The Cantuarian 2009 - 2010 by OKS Association | The King's School, Canterbury

The cantuarian

Autumn 2009

The Cantuarian Contents Editorial

This and That

Focus

Art & Writing

Trips and Expeditions

Drama

Music

Miscellany

Sport

Overheardâ&#x20AC;Śand Howlers

The Cantuarian Editorial Committee Mrs A. L. Young (Editor-in-Chief), Lee Rigley, Ernest Sykes (Sport), Nicholas Hands and Jessica Wingrad (Senior Editors), Teddy Crow, Georgina Davies, Will Fenning, Faridah Folawiyo, Gus Gould, Ed Hands, James Hearn, Kit Irwin, Olivia Lyster, Nicholas Ma Siy, Rachel Phipps, Hugo Plunkett and Amanda Thomas

Editorial

reminiscence and research in old copies of the magazine. We plan to upload more and more.

Nicholas Hands (6b MO)

Of course, there are still issues to be resolved: our style sheet, for which we are grateful to The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times, has yet to be completed; and one wonders whether the creation of a role similar to the party whip would be useful for chasing up copy. But The Cantuarian is organic – quite fashionable in the modern day – and its contributors enthusiastic and lively – some, thankfully, approaching fastidiousness in their wielding of the editor’s red pen. There is certainly hope for the future.

Colour photographs had to wait 134 years before the first colour illustrations appeared in the 1995 Cantuarian. Websites, the first of which was launched in 1991, have had to wait a fraction of that time. The Cantuarian now has a website presence - and, as far as we know, is the only school publication to do so. We are, so it seems, catching up with both with the times and The Times, which recently launched Britain’s first electronic national newspaper. Why a website? The Cantuarian is extensive in its proportions and there was a feeling that it might risk becoming labyrinthine. The website simply knocks through a few of the labyrinth walls. A website with its immense capacity allows us to represent fully the achievements and activities of the school and, at the same time, slim down the printed publication. The design has been revamped. It is a case of out with the new and in with the old as we have reverted to a plain cover similar to those first seen in 1952; and, as the plan is for the website to be updated termly and the publication yearly, a reddish-brown flavour reflects this edition’s autumnal nature. We hope to make the pages more aesthetically pleasing by adding more photos (not that students of Christopher Marlowe’s old school have ever had trouble reading – see the reintroduced Overheard section). We are aiming for a modern feel that maintains elegance over time.

Without wishing to dwell too long on votes of thanks, it seems appropriate to thank all our contributors first of all, whose photographs, writing and design are so rich and varied: Rob Stone and his team of website designers; Mr Stephen Woodley, whose OKS Offcuts will hopefully stimulate much interest for readers of This and That; Mr Peter Henderson, for his invaluable input as Archivist; teachers such as Messrs MacEwen and Miles; the Lower and Head Masters; and Mrs Young, but for whose help the ship might have sunk. Words accredited to Pascal, the French philosopher, seem apt: ‘I am sorry I have had to write you such a long letter, but I did not have time to write you a short one.’ Much midnight oil has been burned on all the developments. We would welcome any feedback – constructive or complimentary – and it is our sincere wish that you enjoy this new venture. Times change, and we hope that The Cantuarian will continue to move with them.

The contents of the magazine can be viewed in two ways: one format allows readers to leaf through the pages of the magazine in a traditional fashion; the other is to use the website approach which is much more tailored to the individual - visitors can choose what material they want to see. There is also an archive feature, which allows OKS readers the possibility of

Autumn 2009

Common Room

This and That

There was a bumper crop this autumn with 14 new members of staff joining the Common Room in September 2009. Mr Alexander Addington, who joins the Maths department, grew up and was schooled in Malaysia before attending Durham University where he completed a BSc in Physics. He is a freelance web designer and IT guru who plays the piano and enjoys a wealth of sporting activities. His interests include travelling, diving and composing music. He is a tutor in Tradescant. Mr Paul Barton Hodges joins the music department from Eastbourne College as a music technology specialist. Having previously worked in Canterbury as lecturer and course coordinator for the BA in Creative Music Production awarded by the University of Kent, he also was a member of the Cathedral Choir. Originally from Gloucestershire, Paul studied viola and singing at the Royal College of Music. It was during this time he started work as a freelance recording engineer and, following his graduation,

combined this with instrumental teaching in East Kent. Now living in Shepherdswell with Annie and their three boys, he has the chance to indulge his love of cycling with the daily ride to work. From September 2010 Paul will become Head of Music Technology. Mr Matt Browning was educated at Dartford Grammar School then the University of Leeds, where he studied Latin and just about survived Ancient Greek. He spent three rather hazy years working for Oddbins Wine Merchant before somehow getting a teaching job at Clayesmore School in Dorset, where he stayed for eight years. There then followed a stint at Ashford School before joining the Classics department at King’s in September. He is a tutor in The Grange. Miss Rosanna Corp, who joins the French Department, grew up and was educated in the outskirts of Paris, France and went to St Edward’s School, Oxford for Sixth Form. After graduating from Oxford University she worked in software publishing for three years in London before choosing to do a PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University and a French MA in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Her interests include opera,

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German and Italian literature, and travelling. She is a tutor in Broughton. Ms Lisa Cousins joins the ICT and Mathematics departments from The Folkestone School for Girls where she was Head of Department for ICT. Lisa graduated from Middlesex Polytechnic with a First Class degree and later qualified to teach at Canterbury Christ Church University. Being a keen sports player, Lisa has enjoyed contributing to the coaching of Hockey, Netball and Tennis at King’s. She is a tutor in Broughton. Miss Katy Griffiths joins the R.S. and Philosophy Departments. She grew up in Cheshire and went to Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Following that, she read Theology and Religious Studies at Peterhouse, Cambridge where she stayed to complete an MPhil in Real Estate Finance. She is a tutor in Walpole. Mr Mark Orders, joining the Physics department, grew up in Peterborough. He studied Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Leicester and was taught by physicists working on the Beagle 2 Mars lander and the Cassini mission to Saturn. After teaching in Leicester for a year, he moved to his wife’s hometown of Whitstable in 2007 and worked with her at St Anselm’s School in Canterbury where he became joint head of science. On moving to King’s, he intends to develop the subject of Astronomy within the department and is also involved with Football coaching and refereeing. He has recently celebrated the arrival of daughter Annabelle. He is a tutor in Grange. Dr Sarah Perkin joins the Biology department. She took a PhD at the University of Wales, Bangor. She is a tutor at Harvey. Charlotte Tyndall (R.S.) grew up in Bolton and attended Bolton School Girls’ Division. She went to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to

Autumn 2009

read Theology after a gap year working as an assistant house matron in Casterton School for Girls in the South Lakes. Charlotte is a tutor in Galpin’s. Dr Karen Palmer, who joins the Mathematics Department, grew up in Dover. She studied Mathematics and Statistics at Kent University and continued there to obtain a PhD in Statistics. She also taught at university whilst studying which inspired her to take it up as a career. Currently commuting from Dover, she hopes to move to Canterbury in the near future. She is a tutor in Linacre. Dr Sanjeeda Samad is a Medicinal Chemistry graduate from University College London. She did her PhD there on blockers of the CCK inactivating peptidase. She left to take a job during 2002 with Huntingdon Life Sciences. She also worked for GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer before doing a GTP at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is a tutor in Walpole and joins the Chemistry department.

Mr Adam Stennett joins the Chemistry department. Previously he worked at Pfizer, Sandwich as a research scientist. He lives in Canterbury and is a keen sportsman: he coaches Rugby, Football and Athletics. He is a tutor in Grange. Mr Ian Wallace grew up in Belfast but moved to the North Coast of Northern Ireland after Art College. He took a degree in Fine Art (Lens Based Media) from the University of Ulster. He did his PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University. He is a painter and photographer who is also interested in board sports. He is a tutor in School House. Ms Paula Williams was raised in Marden, Kent and boarded at St Leonards-Mayfield School in Sussex. After gaining a first Degree in Philosophy and History she took a gap decade, hitchhiking in Europe and living and working in Denver, Colorado. Returning to the UK, she gained an MA in Education next door at Canterbury Christ Church. Along the way she qualified as a Teacher and Careers Advisor and has worked with adults, asylum seekers and in many different types of schools including independent schools and young offender institutions. She is a tutor in Broughton House. For those wanting to read about other King’s dynasties, please click here.

Common Room marriages Speaking of the Cox dynasty, this was extended at the end of last summer, when at St John the Baptist church in Barham on 3rd July 2009, Catherine Hall (R.S 2007-present) married Michael Cox (Maths 2006-present); congratulations to the happy couple, who apparently fell in love during a ‘professional enrichment’ day organised for them by our very own Senior Mistress, Pat Wakeham; now no one can say that the school doesn’t actively encourage extracurricular pursuits for its staff members!

On a high note... This and That learns that Andrew Sultana (MR 2007-), a pupil of William McMConnell (Staff 1979-1991), obtained his LTCL Diploma on tenor saxophone in November 2009. To This and That’s knowledge, Andrew is the first King’s pupil to reach such a standard – this being a higher level diploma – in the last 30 years.

A question of sport This year This and That has decided to save the minutiae of the school year’s sporting achievements for its rightful place (located at the back of this edition), however noting OKS and individual successes on a national and international level is still something in which This and That takes great pleasure. We learn that Matthew Wells (TR 2001-2007) gained his golf Blue representing Oxford; this is the first golf Blue since J.A Harvie in 1971. Equally impressive are the achievements of Eliza Brett (JR 2008-) who is in the current England women’s Hockey squad despite her tender years. Another OKS – Andreas Tatt (GR 2004-09) - despite being barely clear of the school’s pressures and pleasures, is already representing Kent in events such as the National Fours championships, for the ever-competitive sport of Bowls. We wish Andreas luck when the selectors come to make the list for the England Under-25 squad. It seems that cricket legend David Gower (LN 1970-75) may be on the hunt for a new career; This and That learns that David is making his Bollywood debut in a film called Patiala House which is to be released in November. The film, which has been shooting song-and-dance scenes at the Oval recently, is about a British Sikh corner-shop worker from Southall who is also a talented pace bowler and dreams of playing for England.

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Turning over a new leaf... Should anyone be looking for an engrossing read to while away the time, they could do a lot worse than take This and That’s advice and turn to some well-penned pages by OKS. Michael Morpurgo (GR 1957-62) has published a new book: Running Wild (HarperCollins Children’s Books), which brings together the 2004 Asian tsunami and Michael’s love of Kipling. Equally captivating is Francesca Beauman’s (BR 199294) new book: Shapely Ankle Preferred; this will be Francesca’s third book and is a history of lonely-heart advertisements. It is due to be published by Chatto & Windus in 2011. However, should you be looking for nothing more than to pass the long summer nights over a nice glass of wine, you might just want to consult Oz Clarke’s (MO 1962-67) new book, Let Me Tell You About Wine.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... A mammoth task is currently being undertaken by The Cantuarian editorial team and This and That has noticed the dark circles and blank eyes of those who have volunteered to scan digital copies of every Cantuarian published. At a guess, as the magazine has been in production since November 1882, This and That calculates that around 350 publications will need to be scanned, cut, cropped, stored and uploaded. Confucius may never have used a scanner or worked with Adobe InDesign CS4, but his words have never seemed more apt. This and That wish the team luck and look forward to seeing the results which will be gradually rolled out over the next few years on the new Cantuarian website

This and That hasn’t been in the habit of revealing the hobbies and secret talents of staff members, but after decades of holding back, it couldn’t last much longer: This and That learns that as well as being a prolific timekeeper and ‘crossword-completer’, Alastair Stewart (Chemistry 2003-present) is a keen campanologist – so next time the ‘bell tolls for you’, you may just know the man who pulls the rope (in a strictly non-theological sense of course!).. Also reaching This and That’s ear is the news that Jean Watson(19XX- present) is the woman to call should you feel an itch that you just can’t scratch; as a qualified reflexologist, Jean has taken a few Common Room members’ complaints into her own capable hands. This and That now knows who to blame for the happy contentment that has been filling the hallways in recent months.

Right: Three volumes down, only forty-three to go...

Autumn 2009

FOCUS ON MUSIC: All The

An interview with the King’s School male close harmony group Faridah Folawiyo (6b JR) The King’s Men are readying to release their second CD this upcoming summer term, and five years on since their first CD, it seemed like an appropriate time to discover how the group came to be and what makes our King’s male close-harmony group so special. The Cantuarian interviewed three members of the group, Theo Bamber, Rob Stephen and Jack Masters. This year’s King’s Men are a very talented group. Six out of the nine members are ex-cathedral choristers, so it seems fitting that there will have a CD containing new repertoire to ‘remember them by’. The CD will contain a mix of different types of songs, from some slower ballad numbers to more upbeat songs such as ‘September’. Rob, Jack and Theo speak very fondly of the other members, and it is clear that they all have a special bond that transcends the singing. They all agree that Seb Payne and Fred WilsonHaffenden are the divas of the group, while Joe ‘likes to be the centre of the attention.’

Who has the best voice? According to Rob, ‘ Fred Wilson-Haffenden thinks he’s got the best voice!’ This year’s King’s Men also have a certain privilege that past groups have not: a manager. Kim Dover has taken on the role to help promote the boys in the local community and keep them organised. The group was formed when Mr Ionascu arrived at the school in 2002. There has always been close-harmony singing in the school, but Mr Ionascu decided to formalise it, and thus the King’s Men were created. According to Rob, the King’s Men are ‘the main close-harmony group.’ There are 8 or 9 of them each year and they sing at school events such as the House Song Competition and events during King’s Week. Their main repertoire is old pop songs, which are usually arranged by themselves or past members of the King’s Men. Recent songs they have covered included ‘I Want You Back’ by Michael Jackson and ‘September’ by Earth Wind and Fire. Why did Mr Ionascu create the King’s Men and not a mixed close-harmony group? ‘This is the only thing I believe passionately should be single-sex because close-harmony lends itself naturally to it,’ he says. Mr Ionascu has always coached the King’s Men, whilst someone else directs the King’s Swingers, the female

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King’s Men

equivalent of the King’s Men. [Watch out for a feature on the King’s Swingers at a later date. (Ed)] There has always been ‘a healthy competition between the two groups’, and certainly during the interview, the three Men could not resist a few sly digs at the Swingers (when asked if they always sung unaccompanied, Theo Bamber quipped, ‘Yes, we do. It’s the Swingers who don’t’). Mr Ionascu’s role in the group, however, is limited, and it is up to the boys to run it on a day-to-day basis. There is a popular myth (which, according to Mr Ionascu, the boys do play up to) that the King’s Men do a couple of short rehearsals and it all comes together. However, they actually undergo ‘hours of intensive rehearsing’ before reaching the high standard that is achieved at shows such as the House Song Competition and the Serenade. This year Rob and Theo are in charge of the group, and the only time they have had problems was during the ‘tedious’ recording sessions when they were stuck in a room together for four hours, three nights in a row. Rob says, ‘By the end it was quite difficult to keep some people going, and there was maybe too much banter flying round.

Autumn 2009

However, people turn up because people want to turn up, and I really do think it’s seen as a privilege to be in the King’s Men. There are so many guys who would want to be in it but who aren’t.’ The King’s Men tradition is one that is thoroughly admired throughout the school. When they perform in front of their peers, there is no disrespect because as Theo says, ‘Most of the students do appreciate and respect the King’s Men’. For Jack, this appreciation for the King’s Men is the best part about it. The first time he performed with the King’s Men, he was in awe of the massive response they received from the audience. ‘The first time I performed, which was in the House Song Competition the year before last, I was so nervous I thought I was going to be sick, but the applause we got was unbelievable. I had never witnessed applause like that before. Everyone just goes mental. It makes you feel really good.’ Theo also remembers the ‘incredible’ response they received in the Jazz Concert two years ago after they sang ‘I Can Talk To You’. Whether or not the girls were excitedly screaming at Guy EdmundJones after his solo or the whole King’s Men remains unimportant to Theo.

A memorable school performance, for all of them, however, was the House Song Competition this term. Jack remembers, ‘ I was on crutches while we performed at the House Song and the song we were performing was a mix between ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson and ‘Don’t Stop Moving’ by S Club 7. Rob and I had discussed in the rehearsal beforehand that at the moment of linking where it goes from one song to the next, it would be quite funny if I got my crutches, swung them round, and hit them on the floor at the beat. (At this point, Rob interjects ‘We discussed it, but I don’t think anyone realised that he was actually going to do it.’) Then when we actually went on stage I thought ‘okay, this could work’. I didn’t realise Rob was standing so close and my right crutch smacked him square in the face, right in the eye. And then I didn’t know what to do. The audience just burst out laughing. We had staggered the staging so that there were four in front and then 3 of us behind, and so the people in front thought that everyone was laughing at the fact that I had done the beat with my crutches; they had no idea that Rob was doubled over holding his eye!’ Although The King’s Men did perform an S Club 7 song at this year’s House Song Competition, don’t expect them to do other new pop songs anytime soon. According to Theo, ‘the way the group works may not lend itself so kindly to the modern, techno music.’ Rob is also quite happy doing old pop songs. ‘I think it’s quite fun bringing back old pop songs that many people our age don’t know and making them sound good again. It was never our aim to bring them back to life, but that is kind of what has happened.’ However, they continue to reinvent themselves with avant-garde performances such as at the Serenade last year, a favourite moment of Rob’s, when they all performed standing in a circle in the middle of the cloisters and facing outwards. ‘It was quite a strange place to sing and all you could hear was yourself. It was really strange, but amazing. I really enjoyed that.’

Next year, Jack will be the only remaining King’s Men member of this year’s group and Mr Todd has already started a King’s ‘B’ Team, which is a trainee group for potential King’s Men singers next year. What would be Rob’s advice for future members? ‘Enjoy it; it’s a very special thing to be a part of.’

‘Naturally’ the latest recording of the King’s Men is available now

To read the full articles which includes audio files and more pictures, please click here.

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Autumn 2009

art and writing

Art & Writing Jacob Furedi (Shell MR)

[This is a moving account about an extraordinary woman, Klara Taub, written by Jacob Furedi, her grandson. After experiencing the horrors of the holocaust she fled to Canada before ending up in Faversham where she recently died aged 92. (Ed)] The scene is Budapest, 1944, during the German occupation of Hungary. One in four people living in the city were Jewish: a total of 246,000. In June, the pro-German regime forced all Jews to live in a ghetto, a segregated, heavily policed section of the city from which they would not be allowed to leave. This was a prelude to being deported to the Russian Front or to concentration camps spread around Europe. In the ghetto food was scarce and living conditions were cramped. Apartments were shared between up to four families. One of the Jews was the mother of Klara Taub, Sarah. A question asked frequently today is ‘Why did the Jews go into the ghetto and not try to escape?’ The answer in Sarah’s case was that she didn’t realise what was going to happen to those who were moved there. She thought it was temporary and just for a short time. But she knew the conditions would be harsh. Although Sarah was prepared to endure the ghetto she was determined to find a better solution for her daughters: Klara and her sisters, Jolan and Eva. Some Jews managed flee Hungary and some were able to find friends who were kind and brave enough to shelter and hide them. Klara and her sisters, Eva and Jolan, were lucky enough to be offered shelter in the home of a

Christian family who had been friends of the Taubs before the war. Budapest is split in half by the River Danube, one half is named Pest, the other half is called Buda. It was in the hills of Buda that they found shelter. They were hidden in the conservatory of a large house. The Nazis had made it very clear that any people found sheltering Jews would be treated like criminals. The risks meant that the sisters were forced to stay inside at all times. The girls felt frustrated by their predicament and they quickly became bored. This boredom soon turned into carelessness and they decided that they would risk going outside and seeing for themselves what had become of the city. They were all vulnerable and when they were asked to show their papers they knew that they wouldn’t be returning to their place of security. They were arrested and then transported to Ravensbruck Concentration Camp near Ravensburg, Germany. Ravensbruck was a female concentration camp. Many prisoners were forced to work in a munitions factory. Klara, Eva and Jolan were fortunate to be offered work (only young, fit girls were chosen) as this meant they were given extra rations which was vital as many people were starving to death due to the terrible malnourishment. Many Jewish men from Budapest were not sent to labour-type concentration camps but were sent to death camps or forced to work on the Russian Front where many froze to death in the following harsh winter. The Hungarian Jews were one of the last groups of Jews to be rounded up by the Nazis. This meant that they spent less time in the concentration camps than those of other countries, and therefore had a greater chance of survival. After about 18 weeks the Ravensbruck concentration camp was bombed by the Allies, as part of its offensive into Germany. The munitions factory

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was destroyed. This meant the concentration camp was of no use to the Germans and the inmates were force-marched to another camp. This was extremely hard on the prisoners as they were very weak and tired from hard work and malnutrition. Once, before the rounding-up of the Jews in Budapest, Klara’s boyfriend, Laszlo, (who had some military experience) had advised that if she were ever part of a forced march, she should try and place herself in the middle of the line as this was the part where there was the least number of guards. This advice saved her life. During the forced-march, the younger sister, Eva, collapsed on the side of the road and was close to death. The guards were indifferent to Eva’s plight and shouted at Klara and Jolan to leave their sister behind or they would be shot. They had no choice but to obey. The act of leaving her sister behind still haunted Klara for decades after the war. It was in that lonely ditch that Eva died. Her body was never found. Further up the road Klara and Jolan found themselves so exhausted that they could walk no further. Klara recalled that the

Klara Taub with her sisters, Klara is on the right

going to be shot, but instead, the guard shrugged her shoulders and walked on. This was the defining moment that meant that Klara and Jolan were going to live through their terrible ordeal. Klara and Jolan decided to stay in the ditch because they were very weak and tired. They would wait until they died or until help came. Miraculously, after about 9 hours, an Allied regiment found them while marching past to occupy the area. They took the two sisters to a town nearby called Jena, where they were given medical care. At first Klara and Jolan were not allowed to eat solids because the doctor believed it would make them sick. When they were stronger the Allies forced a German family to give the sisters two beds where they could sleep until they could return to Hungary. Klara and Jolan returned to Budapest in March 1945. Hungary was liberated by the Soviet Army. Back at home they found out that their mother had stayed in the ghetto, out of sight from the Nazis and therefore not taken away. They were also informed that their brother, Imre, and their father, Ferenc, had died in the Labour Battalion on the Russian Front. They had frozen to death. They discovered that while they were in Germany their house had almost been destroyed. Klara’s mother told her that her boyfriend Laszlo had employed builders to repair the damage. Her family and friends told Klara that Laszlo had put in advertisements in every newspaper asking if anyone knew of her whereabouts. In 1946 Klara and Laszlo were married, a year later Klara gave birth to Ferenc (later known as Frank). To find out what happened next, please click here...

two of them just sat down on the side of the road and watched the remainder of the camp inmates march on. She remembers one female guard at the end of the line who looked round and stared at them. Klara thought they were

Autumn 2009

Clockwise from left to right: ‘Cathedral Painting’ by Ben Yeates (6a GR); ‘Untitled’ by Sean Vayakornvichitr (6a GL) and ‘Grotesque Woman’ by Emily Arbis (6a BR)

THE CANTUARIAN

Autumn 2009

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From left to right: Supakrit Vayakornvichitr (6a GL), Work in the Art Department, including Teddy Crow (6b GL) posing by a painting that isn’t his, and ‘Portrait’ by Toby Standen (Fifth SH)

Autumn 2009

trips and expeditions

Trips The Remove Spanish Trip to Seville Fiona Jenkinson (Rem HH) During the half term break, the Removes went on a six day trip to Seville, not only to practise Spanish, but to learn about the different culture and enjoy a week away from England’s appalling weather. On 18 October, we started our journey at Stansted Airport, and, packed for a week full of new opportunities, we set out for Seville. The two hour flight passed quickly and before we knew it we were in the Mediterranean. After a short coach journey in the late-night darkness, we greeted the families who were to host us during our stay and were introduced to our accommodation. The sleepy drone of the waking city signified morning and with it the taste of a true Spanish breakfast. Everyone was too preoccupied with the thought of a morning of Spanish lessons to realise that the first task of the day was to get to school! Eventually, we all managed to find the right place and after a warm welcome, started to learn and consolidate our Spanish in the forms of games and helpful exercises. Every mealtime gave us an opportunity to try something new, so after a genuine Spanish lunch we visited the city cathedral, with its great golden altar and the supposed remains of Columbus. Next, we went to the bell tower from which we could see the whole of Seville which, despite the exhausting climb, we all enjoyed immensely. Outside the cathedral we were surprised to find a large group of horse-drawn carts waiting for us – we clambered inside and were given a tour of the city!

For the first part of the afternoon of the third day in Spain, we were given a class of Sevillanas (the local dance) promptly followed by a visit to the bull ring. However, our enjoyment of the Spanish culture did not last long as a torrential downpour forced us to remain inside for the rest of the day. As the British-like weather continued to stay with us for the fourth afternoon, we stayed at the school and watched Spanish films and, in a true Spanish fiesta style, celebrated Annabelle de Gaudemar’s 15th birthday! As the trip started to draw to a close, the Spanish weather began to brighten, so we visited a royal palace with its stunning architecture and luxurious gardens, and the historic districts around the city centre. In the evening we managed to enjoy some ‘much-needed’ shopping before the start of the penultimate day. Having learnt a lot of useful Spanish amongst other things, we ended our classes on the Friday morning, and were driven beyond the city outskirts to visit an animal park. Here, under the heat of the autumnal sun, we saw a variety of exotic animals in the stunning landscape where they were free to roam. All too soon, the final day of the trip arrived and we were forced to part from our host families. We made the most of our final day in a Spanish theme park before returning to the airport and catching a late-night flight back to England. By the end of our trip everyone was exhausted but had had an amazing experience.

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Remove German Trip to Berlin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; October 2009

Inside the Reichstag

Elizabeth Ham (Rem WL) and Alicia Barrett (Rem CY) Our trip started in the early hours of the morning of October 17th, when we all met at Mint Yard Gate at 2.30am. 14 of us checked in at Luton Airport, together with our two teachers, Mr and Mrs Jennings. After going through a fair few security checks we began one of Chevonneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite parts of the trip, the duty-free shopping. Having arrived in Berlin, we were taken by bus to our home for the next five days, but when we got there we were told that our rooms would not be ready for another three hours, so with that we got a tube and went to lunch at the widely known restaurant of KFC! After this we went sightseeing and planned what we would be doing.

The next morning we went to the Reichstag, the German Parliament. For lunch we had local sausages at a lovely restaurant. We then did more sightseeing, such as the Checkpoint Charlie museum. On the third day we went to another museum. Most of the group then went down to the Nuclear Bunker and learnt about the Cold War, but because of claustrophobia Alicia and Lizi instead went shopping in the town. Others also got the chance to go shopping in the afternoon after a pizza lunch. Lizi and Alicia at this point had had enough of shopping and were eating

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cakes in a German Patisserie. That evening we had supper at the hotel and went back out into town to watch a German 3D sea life movie at the IMAX cinema – on the same evening there was also a film premiere for a new German film but we just missed the ‘famous’ German movie stars.

Fifth Form Geography Trip to Morocco – October 2009

The next day – our very last – we all got up early to enjoy as much of Berlin as we could in a morning. We all got in the bus and drove to the Berlin Wall. At noon we left for the airport and bought yet more sweets and duty-free items. Overall Berlin was a great experience and we are all so glad we had the opportunity!

During the first week of the October half term, forty-two Fifth Form geography students and five teachers spent nine days in Morocco, experiencing as much of the country as possible and looking at the geography of each of the very different areas we visited.

Cleodie Swire (Fifth MR)

We arrived at Ouarzazate late in the evening, and before we left the hotel we had a briefing from our guides, who explained to us what was expected of us in a Muslim country. They then gave us each a ‘shesh’, a large thin scarf used as a headscarf. We then set off in the bus on a three-hour journey south-east to Zagora. During the journey, we went through the Draa Valley where we saw many desert landforms such as wadis (dry river beds), mesas (isolated mountains) and desert pavements. We had lunch and a swim in a gorgeous hotel up the road from the Fibule du Draa before we left for a camel trek into the desert. We travelled through part of the Anti-Atlas Mountain range, passing many fields where children came up to our camels begging for sweets and money. Having arrived at the camp and eaten ‘Tagine’ for supper, we sat round a campfire as the Berbers cooked some bread and sang for us. Once we had all tried some of the bread, there was an opportunity for us to go stargazing on the nearby sand dunes before sleeping on the carpets with an incredible starry sky above us. The next morning we climbed to the top of the sand bank near the camp to watch the sunrise, and then rode back to Zagora on the camels. When we arrived at the hotel the boys went to the hammam (Turkish baths) while the girls stayed in the hotel and made the most of the lovely swimming pool. In the afternoon we went to a pottery, a jewellery shop, and also a

Autumn 2009

sand-encroached village called Tinfou where we learned how they coped with the everincreasing amounts of sand and lack of water. Due to flooding, we were delayed by a day going into the mountains and had to stay in Marrakech. Eventually, we finished the journey to the mountains and ended up taking over the whole of a lovely ‘hotel’ called Dar Imlil in the centre of a valley with huge mountains all around. The views were fantastic. In the afternoon, we went for a walk around Imlil (the village) when we learnt about a flood that devastated the area in 1995, and were shown some of the precautions that have been put in place to predict any future disasters.

As well as everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves, we all experienced part of a very different culture and became aware of the risks of water and uncooked food in less developed countries, as well as seeing various aspects of geography at first hand. We all had a fantastic time and I would definitely recommend it to anybody wanting to go to Morocco. Many thanks go to the Geography Department for such a great trip.

Imlil is situated in the meeting point of three valleys, and the next day we walked up to the top of one of these valleys before having lunch overlooking the village. We spent the next morning walking in one of the other two valleys, before playing football on a pitch basically made out of a river bed. After our first opportunity to haggle in the village shops we returned to Marrakech, where we split into groups after supper to go to the bustling and exciting souks (open-air markets). The next day, we left the hotel in horse and carts to travel to the other side of the city, where we saw the shanty town and learned about the problems of people coming from the desert and mountains to find better jobs. After the cart ride, we visited the tannery, where we all had to cover our noses with mint because it smelt so disgusting due to the pigeon droppings they soak the skins in to make them soft. We then went to Epices Avenzoar (homeopathic pharmacy), where we were given a presentation on the various spices, creams and scents. After lunch, we all went shopping again – one of our tasks was for each of us to buy a present for our Mystery Mohammed (the Moroccan Secret Santa) for ten dirham (less than a pound). After one last trip to the main square, we returned to the hotel to receive our Mystery Mohammed gifts and to finish off the trip with a few games.

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Fifth Form History Trip to Berlin Jamie McPhie (Fifth CY) Following an all too early start to make our 6am flight to Berlin, we arrived to a cold but bright morning. After settling into the hotel, we made our way to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, where we were given the freedom to explore and find somewhere to lunch. A city tour followed, where we visited the Holocaust Memorial, while also visiting Alexanderplatz, the centre of the former East Berlin, which despite it being twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall was still rather drab and awkward looking in comparison to the quarters of West Berlin. The tour concluded in the Jewish Quarter, which was a colourful area with a plethora of shops and cafes for us to enjoy, before returning to the hotel. After another early start we made our way to Potsdam for a tour of the Cecilienhof Palace, where it was possible to see the room in which Churchill, Stalin and Truman attempted and ultimately failed to agree on what was to happen to Eastern Europe following the Second World War’s conclusion. Lunch in Potsdam followed, which for most consisted of a bratwurst followed by one of the many sweet delicacies sold in the German Christmas Market (which put the British equivalents to shame). After more exploration of Potsdam the day’s sightseeing was concluded with a perusal around the House of the Wannsee Conference, which is where the details of the ‘Final Solution’ were worked out. What followed was one of the more interesting events of the trip with a dinner in a traditional German restaurant, which was best summed up by Dr Perkins’ observation that it was ‘the seventies on a plate’.

how many people Hitler’s dictatorship affected. After lunch there was a trip to the bowling alley, although Mr Jennings was cruelly ruled out after his disagreement with the subway platform. The bowling nevertheless proved enjoyable, although there were varying levels of success on the lanes.

On our final day we made our way to the iconic Checkpoint Charlie, and after a stimulating talk by Mr Jennings on the Berlin Wall and what life was like in East Germany, we made our way to the Checkpoint Charlie museum. This gave detailed accounts of those who had made the dangerous leap, run, or even swim, from the East to the West. Perhaps the most remarkable tale was that of a West Berliner, who customised his VW Beetle so that he could carry escapees in his bonnet without the risk of detection. The main German Christmas market followed, where numerous purchases were made. Without a doubt, though, the most popular venue proved to be the chocolate shop Fassbender & Rausch, which is meant to have an international reputation. There is no doubt that most people’s cases were several kilos heavier after leaving the shop. Unfortunately, after finishing off our shopping it was time to get the coach back to Berlin Airport, finishing an incredible four days in a truly historic city.

The next day started with a moving trip to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp that illustrated the brutality of the Nazi regime, and just

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Highlights of The Rugby Tour to South America RCW and TGH

2nd August After three days of hard training at Birley´s the party of 25 players and four staff loaded up at St Augustine’s for departure and set off for Heathrow.

3rd August The first and longest leg of the flight saw us arrive safely at Sao Paulo, although there was drama in the airport there when Miss Smith had to act quickly to revive a little girl who had passed out. From there we flew on to Montevideo where we arrived with no further incidents, other than when Harry Buggé had to have his his bag examined at customs, where his protein powder had aroused excitement. After a short bus ride to our hotel during which we met our highly entertaining guide for the next couple of days, Miguel, we checked in and then had a training session to shake off the journey on a dusty pitch alongside the River Plate.

4th August After more training in the morning, the afternoon was at leisure, although it brought the first sporting contest of the tour in the ten pin bowling alley. The party enjoyed an evening stroll along the beachfront back to the hotel, where the boys’ hosts came to collect them.

Autumn 2009

5th August We had a tour of the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, taking in its splendid architecture, parks and monuments, and then drove to a vineyard on the outskirts of the city where the wine-making process was explained and the boys took the opportunity to buy some local produce for their parents. Some of us were also introduced to the taste of (yerba) mate tea. In the afternoon we made our journey to the match venue, which was located in a rural setting outside the city. The earth road had subsided by a bridge about a quarter of a mile from the pitch, so the bus could not get through. The last part of the trip was on foot through the brush but the facility, used exclusively by the Uruguay Rugby Union, was excellent, and the floodlights soon came into play as the sun went down In the afternoon we made our journey to the match venue, which was located in a rural setting outside the city. The earth road had subsided by a bridge about a quarter of a mile from the pitch, so the bus could not get through. The last part of the trip was on foot through the brush but the facility, used exclusively by the Uruguay Rugby Union, was excellent, and the floodlights soon came into play as the sun went down.. Playing the Uruguay Under 17 side, the team made a very good start, putting some well worked movements together and playing at pace. The match was well refereed by one of the top officials in the country, who had had international experience at the highest level. There were tries for Jamie Harris (2), Kola Lawal (2), Tom Arnott, Henry Pelling and Dele Marinho; Jack Masters kicked five conversions. The 45-0 win was a highly satisfying first performance, especially taking into account how soon after a long journey the fixture was played. After the match we were given our first taste of South American hospitality – large quantities of local beef, speeches and an exchange of gifts.

6th August The 12 hour trek to Santa Fe in Argentina was a severe test of the coach´s suspension on some of the roads we encountered but the bus was luxurious, the boys slept and we arrived safely to meet our hosts from CRAI (Club de Rugby Ateneo Immaculada).

7th August After a morning tour of the city on a London Routemaster bus (in almost original condition), we made our way to the ground. The afternoon match against CRAI was played at another well grassed venue on a wide pitch. We took the lead after two minutes when Jack Masters kicked a long range penalty. Rob Stephen then scored a try after some good approach work and he set up another when he chipped through for Masters to gather and score in the corner. Jack converted both tries. CRAI had a short period of pressure and came back with a converted try and penalty of their own to close the gap to ten points. However, another Masters penalty, a converted try by Loren Kock and another by Tom Gold from a well executed set move, took the final score to 35-10. Once again the post match hospitality was a feast of beef, and the usual pleasantries were exchanged.

in terms of territory, we could not convert our opportunities and at half time the score was 0-0. It was King´s who broke the stalemate soon after the break when Rob Stephen, from inside his own 22, put a right to left cross-kick for Jack Masters. He chased it down to the home 22, where he grubber kicked through, gathered and outsprinted the covering defenders to score a brilliant try. Rosario came back with a try of their own from a driving maul but King´s re-grouped, applied more pressure, leading to penalty opportunities for Masters; he stepped up to convert three long range kicks to seal a deserved but hard earned 14-5 win. Tour Party: RCW, ARW, TGH, JS; Charlie MacLeod (Captain), Lucas Anglin, Tom Arnott, Harry Buggé, Fred Clode, Thomas Gold, Edouard Guitton, Murat Gumus, Henry Hamilton, Jamie Harris, Will Howard-Smith, Elliott Hunt, Charles Killingbeck, Loren Kock, Kola Lawal, Harry Ludbrook, Ed macLachlan, Dele Marinho, Jack Masters, Henry Pelling, Charlie Roberts, Edwin Simmons, Rob Stephen, Jonny Stewart, Fred Wilson-Haffenden. To read the full article on The Cantuarian’s website, please click here

Results Played

Won

Points For

169

12th August

Points Against

Uruguay U17

Won 45–0

In their second floodlit match, the boys faced their stiffest opposition yet. The home side were provincial champions and had lost only one game in the last two years. Meanwhile the illness in the party meant that we had to make several changes, including playing Will Howard-Smith at scrum half instead of the Captain, Charlie MacLeod. Early encounters were bruising but although King´s had the edge

CRAI

Won 35–10

Jockey Club de Córdoba

Won 54–0

Club Atlético de Rosario

Won 14–5

St Andrew’s Scots College

21–10

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The Girls’ Hockey Tour to Australia KJD Sunday, July 5th saw Mrs Webber, Miss Dover and 19 girls embarking on a long, long flight that would in fact be more pleasant and tolerable than anyone expected. And then we were in Sydney! We found ourselves staying in the middle of China Town, walking distance from Darling Harbour and surrounded by the buzz of this lively city. We made the most of our location, visiting The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Bondi Beach, Manley, Sydney Harbour and Taronga Zoo. The highlight, though, must have been climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge – well, for all but Lucy, who discovered that she hadn’t in fact outgrown her batophobia. The experience was hugely exciting, made all the more fun by hollering the team song from the top of the bridge. Rolf Harris would have been proud as we loudly demanded that all of Sydney tie our kangaroos down! However, we weren’t there just to see the sights. Playing hockey at various clubs and schools we built team dynamic and skill, and enjoyed some really good matches. We experienced wonderful hospitality and found the atmosphere consistently friendly and easy going. As well as training or playing almost every day, we spent a lot of time watching the Champions Trophy Tournament, held at Sydney Olympic Park. Competed for by the top teams from around the world, we saw hockey of a phenomenal standard and all felt thoroughly inspired. There were highlights (the Netherlands generally impressed) as well as low lights (the match between Australia and England is better left alone) but all in all it was a wonderful event to see. Taking place in this legendary location and drawing avid hockey fans out to cheer, the

Autumn 2009

tournament was a real buzz and a significant element of the tour. However, it has to be said that probably the most memorable moment took place unexpectedly on our last night, when we arrived at a restaurant overlooking Darling Harbour and discovered that we were at the table next to the Australian Hockeyroos. Those girls had been gracious and friendly throughout the tournament, chatting amicably with the fans and generally being good sports, and the same went on this evening – although they had narrowly missed out on winning the final against Argentina. After everyone had finished their meals, autographs had been signed and pictures taken, the dance floor was cleared for us and we all got busy strutting our stuff. We returned home feeling sleepy and jetlagged, but ultimately knowing that the tour had been everything we could have hoped for. Here are some of Miss Dover’s recollections of the matches:

July 12th v North Shore Area Representative XI The girls’ first match was a training one versus the Oz Sports Invitational XI. The team faced the challenge of playing against an older, mixed team with impressive confidence and presented a united front. The second match was against the North Shore Area Representative U17 XI and in this, the first competitive match of the tour, the squad worked well together, incorporating both the skills honed in the training days and the techniques they had seen used in the Champions Trophy matches. The girls were evenly matched and at 2-1 down towards the end of the match, it looked as though it could be anyone’s game until NSAR scored two soft goals in the final three minutes.

July 13th v Sutherland U17 XI (W 8-1) This friendly against the Sutherland hockey club was a good chance for the girls to boost their record and claim a convincing 8-1 win. With an emphasis on building the team dynamic, the girls demonstrated their strength as a squad and were a force to be reckoned with. At half time King’s led by three goals which they upped to a seven goal lead in the final half. Lucy Balicki was awarded ‘Best and Fairest’ player of the match.

Emlyn-Williams, Gelana Crouch, Jess Stanion, Maddie Cryer, Sophie Knight, Alice Brady, Lucy Balicki, Cleodie Swire, Steph Crampton, Hannah Todd, Fran Berry, Emily Davis, Dom Masters, Aurelie Kent. Player of the Tour: Jess Stanion

Results W3 D2 L2 Goals for: 16 Goals against: 12

July 14th

North Shore Area Representative XI

4-1

Sutherland u17 xi

6-0

Parramatta Women’s Association XI

1-1

Sydney University 2nd X

5-2

CCC Schools XI

3-0

CIS Schools U17 XI

2-1

CIS Schools U18 XI

1-1

Parramatta Women’s Association XI (1-1) This game saw the girls evenly matched against a strong side. The result was an exciting match that could have gone either way. At half time King’s led by one goal, but the opposition equalised in the second half, causing a nail biting conclusion as both teams fought to break away. The girls were encouraged by the challenge they faced and the exciting result and enjoyed the club’s hospitality; particularly when they awarded Dom Masters with ‘Best and Fairest’ player of the match. Tour Party: Alice Davis, Eve De Haan, Gaby Bradburn, Lucy Kingsman, Pip Durell, Tilda

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DRAMA

Autumn 2009

Drama

The Boys Next Door Jessica Wingrad (6a JR) Sitting huddled in the dark St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hall on a chilly winter evening, The Boys Next Door was enough to brighten the night with a range of stunning actors and a moving yet witty plot. The powerful portrayal of Tom Griffinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Boys Next Door provided a window into the lives of four men coping with mental disabilities. The sensitive subject matter made it a challenge for director and cast since it required a high level of insight and compassion. The auditioning procedure began in early September 2009 and brought together a strong cast of only nine actors, the smallest cast Mr Sinclair has ever taken on. To begin with all the actors were drawn together with some simple bonding exercises since they ranged from Fifth formers to 6as. The process of learning how to adapt to play mentally handicapped characters was undertaken by Harry Wilson, Jamie Edgcumbe-Rendle, Sam Attwood, Tom Kitney, Matilda Kay and Grace Johnston. Observation was the most useful tool in understanding how to portray their various roles. This method combined with a great deal of rehearsing meant that all were able to perform convincingly.

It was certainly a difficult process, with the cast enduring seven hours of rehearsals per week, but it meant that every scene was sharp and powerful. The play opened with a monologue from Jamie Edgcumbe-Rendle as Arnold Wiggins. The audience were immediately brought into the world of Stonehenge Villa Apartments, where Arnold, Norman, Barry and Lucien live. Their care worker Jackie Palmer, played by Isobel Wingrad, was experiencing her own problems which the audience slowly learnt through her private confessions spoken directly to the audience. Wingrad contributed beautifully to the emotion and wit of the piece. Her first entrance saw the young actress chastising Arnold for allowing himself to be exploited at a supermarket despite repeatedly being told not to. Whilst there was an element of humour to the exchange there was a constant reminder of the difficulties facing people in such a situation and how it affects those around them. This set an apt tone for the play since it was amusing to watch Norman, played by Harry Wilson, with his obsession for keys and deep love of doughnuts. His relationship with Sheila, acted by Matilda Kay, slowly developed through the apartment socials but their awkward intensity was overshadowed by the reality of the situation. Grace Johnston performed several roles, which is never easy: her several costume changes were made simpler with the help of

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Fran Newman who dealt singlehandedly with the backstage stress. The entrance of Jolyon Martin as Barry’s father added a new angle of tension between the two men and their short exchange resulted in Martin’s poignant departure. It was acted with a superb degree of emotion and feeling. Sam Attwood did justice to the role of Lucien P Smith with his Spiderman tie and innocent speech to the state senate. When he stepped outside the character of Lucien to explain his disability it gave him a new dimension; Sam was able to move everyone in the audience while retaining the element of humour.

quietly speculating on what the future may hold since Jacky had resigned as a care worker. The high level of emotion surged through the audience and it was an incredibly commendable endeavour on the part of Mr Sinclair and all those involved. For one evening only the audience were part of the lives and trials of the boys next door.

The departure of Arnold to Russia certainly exacted tears from some members of the audience due to Edgecumbe-Rendle’s high standards of acting. The final scene saw him and Wingrad

Autumn 2009

The Dresser Nick Hilton (6a MO) The Dresser, one of two school plays on show during the Autumn term, is Ronald Harwood’s semi-autobiographical account of the intricate workings of Shakespearean theatre. Harwood worked as dresser to the famously indefatigable Sir Donald Wolfit and he channelled those experiences both into the plot of the play and into the character of Sir. The eponymous dresser was played by Edward Gilmore, who shone as the pernickety associate of the great actor, who is thrust, quite literally, into the limelight. His performance as the often gin-addled assistant was nuanced in its despairing isolation and hilarious in its hammed-up portrayal of the eccentricities of the theatrical world. The plot of the play revolves around the last moments of the great actor of the company, known simply as Sir. Jamie Harris took on this role and threw himself into it with unquestionable aplomb. The ancient and decrepit facade that he brought together was hugely convincing and successfully transformed the role from one that could be expected from a young adult into an accomplished thespian performance. Round this solar role the other parts rotated with equal effectiveness. Iona Westlake played Sir’s wife; a woman constantly battling against the histrionic outbursts of her spouse. When called up she blew her lid like exploding Ronseal, but always maintained an exterior sense of decorum that was very fitting in the period setting.

uptight frump to desperate romantic. Aruhan Bisengalieva played Irene, an ambitious young actress determined to make the grade in the theatre – even if it means exercising questionable morals in the process. Sam Gearing also managed to reign in a tricky role as Geoffrey, a man who has been content to stand in Sir’s shadow but finds himself gaining a taste for treading the boards as he takes on the role of Fool in King Lear. Other members of the ensemble were equally effective, with Piers Webb and George Courtauld channeling their inner Shakespearean to take on the roles of King Lear almost single handedly, along with steadfastly manning the weather machine. All in all, the ensemble brought together a wonderful tapestry of characters, bound together only by working in the deepest bowels of a theatre company. The spirit of the Blitz, binding them together even though their lead actor is dying and London being decimated by the Luftwaffe, was embedded in their every expression. Credit for this must go to Miss Matthews: directing a school play for the first time, she took a challenging and wordy play by the horns and wrestled it into the comfort of St Mary’s Hall. I think it is fair to say that few who saw it were disappointed and it served as a reminder of some of the fine acting talents that have been learning at King’s for the past few years and of the promise of greater things still to come.

Freddy Clode played Mr. Oxenby, a thuggish rogue with pretensions to writing greatness, who ruffles the feathers of many of the company. His improvised wind maker was one of the comic highlights of the show. Amy Chapman played the dour Madge, who has spent all her best years serving the company and Sir and now finds herself at the end of the journey. Her personal revelations were delicately handled and genuinely moving as she changed from

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Music The House Song Competition

showmanship was impressive, if not the singing talent. After the bombardment of sweets vented by the Purples it was time for the results.

James Hearn (6b TR)

After an extended summing up by the judges, it was revealed that Galpin’s, with a rendition of Toto’s ‘Africa’, had won. This was very much deserved as it was by far and away the best performed song.

The house song was a dramatic affair from start to finish. From the moment rehearsals started there was a buzz about the school regarding the night when all the hard work would pay off – or not. It was a tremendous show of house unity, a chance for houses to show how well they could pull together. The competition is the one real time in the term where house pride is acutely presented: whether the house won or lost it was apparent that it was something people had looked forward to. Rivalry flew about the school with regard to it and it was not until a while after the event that it ceased. Houses arrived in waves, some merrier than others, but all buzzing at the prospect of winning the house song. With various pre-performance rituals being undertaken, it was almost time to begin.

After the demanding preparation for the competition the houses trudged back to their lives, something gone. However it was not lost. With recordings posted on the internet, many were fascinated to see what they sounded like. It was in all a fantastic competition, both build up and event. It seemed everyone enjoyed it. It is something unique and should be cherished by all.

The hall groaned as all fifteen houses piled into the Shirley Hall on the crisp October night. As well as the houses’ renditions of a wide variety of songs, there were displays from the King’s Men, the King’s Swingers and the Purples. All of the houses performed with gusto and sang with passion. After this the other acts came to the stage. It is reasonable to say that the latter of these two sections was the more eventful. An incident involving an overenthusiastic wielding of a crutch during the Kings Men’s recital, and a lack of audible music during the purples’ performance simply added to the enjoyment of the night. Despite these mishaps the Men and Swingers both performed well, giving the crowd a lesson in how to sing properly. The purples, somewhat less so, at least did their best. The

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‘Richard III’: The King’s School Chamber Orchestra CTN Autumn’s offering from the Chamber Orchestra was a blend of the reassuringly familiar with some fascinating rarities, all unified by a central work – Walton’s music from the classic Laurence Olivier film Richard III. Frescobaldi’s Canzon 29 opened the concert, performed by the King’s Brass conducted by Kevin Abbott. This was impressive brass playing with the musicians stationed on either side of the stage to recreate the antiphonal effects obtained by Frescobaldi in the churches and palaces of his patrons; Frescobaldi was organist at St Peter’s in Rome from 1608-1628, returning there in 1633 after a spell at the court in Florence. Next came Haydn’s Symphony 44 - the Trauer or Mourning Symphony, so named because Haydn supposedly asked for its slow movement to be played at his funeral. The underlying tension and menace of the first movement was superbly conveyed by the Chamber Orchestra’s tremendous energy.

extraordinary, including the cacophony created by eight drunken musketeers singing different folk songs (simultaneously and in various keys and metres) and loud cannon fire produced by ‘Bartok’ pizzicato from the two double basses. There was also a most sophisticated and nicely ornamented violin solo from Charles OvendenFilsell in the Aria representing a soldier’s farewell to his family before the battle; a truly spirited and intriguing performance! After a beautifully balanced reading of Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte, with some sensitive horn playing from Poppy Coleman, we arrived at the main item of the afternoon - Walton’s music for Laurence Olivier’s 1955 film Richard III. Although Walton enjoyed working with Olivier he did feel that there was a limit to the number of suitably Shakespearean ceremonial fanfares and battle scenes he could produce, writing in the score the instruction ‘Con prosciutto, agnello e confitura di fragole’ (with ham, lamb and strawberry jam), but this is superbly crafted music which suited perfectly the strengths of this year’s Chamber Orchestra.

Three smaller ensembles followed – The Wind, Baroque and Brass Ensembles. A wonderfully lyrical version of La Calinda by Delius was played by the Wind Ensemble while the Brass, again under the direction of Kevin Abbott, performed a virtuosic arrangement of movements from Warlock’s Capriol Suite featuring some particularly nimble high trumpet playing from Nathan Hudson-Peacock and Jacob Ewens. In between these two items came Biber’s audacious Battalia for ten solo strings and continuo – a depiction of a military encampment the night before a battle, the battle itself and the aftermath, ending with the Lament of the Wounded Musketeers. Biber used all kinds of effects which in 1626 must have sounded quite

Autumn 2009

With the Fanfare, Music Plays and With Drum and Colours Walton created a vivid picture of the medieval royal court interspersed with more tender moments for strings, harp and flute in The Princes in the Tower and I would I knew thy heart, and leading to a rousing finale in Trumpets Sound. As always, this Chamber Orchestra concert was a most enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon – a varied programme lasting just over an hour and showcasing some of King’s finest musical talent. Andrew Pollock conducted The Chamber Orchestra wonderfully throughout, and all thanks to him for devising and presenting this inspiring concert.

Below: ‘Music’ by Sevenja Perkins (Fifth MT)

Wind Band Concert NGT The Wind Band concert took the audience on a journey back through time, beginning with a visit to the United States in 1970s. The performance began with the four-to-the-floor disco sound of the Bee Gees, performing a medley of their most famous hits such as ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and ‘How Deep is Your Love’. The next stop was wartime Britain, where Ian Fleming’s exploits as a naval intelligence officer spawned the multimillion dollar entertainment franchise, James Bond. This performance included many famous themes, such as Goldfinger, From Russia With Love and You Only Live Twice, with Monty Norman’s timeless and enduring James Bond theme threading the medley neatly together. The evening’s final destination was the Montmartre quarter of Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century. The band performed highlights from Baz Lurman’s 2001 musical epic, Moulin Rouge, including ‘Nature Boy’, ‘Lady Marmalade’ and ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away’.

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The Christmas Concert JvB This was a sort of festive Google of a concert – music ingeniously gathered from many countries in many moods with a variety of views on the attributes of Christmas and New Year.Vienna first. The Symphony Orchestra took on the not inconsiderable challenge of Johann Strauss’s Fledermaus Overture, negotiating even its more intoxicating and heady patches with distinction: special mention for the distinguished oboe playing of Catriona Casha, which managed to persuade those of younger heart that there might even be some possible pleasure in the adoption of a reflective post party mood. Perhaps sometimes, the sprightlier guests pushed Count Eisenstein at his very splendid party more than that distinguished Count was wishing, but my goodness it was all in the right festive cause. And so to Great Malvern. The Chamber Choir gave us Elgar’s little known but enchanting ‘The Snow’, for accompanied upper voices. Though a little more crispness of consonant might have been seasonally appropriate, it would have had the disbenefit of rendering Lady Alice Elgar’s words audible in all the stark awkwardness of their sub-Edwardian bathos. More particularly, there was nothing flaky about the filigree fiddle playing of Jane Phillips and Fenella Chesterfield, characterised by refined salon tone and liberal helpings of winsomely executed portamento – a real treat. Off to the New World. It didn’t seem altogether to warrant its programmatic festive passage; but, in the form of two movements from Dvorak’s Symphony No 9 in E Minor, no-one was going to mind, most of all in the coruscating opening of the last movement, with horns at full stretch and thrilling trumpet antiphonies. There were some excellently judged moments of contrast, not least in the nicely timed second subject introduced by Millie Aylward’s graceful first clarinet.

Autumn 2009

Enough of the new. The second half took us resoundingly back to the old, presaged by two carol arrangements in the first half, excellently delivered by the Crypt Choir – Scheidt’s ‘In Dulci Jubilo’, with demanding trumpet parts deftly executed on instruments not originally intended for such a high and lithesome purpose, and Peter Gritton’s arrangement of ‘Christmas Song’, beautifully toned, beautifully timed and lovingly judged throughout, not least in the final cadence. We were to listen, not this year participate, in the final carols; and, if future performances can match the high quality of this one, the injunction of the silencing Archangel will not be unwelcome. It allowed us especially to admire the Crypt Choir’s diction in the Rutter carols, and Nathan Hudson-Peacock’s fanfares in the Willcocks. Good tidings are traditionally communicated by massed forces, and this concert conformed to those early angelic conventions: I think I counted 189 on the Shirley Hall stage at one point, with plenty of players left on the floor below. Less than a week later, many of the same performers were doing different pieces in a different acoustic to an even greater crowd, and (if it isn’t out of place to move forward to the Carols) the accuracy of the tuning on the last day of term in the evening was something very special indeed. To the conducting trinity of Messrs Todd, Barton Hodges and Ionascu, then, many thanks for this most entertaining and enjoyable Christmas prelude – not forgetting the attending angel Pollock, virtuosically doubling on violino secondo and cymbals. There were charity collections in the interval, and never can tins have been dangled and rattled with so winning a mix of aggression and charm. Those shakers knew they were on secure foundations, with the eyes of the old now firmly fixed on charity and those of the young now also interested in Santa’s plans for their chimneys. More particularly, of course, had a single Scrooge survived from among us, Classic FM’s Crypt Choir Christmas broadcasts would have sounded his final death knell.

Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas MAJT The annual advent carol service marks a moment in the King’s calendar when the school perhaps seems closer to its Augustinian origin and mediaeval past than at any other point in the year. The pause at the beginning of the service when the silent darkness is first punctuated by a single candle light which is then passed from hand to hand throughout the great nave, across the quire and to the furthest reaches of the cathedral is profoundly moving whether one is experiencing it for the first time or re-living it after many years connected with the school. This silent time was then sublimated into the Crypt Choir singing Palestrina’s setting of the advent responsory ‘I look from afar; and lo! I see the power of God coming’. The advent message of light from darkness is one with which the monks of old were familiar but we never tire of hearing, and this theme continued through the service, notably with Madrigalia’s apparently flawless rendition of Palestrina’s ‘Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem’ which seemed to send shafts of light into the gloomiest corners of the cathedral. Traditional though the form of service is it has never become cast in stone. The great wellknown congregational hymns and familiar lessons are tempered with new or less familiar music that surprises and delights in equal measure. After Isaiah’s prophecies the Chamber Choir enchanted with the delicate words and ethereal tune of ‘Crown of Roses’ from Tchaikovsky’s Chansons Pour La Jeunesse, an inspirational choice ideally suited to their young voices. The familiar story of the annunciation was followed by the skilfully handled ‘Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen’ (Sandström’s arrangement) which provided

an ideal showcase for a particularly strong Crypt Choir. Later, the congregation was charmed by the Chapel choir singing two twentieth century compositions. Head’s poignant carol ‘Little Road to Bethlehem’ composed to Shawn Colvin’s words was executed thoughtfully but without too much sentimentality and the more lively ‘Shepherd’s Pipe Carol’, one of John Rutter’s first and most popular compositions, was sung with joyous vigour. As King’s departs for the Christmas holiday with the Dean’s blessing and the great cathedral organ echoing behind us, this service reminds us all of the true meaning of Christmas which would have been understood by the school’s founders so many centuries ago.

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Miscellany Service of Remembrance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Memorial Court

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Sixth Form Charity Ball

The Sixth Form Ball Raphaelle Gans (6b WL) This year, the sixth form ball was a great success. Organised by School House, approximately £2500 were raised and given to St Dunstan’s, a charity which focuses on providing support for blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women. St Dunstan’s allows thousands of people to realise that the obstacle of blindness can be overcome, leading to an independent and fulfilling life. Steve Pendleton, an ex-St Dunstaner, visited the school a week prior to the ball to give the students his story, and explained how with the help of St Dunstan’s he was able to rehabilitate himself.

A small part of the room was used for paintballing, where students could take a break from dancing and enjoy themselves with their friends. Furthermore, the Undercroft was filled with different arcade games which people could use if they needed some fresh air, but they were probably used by more boys than girls. As a whole, the ball has been described by many students as by far one of the best nights at King’s and definitely generated a great deal of gossip for all the students on Monday morning. This event would not have been possible without all the help and time given by the School House 6a’s, all of their tutors but in particular their housemaster - Mr Thornby, and members of staff such as Dr Bentley.

No student will deny that the event itself was incredible. The ball was held at the school refectory; however, this familiar room was completely transformed. All tables and benches were taken out and instead the space was used as a dance floor. Having a military theme, students came in various costumes. A popular choice for the boys was the standard army combat uniform, although there were a few more original costumes, such as tanks. As for girls, the navy attire was a lot more popular.

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Autumn 2009

Miscellany The King’s School Combined Cadet Force AV The Combined Cadet Force returned from a long summer break to an Army Acquaint Day held at Birley’s sports pitches. The display saw members from 5 Scots (The Argyll and Southern Highlanders) put on a variety of stands including weaponry on display; this allowed the cadets to see what a regular operation unit has at their disposal. Additionally, the event saw Major “Charlie” Foinette from the 1st Bn Coldstream Guards and old boy of the school, put on an impressive stand with some of his soldiers prior to them deploying to Afghanistan for a six month tour. The CCF training programme continued to progress the cadets through various activities focusing on the skills required to successfully complete their Bronze D of E Award, part of this was a teaching weekend, where 24 cadets were involved in some valuable navigational work on the North Downs. Within the activities all the cadets were given the opportunity to go climbing at Brompton Barracks, this is a large indoor climbing wall and was supervised by Sgt Charlie Aggrey from 7 Cadet Training Team.

During the October half-term a group of senior cadets and staff took it upon themselves to do the Coast to Coast cycle ride. This is a 130 mile trip the width of England, starting from the Irish Sea in Workington through the Lake District and North Pennines to the North Sea at Tynemouth; it is largely off road and on cycle and bridle paths. This was completed by all who attended and was achieved in three and a half days, a very rewarding experience and one that will undoubtedly be repeated in years to come. The JNCOs and senior cadets also took an active part in this year’s Remembrance Day Service, providing a banner party with the Head of corps Cpl Alex Stephens laying the wreath. This was commented on by most who attended as being a welcome return to an old tradition and something the cadets took great pride in as they had a better understanding of those who gave their lives for their country. The autumn term saw many new events take place, this combined with the reintroduction of old traditions meant that the CCF was continuing to grow in success and whilst doing this was developing the cadet’s leadership and skills within both activity afternoons and camps attended.

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Rowing and the Community AT [Andy Turner is too modest to mention this, but we thought readers would be interested to know that he was nominated for a BBC Unsung Hero award by by paralympian rower, Alistair Mckean. “I have known Andy since 1999, and he’s never asked for anything. He always gives up his time for free. He never sings his own praises and that’s refreshing. He just does it because he loves it, he’d never expect any recognition. Andy’s been around GB rowing for the best part of 30 years, and people would pay for that kind of experience, but he is happy to give his time to us and all the other clubs for free because he loves seeing people succeed.” Congratulations on the nomination, Andy. (Ed)] The King’s School Canterbury makes a considerable contribution to charity and the Boat Club makes its contribution by providing facilities, equipment and coaching to those rowers in the local area who aspire to success in the sport but do not have the benefit of good water, competitive equipment or in some cases, a Club to belong to. All training is organised outside the normal school rowing times and in the school holidays to ensure that King’s School pupils are not compromised in any way. This year has been rather special as we have been able to see the results of our efforts. In total, we have given help to pupils from five schools and two clubs: Sir Roger Manwood school, Walmer High school, Dover High school, Herne Bay High school Chaucher Technical college, University of Kent Boat Club and Herne Bay Amateur Rowing Club. Hannah Moon of Sir Roger Manwood School competed in GB Junior rowing trials for the second year in succession, qualifying as one of the top four girls in the country. She was then

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selected to compete in the GB Girls Quadruple Scull at the Junior World Championships. Unfortunately, a virus prevented her from competing at the event but it did come as some compensation when in view of her success in her sport, and coupled with excellent school results she was awarded a five year scholarship at Austin University Texas.

Luke Moon, the 16 year old brother of Hannah, who attended Walmer High School has done almost all of his rowing training at Westbere Lake, finished 1st in the Single Scull event at the GB Junior Trials and was then selected to compete in the Anglo/French Match where he finished in second place. This success also saw him in the Coupe de la Jeunesse, a European junior rowing event in which ten countries compete for the honours. Luke won the Gold Medal in the Saturday racing and went on to achieve a silver in the Sunday event. It was agreed to allow Luke to train at Leander Club in Henley with the other junior scullers of a similar high standard of fitness and technique in order for them to benefit from crew sculling experience. Leander Club were also able to gain a place for him to study for his ‘A’ levels at Henley College and to continue on with his rowing training. It is a good example to our King’s pupils that aiming for high goals in a sport at National level can also provide them with an academic future. We are proud to have been able to support them both toward their success over the past 3 years. Our long association with Herne Bay Amateur Rowing Club has helped them to become the most successful club on the South Coast.

Competing in the South Coast Championships this September the Men’s Coxed Four won the coveted Bideford Bowl, which is every coastal rowers ambition. The club were also Champions in the Senior Men’s Coxed Fours Event and the Men’s Single Sculling Event. They also won the Portsmouth Grand Challenge Trophy a long established dual between the West and East coastal clubs. The South coast Championships were held this year in Folkestone in difficult windy conditions, but this did not impede the ladies crews who won their Coxed Four Event and the junior ladies who won Junior 14 Ladies Coxed Quadruple sculls. They rowed to victory to a resounding cheer from their many supporters on the shore. Three members of the Herne Bay club, Ryan Hoskins, Ben Smithson and Darren Ingram (all of them in the many winning crews of the 2009 season) are now employed at school assisting with coaching our Rowers. The Boat Club were delighted to provide coaching and equipment to help Herne Bay club to compete at Royal Henley Regatta for the first time in their club’s history. Coastal clubs do not row in eights therefore it was quite a challenge for them. The crew trained at Wesbere Lake and were successful in qualifying for Henley at Marlow Regatta. At Henley, they rowed a hard fought race against Thames Boat Club but were beaten by 2 lengths. The success of qualifying

at their first attempt has spurred them to plan an earlier Henley training plan for 2010! The latest support programme is with University of Kent’s single sculler David Stevens and its Womens Novice Coxed Four who are training to win at the British University Sports Association championships to be held at the National Water sports Centre Nottingham in April. To date, the ladies crew have won their first event at Marlow Head on 21st November. Brothers Lawrence Cox aged (16) and Elliott (14) from Dover both continue to train hard at Westbere Lake. Lawrence gained his first win in the Mens Junior 16 Single sculls event at Maidstone Small Boats timed Head race, with Elliott finishing second, only 1 sec behind the winner in the Men Junior 14 category. The Boat Club were pleased to provide support for the successful Cathedral Fund by providing two training skiffs and our club facilities and expertise for their training prior to rowing the Thames from Letchlade to Richmond, a distance of 126 miles. The illustrious crew were :-Gavin Merryweather, Canon Condrey, Gerone Condrey, Peter Curtis, Clark Harland, Rachael Davis, Steve Gough, and Coxswain Graham Hughes. All in all a very successful year for our community oarsmen and women and a very pleasing result for the Community project.

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A Library Fit for King’s SAG (Librarian) At Canterbury, educational institutions at Christ Church and at St Augustine’s go back to the Mission of 597. Theodore of Tarsus, Dunstan, Lanfranc, Anselm, Thomas Cranmer, John Boys, Dean Payne Smith – these are some of the great names associated with educational developments in Canterbury. The King’s School Library is part of this great tradition. Libraries have existed at the school for hundreds of years, occupying different buildings in the Precincts – collections were moved to the present Saint Augustine’s Abbey site from the School Room late in 1989. The building which now houses the library was built in 1848 by William Butterfield. Because of its design it is sometimes wrongly believed to be a converted church or chapel but in fact it was purpose-built to be the library of the Saint Augustine’s Missionary College which was founded on the site at this time. The library, as you would expect, contained mainly theological books and instruction manuals to prepare young men for their mission to take the word of God to far flung lands. Below the library, in the room now used as a refectory, was a carpentry workshop to prepare the students in practical ways for the trials ahead. The Lower Chapel, opposite the library, contains many memorial plaques to young men whose mission was cut short by the hostile conditions they faced on their arrival overseas. The Saint Augustine’s College collections, originally held here, were sent to Pusey House in Oxford for a while but have now returned to Canterbury and form a core collection in the Christ Church University Library’s theology section. The King’s School took over the building when those collections were removed.

Some 30,000 titles are available. The building has been altered to make it more attractive to a younger body of readers than the adult students of its missionary past. We have bright colours, clear signing, IT equipment such as wireless laptops, as well as a truly remarkable collection of books, which are constantly being renewed. An extra bonus is the small collection of early printed books held in the library narthex which are available for use by pupils and staff and are regularly put on display. In addition to books we take a large number of journals both in electronic and paper form, and subscribe to some of the most useful online databases. Pupils are encouraged to make the best possible use of these complementary resources. The library has a dedicated and enthusiastic staff, and is open daily, not closing until 10pm six days a week. We also have the benefit of a lively pupil committee who meet once or twice a term and are very helpful in keeping the Librarian on her toes. They organise reading groups, quizzes and events and occasional storytelling sessions for the pre-school children of staff – this can be linked to a Duke of Edinburgh skill. A suggestion book is always available, and pupils and staff are encouraged to request books to fill any gaps in the collections. Altogether the library is a lively place, well-used and much-visited.

But don’t let the historic background and appearance of the building mislead you - what we have now is an up to date collection of books and journals, DVDs and audio CDs.

Autumn 2009

Sport

Team reports Rugby School XV RCW W15 D1 L2 The tour to Uruguay and Argentina, whose report appears elsewhere, was an important prelude to the season. The playing schedule was relentless – five matches in ten days against opponents renowned for their physicality – yet all were won. Our running game was suited to the firm pitches and a solid foundation was laid for the term ahead. The opening fixture came two days after our return to school. Will Chilcott’s XV fielded most of the 2008 pack, with enough physical presence and ball carrying ability to make life difficult. For much of the game they nullified quick ball and tried to bring the game closer in. However, the backs found it difficult to cope with our pace and precision and as the game progressed our fitness told and the comfortable win, with five tries, was no more than we deserved. Eastbourne have been a thorn in our side for a while and so we looked forward to the earlyseason encounter. We were given an early fright when only a last ditch tackle by Ed macLachlan prevented a score in the corner straight from the kick off. Much of the first period was played in midfield but Jack Masters gave us a three point lead after fifteen minutes and we built steadily, taking our chances and scoring three first half tries to hold a healthy 24-7 advantage at the break. Jack featured in most of our best play throughout the game, not least the final

try in the second half when, as first receiver, he sucked in two defenders and threw a long miss pass to Kola Lawal, who finished in style in the corner. Rob Stephen was to the fore in the win against Hurstpierpoint, helping himself to the first two scores with a penalty and a converted try as we built an early 10-0 lead. Jamie Harris went over when Rob’s cut-out pass found him free after good continuity. We held a comfortable half time lead, coped with a rally from the home side in the second half and then reasserted ourselves towards the end of the game to finish comfortable winners. Two days later we played a touring side from Townsville, Queensland. They had a large, physical pack and played with a direct style. As usual, our back line was constantly a threat but their defence was good and when they had the ball their powerful runners made inroads. We led 10-6 at half time but as the game wore on, we were able to work the ball to the open spaces for late tries which gave the score a slightly flattering look. Both Jamie Harris and Kola Lawal finished with a brace of tries, each finishing in great style for their second. The St John’s pack also had physical presence and they exerted pressure at both scrum and lineout, where we struggled for quality possession. However our defence was solid and the

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pack showed its resilience in open play, contesting hard at the breakdown; once again the back line threatened whenever it had the ball. We took the lead with a penalty and then had a try disallowed but fell behind just on half time when a loose pass was intercepted and from the resultant pressure, their left wing was able to squeeze in at the corner. We then suffered the blow of losing Henry Pelling to injury. Just after the break we got a slightly fortuitous try when a charged down kick enabled Jamie Harris to pounce; Jack converted for us to regain the lead 10-5. This was eroded when they drew level from a lineout drive. In a tense finish, Jack just missed our final chance to win the match with a penalty and it ended with honours even. We began brightly at Haileybury and were allowed to play some enterprising Rugby, despite the blustery conditions. Jack got us off to a good start with an early penalty and then we scored three tries from a mixture of set piece moves and some fine continuity. However, we also threw away as many chances through passing

Autumn 2009

that did not take account of the wind, and just before half time conceded a soft try when a chip over the top eluded the sweeping defenders and the scrum-half picked up this own kick. The same happened at the start of the second half when a hopeful kick ahead from Haileybury was allowed to bounce into the hands of an attacker who was able to dot down under the posts. The game was never really in doubt but the win was finally secure when Kola got his third try on the blindside of a five metre scrum. At Duke of Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s we played in damp conditions for the first time. Pleasingly, despite occasional errors, we made light of the constant drizzle and gusty wind and finished with six tries against a determined and physical home side. Notable among these were two untypical catchand-drive tries from the forwards and the two final tries in the corner, which were the result of well executed first phase back moves. One of the most entertaining games, for the neutral observer at least, was the next one

RUGBY against Sevenoaks. We scored within 50 seconds, when Jack ran back an errant kick and fed to Rob Stephen, who in turn offloaded to macLachlan who then flicked a pass to Loren Kock, in support as usual, to score under the posts. Two more gilt-edged chances went begging and instead of being almost out of sight after 15 minutes, we allowed the visitors to get a score back. This pattern repeated itself throughout. Our back line cut holes in the Sevenoaks defence but their pack was strong and resisted fiercely. They scored twice from driven lineouts and although we were always in front throughout the match, we found ourselves hanging on at the end for a five point win. We went into half term with our unbeaten record intact but with hindsight Tonbridge came too soon after the break – in effect a four week lay-off. We began reasonably enough, although the home side had the edge at the breakdown and we could not establish any fluency. Already without Jack for the match, our immediate task was made even more difficult when Rob Stephen was harshly yellow carded for the first offence in the match at the tackle. In the ten minutes he was off, Tonbridge secured a twelve point lead which they maintained until the interval. The first score of the second half was going to be very important and sadly it went to our opponents. Gradually thereafter their pack gained even more ascendency at the breakdown and the ball they won was quick enough for them to stretch us constantly, and they scored at regular intervals. Our only consolation in defeat was a spell of fifteen minutes or so when we managed to free ourselves and play with our usual pace and fluency, scoring two tries through Jamie Harris and Rob Stephen (a magnificent solo effort at the end of some good team play). Although we tried hard to the very end, we were well beaten – even if the final score exaggerated the margin between the two sides.

It was going to be interesting to see how the team would respond to this first reverse, especially since in the next game we encountered the kind of weather and pitch conditions to which we were least suited. High wind, torrential rain and standing water accumulating on the pitch during the match meant that flowing Rugby would be next to impossible and ensured that the side which made fewer mistakes would prevail. Happily for us we adapted well; the pack did very well against a bigger Eltham unit, denying them the opportunity to drive at us and keeping good control of the ball most of the time. The backs were unable to indulge in a wide game but they fielded well, chased kicks and tackled. Rob Stephen had an impressive match, masterly controlling the play from flyhalf. His handling was immaculate, his kicking astute and he had a hand in all three tries. A confident Cranbrook side came to Birley’s having won every game of their campaign so far. Both sides began well but it was the visitors who scored first after ten minutes, courtesy of a midfield break and smart offload. The match was played at pace and with plenty of attractive Rugby. We were rewarded with a try from Tom Gold, chasing a grub kick behind the defence by Rob Stephen. Kola then chased down a smart kick through from Tom and both tries were converted by Rob to take us to a 12-7 half time lead. Although the second half was played largely in the visitors’ half and our line was never seriously threatened, the game was not firmly in our grasp until Rob, who had again

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been superb throughout, stretched the lead beyond a single score with a penalty. Finally, a smart switch to the blindside from quick ruck ball led to another try, for Tom Arnott. Conditions against Sutton Valence were also very slippery underfoot. We were well on top from the start but in the first half our inaccuracy meant that we registered only two tries, the first slightly fortuitous, by Ed macLachlan from a charge down. We were much more precise in the second half and scored four more tries, running out easy winners despite never getting into top gear. This victory had been at a cost, notably the injury to Rob Stephen which prematurely ended his season. In the final match, against KCS, we also had a reserve front row. Nonetheless, we were keen to finish on a high note and began confidently. Yet, despite all our pressure, we could not finish and to compound matters shot ourselves in the foot by giving away two interception tries. We grabbed one back from Jamie Harris but also conceded two long range penalties, which allowed KCS to go to half time with an 18-5 lead. We pressed throughout the second half but just could not score and their lead was even extended by another three points on a rare visit to our half. At 5-21 the cause looked lost, but at the very end our character and the real quality of our play finally showed through. A frenzied passage saw us score two converted tries in the last five minutes and with the last kick of the game Jack Masters had a very difficult penalty chance from halfway to win. We had come agonisingly close to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat but it seemed one of those days when we were just destined not to do so. Nonetheless the spectators had been treated to a very good game, with a magnificent finale. It has been a fine season. The most intriguing aspect has been that, although we had two players of international quality, they actually only played together in eight of the thirteen matches. We had a number of very competent players in addition, for sure, but the overwhelming

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impression was the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. This was a team in every respect of the word. One would not say that the strength of the side lay in the forwards, yet the team could not have been as successful as it was without them. We were rarely under pressure in the set piece and indeed we even out-scrummaged other packs. In the lineout, for the most part we won regular clean ball. It was in the loose where we really excelled â&#x20AC;&#x201C; only Tonbridge could match our collective pace around the field. At loosehead, Charlie Killingbeck achieved the unexpected with an amazing conversion from the back row. His scrummaging was solid and his work around the field was a real bonus. On the other side Edouard Guitton, more obviously born to scrummage, held us solid on our ball and showed dextrous hands in the open on occasion. Between them, Harry BuggĂŠ was tireless, in fact almost manic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his work rate was extraordinary. So too was that of Fred WilsonHaffenden. Despite not being blessed with the physique of a Martin Johnson, he was our go-to man in the lineout under pressure and so hard did he work in the loose that he practically crawled off the pitch at the end of every match. Beside him, Henry Pelling was a more obvious candidate for the engine room and he made great strides as a ball carrier, as well as working hard in defence. He will be a destructive force (as far as the opposition are concerned) next year. Our back row was a good, if not classic blend, and featured a combination of four workhorses of different styles. Loren Kock on the open side covered more grass than anyone, linking in attack and poaching at the tackle. Ed macLachlan too was everywhere but more openly aggressive in style, both with ball in hand and when defending. At number 8 we had Ed Simmons, a talented footballer who was creative, but resilient and prepared to grovel when necessary. Thom Arnott played at both number 8 and second row. His strength and tough, selfless work at close quarters was particularly important against the bigger packs we faced. Probably the

RUGBY unluckiest player in the squad was Fred Clode, who in other seasons could have expected a regular start. When he did play, he brought a very high work rate and an abrasiveness which will stand the side in good stead next year. Behind the scrum, Jack Masters, selected for the England U18 squad in 6b, oozed class, especially in attack, and was in some senses a comfort blanket for the side. His running was always incisive and his goal kicking was frequently exceptional. When Jack was not playing, Dele Marinho played most often at full-back; he was at his best as an attacker – he is quick, has great feet and has recently added a determination to his running, whether there or on the wing, and in defence. Jamie Harris on the left wing was the picture of consistency whether going forward, in the tackle or under the high ball and his commitment to the cause was unflinching; he finished with eight tries, the second most. On the other wing, Kola Lawal helped himself to thirteen tries in his first season, a remarkable tally. He is a deadly finisher, blessed with explosive pace off the mark and very much tougher than he looks. Tom Gold was converted to centre this year and gave us vital go-forward, as well as the ability to close the opposition down in defence. He also bought space for others. Lucas Anglin formed an effective partnership with Tom, adapting well to centre where we were able to use his sure hands and ability to throw a long pass to good effect. Our universal replacement, Will Howard-Smith, did a tour of duty in almost every position in the back line and made a pretty good fist of it. He has quick feet and an eye for an opening. I have deliberately left two people to last. Rob Stephen, last year’s England U16 A fly half, was Vice Captain. He finished as top points scorer (he and Jack shared the kicking duties), but his influence on the team was far greater than

that. Thanks to the excellence of his all-round game, we could vary our style of play to suit our opponents and/or the conditions. He kicks superbly, passes well both long and short and is an incisive runner. More often than not he chooses the best options. In short, he was the tactical hub of the side throughout the season. On dry pitches he brought our wide runners into play, in wet conditions he moved us around the field so that we played in the opponents’ half. He is a deep thinker about the game and utterly modest. So too is the scrum-half and captain, Charlie MacLeod. He possesses all the basic requirements of a top class scrum-half: a swift, consistent pass off either hand, an accurate box kick, speed off the mark and an eye for the opening. His defensive work is top class – in the course of the season he brought off numerous cover tackles when there was a breakthrough in midfield. Added to this is, like with Rob, an innate understanding of the game. Our half-back pairing was arguably the best on the circuit and responsible for bringing the best out of the side tactically. Finally, Charlie is also a born leader. He leads very much by example and his team mates respond. I am so pleased that he has enjoyed such a successful season. I thank those who have helped with the squad this year. Leon White laid important foundations for the pack in the pre-tour preparation. During the tour Aerwyn Watson and Tom Hill gave valuable assistance. My assistant with the forwards through the main season was Dave Bowers, an old friend. It was good to renew our partnership in my swansong – I knew that I could rely on him to instil sound basics and, as always, he delivered. Jolindi Smit, a new friend, was partly our mental skills coach but mainly our physiotherapist. She was a key part of the team and her importance cannot be underestimated. As usual our thanks as a club also go to the ground staff, the kitchen staff and last, but not least, to the parents for their positive support throughout the campaign.

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Team from: Charlie MacLeod (Captain)*, Thom Arnott, Harry Buggé*, Freddy Clode, Tom Gold*, Edouard Guitton, Jamie Harris*, Will HowardSmith, Charles Killingbeck*, Loren Kock*, Kola Lawal*, Ed macLachlan*, Dele Marinho, Jack Masters*, Henry Pelling, Edwin Simmons*, Rob Stephen*, Fred Wilson-Haffenden*. Also Played: Murat Gumus, Felix Higgins, Elliot Hunt, Harry Ludbrook. * First Colours

Won 37-3

Sevenoaks (h)

Won 27-22

Tonbridge (a)

Lost 12-45

Eltham College (h)

Won 18-3

Cranbrook (h)

Won 20-7

Sutton Valence (h)

Won 39-3

KCS Wimbledon (a)

Lost 19-21

Overall Record Points for

505

Points against

171

Points For

505

Points Against

171

Results from the tour to Argentina appear with the tour report.

Home season P13 W10 D1 L2 Points for

337

Points against

146

W.D. Chilcott’s XV (h)

Won 33-0

Eastbourne (h)

Won 34-7

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won 34-7

Townsville Grammar School, Queensland (h)

Won 25-6

Autumn 2009

Duke of York’s (a)

Won 29-12

2nd XV

Results

St. John’s, Leatherhead (h)

Haileybury (a)

Drew 10-10

W6 L6 The squad was a good mix of veterans from the 2008 season and young blood. We made a very encouraging start to the season with convincing wins against Eastbourne and Hurstpierpoint. Unfortunately, we went down in the two matches that followed and, as the record suggests, it was an up-and-down affair for the rest of the season. The main problem was the five to ten minute period after kick-off. Too often we were the first to concede points and ended up in the familiar situation of chasing the game. Ironically, we started our best performance of the season in a similar fashion: despite conceding a score to Haileybury within minutes of kick-off, the 15 players on the field that day gelled into a clinical attacking unit. Nick Hands provided the initial spark in the midfield with a memorable behind-the-back pass to centre partner Henry Phillips who subsequently scored next to the uprights. The team went on to score 41 unanswered points. The boys also enjoyed the attacking freedom they experienced against Sutton Valence – a

RUGBY game in which they scored 80 points. In the last game of the season, however, we experienced the flip side. With KCS enjoying probably 90 per cent of the possession as well as territorial advantage, we were forced to do all of the defending. To their credit, the players put their bodies on the line and managed to restrict the opposition to only 29 points. Even though thins did not always go our way this season, I have appreciated the commitment that the boys have shown. The core of the team remained largely unchanged: five players played in all the matches and several others missed only one or two fixtures. A few of the younger boys stood out and will certainly compete for places in the 1st XV next year. Freddy Clode was an inspirational leader for the first half of the season before he moved on to earn his 1st team caps. Henry Pritchard, Chris Lark and Tom Dixey were among those to play every game. Dixey must be one of very few players who can repeatedly sell a dummy pass successfully in a one-on-two situation. Elliot Hunt and mid-season signings Fuad Ogunsanya and Fred Acheson-Gray are also ones to watch out for next season. We were privileged this season to have the services of an international number 10. Edward Medlyn has represented Luxembourg in the past and proved a valuable utility player in the backline. His attacking back play was well supplemented by the wingers with powerful running from player of the season Alec Kent and pace from Julius Carboni. Henry Hamilton made the scrum half jersey his own and settled well into his role as captain for the last few matches. In the forwards, players like Ratchakitprakarn, Gumus and Higgins brought a lot of experience and talent to the fray. Jonathan Stewart came on in leaps and bounds this season and, together

with Ludbrook, acted as the enforcers in the engine room.eason. A word of thanks must go out to all those parents and other supporters who made an effort to attend both home and away fixtures.

Team from: Tham Ratchakitprakarn, Alec Kent, Felix Higgins Jonathan Stewart, Harry Ludbrook, Henry Pritchard, Chris Lark, Tom Dixey, Henry Hamilton, Nick Hands, Julius Carboni, Murat Gumus, Elliott Hunt, Ed Medlyn, Freddy Clode, Charles Ovenden-Filsell, Fuad Ogunsanya, Henry Phillips, Golf Ratchakitprakarn, Rupert Hill, Fred Acheson-Gray, James Hearn, Isaiah Osei-Baidoo, Alex Davis, Charlie Roberts.

Results

Points for

Points against

183

Eastbourne (h)

Won 22-0

Hurstpierpoint

(a)

Won 24-7

THE CANTUARIAN

Chatham House 1st XV (h)

Lost 15-27

St. John’s, Leatherhead (h)

Lost 0-26

Haileybury (a)

Won 41-5

St Lawrence 1st XV (h)

Lost 10-24

Sevenoaks (h)

Won 29-12

Tonbridge (a)

Lost 0-22

Eltham College (h)

Won 12-5

Cranbrook (h)

Won 26-3

Sutton Valence (h)

Lost 80-0

KCS Wimbledon (a)

Lost 0-29

3rd XV RWN W9 L2 The overall record of the 3rd XV was played 11 won 9, with 274 points for and 92 against. The two losses were the 12-8 defeat away at Tonbridge and a 35-0 loss at KCS Wimbledon. Playing all-boys schools is never easy, but these games were especially difficult as we weren’t able to put out our best side because of injuries and call-ups from the teams above. KCS Wimbledon in particular proved to be a bridge too far at the end of the season, with only five players from the team that played against Eastbourne in the first game. The highlights of the season included the running Rugby in big wins against Sevenoaks, Haileybury and Hurstpierpoint, when the 3rd XV showed their sense of adventure and skills to score some handsome tries. However, for the Rugby connoisseur, I think the closer wins against Eastbourne, Cranbrook and St John’s were more enjoyable for the way the team defended under pressure and took their chances in

Autumn 2009

attack. Apart from the KCS Wimbledon match, in which we had a much weakened team, the biggest score against was 12 points – this tells the story of a good team ethic where the boys played for each other. The team was a good blend of some very promising 6b’s and some hardened 6a’s who increasing showed some senior Rugby physicality. The 6b’s who caught the eye were Harry Yeates (who was Player of the Season) for his relentless tackling and constant support presence in attack, James Morpeth for his excellent Rugby brain, Alex Davis for his work at the breakdown, Isaiah Osei-Baidoo for his strength in the scrum and in open play (unfortunately Isaiah’s season was cut short by injury), and Golf Ratchakitprakarn, when he played for us in the first half of the season, for his lethal finishing. James Hynard, Teddy Fox and Ed Wu added a physical edge to the pack and between them managed to turn over a good deal of ball. Ben Langridge was a quiet captain who led by example. I could not question his commitment and he was key to fostering a team environment in which the players had the honesty to look at themselves when things didn’t go their way, rather than blaming other players or the referee. Team from: Ben Langridge (Captain), Alex Davis, Ian Poon, Harry Yeates, Teddy Fox, Rupert Hill, James Hynard, Ed Wu, Isaiah Osei-Baidoo, Golf Ratchakitprakarn, James Morpeth, Hector Dyer, James Hearn, Fred Acheson-Gray, Owen

Muller, George Courtauld, Piers Brown, Dola Awosika. Results Points for

274

Points against

Eastbourne (h)

Won 12-8

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won 57-0

St. John’s, Leatherhead (h)

Won 21-12

Haileybury (a)

Won 41-0

Duke of York’s

Won 31-12

Sevenoaks (h)

Won 44-5

Tonbridge (a)

Lost 8-12

Eltham College (h)

Won 12-0

Cranbrook (h)

Won 15-5

KCS Wimbledon (a)

For the Rugby Colts Reports and Results, please click here

Lost 0-35

For the Rugby Under 14 A, B and C Reports and Results, please click here

For the Rugby Junior Colts A, B and C Reports and Results, please click here

THE CANTUARIAN

HOCKEY 1st XI SJC W4DL4 This has been a successful season. They played nine weekend fixtures, drawing one, and winning and losing four each. The squad toured Australia in July so were in good touch when they returned in September. The side that took the field against the OKS was solid in defence and showing great promise going forward. Unfortunately, we did not have the experience to deal with the very talented opposition. The Birley’s tournament the following weekend is always a tough and highly competitive day and this year proved no different. There were some very impressive periods of play, with the defensive unit of Alice Davis, Lucy Kingsman, Jess Stanion and Gaby Bradburn looking impressive and growing in confidence. St Bede’s took the title for the third year in a row and the King’s girls took a respectable third place. The first Saturday fixture was against Haileybury on a very hot day. The side played well and capitalised on their chances in the circle to take a victory. They stayed on their winning streak midweek, taking the Plumptre Tournament title, and beat Cranleigh the following weekend. The next challenge was the Kent Under 18 tournament. After a morning of hockey that was effective but not pretty, the squad progressed to the afternoon session at Kent College. Comfortable quarter- and semi-final wins saw a competitive match-up against Sevenoaks in the final. A nail-biting end-to-end game that brought the

Autumn 2009

best out of both sides saw King’s deservingly clinching the title. Next on the fixture list was the trek to Eastbourne College. Full of optimism, the squad took the field and created plenty of match wining chances, most of which unfortunately went begging. The game ended in a disappointing and frustrating draw against a side that was below par, and an unfortunate trend in front of goal began. Undoubtedly the biggest and most talked about fixture in any year is the local derby against Kent College. This year we had to travel up the hill and arrived to face a large crowd supporting the hosts. A very tight game, in which both sides gave everything in attack and defence, ended in a 1-0 defeat after a highly unfortunate touch by one of our own players that took the ball past Cleodie Swire, who had an exceptional day in goal. Lucy Balicki ran rings around the Kent College left-back and provided plenty of good ball into the circle. However, despite throwing everything at it, Dom Masters and Sophie Knight could not force it home. Fran Berry, Steph Crampton and Matilda Emlyn-Williams worked tirelessly in midfield to try and nullify the very talented Kent College midfield and Alice Davis and Jess Stanion sat on their renowned centre forward. After the break, the squad travelled to Sevenoaks and lost 2-1 – again it was another tale of missed chances, but we showed plenty of

HOCKEY

School colours are Re-awarded to: Alice Davis, Gabby Bradburn, Eve De Haan. And awarded to:

promising signs for the forthcoming regional tournament. A 5-0 win against Sutton Valence set the side in great spirits ready for the regionals. Eve De Haan was outstanding and appeared to be hitting peak form at the perfect time. The regional tournament was a heart-stopping day of drama. The squad started well, winning the first game and drawing the second. The day hinged on the match against Ipswich School – nothing less than a win would see them through to the next round. They scored early and we came back with a very well worked goal of our own. Three or four chances went past the post and out of the three they created they converted one, after a lucky umpiring call. Losing this epic match, in which Steph Crampton, Jess Stanion, Lucy Balicki, Eve De Haan and Dom Masters were outstanding, meant that we finished second once again. The final two fixtures were hard after the regional loss. A very determined Cranbrook side just beat us 2-1, while a strong St George’s side beat us 3-1 in the last game of the season.

Maddie Cryer, Matilda Emlyn-Williams, Lucy Kingsman, Jess Stanion, Sophie Knight

2nd XI SJC P10 W9 L1 The season started on a very sunny September day at Haileybury. The first game of the term is

Alice Davis captained the side exceptionally well and was well supported by her ViceCaptains Eve De Haan and Gaby Bradburn, who was also named Players’ Player of the Season. Fran Berry was named as the squad’s most improved player, Matilda Emlyn-Williams was the squad’s Most Valuable Player and Jess Stanion was recognised for her outstanding contribution. This side have certainly up held the reputation for excellence that girls’ hockey at King’s has earned over the years and each player should be thanked and congratulated on their effort and achievement.

normally a scrappy affair with all trying to find their touch, but this was certainly not the case. The midfield worked tirelessly, Emily Davis commanding the middle of the pitch and Hannah Todd, Kim Dunn and Issie Ford ran miles in support of her. The forward line were ruthless in front of goal. The match ended as a 5-0 victory and set the tone for what was to follow.

Team colours are awarded to: Gelana Crouch, Cleodie Swire, Steph Crampton, Lucy Balicki, Fran Berry, Sophie Knight, Alice Brady, Hope Kilmurry, Dom Masters

Cranleigh were a tough opposition and despite many chances the game was goalless at half time. Pip Durell, Daisy Casement and Sheena Bhadresha took the second half by the scruff of

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the neck and showed real grit, constantly applying pressure in the D until, eventually, Durell scored the first of four. We went on to beat Brighton College in an end-to-end battle before despatching St Edmund’s 9-1, Eastbourne 5-0 and Kent College 4-0.

3rd XI EE

Half term came far too quickly and the squad took on a very direct Sir Roger Manwood’s side in the first match after the break. This was the squad’s first shock: our opponents scored three times and it took until the last few minutes for us to net a consolation goal. A very disappointed side went away and trained hard, determined to make amends the following Saturday. The match against Sevenoaks was the best of the season. It was a thriller that had it all: goals, near misses, great saves from Gelana Crouch, big tackles from Millie Jessel and Helen Pargeter and moments of pure skill from Izzy Berry and Nicky King. Not one player on either side stopped competing for the whole 70 minutes. We won the game 3-2 thanks to goals from King and Lucy Logan-Green. Goals came thick and fast in the last two games, against Sutton Valence and Cranbrook, both of which were won 9-0. 2009 was an outstanding season for a very talented 2nd XI. Team from: Gelana Crouch (Captain), Millie Jessel (Vice-Captain), Helen Pargeter, Lucy Baker, Izzy Berry, Nicky King, Emily Davis, Poppy Coleman, Kim Dunn, Issie Ford, Hannah Todd, Sheena Bhadresha, Daisy Casement, Pip Durell, Lucy Logan Green.

Results Goals for: 49 Goals against: 21

Autumn 2009

As ever, the 3rds played an excellent season of hockey. With determination and great team morale, we played some very challenging matches, often against very strong 1st and U16 teams rather than teams of our own standard. This did, however, give us the opportunity to strengthen our play and we never gave up hope even when we were trailing. The team proved even more determined when we were forced to play in horrendous weather conditions: gale-force winds, rain and hail nearly blew us off the cliffs against Duke of York’s. Highlights for the team were thrashing Haileybury 7-0, showing our true strengths against a team of similar standard; and our final match of the season – the last ever for the 6as – in which we beat Cranleigh 5-0. Every player put in 100 per cent effort at all times; during both sessions and matches and with the help of Mr Tyndall and Mr Addington, we saw improvements in skill from each member of the team. We then realised that it was not just our skill that was preventing us being 1st and 2nd XI players, but perhaps our fitness, too! Emilie De Bree and Alex Pye were voted as players of the season for their continuous devotion and persistence throughout every minute of every match, holding the whole team together; Emelie never allowed the ball to pass her and helped it up to the D where top scorer Emily Steel showed tremendous skill at left wing. Our other forwards – Anna Ventress, Cessa Tapp and Anna Heslop – never missed the opportunity to score some remarkable goals once the midfield worked hard to get the ball into

HOCKEY our attacking D. Defence, backing up our consistent goalkeeper Rachel Phipps, was as strong as ever and made up of Sarah Barnett, Ellie Christie and Flossy McAslan, who all fought (often under heavy fire) until the final whistle was blown. However, as well as playing some very impressive matches, we created a crucial bond as a team which enabled us to have fun together and enjoy every aspect of our hockey season. I have confidence that the younger members of the team will achieve 1st and 2nd XI places in the next couple of years.

Team from: Emi Eldridge (captain), Eleanor Christie, Sarah Barnett, Cessa Tapp, Anna Ventress, Immy Moore, Rachel Phipps, Rachael Castola, Alex Pye, Emilie de Bree, Grace Johnson, Emily Steel, Anna Clinch, Flossy McAslan, Anna Heslop, Taki Wells, Kitty Davis.

4th XI JIB W3 D1 L1 This has been an excellent season from a talented squad of enthusiastic players, despite a shortage of fixtures. My Kit-Kat girls have played some wonderfully attractive ‘easy-ball’ controlled hockey under the impressive leadership of Katie Burden, and the squad have appreciated the enthusiastic crowd support provided by parents.

The season began with a thoroughly deserved away victory against St Lawrence 2nd XI, with captain Katie scrambling the winner. This was an excellent start to the season, with all the girls showing their technical skills in a match which we totally controlled. Perhaps we should have had a few more goals to reflect our dominance, and this is probably our only weakness throughout the season. As a consequence of this match, Immy Moore was promoted to the 3rds. I am claiming our home debut against Cranleigh as a victory, even thought the opposition might claim the same. This was the only game this season which was played in the wrong spirit as a result of their unsporting tactics. They arrived late with only nine players, so I offered one of my substitutes to even things up, which their coach accepted. Then, as the whistle went, she rejected my offer and stole two players from their 2nd XI who had just beaten our 3rd XI 4-0. She pinched their centre forward who had just scored a hat-trick, and their midfield driver. Within two minutes we were 2-0 down courtesy of these cheating subs. A half-time team talk paid dividends and the season’s top scorer Flo Savage scored a peach of a goal to make it 1-2, and almost snatched an equaliser on the final whistle. I claim this as a 1-0 victory because Cranbrook’s behaviour was appalling so their ’goals’ will not stand in my records. Our next match at home resulted in a legitimate 2-1 defeat against Brighton College in a game notable both for its excellent technical hockey

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and outstanding sportsmanship by both teams. We conceded both goals as a result of a sleeping defence caught out by simple errors. Guess who scored her usual goal? Flo Savage. Against Eastbourne we dominated the match completely and should have won by more than our single (Flo Savage) goal, having played some lovely driving hockey with slick passing and controlled triangles. It was a joy to umpire and a very pleasing performance. In what turned out to be our last fixture, we earned a superb 1-1 draw away to Sevenoaks thanks to some great surging moves from the back after we had gone behind. Anna scored with a fine finish after a slick five-player move. Olé! This game could have gone either way, and summarised the whole season’s considerable effort and talent within the squad. A fair result and a sporting match. Looking back, we have looked really strong at in defence (Adza, Holly, Ella, Emmy, Kirsty, Frankie and Paan), creative in a strong driving midfield (Laria, Abi, Louisa, Izzy, Amelia, Becca), and explosively energetic in attack (Reni, Katie, Flo, Ellie). Guest appearances from the 3rd XI squad (Anna, Rachel and Grace) also helped our cause. Captain Katie and vice-captain Ella have fostered a tremendous team spirit both on and off the pitch. On reflection this is undoubtedly the best squad (and my last!) in 10 years of coaching. ‘Ho ho ho’ says happy Santa Dr B.

Team from: Katie Burden (captain) Ella Kelly (vice-captain), Reni Adeagbo, Holly Brownlees, Laria Collister, Louisa Dearlove, Kirsty Duncanson, Emmy Duffy, Abi Jackson, Frankie Kent, Izzy Parish, Amelia Parker, Paan Ratchakitprakarn, Flo Savage, Adza Tarka, Ellie Thrupp, Becca Wilson.

Autumn 2009

Results Goals for

Goals Against

St Lawrence 2nd XI (a)

Won 1-0

Cranleigh (h)

Won 1-0

Brighton College U16 B (h)

Lost 1-2

Eastbourne U16 B (h)

Won 1-0

Sevenoaks U16 B (a)

Drew 1-1

For the Girls’ Hockey U15 A and B Reports and Results, please click here

For the Girls’ Hockey Under 14 A, B and C Reports and Results, please click here

sailing HROM The term completed King’s most successful sailing season ever. Apart from the success enjoyed by the top squad, the depth of the school’s sailing continues to improve. We are lucky to have a lot of keen and talented sailors and the standard of training at Westbere lakes remains high and productive. This is due in no small part to the influence of our enthusiastic coaching team, in particular John Hope and Mark Wild this term. We also gain from the input of Captain, William Goldsmith, who has helped to instil a passion for sailing. Race training, which continued beyond the ‘Indian Summer’ of September and October to the gales of late November, has been fun. At the Kent Schools Annual Regatta, held at Wilsonian SC on the Medway estuary, King’s became county champions for the third time in four years. We did particularly well in this year’s event to win four trophies. Elizabeth Wauchope, sailing a byte CII, was 1st girl sailor. William Goldsmith and William StonehewerSmith, sailing a school 420, won the trophies for 1st double handed boat and 1st school or club owned boat. Angus Barry and Tristan Smith, sailing a 420, and Alexander McCulloch, sailing his own laser radial in a competitive laser fleet, also helped to ensure the best all-round performance of any school or club team, winning the prestigious Whitstable trophy. It is not surprising that six King’s sailors were selected to sail for Kent in two national championships. Congratulations to Will Goldsmith, Tristan Smith, Lizzie Wauchope, Alex McCulloch, Hannah Goldsmith and William Stonehewer-Smith. Travelling up to reservoirs near Northampton and Oxford respectively, King’s

teams sailed and raced well to finish well up in the top ten in both the NSSA and UK RYA Team Racing events. To finish 1st in the Gold B league of the RYA UK Championship was another best-ever result. Lizzie has also been selected to sail for her national team and we wish her every success for the Byte Worlds in 2010. On our home waters King’s hosted the BSDRA Autumn championship, fielding three teams. Altogether, thanks to a good breeze, more than 40 races were sailed on the lake during the afternoon and, competing as Kent Schools 1st team, King’s sailors won this event with victory in the final sail-offs over Sevenoaks. In fairness to our opponents the wind shifts on the lake can be tricky, but good sailing is a huge part of team racing. The annual house sailing regatta generated much enthusiasm and was closely contested by 12 house teams over five races. The outcome of some excellent sailing, especially by Alexandra Barkshire for Harvey and William Goldsmith for MO, was a victory by the smallest of margins for MO. The Grange, Jervis, Marlowe, Linacre and Mitchinson’s teams also did well and every single helm who took part completed their race successfully. The Irvine cup for commitment to King’s sailing was awarded to Ben Warnick for his splendid contribution, and this fine trophy goes to his house, Carlyon, for a year. Some ten sailors in the Fifth Form also embarked on a memorable Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition, sailing a twelve-berth ocean-going ketch, Offshore Scout, from Ipswich to Ramsgate over a glorious weekend in late September. They acquitted themselves admirably, in helming, crewing, and performing all duties on board. The team negotiated the sand banks and shipping lanes in the outer Thames estuary successfully, whilst hoisting each other up in the bosun’s chair to the lookout position on the top of the foremast. I am grateful to our lady instructor, Jo Gambrill, for accompanying the female sailors on such ventures, and, as always, for the support of

THE CANTUARIAN

parents and OKS sailors. At the RYA Championships it was great to see two former King’s sailors, Antony Lewis and Peter Gray (who at Cambridge and Oxford respectively sailed for their university) involved as race officers in the running of the event.

NSSA Topper Team Racing RYA UK Team Racing Kent Schools Annual Regatta

Results Kent Schools Annual Regatta

BSDRA Autumn Team Racing

Autumn 2009

1st single handed boat, 1st double handed boat, 1st school boat, best school or club team/56 entries King’s A 1st, King’s B 5th, King’s C 7th/11 teams

BSDRA Autumn Team Racing NSSA Topper Team Racing RYA UK Team Racing

5th/32 teams 1st Gold B division; 7th/24 teams 1st single handed boat, 1st double handed boat, 1st school boat, best school or club team/56 entries King’s A 1st, King’s B 5th, King’s C 7th/11 teams 5th/32 teams 1st Gold B division; 7th/24 teams

The interview What did you want to be when you were growing up?

‘Your Starter for 10’: Mr Lyons Rachel Phipps (6b – HH) Over a busy working lunch in the main school dining room in September I caught up with Mr Lyons for what proved to be a very insightful question and answer session, full of questions whose answers I thought I would already know but in fact turned out to be pleasantly surprising…

Why did you choose to become a teacher? Four reasons: I love words, I love ideas, art is better than life and my father was a printer... I love helping other people to thrive.

A pilot. I just wanted to fly planes. I just wanted to fly high in the sky. Or a farmer. My father was an amazing gardener, he grew everything. My grandfather was a farmer - we had a massive garden when I was a kid; aubergines, leeks, carrots, everything! I was growing fruit and veg as soon as I could walk.

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher? If I weren’t a teacher? I would like to work for a charity like Amnesty International or UNICEF. Or I’d like to be a writer but I’d find it too lonely. (Triggered by this thought, he asks me if we could go back to the last question.) Or I’d like to have been an actor. I tried it for a bit but I didn’t like lines. Reading someone else’s lines (written by someone else, for someone else’s character). And I got terrible stage fright.

Any other reasons? When I thought about a profession I thought all the others were pointless, apart from medicine, business, advertising and law. (Laughs) All pointless, didn’t want to do them. The last reason is because every day is different; the more you teach and the better, the more you learn. Your excitement and your learning should be infectious. Language is complex and constantly changing, constantly in flux, never boring. I have books everywhere. I have them in my bed, my car, the kitchen…

What appeals to you most about King’s? (Smiles) Do I have to answer that one? (Thinks for a quite a long time…) I think the high expectations without that fraught perfectionism you find in some schools where everyone is on antidepressants and just has to be the best. I like that it’s great if you get it right but it’s not the end of the world if you get it wrong. I love that here culture is taken for granted. No one ever uses the word. Everyone here is cultured

THE CANTUARIAN

and if you’re not you don’t fit in. The staff and pupils are so multi talented; scientists who are brilliant musicians, linguists who write novels, art historians who are brilliant linguists. Nothing is out of bounds.

How would you describe your typical school day? Errm… (Laughs) What’s the word? (Gets out his iPhone to use the Thesaurus) Bracing.

What has been the highlight of your time teaching so far? When a boy got an interview at Cambridge and won a place to read English at York just after his father died. All his success was down to his determination in his final year. I found his courage, his tenacity, self discipline and his strength the most humbling thing I have ever experienced. It would be hard to beat the email I received that told me he had got a place at York.

What has been the lowest point of your time teaching so far? I fell over while giving my interview lesson. It was the first day I came here. I slipped, flat on my back in front of Removes teaching 18th century satire. I was wearing leather soled shoes on a slippery floor.

What has been one of your strangest moments at King’s? I think it was the week before the school inspection and the week of the Luxmoore/Linacre house play and I can honestly say (Laughs) that I have never been so tired and stressed and I thought it would be a total disaster. But it wasn’t. I wanted to be anywhere but in Canterbury, but typical of King’s students they pulled it off at the last minute.

What has been the most memorable lesson you’ve ever taught at King’s? Hamlet. 6a5, 2005. A boy gave a spontaneous talk on Calvinism and I just remember realising I was in a very special place. I remember very well. I asked him to explain Calvinism and he did it brilliantly. I just thought ‘this place is incredible’. I use the word lesson; it was more like a high octane university seminar.

And finally, if the common room was burning down, which three members of staff would you save and why? (After lots of trying to get out of answering the question...) The caterers. I would grab the first three caterers I came across (laughs). A lot of people will know why I answered that way. Andy Snook will. And on that note, it was time for us to leave the now empty dining room and hurry off to the next lesson.

Autumn 2009

Overheard…and howlers ‘Dear Everybody,

Whoever has left a white home-made thing in my classroom, with a red and a blue button, which plays the most appalling tunes at unexpected moments in my lessons, has until tomorrow (Wednesday) lunchtime to come to clasroom X and reclaim it. Thereafter it will be subjected to the act of senseless violence which it so richly deserves. Yours musically, Mr X’

‘Pupil: ‘Which do you prefer, Sir, PS3 or XBOX?’ Mr X: ‘Neither, I have a wife’’ ‘James, I believe you have a little something to put in my hand…come on, boy, get it out!’ ‘You’re fat and short; what use are you going to be in a crisis?’ ‘My messing’s so writy!’ ‘Make poverty global’ ‘All vegetarians should have their incisors ripped out’ ‘If you were trying to invent an institution to stop young people reading, you would probably come up with the King’s School, Canterbury.’ ‘A neutron walks into a bar, and asks how much his beer costs. The bartender replies “no charge for you”

‘Life begins at the moment of contraception.’ ‘I will defiantly bring you the book tomorrow.’

THE CANTUARIAN

The cantuarian

Lent 2010

The Cantuarian Contents Editorial

This and That

Focus

Art and Writing

Trips and Expeditions

Drama

Music

Miscellany

Sport

The Interview

104

Overheardâ&#x20AC;Ś and Howlers

106

Editorial Jessica Wingrad (6a JR) Nine weeks: the diminutive length of the Lent term at the King’s School. With such a huge amount of academic work, sports, music and so much more to fit in, it would seem like nothing could possibly arrest our progress. Then came the snow. With a fury it fell, leaving every inch of the Green Court blanketed in a white haze only Keats could do justice to, and day pupils ‘snowed in’. A plethora of coats, scarves, beanies and Ugg boots made their debut appearance. Yet school soldiered on as per usual more swiftly than any other term. It was a particularly tense time for the 6a’s who were just beginning to receive university places, and especially for candidates who had attended interviews and learned their fate. Cambridge left many candidates waiting longer than the rest with their pooling system and those who experienced the wait can say with assurance that it cast a shadow over much of what they did. Thankfully, everyone emerged intact and with a plan of some description for the daunting future outside the comfort of King’s.

In a forerunner of King’s Week next term there were myriad house concerts as well as plays. In the midst of the stress of the term it was a perfect way to relax being involved in or watching one of these. Even I took to the stage in the Jervis School House play and swapped brooches and winged collars for wigs and floor length dresses. All of this culminated in the Rock Concert which showcased the immense musical talent so many people have to offer. Having so much to fit in and so little time makes it very difficult to know where to start and we are hugely grateful to everyone who has helped to fill out the Lent edition of The Cantuarian with so many exciting and wonderfully written pieces. The team have worked so hard to put together an accessible, attractive and almighty publication for the Lent term. I feel everyone was ready for anything the Easter holidays may have thrown at us, or should I say erupt at us.

Walpole managed to brighten the term in the weeks preceding half term with the promise of carnations to celebrate Valentine’s Day. There was much discussion, especially amongst those younger pupils who had yet to experience the thrill of carnations day, about how many everyone was planning to send. Among armfuls of carnations and suitcases many from the Fifth Form up were forced to bring home folders and books in preparation for ominous coursework deadlines. Teachers and pupils alike relish the day when coursework is printed off and securely handed in. Many pupils were still able to attend trips overseas all across Europe and the photographs and tales reveal the enormous variety of opportunities King’s has to offer.

Lent 2010

Common Room

This and That

In January 2010, the staff body were lucky

enough to add Michael Finn (Politics and History) to their ranks; Mike comes to us from the real and murky world of politics where he was speechwriter and Head of Research to Charles Kennedy MP. Finally, in April 2010, the new staff boom continued with Mark Taylor joining the school as the new Bursar and both James Rothwell (Classics) and Annabel Marriott (Biology) joined us on a temporary basis.

The Common Room Stork Congratulations go to Matt and Sarah Thornby on the birth of their daughter, Hannah May on March 28th. Equally, congratulations are due to Toby and Cerys Purser who, despite the appalling weather conditions on January 6th, offered a warm welcome to their new son Ralph. The Pursers, who were snowed in at Chantry House without a chance of getting to hospital, were

lucky to have Cerys’ mother handy; Gillian Jones – a former midwife – was more than happy to roll up her sleeves for the first time in nearly 30 years to deliver one final baby: her grandson.

Speaking of success... Also well worthy of a mention is Toby Sinclair (CY 2008-) who won second place in the 2010 HSBC/British Council Speaking Competition in London on 4th March. After hundreds of entries in the regional heats, 95 lucky finalists made it to judgement day; Toby, finishing second in the Beginner Level, is well-deserving of many congratulations.

Love is in the air... Keeping quiet about her achievements is the newly married Catherine Cox. It seems that as well as being a keen camper, hiker, flower arranger and our newly appointed Head of

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RS, Catherine is also a poet. It comes to This and That’s attention that Catherine’s poem ‘Just Intent’ made the top 10 Valentine’s submissions to The Times this year and was featured in a Valentine’s special. For those wondering what all the fuss is about, you can read Catherine’s ode on Mike’s proposal below...

‘Just Intent’

and said ‘marry me please’ (quite romantic; just us on the summit) So of course I said ‘yes’, (somewhat hasty unless you’d a chance to regret that you’d done it).

I don’t s’pose you meant to propose in a tent (it was not your intent when we started). Yet you did it so well on the top of Place Fell that I was completely enchanted.

The limited space made our joyful embrace a somewhat gymnastic endeavour. And my sleeping bag zip dug into my hip as I promised to love you forever.

For the moment was right as we snuggled up tight, both warmly wrapped in our bedding. So content side by side, yet I must say that I’d no notion of where this was heading!

Then both slightly bemused, we considered our news and how best to tell our relations! ‘Til we both fell asleep to the sound of the sheep who bleated their ‘congratulations’.

Then you got to your knees

Lent 2010

Hear, hear...

International Biology Olympiad Competition

Of course with the 2010 General Election, things were ‘all change’ for our OKS MPs: Natascha Engel (MT 1983-85), Labour MP for North East Derbyshire can no doubt toast her re-election with the six champagne flutes she dubiously claimed on expenses back in 2007. Perhaps also, if they can put political differences aside, Hugh Robertson (BR 1976-81), Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid-Kent could pop around for a glass of bubbly to celebrate his new position as Minister for Sport and the Olympics. This and That suggests that anyone wishing to take up business with Mr Robertson avoids phoning during the World Cup, Wimbledon Championships, British Grand Prix, The Boat Race, The Ashes, The FA Cup Final, The Derby, The Six Nations, Badmington House Trials, Cartier International Polo, Crufts....

Bronze Award: James Hynard and Ben Langridge Highly Commended: Sean Harbison Commended : Nicholas Evans, Heidi Ho and Jolyon Martin International Chemistry Olympiad Competition Gold Award: Ben Langridge Silver Award: David Chan, Heidi Ho, Jolyon Martin, Nathan Hudson-Peacock Bronze Award: Amy Tsai British Physics Olympiad Competition

Last year Richard Ashworth (SH 1960-64) was re-elected to the European Parliament to represent the South East whilst Martin Vye (Common Room 1969-1995) has been re-elected as a Kent county councillor; he secured a majority of 1,008 to continue to represent Canterbury City South West.

Congratulations

Bronze Medal Award: Jeffrey Chan British AS Physics Competition Bronze Medal Award: Christopher Loyn, Christopher Lark, William Pargeter Congratulations to all involved.

Matt Wells (MR 2002-7) gained his Golf Blue representing Oxford. This is the first Golf Blue since J. A. Harvie in 1971. This and That has also just been informed that Matt has been appointed Captain Of Oxford University Golf Club for next year.

The Olympiads In January a team of four Removes, Will Fairbairn, Fiona Jenkinson, Sebastian James and Jack Adler, won the Royal Society of Chemistry’s South Eastern Chemistry Challenge competition.

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View from the Common Room window at the start of the Lent term

Lent 2010

Focus: ‘in the shadow of

Georgina Davies (6b JR) For a brief history of the relationship between the school and the Cathedral, please click here.

Interview with the Dean The Very Reverend Robert Willis is the 39th Dean of Canterbury. He joined the community of the Cathedral and the school in 2001, moving from his previous post as Dean of Hereford. He has been a member of the General Synod for 14 years and is the Chairman of the Deans’ and Provosts’ Conference of the Church of England. In the last golden days of the Lent term, untainted by exam pressure or volcanic ash, two members of The Cantuarian paid a visit to the Dean. As I approached the Deanery gates, I found myself wrought with nerves. To the average commoner of the school, the Dean appears as a visionary character; a religious presence who appears once a week to bless the school, and he has surprised us recently by introducing a flock of guinea fowl on the Green Court. I confess I did not know what to expect.

Having met my Cantuarian associate Jack Dykstra-McCarthy, we approached the door to tentatively ring the doorbell, having already crossed the forbidden foreign-border. My heart raced in my mouth as I considered the Dean opening the door in his white-haired glory. Nostalgically, I reviewed the interviews of the previous week: with Father Fred, the school Chaplain, staged in his comfortable Mint Yard office; the warm upholstery and my colleague’s familiarity with the Chaplain’s self-deprecating

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the cathedral’

humour. In contrast, I also recalled Mr Henderson’s constructive advice, given in the paperstrewn archives of The Old Grange, as I gazed unseeingly at the wooden door before me. Eventually, life stirred at the heart of the impressive sanctuary; with the scuffle of feet and the noise of the latch lifting, our qualms were reassured. It was not the Dean but a lady who modestly introduced herself as his housekeeper in response to our stammering explanation. Before she even finished her sentence, the Dean appeared from the left-hand side of the white, light atrium. We were greeted cordially, asked our names and shown into an equally light room with portraits of previous members of the Clergy lining the walls – a study, I supposed. My trepidation had been for nothing. The Dean was enchanting. Having been offered seats on a russet leather-bound sofa, I heard a clawing at the back of the furniture. I looked behind the sofa in order to ascertain where the noise was coming from and saw, to my delight, a black and white kitten – a recent addition. I was informed, ‘she’s called Lily.’ Already in love with both the Dean and his menagerie, we began the interview. He shed light on the unexplained relationship between the Cathedral and the school, stimulating interest as well as enlightening us academically. As we talked for a full half hour - surpassing our

Lent 2010

promised fifteen minutes – we shared with him his appreciation of our community. His hopes for the upcoming Holy Week and his enjoyment of King’s Week were expressed calmly yet passionately in that familiar well-spoken way. On the topic of his first ever King’s Week, the Dean observed me dissolve into an emotional wreck as I attempted to stop my eyes watering when he spoke with enormous pride of the ‘little bit of history’ with which he is entrusted. Canterbury Cathedral has great importance within the UK although the Dean considers it to be part of the world’s heritage, carrying gravity internationally. ‘I think it’s very important for people to realise that it doesn’t belong to us; it belongs to the whole world, really.’ In order to preserve this historic site - whose architecture took three centuries to build - 250 paid members of staff, all experts in their own fields, contribute to the upkeep and running of the Cathedral. Among them are musicians, librarians, stonemasons, carpenters, people expert in accounts, even those in the hospitality with the running of the international studies centre where many people come to stay. All of those things have to be acted upon and decided, which constitutes much discussion at their meetings. The Dean and Mr Henderson explained to us that the community was originally set up to

surround the Archbishop with human company, protection and resources. The Cathedral is the school’s chapel, and therefore it is used by the school in a very regular way. This is shown by the King’s Scholars, who represent the whole the school when they are made members of the Foundation, integrating the school with the Cathedral. The Cathedral community commands a greater presence than we give it credit for; not only are some of the Canons governors, but the Dean also chairs the meetings. Therefore these valuable members of the clergy have a say in who teaches us and the day to day running of the school. Father Fred gave us the example of how he was appointed at the school. The entire Cathedral clergy were asked whether they knew anyone suitable to fill the demanding role of a School Chaplain: a role which requires the ability to teach as well as to provide religious guidance and leadership for the school - someone said, ‘there’s always Fred’. Although many pupils find the religious side of the school draining - requiring concentration and a deprivation of sleep - Father Fred, in reference to OKS’ attitudes towards the religious life of the school believes that, ‘it means a lot more to them once they’ve left.’ He gives the example of how although he had been to a fairly religious school, he was only ‘called’ quietly by God when a girl he met in a wine bar dragged him along to a parish church and he said that ‘it felt like coming home’. Perhaps we will feel the same after leaving King’s. The development of the school is also approved by the clergy as they sit as governors. The Dean describes the experience of expanding and yet sensitively preserving the school as similar to ‘making a jigsaw’. For example, the creation of The (new) Grange was necessary as the The Old Grange was much too small for the number of its inhabitants as well as being slightly archaic. As the plans developed, a plan for the new Music department was born from the ashes of The Old Grange. The Dean accepts that, ‘plans may change at a moment’s notice when you see

what’s happened with the development with the plan before.’ The Cathedral continues to strive for modern resources to benefit the school and make people feel as included as possible, despite the limitations due to planning permission. The Dean recollects that it took roughly sixteen years to be granted permission to knock a hole in the Roman wall to make Jervis House more accessible to main school - previously the members of Jervis had to walk the whole way round. ‘By walking through, a sense of “we belong here” is given. I think some small things can make a huge difference,’ he reflects. Finally, we asked the Dean what had been his favourite ceremonies. ‘Well, I suppose the most important ceremony I’ve ever done was enthroning the Archbishop of Canterbury,’ he replied. ‘That felt amazing, putting him in his seat and then turning around to everyone and saying, “Greet your new Archbishop”… There was a full Cathedral and we all burst into applause and there was the Archbishop that I’d just enthroned. That’s the kind of once-in-alifetime type of ceremony.’ However, we were pleased to hear how much our presence in the Cathedral meant to him. ‘Actually, I like sitting in my stall on a Sunday evening at Evensong when King’s are there and seeing all the candles lit and all of you gathered there in the Cathedral thinking you’re “possessing” it. That’s a very different sort of ceremony. Or going up and admitting new King’s Scholars as a sign of the unity between the school and the Cathedral. But then there are the big occasions like King’s Week and Commemoration services - those are the big ceremonies. All sorts of ceremonies are happy, even snipping the tape for The Grange was a wonderful ceremony.’ I left the Deanery in high spirits, elated after such a successful and interesting interview. For one of the few times in my life I felt truly spiritual - this is King’s.

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Lent 2010

(Anonymous) thoughts on the Cathedral ‘I love knowing that I live next to so many great dead bodies such as Thomas Becket’ ‘All it really affects, I think, is that we have to have evening song [sic] and matins.’ ‘The whole school revolves around the Cathedral’ ‘I like basking in its monumental graciousness and I think it’s a really beautiful archaic building.’ ‘I don’t think it casts a shadow I think it shines light on us.’ ‘I can see it from my bed. I quite like waking up to it. It’s quite nice. Other than matins and evensong it doesn’t really affect us. There are loads of tourists around the place which can be quite annoying.’ ‘I think that every French kid in the world has visited this Cathedral.’ ‘Not much’ ‘We could level it and build a 1st XV Rugby pitch.’ ‘For me the services are slightly boring’ ‘I’m quite religious so I don’t really mind the services at all’ ‘I think the Cathedral is gorgeous’ ‘Uniform code is stricter just because they want to represent us really well’ ‘I think they could have modernised the Cathedral a lot more if they didn’t have the school.’ ‘I love the capes!’ ‘I like walking through the Cathedral but I don’t like the services’ ‘I like being in the Cathedral because it means we get loads of tourists who make the school feel a little bit more like a mini town. There are people walking round and even though you have to look smart, it makes you feel important ‘cause they all take pictures of your feet even though they’re not that interesting.’ ‘The vastness and the just... the wow.’

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The Red Dean The relationship between the school and the Cathedral’s Dean has not always been a happy one. During the time of the famous Canon Shirley (HM 1935-62), Dr Hewlett Johnson served as Dean from 1931 to 1963. Nicknamed the ‘Red Dean’ for his extreme left-wing views, Dr Johnson made no secret of his interest in and support for the Communist policies of the Soviet Union. In 1940 he published a collection of articles in which he described himself as ‘Friend of the Soviet Union’; he felt Communism was far more ‘moral’ than Capitalism. After the war, Johnson continued to propound his pro-Soviet views and in 1956 when he supported the Russian invasion of Hungary, even giving Malenkov – the Russian leader – a tour round the Cathedral during Evensong, the Headmaster placed the Deanery out of bounds. The school’s governing body voted that the Dean should no longer take the chair at meetings. John Drew and Paul Niblock (LN 1952-7), Upper Sixth Form boys from the school, also presented a petition to the Dean. It was signed by 186 Sixth Form pupils, including the Captain of School, and stated: ‘We heartily deplore your attitude and regret your statements and question their wisdom and validity. We hope this appeal to your strong humanitarian sense will shatter your misconceived faith in the Soviet Union.’ One year the Dean ‘put up a huge blue and white banner across the front of the Deanery which read “Christians Ban Nuclear Weapons”’. Legend has it the boys of the school responded with a banner of their own which read ‘King’s Ban Communists’. According to the most revent school history - ‘Imps of Promise’: History of the King’s School, Canterbury - one Guy Fawkes’ Night ‘one couldn’t say the school was actively encouraged to attack the Deanery; but nobody did anything to prevent a barrage of rockets etc [being] fired directly at the building, some of which did actual damage and broke windows.’

Lent 2010

Dr Hewlett Johnson, the Red Dean. (Punch cartoon by Ronald Searle, 1957)

Thankfully this is now all in the past, and for the pupils of today the Dean is a cordial and welcome presence in their lives and the life of the school. The Very Reverend Robert Willisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; confusion, or rasp, of guinea fowl (there seems to be some controversy over the correct collective noun) are a particularly welcome presence on the Green Court adding as they do an air of avian indifference to the majesty of their surroundings.

Cathedral Sketches by George Courtauld (6b MO)

To read the full article, including Jack DykstraMcCarthyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thoughts on the Cathedral, please click here. .

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( Painting by Emi Eldridge (6a LX)

art and writing Lent 2010

Art & Writing The Creative Writing Competition Introduced by Jessica Wingrad (6a JR) Amid the hustle and bustle of revision, essays, practice papers and holidays the task of reading seventeen pieces of creative writing might seem like a daunting one. Yet from the first story I picked up to the last there was not a single moment of tedium. There were entries from all year groups and despite having pieces from two successful ‘Oxbridge’ candidates in 6a, the younger years did not fail to impress. During the Easter holidays James Hearn, head of creative writing, travelled to Scotland armed with copies of the entries whilst mine accompanied me to Hong Kong. However, both James and I were transported to a London train station, a grand house in the countryside, the scene of a murder and even Africa through the words of seventeen separate writers. We were out to find an author who captured the imagination and idiosyncrasies of their persona while maintaining a unique and interesting style of writing. The young writer awarded third place, William Allen of the Fifth form, haunted us with his rather dark story Concupiscence which employed a beautiful style and the most intriguing metaphor of tea cups ‘shivering’ in their saucers. In joint second place Annabel Church and Tristan Smith wrote stories of polar opposites. Annabel personified beauty and gave a fluid insight into this gift (or maybe curse), Tristan took the regular theme of a journey and transformed it into something of an imaginative operation describing the most simple of events in a fascinating way. The coveted winners of first place shared the honour since both presented such a high quality

and immaculate style that it was impossible to distinguish an outright winner. Jamie Johnson and Edward Lundy were each awarded a £50 book token and their stories have been eternalised in this edition of The Cantuarian. Jamie perfectly captured the persona of a disgruntled businessman caught in the all too recognisable dilemma of redundancy following the credit crunch. His topical piece leaves a permanent indentation in the mind about the effects of the crisis which has affected so many to such a degree. Edward took a different path choosing to write on a topic less relatable but no less powerful. The metaphorical carrying of a burden was represented by a physical entity which follows the protagonist persistently. Both winners deserve immense congratulations but as do all the pupils who entered. It was a huge challenge to choose a winner out of so many inspiring pieces and I can certainly detect a future Eliot or two.

Success Jamie Johnson (Fifth MO) Off to that Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair. It’s a first appearance for my new Hugo Boss suit. Charcoal with grey pinstripe, double breasted, three buttons, sky blue lining inside, and it’s 90% silk. The journey is quick. As the taxi stops at traffic lights I notice a long queue at the bus stop. How can people put up with that? Standing in the cold waiting to get onto something so crowded, slow and noisy. They say it’s even worse on the tube. James is already there. And he’s taken the seat with his back to the wall with a view over the

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room. I put up with fifteen minutes of him bragging about his success at work. How he’s bound to get a massive bonus. How promotion can be only weeks away. James was always in the set below me at school, I was in the top set for everything. I was fly half for the 1sts; he was fly half for the 2nds. Mind you, he did get lots of girlfriends, including that Carmen Da Costa. She wouldn’t even talk to me. My mind drifts: he’s wearing that Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Steel with a silver dial, oyster clasp, self winding movement and water resistance at 100 metres. It’s irritating because I don’t know if he’s noticed that I’m wearing exactly the same model, but the latest edition, with 18ct white gold, not steel. I bought it after we had lunch last month and saw his - although, come to think of it, I didn’t mention to him how much I liked his watch. The maitre’d says he’s pleased to see me. ‘What’s the lobster like tonight?’ ‘Excellent, sir. And a dry, 1992 Chablis to go with it sir?’ ‘You know I only drink Champagne.’ ‘Excellent sir.’ The phone rings. It’s Neville the car salesman, my new best friend from Jack Barclay on Park Lane. I don’t like Neville because he’s selling cars that he clearly couldn’t afford himself. He could be useful though. It’s the Maserati GranTurismo with a smoky grey exterior, CD Klara Taub with her sisters, Klara is on the right player, grey leather with white trim, sat nav, and tinted windows. Bloody lovely car. But what he hasn’t done is sort out the custom rims –22 inch demoda authority chrome rims. I’ve told him that the standard rims are not acceptable. Get those wheels Neville.

Lent 2010

Julius the boss strolls into my office. What does he want? Before he opens his mouth I can see what he has come for. Rolled up in his right hand is the Sunseeker yacht brochure. I know all about this boat – the Portofino 57. I know it will take 6 people plus crew across the Mediterranean. I know about its twin turbo engines reaching 35 knots. I know about its state of the art satellite navigation system. I know it’s 45 feet long, and I know that Julius is going to call it, wait for it, ‘Caesar of the Seas’. Typical. I have my own plans for holiday though. I’m off to the Cote d’Azur with Nicola, Tim and Susanna. Nicola and I have been going out for three years and we see each other twice a week. Wednesdays and Saturdays. I insist on this so it gives me my freedom. That way I can go out with the boys on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays if I want. Tim and Susanna have been seeing each other for two years but he’s bought her a real statement diamond ring. They’re engaged and are getting married at Christmas. I shared a room with Tim in my last year at university. He got a 2:1, I got a first. It took him dozens of interviews to get a job. I had three offers. We’ve got rooms booked overlooking the bay. They say the service is impeccable and they will cater for our every need. Temperatures should be about thirty, there’s water-skiing, jet-skiing, windsurfing. I’ve heard the night life’s supposed to be good as well. Glorious to think of it: stretched out on the sun bed most of the day, bit of physical activity and then fun after dark. Wish it could have been two weeks but my work won’t allow it. Actually, I’m not really that fussed: I’m the sort of person who wakes up on Monday morning as the alarm goes off at 6.30 and thinks: great, let another week rip. I haven’t got any time for those moaners who complain about long hours atwork. Commitment, that’s what you’ve got to have to make it in this world. The phone goes. It’s Julius’s PA, He wants to see me. Now. God - not more boasting about his

Art & Writing yacht. Julius is sat at his desk. What’s the HR director doing here? His lips are moving but all I hear is: downturn, trading losses, bad debt, recession, credit crunch... ‘We’ve got to let you go’. Rex and Mick from security walk me out of the building. It’s raining. The Evening Standard placard at the newspaper seller’s booth reads: ’Unemployment hits 3 million’. Neville calls. He’s found the 22 inch demoda authority chrome rims. ‘There’s a bit of a problem. I’ll get back to you tomorrow’. The rain comes down even harder. I join the back of a bus queue.

Troubled Sleep Edward Lundy (6a MR) I was awake again at four and once more aware of the man at the bottom of my bed. He was there most nights nowadays, appearing in the desert of restless turning and twisting between eleven and one, sitting sullenly on the chair at the end of my bed, facing away from me. I never really knew how, but I was always quite sure he was dead. I think it was something in the rigid lifeless way he sat; it was like an object, a stone or a lump of wood, with a sort of inanimate coldness about him. At times I almost managed to convince that he had never had been alive and instead had been born a soulless lump. I hated him for being dead, but I suppose it was my fault anyway. It was useless trying to stop it. Since the accident, since the dead man stopped being a real, living breathing thing with thoughts and a pumping heart and had turned into a lump of imposing coldness, I had built up a pharmacy beside my bed. My defences against the restless shadows which stopped me from ever sleeping, against the images which

flashed when my eyes closed were hopeless though. The battlements of bottles, the towers of tablets had no effect, and still I trudged on along the road towards daybreak. I had taken them all tonight, and was prepared for the savage dreams. One of the things which worsened it was the fact that I was the only one who knew that it was me who had killed him, who had left him lying there in the road, with his body broken. This knowledge pressed down on me, pushing against my forehead until it felt like my brain would be crushed in the oppressive darkness. My duvet was thick and heavy, like a prison which trapped me down on my bed, and all around me I could sense him sitting there in the blank darkness. I could bear it no longer, sandwiched between these dark thoughts and long nights, and I broke. I rose out of bed suddenly, with a burst of energy I didn’t know I had, and in a frenzy seized the dead man from his brooding chair and heaved him over my shoulder. I ran down and out of my house and into the street in a frenzy, with the dead man over my shoulder, his arms and legs flailing about me like the tentacles of some sea creature, striking and clawing at me. It was cold outside, and snow had been fallen recently, leaving a thin powder on the ground which numbed my feet as I struggled down street after street shrouded in sleep. The town was asleep and deadened, there were no signs of life as I ran on and on, past curtained houses and parked cars. The dead man was heavy, yet I bore his weight easily enough, fuelled by this passion to have done with it, to find an oasis to escape to, a place where I could rest. My feet led me to the beach, and there I paused. In front of me was the wide expanse of the sea; a dull gray flecked with white as wave after wave after wave broke on the pebblestrewn beach. It was calm, and beyond the waves the sea was flat, yet still appeared, in its

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Illustration by Will Fenning (6b LN)

Lent 2010

Art & Writing oppressive grey, uninviting. As I walked down the beach the stones were rough and harsh onto my feet, causing me to stumble and nearly fall as I reached the waterline. I knew what I was going to do now, in my restless search for silent redemption, a much rehearsed part in my personal play. Dawn was just breaking over the horizon when I finally moved forwards, into the waves which had been lapping around my feet and around the body of the dead man which lay on the pebbles for some time now. I was dragging the man with one hand until the water reached my waist, and then I could not help but start swimming in big, lopsided strokes out into the cold. The sea was filled with unfamiliar shadows which danced and moved beneath me, feinting and shimmying. My muscles, already tired from running, had a dull ache to them which throbbed at every stoke I made. I was weighed

down, sodden pyjamas pulling me into the darkness below, the dead man tugging at my hand as he sank beneath the surface of the water. Salty water was forcing its way into my mouth, and down into my lungs, and I was choking on it, unable to push on or turn back. I sank there, into the depths, with the dead man still clutching my wrist in a vice like grip, pulling me down with him. I was washed up, of course, as I was every morning, into reality and sunlight. I was always thrown back from the sea, yet I always hoped that one night I would not be rejected and pushed out. It was back to normality for these sunlight hours though, back to the intricate rented world which stirred outside my window. The dead man was gone, but he would return that night as a nightmarish guardian of my sleepless hours.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Eyesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Fui Srivikorn (6b GR)

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‘Paying Attention’, by JAC Clinch (6a CY)

Lent 2010

From bottom left clockwise round to bottom right: ‘Woman’s Face’ by Lucy Baker (6b BR); ‘Girl and Cakes’ by Emi Eldridge (6a LX); Portraits 1 and 2’ by Ben Yeates (6a GR); and ‘Tiget’ by Andrew Percival (6a TR)

Focus on art: interview

ALY The Cantuarian editorial team were unanimous in their decision that for our Art focus this term we would begin with an interview with Yeshel Park (6a HH). Following a variety of mishaps and a serious exam crisis, combined with a crushing deadline and an impatient web site designer, it was left to the senior editor (me) to step in and carry out the interview. I was delighted. I had heard a great deal about this talented member of the school who had recently discovered she had won a place at the London College of Fashion (LCF); this is a wonderful achievement and Yeshel is the first King’s pupil to go there. The general consensus of the Art department is that it was her incredible attention to detail, her creativity and love of textiles and textures that got her into LCF. As far as Yeshel was concerned it was the only place she wanted to be. ‘I didn’t want to go anywhere else,’ she told me, in fact although she had other offers, if she didn’t get the place she was simply going to take a gap year and keep reapplying until she got in. I met Yeshel in the lobby of the library, as she struggled up the stairs with her portfolio, I wasn’t surprised to hear ‘it weighs more than a ‘cello!’ It was simply enormous. Although I was itching to see her work, I forced her to sit down and talk to me about how she got here, and

what inspired her designs. Yeshel is soft spoken; she speaks with a slight hesitancy that gradually disappears as she warms up and shows me her sketches. Her words are precise; she thinks clearly and explains herself in a well organised and thoughtful way. She is not one to trip over her words; she is very self-possessed and struck me as a very determined person who will spend hours working in order to achieve her goal. However, as I was to see later, her glorious sketches are filled with explosions of zany colours. There is lots of whimsy in her designs, plenty of fun - I particularly like her hat made of napkins and a bucket – but all of her ideas are reinforced with hours of detailed observational sketching. I was surprised to learn Yeshel began King’s as a music scholar. Her music teacher recommended King’s to her and pointed out that even if she

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with yeshel park

didn’t continue with music and ‘if you wanted to take your career in another direction the school had loads of other facilities to help you do anything’. And so it has proved. For her Art GCSE Yeshel experimented with a dress made of bin liners. ‘I always had in mind making a really beautiful dress with beautiful materials but came to realise that it’s not just about the beauty of something, it’s about the meaning behind it. I ended up making a bin liner dress as I liked the way the material contrasted with the beauty of what it was portraying.’ By the time Yeshel began her AS courses she discovered her real passion for fashion and textiles. Why this area? I asked, why not sculpture, oils or watercolours? ‘I like getting people involved; it’s a way of displaying people. I like the art of dressing people.’ So what was her favourite thing she did during her AS? ‘When I saw the previous 6a they were making dresses, but I wanted to make something different so I designed a hoodie out of cardboard with a cubism effect.’ This was too much for me and I demanded to see a picture. Beautifully modelled by Annabell Snoxall (6a HH), I could see why it has such an impact on the selectors at LCF. With its brooding, intricate texture it’s a very interesting piece, and as Yeshel admits, it helped her at the interview because ‘I was quite confident because no one else had a hoodie so I thought mine was quite different.’

Lent 2010

Were there any problems with the hoodie? ‘The only disaster with the hoodie was that it kept tearing when the model wore it. It restricted her movement so I had to learn to think about how the garment would have to move. The good thing about art is that there are no rights or wrongs and the mistakes I do within the process actually lead me to another idea.’ Yeshel then made clear her gratitude to her teachers in the Art department at King’s. ‘I don’t think I would have done this if I was still at my old school. The facilities here are good. There are loads of materials here and because I’m the only one doing it they are all available to me which is a real advantage. The teachers really helped a lot. My two main teachers were Mr Cameron and Mrs Coleman. Mrs Coleman specialises in textiles and is really dedicated to helping. And Mr Cameron gave me the insight to help with research and really encouraged me to apply to the London College of Fashion.’ Having absolutely no creativity myself, I was interested to learn how Yeshel moved from an idea in abstract to a concrete design. ‘Well, first I pick two contrasting themes for example Rococo and Bauhaus. I then study into the background. I try to find out what makes the statement of each movement. Background research is so important. It’s how the ideas are drawn in. Then, if I find anything I

focus on art... terms of parental support because loads of Asian parents want their children to do very academic subjects, go to the top universities, but my mum always knew that I was interested more in the creative side of things like music and art. She was quite disappointed when I gave up music because that was always something I was going to do. But they supported me in doing what I enjoyed most.’ Who was the first person you told when you got the letter from LCF? ‘My Mum,’ she laughs.

thought related to it I make observational drawings. I then apply different materials and get into textures and textiles. ‘ ‘Then I start to make my own designs. I do loads of different ones before choosing the final one. It was hard, the Bauhaus one, it’s quite limited – it’s quite straight, nothing particularly undulating.’ It was fascinating looking through Yeshel’s portfolio seeing how fragments of ideas and sketches move slowly towards a final design. I asked when she wasn’t challenging herself by mixing movements, who were her influences? Her response was immediate: ‘Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.’ She was devastated to hear of McQueen’s death. What about Art? ‘Danaë by Klimt is one of my favourites, and on the History of Art trip I loved seeing paintings we had studied and learned in front of me. Particularly Manet’s paintings, when I first saw ‘Olympia’ I was literally lost for words.’ At this point Yeshel dives into her (very cute) handbag and pulls out her mobile phone with a flourish to show me Olympia is her screen saver. So what about her family? Were they pleased when she got the place? ‘I was really lucky in

I wondered what kind of experience it was going to LCF for her interview. ‘I was so nervous. I knew it would be a big competition. I stayed up the whole night before the presentation preparing. When you arrive you all sit in one place and you’re there looking at everyone else’s stuff. It was really intimidating. I was the only King’s person there. We were asked to open our portfolios and then leave the room. I didn’t see them looking at them so I didn’t see any reaction. I had heard all sorts of rumours that they would only skim through them, or maybe only look at a few pages which is really annoying when you’ve spent so much time working on them. There were twenty people applying and they only spent 30 minutes looking at them so I wondered whether they had only looked at one page. I then had to select my favourite pieces and make a presentation. I selected the hoodie. I was the first one in but I got no feedback at all! There were two teachers there, all they said was ‘thank you very much, next person.’ I had to wait three weeks for the results.’ So what’s Yeshel Park’s next step – to be the next big designer? Her wide smile when I ask her if she’s going to be the next Vera Wang is all the answer I need. This girl is going to go far. I wonder if she’ll sell me one of her sketches? To see more of Yeshel’s work, click here

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Lent 2010

trips and expeditions

Trips and expeditions The Fifths’ Spanish Trip to Barcelona Jamie McPhie and Elizabeth Morcom (Fifth CY) On Saturday we met at the airport with Señor Bruna and Señorita Cerda. After a long wait we got into Duty Free and were able to buy some presents for the Spanish families with whom we would spend Sunday. The flight went well and we landed in a very dark, very rainy Barcelona. We were taken home in our pairs and enjoyed a good night’s rest before the busy Sunday. We got up early on the Sunday morning to go to the Generalitat, the Catalan Government, to watch a video and have a tour. The buildings and decorations had been affected by the political occurrences in Barcelona and Catalonia’s history and it was fascinating. We then went to a Spanish school and were invited to eat some local cuisine that had been prepared for us by the families of the students in the year below us. After being introduced, we went, on our own or in small groups, with a family to spend the rest of the day with them. We did a variety of activities, from visiting the Aquarium to buying a kilo of churros con chocolate to seeing a nudist beach in the very centre of Barcelona! The families were all wonderfully generous and did their best to make us feel at ease with the sudden total immersion into Spanish. That morning we had the task of finding the Language School where we were going to study Spanish over the next five days. We were split into two sets and had lessons based on the planned itinerary for that day. Through the course we learned many things about Spanish history and culture. We had planned to go on a boat trip in the harbour but when we came out

of our restaurant and walked through Las Ramblas it started to rain so we changed our plans and went shopping in El Mare Magnum while the teachers got us tickets to the IMAX to see a film about conserving the Ocean’s wildlife. After the film we walked to El Barrio Gótico and ate churros con chocolate in a packed café down one of the side streets. On Tuesday we had one of the busiest days of the trip. We went Barcelona’s most famous temple, La Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudi. We went on a tour where we discovered that it will not be finished for another thirty years. Although it is not finished, it remains beautiful with many different facades and towers. After having visited the Sagrada Familia, we went to the Museum of Pablo Picasso where we were able to see how his style of art changed as he got older, while his paintings remained original and innovative. The next day after our morning lessons had finished we returned to the school to meet up with students studying English and to see how the school worked – it was a cooperative. Then, the moment all the boys had been waiting for arrived when we went to the Nou Camp, F.C.Barcelona´s football stadium. We started in the shop where many different items were bought such as Barcelona shirts, shorts and flags. Then we saw a surprise, the name of Señor Bruna on one of the walls of the stadium. All former players have their names on one of the walls inside the stadium. The club museum was very interesting and interactive, and we were able to watch clips of Barcelona’s past glories. Unfortunately there was no match on but had there been a match we would have gone to see it. Despite this, the view from the top of the stadium was spectacular. We finished the day with a surprise; thanks to the connections of Señor Bruna we could watch a handball game between Barcelona and a team from Madrid that was exhilarating.

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On Thursday, for the first time during the trip, it was warm and sunny so we decided to do a tour of the port. We saw how the port worked and we saw one of the most controversial hotels in Barcelona. The hotel looks like the Burj hotel in Dubai, but many Spaniards feel it is illegal because it violates a law that states that no skyscrapers can be built close to the beach and sea. However, there is no doubt that it is beautiful. After the boat tour we had lunch by the sea on the beach. We ate a typical Spanish lunch of a Serrano ham or omelette sandwich with Spanish doughnuts as a pudding. There was a long walk after lunch to the Park Güell which is in one of the highest parts of the city and the escalators didn’t work! When we arrived there were many interesting sites and one could see the entire sprawling city from the peak of the park. That evening we went to see Casa Batlló, one of the buildings that showed us the Catalan Modernism of Gaudí. Despite its quirkiness it was interesting to see the style of Gaudí’s building inside for the first time. On the Friday morning we struggled to the Language School with our suitcases on the metro which was harder for some than others! We had our lessons and our lunch and we were

Lent 2010

given two hours of free time to shop. We then met one last time at the school to have our last exchange with a group of Spanish students who learn English there and after that we went to the airport where we took the plane and arrived safely back in England despite the severe turbulence after take-off. A huge thanks must go to Señor Bruna for organising this most enjoyable trip and for keeping us in check, and to Señorita Cerda and Mr Gardiner of Kent College who looked after us so well.

Trips and expeditions The History of Art Trip to Paris Amber Pryde (6b JR) Photographs by Camilla Syson (6a CY) With one forgotten passport, another student almost unavailable having overslept and the choice of which packed lunch to have at five in the morning, the sixth form History of Art students set off from Green Court, split between two mini buses to board the first Eurostar from Ebbsfleet International to the French capital for the day. Having arrived at la Gare de Nord, the

metro tickets for twenty teenagers pre-organised and the notion that a member of the group was not going to get off on the right stop strongly in all our minds, we reached our stop and got off Line 1 at Palais Royal Musée du Louvre, still fired up from our coffee kick at the station. On arrival at the Grande Galerie of the Louvre we walked along an immense hall – divided in two by a central tribune, past a cavalcade of French history paintings, many of which we had studied, with areas such as their patronage, compositional features and style included in our studies. Numerous paintings were presented on a staggering scale, of great and noble, shocking and terrifying events; seeing them in the flesh helped to consolidate the images we had previously seen courtesy of both Google and Mr Felton’s enormous library of books! The grand paintings that the museum holds were made mostly for the Salon, the French exhibition of new art that was the national stage for painters in the Revolutionary and Romantic eras. The two paintings which remained prominent, on reflection, were the survivors of a shipwreck losing their last shreds of hope as gargantuan waves bear down on their loosely slung together vessel in Géricault’s ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ and Napoleon who gives succour to the dying in Baron Gros’s ‘Battlefield of Eylau’. Having spent a couple of hours in the Louvre, the various groups dispersed for lunch. Secretly hoping to relax and refuel at either Les Deux Magots or Cafe Flore, by coincidence we ate at the most convenient place, a place we knew, the same busy restaurant as the previous year; staying loyal to tradition with another six orders of croque monsieur and pommes frites. In this neighbourhood, surrounded by elegant Parisian ladies, our deliciously moody waiter, after much agitation managed to split the bill between the six of us. We moved from upstairs to the seats outside the café, huddled under two heaters, absorbing the social, cultural and fashionable

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pulse of the city whilst admiring chic, immaculate Parisian passers-by. It was a trip to the bureau de tabac for sweets, Diet Coke and Mentos (pour desert) which seemed to please the majority of our group, unfortunately not for me, due to the Lent promise of ‘no sweets’. After regrouping, a photo of the History of Art students and teachers was taken in beautiful sunshine. We moved onto the Musée d’Orsay on the left bank of the Seine, where the sculptures of Rodin’s, ‘The Kiss’, ‘The Burghers of Calais’ and ‘The Gates of Hell’ were among the many that absorbed us the most. Manet’s painting of the female reclining nude ‘Olympia’ and the ‘Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe’ which caused such riots in Paris in the nineteenth century were highlights of my trip, and on reflection, the detail in the painting still has clarity, it even made the wallpaper picture on my phone for a couple of hours! A visit to the Pompidou and more free time to explore the charm of the city concluded with le diner in a quaint narrow street, an Italian restaurant completed a fantastic day in Paris.

Lent 2010

Our thanks go to Mr. Felton and Miss Francis for organizing the trip. It was suitably interesting and insightful and undeniably beat a day at school!

The Shell and Remove Trip to Naples Edward Thomas (Shell CY) On Wednesday, 24th March a group of excited Shell and Remove classicists had an early lunch at school and left from Union Street, bound for Gatwick Airport. We were flying with British Airways and we had been concerned that the trip would be cancelled due to cabin crew strikes but fortunately our flight was safe. By the time we arrived at Naples Airport it was late evening and after an hour long journey by coach we arrived out our accommodation, the Hotel Oriente at Vico Equense. Having eaten a very belated (and welcome!) dinner in the hotel’s dining room we went to bed, exhausted by the day’s travelling. The hotel may not have

Trips and expeditions Day Two After an early breakfast we were ready to start a day-long excursion to Paestum along the Amalfi coast. Our first stop was Positano, an elegant town perched on the side of a cliff, where we were given a good opportunity for photographs. We continued along the winding coastal road, heading east, until we reached Amalfi where we ate exotic ice creams and went shopping in the bright Mediterranean sun. After an hour or so we got back on the coach and began the final leg of the journey, to Paestum.

been as luxurious as we were used to but it served its purpose!

Day One On the first proper day of our holiday we journeyed to Oplontis, where we looked round a Roman villa. Despite it having been covered by volcanic ash and rock for hundreds of years, much of it was still intact, including parts of the roof. We then went to Pompeii where, for lunch, we had our first Italian pizza of the trip. Somewhat surprisingly it was quite different from the pizza usually served in Britain but it was nonetheless delicious! We spent the afternoon looking around Pompeii in small groups. Like Oplontis, it was almost strange how 2000-year-old buildings were still standing. No wonder there were so many tourists about, it really was a sight worth seeing. We returned to the Oriente where we enjoyed a relaxing evening, a good supper and a long nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep.

In a way it was a shame to be cooped up inside the coach but the breathtaking sea views took our minds off it. When we eventually reached Paestum we had another round of good Italian food and visited the ancient site we had come to see: namely, three exceptionally wellpreserved temples. Following the long trip back to the hotel we watched the Tarantella cultural show in Sorrento. It seemed a slightly bizarre display, but this was probably due to our lack of fluency in Italian.

Day Three The third day of our trip was no less actionpacked than the first two. Having seen an amphitheatre from the Flavian period we visited Solfatara where the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crust is very thin and underground volcanic activity brings about fumaroles (steam vents) and sulphur deposits. Unsurprisingly we were overwhelmed by the smell of rotten eggs given off by the sulphur. Mt. Vesuvius was our next stop. We had lunch halfway up and then walked some of the way to the crater. The scale of the volcano was huge and it was hard work climbing up the steep path, but the view at the top was enough of a reward: on

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one side was Vesuvius’s crater and on the other was a panorama of the Bay of Naples. We then travelled to the Naples National Archaeological Museum where, amongst the artefacts, we felt our presence did not please the rather sniffy museum guards. We took the hour-long journey back to the Oriente and had an evening looking round nearby Sorrento.

Day Four Our last classical site was Herculaneum, another town which had been covered by Vesuvius’s eruption of AD 79. Amongst other things we saw 2000-year-old wood in the open air – instead of decomposing it had been carbonised by the eruption and preserved. We had our last Italian meal (more pizza) and then returned to the airport where we caught our flight back to Gatwick. It had been a very good trip but we were all glad to be home – we just missed the sun!

Lent 2010

The Spanish Trip to Granada by Hannah Benton (6b BR) On April 11th our group of 9 King’s students, Mr and Mrs Armstrong and Señor Allen arrived in Granada, a small city in the south of Spain placed at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Señorita Crawshaw and her two children Freddie and Rosie greeted us in the airport. Soon after arriving we were whisked off to meet our host families with whom we stayed for the week. Our first full day welcomed us to the beautiful city with bright blue skies. Following morning lessons and lunch in a typically Spanish restaurant we set off to explore the oldest part of the city – the Albaicín – a labyrinth of secluded plazas and alleyways boasting beautiful elements of Arabic architecture. Monday to Friday followed the same routine of morning lessons, lunch and then an afternoon activity while getting to know the city and speaking lots of Spanish. Other expeditions also included an idyllic trip to the Alhambra Palace - one of Granada’s most famous attributes – where we feasted on a Spanish picnic up in the hills outside the palace before exploring

Trips and expeditions

the vast expanse of magical buildings and gardens it entailed. We also visited Cathedrals and a Monastery, learning about the fascinating history of the city which was the last Spanish city to surrender to the invasion of the Catholic monarchy in 1492. On one not so sunny day we set off out of the city to the Alhama de Granada – some of the surrounding countryside. Here we visited some hot springs where, despite the rain, some of the pupils couldn’t resist a dip in the clear warm water. Wet and cold we set off further into the countryside to visit the Crawshaw Family House where Lubo (the most manly and Spanish Spaniard you can imagine) and Padre Crawshaw himself barbequed us a meat feast of rabbit, sausages and goat – of which some of us were later recommended to eat the brains (and all regretted!).

Two days before we were due to fly home we were confronted with the news that our flight had been cancelled due to the Volcano in Iceland. Remaining relatively calm we 9 students set off, once again, up into the Sacromonte and enjoyed a drink in a local bar set into one of the caves. Meanwhile Señorita Crawshaw and Señor Allen frantically searched for ways to get us home. With the little option that was available we were lucky to get everyone booked onto a coach that would take us from Granada, via Bilboa, stopping in Paris and finally arriving in Calais where we got on the ferry to cross over to Dover, only 2 days later than we had originally planned to arrive home. The journey took over 36 hours in total but everyone was in very high spirits when we finally arrived in Dover after an extremely enjoyable week away!

One evening we set off up into the Sacromonte, another charming region, famous for its flamenco, extraordinary inhabited caves and some of the best views of the city. Here we enjoyed an extremely dramatic flamenco show and afterwards went out to experience some of the night life for which Granada is famous.

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DRAMA

Lent 2010

Drama

‘Two Views of a Panto’: The Luxmoore and Linacre House Play - Aladdin DJF and Lucy Warr (Shell LX) Doctor Pidoux’s cunningly crafted creation offered comforting corn alongside the arrestingly zany. In this improbable tonic to Lent Term blues, dramatic, musical and choreographic genres cohabited effortlessly, Dickensian declamation segued into slapstick, the traditional lay down with the alternative, and Dave Lee met Christopher Lee. It was rustic, well-spiced and subtle fare, washed down with a big fat barolo which had the bubble and bite of a vintage sekt. The leads anchored the piece (if they could not quite sell a plot which even Ripley would have rejected as unbelievable) with energy and finesse. Freddy Hare played the craven-hearted Abanazar with endearing honesty, while his nemesis, Henry Hamilton’s diamond geezer in a wig, proved the night’s star comic turn. Rose macLachlan’s jilted witch was vocally and visually stunning. Deliciously dressed, Meriel Day (Empress) and Alex Todd (Emperor) were confident and characterful, and skilful foils to their petulant daughter, Jasmine, masterfully

played by India Lyons. Seb Payne relaxed into his role as Aladdin with winning charm, and sang superbly. The trio of Widow Twankey (Gabby Carboneri), Wishy (Sam Attwood) and Washy (Stephanie Sy Qia) provided the most unreconstituted of panto parts in this otherwise fresh spin on a laundry house staple, and their playing was colourful and cohesive. Harry Ludbrook’s camp genie brought a whimsical air to proceedings with his Caledonian lilt, while the musical cameos of Laura Bartley’s Annie and Lucy Knight’s Dorothy were richly melodious. As the pace intensified and travesty was heaped on travesty, Zoe Bromfield (Puss), Sophie Knight (Buttons), Hannah Goldsmith (Cinders), Rebecca Spayne (Marilyn) and Fadekemi Ogunsanya (second genie) contributed with variety and rapport. In the dance numbers, monkeys, line dancers, ghouls and ghosts trod the boards with vibrancy and vitality (directed by Gabby and Victoria Outram),while the band played throughout with sensitivity and panache. The breathless audience emerged elated by this memorably entertaining and effervescent production.

A Pupils’ Eye Lucy Warr

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Dr Pidoux’s pantomime was performed in the Shirley Hall on the weekend of January 30th. The show starred Seb Payne in the title role, India Lyons, Freddy Hare, Gabby Carboneri, Sam Attwood and Stephanie Sy-Quia.

The hall was about half full with grinning parents and young, excited siblings, as well as a number of pupils. Eventually the chatter died down as Mr Outram came before the audience to introduce the show. The lights were dimmed and the show began. Within five minutes a song was playing, people were laughing and the actors were dancing along to the rhythm, throwing laundry into the applauding arms of the audience.

falsetto-ing his way through an epic rendition of Michael Jackson’s Bad and turning the audience against him with his sinister pursuit of Lyons’ Princess Jasmine. His struggle to smuggle her back to his lair, against the wishes of Jasmine and Aladdin, formed the basis of Dr Pidoux’s plot, into which were neatly woven various references to King’s.

Freddy Hare was a classic pantomime villain, hideously offensive but outrageously charming,

Lent 2010

During the interval, and after a good twenty minutes of selling or buying raffle tickets, people began to return to their seats. Aladdin emerged with the commanding and rambunctious Widow Twankey (Carboneri), the curvaceous Attwood as her daughter – several of the cast were outrageously made up in drag – and a few others. They then drew the raffle: numbers were called, winners jumped to their feet, people were applauded, comical jokes were made, helpers went to and from the table holding the prizes and the tub of tickets became empty. One winner was awarded two tickets to see the Royal Ballet, and gasps of approval and excitement could be heard. The tub was returned to the now empty prize table and the second half began. Throughout the next half the levels of humour increased yet further, meaning the whole atmosphere became light and carefree. Every song was accompanied by a dance, each wonderfully choreographed by Mrs Outram. Most were upbeat and jazzy but one, Princess Jasmine’s love song, was serene and accompanied by a graceful ballet duet by two Luxmoore Shells. The dances, which were usually an accompaniment to the solos (one lyrical duet between Jasmine and Aladdin stood out), involved the younger years of either house, and were memorable for

the vibrant energy and enthusiasm with which they were performed. There were several solos from the likes of Lucy Knight, who played The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy, while in a role better known to Aladdin experts, Harry Ludbrook made a hilarious cameo as one of the Genies (there were two: like matrons, they were on ‘split shifts’). There was a twist in the tale as the audience discovered the previously formidable Hare was scared of his mother. In a traditional conclusion, Aladdin was united with Jasmine, while Henry Hamilton, resplendent in pink right down to the lipstick, ended proceedings with a performance of ‘It’s Raining Men’, which, if not reaching the quality of tone and pitch of Geri Halliwell, was a fittingly uproarious finale. The applause was deafening as each actor arrived at the front of the stage for the curtain call. The entire cast stood on the stage grinning and enjoying the rush of congratulations being given by everyone attending. Theo Outram, whose earlier triangle accompaniment had won the hearts of the audience, led the performers off after they had thanked those behind the scenes: musical accompanists, backstage helpers, and Mr Tyndall and Dr Pidoux, whose hours of direction and dedication had inspired a hugely popular and highly enjoyable performance.

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drama The Grange and Walpole House Play: Gizmo CTN Gizmo was written by Alan Ayckbourn for the British Telecom National Connections project, organised by the Royal National Theatre. This production - directed by Miss Dover - was the latest offering from the theatrical component of Walpole and The Grange. It told the story of Ben (Teni Mobereola), who had experienced a trauma and been psychosomatically paralysed ever since; Gizmo is a device implanted in his brain that forces him to copy the exact movements of whoever is wearing the controlling watch-like device. The outcome is obvious: all of the wrong people end up wearing the ‘watch’ - including local thug, Rust (Seb Leggett); merciless physiotherapist, Nerys (Amy Chapman); and undercover cop, Cevril (Autumn WitheyStevens), and Ben ends up feeling as though the last thing he’s been given through the invention is more control! The greatest feat of the show was the physical alignment Teni Mobereola established with the different people controlling his movements; he cleverly and subtly mimicked mannerisms and stance to make it appear surprisingly natural. Likewise, those he had to copy worked well to stick to the carefully choreographed movements; this play had clearly had a lot of thought and rehearsal put into it! Short and effective, Gizmo was a classic ensemble piece, and although there were standout performances - Murat Gumus as the slimy mafia boss, Manny Rice; Rory Wilson as camp selfobsessed nurse, Ted Wilkins; Teni’s frustrated yet endearing Ben; and Autumn Withey-Stevens’ tough chick, Cevril - ultimately the whole piece

worked because even the minor characters gave their all. Without the rough, intimidating gang members in the park and the sombre medical research team, the dynamic of the show wouldn’t have worked so well. The result of the work that this sizeable cast and crew put in was an entertaining romp that utilised moments of slapstick not seen so much in this age of naturalism, and which relied on a quirky script and instinctive character development to engage its audience; parents and peers alike were delighted by the easy viewing provided, and appreciative of the clear theatrical integrity the piece held.

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drama The School House and Jervis House Play Emma Henderson (Fifth JR) Arsenic and Old Lace is a humorous play with a dark twist, which was tackled by a cast of School House and Jervis pupils, directed extremely well by Miss Mathews and Mr Mew. The play revolves around Mortimer Brewster (Joss Pritchard), a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. His family includes his two spinster aunts (Jessica Wingrad and Yasmin Hajilou) whose hobby is murdering lonely old men, and two brothers, one who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt (Hugo Hayes), and one a murderer (Ed Whitehead) whose plastic surgery (performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein (Harry Yeates) went very wrong, creating a sort of Frankenstein’s monster effect.

The quality of the acting was incredible. Jess and Yasmin ‘wowed’ the audiences with their flawless accents, Joss with his ‘smooth moves’ and Hugo with his downright outrageous outbursts. Of course praise must also be given to the hilarious policemen, Ed Williams (‘the gay one’) and Emily Aisher (‘the butch one’), who were an oxymoronic and very charismatic duo, and also the rest of the cast, who all did an excellent job, there is definite promise for the future Jervis/School House plays amongst the younger years. Rosie White also did a wonderful job as prop manager; and Louisa Low and Jane Philips were great lighting and sound directors. Many thanks are due to Miss Matthews and Mr Mew who worked so hard and made this possible. We hope that the next play with be even more of a success!

On the evenings of the performances the audiences waited, anticipation in the air, whilst being serenaded by somewhat dated music (which happened to fit the bill perfectly). Fortunately they were not let down. The cast had them crying with laughter at points and gasping in mock horror at others. After it all, everyone left St Mary’s with smiles on their faces and delight at the irony of the play; for while murder is not usually something to find amusement in, it was very hard not to laugh at the casual approach of the old sisters. However, it has to be said that the comedy highlight was seeing (and hearing) Charlie Carr dressed in a very short, black skirt, blond wig and stilettos. He was so convincing that many of the audience did not realise for some time that he was, in fact, male.

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music Lent 2010

the School house

The School House Charity Rock Concert Dimitri Gripari (Rem SH) Photos by Rachel Phipps (6b HH) As the Shirley Hall slowly filled up, people were barging and pushing to get the front spaces right next to the stage. Black and pink bracelets were being flashed to Felix Higgins’ big security crew and glow sticks, drinks and various other things were being sold in different corners of the hall. Mr Lascelles had transformed from his rather business-like self into a more relaxed Lower Master and some other teachers calmly looked over the excited students, eyeing up misbehaving enthusiasts and making sure everything ran smoothly. The lights dimmed and almost instantly everyone went crazy. Josh Freemont came on stage and gave an important but slightly unorthodox safety speech saying ‘If anyone is epileptic, you should probably leave now!’ Immediately Alex Keleris plugged in his guitar and started a loud, un-chorded sound and over the top of this huge noise, a drum beat was heard and Thais Martin came on stage followed by Tico Doubleday and Ed Whitehead. From the huge noise, a tune started to form and soon, almost everyone

recognised Michael Jackson’s famous ‘Beat It’. Thais got the crowd going and it was performed incredibly well. Soon after, Thais was followed by Dimitri Gripari, who sang ‘Love Is Only A Feeling’. Alice Gordon gave a very good performance of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ followed by Red Hot Chili Pepper’s ‘Can’t Stop’ with the help of Camellia Johnson. Rory Wilson came on for his first song and sang a very convincing version of Linkin Park’s ‘What I’ve Done’. Thais then came on for her second performance along with Seb Payne as they jumped around on stage singing Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Purple Haze’. Will Fenning, James Hearn and a sinister looking Teddy Crowe backed up the band with the bass, lead and second guitar.

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Charity rock concert

Jamie Edgcumbe-Rendle gave an incredible performance of ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’, which was definitely a favourite of the crowd followed by Sum 41’s ‘In Too Deep’. Dimitri Gripari came on again and sang Gun’s N’ Roses’ ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ with a great solo from Alex Keleris and had everyone singing along. Thais and Seb came on again to sing the School Of Rock hit ‘Zack’s Song’. I think the highlight of everyone’s night was seeing the legendary ‘man-with-no-face’, Robin Falcon, accompanied by Major Vintner and Dr. Scott as Oasis vs Greenday was played out followed by ‘Creep’. After about an hour and a half of rock music, there was a change of tack as Will EdgcumbeRendle and his band ‘Will and the People’ walked on stage. Their music was phenomenal and everyone was singing the catchy tunes within minutes of hearing the songs.

by Muse which had all the performers jumping around on stage and getting everyone involved. In total, the concert raised a huge £8690 for The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and it was all thanks to the great performers and the hard work of Alex Stephens, Josh Freemont and Mr. Thornby. Overall, it was a great success enjoyed by 650 King’s pupils

For more photos and an interview with the organiser, Alex Stephens, please click here

Thais Martin saved her best performance until last with AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’. Rory Wilson then came on again with ‘Sex Is On Fire’ by Kings Of Leon followed by Seb Payne and Poppy Coleman singing a school favourite ‘Don’t Stop Believing’. Jamie Edgcumbe-Rendle finished the night off with an amazing performance of ‘Plug In Baby’

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music Piano: The Chamber Orchestra Concert HROM This concert was superb, truly presenting the versatility of the pianoforte. A delighted audience was entertained by the melodic interplay between chamber orchestra, piano and ‘cello, in a wonderful repertoire of classical, romantic and contemporary music. We were treated to a true montage of sound, suggesting a range of colours and moods conjured from some fabulous playing of the school’s superb Steinway concert piano, with virtually perfect technique. The Mozart Concerto for Piano No.19 in F, featuring soloist, Yeshel Park, provided an excellent vehicle for her focus, commitment and deep involvement, set the concert off to a magical start. Yeshel’s fluent, quick, technical prowess, sustained the pace of allegro assai with innate rhythmic drive. From one of Mozart’s finest concertos, the mood switched to the romantic in another quick piece with Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D, Op.70 No1. Quite why this musical treat, representative of the major works of Beethoven’s greatest years, is called ‘The Ghost’ is puzzling, since conducted, allegro vivace e con brio, there is nothing ghostly about it. Featuring Jane Phillips - violin, Edmund Whitehead – ‘cello, and Jonathan Yip - piano, the ensemble played with great attention to the nuance of melodic interplay between the instruments. Again, our instrumentalists were very professional, providing through their focus, enthusiasm and virtually flawless playing, a wonderful interpretation of the power of each instrument, brilliantly expressing understanding of mood and style. The mood changed again with a switch from the ranges of the Classical and

Romantic, Bohemian and Germanic, in Mozart and Beethoven, to the more delicate edifice of lyrical English music at its best. Finzi’s Ecologue, Op.10, was beautifully played by Joseph Bourne, with some deeply thoughtful interpretation which brought out the intrinsic themes of joy and melancholy in the piece. It was very moving, and played so perceptively, took me to a beautiful place. We again moved forward in time to the very exciting contemporary prospect of the work of a young King’s composer. This was the world premiere of a wonderful piece composed by Jacob Ewens, played by Jacob himself on piano and accompanied by Christopher Loyn’s ‘cello, with the full chamber orchestra, entitled Elegy for Cello, Piano and Orchestra. This piece once again showed not only the beautiful interplay between instruments and orchestra, but the beginnings of a great talent for mood, character

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and expansive phrase. Jacob’s composition, which for me bears comparison with the music of John Williams, took flight with moments that would melt the coldest heart, just like a great film score. The inspiration and technical prowess imparted by this young King’s composer suggests that his future career will be one to follow. Yet if Jacob’s Elegy deserved to bring the audience to its feet, the finale, Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano No.2 in B flat, Op. 19, allegro con brio, featuring Charles Dalton on piano, lacked nothing for creativity in phrasing, nuances in articulation, heroism in theme, and as a sheer test of stamina. Charles’s interpretation of this monumental edifice, playing without music, was simply stunning. It showed great flair and his understanding of the piece was reflected by total physical commitment. Altogether the standard of performance in this excellent concert was impressive, mature and of the highest level. It certainly demonstrated in a wonderful tour de force, the flexibility and multi-faceted capabilities of the piano. The sheer professionalism and sense of enjoyment expressed throughout in the interplay of instrumentalists and impressive (35 member) King’s Chamber Orchestra, is a huge tribute to the success of King’s Music and the Conductor, Mr Andrew Pollock.

‘A Night at the Opera’: The King’s School Choral Society MTG It cannot be often that a hall filled with parents and teachers looks on passively as pupils, sons and daughters of all ages take part in an uproarious drinking song and tell us that love combined with wine ‘will make the kisses hotter’. That, at least, is how ‘A Night at the Opera’ ended, having previously traced a number of

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more refined sentiments. Nonetheless, the joy and vigour of this final chorus marked the spirit throughout of a concert that ranged from illicit love and immoral seduction to the innocent simplicity of rural life and the joys of freedom. The lively and challenging overture from Rossini’s Thieving Magpie established all the atmospheric excitement of the opera house from the very start, the complex and continually shifting melodies handled skillfully by both the conductor, Stephen Barlow, and the orchestra. This was followed by the first of three ‘peasant’ choruses that provided an ideal counterpart to the more intimate and personal solo arias. Like the Brindisi that ended the concert, the anvil chorus from Il Trovatore extols the virtues of good wine alongside those of hard work and gypsy women. The joyous punctuated refrain showed off the full strength of orchestra and chorus combined, powerfully introducing us to the composer who was to dominate the rest of the concert and who was responsible for the next famous song, ‘The Chorus of the Hebrew slaves’. When Verdi was rehearsing for the first performance of Nabucco, so the story goes, the labourers building the set in the grand theatre were so moved hearing the chorus sing ‘Va, Pensiero, sull’ali dorate’ that they abandoned their work and started applauding and hammering their tools in appreciation. The appeal to the imagination to ‘fly on golden wings’ and set a people free from physical oppression speaks for more than just the Hebrew slaves, as the stage hands in La Scala clearly understood, and it is testament to the power of Verdi’s tune that even out of context it can captivate and charm its audience. For there is no doubt that this was one of the highlights of an evening filled with wonderful music. A melody that can easily become turgid and dirge-like was maintained with grace and feeling, and the impressive balance between high and low voices sustained the delicate texture. Neither overbearing then, nor meek, the performance carried the psalminspired libretto to the audience with clarity

music and distinction over the top of the delicate and fluid orchestral accompaniment. The first of the arias, ‘O mio bambino caro’, provides one of the only sincere expressions of love in an opera that otherwise deals almost exclusively with deceit and greed, and it was treated with sensitivity and precision by soprano Kate Valentine. Indeed, at times the hall did not feel quite big enough for the full expanse of her voice and it was magnificently overpowering when she was joined by tenor John McMunn in the next song. In contrast with the boisterous partying, ‘Un di felice’ presented the tragic and romantic side of La Traviata and both soloists seemed immersed in the opera’s romance as the hedonistic Violetta spurns Alfredo’s love. The complex counterpoint between tenor and soprano was sustained in perfect balance throughout and maintained the sense of dialogue that Verdi had carefully conjured through his interweaving lines. Orchestra and choir joined forces impressively for the two final choruses of the first half, the audience inevitably humming the triumphal march from Aida as they left the hall for the interval. The vital coordination of trumpets in this last song was perfectly balanced and their power supported and urged on the rest of the orchestra into the final uplifting chorus. The second half began like the first by showcasing the talent of the orchestra. Suites derived from opera are notoriously difficult as they make unusually virtuosic demands of players and often rely more heavily on the woodwind, brass and percussion sections than most symphonic works. But the difficulties of the music were easily overcome and all the wistful seduction and macho bravado of Carmen surfaced from the carefully handled textures, and the famous melodies and arias

sung out from the woodwind over the lucid and well-defined string accompaniment. Considering how so much opera seems to deal with illicit love and adultery it is unusual to hear a heroine sing in earnest of how she wishes to win her own husband’s love. ‘Porgi amor’ is one of the most touching of all Mozart’s arias and yet it avoids any sentimentality through the quiet passion and simple virtue of the countess, betrayed once again by the lecherous count, yet hoping still to reestablish his love. The plaintive beauty of the aria was mesmerising and Kate Valentine’s rendition deeply moving. Despite standing and singing with neither costume nor set, it felt as if the full tragedy of her situation was acted out in front of us. Equally impressive but with a different force was John McMunn’s performance of ‘Un aura amorosa’. Towards the end of the first act of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte the lover Ferrando serenades the beauty Fiordiligi, claiming that ‘a loving breath’ from her is the only thing that can bring him solace. But the

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scene is not as conventional as it may appear, for the disguised tenor is actually trying to seduce the fiancée of his best friend. It may be surprising that a song that sounds so sincere is in fact entirely disingenuous, yet it is no surprise that he ultimately succeeds in his seduction, for no comic opera heroine could have resisted this earnest and heartfelt performance. Just before the final drinking song the girls of the chorus had the opportunity to prove that their voices were no weaker than the boys’ with the chorus of the peasant girls from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, expressing innocence and rustic simplicity and sung with clarity and feeling. This cool yet energetic melody provided a suitably calm few minutes before the rowdy ‘Brindisi’ rounded off the concert by combining soloists, chorus and orchestra for one final riotous outburst. It was a great privilege for the pupils to be directed by such an experienced opera conductor and to sing alongside two such talented professionals, and together these three provided a wonderful model for the many gifted soloists amongst the pupils. But ultimately the greatest achievement was that of the orchestra and chorus en masse. Rather than showcasing individual talent, ‘A Night at the Opera’ demonstrated something even more impressive and even more of a cause for celebration: a common and shared pursuit of excellence. Not only was this concert highly enjoyable for the audience, who could nod and tap along to the most famous and well-known opera tunes, for the pupils it was a triumph of quality and quantity, with a significant proportion of the school involved in celebrating the vital communal and collaborative spirit of music.

The Bailey House Concert

‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to sing an Italian song entitled ‘Lasciatemi Morire.’ And so opened the first musical concert of Bailey House, held on the evening of 6th February in the Peter Stone Room. That which followed charmed and enthralled the audience. The concert was enriched by the wide variety of musical instruments - clarinet, alto saxophone, violin, harp, you name it - and the diversity of performance ranged from Harriet Grylls’ classical vocal solo to the contemporary duet of Olivia Mastin and Amelia Parker accompanied by their own guitars. More importantly, the engaging atmosphere and smiles of genuine enjoyment that prevailed throughout made this evening a real delight. The concert reached its climax with the performance of the Disney Medley, newly composed and handwritten by Heidi Ho for the instruments we could offer, and finished with a moving rendition of our House Song, Hallelujah. Closing the door of Peter Stone Room, all of us were overwhelmed with joy, exhaustion, and most of all, pride. Pride in a house that could pull together to put on a concert of such diversity and quality, when we only have twenty girls. Pride, in fact, in being Bailey girls!

Stephanie Tung (6a BY)

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music The Galpin’s and Harvey House Concert Jonathan Stewart (6a GL) Having been put under a fair amount of pressure to deliver the best concert in recent years, it was a relief that the acts did not disappoint. First up was Harvey’s entry for the House Song competition, Imogen Heap’s ‘Hide and Seek’, which won them a commendable joint third place under the baton of Yeshel Park. It was great to hear the range of dynamic contrast throughout the song. The sopranos sang the high notes with relative ease, and it was clear to see that the girls enjoyed singing it; although it may not have been quite up to their House Song rendition, it was truly worthy of third place, which has been Harvey’s highest finish for some years. Well done to Harvey! Next we heard Will Pargeter playing the first movement of Albinoni’s Oboe concerto. The tone of the oboe has never been easy to master, but Will did very well, sounding like a true baroque oboist; his technical playing was also impressive. He was followed by Thais Martin singing ‘New Soul’, accompanied by Rachel Castola on the piano. Thais’ voice is always a pleasure to hear, and she also showed good musicality; we look forward to hearing her sing in the Jazz Concert in King’s Week. Will Fairbairn then played two Gershwin tunes on the piano: ‘The Man I Love’ and ‘I Got Rhythm’ (or ‘I got rid of them’, as was printed by James Hynard in the programme...) Speaking from personal experience, I know that Gershwin’s personal reduction of ‘I Got Rhythm’ is fiendishly difficult to play but Will made the descending runs seem effortless. A bright future in the musical world surely beckons... The next

piece, Pleyel’s ‘Duet no. 5’ for two clarinets, was played by Erica Sutherland and Fionnuala Halfacre. It was encouraging to hear so many different styles of music throughout the night, and this was well played with good phrasing. Since the era of Mini Pound and Archie Ahern, a Flanders and Swann song has been a tradition of the Galpin’s and Harvey concerts; this year’s comics were Henry Pritchard and Will Pargeter singing their classic ‘Hippopotamus Song’, accompanied by Jonny Stewart on the piano. Fresh from his Albinoni success, Will’s high falsetto Russian was one of the highlights of the night and Henry’s light tenor complemented Will’s more bassy voice well. Olivia Maisel then played Edmund Severn’s ‘Polish Dance’ on the violin. This piece was originally intended as a ‘teaching piece’ and not necessarily for aural pleasure: however Olivia not only showed her technical ability but also made it an enjoyable listening experience. Following that, we had an original song from Jamie Edgecumbe-Rendle, called ‘One Man Band’; somewhat ironically, his band also included Teddy Crow on the bass and Tim Humphries on drums. We also had the unexpected surprise of Tradescant’s James Hearn as lead guitarist. Jamie’s voice is easy on the ear without being dull and he has a real talent for song writing. Equally pleasurable in its way was Mozart’s ‘A Musical Joke’ for three flutes, played by Maya Kolade, Fiona Jenkinson and Abi Aird. They complemented each other well, each taking their turn with the tune and conveying the intended light-heartedness of the music. Max Rex’s double bass provided a different element to the concert; although we had heard Teddy Crow’s electric bass earlier, a double bass is not often used as a solo instrument. Max played ‘Sonata’ by Vivaldi with intensity and the sound was easy to hear, which is difficult to

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manage with a double bass. He was followed by Kirsty and Lucy Duncanson. Accompanied once again by Rachel Castola, they sang Bobby Scott’s ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’. Both Kirsty and Lucy have great musical potential for the future, with impressive low and high ranges as well as good tone, and the harmony sections were quite breathtaking. It was a hard act to follow, which was left to Jonny Stewart playing the first movement of ‘Sonata in F minor’ by Brahms. Having first played this piece with Mr Matthews five years ago for his music scholarship audition, it was nice to perform it together once more. Thanks must go to Mr Matthews, who also accompanied Olivia Maisel; he is a wonderful accompanist and musician, and does so much for King’s music which is often under-appreciated. The last solo performance was left to Yeshel Park, playing Chopin’s ‘Fantasie-Inpromptu’. Yeshel’s fingers moved like blurs across the ivories yet she still managed to play with a remarkable tenderness and control. Few can match her technical skill at the piano. It was now the turn of Galpin’s to reprise their House Song 1st place triumph with ‘Africa’ by Toto; the dynamic control and contrast throughout the piece was unbelievable for a group of mostly untrained singers, indeed bettering many of the a cappella versions that one finds

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on YouTube. Fred Wilson-Haffenden was an excellent director who drew the very best out of Galpin’s. The night was rounded off by the close harmony group’s ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’, sung by Kirsty and Lucy Duncanson, Flossy McAslan, Katie Burden, Cessa Tapp and Milly Hamilton from Harvey, and Henry Pritchard, Will Stonehewer-Smith, Dan Wilson, Will Pargeter, Jonny Stewart and Fred Wilson-Haffenden from Galpin’s. The concert lived up to its previous high expectations; thanks must go to Mrs Cocksworth and Mr Hutchings for organising it and Mr Barton Hodges for his help with the technical equipment. Roll on 2011.

‘Festal Flourish’: The Meister Omers House Concert TJA The evening got off to a rousing start with a performance of this year’s MO house song, ‘In the Jungle’, admirably conducted by Theo Bamber. Thereafter, Mr Miles, Master of Ceremonies, impresario, director (musical and dramatic) and

Music originator of the term Festal Flourish, rose to explain that this denotes an evening of themed entertainment, festal in the sense of festive, and a flourish in the sense of what trumpets and actors do. Of course. So, since Education was the festal theme, a reference to Rousseau justified ‘In the Jungle’ as first number. But of course! There followed a world première of a composition by Mr Matthews – a real high point this year as so often. The theme was the five stages of the life of a King’s pupil, and each movement admirably caught the spirit of each of the school years. The first of these exquisite and witty miniatures, perfectly honed for the performers, was based on a mocking daa-daa-de-daa-daa, successfully capturing the excited cheek of the thirteen-year-old: light and charming orchestral textures with busy rhythms were decorated by a tricky glockenspiel part well managed by Jonathan Yip. The brooding and sleazy malaise of the slothful and moody Remove year was expressed by means of a heavy, creeping jazz bass-line over which brass and woodwind hinted at the nightclubs of at least some Removes’ dreams. Next came the Hispanic (I wonder why) cowboy theme of the Young Colt Fifth Formers, and then a schmaltzy evocation of the romantic 6b, gazing lovingly into the dewy, doe-like eyes of an adoring paramour; suggestions of film music hinted at the pupil-in-love’s yearning to star in the definitive film about himself. Star Wars, rather than Love Story, was the atmosphere struck by the final, fantastically feel-good movement: the stately, witty and clever March & Fugue of the 6as did, however, telling return to the cocked snook in the coda. The piece was extremely well performed and thoroughly enjoyed for its skill, humour and tunefulness, as well as the moments of wistful pathos. Next came an excerpt from Giles Cooper’s Unman, Wittering & Zigo. Nick Hands was not

typecast as a Headmaster, of course, but he rose to the challenge admirably as he introduced a new teacher (Hector Dyer) to the kind of class all young teachers dread, played by eight other boys from the house. Hector remained admirably dignified as the class tried every trick in the schoolboy’s book to upstage him, until at last it emerged that they might have killed their previous form teacher. The mixture of menace and humour was well conveyed by this admirable joint effort, characterised by great clarity of delivery and excellent timing. It was fascinating to see how schoolboys-playing-schoolboys saw themselves. My one criticism of the next act, the Educated Barbershop quartet, was that they only performed two numbers. Theo Bamber, Harry Purvis, Charlie Dalton and Robert Stephen not only possess excellent voices for this sort of music, they also have a real musicality which enables them to listen to one another in such a way as to create that lovely, authentic barbershop resonance. In addition, the stage act was delightful, with excellent posturing performed with military precision and to great

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comic effect. The arrangement of Tom Lehrer’s ‘Bright College Days’ by Mr Miles, originally a piano song, was very impressive and deserves to become a classic of the genre. I could have listened to them all night! Jake Hewitt deserves particular mention for his acting of the lion during the following item, the Albert and the Lion monologue, well known to all Home Service listeners in the sixties. His capers were a splendid counterpoint to the dramatic reading of Hector Dyer, in a convincing northern accent, and mime interpolations of the other dramatis personae. Mr Matthews’ old-time cinema piano accompaniment to this piece was remarkable both for content and timing. Next came Ernst Toch’s Geographical Fugue, a bizarre, possibly dada-inspired piece that many of us remember from somewhere, way back, when. One forgets what a curious piece it is, and it was good to see younger pupils around me lapping it up. The precision with which the actors, Henry Fryzer, Maxim Del Mar, Samuel Hewitt and Kit Irwin performed it was remarkable: the structure of the form of the fugue was always clear to the listener, and the dead-pan faces of the actors, despite bursts of hysterical audience laughter, were exemplary. The next piece was an ambitious extract from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. The setting was early twentieth century England rather than seventeenth century France, an idea which

worked well. The scenes, reworked in the English translation from the first two acts, were performed with great gusto. Jonathan Yip and Nicholas Hilton were splendidly foppish Dance and Music Masters respectively and Edward macLachlan and Alexandre Kent were convincingly effete Philosophy and Fencing Masters. The star of the show was undoubtedly Rupert Hill, whose reading of Mr Jordan as a thick but vulnerable parvenu Essex gangster really did throw an interesting and memorable light on the part. The evening ended with two musical items. First came the traditional rendition (for Festal Flourishes) of a Wilfrid Sanderson (great grandfather of Mr [Geography] Sanderson) song, in this case ‘Drake Goes West’, a rumbustious Victorian sea-faring anthem entirely irrelevant to Mr Newbury’s former status as Head of Spanish. By contrast, the final number, kept secret from Mr Newbury, was the closing scene of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, where a graduation speech ends with the students breaking into ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone!’ This, of course, did have everything to do Mr Newbury’s footballing heart, and left him choked – mission accomplished! Consolation and celebration were found in Mrs Newbury’s excellent tapas and splendid Spanish wines, festively consumed amongst much convivial and well deserved mutual congratulation. There, in the Social Centre, it was agreed by all, from Festal veterans to Festal first-timers that, yet again, the Flourish had flourished. A splendid evening was enjoyed by all thanks to the hard and unobtrusive work of the boys of the house and in particular Messrs Matthews and Miles.

To read Kit Irwin’s review of the MO concert, please click here.

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Music The Tradescant and Broughton House Concert Hannah Benton (6b BR) It is evenings like the Broughton and Tradescant House Concert that liven up what can otherwise be a slightly gloomy and miserable Easter Term. The evening commenced with a full house rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to Beetle Gage and continued in a similar, lighthearted vein. When encouraged to perform at events like this it is amazing to see quite how many incredibly talented pupils there are. The music performed ranged from instrumental solos such as Alex Pye’s exquisite rendition of Ludivico Einaudis’s ‘Bella Notta’ to more contemporary favorites such as ‘Brimful of Asha’ performed by Freddy Clode, Lucy Baker and James Hearn. Poppy Coleman seduced the crowd with her performance of ‘Turn me on’ by Norah Jones, then their hearts were melted by Gen Master’s and Hattie Wilson’s rendition of Colbie Caillat’s ‘Bubbly’, while everyone was kept amused but the evening’s compère - Harry Buggé. As well the various solo performances and duets the evening also boasted the debut of the The

Broughton House Choir (Anna Isworth, Lucy Baker, Aggie Chambre and Poppy Coleman) and Tradescant House Choir (Joe Bourne, Jack Masters, Sam Slattery and Jacob Ewens) who individually arranged and performed some highly impressive pieces.

Carlyon House Concert Amanda Thomas (Fifth CY) This year the Carlyon House Concert took place at 7.30 on the 27th of February in St Mary’s Hall, a new venue. As usual the audience were treated to a variety of musical and other items performed by members of the house of all ages. Mr Holland started the event with a brief welcome, explaining that this year’s concert was particularly important for the house, as this year’s 6as are the first year group to have been all through Carlyon, starting in Shell. The first performer was Eleanor Warnick, on the guitar. She played a ‘Lágrima’ by Tarrega, followed by a traditional Spanish piece without a name, for which she used a different instrument because of the techniques involved. She did herself credit in these enjoyable Iberian tunes, bringing a sunny touch to the hall. Next was

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another seasoned Carlyon performer, Charlotte Mosely, in her first appearance of several in the evening. In this case she played the ‘Alegro’ from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in F, with her customary virtuosity. This was followed by a piece from Purcell’s Birthday Ode for Queen Mary, ‘Sound the Trumpet’. Mr Ionascu accompanied Elizabeth Morcom and Amanda Thomas in this duet for two singers. Alex Davis was next, playing on the clarinet an arrangement of the aria ‘Voi Che Sapete’ from Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro. His interpretation made the most of the singing melody and was very creditable. Another wind instrument came afterwards, this time the trombone, played by George Pughe. He gave an entertaining performance of ‘Keep Young and Beautiful’ and clearly enjoyed the jazzy style. Two of the younger members of the house then played a short duet called ‘Razzle Dazzle’. John Gabriel (on bassoon) and Edward Thomas (on clarinet) almost lived up to their nickname of the house Jedward! This was followed by a more sophisticated item; Charlotte Mosely and Mr Sanderson playing flute duet arrangements of the ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ and the ‘Dance of the Reed Flutes’ from Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker. It was an excellent performance, and many members of the house were surprised to see Mr Sanderson’s hidden talent. Toby Sinclair on saxophone then took to the stage to play ‘Take Five’ by Dave Brubeck, in superb swinging style. After this Emily Gayler sang ‘Defying Gravity’ from the musical Wicked, showing her customary tunefulness. Another unknown talent came forward afterwards in the form of Alex Rose, who accompanied himself on the piano while singing ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’. His singing and playing were both thoroughly enjoyable. The sole nonmusical item wa s next; Harriet Muir-Little and

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Jess Hughes made a very amusing reading of the poem ‘The Lion and Albert’ by Marriott Poe. Tom Kitney then gave a sinister rendition of ‘My Friends’ from Sweeney Todd. As he explained, the title refers to the evil barber’s collection of razors. He sang with great expression, and brought out the full menace of the words. He was then joined by Amelia Liddell to sing ‘The Song That Goes Like This’ from Spamalot. The innate humour of this item was added to when Mr Ionascu revealed that there had been a photocopying error, and they had to sing the second half again. Fortunately it only increased the audience’s appreciation of the song’s wit, and both performers are to be commended for their acting and singing. Two more 6as were next, Aakash Dega and Sean Harbison. Aakash introduced the item by saying that he couldn’t play the guitar but was doing so because ‘no-one wants to hear me sing’! However he showed that he very definitely could play the guitar, and he and Sean, who was singing, gave an excellent performance of ‘I Will Follow You into the Dark’ by Death Cab for Cutie. Next all the 6as lightened the atmosphere, after that slightly gloomy song, in an upbeat version of ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey, which was great fun. As is traditional, the last item in the concert was the house song. This year it was ‘Happy Together’ by The Turtles, and the recent rehearsals seemed to have worked in getting the song back up to performable standard, even though it was several months after the competition. I think even the less enthusiastic singers of the house enjoyed this final performance, and it seemed to go down well with the audience. Mr Holland brought things to a close with a vote of thanks to Mr Ionascu for his accompaniments and to the performers, and then there was an opportunity for the audience and members of the house to meet informally. All in all it was a fantastic evening which was enjoyed by both the audience and the performers.

Music The Marlowe House Concert PRBH On Saturday 6th February Marlowe House took to the Shirley Hall Stage for the 2010 House Concert. This year’s Concert Director, Annabel Church, was ably assisted by fellow 6a Music Scholars Charles Ovenden-Filsell and Nathan Hudson-Peacock, with the usual, invaluable support of Mr Pollock and Mr Matthews. The Concert opened with the Marlowe House Orchestra performing Charpentier’s ‘Prélude’ from the Te Deum. Once again Mr Pollock had managed to find suitable music for a varied ensemble, which incorporated musicians from all year groups. This ‘overture’ to the evening’s entertainment was followed by a series of solo items starting with Evie Kanagasooriam on the Harp. Evie’s delicate playing was followed up by Nathan Hudson-Peacock’s rendition of Eric Clapton’s ‘Tears in Heaven’. The 6a trio was then completed by Charles and Annabel performing two duets by Shostakovich. The sands of time were again turned forward and Alex Keliris displayed his ‘tapping’ skills on the electric guitar as he amazed the audience with Satriani’s ‘Midnight’. Relaxed and somewhat surprised by this last performance, the audience were reawakened with Nathan’s second solo, this time on the piano. Chopin’s ‘Etude in C minor’ is always a crowd pleaser and Nathan did not disappoint; his agility and technical skill on the keyboard apparent to all even if he was rather obscured by the orchestral layout on stage!

There was no interval as such, only the time taken as the whole house came forward to perform this year’s entry from the House Song Competition. ‘I just Can’t Wait to be King’, from Disney’s Lion King, was again a roaring success (sorry!) the whole house gave a spirited performance. Annabel returned with another solo continuing the song from the shows theme as she sang ‘For Good’ from the hit show Wicked. There was nothing wicked about Nathan’s final solo of the evening (however Mr Matthews might suggest that then tempo was a little evil). Hummel’s Trumpet concerto in E is one of the most technically demanding in the trumpeter’s repertoire and Nathan performed it with the flair and finesse that this piece of musical fireworks demands. The Marlowe Choir brought our thoughts towards the road home as they sang an accapella arrangement of Carter and Hudson’s ‘Good Night Sweetheart’ before giving way to the house orchestra as they closed the evening with the ‘Danse Bacchanale’ from Saint-Saëns’ Sampson et Dalila. The concert was followed by refreshments, giving everyone a chance to catch up and discuss the evening’s performances. Thanks must go once more to Annabel, Charles and Nathan for their work in arranging the concert, to Henry Atkins for his programme cover design and to Mr Anderson and the house staff for hosting and supporting the event behind the scenes.

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The Grange and Walpole Charity Concert

Group were the last to perform; their version of ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ drawing a close to a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Joseph Bondatti (6b GR) In the prologue to Henry V, Shakespeare has us pardon the ‘unworthy scaffold’ where his play is about to be acted. There were no such feelings on the evening of the Grange and Walpole Charity House Concert, as the impressive Birley’s Pavilion took on the role of an intimate concert hall, and an array of performers flitted amongst the dining audience. The evening began with a performance of Grange’s House Song ‘Ameno,’ originally by the New-Age-Pseudo-Latin musical project known as Era, but arranged for the 62 members of the Grange by Christopher Loyn. This was to set the tone for the whole evening, as the venturous and contemporary was tastefully fused with the traditional. A jazzy rendition of the Beatles classic, ‘When I’m 64,’ by the Walpole String Group, was shortly followed by an outstanding performance of ‘Popper’s Requiem’ by the Grange Cello Trio, and the very chilled-out Grange Guitar Trio played shortly after a moving performance of the theme from Schindler’s List, by the Grange and Walpole String Group. The singing was also excellent, with performances from the Grange Close Harmony Groups of ‘If I Had a Coin,’ and Johnny Nash’s reggae hit ‘I Can See Clearly Now,’ as well as The Walpole Choir’s touching version of ‘Winter Song.’ There were also impressive solo performances on the parts of Camellia Johnson, who sang a rendition of ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley, and Georgia Watt, who played ‘Comptine d’un autre été: L’après-midi’ on the piano, best known for featuring in the Jean-Pierre Jeunet film, Amélie. The Grange and Walpole Close Harmony

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The School House and Jervis House Concert Jane Phillips (6b JR) In October, members of Jervis and School House, parents, friends, and teachers, congregated in the St Augustine’s Undercroft for an electrifying evening of music. There was a huge variety of genres for everyone to enjoy, ranging from pieces from the Baroque era, to 20th century jazz, to musicals, to more modern artists such as Timbaland and Lily Allen. The concert got underway with a serene piece called ‘River flows in you’ by Yiruma, played by Jane Phillips on the piano, followed by a contrasting Bach’s ‘Courante’ for cello from Joss Pritchard. We heard exceptional debut performances from two Shell music scholars: Sian Rees showed excellent skill and tone on her clarinet with a piece by Tartini, followed by Llewelyn Cross with his impressive interpretation of ‘Sonata in Bb Major’ by Purcell. Other memorable performances from the Shells included the more modern genre of music, such as ‘The Fear’ by Lily Allen, played on the piano by Celia Gray, and ‘Apologise’ by Timbaland, with Leonie Rowland on the drums, Emily Aisher on piano, and Jane singing, having been told just minutes before due to Emily’s lack of voice! Performances of songs from renowned musicals such as ‘Electricity’ from Billy Elliot by Dimitri Gripari, and ‘For Good’ from Wicked by Hannah Todd and Olivia Prince truly showed the high calibre of singing in both the houses. However, undoubtedly the highlight of the concert was the performance by the School House Jazz Trio, which rather put the rest of us to shame! Comprising some of the most gifted musicians in the school, Ed Whitehead, Julius

Carboni, and Alex Stephens displayed unbelievable talent in their own composition of ‘Build it up’. They were also joined by Archie Todd and Patch Clews for a rendition of ‘Autumn Leaves’ by Johnny Mercer.

piano playing of one of Rachmaninoff’s best works. One could never have guessed that it was largely prepared on a return boat-trip to New York, where, in 1909, it was premiered by the man himself.

Ed Whitehead and Jules Carboni provided firstrate accompaniment throughout, and so thank you to them, the performers, the compères, people behind the scenes, and also the audience. It was a memorable evening, enjoyed by performers and the audience alike.

What followed was the product of another prodigious young musician, this time flowing not from the fingertips but rather the pen, in seventeen-year-old Catherine Cheung’s Fragmented Expanse for full orchestra. Winning the Purcell School’s Composing Competition of 2009, Cheung talks of the inspiration for the expressionistic work as being that of ‘fragmented scenes from a memory or a dream, which gradually piece together and eventually expand into one long and completed scene’.

The Purcell School Orchestra Concert Kit Irwin (Fifth MO) Cold, gloomy and wet. The 28th of February certainly brought plenty of rain but it also brought a ray of light in the form of the the Purcell School’s Symphony Orchestra. Being at the forefront in quality of the UK’s specialist music schools we were assured of a great evening when its members graced the stage of the Shirley Hall in early 2010. Performing two orchestral Greats and a pupilcomposed-work (winner of the school’s annual composition competition), the orchestra opened with the typically tumultuous ttones of Rachmaninoff’s hand: the piano concerto in D minor, his third. As dusk turned to darkness, then, and rain to vicious wind, a seventeen-year-old boy sat down to a centre-stage grand piano, immediately dismissing the battering howls on the surrounding panes as he transported us far away, his practised hands commanding the keys with such understanding only commonly associated with professionals native to the likes of The Royal Albert Hall and The South Bank Centre. The orchestra played equally well, violin bows falling and rising with near as much uniform tenacity as Teo Gheorghiu’s masterful

Concluding the evening was Brahms’ First Symphony, a dramatic piece which found the perfect end to a successful evening. Brahms was a curious character. Composing in the same time as that of the overshadowing Ludwig Van Beethoven, Brahms always felt the pressure from peers to ascend to Beethoven’s level of expertise; however he clearly had insecurities over his ability to accomplish such a feat. First performed in 1876, it is thought that the first of Brahms’ few symphonies took him twentytwo years to complete. Hans von Bulow, who conducted the premiere, even went as far as to allocate it the lasting nickname of ‘The Tenth’, a comparison to Beethoven’s symphonic fame which doubtless gave Brahms the confidence to ‘put best foot forward’ and truly blossom in a World which would, with time, come to appreciate him, (little could he have known), on a par with even the Great Ludwig Van. Now, 134 years on, listening to that landmark work being played by such a vibrant and alive-to-the-music orchestra was simply compelling, and as a sense of the excitement did I get that stormy night of what it must have been like for Brahms listening to that same work for the first time too, so long ago. An unforgettable evening.

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by Lucy Iron (6a LX)

miscellany music

Miscellany The Walpole Carnations, Valentine’s Day [As many will know, it is a tradition at King’s that every February, to mark St Valentine’s Day, Walpole House organises the Valentine carnations. Every member of the school can purchase a carnation and send it, with a suitably encrypted message, to the person or persons of their choice. It is hugely popular and raises a great deal of money for charity. The staff and girls at Walpole work extremely hard to ensure all the flowers are delivered and it is a wonderful sight to see them decorating the staff pigeon holes (some staff more than others), and carrying buckets of gorgeous blooms to all the houses. I enjoyed Valentine’s this year as I got a particularly nice one. For a change. (Ed)]

Interview with Mrs Webber, Housemistress of Walpole Raphaelle Gans (6b WL)

Which charity is the money sent to? ‘Help for Heroes’ and ‘Stand Proud’.

What exactly do they do? ‘Help for Heroes’ is an organisation to help those who have been wounded in Britain’s current conflicts and ‘Stand Proud’ helps Polio

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Miscellany Survivors and youth with other disabilities in Africa to walk.

How much money was raised by this year’s carnation event? £3000

Are carnations getting more popular each year? Yes, this year more money was raised than in recent years.

Which girls’ house is the most popular? Harvey is the most popular girls’ house but we also sell the most to them, they buy a lot of carnations for each other.

What about the boys’ houses? The boys’ houses are not as popular as the girls’ houses. Girls buy a lot of carnations for each other whereas boys don’t really do that.

Which member of staff got the most? Mr Smiley

Have you ever received any particularly memorable messages? They’re all memorable.

Were there any carnations from this year that you think you will remember for the next few years? This year someone sent 50 carnations to the same person, each one had a different letter on it and that person then had to figure out what the message was. In my opinion, that’s true love. There was also a very sweet one – ‘You’re the reason men fall in love’.

For more pictures, please click here.

Have there been any disasters? This year delivering them in the snow was difficult; lots of tags were getting smudged.

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Duke of Edinburgh ARW ‘It is well known that the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award provides the opportunities for personal achievement. The scheme is intended to help both the young as well as those who are concerned with their welfare. The object is to provide an introduction to worthwhile leisure activities and voluntary service; as a challenge to the individual to discover the satisfaction of achievement.’ HRH Prince Philip. With this as an objective, the Removes began the second term of an improved activities programme. This is designed to deliver a core of elements as a contribution towards the acquisition of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, the elements being: Leadership and Initiative Exercises, Expedition Training and First Aid. In support of these activities pupils make a choice of three, out of five, physical recreation elements consisting of: canoeing, climbing, cycling, water-sports (sailing, power boating, windsurfing) and modern dance. All activities are very much ‘hands-on’ and provide the opportunity for experience, practice and in some cases qualification. The two First Aid courses this year yielded 80 certified First Aiders and Power Boating 18 RYA Level 1 Boat Handling qualifications. All activities are an introduction to further development and provide the lead-in to Fifth form activities. Twelve Fifths walked the North Downs of Kent to complete their Bronze qualifying expedition last term and ten hardy sailors achieved the same goal on the waters of the English Channel with Dr Maltby. This coming Easter further candidates will complete the Expedition Section

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Bronze Qualifiers - to the woods! : Meltem Kamalvand, Fran Berry, Annie Mockridge, Emma Henderson, Lucy Balicki, Ally Fitzgerald through the CCF on their planned trek in Anglesey with Major Vintner. The Service activity choice is now fully stretched with pupils in the Fifth and 6b wishing to complete this element of their awards. Activities include hospital visits, working as teaching assistants, working in charity shops, swimming with disabled children, assisting in the library, child care and so on. The majority of participants choose a music related pursuit for their Skills Section but a variety of interests such as target shooting, dance and model-aeroplane construction have been practised. The Gold Award programme continues to prove attractive for the 6b’s and at Easter the new Gold candidates will take part in an expedition to Snowdonia which will prove challenging in rugged and mountainous country. After a term of training it will a relief to put all the theory into practice. Last summer, our present 6a Gold candidates took part in a Qualifying Expedition in the English Lake District. This was an arduous four day venture in picturesque, again mountainous country. The Group, under the eagle eyes of D of E assessors, trekked and camped for four days, navigated in mixed weather to

Miscellany their final destination and acquitted themselves with distinction. The group have endeavoured to complete their other sections of Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Residential – it is all a case of time management and stamina, although a few participants are out in front having completed all necessary requirements.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Ceremony 2009 saw the largest number of Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards achieved at King’s (18) so far in a given year, but all must wait for their invitations to St James’s Palace, London or Holy rood House, Edinburgh, to be presented with their certificates by His Royal Highness in person. Most of our participants complete their Gold Awards before leaving King’s, but others extend their programme into a gap year engaged in projects as diverse as helping to build a school in Africa, an archaeological dig in the Ukraine or the Tall Ships Race. It was very pleasant indeed to witness four OKS receive their Awards at St James Palace on March 18th, 2010. Caitlin Halfacre and Cyril Ng Kit left King’s in 2009. Cyril is reading Engineering at Cambridge University whilst Caitlin is enjoying a gap year working in the chemical industry. Oliver Jennings, a King’s leaver in 2008, is an undergraduate studying Information Technology at Glasgow and Katie Lark who has been an OKS since 2007 is reading PPE at Oxford. Securing a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award is no mean feat as it demands a huge input of time. Managing that time whilst at School present its own difficulties while requisites of motivation, determination, organisation and stamina are

Cyril Ng Kit and Caitlin Halfacre with a proud Mr Watson also necessary. The majority of participants complete all sections of a challenging programme before leaving King’s whilst others delay their completion so that activities can be included in a gap year. All who take on the challenges are assessed on (a) a minimum of 12 months of Volunteering, in essence providing some sort of service for others, (b) a Skills Section of 6 or 12 months , to show abilities beyond academic work, (3) Physical Recreation for a duration of 6 or 12 months (depending on the time taken on the Skills Section) expedition training with practice expedition and an assessed Expedition of 4 days/3 nights either walking, sailing, canoeing, rowing or riding. Gold candidates must also take part in a Residential Project with others who they have not met. The life skills and unforgettable experiences that this generates are never to be forgotten.

Extended Projects at King’s GRC The Extended Project is one of the best things to have come out of recent educational reforms.

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It is a compulsory feature of the new Post-16 Diploma, but it is more rapidly being adopted as a standalone qualification in addition to an A level programme. Produced in the form of a dissertation, it is a demanding exercise which helps pupils to develop and enhance skills in essay writing, engage in planning and research, enhance their analytical and evaluative skills, think critically, and improve their skills in presentation. Above all, the Extended Project provides pupils with an opportunity to engage in a serious piece of research that can support their university applications. Assessment is by means of a 6000 word essay (80%) and an oral presentation (20%); candidates are awarded a grade from A*-E which has the UCAS points value of an AS level. Last year we piloted six 6a pupils through their research, writing and presentations. This year saw the number grow to 12. We are now so convinced as to its importance and worth that we are encouraging a much larger number to undertake the task. We provide a preparatory programme designed to help pupils with their research and analytical skills. This is in the form of three courses: Perspectives of Aesthetics, Perspectives of Globalisation and Perspectives of Science. However, those who are unable to take part in these courses can still write a dissertation. In fact, you can choose almost anything of personal interest, so long as it has the potential to provide opportunity for academic research, and requires both historical reflection and philosophical analysis. We encourage pupils to tie it in with their university applications. Among this year’s projects were topics as varied as ‘Can Democracy be fully involved in Islamic Culture’ (Jamie Harris), ‘Can the representation of sexual violence clearly depicted in Bernini’s Rape of Proserpina be a work of art and thus aesthetically beautiful?’ (Jessica Wingrad), ‘Is Canterbury Cathedral a Contradiction?’ (Rupert Hill), ‘Will the forces of globalisation and the supposed virtues of comparative advantage and trade propel the world into a single market by

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the year 2200?’ (Rangwan Dusdeesurapot), and, ‘How successful was the Baroque rhetoric in JS Bach’s music?’ (Jonathan Yip). In addition, we had excellent projects on Stress in Sport (Alice Davis), Euthanasia (Charlotte HendersonClelend), Animal Rights (Heidi Ho), America’s role in the Middle East between 1915 and 1945 (Sophie Stewart), and GM foods in the UK (Charles Reynolds). All candidates had to support their written dissertations with oral presentations in which they had to field questions from staff and pupils. All performed bravely and admirably. All showed a genuine passion for their work and engaged in some difficult issues. And, all had a sense of achieving something worthwhile.

The King’s School Combined Cadet Force ARV The main effort for the start of the Lent term was to ensure that all cadets had passed their Weapon Handling Tests; this is a mandatory requirement for all who wish to be able to fire a weapon with either blank or live ammunition, a skill in which they had been instructed over the last six months. The drive was to ensure that all would be able to participate in the two range days that had been organised at Lydd Ranges; the cadets were going to be given the opportunity to spend a day firing the Cadet GP Rifle on an ETR range over distances of 100 – 300m. This was an enjoyable couple of days training where Cadet Perry Andrews was awarded a Marksmanship Award for hitting 29/30 targets. The cadets within the Remove year continued to progress through the training syllabus and attended their Bronze D of E practice walk

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which was centred around Stelling Minis. This was enjoyed by all who attended and was a prerequisite for the Easter expedition. Within the activities programme they were taught lessons from the Army Proficiency Certificate in order that they could progress towards reaching their Red Star award, which would make them eligible for promotion. During the Easter break, twenty-one cadets took part in Exercise Snowdonia Challenge, 2010. This was a 5 day trip to North Wales where they stayed in an Army adventure training centre in Anglesey. The first day was a walk up Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales. The group was split into four sections and given four different start points and routes to the summit, depending on abilities. This was an ideal way of confirming previous lessons taught, but also improving the group dynamics whilst achieving something very rewarding. The weather conditions were excellent and the groups all made it to the summit within ten minutes of each other. Following this, the next two days were spent on their Bronze D of E Qualifying Expedition, this was to be done around the area of Anglesey and once again the cadets were blessed with excellent weather. All who attended passed their expedition and are well on their way to completing

their Bronze Award. It was an excellent trip and enjoyed immensely by all who took part. We were pleased that at the end of the Lent term the majority of cadets opted to remain within the contingent for a further year; this, combined with the new intake of Shells, now puts the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School CCF numbers at a very healthy level and they should look forward to the summer term being just as rewarding.

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The Lindsey Davis Talk Jessica Wingrad (6a JR) The Classics department at King’s is something of a hidden gem. Indeed classics in general does not receive its just deserves being such a fascinating and exciting subject which involves Greeks and Romans; the two societies which formed the foundations of so much modern society depends upon. However, the fact that it is one of the less written about ages when it comes to the genre of historical novels was what inspired Lindsey Davis to embark upon what was to become a twenty-book series. The King’s Society teamed up with the bookshop located just outside Mint Yard Gate‘King’s Books’ and brought the acclaimed author Lindsey Davis to an enthusiastic group of avid fans ranging from older readers to King’s pupils. Being one of the first arrivals I was able to have a flick through some of her books laid out on a red satin table. The books relate the investigations and social progression of a 1st century informer named Falco. She began by explaining her life pre-Falco which involved attending an all-girls school and working as a civil servant. It was easy to relate to her tale of life as a young teenager. A witty account of leaving her job and the resignation letter which made her famous among her peers set a tone of relaxed interest captivating each member of the audience. It was evident that she did not originally set out to be author and did not see writing as a means of earning a living. Her story was inspiring to would be authors since the journey to becoming a published novelist took nine years. Despite many rejections she persevered and eventually published her first novel ‘The Silver Pigs’. The talk culminated with a brief reading from her two latest books which were ‘Nemesis’ and ‘Falco: The Official Companion’. It was

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interesting to hear that she considered everything and anything can be an inspiration when writing. This message rings true for not only authors but for anyone who intends to create a piece of writing and is an apt message to take away from the talk. Everyone got the chance to meet Lindsey briefly in a book signing which preceded the talk. ‘King’s Books’ provided copies to be bought and signed, although admittedly I had my own copy of her latest book ‘Rebels and Traitors’ to hand. Lindsey was a hugely interesting author to meet especially since she recently featured in The Times bestseller list. The King’s Society brought a truly inspirational speaker to share her story and wisdom. It was thoroughly enjoyable and Lindsey Davis left everyone with an important message: In the face of adversity, perseverance does render accomplishment.

The Tradescant Memorial Garden JIB Thanks to the generosity of Peter Wortham OKS, and his uncle the late Tony Wortham, The King’s School has been bequeathed a considerable sum to redevelop the ‘lost’ gardens of John Tradescant OKS. Tradescant was a noted plantsman and traveller, and archive records suggest there were three gardens in what is now the St Augustine’s site of the school. We have designed and marked out a new memorial garden in what we feel is an appropriate site, set within the orchard of the Cellarar’s garden, behind New Grange. The Headmaster Mr Nicholas Clements performed an opening ceremony by digging the first turf in 2009.

The Design Technology and Engineering Event March 2010 By GJS

During 2010 we have continued to upgrade the site, and the paving contactors are moving in during Easter. There will be a herringbone pattern of old bricks forming an entrance path, leading to a square knot garden, edged with box hedging, with geometric beds filled with herbs and other suitable plants which reflect the explorations of Tradescant. Three benches will provide seating at the perimeter and we have chosen an inscribed globe as a central feature. We hope to make the garden accessible for visitors to the abbey ruins, and will appoint a curator/gardener in due course. The garden should be completed for an official opening in 2011. Revd Dr Iain Bentley (Assistant Chaplain and Steward) Mark Collins (Head of Gardens and Grounds) and Gavin Merryweather (Estates Bursar) March 2010

The event began at 3:00pm in the Shirley Hall as the judges and industrial supporters arrived. Dr Brian Blandford â&#x20AC;&#x201C; designer of Head-updisplays and optical instruments was soon talking to some Shells about his lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. On the other side of the room a number of students were listening to Rob Harris, a building services engineer, about the boost to his career he got from becoming an Arkwright Scholar in 1999. Later, our two aspiring scholars Nicola King and Jordan Godden sought his advice about their forthcoming interviews at Imperial College London. Also speaking to students about careers in Engineering were Andrew Parr (Electrical engineer-formerly of Thamesteel), John Coad (STEM), Hugh Bird OKS (Cambridge University), Elena di Mascio (QM College University of London Dept. Of Engineering), and Tom Kissack (Brunel University Dept. Of Engineering). Gradually local factory (Jali) owner Nicholas Showan went round the student exhibits with Jerry Metcalf Integrated System Solutions Manager from Amphenol, Whitstable. At the same time Engineering student Kirti Rajwani from Coventry University (placed at Amphenol), and Emily Cummins (speaker) made their own study of the projects as did Dr Mike Percival OKS (Head of Manufacturing Engineering Excellence, Rolls-Royce, Derby) and Stephen Cornish (Arkwright Awards manager). At 4:15pm the judges retired to the social centre to consider their findings. They were finally persuaded onto the stage after lengthy deliberations ten minutes later than expected. This was

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a reflection of the quality of the work and the closeness of the competition. Emily Cummins, a final year undergraduate from Leeds University, then gave a most memorable talk about her experience of designing and making things to help the less fortunate. Firstly, she spoke about her toothpaste squeezer for people in the UK suffering with Arthritis. Ms Cummins then went on to discuss her water carrier for people in the Third World and finally, about the product for which she is best known, her ‘Energy Free’ ‘Fridge. Emily inspired us all with her determination to use simple, but appropriate technology to change peoples’ lives for the better.

Nicholas Showan awarded the Craft Prize to Nick Wasin (6a) for his Sculptured Table because it maximised the use of Computer Aided Design and Manufacture. Jerry Metcalf awarded the Amphenol Industrial Prize to Joshua Ross for his rainwater harvesting system since it had the most commercial potential. Kirti Rajwani awarded the Junior Prize to Jordan Godden for his Golf Score counter. Dr Mike Percival OKS awarded the Rolls Royce prize to Sophie Brown for her Sellotape dispenser.

The awarding of prizes then went as follows:

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miscellany Mike awarded the Open Prize to our current Arkwright Scholar - William Goldsmith for his Cricket Bat knocking-in device because of its technical merit. After the main session was closed a number of Engineers went down to the Social Centre to be interviewed by members the Young Scientist’s journal – the outcome of which can be seen here. Visitors were then treated to a meal in the King’s School Dining Hall by Amphenol Ltd. of Whitstable. We met again in the Old School Room at 6:30 for the King’s School Talk. Dr Percival spoke on the subject ‘Cutting Edge Challenges -an Engineering career at Rolls-Royce’. We were all hugely impressed by both the technological excellence and the business acumen of RollsRoyce plc. Mike traced his career from research Scientist to mineralogist, to metallurgist to Engineer in over 20 years at RR. He showed us parts of the RR Trent engine to demonstrate how they make fan blades from single crystals of Nickel superalloy and described how they are prevented from melting in an airflow of 1,800°C by blowing cool air through at ‘only’ 700°C. He explained how thin layers of ceramic fused on to the surface of static blades help them withstand the flames of the combustor at 2,500°C. For an hour we were constantly wowed by Mike’s description of one world leading technology after another that he and the team at RR had developed. One of the most impressive was the way in which their instrumentation has developed. Mike told us a true story of a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 which was recently flying from Hong Kong to the West coast of America. Some distance out from Hong Kong (too far to turn back) the ‘plane was struck by lightning, causing an engine to surge,

over-speeding and blowing out in the process. The engine was safely re-started but such an event demands that the engine be taken out of the ‘plane, stripped down, and inspected for safety reasons. In this case the pilot was able to radio his base to tell them of the incident. They contacted RR in Derby who interrogated the engine via satellite. The engine told RR Derby what speeds it had reached, as well as details of pressures and temperatures. RR Derby then told the service engineers in America which parts to look at with a Boroscope and which readings to take. After a brief telephone conversation with Derby they were able to clear the engine safe to fly back to Hong Kong where Cathay Pacific could carry out the strip down in their own workshops. The airline estimated that this saved them £1,000,000 costs such as hotels for 380 passengers, relief aircraft hire and so on. We were not surprised to learn that RR have cornered the world market for aero engines for two major up-coming new aircraft – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus XWB. What was surprising to us was the size of the orders. The RR official order books stand at £58,000,000,000 over the next 7-10 years. To meet this demand for 3 times more engines than they have ever produced before, RR will have to build six new factories in the UK. RR are convinced that high value added manufacture in the UK is not dead! The Head Master summed up our feelings when he said – ‘It makes me feel proud to be British!’

Click here to read Elizabeth Trelawny-Vernon’s review of the event.

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sport

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Sport: team reports

football 1st XI CPN W4 D3 L4 For the first time we took two professional coaches with us on tour to Málaga, where we enjoyed a break from the cold English winter. Dom Castle and Mike Sheridan worked the boys hard, with four hours of coaching a day for five days. We played two matches against Atlético Beñamiel, drawing the first 3-3 and winning the second 3-2. It looked as though we were destined for a season where we would score freely and concede generously. All ready to return to face Dulwich College, we were then marooned in Spain, for Gatwick was closed during the big winter freeze in England. Although we managed to secure a flight to Bristol we had to wait over 10 days before our first match against Westminster. The scoreline was not a true reflection of the game, but we let them in with some inept defending and missed some good chances of our own. Skipper Hill was exceptional.

At Craleigh we did more than enough to win, with Hare and Hands outstanding in defence, but we missed two one-on-ones and failed to take our chances. Marinho did convert one of Stephen’s inviting corners, with a bullet near-post header, but no one was able to get on the end of his other pinpoint deliveries. Frustratingly, having pulled his hamstring late on in this game, he would not play again all season, which really weakened the side’s creativity. Next up were St Bede’s, all-England champions of 2009. Rarely had they conceded four goals at home, as we put together some of our most dynamic finishing, with Marinho scoring two peaches. Hunt and Hill were a real force. 2-0 behind at half time against Ursuline College,

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we were up against it, despite some superb defending from Dyer, but we showed great determination and heart in the second half to pull level. We could even have won the game in the dying moments, but so could they, until Gilmore intervened with a stunning save. This was certainly a sign of growing confidence from our goalkeeper. Against Ewell Castle the highlight was macLachlan’s scorcher from 30 yards to put us 3-1 up at half time. We ran out comfortable winners in the second half. Our next two matches were the nadir of our season, conceding five goals at home against both Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. We had competed well in all our fixtures thus far, but these two defeats were embarrassingly poor. However, we travelled to Bethany the following weekend and played really well, with the highlight being a second half hat-trick from Bourne. With our spirits up we faced Colfe’s a few days later and produced the finest performance of the season. Two goals ahead early on, we then allowed them to equalize three times to level the score at 4-4 with seconds on the clock. Marinho proceeded to produce the dribble of the term, taking the ball around five or six opponents and mis-kicking from four yards with the goal at his mercy. However, macLachlan darted in and

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bundled the ball home to give us our first win over Colfe’s since the 1980s. We entered the OKS match with our tails up and raced into a 3-0 lead with a Marinho free kick and two brilliant headers from Hill and Kent. In the second half Johnny Hillier and Robbie Chapman started to control the game, and with a goal each brought the Old Boys within a whisker of retaining the trophy, but we held out for a dramatic win. In our final match at Epsom we made a lethargic start and found ourselves two down. Kent had his best match of the term, back-heeling his first goal before powering in the equalizer. We therefore closed with a good record, which would have put us just above Tottenham in 8th place in the Premier League last year, securing 45% of points available. I have enjoyed the last 21 years running the football at King’s and the record (262 played, 104 won, 56 drawn and 102 lost) pans out at 47% of points available secured – which would have clinched 7th spot from Fulham last year. I shall take away great memories, victories against two-term football schools Brentwood and Westminster and 10 successful tours with matches against the Youth teams of Sevilla, Real Betis and Real Murcia. It has also been a privilege to meet ex-pros like Mario Husillos

football

Scorers: Marinho 8, Bourne 7, Kent 6, macLachlan 6, Hill 4, Carboni 2, Howard-Smith 1, Simmons 1.

and Gabi Calderón and to play against a young Frank Lampard when he was at Brentwood. However, it probably gives me even more pleasure to witness the work done by Johnny Hillier in taking the first steps to establish an OKS side in the Arthurian League; it is rewarding to have seen the team clinch the Junior Cup in their first season and achieve two successive promotions, retaining their place in Division One this year. I should like to thank all my colleagues who have helped me with their coaching over the years and also my wife, who has been so supportive, not only when organizing tours to Spain, but also getting me through the highs and lows of 21 seasons. I should also like to thank Mark, Mick and their team of groundsmen for preparing such splendid pitches in such awful weather, and Sue, Kerry and the kitchen staff for feeding us so well.

Team from: Rupert Hill (captain)*, Dom Batten^, Joe Bourne*, Julius Carboni*, Hector Dyer^, Ed Gilmore^, Nicholas Hands^, Fred Hare*, Will Howard-Smith^, Elliott Hunt*, Alec Kent*, Ed macLachlan*, Dele Marinho*, Edwin Simmons^. ^ awarded first team tie, * awarded School Colours

Results Goals for

Goals against 32 Dulwich College (h) Westminster (h) Cranleigh (a)

Lost 0-3 Drew 2-2 Lost 4-6

Ursuline College (h)

Drw 2-2

Ewell Castle (h)

Won 8-1

Sevenoaks (h)

Lost 0-5

Brentwood (h)

Cancelled

Tonbridge (h)

Lost 1-5

Bethany (h)

Won 8-0

Colfe’s (h)

Won 5-4

OKS

Won 3-2

Epsom College (a)

Drew 2-2

2nd XI MJTh

Harold William Warner Cup for Players’ Player of the Season: Rupert Hill & Elliott Hunt

W7 L3

Cancelled

St Bede’s (a)

Also played: Jean-Michel Hurst, Golf Ratchakitprakarn, Rob Stephen.

Manager’s Player of the Season: Alec Kent

Another Lent term full of Siberian weather once again made early season training nigh-on impossible and had the Pools Panel predicting the results of cancelled fixtures. Having lost a lot of last year’s team to the 1st XI and to university,

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Lent 2010

proved good enough on the day but in truth several chances were spurned.

youth was the order of the day and the fact that only three of the regular match day squad were 6a pupils augurs well for the future. The 2nd XI had an infusion of fresh coaching ideas for the first time in 11 years from the new Lower Master. Fresh from a ‘proper’ football school, the first phrase to be banned was ‘this wouldn’t happen at Shrewsbury’, but both old coach and new boys benefited hugely from his nous and passion. The season finally began against Westminster with a well deserved win. Converted right back Kola Lawal used his pace and finishing prowess to notch both goals, ably assisted by Jack Masters in attack. An away trip to Cranleigh followed and once again the pace of Lawal was too much to handle as he bagged another brace. The other goals came from Chauduri and Phillips from the spot but the team were indebted to Freddy Clode for some superb last gasp defending to maintain parity during the first 20 minutes. Next, on a miserable day, came a trip to the reigning National Independent Schools champions, St Bede’s, to play on a pitch that contained ice, a small lake and a lot of mud. Irrespective of the conditions King’s did well to resist for 70 minutes and two late goals were well deserved by a talented St Bede’s outfit. King’s bounced back three days later with a combative 2-1 victory over the rapidly improving Ursuline College. Goals from the Tradescant striking duo

A 9-0 victory against Ewell Castle was, as it sounds, a mismatch but in the second half (against some dispirited opponents) King’s started to play some progressive, fast-flowing football. Jack Masters deserves much credit for his hat-trick and further goals from Chauduri (2), Higgins, Johnson, Morpeth and Hurst sealed the rout. Next followed the low point of the term: away to Sevenoaks. Confidence was high but in truth we weren’t off the bus before we were 5-0 down. A truly chaotic, lethargic beginning was taken full advantage of by some nippy, talented play from Sevenoaks but our defending was shambolic at best. After half term we were 1-0 up with 15 minutes to play against Tonbridge but conceded two late goals at set pieces against a bigger, more physical side. This game could have gone either way and a draw might have been the fairer result. An excellent 2-1 win over Colfe’s served as a timely tonic with excellent second half goals from two Fifth Form substitutes, Jamie Johnson and Charlie Knox. The season ended with two largely uninspiring 1-0 victories against St Lawrence and Epsom College, with goals from Henry Hamilton and Jamie Johnson again. In a significantly different fixture list King’s managed to win seven of 10 matches, even if it didn’t feel that good at any time throughout the term. Special mention should go to the captain Henry Phillips, who in the second half of term moved into central defence to shore things up. James Morpeth was my player of the season for the way he trained as well as the creativity and end product he brought to our midfield. Finally, Jean-Michel Hurst played an entire season for the 2nd XI and also represented the 1st XI in a couple of games. Given his recovery for serious illness this is certainly the most significant achievement of the term. My thanks go to my Assistant Coach, Mr. Lascelles, and to the entire squad for training hard and finding a way to win where other teams in the past might not have.

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football

3rd XI W2 L5

ARV Team from: Henry Phillips (captain), Kola Lawal, Hector Dyer, Alex Proudlock, Felix Higgins, Jonny Cheung, Tham Ratchakitprakarn, Alex Stephens, Vikram Chauduri, Harry Yeates, Freddy Clode, Jack Masters, Jean-Michel Hurst, Dola Awosika, Fusi Awosika, Jamie Johnson, James Morpeth, Charlie Knox, Nonso Oditah, Henry Hamilton. Results Goals for

Goals against 13

Dulwich College (h) Westminster (h) Colfe’s (h)

Cancelled Won 2-1 Cancelled

Cranleigh (a)

Won 4-0

St Bede’s (a)

Lost 0-2

Ursuline College (h)

Won 2-1

Ewell Castle (h)

Won 9-0

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost 0-6

Brentwood (a)

Cancelled

Tonbridge (a)

Lost 1-2

Colfe’s (h)

Won 2-1

St Lawrence (h)

Won 1-0

Epsom College (a)

Won 1-0

Lent 2010

A cold and snowy start to the season saw the team struggling to practice. With only a couple of indoor sessions under the belt they were set to have their first fixture – several games had already been cancelled due to the inclement weather. This was sadly to be the trend for the season; it was to be a cold wet winter that would continually hinder training and fixtures. The 3rd XI had an inconsistent season, with all members of the team showing great potential to be quality players, unfortunately never all on the same day. The usual injuries occurred and call-ups from the 2nd XI meant the composition of the team and positions of the players were forever changing. A few highlights of the season were Golf Ratchakitprakarn’s amazing 35 yard strike in the match away to Cranleigh, which saw their goalkeeper pull off an amazing save to prevent it entering the top corner. Fusi Awosika scored a hat-trick against Stafford House, while the team dominated the match against Epsom College and won convincingly, the highlight being Ali Lyons’ goal – a well deserved finish for a player who had shown continual commitment and effort. Lastly it is necessary to make a few special mentions. Many thanks to go to the external coaches for their help and support, especially Pat and Matt, who came to Birley’s for weekly training sessions and to offer key advice. Thanks also to the 6a members of the team, who have represented the school for the last time: they displayed maturity, commitment and determination throughout. The captains for most of the season were Sam Attwood, and Nick Hilton for his hard work and loyalty, proving that he has grown as a player in his time at the school. Other mentions to those not in their final year should go to Nonso Oditah, Henry Pelling,

Brentwood (a)

Cancelled

Tonbridge (a)

Lost 0-3

Betany (h)

Cancelled

Stafford House (h)

Lost 0-3

Epsom College (a)

Won 4-1

Henry Allingham and George Edmondson – the defensive line – who were certainly put under huge amounts of pressure every game and worked their socks off; and finally to all those who had the rare chance of playing for the team.

Team from: Nick Hilton, Sam Attwood, Melkon Charchoglyan, Max Judge, Perry Andrews, Henry Pelling, George Edmondson, Harry Yeates, Golf Ratchakitprakarn, Henry Allingham, Mateen Mohammed, Barney Senasinghe, Ali Lyons, Nonso Oditah, Toby Standen, Oliver Robinson, Fusi Awosika, Rob Daum, James Morpeth, Freddy Clode, Vikram Chaudhuri, Abhisek Singh.

To read the team reports for the Football 4th, 5th and 6th XI, please click here.

Results Goals for

Goals against

Dulwich College (h)

Cancelled

Westminster (h)

Cancelled

Colfe’s (h)

Lost 0-4

Cranleigh (a)

Lost 1-2

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Cancelled

Stafford House (h

Won 5-0

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost 0-4

THE CANTUARIAN

boys’ hockey 1st XI RALS W4 L11 It was another developmental year for the team. We lost a lot of strong 6as last year, leaving plenty of room for the younger players to show what they were made of. Disappointingly, the results do not reflect our improvements. Each time they took the field their performances got better and better; however, they lacked the killer instinct to put the ball in the back of the goal with any regularity. Loren Kock led the team by example and put in consistently good performances, showing his class against some tough opposition. Other seniors like Frederick Wilson-Haffenden and Mark Healy made vast improvements in their game over the term, and, along with Lucas Anglin (this year’s top goal scorer), should be congratulated for their development as players over their time at King’s. Ned Newell-Hansen, in goal, kept us in many games with some fine saves and was awarded Players’ Player of the Season. Jake Davies and Chris Lark were the youngsters that worked hard on their games and should be prominent players in next year’s side. Credit must go to Jamie Adams, who played in the team as a Shell. He is a big strong boy for his age and is showing great promise; he will be one to watch in the coming seasons. The team had a disappointing run initially in the Kent Cup, losing 2-0 to Harvey Grammar. This meant we were entered into the Plate competition. We beat St Olave’s 10-0 in the quarter finals and Rochester Maths School 3-0 in the

Lent 2010

semi finals. We finally won the competition by beating Borden Grammar in an exciting 5-4 win at Birley’s. The Frank Mason Tournament followed the same pattern. Although we played well in parts in the morning pool matches, we missed out on a Cup quarter final. We therefore qualified for the Plate quarter final against St Edmund’s, which we won on penalty flicks. We then faced Skinners’ in the semi final and, disappointingly, went out to them, losing 2-0 after we had the chance to go two goals up, hitting the post twice. The most disappointing part of this season was our inability to win on a Saturday afternoon on our challenging fixture list, although not through lack of effort. The boys played hard every game and cannot be faulted for passion or persistence. There are many things to work on with what will be another young side next year. Team from: Loren Kock (captain), Jamie Adams, Lucas Anglin, Jake Davies, Caspar Carter, Mark Healy, Chris Lark, Charlie MacLeod, Charlie Newman, Ned Newell-Hansen (GK), Bertie O’Brien, Andrew Percival, Fred Wilson-Haffenden. Also played: Charlie Dalton

Results

boys’ hockey Goals for

Goals against 44 Cranbrook (a)

Lost 1-5

Kent College (h)

Lost 2-4

St Edmund’s

Won 2-1

Haileybury (a)

Lost 0-2

Alleyn’s (a)

Lost 0-3

Sutton Valence (h)

Lost 0-1

Felsted (a)

Lost 1-7

Langley Park (h)

Lost 0-8

Eltham College (h)

Lost 1-3

OKS (h)

Lost 1-3

Clifton College, SA (h)

Lost 1-2

Kent Cup Harvey GS (a) St Olave’s (Plate q-f;h)

Lost 0-2 Won 10-0

Rochester Maths School (Plate s-f; h)

Won 3-0

Borden GS (Plate final; h)

Won 5-4

2nd XI AJH W1 D1 L7

Whilst enormously enjoyable to coach, with a very young and talented side, this season has perhaps been overshadowed by such a disappointing set of results. Nearly all games were very close, with our youth and inexperience just allowing the opposition to sneak ahead in the final minutes of the various games. Lesser sides might well have become disheartened; but full credit must be given to the squad, who responded positively in all training sessions and never failed to give their very best in fixture after fixture. The snow and the fact that our first two matches were cancelled made for difficult preparation and we were badly rattled away at Cranbrook. The match against Kent College was far more positive and although George Stacey scored early on, we had many, many chances that we didn’t quite convert. That was to be the story of the season: unconverted pressure and not enough goals. James Bailey had his first season as a sweeper and continually improved to form a highly reliable defensive set-up. Jonathan Cawdron had a superb season as centre back: his tackling was remarkably consistent and much valued. Henry Pritchard brought experience and a steady head under pressure as right back, while Jamie McPhie and Benjamin Yeates were robust on the left flank. William Fabbro had a sensational season in goal, often leaping salmon-like to reach shots in the furthest corners. His sense of humour and positive approach were always a welcome addition to the side. Across the midfield, captain Charlie Dalton, Henry Fryzer, Alexander James and Piers Webb brought skill, vision and talent to the games. When given just a little time, their passing was highly effective and confidence grew over the season. Piers Brown, George Stacey and George Moss were usually to be found up at the front. Strong individual skills caused problems for the opposition defence and, had many of our shots not slipped agonisingly close past the wrong side of the post, the scorelines would have been markedly different. The narrow loss to Langley Park (one of the strongest sides in Kent), in our

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St Edmund’s (h)

Lost 0-2

Eltham College (h)

Lost 0-4

Langley Park (h)

Lost 1-2

3rd XI final fixture, underlined the undeniable ability of a team that frequently seemed to end up on the wrong side of close contests.

James Hynard W1 L9

This was a talented side, brim-full of potential and having learnt important lessons from a tough season. I expect them to go on to shine next year. As a coach you spend a long time in each other’s company, both on the pitch and on the bus. They have been a great squad to work with and tremendous company. Team from: Charlie Dalton (captain), Henry Pritchard, James Bailey, Jonathan Cawdron, Henry Fryzer, Alexander James, George Moss, Jamie McPhie, George Stacey, Benjamin Yeates, Piers Webb, Piers Brown, William Fabbro (GK).

Results Goals for

Goals against 25 Cranbrook (a) Kent College (h) Haileybury (a)

Lost 0-8 Won 1-0 Drew 2-2

Alleyn’s (a)

Lost 1-2

Sutton Valence (h)

Lost 1-2

Felsted (a)

Lost 0-3

Lent 2010

Unfortunately, the season’s statistics are not an accurate reflection of the genuine talent within this 3rd XI team. It was a young side, consisting of only four Sixth Form players, myself excluded. All credit must go this quartet for consistently showing their experience and class as they led by example throughout. Guy Berry, my sole fellow 6a and vice captain, was a rock in defence and a figure whom I know commanded a lot of respect, however well the other players may have disguised it! He was a true stalwart of the 3rds for three years, who was always fully committed, to the extent that at one point he was playing against doctor’s orders with an injured Achilles (a decision he was later to regret). The dynamic 6b duo of George Thrupp and Harry Wilson were excellent up front, and as vital to the team for their uplifting banter as much as their silky ball skills, while Ollie Tudor was as solid in defence as he was threatening in attack. If they do not find themselves in the 2nd XI next year, a more than likely prospect, I am sure that under their able leadership the 3rd XI will fulfil the potential they showed this year. I would love to go on to mention every Fifth Former as well, but unfortunately there were just too many and any exclusion would be doing the players an injustice. Needless to say, they were an extremely promising group, all of whom are far better and more complete players than I ever was at the same stage. Throughout

the season we consistently faced older and more experienced teams, and while we often matched opposition in terms of raw skill, their physical presence and three years’ practice as a team led to some frustrating defeats. Large scorelines in the opposition’s favour tell the tale of a team which had no trouble skilfully working their way into the other half, but struggled to make their way into the D and produce some challenging shots in the face of some bulky defenders. Meanwhile, at the back we were simply outgunned and outpaced, and despite the best efforts of our goalkeepers we could not help giving away goals. The goalkeepers were, on an alternating basis, Sam Hewitt and Ben Warnick, who deserve a mention due to the truly spectacular saves they regularly pulled off, and perseverance in the face of what was often a deluge of opposition shots. Nevertheless, the team spirit in the face of adversity was outstanding. Being a regular in the lower-end teams of several sports, I am more than aware that pupils often conveniently fall sick or find themselves some pressing engagement when a lengthy journey to a tough away fixture presents itself. Yet in this 3rd XI team, that was never a problem. The players were always willing, and always played a match as if they meant to win it, regardless of how challenging they knew the opposition would be.

Too often I have seen heads fall before a match even starts: in this team, they were still held high when the final whistle blew to mark a defeat. Credit must go the players for their attitude, but also to our coach, Mr Warnick. A constant presence, he could be relied upon always to give some much wanted advice and encouragement, while never unnecessarily criticising us when it was often all too easy to do so. Under his guidance, the team really developed over the term, and I wish him the success he deserves for next season.

Team from: James Hynard (captain), Guy Berry (vice captain), Harry Wilson, George Thrupp, George Whaley, Hector Fraser, Sam Hewitt, Ben Warnick, Oliver Tudor, George Plews, Ashwin Bhadresha, Jordan Godden, Hugo Hayes, Duncan Kelly.

Results Goals for

Goals against 43 Cranbrook (a)

Lost 1-2

Haileybury

Lost 0-4

Alleyn’s

Lost 1-7

Sutton Valence (a)

Lost 0-5

Felsted (a)

Lost 0-6

Eltham College (h)

Lost 0-5

Langlley Park (h)

Lost 0-10

Tonbridge (h)

Won 5-0

T^onbridge (h)

Lost 0-4

To read the team reports for the Boys’ Hockey U15 and U14, please click here

THE CANTUARIAN

Lent 2010

lacrosse 1ST XII JAD Autumn Term: W1 L5 Lent Term: W3 L0 The 1st Lacrosse team was fortunate to have great leadership from captain Frankie Malpass, vice Raphaella Carruthers, and all of the 6a’s, who took ownership of the squad and constantly worked hard to improve. Their effort and energy throughout trainings, games and tournaments was great and, despite not being the most skilled, their positive, team-first attitude often prevailed. The goal throughout the year, for each training session and game, was to get better every day. On the whole, the King’s 1st Lacrosse team succeeded and the girls should be proud of their efforts. The first event of the year was the Berkhamsted eight-a-side tournament played with seven field players and a goalie. The team started the day playing hard, but had great difficulty passing, catching and executing the fundamentals. In the second half of the day, the confidence levels grew and they began to use their heads, see the field, and make plays. Overall, the tournament gave the team great experience and highlighted the things that we needed to work on throughout the term. For the first full-squad games of the year, the team participated in the Kent Tournament, finishing fourth out of seven teams. In playing against schools that vie for the National Championship every year, the team did an admirable job and never backed down from a challenge. The girls claimed victories against Benenden C, Benenden D, Walthamstow B and tied with

Benenden B. On the whole, it was a positive day and proved that a complete team effort is more important than individual talent! Following the tournament, the autumn term was full of ups and downs as the team struggled to hit their stride and figure out team dynamics. Injuries to a number of key players complicated matters, though a number of players stepped in to do whatever they could for the team. As a unit, they struggled to put a full game together, typically starting the game poorly and then playing an aggressive and competitive second half. Despite losing to Walthamstow Hall, the second half was quite positive as they held an explosive attack to just four goals. They were much more aggressive, motivated, and confident in their own abilities and began to play with greater effort and intensity. Unfortunately, mental lapses and fatigue caused a second half breakdown and a loss to a St. Alban’s. Against a talented Caterham team, the1st team fought to the finish, displaying great character, will, and determination. Even in the rough spots, the girls remained positive and continued to learn and progress into better Lacrosse players and teammates. The 1st team’s second term was highlighted by a win against a talented Walthamstow Hall 1st team in its first, and best, match of the Lent term and year. From the sidelines to the field, the girls supported one another completely and worked tirelessly to make plays, cause turnovers, and play smart Lacrosse. It was inspiring to watch and a great way to kick off the second term of the sport. Though the rain took a toll on many of the term’s fixtures, the girls continued

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to work hard and took advantage of the opportunities they had to play against other teams. In a triangular against Caterham B and Benenden B, the girls refined their midfield game, limiting their mistakes in transition and capitalising on their opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mistakes. The attackers were effective with their shots and the defenders did their job, rising to the occasion when necessary. In the final event of the season, the National Tournament, the 1sts faced a tough challenge. With all of the best teams in the country in attendance, the girls had the daunting task of taking on many highly skilled and experienced teams. With a great deal of vigor and tenacity, they fought to raise their level of play and compete at a high standard. The team finished in the top four of Division II, just missing the championship game after a golden goal, overtime loss. Despite this, it was a great experience for the team and the girls worked together and with great effort throughout. The girls were always working to improve and they took comments and suggestions on board to better their individual play for the good of the team. Because of this, the team continued to grow and mature into a confident and scrappy

Lent 2010

unit with a common goal. The support that they provided for one another on and off the pitch was impressive and provided them with a unique advantage during close matches. It was a pleasure to watch them succeed, and even in the rough patches, there was always reason to be proud of their effort and dedication to team play.

Team from: Francesca Malpass (captain), Raphaella Carruthers (vice), Lucy Baker-White, Miranda Berliand, Belinda Dear, Sarah Hatt, Patricia Murphy, Alex Bunting, Phoebe Calcutt, Catriona Casha, Rachel Castola, Emily Wiltshire, Lucy Balicki, Alice Brady, Emily Cox, Alexandra Fitzgerald, Sophie Knight, Olivia Prince. Offensive Player: Francesca Malpass Defensive Player: Patricia Murphy Playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Player: Raphaella Carruthers

lacrosse

Benedon B Lent Term Results

Autumn Term Results

Goals For: 21

Goals for: 69

Goals Against: 13

Goals against: 116 Sr Alban’s A (h)

Lost 6-9

Caterham A (h)

Lost 4-14

Haileybury (h)

Won 16-4

Guildford (a)

Lost 5-12

Heathfield (a)

Lost 5-12

Walthamstow Hall (a)

Lost 3-13

St Edmund’s (h)

Lost 0-2

Eltham College (h)

Lost 0-4

Langley Park (h)

Lost 1-2

LEH A

Lost 2-6 Lost 1-13

St Paul’s B

Lost 0-9

Cranleigh

Won 4-7

Stowe

Won 2-0

St George’s B

Won 9-0

St Edmund’s (h)

Lost 0-2

Eltham College (h)

Lost 0-4

Langley Park (h)

Lost 1-2

Kent Tournament

Benedon A

Lost 0-5

Wally Hall B

Won 4-2

Benedon D

Won 4-2

Benedon C

Won 3-2

Walthamstow Hall A (a)

Won 6-5

Caterham School B (a)

Won 6-1

Benenden B (a)

Won 9-7

U15A XII W 12, L 10, D 1

JAD

Berkhamsted Tournament Berkhamsted X

Drew 1-1

This season was easily the most successful in the history of the King’s Lacrosse programme for the U15A Lacrosse team. This group of girls had a very high base skill-level to start the season, but it was their passion and commitment to the sport that allowed them to develop quickly into such a great team. This was a large, yet close-knit group of players with a strong desire to win and improve. The coaching staff was continually impressed with the squad’s interest in learning new skills and challenging themselves. The season got off to good start with solid victories over rival schools in the annual U15 Kent County Tournament. The team earned the respect of many after making it to the finals at the U15 Kent County Tournament held at Benenden in September 2009. The highlight was beating the Benenden A team for the second time this year in the Kent County Indoor Tournament held in February.

THE CANTUARIAN

control coming from Martha Knight. I could rely on Martha to stop anyone from scoring. 50/50 balls were always hers, and she worked harder on the field than anyone I have seen in years! The team also received significant contributions from attackers Georgie Legg (an U14 who was pulled up at the beginning of the year through her advanced skill and knowledge of the game), Flora Snape, Oriel Steel and Amy Tudor. The team was full of players who led in different ways, but the strongest leadership came from Kent County Players Ella Walford and Hattie Wilson. These two girls have a real passion for the sport, and always motivated their teammates to work harder, setting an example with their own play. Hattie led with a strong voice and an aggressive stick, while Ella Walford became a reliable attacker who anticipated play well and always put the ball in the back of the net.

I am proud to have coached this remarkable group of young women, and will never forget or undervalue their commitment to the sport and to each other. Together, the girls have made a name for King’s in the Lacrosse world, and must be prepared to face new and higher levels of competition in the years to come. Each player gained the confidence to become a proud athlete, and has every reason to hold her head up high. Well done on an outstanding season!

The heart of the team all season lay in the gritty defensive work of Anna Gibson, Henrietta Talbot, Venetia Fryzer, Jaya Melwani and Harriet Preston, with leadership, controlled aggression, anticipation, and solid stick-work. This highly coachable group intimidated opposition with their mastery of fundamentals, and took pressure off the King’s midfield and attack. All five girls shone throughout the autumn and lent terms as well as in the National Tournament, and quickly gained the respect of the opposition.

Team from: Georgia Watt, Eloise Walford, Henrietta Talbot, Harriet Preston, Emily Champion, Maya Kolade, Eleanor Christianakis, Oluwafadekemi Ogunsanya, Lara Pedley, Camellia Johnson, Charlotte Wickham, Olivia Highwood, Laura Bartley, Louisa Freemont, Venetia Fryzer, Annabelle Gibson, Georgina Legg, Martha Knight, Jaya Melwani, Flora Snape, Oriel Steel, Amy Tudor, Harriet Wilson, Chevonne Wong

Every opposing team that faced the King’s U15A team was simply in awe of our core of midfielders. Lulu Freemont and Maya Kolade raised their game to new heights as competition increased, while Kent County players Hattie Wilson and Charlotte Wickham showed themselves to be future leaders of the 1st XII. Both able to move with ease in and out of defenders, lead the attack, and took their highly developed field sense to new levels, and anticipated every play before it happened. Not to mention the uncanny speed, agility and sheer force and

Lent 2010

Offensive Player of the Year: Ella Walford Defensive Player of the Year: Martha Knight Players’ Player: Harriet Wilson Results W 12, L 10, D 1

lacrosse Benenden U15A (a)

Autumn Term Results Goals for: 61 Goals against: 36 Won 8-3

Haileybury 2nd XII (h0

Won 7-3

Guildford U15A (a)

Lost 3-11

Heathfield St Mary’s (a)

Won 9-7

Benenden U15B (h)

Won 8-2

U15 Kent County Tournament

Won 5-1

Haileybury 1st XII

Won 3-1

Malvern St. James

Lost 3-4

St Paul’

Lost 2-6

Caterham

Drew 3-3

Bedford High

Lost 3-5

SMB

Won 3-1

U15 Kent County Indoor Tournament

Benenden D

Won 9-0

Walthjamstow Hall B

Won 7-1

Benenden C

Won 6-3

Benenden A

Haileybury 2nd XII (a)

National Tournament

Sr Alban’s U15 A (h)

Walthamstow Hall A

Lost 3-4

Lost 1-4 Won 3-2

Lent Term Results

Benenden A

Won 5-4

Cranbrook

Lost 2-6

Walthamstow Hall A

Lost 1-7

Benenden B

Won 6-2

Benenden U15B (h)

Won 8-2

To read the team reports for the Lacrosse U15 and U14, please click here

Goals For: 54 Goals Against: 62 Walthamstow Hall (h)

Cancelled

Heathfield St. Mary’s (h)

Cancelled

Walthamstow Hall U15A (h)

Lost 8-9

St. Alban’s High School

Cancelled

St Helen’s

Cancelled

Caterham School U15A (a)

Lost 7-9

THE CANTUARIAN

netball 1st VII Team The Netball club as a whole has had a very successful season. This year was the first year that King’s hosted tournaments at U19 and U14 level. These were extremely well attended with new teams added to the King’s circuit and will retain a permanent place in our Lent term calendar. As always, we can never go the whole of the Lent term without some bad weather. We lost one full weekend of fixtures and a few midweek not to mention valuable training sessions; despite this, however, results show that we performed exceptionally well across the board. We were very fortunate this year to have a number of new coaches and this helped enormously throughout the age groups and the results are a testament to the hard work and commitment they put in this season. The club would like to thank Mark Collins and his groundsmen for maintaining our courts and Kerry Hatser and the kitchen staff for the preparation of our wonderful teas at all our home fixtures. Also a big thank you to all the parents for their kind support at both home and away fixtures. We look forward to seeing you all next year for what I hope will be another successful Netball term. Best Wishes, Miss Bradley – i/c Netball

Lent 2010

KB W 9, L 3, D 1 Despite the January snow, we still managed to pack in 13 games and 3 tournaments in under 9 weeks – what a busy term for us! King’s hosted its first Birley’s tournament this year. Against some extremely tough opposition, we reached the semi-finals of the tournament. Other highlights of the season included winning the Plate competition of the John Kelshall tournament and winning the district tournament. With excellent wins over Simon Langton and King’s School Rochester early on in the season, this set a tone for what would be a great season. One of my most memorable moments of the season was the team saying, ‘Kerri, you never let us do anything fun,’ so I gave in and let the team play Killer! This resulted in Tilda with an egg on her head and Fran with one eye closed - all this before a weekend fixture against Felsted. We took this in our stride and what a game of Netball we played; Nicky dominated the circle and proved her versatility on court as GS, replacing Fran who cheered from the sideline with one eye! We faced two very tough opponents in our first triangular of the season – Christ’s Hospital and Sevenoaks. Two very contested games, equally enjoyable, although the Sevenoaks game had us on the edge of our seats. I have never been so worried about Fran taking a shot with 20 seconds to go in order to tie the game! I then remember Emily showing me the score with Sevenoaks winning, only to realise five minutes later she had put the goal on the wrong side.

time progressed. These results are a testament to the hard work and effort that the girls put in all season as a squad. They worked extremely hard and were dedicated to achieving some remarkable results against some very strong opposition. All the matches were well attended by parents and I would like to thank them for the continued support over the season. Team from: Tilda Emlyn-Williams (Captain), Fran Berry, Poppy Coleman, Steph Crampton, Alice Davis (Vice-Captain), Emily Davis, Lucy Kingsman, Nicky King, Millie Pedley and Rosie Vavasour. Results

Towards the end of the season we suffered two losses; despite this the girls remained determined and trained even harder. We ended the season District tournament winners and very proud of the season. Tilda has been a fantastic Captain this season, always leading from example. Her passion for the game, continued enthusiasm and excellent level of skill made her a force to be reckoned with. Tilda was supported well by Vice-Captain Alice Davis. Both girls did an excellent job on and off the court; lots of enthusiasm and love for the game. We say goodbye to four 6a girls this year: Tilda, Alice, Lucy and Millie. These players will be greatly missed. We wish them all the best and hope they return next year for the OKS fixture. It has been a pleasure coaching the 1st team. Over the term, they really developed a tactical awareness of the game and this was evident as

Simon Langton (h)

Won 34-8

Epsom (a)

Cancelled

King’a Scool, Rochester (a)

Won 42-30

Cranbrook (a)

Won 21-18

Birley’s Tournament - Semi Finalists of the Cup Competition Kent College

Won 49-15

Sutton Valence

Won 39-12

St Edmund’s

Won 49-12

John Kelshall Tournament (a) - Plate Winners Felstes

Won 30-18

Christ’s Hospital

Won 21-18

Sevenoaks Bancroft’s

Drew 15-15 Lost 25-23

Haileybury

Lost 31-29

Highworth

Won 34-18

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netball District Tournament (a) - Winners Winners Hurstpierpoint

Lost 33-25

Awards given: Star Player of the season: Fran Berry Most Improved player: Rosie Vavasour Player of the Season: Steph Crampton Most Valuable Player: Alice Davis

2nd VII LW The 2nd VII played a total of 9 matches, winning 6 and only losing 3. Unfortunately the seconds lost 2 matches at the beginning of the season due to snow however despite this; they were able to establish a very strong bond quite early on. Lucy Allen captained the side exceptionally well and always ensured the girls were enthusiastic both at training sessions and also at matches. The team consisted of a number of young players and these players did exceptionally well to fit in with the strength and physicality of senior Netball. Highlights of the season include winning the District Tournament and finishing semi-finalists at the John Kelshall Tournament.

Lent 2010

The defensive pairing of Zara and Emilie went from strength to strength over the season and they became a very tough duo to play against; very promising for next year’s season. Similarly those players in the centre court built up a very strong unit and it was a pleasure to see them playing and putting into practice what was learned at training. Alex Pye picked up a number of star player awards throughout the season and should be commended for her continued hard work and dedication. Millie, Steph and Ella picked up the reins as shooters and did a wonderful job; each with their unique playing style, yet complementing one another – the matches against Sevenoaks and Christ Hospital were the matches of the season. All the skills learned were finally put into practice and the team began to play with ease. Flo Savage moved up to 2nd team during the season and deserves special credit. Flo had never played Netball before coming to King’s and her hard work and dedication to improving her skills has been phenomenal. The second team have been a pleasure to coach. I would like to wish Lucy all the best in the future and welcome next year’s Netball season. Team from: Lucy Allen (Captain), Zara Benjamin-Laing (Vice-Captain), Emilie De Bree, Millie Hamilton, Steph Harper, Jess Hill,

Ella Kelly, Annie Mockridge, Alex Pye and Flo Savage. Results Ashford

Cancelled

Epsom

Cancelled

St Lawrence Cranbrook Sutton Valence

Won 22-17 Won 31-9 Won 31-10

Christ’s Hospital

Won 20-7

Sevenoaks

Won 19-5

Bancroft’s

Lost 33-22

Haileybury

Lost 27-15

new, very enthusiastic Fifths. The team had great strength across the court with notably great centre court play from Rose Barton. Both the defence and attack had great determination to win the ball back at all times. The defence had good height for the interceptions that occurred throughout the matches, many being taken by Captain Beetle Gage. The team never gave up in any circumstance and we were very disappointed to lose one match in the season; mostly due to not wanting to have to put a red sticker next to the match, on the fixtures list in the Netball pavilion wall, as these coloured stickers became a major incentive for the team throughout the season.

Lost 24-17

We were coached by Steph Masters, which was great as she brought new skills and drills to the sessions that we could implement into fixtures. She was always full of enthusiasm and was a wonderful coach. We will miss her next year.

St Edmund’s

Cancelled

John Kelshall Tournament -Semi-Finalists of the Plate Felsted

Won 32-15

District Tournament - Winners Hurstpierpoint

3rd VII GC W7, L 1, D1 This was an exceptionally successful season for the 3rd VII. Many members of the team were from last year’s third team along with some

Team from: Alex Barkshire, Rose Barton, Priyanka Basnyat, Laria Collister, Gelana Crouch, Beetle Gage (Captain), Kitty Davis, Emmyline Duffy, Izzy Ford, Yasmin Hajilou, Olivia Honeychurch, Lucy Hynard, Izzy Parrish, Paan Ratchakitprakarn, Adza Tarka, Ellie Thrupp and Ellie Warr. Results Epsom

Cancelled

THE CANTUARIAN

nETball St Lawrence

Wom 33-4

Cranbrook

Won 18-11

Kent College

Won 38-2

Sutton Valence

Won 30-13

Felsted

Won 21-17

Christ’s Hospital

Drew 10-10

Sevenoaks

Won 6-5

Bancroft’s

Cancelled

Haileybury

Lost 42-10

Hurstpierpoint

Won 26-17

Lent 2010

To read the team reports for the Netball Junior Squads, please click here

rowing Girls’ 1st Quad Chloe Ellis (6b, MR) The season began with a cold start. For many days the lake was frozen but even though there were bad weather conditions we managed to break up the ice and continue rowing. The term was the start of the 1st quad rowing together for the first time. After a few weeks of rowing with each other in freezing temperatures and learning to work together we went to our first race as a quad which was Hampton Head at which we came 3rd, missing out on 2nd place by only 10 seconds. The main focus of the season was the Schools’ Head of the River, a 4.25 mile race on the River Thames. Rowing on tidal water was a different experience for us as we are used to training on a (normally) calm lake, but we managed to come 13th in the J18 quads category and, as some of the crew members are

only 16, our aim for next year is to improve our performance. This term we also entered a Kent Schools’ indoor rowing competition. This was the first time we had ever entered an indoor rowing competition. We competed in the first round where the top 6 qualified for the final, which will be held in the summer term. The competition was a success as all the girls that entered qualified for the final. They were Chloe Ellis, Svenja Perkins, Amanda Thomas, Lizzie Morcom and Jane Ellard. Amanda Thomas did well to come third in the J16 age group and Chloe Ellis came first in the J18 lightweight category. Just before the end of term we entered a coxed quad at Maidstone regatta to try something different. Our aim was to be the fastest women’s junior boat at the regatta, but we just missed out and came second. During the Easter holidays most of the boat club went to Hazelwinkel in Belgium for a training camp. The conditions were perfect and the sun was shining every day. We got up early at 7:00 every morning to go rowing on the water before breakfast and then again before and after lunch.

Chloe Ellis, Svenja Perkins, Amanda Thomas and Lizzie Morcom at the Schools’ Head of the River

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We gained so much technical advancement over the week and it was a time for crew bonding as we lived with each other for the whole week. We hope that all our hard work over the Easter holidays will pay off as the regatta season starts in the summer term.

Team from: Chloe Ellis (*)(captain), Svenja Perkins (^), Amanda Thomas (^), Lizzie Morcom (^), Jane Ellard (reserve) * = school colours ^ = team colours

Boys’ 1st VIII Edward Fox (6a MR)

The coaching staff of King’s rowing has gained two new faces over the last two years in the form of Mr Fox, who came last year and is now our head of rowing, replacing Mr Hermes who has moved to Eton, and Ed Birrell. Between them they have managed to bring a new vitality to the club and a wealth of experience. As well as new coaches, there are also promising new rowers that have started this year, Chris Loyn started rowing in the first term of this school year and yet has managed to take to it rapidly and has rowed for the 1st VIII in both the Schools’ Head of the River and Hampton Head. I expect him to continue to shine in this sport. Another new member of the boat club is Tom Arnott, who has recently attended the Easter holiday rowing training camp and, while there, has improved tremendously, especially as he has only one term of rowing under his belt. If he continues to improve at this rate he will soon be a very impressive rower. As well as rowers we have two new coxes, Alex Soul and Eva Wallis. Both have had to learn quickly and adapt to their jobs as coxes, which

Lent 2010

Rowing is no easy thing when they have to learn to command, for the most part, an older and more experienced crew. Despite a few early slip ups, both coxes have show impressive improvement and as the race season really gets under way they will truly show their worth to us all. Our first race of the season was Hampton Head which for some members of the boat was their first experience of a real race and as the race was around 3.5km even the most experienced of us experienced some apprehension. The crew of Will Wickham, Austin Callison, George Pughe, Giles Dean, Charles Reynolds, Chris Loyn, Theo Haynes and Edward Fox with Alex Soul coxing, managed to come 27th out of the 362 boats that posted a time and for an inexperienced crew everyone was happy with this result at such an early point in the season. The biggest race of last term was without question The Schools’ Head of the River Race which is an approximately 6.8km race. The same crew as at Hampton Head rowed the Schools’ Head and now with more experience the crew paddled up to the start with greater confidence. George Pughe was at stroke, a high pressure position as it was his job to set the rate for all of us to follow throughout the race and it takes an unshakeably strong will to do that and maintain the rate needed over such a massive distance. It’s a job Pughe is extremely good at and he will continue to impress us all over the next two years as he is still only a Fifth and has a long career of rowing at King’s still to complete. The race pushed each of us past the point of exhaustion and it was only an unwillingness to give in that keept us sitting tall. The Schools’ Head is essentially a time trial race with crews setting off at intervals of around 30s to 1 minute between them. This year our determination paid off as we began to close on the boat in front. A side by side race began as we

were determined to push past them before the finish; we threw in one more push with about 2km to go and were past them and pulling away rapidly trying to cling onto any spark of energy we had left as we passed Fulham football ground with 500m to go to the finish. We managed one last time to pick the boat up and reach the finish line as fast as we could. In the overall standings of the Regatta our boat came 48th out of the hundreds of boats that came from all over the country and we can hold our heads high after our performance. I believe that over the next few years King’s Boys’ Rowing is going to be an impressive sight as six of the current first VIII will be staying on to row next year and three of these (George Pughe, Giles Dean and Theo Haynes) are currently in Fifth. Giles Dean is a strong and determined rower who works hard on and off the water and can always be counted on to throw everything into a race. Theo Haynes has also got a strong future in the boat club; he has rowed in the 1st VIII since the start of the season and despite being the lightest member of the crew he has a strong presence in the boat who rarely falters. Many of us have recently returned from a training week in Hazewinkel in Belgium, where despite a few minor injuries, a huge amount of progress was made in the intense week of rowing and everyone can take credit for the unfaltering determination and effort shown by all. The week’s success is a testament to the skill and organisation of our coaches. Unfortunately Charles Reynolds and Chris Loyn were unable to attend the training week due to factors outside their control, but in all other areas of this term’s rowing they have shown tremendous commitment. Chris even runs down to the lake most sessions as he often has to come late due to choir. They are a great asset to the boat club and as next term will be Charles’ last rowing at King’s before he leaves, I’m sure he will looks forward to the challenges to come and of course the ultimate goal of Henley.

THE CANTUARIAN

Squash

Will Wickham and Austin Callison are two of the club’s most experienced rowers. Will is in 6b and has already rowed at Henley twice; the two of them are the backbone of the crew and they help to lead by example throughout the year and with still another year at King’s to go, they will be a good basis for the younger rowers to aspire to. Outside the 1st VIII there are many who are vying for places and this adds a vital competitive atmosphere as we are forced to work to maintain our places, Byron Chatzis, Ali Brown, Tim Perkins Joe Bondatti and Tom Arnott have all worked hard throughout the season and the training they’ve undergone will be vital this year and next. I also should mention Adam Plunkett who as a Remove attended this Easter’s training camp which is no small thing and I believe in the years to come he will be one to watch out for.

Boys’ 1st V TM P19

JTHF writes: Teddy Fox has very modestly neglected to mention himself in this report: he has shown real leadership and is a very important member of the crew.

Teams from: 1st VIII: Edward Fox* (Captain), George Pughe^, Austin Callison*, William Wickham*, Giles Dean^, Chris Loyn^, Charles Reynolds^, Theo Haynes^, Alex Soul (cox); J18 IV: Byron Chatzis, Tim Perkins, Tom Arnott and Alistair Brown, Eva Wallis (cox).

W14 L5

The boys played more matches this year than ever before and won the majority of them. They started the year with the first ever squash pre-season training and finished it having had the most successful season ever! As a coach I couldn’t be more pleased with the team spirit and effort that the boys have put into their games this year. The 1st V only lost one player from the year before so there were four experienced players coming back and a good number of promising players coming through. King’s squash looked very positive on paper for the 2009/10 season. Fourteen wins from nineteen matches is a fantastic record, and it could have been even better had the full team been out for all the matches. Even more impressive was that one of the losses was a narrow loss to a Kent University team a lot older and more experienced than the boys. In the National Schools Championship group stage King’s won three out of three matches

Lent 2010

Squash against King Edward IV, Brentwood and Coopers, and were one of 32 schools to advance to the knockout stages. As King’s had won their group they played a school that was runner up in their group and we were confident that we would pose a challenge for any opposition. Sadly fate wasn’t smiling on us and handed us Wycliffe (the 2nd best squash school in the country), and the only reason they came runners up in their group was because they were in the same group as Millfield (the best squash school in the country!). The boys couldn’t quite get over the hurdle placed before them on this occasion. Incidentally, Millfield went on the win the title and the runners up were Wycliffe! The highlight of the season has to be winning the Epsom Independent Schools Tournament in December. There were 24 teams in total and King’s beat Solihull 2, KCS 2, Lancing 2, Westminster 2 and Whitgift 2 on the way to winning the division 2 title. Had we been put in division 1 I firmly believe we would have finished in the top six teams, with the likes of Epsom and Lancing. It was a tough day for the boys but certainly worth the effort to come away with some silverware and to be recognised as one of the better teams in the area. Aakash Dega spent the majority of the season playing at 1. Whoever played at 1 often found themselves up against county players, if not national players, but Aakash won 61% of his matches so more than held his own. During the season he competed in the Kent County U19 championships and won the Plate competition, which shows the level of play he has achieved. At the end of the season the team voted Aakash as the MVP (most valuable player) and ‘player of the season’; both justified awards for a player who always gave 100% and loved doing the extra fitness work.

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Alex Stephens playedat 2 for most of the season and some games at 1 also. He won 72% of his games and set a high standard for next years’ captain to follow. He led by example with his work ethic, commitment, approach to the game, enjoyment of a great sport and support of his team mates. One of his best games of the season was against Kent University when he won against their number 2, 3-0. He played brilliantly the whole match! When asked why he played so well he replied that he wanted to get off court as quickly as possible as his opponent’s rather unorthodox movement scared him! Jonny Cheung usually played at 3 and won 75% of his matches. Jonny did well but needs to work on his willingness to ‘dig in’ if he is going to battle with opposing teams’ 1sts next year. With hard work Jonny could be a very good player and I hope he is up to the challenge laid before him. I certainly believe he can do it. Nathan Hudson-Peacock usually played at 4 and won 73% of his games. Nathan always gave his all, running for every loose ball and hitting the ball as hard as he possibly could. By the end of the season the finesse was there too and his drop shots really added to his game. The team enjoyed watching Nathan re-set his hair after every rally, and counted 107 touches in one match! Nick Berman started the year at 5 but finished the year at 3. Nick put a huge amount of effort into his squash throughout the year and deservedly won the ‘most improved player’ award at the end of the season. He won 82% of his matches and his concentration on court was unmatched by any. It was always reassuring knowing that Nick would dig out a win for the team. The team had two strong players at 1 and 2 which always helps, but even more important was the team’s depth. Jonny, Nathan and Nick at 3, 4 and 5 meant the team always had a chance, as most teams weren’t lucky enough to have five good players. A mention must also go to Ashwin Bhadresha as the ‘6th man’. On the

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occasions when one of the 1st V couldn’t play Ashwin stepped in and won 66% of his matches at 5. I was spoilt this year to have the luxury of having so many good players to pick from. Ashwin will be an integral member of the 1st V in the coming seasons. Alex, Aakash, Nathan and Nick are leaving this year, which means there will opportunities for some new faces in the 1st V next season. I wish all the leavers every success for the future and it will be hard to match their achievements after such a fantastic year!

National Schools Top 32 Knockout St Edmund’s (h) Christ’s Hospital (h)

Won 3-2

Eton 2 (a)

Won 4-1

Borden Grammar (h)

Won 5-0

Jester’s (h)

Player of the Season – Aakash Dega Most Improved Player – Nick Berman

Lost 0-5

Tonbridge (h)

5-0

Sevenoaks (a)

5-0

Haileybury

Most Valuable Player – Aakash Dega

Lost 5-0

King’[s Staff (h)

Bancroft’s Team from: Alex Stephens* (captain), George Baker-White, Nick Berman*, Ashwin Bhadresha, Caspar Carter, Jonny Cheung^, Aakash Dega*, Tom Dixey, Nathan Hudson-Peacock^, Tim Humphries, Fergus Ryan and Richard Seaton.

Won 3-2

Cancelled Lost 42-10

Epsom Independent Schools Tournament Solihul 2

Won6-1

King’s College School

Won 7-0

Lancing

Won 6-1

Westminster

Won 7-0

Whitgift 2 (Final)

Won 7-0

Results Eastbourne (h0 Borden Grammar (h)

Won 5-3 Lost 2-3

Bedford (h)

Wom 3-2

Sevenoaks (h)

Won 5-0

Kent University (h)

Lost 1-4

Tonbridge (a)

Won 4-1

King Edward VI

Won 5-0

St Edmund’s (a)

Lost 2-3

Brentwood (a)s (h) Wycliffe (N)

Lent 2010

To read the team reports for the Boys’ Squash Junior Squads, , please click here

Won 4-1 Lost 0-5

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squash 1st V TM P3

the squad only loses Eleanor for next season, so the girls have another year together to continue to improve and refine their skills. The new girl’s captain for 2010/11 will be Hannah Benton and I wish her every success in her new role.

Team from: Lucy Baker, Hannah Benton, Eleanor Christie, Faridah Folawiyo, Franzi Gabbert, Natalie Hackman and Joy Selous. Results Sevenoaks (h)

Lost 0-2

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Lost 2-3

Sevoaks (a)

Lost 0-5

Girls Inter House Competition Winners: There was a fantastic group of enthusiastic players this year but sadly the number of fixtures was lacking. The squad only had three matches due to other schools not fielding a team, but the girls got some valuable match experience to take with them into next season.

Broughton

Runners up: Harvey

To read the full reports on the House Squash Competition, please click here.

The matches against Sevenoaks involved some close games and the team came close to winning against Christ’s Hospital, with Eleanor (5) and Lucy (2) winning their matches 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. Hannah had the challenge of playing a county player at 1 who normally plays for the boy’s team! She admirably took one for the team. Franzi and Joy playing at 3 and 4 lost their matches 3-1 but both matches could have gone either way. Everyone worked hard to improve over the course of the season, especially as for some this was their first squash experience. I will be looking to encourage more running/fitness to help further the girls’ games, as ‘best of five’ matches were a shock to the system for some. Luckily

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cross country Cross-Country DJF The Inter-House competition in late September, newly democratised with identical representation for boys and girls, was a visual and sporting spectacle, played out against the rugged backdrop of Scotty Hills and with a supporting cast of battle-ready Argyll and Sutherland highlanders. On a warm, still afternoon, Walpole and Tradescant were dominant and took the major trophies, their Shell runners, Isobel Brooks and Ben Methven, getting them off to winning starts. In the Inters races, after a controversial start, Grace Johnson (WL) confidently outpaced Sarah Duffy (MT), while George Plews (MO) held off George Moss (GR). Senior winners Josh Freemont (MT) and Emily Steel (WL) confidently posted 30-second advantages over secondplaced Loren Kock (TR) and Rose macLachlan (LX), who themselves fended off third-place finishers Fred Hare (LN) and Isobelle Ford (CY) by a handful of seconds. The District trials were hosted by Kent College on a far less clement November day and, alongside a smattering of boys who all ran with heart, the senior girls’ strength and depth carried them to a resounding defence of their title.

Ashling (6th), Izzy Berry (7th), Ellie Warnick (11th) and Anna Suzuki (12th) had good seasons. Ashling led the team with true dedication and resolve, and I hope she felt rewarded when the trophy was retained. In the absence of captain Josh Freemont, recovering from long-term injury, James Hearn was our lone senior, and he showed he could be a match for anyone with some brave and committed running. The Inters Fred Catterall (3rd) and George Gardiner (8th) rose promisingly to the challenge of chasing nothing more than individual glory: both had success and can be heartened by their marked competitive improvement. Like a moth trap, the beacon of Cross-Country attracts the exotic and the homespun, the seasoned and the seasonal: all within its orbit are welcomed and, unlike the victims of the lepidopterists’ tool, nurtured and given back their wings to flutter, flit or soar. Without the energetic involvement of MB, JC, JGr, CJS, SPO and BCe, runners’ opportunities would have been infinitely restricted, and I thank my happy team for their unfailing support.

Frozen January brought cancellations (the Knole, the county trials and the Duke of York’s fixture) and consequently limited training. Once the thaw set in, Ashling Pickett’s girls set about building a successful defence of their Kent Schools’ League title. Grace and pace characterised Emily Steel’s running; she won at Dover College, UKC, Tonbridge and Benenden, emphatically gaining top spot. Grace Johnson followed Emily home in three of the races, winning a commendable silver medal, while

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the interview ‘Your Starter for 10’: Señor Bruna Augustus Gould (Fifth GL)

Why did you choose to become a teacher? ‘I never thought I would be a teacher, I just fell into it by chance.’ People who have been taught by Señor Bruna they will know he is a hard worker who is determined to get the best results from his students. These are ideal ingredients for being a teacher, yet when he was at university being a teacher was at the bottom of his list of jobs. He was more inclined to go into the tourism industry because of his love of languages. However, because he wanted to keep studying at university he decided upon teaching, a job he would soon learn to love.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher? ‘I would have loved to be an ambassador.’ This is an obvious choice for a man who is so gifted in languages, seven in total! However, Señor Bruna says he would have wanted to be an ambassador with a difference. Instead of staying in one country, he would have loved to journey across the globe as he loves travelling and believes that every time you visit another country, you keep growing.

What appeals to you most about King’s and what don’t you like about it here? ‘The first time I put my hood on I felt like superman, it was a strange feeling.’ Señor Bruna knew from the very first time he came to the school that it was a very different place to the schools he had grown up in; in Spain, students don’t have to wear uniform and don’t work as hard compared to the hard working and smart atmosphere of Kings. However, he believes students here should get more free time.

‘Number one: football.’ As every King’s School student knows, Señor Bruna’s passion is football and he very nearly got the chance to play professionally, playing for the Barcelona Youth Academy until he was fourteen, the very academy that football legends such as Messi and Fabregas came from.

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How would you describe your typical school day? ‘It is intense, you get up and the day flies by, and you are already going to sleep. It is like being in a washing machine, you don’t have enough time to think.’

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As Señor Bruna shows, if you think being a student is hard, try being a teacher - you have to worry not just about yourself but the hundreds of pupils you teach.

What has been the highlight of your time teaching so far? ‘Getting the top boys’ Spanish results in the country.’ Señor Bruna takes great pride in being the head of a department that was top in the country, although he shares credit with the rest of the Spanish staff saying without them the results would never have been possible.

What has been the lowest point of your time teaching so far? ‘I have been very lucky to work with good students.’ Not one person Señor Bruna has taught has let him down, and that he admits this is the reason he keeps on teaching, he feels inspired by his own students.

What has been one of your strangest moments at Kings? ‘I told him, you are a loser, a loser!’

making fun of the person on the phone. As you can guess the whole room was in hysterics.

What has been the most memorable lesson you’ve ever taught at Kings? ‘The inspector is meant to inspect the teacher not the students’ Señor Bruna’s most memorable lesson was when his sixth form class was being inspected by the school board. However it was an oral lesson and instead of teaching the class, the students took centre stage with Señor Bruna only managing two or three sentences of Spanish the whole lesson. However, the inspector was very impressed with the lesson, which surprised him.

If the Common Room was burning down, which three teachers would you save and why? ‘I would have to burn’ Señor Bruna’s straight response was that he could not bring himself to choose three people and would rather die than let the rest of the staff room be killed; he would not be able to live with the nightmares of leaving the rest behind. However, knowing Señor Bruna as I do, I think he would probably have decided to save the woman teachers first, especially Barbara!

Señor Bruna remembers when he caught a student on a phone after lights out, and instead of shouting at him he took the phone and started

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105

Overheard… ‘If you were a lavatory there would be a permanent vacant sign on your door.’ ‘Shakespeare was a smutty bandit’ On being asked to join The Cantuarian team... ‘I could do that I suppose. I just found out that I have these ‘Egzam’ things though, who knew? As long as I didn’t have to go to all these sport thingies that occasionally thrust themselves to the front of my attention when a herd of six-foot-something man mountains in indecently tight shorts lumber past, leaving little to the imagination as they guffaw their way to another muddy killing field that puts the Somme to shame on a tri-weekly basis. Yours, with more enthusiasm than is evident, Mr X’ An anonymous response from within the team... ‘I hate him already...’ Ms Z

Lesson on Human relationships ‘If they are going to make underage sex illegal they should tell old people when to stop as well’ In a Spanish lesson on the Aztecs: ‘Who invented chocolate?’ ‘Willy Wonka....’

The Cantuarian Editorial Committee Mrs A. L. Young (Editor-in-Chief), Mr Lee Rigley, Mr Ernest Sykes (Sport), Nicholas Hands and Jessica Wingrad (Senior Editors), Teddy Crow, Georgina Davies, Will Fenning, Faridah Folawiyo, Gus Gould, Ed Hands, James Hearn, Kit Irwin, Olivia Lyster, Nicholas Ma Siy, Rachel Phipps, Hugo Plunkett and Amanda Thomas

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Summer 2010

THE CANTUARIAN CONTENTS Editorial

169

This and That

170

Valete

172

Focus

186

Trips and Expeditions

192

Miscellany

194

The Jimmy James Award

196

Societies

197

King’s Week

200

Sport

241

The Interview

267

Comemoration Day Pictures

270

Overheard… and Howlers

272

EDITORIAL Nicholas Hands (6b MO) and Jessica Wingrad (6a JR)

An autumn at King’s is worthy of any Robert Frost poem, with the panoramic view of the Green Court sprinkled with golden brown leaves. In the Lent term, despite the unrelenting threat of the Icelandic volcano, there was not a cloud of ash floating precariously metres from our heads as the media made out. Needless to say this act of nature prevented countless pupils and staff from returning after the Easter holidays and left the remainder of pupils sparsely gathered. The pressure of exams stops being a distant threat and moves to the fore of much activity and being in the Sixth Form we were not exempt from that stress. Teachers were to be found dishing out revision packs and practice papers while the world outside King’s continued to trudge through the ongoing backlash of the economic crisis. The General Election dominated conversations, including those of King’s pupils and staff, and everyone seemed to become a political expert overnight. After weeks of heated televised debates – a first for the country – the coalition government which ensued was put to the test with the economic pressures of the recession and international disasters such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The King’s election did not reflect the sentiment of the nation, with the little-known Liberal Party gaining the majority of votes from the student body. The efforts of the other parties were admirable and the ongoing posters plastering the Undercroft made walking to meals a small treat.

steps the publication has trodden in its 128 years. It has allowed us to publish as much as we want, and we hope that this new production will allow us to be a clearer mirror of the school’s exploits. One advantage of the website is its archive. An editorial cannot do justice to its historical treasures: there are letters from the front line of World War I, and, on a lighter note, the lamentation in July 1900 that ‘we seem utterly unable to produce a single good bowler’. Thankfully, some things do change. The editorial of June 1910 bemoans that ‘as usual quite unnecessary grumblings are being directed towards Editors at the lateness of The Cantuarian.’ It may have taken us a century to get there but, at the time of writing, we hope that this edition will be the earliest for several years. The same edition of 1910 also announces the departure of the Headmaster, Arthur Galpin, and unfortunately we find ourselves in similar circumstances this year. We send every good wish to Mr Clements, particularly as he may be finding life in the UAE slightly warmer than Reverend Galpin did in the Rectory of Saltwood, and congratulate him on his appointment as the Head of Senior School at Repton Dubai. You will see that a new design accompanies a new format. Having reverted to the plain cover introduced in the 1950s, a termly approach echoes that of the website: we hope you will find the structure simpler and the design similarly so. We could not mention simplicity and design without mentioning our Editor, Mrs Young. In less than a year, she has transformed the publication and spent hours slaving for its improvement. Working with her has been hugely enjoyable. We hope that reading the fruit of her labours will be just the same.

Once the hype of the Election had died down, excitement of another kind brewed among this magazine’s staff. The Cantuarian’s website was launched during King’s Week, one of the biggest

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The Ash Cloud

This and That

Although it looks tricky on paper, ‘Eyjafjallajökull’ isn’t a name that anyone is going to forget easily after the events of April 2010. Despite hundreds of thousands of people being stranded in every corner of the globe due to the eruption of volcanic ash, credit must go to King’s pupils and staff alike for managing to get trapped in only the most exotic of locations, thus being unable to return in time for the beginning of the summer term. Credit must also go to Alexander Addington who was forced to extend his holiday in Malaysia; equally This and That’s thoughts were with Lynda Horn, who had to continue to mull over things whilst marooned on a Greek Island. Of course, it was the poor students and staff of the Crypt Choir tour that had to endure the worst of it: a whole week away from school with only trips to water-based theme parks to alleviate the misery of the situation... Overland from Venice... This and That’s prize for dedication to INSET must be awarded to our very own Senior

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Mistress. The account of her arduous journey home across Europe after being stranded in Venice can be found on the website. Mrs Wakeham is an excellent example of true Dunkirk spirit, and her skills as a geographer must have come in handy too. Salvete infantes.. Congratulations to Mark and Buffy Smiley, who welcomed a baby boy, William Jonathan Wilberforce, into the world on May 5th. Also Mark and Melissa Orders, who are to be congratulated on the birth of a little girl, Annabelle Mary, on the 8th June

Congratulations... Will Goldsmith won the South East Young Engineer for Britain and the most creative Gold Crest award (SE) at the Big Bang fair at Reading Uni on 7th July.

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Well done Benjamin Simpson (GR) and Louise Guitton (GR) for winning the Kent School’s Intermediate Boys’ Doubles tournament. The boys were competing against 46 other pairs from all schools around Kent. The standard of everybody’s tennis was excellent and the competition was very strong, and to win all 4 pool matches and then go on to win the next 4 rounds in the knock-out was superb. The Cantuarian sends very best wishes to Mrs Barbara Slimming (HM secretarty 1968-1984, subsequently OKS hon. Secretary) who celebrated her 95th birthday on 29th May this year. The Bursar A belated welcome to Mr Mark Taylor who joins us as the new bursar. A former pupil of JKS, Mark spent time as an Army officer before becoming Deputy Bursar at Cranbrook School, then Bursar of Dulwich College Prep School before moving to Bedales School. He is married to Louise and they have two sons, aged 14 and 11. We wish him a warm welcome and are pleased to say he seems to have settled in nicely. ‘Age Dum Agis’ On the 2nd July The Cantuarian website was launched with a hugely successful party to which a number of people were invited, including past editors. The party took place in the school library where the high roof proved very useful as the site could be projected into the rafters for all to see. Members of the editorial

committe guided guests using library computers and laptops (see Nick Hands demonstrating to past editor Stephen Woodley below left) and the general reponse was most encouraging. Mrs Young gave details about the new archive section within which can now be found searchable, electronic copies of all Cantuarians from 1882 - 1971. The website can be accessed via the OKS site or the school intranet. 1971 to present should be uploaded over the next few months. All the articles in this magazine can be found in their entirety, as well as numerous additional photographs, on the website. There are also supplementary pieces such as an interview with Mr Sinclair about his King’s Week production. Should readers be thirsting for more from the inestimable Dr Mallion (CR 1976 - 2005), a further thousand words on the Jazz Concert can be found in electronic form on the website. The Latin tag above has been the motto of past Cantuarians for many decades. This and That would be grateful if anyone knows its origin as the Classics department have been unable to come up with a satisfactory translation.

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VALETE Nicholas Clements CTN

Nicholas Clements became Head Master in January 2008, in succession to Keith Wilkinson. He had been Head of Pocklington School since 2000, having previously served in the Army, read Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge, and taught at Eton College and Wells Cathedral School. Some things were immediately noticeable: he was the first lay Head since Norman Birley (1927-35), he was a man of kindness and charm, and he was very tall. He was first and foremost a man of great personal integrity with a strong Christian faith. He was conscious that the School was very privileged to be part of the Cathedral foundation and he always saw the community of School and Cathedral as one. He instituted a service for staff at the beginning of the school year, appreciated the opportunities to attend Evensong, and was pleased to be installed as an Honorary Lay Canon in March 2009. In writing an editorial for The Cantuarian in 2008-09, he reflected on Shirley Hall prayers as something of a sanctified space in the school day. His personal qualities were exemplified in those areas of school life in which he took a particular interest. He enjoyed teaching Mathematics, he was responsible for the revival of the CCF, he was a regular presence on boundary and touchline, and he was ready to concern himself with minutiae such as the etiquette of flag-raising. The two articles he wrote for the staff magazine were about Montgomery as a military commander and about Saint Anselm. He must also have been the first Head to run in the InterHouse Cross Country since Algernon Latter did so as a boy.

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When called upon to express what mattered in education, it is significant that he should single out those pupils who ‘live out their school lives in a slightly more subdued way’. It was important, he felt, that as well as the provision of a wide range of opportunities for boys and girls to excel in academic endeavour, sport and the creative arts, there should also be time and space just to sit and think. His desire to strengthen the pastoral role of housemasters and housemistresses and his own readiness to talk to individual pupils were further aspects of this same concern. In quoting with approval a comment on an individual as having ‘gentleness and sensitivity in an age of intemperance and swagger’, he could well have been talking about himself. In April 2010 he announced that he would resign as Head Master at the end of the summer term. His letter to staff and parents stated that he thought it right ‘that the Governors should be able to appoint a new Head Master with whom they are in full accord over vision, approach and style.’ At the same time the Dean paid tribute to Nicholas’s many gifts and talents, and expressed gratitude ‘for the contribution he has made here and for all that he has done for the school and the community’. Nicholas Clements leaves the King’s School in good heart. The best A level results ever might seem a significant achievement, but he would have taken much greater pride from the all-round excellence of the 59th King’s Week, and perhaps especially from listening to Spem in Alium reverberating around the Quire of his beloved Cathedral. Our best wishes for the future go to Nicholas, Fenella, Lucinda and Oliver.

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VALETE Roy White MJM

The many, glowing tributes paid to Roy on his retirement after twenty-six years’ service have inevitably focused primarily on Roy the Sportsman, and on his exceptional contribution to King’s Sport and especially to King’s Rugby. He joined the Common Room as Head of PE in September 1984 after seven years at St Mary’s, Sidcup, and following an impressive career as a Rugby player which had been cut short by a knee injury. The ten years he spent running the PE Department are dwarfed by the twenty-two as Director of Sport which began a year later, and by his record-breaking twenty-three as Master in charge of Rugby.

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His outstanding skill as a Rugby coach, and his unstinting commitment to drawing the best out of individuals as well as the team were evident both in his achievements with the 1st XV and in his work as an RFU Senior Coach at regional and national level: amongst other things, Roy was head coach of the London and South East Schools and coached at 18 group level the England President’s XVs and the England A XV. I am told that he has an amazing ability to recall passages of play after a match, describing and analysing clearly for the players exactly what happened and what could or should have happened. With King’s teams he fought hard and successfully to keep us in the top flight after co-education brought a serious reduction in the number of boys available to choose from, and he took both victory and defeat philosophically in his stride. I am sure that he will always cherish the memory of winning the Rosslyn Park Sevens in 1993, but his greatness is also to

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be measured in how he coped after the tragic injury to Leon Katz, and it was his subsequent personal campaign through the Schools Rugby Union that brought about law changes to make the game safer for young players. His comprehensive network of contacts in the Rugby world also enabled Roy to field an international team in a charity match at Rosslyn Park in honour of Leon. At the other extreme, I have never forgotten the calmly authoritative way in which he un-dislocated the finger of one of my MO boys during a House match. For his last six years Roy was also Master in charge of Cricket, strolling round the boundary in thoughtful conversation with Alan Ealham; and of the many other sports of which he was a master, I have particular personal memories of his decisive basketball refereeing in the days when House match spectators hung noisily from wall bars in the old Gym. And the Rugby must not obscure the huge amount that Roy achieved as Director of Sport. The legacy of his visionary crusading, cajoling and planning is to be seen most concretely in the superb state of Birley’s, complete with new Pavilion and Astroturf, in Blore’s and the Recreation Centre, and in the Maurice Milner Hall. But it is also there in the wide range of tours across many sports, spawned by the example set with Rugby, where his ten international ventures spanned the globe from Australia to Canada, and Thailand to Fiji and Uruguay. As ever, his unflappable handling of boys and events led to huge educational gains. It was behind the scenes, however, that Roy personally impressed me the most. As a Housemaster and in my work running the Calendar, I saw his incredible grasp of detail and meticulous, advance organisation. He is firm and decisive, but always sought to be fair in making all kinds of decisions, and he was the first to seek to minimise the impact on academic work and other activities whilst maintaining the highest sporting standards and involvement. He guided the School with great success through the challenges of co-education mentioned above, doing what he deemed necessary irrespective

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of whether it would prove immediately popular,

and maintaining impressive boys’ fixture lists whilst encouraging the huge flowering of female sporting talent. As Housemaster of Marlowe House for twelve years Roy showed the same qualities of commitment, organisation, understanding, firmness and fairness. He knew and cared about the pupils in his House, and he knew what was best for them. He supported their academic and cultural activities just as strongly as their sport, and Marlowe Concerts have always been legendary. His file-keeping and reporting were exemplary, as I can testify from having taken over some of his boys when they changed to boarding. When bidding farewell to Roy in the Common Room, Janice Reid spoke movingly on behalf of all other ex-Marlowe parents in paying tribute to Roy’s wisdom and care in guiding their children; and she rightly stressed, too, the role played by his wife Jill and the warmth of their hospitality. As an elder statesman over his final years, Roy put his firm diplomacy and his organisational skills at the service of the School in the post of Assistant Director of Studies: a glamorous title for a very unglamorous role which he fulfilled with his customary uncomplaining thoroughness. It does, however, bring us back to the

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VALETE curriculum and a feature of Roy’s work which has perhaps been understated elsewhere. Roy was an excellent teacher of PE, and the PE Department he left was a much more academic affair than that which he joined. The subject is now taught to A Level, and he has considerable expertise in teaching the theory, and especially the history of Sport. His genuine interest in such history is clear for all to see in the impressive archive material and honours boards on display in the Pavilion: the product of typically meticulous collection and collation. Many will also recall fondly the re-enactment of traditional King’s School Green Court Rugby which he staged as part of the 1991 World Cup celebrations. But to return to the classroom, in 1984 he was also appointed to the German Department, which I was then running, and though he has always been modest about his abilities, Roy had outstanding success (and I hope some pleasure) in getting some quite challenging sets successfully through the GCSE. Particularly in the now long-gone days of large, all boy, bottom sets Roy knew how to draw and drive them on in the classroom just as well as on the pitch. It is significant that he asked a non-sportsman to pen his vale, for it is ultimately as a great schoolmaster that we must remember Roy, and not just as a great sportsman: a gentleman and a player. The words recently written by Robert Stephen, this year’s Vice-Captain of School (with both a Cambridge Choral Award and Rugby success at England level to his credit) can be taken to apply to all aspects of Roy’s career: ‘He knew exactly how to get the best out of each individual, encouraged us to play to our strengths and to improve on our weaknesses. The fact that he didn’t talk much made him even more respected: when he spoke, we listened. His experience and knowledge were second to none, and this showed in our performances. He was always gracious in defeat and humble in victory. He will be sorely missed. Indeed.

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Janice Reid GRC

‘In the beginning were Janice and David.’ It is hard to imagine the King’s School, Canterbury, without their presence. Together they have been a King’s Institution, utterly professional, always altruistic, delightful company, and, towards the end of their respective careers, perfectly presidential. Often regarded by those who know them well very much as a couple, both are strong and very different individuals who have both bequeathed a huge legacy to King’s. David had his valedictory in 2002, so it is rightly to Janice that I now turn. Janice the theologian grew up in church surroundings, daughter of The Revd Donald and Mary Bretherton. Donald was Vicar of St Martin’s at Herne during Janice’s formative years. But, devoted, and spiritual though she is, she definitely has a ‘wicked side’. A student of the Cambridge Movement (her MPhil thesis on J.M. Neale was awarded a ‘first’ without needing a viva), she is perhaps best described as an ‘eclectic High Anglican liberal’. If that is a paradox, it is, in many ways Janice. In her character as well as in her theological expression she finds a way of combining Newman with Buddha, of traditional Western worship with Eastern meditation. She hates pomp, but loves class. She hates religiosity unless it has substance. A local girl, she had visited the Precincts many times before on one visit to the Deanery, she met the Housemaster of Linacre, David Reid. They married in 1978 and have two sons, both OKS, who spent their own formative years living in the Forrens as David served his 12-year tenure as Housemaster of Marlowe. It was, perhaps, during this time that Janice gained her

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reputation for hospitality. In a day house, you can entertain for longer, and drink more, than in its boarding equivalent. But Janice was not one to stay at home. She continued to pursue her own career in teaching and after two previous short-term cover appointments in 1986 and 1989, I can claim a hand in one of the best decisions I have ever made: Janice became a full-time teacher of Religious Studies at King’s in 1992. With Headmaster, Anthony Phillips, teaching the Old Testament to two A Level sets, Janice complemented with her teaching of the New. She quickly became an expert and an authority in Johannine theology. She knew the most difficult Gospel inside out and her knowledge of scholarship, both ancient and modern, was admired by all. With the advent of Curriculum 2000, Janice assumed the Head of Department role and embarked upon an extremely different Sixth Form course, the ‘Developments of Christian Thought’. She researched voraciously and in a matter of months, became as well read as most university Dons in Liberation, Feminist and Black Theologies. We all knew what she read, of course, through the piles and piles of photocopying she gave to her pupils. She took no chances: if she had read it, so should they. No-one complained. Janice was simply not the type of teacher you complained about: she set very high standards of herself and paid tireless attention to helping her pupils reach and even surpass their potential. She cared about them, and they cared about her. As a result, the department grew throughout the noughties and consistently returned magnificent examination results. In last summer’s A Levels the department brought home 23A*s, 20As and 4Bs, with no one below a B grade; almost everyone taking the subject secured their best grade in Religious Studies. This was described by a Governor as ‘a wonderful swansong for Janice’, but these excellent results were no one-off: they were typical of her time at the helm.

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I joked at a leaving dinner for Janice that, for a large part of her time as HoD, she had to put up with a succession of ‘strange’ men in her department, who, from mixed theological backgrounds, often fought with one another and very occasionally with her. I was partly serious; we were not always easy. She handled us brilliantly. I am delighted that her legacy to Religious Studies is four young, female, Cambridge graduate teachers who have in their own ways inherited her panache and will undoubtedly continue her success. As a tutor in School House, she served under three housemasters, all of whom praise the quality of her pastoral care: ‘She always did more than could be expected.’ The boys loved both her motherliness and her intellect, her gossip and her academic integrity. She listened, she counselled, but she was certainly no pushover: for all her kindness, Janice has steel and authority. She was the perfect female role model in that very male establishment. Janice made many other contributions to King’s life. For the last ten years she has been in charge of the extremely popular King’s debates. For the best part of a decade she ran the popular King’s Week Meditations. She was the link between King’s and Madagascar. She provided opportunities for non-Christian groups to meet and worship. For my part, I cherish the memories we share of taking groups of sixth formers to the Sinai desert. The stories I could tell are legion, especially in the early days those

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VALETE concerned with getting through Israeli customs and check-points. On these occasions, Janice’s calm and serenity seemed to leave her… but we all made it home. On a camel Janice was the Queen of the Desert, surrounded by Bedouin boys, befriending children as they ran up to her for sweets or simply a smile, respected by their mothers who, in front of her, were happy to ‘unveil’ and be at ease. Unbeknown to the pupil community, in her final three years Janice was the elected President of the Common Room, an office which David previously held. In lots of ways these were not particularly easy years, but Janice’s personality and presence outshone all that was going on around her. As one colleague on the CR committee has written, ‘Janice is all about detail, elegance and flair – she has an encyclopedic knowledge about what really matters to her colleagues – she knows when people need a kind word, she remembers to ask about an ailing parent, worrisome child, new addition to the family…She is, by nature, a giving person… who works tirelessly to ensure that the right thing is done.’ I close by quoting James Outram, one of the longer-standing members of her department. ‘Janice has ensured that the high academic credentials of the department have been developed and a generation of pupils, many of whom have gone on to study Theology at university, owe Janice a huge debt of gratitude for stimulating their passion for rigorous intellectual investigation of religious themes. Janice has set a deeply caring tone in the department where great emphasis has been placed on allowing for a liberal atmosphere where pupils of all religious inclinations, or none, have felt perfectly at ease in their discussion of religion. Janice has an obvious love of the pupils and a deep concern for their academic and pastoral welfare. Pupils have responded to her with enormous regard and reciprocal love (she is everyone’s favourite

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maternal figure in school!) – they have delighted in her company, enjoying the stimulus of her incredibly high academic standards and her huge interest in their lives.’ King’s without the Reids (David, Janice, Benedict and Rupert) will, of course, continue to flourish, but for 45 years between them they have added something very special to its history. At the time of writing, it is the gap left by Janice’s retirement that catches the eye, but we know she has made the right decision. It is time to live for her family and for herself. She couldn’t have given us more. We wish them all the very best. Eagle-eyed researchers will find a photograph of Janice as a ravishing bride in the 1978-79 edition of the Cantuarian (Vol 43), pp 14-15

Jenny Thornton NLP & SJG

In 1996, Shirley Brine, a legendary matron, announced her retirement, so a new matron was needed for what was then ‘Greater Tradescant’. That involved 99 boys, 10 tutors, two matrons, Tradescant and Bailey houses, and countless cleaning ladies. Quite a big task. And of course in the good – or bad – old days, Matrons never had ‘days off’ and were on duty 24 hours a day. No homesick boy at 11 at night ever found a ‘not on duty’ notice on Matron’s door. So it was a very demanding job indeed. I was very lucky to find Jenny Thornton’s application in with the others and after an interview she went to the top of the pile. Hard-working, sensible, kind, understanding, lively, interested, fun... hard to find anyone better. Very soon the

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VALETE boys came to love having her around. If Tradescant became a popular house it has to lot to do with Jenny. When parents brought boys round, if I thought they seemed good news, then I just introduced them to Jenny and that was that. They signed up for Tradescant. (If not I made sure they did not see Jenny and showed them an especially messy study! Usually worked.) And she was so much part of the house. As I mentioned there was no time off. Every evening she was there in her flat, or around the house. She showed an amazing sensitivity to boys who were not feeling happy, for any reason. And she chatted to them until they cheered up – however long it took. Not once did I ever hear her complain of the time this could take. It was to her a vital part of her work, becoming a surrogate mother. When she arrived she was one of two matrons. When numbers sank - to a mere 77 – she moved from Bailey into Tradescant and become responsible for all 77 in both buildings. And of course as well as the boys to look after there was managing all the cleaning ladies – a proud team. And, vital to me, she became my eyes and ears for what was going on in the House. There are so many memories – one strong one is at the Summer Leavers’ dinner in the garden with candlelight and Jenny the centre of attention with all the young men wanting to chat to her and thank her. We were lucky to keep her. With so many Tradescant Assistant Housemasters moving off to a school near Slough, I know she had offers of Damehood, but thankfully she said no. So Nick Phillis was very lucky to have her, when I stood down in 2002. I can’t imagine Tradescant without her.

SJG

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SJG talks of ‘Damehood’, though not the knightly type that comes as a reward for exceptional service and achievement, but that is what Jenny deserved. Her nightly conversations with the boys were important to them and to her. When they return to the House all have wanted to see her and to chat, they have taken an interest in her as she took an interest in them. She was in possession of a generosity of spirit as big as her laugh and the radiant smile that greeted all when you met her, whether it be late at night or early in the morning when most would be grumpy at being woken by an early fire alarm. But there was also a steeliness to her that added depth to the respect that the boys had for Jenny. They knew when she was being serious and never crossed her when she was, not for fear of retribution but because they did not want to upset her. Jenny had a genuine care for the gentlemen of Tradescant, she understood them and knew what was best for them. They loved talking to her and she had a wonderful way of drawing them out, whether it be in a quick conversation on the Terrace or over a few hours sitting in casualty. She was very perceptive and I am pleased that in all our conversations about the boys we never disagreed about them or the best way to proceed. It was a true pleasure working with Jenny; she kept all on the straight and narrow and led by example. She was a lady with principles and values though not old fashioned in any way. Jenny was young at heart and as bubbly as a collie puppy; she loved being amongst the boys and was invigorated by their youthful enthusiasm as she was by her day long walks through the Kentish countryside and recuperative moments in the sunny cellarers garden. Jenny got on well with all as the numerous well wishers at several farewell parties proved. The parents of the boys in Tradescant were very generous in their comments on hearing that she was going.

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The boys were upset but recognised that it was time for Jenny to have some time for herself and not have to wait until her hours off to be able to sit in the sun; she can now do it whenever the sun shines. There is a wonderful photo of Jenny in the House; she is beaming with the broadest of smiles – that sums her up. She has brought life, fun and brightness to the House. She has been a great friend, matron, shoulder to cry on, source of fun and encouragement, and she has left countless better off for knowing her. Tradescant was lucky to have her as our Matron; I and the boys are very grateful to her for staying on for so long.

NLP

Godfrey Powell JPED

Godfrey joined the King’s School in September 2005 having previously taught mathematics at Dulwich College. Having excelled in mathematics at London University, both at undergraduate and post graduate level, his academic interests were in applied mathematics. At university he studied the problems that arose from Newtonian mechanics and its expression through differential equations. Whilst a topic in Classical Mechanics rather than modern physics this was in fact extremely important work involving the ground-breaking mathematical ideas of Chaos and Catastrophe Theory. Following his studies, and before entering teaching, he had worked in a biological research laboratory advising researchers

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on the application of mathematics to their projects. Godfrey will be remembered at King’s for being a profound thinker and inspirational teacher who had broad scientific interests and who could develop intense academic relationships with his students. He was supportive of his colleagues and tireless in inspiring his pupils. As a mathematics teacher he was a rare example of an individual who crossed all boundaries in science. His attendance, and genuine interest, in the proceedings of the Harvey Society were valued by the science staff. His colleagues in the Science and Mathematics Departments all benefitted from his wide experience: here was a member of staff who really understood a range of subjects from the interaction of enzymes to quantum electrodynamics. Students enjoyed his subtly crafted and thought provoking lectures on infinite and the catastrophe theory behind the recession. Staff will thank him for the hard work he put into the house journal of the King’s School Common Room Number 23. Number 23 gave many members of staff the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with their colleagues and provided a forum which enriched the teaching and academic life of the school. Godfrey showed us that what is important is the search for fundamental understanding of the world around us; unaffected by traditional conventions he showed us that this search transcends the traditional demarcation of school subjects which often pigeon-hole the way we think. [Godfrey left the school in July 2009 (Ed)]

Amelia Arvidsson Sarah Condry

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also mention Amelia’s unfailing fair mindedness and kind assessment of an individual’s strengths and needs. Of course, she was ably supported by the Minister of Fun, Father Fred. And now a new phase begins: the bouncing blondes are growing up fast, and Broad Street will provide a new base for the lively, encouraging, loving and welcoming home that Amelia provides for all in her care. Goodness knows what she will quietly be fitting into her days – I know we will be knocking on the door just to check.

Jean Smalley JAW

Jean Smalley: Formally retired in April 2009, but returned to work in the Biology department until August 2010

I was so disappointed when, six years ago, Amelia was tempted out of our ‘village’ in the Forrens, to move over to far distant St Augustine’s. Keith Wilkinson had offered her the post of housemistress of Broughton. We knew from neighbourly observation of the elegantly organised Chaplain’s cottage, that Amelia would continue to provide a warm welcome to all comers, be they pupils, staff, parents, antique dealers or total strangers: Amelia, who was always busy but open and available; always organising behind the scenes so that life ran smoothly for those around her; always a willing co-worker in Cathedral or school activities. All this was backed up by a vast range of necessary practical and diplomatic skills. Amelia easily transferred her gifts to her new role in Broughton, along with her family of blonde bouncy and beautiful children, the menagerie of dogs, cats, kittens and guinea pigs; not to mention the antiques. A whole generation of girls have benefitted from her time there. They describe life in Broughton under Mrs A’s leadership as fun and homely, with a real family atmosphere in the House. ‘Mrs A is very attentive to you, whoever you are.’ They could

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Jean joined King’s as a Biology technician in September 1979 and she finally finished her term of office in August 2010 – having completed 31 years. We all felt it was very special that despite her massive send off, in 2009, which included a luncheon at St Augustine’s and a night with Tina Turner, Jean decided to come out of retirement to help the Biology department in their year of need. Jean remembers saying to her husband way back at the beginning, ‘I will give it a couple of years – the job that is!!’ For Jean her role at King’s was one of the most wonderful aspects of her life - with many lasting friendships being a testament to her kind and generous nature. Jean had the capability to get on with a wide-range of people and brought sunshine into their lives with her kind, helpful and cheerful approach. Everyone in the Biology department, the Science department, and beyond, genuinely enjoyed working with her. Jean’s memories in the post are wide-ranging. To say she was a Jack of all trades is quite an

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VALETE understatement. Jean managed all the routine work that would be expected of any technician. Her previous background was that of secretary to an agricultural surveyor so she had a natural affinity with plants and animals. She had many a happy year with Ruth, Carol, Ann Dray and John Cashman. She worked with three Heads of Departments and with John Parker. Jean and John made a magnificent duo. John encouraged Jean to ‘think out of the box’ with her preparations for the staff revues and school plays – buckets of ‘vomit’, sewing frills on dresses, doing the can-can and the dance of the cygnets in the staff review, cycling from the abattoir with dangling buckets of bulls’ eyes, catching the escaped chipmunks and cleaning up pigeon muck were all part of a day’s work for Jean. Jean was always very persuasive and had a reputation for getting butchers to part with pig’s trotters and other interesting biological specimens. She once drove from Ramsgate with 60 live rats in the car – en route for dissection! Jean worked in the Biology department in the days before risk assessments; when old jam jars and coffee tins were the norm for experiments and test tubes were dried on the heaters. Jean

helped with the development of two new preparation rooms and the setting up of the top floor classrooms of the Biology block. She was also splendid with her computer skills and a dab hand with all administrative tasks. Jean worked hard bringing up her two children when her husband Jim unexpectedly died. She gained great strength from all those who supported her at that difficult time. We who have had the luck to work with Jean know that she has always had time for everyone, shown concern for their difficulties and we always felt that the world was a brighter and better place after a friendly word with Jean. We have been lucky to have had Jean for an extra year and wish her the very best for a well-earned rest in her retirement. We know that she will keep very busy with her family and countless friends and look forward to meeting her again when she joins the school invigilation team.

Toby Purser DJCP & MJTh

Toby Purser joined King’s in January 2009 as Head of History from Shiplake School. He was Head of History and Assistant Director of Studies at Shiplake. Toby is a graduate of Mansfield College, Oxford, where - after a period of travelling and writing - he also took a Master’s degree. He took his PhD –’The county community of Hampshire, c.1300-c.1530, with special reference to the knights and esquires’ – from the University of Southampton. It is a measure of the man that he was able to joke that the Southampton PhD garb gives the impression of supporting Aston Villa. He started his teaching

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VALETE career at Oundle and then moved on to be Head of History at Sexey’s, the well-known state boarding school. At King’s he introduced Medieval History at A level, threw himself enthusiastically into History trips and also the Canterbury branch of the Historical Association. He continued with his career as an author of History textbooks. Toby was an active tutor within School House and was keen to open his home and young family to his tutees. Curry nights at his house proved extremely popular as did his relaxed style during duty nights. In a very short time Toby has forged some meaningful and lasting relationships with the School House boys.He is now moving on to Worksop College to hold the post of Director of Studies. We wish Toby, Cerys and family well for the future. They will be missed.

Annabelle Marriot SJW-C

Annabelle came to King’s to teach Biology for one term. It seems like three (!) but for the nicest possible reasons – she settled in so well and has done so much. She rapidly struck up a good rapport with her pupils who responded to her fair, no nonsense approach.

House to supporting Shell pupils in their Activity Week. We will miss her and Alleyn’s School will be the luckier for her arrival.

Chris Downer AJWL

Chris came to King’s in 2006 fresh from Cambridge and rapidly established himself as a genuine academic astonishingly well read for his age. Expert in the classics and literary theory as well as many modern works, especially poetry of which the rest of us had never heard, he was also a film buff fed on more film noir than was healthy. He was never short of cultured conversation that was always leavened by his trademark piercing wit and a sense of humour so dark it often provoked uncomfortable hilarity. He was a thorough planner, meticulous marker and rigorous practitioner in the classroom who found the casual attitude of the less passionate pupils frustrating at times.

Annabelle was always willing to have a go, and whatever she did, she did well. Included in this were helping to produce new teaching material, joining in with coursework, and always being enthusiastically available to contribute. Very quickly she became a real asset to the Biology Department and she will be sadly missed. Outside the classroom she was equally involved from being a live-in House Tutor in Harvey

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A grammar school boy unfamiliar with the strange world of boarding school, he nevertheless threw himself into boarding duties and sports coaching and was a brilliant contributor to the English Department in his role as internal exams administrator, a tricky job he executed with panache, good humour and efficiency. In this respect at least he may well have earned his nickname of Superman (the black forelock and uncommon height helped). After two years it was clear that Chris felt his own education was not yet complete and it was inevitable he would go off to pursue postgraduate study. He took the plunge and it was right to do so. We miss him but wish him every joy in his new adventure in London. He will surely thrive.

was an invaluable participant in the Classics department’s trip to the Bay of Naples in Spring 2010: partly by demonstrating that all it takes to overcome a fear of flying are a few glasses of red wine, a claw-like grip on a colleague’s arm, a torrent of tears and firmly gritted teeth; and partly because her knowledge of Pompeii in particular, and rapt enthusiasm for the exhibits, helped the pupils appreciate the wonders of that city all the more. Each member of the department valued her presence as a colleague, the Dolphin valued her presence as a customer, and her pupils valued her very much as a teacher. We wish her well for the future.

Sarah Perkins SJW-C

Sarah joined the Biology Department from Choate College in the USA. She very rapidly established herself, from decorating her labs with mobiles of various types of cell to the famous red filing system for all occasions that sat on the side of her lab. She was full of novel teaching ideas from selecting pupils to answer questions by pulling a Popsicle out of a beaker to using balls of wool and cardboard cut outs to illustrate food webs.

Heather Isaksen RPM

Miss Isaksen, Lois Lane to Mr Downer’s Clark Kent, joined the Classics department in 2008 having achieved a double first at Oxford and spent time working in the publishing industry. She brought vitality, insight and erudition to the classroom, as well as a unique line in quirky clothing and an anarchic sense of fun. She

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Sarah was always willing to contribute, ranging from being fully involved in departmental meetings to preparing notes and tests. Whilst Sarah has every intention of staying at King’s, her heart was left in America and a transatlantic proposal, in the Lent term, meant that she chose to follow that cardiac muscle. She will be missed but we all wish her the best for the future. Alexander Addington’s Vale can be found on the website.

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FOCUS: FATHER FRED’S

Interview with Father Fredrik Arvidsson Amanda Thomas (Fifth CY)

Four boys from School House struck gold (or rather, silver) when they managed to follow a trail of clues set by Father Fred to find some treasure at the top of the Cathedral – but it was treasure in more ways than one. The treasure hunt was introduced to the school in one of Father Fred’s entertaining assemblies. He said he had been thinking about doing something along these lines for a while, but he decided to do it this term because he was inspired by the reading for the day, which was from Matthew, Chapter 6. He picked out one verse in particular – ‘Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ He was also encouraged because over lunch he had been having a theological discussion about a book by Father Gerald Hughes, called God of Surprises, which develops the idea of Jesus as treasure. Father Fred is keen to link and contrast this idea with treasure in real life. For most people, treasure means something valuable in monetary terms. As an example, Father Fred mentions that a Fabergé egg that was recently found was sold

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for £18,000,000, and a shipwreck was found to contain £500,000,000 worth of gold and silver! Clearly, riches and conventional treasure are important to our society. ‘We live in a highly materialistic world, where many people believe that material wealth is the solution to every problem. There is nothing that money cannot buy, no problem it cannot solve.’ Father Fred believes that this approach can cause us to miss many of the important things in life. ‘Life is about who we are, and about love and relationships.’ These are words to treasure, indeed. The treasure hunt itself consisted, of course, of a series of cryptic clues, which were all given

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TREASURE HUNT

during the assembly. In order to work them out, a hunter had to consider them all separately and then link them together. The challenge was made even more difficult by the fact that the clues not only gave away the location of the prize, but also how to get there, and what it was, without making it clear which clue was for which piece of information. If you are interested, the clues are given below – see if you can work them out. All will be revealed later! Ask and guidance will be given. Hidden within the walls of the Precincts of Canterbury. Treasure worth a lot but might include the path to the heavenly. Find the password or what the object might be, then ask the right person and they will take you to the treasure. Then it will be yours. Find the clues in: Emperor Alexander Severus, John Ward,Clint Eastwood, Long John Silver, Canon Shirley Lots of people came for advice, and Father Fred got a lot of emails asking for help. In fact, he says, it was ‘getting a bit like The Da Vinci Code – people were looking at patterns on tombstones in the Cathedral!’ Many ingenious, but incongruous, connections were made

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which led people to look in the wrong place, but some did manage to solve the puzzle. The four winners, Shells from School House, arrived just ten minutes ahead of the runner-up, Dimitri Gripari. Surely this was an ending worthy of any detective story. What distinguished the winners was their persistence. Father Fred thinks that quite a lot of people gave up after seeing the list of names, as they seem, at first glance, obscure and unconnected.

The Solution Emperor Alexander Severus was the last Roman Emperor, and he was the first to allow the Church to produce images or icons. The clue from him was ‘image’. John Ward was not, as many seemed to think, a composer – the John Ward in question was a portrait painter who was connected to King’s. One of his paintings hangs in the Shirley Hall. The next clue was one of the more tenuous links, depending on one’s point of view – Clint Eastwood’s most famous character was Dirty Harry. This led to the conclusion that the treasure was in Bell Harry. Long John Silver was one of the more straightforward clues – the information it gave was that the treasure was silver. And finally, there was the one-time headmaster Canon Shirley, who lived at No. 15, the Precincts, which is now inhabited by the Condrys. Mrs Condry is the only person who is allowed to take people to the top of Bell

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Interview with the winners One afternoon, while the King’s Week marquee was being put up on Green Court, adding to the already summery atmosphere created by the oppressive heat, I journeyed to School House. My mission was to interview the triumphant four who had solved Father Fred’s maze of clues, as described above, and found the treasure hidden in Bell Harry. Thomas Potter and Ascanio Branca met me in the Stewart Room to tell me the secrets of their success, and other things besides. We were shortly joined by Joshua Quinlan and Arjun Savalani; they all seemed happy to chat about their investigations. Harry, so she was ‘the right person’ who would take you to the treasure. In addition, the Shirley Hall, which contains the painting by John Ward, is named after Canon Shirley. The creatively-minded boys who got there first were Arjun Savalani, Joshua Quinlan, Ascanio Branca and Thomas Potter. Under the guidance of Mrs Condry, they were met by a silver Madonna and Child, hidden in the staircase to the top of Bell Harry. Father Fred summed up the prize like this: ‘Even though silver icons are valuable, they are a path to the heavenly. They are doors into heaven!’ There have been requests for the Treasure Hunt to become an annual event. I’m sure it will become a Summer Term institution, maybe as something specifically for the lower school while the rest of the student body tries to cope with the pressure of public examinations. But if you want to help set the clues, rather than solve them, there’s another option; Father Fred says that if anyone has any really good ideas for it, they should come and see him to make suggestions.

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As is conventional, let us begin at the beginning. Where did the challenge start for the boys? Two of them were keen to take part in the Treasure Hunt from the moment Father Fred talked about it in assembly.’Arjun and I just looked at each other and thought, yes, we should do that!’ Tom explains. ‘Ascanio joined in later that day, and Josh helped us work out the final stages and the password.’ They said that to start with, they weren’t taking it very seriously, but they decided to put more effort in when they realised that they were close to uncovering the solution. Their progress was slowed down when they had a false start, thinking that the treasure was hidden in the Maugham Library, and that Mr Lyons was the person to ask. “We spent about three hours working it out, and it was wrong,” says Ascanio. After finding out their mistake, they went back to think about it more, and during the next couple of days, they got closer. How did they go about deciphering the cryptic clues? Arjun told me that there seemed to be so many links that it was hard to know where to start. The boys put down their ideas in a notebook, gradually working out more details of the clues by researching things on the internet and considering what links they could see. They knew that the Shirley Hall was named after Canon John Shirley, who was one of the key people, so they went looking there for clues.

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‘We found the painting by John Ward, and he was another of the people on the list, so we knew we were getting somewhere.’ One of the clues that they understood first was Long John Silver. ‘It was quite obvious that the treasure was silver,’ Ascanio said. They also worked out the Clint Eastwood/Bell Harry connection easily. And their work eventually paid off - after trying for several days to solve the clues, they realised that the treasure, which was a portrait with something made of silver, was hidden in Bell Harry, and so they went to see Mrs Condry, who they already knew could let them in. What followed was the best bit of the prize for the boys – ‘We got to go up to the top of Bell Harry, and it was amazing!’ says Josh. The treasure, which was hidden in an alcove about a third of the way up, seemed at first ‘a bit of an anticlimax’ to Ascanio, but the rare chance to go up Bell Harry certainly was not. The boys were still debating what to do with their treasure, a painted icon of Mary and Jesus with silver decoration in the Russian style, when I spoke to them. They were not sure that the treasure was ‘worth a lot’, as the clue said, in monetary terms, but we’re still investigating! Did the Treasure Hunt have the Indiana Jones factor? After all, Father Fred mentioned him, in his assembly, as a famous treasure-hunter. ‘We knew there were other people doing it, so we really wanted to find the solution first,’ Tom told me. ‘We knew that Dimitri [Gripari], who was the runner-up] wasn’t far behind us.’ And did they enjoy working as a team? ‘Well, once we started taking it seriously we worked together... but to start with everyone was doing something different.’ ‘Yeah, Ascanio just played COD [the computer game ‘Call of Duty’] the whole time,’ says Arjun – but Ascanio is keen to gain credit, saying that he solved most of the clues.

The winners posing with their prize at the top of Bell HarryTower. Left to right: Arjun Savalani, Thomas Potter, Ascanio Branca and Joshua Quinlan

Whoever did what, it sounds like they were all excited to be getting closer to the treasure, and enjoyed their detective work. They seem to have learnt something from the experience as well – the value of working together. What about the other treasure Father Fred intended them to find? It seems debatable whether these Shells’ religious beliefs have been strengthened through the experience, but they have learnt some valuable lessons, such as co-operation and perseverance. Most of all, perhaps, the Treasure Hunt allowed them to think laterally and have fun while doing so.

‘No, you just had your ‘theories’ that were completely wrong, Arjun and Tom did all of it to start with,’ says Josh, ‘and then I got the final clue so we knew what the password was.’

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TRIPS AND EXPEDITIONS

TRIPS AND EXPEDITIONS The Remove Geography Summer Field Trips RPS

Each year the Remove Geographers have two days at the start of the summer term to undertake fieldwork as part of their IGCSE. The syllabus requires pupils to go outside the classroom and collect data, but wonderfully it does not require a piece of coursework to be written and submitted. Instead questions on the fieldwork are incorporated into the written exam. On both days that we visited Epping Forest there was glorious sunshine. This was a slight concern as it had not rained for well over two weeks and we were hoping for a rushing torrent of a river to measure. Nevertheless, the Loughton brook was more than adequate as we took readings at three sites, looking into how the characteristics of a riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s load and discharge varies as one moves downstream. Unfortunately this year Mt. Eyjafjallajokull (impressively spelt!) interrupted our plans of studying the Kent coastline at the very start of term, but we were able to reschedule this for

just before half term. Even though we were closer to June and July the weather was not quite as beautiful as our Epping Forest days. The strong wind made it a little tricky to keep hold of our paper recording sheets, but fortunately the sunshine stayed out for most of the time. Going to St Margaretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bay first we measured the beach profile and sediment distribution on the beach before walking up the cliffs to see over the channel from the war memorial that remembers the Dover patrol (who helped guard these waters during the Great War). We then drove on up to Seasalter beside Whitstable where we looked at the effectiveness of the new groynes and also further coastal defences at Hampton near Herne Bay. On both days the weather was kind to us. We ate lots of doughnuts and got a lot of work done, bringing back to the classroom pages of numbers to discuss and present in the follow up lessons. As always the trips were great fun

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and the photos now help decorate the entire Geography block hallway.

Remove Visit to Epping Forest Field Centre Harry Bruges (Rem GR)

As a part of the IGCSE course, Remove Geographers have to do work in the field, which is a key part of the exam, and so we visited Epping Forest Field centre for our fieldwork. On arrival at the centre in Essex we were split into groups and discussed potential dangers and risks of the trip which are also examined in the IGCSE, then once we had been given the equipment for the day, we made our way to the river. The aim was to investigate the changes in river characteristics with distance downstream, and so we began by making predictions, then we began the practical work by checking the different types of soil at different levels in the drainage basin at the source of Loughton brook. Following this we were shown how to use the equipment and set to work at our first site.

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We had some great leaders who knew everything there was about the brook and we were also helped by several volunteers, who were a really useful extra pair of hands when it came to some of the more difficult measurements! After lunch we set off to the final two sites where we measured cross sectional area and surface velocity so we could calculate the brookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discharge, then measured sinuosity and gradient. We measured the size of the bed load as well. Back at the centre we discussed the day, thanked our great leaders, then began the long journey back to Canterbury. In the Geography lessons which followed, we wrote up the data formally, although the weather was great for us, this visit had been preceded by a couple of dry weeks, meaning that the river was very shallow which led to some dodgy data collection on the day. However overall it was a very enjoyable trip that was really useful, and I am sure that it will have prepared us well for the IGCSE exam next year. Opposite page: Amy Tudor and Katya Ignatiev with their ranging poles. Top: l-r: Seb Clark, Henry Jamieson, Fraser Morrison, James Rand, Alex Harris and Oliver Greenstreet

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MISCELLANY Chaplaincy Report CFA and JIB

During the year the chaplains have been busy with a wide range of activities at school, complementing our Christian presence. Some chaplaincy programme highlights include:Admission of Scholars in the Quire; Remembrance Service in Green Court; Confirmation of candidates and a celebration lunch with the new Bishop of Dover and music from the Kings Men; Lent talks led by Mr Mickey Mantle who is training for ministry, after a semi-professional rugby union background in New Zealand and Pentecost in the ruins of St Augustineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Abbey. The year finished, as usual, with Commemoration in the Nave at the end of the Summer term. During this academic year we have initiated a mid-week breakfast prayer meeting for parents in the memorial chapel, which has been regularly attended by about a dozen appreciative parents. We continue to have a weekly meeting with the lay chaplain at JKS, to liaise and coordinate activities and attend chaplaincy JKS committee meetings. The chaplains are also responsible for organising and providing Morning Prayers on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with assistance from colleagues including the Headmaster. We also organise and preside over the administration of routine Sunday worship such as Matins Evensong and Eucharist in the Cathedral, in addition to weekly Eucharist in the Memorial Chapel. We are currently reviewing patterns of worship at the school. A significant role for us is to take confirmation candidates through a preparation programme each year, before presentation to the bishop.

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The chaplains have also preached by invitation to a wide range of schools in the region including Cottersmore, Brambletide, Perthorpe, JKS and Eton, as well as local parish churches by invitation. Throughout the year we offer pastoral care and counselling on referral to both pupils and staff by appointment. We both sit on the Charity Committee and are involved in the allocation of charitable monies to a wide range of good causes. We are heavily involved in the provision of PSHE teaching to Shells, Removes and Fifth Form pupils, and we are also involved in running activities on Thursday afternoons including horse-riding and gardening.

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Charities Report MJM

Though the recession and other changed circumstances (such as the new arrangements for Confirmation) have had some impact on charitable monies raised by the School, there has been no diminution in the energy and ingenuity with which staff and pupils have set about fund-raising for an enormous range of good causes this past year.

It continues to be ‘our duty and our joy’ on the Charity Committee to oversee the rich tapestry of endeavour and in some sense to audit the results, and we have particular responsibility for the democratic choice of the Charities of the Term and the proper handling of funds raised. The first of the two Autumn Charities was of particular significance as The Rufiji Leprosy Trust was founded at King’s at the instigation of the OKS son of the then Dean, Victor de Waal, who worked closely with Headmaster Peter Pilkington. A joint letter from Lord Pilkington and Dr de Waal requesting further assistance nearly thirty years on led to £2,784 being raised, chiefly from collections and a Home Clothes Day. This was matched in the second half by £2,520 for the RNLI. Along with the usual Poppy Appeal (£750), Harvey House Breast Cancer/pink ribbons (£1,015) and Sixth Form Ball (which through School House’s organisation raised £2,417 for St Dunstan’s blind ex-servicemen) a range of smaller events from cake sales to whip-rounds supported causes from Macmillan Nurses to a Nepalese orphanage. While NLP’s Geography set sent another cow (or part of one), The Lord Mayor’s Christmas Fund benefitted from the Carol Service and the JCR to the tune of £1,250, our musicians performed in London to help raise £4,000 for the Music Masters’ Charity – not, I think, what it sounds like – and some £500 from the Carol Service went towards the preservation of the venue.

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The Lent Term’s official School Charity was The Encephalitis Society, for which the usual collections and Home Clothes Day along with the Marlowe House Concert brought in some £1,940. We responded to the disaster in Haiti with £2,050 from our Rapid Response Fund, donations from the Walpole/Grange Concert and Harvey House, and a bucket collection organised by Mr Sanderson. The Rock Concert raised a terrific £9,050 for Parkinson’s UK, and the Walpole Carnations £1,384 each for Help for Heroes and Stand Proud. More buckets (for loose change) brought in £86 for Water Aid, while the Luxmoore/Linacre Pantomime sent £646 to Demelza House and a Walpole/Grange Dinner supported two former pupils’ marathon efforts to the tune of £850 (Diabetes UK) and £200 (The Stroke Association). We continue to covenant about £220 a year to support the education of a Kenyan child through Action Aid. The Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust was the Summer Charity of the Term, and £1,954 was raised. The King’s Week Fête produced £1,250 for the Royal School for the Deaf and £1,000 for The Canterbury Gift, whilst Father Fred’s RS set bought an acre (or part of one). Carlyon’s quiz evening raised goodly sums for SANE and Parkinson’s, and we maintained our long-standing link with the troubled Diocese of Madagascar, sending a further £700 from the Commemoration Service collection. There will be many instances of worthy events and private giving of both time and money within the School which never came to the ears of the Committee, but on the evidence of what we do know, I find the generosity and creative energy of our staff and pupils, and, indeed, of the parents and friends of the School, truly impressive and heart-warming. It is also pleasing to see such pleasure gained in the process.

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The Jimmy James Award George Edwards (Rem MO)

The Jimmy James award was created by the friends of (OKS) Squadron Leader B. A. ‘Jimmy’ James, MC following his death in 2008. Jimmy was a war hero in the RAF; he was second pilot of a Wellington Bomber, but in June 1940 was shot down in the Netherlands; he was given shelter by a Dutch farmer, but was found and arrested by the police. He was taken to Stalag Luft I at Barth on the Baltic. His first attempt to escape was foiled by a sentry discovering the tunnel just as Jimmy was about to go through. In September 1941 Jimmy and a fellow prisoner dug another tunnel from an incinerator to the outside but again a prowling sentry appeared, preventing Jimmy from escaping. Jimmy was moved to Stalag Luft III at Sagan in Silesia in 1944. Here planning began for what was to become known as ‘The Great Escape’. This was through a 111 metre long tunnel they named Harry. Jimmy was in charge of the team assigned to disperse the sand from the tunnel by hiding it under the space under the camp theatre. In March 1944, 200 prisoners were selected to make the break for freedom. Jimmy was given number 29 and it was hoped they would catch a train to Czechoslovakia where help could be provided by the resistance. Of the 200, 78 escaped before the tunnel was detected. Of those, three were successful, and the rest were caught. Fifty were executed, 15 returned to the camp and eight, including Jimmy, were moved to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Jimmy and Flight Leiutenant Sydney Dowse started digging a tunnel while the other inmates kept watch. Lieutenant-Colonel John ‘Mad Jack’ Churchill joined them and by September 1944 the tunnel was completed. Jimmy and ‘Mad Jack’ Churchill escaped and surviived for almost two weeks before being caught by three

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members of the Volkssturm, and returned to Sachsenhausen. This time though, the men were kept in the Zellenbau cell block, where they remained until 1945. Jimmy was finally liberated by the American army in May 1945 where he was incarcerated in a concentration camp in Dachau. King’s pupils will remember him as a kindly gentleman who loved the school and visited it often. It is fitting, therefore, that we remember him with this award. The Jimmy James award, to reflect Jimmy’s courage and fortitude is designed to recognise a pupil who demonstrates ‘perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds’. Jimmy’s benefactors have established a permanent display in his memory and this will include biographical information, pictures, medals and a copy of his book Moonless Night. The centrepiece is a shield bearing the inscription For Fortitude, Determination and Courage with blank shields for the names of anyone who is given the award. The recipient will be given £140 and a smaller copy of the shield. It is not expected the award will be given often as it is intended to recognise exceptional courage and fortitude. The award is an open ended one, in the sense that it can be for any sort of bravery, yet it is still very prestigious. It would mean a great deal to any recipient to know that they are seen in the same league as Jimmy James, with the amazing life he led. This year, the Jimmy James Award was given to Jean-Michel Hurst from Tradescant in recognition of his incredible bravery as he battled with cancer. He missed out on his A levels due to his treatments and after he recovered, successfully completed his AS and A levels in one year. Jean-Michel’s said ’It was touching and humbling to even be mentioned in the same breath as one so brave’ With typical modesty, Jean-Michel told only his closest friends he was being given the award but judging by the wonderful response of the audience when he went up on stage to be given the shield, everyone agreed he was a truly deserving winner.

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SOCIETIES The Harvey Society ASt

The Harvey Society has, again, enjoyed another extremely successful year with a wide variety of talks and events being organised. The Autumn term started with Dr Alister Stewart (KSC) who gave an introduction to catalytic asymmetric synthesis and an account of the work his school research group has undertaken over the past three years. On a lovely, sunny afternoon in September a number of Fifth and Sixth Form pupils made the trip to Down House, the Kent home of Charles Darwin. This special event was organised to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of the controversial On the Origin of Species. A very large crowd packed in to Chemistry Lab 5 in order to hear the lecture given by Dr Mike Clugston (Tonbridge School) on the Top 10 Ideas in Science, a talk based on the popular science novel ‘Galileo’s Finger’ by Peter Atkins. Next up were several King’s students (Ed Wu, James Hynard, Jolyon Martin, Heidi Ho and Amy Tsai) who gave short, informative talks on their very impressive summer research projects which were funded by the Nuffield Science Bursary Scheme. The Autumn term programme drew to a close with Prof. Ian Bruce (University of Kent) who explained the science behind Nanobiotechnology and described the structure and properties of various nanomaterials. The Lent term saw Prof. Darren Griffin (University of Kent) give a very interesting and ethically challenging talk on the topic of designer babies while Profs Paul Freemont and Dick Kitney (Imperial College, London) gave a talk on the new and exciting area of Synthetic Biology.

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Prof. Freemont described the biology whilst his colleague delved into the potential applications of the science. Two postgraduate students also gave a short presentation which they had previously given at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The third talk in the Lent term was given by Dr Clive Nuttman (Tropical Biology Association, The University of Cambridge) who gave a fascinating insight into the topic of biodiversity. He used his talk to outline various approaches to conservation, old and new, and why conservation is one of the most important issues facing the world’s population at this time. Biodiversity was also the theme chosen by the final speaker in the Lent term, Mr Howard Foster (South Pacific Projects). He examined and evaluated the role of ecotourism and its effects on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development with a particular emphasis on the Fiji islands. The annual members’ presentation evening was held, as usual, in early March and allowed pupils to give ten minute talks on an area of science of their choice. Jolyon Martin (LN) gave a very interesting and balanced talk on animal research while Edward Leggett (TR) and Zara Benjamin-Laing (HH) delved into the complex world of sickle cell anaemia. A very impressive presentation on malaria was given by Christopher Loyn (GR) preceded by a very thorough introduction to the subject of earthquake engineering by Christopher Lark (SH). First prize was jointly awarded to James Hynard (GL), for his talk entitled Bizarre and Brilliant Animals, and William Goldsmith (MO) who gave a fine talk on Industrialisation and the Uses of Technology. Many thanks to the Head of Science, Dr David Arnott (KSC) who stepped in at the last minute to adjudicate the five excellent and very professional presentations. In the Summer term Dr Paul Brennan (Pfizer, Sandwich) gave an interactive presentation on drug discovery followed by a workshop on

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SOCIETIES designing an enzyme inhibitor. This very practical talk gave pupils the chance to design a drug molecule with the best ideas being brought to fruition [by our pupils!] in the Chemistry laboratories at Pfizer. The Blore Prize was awarded to Edward Wu (GL) for the support he has given to the Harvey Society throughout his time at King’s.

Pater Society JT

[This is an account of one of many of the talks and activities that took place in the Pater Society, to read more please go to the website. (Ed)] To support 5CC’s study of Athenian vasepainting, a vase-painting activity was held in the Pottery at the start of the Autumn term in association with the Art Department. The colours in Athenian vase-painting are difficult to reproduce nowadays because we don’t have the same kind of clay – the colour changes in Athenian vase-painting are the result of a chemical reaction in the kiln during firing. 5CC had to use different coloured glazes instead, to get the same kinds of effects. As a preliminary, 5CC had enjoyed experimenting with drawing on a curving surface using felt pens and balloons! Then they planned out the designs which they were going to apply to clay tiles, practising the technique of incision. Some students took inspiration from designs they had seen on vases in the British Museum while others created their own designs.

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Some preferred to concentrate on one aspect of a design, and realised how hard it is to achieve the regularity of filling ornaments and friezes. There were some confident and ambitious pieces, working on figure-drawing and using two tiles in order to achieve a large scale piece of work. Mythological subjects were also popular among the artists of 5CC. Everyone was pleased with their work and had a very enjoyable time. Trying their hand at vase-painting really helped 5CC to appreciate the work of the Athenian vasepainters they were studying and to understand the techniques they used to get such stunning effects. In the fifth century BC, Greek vase-painters focussed on figure painting and made great strides in their depiction of the anatomy of the male body. Everyone would agree that the activity emphasised how skilful the vase-painters were. Vase-painting takes a lot of concentration as well as artistic ability.

The Cranmer Society Georgina Davies (6b JR)

Instead of the three talks which normally take place over Lent, this year the Smileys hosted two ‘Lenten suppers’ in the St Augustine’s undercroft. After having eaten the food provided by the school kitchen, the vast mass of attendants then consumed Mrs Smiley’s legendary home-made brownies with enthusiasm, before settling down, satisfied, to listen to the speaker. Inspirationally, Mr Smiley had invited Mickey Mantle to speak at this year’s talks, who, having had a prestigious business career in London,

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gave up his high-powered job to become a Bible-studies teacher. On the address he gave to the Cranmer society on Tuesday, Mantle justified the existence of Jesus in the talk ‘Does God exist - and does it matter?’ by intellectually challenging the evidence against Christ’s resurrection - which he claimed to be main consideration - and finding it to lacking in crucial details and therefore proving that Jesus rose again. Unfortunately the talk was so popular on this occasion that it took three quarters of an hour to feed everyone and therefore the supper on Thursday the talk began earlier in order to provide discussion time afterwards. The subject of Mr Mantle’s second speech was, ‘How can I know God today?’ on which he succeeded again in enlightening the school. All in the all, the talks were a huge success in which Mickey Mantle’s erudite approach illuminated some of the frequently sought questions of young Christians and non-Christians alike.

Alexander Goss (6b MO)

The Cranmer Society continued to meet in Mr and Mrs Smiley’s house on Broad Street this Lent term. Its talk series was particularly challenging; a number of talks culminating in the Lentern suppers aimed to tackle the ‘Big Questions’ asked by people today. The ‘Big Questions’ addressed were issues and misconceptions that are relevant to everyone. The conflict between science and religion was examined one week by Mr Smiley and Dr Tanton themselves; as teachers of Science – Biology and Physics – and it was interesting to listen to their insights on areas such as Dawkins, atheism and the Creation and how this affected their faith.

‘The Bible – out of date, boring and untrue?; second, this was the first year that the Cranmer Society held dinners to accompany the Lent talks. This year’s talks were given by Mickey Mantle and the first Lenten Supper exemplified that term’s series as it addressed the biggest question of all, proof of God’s existence. It was the unarguable simplicity of the speakers’ viewpoints on the resurrection and God that made both the Lentern Suppers so successful.

Arabic Society Mona Kalmoni

The Arabic World Society of King’s has been very active engaging in exploring the lifestyles and cultures in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This has been achieved through individual presentations and lively debate and by watching supporting films. Members have worked very hard in their preparation of food tasters, decorations and musical arrangements, whilst first time visitors have surprised us all by writing excellent Arabic calligraphy. Well done to everybody! In the Summer Term members and visitors had the opportunity to sample the culinary delights and dress code of Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. Furthermore, pupils had the opportunity to discuss and understand these countries’ various intriguing lifestyles and captivating cultures and their impact on and contribution to the 21st century. The Society allows pupils the opportunity to try new activities which they may otherwise not have seen, taken part in or thought about, whilst having a good time.

This term was markedly different from previous ones for a number of reasons: first, the questions addressed were more controversial, for example Reverend Dossor had to answer the question

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KING’S WEEK 2010

Shell Play: ‘A Year And A Day’ Isobel Wingrad (Fifth JR)

During the Friday and Saturday of King’s Week at 2pm, St Mary’s Hall was transformed into the enchanted garden of the Shell play ‘A Year and a Day’. The first years executed the ‘Romeo and Juliet’-esque plot beautifully, demonstrating the precocious and talented nature of the actors involved. Highlights included exceptional narration by Fenella McKluskie, the Storyteller, and moving performances by Florrie Hodgkinson and Max Luoma as the Singer and the Musician. Special mention must also go to Flora Mockridge, who confidently took on the role of the Girl.

All members of both the Crimson and Silver tribes, especially Phoebe Hanson-Lowe (pictured) and Benedict Flett (the pontificators) were fantastic and portrayed the friction and ironic hatred of the two tribes in an emotive and sensitive way. Overall, ‘A Year and a Day’ can be applauded as a great success for both the director, Miss Dover, and for the entire cast, and the King’s Drama Department should expect great things from this Shell year in the future.

The Kritters, played by Jack Benton, Alex Miller, Charlie Allen and Caspar Fraser, added humour and fun to the play, and the actors must be congratulated for their outstanding performance. The dances, performed by Georgie Legg and Tomiwa Adepetun, were seen at various intervals when the two lovers met, and Harriet Lee’s superb choreography was highly commendable.

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King’s Week Vintage Bicycles Amanda Thomas (Fifth CY)

A long-running tradition, the King’s Week Vintage Bicycles provide hours of entertainment both for pupils who want to race around the Green Court causing as many accidents as possible, and for anyone who wants to take part more calmly, perhaps by watching, or making a gentle trip across the grass. The bikes have seen something of an improvement this summer compared to the last couple of years, as Mr Dunford has kindly given up his Thursday afternoons for the last term to oversee the repair and restoration of some suffering specimens. The weather was in our favour this year, and lots of people who were enjoying the sun, and an ice cream, on the Green Court also had a go on some of the more challenging machines. This included the unicycles and the tiny red bike, which as ever entertained those minded to laugh at the misfortunes (and bruised coccyxes) of anyone foolish enough to attempt to ride them. Other attractions that come under the Vintage Bicycles bracket, including stilts and the large yellow plastic ‘juggle bug’, were also attempted by unsuspecting novices, to the

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amusement of some adolescents who consider themselves experts. Many of the old favourites, such as the skatebikes and penny farthings, were out and about this King’s Week with great success. But let us take a moment to mourn the passing of two contraptions that were missed and will continue to be. The notorious Bedstead Bicycle was condemned as a result of its state of disrepair as well as the danger it posed to its rider and spectators, and in all probability will not be seen in years to come. On the other hand, the Green Machine was (it is rumoured) banned as a result of several insurance claims related to cars parked around the Green Court, and has already been given away, much to the disappointment of some of the younger and more reckless drivers.

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KING’S WEEK The invalid carriages, large black devices, have also had something of a difficult year, with all but one being judged as too out-of-order to be put out at all, and the last suffered damage that prevented it going out later than Saturday. With a bit of luck, and judicious use of spanners and grease, they will all be up and running again by next summer, along with all the ‘normal’ bicycles that we didn’t get around to repairing.

mishaps, the majority of the machines managed to finish the week in some sort of working order. More importantly, they amused visitors and the normal school population alike, which is, after all, the main objective.

The steady sunshine encouraged pupils, parents, younger siblings and even teachers to have a go on something at some point in the 30 hours of bike availability. We were lucky not to have any wet afternoons because rain, I am told, turns sap from the lime trees into glue that causes irreparable damage to the bikes. How fortunate that this didn’t happen! Continuing in a positive vein, we should call to mind the responsible people who, obeying all the rules, rode gently in a clockwise direction, resisted the desire to race, all steered sensibly - all credit to them.

Emma Henderson (Fifth JR)

There are, of course, many other people who help the Vintage Bicycles perform their function. The select band of volunteers, although sometimes lacking in mechanical knowledge (the author, for one, is guilty of this), were generally happy to help get out and put away the bikes punctually at 1 and 6. More crucial were the many teachers who volunteered to give up hours of their time to watch over the scene and prevent chaos, which they did with success. As mentioned before, Mr Dunford’s work allowed the bikes to be in better condition than for a long time, and we owe him many thanks. The last person deserving of our gratitude is Miss Bradley, described at one point in King’s Week as ‘Mr Sanderson’s new glamorous assistant’, who nobly took on the organisation of the whole show, and succeeded in making it run more smoothly than ever. On the whole, the Vintage Bicycles had a good King’s Week, and although there were inevitable

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The Bob Marley Concert

Tackling the music of Bob Marley (one of the most charismatic, original and challenging performers of our time) took some guts. However, as always, the students managed to re-create not only the music, but also the emotion and meaning behind the songs. The audience gathered with quiet anticipation, possibly questioning whether this year’s concert would match up to the quality of previous performances. As the starting time drew nearer a buzz of excitement began to reverberate around the room, until the band appeared, dressed for the part in outfits typical of Bob Marley and his band (with particular mention to the ‘wailers’ who had successfully coordinated their outfits). They kicked off the concert with ‘Jamming’, the hypnotic beat had most of the crowd bobbing their heads and drumming their fingers, followed by ‘Is this Love?’, in which the backing vocals created a dreamlike feeling over the top of the melody. Then they played the songs that launched Bob Marley to fame, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’ and ‘Don’t Worry, be Happy’. The backing vocalists sang their hearts out in ‘Buffalo Soldier’ and Lloyd Chapple stunned the audience with his astonishing guitar solos in ‘I Don’t Want to Wait in Vain’ and ‘Natural Mystic’. They players managed to get the audience singing along in ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and dancing along in ‘Get up, Stand up’. In the penultimate

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Jamie Rendle and his Wailers: Thais Martin, Flossy McAslan and Kirsty Duncanson

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Lloyd Chapple

They chose to perform Bob Marley’s music as it is popular amongst all the performers. The fact that they all clearly loved the music made the concert that much better as there was a spirit of enthusiasm. They practised for days weeks and months, in fact all year round, and this commitment resulted in polished performances with a confident and natural sound (which was enriched by the professional sound system). However it is said that there is no smoke without fire, well in this case Nick Parvin was the fire blazing strong throughout the entire preparation period. He masterminded the concert and chose the performers, his professional experience also meant the performers received every piece of advice they possibly could; it would have been pretty much impossible for anyone to do a better job. It’s very hard to do the concert justice in writing; to truly experience the incredible shows I strongly advise you take time to go next year: It’s not one to miss. I entered St. Alphege’s knowing only the most famous of Bob Marley’s songs and left converted into a true fan.

song Jamie took to the stage alone, playing ‘Redemption Song’. He gripped the audience with his scintillating performance and received a massive round of applause. They closed the concert with ‘One Love’ and the audience left in high spirits and impressed by the quality of the music. The ‘Wailers’ (Flossy, Thaïs and Kirsty) not only looked great but also sounded fantastic; Andrew Percival and Olivia Mastin held the beats with an amazing senses of reggae rhythms; the lead guitarist, Lloyd Chapple, rocked out on his guitar receiving many rounds of applause; Ed Whitehead, renowned for his musical talent, yet again did not disappoint on the bass guitar; Will Fairbairn was excellent on the keyboard but the star of the show was of course Jamie Edgcumbe-Rendle: as lead singer he sounded uncannily similar to Bob Marley and captivated the audience in every song.

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Remove Play: Coram Boy Jessica Wingrad (6a JR)

King’s Week has always been dominated by incredibly talented young people whether singing, dancing or acting. There are certainly very high expectations for each and every performance. Despite being Removes, the cast and backstage crew delivered a truly stunning rendition of an extremely challenging play. The story juxtaposed the lives of Meshak Gardiner who is the mentally unstable son of Otis Gardiner, the fearsome Coram Man, and Alexander Ashbrook a young musical genius. The stage was spread right across Saint Mary’s Hall with the audience sitting on either side of it setting

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KING’S WEEK the actors an even greater task. At either end of the hall a raised platform provided different settings between which the players could move. The play opened with Meshak stumbling frantically onto the stage with voices swimming disjointedly through his head shouting for an angel. Alex Sunley had the very difficult job of portraying Meshak which he did with an apt sensitivity. The terrifying character of Otis was played by Patrick Demir whose voice reverberated through St Mary’s delivering a strong performance. His part took a brutal turn when the reality of Otis Gardiner’s evil was revealed after he took a baby from an innocent young woman and forced Meshak to bury it alive. Yet Patrick was able to maintain a brilliant performance with Louise Augustine next to him giving an impressive if slightly chilling Mrs Lynch. It was difficult to sympathise so greatly with Alexander Ashbrook, played by Alex Rose, since his sheltered lifestyle was not comparable to Mishak’s constant struggle. Alex Rose looked dashing in his period attire and was able to give something unique to the part of Ashbrook. The clandestine

relationship which arose between Melissa and Alexander Ashbrook was played delicately by the young couple but again the darker side of the play reared its head again when Melissa became pregnant. Emily Goss portrayed Melissa’s pregnancy which was no easy feat; the episode involved every actor present displaying maturity and concentration so that the audience were able to see the pain and distress of each character. The Ashbrook family were not faced with the same difficulties as other more impoverished characters but their own family problems were played out exceptionally well by each member of the family. Lara Pedley wore a set of beautiful costumes and a very irksome wig as Isobel Ashbrook but this did in no way impede her performance which was of a consistently good quality. Lady Ashbrook was played by Molly Moffat and it was her emotional journey which was most apparent throughout the performance; Molly endured the loss of a son and the anger of Toby Sinclair who played Sir William Ashbrook. Many members of the cast fitted into multiple

Alex Sunley and Daniel Wilson

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KINGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEEK Emily Goss

A surprisingly large audience filled the quire of the Cathedral; murmuring among themselves, they waited in anticipation for the legendary Renaissance motet to begin. Mr Ionascu introduced the piece, informing the audience of how Tallis had constructed the rich texture to be dependant on the eight choirs of five voices. He advised us to listen out for the fortieth bar as it was the first time that all forty parts sang together in unison and asked Miss Astin to give a translation of the original Latin. The quire was bathed in a dim light, the choir began. Jane Philips gave an exceptional solo which soared on the wings of her voice to the ceiling of the building and fell as she phrased it with meticulate precision. The first movement continued in a similar fashion with the higher voices flying together in harmony while the deeper supporting rumbles lapped at the listenersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; minds.

roles which involved complex costume changes and wrestling with outfits, however, the stress of backstage did in no way reveal itself on stage since it was translated by the actors into a fluid, excellent performance. The entire backstage team did everyone justice, remaining subtle but still managing the highest quality. During the interval Rosie White and Louisa Low could be seen calmly re-setting the stage and were able to aid the show admirably. On the whole it was a performance which all involved can be thoroughly proud of. It was exciting to watch yet emotional and was certainly worthy of the high ranks of Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Week.

Spem in Alium Georgina Davies (6b JR)

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I sat alert, waiting for bar forty to strike and when it did, the energy was so electric that the entire Cathedral felt united in a heart-stopping moment. It continued although the audience had been spiritually charged and they sat on tender-hooks for the next shock. There were other occasions when the deep texture was re-united but none as momentous as the first. After an overwrought fifteen minutes, where some listeners watched with intense fascination of the singers and others sat with their heads cradled in their hands, the end of the motet approached. For the last time the voices were united stronger than ever, before dying suddenly like a phoenix in flame. They were met with an equally sombre silence, before the audience put their hands together as one. The applause continued for so long that many members of the crowd stood, moved by the

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rousing composition and desperate for it to continue. Despite the standing ovation Mr Ionascu confessed that it would not have the same impact the second time round and advised us to ‘savour the moment’ as such electricity would be hard to replicate.

Music at Lunchtime Amanda Thomas (Fifth CY)

The Music at Lunchtime concerts, although generally less well-attended than the major concerts of King’s Week, never fail to impress with a great range of performers and performances, always of a fabulous level. From the intricate harmonies of the trumpet quartet at the beginning of the first concert to the supremely stylish playing of the string quintet at the end of the last, this series astounded and delighted at every note. Musicians from every school year took part over the four days, with the first two encompassing more youthful performers, while the more experienced tended to be in the later concerts, but there were exceptions to this trend. One of these was Annabel Church, something of a serial performer (she was in three of the four concerts), whose rendition of Flanders and Swann’s ‘A Word on the Ear’ was a triumph of humour and vocal skill, and a particular highlight. Another impressive feature of the concerts was the variety and number of ensembles taking part. Apart from these concerts, they are not often heard in King’s Week, but it is always a pleasure to see the skill with which the players work together, often in very technically complex pieces. One performance that was particularly impressive was the rendition of the Allegro con brio from Schubert’s String Quartet No 9 in G minor, given by a group of Removes. The

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players’ tones blended together beautifully, and they brought out the rhythmic and harmonic interest of the piece very well. The trio of Charlotte Mosely, Annabel Church and Anna Ventress played two very different pieces in the third concert, which were a Trio Sonata by Bach and Oblivion by Astor Piazzola. In both of these, the three players adapted to the particular demands of the style very well. Their performances were, in the author’s opinion, the high-point of the third concert, as they epitomised the skill and musical elegance of the ensembles. Exceptional in terms of age was the group of eight wind players (supplemented by Chevonne Wong on double bass) who played an Octet by Krommer. The group included representatives of every year except the Shell; it seems unusual for such a variety of ages to play together in the smaller ensembles. As all are musicians of the highest standard, their interpretation of the piece was outstanding, and a true pleasure to hear. The first concert included more solo items than the others, but these were just as praiseworthy as the group pieces. One which was particularly striking was Llewelyn Cross’s version of ‘Summertime’ by Gershwin, which captured the sunny mood of the concerts perfectly. There was an off-the-cuff rendition of ‘The Man I Love’, also by Gershwin, in the second concert, when Shaun Wood arrived late. Luckily for the audience, though, this only meant that we were treated to an extra item from Will Fairbairn, who later accompanied Shaun singing three songs by Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Purcell. This set of songs was yet another high point of the concerts. In a review as short as this, it is impossible to do justice to all the performances, but I hope that this has given some indication of their wide scope and exceptional quality.

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KING’S WEEK Virtuosi Ashwin Bhadresha (Fifth, MT)

This year’s Virtuosi, featuring the King’s Chamber Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, and some of the finest instrumentalists and singers King’s has to offer, took a wholeheartedly 1920’s theme – music of the ‘Roaring Twenties.’ The King’s Brass opened the concert with a strident and rousing performance of the Sokol Fanfare. This was followed by Stravinsky’s ‘Suite No.2’. This rendition, performed by the Chamber Orchestra, was brilliantly orchestrated, with witty miniatures, whilst referring to some of Stravinsky’s major works such as the ‘Rite of Spring’. Charlotte Mosely played a difficult flute

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part with confidence, and the unorthodox use of a barrel organ, piccolo and tuba made this suite a most enjoyable performance. Annabel Church then took to the stage to give her interpretation of ‘Chants d’Auvergne’ by Canteloube. These ‘Chants’ are essentially folk songs from the Auvergne region in France written in the unique language of Occiton, which is very similar to Catalan. This was sung with crystal clear pronunciation alongside the beauty and elegance of Annabel’s singing style. The orchestra managed to cope with the height of Annabel’s interpretation due to the sustained delicacy and sensitivity of tone. The first half of the concert closed in a spectacular manner with a decided change of mood with the Chamber Orchestra’s performance of Copland’s ‘Music for the Theatre’. The distinctive

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KING’S WEEK Soloist Annabel Church with the Chamber Orchestra

American style of the music, under a jazz influence was accomplished by the orchestra, which in turn caused a sense of eeriness to diffuse throughout the Shirley Hall. Atmospheric solos were featured from Millie Aylward (E flat clarinet) and Johnothan Yip (piano). The concert resumed with a fine exemplar of Poulenc’s outrageous ballet: ‘Les Biches’, which wouldn’t have been achieved if not for the energetic and spirited playing of the Chamber Orchestra. This was followed by Aruhan Bisengaliev–Dawes’ performance of ‘Nanna’s Lied’ and ‘Surbaya-Johnny’, composed by Weill, and arranged by Stephen Matthews. This was sung with a copious amount of character, demonstrating the impressive vocal range that Aruhan was able to accomplish. The full chamber orchestra then gave a rendition of Strauss’s ‘Interlude: Träumerai am Kamin.’ This sumptuous interlude was played with brilliance by the Chamber Orchestra. A colourful string tone was achieved, and the unison of the strings, together with the horns and clarinets further illustrated the professionalism of the Chamber Orchestra, making this an absolutely sensational performance.

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This stirring and incredibly enjoyable concert was rounded off with one of the most significant works of the twentieth century: ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ – in which the piano soloist was Nathan Hudson – Peacock. The swooping clarinet solo at the beginning, combined with the witty trombone and trumpet solos, as well as the jazzy riffs and the lush Hollywood style of the strings made this a most magnificent ensemble. However, the majority of the credit must go to Nathan Hudson–Peacock who executed this performance with virtuosic finesse. He performed with gusto and coped easily with the arduous technical demands of the piece. The flair and tremendous hard work was thoroughly appreciated by the audience who drew to a standing ovation. Thanks must go to Mr Andrew Pollock (Chamber Orchestra) and Mr Kevin Abbott (Wind and Brass), who put this concert together by using the talents of the 6a instrumentalists and vocalists.

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Speeches in the Chapter House CDM

The tradition of students giving speeches at King’s can be clearly traced back to the end of the sixteenth century and – after a comparatively brief hiatus of nearly forty years – the event was once again back on the programme for this year’s King’s Week, returning to its historical ‘home,’ the Cathedral Chapter House. This year’s performances saw nine Remove students competing for the silver ‘Speeches’ cup. These Removes each had, in earlier heats, been judged the top orator in their respective English sets and they had learnt their speeches – which spanned nearly five hundred years of literature - by heart The judge for 2010 was Mr Peter Broad of Eton College with Miss Matthews presiding over the order of events. With speeches this year ranging from the haunting lines of Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘Strange Meeting’ (Nosayaba Omosigho – WL) to a vitriolic, ranting monologue taken from the 1976 film Network (Marcus Cohen – SH), the audience were in for a literary treat indeed. There were some modern classics on the programme: Hannah Presdee (MR) performed ‘Penelope’ by Carol Ann Duffy whilst Jack

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Dykstra-McCarthy (TR) – offered a moving oration of an extract from Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’. There were some other excellent renditions of classic Victorian poetry: Fiona Jenkinson (HH) delivered a marvellously nuanced piece from Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shallot,’ and Fenella Chesterfield (MT) lent her beautiful, clear voice to Water de la Mare’s ‘The Listeners’. After the speeches had concluded, Mr Broad mounted the stage to present both his judgements on the day’s proceedings and indeed, the prizes: Mr Broad gave a ‘Judge’s Prize’ to Charlie Jamieson (MT) for his unusual choice of poem: Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Conqueror Worm’ and he offered the ‘Highly Commended’ prize to Arthur Chilcott (TR) who, with the intensity and muted anger that the piece demands, performed a monologue from R.C. Sherriff’s play Journey’s End. Yet the deserving winner of the 2010 Speeches Cup was Emily Champion (MR) who delivered a crystal clear rendering of John Donne’s beautiful ‘Meditation XVII’ with a confidence and clarity that is testament to her abilities both on the stage and in the classroom. Mr Broad concluded by congratulating all the finalists on their strong voices, interesting choices and the exceptional over-all standard. It was a strong year for speeches and the Chapter House’s walls were, no doubt, delighted to be entertained again after this traditional event’s too-long absence.

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ART AT BLACKFRIARS

Blackfriars Art Exhibition Emma Henderson (Fifth JR)

When people say Art is an easy subject they are thoroughly mistaken. The students pour every ounce of their spare time into their art and in doing so manage to create masterpieces; this became apparent after going to the art exhibition in Blackfriars. Many of the student’s finest pieces were on display for parents and pupils to view. This year the A2 course title was ‘Passions and Obsessions’ and with so many excellent pieces it is hard to choose which ones to mention. Andrew Percival’s bulls and horses really stood

out for their strength yet also their delicacy. As did Yeshel Park’s and Lucy Iron’s dresses which had been made with extreme care and attention to detail. Ben Yeates’ piece with pink peeking through the thick dark layers of wax poured over the top was particularly interesting, as were many of Aysha Aziz’s models.

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The AS course title was ‘Rhythms and Cycles’, again all the work was astonishing. Julia Glatzel’s eyes were extraordinary as was a lot of Will Fenning’s work. The darkness of the inside of Hannah Benton’s ‘Egg’ was enticing and glossy and many of her other pieces were striking. As well as there being many excellent paintings and models there were some fantastic photos, in particular Iona Westlake’s ballet shoes and Sean Vayakornvichitr’s enormous image of a city. There was also much promise amongst the GCSE art students, especially Hannah Todd, Nicky King and Harry Wells. Yet again the art exhibition was a fabulous success, showcasing the best of the student’s works. For all those who enjoy a casual stroll around an art gallery this exhibition is perfect, with such a huge range of media and ideas.

Left to right: The Exhibition; ‘Girl’ by Becca Wilson; ‘Birds on Wallpaper’ by George Courtauld; ‘I’m a Mess’ by Will Fenning. Next page clockwise from left to right: ‘Butterflies’ by Aysha Aziz; ‘Bulls and Horses’ by Andrew Pervival; ‘Embroidered Castle’ by Ellie Warr and ‘Dragon Head’ by Paan Ratchakitprakarn.

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Lab on the Lawn Emile de Bree (Fifth HH)

Lab on the Lawn, which was set up and run by Miss Astin, was the science lab on Green Court. It proved to be very popular, especially with the young children of our almighty common room. The lab was set up on three days during King’s week, and each day had a theme, the first being Physics, the second Biology and the third Chemistry. Each day had its own competition and different forms of entertainment to keep the crowd’s interest. The Physics day brought along a whole bunch of gadgets and gizmos that aimed at education through enjoyment and wonder, ranging from microscopes that could show you what your hand really looked like, to optical illusions. There were slinkys and magnets and a whole bunch of toys that you could argue had elements of Physics, but were also there for the adults to show us their inner child! There was also a ‘build your own rocket’ competition, and the rockets were tried out with a pump, which gave even the older pupils enjoyment. The rocket would make an almighty bang and shoot up to about 20 metres. We also experimented with the pump to see how high it would be able to get different things into the air. Of course, the rocket then had to be brought in on the other two days due to its great success. There was also a microwave brought out onto the lawn, to show what happened when you put certain things in, but, well let’s just say that after the first day we didn’t use the microwave again! For the Chemistry day’s competition there were three models of molecules set before the visitors, who had to guess what the substance was, eventually being exposed as three kinds of drugs that no one except potential Oxbridge pupils or Chemistry teachers were able to work out without hints. Actually, I take that back; only Oxbridge Chemistry teachers knew what the chemicals were just by sight! There was also

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a whole range of experiments which were fun to do and watch. Some of these were too dangerous to do out in the open and so the spectators were sent into one of the Chemistry labs to be impressed. Of course, many of the toys from the Physics day were brought back, and used again on the Biology day, but then again who can help wanting them. The Biology day’s competition involved more guesses than anything, there being a whole bunch of pictures of animals lined up, and you had to write done which you thought were the most similar in terms of chromosomes. This was fascinating in its own right; who would ever have thought that some pairs were so similar! Also a hovercraft made out of plastic bags, wood and a leaf blower was set up. It could take a small child, so proud parents watched as they saw their children floating around memorial court, looking amused, confused and entertained. Overall the three days were a great success, with plenty of positive feedback, and lots of sweets and free pens being given out. There was certainly a biased view from the Physics department, when it came to deciding which day was the best, but then again it was Miss Astin who very successfully and skilfully ran the whole Lab on the Lawn. The volunteers who helped her out, though changing continuously, seemed to enjoy helping and showing how the experiments had to be done. Safety was a huge factor when it came to some of the more dangerous tests, though that wasn’t always taken into consideration when it came to the boys..!

Right: Highlights from the King’s Week Restaurant

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KING’S WEEK The King’s Week Restaurant Rachel Phipps (6b HH)

A marquee erected on the lawn alongside Shirley Hall may not be the most glamorous of locations, but the King’s Week Restaurant definitely lived up to all the hype it gained after its debut last year. The table setting and service provided by 6th form pupils could hardly be distinguished from that of an acclaimed London restaurant, and within minutes you forgot your whereabouts and settled in to enjoy the freshly baked bread that was swiftly brought to your table.

Rounded off by homemade chocolates accompanying tea and coffee, everyone at my table was struck by how much we’d enjoyed the meal, the service, even the setting. It was a truly fantastic, truly King’s experience; I’ll be booking my table for next year as soon as the box office opens.

Choirs in the Quire Laura Galloway (Fifth JR)

Choirs in the Quire 2010 by no means disappointed its audience; the repetoire, featuring the Chapel, Chamber, Crypt and Madrigalia choirs, provided a platform for almost the entirety of

The menus varied subtly each day so the freshest possible locally sourced ingredients could be brought to the table, and the two starters I was able to sample, the Widgeon (smoked duck on a bed of rocket) and the Gravadlax (cured line caught trout) both tasted wonderful, the first full of flavour and a touch lemony, and the latter slightly salty but perfectly juxtaposed with its accompaniments. The dish that most tantalized the taste buds has to be the appropriately named ‘King’s Pie’ that was served up as one of the four main courses on offer. Served with creamed potatoes and spinach, the pastry base melted in the mouth and the rabbit, tarragon and pancetta core was delicious and I really wished that seconds were available. For dessert the Cardamom Centered Panacotta with Strawberry Sauce melted in the mouth and was delicate and creamy, while the Tarte au Citron was bursting with flavour and was the perfect finale.

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King’s vocal ability, proficiency and versatility. The audience were treated first to the delights of the Chapel choir’s renditions of Parry’s ‘I was Glad’ by Vaughan Williams’ ‘O Clap your Hands’, followed by the able Chamber Choir, who sang Burckner’s arrangement of ‘Ave Maria’, and Gabriel Fauré’s stunning ‘Cantique de Jean Racine.’ We were next treated to two sacred songs by the Crypt Choir, after which Madrigalia sang Lasso’s Third Lamentation – the echo of the just 14 voiced choir within the quire was magical. Notwithstanding, Johnathan Yip’s organ performance of the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Sonata in F minor was utterly unforgettable. The concert ended with the Crypt Choir’s rendition of Monterverdi’s ‘Beatus Vir’, accompanied beautifully by Fenella Chesterfield, Charles Ovenden-Filsell and Anna Ventress on strings.

The concert showcased some of the school’s most talented musicians, namely the Modern Jazz group, lead aptly by Ed Whitehead. The band accompanied the stunning vocal performances by the likes of Seb Payne (pictured), Rob Stephen, Afope Atoyebi (pictured), and Louise Augustine; ranging from the fourties to the noughties, featuring classics such as Ray Charles’ ‘Hit the Road Jack’ to Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, and ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ by Irving Berlin.

Jazz on a Summer Sunset Olivia Lyster (6b JR)

King’s Week took off to a wonderful start at Jazz on a Summer Sunset; a relaxed evening in which Green Court and its idyllic surrounding became host to one of King’s best musical events, including good food, wine and plenty of jazz.

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The Songwriters’ Concert Georgina Davies (6b JR)

As the Songwriters’ Concert approached, speculation and excitement ran riot among the students while the teachers appeared slightly sceptical that the student organised concert would not meet the normal high standards expected of Kings Week. They were far from disappointed, however, as the ‘Songwriters’ Concert’ turned out to not only be a success but also hugely popular as most students had appeared to watch their friends and peers. The audience hummed with supportive chatter as we prepared to watch the secret King’s talent which is reserved for occasions such as these. The performers included Emma Henderson (pictured) in Fifth who wore a red ribbon in her hair making her the picture of charm as she performed her two upbeat songs: ‘Happy Life’ and ‘The Road to Paradise’ garnering great appreciation from her friends and supporters. Another notable performance came from Freddy Clode (6b) who gave a well received rendition of ‘Girl in the Year below’- a year-group

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favourite since Remove when K. R. B. released their first edition of the song. Despite having had a few electrical hiccups, none were as serious as when Todun, the main singer of a trio, had a microphone problem. Exasperated on stage, Hattie Wilson, the second singer, in an act of compassion, kindly scarified her own microphone to save her friend from embarrassment on stage. Charlie Allen was the youngest performer although this was far from a deterrent for the Shell; he succeeded in commanding the audience’s attention with his entertaining satire entitled ‘London’. I was seated in front of his relatives who – from their murmurs and squeals - seemed to be setting up an appreciation society behind me. Endearingly, Jonny Stewart had asked Flossie McAslan to sing his composition - as he explained - which she did with the required sensitivity. All of these budding musicians should be hugely commended for performing their outstanding compositions, a task is especially challenging in front of peers.

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KING’S WEEK The Jazz Concert Roger Mallion

The King’s Week Shirley Hall Jazz Club Concert, directed by the Club’s Musical Director Ed Whitehead, started with The King’s Jazz Orchestra launching the Billy Strayhorn standard ‘Take The ‘A’ Train’ (1939). They went straight into it, with no preliminary introduction, the saxophones stating the familiar strains of this piece, and the keyboard also being prominent. The ensemble included Julius Carboni (piano), Chevonne Wong (bass), and Alex Stephens (drums). (That list makes this reviewer feel distinctly elderly, as I taught Julius Carboni’s father, not music, but mathematics) The whole thing made for a great opening sound; the brass section, in particular, was very tight and ‘together’ and there was a complicated ending that came off beautifully. Solos from Julius Carboni

and Andrew Sultana drew the first applause. Andrew Sultana had been at a national mathematics meeting in Birmingham the night before and was required to be back in Birmingham again that very night, in order to maintain his (competitive) place at this prestigious event. Andrew’s parents drove him from Birmingham in the morning to take part in the Jazz Concert and drove him straight back there again after the Concert. Harry Buggé (pictured below) had been appointed as compère and introduced most of the King’s Jazz Orchestra. My heart sank somewhat at the prospect of this because I have myself had bad experiences with compères during the 25year period when I was Master in Charge of the Jazz Club at King’s (I well recall one year when a letter of apology had to be sent to the [then] Dean, who was at the concert because of the compère’s inappropriate joke). Nevertheless, it was then time for their second number, an early Charlie Parker piece (1946), ‘Anthropology’. This was quite complicated and it started with a nice solo from trumpeter Nathan Hudson-Peacock, then Laura Galloway on saxophone, who was most melodious and mellifluous and had excellent tone. This very rightly brought enthusiastic applause. Nathan Hudson-Peacock then came back again with a very crisp, yet long and sustained, solo; this also gave scope for some very entertaining and infectious ‘body language’ during his playing. There was then a piano solo from Julius Carboni that was short but contained an abundance of notes – almost in a sort of ‘Nashville’ Floyd Cramer style. Finally, a slick piece of trombone by Chris Loyn completed a difficult piece, which was just slightly running away with itself by the end. Then the Modern Group started with ‘Black Orpheus’ (which, I think, is from the 1959 Portuguese-language film Orfeu Negro). In this, Jonny Stewart was prominent in the melody, as was Nathan Hudson-Peacock, who was

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KING’S WEEK as clear as the proverbial bell. Jonny Stewart came back for a second solo: in fact, one of the unusual features of this piece was that there was hardly any ensemble part at all – it was largely a collection of sequential solos. This was good because the audience like to get to know the players as personalities, and this arrangement gave just such an opportunity. Next came the 1977 Stevie Wonder song ‘Sir Duke’, with scope for Bunny Bisengaliev-Dawes as the vocalist – and (with a big ‘yell’ to start), what a powerful and well-controlled vocal it was! In the course of this piece, which also required the services of guitarist Alex Keliris, there was an intricate saxophone and trumpet duo, between Jonny Stewart and Nathan Hudson-Peacock, and the ending was slick and sudden. A change in programme was announced producing the ever-popular ‘Watermelon Man’ (1962), by Herbie Hancock. This had the novelty of Nathan Hudson-Peacock playing a bottle (by blowing into it in a controlled fashion)

and producing, thereby, a surprisingly clear and fluid tone out of it. Next came ‘Squatty Roo’, by Johnny Hodges, which started with drums and some very nice piano notes from Julius Carboni. Then there was a wonderfully raucous trombone solo from Chris Loyn. He really gave it his ‘all’, and he invested it with great humour, as only trombonists can do. There was then some wonderful keyboard work from Julius Carboni (which, I was disappointed to observe, seemed to elicit no applause). Towards the end there was more piano, accompanied by ‘stop’ chords from the band, an impressive drum break from Alex Stephens and a very coordinated ensemble part; finally, it virtually collapsed into an unexpectedly sharp ending. The King’s Jazz Orchestra was back next, with Alice Gordon as the vocalist in the 1930 classic by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields ‘On The Sunny Side Of The Street’. Starting with a big smile (which put the audience at their ease), Alice did the introductory vocal which

Ashwin Bhadresha and George Pughe

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was followed by some very swinging big-band ensemble, before the vocal resumed. Next came the all-female King’s Swingers with a rhythmic piece for which no title was given. It was quite snappy – if not all that tuneful – but it was much appreciated by the punters. For their next offering they were joined by bassist Chevonne Wong. The title was again unannounced but, after the verse, the chorus was identifiable: ‘Some Day My Happy Arms Will Hold You’. It was only then that I realised that this was a medley as I subsequently detected ‘All The Things You Are’ and ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing’ – then back to the original theme and then on to something else that I thought I knew but was unable to identify. This one certainly kept the listener on his toes. I think at one stage that we went back to ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing’ and this seemed to be followed by ‘You’re An Angel’ – I lost count of the changes.

well-controlled drumming and saxophony à la Glenn Miller. This was followed by an extensive feature by Julius Carboni, in ‘Floyd Cramer mode’ once again, which was appropriately rewarded by much applause. The whole was complemented by a great ‘big-band’ sound. Very prominent staccato brass blended with the mellifluous saxophones behind a solo from Andrew Sultana. Altogether, it was a much extended solo, and when he finally sat down, after more brass intervention, Andrew Sultana was received by enthusiastic and much-deserved applause. Overall, ‘My Shining Hour’ was a splendid piece and it is laudable that Ed Whitehead tackles potentially difficult projects, rather than yielding to the temptation to offer only crowdpleasing ‘lollipops’ in the repertoire. They followed this with a Chick Corea number, ‘Spain’ (1971). This had luscious brass to start with, and

The King’s Jazz Orchestra then returned to round off the first half of the concert with’The Jitterbug Waltz’, written in 1942 by Thomas (‘Fats’) Waller and a certain Richard Maltby Jnr (!) This started (literally) with a fanfare, and it was followed by a piano solo from Julius Carboni, whereupon the full band took over again. The saxophones and the brass were very coordinated in this, the saxophones being punctuated by staccato brass. Then there was more of Julius Carboni – with a plethora of notes, but, sadly, the solo was very short – followed by some very nice trumpet from Jacob Ewens. Near the end, there was a moment of glory for Alex Stephens in the form of a drum break, and then some splendid trombone from Chris Loyn agreeably concluded both the piece and the first half of the concert. After the break Harry Buggé started off the second half by individually introducing all the members of The King’s Jazz Orchestra, who then collectively gave forth with Harold Arlen’s ‘My Shining Hour’. This started with a drums introduction, followed by brass in unison, and a crisp ensemble, all held together by some very

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Jonny Stewart and Nathan Hudson-Peacock

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Ed Whitehead on bass

otherwise generally ensemble. As always, they were enthusiastically received by the audience. At this stage, from the printed programme, we were expecting Modern Set 2 but in fact it was The King’s Jazz Orchestra again, with ‘Mueva Los Huesos’ by Gordon Goodwin (the man behind the theme from The Incredibles). This was very ‘Spanish’ in sound and, in the course of it, there was good ensemble from the saxophones and the brass and then a solo from Andrew Sultana, backed enthusiastically by the brass section, then piano/bass punctuated with trumpets; despite its complexity, they succeeded in procuring a commendably slick ending. The next offering from The King’s Jazz Orchestra was ‘In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning’ (1955), by David Mann and Bob Hilliard, with Rob Stephen very ably doing the vocal honours on this occasion. During the sung opening, the muted (second) trumpet (Jacob Ewens) behind saxophones in unison was especially effective – as was the ending. It was good to see a male vocalist with the big band; the girls are, in general, very noticeably much more willing to come forward in this rôle than the boys are.

then a languid section that suddenly became very frenetic and generally ‘Spanish’. The audience were encouraged to hand-clap – and they did. The overall effect was very Hispanic, due especially to the saxophones and the brass, with the trombones chiming in to give the whole thing ‘body’. Altogether, this was very lively and it was definitely one of my favourite numbers in the entire concert. Next we had the male counterpart of The King’s Swingers – The King’s Men, the province of Director of Music, Mr Howard Ionascu. They started out in ‘relaxed’ mode – bow-ties either already off, or, at the very least, dangling down, from the moment they walked on. Their segment unexpectedly began with a squeal and a smile and there were prominent contributions from Charlie Dalton, Seb Payne, Jack Masters, Nathan Hudson-Peacock and Joe Bourne, but they were

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After that we had the (re-ordered) second appearance of the Modern Jazz Trio, consisting of Julius Carboni (piano), Ed Whitehead (now on double-bass, rather than electric bass) and Alex Stephens (drums). Their first number, Miles Davies’s famous ‘So What?’ (1959), was taken at a faster pace than I am used to with this old favourite. There was some wonderful Julius Carboni keyboards as the first solo – with a bewildering number of notes. There was also some superb and strong support from Ed Whitehead on his double bass. The sudden ending was a success. Their next offering – now with Ed Whitehead back on his electric bass – was an item called ‘From Within’, by Michel Camilo. This, again, was very ‘Spanish’ in nature and had a definitively ‘sophisticated’ air about it, starting with some very dramatic piano, again extremely well-endowed with notes (to the extent that Julius Carboni required the pageturning services of Jonny Stewart). There was a

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KING’S WEEK brilliant solo from Ed Whitehead in which he tended to slap the strings of his bass, rather than pluck them. This piece was a real tour de force which, I felt, was one of the best of the evening. This item was very much appreciated by the audience and it could definitely be described as a real ‘show-stopper’, which even induced a (semi) standing ovation from a proportion of the Hall. Next, from the Modern Group – which, for this piece, again involved Alex Keliris on guitar – we had ‘I Don’t Need No Doctor’, by Ray Charles and John Mayer, with Thais Martin as the vocalist. She moved well, even before she actually started singing, and this got the listener in the mood for the song, which was what might be described as a ‘rock’ number – not, I fear, to my personal liking, but it generally went down well. There were good interventions on trumpet by Nathan Hudson-Peacock, on saxophone, by Jonny Stewart, and then the two of them together. The guitarist, Alex Keliris, had his moment of glory in this, too. Ed Whitehead gave his final number from the King’s Jazz Orchestra which was ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ (1975) by Roger Ball and Hamish Stewart. Jack Gradus and the saxophones performed a very snappy opening to a jerky rhythm leading to a powerful, throbbing finale, with what I can only describe as devastating trumpets. Andrew Sultana was again featured with good, almost overwhelming, ‘stop’ chords from the brass. The saxophones and the brass were very coordinated, whilst Jack Gradus and Julius Carboni were working hard in the background to give the whole thing a rock-solid foundation. But – there was to be an immediate encore of ‘In The Mood’ with Laura Galloway and Andrew Sultana sharing the well-known saxophone ‘dual’ in this piece and Nathan HudsonPeacock admirably did the intricate and (for the

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Chevonne Wong on bass

player) somewhat nerve-wracking trumpet-part at the end. Performing ‘In The Mood’ ‘on the double’, as-it-were, as an encore, is a tradition created by Ed’s predecessor, Robbie Laing. The latter presented and directed two successive King’s Week concerts, one when he was in 6b and the second as a 6a. Ed Whitehead has a similar privilege-cum-responsibility. His 6b concert (this one) was musically of the high standard that we have come to expect from him (being well aware, since his Shell days, of Ed’s outstanding musicianship, as most of the audience were) and it augurs extremely well for next year. My only recommendation for change is that, next year, Ed himself should communicate directly with the audience, throughout the concert, rather than employ an intermediary. I shall look forward to next year with some considerable anticipation!

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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Will Fenning (6b Ln)

As the sun set on another balmy King’s Week day, casting a golden glow over the transformed Mint Yard, the scene was perfectly set for the opening night of the school’s production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and the expectant murmur around the banked stands indicated that this was hotly tipped to be one of the stand out shows of the week. It was instantly clear that a huge amount of effort and attention to detail was made in the preparation of the set and costumes. The multi levelled hay and wood construction served as an excellent backdrop that added another dimension to the performance, whilst still being basic enough to expose the brilliant acting. The costume and make up was sumptuous for the Athenians, mystical for the Fairies and suitably shabby for the Mechanicals. The four lovers are the heartbeat of the play, arguably Shakespeare’s most popular comedy for production, and are required to be played by actors with the capacity to slip between passion, humour and anger. Emmyline Duffy

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acted superbly to make a vulnerable and obsessive Helena whilst her spats with the feisty Hermia, who was excellently played by Zoe Bromfield, linger in the memory as some of the most viciously funny scenes of the play. The roles of the male lovers Demetrius and Lysander were executed with vigour and machismo by Henry Pritchard and Seb Payne (pictured) respectively, the highlight being their exit ‘cheek by jowl’. Harry Yeates, Afope Atoyebi, Jack Clinch and Tristan Smith played the remaining Athenians: Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus and Philostrate. The execution of these roles added to the overall class of the performance. Jack made the role of Egeus his own, expertly communicating the grumpiness of the character whilst Harry and Afope acted with suitable grandeur and pomp. The production was so entertaining that the role of the Mechanicals, traditionally to serve as a comedic interlude, could have been made

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redundant. However, the six of them, colossally led by Rory Wilson as Bottom, took the humour to the next level. Sam Gearing played Peter Quince, the official leader of the amateur acting cohort that consisted of George Courtauld as Flute, Jake Sutton as Snug, Ben Bernard as Snout and Harry Wilson as Starveling. The troop perform ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ (a play within the play) with hilarious ineptitude. Flute’s (George) ridiculous high-pitched attempt at playing Thisbe was a particularly hysterical feature although Bottom’s (Rory) extravagant suicide as Pyramus stole the show, as you would expect from the character.

By the end of the production, faces had appeared at the windows of dorms overlooking the yard and people outside the stands jostled for a view, a testament to the quality of the performance. Everyone went home smiling after what was certainly an un-missable King’s Week event and full congratulations and thanks must go to Mr. Sinclair and Mrs. Beattie as directors, and to all the others who were involved in this fabulous production.

The chirping birds circling the Yard and the hazy, dusky sky added to the ethereal illusion superbly created by the supernatural characters. Freddy Clode (pictured right) commanded the role of Oberon, King of the Fairies, with an exceptional power and mystique, often simultaneously poised precariously on the highest level of hay bales. Iona Westlake did an excellent job as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, and her lascivious advances towards Bottom were extremely convincing. Hugo Hayes made a shrewd and spritely Puck as he darted from eyelid to eyelid with the potent love potion. All those who played a role in the band of Fairies also deserve commendation as they added a great deal of charm to the play and a cameo role from budding young thespian Theo Outram won the hearts of the audience.

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Clockwise left to right: Rory Wilson as Bottom with the fairies and Titania, the stage, Sebastian Payne and Zoe Bromfield,Ioana Westlake as Titania

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KING’S WEEK Songs from the Shows

The Serenade

Isobel Wingrad (Fifth JR)

Kit Irwin ((Fifth MO)

On a bright and sunny King’s Week day, the Green Court marquee was filled with people eagerly awaiting the start of the much anticipated ‘Songs from the Shows’. The cast, somewhat smaller than usual, began with ‘Seasons of Love’ from Rent, the song that was later to become the encore, and one of the three songs in which all the singers participated. The performance continued with songs from ten much loved musicals, and narration by the Phantom, played by Tom Kitney gave the show a humorous and haunting facet.

Well, that time of year had come once more when around 400 pupils, parents and affiliates sacrificed the assured warmth, modern lighting and proper ‘bottom care’ of the King’s School for the compensational magic of the Great Cloister. And, as has come to be expected of the revered King’s Week presence, such decisions were well rewarded.

Solo performances by Lucy Baker, Emily Davis, Tom Kitney and Aruhan Bisengaliev-Dawes were powerful and confident, and duets from Emily Davis and Dimitri Gripari, Poppy Coleman and Lucy Baker, Aruhan BisengalievDawes and Sebastian Payne, and India Lyons and Fred Wilson-Haffenden showcased the singers’ versatile and vibrant range. Theo Bamber’s exceptional musical direction guided the crème de la crème of King’s musicians through the pieces, and all must be congratulated for accompanying the singers in a professional and fabulous way. The people both behind the scenes and under the spotlight of this year’s ‘Songs from the Shows’ proved that yet again that King’s is a fountain of musical and acting talent, and the hours of rehearsals by all involved created a true highlight of King’s Week.

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Featuring a wide array of works performed to the high-quality that King’s musicians are known for, the evening got off to a very formal start with the ‘Andante’ and ‘Hornpipe’ from Handel’s Water Music, very impressively played by some of the School’s top brass, for all its demanding trills and frills. Fortunately for the audience, however, Handel’s work remained essentially inappropriate as the heavens did not exploit the ‘open’ roof of the cloister. Perhaps it was just the damaging amount of historical facts that were imprinted on our brains during the examination period, but, in addition to the setting, the feel of awaiting the entrance of some respected royal was immense with such music that would originally have served similar purposes, being first performed for King George I on the River Thames itself. We were to gladly settle for the Crypt Choir, however, as Lajos Bardos’s Cantemus! began the singing of the evening, appropriately proclaiming the goodness and pleasantry of singing and broadening the repertoire of the evening ahead. However, there was always room for old favourites and the first of many followed in the form of Richard Rogers’ and Lorenz Hart’s ‘Blue Moon’, as arranged by David Blackwell, relaxing the audience from the much more formal airs of the

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opening. As always, the Crypt impressed not just by the quality of their singing but with their musical versatility, going from the strictness of Bardos’ Cantemus! to the carefree looseness of Rogers’/Hart’s ‘Blue Moon’, and such flexibility was continued with a performance of our very own Stephen Matthew’s setting to music of Marlowe’s pastoral poem ‘The Passionate Shepherd (to his love)’. Mr Matthew’s skilled hand brought Marlowe’s piece into the modern world and was particularly appreciated by all of us who had spent time working on the Marlowe for our English exams. Genevieve Wetherell continued the evening with a performance of Dvorak’s ‘Song to the Moon’, quietening her audience with the impressively handled octave leaps and retaining a rich tone quality across the wide voice range of the work. Once again the audience was baffled by the Crypt choir’s agility in not only being able to handle a range of challenging styles as a working team but also being able to deploy its individual talent, clearly in abundance, when the need arose.

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Assuring these thoughts was the choir’s next venture of the night, performing two pieces common to the South African culture and no doubt picked up by Mr Ionascu and the team whilst on the South Africa Choir Tour of Easter 2010. Miss Webber kindly informed us of the presence of the two works in South African life, explaining that the first, entitled ‘Shosholoza’, was central to the Wedding ceremony there and the second, entitled ‘Amavolovolo’, literally means ‘go forward’ in Afrikaans, and is a common expression of luck-wishing particularly before a sporting event, notably used, she went on, by the South African football team as they entered the Soccer Stadium for their opening match of the 2010 World Cup. India Lyons’s rendition of Handel’s ‘Angels, ever Bright and Fair’ continued the evening’s success, bringing us back to Europe in a flurry of elaborate splendour, and was followed by the popular folk song ‘Blow the Wind Southerly’ and the more traditional ‘The Bluebird’ by Stanford. Sebastian Payne lent his well-known tenor clarity to the evening with Johnny Clegg’s ‘The Crossing’, and Jonathan Stewart impressed all with his Basso performances of both Roger

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KING’S WEEK Quilter’s ‘Dream Valley’ and ‘It was a Lover and his Lass’ by Finzi. I think it is fair to say, however, that the following work ‘stole the show’ of 2010 – Edmund Rex’s ‘Hymn to the Night’ from poetry by Henry Longfellow. Whatever they might say against the man who wrote the words, King’s’ former Captain of School certainly hushed the otherwise intermittent compressions of crisp packets and ruffles of picnic baskets to command the total attention of his audience, who were treated to a captivating setting to music of Longfellow’s already extremely provocative text. The fact that

such transcendent music could be written by a former King’s pupil was a very real moment of pride for, and tribute to, the school. The pensive mood was continued with Robert Pearsall’s eight-part counterpoint ‘Lay a Garland’, but, not wanting to transform potential CD buyers into immaterialistic philosophers, Crypt quickly served up some frivolous old favourites - traditional American folksong ‘Sourwood Mountain’ and Morton Lauridsen’s ever-welcome ‘Sure on this Shining Night’ bringing the evening to a close. ‘Sourwood Mountain’s’ perky energy was a welcome relief to the audience from the more contemplative tones of the preceding works, whilst ‘Sure on this Shining Night’ found the perfect end to an evening which itself proved a shining night for King’s; one which will, I am sure, be followed by many more in the summers to come.

Wind Band Concert Chevonne Wong (Re BR)

This year, the Wind Band concert played on one of the hottest days of King’s Week. As the band assembled, pupils and parents lounged around on the dappled green court enjoying their ice-creams in the intense heat. As the band began to warm up, parents were attracted to the magnificent marquee like bees to a honey pot, collected their programmes, and sat down. The opening tune of James Bond filled the marquee as Mr Todd began his lead of the Wind Band with his characteristic enthusiasm. All of the pieces surpassed expectation and on the balmy afternoon the audience were only too happy to sit in appreciation of the jovial songs that washed over them.

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KING’S WEEK Laura Galloway (Fifth) startled the audience from their sedated state by approaching the microphone and beginning to sing the glorious Broadway tune ‘But Not For Me’ accompanied by the Wind Band. This was followed by the Percussion Band, who played a Coldplay Medley, conducted by Mr Nall. Immediately afterwards, the Wind Band continued their performance, playing a series of medleys, including songs from Moulin Rouge which was beautifully serenaded by a flute solo and a saxophone solo respectively. Others pieces included the familiar Saturday Night Fever Medley which consisted of ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Jive Talkin’. The audience hummed along to ABBA’s classics and the exciting ‘Movie Blockbusters’ piece featured tunes from The Hunt For Red October, and Mission Impossible teamed up with The Legend of Zorro. The audience were on the edge of their seats! The concert ended with the popular ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, as the audience ambled into the sunshine to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

The King’s Week Lectures Joe Bondatti (6b GR)

During AS level examinations, a Lower Sixth Form student is a sponge saturated with information. Meals are abandoned in favour of plastic microwaveable trays, and an ‘early night’ becomes the stuff of legends. All is put to one side, in order to plunge once more into those dusty textbooks and re-absorb what forgotten facts and figures failed to survive the previous night.

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After the invigilator has had everyone put down their pens and pencils for the last time, and the answer booklets have been sufficiently stuffed with meticulously memorised dates and quotations, the student is faced with the bizarre purgatory of the post-examination period. The purpose of King’s Week is not only to allow students to celebrate their talents in front of their peers, but also to remind them, in an environment free from the pressures of obtaining successful academic qualifications, that a Sixth Form student is more than just a sponge. The King’s Week Lectures proposed to offer such a reminder; creating an atmosphere in which students felt stimulated by, and were able to interact with intellectual subject matter, rather than feeling the necessity to constantly transcribe bullet points onto neatly margined sheets of A4. The Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, The Old Synagogue, and sections of The New Music School were all converted into temporary lecture halls to host students from both The King’s School, and Simon Langdon Grammar School. The academic expertise of the teachers from both schools was combined to offer the students a variety of fascinating lectures on such subjects as Existentialism, Marxism and Einstein. It is easy to overlook, in such a self-contained environment, that the seemingly broad spectrum of stances adopted during day-to-day classroom discussions are in fact all too sheltered and incomprehensive. It was refreshing for students from both schools to encounter views concerning literature, politics and philosophy, which differed from those of their own. The debut year of this new King’s Week event was immensely successful, and thoroughly enjoyed by all those who took part.

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CCF Skills Display ARV

These last years have seen the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), at The King’s School, grow from strength to strength and take a substantial change for the better. As a way of raising awareness and profile, the cadets decided to put on skills stands, to display activities and opportunities within the contingent. This was an ideal opportunity for friends, family and other members of staff to see what goes on during routine training days and activity afternoons. The cadets talked through various skills they had learnt ranging from camouflage and concealment, weapon handling and shooting, to cooking in the field, some guests even got a chance to sample the culinary delights of a 24 hour ration pack. This stand was also visited by a few members of the OKS, who had been invited back to celebrate 100 years of The King’s School Canterbury

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Combined Cadet Force. This was to be done with a formal dinner night, held in the Gateway Chamber, within St Augustine’s Abbey. This was attended by members of the CCF past and present, both as staff and cadets, all of whom had been enthused by the activities and experiences it gave them. The CCF once played a large part within the school and hopefully will continue to do so in future years. It was an enjoyable evening where servicemen/women within the OKS were able to meet one another for the first time, or reflect on experiences they had shared together. I hope that all who attended this function enjoyed the occasion and would like to support the CCF in future events and evenings of a similar nature. One thing is for certain and that is that 100 years have passed within the Contingent here at The King’s School Canterbury and the experiences that the cadets have gained and will gain from it will undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come. l - r:Cadet Corporals George Moss (GR) andPerry Andrews (SH)

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THE GALA SYMPHONY

Gala Symphony Concert ASt

The traditional end to King’s Week is of course the black tie Gala Symphony Concert. Although a formal event, this year’s concert had a less formal feel about it which was a little disappointing as it is the main event in King’s Week that showcases the talent and ability of our most promising musicians. The full Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with a spirited rendition of Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1. The suite, from one of the world’s best-loved operas, comprised six sections. The orchestra brought the Shirley Hall to life with the short dramatic Prélude. This was followed by a lively Aragonaise in triple time, a charming Intermezzo for the flute and harp, a Seguedille, a march for the Dragoons, ‘Les dragons d’Alcala’, which featured the excellent bassoon section prominently, and finally the famous ‘March of the Toreadors’. Next to come was the excellent countertenor, Theo Bamber, who showed his prowess in coloratura and dramatic intensity in Handel’s aria ‘The raptur’d soul’ from Theodora. Theo demonstrated effective contrasts between the few bars of thoughtful reflection, the sacred joy, and the resolution on action. To follow Theo was a fellow 6a, Robert Stephen. Robert gave a

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sensitive and passionate interpretation of Max Bruch’s ‘Kol Nidrei’ which is an excerpt from a larger work, Adagio on Two Hebrew Melodies for Cello and Orchestra with Harp. The first theme came from the Kol Nidrei prayer – recited during the evening service on Yom Kippur – in which the cello imitated the rhapsodic voice of the cantor who chants the liturgy in the synagogue. The second subject for the piece is

Nathan Hudson - Peacock

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CONCERT

quoted from ‘O Weep for those that wept on Babel’s stream’, a poem by Lord Byron based on Psalm 137 and set to music by Isaac Nathan. Next to take to the stage was Nathan HudsonPeacock. He chose to play the wonderfully virtuosic Variations sur ‘Le Carnaval de Venise’ by the author of a highly influential cornet and trumpet method book, Jean-Baptiste Arban. Nathan showed great flair and amazing technical ability on the trumpet in this fine bravura work which did not immediately reveal its flashy intentions. After an introduction to the theme by the orchestra, the trumpet entered

already offering a lyrical variation on the melody even though it hadn’t been presented in full. The ensuing variations grew increasingly intricate and Nathan showed some fearsomely rapid tonguing and great reserves of breath as he weaved his way through the myriad of notes, ascending to the top end of the instrument’s range for a final flourish. A truly remarkable performance! After the interval Charles Ovenden Filsell performed Beethoven’s ‘Romance No. 2 in F major for Violin and Orchestra’. This piece is constructed in Rondo form with the violin

Mr Sanderson and the Ushers

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presenting the main theme, immediately followed by an orchestral tutti rendition of it. Charles played the soaring violin melodies decorated with trills, dramatic leaps, scales and arpeggios with fervour and confidence and he delicately observed the tender dialogue with the orchestra. A very gracious interpretation from a very talented violinist. The full Symphony Orchestra closed the concert with the first movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major, ‘The Titan’. This was a very personal and ambitious selection by the Director of Music, Howard Ionascu, but the excellent orchestra coped with it in their stride. It was fitting that Mahler was to close the concert as the evening of the Gala Concert coincided to the exact day! with the 150th anniversary of Gustav Mahler’s birth (7th July 1860). The eerie opening with its seven-octave drone on strings and descending two-note motif in the woodwinds set the piece off on an atmospheric journey. This bleakness was then interrupted with some brilliant fanfare-like material on the clarinets followed by the trumpets. The mood then started to lighten as the descending fourth motif heralded the beginning of the main theme which Mahler recycled from the second of his Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, entitled ‘Ging heut’ Morgen übers Feld’. The orchestra gently allowed the melody to build and then

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subside as earlier motifs from the introduction started to reappear. The fantastic horn section then brought the whole orchestra to life with a sparkling and brilliant new fanfare. The energy and anticipation gradually built up and the movement was brought to a decidedly fiery and humorous conclusion. This iconic piece was a fitting and memorable conclusion to another successful King’s Week. Many congratulations to all the musicians and especially to the conductor, Howard Ionascu.

Theo Bamber

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SPORT Summer 2010

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CRICKET 1st XI RALS

W6 L3 D5 The first match of the season brought lovely weather and a fantastic game of cricket. King’s batted first and made 270 helped by Charlie MacLeod (63) and Oliver Robinson (50). With a positive declaration made we set about the task of removing the Eastbourne batsmen. This proved a very difficult task as runs were free flowing and Eastbourne reached the target of 270 with the loss of only three wickets. Sadly, this was not the start we had hoped for. A lack of consistent bowling was the culprit and something we had to work hard to improve.

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Two weeks later on a very gloomy, wet afternoon at Birley’s the 1st XI, for the first time in many years, played on the 2nd XI square and bowled with much better control and efficiency. Sam Attwood and James Hearn had a good opening spell conceding only 28 runs off the first ten overs. Mateen Mohammed on his debut bowled very well picking up three wickets for only 32 runs in 9.3 overs. Charlie MacLeod also claimed five victims behind the stumps as Sevenoaks declared on 183-9 at tea. King’s started their run chase in a positive mood, pushing the ball around the park to set a good foundation. We lost a few quick wickets but Charlie MacLeod stood firm and was unbeaten on 56 at the end of the game. With the required run rate increasing to near 12, Tom Dixey strode confidently to the wicket and bludgeoned the Sevenoaks attack for 60, including six maximums. With 13 needed in the last over, Tom hit the first ball for six and then skied the second to the keeper! Charlie and Lucas Anglin worked hard to find the runs to win the match however came up one short leaving the game at a tie.

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James Hearn batted very well against the Band of Brothers, scoring an unbeaten 65, proving he has much to offer to this talented side. Spin was the undoing of the oppsistion with Mateen Mohammed and Oliver Robinson picking up three wickets each and Charlie Macleod again claiming five victims in a faultless display.

The two games against the OKS brought plenty of runs. Charlie MacLeod (85), Oliver Robinson (55) in a total of 258 on the first day and Mark Healy (56), Nick Hands (56), Jack Masters (50) chasing a total of 190 on the second. Loren Kock, Lucas Anglin and Nick Hands each took three wickets in the games.

Our first away game brought the team’s first real disaster after showing signs of great improvement. Going into the game we felt our batting was the team’s strong point but at eight runs for five wickets after only six overs we could not have been more wrong.

With two games to go, the mood was high in the camp even with the tough game against the MCC ahead. The MCC made 213-7 declared and after a good opening spell from James Hearn and Samuel Atwood, King’s pegged them back. In reply the top order all made good starts but fell away. James Hearn then followed up his best bowling display of the season with a superb and patient innings of 74 not out to steer the team home.

After half term we had much to prove, especially batting first in a rain affected game against Haileybury. Jack Masters’ 76 and Nick Hands’ 40 not out steered us to a solid total of 212-5 declared. With all the rain eating up time and overs the game finished in a draw with Haileybury six down. The final away game against Trinity was won by 41 runs with Lucas Anglin making a very assured 52 not out coming in at number nine. He followed this up with three wickets and along with James Hearn also taking three it proved a comfortable win. Charlie MacLeod for the third time in the season picked up five victims, all caught. Hilton College (South Africa) visited King’s bringing good quality Cricket and some of the best weather the summer had to offer. Hilton batted first making 267-6 declared, a hefty total that King’s worked hard to achieve. Jack Masters’ 76 and Oliver Robinson’s 63 made it interesting however we ran out of time and finished 30 short with the game ending in a draw. With Cricket Week upon us we were keen to finish on a positive note. Jack Masters took this very seriously scoring 100 not out against Eltham. We got them 8 down (with some dropped catches) but ran out of time to finish them off.

Summer 2010

In the final game of the season Sam Attwood bowled exceptionally well to pick up four wickets at one end. The problem was that wickets were falling at the other end too. King’s bowled out Simon Langton for 102 with a great performance in the field to finish. Even though it was a successful season Mark and I agreed that this team did not fulfil their full potential. There were some excellent performances but we felt that the boys never reached their peak. There is more to come from next year’s side and with a pre-season tour to Dubai at Easter we hope they will be ready. All the boys must be congratulated for all their efforts over the term, especially as they were all sitting exams on top of their cricketing. Thank you and good luck to all those 6as leaving and a special mention must go to Charlie MacLeod, leaving the school with six plaques to his name and Mark Healy for their 5 years of service to senior cricket at King’s. Thanks must also go to the Ground staff for producing fantastic wickets across all three squares and having to cope with some pretty awful weather, the Caterers for producing the best lunches on the circuit and to John Halliday for his services as umpire.

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from l-r: Tom Dixey, Lucas Anglin, Charlie MacLeod, Mark Healy, Jack Masters.

Team from: Charlie MacLeod (captain, wicketkeeper), Mark Healy (vice captain), Lucas Anglin, Samuel Attwood, Casper Carter, Thomas Dixey, Nick Hands, James Hearn, Loren Kock, Jack Masters, Mateen Mohammed, Oliver Robinson, Edwin Simmons. Also played: George Baker-White, Seb Leggett, Frederick Holt, Ruaridh MacLeod, Harry Mann, Barney Senasinghe, George Stacey.

Results

Felsted (a)

Lost, King’s 81, Felsted 83-2

Haileybury (h)

Drew, King’s 212-6, Haileybury 85-6

Staff (h)

Lost, King’s 157-7, Staff 158-7

Trinity (a)

Won, King’s 228-8, Trinity 181

Hilton College (h)

Drew, King’s 234-7, Hilton 269-6

Eltham (h)

Drew, King’s 209-4, Eltham 140-8

Eastbourne (h)

Lost, King’s 270-9, Eastbourne 271-3

OKS (h)

Drew, King’s 259-8, OKS 170-6

Sevenoaks (h)

Drew, King’s 183-5, Sevenoaks 183-9

OKS (h)

Won, King’s 190-3, OKS 186

St Edmund’s (h)

Won, King’s 111-8, St Edmund’s 90

MCC (h)

Won, King’s 217-9, MCC 213-7

Band of Brothers (h)

Won, King’s 209-8, Band of Brothers 136

Simon Langton (h)

Won, King’s 105-6, Simon Langton 102

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CRICKET Batting Batsmen

Innings

Not Outs

Runs

High Score

Average

Hearn

273

45.50

Masters

343

100

42.88

Macleod

352

35.20

Robinson

265

29.44

Anglin

144

28.80

Hands

226

22.60

Healy

258

21.50

Dixey

188

20.89

Simmons

129

14.33

Carter

45.00

Kock

13.50

Mohammed

7.00

Senasinghe

5.00

Attwood

5.00

Stacey

2.00

Bowling Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wickets

Best

Average

Kock

16.1

3-10

11.00

Mohammed

26.3

3-26

11.50

Hands

20.3

2-17

15.17

Robinson

53.1

181

3-4

22.63

Anglin

108

440

3-23

23.16

Dixey

378

3-6

25.20

Attwood

75.4

289

4-25

28.90

Carter

146

2-21

29.20

Hearn

55.4

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3-43

35.57

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CRICKET Also Bowled Godden – 1 wicket at 12.00 Legget – 1 wicket at 10.00 Mann – 1 wicket at 27.00

Junior Colts A XI TH

W7 L2 After receiving a loss at the hands of Eastbourne at the beginning of the term, the team went to have a very successful season, winning all their Saturday matches. Every player contributed to the success of the side whenever called upon. Memorable

moments came from Ed Hands with his magnificent catch in the crushing win against Felsted, and from James Baker with his collection of five wickets. Seb Leggett and Toby Sinclair were a lethal opening bowling combination, Legget bowled with accuracy but didn’t get the wickets his bowling deserved and Sinclair bowled with pace and bounce and made huge improvements under the watchful eye of Mr MacEwan. They were followed up superbly well by the precision of Harry Mann and the fine leg spin of Axel Zerf who was the top wicket taker. Leading the batting were George Baker-White, Henry Woodward and Zerf. Baker-White (playing a year young) delivered some impressive batting at the top of the order which allowed the team post healthy scores. Woodward came into his own in the latter half of the season and had a knack of dispatching the short ball. Zerf, throughout the season, hit the ball precisely sending it to all parts of the ground. Towards the end of the term Arthur Chilcott stamped his class and proved his worth as a top order batsman. He was very good at poaching runs with his alertness at the crease. Charlie Kingsman was a valuable all-rounder and Dom Hamlyn was the team’s top fielder. Louis Bromfield was very tidy behind the stumps where he claimed many victims from the spin of Zerf. The boys have worked hard at training all season. A special mention must me made to Mr MacEwan for his professional coaching which all the boys have benefitted from tremendously. Also, thanks must go to the parents for their excellent support during some cold wind swept days at Birley’s. The team should be very proud of their effort and achievements and I have no doubt several of them will go on to represent the 1st XI with distinction. I wish them all the best with their cricket in the future. Team from: Axel Zerf (Captain), James Baker, George Baker-White, Arthur Chilcott, Louis Bromfield, Patrick Clews, Dom Hamlyn, Edward Hands, Charlie Kingsman, Seb Leggett, Harry Mann, Toby Sinclair, Henry Woodward.

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Results Eastbourne

Lost, Eastbourne 179 – 9 (Zerf 4 – 32); King’s 71 all out.

Chatham House

Won, Chatham House 108 – 8 (Mann 4 – 9); King’s 109 – 0 (Baker-White 62 n.o., Woodward 29 n.o.)

Sevenoaks

Won, Sevenoaks 105 – 7; King’s 106 – 4

Sir Roger Manwood

Won King’s 144 – 6; Sir Roger Manwood 54 all out

Borden Grammar

Lost, King’s 154 – 1 (Zerf 66 n.o., Kingsman 64 n.o.); Borden Grammar 155 – 5 (Kingsman 1 – 13, Sinclair 1 – 19).

Felsted

Won, King’s 203 – 5 (Woodward 60, Baker-White 71); Felsted 143 all out (Zerf 3 – 25, Mann 2 – 18).

Cranbrook

Won, Cranbrook 66 all out (Leggett 3 – 13, Mann 3 – 3, Zerf 3 – 24); King’s 67 – 1 (Baker-White 38 n.o.).

Haileybury

Won, Haileybury 127 all out (Baker 5 – 16); King’s 128 – 3 (Chilcott 57 n.o., Baker 29 n.o.).

Trinity

Won, Trinity 133 all out (Mann 2 – 25, Zerf 3 – 14); King’s 134 – 4 (Woodward 59, Chilcott 25).

U14 A XI ES

balls. Adams, Lench, Kaplan and Collister were very consistent when they were called upon. Lench’s comfortable action will continue to develop and, I am sure will feature in teams further up the school. Methven and Wauchope bowled excellent spin throughout the season. Methven picked up 9 wickets while it proved very difficult to get any runs from Wauchope.

W5 L7 The team made a very encouraging start to the season against Eastbourne. The boys made a tentative start chasing the healthy total of 189, but as the game progressed they realised that they were in with a chance of snatching victory. A strong innings from Adams gave the team a fighting chance, but in the end they fell one run short. In the subsequent matches the team produced some excellent individual performances, but struggled to play as a team. Pattinson and MacLachlan did a fine job as opening bowlers. Pattinson was consistent throughout and unlucky not to pick up more wickets this season. MacLachlan really came into his own as the season progressed and regularly bowled top order batsmen with excellent

Summer 2010

Although the team did not have as much depth with the batting, several players made valuable contributions. The openers, Methven and Furedi, were particularly solid. Pattinson was the pick of the batsmen and was very strong through the mid-on region. He scored 335 runs as number four batsmen, averaging 47.8 for the season. Adams proved himself as an all-rounder to watch for the future. He readily despatched bowlers all around the park and was unlucky not to score a fifty this season. When he had the chance, MacLachlan was equally destructive. He played an excellent, possibly matchwinning, innings against Trinity in the last game of the season. De Haan is another batsmen with several strokes in his arsenal and along with his tidy skills behind the stumps he is developing into a fine cricketer.

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Kaplan and Potter deserve special mention for the consistent enthusiasm they showed throughout the season. They travelled far and fielded for many overs without featuring with the bat. I was delighted when they performed so brilliantly with the ball in the last match. Kaplan took three wickets and Potter two and they played a major role in the team’s victory over Trinity. Potter took what was possibly the catch of the season off his own bowling while Kaplan made a very important breakthrough to end a threatening five wicket partnership. The players were extremely fortunate this season to have the professional coaching of Mr Ealham three days a week. He has a wealth

of experience and knowledge which the boys could draw on and he played a major role in keeping the players enthused. A big thanks to him for his assistance, and also to all the parents and other supporters who faced some unpleasant weather to see the boys play.

Team from: Jamie Adams, Henry Collister, Samuel Dehaan (wicketkeeper), Jacob Furedi, Idris Kaplan, William Lench, Patrick MacLachlan, Benjamin Methven (Captain), Harry Pattinson, Thomas Potter, George Wauchope

Results Eastbourne (h)

Lost, King’s 188-7, Eastbourne 189-7

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost, King’s 121-8, Sevenoaks 122-2

St Edmund’s (h)

Won, King’s 195-2, St Edmund’s 122-8

Felsted (a)

Lost, King’s 62, Felsted 176-6

Cranbrook (a)

Lost, King’s 154-7, Cranbrook 191-7

Haileybury (a)

Lost, King’s 105, Haileybury 165-5

Trinity (h)

Won, King’s 188-5, Trinity 156

Lord Taverner’s Cup Simon Langton (h)

Lost, King’s 153-7, Simon Langton 220-2

Six-a-Side Tournament Queen Elizabeth School

Won, King’s 146-1, Queen Elizabeth School 79

Chaucer

Won, King’s 38-1, Chaucer 37

Kent College

Lost, King’s 98-1, Kent College 99-0

CCW

Won, King’s 120-3, CCW 46-4

To read the rest of the Cricket reports, please go to the website.

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l-r: Loren Kock, Charlie Macleod, Edwin Simmonds and Mark Healy

Summer 2010

249

GOLF The King’s Golf Report Mark Healy

In the HMC foursomes we lost to St Bede’s in the first round which was really disappointing for we were very keen to do well and thought we had a good chance of reaching the final. Mark and Patrick lost 2 and 1 having not played as well as they can, particularly on the closing holes when a lead was too easily surrendered. Henry Nichol and Harry Yeates also lost 2 and 1 having had their own chances. The final pairing managed to take the game to the last hole, but the pressure got to the final tee shot from which we found it difficult to recover. In recent years we had done very well in the Independent Schools’ Golf Association Championship, winning the regional round twice in three years, and were keen to repeat that success. We had a great run reaching the regional final where we met King’s College School, Wimbledon at Rye. We had a great match and booked our place in the finals. These were always going to be a struggle but without Patrick Horsting, (delayed by a cloud of ash) it was much tougher. Our three players, Mark Healy, Henry Nichol and Jonathan Cawdron never hit their best form on the first day and as a result struggled. The quality of the Golf amongst the top sides was amazing and a real inspiration to all of us.The Smarden Bell is a favourite of King’s and we always want to play our best. Although it was a valiant effort we just came up short against a very good Tonbridge side.

of the Smarden Bell.Although this has been a good year for the club it could have been better, but no one can fault the determination of anyone, the keenness to succeed and the comradeship that we have all experienced.

NLP

Three players leave the club this year. Patrick Horsting has been awarded a Golf scholarship to Lorretto. He has played a key role in King’s Golf over the past three years. He has been a part of two ISGA finals sides, taking us to a near famous victory over Wellington in the HMC regional final, and most impressively won the Royal St George’s Club championship off the Open Championship tees with a record score. Henry Nichol has been one of the most loyal members of the club in recent years. He has been a stalwart and formed the backbone of the side; his Golf has improved hugely. He epitomizes all that is good about the game and deserves all the plaudits he has received from me and others. Mark Healy has also been an important part of King’s Golf, and no more so than in the past two years when he has been captain. There is no one more keen to do well, or as optimistic about his own play or that of the team. Doing well matters to Mark and he has done well to impart that to the rest of the team. In his time here there has never been a dull bus journey – his wit and banter are legendary and made the hours pass very quickly. The club owes him a debt for that, but mostly for his achievements on the course.

We lost too many matches on the closing holes to be able to triumph against Reed’s, Cobham, but did much better against Tonbridge where we held our nerve over the closing holes and gained a victory, making up slightly for the loss

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TENNIS Girls’ Tennis 1st VI S. Bhadresha

It was an excellent season for the entire 1st VI Girls tennis team. All players improved tremendously throughout the season and were consistently enthusiastic and focused. The King’s first pair always played outstanding Tennis, and will, I am sure, continue to develop and have an amazing next season. Second pair were reliable in all their matches and congratulations must go to Lucy Allen for having three seasons with the 1st VI. Third pair played hard and made great progress. We put out a team, consisting of Sophie Knight, Harriet Lee, Lucy Allen and Sheena Bhadresha, for the Abedere Cup. King’s won against St Edmund’s in the first round, putting us through to play Benenden against whom we were not so lucky, perhaps due to their Kenyan Champion. We say goodbye to three members of the 1st VI, Sheena, Lucy and Daisy - all of whom have contributed greatly to King’s Tennis throughout their five years here, and will be missed. Team from: 1st pair - Sophie Knight and Harriet Lee 2nd pair - Lucy Allen and Daisy Casement 3rd pair - Sheena Bhadresha and Nicky King

Summer 2010

Boy’s Tennis 1st VI RPS

P12 W7 L5

Sets For: 55 Sets Against: 44

It’s an absolute privilege to take the Boys’ 1st VI Tennis team and once again this year’s players have made it a summer to be proud of. At the start of term there were 10 players all very keenly fighting for the top six places. Everybody got a chance to play in a 1st team match early on in the term and then I made that final decision to name the team of six and to stick with them for the rest of the season. Henry and Ned had both played in the 1st team last year and so were our stalwarts as first pair; Freddie, from last year’s 2nd VI made the step up to be in the 2nd pair with Ben (one of the youngest players to have made it to the first team from the Remove year); and finally Isaiah and Bertie made the cut for the 3rd pair as they managed to successfully beat the competition in the many trial matches in the first two weeks. Games sessions were excellent fun as we tried to focus on one or two specific shots each afternoon, coupled with tactics of either approaching the net, playing to our strength, playing to the opposition’s weakness, playing deep, moving the opponent or simply minimising unforced errors. One of the most memorable practice sessions was when we decided to tackle ‘The Smash’ – this came back to haunt us in several matches, not least of all for me when I missed two easy smashes in the Staff v Boys match at the end of term!

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TENNIS As public exams began to draw near the number of games sessions soon began to dwindle, and instead we became far more match focused. In the match against St Edmund’s Henry and Ned struggled against their 1st pair and were 2-5 down but managed to draw on reserves and make it to the finish line with a 7-5 victory. This dogged determination not to give in was very much a positive trait of theirs, and needless to say they put those of us watching through several nervous moments. The term’s matches fell into three categories. The first category was the normal school team Tennis matches, as three pairs playing one set against each opposing pair. In this category we only lost two matches (Tonbridge and Haileybury), but convincingly beat the other schools. The second category of matches was against the wiser more elderly competition of the Canterbury Men and Staff matches – the latter of which the boys narrowly won (4-5, not least thanks to my missed smashes!) Unfortunately

the Canterbury LTC were always just that little bit too strong for us, but as we followed both matches with some drinks and an evening meal they were always a thoroughly enjoyable and positive time. Finally the third category of matches was the National and County tournaments. These were only two pairs, each of whom played one doubles and one singles match. For these Ben played as our number one. He was an absolute master on the court, hitting the ball incredibly cleanly and always giving the opposing number one a run for his money. Unfortunately at Sir Roger Manwood’s he came up against a county ranked player on rather a small court with overhanging trees, but apart from that match Ben was never beaten. Isaiah and Bertie often had superb results as our very strong third pair, and things bode very well indeed for next year as Isaiah takes over the role of ‘Captain of Tennis’. I’d like to end this report by listing some characteristics of these players to

l-r Henry Hamilton, Guy Berry, Tilda Emlyn-Williams, Freddy Hare, Ben Simpson and Lottie Knight at Wimbledon

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highlight the great tennis they have played this year. Henry Hamilton: A fantastic left handed serve to the advantage court. Great leadership and one of the best at the net. Ned Newell-Hanson: Nobody has the fighting spirit like Ned (as illustrated at Haileybury). An awesome serve, but even better return. Ben Simpson: The most improved player at the net, with ground strokes like a true professional and top-spin to die for. Freddie Hare: The most improved serve and probably the most consistent backhand. An unforced error is a rare shot for Freddie. Isaiah Osei-Baidoo: Overall the most improved player this year as his serve has bundles of power, and his ground strokes tonnes of whip.

Bertie O’Brien: The best looking single-handed backhand. Quietly confident. Very effective at the net. I’d also like to acknowledge and thank Mr and Mrs Simpson for their frequent support at nearly every match. To top it all we even got Wimbledon tickets this year (see opposit page) to see Henin v Clijsters, Hewitt v Djokovic, and Nadal v Mathieu on number 1 court. We couldn’t have had a more enjoyable season. Team from: Henry Hamilton (captain), Ned Newell-Hanson, Freddie Hare, Ben Simpson, Isaiah Osei-Baidoo, Bertie O’Brien.Also Played: Toby O’Brien, Toby Standen, Jamie McPhie, Jonny Cheung The rest of the Tennis reports can be found on the website

Results Sets for: 55 Sets against: 44 St. Edmund’s (a)

Won

9-0

Canterbury LTC (a)

Lost

0-9

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

3-6

QE Faversham (a)

Won

4-2

Sir Roger Manwood’s (a)

Lost

2-4

Cranbrook (h)

Won

4-5

University of Kent (h)

Won

8-1

Haileybury (a)

Lost

3-6

Sevenoaks (h)

Won

6-3

Canterbury LTC (h)

Lost

4-3

Canterbury High (a)

Won

5-1

Staff (h)

Won

5-4

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Athletics ARV

Athletics has proven to remain a popular choice for sport in the summer term with over 100 pupils wishing to attend training. It was decided that in order to get the most out of the athletes the training needed to be restructured so that we were not focusing on specific disciplines and that we could compete across the board. There would therefore be a fitness session on Tuesdays, a track day at Canterbury High on Wednesdays, and Friday’s session would focus on Field events. This would ensure that our athletes had more to offer than just one event at a meet. This was achieved by the use of our external coaching staff, developing and building on the skills from last season and teaching the techniques to those who were new. The school staff and coaches also ensured that maximum participation was taken throughout training in order to improve their fitness and performance. Once again the Captain of Athletics Jamie Harris, lead by example attending training regularly and was an excellent role model to his peers and the younger years alike; he displayed excellent commitment and enthusiasm and always put 100 per cent into training, this was also the case with the Vice Captain of Athletics, Tom Gold. The Athletics seasons competitions are mainly held in the first half of the summer term in order not to clash with GCSEs and AS and A levels, however sadly this is when the weather is still at its worst. The first few training sessions were wet and windy and this was sadly to be the case on the fixture days where decisions were made to cancel two of our routine meets which sadly could not be re-scheduled. With very little training we had to select our best individuals to attend the District Individual Team Championships. The saving grace was that all schools were in the same situation as the

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weather had affected the training and also the late return to school post Easter Holidays. The competition was good, proving that Athletics within the region has improved considerably over the past few years and we only managed to secure two places in Kent Schools’ Championships for the following Fusi Awosika (Inter Boys 100m) and Abigail Aird (Junior Girls 200m). The first fixture for the boy’s team was away at Sevenoaks, with Brighton College also attending. It was a wet and miserable day and the wind was blowing it straight across the exposed track on the top of the hill. This was not the start to the season that we had hoped for as our strength lay with our sprinters, and these were not the conditions that favoured King’s Both Brighton College and Sevenoaks produced strong athletes and although we came third, the margins were not by much as it was a close run competition. There were two notable performances; one by Josh Freemont who ran an outstanding 800m race coming in a clear 1st place, and the other by Will Pargeter who gained a personal best on the High Jump. Sadly we finished 3rd overall. Our next fixture was at Epsom College away, this was a new addition to the fixture list where we were offered to take both Girls’ and Boys’ teams across the year groups. After a long coach journey we made it to Epsom College and the weather was gloriously sunny, not great for the coach journey down, but brilliant for the afternoon’s fixture. Due to Epsom’s numbers they managed to field two people per age category per discipline, King’s on the other hand had most of our athletes competing in three or four disciplines. All the athletes put on a valiant display and we came a close second; Special mention should go to William Pargeter gaining another personal best on the High Jump and Fuad Ogunsanya doing the same for Shot Put. In June two of our athletes competed at the Kent Schools Athletics Championships, unfortunately neither of them managed to make it through to represent Kent, but both showed great promise for the next year.

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ATHLETICS It is our aim to see Athletics develop and improve at King’s and whilst the numbers remain competitive with other sports, the emphasis needs to be on how it can improve fitness levels in preparation for winter sports, thus allowing them to prepare for the first teams.I would again like to thank the hard work and efforts of the older athletes for displaying a high level of enthusiasm and commitment and encouragement to the younger years. Special thanks to Jamie Harris, Captain of the team for his efforts and participation throughout his last season with the club.

I would like to thank our coaches Pat, James, Gary, June, Denise, Miss Smit and Dr Stewart, Mr Stennett and Mr Orders for their enthusiasm and expertise throughout the season. I congratulate Kola Lawal as Captain of Track and William Pargeter as Captain of Field on their appointments for Athletics next year and look forward to hearing of their further success.

Results Individual District Championships, Tuesday 27th April. v. Cranbrook, Canterbury High Track, Saturday 1st May (h) Unfortunately cancelled, due to inclement weather conditions. v. Sevenoaks and Brighton College, Saturday 8th May (a) Senior Boys:

Sevenoaks 1st

Brighton 2nd

King’s 3rd

Inter Boys:

Sevenoaks 1st

Brighton 2nd

King’s 3rd

Junior Boys:

Sevenoaks 2nd

Brighton 1st

King’s 3rd

Overall:

Sevenoaks 1st

Brighton 2nd

King’s 3rd

v. Epsom College, Saturday 22nd May (a) Senior Boys:

Epsom 1st

King’s 2rd

Inter Boys:

Epsom 1st

King’s 2nd

Inter Girls:

Epsom 1st

King’s 2nd

Junior Boys:

Epsom 1st

King’s 2nd

Junior Girls:

Epsom 1st

King’s 2nd

Overall:

Epsom 1sr

King’s 2nd

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ROWING Girls’ Rowing Team Chloe Ellis (6b MR) and Amanda Thomas (Fifth CY)

We all were glad that the hard winter months of training in the cold weather were finally over and it was the start of the summer regatta season, meaning that we started entering sideby-side rather than time-trial races. We also enjoyed being able to go training on the lake without having freezing hands and wearing multiple layers of clothing!

Thames Ditton Regatta Our first regatta of the summer term was the Thames Ditton Regatta, a 1000m race which is in a lovely location on the Thames with views of Hampton Court from the river. For Hannah Presdee and Emily Champion it was their first regatta together in a double and they did really well and tried hard, but unfortunately were knocked out by a strong crew from Kingston Grammar School who were rowing on their home water. As some of us were busy doing exams we were not able to put out a 1st quad for this regatta, so we decided to enter single sculls at this event. Jane Ellard and Amanda Thomas entered the WJ16 single sculls event. Jane unfortunately got knocked out by a strong sculler from the City of Oxford Rowing Club. Amanda did very well by winning her preliminary races by easy margins, making it through to the final. In the final she was up against a rower who rows for Herne Bay Rowing Club (Megan Rolph) but trains with us at Westbere. As they train together they knew each other and knew what to expect, but unfortunately Amanda lost to her in the final, which she admits was not unexpected.

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Chloe Ellis raced in the WJ18 and WNovice single sculls. She won her heat in the WJ18 single sculls, making it to the final where she was up against a very good sculler who had won the National Schools’ Rowing Championships and represented Great Britain in the single sculls event at an international regatta. It was a tough race and Chloe’s opponent ended up winning the event, but it was a good experience to race someone at the very top of the field. In the Novice single sculls Chloe won her first two races to get a place in the final, which was raced in the late afternoon. She was very worn out as it was her fifth race of the day, and eventually lost to a sculler from Kingston Grammar School, who was again on her home water. We all had an enjoyable time at the regatta and a lot of us experienced what it was like to beat somebody comfortably and start to relax ahead and watch them struggle! It was an enjoyable day for the King’s Girls’ Rowing Squad, and got the term off to a good start for some of us. Thames Ditton Regatta Results WJ15 2x Emily Champion / Hannah Presdee Lost in first heat WJ16 1x Jane Ellard Lost in first heat WJ16 1x Amanda Thomas 2nd of 8 WJ18 1x Chloe Ellis 2nd of 4 WNovice 1x Chloe Ellis 2nd of 6

Poplar Regatta The day after Thames Ditton some of the senior girls went to Poplar Regatta at the London Regatta Centre in Docklands. The extremely windy conditions proved a challenge for us, but it is important to get used to coping with poor weather while rowing, so we took it as it

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came. We entered two quads, one at WJ18 level and one in the WJ16 category. Megan Rolph joined us in the J16 quad, as we again had limited numbers because of public exams. We were up against some of the best rowing clubs and schools in the country who were there to practise multi-lane racing before the National Schools’ Regatta, a 2000m event. We had a few problems, with people suffering from asthma attacks during the races, and didn’t manage to do as well as we had hoped in this very competitive event, although it was still a good experience of multi-lane racing for us. Poplar Regatta Results WJ16 4x Lizzie Morcom / Svenja Perkins / Megan Rolph / Jane Ellard 5th WJ18 4x Lizzie Morcom / Svenja Perkins / Megan Rolph / Chloe Ellis 6th

National Schools’ Regatta The National Schools’ Regatta is the biggest event of our rowing year, as it is the one place where the best young rowers in the country, from both rowing clubs and schools, go to compete. For the WJ14 2x of Maisie Briggs and Millie Johnson, competing on Friday, it was their first big race. They tried very hard but were up against much more seasoned competitors. They definitely have the potential to progress further in the future after gaining more rowing experience. It was also a first big race for the WJ15 2x of Hannah Presdee and Emily Champion, and they also tried hard but they didn’t manage to qualify for the semi-finals. As both these junior crews are fairly new to rowing they will be able to gain more experience as they progress through their time at King’s. The senior girls made the long journey to Nottingham on Friday evening after more exams, and had to get up early on Saturday morning for Chloe and Amanda to race in the WJ17 singles event. They tried very hard but didn’t manage to qualify for the semi-finals against

Summer 2010

the top scullers of the J17 age group in the country, missing out by only 4 and 10 seconds respectively over the 1500m time trial. We had practised in the quad all year so hadn’t been out in singles very much. Maybe if we had had more practice we could have achieved better results. Svenja Perkins and Lizzie Morcom in their WJ16 double looked good technically but didn’t manage to qualify, despite their best efforts. They did well considering they had not had much practice in a double together. After the tiring day on Saturday and an early night, Amanda, Lizzie and Svenja had to wake up early again on Sunday morning to join Jane Ellard to race in the WJ16 quads event. They tried hard against tough competition on a very windy day but didn’t manage to qualify for the semi-finals, suffering from an unexpected squall in the last 500m which did some damage to the boat morale. They hope to compete to a higher standard next year at National Schools’, and it certainly inspired them to keep working hard at their training. National Schools’ Regatta Entries WJ14 2x Maisie Briggs / Millie Johnson WJ15 2x Hannah Presdee / Emily Champion WJ16 2x Svenja Perkins / Lizzie Morcom WJ16 4x Amanda Thomas / Svenja Perkins / Lizzie Morcom / Jane Ellard WJ17 1x Chloe Ellis WJ17 1x Amanda Thomas

Inter-House Rowing and Boat Club Dinner The Girls’ Inter-House Rowing Competition was won by Marlowe House, who beat Carlyon by just one point in this enjoyable afternoon of racing. As usual, everyone looked forward to the Inter-House Regatta as an opportunity to race

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This page: Chloe Ellis and Amanda Thomas at Sudbury Regatta ; Opposite Tim Perkins, Andy Turner (coach), Mayor of Sudbury, Amanda Thomas, Chloe Ellis and Megan Rolph at Sudbury International Regatta

against rather than with each other. Despite the dubious strategy of some boys’ houses (entering as many crews as possible regardless of rowing abilities and lack thereof), the girls’ competition was not tainted by dishonourable tactics, and we relished the typically friendly racing at Westbere. This year the Boat Club Dinner was held at St Augustine’s refectory in the evening after the Inter-House Regatta, as is customary. The Boat Club Dinner was a chance to express the Boat Club’s natural party spirit (and taste for dressing up?), and of course to thank the coaches for their work this year. We wouldn’t be able to do it without them. Mr Fox coached the junior girls as well as being Master in charge of rowing, so we are indebted to him. Ben (from the University of Kent) and Mrs Cox also coached the junior girls. We are very grateful for all their hard work over the year. Finally, Andy Turner has been a fabulous coach for the senior girls this year, and we truly appreciate all his support of and work for us – including driving all the boats to every regatta!

Thames Valley Park Regatta

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After the half term break we went to the Thames Valley Park Regatta, a 500m sprint race. Again, with exams the following week, several people couldn’t make it. Svenja, Amanda and Chloe were the only people who attended. Amanda and Chloe entered the single sculls events and came up against strong competition and didn’t make it to the finals. Svenja and Chloe entered a WJ17 2x. They won their first heat comfortably and made it to the final where they finished second. It was a good achievement, and gave them another reason to celebrate, just after finishing their exams. Thames Valley Park Regatta Results WJ16 1x Amanda Thomas 2nd of 3 in heat WJ17 2x Svenja Perkins / Chloe Ellis 2nd of 4 WJ18 1x Chloe Ellis 2nd of 2 in heat

Reading Town Regatta The last regatta of the summer term was Reading Town Regatta, an 800m sprint. It was a chance for the Removes and Shells to see how they compared to clubs and other schools in a quad. The WJ15 4x+, consisting of Maisie

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ROWING Briggs, Millie Johnson, Hannah Presdee, Emily Champion and cox Stephanie Sy-Quia, came a very close 2nd to Cheltenham Ladies’ College Boat Club. There was only half a length between them and the boat that won first place. It was a pleasure to see them so happy as they crossed the finish line. Svenja Perkins and Chloe Ellis entered a women’s novice double. By winning their first heat comfortably they made it into the final. There was an amusing incident when they accidentally fell in after their first race; this was the first time they had ever fallen in at a regatta after 3 years and 4 years of rowing respectively! They managed to come in a well-deserved 2nd in the final despite being completely soaked. Reading Town Regatta Results WJ15 4x+ Maisie Briggs/ Millie Jonson/ Hannah Presdee/ Emily Champion/ Stephanie Sy-Quia (cox) 2nd of 3 WNov 2x Svenja Perkins/ Chloe Ellis 2nd of 9

1st Quad Report

Summer 2010

The 1st quad this year was made up of Svenja Perkins, Amanda Thomas, Lizzie Morcom, Chloe Ellis and Jane Ellard as the reserve. Although we didn’t race together in a quad at the National Schools’ Regatta and at other races this term, this was not without reason; it was hard to do so because of exams. Overall we have had a good year and developed our teamwork by co-operating with each other and always working together. The atmosphere of the girls’ squad has been good and we have all got on well. Svenja Perkins, the one who always has something to say, has kept us going through the year, especially while shouting motivation to us in the boat when we race! Lizzie Morcom, the tall one who is always naturally going to have a longer stroke than anybody else, was an excellent stroke in the boat. Then Amanda ended up returning to the stroke position, setting the pace during the races because we know that she likes being in control. She has amazed us all year by not weighing much but flying past on the water in her single. She secretly has so much power that we don’t know about. Then there is Jane who has been happy to fill in and row with us when people are missing, as well as being a valuable member of the squad in her own right.

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ROWING She is definitely the one who has improved the most this year. Chloe Ellis has been a great leader of the girls this year in her role as Captain of Sculling, and we are lucky to have someone so committed and well-organised in charge of us. Her skill at making sure we’re all happy while training and racing is equalled by her excellent technique and strength on the water. She is always happy to row in a double with anyone, and is able to hold her own in a single, often against girls older than her. Of course, she is also a vital member of the quad, always adaptable and keen for us to do our best. We thank her for her hard work and look forward to her final year, in which we hope to better ourselves. Having fulfilled our goal of winning a few coveted trophies, we will hopefully have more self-confidence and be able to improve our results next year. We are determined to do this by putting in hard work throughout the year and changing those 2nd places into 1st place. Overall this term has been successful as at least one boat has made it to the final of every regatta in which we’ve competed, apart from the famously competitive National Schools’ Regatta. We hope that continuing to work hard will pay dividends in next year’s season, and we look forward to new members joining the Senior Girls’ Squad.

Boys’ Rowing JTHF This year we held our training camp at the Belgium National Watersports Centre at Hazewinkel in Belgium. In all 20 athletes attended and apart from the usual suspects we were greatly helped on the coaching front by John

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and Tracey Moon – John provided coaching in his own inimitable style and Tracey gave support and encouragement off the water. With three training sessions a day it was inevitable that most if not all would suffer to some degree from blisters and her patience and care in helping to look after those afflicted was very greatly appreciated, not the least by Tom Arnott, whose hands after a few days were so badly blistered that he was rested from some outings, despite his own heroic willingness to go on. At the end of the camp, it was clear that there had been a great improvement in boat-moving ability and race fitness, but because two important members on the group had not been able to attend the camp, on our return it was necessary to spend some time making a final selection for the summer – this left only a limited number of regattas to chose from before National Schools’. In the end we opted for a weekend with the Saturday at Thames Ditton and the Sunday at Poplar with quite a lot of boat changing to accommodate those who were not able to row because of imminent exam commitments. At Thames Ditton the 1st VIII raced for the first time, also racing as two IVs and the other members of the top group also raced, in two separate categories, in IVs. Though Thames Ditton isn’t considered a top rate event, there is always a large entry from the local schools, many of which have a large numbers of rowers to select from, and competition is therefore strong. Though we didn’t win any events, the crews gained valuable racing experience and showed clearly that they had continued to develop since the training camp. A boys’ quad from the Removes also made their first appearance at this regatta and though they lost their first race, they didn’t look out of place against a crew who had all rowed for at least a year longer.

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Poplar is always likely to produce rough racing conditions and the day we visited was no exception. The 1st VIII, racing in a six lane straight final and with a substitute on board, finished third, struggling to cope with the rough water. We also entered a IV but because of missing personnel, were very grateful that two substitutes were found to help us out: Ed Birrell’s brother and a fellow crewmate from Maidstone. In preparing for the National Schools’ Regatta we always knew that qualification was going to be very tough: it is always so at an event where every school in the country sends their best crews. The top few schools contest the Championship Eights’ event but that still left 22 crews trying to qualify for 12 places in the 1st VIII’s event (The Child Beale) and though the eight didn’t make it, we were all very disappointed to miss out on qualification by the narrow margin of only 4 seconds. The Remove boys’ quad also made a good attempt to qualify in the same way out of a group of 24. The crews were: 1st VIII +: Will Wickham, Austin Callison, George Pughe, Giles Dean, Teddy Fox, Chris Loyn, Byron Chatzis, Theo Haynes, Alex Soul (cox) J14 4x+:Nick Hastings, Joe Haynes, George Edwards, Toby Sargent, Ed Bryant (cox) In the weeks that followed, training was inevitably planned around the exam timetable and study leave. The full eight rarely trained together but Ed Birrell himself often subbed in as well as others of whom Ali Brown became the ‘super-sub’ having helped out on very many occasions. In preparation for Henley the crew raced at Marlow Regatta, which takes place on Eton College’s very own 2000m rowing lake. There were 34 VIII’s in our event which were split into two separate divisions. The 1st VIII had a terrific race in their heat and were particularly impressive over the second half of the course, managing to see off two other crews and make it into the repêchage, but in that race they were outgunned by some very experienced club crews and therefore didn’t make it into the final.

Summer 2010

For the school VIII’s event at Henley, the Princess Elizabeth Cup, there are only 32 places and therefore some crews are inevitably requested to qualify. We had hoped that our racing at National Schools’ and Marlow would have been enough to get us into the event without the need or qualifying races, but sadly this was not the case and when we saw the draw for the qualifying we were understandably concerned: only 3 crews out of nine would qualify. This was particularly galling as we were pretty sure that there were some crews slower than ourselves who had made the cut. For the race itself, Teddy Fox had his last exam rescheduled and was driven up to Henley under supervision, the crew put in a very strong performance and felt that they had really done as well as they could have hoped. In the end the VIII were the second fastest crew not to qualify: once again we had just missed the standard required. The club did also enter crews at Thames Valley Park and Reading Town before the end of term and there again boys from the Remove year raced in singles, doubles and quads and gained useful experience; and at Reading Town, Ali Brown raced in a single and having been awarded a re-row after some very poor steering by one of the competitors, won that race convincingly, but narrowly failed to win his final. As an overview, we knew that the season was always likely to be tough and we took the view that it was more one of development for next year, nevertheless it was disappointing to have got so close on the two occasions which really mattered and to have missed out. Our very great thanks go to the coaches, in particular to Ed Birrell who took a year out from his studies to join us for the year as coach before returning to finish at law school.

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Rounders

Results Epsom (a)

33 and a half to 27

1st IX

Sevenoaks (h)

17 and a half to 17

Gelena Crouch (6a MT)

Haileybury (a)

22 to 21 and a half

Sevenoaks (a)

26 to 23

This year saw many new players progress to the senior squad, having lost many the previous year. All the players rose to the challenge of playing at a senior level and were integral to team play and motivation always working well as a team from the start of the season through to the close. Special mention must go to Ella Kelly, Imogen Moore, Francesca Newman and Francesca Kent, for their dedication to the team, both in training and in matches. Ella Kelly’s dedication playing with one hand whilst her other was bandaged was a picture particularly as a bowler. Francesca Newman’s batting and phenomenal fielding always had the opposition on the back foot not to mention the sharp throwing from Francesca Kent at backstop.

Immie Moore was voted players’ player of the season for all of her hard work and determination throughout the season especially for her notable dive during the Haileybury, match where she was badly injured ending up on crutches. Player of the season was awarded to Gelana Crouch for her outstanding contribution to King’s Rounders.

Team from: Gelana Crouch (Captain), Ella Kelly (vice-captain), Ellen Arvidsson, Katie Burden, Laria Collister, Emily Cox, Emmyline Duffy, Izzy Hoppe, Abigail Jackson, Frankie Kent, Immy Moore, Fran Newman and Autumn Withey-Stevens.

U15A Anna Gibson (Remove HH)

Captain’s Report – This season has been very successful for us as a squad. The whole team has contributed well and this has made rounders so enjoyable for us this term. Most improved Player of the Season was awarded to Lara Pedley and the Most Valuable was jointly awarded to myself and Dom Masters. Phenomenal bowling from Ella Gault; never making a fault, cool and collected, she always kept us in the game. Louise, Emily, Rebecca and Katya formed the deep fielding squad which helped us to win over our opponents with their excellent catching and long throws. Not to mention Venetia Fryzer and her left-handed hit always taking the opposition by surprise as well as her excellent fielding at second. We had an unbeaten season and not to mention this, we also won the Cranbrook Tournament winning all of our games throughout the day which was a test of our teamwork and determination. This was a special day for us; Flora Mockridge and Gen Masters also played for us in the tournament which gave us valuable rounders and catches out. We could not have done so well without Coach Jill this season, thank you.

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ROUNDERS Team from: Anna Gibson (Captain), Dominique Masters (Vice-Captain), Louise Augustine-Aina, Venetia Fryzer, Ella Gault, Emily Goss, Katya Ignatiev, Lara Pedley, Fadekemi Ogunsanya, Rebecca Spayne and Sam Solly Results Epsom (a)

26 and a half to 10

JKS (a)

15 to 6

Benenden (h)

19 and a half to 16

Haileybury (a)

16 to 8

Sevenoaks (a)

21 and a half to 5

Cranbrook Tournament

Winners

U14A

get the opposition running. This was complemented by Gemma Taylor’s super catching at first. Temi Otedola was the force to be reckoned with at second; her stumping was often the difference between the win and a loss. Florrie and Amy took over the role of third and fourth and what a combination. Florrie improved dramatically over the season, particularly her catches. I should also mention Amy Gault, our ‘Wonder Woman’ catcher often catching the ball one handed, surprising us. I must not forget our excellent fielders including Alice, Lizzie, Helen and Gen. Alll have done a superb job and their fielding is a pleasure to watch. Flora our ‘rocket bowler’ was certainly enough to make teams worry. An excellent team, wonderful enthusiasm, lots of fun to coach and a pleasure to watch. Most Valuable Player was jointly awarded to Flora and Gen, and Most Improved to Amy Gault Team from: Gen Masters (Captain), Flora Mockridge (Vice-Captain), Helen Ferrett, Amy Gault, Florrie Hodgkinson, Izzy Jameison, Temi Otedola, Gemma Taylor, Alice Thompson and Lizzie Trelawney-Vernon.

KAB Results From the word go, the team showed a great deal of talent on the Rounders field. Excellent batting, on the ball fielding and team work. The team, superbly lead by Gen Masters and assisted by Flora Mockridge only dropped one game all season against some very tough opposition. Both Gen and Flora led by example and were assests on the field. I have never seen anyone throw the ball as far and as accurately as Gen Masters and I have never seen anyone bowl the ball so fiercely as Flora Mockridge!

Epsom (a)

23 to 7

JKS (a)

16 to 11

St Lawrence (a)

17 to 10

Benenden (a)

15 to 8

JKS (a)

25 to 12

Haileybury (a)

26 to 22

Sevenoaks (a)

14 to 10

Izzy Jameison took on the role as our backstop and her accurate throw to first was enough to

Summer 2010

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SAILING Sailing HROM

The 2010 season began, as ever, with Sail Training on the Westbere lake in the Easter holidays. The fact that 26 King’s pupils came back to school in the holidays – and made a holiday of the course – speaks wonders for their enthusiasm. The pre-season training gives us a distinct lift, especially when expertly led, as this year, by members of Cambridge University SC, including our own Andrew Lewis (OKS). The very first event, National Schools’ Match Racing (J80 yachts) took the top crew under William Goldsmith’s captaincy to Queen Mary

SC. (Pictured:Tristan Smith (winch), Henry Pritchard (main sheet) and William Goldsmith (helm) training on a J80) Unfortunately races were abandoned on the second day due to lack of wind. However, the NSSA runners-up trophy was re-awarded to Team King’s. Within a fortnight of the start of term King’s Sailing teams competed in three regional British Schools Dingy Racing Association (BSDRA) championships. King’s Ist VI won 21 out of 27 match races. The BSDRA Spring Championship,

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J80s Match Racing with forecrew William Stonehewer-Smith and Hannah Goldsmith

hosted by King’s on Westbere lake (April 24), attracted 14 teams and 84 sailors. King’s finished 2/14 to event winners, Magdalen College School, Oxford. Sailed in warm spring sunshine, with a steady force 3 breeze, 48 races were completed with a good balance between competition and fun. The next venue was across the county at Bough Beech reservoir, near Sevenoaks, for the BSDRA South East Championship, hosted by Tonbridge and Sevenoaks schools. After two rounds King’s 1 shared 1st = with five teams, but the wind died away before all the rounds could be sailed. A week later (May 8) the 1st VI again sailed very well at the Thames Valley championship, hosted by Eton and Wellington, at Bray Lake SC, near Windsor, to come top of our league. We seemed set for the finals again with a winning combination at the bottom mark, but a lapse on the final leg saw us overtaken to finish 3rd /16 teams. This was nonetheless a good result sailing fireflies, which have become the dominant BSDRA boat. A day on the water at Bough Beech with UK and Sevenoaks School coach, Andy Cornah, supplied just the ticket for the final encounter. This was the two day BSDRA Finals, which, open to foreign teams, is also an international schools event. King’s produced our best performance in team racing to win seven out of 10 races and to finish fourth out of 22 English and Foreign teams – with just one English school

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above us. For best team performance on day two, King’s was awarded the Radley Quaich. (1st VI winners of the Radley Quaich at BSDRA Finals Meanwhile our younger sailors were also sailing and competing very well. At the Spring Championship, King’s 2nd VI, for instance, won against Eton. The U15 team later won a three school topper team racing tournament against Eastbourne and Brighton College. Our juniors sailed well in all conditions: at Eastbourne – where we learned a lot about the effect of tide on a very wet and cold day; at Ardingly, where our younger sailors had their first experience of senior team racing; and at the Kent Schools Topper Team Racing Championship, where three King’s teams enjoyed great success in a strengthening wind.

Congratulations to Alexander McCulloch, Alexandra Barkshire and Elizabeth Wauchope, (pictured) who won every race on the day and as Kent champions will go on to sail for Kent at the National Schools Team Racing next term. Training in the second half of term was further enhanced by Mr Ninham’s ‘Toblerone Challenge’, which produced the most fought-over race series ever known on the lake. We have some very good U16 sailors. Stephanie Crampton, William Stonehewer-Smith, William Fairbairn, Sebastian James and Fenella McCluskie are talented helms. Paige McCulloch, Henry and Llewellyn Cross, Dominic Moore and Thomas White also have great potential. Nathan White, a Shell, won match races helming a topper and firefly, and also helmed a firefly successfully at Itchenor, whilst Hannah Goldsmith and

Summer 2010

Above Alexander McCulloch, Alexandra Barkshire, Elizabeth Wauchope, Kent Champions

Elizabeth Wauchope, are among the best youth helms in the country. The summer term concluded with more success for King’s sailors at the Itchenor SC 420s and Fireflies Nationals. William Goldsmith and Elizabeth Wauchope led the line for King’s sailing a 420 and finished 2nd overall. In one of the best contested and closest results ever known at Itchenor, William and Elizabeth finished just one point behind the winners. King’s can take pride in our sailors and captain, William Goldsmith, is an excellent ambassador for the school at these prestigious events. In fact the eight King’s sailors at Itchenor came back with three trophies – the British Schools trophy, the Astral trophy and the Prosser trophy – as well as individual tankards for their success in different categories of the event. Hannah Goldsmith and Alexandra Pye were winners of the 420s ‘silver fleet’ and won best all girl boat. The Prosser trophy was won by Edward Parnell and Nathan Howell sailing a 1950s Firefly (acquired for the school and restored last winter) named ‘Noggin the Nog’. Alexander McCulloch and Benjamin Warnick also won awards, and again, William Goldsmith and Elizabeth Wauchope really set a new best performance for King’s. In summary, an excellent term on the water and one which earned five new trophies to add to the school’s trophy cabinet. Our thanks to Mr Richard Ninham, particularly for going with the team to the BSDRA Finals and Itchenor, to Mr John Hope and our other external coaches, Jo, Mark and Rhea, and to King’s parents, especially Mr Christopher Goldsmith, for their fantastic support at events. Finally, we should record our

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congratulations to Elizabeth Wauchope on her selection to sail in the Youth Olympics in Singapore this summer, and wish her every success.

Teams:

Results

2nd VI from: Alexandra Barkshire, Jessica Newport Gay, Stephanie Crampton, William Stonehewer-Smith, William Fairbairn, Harry Bruges, Sebastian James.

NSSA Match Racing (Queen Mary SC, J80s)

The Spanish Trophy reawarded to King’s

BSDRA Spring Championship (Westbere, 420s)

King’s 1, 2/14: King’s 2, 8/14

BSDRA South East Championship (Bough Beech, fireflies)

King’s 1, W 2; King’s 2, L2

BSDRA Thames Valley Championship (Bray lake, fireflies)

King’s 1, 3/16

Eastbourne tournament (picos)

U 15sA, 2/5; U15sB, 4/5

KSSA Topper Team Racing (Redoubt SC, Hythe, toppers)

U16sA 1/9; U16sB 4/9, U15s 5/9.

Westbere tournament (toppers)

U15sA 1/5; U15sB 3/5

Ardingly Challenge (420s/fireflies)

U I5sA 3/7; U15sB 4/7

BSDRA Internationals and Finals (Bough Beech, fireflies)

King’s 1, 4/22, winners of the Radley Quaich.

Itchenor Runners-up (420s)

William Goldsmith and Elizabeth Wauchope.

Itchenor BSDRA and Astral trophies (420s)

Hannah Goldsmith and Alexandra Pye.

Itchenor Nick Prosser trophy (fireflies)

Nathan Howell and Edward Parnell.

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Ist VI from: William Goldsmith (Captain), Henry Pritchard, Tristan Smith, Charlotte de Vitry, Alexander McCulloch, Elizabeth Wauchope, Hannah Goldsmith, Alexandra Pye, Benjamin Warnick.

U14s: Fenella McCluskie, Paige McCulloch, Nathan Howell, Henry Cross, Llewelyn Cross, Dominic Moore, Thomas White, Felix Li.

Alexander McCulloch and Benjamin Warnick (on trapeze) racing (420) at Itchenor

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THE INTERVIEW ‘Your Starter for 10’: Mrs Reid Georgina Davies (6b JR))

Why did you decide to become a teacher? I really didn’t have very good careers advice at my school and really there wasn’t much choice, it was either medicine or teaching. I suppose I drifted into it and I had a feeling I wanted to give something back as my father was a teacher so actually I don’t think there was an option, unlike nowadays. I think after the first year I really began to enjoy it – now it has been such a long time.

What did you want to be growing up? I started off at the age of about two, wanting to be a beggar but then my mother explained to me that clearly wasn’t an option. I grew up in the late ‘60s and so I think everyone wanted to be like Jean Shrimpton, but I think my height rather put an end to it and I don’t think my character was suited to becoming an actress or a model.

Having been an inspiration to so many students and teachers, Janice Reid is retiring this year from her positions as Head of Religious Studies and President of the Common Room. Amongst all Mrs Reid has established herself as extremely popular through her charisma, kindness and generous judgements. After having shaped the Religious Studies department into one of the best departments in the school, she has succeeded in making it an unusually popular subject through her fantastic management.

Summer 2010

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher? Well, I’m passionate about my own subject and I think theology is a great discipline and so I would have loved to have gone into more academic study; I would have very much liked to have done that. I think I might have thought about having been ordained at one time or another. I’m also very interested in Art History although had I done a degree in Art History, I might not have done my other degree. It is fascinating so that might have been my chosen career path instead.

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THE INTERVIEW What do you like most about King’s? The people. I think it is a wonderful school and think it should be the sort of school that every boy and girl in this country should have the opportunity to attend, I think everyone should have the benefit of a King’s education and I think of the balance between boys and girls, art and music and sport, and academic excitement is just wonderful and so are all the other opportunities. The pupils are just a joy; they are so wonderful, they’re exciting and they’re interesting and they’re fun to be with; they have so many qualities which are so promising for the future. And then there’s setting which is just unequalled except that it is said to be designed in the shadow of perfection. When you look at Bell Harry tower you can’t imagine that there could a more perfect place. It is one of the most beautiful World Heritage sites.

I just always feel that all my A level sets are wonderful. Perhaps when we got six offers from Oxford and Cambridge- that was a definite academic highlight. But really I honestly can say all it’s been such a great joy.

What has been the worst time of your teaching? I think sometimes you might not necessarily always get the balance right in the departmentalthough maybe not at King’s. Probably my first year teaching was the worst, it was very hard work because you have to prepare everything for the first time. I might have given up teaching in my third term had I not begun to enjoy it I’m glad I didn’t.

What has been your strangest moment at King’s? How would you describe a typical day? Really busy, there is so much to do: there is lots of preparation to do for the pupils, lots of administration for the department, answering emails, making sure that everyone’s got everything they need for A level, or for revision, or just for the teaching lesson and make sure that they’ve got all the possible resources they could have and so it gains momentum from about quarter to eight here and goes on from there and finishes at about seven at night.

What have been the highlights of your time here? This is such a cop out but there have been so many highlights. (After reflection)

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There were two strange things, they actually both happened in the Shirley Hall. There was a wonderful, very, very clever pupil in School House, who was not only very intelligent but also very eccentric. It was an extraordinarily bizarre experience because quite unconsciously not only was he was wearing a slipper and a shoe to assembly, but also he was holding a bowl from breakfast in his hand. There was another wonderful occasion when a very much loved character who taught History, a former head of History, didn’t approve of the singing in Grange and shouted out in Congers ‘Sing, you buggers!’ There was a tremendous silence at this and the director of music really didn’t know what to do. There was this dreadful moment of silence for about ten seconds and

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then suddenly the whole Shirley Hall burst into laughter - that was great fun.

What’s the most memorable lesson you have ever taught? (On Reflection) I had a memorable theology discussion group not in lesson time. It was just before Christmas - the week before in fact - and the 6as decided it would be lovely to light some candles and make it feel really Christmassy and then one of the candle holders caught fire. It was actually very frightening and it started to get out of control so I very quickly found a cloth and put it over the top and that starved it of oxygen. There was another occasion when we had a meditation for Amnesty International on Martin Luther King Day and we had a period of contemplation for prisoners of conscience, especially those in Burma. Everyone had brought candles over from the social centre to Memorial Chapel where we had members of the Crypt Choir singing and it was all absolutely lovely. Afterwards, we wandered off to have a little party in the School Room and everyone had said ‘We’ve only just lit the candles and it looks so beautiful - let’s just leave the chapel door open’ and so we did. While we were upstairs, someone came rushing upstairs suddenly and said, ‘Quick, the Memorial Chapel’s on fire!’

the School Room, the whole of Lattergate, all of the school’s most historic areas’- it was really terrifying.

If the Common Room was burning down which three members of staff would you save? Well, whoever was there at the time and whoever was closest to me. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have time to choose, which is a bit of a cop out. It would have to be the three I could get out the most quickly, I suppose, so they’d have to be pretty small. I left Mrs Reid’s classroom thoroughly envious of anyone who had been taught by her.

I just thought ‘Oh my Goodness’ and I nearly had a heart attack. I went down the stairs dreading what I might find. The candles had all melted into one and it was really frightening, it was almost out of control and then there was a big ‘whosh’ up to the ceiling. Somebody with fire practice ran into School House, grabbed the nearest fire blanket and managed to put it out. We cleared up easily but while it was happening I was just thinking, ‘I’m going to burn down

Summer 2010

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OVERHEARD... AND HOWLERS ‘Sir! Have you heard of Paradise Lost by Milton Keynes?’

Lesson on Human relationships

‘If you were a lavatory there would be a permanent vacant sign on your door.’

‘If they are going to make underage sex illegal they should tell old people when to stop as well’

‘Shakespeare was a smutty bandit’

In a Spanish lesson on the Aztecs:

‘Pupil: ‘Which do you prefer, Sir, PS3 or XBOX?’

‘Who invented chocolate?’

Mr X: ‘Neither, I have a wife’’

‘Willy Wonka?

‘James, I believe you have a little something to put in my hand…come on, boy, get it out!’

Letter from a member of Staff ‘Dear Everybody,

‘My messing’s so writy!’ ‘Make poverty global’ ‘All vegetarians should have their incisors ripped out’ ‘If you were trying to invent an institution to stop young people reading, you would probably come up with the King’s School, Canterbury.’ ‘Life begins at the moment of contraception.’

‘I will defiantly bring you the book tomorrow.’ The Cantuarian Editorial Committee Autumn 2009 and Lent 2010 Mrs A L Young (Editor-in-Chief), Lee Rigley (Printer), Ernest Sykes (Sport), Matt McArdle, Nicholas Hands and Jessica Wingrad (Senior Editors), Teddy Crow, Catriona Casha, Georgina Davies, Will Fenning, Faridah Folawiyo, Augustus Gould, Edward Hands, James Hearn, Kit Irwin, Olivia Lyster, Nicholas Ma Siy, Rachel Phipps, Hugo Plunkett and Amanda Thomas The Cantuarian Editorial Committee Summer 2010 Mrs A L Young (Editor-in-Chief), Lee Rigley (Printer), Ernest Sykes (Sport), Matt McArdle. Faridah Folawiyo, Olivia Lyster and Amanda Thomas (Senior Editors), Georgina Davies, Edward LawrenceJones, William Allen, Harriet Hawksworth, Lucy Logan-Green, Eleanor Thrupp, Florence Savage, Amelia Putt, Jane Ellard, Isobel Parrish , Louise Dearlove, Ed Hands, Hugo Plunkett, Will Fenning

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