. AMcG

Cricket 1st XI It was quite a season - and actually rather a good one, despite the win/lose ratio. We were better than a 500/o record suggests. One of the problems lay in the fact that almost every side wanted to play a 50 over match and we were initially content to do so, for we were a confident side. However, the limitations of this form of the game became all too apparent. It satisfies the modern need for a "result" but ignores the fact that in most sports, a draw is one of the possible results and an honourable outcome for two well matched sides. It also can be much less exciting. Sides we played against often set defensive fields with no slips and five or six men on the boundary almost from the first ball; we :can honestly say that we did notâ&#x20AC;˘- perhaps that is why we lost a couple of the games. We began in a rush. Despite the rain that plagued us for most of the term, and especially early on, only one match, against Highgate, was lost completely to the elements. We won four of the five matches completed before half term, all of them easily. Against Colfe's, Peter Archer led the way, dominating in stands of 60 and 59 with Paul Dixey and Tom Wilson. Tight bowling by Toby and Dan Johnston kept Colfe's well behind the

required rate to chase the total and at 16 fo r 3 after 13 overs, the match was never going to be lost. However, being one of our rare "timed" matches, we still had to go out to win it and it was Toby who brought home the victory with time to spare with a hat trick in his second spell. The only defeat before half term was in a very tight match against Eastbourne when, on a rain affected pitch, the toss proved decisive in a low scoring game. In a 45 over match we struggled to compile our meagre total but it took the visitors until the 40th over to score the 96 runs required. Sevenoaks, sadly, offered little resistance, as Toby's figures of 3 - 4 suggest. The match was notable only for the unexpected decision by the umpires to delay lunch when the ninth wicket fell for 47 just before the scheduled break. The players had mentally left the field, which might explain the 24 run last wicket stand. Once again the Band of Brothers match finished after 8 o'clock, but was highly satisfying. Will Bruce bowled well and we did well overall to restrict the visitors to less than 200. Peter Archer once again led the chase, which was beautifully timed, and the win was secured in the penultimate over. In the final match before the break, tight bowling made St. Edmund's scrape for runs and the target was reached by virtue of a magnificent century opening stand between Matt Humphrey and Will Bruce. The turning point in the season was the injury in the following week to Toby Humphrey, who, bizarrely, dislocated his

total, based on a 94 run partnership between Will Bruce and Peter Archer, was defendable on a pitch on which it was difficult to score quickly and indeed the visitors struggled initially, but our generosity in dropping easy catches allowed them to overhaul us with four overs to spare. Our visitors from South Africa, Hilton College, were a class act, but we bowled and fielded well and the target was not entirely out of the question. Unfortunately, looking well set at 73 for 1 at tea, we lost wickets at regular intervals and we ended well beaten.

shoulder for the second time while bowling in practice. He had been easily our most penetrative bowler, taking sixteen wickets in our first five matches, and was a shrewd and inspiring captain. We had already lost the services of our other opening bowler, Luke Thorne, whose hamstring injuÂˇry restricted him to just four games. Yet we won our first game after half term, against Trinity; we bowled them out in the 49th over and then timed another chase superbly. Matt Humphrey carried his bat for an unbeaten century, helped in no small measure by the encouragement of Graham Sweetman in a stand of 122 as the winning score was reached with five overs to spare. However, the real weakness of our depleted attack against good sides was savagely exposed by Whitgift, who, oddly, had yet to win a game, but who tucked into our bowling, their opening bat bringing his personal tally against King's to 253 not out in two innings. The runs scored by Will Bruce and Paul Dixey, and a respectable total in reply, were scant consolation. Toby returned in the next match, against Epsom, but did not bowl. It was the first of eight matches in eleven days and a game we threw away. Our

We returned to form against KCS Wimbledon. A second wicket partnership of 166 between Paul Dixey and Will Bruce saw Paul become the second player to carry his bat for a century and Will fall frustratingly short of one himself. An inspired opening spe ll by Dan Johnston ensured an easy win. Because of the examinations, we took a weak combination to Felsted, who had been having an exceptional season. Our total never looked as if it was going to be enough, but the Junior Colt, Ally Holmes, made a promising debut and was second top scorer. Returning to Birley's, we let Cranbrook completely off the hook. Toby bowled 5 maidens in 7 overs, Dan bowled 6 overs for 7 runs and it took the visitors until the 22nd over to bring their run rate to two per over. At lunch they were 81 for 6 off 31 overs. The most amazing transformation then occurred, with their number six belting the ball to all parts of the field in blasting 90 not out and taking them to 199 for 6. Matt Humphrey apart, we then batted as if shell-shocked and despite a good position of 65 for 1, fell away to another defeat. We decided to ask to play "proper" cricket in our last three games. Against a strong

MCC side, we batted steadily and thanks to welcome runs made in good style by Tom Boucher set them a reasonably challenging total. Unfortunately we let Matt Baines off the hook with a shocking missed catch before he had really got going and he, as one would expect from a young ex-professional, made us pay dearly. Toby and Dan bowled another miserly opening spell against Kent Young cricketers, and they did well to rescue their innings from a postion of 19 for 3 after 11 overs to set us a good target. Will Bruce and Paul Dixey shared a 74 run partnership in the reply and Will Bruce accelerated to the highest score of the season - on his birthday- in another beautifully judged chase. The finale, against the OKS, was remarkable. Played in a gale force wind from the start and eventually in driving rain, we generously allowed Gareth Williams to score the century he had narrowly missed against us- and deserved -for the Band of Brothers. Peter Archer was finally allowed to bowl and set the field he had talked about in net practice, comprising four fielders on the boundary in an arc at long off, then cursing as the catch was dropped (but ignoring the fact that he had gone for 26 runs in the first over in the process!). Once their innings was declared, everyone agreed that enough was enough and the season slithered to a halt. Any season in which three centuries are scored has to be regarded as a good one. Our ex-Common Room statistician, Mr Bee, assures us that this has not happened since the early seventies. Our batting was strong, but we did suffer from a difficulty common to sides with strong top orders; it was not until after half-term that the lower order had the opportunity to bat and were put under any sort of pressure. In fifteen games, only six batsmen had ten innings or more, four had five or less. It is not perhaps surprising that we often fell away in tight games after promising starts. Matt Humphrey sold his wicket dearly, as ever, but showed an increased ability to move the score along, either by well judged singles, or by some pugnacious shots. The square drive for four off the first ball against Trinity was for me the shot of the season. The experiment of playing Will Bruce up the order, often as an opener, was an unqualified success. Comfortably the top run scorer, he was also without question our most effective all-rounder; once again his bowling teased and confused the batsmen, and perhaps those standing at the other end. He still did not get the wickets he threatened, often , it has to be said through some diabolical (attempts at) catching. As next year's

109

captain, he will command respect from friend and foe. Peter Archer began in style with a couple of high scores, usual ly started well and looked classy, but could not quite convert into three figures. He was, however, comfortably our best fielder. Paul Dixey is without doubt our best player. He missed some games to play in the Kent Premie r League and for the Kent Academy and even though we sometimes won without him, we missed him. Even though he felt he did not have a great season for us, he proved his class both behind the stumps and when batting, and we were delighted when he got his maiden century for the side. Tom Wilson had his most frustrating season of the three he has had in the 1st XI. He gave it his all with bat and ball, but could not find form. Nonetheless, his contribution over three years has been invaluable. Graham Sweetman had an excellent first season. He had the happy knack of keeping his wicket intact and was a good man to bat with, as Matt will testify. He is also a good fielder- though apt to the occasional ill considered overenthusiastic remark! We were pleased when Tom Boucher finally scored some runs at the end of the season. He makes it all look so easy and we hope for a big contribution in his final year. Sam Middleton showed his versatility. When he was not standing in for Paul behind the stumps, he was bowling his medium pacers. He looks to have potential with the latter and it is in this role we expect to see him more often in the future. He is also a more than capable batsman, though he rarely had the chance to show it. Marcus Gwyer had few opportunities to develop his leg spin but showed potential as a batsman and might find himself coming in much earlier next year. He fields very well. Of our bowlers, Henry Simmons was the surprise package. He showed rhythm and flight and after a nervy first over most ly bowled tightly and with control. It was good to see two good spinners bowling in tandem, as when he and Will were together. Dan Johnston did what he did last season , bowling a tight line and offering movement away from the bat. He was an excellent foil to Toby and had a lot of bowling in the absence of Luke Thorne, who was sorely missed. We hope to have Luke fit again next year. Howard Bryant filled in for us in adversity and did remarkably well , especially against Hilton . Had he wanted to practise and play more regularly, he might have given our attack an extra cutting edge.

performance, especially after the dislocation, was extraordinary. Even at half pace and carrying his leading arm, he was the most consistent bowler we had. He was an outstanding captain, too, who not only manipulated his team well, but who engendered a fine team spirit. His contribution, as well as those of the others leaving this year- his brother Matthew, Peter Archer and Tom Wilson over, in most cases, four years in the side, has been immeasurable and we thank them all and wish them good luck. They leave behind them a strong legacy- nine of a squad of thirteen remain behind, and some good young players are queuing up to get in.

110

RCW

Results Won 7 Lost 7 Abandoned 1

King's 192 for 6 decl. (Archer 80); Colfe's 89 Humphrey T 5- 10, including hat trick)

King's won by 103 runs King's 95; Eastbourne 96 for 5 (Humphrey T 3 - 17)

King's lost by 5 wkts (45 over match) Sevenoaks 51 (Humphrey 3 - 4); King's 72 for 3

King's won by 7 wkts

------------------

--~-~--

- ------------

Band of Brothers 180 for 7 (Bruce 3 - 24, Humphrey T 3 - 32) ; King's 184 for 5 (Archer 70)

King's won by 5 wkts (45 over match) St. Edmund's 119 for 7; King's 120 for 0 (Bruce 56 not, Humphrey M 51 not)

King's won by 10 wkts (50 over match) ------

---

------

------------------ ----- --------

Trinity Croydon 188 (Bryant 3 - 24) ; King's 189 for 4 (Humphrey M 106 not)

King's won by 6 wkts (50 over match) Whitgift 329 for 3; King's 21 8 for 5 (Bruce 74), Dixey 61)

King's lost by 111 runs {50 over match)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----

King's 158 (Archer 45); Epsom 159 for 6

King's lost by 4 wkts {50 over match)

------------------------

Hilton (S.A.) 222 for 7; King's 137 (Humphrey M 32)

King's lost by 85 runs {50 over match) -------------------------

------- - ------

King's 242 for 2 (Dixey 108 not, Bruce 36); KCS Wimbledon 141 (Johnston 4 -12)

King's won by 121 runs {50 over match) Ki ng's 149 for 7 (Sweetman 36); Felsted 153 for 3

King's lost by 7 wkts {50 over match) Cranbrook 199 for 6 (Simmons 3- 34); King's 120 (Humphrey M 43)

King's lost by 79 runs {50 over match) Kin g's 233 for 6 decl. (Boucher 50 not, Gwyer 39, Humphrey M 34, Bruce 30); MCC 236 for 4

King's lost by 6 wkts As mentioned above, the pride of our bowlers was the captain, Toby Humphrey. Top wicket taker by some distance, with an economy rate of 2.6 an over and an average of only 11 per wicket, his

Fina lly a word of thanks to Alan Ealham, who works so hard throughout the year to get the best out of the team and to instil the correct values as well as techniques. We are fortunate indeed to have him. Thanks also to our excellent groundstaff and the ladies who provided the sustenance and the season would not have been anywhere near as enjoyable without the company of our loyal and patient supporters who follow us through thick and thin.

------

Kent Young Cricketers 201 for 8 decl.; King's 203 for 4 (Bruce 114, Dixey 37) King's won by 6wkts OKS 225 for 4 decl. (Humphrey T 3 - 40);

Match abandoned - rain.

2nd XI

1st XI averages 2004

~~t~i~_g Bruce

Innings 14

Runs

Not Out

H.S.

Average

514

114

39.53

208

~i_><~'L

307

~~f!l_e~rey~~-

14 11

344

Sweetman ~

----

255

~---------------------------

6 3 9 4

41 108*

34.11

106*

28.66

25.50

---------------

50*

25*

39 18

16.16

9.50

Overs

Humphre_y_!__ __12q._~ -26

16.75 20.00

---------------------- ----

Maidens _22_ 0

10.00

2.75

1.50

Wkts

Avge

102

29 5

11.03 20.40

ohnston 5 6 Also batted: Brvant1, Herbert 1i,Holmes-28*:-Thorne Bowling

~-----------

----------------

The summer campaign of 2004 was an emotional rollercoaster of variable resu lts and poignant farewells to the foundation of 2nd XI cricket. The season began with the initiation and moulding of the Junior Pros, with intense banter lessons from J. Fox and D. Gray, followed by light training sessions, under the watchful eye of PGH.

34.66

Runs

-------~~()___

The election of our captain was a key team issue at the beginning of the season. Howard Bryan t , was rightfully appointed our commander-in-chief after much deliberation by Mr. Henderson and

Father Fred.

1- - - ' ' - - - - - - - - - - : : - - - - - ---------··------ ·----------····-··----·-- ··--------

128

390

24.38

23.1

25.33

6____

323

__ ]_0________~2.30____________ _

L-ru_c_e _____ 14 _2_ _ _

1~-----~-~-~--- ________ ]_§______

-----~~-~3.-

Wilson

___ 2_~30 _______- t

Middleton

81 22.4

343

119

___ .

59.50

lso bowled: Sweetman 13- 1 - 75- 2, Humphrey M 12.5- 1 -51 - 0, Saran 7 - 0 - 29 - o, Gwyer 5 - 0 - 33 - 0, Archer 3 - 0 - 34 - 0, Chilcott 1 - 0 -10 -1, Holmes 0.1 - 0 - 4 - 0 Catches: Sweetman 5, Archer, Bruce, Humphrey M 4, Dixey 3 (and 4 stumpings) irst Colours: P. Archer, W. Bruce, P. Dixey (re-award), M. Humphrey, . Humphrey (re-a ward}, D. Johnston, T. Wilson

After some early season tension, which saw Charles Harvey, former captain of the Under 15As and one of the new second team's winter recruits, record three consecutive ducks, we finally secured our first victory against an extremely potent Eastbourne attack. A fine partnership between Harvey and Khemani was the only plus to be gained from a rain affected defeat against Sevenoaks. Following two successive defeats against Trinity, London and Whitgift, from which only Ed Herbert and Thomas Burley's batting displays we re of any major

111

Toby Humphrey

distinction, the team managed to provide some optimism for next season by playing some of the greatest 2nd XI cricket in history. From 28/5, Thomas Boucher, relinquished by the first team for this crucial encounter, and Amit Kaushal, a senior 2nd XI figure, with their own brand of 'cavalier' cricket, brought us to a score of 133. This fantastic display of batting inspired a real 2nd XI legend, Dan 'the Windmill' Gray to stand up and be counted. His five wicket haul and, as it happened, match winning performance was the culmination of years of intense training under the watchful guidance of Mr. Henderson. And so another season in the 2nd XI has come to an end. As ever, there have been emotional farewells to individuals who have transformed 2nd team cricket in their own distinct ways. We'll certainly miss our leader, Howard for being an all round top bloke, and Jack Fox for the passion that he brought to the team, his fantastic cricketing ability and his persistent whinging. Daniel Gray has been a tremendous servant for 2nd XI cricket and his inspirational on-field comments will live long in the memory. Tim '15 ball over' Maclehose, will always be remembered, not only for his erratic bowling and feeble excuses, but for his extravagant golf swings when Mr. Henderson has insistently issued the 'Straight Bat' order.

' '

112

Three junior pros, Charles Harvey, Thomas Burley and Henry Simmons, arrived at the beginning of the season from the U15 cricket, and their performances demonstrated their huge potential. It is marvellous to know that 2nd XI cricket will be left in the hands of such honourable individua ls. The two old stagers, Amit Kaushal and Edward Herbert, who joined the 2nd team two years ago along with myself, proved their worth th is year with some stunning performances, showing their maturity and skill. Finally, on behalf of the team, I would like to thank Father Fred Arvidsson, for the passion for the game that he has instilled within us, and the legendary Mr Henderson for his extraordinary words of wisdom that have been encapsulated in our team ethos. Their dedication to 2nd XI cricket is unquestionable. Long may the 2nd XI dynasty continue. Sunil Khemani (MT)

3rd XI You will learn more about sport from reading Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations than a millennia of Mondays on www.timesonline.co.uk/thegame. Specifically, the philosopher challenged received wisdom on categorisation; the

mistaken attempt to assign to various phenomena (objects, events, living things) the same category. Using an example from 'games', Wittgenstein's metaphor clearly alluded to networking qualities at the cutting-edge of 3rd XI cricket - the 15 razors whose clearest judgements resembled the precision of a ninthcentury Islamic algorithm. Wittgenstein posed a question the 2004 King's 3rd XI answered about games, cricket matches and its players : 'If you look at them you will not see something that is common to all, but similarities ... family resemblances; where corporate relationships between the members exists. Outside this sainted dominion in whites, a notional '4th XI' squad - some 23 deconstructionists - preferred a free, active interpretation of games : ballgames, board-games, Olympic games, and so on; in a mentalese, or language of thought all their own. On Maslow's chart of ~uman needs and their hierarchies, they preferred the requirements of comfort and safety, instead of cricket and the aesthetics of bat, ball, bails and boundaries. Fixtureless, they lacked contextuality : functional, situational, discursive, social; devoid of airtime, a finely-engineered sound-bite, they still remain happy in their anonymity, unaffected by spin. 3rd XIs are not predisposed to the

agenda-setting dogmas, found in the Paul Lazarsfeld's 1948 work on the power to 'structure issues' in everyday life. However, the innovative Nicholas Brown (Captain) produced a model in AIDA- the principals in mid-week nets and weekends 'out there' (TMS speak) in the middle: i) create Awareness; ii) secure Interest; iii) stimulate Desire; and then, iv) bolt-on the Action. Nowadays, just as there is too much hype about hyperlinks, new drillmasters of leisure believe happiness is synonymous with totted-up figures, delivered as scores, results; defined as wins, losses, and even draws. Numbers are not fact-stating :they tell us nothing about the world. Ask Harry Osborne, Ryan Noades, and Rahul Mukherjee about the fluency and efficacy of their bowling against Sevenoaks, and they will describe a dream afternoon in the sun; ask them about scores, and an un-interactive robot control will endanger the will to live. Nicholas Brown's batting often resembled the th ri 11-swept, swashbuckling adventure genre of Errol Flynn's swordsmanship in

The Sea Hawk; valuable for its promise of an Armada; great tele-presence, and rarely for the victories and defeats alone. Along with his patriotic shipmate, Richard Lamb - a comrade of equally high calibre- both retained an enduring freshness and appeal after three seasons in the 3rd XI. David Griffiths, Marc Chapman and Tony Sze, each found an appropriate search-engine of ability at points to surprise and delight the umpires' yearning for youth. David's left arm bowling worked from silent emotion and an aptly targeted obliquity. Marc's fielding yielded the popular music of the street and fairground, and attracted crowds quickly. Tony, forever high on hope, played the game with affectionate good wishes dedicated to everyone. It was no lucky fluke that raw talent in the 3rd XI survived to scuttle the outlook of those only buoyed up by sums. Patrick Allies's best batting had shades of the David Gower With Time to Spare about it; whilst the pairing of Joshua Hill and Harry Wall appeared, at times, to levelpeg anything Fred Titmus wrote about in

Talk of the Double. At the crease, Ryan Noades was urbane; in moods of Jacobinical resolve, he could dig in, and make anything R.C.Sherriff's Journey's End made of courteous impatience, appear as a mere glimpse of a feudal knot Ryan tied to the longevity of his innings. At its best, Esmond Brown's medium-fast bowling made batsmen feel they were being attacked by an ancient Briton; a spell against Eastbourne College left behind its own whiff of ambrosia. Amongst the cricketing cavalcade of individualism, the wicket keeper is like an unmasked lone ranger. He can hide nothing, is exposed to everything, and has few constant companions in the field. Michael Gold transformed all this. Padded up for action, his sharp eyes and hands, scooped up anything wayward a bowler's taste for inaccuracy lobbed his way. Popular, a person of incomparable poise, even the tiny, pardonable lapse worked in his favour. Small coral reefs of kindness protected the 3rd XI all season. Against all the odds, Christopher Walsh played in the first game against Colfe's, in someone else's kit, and never played again. Occasional visits to Birley's by Messrs. Berry, Withrington, Klapp 8: Co.; were indispensable elements to a fuller life. Peter Yakovlev regularly rolled up for his tick, but preferred trekking as a personal domestic ritual. Persuading Andrew Begg, soccer practice was off limits in cricket nets, must have felt like a poultice of cold stone to eclipse the sun of his initiative.

All matches start at 2.00 p.m. unless otherwise stated ... so ran the calendar; but a belief in certainties is a sovereign opiate that should be outlawed. A creative enquiry about the Highgate game will rightly blame global warming; but the voids of unfulfilment will always haunt the collapse of the Whitgift and Epsom days. The season closed devoid of two rough, mid-afternoon snacks; yet, it aIso ended as it started. 'Laughter has its own sacred priestly function to perform, said Gwyn Thomas', which is where 3rd XI cricket always cranks its tractor, and where the 2004 teams won hands down. RBMi Results Played

Won

Last

Drawn

Cancelled

Matthew Humphrey

113

Under 14A XI

Under 15A XI The class of 2004 will be remembered as another nearly year. As usual with our fixture list the difference between a winning and a losing season is how you play in a few overs in a few games. The Under 15A team were guilty of getting into winning positions and inexplicably running the other way. That said there were some huge positives to take from the season that was; the captaincy of George Chilcott was varied and intelligent and the bowling of Ally Holmes and Som Saran caused problems every week. Other significant contributors were Dominic Collingwood with both bat and ball and Richard Griffiths ably kept wicket and weighed in with some telling runs with the bat. The individuals mentioned all have 1st XI pedigree which augurs wel l for the next couple of years and the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. I must mention a few high points and a few that got away. A superb performance skittling Sevenoaks was followed by a magnificent run chase against St. Edmunds where King 's achieved the daunting total of 189 with overs to spare; school boys do not often score at 7.5 runs an over so this was an afternoon to remember. The other victory of the season was against a weak side from Duke of York's where we comfortably reached the victory target whilst reversing the batting order. King's faced some excellent sides over the course of the term, Whitgift were as strong as usual and Colfe's has obviously benefited greatly from their pre-season tour. The two games that got away were against Trinity and KCS Wimbledon; in both games the opposition were in trouble batting first and in both games were let off the hook and achieved respectable targets. The lack of depth in our batting order meant that if the top 4 failed so would we and these 2 matches were the only time this happened. The end of the season brought the usual awkward fixtures around King's Week and this led to us taking an extremely weak side to Cranbrook where they lost heavily. The fixture against the Kent Under 14 side was a huge success and a mixture of Under 15 and Under 14 boys acquitted themselves superbly against a most talented side. Ally Holmes dismissed 4 of the top 5 and Olla Tennant impressed so much that a District call up came his way. All in all another most enjoyable season, I would like to thank the boys fo r working exceptionally hard and making all the journeys and training sessions more fun than ever. MJTh left- Liz Graves

114

Squad: G. Chilcott (Capt), D. Collingwood, A. Holmes, R. Griffiths, D. Hurley, H. Quested, S. Saran, A. Clarke, R. Williams, T. Bertlin, R. Thomas, R. Lee, T. Groves, P. Gray, G. McSwiney,

Played

Won

Lost

v Colfe's School 125-5; KSC 124 Colfe's v Eastbourne 152-5; KSC 150-9 v Highgate: cancelled v Sevenoaks 66; KSC 67-1 v St. Edmunds 188; KSC 189-2 v Trinity 145 KSC 110 v Whitgift 177-8 KSC 95

v Duke of York's 60; KSC 61-5 v KCS Wimbledon 143; KSC 119 v Kent U14 170-5; KSC 100 v Cranbrook 156-6 KSC 90

This willing and miraculously injury-free band of players, under Alex Gilmore's sensitive and committed captaincy, promised much, but, despite a trio of commendable victories, too often failed to match the opposition. Notwithstanding defeats that were occasionally embarrassing, there were many memorable individual performances, while the corporate esprit of the squad never faltered; for both these reasons, there is every cause for optimism about the future of a hardworking and talented bunch of cricketers. Alex's athletic and powerful batting was complemented by fellow opener Will Newman's stylish and adaptable play at the crease. For the first ten overs at Trinity the pair played with an elegance and authority which have been rarely seen in recent years. They each played good innings, but not sufficiently consistently to make the team as competitive as it could have been. Rohan Premnath added solidity and his often explosive strokeplay punished several second string bowlers, while Oliver Tennant was an irresistible force with the bat whenever he played himself in. James Munro showed promise in the middle order, as did the technically gifted Tristan

Lee; both can expect to develop in power, and should also look forward to longer occupancies if they refine their shot selection. The least lucky batsman was Hugh Bird, who generally faced the more hostile bowling, and struggled to assert confident front foot rhythm. Charlie Johnston had limited opportunities to impress with the bat, his major contribution being made with the gloves, which he wielded with dexterity and concentration. Ally Edmondson once or twice put together impressive knocks, and Tom Tynan offered some enjoyable endof-innings cameos. Renwick McAslan's rare outings to the middle were accompanied by adrenaline-fuelled determination; I hope he conquers his nerves in future years, as he has great natural ability with the bat.

Kings 123-8;-sevenoai(S... ,-~~3-

-Kings- 153; ColteÂˇs 69

Sevenoaks won by 7 wickets

King's won by 84 runs

King's* 203-4; St Edmund's 92

Eastbourne* 192-8; King's 108

King's won by 111 runs

Eastboume won by 84 runs

King's 142; Trinity* 143-4

King's 43; Wellesley House* 47-4

Trinity won by 6 wickets

Wellesley House won by 6 wickets

Whitgift 194-2; King's* 71

Trinity 255-1; King's* 42

Whitglft won by 123 runs

Trinity won by 213 runs

King's 157-6; Duke of York's* 157-8

Whitgift 219-7; King's* 35

Match tied

Whitgift won by 184 runs

King's* 97; Epsom 101-0

King's* 133-8; Epsom 136-4

Epsom won by 10 wickets

Epsom won by 6 wickets

King's*136-6; KCS Wimbledon 137-5 The bowling was impressive, spearheaded by Tennant's thunderous pace and steadily improving accuracy, and McAslan's fluent and threatening leftarm fast medium. Gilmore was not greedy enough at times in bowling himself, as his probing medium-fast asked all the right questions. Premnath was a slightly slower but equally dependable option. Neither second-string bowler claimed fair reward for his efforts. In fact, it was a season in which we came up against some excellent top order batsmen. One huge and recurrent frustration was the slack catching close to the wicket, which handed the initiative to grateful opponents who rarely made the same mistake tw ice. Expertly handled by PWF and Duncan Hine, the As can look back on a full and eventful season in which they gave their all and thoroughly deserved the success that came their way. DJF Team: Alex Gilmore (captain), Charlie Johnston (wicket-keeper), Will Newman, Rohan Premnath, Ol iver Tennant, James Munro, James Bird, Ally Edmondson, Tristan Lee, Renwick McAslan, Tom Tynan

KCS Wimbledon won by 5 wickets King's* 157-8; Cranbrook 101

King's won by 56 runs

Under 14B XI Spiritedly captained first by Robin Bridge and in the last three games by George Christie, the Bs were an exciting and combative outfit who began with an encouraging win over Colfe's, and then came second in a sequence of f ive entertaining but frustrating matches. Batting was impressive in half the fixtures and weak in the other half, Tom Westray and Tim Brown leading the way. The bowling was capable, and, in the cases of Ben Varian, Adnan Bashir and Robin Bridge, excellent. Fred Clarke's wicket-keeping was exemplary, and assistance in the field committed and often heroic. Ryan McDonald coached the squad superbly, and all players acquitted themselves with credit. I wish them success and enjoyment in their cricket in the future . DJF Team from: Robin Bridge, George Christie (captains), Fred Clarke (wicket-keeper) , Leo Scarfe, Tim Brown, Zayd Tippu, Tom Westray, Adnan Bashir, Luke Arnold, Oliver Bromfield, Ben Varian, Rishi Melwani, lni Atoyebi Also played: Sayo Folawiyo, James Geidt, Renwick McAslan, Thomas Yates, Harry Coombe

Played

Won

Lost

Under 14 C XI With 25 boys making up the C/D squad, pressure for places in the Cs was rarely as intense as this summer. Regrettably, not everyone who stretched sinew so manfully in the nets saw competitive action, mainly because two fixtures against the Girls' XI and Whitgift were lost to (respectively) rain and cancellation, but the brace of surviving matches will live long in the memory. Restricting Eastbourne to under four an over in a 35-over match was a marvellous achievement, Chris White proving our most economical bowler with 1-15 and Will Lundy our most successful with 2-24; in reply Chris's 39 and Leo Scarfe's 38 provided a platform from which the middle order fell fractionally short in a nail-biting finale. A certain naive belief that you just have to be out there in the middle to win ultimately prevailed. Epsom seemed to have taken the game away from us in scoring nearly 200 at seven an over, but they reckoned without the truly astonishing response of Hugh Alder (0 against Eastbourne) whose cavalier yet controlled strokeplay took him to a century and the team to a thrilling win, with time to spare. Coaching these eager if idiosyncratic players has been a stimulating and, occasionally, dangerous experience. I thank them warmly for their dedication and appetite and hope they carry on with their cricket. From such clay may diamonds spring. DJF Team from: Leo Scarfe, Will Lundy, Freddy Iron, Chris White, Mark Thomas, Hugh Alder, Alex Roper, Harry Todd, Vasa

11 5

Supachok, Laurence Malpass, Bibek Mukherjee, Luke Arnold, Max Eisenhammer, Chris Waller, Aymen Saleh, Matthew Swaffer, Harry Todd, Felix Wong, Michael Lung

Played 2 Won 1

Lost 1 Eastbourne* 129-6; King's 116-8 Eastbourne won by 13 runs Epsom 196; King's* 200-6 King's won by 4 wickets

Girls' XI Only two fixtures were fitted in this season, but a first win against Highworth and a commendable performance against a strong MCC side were a pleasing return for the season's work. Scoring 128 off 20 overs with a slow outfield against Highworth was a particularly impressive start. After a steady first few overs, Liz Graves and Katy Taylor soon started finding the middle of the bat and the ball found its way to the boundary with monotonous regularity. Olenka Hamilton added valuable support and the fine total always looked defendable. With Isabel Short keeping tightly and some reliable bowling from Olenka, Katy, Liz and Sophie Middleton, the opposition always looked

116

Top- Sophie Middleton

unlikely to reach our imposing total and fell a fair way short. Some good fielding in freezing conditions was a testament to the team's determination to win and all who braved the weather are to be cong ratu Ia ted. The following Saturday a beautiful early summer afternoon greeted the might of the MCC. We made the wise decision to include Stephanie Masters from the Junior School in our line up and accurate bowling from her and Liz Graves ensured that the opposition did not get off to their customary rapid start. Katy Taylor and Olenka Hamilton also bowled well and Sophie Middleton, Anna Broxup and Lucy Wells chipped in with some good variety. Stephanie ended with 4 wickets, and the team's wicket total of 6 was more than had been achieved in previous years; it was further credit to the whole team in the field that the opposition's declaration came later than it ever had done in the past. We struggled with the bat, unaccustomed as we were to facing such consistently accurate bowling. However, a superb 27 from Stephanie, which included two beautiful back-toback cover drives straight from the textbook, gave our total some respectability. With some winter training and more practice time early in the summer term, there is enough talent to suggest that Girls' Cricket has a healthy future. We owe a huge thank you to Liz Graves who captained the side this year and has contributed so much to its resurrection at

the school in the last five years. RPC Team (from): Liz Graves (capt.), Anna Broxup, Amanda Chalmers, Rosanna Cocksworth, Julia Dickson, Olenka Hamilton, Katherine Harvey-Kelly, Stephanie Masters, Sophie Middleton, Kate Ross, Charlotte Sayer, lsobel Short, Lucy Wells, Arabella Willing

Played

Won Lost

King's* 128-3 (Graves 42, Taylor 28); Highworth 89-4 (20 over match) King's won by 39 runs MCC 138-6 declared (Masters 4-32); King's 57 all out (Masters 27) MCC won by 81 runs

Inter-house cricket Seniors

Final: Marlowe 144 for 3 (15 overs); Mitchinson's 77 Juniors

Final: Marlowe v The Grange (cancelled, rain)

In spite of many rained off matches, our twelve teams had a successful season. Here are some of the highlights. The U14A team won all their matches with Theo Backhouse and Annabel Gray playing some superb tennis as the first couple in the team. All the training and effort the team put in during the season paid off. Rosie Guest and Annabel Dight, playing in the Bedgebury tournament for the second year, endured severe heat on a very hot May Saturday. They looked strong, defeating Benenden in the semifinal to play DANNOTTER in the final. The mixed doubles match against Walmer Lawn Tennis Club was a lot of fun and a tradition we hope to continue. The Eton tournament was played towards the end of term during the height of King's Week. All the regular 1st team players were not available because of commitments elsewhere. This gave some of our younger players the opportunity to play in this prestigious tournament. Congratulations to the 2nd team who won the Loveband Plate competition.

117

Athletics Tonbridge was the first athletics meeting of the term. Competition was strong, yet all the boys put in their best efforts to gain 6th place overall. The following athletes achieved top three placing: T. Marnham: 2nd - BOOm R. Phanphensophon: 3rd- Javelin (B string} N. lmasekha: 3rd - Long Jump (B string) L. MacLehose: 3rd- High Jump (B string} C. Esiri: 1st- 100m, 200m, Long Jump. E. Stephens: 1st - Javelin Kings Senior boys: 3rd - 4 x 100m relay N. Hinves: 1st- Javelin; 3rd - 100m (B string)

Achilles Relay meeting The Open Girls did particularly well, with second place in their heat allowing them to get into the final, with a great finishing place of 5th. The Junior Boys also showed great determination in their 200m relays. All students put in tremendous effort. Well done everybody!

Caterham meeting This was held on a very friendly, sunny day on a great track. Our students, though stretched rather thinly and running from one event to the next, performed with great effort and achievement. Many personal bests were broken and top places taken. The following are the results of athletes who came in the top three: Overa II: Senior Boys - 2nd, ntermediate Girls - 2nd

c: 4.1

Chuko Esiri: 1st- 100m, 200m, Long Jump Tom Tyler: 2nd- BOOm George Mawdsley: 2nd - High Jump Ed Stephens: 2nd -Javelin Jasper Goring: 3rd - Discus Tom Marnham: 1st- BOOm, 3rd - Long Jump Stavros Stratas: 1st - Shot 8: Discus Alex Davies: 2nd -Javelin Tobi Pearce: 2nd -Triple Jump Tom Mackintosh: 3rd- Discus James Kent: 3rd- 100m Lawrence Perciva I:

2nd - 1500m Tom Mulvaney: 3rd -Triple Jump Anna Green: 3rd- Hurdles Lola Soyode: 2nd - Shot, 3rd - Long Jump Kara Kock: 3rd -Triple Jump 8: 1500m Amena lmasekha: 2nd - Discus Caroline Lawrence: 1st- BOOm 8: High Jump Tory Bartley: 1st - Hurdles, 3rd - 200m Caroline Hobbs: 1st- 300m Tania Hayes: 2nd- 100m Alex Carruthers: 3rd - Long Jump Rosie Iron: 3rd - 1500m Louise Ford: 1st - Discus Senior Girls' Relay- 3rd Intermediate Girls' Relay- 1st

District Meetings @ Kent College: This was extremely successful. The Shell-Remove team managed to gain a top three position in every event, and even the boys' and girls' relay. @ King's: With each athlete only allowed to compete in one event, we had difficulty covering them all. However, we managed to compete in every one, and gain several top places.

K. Synge: 2nd High Jump (on a count back) T. Hayes: 1st Long Jump R. Iron: 2nd BOOm T. Marnham: 1st: BOOm E. Hartland: 3rd 200m J. Williams: 3rd 200m E. Howard-Smith: 3rd 1500m Girls' Relay 3rd Boy' Relay 2nd

Kent Athletics Trials Three students had success at the Kent Athletic Trials: Tania Hayes: 1st Long Jump, Kitty Synge: 3rd High Jump and Victoria Bartley: 3rd BOm Hurdles. Tania Hayes and Victoria Bartley were both selected to represent Kent in their events. Congratulations to these athletes, who participated against very strong competition.

Sevenoaks meeting Due to exams, we had difficulty in fielding a complete team. But we showed great team spirit and all chipped in to cover most of the events. This all seemed to pay off, with many top three places being achieved, and an excellent 2nd overall place by the intermediate boys. Following is a list of athletes who gained a place in the top three: Intermediate Boys' Relay: 2nd Junior Boys' Relay: 3rd Rosie Iron: 1st- BOOm Oliver Sandeman-AIIen: 2nd - BOOm, 3r - 400m Ondine King: 1st: BOm Hurdle, 1st- Shot Tom Marnham: 1st- BOOm, 1st- 400m, 1st- Long Jump Alex Davies: 1st- Javelin, 3rd -BOOm Tim Leung: 2nd - 100m Hurdles, 3rd -200m James Kent: 2nd - Long Jump, 3rd - 100m, 3rd -200m Tobi Pearce: 2nd - 100m, 2nd - 200m, 1st- Triple Jump Justin Williams: 3rd- 100m Victortia Havercroft: 3rd- 300m Emma Hooper: 3rd -100m Lawrence Percival: 3rd- 1500m Tristan Hambleton: 1st- 1500m Kitty Synge: 1st - High Jump Henry Neuendorf: 2nd -Shot Tom Mulvaney: 3rd -Triple Jump Nowa lmaseskh: 3rd- Triple Jump, 3rd - High Jump Oliver Ford: 1st -High Jump Robin Sharp: 2nd -Shot ELE

Boys' Tennis 1st VI This year, the 1st tennis team have had a successful season winning eight out of thirteen matches and winning the finals of the Senior Boys Kent Schools' Summer Competition. The team members were Jonny Macfarlane, Hamish Pound, Nick

Gent and Simon Pound. However, for the finals held at Benenden School, it was unfortunate that both Nick and Simon had exams on that day so were unable to play. Nevertheless with Jo Wilcke and a last minute volunteer, Tom Boucher we won the competition beating Langley Park 4-0 in the semi-final and Colfe's School 4-0 in the final. Jonny, the no 1 player, has had a tremendous season with some outstanding and memorable matches. His match against the number one player from Langley Park proved a tremendous success as, although Jonny was feeling ill and having lost the first set 2-6, he came back to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 in a match that lasted two and a quarter hours. Jonny then went on to beat the Colfe's No 1. 6-0, 6-0 in the final to secure our win. In an unsuccessful match against Hampton School in the Glanvill Cup, Jonny again showed an extremely high level of play against their no 1, proving himself an invaluable member of the team. This Hampton team went on to win the Thomas Bowl trophy at the ISTA championships at Eton. Nick Gent has had a good singles season for a second year running securing several victories. Nick's groundstrokes and net ability improved throughout the

season. He and Jonny teamed up as a doubles pair, but unfortunately Nick was unable to play with Jonny against Tonbridge, when his ability was sorely missed. Simon Pound secured his place as no. 4 player after he showed an increasingly impressive standard of tennis on the Portugal Tennis camp. His singles ability was a great asset to the team and his positive and committed approach exemplary. Simon was a guiding strength in his doubles play with Hamish and his net play, fuelled by exceedingly quick reactions, dominated his matches. Special mention must go to Jo Wilcke, Ed Chuck, Robbie Reid and Mikiya Morioka who have also played several matches for the firsts. Jo Wilcke had some very impressive performances and his dedication and competitiveness were a real challenge to members already in the lsts and also to the opposition. The pairing of Robbie Reid and Ed Chuck was successful as their styles of play complemented one another. Robbie's formidable serve was matched with Ed's guile and poaching ability at the net. Mikiya continued to serve well and he would achieve better results in doubles if he could sort out his positioning on court. On behalf of the team I would like to

thank Mr Anderson who has, throughout the season put enormous effort and dedication into organising matches for the team and of course, for our trip to Wimbledon. Hamish Pound (LN) Hamish has been a most reliable captain and his tact and wisdom together with his own standard of play contributed to the successes that the team achieved this season. It was rewarding to see that he could play well as a doubles pairing with his younger brother Simon and they developed a good understanding and respect for one another. I would like to thank Hamish for his captaincy this season. Despite the many commitments he had as Captain of School, as well as his exams, he was always totally reliable. SEA. Team; Nick Gent, Jonny Macfarlane*, Hamish Pound(Capt)*, Simon Pound Also played; Ed Chuck, Robbie Reid, Mikiya Morioka, Joachim Wilcke, Tom Boucher' *denotes first Colours

119

Results Played

Won

Bunge losing a tie break against their 1st pair, which could have reversed the result in our favour. Team: R. Bunge, A.Laing, T.Rodwell (Capt.), S.Rudgard, S.Shirley, H.Smith.

Drew Lost

SEA

v Tonbridge 4ths v Kent College

(A) Won 51/2-31/2

v Canterbury Mens LTC

(H) Lost 1-8

v iTonbridge School

(A) Lost 3-6

v Walmer LTC

(A) Won 6-0

v St. Lawrence

(A) Won 6-3

#v Kidbrooke School

(A) Won 6-0

#v Coopers School

(H) Lost 2-4

#v Sevenoaks

(H) Won 4-2

#v Hampton School

(A) Lost 0-4

*v Queen Elizabeth's

(H) Won 5-1

(A) Lost 4-5

---~

*semi-final: v Langley Park

Won 4-0 ~~----

*final: v Colfe's

Won 4-0

fl Glanvill Cup

rSenior Boys Kent Schools' Competition 3rd VI After a promising start on the unfamiliar hockey astra at Tonbridge, we showed a lack of consistency and allowed Tonbridge to win the tight sets. An example of this was when our School house pairing of Will Acker and Shaun Githuku had set points against their 1st pair only to let it slip in a tie break. Nevertheless it showed that we have some keen and able players in depth if we could only find enough fixtures for them to get match experience. Team: W.Acker, H.Davies, J.Devonshire, S.Githuku, H.Lo (Capt), R.Webber. SEA v Tonbridge

Under 16 VI With GCSE examinations moving earlier and earlier into the term, the 'season ' is now packed into a very few weeks before the half-term break. Despite this, there was plenty of enthusiasm for tennis, with about 25 boys playing regularly in the practice sessions. The match against Sevenoaks fell victim to bad weather, but four matches were played, two against schools and two against junio r' club sides. In the absence of Simon Pou rfcl , playing successfully for the 1st VI, Henry Hird and Fred Miles were the regular first pair. Against strong opposition, they did well to win five of their nine matches and improved significantly in the short time available. Playing at second pair, Chris Robinson and Seb Botana were quick learners and full of enthusiasm; they too can be pleased with winning five of their nine matches. There was fierce competition for the 3rd pair slot, but only one match was won out of eight.

Regular team players: Chukwydifu Ajukwu, Sebastian Botana de BeavauCraon, William Boucher, Henry Hird, Frederick Miles, Christopher Robinson. Also played: Oluwole Adeosun, Ndubuisi Ajukwu, James Fish, Eliot Jenkins, Landey Patton, Edward Rex. Results

v Tonbridge (A VI)

(H).Lost 3-6

v Tonbridge (B VI)

(H) Lost 1-8

v Kent College

(H).Drew 3-3

v Canterbury LTC

(H) Won 4-2

vWalmer LTC

(A) Lost 4-5

(A) Lost 3-6 CJRJ

4th VI This was a closely contested match with the result in the balance right up to the last game. Again it came down to a point here and a point there to Tonbridge and our pairing of Harry Smith and Roland

120

Mixed Teams: v Walmer LTC 1st 8: 2nd (A) Drew 6-6 Senior Boys' Inter-house was won by School House defeating Meister Omers in the Final on games countback. It must be noted however that on that day Linacre had three players of the 1sts missing, due to a clash with a Glanvill Cup match.

Golf The season began with a hard fixture against Sutton Valence at Royal St. George's which had hosted the open just a few months earlier. Although we had lost last year's best golfer we had also acquired a new member of the team, Tom Yates who has more than filled his shoes, but at only five foot one, not Iit era lly. On an overcast day we opened well with Tom winning his first match by a commanding 6 and 5. However, narrow losses by Charlie Teale and Dan Gray led to King's losing by the smallest of margins 2 points to 1. Our second match was against London Freemen's School in the HMC foursomes at Knowle Park. Here all our pairs were on form with the first pair of Tom and Charlie winning 5 and 4; the second pair of Dan and Matt Baer cantered to a 7 and 6 victory and the final pair of Tom Quested and Will Bruce completed the whitewash winning on the last hole. The next fixture in the calendar was the annual match against the O.K.S. which had been dominated by the 'Old Boys' for the last decade. The game was played in great spirit on an equally blissful day at Canterbury Golf Course. This competition took a four ball, better ball format. Our first pair of Tom and Charlie got us off to a good sta rt after closely winning their match, however, the second pair of Matt and Will lost to leave the match poised at one game each. A personal best round from Dan and Tom Quested in the last pair secured the victory for the school and broke the O.K.S. run of victories. The final match of the winter term saw King's take on local rivals St. Edmund's at Canterbury. Even though the temperature was cold, the golf from King's was far from it. Due to the lack of daylight hours the rounds were shortened to 12 holes, but this did not throw the team. In four singles matches there were commanding victories by Tom, Charlie, Matt and Dan leading to the second whitewash of the season. The Lent term only had one match for the golf team which was the next round of the HMC foursomes which was played at a windswept Royal St. George's against Wellington School. Here the tournament journey was ended by a very talented side that included the son of former world number one golfer, Nick Faldo. Although the second pair of Charlie and Matt and the third pair of Will and Tom were heavily beaten, the first pair of Tom Q and Dan only lost on the 17th hole.

In the Summer term, the team lost Will to cricket for most of the matches, but gained another new player in the form of Sorivit Vayakornvichitr or Saint as he is better known. The first match was a fourway tournament with Eastbourne, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. Here King's got the term off to a sluggish start finishing a disappointing fourth , however the team did not leave empty handed as Dan took home the award for the longest drive. Later that week we took on Sutton Valence in a return match at the Weald of Kent. The team had no problems dealing with the heavy rain and interesting course layout and only managed to achieve half a point thanks to Tom, but for the second time in a row we were on the wrong side of the result. Canterbury was once again the venue for the return game against St. Edmund's who, all credit to them, came out fighting after our previous meeting and managed to split the match two games each. The team's next event was the Senior and Junior Putter, but this was stopped after seven holes because of a thunderstorm. After a check through the diaries the competition was rearranged for the next week. Unfortunately Tom could not join us in the second attempt which threw the Junior Putter wide open and after some competitive scoring Saint narrowly edged out Tom Q to win the competition. In the Senior Putter Charlie was never

really challenged and eased home to claim the title.

Sailing

The penultimate competition of the year was the Captain's Bowl at Chart Hills. The course was in a very challenging condition and no one ever came close to Tom. He produced the greatest round of golf the competition has ever seen finishing two over par, a score that the participants of the Ladies' Open, which is being played at the same course, would have trouble beating.

Summer term 2004 was one of great success for Team King's. We have now reached the point where we can compete against other schools and expect to get a good result. The squad returned before the start of term for three days of intensive team race training on Westbere lake. The course, led by Jamie Reid who was capta in of Cambridge University Sailing team and also captain of the British Universities Sailing Association team in 2003, gave us the inspiration to win. He was assisted by another Cambridge blue in sailing, none other than our own Antony Lewis OKS. Overall this term King's 1st Sailing team sailed 38 match races and won 25 - our best results to date. Thoughout the term we concentrated on the key point: "Think team"! It does not pay to cross the line if you are in first or second position and your team is losing. When every instinct is to cross the line it takes real nerve for a leading boat to sail off his proper course, as team racing rules allow, to "luff up" and sail off an opposition boat, giving the rest of his team the chance to sail through. The tactics of keeping the opposition covered are well worth learning for fleet racing as well, as Ben Ainslie, who grew up on team racing, has again demonstrated so brilliantly in the Athens Olympics.

The final match was against Cranleigh at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal. The match was a foursomes game with three pairs. It was once again pleasing to end the season with another whitewash with all three pairs winning. Finally I would like to wish the team success in the following years and especially good luck to Charlie to whom I pass the captaincy next year. I would also like to thank Mr Phillis and all the other staff that made golf at King's a possibility and success. Daniel Gray (GL) I would like to thank Dan Gray for his successful captaincy. He has led King's golf by example, fighting for every shot. It has been a good season, he has done well. NLP

At the British Schools' SE AREA

Championship (April 29) held at Bough Beech S.C., sailing fireflies, we achieved three clear wins to win the bronze award from Lancing, Tonbridge C and Dover College. A close race with Tonbridge A just kept us out of contention for the silver. As we had started the regatta badly, well behind on the start line for the first race, to go on and win the next set of races showed character and determination. Ten days later the East Kent Schools Team Racing Championship (May 8), held at Westbere SC, sailing 420s, also attracted a good entry. The King's team again sailed well and, in this more loca I regatta, secured 1st position winning all four races. It was good to retain the trophy for another year. We entered the Kent Schools Sailing Association Team Racing Championship (May 22) at Redoubt S.C., Hythe, with high hopes. Our first team sailed very well, won five races, but just missed the top three positions. This followed a very close final race with our main rivals, Redoubt SC, which King's seemed about to win. Both teams, however, experienced rigging failures, including a broken boom, and the umpire ordered a re-run. Again the race was very close, but we could not quite repeat our best form and lost 10-11 . For Team King's it was a measure of how far our sailing has progressed that the very good final position of 4th /13 in a Kent Schools Championship was considered almost a disappointment. Our second team also sailed well to achieve 8th position, although the King's A versus

King's B race failed to produ ce the upset that the Bs had planned! I Our regular matches against other schools also reflected the improvement in boat handling and race technique. Although we lost early on in the term to an U16 Sevenoaks team on our home waters sailing 420s, a return match at Bough Beech saw a King's victory sailing RS Fevas. Our helms did pa rticularly well as none had sailed Fevas before. Honours were also shared in our meetings with Tonbridge B. Our home fixture showed how a moment's loss of concentration can decide the outcome. With both sides

winning a race in races one and two, there was everything to sail for in race three. At the final mark King's looked set for a comfortable win with two boats in seemingly "stable" first and second positions and needing only to round the mark and complete the last leg. It was then that one King's boat, without a word of warning, tacked on to the other. Ton bridge took full advantage of the selfinflicted penalty to go one up and that effectively was the end of our day. However, we did sail well in other matches, especially against local rivals Dover College, both on our home waters at Westbere and "away" at Dover harbour, where both King's A and B teams had success. We also have good reason to congratulate Philip Spicer on his sailing for Kent. King's can take pride in his achievements as a key member of the victorious team in the National Schools Sailing Association Championship. This regatta was held at Bridlington SC during the third week of July. Since the Kent team took the title over 19 other county teams, it is great also for King's sailing that the current captain is a national sailing champion. It was not surprising that Philip was winner of the best helm award at the Inter-House Sailing Regatta (May 6) and his house team, Marlowe, were worthy winners of the house sailing regatta. Tradescant also sailed very well to be runners-up for the second year, with Linacre, School House and Mitchinson's in contention. Walpole again prevailed as best ladies team being the only girls' house to complete enough races to count. This owed everything to Catherine Gabriel, who coached two novice sailors

around the course to ensure that they finished and scored points. Catherine was also awarded the Irvine trophy for commitment to King's sailing during the year. It would be good to see more girls coming into the sport. However, it really was Marlowe's year for Sailing, both for winning the house regatta and providing three of our four entrants for the 420s Schools National Championship at ltchenor. This was the culmination of the term's sailing and those who represented King's- Julia Brooks, Peter Gray, Andrew Lewis and Philip Spicer- deserve to be congratulated upon taking part. I would especially like to thank Mr Hutchings for his assistance during the term and particularly for taking our four entrants and two 420s to ltchenor. The storm that burst upon southern England on July 7 prevented any races from taking place on the first day of the Championship, but the adverse weather allowed more time for coaching sessions and for socializing, On the second day Philip Spicer and Julia Brookes achieved a best position of 5/48, but their impressive sailing in strong winds was brought to a premature end by buoyancy problems and sinking. The younger crew of Andrew Lewis and Peter Gray also sailed very well considering the disadvantage of their light weight in the windy conditions to finish with a mid order position. The team returned from ltchenor with even greater enthusiasm for sailing. We are most grateful to Mr and Mrs Peter Stone for their hospitality in again kindly allowing the King's team to stay at their home during ltchenor week. Finally, I wish to pay tribute to Mr David James of Westbere Sailing Club, who sadly passed away this term after a long illness. David always gave generously of his time and expertise to members of King's RN Section and SC. A good number of former pupils over the past 15 years

will remember his warm-hearted instruction. For his work in establishing Westbere Sailing Opportunities, David's wonderful contribution to services for disabled sailing was given the recognition that it so well deserved by the award of an MBE. Sailing is a sport which readily crosses the generations and on behalf of those who knew David I can only echo our appreciation for all that he did to develop a love of sailing and for his "ring of bright water" at Westbere lake. HROM School Sailing team: Philip Spicer (captain), Catherine Gabriel (vicecaptain), Peter Gray, James Lamb, Mickey le Blanc, Andrew Lewis, Edward Watts, Sarah Ventress. Also sailed in a sailing match: Christopher Binks, Frederick Coltart, Jack Lawrence-Jones, Alasdair Sladen, Stephan Wasserman-Fry.

L 2-3. SORA SE Area Championship (A) fireflies) w 4 races - bronze award. nter-house Regatta (toppers): 1, arlowe; 2, Tradescant; 3, Linacre. SORA E Kent Championship (H) (420s): 6 races - King's overall winners. Tonbridge (H) (420s) L 1-3

A team W3-0 SA Championship (toppers) A team w 5 aces- 4/13 overall team w 2 races- 8/13 overall Sevenoaks U 16 (A) (RS Fevas)

3-2 tchenor Schools National (420s) 1 and 36/48

Swimming The Kent Schools' Championships are the first major competition of the swimming season starting at the beginning of the Lent term at the Black Lion Sports Centre in Gillingham, and again this year we achieved some great performances. In individual events, Alfred Siu won the silver medal in the senior boys 100m breaststroke and James Shilston also won the silver medal in the senior boys 4 x 50m individual medley and subsequently represented Kent Schools in the intercounty match with Surrey held at Trinity School, Croydon in March. Pamela Gent, Jenna Wiles, Philippa Williams, James Graves Edward Mosely and Alasdair Muller,all reached the final in their events and Jenna, who is an excellent butterfly swimmer, broke the eight, all age group and distance, school records in this event this year. In the team events, our senior boys' relay squad of Angus Davidson, Richard Heywood-Waddington, James Shilston and Alfred Siu won gold in the 4 x 50m freestyle relay, retaining the trophy for a second year, and also took the silver medal in the 4 x 50m medley relay. An excellent perform anee. At the intermediate level, the boys' relay team comprising Kevin Chiu, James Graves, Edward Groves, Edward Mosely, and Stephen Wong picked up bronze medals in both the medley and freestyle relay events, missing the silver by one one-hundredth of a second in the freestyle! The intermediate girls team of Eleonore Dixon-Roche, Pamela Gent, Harriet Page and Michelle Wareham, and the junior girls' team of Annabel Gray, Sarah Healy, Emma Howard-Smith and Jenna Wiles, swam well in both their events. Also in the Lent term we enter some of our top performers in the Kent County ASA Championships where the . competition is obviously very strong ..This year Alfred Siu won a bronze medal In the boys' 17/18 years 100m breaststroke event and James Shilston similarly won bronze in the 16 years 50m freestyle event. With the intended closure of the 50m pool at Crystal Palace, the Public Schools' National Relay Championships were held this year at Trinity School, Croydon in. their six lane 25m pool. We were den1ed our small school st atus this year because of previous successes, and had said goodbye to our star performer Alex Siu

123

last year, but still we were confident of good performances in the open events. For the Bath Cup in the 4 x 100m freestyle event, Kevin Chiu, James Graves, James Shilston and Alfred Siu finished eleventh out of the sixty teams competing from all around the country. In the 4 x 50m medley relay for the Otter Cup Richard Heywood-Waddington replaced Kevin Chiu and the boys swam a magnificent heat and final to end up fifth; a really excellent performance and with only Alfred Siu leaving us this yearwe'll be back! But that's not all the news from the nationals, as we haven 't yet talked about our girls' team. This year was our best ever girls' team performance! The team of Pamela Gent, Natalie Greer, Sarah Healy, Jenna Wiles and Philippa Williams finished eighth in the 4 x 50m freestyle relay and ninth in the 4 x 50m medley relay- a really great result. We continued competing in our traditional inter-school galas as well the more recent wider competition with Haileybury, Berkhamsted, Bishop's Stortford College and Harrow, and all the resu lts are shown below. With Tradescant no longer the odds-on favo urite, this yea r's inter-house swimming gala was eagerly awaited who would take the boys' trophy? The senior boys' events were clearly dominated by Meister Omers but that was not enough as The (mighty) Grange only dropped four possible points in the U15 competition - awesome! So The Grange were the winners, for the first time since their seven consecutive wins ending in 1989, but also of note was School House, who were runners-up, and after being sixth last year that must be a record. The girl' event was also very competitive with Marlowe/Mitchinson's going one better than last year and winn ing, breaking the 4 x 25m interhouse freestyle relay record along the way, and Broughton/Bailey were runnersup. The most improved swimmers' awards are given on this occasion and this year the most improved boy went to Kevin Chiu and the most improved girl to Pamela Gent. The King's Tournament, for boys and girls, was again held in March with teams from Bishop's Stortford College, Brentwood, Colfe's, Cranbrook, Dover College, Haileybury, Harrow, King's Rochester and St Dunstan's competing against us. We managed to win all events with the exception of the Under 14 Girls, where the Bishop's Stortford team won, and the Under 14 Boys where Harrow won. In the

126

King's Girls' Tournament, hosted this year in June, Guildford High again beat us into second place in the Under 14 age group and also won the Under 15 event with City of London Freemans in second place. Boys' Captain 2003/4 Gi rls' Captain 2003/4 Williams

Alfred Siu Philippa SJR

Those who represented the school at swimming this year: Alexander Allen, Anna Basden-Smith, Eleanor Beevor, Janessa Bobby, Philippa Bonsall, Lucas Boulding, Joanna Brilliant, Francis Brown, Oliver Carr, Sabrina Chapman *+, Kevin Chiu, Marina Cooke, Chloe Darke, Angus Davidson *, Thomas de Silva, Eleonore Dixon-Roche, Thor Espeland, Pamela Gent +,James Graves, Annabel Gray, Natalie Greer *, Edward Groves, Sarah Healy, Richard Herbert *, Richard Heywood-Waddington *i,f mma Howard-Smith, Emily Lunn, Charles Marnham *, Georgie Mayhew, Poppy Mitchell, Peter Morcos, Edward Mosely, Alasdair Muller, Harriet Page, John Pa rkinson, Amanda Redstone, Charlotte Rook, Georgina Rumbellow, James Shilston *,Alfred Siu *+, Edward Syson, Stephanie Thomas, Michelle Wareham +, Thomas Westray, Jenna Wiles +, Philippa Williams *, Stephen Wong. * awarded first colours + cu rrent school record holder

s Benenden ing's senior and junior girls won, Benenden won intermediate girls' - won overall 159 - 145 ing's Tournament ing's senior and intermediate boys won, Harrow won junior boys' King's senior and intermediate girls won, Bishop's Stortford won junior girls' @ Bishop's Stortford ing's 158, Bishop's Stortford 110, aileybury 99, Berkhamstead 32 sSt Bede's ing's senior and U16 boys won, King's 16 girls won, t Bede's won senior girls' -won overall 149- 146 Vs Tonbridge ing's senior and U14 boys won, on bridge won U16 boys' - won overall 129 - 108 s Eastbourne Et Epsom King's senior and U15 boys won, King's enior girls won, Eastbourne won U15 girls' won overall 260 - 198 - 132 @ Harrow boys: Harrow 96, King's 79, Bishop's Stortford 68, Haileybury 21 iris: King's 66, Bishop's Stortford 41, aileybury 30 ing's Girls' Festival Guildford High won U14 Et U15

Fin al Words The range of contributions made f or The Cantuarian makes one reflect on the rich diversity of what King 's comprises. Together with the glori ous surroundings of the precincts, the students and the staff, both individually and together make the core of the school. Yet, it is striking that King's as an institution can incorporate such a great variety of individuals, all working together, such as in the glamorous finale of the school year, King's Week. The enormous effort, vitality and solidarity for all those involved, i.e. King's as a whole, are rega rdless of yea r group, gender, or whether pupil or staff. The voluntary, mutual cooperation is of tremendous value, together with the

strong sense of communication among the diverse individuals which remain the main strengths of King's. The Cantuarian aims to be a representative of King 's, as not only a school, but a harmonious community. It is amazing to feel for ourselves, and observe that we mat ure during the precious five years here. Slowly, we learn, academically, physically and artistically, through wide opportunities and experiences offered. Among these shown in this edition of The Cantuarian are the dynamics of King 's Week and various student led cha rity events, not to ment ion a selection of sports we enjoy.

As we change for the better over time at King 's, The Cantuarian is also planning on a cha nge. This publi cation is to be the last of the Lent/Summer editions, as The Cant uarian will extend its focus to an annual basis, reviewi ng each academic year, hopefully with even wider participation and contribution from all at King's. The Cantuarian hopes to be the image and voice of the school. Hee-Jae Lim (Student Editor)