The Cantuarian 2011 - 2012 by OKS Association | The King's School, Canterbury

The cantuarian

Autumn 2011

Vol. LXXIX

The Cantuarian Contents: Autumn Editorial

This and That

Trips and Expeditions

Music

Miscellany

Sport

The Interview

Overheard... and Howlers

All photographs by Matt McArdle unless otherwise stated

Editorial Lucy Logan Green (6a WL)

It was said in a 1933 Editorial of The Cantuarian that we must address the ‘historical and political hot-pot’ in order to interest and satisfy the reader in our editorials. This Autumn Term has had historical and political implications for both our school and the world. As Colonel Gaddafi’s 42 years of rule in Libya came to an end in October and the people of Libya woke up to their own Arab Spring, in September King’s welcomed Mr Peter Roberts as the 41st headmaster of the school since 1541. Mr Roberts introduced all of us early on to his unique view for the future of the school, built around his ‘Pillars of Excellence’. As we draw to the close of Mr Roberts’ first term at King’s, I am pleased to report that his pillars are still standing strong – there has been much to celebrate in a full and demanding Autumn Term.

promises to be a showcase for the extensive talent at King’s. Tickets are already selling like proverbial hot cakes – good luck to those who fancy their chances at the last minute! The Christmas Concert proved a triumph, as always. This year, things were spiced up with an unusual addition to the programme – a live bagpipe performance accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra. I do believe that members of the audience were awakened from their musical reverie when a bagpipe player appeared in full Scottish garb parading through the Shirley Hall! Articles on other major events of the term, including the House Song and the Sixth Form Ball, all feature in this term’s edition of The Cantuarian, which is also available online.

The auditions for the school musical, West Side Story, were held and completed this term, with rehearsals already beginning for the big production to be performed in the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury in the Lent Term. This is a huge undertaking for staff and performers alike and

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This and That

Installation of the new Headmaster and King’s Scholars On Sunday, 11th September, Peter Roberts was installed as the forty-first Headmaster since the Reformation. In a traditional ceremony in the Cathedral, he was admitted by the Dean, the Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, ‘in officium archididascali in Schola Regia huic Ecclesiae adscripta’. Under the Royal Charter of 1541, the Headmaster, the Lower Master and the King’s Scholars are members of the Cathedral Foundation. At the same service, forty new King’s Scholars were admitted.

King’s Scholars: Timothy Fairbairn, Angus Forbes, Cecily Guild, Arran Hope, Oliver Hope, George Nairac, Eleanor Paine, Dannie Rhodes, Alice Whaley; and (Sixth Form): Charles Burn, Bess Chung, Caspar Latham, Adeniyi Michael-Adenuga, Henson Tsai and Mei Yin Wong. Honorary King’s Scholars (after GCSE results): Anna Booth-Clibborn, Lara Bowman, Fenella Chesterfield, Alison Cheung, Dominic Hall, Charlotte Hurton, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, Maya Kolade, Jenny Ku, Beatrice

Lundy, Constance O’Neill, Alexander Sunley, Kiran Thapa, Charlotte Wickham and Harriet Wilson. Honorary King’s Scholars (after AS results): Alexandra Barkshire, Caroline Davis, Laura Galloway, George Harvey, Derek Ho, Phoebe Leung, Lucy Logan Green, Maximus Rex, Benjamin Warnick, Eleanor Warr and Henry Wells.

Common Room News The Common Room welcomed in the new Headmaster, Peter Roberts, the Deputy Head Pastoral, Tanya Lee, and 11 members of Academic staff. (See Salvete for full details) They were not the only latest additions because various books recommended by colleagues appeared in the Common Room after the INSET to encourage more reading within the whole school. Kim Dover’s departure at half term led to a return of Bill Browning to teach English, then to be replaced by his son, Hedley, for the Lent and Summer terms. It meant that there were now brothers on the staff, with Matthew in the Classic department. Peter Henderson, School Archivist reminded us that it was 250 years since brothers taught in the school,

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that being William and Osmond Beauvoir in the 1730s, and Osmond becoming a notable Headmaster from 1750 to 1782. Our congratulations to Howard Ionascu, Eirian Mitchell and Rachael White on their respective engagements. The Common Room raised £90 from its Christmas Card collection for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Chris Lark (OKS, School House - pictured) was awarded 1st prize in the Salters and Horners A2 Physics awards, achieving the highest mark at A2 (598/600). He was awarded an ornamental (drinking) horn and £200 prize money by the Rt Hon David Willets (secretary of state for education) and the Master Horner, David Williams.

Salvete Peter Roberts arrives this term as the new Headmaster. Educated at Tiffin Boys’ School and at Merton College, Oxford, he was on the staff of Winchester College from 1986 before becoming Headmaster of Bradfield College in August 2003. David Bridle joins King’s as Director of Hockey after 16 years service in the British Army. During time in the Army he deployed on a number of Operational Tours to Afghanistan and Kosovo. He played for the Army Senior team, coached the Army U23s for a number of years before taking on the Head of Coaching for the Combined Services. He is an England Hockey Board Level 3 coach and an England Hockey Centrally Contracted Coach,

responsible for the running and delivery of performance coaching at Junior Regional Performance Centres. In the past two years he has coached the East Grinstead Ladies 1st XI to two consecutive outdoor league promotions and one indoor league promotion. He was also assistant coach for the England U16 boys for a season and the England U21 Ladies for a season. He joins Meister Omers as a tutor. Stewart Hayes studied for a masters in chemistry at the University of Nottingham before deciding to continue his education by doing a PhD at the same institute under the guidance of Professor J Stephen Clark. He was very fortunate and finished the first total synthesis of Vigulariol, a marine octacoral natural product. This resulted in several publications in international journals and has been continued in the research group and resulted in a further nine natural products being synthesised using the synthetic route he developed. Upon completing his PhD Stewert moved to conduct process research and development for Pfizer in Sandwich, Kent. In his time at Pfizer Stewart worked on several projects where his role was to convert synthetic routes capable of producing gram quantities of potential new therapeutic agents to routes amenable to the manufacture of multi-tonne quantities. The most high profile project he was part of was the successful launch of the lung cancer drug Crizotinib, trade name Xalkori. He is a keen sportsman and enjoy the outdoors with a particular focus currently on sprint and olympic distance triathlons. Stewart joins School House as a tutor. Tanya Lee joins King’s as Deputy Head (Pastoral). She has moved from Headington School, Oxford where she was Head of Boarding. Prior to that she was Sixth Form Housemistress at Wycombe Abbey School, and before that Housemistress of two houses at St Mary’s School, Wantage. She is a trained Boarding Inspector and a tutor for the BSA / Roehampton Boarding course. She teaches Religious Studies. She originates from Kent and is delighted to be back after 20 years’ absence. Ms Elizabe Leeuwner, who joins the Science Department, grew up and was educated in South Africa. She studied Pharmacy at the University of Potchefstroom. After her degree she worked for four years at an NGO in

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Johannesburg, teaching the underprivileged community about HIV/AIDS and other primary health issues. She then joined a performance team for three years to teach about HIV/AIDS through drama and music in schools around South Africa. During this time she also completed her PGCE at the University of Johannesburg. Before moving to the UK, she taught Chemistry, Physics and Biology at Northcliff High School. She is a tutor in Harvey. Owen Moelwyn-Hughes joined King’s, as Head of Politics and also a member of the History department, from Marlborough College, where he was Head of Politics and Master i/c Squash. Originally from South Africa he went to St John’s College, Johannesburg and is a graduate of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (BA, LLB) and also Exeter College, Oxford with an M.St. in Modern History. On the sporting front he is a keen Squash player, having represented the universities of Natal and Oxford and played for Natal at provincial level, and is an active member of the Jesters and Escorts clubs. He has also played Cricket at various levels. His areas of academic interest include international relations, to which end he has organised student conferences at Chatham House (Royal Institute of International affairs) and the UK Defence Academy, and Imperial History. He has led numerous school expeditions ranging from Politics trips to Washington DC and history trips to the Zulu and Boer War battlefields to expeditions to the Indian Himalayas and safaris to Namibia and Botswana. He is married to Louise, the new Head of St Edmund’s School, and joins School House as a tutor. Danny Rowlands joined King’s as a French teacher in September 2011, following in the family profession. He was born and raised in the Lake District and attended St Bees School in Cumbria before studying for a degree in French and Spanish at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Whilst there, he was captain of the college Boat Club and also spent a year living near Lyon in France, where he met his now (American) wife. He broke off an earlier commitment to the Royal Marines and entered Lothian & Borders Police in early 2007 where he completed 4½ years of uniformed and plain clothes service in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. His main interest is climbing and, whilst in Scotland, he was an active member of the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team. He is married to Rachel and has a young daughter, Catriona. In addition to his teaching,

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he coaches the 4th XV Rugby team and joins Tradescant as a tutor. Rachael White joins King’s as Head of Spanish from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, where she was Head of Modern Languages. Although new to the teaching staff, Rachael is not new to the school, having studied here as a pupil and grown up in the Precincts as the daughter of a former Housemaster. Rachael studied at the University of Birmingham and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona before embarking on her teaching career. She has previously taught at Haileybury and Kingston Grammar School. She has led a number of school trips abroad, often to Spain, including a five week World Challenge trek to Northern Peru. Rachael enjoys sport, particularly Hockey and Swimming, and is looking forward to coaching both of these at the school. She joins Harvey House as a tutor. Jon Williamson started at King’s in September as Head of Rowing. Previously working in the City for a Market Data Company, Jon changed career to coach rowing, moving to Durham to run Durham School’s rowing. There he built up a successful programme with crews reappearing at Henley and Womens Henley after many years of absence, winning medals at the National Schools’ Regatta and the National Championships. He has also coached pupils to international level with athletes representing Great Britain and receiving medals for the last four years. Jon also coached school crews who gained selection for England level at the Home Countries International during the last three years. He started rowing at Durham School as a pupil and after university moved to London and went on to represent England and Great Britain for a number of years. In the Commonwealth Rowing Championships Jon won a gold medal in 1994 and a silver medal in 2002. Representing Great Britain at a number of World Championships, he won a silver medal in 1995 and numerous other medals at international and World Cup regattas. As a member of London Rowing Club and later Captain of the Club, Jon also won the Stewards Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta as well as many National Championships. Jon is married to Alexia with two daughters and joins Mitchinson’s as a Tutor.

Interview with Miss Lee, the new Pastoral Deputy Head Bess Chung (6b BY)

One Thursday afternoon I set foot in perhaps the most important – and definitely the most intimidating – office of the school. As I was greeted by the serious-looking secretaries at Lattergate, my nervousness grew unstoppably. However, a light and carefree conversation with the new Pastoral Deputy Head, Miss Tanya Lee, wiped away all my anxiety…

What is your first impression of King’s? It is an amazing place, full of traditions, but also full of vibrancy and energy. What do you like the most about the school? I think it’s its age. I love the fact that it is probably the oldest school in the country and that it’s got all of that amazing history behind it. Have you always wanted to be a teacher? No [quick and sharp]. When I was at school, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. But I knew I didn’t want to be a teacher because both my parents were teachers and I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps. So I tried all sorts of things. I decided I wanted to be a chef, which didn’t really work out. I can cook for the family and friends, but can’t stand the pressurised working environment. Then I went travelling to be inspired a bit. That didn’t work out either. I love travelling, but it didn’t give me an idea for a job. I tried to be a nanny, so slowly I was coming towards children. I worked as a nursery school teacher for a while, but decided I wasn’t being challenged enough. So finally I decided that I wanted to get into teaching.

If, all of a sudden, you decided to give up teaching, what would you do instead? That’s really hard, because I thought about it a lot but I always come back to really enjoying teaching. But I think it would be something outdoor. I love being outside. It sounds a bit boring but in the holidays I love gardening. So I would like to have the time to be self-sufficient and grow all my own food. For you, is teaching the Shells and Removes or the Sixth formers easier? I think teaching Sixth formers is easier, because by that time they have become interested in the subject so you can keep that motivation going; whereas Shells, since I teach RS, they come in and instantly think that they don’t want to do RS. So I have to persuade them that this is a really interesting subject. Once I’ve got past that, they’re good. But it takes time to persuade Shells. I think it’s hard work, but it’s really enjoyable once you see that lightbulb go on. Why did you choose to teach RS? I think I have always liked to be slightly different. Besides, it’s the subject that I studied in University, and it continues to fascinate me. Have you considered joining the Church? No [very determined]. I suppose I have over time, but it’s not for me. How do you find Matins? I suppose it is part of the package of King’s that I really enjoy. I love those moments of quiet in the Cathedral, and the singing voices. Do you have a favourite chapter, or phrase, from the Bible? I guess it is a little bit corny, but the Golden Rule, I think, is something that everybody should live by. It’s ‘treat others as you would like to be treated.’

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the Shell creative writing com

The Cantuarian Shell Creative Writing Competition: An Introduction Lucy Wallis (6a WL)

This year the Shell Creative Writing Competition has been a pleasure to judge. With ‘Winter’ as the theme, the Cantuarian has received a range of entries filled with beautiful wintry imagery and even some comic satire. Most submissions were thoughtfully constructed, imagerich poetry, and the three short stories were entertaining, touching and astute. Creative Writing requires imagination, meticulousness and a lot of effort. This year I was looking for entertaining, descriptive and original entries which effectively showcase the writers’ talent.

how different readers have interpreted it because it can be read in so many different ways. Demi’s and Sebbi’s entries are excellent poetry, but unfortunately there can only be one winner. This year’s winner is Luca Pawson. Luca’s short story, entitled ‘Last Winter’, is well-written and evocative. It is poignant, melancholic and perceptive – all factors which made his work immediately stand out – and his meaningful subject matter has been approached delicately and insightfully. I am sure that each entrant will go on to do fantastic things at King’s. It takes a lot to enter this competition, especially for a pupil in their first term at senior school, so I have great respect for everyone who has entered and I hope that they will be an inspiration to future year groups. The success of my chosen three will, I hope, spur them on to contributing to future writing competitions and I am certain that their talent and inclination will serve them well in their next four years at the school.

The two runners up of the 2011 Shell Creative Writing Competition are Sebbi Crowe and Demi Adeyemi. I chose Seb’s poem, ‘Snow’, because it evokes a real feeling of winter and an innocent childlike wonder of its ‘extraordinary’ radiance. Demi’s entry, ‘Cadence’, is original and refreshing. With a unique and innovative structure, she suggests hidden depths and I would be interested to hear

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mpetition

The Cantuarian Shell Creative Writing Competition: The Winner Luca Pawson (Sh MT)

Last Winter The forest, gleaming with the crystals of winter, slithered and snaked into jagged lines that juxtaposed each other. The branches curved over, forming a tunnel. Those limp, dangling limbs of summer swung with hesitant remorse and watched as David and Ana walked down through the forest path, into the guts of the living, pulsing organism. The snow crunched as Ana limped her way through. David held her by the arm, supporting her; as he had done for years. Ana collapsed into the ground with a rough grace; the cancer that had ravaged her body for years had made her brittle and weak. David found it hard to believe that, though she struggled even to survive; she still enjoyed those strolls through the forest; it had become a tradition for them. The ice that formed on the tunnel above them twisted and gnawed their way through the cold, hard air. They dangled, as they did in the north. Motionless. Sharp. They hung like knives, wrapped by string to a washing line. A layer of snow had formed

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above the canopy, encasing the couple in a cold, damp void that seemed never to end. David heaved her up. He embraced her, as if it would be the last time they could. He held her tight, almost unable to let go. The love that he had for her was the only thing that kept him breathing. Without her, he contemplated – he paused, he dared not think that far. Ana thanked her loyal husband with a smile that seemed, for a moment, to make things better. But nothing could make things better. A tear spilled down David’s cheek. He was too sad, even to wipe it away. Ana wiped it for him. Her touch was the one thing that made things normal, the one thing that made him remember back, beyond the cancer, to when life was perfect. To the woman he fell in love with. He sill loved her, but she wasn’t the Ana he knew. Her body was failing. They walked on, braving the unknown with every step. ‘What are you going to do David,’ Ana inquired, ‘after… after me?’ ‘I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. And you shouldn’t either.’ Ana turned her gaze from David, to the snow-white forest around them. She could tell he was trying to be strong. Especially with her. A dull pain surged through her body that made her shudder. David turned with a sudden movement, ‘What’s happened, are you all

the shell creative writing competition right?’ The emotion in his voice made her want to say she was, indeed, alright. Normality, wellbeing, – those were feelings that Ana had forgotten. She could not be normal anymore, or well, or alright. But the only person that seemed to be able to accept that was her. That almost made it untrue, though she knew it was true. The organism around them played sweet music to them that made them ethereal. Light fell onto the snow through the scars between the trees. As they walked, the dead leaves fluttered, while the gentle breeze swayed them all around. The leaves danced, not with an air of happiness, but with a tribal rhythm that pulsed inside her. She was a time bomb, ticking quicker with every breath. ‘I love you,’ Ana breathed. David held her hand tight. His love was the pillar that supported them. If she went, he would surely follow. Love was like a magnet, drawing them together. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But absence only made their hearts ache, even more so then. Ana felt her weight dragging her down, lower and lower. David held her up. He bent down and lifted her into his arms. She looked relieved. He smiled wearily towards her. She held her arms round him. They emerged cinematically from a break in the tunnel. There, the snow fell with delicate grace. They stood together, bathing in a shower of crystals. They grinned at each other. They walked along, exempt of the cold. David felt his arms straining. He continued. Ana hiccupped, child-like; laughing with a naïve grin, David joined. They seemed to be holding a conversation with each other, in a language higher and more meaningful than words could convey. They came to clearing, dominated by a large, willow tree. Its leaves swayed in a gentle hum. The couple brushed through them. This is where they had come frequently. In winter, it was different, it had a remorseful quality, an eeriness about it that both comforted and intimidated. David sat down, still with his wife in his arms. That embrace comforted both of them. She felt safe with him, she always had. But this was something nothing could save her from. Not even him. The couple had a quiet conversation, contemplating on the future, appreciating

the past; the occasional giggle, the occasional laugh, the occasional tear. Ana let out what seemed to be a hiccup. But it was not funny, not child-like. It was a gasp. Ana breathed sharply, trying to catch her breath, getting faster and faster. The time bomb was ticking. David put his hand on her forehead. It was warm, contrasting to the stark cold around them. Ana coughed hard, she held him tight. She started to moan in pain. The pills had worn off, and just the pain was left to ravage her slowly. She started to whimper. She managed to stutter: ‘I…love…y…you…. David’. Her words slurred off in a stream of breath that seemed not to even reach him, but he heard her. He knew what was happening. He had been warned about it. There was nothing he could do. Tears streamed from his whimpering face. As he shivered in remorse, he could feel her going, slipping away from him. She smiled, ghostly towards him. ‘I…love…’ Her breath ran cold and dry. Her delicate head tilted, to a dangle. Her eyes, blue and loving, stared into the abyss of nothing. Her body relaxed, sprawled over the lap of the man it once loved. David’s cheeks were wet now. He cried out in pain. He knew it was coming, but nothing can prepare you. ‘No….no… not, please no…’ he whimpered. He dug his head against the corpse of the woman he once loved, and still did, with his whole heart. Yet it felt as if it had been ripped from his chest and buried with his memories. He was empty. He was the void. He swayed to the motions of the leaves and snowflakes around him. They embraced him, almost like a father. He staggered to his feet, holding her body. He was now a widow. He laid the body gently in front of the willow’s trunk. He fell to the ground. He ran his hand, wet with tears, over the blue eyes and closed them forever. He dug his head into her stomach, trying to ease his pain. Nothing could fill the void that she had left; he was and always would be, empty. This was the last winter he ever wanted to feel. It was her last. He would never have her smile at him again. He would never feel the warmth of her touch. Never hear the music of her voice. She was gone. Forever.

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trips and expeditions Autumn 2011

Trips and expeditions The Duke of Edinburgh Report

Duke of Edinburgh: Bronze Expedition

ARW

Being involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is a fantastic opportunity to prove to yourself and others that you are made of something special. If I ever needed further convincing of this statement I only have to think of those past and present pupils who have enthusiastically embraced its philosophy, aims and objectives and challenges. What they have achieved through determination, stamina and time management is to be admired. To discover those who work with the disabled for their Volunteering Section, from Ballet to Dog Handling for their Skill Section and Scuba Diving to Pilates for Physical Recreation illustrates the breadth of activities which can be enjoyed to facilitate an Award at Bronze or Gold at King’s School. Unfortunately, some people are unaware that a Bronze Award can be gained entirely from School activities and what they are engaged in as a matter of course. The Award can be facilitated either through a non-CCF or the CCF organisation.

The Summer and Autumn Terms are when we are technically allowed to complete our Bronze Expeditions. Daylight hours are lengthy and in general terms the weather is favourable. In September two groups took up the challenge and put theory learned in the classroom to practice on footpaths and camping ground. The fourteen pupils completed a successful practice expedition on the North Downs in mild conditions with overnight rain. The walk, in the Elham Valley, led and supervised by Mr and Mrs Cox was part instruction of good practice with map and compass, camp craft and adherence to the country code, and part initiative and leadership exercise. Participants were expected to walk various sections of a route unaccompanied by adults, forced to make their own decisions and to adhere to correct training patterns. All were passed suitable for assessment and in early May signed up for the qualifying expedition walking from Nackington to Stelling Minnis. Under Mr Watson’s supervision the groups were obliged to design their own walking routes over two days, be self-sufficient in food and equipment and satisfy an external assessor of their capability and good practice in all aspects. We were delighted to observe good teamwork and a high level of proficiency from both groups and following a debrief by the assessor were judged to have achieved a high standard on this section of their Awards.

This term there was a great deal of activity on both fronts through training and with two Bronze expeditions, the first a practice to the Elham Valley in September followed by the qualifying expedition on the North Downs in October. The format being two days walking in groups of not more than seven participants, navigation and an overnight camp. We were delighted by the visit of the Headmaster who joined us for breakfast on day two of this venture. The CCF had also completed a Bronze Qualifying Expedition on the North Downs before the October half-term and a Gold Practice Expedition in the Lake District in rough weather conditions. More will follow

Last September the CCF had prepared in much the same way for a Bronze Qualifying Expedition which took place in March on the Isle of Anglesey. A second practice expedition had taken place prior to this, also in March, which was testing from the weather point of view ,but was very closely supervised and monitored. 27 cadets, in five groups, later found little difficulty on their two-day treks on the coastal paths of the island’s East Coast. Another 100% qualifying rate, well done.

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Trips and expeditions The Duke of Edinburgh: Gold Award Expedition to Nepal

incredibly bad luck to start a journey on a Tuesday, so we were cursed from the start. These irrational fears proved unfounded when we arrived at Kathmandu airport to spot the first major object – a photo booth!

ARW

Nepal is special in the way that you cannot take the currency out of the country, so there was a mad rush to exchange our useless American Dollars into Nepalese Rupees. Just as well, it proved, as the tipping culture in Nepal requires one to tip all the time. I was almost shoved against the back of a car in demand for a tip, when I had done all my heavy lifting by myself. What shocked most of the group when we started to head for our hotel, was the fact that our luggage was precariously hanging from the top of the minibuses, used for transport, without being tied down. The Nepalese way of driving is also something to believe as drivers do not indicate, they simply honk and if overtaking is not carried out at least once every two minutes, driving is seen as abnormal. There is no left or right side it seems as they drive on the ‘best bit’.

Some of us arrived at Heathrow airport five hours before our flight was due to depart and as you can imagine spirits were very high. All twenty-six of us were sporting our hoodies, our group identity and were the talk of the town! We were also accompanied by Mr and Mrs Watson, Ms Smit, Mr Jones (or more affectionately known as Marty) and Kieran (AKA Kiki), who was our Duke of Edinburgh Gold Assessor. Some members of the group had forgotten to get the necessary photos required for a Nepalese trekking permit so the twenty hour journey to Kathmandu was filled with dread and fear, particularly for Cleodie Swire who was terrified she and others would be turned out of Nepal. Furthermore, Nicky King discovered that according to Nepalese superstition, it is

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We arrived at the hotel, with thankfully all our belongings and bags in one piece, to get briefed by the Himalayan Expedition group on plans for trekking and expedition. Excitement was growing even more when we saw the vast mountain range that surrounded Kathmandu, from the roof of our hotel. We were all ready for an early night, after enjoying a meal at a local Indian/Mexican/Japanese/ American/Chinese restaurant! The bus journey next day to Pokhara and the mountains with all our kit and porters took a total of seven hours, yet there was never a dull moment with the driving. The road twisted and turned with drops straight down hundreds of feet to a gushing river and despite the occasional suicide decision by our driver I did not blink an eyelid or panic in the slightest, even with the lack of seat belts! Having thought that we were not going to be doing any hiking on this first day, I was not prepared for the six hundred metre ascent to our first hostel in the foothills. We all thought Snowdonia, last Easter had been tough, but this was a whole new experience. Snowdonia had been wet, cold and miserable, Nepal was wet, hot, and humid. Some people found it very hard to cope with the strain and the altitude and stretching our legs was tiring and took us approximately two hours walking up through the paddy fields to arrive in the dark. We had arrived in the area where the Gurangs live, who are the main race in Nepal who join the British Army Gurkha regiments. The food was to die for. In Nepal, instead of croutons, you eat popcorn in your soup, so we all feasted on the garlic soup, which was then accompanied by a curry plate that had what seemed like unlimited refills. Many braved a cold shower that night but the majority of the group had an early night and to experience the best night’s sleep of their lives. However good we thought the food was for supper, the breakfasts in Nepal are something else. A pancake topped off with an omelette was the perfect way to start the day. As it turned out we needed it as the day ahead was beyond strenuous! We were later to walk through forests of oak and rhododendron and to spot monkeys and eagles. Besides the walking, we all had leeches to deal with. As soon as we set foot on a wet path, the leeches clung to our boots. And the sherpas’ dished out salt to cover your footwear to keep them off. The amount of Deet used on that second day was probably enough to destroy the ozone layer of Nepal! Mrs Watson had a particularly bad experience as she was wearing gaiters for leech protection. However, these allowed the leeches to crawl up under the gaiters and

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hide underneath. Eventually they began to feast on her blood, which was discovered later when she removed her socks. Ms Smit had a leech that escaped from her boot which had grown to approximately 3 inches long and half an inch wide. Courageous Will Knox, decided he was going to finish it off by prodding it with my walking stick. After three attempts, it finally exploded, covering the floor with Mrs Smit’s blood. Nevertheless, it refused to die and even after stamping it with his shoe and covering it with ‘deet’ it still hung on to life. We arrived at the hostel, with our feet and legs covered in blood from our various battles with these creatures, to organise our food and kit and prepare for the expedition, the next day. Until this time, we had our large expedition sacks rucksacks carried by our porters ( 19 in all ),but now we had to start our DofE Gold Qualifying walk for real. In order to achieve this you must walk for four days and camp for three nights. We were divided into four groups and my group had potentially the most dramatic day ever. Within the first half an hour, we had to scale a landslide which had become a slippery hill that lead hundreds of feet straight down into a river, this had become a raging torrent from the monsoon rains and melting snow from the glaciers above. To slip crossing this natural hazard was not worth the contemplation. Following this we were to cross the fast running water which looked waist deep. We had been told never to cross a river or fast flowing stream except by a bridge, because of the danger. However, our group saw some local people cross so we it decided to take the opportunity and join them in the crossing and gain their assistance. Nicky King and myself however were beaten to the water by ‘Freddie’ our adopted dog

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Trips and expeditions who had followed us up from the village of Naya Pul. He decided he was going to attempt to swim across it, he failed miserably and fell into the torrents and for a heartbeat we all looked on in horror. Thankfully he got to the other side, but if he had not I would not have crossed the river as I would have associated his fate with my own. The rest of the day passed soundly and in the afternoon, the sun decided to peep from behind the clouds just as we started the biggest ascent one could possibly imagine. Five thousand four hundred and seventy-eight steps later, having had countless rests, we finally arrived at the campsite. It was beautiful, set on a cliff, it looked down straight into the valley, which was covered by thick tropical rainforests and one could see countless waterfalls. When the clouds parted a few minutes, you could see one of the Annapurna peaks and the Fishtail Mountain ( Machapuchare ) which was part of the Annapurna Range. The boys’ group had been trailed by a beautiful dog who was nicknamed Gavin and they became very attached to him, especially Hugo Davies, who groomed him every day, removed any leeches which attached themselves to him and made sure he had something to eat and shelter at night. The next three days were concerned with tackling the steep ascents – 10,500 ft in three days. We walked the mountain trails between small villages picking up fresh supplies of water and passed the odd person carrying a heavy load as there were no roads in the area. At night we sat around and discussed our aches and pains and in Hannah Todd’s case the massive blister on her shoulder, Cleodie Swire’s slowly infecting foot and Marty’s outrageous flirting with every woman that walked passed him. One huge highlight for the group was that we trekked next to the Buddha’s place of birth, this made many (including myself) feel spiritually enlightened. Three days camping and four days of trekking quickly came to an end and the first thing that Kiki said to us on our final morning was that we all desperately needed a shower. I can confirm his statement as true, having not washed for four days. It may be possible to imagine how you would feel after trekking in hot, humid, monsoon

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conditions, and how it would leave you feeling grimy. So much so that when our group finally finished the expedition a few, cried out of relief and the need for soap and hot water. Our quiz that night was a huge hit. Clean and partly refreshed the groups were keen to beat each other, the boys being particularly serious and competitive. Fred Caterall got particularly vocal and feisty when he discovered his team did not make the final. It was a hard fought final between the two girl groups but my finely tuned ‘Kiki knowledge’ won us the cup, when we had to answer the question of ‘what is Kiki’s number one passion in life?’ The next day we visited one of the schools at Ghundruk, a village five days walk from the nearest town Pokhara and high up in the Annapurna sanctuary. We were given a civic reception by the village council Headmaster and pupils and then introduced ourselves to all the members of the school and played duck-duck-goose and took on manual tasks of digging holes for new fencing, mixing concrete for building and interacting with the school pupils. It was muddy and slippery as it had been raining all afternoon, Harry Savill was particularly affected by this, while playing football as he fell over the side of the playground which was part of the mountain, having dived for the ball he had just kicked. Every single one us returned to our hostel that night covered from head to toe in mud. We were intending to install a solar energy system , but this had been broken in transit ( carried on someones’ back for five days ). Nevertheless, strong friendships blossomed, thanks to all the communal work together. The next day, we worked the entire day. I got the award for the dirtiest person, having lain in the mud digging in preparation for the steel fencing posts. The children from the school were so thrilled to be with us and the girls especially couldn’t believe our girls doing tasks which they thought were for men and boys. They were also fascinated by our appearance as many had never been in contact with Westerners; they couldn’t help profusely stroking those with blond hair and staring at Hannah Goldsmith’s braces. It was very sad to say goodbye but we were sent off with a farewell ceremony in which we were given a tikka and garlands of flowers.

Trips and expeditions We were meant to have flown back to Kathmandu, circling Mount Everest, on the way, but apparently the plane had broken down so we were unfortunately unable to do so. Cleodie Swire was particularly disappointed by this but, we then spotted a family of monkeys swinging from the trees and her resentment for having to walk was quickly switched into delight because of the amazing wildlife.

ever forget, especially after we met the Sri Lankan ping pong team at the airport on the way back!

The Crypt Choir Tour to the USA Camellia Johnson (6b WL)

It was an emotional goodbye to the mountains and quite the shock to be back in busy Kathmandu. It was also very sad to say goodbye to our sherpas but we got most of their emails and one of their facebooks, so we will be staying in contact. We had the afternoon free to do as we pleased, which involved many of us going to the markets and trying to barter the prices down on a whole range of items. The next day, Purna gave us a guided tour of the sights. One of the main attractions in Kathmandu is the temple of the living Goddess. The living Goddess, or Kumari, is a prepubescent girl who is forced to live in this temple and is only allowed out of the temple for eleven days each year. She will, however, no longer be the Kumari once she reaches puberty as she will then be deemed ‘unpure’. Kathmandu was originally called Castamandap, named after the first house that was built in Nepal in the 15th century; Casta meaning house and mandap meaning food. This house is still intact and is said to have been made out of one single tree. There is a pole in the middle of the house, which is said to cure all back pain. I did not feel much different after having rubbed my back against it but flocks of locals would come to cure their backache. We went to a traditional Nepalese restaurant on the last night, which was really nice. We also got to see traditional Nepalese dancing, which was also very interesting. The highlight of the evening would have to be joining in the Nepalese dancing at the end of the meal. The trip came to an end and we were all very sad to leave but also thankful as it had been very physical and tiring. It was an amazing experience and one that none of us will

On the crisp, cold morning of the 13th October, the Crypt Choir embarked on the first of our many long coach journeys, this one being to Heathrow Airport. The excitement from the House Song Competition of the previous night was in the air; the thought that we were actually going to America was surreal. It was something that we had been looking forward to since the beginning of our rehearsals in April. After enduring a long plane journey, we were welcomed by our tour guide Emily Frye at the San Francisco Airport. This was followed by a meal at Bubba Gump’s situated on Pier 39: a tourist area with a spectacular back-drop of the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz. This was only the first of our many gargantuan meals with unlimited coke in America; a truly American experience. Jet lag soon hit us and we were all fast asleep within ten minutes of arriving at the Radisson Hotel. We woke up to a beautiful morning and had breakfast at the local diner. The tour of San Francisco commenced at 9am and we boarded the coach for our first taste of America. Our eyes, and cameras, were glued to the windows of our tour bus as we passed the many Hollywood film sights and recollected scenes from movies. We made a stop at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and were amazed at the beautiful engineering as well as the amount of advection fog that blocked our sight. After the bus tour, we took a ferry ride to Alcatraz jail. Alcatraz was a federal prison until 1963. During the 29 years it was in use, the jail held some of America’s most wanted criminals. We all had audio tour guides and it was interesting to see how the high security prison operated.

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We then drove to Oakland and had our first standing ovation as we shared a concert with a local teenage choir, ‘Ecco’, at the Chapel of Chimes. We were all humbled by our host families’ generosity and hospitality. They made us feel really welcome as they cooked and took care of us for two days. On the 16th, we sang our first service, at St Paul’s Episcopal Church. This was far from what we were used to back in Canterbury Cathedral. It was interesting to see the more casual and friendly approach that the service was compared to Matins and Evensong that we were used to. The priest, walking to and fro through the congregation, gave a sermon on currency and how money is irrelevant in the kingdom of God. The church had a more friendly approach to worship as the service was followed by announcements about social gatherings for the church community. After this, we were given a free day to spend with our host families. They gave us a tour around Berkeley and we were quite shocked when we saw a group of seven year olds playing Quidditch on the college grounds. At the end of the day, we all gathered for a Potluck dinner with all the hosts and indulged in the fine food and a performance by the King’s Men. On Monday morning, we said goodbye to our hosts and went on to our next concert venue at San Luis Obispo. This involved a long coach journey of four hours and a stop at the fast food joint ‘In and Out Burgers’. We shared a concert with Morro Bay High School Choir at the Trinity United Methodist Church Los Osos. We found out that the choir at their school was very different to King’s. American high school students have to collect ‘art credits’ and one could get these through singing in choirs. Their jazzy repertoire was completely memorized and they all had a special choir dress; this was quite a contrast to our Canterbury dress and folders. After the concert, we spent a night in a spacious hotel. After Mr Ionascu’s complaint of ‘spending the whole trip being full of food’, some of the choir members went for a jog the morning after to try and burn off some calories. Breakfast was then followed by another long coach journey to Orange County. We were welcomed by the Fountain Valley High School students, who waved a handmade banner that read ‘CRYPT CHOIR’ on the beach. After meeting our hosts, we socialised with the high school choir. There were ukuleles playing and some of us sang in a circle as the sun set behind us. It was amazing to see that although their culture is so different from what

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we were used to, they had a similar taste in music as us and knew a lot of the songs that we knew. A lot of the students from Fountain Valley High school were Mormons who were deeply religious. The religious students who were interested in worship had to go to Church every morning at five before school for a Bible study group. The choirs at Fountain Valley High only hold concerts and don’t have religious worship. Unlike us, they tend to do more jazz pieces and focus on non-religious music. The next morning, we had a tour of the LA County High School for the Arts. This was a free, public school where the most talented young musicians and dancers of the region went. A typical day at LACHSA involved morning lessons until noon that consisted of academic subjects such as Maths and Spanish in the morning and afternoon lessons that consisted of classes such as jazz theory and jazz ensemble. Our tour was followed by a workshop with their school choir and their director of music. Mr Ionascu was quite competitive with their conductor as they fought over the style in which they thought Byrd’s ‘Ave Verum’ should be sung; it was amusing to see the

two conductors going head to head. It was a rewarding experience to be conducted by someone who we weren’t used to and interesting to be exposed to other ideas of how a piece could be interpreted, opening our minds to different possibilities. After leaving the school that educated famous singers such as Fergie, we went back to Fount Valley High school for a successful joint concert where we were commended with another standing ovation.

The morning after our home stays in Greenwhich, we went to New Haven for the day and had a glimpse of New York City. After a day of sightseeing and shopping, we returned to the church in Greenwhich and a joint concert with the Choristers. The church had a beautiful interior and acoustics that complimented our repertoire. We ended our half of the concert by processing down the aisle singing Mr Ionascu’s setting of Psalm 150.

On the 20th of October, we left LA for the Big Apple – New York City. After a five hour plane journey, we arrived at the Glen Cove hotel. We were left to enjoy a morning of the hotel’s facilities which included a swimming pool, squash courts and table tennis tables. We spent one night at the luxurious hotel and went on to the apparently wealthiest suburb near New York: Greenwich, Connecticut. Most of the choir members would agree that the houses that we stayed at were really spectacular and that their hosts were very kind to let us stay at their beautiful homes.

On the penultimate day, we sung Eucharist as well as Evensong at St Thomas’ Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, I was amazed to see the turn out from the glamorous businessmen and women at both our services. The cathedral was magnificent and what struck me the most was the contrast of the serenity of our worship and the undulating noises with strong vibrations of the busy subways beneath us. Our first day in the city concluded with a meal at Ruby Foo’s in Times Square where we enjoyed a fusion of Asian cuisine. After this, a small ‘prize ceremony’ for ‘prizes’ such as ‘favourite ginger’ and ‘biggest space cadet’ were awarded. This

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Trips and expeditions took place in a function room in the hotel to mark the last full day that we spent in America. The last day was a day that we both longed for and dreaded; we were given the opportunity to roam the streets of New York by ourselves, but this also meant that the tour was to draw to a close. I spent most of the day in Central Park while others went to Soho and ended up with their arms full of shopping bags. The last landmark that we visited was the Rockefeller Tower. We went up to the top floor and walked around on a 360 degree platform that gave a breathtaking view of New York. The tour will forever be engraved in our memories and it was something that was truly worth the price tag. We experienced a broad range of American cultures from different backgrounds and understood their way of life. We were taken out of our bubble of Cathedral music in Canterbury and were exposed to the high school American choir culture. On top of all this we went to the most famous landmarks and had a brilliant holiday. The tour would not have happened so smoothly without the great leadership of Ms Comber, Mr Miles and Mr Ionascu as well as Andrew Wyatt, the organ scholar. We are very grateful for the help of all the staff and parents who have supported it, and hope that tours to come will be as successful as the USA tour of 2011.

The Sixth Form Trip to China Samuel Gearing (6a GL)

Over the summer holidays, nine King’s students (Samuel Gearing, Florence Savage, Jonathan Cawdron, William Fabbro, Jake Davies, Stephanie Sy-Quia, Mylynn Bowker, Dominic Hall and Nicholas Ma-Siy) along with two teachers (Mr Fox and Mrs Liu) made the journey over to China, to visit Beijing and Xi’an. Our trip was organised by the British Council and a Chinese educative authority, Hanban. Both organisations are keen on encouraging the learning of Mandarin

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Chinese, and thus the experience and chance of a lifetime came along. In total we spent two weeks in the country. To begin we landed in Beijing, where the accommodation was somewhat similar to that of a prison. With no mattresses and six flights of stairs we braved our first night with plenty of air conditioning in the boiling capital. In Beijing we visited the Drum tower, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, all of which made for a truly breathtaking experience. Every night we would dine in a large, slightly surreal, but always different, restaurant. The places we ate had to be like this because there were ninety-five students from other schools on our trip, and even more in different groups. The food we tried was traditional, and most of the time, rather yummy. We sampled Beijing Roast Duck, one night, like it should be, and the veggie of the group had tofu in a clear gunge! We then moved onto Xi’an where we stayed at The Bodi School, with more comfortable accommodation, which was a relief. There we had some rather basic (Shell level) lessons, which were not always what we felt like doing. But being King’s pupils, we did of course manage to

Trips and expeditions make the best out of an otherwise dim situation (which essentially meant showing off to the teachers how good we were!). In the afternoons we had cultural activities including paper cutting, tai chi and Chinese songs (in preparation for our closing ceremony at the Xi’an World Horticultural Expo 2011). We also visited the Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Terracotta Army, where we learnt more about Chinese history. Jake Davis, Stephanie Sy-Quia and I all had birthdays whilst we were out in China, so in Xi’an Mrs Liu and Mr Fox, as the amazing mentors they were, answered our prayers for western food, with a trip to Pizza Hut to celebrate. We all loved it, especially our individual little presents. To further explain the expo and closing ceremony, each school had to come up with a performance to put forward as an entry for the expo… Ours won, meaning that we had the pleasure of performing ‘Shanxi de Ba Da Guai’ (Shanxi province’s eight strange traditions) in front of an audience of almost a thousand natives, all of whom loved it! Stephanie Sy-Quia was a highlight as a small chilli, and Mr Fabbro’s operatic rendition was also excellent. I also found myself singing a solo for the Chinese song we had learnt, whilst Dom Hall performed a fan dance. All of this crazy fun left us all very tired, and we were sad, but ready to go home when the time came.

The Sixth Form Spanish Trip to Peru Jamie McPhie (6a CY)

In August 2011 six King’s students left London Heathrow for the fifteen-hour journey to Lima, Peru. This exchange was unique from the many others organised by the language department, given that the participants were not accompanied by a member of staff; they were instead the responsibility of their host families and of Markham college, leading to a more complete immersion in the Peruvian culture and way of life. Lizzie Morcom, Theo Haynes, Jamie McPhie, Meltem Kamalvand, Fiona

Jenkinson and Enita Dafinone all arrived into Lima Airport to be greeted by Miss Ramirez from Markham College who organises the exchange so well every year. As we arrived on a Friday there was a gentle start to the trip with no school for more than a week. Saturday and Sunday were spent getting to know our Peruvian exchanges and sampling the full social and cultural experience that Lima had to offer. This may have included trying Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon juice and chilli) or Lomo Saltado (seared beef marinated with onion, tomatoes and served with noodles). The Peruvians were keen to involve us with every aspect of their lives, and Saturdays were often highlighted by house parties, one of which featured Karaoke. The first Monday of the trip all six of us returned to Lima airport for a visit to Machu Picchu, escorted by the memorable Eduardo. We arrived into Machu Picchu and immediately felt the effects of the altitude as we arrived into Cuzco town centre. Then we made the spectacular journey to Machu Picchu from Cuzco taking in a bus, train and then another bus journey. One of the original ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ some of the sites were truly spectacular and will not be forgotten for a long time. Following three days in Cuzco we caught an eventful flight to Lima, in which we were offloaded, then we arrived in Lima without any luggage. This was compounded the next day when Peruvian Airlines were shut down by the govenrnment for breaches of safety regulations which would explain why the takeoff appeared to take so long! We then spent another week in Lima, attending Markham for the first time. Most lessons, with the exception of Spanish Literature, are taught in English. As a result, many of the students are already bilingual, and have an interest in foreign languages and cultures. We attended lessons over the course of two weeks, both in English and in Spanish, providing a fascinating insight into school life in Peru. Towards the end of the three weeks, Jamie and Fiona then went on an expedition to Iquitos on the border of the Amazon rainforest. We stayed in a lodge without

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electricity although as night came, the lodge was quickly equipped with gas lights. Highlights of the trip included fishing piranhas, trekking in the Amazon and Jamie winning a race in the local school sports day. We also visited a nature reserve where we endured the interesting experience of monkeys and sloths climbing all over us, which will not be forgotten. The trip was livened up by the presence of Eduardo and a group of Irishmen who provided ‘banter’ in typically Irish style! After three brilliant weeks it was with regret that we all returned to Lima airport for our long flight home. Three weeks was far too short and we all harbour plans to return. Huge thanks must go to Mrs Newbury for organising the trip, to our hosts and to Miss Ramirez who looked after us so well in Peru.

The Shell and Remove Trip to Berlin Jack Lee (Rem CY) and John James (Rem MR)

and rice. I ingeniously put my chicken in a roll creating a burger. Day two: The Adventure Continues We did not want to get up because of our early start on Saturday, but we had to. We then went to the Checkpoint Charlie museum. The museum had some cool gadgets which were used to get children and families over the Berlin wall. Most of these were constructed from random pieces of metal and looked like they might fall apart at any minute, but they worked. After that, we spent some quality time in the museum gift shop. We then left the museum for our lunch. Currywurst was the popular choice. The zoo was our next destination. All of us were keen to find Knut’s memorial. We returned to the hotel, and after dinner, we were whisked off to the radio tower of East Berlin. The patterns being projected onto the side of the tower were great and the elevator trip was ear popping, but the speed of the thing was astonishing. At the top we could see a 360 degree panorama of Berlin. Day 3: Raeffes B Day

It’s 2am as I sit on this National Express coach with my chums. Let’s teleport to 8:30. The gang and I pile off the EasyJet plane to sniff the fresh German air. It is cold but sunny. We board yet another coach and set off to the capital. Mr Jennings gave an interesting tour of the city and within an hour, we arrived at our charming hotel. We put our luggage into a dark hole and went off to explore the city. We hopped on the German underground which, although more reliable than London’s, was nowhere near as scary or dirty. We then had lunch by the Holocaust Memorial. As we sat down to enjoy our bratwurst with curry sauce a strange lady appeared clothed in rags. The gang and I took pity on her before Mr Jennings chased her away. Then we went to the tour bus where we sat for 20 minutes while the bus driver had his lunch (currywurst, they love it there). The temperature on the bus soon dropped below 0 and I had no choice but to flee from the elements and take refuge in the bottom deck for the rest of the trip. When we returned to the hotel we had chicken

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We woke at 8 and promptly got on the tube and journeyed to our first stop of the day, the Berlin Museum. After that, we had a guided tour of a depressing bomb shelter. Then we had lunch in an Italian restaurant and then set off to the Berlin Wall on the bus. While we were marvelling at the sheer size, brutality and silliness of it a biker crashed into a car and we all watched that for a bit. We journeyed to the Reichstag. Upon arriving, it transpired that as we had no reservation at the dome, we couldn’t go in. Not to be saddened we gazed in awe at those fortunate enough to get in before heading back to the Brandenburg Gate to have a big group photo. We now had another exciting day under our Berlin Belts. Day 4: The last full day In the last full day of this epic adventure we journeyed to a museum that specialised in ancient temples. We were

rather disappointed to find out that the gates of Babylon almost exactly resemble a structure that a two year old could have made out of Duplo. After this museum, we set off for lunch in a fine restaurant. The pork roast was good, but we weren’t so fond of the jellied potato, which tasted of nothing and the texture was like eating gelatine and lumps of bread. Dinner at the hotel that evening was mashed potato and creamy meat. After eating this, we retired to our rooms where we chatted, before being treated to a special surprise. Although we were unaware of it at the time, we were going to the Sony Centre, where we would watch Pirates von der Karibik in Deutsch. We all tried hard to translate the words while enjoying this spectacular action fest. At the end of this day, we packed our bags and climbed into our beds for our last night in Berlin. Day 5: The End The thought of our last day in Berlin was vaguely depressing, but we soon chirped up when we learned that we would be visiting the arty side of the Berlin wall. Some of these wonderful masterpieces made us chuckle, a glimpse at German humour perhaps. We walked down what seemed like a never ending chunk of wall and tourists. On the way back, we starting thinking about if vandalism could ever be justified, and after all, the government did fund this. However, these pieces of graffiti brought happiness to a once terrible wall. It was not long before we arrived back in England.

The Fifth Form Geography Trip to Morocco Rupert Barton and Edward Thomas (both Fifth CY)

no exception. As the group of 40 students assembled at Gatwick Airport, there was a mood of excitement, wonder and, perhaps, apprehension, as we asked ourselves: could we take on the challenge of Morocco? We would soon find out; three hours after leaving Gatwick, we arrived at Marrakech Airport. Following a long wait at the hugely understaffed passport control – seemingly a universal problem – we collected our luggage. All of us, that is, apart from one, whose bag had seemingly disappeared. After another one and a half hours, the necessary forms were completed to try and retrieve the elusive bag, and we started the first of many coach journeys. At ten o’clock we got our first taste of the traditional Moroccan tajine in a small town, before continuing for another half hour until there was an ominous BANG from below. Our driver assured us that it wasn’t the engine and that it would be all fixed within a half hour. Alas, half an hour turned into two hours, and we were on our way again; well, for another five minutes, at which point the bus gave up. Again. A second coach was summoned and our journey was resumed at about three o’clock. By the time we reached our first hotel in Ouarzazate, it was six o’clock the following morning. After a further six hours’ sleep in our rooms we ate lunch and got back on the coach (which mercifully didn’t break down again), bound for Zagora. Having arrived in the late afternoon, we got onto camels for an evening trek into the Sahara. After riding for a couple of hours (many of us in excruciating pain), we arrived at our camp site. Having eaten and sung songs round a camp fire with some of the camel herders, we slept a peaceful night under the stars. Some of the group were woken early enough to see sunrise over the desert, a beautiful and unusual sight before returning to Zagora by camel, where the boys enjoyed a hamam (a Turkish bath) while the girls had a swim in the hotel pool. In the evening we went to a sand-encroached village where our arrival was clearly a significant event for the locals – throughout our visit we were followed by a horde of children.

The annual trip to Morocco is one of the highlights of the Geography Department’s calendar and this year was

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Trips and expeditions The following day the entire group had to get up early, as we were due to travel nearly 250 miles to get to our next checkpoint, the town of Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains. Along the way we encountered a great deal of beautiful scenery, driving through the desert and negotiating the giddy heights of the mountain passes. At one cafe, where we stopped to buy drinks, everyone was enthralled by the owner’s pet monkey. Next morning, we prepared our bags for the overnight stay in a ‘remote village’ and were introduced to our two guides, both of whom were called Abdul. As we walked we were surrounded by the staggeringly beautiful mountains which we hadn’t been able to appreciate fully from the coach window the previous afternoon. The views more than made up for the occasional drizzle of rain. By lunchtime we had reached the top of the pass, some of us having travelled by mule. We ate in a small cafe, outside which there were fantastic views looking down into valleys on both sides. Eventually, after another five or six hours’ hiking, we reached the remote village where we were to spend the forthcoming night. The evening was made enjoyable by Mr Sanderson’s competition, Morocco’s Got Talent, in which many of the members of the group displayed their artistic talents, including singing, ventriloquism and a human pyramid. Spurred on by the thought of relaxing in our hotel later on, the group made great progress during the return leg of the hike the next morning. We arrived back at Imlil in the early afternoon, which gave the girls time to use the hamam, while the boys cooled down in the hotel. That evening, we walked to the Kasbah du Toubkal, a highly-regarded hotel run buy our tour company, where we sipped warming mint tea and admired the views over Imlil and Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in northern Africa. After a restful night we had an opportunity to have a look round and go shopping in Imlil itself. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the town was a boulder bigger than a house, which had been carried down from the mountainside during the devastating 1995 flood. After lunch we got on the coach, bound for our last destination, Marrakech. Before entering the city we retrieved the missing bag from the airport. We then took a tour

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of the city in horse-drawn carts, which proved to be an enjoyable experience. We disembarked near the tannery where we were given a guided tour. The smell was quite repulsive and, thanks to an incident involving a vat of pigeon faeces, one particular pupil certainly did not enjoy his visit. We continued looking around the souks – the cramped, sprawling flea markets – and the Jemaa el Fna, the city’s main square, in which there were myriad street entertainers and vendors. At a herbal pharmacy we were shown a vast selection of medicines and remedies proved very popular. On that day the profits of the owner must have soared, as nearly everyone walked away with some sort of exotic concoction. The streets of Marrakech were the setting for Mr Sanderson’s challenge, known as Mysterious Mohammed, in which everyone was given 10 dirhams (about 80p) to buy a present for a randomly allocated partner. This exercise allowed everyone to improve their bartering skills, with bargains ranging from model camels to fezzes. These gifts provided entertainment after our final dinner. Returning to a wet Gatwick in the early afternoon of the 25th October we suddenly felt a million miles away from the sweltering heat of the Sahara Desert, the snowy peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, and the bustling alleys of Marrakech. We had had a fantastic, action-packed holiday in which we had seen so much in such a short space of time.

The Shell Trip to Ypres Olivia Wilson (Sh BR)

When I was little I had heard a bit about the war, but never had I thought about the monstrosity of the destruction of lives. On top of that, the number of men that were never identified because they were wounded in such ghastly ways that they were not recognisable. This was a gut-wrenching thought: to put yourself in their position, standing on the Western Front, thinking you had been sent away for a couple of months to fight in a war. Your initial thought being you would get some attention, and

women would crown you as their hero. When in fact you had been lied to, and for most men, would never see your parents again. As we entered Tyne Cot (the largest British war cemetery in the world, used for those deceased 1917-1918) there was an inscription at the foot of the headstone. It read: ‘Sacrificed to the fallacy / that war can end war.’ This made us think, I thought, about how the war had been forgotten in so many ways, both historically and physically. Physically, the trenches are nearly gone, and the ones that do remain are ‘Sanctuary Woods’ – these trenches were for the calmer fighting, and less consequential. Historically, every ‘hero’ from the First World War has left us. No one is left to tell us the tearful stories about the Western Front, nor the heart-wrenching feeling of going home and facing your family after four years. In the cemetery we were allowed to look for any ancestors we may possibly have there. To see if we did, there was a log book at the entrance containing all the regiments and the soldiers’ names. There was row upon row of tomb stones and also a list at the back of the cemetery. The memorial contains the names of 33,783 soldiers of the UK forces, plus a further 1,176 from New Zealand. When we entered, I walked straight to the Cross of Sacrifice and the Memorial to the 3rd Australian Division. I was told to read the inscription at the bottom by a teacher. It read: ‘with binoculars this cross can be seen from a ship in the English Channel’. This is when I suddenly realised the vast scale of this cross. All I could think of was how breathtaking it was. Without a doubt my favourite part of our trip to Ypres was the memorial service at Menin Gate. Here I thought I’d include a powerful quote from the Ecclesiasticus XLIV: ‘And some there be, which shall have no memorial; who are perished, as though they have never been; and are become as though they have never been born; and their children after them. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness had not been forgotten. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name shall liveth for evermore. The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.’

This was sung out with such respect and gratitude towards the soldiers who gave their last breaths for their country. Yet, it was so true. Thousands of men have been forgotten, thousands never had a proper funeral, no chance for people to pay their respects to them – this is what the service at Menin Gate is for. Every evening, hundreds gather at Menin Gate to hold silence for those who died in serving their country. This is exactly what we did. Surrounding the whole of the gate are thousands of men’s names, who gave their lives in the war and what regiments they were from. To me, this is a perfect way to remember them – ‘lest we forget’.

The Netball Tour to Barbados LC Photographs by KAB

During the last week of the Summer holidays, 20 senior girls and three members of staff spent ten days in Barbados on a senior Netball developmental tour. After a very early flight from Gatwick airport and a rather bumpy journey, we arrived safely in Barbados late afternoon and made ourselves comfortable in the hotel. The girls were a credit to us throughout the whole journey and couldn’t have made it any easier for us staff. Part of the tour was to introduce a daily award titled ‘the unsung hero’ as a way of recognising the girls’ various achievements. Unsung Hero of the day was awarded to Dominique Masters for her true thoughtfulness towards others. The second day started off really well when we saw a family of green monkeys from our bus window. We enjoyed a two hour training session in the morning at the Netball Stadium. Despite the heat the girls worked extremely hard, consumed much iced water and liberally applied suntan lotion!

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Trips and expeditions

The girls purchased lunch from the local supermarket and in the afternoon we walked to the local beach and enjoyed an evening meal at ‘Just Grillin’.

Unsung Hero of the day was awarded to Eleanor Christianakis for her outstanding team spirit. After a hearty breakfast at the hotel on the third day, we all enjoyed a leisurely morning by the pool before heading off with trepidation to our first matches at the Netball Stadium. Our first opposition looked very skilful and athletic; we were later informed that they were members of the U16 National Barbados Squad! In the matches both teams coped extremely well with the heat and performed beyond our expectations. The girls enjoyed a delicious evening meal at ‘Surfside’ and have fond memories of our enlightening bus journey with our driver Sheldon. Unsung hero of the day was awarded to Emily Champion for her true team spirit, graciousness towards the opposition and 100% effort throughout.

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Day four: by 9 am we were experiencing rainfall of biblical proportion! We got on the bus to Bridgetown, crossing our fingers that the weather would improve. The girls enjoyed a walk, browsing the capital’s shops, followed by lunch back at the hotel using food purchased from a new supermarket. After collecting clean match shirts from the Laundromat (one of which ‘flew’ out of the bus window and was run over by a passing truck and had to be carefully retrieved by Miss Bradley from the road!) we played two more matches at the National Netball Stadium in the afternoon. In the evening we enjoyed a lovely meal at Zachio’s Restaurant. Unsung hero of the day was awarded to Florence Savage for her resilience when knocked on the nose and for not getting sunburned today! The following day saw the girls working hard in their morning training session and earned themselves an afternoon by the pool, interspersed with ten minute individual meetings with Miss Bradley and Liliane to provide two-way feedback on netball and the tour arrangements

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generally. We enjoyed an evening’s entertainment at Harbour Lights which was fantastic. After a delicious buffet meal a we were delighted by the following spectacle of limbo dancing, fire eating and Maddie Phillips who volunteered to sing on stage. 100% participation in the ‘Bump and Jump and Grind’ dancing ensured everyone another good night’s sleep.

certainly did get a ‘bumpy ride’. It made us all appreciate the Lehanes drivers back in Canterbury!

Unsung hero of the day was Emilie De Bree for her 100% effort in all matches despite carrying a knee injury and for her commitment to taking photos wherever we went.

On day seven we spent the day on a 4×4 jeep safari of the island. The off-road sections were especially exciting (and muddy!).

The girls boarded a bus bound for some local craft shops and returned later with a great selection of really attractive items including souvenir T shirts and key rings. Some had their hair braided. The weather was kinder for our matches today; the skies opened upon our arrival at the Netball Stadium and we felt quite at home!

Unsung hero was Alexandra Barkshire for coping so maturely with her ankle injury which she sustained during the match the day before.

In the evening we had dinner in Speightstown and had a rather hair-raising journey back to our hotel on a local bus. The girls likened it to the Harry Potter Night Bus – we

Unsung hero of the day was Harriet Hawksworth for dramatically increasing her focus and motivation and for getting up early to accompany Liliane on an early morning jog.

The girls won their two morning games 35-23 and 27-15 against St Barnabas and Pinehill. We took advantage of the torrential rainfall, playing a feisty opposition, amidst the sound of thunder in the distance and gun shots next door from the firing range! Our opposition needed to be coaxed out to play when the rain started, emerging with

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the second match in the third quarter was plunged into total darkness! Joint unsung heroes of the day were Emily Davis and Francesca Berry for being totally reliable all tour; arriving early to everything and always offering to help On day eleven we all celebrated Emily Davis’ 17th Birthday with an Hawaiian themed party, food and homemade birthday cake, followed by an awards ceremony and a dash to the airport! a selection of shower caps and plastic shopping bags to protect their hair. We then travelled to The Boatyard for an afternoon of relaxation pier jumping, bouncing on the sea trampolines, kayaks and climbing a floating iceberg. Unsung hero was Alexandra Pye for swimming with the fish and jumping from a pier into the sea Day nine was a fantastic day – snorkelling with Parrot fish, swimming with turtles from a wonderful cruise aboard the catamaran ‘Irish Mist’. All the girls participated in each activity and swam in close proximity to the wildlife. Unsung Hero was Fadekemi for swimming in a ‘bait ball’ of fish and not screaming (too much!). The girls spent the next morning at the local craft shops and chilling by the pool. As it was such a hot day, we were initially grateful that our matches were scheduled late in the day and so we headed off to the other side of the island. Upon our approach to the court the heavens opened once again and the court was awash with a slippery slime which made it unplayable. Reluctantly our opposition arranged for an alternative venue and all four teams piled onto our tour bus. By the time we reached the new court the light was already failing. The man with the token arrived before all daylight was lost and we were able to play under floodlight for the first time… until the token ran out and

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Tour Awards First Team:

Second Team:

Best Attack – Stephanie Crampton

Best Attack – Emma Laing

Best Defence – Charlotte Hart

Best Defence – Fadekemi Ogunsanya

Star Player – Francesca Berry

Star Player – Florence Savage

Special Award – Emily Davis

Special Award – Emilie de Bree

The Rugby Tour to South Africa CMBR

In early August, 28 boys and four members of staff assembled at Heathrow for our evening flight to Cape Town. Having not played Rugby for eight months there was a mixture of nerves and excitement for what lay ahead. Upon landing we made our way to the Rugby Performance Centre run by former Saracens Director of Rugby Alan Zondagh. The specialist Rugby facility allowed the squad to lay some foundations that would hold them in good stead for the tour and season ahead. Two Rugby sessions a day combined with theory sessions meant the boys would sleep well in their dormitory style

Trips and expeditions

accommodation. Match one against Riebeck West School allowed much rust to be blown away as King’s proved too strong for their opponents, resulting in a 37-0 victory. The superb weather meant our move to central Cape Town, with trips up Table Mountain and a visit to Robben Island, will live long in the memory as highlights of the trip. Excelsior Secondary School were our opponents in Match two. Excelsior were ranked the second best sevens squad in South Africa and the hard ground suited their loose style of play, with their outstanding back line proving the major difference between the two sides. The 39-24 scoreline was not reflective of how close the match was with Excelsior taking advantage of our lack of match fitness with three tries in the final moments to add some gloss on their much-deserved victory. A few days off from Rugby allowed the squad to sample more of what South Africa has to offer, including visits to Stellenbosch and Rondebosch. However, another highlight off the field was the opportunity to watch the biggest schoolboy match in the world between Paarl Boys High and Paarl Gimnasium, which attracts over 20,000 spectators on an annual basis. Fairmont High School in Durbanville proved to be a real physical test for the young King’s squad in match three but they held their own and in fact dominated for much of the game.

Poor decision-making at crucial times meant that we put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, allowing the Fairmont pack to impose themselves deep in our own half. The one point loss (16-17) was difficult to swallow but was a lesson that all involved would learn from in the coming months. Playing match four 24 hours later was always going to be a big ask, which was magnified by injury to several key players. However, King’s rose magnificently to the challenge, putting together some terrific passages of play to score five well constructed tries for their deserved 27-0 win. It was from here that we said good bye to Cape Town and headed east along the Garden Route to Knysna. Our two nights here were well timed as they allowed the players and coaches some much needed downtime to recover, regroup and move on to the two toughest games of the tour. Another long coach journey to Grahamstown led us to match five against Graeme College. Graeme were clearly motivated for what would be the leavers’ last game on their home pitch. Their physicality at the breakdown was another harsh lesson learnt by the improving King’s side but another valuable one none the less. King’s had many moments of brilliance in the match but only had a converted try and two penalties to show for their efforts (final score 13-50).

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Grey High School in Port Elizabeth was a fitting way to finish the Rugby side of the trip. Ranked in the top five schools in the country, the eight provincial players in the lineup proved to be too good for the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squad. On some days, the opposition are just too good and this was one of those days (3-46). Our tour finished with a couple of days rest and relaxation at Pilansberg Game Reserve where the squad were fortunate enough to have a rare sighting of a leopard as well as lions, zebras and more of the more common game on view.

Results Riebeck West

Won

37-0

Excelsior Secondary School

Lost

24-39

Fairmont High School

Lost

16-17

Westerford High School

Won

27-0

Graeme College

Lost

13-50

Grey High School

Lost

3-46

The tour was an overwhelming success and although the losses we suffered will be viewed with disappointment, more lessons will be learnt in these defeats then straightforward victories. Tour squad: Mr C Roberts, Mr T Hill, Mr J Bass, Miss J Smit, Edward Gilmore, Max Judge, Henry Allingham, Thomas French, George Pughe, Hamish Courtauld, Archie Todd, Fergus Ryan, Charles Kingsman, Fergus Ryan, Benjamin Simpson, Arthur Chilcott, Charles Knox, Frederick Dakin, Ferdinand Rous, Jake Davies, Giles Dean, Toby Sinclair, Frederick Catterall, James Baker, Perry Andrews, Louis Guitton, Dominic Hamlyn, Harry Savill, William Richardson, George Moss, Patrick Clews, George Gardiner, Axel Zerf

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CCF: Coast to Coast Cycle Ride Sebastian James (6b MR)

Sebastian James, Barney Gliksten, and Michael HollihanSarmiento were the three students who completed this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coast 2 Coast trip, along with Gregg Cain, the guide, Mr Sykes, Major Franks, and Major Vintner, the

organiser. The ride took place over four days and had the cyclists travelling 138 miles west to east, from Workington to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We began, after a very early start from the Mint Yard, in Workington, on the west coast, and with the sun on our backs, and our stomachs full of top-quality KFC, we set off east for Keswick. The first day of the ride was a warm-up for the cycling of the next few days, starting in an urban estate, before linking into an old train line, the gravelled path taking us about half the way to Keswick, the end point of our first day. So far this had been easygoing with the route being fairly flat, but that changed when we hit the first hill of the trip. We all had to use our granny-gears, and most of us had to stop briefly to draw on hidden reserves of energy, apart from Gregg who carried on like a machine. This valiant effort was rewarded when we reached the top of said hill though, with a long, off-road goat track that had us flying through the trees toward the open road. We reached Keswick satisfied with our time, and settled down for the night. The second day started with a gradual climb onto the Old Coach Road, which took us up into the hills of the Lake District. The Old Coach Road is a long off road track that covers about a fifth of the second dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travelling. This included a lot of tight bends, small jumps, and puddles the size of swimming pools. We eventually returned to tarmac plastered in mud and soaking wet, though the rest of the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weather dried us off. Much was largely uneventful, until Hartside Hill, the longest and probably hardest climb of the trip. This is five miles of solid uphill riding, having spent most of the 38 miles before hand off-road. The pain was almost unbearable, and there was plenty of ripe language directed at the landscape as we dragged our way slowly higher. However, we were rewarded with a deserved, sugar-marshmallowand-cream filled hot chocolate at the top. The effort was compensated once again with the slope down the opposite side of Hartside, reaching top speeds of close to 40mph as we sped downwards towards the Cumberland Inn, the destination for the second day of cycling.

surpassed only by the incredible views of the countryside from the top of each one. This day was made much easier by the 50mph winds that were pushing us up each hill and accelerating us down the other side, again driving us up to 40mph bike speeds. Halfway through day three, we finished the climb onto the top of the Pennines, and were blown along the wide roman road towards Derwent. This is generally considered to be the best part of the ride overall, and with views swooping down to sunlit meadows and dense woodland either side, it is easy to see why. We were delighted when we reached Derwent Manor, especially with the jacuzzi and swimming pool that we found there. That evening we feasted on piles of steaming sausages, gigantic burgers, and succulent gammon before turning in for the night. Day four dawned once again with warm sunshine and barely a breath of wind, as we set off along another disused railway towards Newcastle. This is the easiest part of the ride by far, as the entire route is downhill with barely a vehicle in sight all day. The route passed through avenues of trees, the sunlight bouncing off small pools of water. The serenity calmed all of our nerves and resentments, and we sped along towards the finish. Having entered the built up outskirts of Newcastle, it was a short ride alongside the river to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the opposite coast of England. All in all, it was a great trip. Major Vintner seemed to have organised the weather to follow us from the start, which I should probably mention was a combination of high winds, rain, hail, snow, and sleet. Its bad effects did not touch us once. Also, I would like to thank and congratulate the Major on a spectacular job of organising the trip; everything ran smoothly and everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It was a challenge at times, but also a great experience, and I would recommend people to try it sometime. I personally loved every minute of it and thoroughly look forward to doing it next year.

The third day is the start of the wind down to the finish of the route, starting with steep, rolling hills, their difficulty

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Miscellany

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miscellany CCF Summer Camp at Crowborough ARV

Not a stone’s throw away from the idyllic setting of A A Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh the cadets arrived at Crowborough Training Camp, the chosen destination for this year’s annual military camp. We took 22 cadets from King’s, all of whom were keen volunteers to experience the delights of what the week had to offer. Due to our numbers and coincidental name we were partnered alongside The King’s School, Rochester, who had only been able to bring eight cadets with them for the week. This would not have been enough normally to attend camp; however, I spoke with their contingent commander in the buildup to camp and told them that we would be more than happy to accommodate them administratively in order to prevent cadets missing out on a fantastic experience. Once the cadets had arrived and been split down into their accommodation it was their chance to prepare for the week ahead. It was not only the cadets who were in unfamiliar settings; this was Second Lieutenant Bradley’s first real military experience and hopefully by the end of the week would not be her last. Everyone needed to realize that this was an Army Camp and become familiar with the rules and layout and they were also all soon to experience the delights of the cookhouse. The evening meal was followed by a briefing and fire practice, then a little time for socializing before lights out. Day 1, Range Package: This is every cadet’s dream come true in one day. The cadets were rotated through a series of stands all with different scenarios and weapons to be fired. The cadets were set free in the woods with a laser styled weapon system and electronic sensors strapped to them, in which they could role play combat as they were split into two teams. The next stand was a Shotgun shoot, where the cadets were given a chance to shoot 10 moving clay targets that were set off from a trap to the right of them. The next stand was a No. 8 shoot and Cdt Issy Forbes got the maximum score that there had been

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in the entire three weeks of camp. The cadets were then given a brief introduction of the Obstacle Course, which was a 400m long obstacle course and challenged the cadets’ physical fitness and teamwork. After completing a ‘walk-through talk-through’ of the course the cadets were allowed to do it at a slightly more rapid pace. The next stand was the Cadet GP A2 Rifle shoot, where the cadets got to shoot two times five round groups with a semi-automatic 5.56mm weapon. Finally the cadets were allowed to practise their fire and manoeuvre skills with paint ball guns as they were introduced to a close-quarter battle range and how to work in pairs. After this fun packed day it was time to experience more delights from the cookhouse and then onto evening downtime and preparation for the next day. Day 2, Fieldcraft Package: This package was going to prove to be the best military package that I have ever seen put together for cadets within my time in the forces. It took the cadets regardless of knowledge from the bare grass roots and progressed them through a series of stands in military tactics and skills. The cadets started by working in pairs attacking camouflaged targets throughout the woods and slowly moved onto to working in fire teams (4 in a group), then onto section attacks (8 in a group). All this was done slowly and methodically with time for the cadets to discuss what they had done and reflect on how each stage could be improved. This was all done in the morning. After a quick lunch Cadet Sergeant Major George Moss was whisked away where he was briefed on the afternoons plan of attack. He in turn had to brief all the cadets within his platoon on the task in hand and had to control a platoon attack (30 in a group) against several pockets of enemy. This was done with very good command and control and with masses of momentum and aggression, a task that many young officers struggle with after several months of leadership training. This final attack was a perfect way to complete a fantastic day’s training and left the cadets thoroughly exhausted and ready for their return to camp. Day 3, Personal Development Package: A well-earned break from uniform and a chance to put on some civilian clothes, not the clobber that our pupils parade round school in, this day is set aside to outdoor pursuits. As per

miscellany normal detail the day is split into two phases, one wet andthe next dry. It has also become tradition, it seems, that the wet phase is largely centered on getting Major Vintner very wet. The first part of the morning was spent using small dagger kayaks and various team exercises, water dodge ball with forfeits, and a long paddle round the islands, resulting in Major Vintner being tipped from his kayak on several occasions and trying to empty his kayak of water. The following wet activities were introduction to sailing and also raft races and teamwork. The dry activity was an orienteering competition and the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cadets proved themselves not only to be competent with a map but also quick too. The first team beat the course record by 90 seconds which was then smashed by their second team to come in by a further 6 minutes.

Another great but tiring day and a quiet coach journey was made back to camp for normal routine. Day 4, Skills Package: The skills package was split into two distinct phases, teaching and instruction in the morning followed by an afternoon of practice and confirmation. Yet another brilliantly run package with a large range of skills to cover. The stands were as follows: traps, water, fire, shelters and survival kits, and first aid. To go into detail would take too long, but it was everything a young cadet could dream of, changing their life from playing outlaws like in Richmal Cromptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Just William stories to actual living breathing Bear Grylls in one simple morning. The afternoon was spent foraging in the woods, setting light to wood from nothing, purifying water and

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setting traps. The traps really caught the imagination of Billy Richardson and Jack Rampton, who somehow managed to make a rabbit trap so powerful that it would not only have snared its prey, but quite possibly have flung it into next week such was the tension on the rope. The general comment on the coach on the way back was that this was a fantastic day and that the cadets would like the opportunity to practice and learn more skills in the near future. Day 5, Competition Day: The day was designed to test all things taught on the camp earlier in the week by selecting the best representatives within your contingent to compete in a series of stands. The day started with the March and Shoot Competition. This was a two mile run, followed by the team splitting down in two with half doing an obstacle course and the others doing the shoot. The King’s team smashed the course record by nearly two minutes, again proving to be an enthusiastic and fit group of cadets. Sadly points were dropped on the next phase and we came second overall (we were robbed!). Various other shoots, command tasks, and skills were put to test and we made a valiant effort in the drill competition, signals stand and won ‘the Cube’ based command task undisputedly as they were observed by the Camp OC, and also the Commanding Officer of 3 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, who had attended camp to show his

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support to the CCFs and present the awards. The Cadets received various awards, shields and medals however were tipped to the post as overall winners by Reed’s School CCF. Day 5 continued… Own Unit Exercise: The culmination of the week’s training cannot be measured in silverware or how others judge you on a drill square. However, cadets can be found wanting in the field if they have not paid attention to valuable lessons taught throughout the year. As one of Murphy’s laws in combat operations states, ‘no Inspection-ready unit ever passed combat’ and vice versa. The extended presentation ceremony was going to put test to another law which is ‘plan early, plan twice’. We eventually managed to collect weapons and equipment and headed out onto the Training Area. Once we were out we established a harbour area and settled into routine. The Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant were given specific roles to carry out and shortly after the platoon was briefed they headed out on Close Target Recces (CTRs). The aim was to gain exercise information on the enemy that were centered in and on the area of a large army bailey bridge at the far south of the training area. Once the CTRs had reported the information back to the Platoon Commander, Heliminibuses returned the patrols back to the harbour area for the cadets to get some well-earned rest prior to the

miscellany early rise and their morning attack. The cadets closed down their harbor area and loaded their heavy kit onto the minibuses, they were then issued with as much blank ammunition as was physically possible to fit in their kit, prior to starting a long patrol out to the Assembly are from where they would launch their attack on the enemy. The Enemy had established a brilliant position on the bridge, but as the enemy Officer Commanding was Major Franks, he would no doubt be expecting the classic ‘horns of a buffalo pincer movement’, one of Major Vintner’s favourite courses of action. Instead he was met by a large volley of fire from the high ground provided by a fire support section. No. 2 section were initial assault section and with momentum and aggression set up a secondary fire base on the near side of the bridge. They were followed immediately by no. 1 section who took the bridge and secured the far bank from any enemy threat. Once the command was issued to re-org, in rapid response the platoon re-grouped and shortly after the order to ENDEX was given. Sadly the fun and games had come to an end and all that was left to clear up some of the devastation caused in that morning’s fire fight, the expended ammo shells all had to be picked up and the cartridges filled two sandbags, largely fired by the Fire Support Section (Rampton and Richardson again) Once back at camp all the mind-numbingly boring tasks had to be completed, but the less said about them the bette. Final photos and farewells were said and papers were signed to state officially that we were now free to leave and head on our way. Another very successful CCF trip and special thanks go to the staff who assisted in the running and smoothness of this camp, Maj M J Franks and 2Lt K A Bradley, in addition warm thanks to Lt Col Ian Rouse and Lt Steve Short from KSR.

CCF Cadet Leadershoip Course George Moss (6a GR)

Lugging my Bergen filled with every piece of equipment the CCF has to offer, I made my way into the ‘accommodation’ for the week, a marquee with 30 aluminium camp beds each with soldier boxes at the end. Far from the most luxurious accommodation the Army has to offer, but as I was to learn later in the week, by no means the least. I found myself one of the last to arrive into 1 Platoon and with an awkward silence throughout our billet, the week ahead started to look long and daunting. As the final cadets arrived at Frimley Park, the mood in 1 Platoon lifted; we introduced ourselves and began to chat and crack jokes, something that did not stop during the entire week. The Cadet Leadership Course at Frimley Park draws in cadets from all over the UK with every country, county and school represented on the three weeks that the course is run. With special guests from the Canadian Cadet Force, the course was an agglomeration of all the Army, Air and Combined Cadet Forces that a slightly eccentric Coldstream Guards RSM could shake his pace stick at. The week went at an intense pace; nothing was done at a ‘bimble’. Eating, sleeping, shaving and the proverbial were all done at a lightning pace. We collected stores and were straight out onto the training area. All the exercises that we endured throughout the week were designed to test and evaluate our basic cadet skills, mental strength, physical robustness as well as our potential and existing leadership ability. The day began with a seminar from the Camp Commandant, on ‘What it takes to be a Leader’ quickly followed on a completely

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different tangent on revision of ambushes and methods of fire and manoeuvre whilst attacking a target. After a quick navigation recap we were set free in the training area. The first of our tasks was a two hour navigation exercise, where the four platoons were broken down into sections of eight, and given the task of collecting the specific patterns shown by the keys at the marker points, in order to decipher a coded message. It was then back to camp for an evening of sports and leadership tasks, all of which were approached with enthusiasm and enjoyment by all. The rest of the week was largely spent out on exercise with minimal sleep, heavy packs and to my intense delight vast quantities of ammunition and all things of the sort that go bang. I was pleased to find myself in charge of 1 Platoon’s first full platoon attack through an area of dense scrubland. The aggression and precision of the attack impressed the course instructors; in 1 Platoon’s case a young but already experienced Irish Guards Second Lieutenant. We also stunned the regular army unit that had been posing as our enemy but fortunately they lived to fight another day, demonstrating the benefit of training with blank rounds. After this intensive small-arms battle which left many ‘hanging out’ the seemingly undefeatable morale of 1 Platoon was shown, as the March and Shoot Competition was brushed aside, leaving us with a rare occasion to enjoy ‘free’ time. Not as we know free time at school, this was seen fit as our chance to rehearse and hone our section attacks to the required infantry standard of the PWRR regulars. The following morning consisted of more leadership tasks and then rifles and ammunition to be collected again. The evening was spent patrolling and the still darkness of the night was suddenly shattered by a magnesium flare, an overwhelming wall of firepower. Yet more hapless regulars were caught in our deliberate ambush. With the two following nights spent in the field on exercise, all were glad to find ourselves prepared once again for the final push. We were transported to Barossa, the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst’s training area, in preparation for the culmination of the week’s teaching in the last Platoon attack, which in fewer than thirty minutes saw the expenditure of several thousand rounds of ammunition.

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The course ended with a ‘tour’ of RMA Sandhurst, which happened to turn into a log race and obstacle course, but again everyone tackled this with the esprit de corps that made the week so enjoyable. It was then time to return to base at Frimley, where stores where handed in and kit packed up. Goodbyes were said to all in one of the best-humoured platoons seen on the course, and we left with a wealth of military know-how, insight and hopefully developed leadership skills. We finally found great satisfaction in that we had enjoyed and completed a fantastic course, which many other cadets that week had not.

The House Song Competition Lucy Logan Green (6a WL)

The House Song Competition this year – as per usual – promised to be one of the highlights of the Autumn Term. The thing that I find by far the most amusing each year is how seriously each house takes it; even those houses that approach it with a perceptible ‘laissez faire’ attitude, in fact have put in a lot of effort and time by the end performance. The day of the competition must be hellish for teachers, who by the last lessons have given up any idea of commanding a productive lesson. Discussion inevitably spirals into ‘Who do you think will win house song?’ and the potential hits and misses of each house’s song choice. By the time everyone is finally seated in the Shirley Hall, you think that there is nothing more to be said on the matter. But, no, it’s only just beginning! After each performance, animated whispering of ‘ooh that was good’ or ‘did you see that red-headed boy in the front putting so much into his dance moves?’, begins so that by the time the Judge has his turn to apply a much needed objective perspective, we are all on complete tenterhooks! This year, the winner was Walpole singing ‘Lean On Me’. Second place was awarded to MO with their rendition of ‘Spiderpig’ featured in The Simpsons Movie. Runners-up

were Carlyon and Jervis. I feel it is right to congratulate Carlyon in particular for being placed. It is a well known fact that although day houses possess the most comprehensive pitch range, they are unfortunately cursed in their ‘day-ness’. They never manage to schedule quite as many rehearsals as the boarding houses, and for this reason, Carlyon’s third place was a great achievement. Walpole, in my time here, had been placed twice but never won. Indeed I am told that this victory is the first ever in Walpole history. It was an extremely close-cut competition and I truly do not know how the Judge managed to decide upon just one winner. Luck was on our side this year!

Many couples have made use of the ‘chill out zone’ with its Moroccan theme. Madame Zanardi keeps a close eye on the exceptionally enthusiastic members of the disco. 9pm: The party has hit its ultimate peak. Excitement surges through the pubescent blood streams of the party-goers, and DJ Judge pumps out Zombie Nation to full appreciation. The middle of the dance-floor is full of sweat, paint and the First XI. Although many injuries have come of this mosh pit, the adrenaline still runs high. 10.20pm: The music comes to an abrupt stop, and everyone files out, ears ringing, grateful and full of praise for the evening’s organisers, Walpole and Meister Omers.

The Sixth Form Ball Anna Coady (6b HH) Photographs by Samuel Gearing (6a GL)

7.30pm: Tension is running high, staff patrol the Undercroft and hordes of scantily clad teens are pouring into the Dining hall, the coloured lights glinting off the drink tabs on their pink wristbands. Many students are greeted at the door by a debatably attractive belly dancer and her massive snake. Some venture for a photo, whilst others make a direct dash to the improvised bar. Imagine the shock when your Lacrosse coach hands you your token of fun for the evening.

Pictured Top Right: Ellen Arvidsoon and Edward Lawrence-Jones Bottom right.....

7.45pm: The Dining Hall fills to maximum capacity, 350 students. The first couples of the night have marked their territory, and the music is slowly picking up pace. The live band takes the stage and their groupies pile in front, waiting for their opening act. Dimitri Gripari starts the night off with a track by Foals… and the crowd goes wild. 8.30pm: The bar has run dry, popcorn has made its way into every crevice of the Dining hall, and candy floss is congealed on the faces of many overexcited teenagers.

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Autumn 2011

MUSIC

Rex and Jamie Loyn), and supported by cohesive cellos (Alex Soul, Amanda Thomas, Thomas Knox and Carine Ha) the strings were ebullient and controlled, rising well to dynamic challenges, tuneful and dexterous. Maestro Pollock’s sensitive handling allowed the ceaseless invention and brilliance of the music to delight the listener. Fenella Chesterfield and Sophie Nairac led the winningly assertive violins, and Henry Downing’s violas responded buoyantly. There were many soloists to admire: I was especially impressed by the oboes of Shaun Wood and Sian Robinson, and the clarinets of Camellia Johnson and Duncan Kelly in the C major RV 560, while Carine’s cello blended well with Jemima’s and Maxim del Mar’s violins in the opening D minor RV 565. Lewis Cullen showed prowess on the flute, and Harry Bruges’ oboe responded authoritatively, underscored by Fenella and the bassoon of Hope Tong, in the G minor RV 107. Kevin Abbott led the Brass Ensemble in a Handel ‘Andante’ to open proceedings. The feast that followed will be long remembered and relished by those who were fortunate enough to hear it.

The Chamber Orchestra Concert: Vivaldi Concertos and Arias

The Wind Band Concert Amanda Thomas (6a CY)

DJF

The dazzling spectacle of sunlight on the Venetian lagoon is mirrored in Vivaldi’s effervescent and coruscating string writing. Andrew Pollock’s unbridled enthusiasm for the red priest’s captivating artistry was vindicated in this rich and balanced selection of concerti and arias, delivered with passion and finesse.

The Wind Band, under the enthusiastic leadership of Mr Todd, created a short but lively winter concert that was perfect to relieve any November blues. With about eighty pupils performing in the band, the sound filled the Shirley Hall magnificently in a variety of popular tunes that soon had the audience’s feet tapping along. The school’s percussion ensemble, Acoustix, also added their expertise to the evening’s entertainment.

Soprano Evangeline Kanagasooriam sang ‘Zeffiretti, che susurrate’ with an engaging sweetness and poise, and a decorous yearning, her echo (Camellia Johnson) providing a plangent foil. The contrasting aria d’ombra, ‘Gelido in ogni vena’, movingly conveyed the hopelessness of Vivaldi’s tragic heroine in a well sculpted and nuanced reading, full of pathos.

To open the concert, the Wind Band performed two shorter pieces – ‘The Stripper’, by David Rose, and Irving Berlin’s ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’. These demonstrated the wide range of character that the wind sound can produce, from the sleazy swoops of the first to the more refined, but still energetic, jazz of the second.

Interleaving with the operatic extracts, four concerti provided a rare chance to hear a wide range of Vivaldi’s writing. Anchored by secure and supple basses (Maximus

Next up was the item from Acoustix, led by Mr Nall, best known to pupils as the percussion teacher. He had arranged a medley of well-known Abba songs, which was performed on a combination of pitched and unpitched

Autumn 2011

music percussion, with the members of the group showing excellent rhythm and musical awareness. The Wind Band were the centre of attention again for the final piece of the evening, a Beatles Medley including ten of the group’s hits. As well as the rich full-band sounds, there were some impressive solos by mainly young members of the band, including Llewelyn Cross on the trumpet and John Lavelle on the saxophone. Congratulations must go to all the performers for putting on such an entertaining show, as well as to Mr Todd who has worked tirelessly to bring the Wind Band to its current superb standard. King’s Week will doubtless bring more pleasant weather and another concert from the band, already greatly anticipated.

The Jervis and School House Evening of Entertainment Isobel Wingrad (6a JR)

On a cold Sunday 6th November, staff, parents and members of Jervis and School House gathered in St Alphege’s for the ‘Evening of Entertainment’, a cabaretesque showcase of the two houses’ exceptional dramatic and musical talent. The evening was highly commendable for the sheer diversity of the acts, which ranged from extremely moving musical pieces right through to several hilarious dramatic sketches, and even a guest performance from the King’s Men. All involved should be very proud of what they achieved, especially as many had had little time to prepare but still managed to put on an incredible show. Overall, the evening was stunning and beautifully executed, and hopefully the event will be carried on in future years.

The Christmas Concert MAJT

Christmas provides an opportunity for King’s musicians to shine. This year’s concert had a different feel as there will not be a choral concert in the Lent Term so the emphasis was not on specifically Christmas music. The familiar favourite ‘Mars’ from Holst’s Planets made a rousing start to a wonderful programme, taken at a good pace and serving as a good overture for the treats to come. Each year the school produces an array of phenomenally talented musicians and this year was no exception. French pieces provided the perfect showcases for tonight’s soloists. Samuel Hewitt played the astonishingly technically demanding Saint-Saëns’s ‘Morceau de Concert’ Op 94 for horn with great virtuosity and understanding. The following item, Sophie Nairac’s exquisitely tender playing of the ‘Adagio’ from Ravel’s G major piano concerto provided a wonderful contrast. Once again the technical difficulty was belied by Sophie’s command of the instrument alongside a sensitive Symphony Orchestra playing at its best with particularly good woodwind. We were promised a surprise finale to the first half and Peter Maxwell Davies’s ‘An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise’ did not disappoint. The music has many references to Davies’s adopted land and was beautifully executed with wonderfully evocative woodwind and crisp well-balanced strings. The piece culminated in a stunning climax with the entrance of the dawn piper, no less a figure than Rob Jordan from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force in full Highland dress advancing through the Shirley Hall. The rapturous applause from the audience said it all. The second half of the concert was taking up with the major portion of Handel’s Messiah. Familiarity may breed contempt but there was absolutely nothing contemptible about this fresh and vigorous performance. The Choral Society were at their best with clear intonation and good

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distinct part singing in the main choruses. A special treat was that all three soloists were OKS, now embarking on professional singing careers. Only eighteen months after leaving, countertenor Theo Bamber joined Soprano Harriet Jones and Bass Rupert Reid and all sang with distinction. The accompanying orchestra captured a near-perfect baroque style. As ever, conductor Howard Ionascu deserves congratulation. This may not have been specifically a concert of Christmas music but it certainly left the audience with a sense of festivity.

Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas MAJT

This Service is always one of the highlights of the King’s year. The contrasts of the dark with the light, the familiar with the seldom heard, the variety of voices reading the Lesson and the different choirs and performers in different

Autumn 2011

parts of the Cathedral make this service a dynamic box of delights. The Crypt Choir singing the moving Palestrina Advent Responsory in the still, dark cathedral introduced the service, as is now customary. This was followed by Olivia Prince’s glorious solo of the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City and the scene was set for a truly memorable service. The Chamber Choir’s contribution of ‘A Song of Peace’, Stanford’s musical setting of Isaiah chapter 11, immediately following the reading, was an inspired choice, thoughtfully and tunefully sung by their young voices. The Crypt Choir next had two less known carols. The linguistically and musically challenging macaronic ‘Novo Profusi Gaudio’, set by composer of the moment Matthew Martin, may not be to everyone’s liking and certainly stretched the choir but they carried it off with aplomb. Willcocks’ arrangement of Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day was accomplished and musical. Madrigalia’s velvet smooth interpretation of the Spanish composer Tomas Luís de Victoria’s ‘Ave Maria’ was a real highlight of the Service, making light of the astonishingly intricate and complex part-singing.

The Chapel Choir gave us another chance to hear ‘For Unto Us a Child is Born’ from the Messiah; they then delighted with two jaunty carols, Marshall’s arrangement of the old favourite ‘I Saw Three Ships’, sung with gusto, while their rendition of Philip Ledger’s arrangement of ‘The Sussex Carol’ had a light and airy quality, sung at a good tempo and with a tone of great optimism. Their final contribution was a subtle and charming carol: King’s own Edred Wright’s ‘Sing Lullaby’. This year we left for the Christmas holiday with Widor’s ‘Toccata’ from his Symphony no. 5 resounding through the Nave, a fitting conclusion to a real festival of music.

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Autumn 2011

sport

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Team reports Rugby Team Reports 1st XV CMBR

P10 L3 W7 The magnificient tour of South Africa left the team feeling well-prepared for the season ahead, making the defeat at Hurstpierpoint all the more difficult to take. Hurst came out of the blocks well, taking a 14 point lead with them into the half time break. King’s played superbly to then go in front, however Hurst snatched the scalp with the last play of the game. Complacency was to blame but that would not be the case in our next fixture against Reed’s and St John’s. Reed’s were dispatched with relative ease and a phenomenal first half performance against St John’s

Autumn 2011

was enough to secure some pay back for both year groups from the previous season. This game, however, took its toll on the squad and the side were to be without several key players, as well as Captain Edward Gilmore for the trip to Hertfordshire. Haileybury played well enough but King’s still had good enough players to come through. Sadly it was not to be and this proved to be the low point of the season. This began what was the side’s best patch of the year with a six match unbeaten streak. Whilst the performance against Sevenoaks was disappointing, the performance under floodlights at KCS Wimbledon was magnificent with Charlie Kingsman scoring a hatrick that any player in the world would be proud of. The third win in as many years against Eastbourne was very satisfying as it involved coming from behind once again, with a purple patch just before and after half time enough to see the side home. A workmanlike display saw off Cranbrook before a mouthwatering week of rugby. Against the backdrop of the traditional Saturday block fixtures, King’s was making its debut in the Daily Mail Cup and had progressed to round

RUGBY 6. The match against Skinner’s was a tight affair with Skinner’s sneaking through. Despite the narrow margin, it must be said that the better team on the day progressed. There was no respite to be had as we travelled away to Tonbridge for the most demanding match of the season. Tonbridge played very well and deserved their victory. The final appearance of the 2011 season was to be away at Sutton Valence and after a scrappy first half, King’s rounded off an excellent season in style notching up 42 points. Giles Dean was awarded the Coaches’ Player of the Season with Charlie Knox voted the Players’ Player. The squad was a very happy one who developed a superb work ethic as the season progressed. Ben Simpson got better with every game and could take the accolade as the most improved player of the season at full back. Competition for the wing positions saw several players represent the team. Will Allen scored some tries at crucial times. Billy Richardson punched well above his weight and offers options for next year. Dom Hamlyn and Louis Guitton overcame injuries to make several appearances. Charlie Kingsman always offered a threat in a new position of centre, scoring several tries that only he could score. Charlie Knox made up the formidable midfield pairing and his standing ovation at the Rugby Dinner spoke volumes of his value to the team. Arthur Chilcott matured as a rugby player and leader at fly half and can also look forward to returning next season. The same can be said of feisty scrum half, James Baker. Giles Dean and Max Judge were ever present in the front row and both leave an enormous hole in the squad. Harry Savill made the hooker shirt his own and will only get better next year. Ferdi Rous will use his injury this year to motivate him next. George Whaley took his opportunities well and Jake Davies returned from injury to make several appearances before the same injury ended his season. Hamish Courtauld made the hard yards, which allowed George Pughe the freedom to roam as a second

row combination. Fred Catterall ran Ben Simpson close for the accolade of most improved player and along with Henry Fryzer played at blind side flanker. Henry Allingham completed his time at King’s with a bang and was consistent and reliable in every performance. Edward Gilmore led the Rugby Club magnificently and possessed the rare quality of being able to lead his players but also be one of the lads. He was sorely missed when recovering from his shoulder injury. My thanks go to all the catering staff at Birley’s. Birley’s has played (and looked) superbly all year and I am eternally grateful to Mark Collins and his dedicated team. On behalf of the boys I would also like to thank all the parents who have shown so much support to all the King’s sides this season. A final thank you to Wyn Watson whose company and coaching prowess has made this a season to remember.

2nd XV ES

P10 W6 L3 D1 The 2nd XV made a very promising start to their season with convincing wins against Hurstpierpoint and Reeds. It didn’t take the players long to settle into their positions and assert their dominance at the set piece. The team made the most of their scoring opportunities and managed to run in some well worked tries. St John’s has always been a very tough fixture, and 2011 was to be no exception. Despite some solid and brave defence against a well-drilled team, we were ultimately beaten by a better side on the day. The 2nd XV went on to win their next three games and played some really enterprising rugby. During the second half of the season we came up against stronger opposition like KCS Wimbledon and Tonbridge. In the match against KCS we actually enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession and dominated in terms of territory. Despite crossing the try line on several occasions

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we just couldn’t get the ball down, while the opposition scored whenever they visited our 22 metre area. The boys were much more clinical a week later and basically had the game against Eastbourne in the bag after a very sharp first half performance. The Cranbrook fixture was a nail biting encounter… a last minute try followed by a memorable conversion, from the corner, by Harry Mann meant that we again managed to escape with a draw. Those who played the same fixture last year will remember the 95 metre intercept try Giles Ross scored to draw the match.

Clews scored a very good hat-trick of tries in the match against Haileybury. Awosika was a very difficult player to stop once given a few yards of space and his try tally could have been even higher. George Edmondson turned out to be the find of the season. His fearless defence and aggressive ball-carrying made him invaluable in the midfield. He was involved in countless high-impact collisions throughout the season and ran some excellent attacking lines. George Moss was an inspirational leader on and off the field and his commitment to the team was obvious.

The 2nd XV were lucky enough this season to have a consistent core of players. Although some players deservedly moved up to the 1st XV squad, injuries were not a major issue. Toby Sinclair received the most votes for the Players’ Player of the Season award. He has been a stalwart in the lineouts throughout the season and I suspect that he will be a key player in the 1st XV next year. Several other 6b players also made their mark this year and they all have the potential to play 1st XV rugby. I was delighted that consistent performers like Ryan, Fryzer, Whaley and Ralston all made in onto the park for the 1st XV. The top try scorers this season were Clews, Awosika and Edmondson with five tries each. Playing off the back of the scrum,

Every player involved made this season a very enjoyable and productive one and I would like to thank them for that. Mr McEwen has again been a very useful resource this season. His input has made a definite difference to the backline play and he offered some very helpful advice throughout the season.

Autumn 2011

Team from: G. Moss, H. Killingbeck, C. Irwin, A. Harris, H. Gibbon, N. Simonds, M. de Gaudemar, T. Sinclair, G. Edmondson, G. Mansfield, T. Haynes, O. Awosika, P. Webb, W. Knox, F. Ryan, H. Fryzer, G. Whaley, T. Ralston, H. Mann, A. Todd, P. Clews, G. Ross

RUGBY 3rd XV

Results Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

29 – 14

Reeds (h)

Won

29 – 0

St John’s (h)

Lost

22 – 5

Haileybury (a)

Won

34 – 12

Sevenoaks (h)

Won

36 – 7

Duke of York’s (a)

Won

26 – 0

KCS Wimbledon (a)

Lost

21 – 3

Eastbourne (h)

Won

22 – 3

Cranbrook (h)

Drew

17 – 17

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

31 – 7

JLL

P8 L4 W4

The team had a mixed season which is reflected in the results. The losses that were suffered were down to either meeting a stronger team or when availability of players was low. Even in defeat the boys performed admirably and with passion. Player of the season was Max Pashley who had an outstanding first season at King’s after his move from Cranbrook. His willingness to play running Rugby and range of kicks from Fly half enabled his team to play some fine Rugby.

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My thanks go to George Plews and Stuart Andrews for leading the side. Both players led fantastically as captain, and this was shown in their commitment and attitude towards games sessions and Saturday fixtures. With a strong contingent of 6bs making up the 3rd XV this season it will be exciting to see players moving up the ranks in King’s Rugby next year.

4th XV

Results

The team had rather mixed fortunes this term and were somewhat blighted by injury and absence from the start. Though on paper a relatively strong and consistent 4th XV should have been possible, this sadly did not materialise either in training or on match days. Disappointingly, this led to the cancellation of three fixtures (against Haileybury, KCS Wimbledon and Cranbrook), but three ties were honoured and good performances were put in on each occasion. The opening game of the season against St John’s saw King’s take an early lead. This was later surrendered, but the final result was rather flattering to the opposition and was due in no small part to injuries amongst the King’s players.

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

22-7

Reeds (h)

Won

62-10

St John’s (h)

Lost

5-12

Haileybury (a)

Won

22-14

KCS Wimbledon (a)

Lost

5-35

Eastbourne (h)

Lost

17-28

Cranbrook (h)

Won

31-5

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

5-15

Autumn 2011

DPR

P3 W1 L2

RUGBY The second game against Eastbourne was an altogether more convincing affair and was boosted by the arrival of a number of latecomers into the 4th XV squad. This time King’s not only took the early lead, but managed to maintain and extend it throughout the game and record a resounding victory to round off a good afternoon for the senior teams. Sadly, this was our first and last victory of the season and the final game of the term ended in defeat to a strong Tonbridge 6th XV. It was far from a crushing defeat, however, and the King’s players maintained the pressure right up until the final whistle, losing out by 15 points to 5. My thanks go to all those who have played for the 4th XV this term and special mention must go to Felix Li who was named player of the season. This was a richly deserved accolade and a just reward for his exemplary enthusiasm and commitment. Hopefully the foundation of a good 4th XV for next season has now been laid. Team from: William Breeze, Thomas Brett, David Charchoglyan, Marcus Cohen, Robert Daum, Jacob De Haan, Augustus Gould, Oliver Greenstreet, Victor Griffin, Patrick James, Sebastian James, Richard Kemp, Adrian Lai, Felix Li, Roshan Mohinani, William Phillips, Manoj Sadhwani, Nonso Oditah, Harry Killingbeck, Henry Jamieson, Fraser Morrison, George Plews, Jack Wreathall, Philip Salmony, Jeff Tang Results St John’s (h)

Lost

14-36

Eastbourne (h)

Won

36-7

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

5-15

Colts A TH

P11 L5 W 6 After some foundations were laid during a hot pre-season at Birley’s the team set out against Hurstpierpoint in the first game of the season. A spirited performance was delivered built upon strong defence. George Maughan produced a quality performance, one of the best I have seen at schoolboy level. He was very well supported by Wai Lai Hung who carried the ball strongly. Chayapol Panichewa and Charles Barrois were also stand out performers in a pack that took no backward steps. It was then away to Reed’s where the conditions were a huge contrast. Heavy rain fell throughout and due to a serious injury the team had to move pitches. This rallied the boys and they came through to win a tough encounter. Peter Chiana crossed for a nice try, while Jamie Adams had a powerful game showing huge work-rate. Patrick macLachlan stepped up late in the game as he nailed some important kicks which helped ensure victory. Away at St John’s is never easy but the team competed well and dominated parts of the game. However, there talented fullback proved to be the difference as did some frustrating officiating. Haileybury came and were beaten, it should have been by more, but signs were good that the team could win with ease when not at their best. Louis Glynn-Williams, Charlie Allen and Sam de Haan were starting to show their exciting attacking abilities and Peter Chiana was looking dangerous on the wing as he entered the back line with pace. One of our best performances of the season was brewing and it was served up to Sevenoaks. Arriving late meant a very brief warm-up but it didn’t faze this team. Some superb tries were scored, with the best of these being the double to Sam de Haan who was class as he carved up the opposition. Man of the match Charlie Allen was unstoppable while Peter Chiana, George Maughan and Wai Lai Hung all crossed over for a try each rounding off an excellent team performance. The team started slowly against a solid Duke of York’s team but came through the match on the back of some good structure and were rewarded with tries to Peter Chiana, Wai Lai Hung and Joe Haynes who powered over to his delight. This was just reward for Joe who had been getting better and better each week. Gabriel Hamlyn had an excellent game. He raised the tempo and linked

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well with his forwards, whilst flanker Harry Pattinson was strong in defence and secured several turnovers. KCS Wimbledon lay in wait after half-term. They were a quality team who finished their opportunities superbly well and would beat many first XV’s on the circuit. So it was a credit to the boys who through everything into it and dominated periods of play especially later in the game – heads would be held high. We were not at our best down at Eastbourne. It was closely fought in the first half with Wai Lai Hung smashing over for two tries, but they got on a roll after the interval and played very well. There were positives to come out of the match, which included the return of Max Desoutter from a long injury lay off. He showed what the team had been missing with some strong defence and he would go on to be a key player for the remainder of the season. It was important we put this defeat behind us and that’s exactly what we did in the match against Cranbrook. The team produced a clinical performance in all facets of the game. Excellent tries were scored on the back of some superb build up play by George Maughan, Wai Lai Hung, Sam, de Haan, Patrick macLachlan and a double to Toby Block who had an outstanding match.

Autumn 2011

George Baker White at fullback was in fine form with some great counter attack and making his debut for the team was James Trigg who was brilliant at hooker. Jamie Adams continued to show how valuable he was to the team with another strong performance. So it was unfortunate to lose him to injury going in to the Tonbridge match. The team was dealt another blow with further injuries to Jack Rampton and Wai Lai Hung which meant our entire starting back row was on the sideline. Losing vital players such as this meant we were on the back foot in the forwards. As a result we struggled to get any decent set-piece ball, making it difficult to gain any territorial advantage playing into a strong wind in the first half. Once again to the boys credit they came back well in the second half and had the best of territory and possession. Edward Baker, Patrick macLachlan and George Baker White all had very good games. To cap off the season, it was a convincing win against a strong Sutton Valence team. All the boys deserve their success and should be proud of what they have achieved this season. They have worked hard and put their bodies on the line each day in training and every Saturday. Everybody contributed when called upon and got stuck

RUGBY in, lead by Captain George Maughan who was outstanding and was the player of the season. PK and I have certainly enjoyed coaching this team. They are all very talented rugby players. They must always back themselves and keep working hard to improve their game. Thank you to all the parents for their support and well done to all the boys on an enjoyable and memorable season. Mr T Hill, George Maughan (captain), Jamie Adams, Charlie Allen, Edward Baker, George Baker White, Charles Barrois, Toby Block, Simon Broadley, Peter Chiana, Nicholas Charlton, Max Desoutter, Louis GlynnWilliams, Sam de Haan, Gabriel Hamlyn, Joe Haynes, Wai Lai Hung, Patrick macLachlan, Alex O’Neill, Harry Pattinson, Jack Rampton, James Trigg

Results Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost

12-22

Reed’s (a)

Won

15 – 12

St John’s (a)

Lost

31 – 12

Haileybury (h)

Won

17 – 5

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

44 – 19

Duke of York’s (h)

Won

26 – 0

KCS Wimbledon (h)

Lost

56 – 7

Eastbourne (a)

Lost

47 – 12

Cranbrook (h)

Won

40 – 7

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

55 – 0

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

24 – 10

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Colts B ARV

Played 11 Won 3 Drew 1 Lost 7

The Colt B’s had a somewhat inconsistent season, and the results throughout do not highlight the development, commitment and determination that the players portrayed on the pitch. There was not a single fixture that you could predict a result for, how was it possible that the team could win away at St John’s, one of our toughest historical fixtures and then lose to the DOYRMS at home? To beat Sevenoaks 55-5 to then lose by an even greater deficit to KCS Wimbledon, surely the two teams are not 100 points better or worse than each other? Sadly the games were lost or won it seems long before the games were played and that is a lesson that the team learnt this season, to have a greater sense of self-belief and determination to win. The Colt B’s were a great group of players with a thirst to learn and develop and the want to play for the A’s. Individuals who highlighted themselves throughout the season were the Capt James Trigg who lead the team well and gave everything he had to each fixture, thus securing a starting place in the A’s in the latter part of the season; additionally a player to be commended and noticed as the “players’ player” was James Balicki who had a fantastic season and should set targets high in the 6th form. Most Improved Player this season was a close run competition between Louis Ewart and Aaron Milton, Aaron is developing to be a good scrum half, however Louis narrowly beat him to the post and with a little more physicality and self belief could be a very useful 2nd row. The last player I want to mention is Ben Methven, who secured many points from boot, a great runner with ball in hand and a courageous tackler, the best part about Ben’s game is that he wasn’t even playing rugby at the start of term and with some gentle persuasion came back to play rugby which was a large benefit to the team. Team from: J.Trigg, E.Bryant, A.O’Neil, C.MacKinnon, R.Barton, L.Ewart, A.Fraser, S.Broadley, J.Balicki, A.Milton, D.Noore, G.Brandt, I.Kaplan, M.Luoma, M.Chika-Mbonu, I.Kaplan, B.Methven, H.Stacey, E.Evans, B.Gleave, G.Reid, J.Faure, T.Dath, E.Thomas, A.Cullen, A.Miller Results

Autumn 2011

Hurstpierpoint

(H)

Reeds St John’s

(A) (A)

Drew

17 – 17

Lost

0 – 17

Won

26 – 22

Haileybury

(H)

Lost

5 – 19

Sevenoaks

(A)

Won

55 – 5

DYRMS

(H)

Lost

0 – 27

KCS Wimbledon

(H)

Lost

61 – 0

Eastbourne

(A)

Lost

17 – 7

Cranbrook

(H)

Won

34 – 12

Tonbridge

(A)

Lost

27 – 7

Sutton Valence

(H)

Won

34 – 12

Colts C XV DAS

Getting a Colts C team out this season was always going to be a struggle with numbers going against us. It was very pleasing therefore to be able to compete in all fixtures with the only cancellations coming from the opposition. The highlights for the team were a hard fought win 29-27 against Cranbrook at home and a 22 all draw with Haileybury also at home. Many ‘non Rugby’ Fifth formers turned out for us but a special mention has to go to Michael Hollihan-Sarmiento (GL) who played up front for us home and away without ever complaining

Junior Colts A XV JPB

P14 L6 W8 This has been a very productive and successful season for the U15A team. The boys have had some fantastic victories and turned around several big defeats from last season. The prize performances were against St John’s and Haileybury where the boys completely outmuscled their opposition. The pack has developed into an effective weapon and has consistently won us quality ball all

rugby

season with the likes of Abraham Iwujoku, Ivan Prisyazhnyuk and captain Milo Harper giving us a real physical presence up front. Likewise under Mr Penn’s coaching, the backs have run with great ambition all season. Charlie Sinclair proved to be a calm and collected presence at fly half with Chris Richardson proving our most effective runner entering the line from full back. However, we have not had everything our way this season and several injuries to players in vital positions have tested the squad to its limit. Unfortunately trying to take on the likes of Skinners and Tonbridge without a first choice fly half was always going to be a tough ask. But in the face of such adversity, the boys did not lie down and they fought to the end showing what a determined team they have become. There is now a belief in this team that they are a quality side and this has been the most encouraging outcome of the season. They have been a fantastic team to coach. I am sure that they will continue to flourish next season and I look forward with anticipation to see what they can achieve in the Colts.

Team from: Jack Lee, Harry Brownlees, Bedir Kaplin, Seong Jin Park, Ivan Prisyazhnyuk, Alex Sokolow, Abraham (Chucky) Iwujoku, Harry Vavasour, Milo Harper, Loic d’Assier , Alex Preston, Charles Metcalfe, Sebastian Knox, Charlie Sinclair, Todd Hunt, William Parker, Mushwezi Wilkins, Chris Richardson, Hugo Simmonds Results Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost

0-5

Reeds (a)

Lost

5-34

St John’s (h)

Won

34-12

Dover Grammar (DMCrd3)

Won

15-10

Haileybury (a)

Won

14-22

Sevenoaks (h)

Won

53-3

Norton Knatchbull (DMCrd4)

Won

62-0

KCS Wimbledon (h)

Lost

0-31

Duke of York’s (DMCrd5)

Won

52-0

THE CANTUARIAN

Eastbourne (a)

Won

0-24

Cranbrook (h)

Won

5-0

Skinner’s (DMCrd6)

Lost

0-50

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

0-62

Sutton Valence (h)

Lost

5-19

Junior Colts B XV MWB

P11 L7 W4 It was a punishing start for the Junior Colts B team. The first half of the season found them on the receiving end of some fairly merciless beatings, and it looked at times as though their reserves of confidence and motivation were close to exhausted. But something remarkable began to happen after half term: that disparate collection of individual players began to work as a team. Suddenly, the defence was stronger, the attack more penetrating. Opponents were smothered, wrapped up in monster tackles

Autumn 2011

by the likes of Edward Vinson, Stuart Craig and Marcus Humphries; tries were scored – Kunmi Akanle, John Curtis and the irrepressible John James got a handful each; and conversions were slotted – Will Foss’s triple against Sutton Valence gave him a round dozen for the season. Standout players were the dynamo of limitless energy that is John James (although his swallow dive needs some work) and our vocal captain Callum Kolade; but every member of the team contributed to this reversal in fortune. They were helped in no small measure by the increasingly forthright and inspirational coaching of Thom Arnott, who finally drummed into them the communication, organisation and mutual support that led to such a positive finish to the term. And each player can come away proud of the three-game winning run they saw the season out with. After all, no-one else beat Tonbridge… Team from: Kunmi Akanle, Sam Buchanan, George Booth-Clibborn, Justin Cheung, Stuart Craig, John Curtis, Robbie Ellison, John Forsythe, Will Foss, Tarun Ganglani, Bertie Gibbon, George Hill, Milo Holland, Marcus Humphries, John James, Callum Kolade, Ben Lai, Jack Lee, James Leggett, Charles Macpherson, Nico Man, Harry Maughan, Charles Metcalfe, Sola Okocha, Alex Preston,

rugby

had the luxury of a substitute when we played the final match against Sevenoaks.

Jack Prosser, James Pye, Paddy Ross, Sebi Santens, Tom Shepherd-Barron, Hugo Simmonds, Edward Vinson. Results Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost

12-26

Reeds (a)

Lost

5-22

St John’s (h)

Lost

0-62

Haileybury (a)

Lost

5-74

Sevenoaks (h)

Lost

12-26

Duke of York’s (h)

Won

31-5

KCS Wimbledon (h)

Lost

5-50

Eastbourne (a)

Lost

7-24

Cranbrook (h)

Won

17-14

Tonbridge (h)

Won

34-17

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

26-12

Junior Colts C XV P10 W1 L9 The U15 C team have actually had an outstanding season despite their apparently poor win/loss record; one characterised by excellent team spirit, improvement as both individuals and as a team, and of enjoyment of the sport. It would have been so easy for the players to get demoralised when faced by sides with large players, large squads, and large score margins going against them. To their credit they never once put their heads down, and they fought for every minute of every game, something that older and more skilled players do not always achieve. Injuries throughout the year group during the middle of the season meant lots of players were pulled up to higher teams and so we never had the chance to play the same team from one fixture to the next. Fortunately many came back to sport in time for the end of the season so we even

Tarun Ganglani captained the side and threw himself into contact time and again. Justin Cheung made many try-saving tackles on the wings, often against players twice his size. Ivan Yurov was the most improved player of the season; having never held a Rugby ball before the first training session he worked to become more physical and confident on the pitch, scoring two of the four tries in this season’s only victory. The highlight of the season was the final fixture, a rematch against Sevenoaks. Scores were incredibly close all the way through and every point was fought for by both sides. In the last few minutes the boys were 6 points ahead and defending their own try line right beneath the posts. With the development they have shown I’m sure that many of these players will be contenders for A and B sides in the near future. My thanks also go to the many parents who supported these matches, through rain, mud and sometimes confusing pitch locations. Your support and encouragement has been invaluable and was a substantial factor in the success of this season. Team from: Alex Ardley-Ingram, Alexander Ignatiev, Alex Sy-Quia, George Booth-Clibborn, Hugo Clews, Hugo Serisier, Ivan Yurov, Justin Cheung, James Curtis, John Forsythe, James Leggett, Jack Prosser, Milo Holland, Patrick Knox, Peter Scott, Patrick Ross, Robert Ellison, Prabesh Roka, Sam Buchanan, Stuart Craig, Olusola Okocha, Sebastian Santens, Samuel Van der Gaag, Tarun Ganglani, Tom Sheppard-Barron, Thomas Winstanley Results Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost

15-57

Reeds (a)

Lost

0-46

St John’s (h)

Lost

0-59

Haileybury (a)

Lost

5-52

Sevenoaks (h)

Lost

19-58

KCS Wimbledon (h)

Lost

0-52

THE CANTUARIAN

Eastbourne (a)

Lost

7-50

Cranbrook (a)

Lost

12-20

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

5-48

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

14-20

U14A XV RALS

The U14A team began the season well. It is always a challenge for the boys and the coaches to mould together a team in just two rugby sessions before the first match and this was reflected in a very close game against Hurstpierpoint in the first week of term. There were, however, signs of what this team could produce. Leading up to half term the team only lost two further matches. It is not unrealistic to say that in future seasons this team, with the same fixture list, could be unbeaten by this stage. We had convincing wins over Reed’s and Haileybury and some easier midweek matches in the Kent Cup boosting

Autumn 2011

our confidence (and some of the boy’s egos!); they did however give us an opportunity to see other players in action. After half term there were good wins against Eastbourne and Maidstone Grammar. We had a very tough match against KCS Wimbledon where the injury list started to mount up and take its toll on the team. Losing a prop, our first choice fly half Euan Brown, who had just started to run the games beautifully plus a number of concussions, we were learning quickly that there was not a huge amount of depth to this team. Following the win over Maidstone Grammar we had drawn Sevenoaks in the Kent Cup semi-final. Having already lost to them earlier in the term we knew what we were coming up against and worked hard to combat their offenses. It was a bruising encounter with the boys spending a large amount of time under the cosh defending their own line successfully on more than one occasion. Shemi Akingbe scored twice to put us ahead and the boys held on to a fantastic victory in front of many of their school peers, who cheered their victory in the usual King’s man-

rugby ner. The boys learnt a great deal from that match; however it also took a lot out of them. What then followed was a little disappointing and not what the boys had worked hard to do all season. A poor and tired display against Cranbrook was not the right preparation for the final that week. It was the first time a King’s U14 team had made the Kent Cup final that any member of staff could care to remember, and the fact it was under lights at Gravesend Rugby Club made it even more special for the boys. Having put our strongest available side out we were optimistic. We started slowly however and St Olave’s ran two tries in during the first 15 minutes putting us 0-14 down. James Read scored, and converted, to bring us back to 7-14 at half time. After a rousing half time talk we put St. Olave’s to the sword but were adjudged as ‘held up’ over the line on five different occasions. The game ended scoreless in the second half and we were left to rue what could have been if better on field decisions were made by the team. Beyond this disappointment however the boys would have learnt an awful lot about themselves and the team having played in some tight and tough games towards the end of the season. Although it was not the winning end we were looking for, the boys cannot be faulted for all the efforts they made. Credit must go to James Read who captained the side maturely and grew into the role as the season went on. He was our main source of go forward and is developing into a very fine and powerful player. James King was a force throughout the season, he has an incredible engine and never stops chasing and retrieving the ball. James Oates and Euan Brown begun to combine well as a half back pairing and Dan Harris and Shemi Akingbe ran the ball well on numerous occasions. Ernest Mudasiru one of the props also deserves a mention for learning how to drive low towards the line picking up a number of tries once he mastered it. Over the course of the term there were significant developments to the teams skill and tactical awareness and are an exciting prospect for the rugby club in future seasons.

Team from: James Read (Captain), Semilore Akingbe, Kit Baker, Tom Bomer, Euan Brown, Geordie Bull, Romilly Carboni, Dan Harris, Tom Hunt, Joshua Lyden, James King, Ernest Mudasiru, George Nairac, James Oates, Alan Phillips, Fred Preston, Joseph Shailer, Oliver Tikare, Kit Wilson Also played: Robert Campbell, Sam Casement, Leo Eberenz, Henry James, Harry Nicholls, Edward Solly Results Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

21-24

Reeds (h)

Won

26-0

Sir Roger Manwood’s (h)

Won

75-0

St John’s (a)

Lost

24-26

Haileybury (h)

Won

63-0

Sir Joseph Williamson (h)

Won

58-10

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost

17-26

Duke of York’s (a)

Won

10-3

KCS Wimbledon (a)

Lost

0-21

Eastbourne (h)

Won

26-12

Cranbrook (a)

Lost

10-15

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

7-59

Maidstone (h) [quarter final]

Won

22-7

Sevenoaks (h) [semi final]

Won

12-5

St Olaves (a) [final]

Lost

7-14

Kent Cup

U14B XV RPC

P11 W5 D1 L5

THE CANTUARIAN

The B team had a decent season and, whilst they struggled on their travels, produced some strong performances at home. Highlights included convincing wins over Haileybury and Eastbourne when the team showed how effective they could be and took their chances ruthlessly. A lack of pace in the backs and speed to the breakdown in the forwards were exposed on occasions and these are areas for individuals to work on to turn a solid season into a very good one. If superiority over Reeds had been turned into points and if they had played the Sutton Valence B (rather than A) team, there would have been a more impressive shine to the win-loss ratio. A strong front row got the better of the opposition in the tight on numerous occasions. There was nearly always a powerful nudge from the pack in scrums and a large number were won against the head. A variety of props, Robert Campbell, Leo Eberenz, Romilly Carboni, Tom Cowderoy and Nikita Zhelezkov added power and stability, with Leo and Romilly being promoted to the A’s. Josh Lyden proved an effective hooker, both in the scrums and with his free running in the loose. Ben Hamlyn deputised most competently when Josh was promoted to the A’s. Harry Nichols, in the second row, was at the heart of so much of the pack going forward and he made a huge number of yards in open play, scoring a hatful of tries. His

Autumn 2011

second row partner, Jake Hudson, was the best mauler in the team and often turned over ball at the breakdown that he had no right to win. In the back row, Jake Tyler, Nick Love and Harry Condon gave the team some impetus and linked pretty well with the backs. When he wasn’t playing for the A’s, Jo Shailer gave the pack some useful presence. A skillful pair of half-backs in captain Ed Solly and Sam Casement showed some delightful touches. Both have superb dummies and made a number of darting runs, either creating, or in Ed’s case, scoring tries. In the centre Henry James tackled as if he stood a foot taller, Ollie Mann and Dan Hotz showed some good hands and Tom Bomer, when not selected for the A’s, added some muchneeded size and power. On the wings, Keegan Brazier did the basics really well, the powerful Raeffe Gibson, new to the game, learnt a lot through the season and Archie Kay, sadly not available until the end of the season, added some genuine pace. At full back, Rory Hinshelwood carried the ball with determination and tackled fearlessly. With a better training ethic, increased fitness and a continued enjoyment of the game, there is no reason why this team cannot go on to have a really good season next year and, as they grow, as number will be pushing for A team honours.

rugby Team from: A. Barkshire, K. Brazier, R. Campbell, S. Casement, H. Condon, T. Cowderoy, L. Eberenz, R. Gibson, B. Hamlyn, R.Hinshelwood D. Hotz, J. Hudson, H. James, A. Kay, N. Love, O. Mann, H Nichols, E. Solly (capt), J. Tyler, N. Zhelezkov Results Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

19-12

Reeds (h)

Drew

0-0

St John’s (a)

Lost

7-24

Haileybury (h)

Won

27-0

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

22-5

Duke of York’s (a)

Won

32-5

KCS Wimbledon (a)

Lost

0-50

Eastbourne (h)

Won

29-5

Cranbrook (a)

Lost

7-31

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

12-22

Sutton Valence A team (h)

Lost

7-12

U14 C RWN

adventure and attacked from all areas of the pitch. The games that we lost were due to a lack of willingness to tackle, which allowed the opposition to get into their stride and run harder at us which in turn made it even more difficult to tackle. After 10 minutes we were 7-5 down to St John’s but then allowed them to dominate. We were also still in the Tonbridge and KCS match at half time (the score in both those matches being 7-5 at half time) but then released our grip by not tackling. Players that deserve a special mention are the captain Angus Forbes who lead by example and was a physical presence in attack. Alex James grew in confidence in the season and I suspect he is someone to look out for in the future as he has real pace and a maverick streak that keeps the opposition guessing. Henry Dobson was voted players’ player of the season which he well deserved for his prowess in tackle, solidity under the high ball and guile in attack.

P9W3D2L4 This was a rather frustrating season because although there was lots of ability to play attractive and effective running rugby in this team, we were not competitive in tackling (Henry Dobson and Angus Forbes being the notable exceptions). In terms of the highlights, the first match was an exciting game in which the lead repeatedly changed hands between the teams, and the boys found the collective will to edge out a much bigger Hurstpierpoint side despite only having had two training sessions at the school. The matches against Haileybury, Eastbourne, Cranbrook and Sutton Valence were all close and very pleasing to watch as the U14 C showed real sense of

Team from: : H Long, O Flood, R Brandt, K Basnyat, B Pedrick, K Cosans, T Pedrick, T Rampton, W Tudor, J Odgers, S Dath, C de Vitry, A James, A Forbes (captain), C Manet, H Dobson, H Ninham, T Cowderoy Results Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

24-19

Reeds (h)

Lost

5-41

St John’s (a)

Lost

51 – 5

Haileybury (h)

Won

15-10

THE CANTUARIAN

KCS Wimbledon (h)

Lost

29-5

Eastbourne (h)

Drew

22-22

Cranbrook (a)

Drew

17-17

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

5-40

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

33-12

Rugby U14D XV MTG

P5 L4 W1 This term has been packed with memorable moments: Ollie Crawford’s super-sonic attacks along the wing, baffling the opponent’s defences; Daniil Antonov’s surprise tries (a surprise often to himself as well); Christian Prior’s terrifying whirligig tackles, by far the most illegal-looking move allowed on the pitch; and, of course, the time when Derek Wong actually took part in a match. Philosophic in defeat and jubilant in victory, by the end of the season the Ds had established an indomitable team spirit that, after a slow and reluctant start to the term, accompanied a great improvement in the quality of their game. All too often outsized and outclassed in difficult fixtures (many of the schools that would have provided a fairer contest could not field a D team), they never stopped ferreting for tries or badgering the opposition attack. Seb Crow and Henry Spain-Warner deserve special mention as surely two of the most annoying players to have to face in a match, bearing the ball up the pitch like a locomotive vice, no sooner knocked down than sprinting forwards again. Key to the enjoyment of the game was the authority and influence of the team’s captain, Tommie Trelawny-Vernon. Level-headed, committed and energetic, he set the tone for the season, and also ensured good-humour and civility during matches. It was thanks to his stalwart captaincy, the relentless effort of the scrum, led by Luca Pawson, and the quick-thinking of scrum-half, Max Whitaker, that

Autumn 2011

the team built such a convincing win against Eastbourne, during the most exciting match of the season. While there are a few who now gladly part ways with Rugby, the majority of the team have the potential to develop into excellent players, and I hope to see many on the pitches at the start of next season. In a few years time I don’t doubt that there will be a number of current D team members in the top school teams. Team from: Daniil Antonov, Alex Briggs, Pep Chaixanien, Kay Cosans, Ollie Crawford, Seb Crow, Tim Fairbairn, Jason Lo, Max Nicholson, Mussavir Khan Noorpuri, Luca Pawson, Christian Prior, Dewi Rees, Rahul Sadhwani, Manoj Savalani, Henry Spain-Warner, Tommie TrelawnyVernon (Captain), Max Whitaker, Derek Wong, Tom Woods Results : Reeds (h)

Lost

7-22

St John’s (a)

Lost

51-0

Eastbourne (h)

Won

40-24

Cranbrook (a)

Lost

50-0

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

44-7

GIRLS’ HOCKEY Girls’ Hockey Team Reports 1st XI DWB

Weekly fixtures P9 L2 W7

of the calendar for the squad was the annual Birley’s tournament. There were some very strong teams involved including Felsted and Cranbrook; the squad played well and developed throughout the day. The girls were narrowly pushed into third place despite only losing to the eventual winners Oundle. From this point on the season became extremely busy, partly due to the success of the team; playing a total of 35 games and scoring 129 goals (including tournaments). Our first fixture was one of the hardest we faced all season against Cranleigh, losing 6-3. It was a good grounding and place to build upon, and that’s exactly what we did.

Tournaments P16 D3 L1 W12 Indoor P10 D0 L2 W8 The season started with a new coach at the helm. Preseason training was therefore more focused on getting to know the players, where and how they played and it was felt that it was a solid two days. The first event

With a mixed squad for our second game, we travelled to Brighton College and despite going a couple of goals down, we demonstrated our strength and dug deep and fought back to win 5-4. The following weekend was another trip to the south coast this time to face Eastbourne. The girls played extremely well and we were able to come away with another victory this time 5 – 3.

THE CANTUARIAN

Amongst our fixtures, we managed to fit in a couple of tournaments early on, the Plumbtre tournament hosted by Sevenoaks in which our U18 squad won. This was closely followed by the County round of the National Schools tournament, with some very convincing results in the pool rounds leading up to the final we weren’t able to maintain this in the final game losing on penalty flicks in the final to Sevenoaks, despite beating them at Plumbtre, and then a few weeks later. All three of these games were extremely good and close-fought events. At the Regional qualification tournament we had mixed results, a draw against Coopers’ and a disappointing loss to Framlingham in the last few minutes of the game. This left us to get a large number of goals against King Edwards and hoping that Coopers’ could help us by beating Framlingham. We did everything we needed to do with a 6-1 win, but unfortunately Coopers’ were not able to help us out. The girls were understandably disappointed having not qualified for Nationals however had given their all.

Autumn 2011

The remainder of our fixtures went from success to success with some truly great results for the squad, in which we averaged 4 goals a game. This includes wins over Sutton Valence, Cranbrook, Hurstpierpoint and Felsted. Our indoor season was equally successful, firstly winning the John Taylor Trophy hosted by Sutton Valence School. This was good preparation for the County round of the National indoor competition, in which we played Sutton Valence School and won 4-3. The win in this game took us to the Regional Finals where we faced tough opposition in Coopers’ and Ipswich resulting in a 3rd place ranking. Lucy Balicki (Captain) and Francesca Berry (Vice Captain) worked together tremendously hard in their roles and have been a great for the squad. This season the most improved player when to Sophie Nichols, Players’ player of the season went to Stephanie Crampton and Most Valuable Player to Lucy Balicki.

GIRLS HOCKEY Team from: Sophie E Nichols, Isobel M Forbes, Louisa S Freemont, Martha E Knight, Flora G S Snape, Charlotte C Hart, Genevieve G Masters, Eliza A G Brett, Dominique L Masters, Isobel S Brooks, Stephanie M Crampton, Isobel A Berry, Francesca L E Berry (Vice Capt), Lucy S Balicki (Capt), Hannah L Todd, Emily R S Davis, Nicola C King Results

King Edwards VII

Won

6-1

Kimbolton

Drew

1-1

JAGS

Won

2-0

Sutton Valance U16

Won

10-0

KC Pembury

Won

5-0

John Taylor Indoor Tournament

Cranleigh (h)

Lost

3-6

King’s U16

Won

3-2

Brighton (a)

Won

5-4

Sutton Valance U18

Won

6-1

Eastbourne (a)

Won

5-3

Kent College (a)

Lost

2-3

County U18 Indoor Tournament

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

3-2

Won

4-3

Sutton Valance (h)

Won

6-1

Cranbrook (h)

Won

5-2

Newport

Won

6-2

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

5-1

Bedford

Won

8-1

Felsted (h)

Won

3-0

Ipswich

Lost

4-6

Coppers’

Lost

2-6

Plumptre Tournament Sevenoaks U16

Won

3-0

Alleyns

Won

3-0

TWGG

Won

2-0

Sutton Valance

Won

2-0

Alleyns

Won

1-0

Sevenoaks U18

Won

1-0

Regional U18 Indoor Finals

2nd XI AJH

P8L2W6

County U18 Cranbrook

2-0

Won

St Edmonds

4-0

Won

Sir Roger Manwood

4-0

Won

TWGG

6-0

Won

Sir Roger Manwood

4-0

Won

Sevenoaks

1-1

Drew

Coopers’

Drew

1-1

Framlingham

Lost

1-2

Regional Qualification Tournament

Sutton Valance

Hockey seasons are organic things; they ebb and flow with your successes or defeats, and at the end of the term, you look back upon them with a mixture of happiness that they’ve gone so well and also sadness that they’ve finished. That’s very much how I feel now as I type. We should really have gone unbeaten, we certainly had the talent to do so. Our opening game was one of pure frustration against Cranleigh. They were well organised and knew how to play, but an analysis of possession and shots at goal put us significantly on top. We didn’t score, however, and they did. We lost, and the season started with a rather annoying, unnecessary ‘L’ on the board. From then on the pedigree started to show through. For some

THE CANTUARIAN

of the team, this was their third season with me as their coach (poor them!) but it wasn’t too surprising, therefore, that a side that had played so much together, began to find their timing and touch. Our comfortable win against Brighton, and then a sterner test against Eastbourne, had us playing to a high standard and at the level expected of a quality 2nd XI. Our metal was further tempered against Sevenoaks with a tight two-one win. The irony is, that in our next game against Sutton Valence, we dropped our guard against modest opposition, conceded an own-goal deflection and failed to claw back the equaliser, despite being so much the stronger side. That’s hockey though, and with the lesson learnt, we went on to finish the season with the appropriate ‘shock and awe’ of which we were capable. Cranbrook, Hurst and then Felsted, were swept away, the impressive short passing and robust defence putting us quickly ahead. Anna ‘Gibbo’ Gibson was a superb Captain leading the side by example and setting the tone. Sophie a tremendously strong, capable (and audible!) sweeper, always composed under pressure. Hannah Morrison and Anna Booth-Clibborn played more and more strongly over the season, linking effectively with the mid-field and with a tireless work-rate. Sarah Duffy on the right and Laura Bartley on the left were

Autumn 2011

dynamic, powerful players, injecting pace and urgency into the game. Madeleine Phillips played in a variety of postions from right back to right wing but always with a deceptive touch and excellent team awareness. Molly Nainby-Luxmoore was a wonderful centre forward, possessing the natural ‘goal sense’ that is so essesntial and Ella ‘two bar’ Gault provided, skill, motivation and banter all in equal measure! The rest of the side had significant U16 commitments and our training was undoubtedly affected by this. It is, of course, the right thing to focus on our National ambitions, and that they have gone as far as they have would seem to prove the point-QED. Charlotte Hart, Genevieve Masters, Isobel Brooks and Isobel Forbes added talent, pace and skill to our side and helped secure our dominance in many of the games. My particular thanks goes to Georgina Macdonald for playing in goal, as and when required, and often travelling to our furthest away fixtures. The 2nd XI have been enormous fun to coach. We spend a lot of time together both on pitch and in buses, and they are always great company. I have enjoyed myself enormously. Team from: I Forbes, E Gault, C Hart, M Phillips, M Nainby-Luxmoore, I Brooks, G Macdonald, A

GIRLS’ hockey Booth-Clibborn, S Duffy, L Bartley, A Gibson (Capt), S Wilson, H Morrison, G Masters Results Cranleigh (h)

Lost

0–1

Brighton (h)

Won

8–1

Eastbourne (a)

Won

3–1

Sevenoaks (h)

Won

2–1

Sutton Valence (h)

Lost

0–1

Cranbrook (a)

Won

4–0

Hurstpierpoint (h)

Won

3–0

Felsted (h)

Won

3–0

3rd XI RPS

P9 W6 D1 L2 This was one of the driest autumns on record. Not once did the rain fall on our heads, either in a practice session or in a match. It looked a close run thing on a couple of occasions, but the clouds held off and the dry blessed us like angels in the sky. Instead, on a couple of occasions near the start of term we got the water canons on the Polo Farm water-based pitch to give us an idea of what the rain might be like, but on these occasions they were joined by the glorious September sunshine. And that was how our season both started and finished. Nearly all the girls who trained in the 3rd/4th squad managed to play at least one match for the 3rd XI. As always there was a strong meritocracy, and those who proved themselves able and available to play in the 3rd XI matches on the Saturday quickly came to the foreground. Our opening match was against St Lawrence College, Ramsgate who put out a strong side. However, unbeknownst to us we had a superstar playing in our team, by the name of Sarah Duffy. She completely dominated

the right wing, scored a fantastic goal, and put the 3rd XI firmly on the map as the team to beat. Needless to say Sarah, as well as Anna Booth-Clibborn, Molly NainbyLuxmoore and Madeline Phillips, was quickly moved up to the 2nd XI for the rest of the season. Our next match was against Cranleigh. This was a different kettle of fish as Cranleigh put out their U16A team (our equivalent is made up of several 1st XI players), and so this was a challenging fixture. With our 4 best players now playing for the 2nd XI we needed others to step up to the challenge, and so they did. Imogen Moore did an amazing undercut into the top of the goal to score the first of her 3 goals this season – and what a cracker it was too. We were also lucky enough to borrow Lucy Duncanson from the Lacrosse pitches to score our 2nd goal and give us a fabulous 2-0 victory. By this stage we had unleashed a new weapon in our artillery, by the name of Emily Aisher. Having never played goalkeeper before, she took to it like a truly gifted and brave sportswoman – deservedly being awarded the Players’ Player Award at the end of term. Unfortunately the next two weeks saw Brighton College and Eastbourne put out two strong sides to beat us, but in adversity Sarah Anderson scored a fine goal and very much kept us in the Brighton match. Anna-Marie Edeleanu organised our defensive unit throughout the term with real authority and passion; never giving up, always winning the 50:50 ball and striking free hits with all her might. Maisie Briggs, as ever, was amazing in defence, tackling everyone in sight and redistributing the ball with real power and vision. Likewise Gemma Taylor and Eleanor Thrupp were dependable in defence, knowing that Alice Thompson was always there to pick up any pieces and act as our indefatigable last-woman-standing. St Edmund’s saw Emily Aisher dive to the top left of her goal to save an amazing undercut with her gloved hand – extraordinary – and at the other end of the pitch Lucy Warr scored a great goal, along with Sophie Bansal and Anna Heslop. Lucy learnt to perfect the run down the left wing, the wiggle in the D, the dummy and then the hard clip-hit strike at goal. No wonder we began to score more goals as we looked to our wings. Both Lucy Warr and Anna Heslop scored 5 goals each by the end of

THE CANTUARIAN

the season. In fact Anna – the captain – had the very last touch of the season to score the final goal against Felsted in a 5-0 victory in the very last second, making the umpteenth wonderful clear run down the right wing. Amy Gault was the motivator and enthusiast on the team, always encouraging and leading by example – with particularly fine dribbling skills; Sophie Bansal was the runner – never stopping to rest, but instead giving her every last bit of energy and determination on the pitch. Helen Ferrett – the smiler and Miss Positive, with wonderful skills; Lucy Tynan – the ever dependable Duracell player; Elizabeth Royce – our super-reserve who helped us out on two occasions to add spice and speed to the team; and finally Francesca Kent – our player of the season – the most cheerful, kind, generous and gracious player you could ever want in a team. We ended the season with a brilliant 5-0 victory over Felsted. From the sidelines it was clear to see that this team had made tremendous progress throughout the term, and, as they said themselves, “we are now playing

Autumn 2011

with more speed, more accuracy, more effort, and more vision”. Indeed they were. We had a lovely team party on the last Friday of term, and everyone ended the season in high spirits. The final thanks must go to the 6a leavers and their efforts over the years: Anna Heslop (Captain), Frankie Kent & Imogen Moore (Vice Captains), and Sarah Anderson (4th XI Player of the Season). Well done and thank you for a brilliant time. Team from: Emily Aisher, Sophie Bansal, Maisie Briggs, Anna-Marie Edeleanu, Helen Ferrett, Amy Gault, Anna Heslop (Captain), Francesca Kent (Vice Captain), Imogen Moore (Vice Captain), Alice Thompson, Lucy Warr Also Played: Sarah Anderson, Anna Booth-Clibborn, Illona Bushell, Louisa Dearlove, Sarah Duffy, Lucy Duncanson, Abigail Jackson, Georgina MacDonald, Molly Nainby-Luxmoore, Madeline Phillips, Elizabeth Royce, Gemma Taylor, Eleanor Thrupp, Lucy Tynan, Kate Vavasour

GIRLS’ hockey coming from lacrosse to help us out for this game due to lack of numbers. Although we lost I was incredibly impressed with the continuous fight the girls showed, never dropping their heads.

Results St. Lawrence College (a)

Won

4-1

Cranleigh (h)

Won

2-0

Brightion (h)

Lost

1-4

St. Edmund’s (a)

Won

3-1

Eastbourne (h)

Lost

0-5

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

3-1

Sutton Valance (h)

Drew

0-0

Hurstpierpoint (h)

Won

1-0

Felsted (h)

Won

5-0

4th XI Hannah and EL

P5 W1 D1 L3 This season hasn’t always been plain sailing due to playing other schools’ 3rd XI; there was a constant lack of numbers as well as other school cancelling fixtures at the very last minute. This meant we didn’t have many fixtures throughout the term, but even so the girls have shown great desire, spirit, teamwork and passion all season long. They lacked at times, however, the last element of goal scoring, making them one of the most unlucky sides! Our first match was against St Lawrence College, Ramsgate. The girls drew this game 0-0 and this was an extremely positive start to the season. Maintaining possession for the majority of the game, their team work was superb; especially considering the girl hasn’t played together before. Our second match was against Cranleigh that put out an extremely tough and fit side. I want to say a huge thank you to Florrie Hodgkinson, Tireni Atoyebi, Alex Murray-Tacon and Lizzie Trelawny-Venon for

Our third game saw us home to Eastbourne. This was one of our best games of the season with Amelia Cook scoring our first goal of the season. This was Morenike Adeagbo’s first game as forward where she improved hugely. Her skills to receive the ball on the run and on her reverse stick improved week by week. The defensive players (Flossy McAslan, Abigail Jackson, Gemma Taylor and Maude Leigh Pemberton) really lead from the back this week fighting for every ball, making strong, solid tackles and showing huge potential. Our fourth match of the season saw us away against Sevenoaks. This game was our toughest game against a considerably strong side. Ilona Bushell really came into her own this week, making numerous saves all over the place. The midfield (Lucy Tynan, Sarah Anderson and Eleanor Thrupp) were fantastic, sending fantastic balls up to the forwards as well as coming back to help defence. Our final match saw the girl return to St Lawrence, Ramsgate to show them just how much they had improved. A 4-0 victory really speaks for itself. Well done to Anna Heslop for scoring 2, Lucy Tynan for scoring 1 and Kate Vavasour for scoring 1. Kate’s ability to run up the left wing dodging players improved session by session. Lucy Tynan was awarded Players’ Player for her improvement throughout the season. Her ability to run up and down the wing always looking to support the team has been vital. I am extremely proud of the way the girls have grown this season, as individuals and as a team. This year’s Player of the Season Award goes to Sarah Anderson for constant desire to improve and succeed. She has grown into an excellent centre midfield this year and has always been smiling. I want to say well done girls for all your hard work and determination even when things got really tough. It has been great coaching you all this term and thanking you for brightening up my days. I hope all of you girls continue to play Hockey next year even those sadly leaving King’s. Best of luck for the future.

THE CANTUARIAN

U15A GPT

P8L0W8 While King’s Girls’ Hockey has seen some strong teams in recent years, this group has the potential to be as good any. After a tantalising 2010 season, coming so close at the National Finals and losing just the one Saturday fixture, expectations were understandably high; however, not only to be unbeaten, but to win every match is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the quality of some of the opposition. The slow start to the season, with nearly three weeks’ preparation for the opener against Cranleigh, heightened the tension, but a convincing win set the tone for the rest of term. Led from the front by an inspirational captain Amelia Baker, the team worked exceptionally hard throughout the season, breaking the fitness challenges they had set themselves from the start of term. While there may occasionally have been a token complaint, they all enjoyed having that extra something ‘in their back pocket’

Autumn 2011

to rely on at crucial moments in the close games in the first half of the season, and to allow them to pull away from some decent sides in November and December. The team was well balanced with strength throughout all three lines, bolstered by Eleanor Hartland and Seiya Grant forcing their way into the squad after a couple of outstanding weeks playing for the B team. It is certainly rare to have such strength in depth in all areas at such a young age group. To concede less than a goal a match is testament to an outstanding defence: Rosie Dath did a wonderful job of stepping into Scarlet Pugh’s not inconsiderable shoes (we’re also very grateful to Charlotte Ward for stepping in at the last minute, too); Maddy Irwin and Lucy Hogg did a fantastic job in the middle, while Tabitha Killingbeck (a candidate for most-improved player), Helen Woodward and Willa Briggs (who also played a fine role on both other lines) were excellent on the sides. Rhiannon Jones, Lily Begg, Annabel Pattinson, Phoebe Lundy and Seiya Grant (the last two also discovering a talent up front) covered perhaps more miles than an U15 midfield has ever done before, providing some wonderful opportunities for Eliza Cocksworth (frustrated by injury and illness for much of the season) Olivia Simpson – goal of this or any other season? – Eleanor Hartland, and of course the captain, Amelia Baker, who scored goals for fun all term.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY It was a real joy for us both to work with such a talented, committed and exuberant team, and we wish them all the best in their U16 campaigns and beyond. Team from : Amelia Baker (captain), Lily Begg, Willa Briggs, Eliza Cocksworth, Rosie Dath, Seiya Grant, Eleanor Hartland, Lucy Hogg, Madeleine Irwin, Rhiannon Jones, Tabitha Killingbeck, Phoebe Lundy, Annabel Pattinson, Scarlet Pughe, Olivia Simpson, Charlotte Ward, Helen Woodward.

Lost

47 – 12

Cranbrook (h)

Won

40 – 7

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

55 – 0

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

24 – 10

U15B MJWS

Results Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost

12-22

Reed’s (a)

Won

15 – 12

St John’s (a)

Lost

31 – 12

Haileybury (h)

Won

17 – 5

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

44 – 19

Duke of York’s (h)

Won

26 – 0

KCS Wimbledon (h)

Lost

56 – 7

Eastbourne (a)

P9 W5 D0 L4 This was an enjoyable season even if it wasn’t quite as successful as the unbeaten run this group had as U14 Bs. Our best games were characterised by quick passing, moving the ball on from defence to midfield to attack before getting held up by an opposition player. Felsted and Sevenoaks were both memorable for this reason.

THE CANTUARIAN

In our less successful games (Cranleigh and Hurstpierpoint being the two that stood out for the wrong reasons), we lacked drive and commitment, indeed we lacked passion and the determination to score. Losing key players to the ‘A’s due to injuries higher up exacerbated the problem: Seiya Grant and Eleanor Hartland were sorely missed. We played two ‘A’ sides which was good experience, especially the Kent College game as we raised our standards to match the opposition (which contained a generous sprinkling of county players). In summary, when we put the effort in, meeting the ball, attacking from the wings and marking effectively, we played some excellent hockey. When we were caught out of position or simply didn’t play with a competitive mindset, we were rightly punished. It was a pleasure seeing the skill level of each individual increase over the term. Particular mention must go to Charlotte Ward who kept goal in a positive and self effacing way – often making crucial saves and clearances. It was great to have such a skilful, committed and content keeper. Eleanor Hartland and Ellen Kennedy playing right and left wing respectively were responsible for setting up or scoring the majority of our goals and are to be congratulated on the impact they had on the team and the outcomes of each match. Team from: Phoebe Baker, Constance Bourne, Cherie Cheung, Jemima Compton, Aquilla Erskine, Olivia Goodey, Seiya Grant, Eleanor Hartland, Jessica Hodcroft, Ellen Kennedy, Freya Logan Green, Lucy St John, Charlotte Ward (goal) Also played: Willa Briggs, Eloise Clark, Rosie Dath, Katherine Gardiner, Phoebe Lundy, Georgia Piper, Georgiana Prior. Results Cranleigh (a)

Lost

2-4

Brighton (h)

Won

6-0

St Edmund’s A (a)

Lost

0-6

Eastbourne (h)

Won

2-0

Kent College A (a)

Lost

1-4

Sevenoaks (h)

Won

5-0

Cranbrook (h)

Won

4-0

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

1-2

Felsted (a)

Won

6-0

Autumn 2011

U14A CFVBR

P8 W3 D1 L4 It took a little while for the U14A team to gel in the first half of term while work was done on getting players into the right positions and trying out many different formations on the pitch. However, after some practice and a promising performance at the Kent County Tournament, the team really began to come together and play some terrific hockey! We reached the semi-finals scoring 9 goals during the day, just narrowly missing reaching the final at the end of the day with a 1-2 loss against local rivals Kent College. One of the most impressive performances took place at Sevenoaks which ended in a draw. King’s played the second half of the match with 10 players after Alice Brett sustained a very unfortunate injury in the 5th minute of the match (she played on valiantly in the first half until her ankle eventually gave in!) and we managed to keep the score level despite our disadvantage. The match was quick, skilful and very exciting to watch, a great start to the winning streak that followed! After this match the U14A’s tallied up 18 goals in the next three matches! Spectating parents were delighted with all three performances witnessed and commented it was ‘like watching a completely different team from the one which started at the beginning of the season!’ which both the team and I were delighted to hear! It was a shame not to have finished the season with a match of the same score line, we seemed to suffer from unfortunate fatigue. Emma Bryant was a very well-mannered, level-headed captain who led the team positively from the beginning. She was a strong link on the left side of the pitch transferring the ball to and from the defenders and attackers. Alice Brett was our top goal scorer totalling 12 goals over the season. She played at the front where she was ably supported by the fast and furious Amanda Milton (4 goals) on the right wing and the nippy and skilful Isobel Webster (8 goals) on the left wing. Also at the front Alexandra Ham (3 goals) slammed the crosses into the backboard with a thud! Along with Emma Bryant, Samantha Ruston played the vital role in the middle of pitch constantly transferring play from her central position. Amelia Brown played in

GIRLSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HOCKEY

the mid-field on the right, her pace and skill left many defenders dumbfounded and she and Samantha Ruston set up attacking play with impressive ease. Paige Kennedy and Anna Fenwick were vital in backing up both the mid-field and the defence; they worked tirelessly every game and were crucial in securing our high score wins although from their position on the pitch they sometimes didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t receive the glory they deserved! Our defence became a well oiled unit consisting of fearless and rapid Rachel Barry, consistent and thorough Eleanor Swire and vastly improved and tackle-hungry Rowena Mockridge. They cleared the ball out sensibly from our D working closely with the goal keeper. We were fortunate to have two experienced goal keepers in the squad. Rose Dath we lost to the U16 county team at the beginning of term. When she did have the opportunity to play with the U14s, her enthusiasm and skill as a keeper was impressive to watch. Sixtine Guitton kept the goal dry for most of the season; she improved enormously and made some spectacular saves.

The player of the season goes to Amelia Brown whose skill and strength on the ball was brilliant to watch. Congratulations to all the girls for making such an improvement over the course of the season and playing some stunning hockey. Team from: Alice Brett, Rachel Barry, Amelia Brown, Emma Bryant (capt), Rose Dath, Anna Fenwick, Sixtine Guitton, Alexandra Ham, Paige Kennedy, Amanda Milton, Rowena Mockridge, Samantha Ruston, Eleanor Swire, Isobel Webster Results Cranleigh (a)

Lost

0-6

Brighton College (h)

Lost

1-2

Eastbourne College (a)

Lost

0-9

Sevenoaks (a)

Drew

2-2

Sutton Valence (a)

Won

6-1

THE CANTUARIAN

Cranbrook (a)

Won

6-0

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

6-0

Felsted (a)

Lost

0-5

Kent County Tournament

Semi-finalists

U14B LC

P8 L1 D3 W4 The U14B team showed much promise right from the start; they had natural talent in abundance and a refreshing willingness to work hard to improve both individual skill and team cohesiveness. However it took them a long time to get into their stride to produce the results which reflected their ability as players and potential as a side. Our valiant supporters had to brave three frustrating draws and one irritating defeat before we found winning form. The turning point in the team’s fortune coincided with a chance encounter with Jane Sixsmith MBE (Hockey veteran of four Olympic Games and 165 England caps) who gave them an inspiring pep talk before the Sevenoaks crunch match. Happily, once the team hit that winning vein there was no stopping them. They ended the season with their most convincing win, slotting a fantastic seven goals past the Felsted keeper. All three strikers found goal-scoring form; Cecily as a hard hitting, strong positional player, Rose as our tenacious Centre Forward and accurate provider of short corners who always offered encouragement to her team mates and Stephanie who mastered runs down the wing and was comfortably our top scorer with a brace of hat tricks to her name. We are also indebted to Sophia Gripari for her wholehearted participation when we suffered illness or injury. But it wasn’t just our great attacking play, but also a growing strength in defence that propelled the team to success. The Halves provided backup in the form of India who, with her fast legs, would always outpace the opposition, Eleanor who was utterly reliable at Right Half and Laura who was often nominated as best player

Autumn 2011

by her peers because she always came to meet the ball and was effective in distribution. But probably our secret weapon was that we had real strength in depth and our Backs were impenetrable; Elizabeth (Bess) unfailingly took stalwart, calm control in defence and always ensured safe passage of the ball out of our Twenty Five. Sabrina and Felicity formed a formidable partnership and both grew in confidence as the season progressed. Olivia was inspiration going forward with her skill and pace, and high work rate. If our opposition did make it into our D they then had to make it past our formidable Goal Keeper, Demi who, as well as being a huge personality, kept goal with great passion and pulled off many amazing saves. All members of the squad are to be congratulated for their tremendous inclusive and encouraging team spirit and commitment. The U14B side ended the season in buoyant mood and this squad offers King’s Hockey a mouthwatering prospect for next season. Many should be seriously pushing for their place in the A squad. It has been my absolute pleasure to be the coach of this wonderful team and I extend a wholehearted ‘thank you’ and ‘well done’ to all concerned. Results Cranleigh (a)

Drew

0-0

Brighton College (h)

Lost

1-3

Eastbournes (a)

Drew

1-1

Sevenoaks (h)

Drew

2-2

GIRLS’ HOCKEY Sutton Valence (a)

Won

2-1

Cranbrook (h)

Won

4-0

Hurstpierpoint (h)

Won

2-0

Felsted (a)

Won

7-1

U14C REW

P5 W2 L2 D1 It has been a fairly successful term for the Under 14C team. All members of the team have worked hard and shown great commitment and the team’s performance has improved week on week. There has been some great progress on an individual level too; special mention should go to Miranda Challiner and Shaila Mohinani for their particularly marked improvement as players. Sophie Sood has captained the team in an exemplary way and Jennifer Mbu worked hard in goal, saving some strong shots from the opposition. With Araminta Chapman and Sophia Gripari emerging as strong forwards, next season looks to be a successful one. Thanks must go to the numerous Lacrosse players who voluntarily gave up their Saturday afternoons to make up the team, sometimes travelling long distances to do so; without them it would not have been possible to play all our fixtures. Team from: Jennifer Mbu, Araminta Chapman, Miranda Challiner, Sophia Gripari, Dena Movahedyan, Sophie Sood, Emily Soul, Shaila Mohinani, Polina Usenko, Elizabeth Tees Cranleigh (a)

Drew

1-1

Brighton College (h)

Lost

0-1

Eastbourne (a)

Won

0-1

Sevenoaks (h)

Lost

1-2

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

1-0

ROWING TEAM REPORT JW

A new season, some new faces and some good weather this term with the goal of re-establishing King’s rowing both in the school and in the region. After a September of looking at what combinations materialised and starting to look at how we train. Cambridge Small Boats Head The first event we raced at was Cambridge Small Boats Head at the beginning of October. In some exceptionally good weather we raced over the three divisions with some encouraging performances. Alexander Andrews won J18 singles and there were some impressive first rows from Victoria Mansfield and Hannah Presdee in Women’s J18 and Novice doubles, being the fastest in both. Cambridge Small Boats Head Results J18 2x

1st of 1

Alexander Andrews / George Edwards

THE CANTUARIAN

ROWING Novice 2x

4th of 6

Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady

Novice 2x

6th of 6

Sam Roud / Milo Reddaway

J15 2x

1st of 1

Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady

J16 2x

1st of 1

Nicholas Hastings / George Edwards

WJ18 2x

1st of 1

Victoria Mansfield / Hannah Presdee

WNov 2x

1st of 2

Victoria Mansfield / Hannah Presdee

WJ18 2x

2nd of 3

Amanda Thomas / Vittoria Warszewski

WIM3 2x

4th of 4

Fours Head of the River Results J18 4x

46th of 47

George Edwards / Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady / Alexander Andrews

WJ18 4x

36th of 38

Victoria Mansfield / Svenja Perkins / Amanda Thomas / Vittoria Warszewski

Amanda Thomas / Vittoria Warszewski

Upper Thames Small Boats Head After this start half term caused a small break but to maintain some of the early momentum we next raced at the end of half term at Upper Thames Small Boats Head in Henley. This was going to provide some slight stiffer competition as well as a useful training exercise before the Fours Head of the River. Upper Thames Small Boats Head Results J16 4x

2nd of 3

George Edwards / Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady / Nicholas Hastings

J18 2x

2nd of 5

Alexander Andrews / George Edwards

WJ18 2x

7th of 8

Victoria Mansfield / Svenja Perkins

J15 2x

4th of 7

Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady

WIM3 2x

2nd of 3

Victoria Mansfield / Svenja Perkins

Fours Head of the River The Fours Head of the River is a tough event raced over the University Boat Race course with a highly competitive

Autumn 2011

entry, and this was always going to represent a stern test of where we stood. This was outweighed by the positive experience gained for some of the pupils by doing the race especially those that were very young for the event they were racing in. After the race the pupils were lucky enough to spend time with James Clarke, World Champion from 2007 and a member of the GB Eight at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Championships. We got some valuable insights into his own junior rowing experience and how to balance training, racing and work successfully.

After the Fours Head and continuing our pattern of training pieces on the lake with regular weekly ergo sessions there were some very encouraging signs of physiological improvements, developing confidence in the training and the start of improved pace on the water pieces. Docklands Small Boats Head At the Docklands Small Boats Head the crews were challenged by a very windy first half of the course. In fact the smaller boats were cancelled due to the conditions. But those that raced again gained valuable racing knowledge in challenging water. Docklands Small Boats Head Results J17 4x

2nd of 2

George Edwards / Milo Reddaway / Sam Roud / Nicholas Hastings

J16 4x

2nd of 2

George Edwards / Nicholas Hastings / Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady

J17 1x

6th of 10

Alexander Andrews

WJ18 2x

2nd of 2

Victoria Mansfield / Svenja Perkins

ROWING Burway Small Boats Head After Docklands we settled into a good pattern of training for a couple of weeks, looking forward to the last event of the term and getting a sense of some positive momentum building up. As we gained again a sense of improvements on the water in some of the smaller boats there was optimism at the outcome of our efforts at Burway. The racing itself proved very solid with crews showing some good technical improvements if not some real race aggression! But the results of the healthily competitive event showed that we had taken steps forward. Burway Small Boats Head Results J17 1x

3rd of 5

Alexander Andrews

J15 1x

1st of 5

Galvin Brady

J15 1x

5th of 5

Harry Best-Shaw

J15 2x

1st of 3

Harry Best-Shaw / Galvin Brady

J16 1x

4th of 9

Nicholas Hastings

J16 2x

5th of 5

Nicholas Hastings / George Edwards

J17 2x

1st of 2

George Edwards / Alexander Andrews

WJ17 2x

1st of 3

Victoria Mansfield / Hannah Presdee

WJ18 1x

2nd of 3

Svenja Perkins

WJ18 1x

3rd of 3

Amanda Thomas

WJ18 2x

2nd of 4

Victoria Mansfield / Svenja Perkins

WJ18 2x

3rd of 4

Amanda Thomas / Jane Ellard

With wins finishing off the racing for the term, the progress made is evident even in a short space of time and the pupils should use this as motivation throughout the year, especially coming into the busy exam-laden summer. But all racing was not quite over with the highly charged Christmas Pudding Eights racing with mixed

crews of boys, girls and coaches haring down the cut on a sunny December morning, making quite a sight! To the victors went the Christmas Puddings and everyone got a taste of eights racing which might be useful to draw on next term. Highlights for next term will be the Schools Head of the River, an invitation to race at the new course just outside Calais, and the training camp in the Easter holidays. Many thanks to the coaches for their help this term.

FENCING REPORT MJC

Many congratulations to all this term’s fencers. There were lots of new pupils from the younger year groups this term involved in the games session and a few were selected to travel to selected UK events. There were two pupils who stood out at the competitions this term. Shortly before the Autumn Term started, and following on from her outstanding results during the last academic year, Justine Lambert (BR) represented Scotland at U18 Level in the UK Schools Games. Her first major international level event got off to a great start with her beating several of the U17 GB Team and U20 Squad to win the Individual Women’s Epee Bronze. This was followed up with a string of results on the U17 National Circuit – finishing 6th in Manchester and also 6th place at the U17 GB Championships in Sheffield. With these impressive results she was selected to go to Heidenheim, Germany with the GB U17 Squad and finished the year as the No. 7 ranked U17 Women’s Epee fencer in the country. She also made the shortlist at the 2011 Canterbury and District Sports Awards. Her success continues having qualified for further selection events in Klagenfurt, Austria before Christmas, and Bratislava, Slovakia in January. Hugo Smith (LN) was the pick of the boy’s performers this term, making the Last 64 at both the U17 and U20 British Championships in his first competitive season.

THE CANTUARIAN

fencing and sailing Next term sees us compete in the South-East Regional Championships and the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships.

SAILING TEAM REPORT HROM

TIME AND DISTANCE. TWENTY SECONDS. Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, BLACK 10, SPILL WIND NOW… BLACK 12, Go For PIN END. Twelve, Eleven, SHEET IN. CLOSE HAULED AND SPEED… Seven, Six, CONTROL THE ENDS. Windward boat – you have NO ROOM. FORCE HIM HIGH. SHUT HIM OUT. Three, two, ONE, ON THE LINE. GO GO GO. Sometimes it worked. The squad of 20 trained hard and deserved their success. The Kent Schools Sailing Association 50th Annual Regatta, held at Downs WSC, Deal (10th September), was sailed in a fresh force 5 breeze, with knock-downs galore, but, dominated by asymmetric boats, our two fireflies and a 420 also did well. Olivia Goodey, sailing a RS 200 with her brother, Tom, came 1st. By the time the strengthening wind brought end of play, we had three boats well up the order with Hannah Goldsmith and Ben Warnick winning the best school boat trophy. It took skill and a lot of guts.

Autumn 2011

Great excitement built up to house sailing (September 30), with improvised in-house training, to produce good, competitive sailing in the light airs of a perfect late summer afternoon. It was a full entry with 14 house teams and 50 sailors involved. Galpin’s (again) came 1st (William and Richard Stonehewer-Smith and Henry Cross), with Harvey runners-up; Alexandra Barkshire (HH) was best helm and Quillie Erskine (BR) won best junior helm. A young School House trio came 3rd. Jervis were awarded the seamanship trophy. Alexandra Pye (BR), who has made a wonderful contribution in more than four years to King’s Sailing, was awarded the Irvine trophy for commitment. Three of our best helms, Alexander McCulloch, Alexandra Barkshire and Elizabeth Wauchope, trained specifically for National Schools’ Sailing Association topper Team racing. We were hoping the extended summer and light airs would give way to more seasonal wind, but the weekend at Upton Warren SC, Worcestershire, on October 1st/2nd, coincided with a Midlands heat wave with very little or no wind. Sailing against county teams who spend a lot more time on toppers that we do, the King’s trio did well to win 4 of 8 races, with just one school team finishing above us. The Autumn Schools Team Racing (October 8th), hosted by King’s, showed how well the teams were shaping up. Races were sailed in blustery conditions with the first nip of autumn in the NW breeze. King’s 1 had good wins over Royal Hospital School, Kent Schools SA and Sevenoaks; King’s 2 won against Winchester and Ardingly 2. Norwich looked strong, but King’s 1 went on to encounter Ardingly 1 in the finals. At a tournament between three King’s teams, the University of Kent and a strong KSSA team (November 5th), all three King’s teams won races. King’s 1 finished a best of three final decisively. Yet still the training went on through November for the UK Team racing Association ‘Jack Cade’ Championship (November 26) held at Bough Beech. A 20 knot wind, strengthening in the afternoon, produced the most exciting races of the term, if not the entire 2011 season. Elizabeth Wauchope and Hannah Goldsmith were two of the fastest helms; their success in the tough conditions also owed everything to crews, Ben Warnick and William

SAILING Stonehewer-Smith. Sailing is a team sport and it took all the ‘cover, luff up and block’ skills of captain Alex McCulloch and crew Alex Pye to hold up the opposition while our fast boats got away with clean wind. We had great wins against Sevenoaks B and C, Ardingly, and, in two closely fought semi-final races, held off Magdalen College School to take on Oxford University. In a term notable for wins against two of the strongest team racing schools in the country, and for being unlucky in a close race against Oxford University, the best thing was the fun, whether in our ‘Toblerone Challenge’ on the lake or racing catamarans at Whitstable, which twenty keen sailors brought to our sessions.

BSDRA Autumn Team Racing (fireflies and 420s): King’s 1 reached the finals to finish 2nd. King’s 2

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‘Wilson Hopthrow’ trophy v Kent University and KSSA: 1st, King’s 1; 2nd, KSSA; 3rd, King’s 2; 4th, King’s 3; 5th, Kent University ‘Jack Cade’ UK Open Team Racing at Bough Beech SC: King’s 1, 3rd Teams from:

Results Kent Schools Sailing Association, Annual Regatta Olivia Goodey sailing a RS 200 with brother Tom

1st of 36

Alexander McCulloch and Alexandra Pye

14th of 36

Nathan Howell and Henry Cross

17th of 36

Hannah Goldsmith and Benjamin Warnick (420)

1st school boat

Whitstable Yacht Club Races: Alexander McCulloch and Alex Soul

1st of 6 and King’s 2, 6th of 6

House Sailing, Westbere lake SC: 14 house teams (about 50 sailors) –

King’s 1: A McCulloch (capt), A Pye, H Goldsmith, B Warnick, E Wauchope, A Barkshire, W Stonehewer-Smith. King’s 2: W Stonehewer-Smith (capt), S Grover, N Howell, H Cross, R Stonehewer-Smith, H Bettley. King’s 3: J Chapman, G Macdonald, E Cooke, I Whalley Payne, C Trumper, A Soul, O Briggs. Elections at the annual House Sailing dinner: Commodore, Benjamin Warnick Vice-Commodore, Alexandra Pye Captain of Cadets, Henry Bettley

1st Galpin’s ; 2nd Harvey; 3rd Grange; 4th Jervis NSSA Team Racing: Alexander McCulloch, Alexandra Barkshire and Elizabeth Wauchope

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THE CANTUARIAN

Autumn 2011

The Interview ‘Your Starter for 10’: Mr Holland

What appeals to you most about King’s?

Patrick Demir (6b CY)

The lack of cynicism from the vast majority of the pupils. There are bound to be the one or two that think they are a bit ‘too cool for school’, but on the whole, they are really happy to see other people doing well. The children here really celebrate and enjoy others’ successes and that’s really nice to work with.

Why did you choose to become a teacher? Like a lot of young people leaving school or university I wasn’t one hundred percent sure of what I wanted to do with my life. Doing a PGCE at Loughborough seemed like a lot of fun for a year and I would then always have teaching as a possible career. However, it was during that year of teacher training that I couldn’t really see myself ever wanting to do anything else, so that’s why I’m doing it.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? A stuntman. Working in the film industry must be an amazing experience. I thought jumping out of planes or crashing cars would be great way to earn a living. I think the Dukes of Hazard was probably an unhealthy influence!

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher? A scuba diving instructor – if you’ve never tried diving, I really recommend it.

How would you describe your typical school day? Pretty hectic. It starts very early in the morning (I have young kids) and usually finishes late, tying up loose ends via email. It’s a varied diet though; I guess it’s a little bit like sending someone else up for you to the smörgåsbord (Swedish buffet). The smörgåsbord is always the same, but you’re never quite sure what you will end up with on your plate from one day to the next.

What has been the highlight of your time teaching so far? Teaching at its best is a really rewarding experience. It’s hard to choose one particular highlight as there have been many, from seeing a pupil swim their first length of the swimming pool, to congratulating members of my House on results day in August. Something that certainly stands out, whilst not strictly teaching, was from when I first started running Carlyon. Many of my House were involved in Les Miserables and watching their characters evolve and seeing how much they grew personally from being part of that experience was a really re-affirming thing for me as their Housemaster, and that stays with me. And with West Side Story coming up as well, with lots of people involved, do you have the same sort of expectations for that also?

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I certainly hope so. The pressure is beginning to ramp up a little now and the real buzz will be from seeing their first performance. It’s a very unusual thing for schools to put on performances of this scale, and it fundamentally changes the people who are involved in it. It broadens their horizons. It’s very much about what sets King’s apart from other schools – it’s exciting.

What has been one of your strangest moments at King’s? Watching a hot air balloon being launched from Green Court as part of a Physics Department project. Everyone was standing around the edge and my young son was mesmerised. The strange bit was that most of the staff and pupils took it all in their stride, seeing it as almost commonplace that such a thing should be happening during a normal school day. Such projects, including the live satellite link to Michael Foale while he was in space, are really amazing, but are frequently just accepted as the ‘norm’ at King’s.

What has been the funniest thing you have ever heard at King’s? Hmm…

Or are we just a really unfunny school? [Laughs]

And to conclude, if the Common Room were burning down, which three members of staff would you save and why? That’s quite an invidious question [chuckles]. I don’t have an adequate response for it. I’d probably just keep eating the cakes until everyone else had left.

What has been the most memorable lesson you’ve ever taught at King’s? Hopefully kids remember all of my lessons [chuckles], but it’s certainly nice when hear the odd ‘that’s really cool’ when they discover how to do something. I guess teaching PSHE has been a really good way to meet lots of new Shells at the start of school year and it can be interesting to hear their views on life in general. One lesson that sticks in my memory was teaching trampolining to a prep school class. A really able girl just got it wrong mid sequence and came down on her head. We had the ambulance crews and everything and there was a real scare she might have been paralyzed. She was up and about perfectly fine later that afternoon, but it was a really sharp reminder of how things can suddenly unravel on you.

Autumn 2011

overheard... and howlers

English teacher: ‘These people are literally falling apart at the seams.’ ‘You have to be as light and nimble as a slice of ham.’ Member of SMT: ‘One evening you’ll go to the dining room and die because the food’s poisoned.’ ‘Many years ago, yes women were seen under men in many things…’ ‘The headmaster always leaves you wanting more.’ ‘There are no more bear-baiting pits and whorehouses near the Globe [Theatre] – now there’s something even worse, it’s called the Tate Modern.’ ‘Women are the neutering sex’ Latin teacher: ‘Obviously Jupiter’s hot, his oracle’s in the bloody desert.’ ‘I thought everyone thought the British Isles looked like a witch riding a pig and a broomstick at the same time… and a koala bear…’ ‘I injected you with grass and chicken to make you obese.’ On a coach: ‘Sir, please can you make the TV bigger?’ ‘It’s not Love Actually – it’s Infatuation Actually, or A Crush Actually, or Creepy Levels of Sentimentality Actually – not love!’

THE CANTUARIAN

The cantuarian

Lent 2012

The Cantuarian Contents Editorial

This and That

Focus

West Side Story

Trips and Expeditions

Drama and Music

Miscellany

Sport

The Interview

Overheard and Howlers

Editorial Edward Lawrence Jones (6a CY)

The Lent Term always seems to surprise the King’s School. Whether it is the realisation that your coursework deadline is little more than a week away or the perfection of a white Green Court on an early January morning, the second term frequently seems to ‘pull something out of the bag’. This Lent was no exception. Hand in hand with the snow came the stress of the new year, with Oxbridge applicants tip-toeing to news of, hopefully, their success, and with the unfathomable question of to whom to send your last carnation. The anxieties of such topics were quickly blown out of the water by Graham Sinclair and Howard Ionascu’s production of West Side Story. In the new Marlowe Theatre, pupils were thrown into national recognition for a fantastic set of performances, reminiscent of the greatness seen before my time at King’s in the production of Les Misérables.

seasons do not appear in these pages for the simple reason that the copy was not given to the editors in time. As ever we were happy to retire home for Easter, a chocolate-fuelled break for the lucky few who did not have public exams looming ahead of them.

After the dust settled and the echoes of applause died down, pupils were once again working hard towards mock exams and coursework with the promise of good weather on the horizon. The annual visit of scholarship candidates made the top year realise we were coming to the end of our school careers, and brought hope to the Shells that they would not be the serfs for long. There have been great sporting achievements across the board from all areas of the school. We saw Eliza Brett join the ever-growing list of national players from King’s, with her debut for the England U18 Hockey team, as well as her appearance for the Canterbury Ladies. The Football was as good as ever and, with the youngest two years enjoying the pitches, we can only expect great feats in the years to come. The Netball and boys’ Hockey saw similar repute with unbeaten seasons showing their heads. Reports from many teams can be found in this edition, including an unusually high number written by pupils – perhaps evidence of a growing enthusiasm for sports journalism among members of the school. On a more prosaic note, we regret that reports of certain teams’

Lent 2012

This and That

Note from the editor: a new author has taken the reins of This and That. Severe editing measures have had to be employed. Normal service may or may not resume next term. Headmaster’s Forum

This and That would like to draw the reader’s attention to the new Headmaster’s Forum on the school website. Appearing every Thursday, this Forum has provided a forum for parents and pupils alike to share their opinions on a range of topics raised by the Headmaster, including certain aspects of university entrance, gap years and so forth. Of course, these replies have been assiduously filtered through the agency of Ms Corrinne Finch, who knows better than to let any old guff pass muster. This and That’s contributions were routinely rejected. Commmon Room In staff news, congratulations are due to Mr Adam Stennett (who finally has a valid excuse for vanishing from the social radar) and his wife Louise, after the safe arrival of their baby Henry, after a slightly bumpy landing. In addition, the Headmaster’s PA Alison Kelly returned to work after the birth of her baby Eve, thus reducing the levels of stress circulating Lattergate by approximately 500

percent. On a less happy note, the IT technical department had a couple of members of staff off work: Graham Bodey unfortunately injured his neck in a motorcycle accident, but thankfully returns to work in the Summer Term, ready to help with maintaining and upgrading the school network; and Tony Sze (OKS) badly injured his knee playing badminton, thus putting paid to his favourite pastime of proving he can kick a six foot man in the face. For a while at least. He has gamely returned to work on crutches while awaiting surgery, and hopefully he will return to full kung-fu mobility before long. Now, take a deep breath: this is the part where you learn about the Common Room’s latest furniture arrangements. Don’t think about it, just plough through it. Actually, some of this is worth a mention. You see, you may not know this, but certain chairs have invisible name tags on them. Should the wrong academic behind settle into the wrong well-worn cheek-dent, thus interfering with its time-moulded comfort, withering glares are hurled of the kind that could floor a wildebeest at sixty paces. But, and for some time this was a genuine mystery, at some stage during the term a couple of the chairs simply vanished. Gone. They then reappeared but two others went missing instead. Beads of sweat sprung forth on furrowed brows: was everyone’s chair at risk? Would erudite buttock be bereft of long-nurtured cradle? The Premises department was none the wiser, and so Common Room chairman

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Mr Simon Anderson dutifully shouldered the burden of unravelling this enigma. Finally, he tracked down the Faversham-based company responsible: to minimise disruption, they had been spiriting away two chairs at a time for reupholstering and re-jointing. This had been arranged by the Domestic Bursar, whose motives for not actually telling anyone about it can only have been to inspire a deep sense of unease among certain members of staff. Bravo, we say. In other Common Room news, Head of Strings Andy Pollock started the year with a bang when his number was drawn out of the 100 Club bag, leaving him £1000 better off. Other winners during the Lent Term were Al Holland, Gill Moorcroft and Claire Anderson. And for Craig Newlyn (Audio-Visual Technician) and his wife, the term has been extremely difficult as their son, Barnabas, was diagnosed with a tumour in his chest. Barnabas’s treatment was based in Great Ormond Street, and the first stages of his fight against cancer were featured in the BBC documentary on the hospital, shown on Tuesday evenings at 9pm – giving the merest glimpse of what Craig and his family have been going through. We wish them well with Barnabas’s recovery. Sir Robert Horton Mention must also be made of the sad death of former governor Sir Robert Horton. Sir Robert Horton, former Chairman of BP and Railtrack, a Governor of King’s from 1983-2005 and Chairman of the Legacy Club, died on 30 December 2011. The Thanksgiving Service was held at St. Andrew’s, South Stoke (Oxon) on 9th January and was conducted by The Revd Canon Dr Anthony Phillips (Headmaster 1986-96). This and That can’t possibly hope to do justice to the life and career of this great supporter of the school, but can only express deep sympathy for his family and friends. More detailed obituaries can be found elsewhere, but This and That would like to draw your attention to the heartfelt addresses given by Rabbi Julia Neuberger and former King’s Headmaster Anthony Phillips at the Service for Thanksgiving for Sir Robert in January; these can be found in the May edition of For the

Lent 2012

Record, published by the OKS Association, and give a picture of the measure of the man. Eliza Brett Finally for this edition of This and That, we feel compelled to mention the outstanding sporting achievements of King’s pupil Eliza Brett (6b JR pictured above), who has won that rare distinction of finding her way into This and That simply because her accomplishments are too splendid to fit into the regular sports pages of the magazine, although one of our editors was clearly impressed (see the Editorial). She has not only been playing Hockey for Canterbury Ladies in the country’s premier division, but she has also represented England at Under 18 level. Surely a big future awaits. But as for this author of This and That, I assume the P45 is in the post.

Focus: interview with

Interview with the New Headmaster, Mr Peter Roberts Louise Augustine-Aina (6b HH) and Patrick Demir (6b CY)

Understandably, this was one of the most highly anticipated interviews for this year’s Cantuarian. Although only a brief insight into the psyche of the new Headmaster, we were able to explore many different facets of his personality and his vision from the school. With an ever-changing topic of conversation, his quick-witted responses remained constant throughout, despite catching him on his return from a meeting. We hope this interview is as amusing and enlightening as we found it speaking to him. Cantuarian: Let’s begin. What attracted you to King’s in the first place? Headmaster: Well, I do have a sense of mission in my life as I hope my pupils do. King’s is obviously a really good school but I feel that everyone who knows about it feels that there is this great idea of it being a really great school again and I felt like I could make a difference on that pathway. C: How has it been adjusting to this new situation?

HM: Well, again, I hope it’s the case with every Shell or new 6b that they feel like me; that from the first day it just felt completely natural and you felt completely at home. Not just in terms of the boarding community but the school generally, its ethos and whole way of being. I would hope that through the way we work the admissions system, and through the way we attract really good and talented staff, that people who come to work here feel that it’s the place for them and they feel not only at home, but enjoy it and I that is how I felt. C: Have you ever attended a King’s Week performance, and if so what did you think of it? HM: I haven’t. Last summer I was out doing all the speech days at the prep schools in Kenya during your King’s Week so unfortunately I couldn’t come, but I’m really looking forward to it this year. Mr Sanderson has taken me through the programme of what’s on offer and it sounds incredibly exciting. C: It’s always amazing. In five years or so, where would you like the school to be ideally? HM: ‘At the top of the tree!’ – I think it’s an interesting question. Even though you might think it’s a bit of a long answer, I think that before I arrived both the governors and the staff have been working out a really good development plan and a strategic vision of the school for the coming years. That’s what the governors and the teachers have been involved in. So when I arrived, they were clear

THE CANTUARIAN

peter roberts

that there were four areas that they felt the school would develop in the next period of time Firstly, we’ve got West Side Story coming up in the Marlowe Theatre and it seems crazy that a school which is considered amongst the top schools for music, theatre and drama hasn’t got its own theatre. So one theme of the development is that we will be acquiring and developing a site in the city which will become a theatre and a performing arts centre. Secondly, we are also looking into acquiring a site that will be developed into a state-of-the-art science school. We have some amazing science teachers, and it’s great that so many girls and boys take it in the sixth form. We’re really enthused with science at King’s and yet at the same time the actual buildings we operate in are constricted. But it’s not just about encouraging science as a real platform for the educational side at King’s, it’s also because if the new science school reached out into the city then we could carry on the work which Miss Astin and the pupils do, which is to work with the primary schools, to make sure that we are thinking of outside and not just simply of our own lives. That’s the second thing. The third thing is that we are very enthusiastic about sport here and we are good at sport but we are keen to develop the infrastructure and facilities of the co-ed sports, like tennis and hockey. And the final thing is, as we all know, one of the great features about King’s is that it is not a stuffy stuck-up school. We attract, at 16, girls and boys from different parts of

Lent 2012

East Kent to take the scholarship exam and to come into King’s for the sixth form and then go on to top universities. We have not at the moment got enough endowment, i.e. money in a treasury chest to fund all the ones we would like. And the fourth aspect is that we would like to fundraise, with the King’s community, so we have more resources so that we can offer and attract more youngsters that come in at the sixth form level which would make it even more exciting for the King’s sixth form. C: I have noticed that a lot of people from local schools came to King’s for the sixth form this year. HM: Yes, and it’s really had a fresh and interesting impact both ways and that’s what we want. C: And now moving onto something slightly more controversial, what would you say to people who think that faith and tradition cannot have a place in a modern school? HM: Well you mustn’t preach, as we all know. It’s absolutely fundamental at King’s that people are independently minded and respect each other’s point of view and their sense of their own developing conscience and pathway. So once you start saying ‘what you should be saying’ and ‘what you shouldn’t be saying and thinking’, you are on the wrong track. Having said that it’s a great boon in our lives here, for the people and for the staff, that there across the way from this study is effectively the mother church of the English Church. Not only that, but also a centre of spirituality,

faith and learning since the 6th century. That does inform and enrich our lives, whatever your own personal beliefs are. If you don’t accept that, then it’s probably not the right school. C: Do you have a mantra or specific principles that you live by?

everyone, who took us seriously as a class in terms of the ideas we were generating rather than just explaining things to us. C: And if you could give only one piece of advice to a pupil, what would it be? HM: Always be yourself. Always be true to yourself.

HM: For schools, it’s the mantra, which I mentioned in Shirley Hall the other day, which is the one of John Shirley. ‘It’s not what the school do for you, it’s what you can do for the school that really matters.’ But I think that all I can say in terms of my own personal mantra is that, for me, it’s that you should always try your best, and at the same time understand that at the end of the day it’s by being gentle when you do achieve things and not pushing yourself too much, but at the same time developing yourself, that is the key. It’s that golden rule about balance between striving for what’s best and at the same time appreciating that it’s through the efforts of everyone that we achieve things. C: And who would you say has been the most important influence in your own life? HM: On the academic side, it’s a medieval historian called Professor Henry Mayr-Harting. He was my tutor when I studied medieval history and, interestingly for everyone at King’s, his great area of speciality was the coming of Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England, so his whole central research and expertise was based around not only the texts which are associated with the coming of the Anglo Saxons to this country, but also the development of Christianity in what was previously a pagan society, except for some areas of Christianity in the county parts and some Roman traces. It’s nice to be in the place where his centre of interest was. When I was a student his other great area of interest, which is also mine, was the illuminated manuscript, and ivory and other artefacts from the late medieval world. That’s where aesthetically I feel most engaged. C: Who was your favourite teacher at school and why? HM: It was my English teacher who taught me Chaucer and Wordsworth. I’ve always loved creative writing and poetry and she was a very inspirational teacher; she was the first teacher, which I think is really important for

C: In an assembly you mentioned that you used to be in theatre. What did you learn from your time in theatre? HM: I did do a lot of theatre when I was at school and I think, and it’s certainly the case at King’s where there is this strong tradition for the performing arts, that for me the key idea of mounting a play or a musical, as is the case with West Side Story, is that it demands of everyone involved teamwork, even more than sport or practising music – obviously music is also involved in the whole of theatre as well. It’s just the way everyone is interconnected and it is a collective and creative effort that I have always found most interesting about the theatre, besides the fact that the first rule in theatre is always to think about your audience and that’s a good principle in education. If you are not thinking about the communication of what you are trying to put across then you are not going to get anywhere. C: And what is the most memorable character you have ever been in a play? HM: Oh, I shouldn’t say this (chuckles). I was a tramp in Waiting for Godot and I do think that the interplay between Vladimir and Estragon is very interesting. I was glad that I wasn’t cast as either Pozzo or Lucky because then you might misinterpret that. But I think the sense of conspiracy as well as antagonism between Vladimir and Estragon is very interesting in terms of the dialogue and I did enjoy being involved in that. C: So, following on from that, what is your favourite play? HM: Well actually, funnily enough, it has, again, got huge connections here. I would choose from the English canon; I still get a lot of pleasure out of Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral and obviously the resonances of that now living in Canterbury and involved in the Cathedral is wonderful.

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Peter Roberts

C: Would you consider teaching History to students if you could? HM: Yes, very much so, I’m afraid that this year you probably realise that I have been so incredibly busy and I haven’t been able to teach. I always enjoy the fact that being a medievalist I have taught a variety of things: History, French, Latin, and English. I’m probably a ‘jack-ofall-trades’ and a master of none. I very much am looking forward to teaching at King’s. I think a headmaster is a head teacher, someone who enjoys teaching.

C: Go on, your favourite one, or your worst one. HM: I’m not name-dropping here, but it’s true that when I first became a headmaster, ten years ago, we were introduced to the Queen. I got lost on the way to Windsor Castle and I had to ask an estate keeper for the entrance to Windsor Castle, and unfortunately their dog ran out and bit me on the bottom, which actually caused a rip in my best suit, which I had put on to meet Her Majesty. So when I bowed down to shake the gloved hand I had to be very careful to keep my jacket in place so she couldn’t see that I had a rip across my rear.

C: And now for some more lighthearted questions. HM: Good! C: Have you ever been in any awkward situations before? HM: Yes many times. Do you want me to tell you which ones?

C: That’s brilliant. It doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? And what is the funniest joke that you have ever heard? HM: Not mine. I’m afraid that I didn’t really understand why no-one got my jokes in the Shirley Hall at the end of term, especially the time and space one (chuckles). I think that the use of humour in teaching is absolutely essential, even though my jokes are corny. I specifically focus on

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elephant jokes as part of my repertoire. I think it’s a very effective way of keeping everyone happy. C: Each to their own. What is your favourite food and drink?

HM: (laughter) Patience. C: That’s very useful when talking to me. And what A levels did you take? HM: History, Latin, French and English

HM: I’m an absolute fish-nut. I love the style of the chef, Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall, his style in terms of his usage of as many natural products, and using unusual products straight from the sea or from the hedgerows to make dishes more interesting. Adding sage or adding seaweed; these are the things that I really like doing, and I do think that the resources of the sea are brilliant. And as regards to drink I’m a complete tea-fiend. I’ve always been involved in that and whether it’s Russian caravan tea or Japanese white tea, those are my two favourite drinks. C: And what is your favourite film? HM: That is a really hard question. The Lady Killers. C: What sort of music do you like? HM: All sorts. And obviously with grown-up daughters, very much all sorts (chuckle), but no, I do very much like all sorts. My favourite radio programme is the Early Music Show on Radio 3 because I do like lots and lots of music that pre-dates the Renaissance, pre-1500s. And it doesn’t have to be with authentic instruments, but I do like that.

C: What football team do you support? HM: Stoke City C: You are in your office, innocently doing some paperwork. Suddenly, some armed men storm your study. How would you react and handle the situation? HM: I’d shake them by the hand and ask them which year of entry they were after. C: (laughter) You decide to go into an old dusty attic. In the corner you see a lamp, rub it and a genie comes out. You are given one wish, what would it be? HM: To have half an hour talking to St Anselm C: And one final question that I just have to ask, at what point does a large cup become a bowl? HM: Hmmm. At the brim.

C: Beatles or The Rolling Stones? HM: I actually love The Beatles. C: Everyone loves them, they’re brilliant. Good answer. What would you say is your worst habit? HM: When I get really into things then I go at 100 mph – when that happens my wife locks me in the broomcupboard until I promise to be normal again (laughter). C: When you’re not in the broom cupboard, what would you say is your best quality?

Lent 2012

focus: WEST SIDE STORY

JS The rebuilt and refurbished Marlowe Theatre—now far more professional both spatially and acoustically—was the ideal venue for the King’s School’s superb production of West Side Story. I saw the show on its opening night and on the Saturday matinee and on both occasions the immensely energetic and talented King’s students did not disappoint. One had to keep reminding oneself that this was not a West End production in London, so high were the production values. Graham Sinclair and Howard Ionascu have once again demonstrated that they can take the most difficult material—WSS is a melange of forms, styles and idioms—and cannot only make it work, but make it sing, make it dance, make it live with the greatest vibrancy and precision. Bringing in Stuart Hopps to choreograph the musical was a masterstroke. The extraordinary dancing, especially in ‘The Dance at the Gym’ and ‘America’, was a thrilling blend of gritty, teenage gyration and ballet: a terribly beautiful, stylised violence. Leonard Bernstein supplied the ravishing music—at once tough, witty and sensual (like Manhattan itself) and Mr Ionascu’s expert direction of the professional-sounding orchestra delivered a big, boisterous sound that filled the Marlowe. After both shows, several members of the grateful audience went away humming, singing—and whistling—many memorable melodies.

Shaun Wood’s ‘Tony’ and Emily Davis’s ‘Maria’ were successful reprisals of their Shakespearean predecessors, ‘Romeo’ and ‘Juliet’. They both acted and sounded as if they were in love, particularly when they sang ‘Tonight’ on the balcony. Shaun brought grave excitement to his role and often sang with great and tender mellowness, if not melancholy, that perfectly suited the heavy fate bearing down on him. Emily’s lovely soprano voice had a remarkable bell to it and beautifully captured Maria’s innocence, her sensuality and her capacity to both love and suffer for her passion.

As for individual performances, it is hard to single out four or five because all the students turned in such lively and piquant interpretations of their various roles.

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The leaders of two gangs, Dimitri Gripari as Riff (pictured left) and Elliot Evans as Bernardo, were brilliant and brought out the astonishing energy of both Jets and Sharks. Particularly in ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’, the Jets added fuel to the pungent, ‘psychologically-disturbed’ lyrics with some of the most inventive and amusing acting in the show. In ‘America’, the cultural discord between Anita (Jemima Chesterfield) and Rosalia (Eleanor Hartland) created one of the most electric dance sequences in the production. Simon Brett’s costume design was flawless, the girls using the swishing, ballooning skirts to attack and retreat, like female toreadors taunting one another. Both Jemima and Eleanor were utterly engaging in their roles and the Shark girls as a group danced with the liveliest brio and precision. What could have been a choreographer’s nightmare turned out to be a midsummer night’s (American) dream. All these talents coalesced in ‘The Dance at the Gym’, one of the high points of production combining the many gifts of the orchestra with some dazzling choreography. It seemed impossible to keep all those Sharks and Jets from colliding on the stage, but Stuart Hopps had the kids pull it off, to the great pleasure of the audience. As ‘Doc’, Patrick Demir let the character’s angry anguish (Sondheim’s version of ‘A plague on both your houses’) emerge with perfect modulation. Patrick turned a minor role into a Greek chorus. William Allen’s ‘Lieutenant Schrank’ was a swaggering menace, a one-man good cop/ bad cop who stepped right out of film noir. Samuel Gearing’s bit part as ‘Glad Hand’ in ‘The Dance at the Gym’ was a delightful surprise. His fey mincing was, if possible, even more plausible and sprightly than his predecessor’s in the famous film version of the musical. Finally, the song

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‘Somewhere’, exquisitely sung by Teresita (Olivia Prince), found a way to make the celestial and the funereal kiss, immortally and mortally, as Tony and Maria were drawn up into a star-burst of spotlights that suggested heaven may be the only place for such star-crossed lovers. Applause too for Elroy Ashmore (Designer) and Catherine Webb (Lighting Designer). They made this scene one of the most moving in the show. If Mr Sinclair wanted a gritty, muscular and edgy production of WSS, then he wildly succeeded. Mr Ionascu and his cohort of gifted musicians delivered Bernstein’s music with passion and conviction. Stuart Hopps’s stunning choreography completed the picture and the audiences were treated to yet another King’s School production that was completely at home in a professional theatre. Kit Marlowe (OKS) would have been delighted (had he known about ‘musicals’). What’s next for Mr Sinclair, Mr Ionascu and their impossibly-talented students? Nothing is above or beyond them, from South Pacific to The Merchant of Venice. They all tackled a monster in staging West Side Story, with magnificent results. Further pictures can be found and purchased at the following link: http://www.photoboxgallery.com/kingscanterbury The password is: cantuarian1882

Emily Davies and Shaun Wood as Maria and Tony

Bernardo (Elliot Evans) and Anita (Jemima Chesterfield) lead the dancers

Henry Woodward and the Jets

Charlie Sherburne-Gladwell as Baby John

The Shark Girls

William Allen as Lieutenant Schrank

Jemima Chesterfield and Emily Davies: Anita and Maria

From top to bottom: Emily Davies as Maria, The Jets and the Orchestra

Top: Mr Ionascu with his Orchestra Below: Mr Sinclair

Interview with Mr Sinclair and Mr Ionascu Amanda Thomas (6a CY)

With months of speculation from the audience and preparation from the cast, the school’s production of West Side Story in the new Marlowe Theatre was always going to be the subject of great anticipation. And after the curtain had fallen on the first night, everyone’s hard work was rewarded by the general feeling of ‘they’ve done it again’; the run of five performances was met, of course, with wide congratulations for everyone involved. What better way of reporting on the spectacle from the inside than by talking to the two men of art behind the show’s success, Mr Sinclair and Mr Ionascu? West Side Story, both are keen to say, depends on the full integration of the musical elements with the dramatic side; for this to occur, nearly all the members of the cast had to be a ‘triple threat’, combining their acting skills with dance and musicianship. This combination of different ingredients is what makes the show so revolutionary, Mr Ionascu says, making it amongst the best musical theatre scores ever written. Mr Sinclair calls it ‘an enormous piece’, because ‘it is all one – the characters have to burst into song and dance because of this huge energy and emotional temperature.’ And to make things even more of a challenge to the performers, Bernstein’s score combines musical styles as well. Mr Ionascu mentions that there are ‘lots of idioms, from jazz, to ballet, to opera.’ No-one thought it would be easy – and Mr Ionascu admits that he was ‘almost worried’ about the boys’ singing potential, although he had underlying confidence in them – but everyone agreed that the whole cast, and especially the orchestra, carried it off extremely well. Did that success with the musical style come early?

rehearsals, because each member of the cast knows they can depend on everyone else, meaning that by the end, ‘the show holds together seamlessly.’ With such detailed preparation, there is ‘no need to be scared’, and ‘the teamwork and cooperation involved in working towards a goal are useful in later life’. Were there any moments that stood out? For Mr Sinclair, no – ‘nothing stands out, and every moment was a gift.’ Mr Ionascu was particularly proud of some songs, though. ‘As a dramatic moment, “A boy like that” stands out, and “Something’s coming” remained hard until the first night, when it really happened,’ he says. ‘And the orchestra almost perfected the “Rumble”!’ Such an intensity of artistic skill inspires people within the school to get involved, both would agree. Mr Sinclair says ‘it inspires people to see the enjoyment of the rehearsals, as well,’ and Mr Ionascu says that ‘seeing their peers performing at this level, including people who aren’t normally up there singing, makes others want to do it.’ If it was a question of the legacy of the production, this must count for a lot – ‘a new generation of pupils inspired to get involved in drama and music.’ What about other aspects of the show? Well, the audience – including the Cantuarian team – loved West Side Story. And for Mr Sinclair, that is what matters. ‘The cast’s only responsibility is to the audience. What matters is the integrity of the show, and applause is a by-product, if we get that right.’ And does he judge it a success? Certainly! ‘It was a tribute to the talent and dedication of all King’s students.’

‘The brass section got it very quickly – they’re used to the big band style.’ But for the string players it was perhaps different to what they were accustomed, although finally it ‘came together very well.’ Part of this was down to the long rehearsal period, which began in September for both the cast and the orchestra. By Christmas, the singers knew their music well, helped by the fact that the songs are predominantly for soloists rather than the ensemble. Mr Sinclair points out the value of the ‘family’ atmosphere of

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trips and expeditions The Madrigalia Trip to Belgium Camellia Johnson (6b WL)

Every Tuesday lunchtime and Thursday afternoon from September, Madrigalia gathered to rehearse. The group consists of several members of the Crypt Choir: Siân Rees, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, Camellia Johnson, Hannah Goldsmith, William Fairbairn, Chevonne Wong, Sophie Nairac, Ilona Bushell, Shaun Wood, Samuel Hewitt, Jacob Ewens, Lewis Cullen, Daniel Wilson and Maximus Rex. Madrigalia is, apparently, the only school choir in the UK that sings only early, polyphonic music. It was a wonderful opportunity to sing such difficult music with the challenge of singing one to a part. After several mini-rehearsals in informal concerts and a performance in Patrixbourne, we were finally ready for the concert in Sainte-Julienne, Vervier. We left for Vervier on the last day of the Lent Term, early in the morning, and were warmly welcomed by Mr Todd’s family. As this was a one day trip, everything moved really quickly and there was no time to waste. After a rehearsal in the church it wasn’t long till the concert started. We shared the concert with some young local musicians. The church was a lovely place to sing in as the acoustics were perfect for our repertoire. The most memorable moment, for me, was when all the musicians who had performed all joined together to sing Mozart’s ‘Ave Verum’. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and thought that the all the hard work that we put in to preparing the difficult pieces really paid off. After the concert, we went back to Mr Todd’s parents’ house and had supper. We were interspersed between the other performers and it was really interesting to hear about their lives as musicians. We all shared grace, in song, and ate together in celebration of a good concert. After dinner, we went back to our rooms and slept before another day of travelling.

Madrigalia would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Todd for his leadership and his patience with us. This trip would also not have happened without the great support of our director of Music, Howard Ionascu, and the organization and leadership of Miss Comber.

The Remove Spanish Trip to Seville November 2011 The Cantuarian appologises that this article was accidentally omitted from the Autumn 2011 Edition.

Catriona Jenkinson (Rem HH) and Eliza Cocksworth (Rem CY)

Last October, a group of Removes met at Stansted airport to catch our plane to Seville. For many of us, it was our first experience of Spanish culture and an opportunity for us to improve our linguistic skills. Although everyone was nervous, all the families we stayed with were delightfully hospitable and were very helpful throughout the trip. After a traditional Spanish breakfast, we crossed the picturesque bridge to our lessons at the language school in the city’s centre. During these lessons, we were able to improve our Spanish considerably throughout the whole week. Every day after lunch provided at our houses, we visited different tourist attractions which are famous throughout Spain for being exceptionally beautiful and educational. These included visiting the magnificent cathedral where we climbed to see the views from the highest point in the city. We were able to see exactly where we would go as the week progressed such as the famous Plaza de Torros and beautiful gardens surrounding the ancient Palace. During the afternoons after taking part in school activities, we had free time to spend shopping and to experience the Spanish culture in the hub of the city.

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The highlight of the trip for us was the visit to the safari park. Here, we were able to go up close with wild African animals and even hold vultures. As well as this, another great experience of the trip was the visit to the theme park on the last day ‘Isla Magica’ where we were able to use up our energy before our night flight home. However, the trip would have not been such a success if we didn’t have such a welcoming family who fed us well every meal and taught us about Seville and our activities. Also, they spoke Spanish to us all the time, which back then seemed difficult, but in the long run it has been really useful as it has improved our confidence in speaking Spanish in general. And we didn’t realize it was going to be as hard as it was to say goodbye to the family on the final day. The staff were always there for us, not only for emergencies but to help us speak Spanish to the locals. The trip was a success and we would recommend it to anyone who would like to experience a once in a life time journey and considerably improve their Spanish.

The Duke of Edinburgh Expedition to Snowdonia ARW

For time immemorial, it seems, I have lamented the damp and dreary weather which moves off the Irish Sea at the end of the winter season and appears to reside in the Snowdonia National Park. Numerous OKS will remember the rain or drizzle, often aided by the wind, or the mist which hangs like a mantle over the mountains to inhibit our walks and often challenge our navigation. Our training taught us about hyperthermia, emergency shelter, escape routes and survival techniques and although dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn and sun-stroke were on the syllabus we were almost unprepared for the near Mediterranean conditions we were to enjoy this year. Sunglasses were a must, so too skin protection and copious amounts of liquid to maintain an acceptable level of body fluid.

trips and expeditions After the long journey from School to the Ogwen Valley and the pleasant night at the Youth Hostel, the leaders – Mr Watson, Miss Smit and Mr Jones – cooked the breakfast of bacon and eggs before the participants set off on the Expedition. After the groups were transported to Llyn Gwynant, a beautiful lake in the shadow of Snowdon they divided with Group one following a planned route passing the ruined castle at Dolwyddelan and on to Capel Curig, and Group two walking over the Bwlch, on to Rhyd Dhu and then to the camp site at Llanberis. The good weather had brought out many walkers and it was not surprising to meet and see so many other D of E groups on the popular footpaths.

group going down to the Ogwen Valley and ultimately to Capel Curig , the other going up and over to Llanberis in an exchange of camp sites. The weather held for yet another day when the groups again reversed each other’s steps from day 1 and met up at the Llyn Gwynant camp site to enjoy a tranquil evening by the lake. The time of year meant that it was devoid of biting insects and it was possible to sit outside one’s tent and swap stories and experiences. Harriet Preston celebrated her birthday, blowing out her candles in the still air on a chocolate cake which was a welcome luxury and a nice change from ‘boil in the bag meals’. The calorie count was justified. What a brilliant and successful five days. Grateful thanks must also go to Mr Jones and Miss Smit.

Snowdon itself was the focus it seemed and Mr Watson later related how he was unable to reach the trig point on the summit because of the crowds despite the fact that ‘the tourist season’ for the mountain railway had not yet started. The distant views were fantastic, but the walking was testing in its steepness and heat. On expedition day 2 both groups passed near the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’ –an apt name for the twisting, steep and narrow gulley – one

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drama and music

drama and music The Walpole and Grange House Concert Ilona Bushell (Fifth WL)

The annual Grange and Walpole Charity House Concert and Dinner once again offered a magnificent and varied feast of food and music, held in the Birley’s Pavilion. The concert opened with the Walpole House’s performance of ‘Lean on Me’, a tribute to their triumphant victory in the house song competition in October. The audience was then treated to a surprise performance from the Walpole shells of ‘Misery’.

the evening. Firstly, an arrangement of the song by Cole Porter, ‘Miss Otis Regrets’, starred Margaret Tong singing soprano solo. Later on in the evening, they also sang the favourite classic, ‘The Bare Necessities’, and the musical entertainment for the evening was fittingly rounded off by the group’s performance of ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’. The evening closed with a charity raffle, and prizes of chocolate, Champagne and perfume. Everyone left contented after another year of delicious food and entertaining music in the gifted company of The Grange and Walpole. The raffle was a great success and included many different prizes. The raffle prizes were as follows: • A bottle of ‘Blessings’ by BelindaBrown;

After the wonderful Walpole introduction, the entertainment dispersed to smaller groups and soloists with their performances of Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Bach and Humperdinck amongst others. The performances were intertwined around the wonderful three courses, waited professionally by members of The Grange and Walpole. There was a great variety of music from both houses, with performances for voice, as well as on the cello, trumpet and oboe. There were also duets, and the audience were reminded of the school’s production of West Side Story with Shaun Wood’s heart warming rendition of ‘Maria’. Performers also included Dewi Rees, Harry Bruges, Alexander Soul, Margaret Tong and Sophia Gripari. As well as the solo performances, students from both houses had got together to perform in group performances, which were scattered about the programme. There were two singing duets – the first from Sophie Lark and Ilona Bushell, who performed ‘Evening Prayer’ from Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretl. The second was from Camellia Johnson and Anna Booth-Clibborn, performing Mendelssohn’s ‘I waited for the Lord’. The Grange and Walpole quartet also played, with two excellent performances by Sophie Nairac, Lucy Logan-Green, Henry Downing and Alexander Soul.

• 12 “Daily Mail RBS Schools Day” tickets for the Rugby competition in Twickenham on 4th April 2012 from Mr and Mrs Downing; • 1 kilo of Belgian Chocolates from Mr and Mrs Abson; • 2 bottles of champagne from Mrs Young and Mr Dath. Thank you once again to every parent that contributed to the raffle. In total, the concert raised £1,202.31 which was divided between three charities: King’s College Hospital: £400, The Royal Free Pancreas Cancer Research: £400 and Trekstock: £402.31.

Finally, The Grange and Walpole also combined to delight the audience with a selection of three songs throughout

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l-r: Nicolas Simmonds, Kitty Davies, Teddy Baker, Harry Leadbeater and Elizabeth Trelawny-Vernon

The Luxmoore, Meister Omers and Linacre House Play TJA

This excellent production deviated from the normal house format in four very positive ways: the script was home-grown, written by Dr Liz Pidoux, the Luxmoore Housemistress; all the music was original, composed by our very own Stephen Matthews; the evening formed a unity, rather than consisting of excerpts; and the JKS Barn was being used for the first time to host a main school production – curious since it is such a stylish, ancient and charming building, with good acting space and excellent acoustics. On this occasion it offered a perfect space for the display of talents of pupils and staff.

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Liz Pidoux’s script was first rate, side-splittingly funny and with just enough poignancy and social satire (or was it realism?) to give real depth. It consisted of sixteen tableaux describing two families’ Christmas trip to a second home in France. The witty titles of the scenes (e.g Petty Déjeuner, Beauty Free, Home Sweat Home, Druid Your Way, Christmas in the Trenches…) give some indication of the farcical situations as the various members of the two families try to relate to their neighbours, French and English, as well as to a group of local druidic hippies, and to each other. The inevitable fallings out were hilarious. The plot was splendid – it was as if ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’ had fallen into the hands of the ‘Carry On’ team: it would be tempting to reproduce it here, but space is limited. Suffice it to say that the script is a good read in itself: Liz Pidoux might well lend you a copy, particularly if you are another school casting round for a play (you’ll love it!), or even better if you are a publisher brandishing a large advance (you’ll not regret it!). The skill of the scripting facilitated excellent acting. On limited rehearsal time and with many actors taken by West Side Story, the cast of thousands approach with not

drama and music too many lines for most of the actors worked brilliantly. The characters were deeply annoying to one another but in their ways decent and well-intentioned, so actors required calm empathy as well a demonstrative and declamatory style for the high satire and loss of temper.

often sounding very cinematographic. Martin Miles did more than well to get so much out of the ensemble in such a short though packed rehearsal schedule: there was excellent tone and sonority as well as a calm, steady rhythm.

Stars of the show, who did have long roles to sustain, were Nicholas Simmonds as the know-it-all blousy lady Bracknell cum pantomime dame mother-in-law, Elizabeth Trelawny-Vernon as the long-suffering mother and daughter-in-law, and Emma Lazell as the Mrs Bucket-ish posh Normandy neighbour. Teddy Baker, Kitty Davis, Jake Hewitt and Sophie Bansal were hopefully not type-cast as truculent adolescents, but might have been; Harry Leadbeater (miraculously risen from his flu-bed) and Max Davis were aloof and selfish husbands, lazy, spoilt and hen-pecked by turn; and Charles MacPherson got many a laugh as the spoilt child with the annoying and massive cuddly toy called Goering.

The evening was very much enjoyed by the audience, those who belonged to the house-in-France-owning classes, and those of us still perhaps aspiring. Most schools would have been more than delighted with this as their major annual production, so the very fact that this was fitted in amidst so much else, and that it is was refreshingly original, made the event all the more remarkable.

In addition there was a rich variety of well played cameo parts: Claudia Clifford as an opportunist sub-Oréal beauty consultant, Ranulph Tees (complete with horribly tight clothes and false chest hair) as the drinking neighbour from hell, Anna Levitskaya as his latest bit of fluff who turns out steelier than he thought. The local hippies, Edward Hands, Rebecca Spayne, Andrew McCredie and Eleanor Warr, were hilarious, particularly when engaged in para-druidical Christmas rites. The prim local lady, Stephanie Sy-Quia, and the burly peasant, Mr John Pidoux, also fell entertainingly to squabbling in French, for not even they are above the human frailty of cantankerousness Liz Pidoux is so fond of portraying. All other minor parts were played with great panache. The original score, composed by Mr Stephen Matthews and conducted with expert warmth and precision by Mr Martin Miles, consisted of wonderful homages to various genres of film music: Monsieur Hulot, Carry On, Lalouch and Saint Trinian’s, complete with pastiche Poulenc waltzes, and the weaving in and out of melodies from Christmas Carols, the Wedding March, Gardners’ Question Time – a whole musical crossword of fun! The scoring for a very talented but amateur band with very little rehearsal time was as flattering as it was masterful,

The Mitchinson’s House Concert Angus Forbes (Sh MT)

It was our last house concert with Mr Fox as Housemaster and it was bound to be a good one. The Shells set the tone with a unique rendition of The Fray’s ‘How to save a life’, the culmination of many stunted rehearsals. Ashwin Bhadresha followed, doing Vivaldi proud with a memorised performance of Movement 3 from ‘Autumn’, part of The Four Seasons, on the Violin. What came next was mesmerising. Milly Johnson’s hands appeared to flow over the piano playing Kaski’s ‘Night by the sea’ – a truly wonderful tune. The words of ‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone have never sounded better than when they were sung by the dynamic duo of Helen Ferret and Eleanor Hartland who performed subsequently. By this time the emcees, Charlie Jamieson and Harry Gibbon, had become more than comfortable on the stage and had raised many laughs with their entertaining introductions. Igor Stravinsky once said, ‘Harpists spend 90 percent of their lives tuning their harps and 10 percent playing out

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miscellany of tune.’ He couldn’t have been proved more wrong by Siobhan Casha, the next act, who played ‘Milonga para amar’ by Alfredo Rolando Ortiz very tunefully. Emmyline Duffy and Clementine Butler-Gallie were the next to serenade our ears with two charismatic poems, one of which was ‘Stopping by woods on a snowy evening’ by Robert Frost. The following act was undisputedly one of the most interesting acts of the night, in which the audience were given the privilege to listen to a recording of Mrs Fox in her younger years singing ‘Credo’ on the radio. She was succeeded by our Head of House, Tom Knox, who proved that leadership wasn’t his only forte, by delivering a serene rendition of ‘Allegro Appassionato’ by Saint-Saens. The adjoining act really proved that Shell is the year to come out of your shell. A usually quiet Dannie Rhodes stunned us with his confidence and amazing magical skill in his captivating routine. Then came the turn of the Remove girls who sang ‘Dream a little dream’ by the Mamas and Papas in a mindcapturing a cappella arrangement. Fenella Chesterfield followed, enchanting us with ‘Sonatensatz’ by Brahms on the violin. Next, James Griggs relived the Beatles’ classic, ‘Let it be’. It was a gripping performance. Harry Gibbon then became the fashion setter, playing ‘Midnight Blue’ by Kenny Burrell on the guitar. He later performed the iconic Pink Floyd song, ‘Wish you were here’ with James Rand in a guitar/voice duo which raised the roof. Between these two extraordinary acts was Tzeamara Goddard on the cello, playing Bach’s ‘Sonata 5’ without so much as a slip of the bow. She was succeeded by Joanna Patten-Martin who exposed Oscar Wilde for the aesthete that he was by reading a passage from ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. James Rand returned to the stage singing and accompanying himself on the guitar to perform Alexi Murdoch’s ‘Breathe’. ‘Pachelbel’s Canon in D’ was played next by an explosive quartet of Jemima and Fenella Chesterfield, Ashwin Bhadresha and Tom Knox. Another fantastic foursome were next, led by Charlie Jamieson on vocals; they raised the roof of St Alphege’s with their execution of Chuck Berry’s ‘Johnny B. Goode’. The concert finished with the whole house singing Mitchinson’s entry for the house song competition, ‘Fat

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bottomed girls’ by Queen, which was ably conducted by the previously mentioned Tom Knox. Harry Gibbon did a great job organising the event, and Charlie Burn and Jordan Godden did a brilliant job with the lighting. Special thanks must go to Mr Matthews who faultlessly accompanied on the piano throughout the concert.

The Walpole Carnations Lucy Wallis (6a WL)

This February, Walpole celebrated the 20th anniversary of an important House tradition involving the writing and delivering of carnations to hopeful recipients throughout the school. Each year the House comes together to tie nearly five thousand messages to deep red carnations before they are delivered to the school the following morning. In the two weeks leading up to this, the 6a girls meet every night to fold, twizzle and thread ribbon onto thousands of cards before copying onto them the scrawled messages sent in by pupils and staff of the school. Each and every message was checked and occasionally censored by Mrs Young and Mrs Roberts to ensure nothing inappropriate got through! The design of the cards changes every year and this year the swans were drawn by Margaret Tong. Armed with lemonade, an unfathomable amount of Galaxy chocolate and a stationery shop’s worth of black Sharpie pens, all kindly supplied by Mrs Young, we managed to complete them all on schedule. Mrs Watson, a previous Housemistress of Walpole, was kind enough to tell me all about how and why the Walpole Carnations tradition started and what makes it so special. Carnations began in 1992 when the school became fully co-educational. Walpole, being the first girls’ House, started the tradition so that pupils could have fun and show their friendship, while helping others

at the same time. Every year, the 6a girls decide which charity will be supported. Each member of this year group presents the charities they are passionate about and they then vote on which one they would like to support. This year, it was decided to go with Lucy Logan Green’s chosen charity, The MS Trust. This charity was particularly close to Lucy’s heart, and she spoke movingly about the charity during a school assembly.

girls wanted to do something fun and unique which distinguished them from other charity initiatives. It also fitted in well with the theme of Valentine’s Day. This year we introduced the charities to the school and chose to make a video where we asked pupils and staff around the school questions about their first kiss and their ideal partner, among others. The video was shown to the school in assembly and was very well received.

Over the years Walpole has raised more than £55,000 for over fifty charities ranging from the Meningitis Trust to smaller aid organisations, such as one which used the money to buy wheels for an ambulance in Tanzania where some OKS were working as vets. The Walpole Carnations have managed to pick up some traditions of its own over the years, including the infamous red tights which this year were worn by all twelve of us, Mrs Young included. Every year since 1998, six years after the tradition began, the 6a year has presented an assembly to the whole school in the Shirley Hall. This is when and how the tradition of wearing red tights began – the

Doing carnations is a really special occasion in Walpole because not only does no other House do anything like it, but it is something which includes the whole boarding House: the 6as write and make the cards, the 6bs deliver them to the Houses, and the whole House ties the cards onto the flowers. According to Mrs Watson, in the thirteen years she spent as Housemistress, she estimates that she read and censored over 600,000 carnation slips. ‘Not many of those were inappropriate,’ she remembers, ‘which is a great credit to the school.’

The Walpole 6a girls with their carnations. l-r Lucy Wallis, Harriet Lee, Francesca Newman, Grace Johnson, Shyla Melwani, Lucy Logan Green, Isobel Parrish, Autumn Withey-Stevens, Frankie Kent, Sophie Nairac, Margaret Tong

This year the Walpole Carnations has been a really special experience and unfortunately my last. It is something which involves the whole school, and every pupil receives at least one – no matter what. Walpole has used carnations every February for the past twenty years, the only exception being one year when Mrs Watson was forced to run to the florist at the last minute owing to lack of supplies. This meant that in 1996, one hundred red roses were given to the staff, but this has not happened since. This year there was a slight change in that one anonymous member of the school managed to persuade Walpole to pass on a white carnation to someone to make his message extra special. As he provided his own flower and paid an extra contribution to the charity, he was allowed to subvert the tradition! The Walpole Carnations managed to make a profit in 2012 of just over £2,800. We were delighted with this and we will be passing the money on to the MS Trust.

The King’s School Confirmation CTN On 5th February 2012, the following candidates were confirmed in the cathedral.

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Olivia Wilson BR

Henry Downing GR

Paddy Ross LN

Laura Bartley LX

Louisa Freemont LX

Amy Tudor LX

Annabel Mockridge BR

Emma Torkington BR

Sabrina Kitson WL

Ellie Paine JR

Emma Bryant WL

Sophie Sood WL

Maxim Nicholson GR

Felicity Stocker WL

Victoria Leigh LX

Michael Adenuga MO

Sam Buchanan TR

Fred Preston GR

Alex Farrow GL

Eliza Edwards JR

Milly Dent LX

Charles Trumpet GR

A wonderful service presided over by the Bishop of Dover was followed by drinks in the Chapter House

The Morning Service CTN

BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship on Sunday 26 February came from the Shirley Hall.

The service was led by the Senior Chaplain, the Revd Fredrik Arvidsson and the preacher was the Archbishop of Canterbury (and the School’s Visitor), Dr Rowan Williams. The Archbishop’s sermon – ‘What is Freedom?’ – was on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. “In a famous poem he wrote in July 1944, he sketched out what he thought was involved in real freedom – discipline, action, suffering and death. Not quite what we associate with the word – but with these reflections, he takes us into the heart of what it is for someone to be lastingly free.”

living water so she never thirsts again. Tim was able to draw out the wonderful significance for us and explained how we can be truly satisfied in this life. He spoke on Thursday on ‘How can I find life to the full?’ from John 10. In his clear and engaging way, he explained how Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep. We also enjoyed a cheese and wine evening to which about 30 members of the Sixth Form came on Wednesday where we looked at the identity of Jesus at the same time as enjoying various refreshments. Overall it was a great few days – my thanks to Tim for so generously giving up his time to join us.

The Chapel Choir, directed by Howard Ionascu, sang Richard Shephard’s ‘Never weather beaten sail’ and ‘Jesu, grant me this I pray’, in the setting of Orlando Gibbons, arranged by Edward Bairstow. Lessons were read by Jamie Johnston, Chairman of the Chapel Council, and Laura Galloway, Vice Captain of School; prayers were led by Samuel Gearing and Ellen Arvidsson; and the organ was played by David Newsholme.

The Lenten Talks MJWS

We were privileged to have Rev’d Tim Dossor join us for a few days in the week preceding Confirmation for the Pre-Lenten talks. Tim addressed the whole school in two assemblies, giving us a taster of what his theme was for the afternoon events: Real Life Jesus. We began with a Cream Tea for Fifths and below to give them an opportunity to meet Tim and ask him questions. With plenty of clotted cream, scones and jam, it was a delicious way to start the week. As in previous years, the two major events were the suppers in St Augustine’s, each followed by a talk. After excellent food including brownies and vast servings of hot chocolate sauce, we settled down on Tuesday to hear Tim speak on the title ‘How can I find satisfaction?’ He chose as his text John 4, in which Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, and offers her

THE CANTUARIAN

The Proustian Interview Questions

6a girl

Shell boy

Favourite virtue?

Bravery

Courage

Favourite qualities in a man?

Kind, brave, dark horse

Funny

Favourite qualities in a woman?

Down to earth, good-natured, fun

Good looking, kind, likes the same things as me.

Your chief characteristic

I have no idea

Hardworking

What do you appreciate most in your friends?

They make me laugh

Support and trust

Your main fault?

I over-think everything

Dissatisfaction and complaining

Favourite occupation?

Actress

Anything interesting and well paid (lawyer?)

Your idea of happiness?

Shoes

Having a lot of money and living a comfortable life

Your idea of misery?

No shoes

Constantly having troubles and worries

If not you, who would you be?

Marilyn Monroe

Don’t know

Where would you like to live?

Paris

English countryside or France

Favourite colour and flower?

Sunflowers

Green, don’t really know about the flower though

Favourite prose authors?

Louise Rennison, Emily Bronte

Robert Muchamore and George Orwell

Favourite poets?

Carol Ann Duffy, T S Eliot

Wilfred Owen (and other WWI poets)

Favourite heroes in fiction?

Sherlock Holmes, Heathcliff

Favourite heroines in fiction?

Irene Adler, Jean Grey

Favourite painters and composers?

Debussy

Henry Purcell, J S Bach

Heroes in real life?

Ayrton Senna, Edie Sedgwick

People fighting in Afghanistan, risking their lives

Most disliked historical figure?

Haig

Hitler

Your hero of world history?

Churchill

Tank Man (in Tiananmen Square)

Favourite food and drink?

Fry-up, salt popcorn, grenadine

Italian or BBQ and appletiser, coke or orangina

Favourite names?

Sapphire, Jack

Matthew and Kate

What do you hate the most?

Lies

Chewing loudly, snoring and mess

Most admired military event?

I’ve never been good at history…

Battle of Britain

The reform you admire the most?

60’s fashion

Don’t know.

What natural talent do you wish you were gifted with?

I wish I could dance

Don’t know really.

How do you wish to die?

Happy

Peacefully, in my sleep

What is your present state of mind?

Overloaded

Tired, a bit bored but happy.

Your favourite motto?

Everybody dies but not everybody lives.

Don’t know.

sport

boys’ hockey Boys’ Hockey Team Reports 1st XI DWB

Weekly Fixtures P 10 D 0 L 4 W 6 GF 21 GA 24 Kent Cup P 2 D 0 L 2 W 0 GF 5 GA 10 The boys’ season started with a new coach and hoped to change the fortune of the boys’ Hockey within the school. Some of the boys had been seen during the previous terms activities but pre-season was the first opportunity to see them as a squad. It turned out to be a very wet event! We travelled to Eltham College to play Abingdon,

Alleyns, Cranbrook and most of the day was spent trying to survive the torrential downpours and gale force winds. Consequently the Hockey was not brilliant, but there were definitely signs of some positive things to work on. From here on, the squad and I were determined to make a statement about this season and King’s Hockey. We had a training game against Canterbury HC Millers side: a mixture of youth and experience. This was a great introduction for the squad, who by now were stating to really work hard and understand what we wanted to do. With a 1-0 win, it was a solid foundation to build upon. The second game saw us travel to Duke of York’s, a tricky fixture again some fit and fast boys. We worked really hard, in the first half especially; however we did start to panic a little in the second half despite being 1-0 up. The game showed once again areas for us to focus on in training to ensure we maintained our winning ways. Our second fixture against Cranbrook was one that the boys really wanted to win and this was seen though their work rate; they ran tirelessly throughout. It was a very even game and remained 2-2 until the last three minutes

Boys’ Hockey 1st XI

THE CANTUARIAN

of the game when Tom Ralston fired the ball past the keeper to win 3-2. The local derby against Kent College resulted in a resounding 4-1 win. The next three games fell either side of half term and was not good timing for the momentum of the side losing all three to Haileybury, Ardingly and Sutton Valance. A productive video session after the Sutton Valance game left the squad fully prepared for a tough game against Kent Cup winner Eltham College. Once again the squad was wholly up to the challenge being patient with the ball and working hard when without it. The fixture was won 3-2 and will go down as the game of the season. The final regular game of the season was another local derby against St Edmund’s resulting in a fantastic 4-2 win. This really rounded off the season well, with some hard fought battles against strong opposition. William Fabbro (Captain) and Jake Davies (Vice Captain) worked together tremendously hard in their roles and have been a great for the squad. This season the Players’ player of the season went to William Fabbro. Team from: William J W Fabbro (Capt), Jake D Davies (Vice Capt), Jonathan R L Cawdron, William R T Stonehewer-Smith, Piers E Webb, James W Bailey, Alexander G James, Henry W H Fryzer, Bertram R O’Brien, Benjamin T M P Simpson, Thomas G L Ralston, Sebastian N Leggett, Jamie M T Adams, Dominic S Moore, Samuel D J De Haan, James H R Meddings, Canterbury Millers (h)

Won

1-0

Duke of Yorks (a)

Won

1-0

Cranbrook (a)

Won

3-2

Kent College (h)

Won

4-1

Haileybury (a)

Lost

1-3

Sutton Valance (h)

Lost

1-4

Ardingly (a)

Lost

1-5

Eltham (h)

Won

3-2

Dulwich College (a)

Lost

2-4

St Edmunds (h)

Won

4-2

Lent 2012

2nd XI RPS

P9 W5 D3 L1 Drive, enthusiasm, and passion were key elements to the great success of this team. The final results are some of the best the 2nd XI have had in years. Although we won our first match against the Duke of York’s, probably the most influential match of the whole season was our 2-7 defeat at the hands of Cranbrook. It was no disgrace to lose to this team, but instead, like all great sportsmen, we learnt from our loss. Cranbrook had won 4 short-corners within the first 10 minutes, and managed to put all 4 in the back of the goal by a fantastically simple and effective short-corner routine. They scored a further 3 in the rest of the match. As I said, as great sportsmen we recognised our defeat to a better team, but learnt from our mistakes. For the rest of the season we copied the Cranbrook short-corner! First up was Kent College – here we thrashed them 9-0 (Max scored a hat-trick). Then was Haileybury – a much tougher opponent. Once again Max scored a hat-trick – two of which came from the short-corner deflection routine that we had now perfected. It was glorious to watch. Ardingly was a close match and we should have won it. We had all the possession at 1-1. Arthur hit the cross-bar, and several shots were saved off the line. However, most telling of all was our short-corner; we had lots of opportunities, but with our injector (Hugo) ill for the week we were missing our edge and we couldn’t quite convert them. In the end we had to settle for a draw. The match against Sutton Valence went down to the wire. 3-3 and three minutes left on the clock and we managed to slot in a 4th. This had been an excellent game – fast and physical, but we held true, and passion led us to victory. And then there was Eltham College; one of the best Hockey matches I have witnessed at 2nd XI level. The game was clean, slick and gutsy. Everything we had trained for during the week fell into place. The defence

used the trough to get us out of trouble, the mid-field played the ball in triangles, and the forwards made telling runs looking for the deflections. It was no wonder that Max ended up scoring his 3rd hat-trick of the season; the Deflection Expert Max had now perfected the art of angling a shot off either Ben or George to beat the goalkeeper at close range. The performance of the whole team was superb. Our final two matches (Dulwich and the OKS) both ended in honourable draws. The whole squad had been great fun to work with. All the 6a pupils will be missed next year (George, Jamie, Ashwin and Sam): George was a brilliant captain, showing huge passion, determination, and speed up front.; Jamie had been our rock in defence, sometimes even illegally using a hand-off to keep the opposition out of his ‘D’; Ashwin showed his silky skills on numerous occasions, and Sam made many a spectacular diving save as goalkeeper. I’m sure several of the remaining players next year will move up to the 1st XI for the 2013 season. Having the luxury of having two coaches (AJH & RPS) the 2nd XI team have thrived on new ideas and success. This was a ‘Top Drawer’ season. Well done.

Team from: Tom Potter, Sam Hewitt, Jamie McPhie, Louis Ewart, Simon Broadley, Ashwin Bhadresha, Jack Benton, Hugo Davies, Ben Methven, Arthur Poivet, Edward Hands, Tom Brett, George Whaley (Captain), Max Desoutter, Aaron Milton, George Spain-Warner. Results Duke of Yorks (h)

Won

2-1

Cranbrook (a)

Lost

2-7

Kent college (a)

Won

9-0

Haileybury (a)

Won

3-1

Ardingly (a)

Drew

1-1

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

4-3

Eltham Colelge (h)

Won

4-2

Dulwich College (a)

Drew

2-2

OKS (h)

Drew

2-2

Boys’ Hockey 2nd XI

THE CANTUARIAN

3RD XI MWB

It was a promising start to the season – a 1-0 victory against Duke of York’s. But they were soon brought back down to terra firma by a succession of merciless pummellings at the hands of mediocre opposition. Part of the problem was the rather sporadic attendance at training (see photo) – the numbers were regularly depleted by the absence of thesps, musicians, singers, dancers, engineers, coursework catcher-uppers, apparent illiterates (how hard can it be to read a noticeboard?), walking wounded and Jake De Haan. Indeed, one of the most striking features of this season was the uncanny ability of our mercurial captain, one-trick wonder and leading goal-scorer Jake to get away with, quite frankly, murder. There were highlights, however, in what was a highly enjoyable season. There were predictably reliable contributions from the likes of Will Fuest, Jamie Loyn and Hector Fraser; a predictably mental contribution from Ben Warnick (who showed flashes of twisted genius when he wasn’t prowling his goal like a caged panda); and a predictably unpredictable contribution from Adrian Lai. Much of the better play this year came from the Fifths – Henry Atkins, Kian Patel, James Wylson, Nicholas Charlton, Nathan Howell, the monolithic Rupert Barton, that master of Anglo-Saxon James Balicki and the cyclonic force that is Jonny Mbu really made a difference; many of these will surely play at a higher level next year. Mention should also be made of Tom Wickers, who was having an impressive season before it was sadly curtailed by injury. And there is no doubt that in the last few games of the season the third team started to play some decent hockey; they were unfortunate to lose tight games against Sutton Valence and Eltham and can be pleased with the both their progress and the excellent spirit they showed all term.

boys’ hockey U15A XI PB

P8 D2 L6 The U15A’s had an enjoyable season, despite the majority of results going against the boys. Unfortunately they did not achieve the elusive win they so deserved: a very unfair reflection on a side that has made huge progress this term. The team created many chances against all the opponents that they encountered, however a lack of clinical finishing, particularly early on in matches, has too often been the team’s undoing. This side was never outclassed by any opposition, merely out finished, unfortunately a somewhat significant and important factor in Hockey! There are some excellent individuals in this team both in defence and attack, and a brief mention goes to the following who I feel have made great progress this season: in goal, Harry Vavasour is quickly turning into a brave, dependable keeper who makes the big saves when called upon; Patrick ‘hopper’ Knox has become a tough tackling centre back, and Richard StonehewerSmith and James Griggs have developed into creative and composed midfielders. The team has been captained by Chris Richardson who not only led by example each week, but has also proved to be the most outstanding player of the season – certainly one to watch in the future. I do hope that these boys continue to play senior hockey next year, for if they keep playing with the heart they showed this season they will no doubt enjoy the success that they deserve. Team from: H. Vavasour, H. Clews, P. Knox, J. Leggett, G. Booth Clibborn, A. Preston, M. Holland, R. StonehewerSmith, C. Richardson, S. Van der Gaag, J. Griggs, J. Curtis

Lent 2012

Duke of Yorks (a)

Drew

0-0

Cranbrook (h)

Lost

1-4

boys’ hockey

Boys’ Hockey U15A XI

Haileybury (a)

Lost

0-2

Ardingly (h)

Lost

0-1

Sutton Valence (a)

Lost

0-4

Eltham (h)

Lost

1-3

Dulwich (h)

Lost

1-3

St Edmunds (a)

Drew

2-2

U15 B XI AP

P8 W1 L6 D1 The U15Bs this season have really impressed me. Their drive and determination this year against some tall odds is a true testament to their character as a team and as individuals. Alexander Ardley-Ingram put his hand up to go in goal for us this year and he is a natural. With some expert coaching over the next couple of years he

could be pushing for 1st XI. The defence have been a rock this year and have provided some serious entertainment during games time. Hugh Miller for me has been the most improved player this season. He started with a solid skill base and has progressed to make the right back role his own this year. Henry Bettley is not short of a few motivational quotes to really rally the troops together. He can always be relied on to pick the spirits up, be it in this way or with a well-timed challenge or clearance. John Forsyth has also secured the defence this year and has improved immensely over the course of this year. Roger Kelly, Theodore Adler and Patrick Ross have been dedicated players for this team. They have made a conscious effort to absorb as much information as they can and have really showed the benefits because of it. James Pye was a candidate for most improved for this season. He has really shown what dedication and a natural talent can do. Again in two years’ time he is a realistic 1st XI candidate. Kirill Wagin has been solid for me this year up front. His ability to hold up the ball and give the midfield time to catch up has been superb. His aggression and willingness to do ‘anything’ it takes to win the ball back is truly a great trait which will serve him

THE CANTUARIAN

Boys’ Hockey U15B XI well in the future. Charles Trumper has again been superb this year and has been rewarded with a few games for the A team. He is truly capable of competing at that level and will do so in the next few years. Now for my two captains this year, Thomas Glynne-Jones has such an unassuming character but when it comes to game time he is the first one to put his hands up and make the final tackle, get to the ball first and lead the side no matter what the result. An unfortunate injury meant that he missed the last few games of the season, which was thoroughly disappointing. Sam Buchanan has, for me, been my standout player this year. In training he is the first one there, the first to the bus on match days and his ‘give anything a go’ approach is amazing. He has made the centre midfield role his own by playing with real stamina and determination. He stepped into the captain’s role after Thomas’s injury and led the side with passion and a thirst for perfection. He has been trying to learn how to drag flick all season long. His persistence with this has paid off and he has a real skill for years to come. On a personal note, I would like to thank the team for making this year one of the most enjoyable of my time at

Lent 2012

King’s. Results may have not gone our way but you guys have done me, the school, and yourselves proud this year. Best of luck for next season and the future. Team from: Thomas Glynne-Jones(Capt.), Sam Buchanan(Vice Capt), Charles Trumper, Patrick Ross, Theodore Adler, Hugh Miller, James Pye, John Forsyhe, Henry Bettley, Kirill Wagin, Alexander Ardley-Ingram and Roger Kelly

U14 A XI RALS

P11 W8 D1 L2 The U14 A Hockey side had one of the most successful seasons for many years. At the start of the term the team relied heavily on the stronger players including William

Heywood, who was the season’s top scorer, James Oates, who captained the side with growing confidence, and James King, who was a rock in defence. Over the course of the term, however, the whole team developed and their play became more structured. They developed the ability to pass the ball around with greater ease and consistency. Harry Nicholls took over the goal scoring duties, scoring in the region of 20 goals in the second half of the season, all within five yards of the left hand post. Henry SpainWarner’s stick skills improved greatly and Angus Forbes who resembled a lumberjack in the first few weeks of term became almost impassable at central defence. The highlight of the season was a thrilling semi-final in the Kent Cup coming from two down to level the game, then hitting both posts in extra time but unfortunately went on to lose on penalty flicks. As a consequence of this the team took part in the South Region Plate finals which they won. You will see from the results that when the team won they did so comfortably and have the ability to finish sides off, a trait which I hope they will continue through the rest of their time at King’s. They were a fantastic group of boys to coach and I look forward to watching them develop in the years to come.

Team from: James Oates (captain), Frederick Acton, Oliver Briggs, Robert Campbell, Angus Forbes, William Heywood, Alexander James, James King, Harry Nicholls, Edward Solly, Henry Spain-Warner, William Tudor Also played: Henry Long, Nick Love Duke of York’s (h)

Drew

5-5

Ashford School (h)

Won

8-0

Cranbrook (h)

Won

5-1

St Edmund’s (h)

Won

6-0

Haileybury (h)

Won

10-1

Ardingly (h)

Lost

1-4

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

2-3

Kent College (a)

Won

5-1

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

6-0

Eltham (a)

Won

8-0

Dulwich (h)

Won

6-3

Boys’ Hockey U14A XI

THE CANTUARIAN

boys’ hockey U14B XI HMLB

P7 W1 L6 This has been a tough season for the boys with many not having ever played Hockey before. The boys stuck at the task in hand and tried their hardest. We were lucky to have Frederick Acton(the A’s Keeper) in goal for us most weeks, sharing his knowledge and controlling the defence. The defence worked so hard throughout the whole season. I am very proud of their determination not to give up. Samuel Dath, Edward Barkshire and David Rees-Williams were very strong in defence, making many excellent tackles and working together. Musavvir Khan Noorpuri, Manoj Savalani and Alexander Briggs improved greatly. Their ball skills, tackling, awareness of the game and marking all improved. Hugo Ninham, Nicholas Love and Henry Long were very strong on the ball, always fighting to last whistle of the game. All three had very tiring jobs running back and forth from attack to defence. Rahul Sadhwani, Oliver Crawford and Max Whitaker were strong attackers, often having to defend a lot more than they wanted due to coming up against some excellent opponents.

Boys’ Hockey U14B XI Results Duke Of York

Lost

0-3

Cranbrook

Lost

0-7

Haileybury

Won

4-1

Ardingly

Lost

0-5

Sutton Valance

Lost

0-4

Eltham

Lost

0-4

Dulwich

Lost

0-10

Player of the season goes to Hugo Ninham for his constant determination to improve personally and as a team. I don’t think there was one training session where he hadn’t attempting a reverse hit, an extremely hard skill. Although the season has been tough the boys have worked as hard as possible and their skills show this. They worked together as a team and never let spirits drop. For this they should be very proud of themselves. Well Done! Team from: Frederick Acton, Edward Barkshire, Samuel Dath, David Rees-Williams, Hugo Ninham, Henry Long, Nicholas Love, Musavvir Khan Noorpuri, Manoj Savalani, Rahul Sadhwani, Oliver Crawford, Alexander Briggs, Max Whitaker.

Lent 2012

nETball Netball Team Reports 1st VII KAB P 11 L6 W5 Following a very successful pre-season, the newly formed 1st VII team were keen to get their season underway. With a number of new players to the squad; Flo Savage (6A), Emily Champion (6B), Emma Laing (6B), Fadekemi Ogunsanya (6B) and Charlotte Hart (5th), the first few games were about establishing themselves as a team and implementing new team strategies and developing a sense of togetherness. We had a very tough weekend to kick start our season playing Hurstpierpoint and Portsmouth Grammar School in a triangular away from home. We had fantastic support from our parents and our scores against sides who had already one term’s Netball under their belts were scores to certainly be impressed with losing by narrow margins in both. Our performance against both sides was absolutely fantastic; those players in the team who had experience of first team Netball supported those who were making their 1st team debut. These results marked what would be a very competitive season for the team. We spent a large part of our training sessions working on our match conditioning but also our set plays and tactical awareness of the game. Our first game at home to Epsom college, which is always notoriously a difficult one at senior level highlighted the level of intensity at which the girls were able to play. They sustained consistency throughout and were able to limit their opposition to a period of six minutes without scoring resulting in our first win of the season. We had our second win the weekend after against Cranbrook which saw one of the most incredible shots scored that I have ever seen as coach scored by Fran Berry!! We then had a busy few weeks playing in the midweek U19

Birley’s Tournament ( where we were semi-finalists losing by one two goals to Benenden), facing Haileybury on the Saturday and then representing the U19 Netball Regional Finals where we finished a very respectable 8th again against sides who were either Netball academies or two term Netball schools. This was a particularly tough week for us however despite the ups and quite a few downs, the team kept themselves upbeat and were determined to play their best Netball. This is exactly what the girls did winning their next three fixtures against Sevenoaks, Christ’s Hospital and Benenden. Benenden was an absolutely fantastic game of the season; despite at one point being seven goals down the girls never gave up and always believed they could win and that is certainly what we did. We finished the season on real high, finishing winners of the District Tournament and Runners-up at The John Kelshall Tournament held at Brentwood School. This was an absolutely fantastic day with the girls playing some of the best Netball that they had played all season. They beat Bancroft’s in the Semi-final which was no mean feat going on to play in the final where they lost to Brentwood by only two goals. The team have always shown absolute commitment to the game and it has been this that has really gelled them together as a team. It was a shame that the season had to come to an end, particularly for those girls that we had to say goodbye to. Firstly, we had to say goodbye to Captain Fran Berry and Vice-Captain Steph Crampton. Both girls have been in the 1st VII team since 5th and have played GA and GS not only for five years at King’s but their shooting duo spans all the way through to Junior King’s which highlights just how good they are as a pair. They have been absolutely outstanding, not only as first team players but throughout their time at King’s. They have been 100% committed to Netball and have done a fantastic job as Captain and Vice-Captain of the squad this year. They have left extremely large shoes to fill; their shooting statistics of over 85% for each game is a testament of just how incredible these girls are. We also say goodbye to Alex Pye and Flo Savage. For Flo this was her first year in the 1st VII team and I know this meant a great deal for her to represent the school in a sport that she only learnt to play in Shell. This is a remarkable achievement for Flo and I admire her determination. We also say goodbye to Alex who has been part of the squad for the past two years and has certainly made a

THE CANTUARIAN

Netball 1st VII mark at WD. She has been an invaluable member of the squad, not only for her fun kind nature off the court but her hard working attitude and determination on court. Her hard work in session’s earned her The Most Improved player award of the season which she certainly deserved. All four players will be really missed and I would like to wish them all the best in the future and hope they are able to pick up a netball wherever they may go! We of course are left with six very strong Netballers next season, all of whom have really contributed to 1st team sport this year. Team from: Fran Berry (captain), Emily Champion, Stephanie Crampton (vice-captain), Charlotte Hart, Maya Kolade, Emma Laing, Dom Masters, Fadekemi Ogunsanya, Alex Pye, Flo Savage. Results Portsmouth Grammar School (a)

Lost

22-17

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

24-19

Epsom (h)

Won

24-20

Lent 2012

Cranbrook (h)

Won

34-16

Haileybury (h)

Lost

42-40

Sutton Valence (a)

Lost

43-39

Brighton College (a)

Lost

52-32

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

25-23

Christ’s Hospital (a)

Won

23-16

Benenden (h)

Won

37-35

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

42-38

Birley’s

Tournament Semi-Finalists

Regional’s (a)

8th

John Kelshall Tournament(a)

Runners-up

District Tournament (a)

Winners

Awards Most Improved

Alex Pye

Players’ Player

Stephanie Crampton

Star Player

Stephanie Crampton

Netball 2nd VII

2nd VII LW

P 14 W14 This has been the most amazing season for the 2nd VII team. The team have played a total of 14 matches and won all of them. The squad consisted of 12 talented and versatile players that were all able to play a variety of position when called upon. Hatti Hawksworth, the team Captain, lead from the front throughout the season and was a commanding presence on and off the court. Her shooting throughout the season was excellent and she played a major part in the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successful season. Another key player this season was Emile de Bree who played GK. Her vision and superb ability to close down the attackers helped keep our opponents scores low. The team have proved to be very versatile this season which several girls playing new positions to them; one player in particular was Izzy Whitaker. From playing an attacker in the previous season, she relished the challenge of becoming a defender this season.

Nine players out of the twelve were lucky enough to attend the netball tour to Barbados last summer; this really gave us the head start for our Netball season, allowing the girls to bond and develop into an exciting and ambitious team. The team have remained committed and focused throughout the whole of this season. The girls have been a real pleasure to coach. Every player has played a major part in the 2nds having the most amazing season. They have played some exceptionally skilled teams and on some occasions, the team has really had to dig deep to achieve their wins. Congratulations to all the girls of the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd VII team for being so successful. Team from: Alex Barkshire, Ellie Christianakis, Lucy Dean, Emilie de Bree, Ella Gault, Hatti Hawksworth (Captain), Isobel Jamieson, Genevieve Masters, Madeline Phillips, Kate Vavasour, Lucy Warr and Izzy Whitaker.

THE CANTUARIAN

nETball Results Portsmouth Grammar School (a)

Won

14-10

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

21-12

Simon Langton (1st team) (h)

Won

27-12

Epsom (h)

Won

18-12

Cranbrook (h)

Won

33-12

Haileybury (h)

Won

43-13

Sutton Valence (a)

Won

32-9

Kent College (1st team) (a)

Won

16-7

Brighton College (a)

Won

54-41

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

20-17

Christ’s Hospital (a)

Won

26-6

St Lawrence (1st team) (a)

Won

51-18

Benenden (h)

Won

37-35

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Won

24-12

John Kelshall Tournament (a) 3rd in group District Tournament (a) Winners Played 5, Won 5.

3rd VII GSB

P13 W4 D1 L8 The third team were fortunate to have a very strong squad this year, which allowed a large number of the squad to represent the school this term. Although the team made a slow start, losing the first three games of the season, progression was quickly made and much development was accomplished. The girls dominated both games against Haileybury 3rd team and 4th team, although needed to convert more shots in the circle against Kent College, but they fought brilliantly and won 8-6. Although faced with tougher matches in the second half of the season, the

Lent 2012

girls did extremely well and improved very much whilst showing great enthusiasm and motivation for the sport. In the first half of the season it was unfortunate that both Helen Ferrett and Isobel Forbes picked up injuries which meant they were sorely missed for the rest of the season. A late tactical positional change during the game against St Edmund’s demonstrated Amy Gault’s versatility as she changed positions from WD to GA. Natsuko Saegusa and Aimee Seriser played extremely well in the attacking circle linking well together and producing quality shots. In the centre court was shared between Anna BoothClibborn, Lucy Tynan, Rosanna Fenning and Florence Hodgkinson who all showed great strength and ability in creating space and using it to provide options. Flora Mockridge added depth to the centre court players and at times to the defensive line showing equal capability. Kitty Davis showed outstanding skill, playing high-quality in both the centre court and as a key member of the defence, reading the game extremely well. Lucy Duncanson also performed to a high standard in the defending circle alongside an exceptional Anna-Marie Edelanu was a key member of the team, she demonstrated great ability in intercepting and provide a solid base for the girls to build the play from. Although West Side Story meant that a few players were missing from the second half of the term this gave opportunity for lots of girls to represent the school which allowed the squad to be kept broad. This year’s group were a very strong pool of girls, a great credit to them all.

netball Team from: Amy Gault, Aimee Serisier, Anna-Marie Edelanu, Anna Booth-Clibborn, Kitty Davis, Isobel Forbes, Helen Ferrett, Rosanna Fenning, Natsuko Saegusa, Lucy Tynan, Flora Mockridge, Lucy Duncanson and Florence Hodgkinson

U15A VII JS

P11 W7 L3 D1

Results Portsmouth Grammar School (a)

Lost

18-45

Epsom (h)

Lost

16-26

Cranbrook (h)

Lost

13-32

Haileybury 3rds (h)

Won

14-9

Haileybury 4ths (h)

Won

26-6

Kent College (a)

Won

8-6

St Edmund’s (a)

Lost

Brighton College (h)

Lost

19-51

Sevenoaks (a)

Drew

9-9

Christ’s Hospital (a)

Lost

11-12

St Lawrence (h)

Won

28-9

Benenden (a)

Lost

Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost

The U15A team enjoyed a very successful season this year. Highlights include being unbeaten in the U15A Benenden tournament and winning both the John Kelshall and District tournaments. Great improvement was seen throughout the season, both as individuals and as a team. The team showed good character, always fighting until the very end of every game. Many thanks go to Amelia Baker for leading the team and being such a confident presence in the goal circle. Rhiannon Jones, vice captain, was a real stronghold for the team. Players’ player of the season goes to Helena Barton with an overwhelming majority of the vote and coaches’ player of the season was awarded to Nwamaka Oditah for her coachability and positive attitude on and off the court. Tirenioluwa Atoyebi was undoubtedly the most improved player throughout the season, always encouraging her fellow players from the back. Tabitha Killingbeck was the glue that held the team together on court in her subtle way. The goal shooters, Eliza Cocksworth and Freya

Netball U15A VII

THE CANTUARIAN

Logan Green, contributed greatly with their accurate goal shooting throughout the season. A few close scores really put them to the test under pressure, which they handled well to give us good results. Excellent defence, brilliant interceptions and quickness on the rebounds by Helena Barton won a lot of possession for the team. Most versatile player, Madeleine Irwin, did brilliantly as wing defence as well as wing attack, with excellent vision and great feeds to the shooters. A truly successful and enjoyable season. Team from: Helena Barton, Amelia Baker, Madeleine Irwin, Eliza Cocksworth, Tabitha Killingbeck, Freya Logan Green, Tirenioluwa Atoyebi, Rhiannon Jones, Nwamaka Oditah

CFBVR

Watching this team throughout the season has been a privilege. To begin with, a few early teething problems and shuffling around positions finally led to a winning streak with four wins in a row. Tzeamara Goddard (twice voted ‘star player’) and Cherie Cheung were the defensive line in the circle putting pressure on their shooters making brilliant interceptions. Ellen Kennedy was superb and consistent as centre linking the defence and attack with dynamic play and interceptions. She was voted ‘player of the season’ and quite deservedly so for her persistence and hard work. We were fortunate to have a strong set of wing players in the team. Lucy St John was a very nimble wing attack breaking free from her defensive player frequently, Sophie Honychurch proved herself to be an able, quick wing player and Charlotte Ward was a great strength to the attack, although she also stepped in to play goal defence very successfully on occasion. Eloise Clark was voted ‘most improved player’ of the season. Her performance at wing defence developed with pace and impressive momentum, my congratulations to her for a great season’s performance. In the circle Jessica Hodcroft displayed great skill at goal attack and was voted star player five times during the season which is most impressive. She never gave up and performed strikingly well throughout the whole season. Georgia Piper and Katherine Gardiner (who also enjoyed success at wing attack too!) played goal shooter roles and were almost unrecognisable by the end of the season with how well they both improved, both players receiving star player over the course of the season.

P12 W5 D1 L6

Team from: Cherie Cheung, Eloise Clark, Katherine Gardiner, Tzeamara Goddard, Jessica Hodcroft, Sophie

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

5-7

Portsmouth Grammar (a)

Lost

10-11

Simon Langton (h)

Won

17-4

Epsom College (a)

Won

28-26

Cranbrook (h)

Won

33-7

Haileybury (a)

Won

25-19

Brighton College (h)

Lost

14-22

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

9-5

Christ Hospital (a)

Won

7-6

Benenden Tournament (a)

Runners-up

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Drew

District Tournament (a)

Won

John Kelshall Tournament (a)

Won

U15 B VII

Lent 2012

17-17

Honychurch, Ellen Kennedy, Georgia Piper, Lucy St John, Charlotte Ward. Results Portsmouth Grammar (a)

Lost

7-20

Epsom (a)

Lost

10-20

Cranbrook (h)

Lost

7-28

Haileybury (a)

Won

9-4

Sutton Valence (h)

Won

14-10

St Edmund’s (a)

Won

14-7

Kent college (a)

Won

9-6

Brighton College (h)

Lost

16-22

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost

4-12

Christ’s Hospital (a)

Drew

7-7

Benenden (a)

Won

17-12

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

19-24

U15C VII LC

P8 L6 W2 The U15C team regularly came up against stiff opposition this term, but always emerged resilient from their matches and cheerful after training sessions. Some of our heavier defeats were more like Cricket scores than Netball scores, partly because we played some extremely powerful teams (often from schools capable of fielding up to 7 sides). Our first match was against PGS who proved to be strong, well-drilled opponents. Although we lost 21-6, our team made the most of the fixture and took the valuable opportunity to develop individual skills and teamwork. There were many highlights; Georgiana Prior proved herself to be an effective shooter, Milly Dent created chances in the centre and Maddie Parker played with real determination. This experience gave the team a better understanding of each other on court and we really

thought that things could only get better! However, within a week, we suffered another defeat (24-4), this time at the hands of Epsom College. At least we were consistent; losing the first three quarters by 7 goals to 1 until the final quarter, when we managed to get the first goal and kept their tally to just one. At this point we needed to take stock; Niamh Johnson and Jimena Lain proved to be dedicated additions to the team and Modupe Reis made incredible advances given that she was a novice to netball at the start of term. The next game was at Haileybury and, in a closely fought match, King’s emerged victorious, winning 10-17. Right from the start of the game, both teams fought for possession of the ball, but the confidence of King’s GS, Lily Ford edged us in front, whilst Tenesan Arenyeka and Kathy Sorab formed a strong defensive partnership. The half time score was 4-9 in our favour. The 3rd quarter was our ‘finest hour’ with each player chasing every ball and the shooting partnership of Georgiana Prior and Lily Ford started finding the target. Going in to the final quarter, King’s lead 6-16.but we tired towards the end and Haileybury gained some consolation with late goals that did not affect the outcome. Our celebrations were short-lived as this victory was swiftly followed by our biggest defeat against Brighton, where we conceded 45 goals and only managed 5 ourselves. With such a gulf in the score one might think that we came away from the game dejected, but on the contrary, our fabulous girls were to be congratulated for their team spirit and ‘never say die’ attitude. In a midweek game on a very wet and slippery court, we lost to St. Lawrence College 21-6. Everyone played with real heart, but Tenesan deserves a special mention for being so brave when she slipped and badly grazed her knee; no one could quite believe that she was willing to continue. In a triangular fixture we played positively, beating Sevenoaks 10-13 and narrowly losing to Christ’s Hospital 12-11; however, our final match summed up the majority of our season as we lost 29-9 to an experienced Hurstpierpoint side. Players’ player and coach’s star player was Phoebe Baker for her commitment and centre court speed. Best attack

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Netball U15C VII was Georgiana Prior and best defence was the gutsy Tenesan Arenyeka who was often commended for her big reach by the other teams. The Jervis â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;housematesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; comprised the core of the squad and were always stalwart members of the team on match days.

U14 A VII EP

P 12 W 5 L 6 D 1 Results: Portsmouth Grammar School (a)

Lost

6-21

Epsom College (a)

Lost

4-24

Haileybury College (a)

Won

17-10

Brighton (h)

Lost

5-45

St. Lawrence College (a)

Lost

6-21

Christ Hospital (a)

Lost

11-12

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

13-10

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

9-29

Lent 2012

The U14A team have had a relatively strong season despite the occasional slip up. There has been much improvement both on an individual basis and as a squad. This was highlighted by our performances against Hurstpierpoint which, despite both being losses, showed huge improvement over a relatively short period of time against a school who focus solely upon Netball for two terms. The girls have worked extremely hard on their basic skills in training and these have sharpened dramatically; this is something they should all be very proud of. In addition to this it was towards the latter stages of the season, against some tough opposition that the team really started to mature in their play; focusing on movement not only to receive the ball but also movement to create space and draw the opposition; this maturity of play will become increasingly important as they move up the school in their

netball Netball careers. Our attacking play during the season also improved hugely with beautiful, albeit inconsistent, attacking drives and set plays. Early in the season we tended to switch off following a turnover and concede goals easily; however by the end of the season the girls were putting into effect their 3 stage defence to work tirelessly to make interceptions or force errors after a turnover - just one example of their tactical improvement. There has been some stand out squad performances this season particularly against Sutton Valance, where the team began to play with real confidence and show their versatility as individuals playing in a variety of positions. Brighton College was, for less positive reasons,(45-10 loss) also a stand out game, but one I believe forced a change in the attitude of the squad after a good run of games and was important in giving their success in the rest of the season a little perspective and something to work towards next season with Miss Smit. Certain players deserve special mention for their success this season. Eliza Batten has been a lively and determined captain, offering advice to players both at training and in games. Rosie Dath has had an outstanding season playing

brilliantly in a position (wing defence) which often misses out on the plaudits. Amelia Brown has matured a great deal as a player and is learning to play goal attack with skill and strength. We have once again been afflicted by injuries and so my thanks must go to all those who have stepped up from the B team to slot seamlessly into the A squad. Team from: Eliza Batten (captain), Alice Brett, Amelia Brown, Rosie Dath, Sophia Gripari, Eliza Maclachlan, Jenny Mbu, Madeline Mills, Amanda Milton, Jazmyn Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill, Saskia Piper, Samantha Ruston, Eleanor Swire. Results Portsmouth Grammar School (A)

Loss

20-4

Hurstpierpoint (A)

Loss

24-9

Epsom (A)

Loss

25-15

Cranbrook (H)

Win

25-21

Haileybury (A)

Win

23-17

Netball U14A VII

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Netball U14B VII

Sutton Valence (H)

Win

24-15

Kent College (H)

Win

19-12

Birley’s Tournament (H)

3rd

Brighton College (A)

Loss

45-10

Sevenoaks (A)

Draw

15-15

Christ’s Hospital (A)

Loss

21-12

Benenden (A)

Win

27-16

Hurstpierpoint (H)

Loss

23-17

U14 B VII JM

P 10 L 4 D 1 W 5

Lent 2012

Coaching this team throughout the season has been a pleasure. As the season progressed, they really started to play to a high standard and understand the tactics of Netball. It took us a couple of games to get used to how each other played and understand the importance of driving towards the ball and creating space along the court, to allow quick fluent passes. In our defending circle we had Stephanie Felton who picked up some beautiful interceptions in the D consistently, throughout the whole season. Stephanie Felton was partnered with Sixtine Guitton. These two played really well as a team, putting pressure on the shooters, also communicating well in the circle lead to a numerous amount of turnovers at the defending end of the court. Saskia Piper played C. She successfully linked the attack and defence through her dynamic, agile drives and her persistent interceptions which gained King’s possession of the ball. We were fortunate to have a strong set of Wing players, Eleanor Paine, WA and India Roestenburg, WD. Eleanor has improved a tremendous amount from the beginning of term; her drives have become much cleaner and her control over the ball has become more persistent. Eleanor has been an asset to our attack, working hard to create space allowing the ball to

flow into our shooters. Well done Eleanor, she should be very proud of herself. Sophia Gripari was our other Wing attack. Sophia has had a great season, she has worked really hard and delivered a positive, funny attitude to the team. Her passing has become much stronger and quicker and she now understands how to use channels in order to open up the court and fool the opposition. India Roestenburg playing as WD has been brilliant; her touches in defence have been amazing this season. She has learnt to stick to her player, ruling them out of the game which was putting pressure on the oppositions attack. India helped our defence out a great amount and got a numerous amount of turnovers, in the centre and defending third. My congratulations to India for a great performance. In the circle Laura Kendall displayed great skill at GA and was voted star player four times, which is very impressive. Laura’s clean movement in the centre and shooting third is a pleasure to watch and most defence cannot keep up with her agile movements. Laura played alongside Miranda Challiner. Miranda has began to read the game a lot better, and is able to drive into a convenient clear space to receive the ball. Miranda has put up some beautiful shots and has also been an asset to our team, congratulations, Miranda. Jazmyn joined us at the end of the season. Jazmyn’s movement is outstanding in the circle, her quick agile movements allows her to fool the defence and therefore allows her to score goals. Jazmyn has a ‘ never give up attitude’ which is a fantastic attitude to take when King’s was losing, congratulations for being such an asset to our team Jazmyn. Team from: Sixtine Guitton, Stephanie Felton, Jenny Mbu, Saskia Piper, Eleanor Paine, Sophia Gripari, India Roestenburg, Laura Kendall, Miranda Challiner and Jazmyn O’Neill. Results Portsmouth Grammar School (a)

Lost

17-14

Epsom College (a)

Lost

14-12

Cranbrook (a)

Won

24-9

Haileybury College (a)

Won

26-3

JKS (a)

Won

19-12

St Edmunds (a)

Won

19-9

Brighton College (a

Lost

17-6

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost

16-13

Christ Hospital (a)

Won

12-9

Benenden (a)

Drew

15-15

U14 C VII Charlotte Butler

P8W3D0L5 Over the Netball season the U14 B’S confidence, match play and teamwork grew dramatically. At the start of the season the team’s confidence level in the matches was a little low and on top of a few losses, it was important to pick up their confidence and really have fun in training sessions. During the middle to end of the season the girl’s skill level which improved their match play winnning 3 out of the 8 games played! It was great to see the girls more confident on court and really enjoy their Netball. Bess Hale and Sabrina Kitson both were awarded star player twice in matches which is a credit to their hard work. Bess Hale was also awarded player of the match twice as her defensive work around and in the circle area was outstanding. Throughout the season she really worked hard on her interceptions and turning over the ball which was instrumental to King’s success. Sabrina Kitson was also awarded star player for her versatility. She worked hard in any position she was given, her teamwork and team spirit helped the girls carry on playing when they wanted to give up and this earn’t her star player. Frankie Speed and Brydie Booth were also nominated once for star player as their marking in defensive play was amazing and frequently put off the opposition. Kirsty Young, Florence Heap, Elizabeth Tees shared the WD position and played well defensively throughout matches in training and in games. Rosie Fuest, Olivia Cha, Aysha, Rose all shared the centre court and worked very well together. They were all versatile and could be changed around on court when needed to be which added depth to the squad. Rose Yanni was the main centre court player and supported all team members when playing. Cecily Guild, Elizabeth Plunkett, Izzy Hamblin, Antonia Martin

nETball

Netball U14C VII and Minty Chapman all shared the shooting positions and all worked hard to develop their shooting technique and accuracy. The team turned up to games extra early to practise, particularly the shooters. They were all determined to get better and over the season it was evident in their play that they had achieved this.

Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital (a)

Won

11-3

Benenden (a)

Lost

6-16

Hurstpierpoint (a)

Lost

19-13

JKS (h)

Won

17-9

Team from: Oluwademilade Adeyemi, Brydie Booth, Olivia Cha, Araminta Chapman, Aysha Farooq-Garces, Rose Fuest, Cecily Guild, Elizabeth Hale, Florence Heap, Sabrina Kitson, Antonia Martin, Elisabeth Plunkett, Francesca Speed, Elizabeth Tees, Rose Yanni and Kirsty Young. Results Epsom (a)

Lost

6-22

Haileybury (a)

Won

30-2

Brighton College (h)

Lost

5-37

Sevenoaks (a)

Lost

12-26

Lent 2012

football Football Team Reports 1ST XI George Stacey (6a GL)

P 12 W5 D2 L5 When the season started with a far from flattering 6-0 loss to a strong Westminster side, you could be forgiven for thinking that this season would ultimately be one of disappointment for an inexperienced 1st XI side. However, the team was brimming with resilience, and the result was rapidly put behind them, beating Kent College comfortably before pulling off one of the best results of the season, drawing 1-1 with Brentwood, the former school of England footballer Frank Lampard. Most would say that King’s were unlucky not to have got the win, having led for most of the 2nd half thanks to a swift counter attacking move finished by Alistair Lyons. But a last minute free kick was headed in after some poor defending, a phrase which was to become all too common. The result was met with disappointment by the players, as well as the large crowd that had formed; it was nonetheless an excellent result against one of the top footballing schools in the country. The next result was the one that epitomised the character of the team, for a multitude of reasons. King’s found themselves going into half time 3-1 down against a talented Colfe’s side, having defended very well for the majority of the game, only to be undone through some brief lapses in concentration. A stern and rousing half-time team talk meant that the team were transformed, full of energy, closing down the ball at pace and passing the ball around nicely. Shortly after the break, King’s pulled another one back, and the team felt the comeback was definitely on. Such was the atmosphere in the game, there seemed to be an air of inevitability surrounding the equaliser. King’s continued to dominate, before finally breaking through 10 minutes before the end, as Peter Chiana was brought

down in the box and a penalty was rightly awarded. Alistair Lyons nonchalantly took the responsibility of the penalty, duly slotting it to the right of the goalkeeper to equalise. To come back from 3 goals down midway through the 1st half was a real testament to the character of the team and there was a constant buzz in training for the next week. Complacency may have slightly crept into the team, as a lacklustre performance was duly punished by a 2-0 loss at the hands of Brighton College. The result was a real disappointment, considering the team all agreed they had lost to a less talented side than the ones they had recently drawn to. The next day a severely depleted team travelled up to London, to play the OKS at the QPR training ground, which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience despite being on the end of a 5-1 loss. The team had an array of excuses – the missing players, tired legs from the day before, the long journey – all of which contributed to a sluggish showing from King’s. However, the team had the chance to redeem themselves later in the term, playing the OKS at Birley’s after half term in a much tighter affair. More Football was to be played before then however, as the team registered a comfortable 1-0 win against Worth, which most would agree flattered King’s opponents, as a combination of the woodwork and poor finishing kept the King’s goal tally down. The only goal of the game came from a driven finish from Freddie Dakin, with the match also marking the debut for Harry Savill, the 4th different goalkeeper appearing for the 1st XI. He would play the remainder of the games, and was unlucky to miss out on player of the season after a string of impressive performances. The defence had also been prone to a lot of reshuffling, and the run of games together was beginning to pay dividends, with a strong defensive performance. A team of 8 then travelled to Sevenoaks to take part in a 5-a-side tournament, known as Futsal. The tournament was a relatively new concept, having only been running for two years, which were both won by Sevenoaks. The team was boosted by the inclusion of Charlie Kingsman who immediately added to the class of the team, scoring the winner in the first game against Brighton College. As the tournament wore on, the team became accustomed to

THE CANTUARIAN

Football 1st XI the different style of the game, working out specific tactics that worked well. The team had won every game before coming up against Sevenoaks in the penultimate game. Due to the nature of the other results, this game would decide the winner of the tournament. King’s came straight out the blocks, using superior fitness and strength on the ball to blow Sevenoaks away, winning the game comfortably, and in doing so, becoming the first team to claim the shield from Sevenoaks. With some substantial public schools competing, including Tonbridge and Wellington, this was a fantastic outcome, and the fact that the season concluded having won some silverware automatically makes it a success. The outdoor match against Tonbridge was a slightly different story, showing what an advantage it is to play with the same team for two terms, as their superior work rate and team work meant they finished worthy 4-0 winners and demonstrated all the qualities that had taken them all the way to the ISFA semi-finals. The next result proved that consistency was to be an issue for the team, as a 2-1 loss against Christ’s Hospital team that were no better than average put a dampener on the season. Again, there were

Lent 2012

excuses to be made as West Side Story rehearsals again robbed the side of a few key players, but this was a game that should have been won nonetheless. However, this was to be the last of the underwhelming performances from the 1st XI. Firstly, a 1-0 win against OKS showed that the future is bright for King’s Football, as a large number of 5th formers played, performing excellently. Louis Glynn-Williams, Idris Kaplan and George Baker-White all moved up from the U16A team, and had brilliant games, as well as Peter Chiana, who had been playing with distinction for the 1st XI all season. The goal was scored by Glynn-Williams, although it was the composure on the ball they all showed that was impressive, especially against the men playing for the OKS. The next week would be regarded as the best result of the season, closely ahead of the 1-1 draw with Brentwood. Dulwich College visited Birley’s with a sterling reputation as a Football school, not surprising considering they have more boys playing Football than there are boys in King’s. However, King’s produced a fantastic performance,

keeping out a pacey and skilful Dulwich attack at bay for the 1st half, going into half time at 0-0. After the break, as the game wore on, it became apparent that a goal at either end would likely be enough to win it. Despite having the majority of possession, Dulwich couldn’t break down a stubborn King’s defence, and with the pace of Freddie Dakin and Peter Chiana up front, King’s were looking menacing on the counter attack. It was a fantastic free kick that broke the deadlock, scored by top scorer Alistair Lyons, going in off the post. King’s held on for what was a historic victory, with the water-tight defence rightly getting some lavish praise. The final game was something of a formality, as a ruthless St Bede’s side beat King’s 7-2, more through their superior footballing ability rather than lack of effort or a poor performance from King’s. The team benefitted massively from not having any star players in the team, so were forced to play as a team to get good results, and played better Football because of this. This year’s 1st XI was a relatively young one, so they must look to build upon some already strong foundations for next year, hopefully repeating some of the brilliant results they have pulled of this year.

MJTH

In addition to George’s wonderful report I would like to thank all the Footballers at the School, now over 200, who have made such significant strides this year on an extremely tough fixture list. The future is indeed bright with an extremely promising Under 14 year group as well as several Under 16s making a real impact on the 1st XI stage. Next year we will be involved in the Sussex and Kent Independent Schools’ League (SKIL) with competitive fixtures against Brighton, Worth, Sevenoaks and Christ’s Hospital at 1st, 2nd, U16A, U15A and U14A levels with results, tables and match reports accessible on the ISFA website.

the heroic victory over Dulwich College. This side stood up to be counted and got the very best result of which they were capable in all but two matches – I’d take that every year! The side was superbly led by George Stacey who was rightfully voted the Players’ Player of the Year and special mention should also go Perry Andrews, Timey Moju, Harry Savill and Charles Knox for their defensive displays, Arthur Chilcott, Sébastien Clark and Frederick Dakin for their energy and commitment and Peter Chiana and Alistair Lyons for their attacking guile. Team from: George Stacey (Captain), Alistair Lyons, Charles Knox, Fusi Awoskia, Arthur Chilcott, Peter Chiana, Harry Savill, Edward Gilmore, Ruaridh Macleod, Dominic Hamlyn, Sébastien Clark, Chris Irwin, Harry Mann, Frederick Dakin, James Baker, Timey Moju, Perry Andrews, Stuart Andrews, Idris Kaplan, George BakerWhite, Louis Glynn-Williams Results Westminster (h)

Lost

0-6

Kent College (a)

Won

5-0

Brentwood (h)

Drew

1-1

Colfe’s (h)

Drew

3-3

Brighton College (h)

Lost

0-2

Worth Abbey (a)

Won

1-0

Futsal tournament

1st

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

0-4

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Lost

1-2

OKS (h)

Won

1-0

Dulwich College (h)

Won

1-0

Sevenoaks (h)

Won

2-1

St Bede’s (a)

Lost

2-7

As for this year’s 1st XI I must congratulate them on being such an excellent bunch to work with. Despite an initial lack of fitness the boys worked hard and largely stayed fit for the entire term. My stand out moments would certainly be the Futsal tournament in late January and

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football

Football 2nd XI

2nd XI ARV Jamie Johnson – 6a

Pl 13, W5, L5, D3 The 2nd XI enjoyed a good three day pre-season, which allowed them to hit the ground with more gusto than in previous campaigns. Early results against Westminster and Dulwich, two of the big Footballing schools on the fixture list were, although ultimately losses, very positive with the scores 2-0 and 3-2 respectively. The highlight of these games being what Louis Bromfield will tell you was a volley from 47 yards out against Dulwich.

Lent 2012

With much help from the vociferous Major Vintner and Neil ‘Cudders’ Cugley, combined with an inordinate amount of shooting drills, the team were able to set themselves on a good run of games. There was a 2-2 draw versus Colfes and a 2-1 win against a Bethany team who made no less than fourteen changes during the course of the game having brought their first and second teams. This was followed by an edge of the seat Manchester City vs QPR style comeback to take the three points against Brighton College, aided by an own goal from a hapless defender who nodded in a last minute free kick taken from within the centre circle. By the halfway point in the season Henry ‘Barry’ Woodward was top scorer with his fearless heading from corners, and Ben Bowers had already taken his shirt off twice during excessive goal celebrations. After half term the team were sluggish, not scoring in three games, drawing 0-0 with Worth and Christ’s Hospital, two respectable results and then a 2-0 loss to Tonbridge. Clearly drastic change was needed and this came in the diminutive form of Charlie Carr. Despite getting carded for dissent he capped off an 8-3 rout of the

football OKS 2nd XI; a match in which Jamie Johnson scored a hat-trick and “The Major” netted two for the opposition.

Goals for 29 Goals against 26

The goals kept flooding in with a 5-0 win over Kent College in which the Knox brothers linked up as if they’d been playing with each other for years. In the penultimate game of the season, despite a bastionic midfield performance from Captain Henry Allingham and a sharp attack with Johnson and Will Knox the team ran out 6-4 losers in spite of leading 3-2 at half time. In the last match of the season the team was 2-0 down to a good St Bede’s outfit, but Ben Bowers, having nearly been sent off, scored two wonderful goals to draw level and Will Knox with his 5th of the season secured an unlikely win. To get the results we did is no bad effort from a team which used five different goalkeepers and twenty-five players in total. A positive goal difference is a good credit to the team. Special mention must go to three players: Nonso Oditah, who managed to play in every single position on the pitch in his three years of Football, Henry Allingham in his second season as captain who led the team well with enthusiasm and commitment, and also to veteran Jamie Johnson who was top scorer this season and finished his time in King’s Football with a record 34 games and 13 goals for the 2nd XI. Team From: Top Row L-R: Louis Bromfield, Ben Bowers, Will Knox, Henry Woodward, Max Rex, Emile Poivet, Charlie Carr, Archie Todd, Major AR Vintner. Bottom Row L-R: George Gardiner, Nonso Oditah, Jamie Johnson, Henry Allingham (Capt), Edward Gilmore, Stuart Andrews, Pedro Lain. Players not in photo: Harry Mann, James Baker, Patrick McGovern, James Rand, Chris Irwin, Max Judge, Patrick Clews, William Berry, Hugo Plunkett, Harry Savill Results Played 13 Won 5 Lost 5 Drew 3

v Westminster (A)

0–2

Lost

v Bethany (H)

2–1

Won

v Brentwood (H)

2–3

Lost

v Colfe’s (H)

2–2

Drew

v Brighton College (H)

3–2

Won

v Ursuline College (H)

Cancelled

v Worth Abbey (H)

0–0

Drew

v Tonbridge (H)

0–2

Lost

v Christ’s Hospital (A)

0–0

Drew

v OKS 2nds (H)

8–3

Won

v Kent College (H)

5–0

Won

v Dulwich College (H)

0–3

Lost

v Sevenoaks (H)

4–6

Lost

v St Bede’s (H)

3–2

Won

3rd XI ASDS (report written by William Allen (6A TR))

P 10 L 5 W 5 It is a rare team that, in achieving the best results in an entire school, can simultaneously serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and hedonists alike. Not for this merry group the usual, ugly tangle of obscenities and rashlyshouted accusations that seems so often to cloud the air above a Football team, like some horrid mist masking the athletic endeavours of the team’s individuals, and the dramatic performance as a whole. During the all too brief but undeniably effervescent arc of 2012’s 3rd Eleven’s twelve weeks, there was one corner of Birley’s green fields that stood, amidst the feral drudgery of everyday

THE CANTUARIAN

sport, as a small but perfectly self-contained island of joy, manners and beauty, characterised by lithe-limbed beaming men bounding from goal to goal, stopping only to offer congratulations or condolences, depending on what sort of thing had just happened, to teammates, or perhaps to share a quiet joke with a mate. Goals win Football, and can also lose Football. Nobody realised this faster than the Third Eleven’s Patrick Clews and Archie Todd, whose shared determination in defence saw them hurl themselves, wild and willing, into the path of every potential threat. Reinforced by a number of varyingly named wingbacks, such as William Berry, Henry Jamieson, Alex Snow and Alex Harris, the back four formed the backbone of the team, feeding the ever-hungry midfield with distressingly accurate through balls, and dampening the flames of innumerable opposition attacks. Almost crucial to this defensive strategy was Ruaridh MacLeod, whose resistance both to the cloying entreaties of an increasingly desperate 2nd XI, and to the bullying taunts of whichever opposition he found himself against, led to the creation of the perfect keeper, unassailable on the pitch, but always approachable afterwards.

The midfield held a central position in both the dreams and ambitions of the Third Eleven, and in the majority of their preferred tactical formations. With the unwaveringly enthusiastic Will Allen, as lean and as valiant as ever, opting for a more defensive role, the ever-elegant Alex Sunley was given free rein to roam in and around the opposition’s half, gifting the game with an endearingly foppish edge, and providing excellent ball for our two wingers, Roshan Mohinani and Richard Kemp. Richard Kemp’s loyalty to the Third Eleven’s cause proved pivotal since, although capable of playing in an infinitely higher team, he chose to remain, scoring almost at will, and cutting through opposition’s defences like a knife through milk. With further panache provided by Paddy McGovern, whose languid style concealed nerves and sinews of steel, the midfield quickly gained a name for its flair, grit and success, becoming a figure of fear amidst the East Kent circuit, and one of admiration within the school. In a realisation similar to that of Archie and Patrick’s, the 3rd XI’s strike force soon worked out the potential benefits of goal-scoring, using this to their advantage on numerous occasions. Headed by the team’s captain,

Football 3rd XI

Lent 2012

Hugo Plunkett, whose duck-egg blue eyes oversaw and led the transformation of the team into a cohesive and military-styled unit, the strikers achieved that infamous amalgamation of creative verve, and heroic stoicism, scoring and defending in almost equal measure. With the ever-fearless Billy Richardson, whose pace and almost animalistic aggression in attack often left entire teams trailing in his wake, supporting and feeding off Hugo Plunkett, the 3rd XI’s goal difference could almost be seen to perhaps speak somewhat for itself. However, easy as it is to allow oneself to be transfixed by row upon row of admittedly telling statistics, the 3rd XI’s ethos was not founded upon the pursuit of numbers. Despite gaining and successfully defending the best results in the school, the team’s main aim remained enjoyment. And the wild cries of unrestrained mirth and joy that echoed so gloriously around Birleys, for that short but wonderful term, testified to this. Team from : Will Berry, R. MacLeod, H. Plunkett, A. Todd, P. Clews, A. Snow, W. Allen, H. Jamieson, B. Bowers, R. Mohinani, R. Kemp, W. Richardson, P. Lain, D. Wilson, A. Sunley, J. Rand, P. McGovern Results Westminster(h)

won

5-0

St. Lawrence(h)

lost

1-3

Brentwood(a)

lost

1-2

Colfe’s(h)

won

5-0

Brighton College(h)

won

5-1

Worth(h)

lost

3-5

Tonbridge(h)

lost

2-4

Christ’s hospital(a)

won

6-1

Dulwich college(h)

lost

1-9

Sevenoaks(h)

won

4-3

4th XI Charlie Carr (6a SH)

Edward Williams once, when trying to encourage spectators to attend a 4XI match, aptly summed up the essence of the 4th XI as ‘Passing, shooting and lots of tracking back’. And now as the sun sets on one of the greatest 4th XI seasons in the history of the King’s School it is important to recount some of the highlights. A tricky start to the season involved an away trip to Brentwood, home of modern Football stars such as Frank Lampard, and while there was little evidence of any of the Brentwood 4th XI going on to play Premier League Football it was still a tough match. The 4th XI lined up for their first game of the season, a cracking start – I still felt we had to do more. And I had my wish; King’s started the brightest and found themselves 1-0 up thanks to a clever chip by Berbatovesque striker Alexander Sunley. However as the game wore on Brentwood began to show their class and scored two late goals (one of these taking a cruel deflection off Oliver Render’s head). The game ended 2-1, a score-line that did not truly reflect the game. Next up was another away fixture against Worth Abbey. The referee began by explaining that he ‘refereed Football matches in the same way that he did Rugby matches’ – it is not clear what he meant by this but it did not exactly promote confidence in his ability. After a bright start to the game the 4th XI found themselves 2-0 up, again thanks to Alexander Sunley, but then ‘Mr Incompetent’ as he was later described (not his actual name, he was a lovely, lovely man and I have the upmost respect for him) gave Worth Abbey two soft penalties; this changed the game and it ended in a draw, but with the opposition strikers locked in a furious argument, it certainly felt like King’s had the last laugh. Then the highlight of the season – a derby match against our rivals Dulwich. The game again started well with Alexander Sunley scoring a wonderful headed goal. But then against the run of play Dulwich equalised. Then came the moment that defined the season – a long ball played up from the heroic Max Judge in defence. It seemed a routine clearance but in an almost biblical fashion, as the Dulwich defender looked up, the sun came from behind a cloud, blinding him for a matter of seconds. This moment was all Captain and flamboyant striker Charlie Carr needed – he pounced racing down the touchline, but he had momentarily forgotten the positioning of modern Football! There was still another defender to beat! As if this was any bar for Carr, knocking the ball

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football Team from: Charlie Carr, Marcus Cohen, Augustus Gould, Oliver Greenstreet, Alexander Harris, Sebastian James, Max Judge, George Mansfield, Max Pashlely, William Phillips, Oliver Render, Lloyd Roberts, Dhiraj Sadhwani, Alexander Snow, Alexander Sunley, Daniel Wilson Results

past the last defender, he curled a sumptuous finish round the keeper who could only get a hand to it. If this were a film at this point the director might have wished to move to slow motion. Even Dulwich players nodded in appreciation. One heckler yelled from the sideline ‘this is not ballet, you queen!’ but the heckler was wrong; for this was ballet, ballet in the arena of Football. In this moment of pure unadulterated Football nothing could go wrong, but be prepared for the fact that it does: as the striker reeled away in celebration, one of the Dulwich defenders kicked the ball out of the goal back over the line that it had definitely already crossed, in what I can only describe as a frustrated manner. But what was this? Over the roar of the crowd and also the wind there was one noise missing, the referee’s whistle. He had not blown it. He never did. The fury and indignation that my players went through that day and are still going through is indescribable. The referee’s name escapes me (it was Richard Ninham) but I am sure in his heart of hearts he knows what he did that day. The rest of the game dribbled in to a depressing 5-1 (really 5-2) defeat. To conclude, this season has been one of discovery, inspirational moments and tracking back. The only things that could be worked on next season, owing to the fact that we scored in every game, are perhaps the management and the defence rather than the strike force.

Lent 2012

Brentwood (a)

Lost

2-3

Worth (a)

Drew

2-2

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

1-5

Dulwich (h)

Lost

1-5

Sevenoaks (h)

Lost

1-2

U16 A JLL

P 9 W4 L4 D1 First of all my thanks must go out to Thomas Dath for his superb work as team statistician which has enabled a very detailed report of our results this season, from goals scored, goal scorers and bookings to our win-to-loss ratio, so thank you Tom. Much credit must be given to Dom Castle whose excellent coaching and knowledge of the game have enabled not only the U16 A side to develop this term, but also my ability to coach Football as well so I thank him for that. Many of the side have had experience playing in senior fixtures this term because of his coaching with Idris Kaplan, who captained the side this year, making a few 1st team appearances in central midfield. I am sure all the boys enjoyed Dom’s coaching over the term as well as his sense of humour. It is very difficult to pick out one player as a star performer this year as the players with reputations have shown their skill and players previously unknown as Footballers have improved beyond recognition. George Reid has been a giant in goal making several brilliant

football saves every game; a future 1st team goalkeeper in the making. Teddy Baker and Charles Barrois were rocks in the centre of defence and improved week by week which is a credit to their will to listen and learn. The fullbacks were Tom Dath, Gabriel Hamlyn and for the last few games Harry Pattinson who proved his worth coming up from the B team. In Tom and Harry we have two fearless defenders who will throw themselves into every tackle without any respect for their own well being, all within the rules of the game I might add, Gabriel offers something different as his composure and touch on the ball allowed the team to develop attacks from deep. Idris Kaplan and Louis Glynn-Williams are everything you look for in a midfield partnership, skilful, hardworking, honest; the ability to pick out a pass has made these two the core of everything that was so good about the Football played by the boys this term. Working tirelessly down the flanks were Max Zhukov and George Baker-White whose pace and ease on the ball enabled them to deliver one rasping cross after another into the box for our attackers to latch onto, not only this but they both possess an eye for goal, scoring seven between them. Montel was also a key figure in the team’s success, unfortunate at the a start of term after suffering from illness and an injury, his pace and determination helped us get round the back of teams

defences. Up front were two very different strikers in Toby Block and Charlie Allen. Charlie’s pace and dribbling ability is second to none which allowed him many one on one attempts at goal and Toby’s skill and intelligence with the ball at his feet allowed him to score a couple of very impressive goals, the pair notched up 11 goals between them. The boys had a brilliant attitude all term and it was a pleasure to coach them, as well as this they were fantastic ambassadors of the school on away fixtures. This season the boys scored 23 goals from the boots of Toby Block (6), Charlie Allen (5), Max Zhukov (4), George Baker-White (3), Idris Kaplan (3), Louis Glynn-Williams (1) and Gabriel Hamlyn (1). They conceded 19 goals and one clean sheet, giving an overall goal difference of +4. Notable achievements by the squad are that they were the only King’s Football team not to lose against Tonbridge, and their come-back after being 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Sevenoaks, and finally a very credible feat of conceding no bookings. Team from: G Reid, T Dath, T Baker, C Barrois, H Pattinson, G Baker-White, Idris Kaplan, Louis Glynn-Williams, M Zhukov, T Block, C Allen, M Chika-Mbonu, G Hamlyn.

Football U16A XI

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Results

Team from: Casper Fraser (Captain), Tomiwa Adepetun, Gaetan Brandt, Henry Collister, Henry Cross, Llewelyn Cross, Thomas Dath, Jacob Furedi, Robert Gleave, Gabriel Hamlyn, Wai Lai Hung, Joshua Jolowicz, William LEnch, William Love, Max Luoma, Cameron MacKinnon, George Maughan, Alexander O’Neill, Chayapol Panichewa, Sam Rausing and Jack Rampton

Westminster (h)

Lost

0-3

Brentwood (h)

Lost

0-2

Colfe’s School (h)

Lost

1-2

Brighton College (h)

Won

6-2

Worth Abbey School (h)

Won

7-3

Tonbridge (a)

Drew

1-1

Christ Hospital School (a)

Won

5-0

Westminster (h)

Lost

0-6

Dulwich College (h)

Lost

0-4

Brighton College (h)

Won

3-2

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

3-2

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

0-3

Dulwich College (h)

Lost

0-4

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

4-1

Results

U16B XI P5 W2 L3

U15A XI

The under 16B team had a much improved season compared to the winless season of 2010/2011. It was a great relief to break this duck against Brighton College 3-2 in only the second match of the season. This was followed up by several strong performances, in particular against Tonbridge, away although we came out on the wrong side of the result. The season was capped off with a very successful trip to Sevenoaks, to secure an away win with a very strong team performance including several highlights of the season. Of particular note was the goal scored by the Captain Casper Fraser, although he still is not entirely sure if it was a shot or a cross.

JGo

The entire squad played their part throughout the season and should be proud of their achievements. Of particular note were the performances of Harry Stacey and Cameron MacKinnon in goal, both proving to be sensational shot-stoppers, Gabriel Hamlyn and the steadfast Casper Fraser through the centre of the park capped off with the goal scoring skills of Bertie Gleave and Will Lench. The season was very enjoyable and proved a success where the majority of games were much closer affairs and we were on the end of fewer 6-0 thrashings.

Lent 2012

P7 W1 L6 The U15A XI had an eventful season with little success in terms of results, but showing signs of cohesive quality Football towards the end. The team opened the season with a fluent performance against a good Westminster team but unfortunately the result ended 4 – 1. Despite the negative score, all the players witnessed how Charles Macpherson scored an incredible goal from just outside the box. The ball floated into the top corner, a technically-brilliant strike to be remembered. For the next match the U15A side played against Brighton College away and we made a terrific start. King’s were dominant. The team was playing well and maintaining all of the possession. Sebastian Knox opened the scoring from the edge of the box and placed it right in the corner out of the goal, just out of the keepers’ reach. Sadly, the home team came back and scored two goals in quick

Football U15A XI succession and took the 2-1 victory which King’s much deserved. There were valiant performances from Will Foss (left back) and Olusola Okocha (centre midfield) with his job as holding midfielder.

My special thanks go to the captain Sebastian Knox for leading the side and being a commanding presence on the pitch. I am sure he will continue to lead the team next year with determination and resilience.

A few weeks later after a few losses along the way, the first win arrived. The U15A’s played against Worth Abbey and thanks to the presence of Muchwezi Wilkins up front there was never a moment of rest for the opposition. As the captain Sebastian Knox said: ‘He was the hat-trick hero, scoring 3 goals in only the first half leaving Sr. Gallardo no option but to give him the match ball at the end.’ King’s ended up victors on the day, taking a 5-3 win over the opposition, with Sebastian Knox scoring from the penalty spot and with a beautiful finessed finish from Albert Gibbon to secure the win.

Team from: Alex Sokolow, Milo Harper, Harry Maughan, Charles MacPherson, William Foss, Olusola Okocha, Todd Hunt, Albert Gibbon, Muchwezi Wilkins, Sebastian Knox (Captain), Olufisayo Kolade, Hugo Simmonds, Marcus Humphries, Peter Scott, William Parker.

Overall, the U15A’s were led inspirationally by their coach Señor Gallardo with his tactics and Footballing mind on the side-lines. The team did not win many games in the season but the commitment and will-to-win was exemplary.

Results Westminster (h)

Lost

1-4

Brentwood (a)

Lost

0-6

Brighton (a)

Lost

1-2

St Bede’s (h)

Lost

0-1

Worth Abbey (h)

Won

5-3

Tonbridge (a)

Lost

6-0

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Lost

0-3

THE CANTUARIAN

football U15B XI DAS

Played 8: Won 1 Drew 1 Lost 6 A difficult season for the squad started with a convincing defeat at home against Westminster 10-0 against a side that had been playing all year. To follow that with an away fixture at Brentwood was never going to be easy and again we were outplayed by a well drilled side. The season’s highlight was a 3-2 home victory against Christ’s hospital in which Abraham “ Chuckie” Iwuajoku scored all three goals. Despite a gloomy looking results card the team definitely improved as the season progressed. Tarun Ganglani played a solid captain’s role and George Hill was player of the season.

U15 C XI

The players who trained week in and week out must be commended for the commitment that they have shown throughout the season. Even when they came up against the giants of the Football circuit, they played with good spirit until the final whistle. Jack Prosser led the team by example and kept his players motivated throughout a tough season. Team from: J. Prosser, M. Hofmann, J. James, J. Cheung, P. Roka, J. Garn, S. Tam, A. Akanle, R. Ellison, B. Kaplan, H. Churchill, T. Winstanley, P. Chan, C. Iwuajoku Results Tonbridge School (a)

Lost

8-2

Dulwich (a)

Lost

10-0

U14 A XI Steve Bailey

Jack Prosser (Rem MO) P8 W3 D1 L4 P2 L2 The U15 C team had a very challenging season but thanks to a committed core of players we managed to get a lot out of it. Even though our players had talent and enthusiasm, we still failed to win a game. Our most outstanding match was against Tonbridge where we played remarkably well and managed to score two brilliant goals with the help of Chukwuma Iwuajoku who had recently transferred to our team for a game. Throughout the season we had numerous arrivals and departures of skilled players such as Loic D’assier, Harry Brownlees and even Kunmi Akanle. Although we lost all of our matches, we still had great character and enthusiasm for the game.

Lent 2012

The Under 14 A team have had a very good season, especially taking into consideration their difficult fixture list with six away matches out of the eight played. It is always difficult to organise and select the Under 14s as they have never played together before King’s and it takes time to develop teamwork and tactical awareness. Having a match at Westminster within three days of starting the new season was understandably problematic! The squad very quickly came together and impressed everyone with their good organisation, punctuality, willingness to listen to advice, and collective team spirit. The standard of play was high and this has been reflected in the very close matches played between the A team and the B team during practice sessions at Polo Farm. From a coaching point of view it was important that the players improved their technical play and learned to play Football the right way so that they could develop into a strong

football team by the time they get into the senior sides. By the end of the season they were playing a passing and possession game that will hold them in good stead in the future. One of the first problems was finding a goalkeeper because there wasn’t a recognised keeper in the squad but after Alan Phillips went between the posts in the first match, Tom Hunt took over the gloves and became a tough reliable and good shot-stopper – until he broke his finger after half term. Oliver Tikare took over and did an excellent job in the last two matches including our only clean sheet against Sevenoaks. Another issue became the availability of James Read because he couldn’t come to training during the week owing to his Fencing commitments and he missed three matches on Saturdays. He was needed to enforce some physicality on our play as generally we were smaller than our opponents, with his long throws, powerful goal kicks, and high work rate in the centre of midfield. Kit Wilson became Captain and led by example driving the team forward and offering the flair and dribbling skills needed to create chances.

against a talented Brighton College side when we played on a Rugby pitch with Football goals(!) that had been played on in the morning and we conceded four goals in the first half hour – not surprising after a two hour coach trip and no time for a proper warm-up. The most pleasing result was in our final match against Sevenoaks; we showed real character when the decisions didn’t go our way on a pudding of a pitch by adapting to the conditions and by keeping our first clean sheet. Overall, it was a very impressive season from a talented squad and I hope that the players will build upon this season’s achievements in the years to come. Players of the Season: James Read and Euan Brown Most Improved Player: Tom Hunt Top Scorer: Geordie Bull (6) Results

Defensively, we became quite solid with Euan Brown and Tom Bomer developing a good partnership in the centre of defence, with Tom sweeping behind Euan, and they adapted incredibly well to the different conditions that we faced – from mudbaths at Sevenoaks and Brighton, rock hard and bumpy at home, to frozen solid at Colfe’s. The full backs rotated with Ben Hamlyn, Oliver Mann, Oliver Flood, Rory Hinshelwood, and Alan Phillips all taking turns. In midfield either Kit and James or Kit and Geordie held the middle with Sam Casement, Chet Thapa and Alan Phillips (again!) playing on the flanks. Up front we usually played Archie Kay and Semi Akinbe – both very pacy and direct or Geordie moved forward. He was the real discovery in the team scoring six goals including our only hat-trick against Brentwood – he strikes the ball with real natural timing. Probably our best win was against Brentwood in only our second match. We played with a determined and well balanced attitude and showed our potential when we dominated the second half scoring three quality goals. In our other home game we had the lion’s share of possession against Christ’s Hospital but our finishing let us down and we drew 1-1. The toughest fixture proved to be

Westminster (a)

Lost

3-7

Brentwood (h)

Won

3-1

Brighton College (a)

Lost

1-5

Worth (a)

Won

4-1

Colfe’s (a)

Lost

1-3

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Drew

1-1

Dulwich College (a)

Lost

1-3

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

2-0

U14 C XI RPC

P5 W1 D2 L2

THE CANTUARIAN

lacrosse A respectable season from a team who often saved their best form for playing (and sometimes beating) the As and Bs in training. A number of the players will count themselves unlucky not to have made the B team, which is a reflection on the strength of the year group. Starting the season at a windswept Brighton, we surged into a 2-0 lead soon after the break, but were undone by some speculative long shots which moved all over the place in the wind. We were clinical against Worth, converting chances into goals and a Nikita Zhelezkov hat-trick led us to a comfortable victory. Against Christ’s Hospital, we were rather lacklustre and, despite seeming in control, could only manage a draw. We were totally outclassed by a strong Dulwich side. Despite having a significant advantage, both in terms of territory and possession, against Sevenoaks, we only managed to score twice and had to settle for another draw. Nikita Zhelezkov ended as top scorer, with five goals, and Kay Cosans scored three. Daniil Antonov scored some screamers in training! The midfield worked tirelessly to cover the field and the defensive unit looked remarkably competent for a C team for most of the games. So it was a respectable season, but the team will know that they could have won four matches and will target these next year. Team from: Daniil Antonov, Kit Baker, Pep Chaixanien, Harry Condon, Kay Cosans, Sebbi Crow, Jason Lo, Josh Lyden, Ernest Mudasiru, Toby Rampton, Dannie Rhodes, Jake Tyler, OJ Wigwe, Louis Wilson, Nikita Zhelezkov Results Brighton (a)

Lost

2-4

Worth (a)

Won

6-2

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Drew

1-1

Lost

0-8

Drew

2-2

Dulwich (a) Sevenoaks (a)

Lacrosse Team Reports 1st XII JAD

Autumn Term: P9 W5 L4 Lent Term: P5 W3 L2 This has been a year of mixed fortunes, gains and losses in terms of results, some near misses, some changes in positions, but development in attitude and awareness, mental discipline, teamwork and individual skills continued throughout the Autumn Term and well into the Lent Term. As the Lacrosse Club continues to grow, so do the excitement and motivation to achieve! The girls have played together for many years now, which allowed them to dive right in at the beginning of term with high spirits and camaraderie. Unfortunately this may have distracted them from their goals as the first weekend of matches (Caterham followed by the Berkhamstead 8-a-side tournament) hit them with a few disheartening and unexpected losses. Despite this small setback, the squad re-evaluated and came back with a vengeance in what was the most exciting U19 Kent County Tournament to date! Not only did they come first and bring home the cup, their attitudes, determination, and physicality were unparalleled. With the beautiful sunshine came sweat, aches and pains, but all was worthwhile as the wins continued to rack up. Come November, new goals were set, but as the end of term drew near and the cold set in, results began to sway. Despite three disappointing losses, the 1st XII pulled through to end the term with a win against Benenden. Unlike other team sports at King’s, Lacrosse runs two terms so teammates often come and go, leaving only the dedicated core of the team to set standards high for those

Lent 2012

lacrosse

Lacrosse 1st XII

joining in the Lent Term. Fortunately, those joining were willing and ready to step up and compete at the standard previously set in the Autumn. The Lent Term traditionally brings tougher matches as the 1st XII begin preparing for the U19 National Schools’ Lacrosse Tournament in March, and this year was no exception. The girls were thrown a fast ball when their first challenge of the year was against Guildford HS, this year’s National Champions, in which they performed well but unfortunately lost by a mere four goals after valiant efforts. The girls continued to work hard despite the cold and rainy weather, grabbing two more victories leading up to the National Schools’ Tournament. For those new to Nationals, it can be rather nerve racking pulling up to an enormous sports complex with 60 of the best Lacrosse teams in the UK all ready to spar. This year, however, rather than nerves I saw sparkles in eyes. 14 sportswomen ready to fight. And what a fight it was! Despite being the underdogs in the toughest pool (having two previous National Champions), the 1st XII made a statement playing with heart yet remaining calm

throughout. Although we are still a ways from becoming National Champions, I cannot be more proud. By the end of the weekend, the squad had finished at the top of Division two (out of five total) despite not having a single substitute due to West Side Story commitments. Although I would like to take credit for the successes the First XII Lacrosse team have had, it couldn’t have happened without the excellent leadership shown by Olivia Prince (Captain), Emily Cox (Vice-captain) and Ally Fitzgerald (Spirit Captain). The First XII this year has displayed all of the attributes that are expected of a varsity squad not only within the Girls’ Lacrosse Club, but also across all King’s sport. You should be proud of all you have accomplished this year! Autumn Term Team from: Olivia Prince (Captain), Emily Cox (Vice-captain), Alexandra Fitzgerald, Henrietta Talbot, Harriet Wilson, Maya Kolade, Ella Walford, Venetia Fryzer, Lara Pedley, Amy Tudor, Charlotte Wickham, Emily Champion, Harriet Preston, Eleanor Christianakis, Georgia Watt, Laura Meek, Elizabeth Trelawny-Vernon

THE CANTUARIAN

Lent Term Team from: Olivia Prince (Captain), Emily Cox (Vice-captain), Alexandra Fitzgerald, Henrietta Talbot, Harriet Wilson, Martha Knight, Venetia Fryzer, Lara Pedley, Amy Tudor, Charlotte Wickham, Anna Gibson, Harriet Preston, Louisa Freemont, Georgia Watt, Laura Meek, Elizabeth Trelawny-Vernon Offensive Player Award:

Olivia Prince

Defensive Player Award:

Anna Gibson

Players’ Player:

Harriet Preston

Coach’s Award:

Emily Cox

Most Improved:

Amy Tudor

Guildford (a)

Lost

5-9

Walthamstow Hall (a)

Won

9-6

Haileybury (h)

Lost

1-6

U19 Kent Indoor Tournament

3rd Won

9-6

1st in Div. II

U15 A & B XI Autumn Term: P9 W5 D1 L3

Caterham (a)

Lost

5-9

Haileybury (h)

Won

13-3

St Alban’s (a)

Won

7-5

Coloma Convent (h)

Won

18-4

Claremont Fan Court (a)

Lost

5-6

Sherborne School (a)

Lost

4-6

Walthamstow Hall (a)

Lost

9-10

St George’s Harpenden (a)

Won

12-3

W4 L4

Kent Tournament (first place) Benenden D

Won

8-0

Walthamstow Hall B

Won

8-1

Benenden A

Won

4-1

Benenden B

Won

3-2

Walthamstwo Hall A

Won

4-1

Lent 2012

8-5

National Schools’ Tournament

Autumn Term

Lent Term

Won

Benenden (a)

Results

Berkhamstead Tournament

OKS (h)

Lent Term (15A): P4 W2 L2 Lent Term (15B): P4 W1 L3 As Lacrosse is played across two terms, it becomes difficult to summarize a collective season, particularly due to changes in personnel, skill levels and weather. As a group, however, the U15s across both terms were dedicated to improving, had (mostly) positive attitudes and a competitive streak. They were quick to learn, fun to coach and soaked up much of what was taught to them. This self-sufficiency was extremely valuable and I feel confident that the knowledge and skills that they learned will be of use in the future—both as players and, perhaps, future coaches. I will certainly miss the character of this team, as each girl brought something unique and special to the group. Despite some frowns, many complaints and attempts to distract me, I will certainly miss this entertaining and spirited bunch. During the Autumn Term, the U15 Lacrosse players were on one team with a huge variety of skill levels. Some had played Lacrosse for a year or more, while others were attempting it for the first time. The large spectrum of talents created a slight gap, though early season tournaments served to bring individuals quickly up to speed and unite the team. After only three days of practice, the team defeated Caterham behind the great play of Chloe

Lacrosse U15 AXII

Berliand, a great way to prepare for the Berkhamsted 8-aside tournament the following day. Despite facing some talented and experienced competition, the girls stayed very positive throughout the tournament and focused on their individual and team goals. They were very receptive to coaching and, coupled with their natural ability, this experience provided the foundation for a great term. In the greatest test of the term, the team competed in the Kent Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tournament, playing against perennial rivals Benenden and Walthamstow Hall. Off of the field, the girls really started to come together as a team, laughing and enjoying each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company. This familiarity and support helped on the field as the girls began to work hard for one another. With a variety of inexperienced players volunteering to play goalie, the defensive efforts of Amaka Oditah, Tireni Atoyebi and Lucy Fenwick were valuable and impressive in helping to prevent opposing players from scoring. After a strong fourth place finish, Alex Murray-Tacon was voted by the team as the most valuable player of the tournament due to her strong offensive play, including five goals in one game!

As the learning curve began to slow, the team struggled through a few games against tough opponents. A lack of team communication and confidence with the ball led to some tough matches and a renewed commitment to staying motivated and feeding off of one anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy. Their breakthrough was illustrated by their confident play against Claremont Fan Court as it became clear that the U15s were beginning to take pride in themselves and their team. Emily Solly, the match MVP, was determined and focused in taking control of the attacking end. Jennifer Cox served as a great leader, especially in pregame warm-ups, motivating her teammates to work hard and stay focused. Victories in the final three games of the season helped to springboard the team into the Lent Term. As the Lent Term commenced, the U15s were divided into an A and a B side, as we were joined by many new faces. In the first few weeks of practice, a lot of catching up was required and, to the credit of the veterans, all were supportive and stayed interested. With little time to dwell on fundamentals, the new players were thrown into the mix and worked hard to learn and improve. After our teams finished 3rd and 4th at the Kent Indoor Tournament, Holly

THE CANTUARIAN

lacrosse O’Connor was voted as the player of the tournament due to her defensive prowess and excellent stickwork. Special mention must go to Helen Woodward, who, despite never having played before, had great instincts and was stellar on defence. Despite some tough losses for the U15 Bs, they maintained good attitudes and worked to improve as a team. The highlight of the term was a well-earned victory against an always-strong Benenden side. Phoebe Lundy was voted as the Player’s Player for their season due to her hard work, dedication and consistency on the pitch. The girls maintained a sense of humour throughout and were an amusing bunch for Miss Leeuwner to contend with! Much of the practise that followed was focused on preparing the U15As for the highlight of the Lacrosse year—the National Tournament. Eighteen girls, including five Shells, were invited to represent King’s. Their intensity in the weeks leading up to the tournament was admirable as they fought to keep up with the 1st team in conditioning and fitness drills. Ultimately, their preparation helped them to take advantage of the experience of competing against talented Lacrosse players and teams. In finishing fourth in our group, the girls narrowly missed the playoffs and should be proud of their achievements as a team on and off the field. The entire U15 Lacrosse year group should be proud of their development and ability to incorporate diverse personalities into a single unit. Their positive outlook and general merriment made for a lot of laughs—especially the singing and dancing on competition days! Lent Term team from: T Atoyebi, H Barton, C Berliand, J Chesterfield, H Cheung, J Cox, G de Bree, I Engel, L Fenwick, T Goddard, C Jenkinson, J Lain, A Mukhamejanova, A Murray-Tacon, H O’Connor, N Oditah, L Olszowska, G Reyniers, E Solly, K Sorab, S Wells Autumn Term team from: C Berliand, C Bourne, W Briggs, J Chesterfield, H Cheung, J Compton, J Cox, G de Bree, I Engel, L Fenwick, E Hartland, L Hogg, C Jenkinson, P Lundy, V Morrison, A Murray-Tacon, H O’Connor, L Olszowska, A Pattinson, S Pughe, G Reyniers, M Scantlebury, O Simpson, E Solly, S Wells, H Woodward

Lent 2012

U15 A: Offensive Player:

Pippi de Bree

Defensive Player:

Catriona Jenkinson

Most Improved:

Iona Engel

Coach’s Player:

Scarlet Pughe

U15 B: Defensive Player:

Lucy Fenwick

Most Improved:

Meagan Scantlebury

Coach’s Players:

Lucy Hogg and Willa Briggs

Players’ Player:

ennifer Cox

Autumn Term Results: Caterham (a)

Won

6-3

Berkhamsted tournament (a)

D1 L8

Kent Schools’ tournament

4th

Walthamstow Hall (h)

Lost

5-9

Haileybury (h)

Drew

3-3

Coloma Convent (h)

Lost

4-8

Claremont Fan Court (a)

Won

6-5

Sherborne (a)

Lost

3-10

St Alban’s (h)

Won

7-5

St George’s Harpenden (a)

Won

6-4

Benenden (a)

Won

14-2

Lent Term Results (U15 A): Guildford (a)

Won

7-5

Kent Indoor Tournament

3rd/4th

Walthamstow Hall (a)

Lost

3-8

Haileybury (a)

Lost

5-8

Benenden (a)

Won

8-3

National Schools’ Tournament

4th in group

Lent Term Results (U15 B): Heathfield (a)

Lost

3-11

Dulwich Prep (a)

Lost

4-12

Benenden (a)

Won

10-1

St George’s, Ascot (a)

Lost

2-16

U14 A XI SJW

Autumn Term: P8 W6 D1 L1 Lent Term: P3 W1 L2 The U14 Lacrosse team were extremely strong this year, winning a number of difficult matches and having four players represent King’s at the U15 National Lacrosse Tournament during the Lent Term. The start of the Autumn Term brought in many experienced and new players to the team. While one would expect a large gap in skill between the new and old players, this was not at all the case. The experienced players were predominantly midfielders who were able to help the new offenders and defenders develop their skills. After a loss during the first game against Dulwich Prep, the girls faced the sport with a newfound sense of energy, enthusiasm, and determination to win. The experienced players acted as role-models and new players were immediately responsive, quick to learn and soon became just as valuable as the veterans. By the third game against Coloma Convent, it was clear that each member brought something valuable to the team and that experience no longer mattered. This game

also represented the origin of the mascot, ‘Bernadette’. ‘Bernadette’ was a pink Lacrosse ball that came to represent the team’s successes and unity. After each win we drew a star on ‘Bernadette’ containing the score, with the aim of covering the entire ball with stars. This marked the start of a new sense of ownership and pride on the team that pushed them to dominate in the remainder of their games. This resulted in a 6-1-1 record reflecting the team chemistry and cohesion. While the Lent Term suffered the loss of a number of key players, many B team members were able to progress to the A team alongside a new batch of talented athletes. The A team was proud to have four of its members represent King’s alongside the U15A team at the National Tournament in March. While their absence was sorely missed during a couple key matches, the rest of the A team and a few members of the B team gained invaluable experience and pushed themselves to their potential. More than anything I am proud to have coached these two teams who demonstrated positivity, persistency, good sportsmanship, and tenacity no matter the outcome of a match. Autumn Term team from: A. Abadjieva, O. Bagshawe, E. Batten, B. Booth, W. Chika-Mbonu, S. Kuramochi, A. Levitskaya, M. Mills, E. macLachlan, S. Piper, E. Plunkett, J. Quinlan, S. Rogers, F. Speed, C. Tayor-Young, E. Wallis, A. Whaley. Lent Term team from: A. Abadjieva, O. Bagshawe, E. Bryant, W. Chika-Mbonu, A. Ham, A. Levitskaya, R. Mockridge, S. Ogan, J. Quinlan, S. Rogers, C. TaylorYoung, I. Webster, A. Whaley, O. Wilson Offensive Player:

Connie Taylor-Young

Defensive Player:

Alice Whaley

Coach’s Player:

Jessica Quinlan

Most Improved:

Rowena Mockridge

Players’ Player:

Olivia Bagshawe

Autumn Term Results

THE CANTUARIAN

squash Dulwich Prep (a) Kent Tournament (a) Haileybury (h)

Lost

2-10

W2 D1 L3 Won

1-0

Coloma Convent (h)

Won

7-2

Claremont (h)

Drew

7-7

Sherborne (a)

Won

4-1

St Alban’s (h)

Won

9-1

St George’s Harpenden (a)

Won

7-2

Benenden (a)

Won

6-3

Berkhamstead Tournament (a)

Lent Term Results Guildford (a)

Lost

2-3

Benenden (a)

Lost

1-9

Kent Tournament (h)

3rd

Coloma Convent (a)

Won

9-2

Girls’ Squash Team Report TM

1st V P8 W5 L3 There were eight girls’ matches this year and the team carried on the winning ways from last season to finish with five wins. Thanks to Mr Hill’s efforts the number of fixtures for the girls increased again and a fantastic group of enthusiastic players played some very entertaining matches. There were three returning players from last year (Annabel Mockridge, Joy Selous and Seiya Grant), which

Lent 2012

meant two new players would have their chance in the team. The year began with a tight 3-2 win against Sevenoaks. The match was tied 2-2 when Annabel went on at 1 and she managed to carry on from where she left off last season, winning 3-1. Next up was a convincing win against the staff team. Wins for Annabel, Seiya, Chevonne Wong and Kate Barron meant the girls won 4-1. The girls went 3-0 after beating Christ’s Hospital next 4-1. Florence Savage played in her first match and won 3-0 at 5.

Girls’ Squash 1st V

The fourth match was against Wellesley House boys’ team. It was a very tough match for the girls but they did themselves proud as Annabel and Lucy Wallis only just lost 3-2 at 1 and 5 respectively and Joy lost 3-1 at 2. It was a 0-5 loss but good for the girls to gain experience against some hard-hitting boys. The staff wanted to gain revenge for their earlier loss but again the girls were victorious 4-1, with Eleanor Thrupp getting her first game and win, 3-0 at 5. Then a rematch with Sevenoaks that went the same way, 3-2, but the wins came from the lower order this time. Annabel and Seiya were beaten at 1 and 2, but Joy, Lucy and Chevonne won their matches. The next fixture against Holmewood House was even tougher than the Wellesley match, as the girls found out before the match started that Holmewood had beaten Wellesley, who’d beaten the girls. The whole team tried hard and Lucy managed to get a game in her match. She played fantastically! The last match of the season was against Wellesley again, but a mixture of boys and girls. Annabel and Seiya played boys and lost 0-3 and 2-3 respectively (a great effort from Seiya). The other three played girls; Joy and Chevonne won 3-0 at 4 and 5 but Lucy had a mammoth match at 3 and just lost 3-2. I am very proud of the girls’ efforts for the season and improvements were there for all to see.

Annabel was an outstanding Captain and set the standard for all the others to aim towards. She played in all the matches and managed to win half of them, all the while playing at 1. The whole team looked up to her and how she played. She was deservedly voted ‘Most Valuable Player’, next year’s captain has a lot to live up to! Lucy ended the season as the team’s number 3, after beginning the year not even in the team. She was voted ‘Most Improved Player’ after such a huge leap up the order. She has a powerful serve and calmly puts 100% effort in to every rally. Joy has played for the team for three years and became an integral core member. Along with Annabel and Seiya she formed a strong 1, 2 and 3. Her game (those evil boasts!) has come on so much in that time that I hope she continues to play and grow as a player. The squad loses Annabel, Joy, Lucy, Florence, Emily, Nina and Eleanor for next season, which will give others the opportunity to carry on the winning ways! I wish all the leavers every success for the future. Team from: Kate Barron^, Emily Davis, Nina Etherton, Seiya Grant^, Annabel Mockridge*, Florence Savage, Joy Selous*, Eleanor Thrupp, Lucy Wallis^ and Chevonne Wong^ Most Valuable Player:

Annabel Mockridge

Most Improved Player:

Lucy Wallis

Results Sevenoaks (h)

Won

3-2

Staff (h)

Won

4-1

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Won

4-1

Wellesley (boys) (a)

Lost

0-5

Staff (h)

Won

4-1

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

3-2

Holmewood House (h)

Lost

0-5

Wellesley (mixed) (h)

Lost

2-3

Girls’ Inter-House Competition Winners: Walpole Runners up: Jervis Emma Henderson

0-2

Lucy Wallis

Eliza Brett

2-0

Francesca Newman

Venetia Fryzer

0-2

Eleanor Christianakis

Well done to Walpole for reaching the final for the second year running, and this time coming away with the trophy! There were some fantastic matches in this year’s interhouse but the one that stood out the most was between Eliza Brett (JR) and Nicola King (HH) in the 1st round. Eliza won 9-7 9-7 and both girls ran their socks off! It was great to see such competitiveness. In the final the ’1′s and ’2′s went on first. Lucy served so well and this gave her the edge over Emma; Lucy won 9-2 9-4. Eliza was on the other court running and retrieving every shot that Fran tried. There were some great rallies but Eliza came through 9-0 9-3. So it was down to the ’3′s who has a very good close match, but Eleanor made slightly fewer mistakes and won 9-7 9-5. Walpole had won the title!

Boys’ Squash Team Report 1st V P19 W11 L8

THE CANTUARIAN

Boys’ Squash 1st V

squash play in the National Trophy rather than the main draw this year. Three wins followed against St Edmund’s, Simon Langton and Christ’s Hospital before the staff reminded the boys what to keep working towards (5-0 win for the staff!). Four more wins followed against Tonbridge, Eton II, Jesters and Sevenoaks.

Last year the team won 50% of their matches and this year that went up to 58%. All the squad have worked so hard over the course of the year; I believe their achievements go beyond that win/loss record. The 1st V lost a number of important players from the previous season but King’s strength has always been in depth and this season has been no different. One through eight, the players are of a similar standard and this helped the team win some close matches. The team spirit, work ethic and commitment have been excellent all year and this culminated in the team reaching the National Schools’ Trophy Finals (top 36 in the country) at the National Squash Centre in Manchester. Another positive year for King’s Squash. The season started with a 2-3 loss to St Bede’s in the National Schools competition. Fergus Ryan (Captain) and George Baker-White won, Ashwin Bhadresha and Louis Bromfield both narrowly lost 3-2 and Jamie McPhie 3-1. A very close match to start the year! Then came a surprising 2-3 loss to Sevenoaks, who we have usually had the upper hand against. A very impressive 5-0 win against Tonbridge came next and a tough 3-2 win against St Edmund’s after that. The team was performing very well with a rotation of players. Benjamin Champion and Edward Lawrence-Jones got their chances in the team during this time and by the end of the season both were integral to any success. The team then played against Lancing College (a top four Squash school in the county) and Borden Grammar in the National Schools competition. 0-5 and 1-4 were the results respectively and this confirmed that King’s would

Lent 2012

As in previous years the boys competed in the Epsom Independent Schools Tournament, but this year they were put in Division 1, which meant very hard competition. Losses to Harrow, Epsom, Whitgift and Tonbridge meant that King’s played Berkhamsted in the 9th/10th play-off. After a gruelling day of Squash the boys succeeded in winning their last match and thus finished the day on a high. King’s came 9th out of 10 but this was the first time we had been in Division 1 and there were only 5 teams in Division 2 so it was good for the boys to play some excellent games in the stronger division. The National Trophy 2nd round saw a repeat of one of the group matches, as we had to travel to St Bede’s again. Only Ashwin couldn’t make the trip but fortunately the team played amazingly well to preverse the result from before and win 3-2. The quarter-finals were at home and the boys knew that a win would see them in the semi-finals for the first time ever, which were being played at the National Squash Centre in Manchester. King Edward IV Grammar School were brushed aside 5-0! Sadly, Heaton Manor, who we played in the semi-final, and Cheltenham College, who we played in the 3rd/4th place playoff, were a little stronger and both results were 0-5. Fergus, Ashwin, Louis, Benjamin and Edward gave their all and managed to get so close in all the matches. 0-5 does not reflect how close the final scores were and some of the 3-1 losses could easily have been 3-1 wins. Fourth in the country is still very impressive though! Ashwin Bhadresha started the year as number 1 and played 9 of the matches in this position. Whoever played at 1 often found themselves up against county players, if not national players and he managed to win 15% of his

squash matches. Ashwin and Fergus were so important for the team at 1 and 2, as this pushed everyone else down the order and always gave the team a chance to win. He may not have had as much individual success this season but the team wouldn’t have won 11 matches without him. The level of his Squash has improved throughout the year, made even more impressive due to his musical commitments in West Side Story. Fergus Ryan played in all but one of the matches and played at 1 in 10 of them. He won 39% of his games and was an excellent Captain. He managed to juggle his Rugby commitments in the Autumn Term to make sure he trained at least twice a week still and upped that to four or five times a week in the Lent Term. He led by example in everything he did and always gave 100%, he encouraged and supported his team mates and made my job a lot easier. His Squash got better and better over the year and this was highlighted by his moving to the number 1 spot for the second half of the season. A fantastic Captain and a hugely successful year! Louis Bromfield played at 3 and won 50% of his matches. The comedian of the team with his witty one-liners always entertained us all. Every successful team needs a strong lower order and Louis spearheaded this. He has the potential to be a very, very good player and next year he will be the senior player on the team. He has all the shots and with slightly improved fitness he will be a very useful number 1.

Benjamin has a lot of natural ability and is only a Remove. At some points during the season he was playing seven times a week and just enjoying ‘hitting the ball really hard’. With another three years in the team I’m sure he will become a well rounded player and a future number 1. He was voted the team’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ for all his efforts this season. Fergus, Ashwin, Edward, Jamie, Jake and Harry are leaving this year, which means there will be opportunities for some new faces in the 1st V next season. I wish all the leavers every success for the future! Team from: George Baker-White, Ashwin Bhadresha*, Louis Bromfield^, Benjamin Champion^, Tom Doyle, Hal Evans, Edward Lawrence-Jones^, JamieMcPhie^, Fergus Ryan* (Captain), Jake Sutton and Harry Taylor. Most Valuable Player:

Benjamin Champion

Most Improved Player:

Edward Lawrence-Jones

Results St Bede’s (a)

Lost

2-3

Sevenoaks (h)

Lost

2-3

Tonbridge (h)

Won

5-0

St Edmund’s (h)

Won

3-2

Lancing College (a)

Lost

0-5

Borden Grammar (h)

Lost

1-4

St Edmund’s (a)

Won

5-0

Simon Langton (h)

Won

4-1

Christ’s Hospital (h)

Won

4-1

Jamie was the grafter of the team, he chased every ball down and worked tirelessly all match long. He proved that Tennis players can also play Squash!

Staff (h)

Lost

0-5

Tonbridge (a)

Won

4-1

Eton II (a)

Won

3-2

Edward worked hard on improving his skills all year long and won the ‘Most Improved Player’ award at seasons end. Everyone could see how much it meant to him to constantly improve and play for the team, and he thoroughly deserved to be recognised.

St Bede’s (a)

Won

3-2

Tonbridge (h)

Lost

2-3

Jesters (h)

Won

3-2

Sevenoaks (a)

Won

3-2

Ben Champion, Jamie McPhie and Edward LawrenceJones usually filled out the 4th and 5th spots, depending on who was available. They won 64%, 79% and 46% of their games respectively.

THE CANTUARIAN

King Edward IV (h)

Won

5-0

Heaton Manor (a)

Lost

0-5

Cheltenham College (a)

Lost

0-5

We hope to have more fixtures for the U15s next season, as the boys need to gain experience at this level before going on to the senior team. Team from: Alex Ardley-Ingram, Jack Dearlove, Tom Doyle, Henry Evans, Sasha Ignatiev, Alexander James, Alexander Sokolow and Edward Solly

Epsom Independent Schools Tournament

Results

Harrow

Lost

0-7

Epsom

Lost

0-7

Holmewood House (h)

Lost

1-4

Whitgift

Lost

2-5

Wellesley (h)

Lost

2-3

Tonbridge

Lost

0-7

Berkhamstead (playoff)

Won

5-2

Boys’ Inter-House Competition Winners: Marlowe Runners up: Carlyon

U15 V

Benjamin Champion

1-0

Jamie McPhie

P2 W0 L2

Henry Evans

2-0

Edward Lawrence-Jones

There are a number of talented U15 players, which bodes well for the future of Squash at King’s. Hopefully we can encourage more of the younger pupils to come out of the woodwork and try their hand at Squash.

Alexander James

2-0

Thomas Dath

The first match of the season was against a very strong Holmewood House. The King’s team did very well to compete but Henry (Hal) Evans was the only one to win his match at 1. Against Wellesley the team just lost 3-2, with Sasha Ignatiev losing 3-2 at 3. Hal and Alexander James both won 3-0 (1 and 2) and will surely be in the 1st V next season. Edward Solly and Jack Dearlove did well at 4 and 5, so I hope they continue with their Squash next year. Squash isn’t available to the U15s as a games option (exceptions can be made) so I don’t see the boys for regular coaching. However coaching is available to those that want it, 5-6pm on Mondays and Thursdays. These extra sessions have been put in place with the U15s in mind. Anyone that wants to play Squash is more than welcome at these sessions.

Lent 2012

There were fantastic competitive matches throughout this year’s inter-house competition and all the houses got fully involved, which was great to see. In the 1st round MT played TR and it was tied 1-1 when the number 1’s went on. Fergus Ryan (school number 1) beat Ashwin Bhadresha (school number 2) 9-7 9-6, for TR to win 2-1. Jamie McPhie (CY) beat Jake Sutton (MO) 2-1 in the deciding string of their 1st round match too. In the semi finals MR dropped their only match of the competition when Fergus Ryan beat Ben Champion 2-0. Sadly for TR they had lost the other two strings and went out. In the other semi it again came down to Jamie McPhie to provide the heroics, as he beat Louis Bromfield (GR) 2-1 in the deciding string, to put CY in the final against MR. In the final 2’s and 3’s went on first. Alex made short work of Tom and quickly won 2-0. The other match was a close affair with Hal sneaking the first, before comfortably

Rowing closing out the match 2-0. MR had won the title! Ben and Jamie played one game of the dead rubber which Ben took 10-8. MR will be attempting to win the title for the next three years too, as the same players will be available.

Rowing Team Reports JW

This term further improvements were evident across the board. The first event was the Kent Schools’ Indoor Rowing Heats with some good results, and 12 pupils qualified for the finals. At the next event in Northampton there were the following wins. Northampton Head of Nene WN4+

V Mansfield, S Perkins, A Thomas, H Presdee, S Wallis

WJ16 1x –

V Mansfield

WJ18 2- –

V Mansfield, S Perkins

Novice 1x –

A Andrews

J18 4+ –

E Thomas, G Edwards, E Bryant, H Best-Shaw, T Fairbairn

This was a good first indication of the progress that was starting to become evident. At Hampton Head a week later the emerging J16 Eight came 10th with the Girls’ coxless Four coming in 4th. During the half term holiday Vicky Mansfield attended the GB Rowing trials to gain valuable experience having a possible eye on looking to go through the full process next year. The result was a credible 25th and a greater understanding. After the break the Kent Indoor Rowing Finals beckoned and with some additional inclusions some good results materialised. Kent Indoor Rowing Championships Gold WJ16-

V Mansfield

Silver J18 –

A Andrews

Bronze WJ18 –

V Mansfield

THE CANTUARIAN

swimming Bronze WJ18 Team

V Mansfield, S Perkins, A Thomas, V Warszewski

The next Head Race was the first real local event to see where we stood in the region. Maidstone was a 2.5k course held on a sunny early March Sunday. Whilst this was going on Alex Andrews returned to Belgium for his Belgium Rowing Team trials coming in a very useful 15th. More to follow next term.

The Training Camp this year is in Ghent during the Easter holidays culminating in the Ghent Spring International Regatta on the 7th and 8th April.

Boys’ Swimming Report

Maidstone Head J16 2x

S Roud, N Hastings

J15 2x

G Brady, H Best-Shaw

WJ18 2

S Perkins, V Mansfield

WJ16 1x

V Mansfield

Fastest Junior Women’s Crew Pennant

S Perkins, V Mansfield, A Thomas, V Warszewski, S Wallis

The results showed that King’s was again an emerging rowing force in the region. Other notable performances came from an enthusiastic J14 coxed Quad coming in 2nd in their age group as well as the J16 squad in their fours combinations. This was the ideal preparation before the major Head races of the season. The Eights Head we used as a dry run for the J16 Eight before the Schools Head. After coming 347th on the Saturday the Eight then raced again coming in a very healthy 7th in J16 1st Eights. The Girls combination from Maidstone raced in WJ18 coxed Fours and came in a very pleasing 9th. With the training camp in April there is a good platform to build on. After the Schools’ Head the pupils stayed up in London to attend the Canterbury Pilgrims AGM and join the OKS body at dinner at London Rowing Club. A very enjoyable evening and our thanks to the Pilgrims for the evening. The final good news of the term was the selection of 15 pupils to represent the South East Region at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta in Nottingham on April 28th. This event is a race between the twelve regions of England

Lent 2012

across a number of events for 14 to 16 year olds. This is the first step on the representative ladder. Well done to these pupils as well as all those who raced this term.

Pam Murray

Swimming Team Boys & Girls 2011/2012

Captain of Swimming for 2011/2012:

Max Judge

Most improved swimmer:

Patrick MacLachlan

County Events – a haul of medals as follows: Individual Events Patrick MacLachlan won 2 golds (100m freestyle u16 & u17), 2 silvers, 5 bronze, 4th and 5th place final, created 3 new school records. Jeff Tang won bronze in the 100m breaststroke at county schools. Joseph Shailer gained 6th place in the junior boys 100m final in backstroke at county schools. Relay Events Silver medal in senior boys medley and freestyle county schools – Jeff Tang, Karl Herman, Max Judge, Patrick MacLachlan

5th in intermediate boys medley and freestyle county schools final – Ben Champion, Ivan Prizyazhnyuk, Patrick Chan, Michael Hollihan-Sarmiento

Played 2, lost 2 (Sutton Valence junior and senior)

6th in intermediate boys medley and freestyle county schools final – Joshua Quinlan, Ivan Prizyazhnyuk, Ben Champion, Michael Hollihan Sarmiento

7th in final of open boys freestyle relay for small schools – Patrick macLachlan, Michael Hollihan-Sarmiento, Jeff Tang, Joseph Shailer

Tournaments – one Trophy win:

14th in medley relay – Karl Herman, Jeff Tang, Patrick MacLachlan, Michael Hollihan Sarmiento

Home Tournament intermediate boys – Paddy macLachlan, Theodore Frobert, Ivan Prisyazhnyuk, Joshua Quinlan Junior boys and Senior boys: both came 4th Weald and Downland Trophy – junior boys 2nd, intermediate boys 2nd, senior boys 4th Inter School Events

National Relay championships

Swimming Inter house winners Junior Cup:

The Grange

Senior Cup:

School House

Additional team swimmers this term to the boys named above: Giles Dean, Giles Ross, John Adler, Henry

THE CANTUARIAN

fencing Gibbon, James Faure, Lorcan Halfacre, Scott Davidson, James Kerr, Jack Lee, Edward Vinson, Jea Seong Yoon, Christian de Vitry D’avaucourt, Henry Long, Arran Hope, Oliver Hope

Girls’ Swimming Team Reports

Home Tournament Junior girls

Rachael Barry, Isobel Whalley Payne, Victoria Leigh, Isobel Webster

Senior girls

Charlotte Langridge, Samantha Solly, Isobelle Whitaker, Sophie Wilson, Amanda Thomas

Intermediate girls came 3rd Inter-school events:

Pam Murray

Played 4 (Benenden juniors and seniors, Sutton Valence juniors and seniors) Captains of Swimming (joint)

Charlotte Langridge, Samantha Solly

Most improved girl swimmer trophy

Victoria Leigh

County Events

two team golds, one final 5th place:

Won all 4 National relay championships (44 schools)

Both senior medley and freestyle shields won by King’s – Charlotte Langridge, Samantha Solly, Isabelle Whitaker, Sophie Wilson, and Amanda Thomas 5th place in intermediate freestyle final – Honoury Cheung, Lily Begg, Lucy Dean, Anouska Newman Other competitors at county level were Victoria Leigh, Gemma Taylor, Rachael Barry, Madeleine Mills, and Isobel Webster. Tournaments – 4 trophy wins: Weald and Downland Junior girls

Rachael Barry, Isobel Webster, Eliza Cox, Victoria Leigh

Intermediate girls

Honoury Cheung, Lily Begg, Anouska Newman, Gemma Taylor, Lucy Dean

15th open girls freestyle relay – Honoury Cheung, Victoria Leigh, Anouska Newman, Lily Begg 24th open girls medley relay – Samantha Solly, Isobelle Whitaker, Charlotte Langridge, Lily Begg Swimming Inter-House winners Junior Cup:

Luxmoore

Senior Cup:

Day Houses Marlowe/ Mitchinsons/Carlyon

Additional team swimmers this term to the girls named above: Hope Tong, Isobel Brooks, Iryna Usenko, Felicity Stocker

Rugby Sevens Team Report CMR

Senior girls came 2nd

Lent 2012

Against the backdrop of the plethora of other sports that King’s offers in the Lent Term, Rugby sevens continues to aid the development of our Rugby players.

U16 Girls and 3rd in the U16 Boys respectively. Both of which have qualified for the national finals to be held in Sheffield this coming May.

With limited practice time the U14s reached the final of the Kent competition and a healthy rivalry with St Olave’s has begun. Meanwhile the U15s finished joint top of their pool at their Kent tournament and huge improvements were made in game understanding.

Our biggest tournament of the year is always the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships held at Crystal Palace at the end of the Lent Term. The Mount-Hayes Boys Epee competition was very dramatic. At the direct elimination stages, Arran Hope beat his brother, Oliver Hope, in a stunning battle between the twins. Arran was then pitched against another club member, James Odgers. In a very close and thrilling encounter (15-14) from which James Odgers came out victorious. The final results were: James Odgers 14th, Arran Hope 21st and Oliver Hope 50th.

A lack of commitment from our Fifth form meant the U16 sevens season would be a tough one and the omens came to fruition with a disappointing performance at QE Barnet. Wholesale changes for Rosslyn Park saw those Fifths with passion being joined by some younger players who had proved their worth in previous tournaments. They represented the school with pride and the coaches could ask nothing more from their level of effort. The 1st VII played at the Reigate, Worth, Kent and Surrey tournaments in the lead-up to the Rosslyn Park sevens and improved with each outing. The side played some superb sevens Rugby at Rosslyn Park and displayed the standards and values that one would expect from a 1st team, finishing runners-up in their group.

Fencing Team Report Lawrence Ma (6a GR) and Marc Chapman

It has been yet another successful term of Fencing at King’s. Throughout this term, all Fencers have been training very hard and have reached a very high standard. In the British Schools’ Team Championships located at Brunel University, Hugo Smith, James Odgers and Arran Hope won an excellent bronze in the team event. In the South-East Region Epee Championships at Epsom College, there were two fantastic performances from Justine Lambert and Hugo Smith who finished 2nd in the

Hugo Smith finished a superb 10th in the Junior Boys Epee. The Senior Boys Epee was another thrilling affair. Lawrence Ma came 18th, Nicholas Ma Siy came 21st and Barnaby Gliksten finished in 25th. In the Junior Girls Epee, Justine Lambert finished a credible 3rd place in her first year at this new age group. Justine Lambert has represented Scotland at the Junior (under 20s) Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Jersey, finishing 5th in the Women’s Team Epee. The new club members (Ivan Yurov, Derek Wong, Sophie Sood, Alex Sy-Quia and Kusha Basnyat) were a splendid addition to the club. They have all improved quickly and did phenomenally well in their first term and gained some vital experience for future challenges. Colours Awarded 1st Colours

Nicholas Ma Siy

1st Team Colours

Justine Lambert, Barnaby Gliksten

2nd Colours

Jacob Hamblin-Pyke, Hugo Smith

Fencing Club Junior Awards 2012

Arran Hope, James Odgers

THE CANTUARIAN

the interview: ‘Your Miss Fraser

What do you love most about

Anna Coady (6b HH)

King’s?

Why did you chose to become a

The setting – it’s obviously very beautiful and very convenient for an RS teacher having a rather small, little church nearby that you can use for inspiration. The people – I think that King’s people are very special in lots of ways but also, one of the things that I didn’t realise when at any of my other jobs is that King’s is one of the only places where you can actually get the whole school together on a regular basis and that’s not to be underestimated.

teacher? I didn’t intend to become a teacher, I accidently fell into it after I worked at King’s for a year when I left University as I was asked to come back to help out in the RS department. Then I went to work in the media for three years and I found it a bit superficial and so I went back into teaching.

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

How would you describe your typical day? Busy. Very, very busy. In the Oxbridge term, no break times, no lunch times, just seeing people all the time. I don’t think there is any typical day, it just seems to hurtle by and before you know it you’re curled up in your bed.

I quite fancied being a midwife…

What has been the highlight of What would you be if you weren’t a teacher? I’d quite like to own a nice little teashop or an ice cream parlour by the sea, or be an Alan Sugar and run my own business.

your teaching so far? Is it really cheesy to say there has been loads of highlights, and I don’t want to single any out? Somebody getting top of the year in the Pre-U Philosophy and Theology, a boy who went on to read Philosophy at Cambridge, that was pretty cool. I do have quite a lot of really nice sets so there are plenty of highlights.

THE CANTUARIAN

Starter for 10 What is the strangest thing that

If the Common Room was

has happened to you at King’s?

burning down, which three

Last year I was reaching up to turn my projector on in a 6b lesson and my skirt fell down. A 6b girl, who was very kind, put her hand up and just said ‘Miss Fraser, your skirt’ and whispered it to me. I don’t know if the boys saw but that was quite weird and very embarassing!

What has been the most

teachers would you save? Assuming that I wouldn’t do a Captain Schettino from the Concordia and ‘accidently’ fall into a metaphorical lifeboat or the arms of a dashing fireman, I’m going to go really soppy and save the people who I knew when I was at school. So that would be the great Mr Cocksworth, who taught me almost everything I know about RS, Dr Maltby who was my Housemaster and… Miss White, because she was at school with me!

memorable lesson you’ve ever taught at King’s? Well, the inspection lesson was quite exciting in that my Fifth class were absolutely fabulous and they really rose to the challenge and so it got a special mention as outstanding in the inspection report, that was wonderful. In order not to offend any of my 6as, I have to say that I have three really fabulous 6a groups and all their lessons are memorable.

If you were the Headmistress, what would you change about the school? Probably the uniform for girls because as an OKS I remember how difficult it is to wear the brooch well, but also I have noticed that the passing of time has definitely made the length of the skirt shorter than in my day.

Lent 2012

Overheard… and Howlers ‘This weekend? I don’t know, Flora said something about a pig…’ Teacher: ‘If you don’t write this down, you may as well be dead.’ ‘I’m flowing with banter, it’s just a banter-flow around here.’ Teacher: ‘I don’t want to cause offence, but this prep is complete cr*p.’ ‘What time is the 10 o’clock news?’

Teacher: ‘You did read that out a bit weirdly…’ Pupil: ‘No, it’s just you!’

‘Your food is literally only going to taste of deodorant.’ Teacher: ‘If that comes up in the exam, I’ll strip naked and walk round Canterbury Cathedral.’ English teacher: ‘You’re literally in the author’s shoes.’

Pupil, to teacher: ‘Why have you circled tulips?’ Teacher: ‘I don’t know, read it out.’ Pupil: ‘Oh, I wrote “tupils”…’

THE CANTUARIAN

The cantuarian

Summer 2012

The Cantuarian Contents Editorial

This and That

Focus

Valete

Trips and Expeditions

King’s Week

Sport

The Interview

108

Overheard… and Howlers

110

Editorial Amanda Thomas (6a CY)

The summer of 2012 will almost certainly be remembered for two things, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. Although the latter took place after the end of our Summer Term and the former was maybe overshadowed in the minds of many pupils by forthcoming public exams, King’s of course produced a marvellous celebratory spirit during King’s Week. Yet again a whole array of musical and dramatic performances appeared, complemented by an ever-wider range of other events. Not only two debates, but also a general knowledge match, various lectures given by pupils, competitive DT and even show-jumping came under the King’s Week umbrella, which was possibly necessary given the changeable weather throughout the week. People often say that the most impressive moments of these events, such as the dusky beauty of the Serenade, furnish us with memories to last a lifetime. But our school would be nothing without its capacity to mix fun and games with more sophisticated delights. I am sure many will look back on the sight of Mr Roberts eating Union Jack coloured jelly and wearing a paper crown while celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with more pleasure than that with which they recall the preceding service in the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey.

‘Quotations in an editorial are invaluable’; well, we must have fulfilled that quota by now, even if not by ‘showing our familiarity with the poets’. A long sentence about the ‘American tourist busy with his camera’ may no longer be necessary as anyone familiar with the school, particularly on Saturday mornings, is no stranger to the crowds of tourists from America and the rest of the world, particularly across the Channel. We defy anyone to find a 12 year old from Northern France who has not yet visited the Cathedral along with several dozen classmates. On the other hand, in order to risk mass confusion, our illustrious predecessors’ advice ‘not to forget the asterisks’ will in this case be ignored. Why should we use ‘plenty of them’? Further reading of the 1912 editions has not so far illuminated this point, although we did discover an entire editorial on the subject of coal (April 1912). On that note, this next contribution to the long string of Cantuarian editorials must end, in the hope that it has given enough encouragement to read on, and indeed to look back in our archives for more amusing and occasionally esoteric material. Long may the magazine, and its commentary on life at King’s, continue. If anyone is interested in purchasing copies of the photographs taken by Matt Macardle – the school photographer - they can be found at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/ kings-canterbury The gallery password is: cantuarian1882

It has by now become an expected custom to look back on previous editions for editorial inspiration. Fortunately the specimen from the first edition of July 1912 promised to solve the problem once and for all, giving advice on the question ‘How do you write an editorial?’ to ‘future generations’. Perhaps some of my opening paragraph meets the prescribed form of ‘brief and mysterious in order to make people read what comes further on in the magazine’. And as far as this (outgoing) editor knows, we have no need to ‘deplore the paucity of contributions’ just yet.

Summer 2012

This and That Common Room News In staff news, this summer saw the salph arrival of Ralph Roberts, (that’s Ralph as in Fiennes, not as in Bates), tenacious and clinging-on-to-the-womb-like-a-barnacle though he had been, son of Chris and Milly – who can now put the agonising wait behind them and get on happily with the insomnia. As for Ralph, should he choose to follow in his father’s footsteps, he can look forward to a future filled with big hits, bruising rucks, questionable male-bonding and drinking songs. Families in general seem to be a theme this time around, with several colleagues grooming themselves for House Staff roles by tying the knot: Miss Mitchell is now Mrs Kornicki (pronounced: ‘Huh?’), Miss Crawshaw Mrs Allen, Miss Wat Mrs Kelly – all of which will prompt amusing shuffles around the pigeonholes on the first day of term – and Messrs Ionascu and Lyons (the latter to be filed in the ‘who’d’ve thunk it?’ drawer of your consciousness) also took the plunge.

arrivals there must be departures, and it is with deep and lasting regret that This and That bids farewell to Mr Dick Churcher’s sandals: their warming, comforting presence could always bring a smile to the faces of colleagues as they transported the quirky, irreverent, egg-toting genius of Geology about the school; but alas, now they carry him away, walph-like, to pastures new. The prospect of life at King’s without these fine, upstanding sandals was too much to bear for some, and among nine departures from the Common Room were David Cameron, John Pidoux and our much respected Lower Master and allround good egg, Mark Lascelles. Comment will be made elsewhere about the contributions to the school of these fine gentlemen, along with the other departing staff, and This and That will leave such matters to others. Instead, let us celebrate the remarkable fortunes of Head of Strings Andy Pollock, who, in addition to his 100-Club windfall the previous term, now got to share the limelight at the Olympic Opening Ceremony with a certain Mr Bean, and managed to resist decking him.

Two happy consequences of the Staff Spring Breeding Programme were the return to the Common Room of the effortlessly stylish Mrs Janice Reid, covering for Mrs Cox’s maternity leave, and the efficient and popular Miss Nairne, deputising for Mrs Cornell. But where there are

And finally, as the great wheel grinds squeakily about, certain House Staff, with the air of high-fiving celebration normally reserved for recent lottery winners, have reluctantly relinquished their posts after valiant twelve-year sentences. Contracts. As from September 2012, Phil Fox

THE CANTUARIAN

The Blackfriars Art Exhibition at King’s Week 1903 1st IV

(MT) and Lynda Horn (JR) have been replaced by Emma Ladd and Julia Gorman, who doubtless by now are beginning to realise what they’re in for. Zoe Allen, Lisa Cousins and Richard Ninham, meanwhile, wait breathlessly in the wings; and they generously vouchsalphed an evening of drinks in the Common Room for their colleagues, so they could commiserate. As it happens, the Common Room has been quite sociable in recent months. Dr Maltby and colleagues have arranged staff sailing days both in term and in the holidays, and these have been hugely well received by all who participated, although This and That harbours the secret suspicion that at least one of the organisers, deep down, was hoping for a drowning or two. There have also been wine tasting evenings provided by Manor Wines, sporting Alan Walton’s unique King’s School labels – soon to be available in presentation boxes . Mary Berg Finally, and with a peculiar degree of sincerity, This and That wishes all the best for the future to Governor Mary Berg, who was presented with flowers by the Common Room upon her departure from the school after many years’ distinguished service. Headmaster installed as Honorary Lay Canon On 2nd June 2012 Mr Peter Roberts, the Headmaster of the King’s School Canterbury, was installed as an Honorary Lay Canon of Canterbury, during Evensong by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, and the Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, the Dean of Canterbury. Young Scientists Christina Astin addressed the All Party Parliamentary Group on Scientific Research in Learning and Education in the House of Lords on Tuesday. 3rd July. She spoke on the Young Scientists Journal. Members of the Group include Baroness Susan Greenfield and Lord Garel-Jones OKS.

Summer 2012

Boat Club 150th Anniversary The Boat Cub has celebrated the 150th anniversary of the start of rowing at King’s. On Saturday 23 June there was a gathering at Westbere and many OKS were able to go out in boats. In the evening a dinner was held at the school. On Saturday 30 June two crews comprising OKS and current pupils rowed past at Henley. The start of rowing was recorded in the local newspapers in March 1862: Aquatic Recreation for the Scholars of The King’s School, Canterbury.On Monday, the 3rd inst, in spite of the inclemency of the weather, the King’s scholars launched their boat on the river at Fordwich. The boat was carried in procession from Sturry railway station to the field below Fordwich-bridge, where Miss Alford, in due form, named it ‘The Princess Alice’, after which the crew proceeded for a short row in it towards Grove Ferry. The boat is an out-rigger gig from Searle and Sons’, Lambeth, and is so constructed that it can be rowed either by a crew of four, or with a pair of sculls and two oars. The King’s scholars take the present opportunity of expressing their thanks to the Very Rev. the Dean, the Mayor, the Canons of the Cathedral, and all the other friends who have given them their support in their undertaking, including, as the list does, the names of several, who though not now actually connected with the school, still feel an interest in its welfare, and have so kindly and liberally come forward to promote the enjoyment of its members.

Mark Padmore at the Cathedral Concert

A History of the King’s School Canterbury Boat Club by Michael Dover will be available in the autumn Concert in the Cathedral: Mark Padmore Some 30 OKS singers joined the Crypt Choir for a concert in the Cathedral in April. The singers shared the platform with internationally renowned tenor, Mark Padmore and The English Chamber Orchestra. Finzi’s Dies Natalis was given a moving performance by Padmore and the choir and orchestra concluded the concert with Handel’s challenging Dixit Dominus. Director of Music, Howard Ionascu, conducted. The concert was in aid of the Cathedral Gift. Sporting News Highlights of the Year Hockey: Eliza Brett has been playing for Canterbury Ladies in the England Hockey League Women’s Premier Division. She has scored against Slough, Olton and West Warwicks (twice), Sutton Coldfield and Cannock.

Table Tennis: Emma Torkington trains with the England Under 18 squad. She won a team bronze medal at the World Schools’ Table Tennis Championships in Sardinia in March/April. She won individual and team gold at the Under 18 International Youth Cup in May. Netball: Eliza macLachlan is in the Under 14 Kent Netball Talent Academy. Rowing: The following were selected to represent the South East Region in the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta at Nottingham in April. South East J16 Eight: Cox Tim Fairbairn, Stroke Edward Thomas, 7 Harry Best-Shaw, 6 Galvin Brady, 5 George Edwards, 4 Ed Bryant, 3 Sam Roud, 2 Milo Reddaway, Bow Nick Hastings. Victoria Mansfield has been selected to row in the South Eastern Women’s J16 coxed Four. She was also winner of thr under 16 girls indoor championsip. County representatives (Kent): Cricket: William Heywood, Edward Solly, Oliver Tikare

Eliza Brett and Dominique Masters are in the England Under 18 squad. Scarlet Pughe has also been selected for England pre-assessment trials. Eliza played for England Under 18s in the Four Nations Tournament in Germany. James Oates captained Kent Under 14s to victory in the Southern Regional County Championship.

Hockey: William Heywood, James Oates, James King Lacrosse: Chloe Berliand, Alexandra Murray-Tacon, Holly O’Connor, Harriet Wilson (co-captain), Harriet Preston and Olivia Prince. Rugby Football: James King, James Oates, James Read.

Fencing: Justine Lambert won a bronze medal in the Under 16 Girls epée at the British Youth Championships in May. She was 5th at the Schools Games. She was the second most successful British fencer at the European Cadet Circuit Epée in Bratislava. She was 32nd out of 174 competitors. She has been selected to represent Scotland at next year’s Commonwealth Fencing Championships. She was a runner-up for Canterbury District Junior Sports Performer of the Year. Rugby Football: Charles Kingsman is in the English Rugby Development Academy and in the Saracens elite player development group.

UK School Games: Sheffield Fencing: Justine Lambert won a bronze medal in the girls épée, and a silver medal in the girls épée team event. Table Tennis: Emma Torkington was 2nd in her group and knocked out in the quarter-finals in the individual event; she was part of the South East team that finished 3rd in the team event.

George Maughan has been selected for the Irish Exiles South East side.

Summer 2012

king’s week: the michael Focus: The Michael Foale Award CMA

Mei Yin Wong (BY) was one of about ten 6b students to apply for the Michael Foale Award, a science scholarship held for three terms from Easter of the 6b year. The candidates are required to submit a letter of application stating their scientific aspirations while at King’s and beyond, including how they would use their Awardholder status to contribute to the scientific life of King’s. The Award was set up about a decade ago in honour of OKS and distinguished NASA astronaut, Michael Foale. In Mei Yin’s application and subsequent interview, she described eloquently how our endeavours in the science department at King’s should be outward-looking, using the excellent teaching and resources we have here both to help others and to extend our understanding beyond the curriculum. To this end, she proposed several projects: • To launch an inter-House science fair, where teams of pupils from each House compete to produce a science project which will be judged, with prizes awarded. This takes place on 5th November 2012. • To devise an internet-based network of partner schools around the world where older students can communicate about science and share learning resources to help the younger pupils in each other’s schools. She was particularly interested in linking with schools in developing countries. Mei Yin’s website is already up and running and she has assembled a group of King’s scientists who will be creating video resources on science topics to upload to the website.

from the scientific community. At the time of writing four issues have been published. • To continue and extend the newly-formed Science Ethics Discussion Group, to include sessions for younger pupils too. Michael Foale himself sent Mei Yin a message which was read out by the Headmaster at a presentation ceremony in Lattergate Garden. It read: Congratulations on your award of the Michael Foale Scholarship! In your application and presentation, you show enormous interest in others, and the problems that they are facing. Your parents’ advice, “It takes a village to raise a child”, is of course spot on. Your plan to develop the Science Ethics Discussion Group at King’s builds on another idea, that out of the organization of scientists, doctors, and engineers into teams, incredible results are accomplished. One person may be brilliant, talented, and work very hard, but cannot solve the really hard challenges that humans face, if they only work alone. I hope you will be most successful, bringing together other students to discuss, and plant the seeds of solution, to some of the problems we are facing here on Earth. I am sure you will progress to become a Doctor, and during your journey, you will inspire other friends, pupils to realize their own dreams, as well as realizing your own. Once again, congratulations! We all wish her the very best in her planned endeavours this year and her scientific career beyond.

• To publish a monthly science@King’s newsletter, to bring to students’ attention news of science at King’s and

THE CANTUARIAN

foale award

Summer 2012

Mei Yin Wong displaying the photo and letter sent by Michael Foale in celebration of her award

Valete David Cameron GRC

“There’s only one David Cameron.” There could indeed only be one David Cameron as far as King’s is concerned: our David is definitely a one-off. Despite the fact that he spent his entire teaching career in the South of England, and lives in Chestfield on the North Kent coast, our David is Scottish through and through, but with an interesting antepodean twinge. He was born in Glasgow, but nurtured and schooled for 10 years in Australia, travelling a great deal, before finally moving back to Scotland to complete his schooling. In fact, during those 10 years, he later calculated that he must have spent over six months at sea. Back in Glasgow, he took his O levels and Scottish Highers, fell in love with Anne and offered himself for small some small-time acting roles for BBC Scotland, before heading to Manchester for an Art Foundation course and then a degree. We need to pause here. What a time to be studying art? Just a short boat ride down the River Mersey, the Fab Four were releasing All you need is Love only to change direction and launch Revolution Number 9 a year later. 1968, the year of political assassinations, student riots, and political upheaval was also David’s first full year at Manchester. Predictably, this is also a time of transformation in art: it is seen by many to be both the culmination of the liberalisation of the 60s and, at the same time, a conceptual turning point. However, though inspired by the times, predictably perhaps to those of us who know David, he disliked Manchester and spent most of his time hitchhiking back to Glasgow to see Anne, or to London. It was, therefore, from this fascinating melting pot that David emerged in 1971 with a degree in Textiles and Fashion, and married to the wonderfully supportive Anne. They moved to London where, self-employed, David went into business with a friend and opened a fashion shop in Islington. However, whilst the shop was successful, he needed to get a mortgage and for that he needed a more reliable income. Hence, David embarked upon the

Summer 2012

profession and took on the persona that we recognise. He started teaching. Employed by the ILEA (inner London Education Authority), he first worked part-time at what he describes as a ‘dreadful school’ and then landed a very good part-time position at La Sainte Union Convent School. Realising perhaps that the classroom offered both security and a chance to fulfil his earlier acting ambitions, he sold his share in the shop, went full-time and settled into a highly successful career. He became Head of Art and Design at La Sainte Union in 1979, before, armed with two children (Barry and Jodie, both OKS), a Great Dane and a cat, being appointed to King’s by Anthony Phillips as Head of Department in 1989. Meanwhile, as well as raising the family, Anne was also building her own highly successful teaching career. Having worked the primary school circuits, and been a Deputy Head, she later spent a number of years as advisor and consultant for Kent LEA. During his 23 years at King’s, the department grew and, even from its off-site position in the historic, atmospheric but potentially remote Blackfriars, maintained its role as an essential and integral part of the King’s creative experience. In addition to superb examination results, the department was responsible for the inspiring King’s Week exhibition, and became well-known as a resting place for many diversely talented artists-in-residence. David established a team mentality within the department, one where the teaching staff worked together and ate together as genuine friends as well as colleagues. There were never any divisions, always respect for one another and for what each was doing. It is a mark of David’s character that, over a 23 year period which saw 15 changes in teaching personnel, plus the aforementioned variety of artists-inresidence, I never heard any member of the department criticise or question the work of another. It is fitting that his legacy is being continued by one of his prodigies and first appointments at King’s, Peter Cordeaux. Peter worked with David from 1992-2003 before leaving to be Head of Art and Design elsewhere and re-joining King’s as David’s successor this September. Peter comments that, without rival, David knew everything there was to know about the pedagogy of art, always aware of how to get the best out of his pupils

and his colleagues, and guiding many pupils towards Art College and successful careers in the field. Indeed, many have ended up as professional artists. His knowledge of art history is described by Peter as almost encyclopaedic; as a result he was always able to draw upon examples from the appropriate artist to support a pupil’s work. He was also renowned for his knowledge and understanding of fashion and textiles: something from which many pupils and staff were to benefit hugely. His last appointee, Gemma Burrows, comments that David was always very gentle and caring in his approach and treated every student as an individual. Many OKS students came back to visit him during his last year, where they would always be greeted with open arms. It was clear that David had played a key role in shaping these students futures and that Blackfriars was still very much seen as a second home. He would spend hours upon hours curating the King’s Week exhibition and was known for re-hanging the whole exhibition, then taking it all down and starting again until he was completely happy. This would often involve staying into the early hours of the morning. Julie Taylor-Goodman, the latest of three ceramicists who have worked for David, endorses many of the previous reflections when she says that everyone in the department loved David: ‘He was easy to get on with and the most memorable thing is his wacky sense of humour with a love of ridiculous puns and silly word play… He was a very gentle teacher as well as very persuasive and he could enable the most stubborn pupils to continue and develop a piece of work fully when none of us could manage it. He was always curious about new ideas and developments in contemporary art which he could feed into inspiring our students. He had a great knowledge of the art colleges and aided many pupils into a career in some aspect of art and design.’ Throughout his time at King’s, David was also a loyal tutor in School House. He has worked for three excellent Housemasters, but above all, he worked for his tutees. He was supportive, caring and firm, and his advice was certainly not limited to the arts. His reports were detailed, perceptive and appropriate. His weekly boarding duties were punctuated and patrolled with humour, sensitivity and Glaswegian firmness. Matt Thornby, the present

Housemaster, describes David’s duty night as the evening when most work was done. To support his teaching and further his knowledge of art in schools, David also worked as an examiner and moderator. This gave him opportunity to bring the best practice elsewhere to Blackfriars. It is no surprise, therefore, that he will continue to offer his services and considerable experience in this area during his retirement. He will also spend more time at his house in Spain, visiting Scotland and looking after the grandchildren. David was therefore an inspiring teacher and tutor, but above all, he is a family man. Devoted to Anne, Barry and Jodie, he included King’s art, pupils and staff, into his wider family. It was this very personal touch that made him so successful. As stated, it is right that Peter continues his legacy. It is also right that we have now been able to open the new ceramics and photography studios in King’s Street, very close to Blackfriars: something which David campaigned for throughout his tenure. I’ll leave the final words to Peter Cordeaux, ‘David should never be underestimated… People may have seen him as a very relaxed teacher; he was that, but he was also very wise and knew exactly what he was doing… well, most of the time.’

Dick Churcher RIR

Dick would be appalled to think that someone would actually sit down and write such a thing as this for the Cantuarian but I was asked and have agreed. It is very difficult to separate Dick as a person from Dick as a teacher but that is what I will try to do. Like many of us Dick got into teaching rather by accident. He was quite capable of making a living as a pilot, furniture maker, builder, viticulturist, market-gardener or chicken farmer but the truth is he enjoyed teaching. He started off as a teacher of Physics and Chemistry at Stafford House in Canterbury and after a number of years of teaching,

Valete

studying Chinese and union organising he moved to become the part-time teacher of Geology at King’s. The introduction of AS led to Geology becoming a full-time subject at A Level and by then Dick had changed to full-time as well. Furniture making, asparagus growing and viticulture were all scaled back and a full timetable took over, at least to a certain extent. Dick’s philosophy of education was quite simple. He firmly believed that if you started with the premiss that science was simple and logical then anyone could succeed and indeed most did. His classroom was a place of total involvement. Questioning was the order of the day and no-one was allowed to opt out. Visiting teachers, Headmasters and Inspectors were all faced with the same level of expectation and rank didn’t gain any advantage or privilege. This did lead to some local difficulty, one or two interesting discussions and at least one appointment in the Headmaster’s study……..and you can guess who came off best. In class there was no such thing as a formal lesson plan or scheme of work. The mere thought of either appalled Dick. The pace was dictated by the ability and understanding of the group, the approach by the ability

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of individuals to cope. If one approach didn’t work another was engaged. The most hesitant geologist would be shown that by simply using his or her own eyes and a reasonable line in logic then much could be understood. Pupils themselves were not expected to conform in any particular manner. If one learnt better walking around the room then that was fine, if another didn’t believe in writing notes then that was fine too. The only conformity, as such, was to Dick’s personal high standards. Sports journalists write about the ‘hair dryer’ in relation to Alex Ferguson but Dick in full flow was a sight to behold. One such dressing down, on the slopes above Stair Hole in Dorset, turned into a wonderful farce as the offending Walkman got tangled on Dick’s wrist rather than being sent spinning into the sea. But students were always allowed to make mistakes and analysis of these just led to greater understanding. And this was what it was all about, understanding. Over time the fog would gradually lift and during that final field course the geology student would come of age. It was on field courses that Dick was in his element. He was a brilliant teacher out of doors. Rock exposures and sequences on a wild and wet North East coast of Arran would be transformed into hot arid environments with

Valete students excitedly looking out for more evidence to back up theories. If anything, the worst conditions brought out the best in Dick. Those warm, sunny days in Dorset or in Coniston seemed almost lazy in comparison. Dick was always willing to share his knowledge and ideas on landscape evolution with others. We spent many hours on many days working through the glacial history of Coniston, the sequence of glacial advances and retreats in the Furness peninsula or in the Kaldalon Valley in North West Iceland. Understanding came through working from first principles. Every thought and theory was backed up with observation and evidence until we came to a conclusion that was satisfactory for the moment. He delighted in seeing the veil of uncertainty or confusion lift from the faces of his students and he would go out of his way to facilitate that happening. On expedition Dick was driver, cook, first-aider and mechanic. Only once was I ever concerned, when I watched him slide, head first, off the snout of the Kaldalon Glacier onto the boulders some 10 – 15 metres below. My real concern was how I would manage without his expertise. Luckily he survived and that did not have to be put to the test. In a tight spot Dick can be relied upon. He never allows panic or the excitement of the moment to cloud his judgement. He will choose the right moment to abandon camp in a storm or the right course of action in a rescue off the top of a ridge. Back at base Dick was hugely competitive. Public examination results were scrutinised carefully over endless cups of coffee, and reasons for failure and success analysed equally. His aim was always for his students to do as well or better in geology when compared with their other subjects. Invariably they did. His classroom became a study-centre as the exams approached and Geologists could be found teaching one another or revising together until late in the evening. Dick was no sportsman, though he was a very decent badminton player. His contribution to King’s sport came in the form of back-up for the Boat Club, stringing racquets or simply helping out. Activities revolved around his own interests and some pupils were lucky enough to

learn vineyard management or other country pursuits. He was a wonderful colleague on 6th form ski trips and I will never forget the sights and sounds of this novice skier careering downslope, slightly out of control, swearing with increasing urgency as he inevitably ploughed into a snowdrift or safety fence. In the build up to King’s Week Dick would be involved in set construction, providing odd props or simply running the bar. Large scale physics experiments took on a whole new meaning when they involved Dick, and his hot air balloon on Green Court. His legacy is in the number of Geologists working in this very exciting field, scattered across the world. There is a mood to draw them into a world-wide network and I know for sure that all of them can look back for their inspiration to Dick’s Geology lab with its wonderful backdrop of the Giant’s Causeway. Dick has not retired, he and Claire have simply started working full-time on what is important now. There is a huge amount to be done on the farm (www.woodpeckerfarm.co.uk), Indy is in full-time training and should have her first race next year, and there is that small matter of a house to finish. For most of us that means doing some decorating, for Dick it means finishing the building before even starting the final titivation.

Mark Lascelles MRT

Writing a short summary about Mark’s time at King’s is a really tall order, although his time with us was short, what he accomplished was quite remarkable. Mark, Amber, Georgina and Alexandra joined King’s in September 2009 and left in August 2012 with an additional member of the family, Romilly, who was born in February 2011. Mark was previously from Shrewsbury School, where in 1992 he was appointed to teach Geography, became Master-in-Charge of Football, Cricket and Fives, and

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Mark Lascelles with wife Amber and daughters Georgina, Alexandra and Romilly

then Housemaster of The Grove in 2003. Mark moved to Canterbury and took over as Lower Master in 2009 and became Acting Headmaster in 2010. His frank and forthright style quickly earned him tremendous respect from Staff, parents and pupils. He was only a year into his tenure as Lower Master when he found himself unexpectedly elevated into being the acting Headmaster. This proved to be a pivotal time for Mark as he found that headmastering came very naturally to him. However, no sooner had he moved into Lattergate and started to feel comfortable he received a message from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) informing him that they intended to come at five days’ notice to inspect the school. The Inspectors arrived and it became quickly apparent that Mark had established an excellent rapport with the team and particularly with the team inspector. That said, a rigorous inspection was undertaken and the Inspectors’ verdict was that not only was the school compliant with all the regulations but that it was more than delivering the school’s aims and most importantly for Mark, the school was being very well led.

manner and genuine concern for them engendered the best even from the more disaffected pupils, as they really did not want to let him down’. Simon Anderson as President of the Common room writes:

‘Behind every good man there is a good women’ and this couldn’t be more true than in Mark’s case. Amber was very much part of the community, often seen juggling their three girls, pushchair and scooter, and coping remarkably when, owing to the School’s domestic arrangements, she had to move house three times. The support, wisdom (and control!) and sensible analysis that Amber provided for Mark was very clear; she quickly understood the complexities of King’s and while Mark was outstanding at his job, Amber’s support really ensured that Mark was able to achieve all he did at King’s so successfully.

‘The Common Room has much to be grateful to Mark for. As acting Head along with Pat Wakeham and Geoff Cocksworth they steered the school through a double inspection and a transition period between Headmasters, introducing great humour and hospitality in their leadership. Although not at ease on the big occasions, Mark’s Acting HM’s speech at Commemoration Day and his Sports’ reports in termly congratulatory assemblies were delivered concisely, with engagement of the audience. His personal involvement in Sport and the co-curricular programme raised its profile and allowed pupils to see Mark in a different light - out of the suit and office. The 2nd XI Football team and then later the U16A side both realised how competitive Mark was on the pitch and how he hated losing. We thank him for his generosity in his hospitality towards the staff, for his forthright language, business-like meetings, the uncomfortable expression on his face when wearing his Cassock leading the scholars into the cathedral and for being supportive of his colleagues. Mark earned his respect from the pupils and staff alike by his dedication, straight-talking and selfdeprecating humour. Whether it be in the classroom as a Geography teacher, in the Dolphin as a colleague or on Birley’s as a coach or supporter, Mark was fully committed to making King’s a better school, for which we owe a great debt of gratitude’.

Pat Wakeham – Senior Mistress until August 2011 writes:

Marc Dath on behalf of the House staff writes:

‘It was obvious to the Inspectors that Mark had the necessary skills to guide the School through a difficult time as he had the wholehearted support of all his colleagues. Mark was great fun to work with and under his leadership the Lattergate office was happy and welcoming. He found time for everyone but also worked extremely hard behind the scenes. He also genuinely liked the pupils; he quickly knew almost all of their names and they soon realised that he was also aware of their academic, sporting, musical or other achievements as he took the trouble to chat to them around Green Court or on the way to Birley’s. His friendly

‘Mark’s most striking ability, from the Housemasters/ mistresses’ point of view, was to grasp in a few words, and through our body language, any difficulties we were experiencing when we needed his advice and counsel. He had done the job, and I would assume extremely well, and had therefore ‘been there and seen it all’. In his book, no one was ever a lost cause and the miscreants sent his way invariably came back with a less jaundiced view of ‘the establishment’ than they had previously held. Mark is also a good listener and it was most therapeutic to voice concerns about our charges (or their parents!) as we

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Valete knew that he would give sound and sensible advice. He made it his duty to boost morale amongst Housemasters/ mistresses and managed, through his relaxed demeanour, friendly ear and air of calm strength and purpose, to steer us through a year of inter-regnum and a double inspection. In particular, he made our pastoral body feel valued and he gave us the opportunity to make our voices heard at a time of turmoil, especially in our smaller constituency meetings where many a contentious issue would be raised over cheese, wine and Mark’s favourite pint of lager… It is a measure of his integrity and magnanimity that we never felt that his relationship with us had changed while acting Headmaster. This is not to say that he opted out of making sometimes difficult decisions and, while Mark is mostly even tempered, he does not shy away from confrontation when necessary! I have no doubt that Mark will become a very successful Headmaster at Dauntsey’s and that, with Amber and the children, he will win the hearts of both staff and parents there, as well as their support. He will always remain a Housemaster at heart and will therefore always keep in mind the pastoral side of children in his care which should contribute to making his Headmastership a memorable one’. Mark, Amber, Alexandra, Georgina and Romilly were a much loved part of King’s and it was inevitable that Mark would move on to a headship. Mark and Amber have more than left their stamp on King’s and we have much to thank them for. They will be very much missed and our loss is Dauntsey’s gain. We wish them well in their time at Dauntsey’s and thank them for all they did for both us and this school.

John Pidoux TIJ John’s association with the school goes back to 1957 when he joined as a King’s scholar, going straight into the Fifth form (when Shell age), taking O levels at the end of what is now the Shell year, and then going on to take A levels, S levels, and Cambridge entrance, all at

Summer 2012

John Pidoux

a precociously young age. He is a tremendous scholar, who wears his learning lightly, and a first rate linguist. We were delighted that when John ‘retired’ from Maidstone Grammar school he agreed to help out at King’s in 2001 with Russian teaching and also French and German when required. He also did a spell at JKS, looking after the French teaching there, to return, thankfully, to us in the senior school in 2007. Having someone with so much expertise on tap was a great asset to the languages department. John was always happy to be consulted outside the classroom with regard to his knowledge of languages. Whilst brooking no nonsense, John has always been very kindly and stylish in his teaching, mingling a great sense of humour with a thorough and erudite approach. His infectious roaring laughter will certainly missed both by pupils and in the Common Room. John and Liz started off as husband and wife and Common Room colleagues when she began as housemistress in the Autumn of 2007. It was a good division of labour: he taught Russian and made the meals, while she ran the house and ate them. Soon John took over as one of

Luxmoore’s male tutors and ‘Mr P’, the scary man with the heart of gold, was born into the house.

Alister Stewart

The girls in Luxmoore hold him in high regard as someone who runs a tight ship on a Friday night, talks to every girl in the house, knows her individually and blinking well knows what prep she is supposed to be doing too. He’s also known by his tutees for being firm but fair, and for the gooey cakes and biscuits he serves at tutorials. He’s the archetypal father figure to them and they will miss him hugely. John and Liz will no doubt be spending more of their time in Berlin, where they have a pied-à-terre in a desirable suburb, and it is characteristic that they should choose such a lively city to live in, mirroring the life of the lively boarding house in which they spend their working lives. Not for them the quieter watering-holes favoured by lesser mortals. John is a great traveller, and I recall him talking of his Russian course in Kaliningrad, which is how he chose to spend one cold Easter. Most went to warmer climes. A man with unconventional interests is a huge asset to a school like King’s, and we will miss him greatly. Luckily, as he and Liz still live nearby in Luxmoore, he is not yet a stranger in our midst, and we hope to see him amongst us in the precincts for a very long time. His infectious roaring laughter will be missed both in the Common Room and by his pupils in the classroom. He will be much missed and we sincerely thank him for his contributions to the Languages Department over the past 11 years.

Alister Stewart DMA

After six years at King’s (the last two as head of department) Alister has decided to return to his native Scotland. He goes to Glasgow Academy where former Housemaster of Galpin’s, Peter Brodie, is Rector. Alister has been an

inspiring and outstanding teacher of chemistry and a superb head of department. He is also a first class chemist. He studied for an M.Chem at Edinburgh University where he was awarded the prize for the best overall performance in Senior Honours. After Edinburgh he went to study for a PhD with Professor J.S. Clark at Nottingham University where he wrote a thesis entitled: New Methodology Towards Complex Polyether Natural Products: Synthesis of the B-D Fragment of Gambieric Acids. This was concerned with the synthesis of novel anti-fungal agents. It was after he completed his PhD work that Alister applied to work at King’s. It is always a bit of a risk employing someone who has not done teacher training but in Alister’s case, with a bit of help with practicals and demonstrations, he took to teaching like a duck to water. Furthermore, he managed to continue with some university level research on Thursday afternoons. Over the years he conducted three projects with the last one (synthesising analogues of 2,3-benzodiazepines (antipsychotics)) being the most successful and which may lead to a publication. Some 30 pupils who chose Chemistry Research as their Activity benefitted greatly from his

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Valete expertise and were able to enhance their UCAS personal statements. The work was generously supported by a grant from the Royal Society. Another danger with well-qualified scientists is that they find it difficult to come down to the level of the youngest learner. This was not the case for Alister. Whether it was Shells or Sixth Form he would readily adapt to the class and he was very clear in what he said or wrote on the board. Notes which he prepared for the department were unfailingly clear and detailed and we benefitted from his expertise with molecular structures drawing software. Alister had high expectations of his pupils and he made them work and fulfil their potential. He conducted challenging mock Oxbridge interviews. As head of department he proved to be a great leader and set us a good example. Coursework assessments for AS and A2 were safe in his hands. Alister is someone who dots his Is and crosses his Ts. He also served on the committee for the Royal Society of Chemistry, which may not have been the highlight of his time, but shows his commitment to promoting the subject beyond school. Outside of the classroom Alister was someone who would volunteer to help when requests came in. For four years he was in charge of the Harvey Society and made sure that we had a full programme of good speakers. He also spoke three times himself. Particularly successful were the members’ presentations evenings. For five years he helped with the running of the fencing club and would accompany pupils on matches from Cardiff to Venice. He volunteered to accompany pupils to the European Science Olympiad first in Germany and then in Spain. He also helped with the Athletics Club each summer in a variety of roles. As a tutor in Galpin’s Alister was blest with the gift of firm yet relaxed control where he was quick to pull up pupils if they fell short of his standards. Patient and flexible, Alister carried out his duties faithfully. He nurtured his tutees, monitoring them closely and providing them with ongoing support, nagging and cajoling when necessary but more importantly advising, helping and encouraging. He quickly became a key figure in their lives, acting as a common-sense listener through the choppy waters of adolescence.

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Alister had many other talents and experience that not a lot of people knew about. He was a special constable while in Nottingham. He was a volunteer be-friender for disadvantaged children in Edinburgh and a volunteer in the prison chaplaincy team. He had a wide variety of jobs while in Edinburgh which included being a postman, an organist in a funeral parlour (!), tele-polling agent, shop assistant and barman. He plays the piano, organ, oboe and cor anglais (playing around Kent at charity events and fetes) and is a bell-ringer. He also knits! A favourite pastime is trying to complete the quick crossword during break. Many will remember his dramatic ‘Address To A Haggis’ at a Burns’ supper at JKS. We will be very sorry to lose Alister since he has contributed to the school in so many ways. We wish him all the very best for the future. As they say in Scotland, “Lang may your lum reek!”

Vale: Lester Hovenden DMA

Pupils may give little thought to where the materials and equipment for their science practicals come from. However it is only because of the dedicated work of the science technicians behind the scenes that everything is in order and all the apparatus and chemicals required are provided for lessons. After almost 23 years in post the chemistry department will be losing Lester Hovenden as he retires this summer. Lester will be a hard act to follow as only he knew where everything is! In his time at King’s he has prepared practicals for demonstrations and teaching, made up countless solutions, ordered apparatus and chemicals, kept the accounts and prepared risk assessments. He also played a large part in reinstating the equipment and chemicals when four of the laboratories were refurbished. We have also been lucky that Lester has undertaken the more physical aspects of the job such as collecting and moving gas cylinders.

Lester Hovenden

Lester originally trained as a biology technician while at King’s College London and indeed continued to think of himself as a biologist despite the bulk of his career being undertaken in a chemistry environment. During this period Lester developed a talent for biological drawings. He spent 11 years at Nonnington College before moving to Sir Roger Manwood’s School as a chemistry technician before coming to King’s in 1989. Since then he has been the lynchpin of the chemistry department with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the department and its resources and practicals. Lester was also much involved with trialling new experiments. He was always ready to accommodate late requests for practicals and he would stay late if the occasion demanded it without complaint. One of Lester’s outside interests was in amateur dramatics. He would take on the role of King George IV as part of Ramsgate’s historic walks. He also appeared in pantomimes – usually typecast as the baddie (think Sheriff of Nottingham) and in a black wig could be quite formidable. Lester was therefore in his element when it came to demonstrating some of the more hazardous or exothermic experiments as part of the chemical repertoire. It is not true that the experiments were so dangerous that staff were afraid of doing them when Lester would be expendable! However, sometimes the reactions ran away with themselves and there were a few close shaves as fires started to which Lester appeared oblivious! Lester frequently did these demonstrations to classes at the ends of terms and as part of the King’s Week ‘Lab on the Lawn’ sessions under the title ‘Whizzbangs’. Here he also ably assisted in making ice cream with liquid nitrogen. Lester gave memorable performances in two staff reviews one

where he was the teacher trying to teach the Elements Song to the teachers and secondly in a role as a lighthouse keeper in a sketch. With his experience in acting Lester would have made a good teacher and he clearly enjoyed the occasions when he took part in lessons. Lester was always keen to support the department and one occasion travelled to Wye College which was giving away apparatus and chemicals. Lester filled the car with useful apparatus and chemicals for the school. However, one of the substances he brought back seemed to have a familiar name. A little research showed this to be a barbiturate which carried a five year sentence for possession! It was quickly disposed of! Tea time in the Resources Room typically with PWF and a couple of members from the department will never be the same again. As well as chewing over the matters of the day Lester could speak with great erudition on subjects ranging from dinosaurs and fish to military history. In retirement he will have the time to follow these pursuits as well as being involved in a maritime museum in Ramsgate plus gardening at home. Lester has been a great member of the department and has kept us all amused by his frequent little chats. He has also been of great assistance to new staff who have been learning the ropes. Lester was also good at fostering relations between the other science departments when we needed to borrow apparatus from them. We thank him wholeheartedly for his loyal and dedicated service and wish him a long and healthy retirement.

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Trips and Expeditions

Olivia Simpson, Jamie Curtis, Amelia Baker

Trips and expeditions The Shell Spanish Trip to Salamanca Olivia de Gaudemar (Sh JR)

The Salamanca trip was a huge success and all students who had the opportunity to go, have greatly enjoyed it. We all met at the airport in London and everyone was buzzing with excitement. The Removes that had been on it the year before had told us how great the trip was and we could not wait to get to Salamanca and meet our Spanish hosts. The first day, after taking many wrong turns and asking local citizens to show us the way, we finally arrived at the Mester language school. We had two lessons a day, one consisted of Spanish grammar and the other was based on speaking work. The teachers were very nice and we learnt a huge amount. The afternoons were filled with fun and interesting activities such as visiting the beautiful university of Salamanca. Many of the activities were cultural, such as visiting the cathedrals, walking through a small village in the mountains and exploring the city. We were able to practise our Spanish with natives, as our teachers encouraged us to ask for directions and help. One of our tasks was to answer a questionnaire, to do so we had to ask around and dig up ancient information from the city. We were taught how to salsa, and although everyone was tripping on each other’s feet, and having trouble keeping up with the music, we had a great time and enjoyed every part of it. We were also able to use our new salsa skills at the party our teachers organised. It was a very enthusiastic and fun disco, with music and a dance floor. The boys played on the table football but after a while they joined us in our dancing and we had a wonderful time. At lunch and at night, we were to return to our host’s house and have a meal with them. We got to really experience the local life and were immersed into their culture. We had to adjust to their timing, which was hard as we are used to eating supper at around six thirty. In Spain they eat at nine thirty and go to bed at about eleven thirty.

On our second to last day we were driven to a village in the mountains, where we got involved in a football match with some local boys. Everyone had a great time and we got home exhausted after a long day. On our final night, we got taken to five different tapas bars where we were able to taste all sorts of Spanish dishes, which consisted of Spanish tortilla, ham, chorizo, potatoes and many other exciting things. By the end of our week, we felt like locals and were dreading our return to England. Back at school, we truly did look like foreigners with our big tans from the beautiful weather in Spain. It was a huge disappointment to get back to England where it was pouring with rain. But we couldn’t wait to get back and tell our friends about our journey, and show them our new clothes and gadgets we bought on the main street of Salamanca. Before our departure we were all given a poster of the Salamanca main square, which was a beautiful plaza and was where we spent most of our free time. All in all, we had an unforgettable time and all of us who took part in it will keep the good memories with us for many years to come. Many thanks to Señorita Cerda and Señor Gallardo for organising such a fun week!

The Classics Trip to Pompeii Angus Forbes (Shell MT)

Day 1 With the clocks having just changed, the 25th March saw many tired yet excited faces lounging around Gatwick and eagerly awaiting the 12:55 flight to Naples. After a brief shopping spree we were up in the air and the three hour flight passed in minutes. Having cleared passport control and collected our luggage we were met by a bus and our tour guide for the week, Stefanie. An hour and a half drive around the bay of Naples followed with Stefanie telling us a little of the history of

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Above: One of Giuseppe Fiorelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous wax moulds Below: The impressive temple of Athena in Paestum

the area, including that of Mount Vesuvius’ most recent eruption in 1944 and the great taste of the tap water in Castellammare di Stabia as well as pointing out the University of Pizza! When we arrived at The Hotel Grand Flora, our accommodation for the trip, we had time to unpack before a hearty Italian supper. Next we walked into Sorrento and visited La Primavera, an Ice cream shop with a difference- it had over 40 flavours, ranging from the traditional fior di latte to kinder bueno and even smurf! We were then allowed to roam free for a while before returning to the hotel for a good rest. Day 2 The good rest didn’t last long though as we were up early to prepare for a packed day. This began with a great all you can eat breakfast then an hour’s coach journey to the active volcano crater of Solfatara where we walked around seeing the magnificent gas plumes and ‘embracing’ the smell.

amphitheatre, Stephanus’s fullery, the Palaestra and many villas and shops. Possibly the most interesting objects in the sight were the casts of peoples bodies that were created using a technique devised by Giuseppe Fiorelli in the mid-late 19th century. These ‘Fiorelli figures’ were created by pumping plaster of Paris into moulds of humans created by the ash that was spewed from Vesuvius back in 79 A.D. We were then treated to a lunch of pizza in a café inside the site before viewing more monuments including Roman theatres and the house of the Faun, the largest found in Pompeii. In the house of the Faun (so named because a statue of a Faun was found there) is a very impressive and intricate mosaic which depicts Alexander the Great fighting Darius III in the battle of Issus in 333 B.C. Upon returning to Sorrento we had supper and then went to ‘La Stinga’- an impressive inlaid wood shop wherein the owner gave us a brief rundown of how he created the beautiful art. Day 4

Next we visited the mighty Mount Vesuvius, driving up most of it and clambering up the remaining 300 metres or so to have our packed lunch on top of the infamous volcano. Amazing views of the entire gulf of Naples could be seen as well of those of the active volcano’s vast crater . Many people then relished the opportunity to purchase a range of souvenirs from items made of cooled lava to collections of minerals found around the area.

Day four was another very packed day. It saw us leave the bay of Naples and head south, to the bay of Salerno. We travelled for an hour and a half to the picturesque town of Amalfi, stopping of at Positano, a remarkable terraced town that seems to live life on the edge all of the time (picture 6). The journey to Amalfi was, at times, quite unnerving as the coach was only inches from a sheer drop of over 75 metres.

Our final excursion was to the house of Poppaea, one of Emperor Nero’s wives, in Oplontis, at least it is thought that the villa belonged to her but archaeologists cannot be sure. There we were witness to some of the finest frescoes in the area as well as seeing some mosaics and getting a real feel of what it would have been like living in that period. Then we returned to Sorrento for supper and another evening around town.

From Amalfi we travelled another hour and a half to Paestum. Paestum was founded in 600 B.C. by Greek settlers (who named it Poseidonia) but was subsequently taken over by the Romans. Because of this it has great examples of Greek and Roman archaeology including temples and amphitheatres and a large Forum. Possibly the most impressive was the Temple of Athena which followed the conventional x(2x+1) formula for the number of columns with x as the number of columns making up the width. In this way the temple was 6 columns wide and 13 columns long. This formula was supposed to make the temple as aesthetically pleasing as possible as well as making the acoustics as good as possible.

Day 3 On the third day we travelled, via the circumvesviana train service, to the most famous of the ancient ruins, Pompeii. The enormity of the site and the time constriction we had meant that we could not visit all of the buildings that the volcano had so amazingly preserved, however we still managed to visit such monuments as the

We then briefly looked around the Museum at Paestum before taking a long journey home and being given a choice whether we wanted to go into Sorrento or stay in the hotel and relax.

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miscellany Day 5 It was the last day however this didn’t make it any less interesting. After our final meal in the hotel, we travelled to Herculaneum and took part in a house selling challenge focusing on what made a Roman villa desirable and why our house had these properties. Our job was made easier by the fact that the houses in Herculaneum were so well preserved and had many of their original features remaining. We then visited the final place in our itinerary, The Naples Archaeological Museum, having had lunch on the steps outside. The museum contained many great examples of Roman masonry and artwork as well as some more controversial, yet equally well crafted, Roman eye candy! Then, unfortunately, we had to say our ‘ciao’s’ and take the flight home. I think it is fair to say that we all had a great time and thanks go to all the teachers involved for making the trip run smoothly and creating such an interesting itinerary.

Voluntary Community Services Report MBGR

The Voluntary community service activity offers pupils and opportunity to help others in the wider community. This year over 50 pupils from the Fifth and Sixth form took part in various activities, ranging from helping primary school children to helping out in a charity shop. They have had the chance to show a responsible attitude and behave in an adult way, take initiative and feel what it is like to be in a proper job.

games. Anika Patel (CY) reports that ‘there is a warm atmosphere at JKS -everyone is really welcoming and they offer a diverse selection of activities. We have the opportunity to help them with art, play inter-house Hockey and improve their reading skills. This is beneficial when trying to complete the voluntary section of any level of the Duke of Edinburgh award’. At Pilgrims our pupils mainly helped children with reading, while at St Stephen’s they went to help with the after school programme and got involved in activities such as drama, art, music, science club, homework club or playtime. Some pupils have helped in a special school for disabled children, St Nicholas’s School, in the reflexology session. Others went to help with their swimming activity during lunch at Kingsmead. It is a rewarding experience as you develop a relationship with the children and learn about their needs and how to be patient. Izzy Jamieson and Maisie Briggs have been doing this for the last two years and they comment ‘During our social services over the past two years we have been swimming with disabled children. It has been extremely worthwhile as we have seen the children really improve in their swimming and in their communication with us. It has been a very interesting and enjoyable experience which has helped us to appreciate the difficulties that come with raising an autistic child’. The school is really appreciative of the support our pupils give them. Some other pupils have been helping in charity shops in town which is the other popular option. Here they learn retail skills and also how to conduct themselves in a real work situation while helping the community. Flora Mockridge worked at the Children’s Trust Tadworth shop in the High Street: ‘In order to complete my ‘Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’, I helped out at Children’s Trust Tadworth Charity shop where I sorted and labelled donated clothes, books and bric-a-brac while also helping out round the shop. Once I was 16, I was able to help out behind the till by making transactions and selling lottery tickets for charity. I worked with two other people from Kings which made it even more enjoyable.

This year our pupils have gone to schools such Pilgrim’s Way, St Stephen’s Primary School and JKS. Thursday afternoons saw nine pupils travel to the Junior school to work in the Pre-prep, in Junior House classes and with

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Constance Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill

Max Judge

Jamie Johnson Max Judge

It was a great experience and I am planning to continue working there for the next 6 months to help complete the “Social Services” aspect of my Gold D of E’. I would like to thank Mrs Allen, Mrs Johnson and Mme Bradburn for their invaluable help in running this activity, and all the volunteers that have given their time.

Club des Petits Pingouins Report Jamie Johnson (6a MO)

The ‘Petit Pingouins’ club was back again this year with 11 teachers’ children coming to Mlle Zanardi’s classroom every Thursday afternoon to learn French from senior pupils. Over the year, there were smiles, laughs and the occasional tantrum but the classes were taken on with real enthusiasm by both the children and the pupils. The topics ranged from food and sport to animals and clothing, with felt tip pens and play dough as far as the eye could see to aide their learning. The highlight of the year, for the children at least, was the French nursery rhyme

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‘Sur le pont d’Avignon’ which was met vociferously by most people in the room. The song soon became set in the heads of everyone and it wasn’t odd to hear the tune being whistled around Green Court after the class. The only drawback to the year was when Christian De Vitry arrived in full CCF kit with camo paint smeared all over his face and proceeded to make no less than three children start crying, which seemed to surprise him as much as anyone else. The pupils who took part were all very caring and adaptable because it soon became apparent that if a six year old girl doesn’t want to learn the names of the months, she will simply refuse until at least three biscuits are offered in return for a little co-operation. A special mention must go to Mlle Zanardi who set the club up independently and is never short of ideas for activities, as well as having great patience with the children. With her gusto and ‘joie de vivre’ the language learning flourished and everyone came away satisfied with the classes. Céline was also on hand every week to help Mlle Zanardi and Señor Gallardo came to help. The pupils involved were Jamie Johnson, Max Judge, Bobby Sebolao, Ferdinand Rous, Rosie Fenning, Hattie Wilson, Lara Conradie, Constance O’Neill, Jake Shepherd-Baron, Gaëtan Brandt and Christian de Vitry.

Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s week 2012

kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s week: the lark

Samuel Gearing as

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The Lark Isobelle Whitaker (6b WL)

This year Mint Yard saw a change from the Shakespearian comedy we have enjoyed for the past two years. The Bard was swapped for French playwright Jean Anouilh. The open air was the perfect place for this play, as lank cloths soon became billowing cloaks. The stage was more minimalistic than we have seen before but very intriguing as the audience were seated on all sides of the stage. This presented a challenge to the actors, but one they dealt with bravely and flourished within it. The concentration of the audience’s energy helped urge the actors on into the cold night. The Lark is a beautiful comedy dealing with the trial and execution of Joan of Ark who was nicknamed ‘The Lark’. The play is set in the French Town Rouen, which at the time, in the 15th century, suffered under English occupation. Joan claims that saints such as St Michael, St Margret and St. Catherine have told her that she must lead the French armies to war, and victory over the English. Emily Champion performed brilliantly in the challenging role of Joan, who remains not only a French icon but an idol to women around the world. The serious story was intertwined with moments of hilarity provided by Elliot Evans as his sleezy charm has no effect on the religious Joan. Charlie Carr’s performance of Charles the Dauphin

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was magnificent. As the extremities of the audience slowly started to freeze, Charlie could get a laugh simply by a look of disappointment as he failed in every attempt to get a children’s toy ball into a cup. The audience was on the verge of applause in the middle of a scene when, much to Charlie’s own amazement, he managed what had seemed an impossible task. His wife and mistress (Phoebe Hanson-Lowe and Georgia Watt) provided equal hilarity in their demands for the newest steeple hats. Emmyline Duffy perfected the role of domineering but equally doting mother. William Allen played the role of dominating father with such conviction that the whole audience felt and empathised with Joan’s fear as he shouted her down, a whisker’s length away from her face; the audience was left in a stunned state of admiration. Arthur Chilcott, Teni Mobereola and Samuel Gearing were all excellent as Joan’s various inquisitors. They managed to stay in character throughout the long stints they had to endure on stage even when they had no words to say. Special thanks to Fionnuala Halfacre, Joy Selous, Paige McCulloch and Sophie Nicholas for their excellent work in the costume and prop department as all the cast look absolutely fabulous, from princesses to peasants. This play was the perfect choice for Mint Yard. Although the cold began to seep in, there was a sublime balance of laughter and lament. Emily Champion brought a tear to many an eye with her final dying speech as swirls of smoke from the stake at which she was was being burned climbed into the dark night.

Emily Champion as Joan faces her Inquisitors

Arthur Chilcott

Phoebe Hanson-Lowe

Charlie Carr as the Dauphin

Emily Champion

Super Speedy Car Competition Michael Hoffman (Rem CY)

Initially inspired by the British team to reach 1000mph with Bloodhound Super-Sonic-Car, the DT department designed a formula where young engineers would design, build and then race their own super-speedy-cars. The students have a variety of tools available to them such as computer-numerically-controlled routers and lasers as well as computer-aided-design programmes. Teams must find the perfect balance between weight and aerodynamic efficiency, to build the perfect car. This year promised to be the best year yet for SSC, with over 12 teams from various schools across the southeast competing for the coveted Rolls-Royce component trophy – which was in fact designed by an old King’s student. The build-up to race day was as hectic as in 2011, with teams pushing to

ensure their cars would withstand the impact of deceleration and make sure they made it out of the starting blocks in the first place. The racing itself was closer than ever in the mid-field with runs separated by only a few 10ths of a second over the 50m track at Birley’s. But no teams were a match for Dover College who were able to extract everything from their electric-ducted-fan, which powers the car, and accelerate to over 60mph. The day was rounded off from Sky TV’s Brainiac scientist John Tickle who gave an inspirational talk about engineering out there in the real world, beyond the King’s bubble. Overall the teams had a delightful day and hope to be competing next year, which is sure to be the best yet, with dynamic rule changes and a new 120m track.

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king’s week Great Expectations Patrick Demir (6b CY)

Performing Great Expectations, one of the most celebrated Dickensian novels, was a fitting idea to tribute the great author’s 200th birthday. The cast was a very strong one, boasting many veterans from West Side Story and also producing new, unknown talent that was definitely evident in the cast. To top it all off, they had the lovely Mrs Beattie as director, who from personal experience I know to be meticulous with her detail, offering fantastic direction in order to move the play forwards. Needless to say, I had Great Expectations for this production. They were not only met, but also surpassed.

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Pip, played by Thomas Glynne-Jones, did a fantastic job with his characterisation and modulation. It was a varied performance, which compounded both meek and quiet Pip, yet he was not afraid to let out aggressive and confident Pip. This colour he gave to the character kept the audience interested and involved, giving us the anticipation of an unexpected turn. On the whole, his gentle nature was conveyed perfectly throughout the piece. The opening scene with Pip and Magwitch, played by Charlie Sinclair worked particularly well due to the contrast of characters. Charlie’s ferocious manner was potent, taking command of the theatre with his extraordinary presence, which took its form in very animated body language coupled with a strong voice, giving his character a roughness that made it compelling to watch. The first scene ended with officers, Christopher Richardson, George Booth-Clibborn, Henry Bettley and Hugo Clews, arresting the convict. The officers, who appeared throughout the piece, performed their parts rather well. The arresting of Magwitch was fantastic, the frenzied nature of the situation conveyed perfectly.

king’s week The play then moved on to a more chilling nature with Miss Havisham, Lily Carr and Estella, Jennifer Cox who destroy Pip’s previous perceptions on life in what was an upsetting scene. Jennifer Cox really showed the cold and emotionless nature of Estella, producing a marvellous robotic performance which the audience found to be non-human in her manner, making it a very interesting performance. This was balanced with the extremely intense emotion of Lily Carr, of whom I am now petrified; the evil nature of Miss Havisham which was brought to life by her sublime characterisation, being manifested in her body language and malevolent facial expressions. Moreover, when she began to scream with an intense fury, the audience was captivated in the gravity of her performance. The dynamics between Estella and Miss. Havisham worked fantastically, and was very good casting on Mrs Beattie’s part. The play did have some lighter areas, which were played just as well. Joe, played by Harry Best-Shaw with Mrs Joe, played by Lucy Fenwick provided some of this relief. The kind, charming nature of Joe was played brilliantly, with a constant smile and gentle movements. In addition, his accent was very good. I didn’t realise that he was doing

an accent until a few scenes later such was the natural nature of it. Lucy portrayed her rough and common heritage well, playing her as a strong woman as was shown by her purposeful and direct movements, and once again, her accent was well articulated, which really helped me believe her character. Jemima Chesterfield epitomized sweetness in her portrayal of Biddy, which was very well done. The cute smile in combination with the enchanting voice had the end product of melting the hearts of the audience. Her very girlish body language and overall characterisation worked superbly, contrasting and helping the darker sections of the play along nicely. Overall, the cast produced a professional show, which was very streamlined and efficient backstage and full of superb quality acting on stage. Steve Bree produced a brilliant set, as always, and the skill of the backstage crew was shown in the costume and makeup which looked fantastic on stage. I think we all have the cast and the director to thank for putting on a terrific production. They certainly did justice to the 200th anniversary of a great writer with their great play.

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Lilly Carr chills her audience as Miss Havisham

king’s week Stevie Wonder Sophia Gripari (Sh WL)

Stevie Wonder’s Motown album Hotter Than July was the choice of this year’s King’s Week performance. Peaking at #2 in the UK and producing four top 10 singles, this selection of songs came as a big task to all involved; however Nick Parvin’s hand selected band members did this more than justice. Due to the complexity of the songs, some of the top musicians worked tirelessly on perfecting the sounds of Stevie Wonder. I had the privilege of seeing two performances. The first one was held in St Alphege’s and was a resounding success due some incredible technical prowess, hard work and general skill of the pupils. The second performed on a beautiful day outdoors in St Augustine’s was packed with people all wanting to sing along and dance around to the hit 1980’s album. The show was opened by ‘Did I Hear You Say You Love Me?’ which got the audience sitting on the edge of their chairs silently bopping along to the rhythm. Following songs included ‘All I Do’ and ‘As If You Read My Mind’ with unforgettable saxophone and harmonica solos from Toby Sinclair, ‘I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It’ with an outstanding bass solo from Fenella Chesterfield and a catchy guitar riff from Olu Akinkugbe. Fred Holt on drums never failed to impress the audience with his fast fills and tricky beats. One of Stevie’s top hits was ‘Do Like You’ and this band managed to do a fantastic rendition of this with highly impressive vocals from Dimitri Gripari, Louise Augustine-Aina and Scarlet Pughe. Some songs later came one of the slower songs, ‘Lately’. This was a touching version of an emotional song about a woman who cheats on her husband and the band covered this song very well. Next came an all time favourite, ‘Superstition’ and every audience member, no matter what age, jumped up and started dancing and clapping along to the song. The audience could not help but scream and shout for an encore once the band had left the stage and

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they came back out with a hit single ‘Sir Duke’ which was a great way to finish off the unforgettable show. Thanks to an incredible band of extremely talented musicians, the number of Stevie Wonder performances was a memorable experience for both the audiences and pupils, however it is all due to the man who put it all together, Nick Parvin. Without his level of musical talent and of course patience, it would not have come together the way it did. Next year’s band definitely has big boots to fill following this year’s extraordinary performance.

Clockwise from left: Fenella Chesterfield on bass, our very own Senior Editor, Louise AugustineAinia, proving she can also sing and the band at St Alphege’s

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the speech as well as preparing their nerves must have taken a tremendous amount of effort.

King’s Week: Speeches in the Chapter House Patrick Demir (6b CY)

It is immediately clear, upon walking into the Chapter house, that the Removes who have to speak in it will have a mammoth job filling the space with their voice, let alone conveying the emotion and meaning behind their respective pieces. The sheer size of the room coupled with the presence of those in their year group made this task both intimidating and exhilarating, so to prepare for

There were a wide variety of speeches on offer. There was the poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling, the famous ‘Ich Bin ein Berliner’ speech by John F. Kennedy and the fantastic monologue that Charlie Chaplin performed in ‘The Great Dictator’. The huge variety of styles and genres made for this exhibition of performances extremely enjoyable. Patrick Harte (GL), received the ‘Judge’s Prize’ for his choice of speech and the compelling way he expressed it. His choice was ‘The Speech of the Unknown’ which he used to take command of the Chapter House with a powerful resonating voice, which in combination with his passionate and determined emotion fuelling the words made for a fantastic performance. The sombre tone contrasting with the power made this speech a joy to watch. In second place was Alex Sokolow (GL) who gave an impressive rendition of the Francis Ford Coppola monologue

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king’s week from the film ‘Apocalypse Now’. The slow pace of the piece captivated the attention of the audience, capturing the horror of war and the inevitable deaths that are a consequence. It was a beautiful reflection in which the emotion of Alex painted a wonderful picture which made for a completely naturalistic performance, and the clever use of the dog tag as a symbol of his fallen comrades made for a quietly brilliant show. Taking first place with his explosive and emotionally intense monologue from the prose of ‘The War of the Worlds’ by H.G. Wells was Harry Brownlees (SH) who commanded the Chapter house with his powerful voice which had an emotional intensity to match. The use of voice was excellent in this performance – he used rapid pace when needed (still speaking very clearly) and slowed down for effect when it was appropriate. You could sense the changes in his thoughts when he paused, which is key to any performance as it made it realistic. The sincerity in his actions caused the defeat and dystopian nature of the piece to be manifested in his character, making his descriptions all the more vivid. The use of both emotion and technique made for a sensational spectacle. The event concluded with the judges congratulating the performers, and a well-deserved round of applause from the audience. It was a delight to watch these speeches, and I thank the performers for investing their time and courage into their pieces.

Michael Morpurgo Olivia Cha (Sh WL)

‘He went to boarding school in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral.’ Little did I know that when I read this quote from The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo at the age of nine that, firstly, I would go to that very school but also have the honour of meeting this highly acclaimed author.

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As one of the many events during the spectacular King’s Week 2012, Michael Morpurgo gave an exclusive talk to parents and pupils on his life and work. I had been selected randomly from Walpole to go to the talk, in the Shirley Hall, but also had an amazing opportunity to meet him afterwards during dinner. This was very fortuitous as I had met him before when he came to my prep school’s speech day. As an OKS and former Captain of the School in 1961, his stories of King’s were fascinating. His talk featured a nostalgic look back at his time here whilst also comparing the wide range of opportunities that we have now, to the less so in the ‘50s. ‘It is a wonderful atmosphere. I feel I am at a university for young people rather than a school. I rather like that.’ He spoke lovingly of Rugby which he enjoyed whilst on the 1st XV here. He admits to not being the one of the brightest at King’s but this did not stop his passion for History. His love for this subject would later in his life become one of the recurring themes in several

king’s week of his books especially the setting of World War One in books including War Horse and Private Peaceful. He shared many memories but school food, he added, was not his fondest! Other than history he loves and has a talent for creative writing. In the talk he described how he discovered this in his early working career as a teacher at a primary school. When I met him in the dinner afterwards he told me how it was one of the worst jobs but the highlight was the half an hour every week where he got to tell a story to his class. At first he read a few books but then he started to read some of his own that he had invented. I remember he said ‘it was magic for them and magic for me’. These first books he mentioned were inspired by Ted Hughes as he loved his work in particular. In the final part of his talk he shared with us his charity work that he and his wife had begun after his writing career had been such a success. Since being a boy he has loved animals and this is reflected in many of his stories, including TORO TORO! and The Butterfly Lion, where animals are the main characters. I think that War Horse is one of the best as a horse is the narrator which he presents brilliantly. He shares this other passion with everyone in the form of his charity is called Farms for City Kids which aims to provide children from the city with a chance to experience life, for a week, on a farm. It was a privilege to go to such an inspiring talk by the Former Children’s Laureate.

Lab on the Lawn Hannah Presdee (6b MR)

This year’s Lab on the Lawn managed to bring together all ages to come and try some of the more exciting and hands on sides of science, whether you were interested in the science of forensics CSI style by learning how to take finger prints, the origins of time or even to come and decorate scientific cookies one afternoon. If you weren’t

into learning how to date the death of a murder victim, you could learn about the stranger side of A&E with the ‘strangest x-rays’ exhibit or sit back and learn about irreversible reactions by making your own slime or learning how clocks tick. Lab on the Lawn was bigger than ever this year with crowds spilling out of the tent onto Green Court to get caught up in some of the bigger demonstrations, like walking on eggs and experimenting with liquid nitrogen by freezing and shattering roses and making instant chocolate ice cream, which proved to be very popular. A big thank-you must be said to Miss Astin and Mrs Kornicki and all the Lab on the Lawn helpers, who were essential in organizing this packed weekend by preparing the exhibits and making sure there was something for everyone to get involved with and enjoy to ensure Lab on the Lawn was at its best.

The Serenade Amanda Thomas (6a CY)

This year’s Serenade again showed the music of King’s at its best. There was a splendid variety of styles of music at this ever-atmospheric concert that is often said to be one of the best moments of King’s Week. The opening was a home-grown composition from 6a Jacob Ewens, a striking brass fanfare which created a great feeling of anticipation. It was quickly followed by the famous first movement of Orff’s Carmina Burana, which brought back memories of the 2008 Choral Concert when the whole work was performed, which is appropriate given that this section speaks of repetition and the wheel of fortune turning. Here Mr Ionascu’s Serenade Choir demonstrated their dynamic range and sense of drama. The next piece was an effective contrast, Finzi’s setting of Bridge’s ‘Clear and Gentle Stream’, which brought a calmer and more reflective mood.

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Sian Rees, Lucy Knight, Margaret Tong and Harry Bruges

The next piece, Tippett’s ‘Dance, Clarion Air’ from A Garland for a Queen, was written to celebrate the accession of Elizabeth II, and was therefore most fitting for this jubilee year. The choir navigated the complex patterns of rhythm and unexpected harmonies to create a sense of tension which built to a glorious culmination. Two excellent solo performances came next, with Emily Davis giving a rendition of Mozart’s ‘Ridente la Calma’ and Sam Hewitt following with Vaughan Williams’ ‘Silent Noon’. The standard of the 6a soloists was, as ever, almost implausibly high, and the audience seemed to fully recognise their talents. Another set of shorter pieces performed by the Serenade Choir followed, including Barber’s ‘To be Sung on the Water’, ‘Nobody Knows’, one of Tippett’s Negro Spirituals, and Richard Rodgers’ ‘Blue Moon’. Each piece appealed to a different sense of musicality, requiring a different mood and style of performance. The catchy melody of ‘Blue Moon’ seemed to go down particularly well. Lucy Knight then gave an impressive interpretation of ‘Only Love’. Madrigalia, under the direction of Mr Todd, came next with two of what could be called their signature tunes, ‘Ego Flos Campi’ and ‘Si Ch’io Vorrei Morrire’. As always they showed great expertise and awareness, really bringing these ancient pieces alive for the audience. They were followed by Henry Downing singing the well-known Bach/Gounod setting of the ‘Ave Maria’ with consummate skill. The next piece was another example of home-grown talent, this time in the form of OKS Ed Rex’s setting of Henry Longfellow’s poem ‘Hymn to the Night’, which has recently been published by Boosey and Hawkes and is sure to become a classic Serenade tradition in some form. It was conducted superbly by Sophie Nairac who showed particular sensitivity. Kirsty Duncanson then performed the instantly recognisable ‘Time to Say Goodbye’, showing off her Italian as well as her musical skills. The King’s Swingers and the King’s Men both performed extremely well, reminding us how exceptional the school’s close harmony groups are. The King’s Men treated us to ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Trashin’ the Camp’ from

Tarzan, and the Swingers sang ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ and ‘Slow me down’. Between their sets was the third Tippett piece of the evening, this time another spiritual, ‘Deep River’, which was one of the most moving pieces of the whole concert, showing great emotional depth. The penultimate performance of the evening was an excitable rendition of ‘Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat’, which again required a more theatrical approach and was thoroughly enjoyable for the choir and for the audience. The final piece was the traditional Morton Lauridsen song, ‘Sure on this Shining Night’, which as ever created a wonderful atmosphere for the end of this spectacular concert.

KiDaCo Isobelle Whitaker (6b WL)

Firstly huge congratulations to the KidaCo team, dancers and organisers alike. This year there was a wide range of dancing styles provided for the audience’s enjoyment. Act One was a combination of dances choreographed by the dancers themselves or by Kerry Blaskett, an out of school dance coach. The line-up provided swift changes in the atmosphere as the audience was first taken to a ‘Taste of the Orient’, which provided an interesting and quite unusual sight for the viewers. Charlotte Ward performed beautifully in her solo dance, choreographed by herself. The group Dynamo, consisting of James Garn and Ayokumni Akanle gave a fantastic performance. The Act ended with large group performing a western square dance followed by the finale of the very modern dance crew Fütå, starring Nosayaba Omosigho and Simisola Marinho. Special mention to Elizabeth Morcom and Emily Champion who seemed to have the stamina of Olympic athletes, as they managed to pop up into almost every dance. Tomiwa Adepetun was in Dyanmo with James Garn and Ayokumni Akanle. Act Two, choreographed by Victoria Outram was a wonderful sequence of dances with the running theme of

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Helen Woodward

king’s week the 1920s. The whole performance completely captivated its audience. Helen Woodward shone in a bedazzled peach dress and had the audience on her every move. Special thanks to Liz Pidoux, Victoria Outram, Emma Park and Glenda Lepard for the spectacular costumes and wonderful hair and make-up.

CCF Skills Display Milo Reddaway (5th SH)

The CCF Skills Display is intended to give parents and non-CCF pupils an impression of what goes on in the King’s School Canterbury Combined Cadet Force. We made sure that made sure that any inappropriate or generally false rumours about the Cadet Force were conveniently blasted off the face of the earth with many eye opening and ego nurturing expositions. First on the cadet force menu was a show of the two different kinds of tents that are used on expeditions and exercises. They are surprisingly light, easy to assemble and very strong. They are also good for any kind of weather. After viewing the tents, one could admire the photos of the annual summer camp that the cadet force organizes. This gives you a glimpse into what we like to call “heavy-duty entertainment”. However, there are rumours that some of the audience got the shock of their lives when what looked like a bush crawled up to them and said hi. That ended up being an over excited cadet trying out one of the many types of camouflage and combat gear that the CCF possesses. (The looks on their faces…!) We also gave a tour to a French school group and they were thoroughly impressed, especially since their tour was given in French! (Pity that it was the bush crawling and far too easily amused cadet that had to be the only one who could speak French.) We also showed the

weapons that are used in practice and exercise; the first shown was the 22, which is used to shoot targets. The next one shown was the SA80 A2, which is used on both exercises and the firing range. What was then shown was the Normal Safety Procedure (NSP), which is carried out every time the rifle is handed from one person to another in order to check that the weapon is safe to use, and make sure no accidents happen! Finally, we put on display the 24 hour ration packs that every cadet and soldier receives before an expedition or exercise. Do not be dismayed by their small and meagre appearance, if cooked right, they are delicious! The food in those little boxes provides all the nutrients needed in a day for a soldier. The display was wide-ranging and informative, excellently put together by Major Vintner and his team (even if there were bushes crawling around the places who enjoyed scaring people!)

Café Théâtre ADS

As a tradition, for King’s Week, the French department and its students welcomed us to their entertaining Café Théâtre. As always, the atmosphere was eclectic and festive. We were received in a Parisian Bohemian Bar owned by none other than Emile Poivet, his wife Lara Conradie and their son Thomas Dath. The three of them were acting as Monsieur Loyal, introducing the songs, plays and sketches performed with wit and talent. The Café Théâtre performances were celebrating French artists from Claude François to Clause Debussy, from Rimbaud to La Compagnie Créole. The students were very gifted in their accomplishments and delivered their part with humour and dedication. When entering the Café, you were welcomed by some French music and when the lights grew darker the show began with Bobby Sebolao’s reading of “Un sourire”. All the little acts were introduced by the owners of the bar and just as good memories flow so did the performances of the Café Théâtre. As

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MPHD

a distraction for your ears, George Nairac played the “Arabesque numéro 1” from Debussy and a song by Offenbach was interpreted by Emily Aisher and Ilona Bushell. Both these performances showed the gift for music lots of students possess here in the King’s School. The witty interpretation of the “Face de Bouc” performed by the Dath duo, Thomas and his father Marc, was truly hilarious and performed in a genuinely witty and clever way. “Le rendez-vous” written by Céline Heurteau and performed by Edward Vinson and Sebastien Santens was as comic as it was enlightening on the use of French idioms. The high point of the show was the re-enactment of Claude François’ “Ces années-là” performed by Arthur Poivet and his clodettes, Anne de Vitry D’avaucourt, Lara Conradie, Orode Moju and Hannah Morrison. All these performances were well delivered and entertaining. All the students exceeded our expectations and pleased the audience. And as everything satisfactory has an end so did the Café Théâtre. The audience and the performers parted on a very festive note with the performance of La Compagnie Créole’s Le Bal Masqué. The atmosphere was perfectly directed for everyone’s tastes and the Café

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Théâtre was a success. For the audience as well as for the performers, everyone had their share of amusement and we went back home full of good memories and songs in our hearts.

House Harmonies HJ

When asked to write a review for this year’s House Harmonies concert, I was advised by one of the editors to – among other things – ‘pick out the acts that were good’. I fear that I will have to disobey the helpful 6b pupil. Such was the quality of all of the performances that it would be wrong to omit any. That the standard was so high is a testament to the pupils’ desire to do well for their houses. Although not a competition, the concert provides an opportunity for houses to showcase their musical talent in whatever genre the pupils choose.

Helen Woodward

The packed Green Court Marquee witnessed an unforgettable opening. SH’s very own One Direction enthused the audience with their energetic singing and witty dance routine – and free sweets! This was a hard act to follow, but the combined 20-strong group from MR and MO were delightful with their light-hearted rendition of the a capella favourite, ‘The Bare Necessities’. Close harmony singing was a popular choice for this year’s groups, and a number of pupils arranged their songs themselves. Chevonne Wong took on Mariah Carey for the BR girls, Rhiannon Jones (MT) produced a beguiling version of the classic ‘Songbird’ and JR treated us to a cool medley of songs by The Saturdays.

Congratulations must go to all of the performers for producing a great afternoon’s entertainment and for doing their houses proud.

Another popular choice for performers was songs from the prolific Ed Sheeran. Messrs Loyn, Kelly and Ross (LN) gave a very skilful interpretation of the haunting ‘Wayfaring Stranger’, while Charlie Metcalfe, accompanied by John Forsythe (SH) on the guitar, revealed his vocal talent with ‘Drunk’. In addition to Charlie there were other young talents who will be ones to watch in future King’s Weeks: Robbie Ellison (TR) and Dewi Rees (GR) showed real flair on the xylophone and trumpet respectively; the WL band consisting of Sophia Gripari, Sophie Sood and Eliza Wallis exuded confidence in their performance of David Gray’s ‘Babylon’; and Charlotte Ward (CY) proved what a charming voice she has with the timeless ‘Misty’.

Jacob Ewens, the evening’s Musical Director, stepped out on to the stage in his white tuxedo and, with little ado, went straight into the Big-Band’s rendition of Louie Bellson’s Skin Deep (1953). The King’s Jazz Orchestra consisted of Laura Galloway, Camellia Johnson, Laura Bartley, Chris Irwin, Toby Sinclair and Oliver Hope (altosaxophones); Andrew Sultana and Henry Cross (tenorsaxophones); Edward Thomas (baritone-saxophone); Laura Galloway and Camellia Johnson (clarinets); George Pughe, Teddy Baker and Ashwin Bhadresha (trombones); Will Phillips, Llewellyn Cross, Lorcan Halfacre, Bertie Gleave and Dewi Rees (trumpets); Will Fairbairn (piano); Chevonne Wong (bass); and Fred Holt (drums). Skin Deep was a powerful sound, with some very agreeable drumbreaks near the beginning, which should have been given some audience applause, but it was a little early in the evening and the audience had not yet lost its inhibitions about applauding solos. This was a complicated, syncopated piece with some good swinging ensemble which was kept very well together by Jacob Ewens’s direction. There was some more drumming glory at the end for Fred Holt who, I was puzzled, was behind a Perspex screen. (I was later told, on enquiry, that this was quite a ‘high-tech’ device, suggested by Mr. Paul Barton-Hodges, to help tone down the drummer’s volume and thereby aid the overall sound control.) Next came Arthur Hamilton’s Cry Me A River (1953), with Autumn Withey-Stevens as vocalist, who looked very authentic in an elegant, long, black dress and standing in front of a 1950s-style microphone with an inordinately large ‘head’ on it. She dealt deftly with the several changes of pace in the song. The sound from the said microphone did, unfortunately, become

Five pupils deserve particular praise for offering to perform on the very morning of the concert, replacing last-minute losses. They are Theo Adler (GL), who had a fantastic voice and keyboard composition on stand-by; Paige McCulloch and Lucy Duncanson (HH) with their lovely delivery of Tracey Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’; and the accomplished Chevonne Wong and Caspar Latham, who covered Damien Rice’s ‘Cannonball’. At the end of the show the audience was wowed by one of the finest musical duos of King’s Week. Eliza Cocksworth’s stunning voice and Charlie Sinclair’s phenomenal guitar playing (CY) combined to produce a brilliant version of John Mayer’s ‘Neon’, more imaginative and dramatic than the original.

The Jazz Concert Roger Mallion

Shirley Hall, 7.30 p.m. Monday, July 2nd, 2012

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Jacob Ewens

king’s week a little distorted towards the end of the piece. Autumn Withey-Stevens’s performance was, nevertheless, very well received by the audience, and Jacob Ewens added to the convivial atmosphere it created with his ‘thank-you’ to her, which was delivered in true ‘Jools Holland’ style (complete with demonstrative arm-movements). I was so glad that, again this year, the Musical Director addressed the audience himself, without resorting to the use of a ‘compère’ as an intermediary. With commendably clear diction, Jacob Ewens confessed that he understood that the next piece — Glenn Miller’s 1939 classic Little Brown Jug, recorded on the Bluebird label — was apparently very well known, but he himself had not heard of it. Nevertheless, he was able to conjure up, right from the start, the tight ‘Miller’ saxophone-sound, which was crisp and definitive. A solo from Andrew Sultana was very clear, and he stood to perform it, which made him highly visible as well as completely audible; this elicited appreciative audience applause. There was also prominent trumpet from Llewellyn Cross and some great trombone

from George Pughe. The whole thing finished with some fine Miller-style ‘riffs’. The next section featured The King’s Swingers: (Emily Davis, Hannah Goldsmith, Grace Johnson, Sophie Nairac, Camellia Johnson, Eleanor Hartland, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, and Chevonne Wong (who also contributed on her bass)). Their first offering, Carole King & Gerry Goffin’s You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman (1967), was very well received. Their second piece engendered from within the troupe considerable laughter and fun; this was a medley of two interwoven pieces — Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart’s Blue Skies From Now On (1927) and Jeff Lynne’s Mr Blue Sky (1977). The King’s Jazz Orchestra then returned for a further three numbers to complete the first half of the Concert. I have commented before in these columns that presenting Big-Band pieces is an ‘expensive’ process when it comes to concert preparation and rehearsal. To craft three minutes of material with a twenty-piece Big-Band takes much more rehearsal than producing a performance of

The King’s Men

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Laura Galloway, Camellia Johnson Christopher Irwin equivalent length from, say, the small and tight-knit Modern Jazz Group, where solos are largely improvised and a given solo can, for example, easily be doubled in length, if desired, at a moment’s notice and with virtually no increase in rehearsal time. It is impressive, therefore, that, in the main body of this Concert, Jacob Ewens and his colleagues rustled up no fewer than ten Big-Band pieces (as well as a new Big-Band number for the encore). The first of the trio of pieces presented at the end of this first half was Henry Mancini’s Too Little Time (1954), in which both Laura Galloway and Camellia Johnson switched from alto-saxophone to clarinet. This involved a slow orchestral opening, with some very pensive, thoughtful trombone from George Pughe, and then a pleasantly languid rhythm with the main melody. Some very controlled and well-coordinated ‘Miller-esque’ saxophones were then heard, followed by more trombone that displayed a very agreeable balance between it and the Orchestra — with a remarkably long note, at the end. The next piece, Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields’s I’m In The Mood For Love (1936), featured, as vocalist, James Bailey (who had appeared and performed so splendidly

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in Il Traviata in the Virtuosi Concert, two days earlier). In a line that the late Humphrey Lyttelton would have been proud of, Jacob Ewens introduced his vocalist as ‘the man who is always in the mood for love’. This was a bravura performance on James Bailey’s part, with lots of smiles and humour and excellent communication with the audience by means of ‘body language.’ In my own days associated with the Jazz Club, I always used to tell the performers that if they looked as though they were enjoying it, the audience would relax and enjoy it, too. James Bailey put this policy into practice ‘in spades’. (Intriguingly, however, throughout the performance, he looked as though he was trying to unbutton his jacket — but, somehow, he never quite succeeded!) Andrew Sultana’s saxophone solo during all this was mellow, luscious and warm. Then came Van Morrison’s Moondance (1970). This started with a pleasant saxophone ensemble and the melody became familiar — I did not recall it from its title, but I soon recognised it. This was followed by a short, very crisp section, in which the trumpets were prominent, and then the saxophones returned. We were then — right at the end of the first half — treated to the first keyboards solo of the evening, by Will Fairbairn. Then came a

Dimitri Gripari

delightful saxophone solo from Laura Galloway, followed by trumpets, and saxophones, all in a very tight ensemble, and leading to a very stunning ending. The second half started with the Musical Director individually introducing the members of The King’s Jazz Orchestra. For this, Jacob Ewens was once again in full, double-entendre ‘Humphrey Lyttelton mode’, making some splendidly politically incorrect comments (notably about the bass-player and the drummer) which, however, I shall not record here save to say that they graphically illustrated a vibrant warmth, ‘chemistry’ and general esprit de corps amongst the players, which is essential for a group like this fully to succeed. This was one of the best choreographed band-introductions I have seen. The Director controlled the audience applause with great authority, and the five trumpeters all came on together and then the three trombonists and the nine saxophonists were all superbly coordinated in making their respective entrances, together with ‘surprise’ guest flute-players Lewis Cullen and Michaela Higham, not listed on the programme. As I surveyed the Orchestra, splendidly arrayed, as they were, with their blue stand-banners and blue

bow-ties and cummerbunds, I recalled that it was exactly twenty years previously (at the 1992 Concert, of which there is film in the School’s Film & Video-Film Archives) that the stand banners and other apparel that are still in use today had their first airing. These were provided by Barnaby Stevenson, then the Musical Director of the Jazz Club — with no small help from his mother, who did a lot of the sewing involved. (And it is a sobering thought for some of us that all this was before the present members of the Jazz Club were even born . . .) The King’s Jazz Orchestra started the second half with Neal Hefti’s Teddy The Toad (1958) (with reference by Jacob Ewens, in the present context, to Teddy Baker in the trombone section). This did indeed start with the spotlight on the trombonists (who were standing), together with prominent bass and piano, and the whole effect was very swinging, relaxed, and controlled. The next piece from the Orchestra was Louis Guglielmi’s Cerezo Rosa (1950) (better known to those of the reviewer’s vintage who remember Eddie Calvert’s 1955 hit as Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom Mambo). This gave Jacob Ewens the spotlight to play his trumpet in the Orchestra rather than

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king’s week conduct. The piece was performed with deliberate exaggeration and some considerable humour — especially the part where the trumpet sound slides down and then up before the melody resumes. It was also executed with great aplomb and ample confidence, whilst the rest of the Orchestra were playing their parts, quasi-independently. At the end, Jacob Ewens received great cheers from the audience, which were very well deserved. This prepared the way for The King’s Men, who consisted of Samuel Hewitt, Henry Fryzer, Dan Wilson, Duncan Kelly, Patch Clews, Theo Adler, Maximus Rex, and Jacob Ewens. They performed Burt Bacharach & Hal David’s Close To You (1964), with a solo from Samuel Hewitt, followed by Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry Be Happy (1988). The latter began with some deft whistling from Jacob Ewens and then a solo from Patch Clews during which there were numerous humorous interjections from several members of the troupe. There was then a solo from Jacob Ewens (involving ominous ‘laughter’ of an ‘evil’ sort), after which Samuel Hewitt took a solo again. They all did a very effective ‘walk-off’, whilst performing a fade-out ending, and (what I like to see) they gave a very professional bow, at the end. Next came The Modern Jazz Group with their only set of the entire Concert. These consisted of Jacob Ewens (trumpet); Chris Irwin (alto-saxophone); Andrew Sultana (tenorsaxophone); Will Fairbairn (piano); Chevonne Wong (bass); and Fred Holt (drums). Caspar Latham — not on the programme — was also present, on guitar. The Group first presented Michel Legrand’s I Will Wait For You from the soundtrack of the film ‘Les Parapluies de Cherbourg’ (1964). The song itself consists of a very short but beautiful melody, and it is repeated in the context of different jazz styles, which were announced by Jacob Ewens as they went along. The action began with the melody/theme presented as a piano solo (Will Fairbairn), with bass accompaniment (from Chevonne Wong) then went into a standard swing, then seamlessly into the following other jazz styles: jazz waltz, Latin (with an excellent guitar solo from Caspar Latham), tango, and, finally, Russian (which became faster and faster) for which Jacob Ewens joined Will Fairbairn for a duet on the piano. This was a great ‘crowd pleaser’ and was, accordingly, very well received. The final piece from the Modern Group was the rather

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un-snappily entitled I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (Billy Taylor & Dick Dallas, 1963), but better known to most people in Britain as the theme music to Barry Norman’s long-running Film Programme on BBC Television. This is potentially a really great number for a jazz group to work on and its performance this evening made me wonder why, in my experience of the last 35 years of the Jazz Club’s history, it has, to my knowledge, previously been presented only once, in all that time. The two saxophones, piano, guitar, and drums, together with Jacob Ewens’s trumpet, maintained a good, confident, solid sound. There then followed excellent solos — Will Fairbairn on his keyboards, Jacob Ewens, clear as the proverbial bell on his trumpet, Andrew Sultana’s tenorsaxophone, and finally a second saxophone solo, this time from Chris Irwin on his alto-saxophone, who was very clear and confident and who exhibited excellent ‘body language’. There was then a fine ensemble to finish. Next up was vocalist Dimitri Gripari, with his rendition of Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse’s Feeling Good (1965), in the style of Michael Bublé (and also in the latter’s sartorial style – tie undone and jacket open, right from the start!) With very clear diction, and gyrations reminiscent of that number called The Stripper — and backed by a veritable ‘wall of sound’ from the trumpets — Dimitri Gripari gave a powerful and compelling performance of this song, enthusiastically appreciated by the audience. Before introducing the final number of the programme, Jacob Ewens thanked the personnel of Astra Audio for their sterling work controlling the overall sound in the music that the Jazz Club had presented that evening, and Mr. Paul Barton-Hodges, the Head of Music Technology. (Jacob Ewens later enthusiastically explained to me Mr. Barton-Hodges’s extensive contributions, including recording and storing everything for anyone to listen to; this sounds to me like an excellent innovation at King’s that has taken place since my time, when we had to rely on systematic amateur-video and occasional ad-hoc sound-recordings to serve as an archive of the Jazz Club’s performances.) The King’s Jazz Orchestra then went into Louis Prima’s Sing Sing Sing (1936) which had a very full ensemble swing. Camellia Johnson was featured on clarinet. Drummer Fred Holt was again allotted some splendid ‘drums

King’s week glory’, as in the first number of the evening, and Jacob Ewens was much more animated in his ‘body language’ whilst conducting this quite driven, complicated piece, which had a sudden, but very well-accomplished, ending. That was the finish of the official programme, but there was more. The encore was not one of the pieces performed earlier, but a new one, the very popular In The Mood. Always a number to get the audience’s feet tapping at the end of an evening, this was not, however, the usual Glenn Miller arrangement. With multiple short solocontributions from nearly all members of the saxophone and trumpet sections, the audience were soon clapping in time (well, sort of . . .) and there was a very slick ending, which was deservedly followed by a standing ovation. The players had judged it all just right, and they certainly ‘left the audience wanting more’. Indeed, it was one of the most disciplined King’s Week Jazz Concerts that I can recall, and they certainly could not be accused of selfindulgence in the selection of huge amounts of material. Jacob Ewens and his colleagues are thus to be congratulated for their achievement of a very memorable and enjoyable Concert. I understand that the Musical Director’s baton now passes on to Will Fairbairn.

Wine Tasting Dominic Hall and Isobelle Whitaker (6b GR and WL)

In tune with the traditional diverse nature of King’s Week, this year ‘A Fine Wine Tutored Tasting’ was introduced for the first time. First we started with a Generic White Bordeaux – the first of the two everyday household wines that were on offer. After an insightful introduction into the history behind wine, and a crash-course tutorial into how to properly taste a wine, we were asked to describe the various flavours that came through – having had just enough time

to convince Mr Armstrong into allowing us to ‘join the fun’. Although the methods of swirling and spitting to which we were introduced were perhaps not the most elegant ones, they were certainly effective, and we were soon able to appreciate the intense and varying range of flavours that each wine had to offer. Unfortunately our note taking got progressively less productive throughout the course of the evening, but we went from white wine to a whole series of red wines, followed by a desert wine – all of which enlightened us further to the art of wine tasting, with the excellent guidance of Rebecca Lamont, our hostess, who without which the finer details of this experience would have been lost. Although we found ourselves amongst many people far more experienced in the world of wine, Ms Lamont made it easily accessible to everyone in the room, and we at no point felt out of place. Although many an insightful question was asked throughout the duration of Ms Lamont’s presentation, our thirst for knowledge was still not quenched, and we caught up with her afterwards: Cantuarian: ‘You’ve already given us a brilliant insight into Bordeaux wines, but what is your opinion on the developing British wine industry?’ Ms Lamont: ‘This is the year for British wine! [Beams ecstatically] However, such is the scale of the French wine industry that British wine will never truly be able to catch up on, or surpass that of the French’ To gain a second opinion, we reverted back to our stereotypes and picked out the member of the audience with the reddest nose. Although asked to sum up the event in three words, he gave us two: ‘how stimulating’ – but perhaps simply through his misunderstanding of the question he summed up simply how much fun this event really was.

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king’s week: virtuosi

The Music of Giuseppe Verdi and John Williams Saturday 30th June 2012

CTN

Yet again ‘Virtuosi’ more than lived up to its name, with astonishing performances by some of the school’s finest instrumentalists and singers, along with the King’s School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Andrew Pollock, and the King’s Wind and Brass Ensembles conducted by Kevin Abbott. An intriguing programme featured dramatic music by two masters of their respective genres – extracts from one of Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest operas, La Traviata, and film music by John Williams. Over the past 50 years John Williams has written brilliantly crafted scores for some of the most iconic works in cinema and tonight we heard music that spanned an immense range of emotions, both for full orchestra and smaller ensembles. The noble theme of the Prologue from J.F.K. filled the Shirley Hall, with the lyrical trumpet playing of Jacob Ewens setting the scene before the assassination of President Kennedy. Then came the heart wrenching music of Arlington describing the military cemetery where Kennedy was buried; an impressive unaccompanied horn solo, played by Samuel Hewitt, led into an Adagio for strings reminiscent of Mahler at his most soul-searching.

From the tragedy of J.F.K. we moved to the quirky humour of The Terminal and a boisterous and brilliantly executed clarinet solo from Camellia Johnson. Then came Stephen Matthews’ arrangement for the King’s Brass Ensemble of the Theme from Born on the Fourth of July, which really showed off the quality of our brass players with their impeccable tuning and ensemble, and another virtuoso performance from trumpeter Jacob Ewens. The Harry Potter films have been amongst the most successful movie franchises ever, with scores for the first three written by John Williams. From Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone the King’s Wind Ensemble performed, with considerable style and finesse, Nimbus 2000, a sparkling miniature for 12 wind instruments with some particularly challenging flute parts! John Williams wrote the violin solos in the 1993 soundtrack for Schindler’s List for the great violinist Itzhak Perlman and the Theme has, over the last 20 years, become standard repertoire. Fenella Chesterfield played it with stunning intensity, holding the audience spellbound until the last chord died away. In contrast, the final work by John Williams is something of a rarity in the concert hall – music from Catch Me If you Can, forming a kind of Triple Concerto for Jazz Trio and performed by Andrew Sultana on tenor saxophone, Robert Ellison on vibraphone and Maximus Rex on bass. The languid and dreamy Reflections was followed by some agile playing from the soloists accompanied by scurrying strings and finger snaps in Closing In. On either side of the John Williams came some significant extracts from La Traviata. The concert opened with the

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Prelude to Act 1, setting the sombre tone of coming events but mixed with forced gaiety as the tragic Violetta, a Parisian courtesan, welcomed guests to her party. Evangeline Kanagasooriam in the role of Violetta, and Samuel Hewitt (pictured right) as Alfredo, her young admirer, sang the duet ‘Un di felice’ with great sophistication, the real quality in their voices projecting clearly above a well balanced orchestral accompaniment. Evangeline then displayed impressively accurate and beautiful coloratura in ‘Ah, fors’ è lui che l’anima’, followed by Samuel’s fine rendition of Alfredo’s impassioned aria ‘De’ miei bollenti spiriti’. James Bailey was an engaging and characterful Germont, in his aria ‘Di Provenza il mar, il suol’ attempting to entice his son, Alfredo, back to his family home and so avoid the scandal of his relationship with Violetta. The second portion of La Traviata, which closed the concert, began with the Prelude to Act 3, returning to the melancholy mood of the opera’s opening, as Violetta lay seriously ill in her apartment, and the Chamber Orchestra strings negotiated the soaring lines with accuracy and great subtlety. Violetta’s maid, Annina, sung by Margaret Tong, announced the return of Alfredo to Violetta and their impassioned reunion was magnificently controlled. It was hard to imagine that such young soloists and a school orchestra could produce a performance of such intensity. The Doctor, Maximus Rex, joined Violetta, Annina, Alfredo and Germont in the great final quintet, the tragic climax of Verdi’s opera, as Violetta collapsed, lifeless, into Alfredo’s arms. An unforgettable musical experience.

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blackfriars art exhibition

Above: Hannah Todd Below: Eleanor Sly

Alexandra Bakeshire

David Cameron, Head of Art

Below: Daria Loyka

Fadekemi Ogunsanya

king’s week: the gala

The Gala Symphony Concert MAJT

There is always a sense of expectation before the Gala Symphony Concert. If King’s Week is a crown with many ornaments, this should be the pre-eminent jewel. Added to the weight of expectation as one dons one’s evening dress is the thought ‘Can this year’s crop of musicians possibly continue the high standards which we have come to expect?’ The percussive start to Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man signalled an emphatic start to the evening. This familiar piece was executed stylishly and competently by a particularly strong brass ensemble and percussion section. The combination of crashing drums, resonant tam-tam and the blare of the brass filled the Shirley Hall with rich sound conveying appropriately the sense of a grand occasion through the strident but deceptively simple, almost sparse music. The concerto which took us up to the interval will, I’m sure, remain for a long time in the minds of those who heard it. Later in the evening Howard Ionascu recounted recruiting Hope Tong (pictured right) for the school and what a delight it was for us to hear her play. We were treated to an astonishingly mature performance of Edvard Grieg’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor.

With another dramatic, percussive, familiar opening Grieg’s concerto blossomed into a sympathetic and careful, never laboured treatment, the pianist’s lightness of touch giving full depth to the range of emotions. Hope displayed true mastery of her instrument: poised control in all the changing and challenging aspects of this highly technical work. The full orchestra supported competently with good control, particularly noteworthy were the woodwind and in the Adagio beautifully restrained strings. After an interval enjoying the customary hospitality in the marquee we returned to the nineteenth century for our second concerto: Hummel’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E flat. The soloist, Jacob Ewens probably appeared in more performances at King’s Week than any other pupil. If he was at all exhausted by the time of tonight’s concert this was belied by the extraordinary technical expertise and fresh exuberance shown in his performance of this demanding work. The many moods, extremes of register and versatility of his instrument were shown to perfection: the light staccato, beautifully held sustained notes, and almost flawless, wonderfully rapid, passage work. The soloist was admirably complemented by a scaled-down orchestra with a rich sound, beautifully balanced exchanges between the wind and strings in the slow movement, and a light-hearted clarity of approach in the third. The fourth work, Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture: Romeo and Juliet showcased all the strengths of the full symphony orchestra. To close the programme with an

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symphony concert

overture might seem to be contrary, but this well-received performance of a familiar favourite made a suitable finale, echoing the range of moods of the earlier works: wellrounded woodwind, crisp strings, light and shade, delight and menace, hope and tragedy. Enthusiastic applause echoed round the hall as the concert closed.

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What a way to complete Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Week, not one jewel but many. Yes, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talent certainly rose to the challenge. Many congratulations are due to all the performers, those who have overseen rehearsals and of course the conductors: Kevin Abbott, and the one and only Howard Ionascu.

sport

cricket Cricket Team Reports 1st XI RALS It was a difficult year for the school 1st XI, having lost a large number of talented seniors from the year before we always knew it was going to be a developmental season. The squad enjoyed a quality and varied winter programme at the Kent County Ground nets and were very keen for the summer term to arrive. The team needed to work hardest at their batting to be competitive; however losing the first three weeks of practice due to the weather really put the batsmen out of touch. They needed time at the wicket. When this did happen players got in some touch, but against some of the stronger bowling attacks we faced during the season they had few answers. George Baker White ended up top scorer with a flurry of good innings towards the end of the season. We will look to him again next year to be the backbone of our innings. George Stacey and Ruaridh MacLeod produced a couple of good innings but George especially was not as strong with the bat as he was last season. The bowlers worked hard, the pick of them being Harry Mann who deserves credit for averaging 16 come the end of the season. He was ably supported by James Meddings who was the joint leading wicket taker with Harry on 17 wickets. It was hard for the bowlers however when they had to defend relatively low targets in some matches. The side must be praised for their team spirit. They worked tirelessly in matches in the field to gain as much of an advantage as possible. They never gave up in any game and must be commended for this. The remaining squad will work even harder over the winter programme and we will all look forward to next season. Below is a resume of the season: Following a damp start to the season that wiped out most of the preseason training the National T20 tournament rumbled over the first three weeks of the term. King’s hosted the first two games at Birley’s. It was a knock out

draw with four schools taking part in the 1st Round. King’s played Dover College in the first game with both Arthur Chillcot and Will Fabbro making half centuries whilst Ben Methven started his season off well by taking a five wicket haul, including four wickets in four balls. We than beat St. Edmund’s in the final of the 1st round to set up a regional semi final game against Tonbridge. Tonbridge batted first and increased their scoring rate in the second half of their innings to reach a commanding total. King’s batted very well for the first ten overs and were ahead of the rate, but unfortunately we could not maintain our momentum and fell short of the target after twenty overs. The first block fixture of the season got underway against Sevenoaks and the boys played with great spirit, picking up their first victory. We batted first, scoring a reasonable target on a damp outfield. The boys bowled well and, backed up by some good fielding, were soon in control of the match with spin bowling from James Meddings and Ben Methven taking three wickets each. Disappointingly, we lost the next two weekend’s fixtures to rain but what proved to be more damaging was the three weeks of practice the boys missed. The season got underway again against a strong Reed’s side. George Stacey started well at the top of the innings just falling short of his half-century, but he was not backed up by the middle order. Defending a small target was always going to be difficult and Reed’s ended up winners by a comfortable 7 wickets. The next match against Felsted was a frustrating one for the coaches. They batted first and their England opener went on to make a convincing century after being dropped on the boundary on 33. They reached a large target that we worked hard to chase down, with James Meddings batting very sensibly for his 67 runs. Again the innings ran out of steam; the lower order worked very hard to eke out a draw, but we ended up all out with 2 overs to go until the end of the game. Our batting woes continued over the following two fixtures against Hurstpierpoint and Haileybury either side of half term. In both games we were bowled out for low scores. It seemed the exam period was taking its toll with not enough quality practice taking place; something we will have to work hard on in future seasons.

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Cricket 1st XI

With Cricket Week looming the boys needed a good performance and found themselves up against a strong Cranleigh side who had beaten Tonbridge convincingly earlier in the season. The King’s Bowlers made a superb start, with Harry Mann picking up a four wickets. We bowled them out for a reasonable score considering the conditions which could have been lower if it were not for some crucial dropped catches. King’s went about the chase but the top order struggled early on to cope with the Cranleigh attack. George Baker White however put up some resistance and looked more comfortable with the ball coming onto the bat in improving conditions and scored an excellent 75 runs to get us close. With the game going down to the very last over we could not quite get the winning run but managed to tie a very exciting game of Cricket. With the games now coming thick and fast, we found ourselves up against a very good Kearnsey College side. Their boys were very keen to impress on their first game of the tour and their desire to win shone through during the game and our boys were not able to match their intensity. Kearsney posted a healthy score and George Baker White backed up his good work against Cranleigh but just fell short of his 2nd fifty in two days. The innings ran out of energy once more and we fell short of the target. The batting stalled once again against Eltham College, setting them a very mediocre target which they achieved with ease. The victory against an under strength St. Bede’s side gave the boys a bit of momentum with good performances with bat once again from George Baker White and the ball with each of the bowlers chipping in with one or two wickets each. Later in the week we welcomed back the OKS team to Birley’s. They batted first and set the 1st team just under two hundred runs to win. The top order came to the party with George Stacey 78 and Ruaridh MacLeod 77* steering us to a convincing 7 wicket victory. With renewed vigour in our batting having spent a lot more time at the crease, the top order fired once more and help to steer the team to victory against Trinity with George Stacey scoring a half century. The bowlers worked hard to restrict Trinity with Seb Leggett bagging 4 wickets.

With three matches to go the team were in good spirits and fought hard in the field against a strong MCC team who posted a tough target. All the team contributed to steer the side home by 4 wickets. James Meddings top scored with 44. We welcomed Cheadle Hulme school to Birley’s who were touring in the area. With a rain affected game they chased down a revised Duckworth Lewis target of 88 to win. The final game of the season saw a strong Band of Brothers team posting a very competitive score which the boys were unable to reach despite another fifty for Goerge Baker White who finished the season off well. A final word of thanks goes to the caterers at Birley’s, John Halliday our dependable umpire and the amazing ground staff who produced the finest of wickets, in such horrendous conditions for most of the season, to make all of this possible. Team From: R. W. D. Macleod (Wicket Keeper and Captain), W. G. J. Baker White, A. Chillcott, W. J. W. Fabbro, E. J. S. Gilmore, J. H. Godden, S. N. Leggett, H. J. B. Mann, J. H. R. Meddings, B. Methven, G. A. Stacey. Also Played: L. Bromfield, H. Collister, H. Leadbeater, H. Pattinson, H. G. Woodward.

cricket Results 2012 Played 14 Won 5 Tied 1 and Lost 8 Sevenoaks (h)

Won by 112 runs King’s 174 for 6; Sevenoaks 62

Sutton Valence

Cancelled due to Rain

Eastbourne

Cancelled due to Rain

Reed’s School (h)

Lost by 7 wickets King’s 138; Reed’s 139 for 3

Felsted (a)

Lost by 90 runs Felsted 270 for 9; King’s 180

Hurstpierpoint (h)

Lost by 9 wickets King’s 77; Hurstpierpoint 78 for 1

Haileybury (h)

Lost by 9 wickets King’s 116; Haileybury 117 – 1

Cranleigh (a)

Tied Cranleigh 151; King’s 151

Kearsney College (h)

Lost by 38 runs Kearsney 184 for 9; King’s 146

Eltham (h)

Lost by 7 wickets King’s 124; Eltham 127 for 3

St. Bede’s 2nd XI (h)

Won by 8 wickets St. Bede’s 160; King’s 161 for 2

OKS (h)

Won by 7 wickets OKS 196; King’s 197 for 3

Trinity (h)

Won by 4 wickets Trinity 204, King’s 208 for 6

MCC (h)

Won by 4 wickets MCC 224 for 3; King’s 225 for 6

Cheadle Hulme School (h)

Lost by 9 wickets King’s 121-7; Cheadle Hulme 88-1 (Duckworth Lewis)

Band of Brothers (h)

Lost by 53 runs Band of Brothers 220-7; King’s 167

T20 Competition Dover College (h)

Won by 131 runs King’s 175 for 5; Dover 44

St. Edmund’s (h)

Won by 82 runs King’s 170 for 4; St. Edmund’s 87 for 3

Regional Round Semi Final Tonbridge (a)

Summer 2012

Lost by 69 runs Tonbridge 193 for 2; King’s 124 for 6

cricket BATTING Innings

N.O

Runs

H.S.

Average

W. G. J. Baker White

334

25.69

G. A. Stacey

294

22.61

R. W. D. MacLeod

279

21.46

J. H. R. Meddings

251

17.92

W. J. W. Fabbro

166

16.60

E. J. S. Gilmore

143

13.00

H. Woodward

133

44.33

A. Chilcott

13.85

B. L. I. Methven

10.77

J. Godden

17.66

S. Leggett

5.16

H. Mann

4.00

H. Pattinson

14.00

H. Collister

3.00

BOWLING Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wickets

Best

Average

H. J. B. Mann

85.7

277

4-21

16.29

J. H. R. Meddings

148.4

526

4-58

30.94

W. J. W. Fabbro

99.2

385

4-45

29.61

S. N. Leggett

82.9

334

4-28

25.69

B. L. I. Methven

332

3-17

27.66

J. H. Godden

55.8

195

2-20

27.85

H. Pattinson

1-9

16.00

H. Collister

1-19

63.00

THE CANTUARIAN

2nd XI DMT

Played 8 Won 5 Lost 3 Cancelled 3 It is a rare event to emerge in late June, having won five of the first six matches, with the sole loss due to a swipe off the last ball (at Reed’s). All five wins had been close games, the team playing with composure in the final stages of each, captained in the early season by Fred Holt, later by Louis Bromfield. After Haileybury, five wins to the good, we fielded depleted teams – had this not been the case, another win at Duke of York should have been straightforward, (Cranleigh presenting more of a challenge). Three games were cancelled, the earlier two due to atypical elements (even for England), such that Hurstpierpoint was the first straight, fast track – we managed a comfortable win even with only nine players, the best performance I have seen in my time with the 2nd XI. This was a halcyon day – full cloudless summer – indeed the sole such specimen of this brief, slow and soggy, half-season. Five wins might easily have been seven – had this proved the case, I could have retired happy. Henry Woodward impressed with the bat. He is comfortable with the ball “coming on”, and able to see off lively opening bowlers. He held the innings together at Reed’s and Hurstpierpoint, being given a run with the 1st XI in late June. Louis Bromfield batted as well as anyone I saw all season at Hurstpierpoint, easing to 47 by playing through the line, the ball leaving the bat at speed – he and Henry put on a huge partnership, effectively winning the game against quite good bowling. Louis keeps with some panache – he too has merited a run with the 1st XI. With the ball, Fred Holt, with flat leg-spin, is too much of a handful for many schoolboy batsmen – he would have hoped for more good returns than his five wickets at Haileybury. Toby Sinclair, when his confidence at the wicket allows him, can deliver a very slippery in-swinging

Summer 2012

left-arm, and I hope that we shall see the best of him next summer. Harry Leadbeater is all endeavour, bowling his heart out, with a good return against Felsted. We have three very promising 5th form all-Rounders in Jamie Adams, Henry Collister and Harry Pattinson. Jamie can already bowl at an intimidating speed, fading away from a right-hander, and will be useful as a middle order, long-handle merchant next year. Henry is a stylish batsman; as his confidence grows, I hope that he will be able to compile many fifties over the next two years. His bowling was fairly sharp, but he will need to pitch a little further up next year. Harry has opened with left arm more than once, with good accuracy – I suspect that he has more than a couple of yards of speed to move into next year. His batting is strong, very useful in the upper order. Ed Hands I have known for years now. He is a useful all-rounder, bowling seam-up (with a bit of speed yet to realise) and batting correctly up the order. We have yet to see his best – it is certainly there, but he needs to practise through the winter and grow in confidence. Altogether, quite a good season – it might have been excellent had we managed to retain players through the exam time – an issue that must be resolved next year. And, if the sun spots allow, perhaps we may anticipate a few games on fast pitches next year, with the ball running easily to the rope – the way the game was designed. Team from: H.Woodward, C.Knox, H.Pattinson, H.Collister, J.Adams, W.Richardson, F.Holt, H.Leadbeater, T.Sinclair, L.Bromfield, L.Glyn-Williams, J.Leggett, A.Todd, P.Clews, H.Savill, J.Furedi, M.Desoutter, P.MacLachlan, F.Dakin, H.Stacey, A.Milton.

The Blaxland Society Trip

2nd XI Results Sevenoaks (A)

Kings 113-5, Sevenoaks 109-9,

Sutton Valence (H)

Cancelled

St. Lawrence (H)

Won by 4 runs

Won by 5 wkts

the straight deliveries and four golden ducks were always going to hinder our chase of a formidable total. Will Allen’s two wickets were the unexpected highlight of the bowling attack and Patrick Clews’ belligerent 30 not out showed much promise. On a gloomy Wednesday evening we managed to overcome a spirited Chaucer 1st XI and, despite a late wobble, chased down the total with overs (if not very many wickets) to spare. Economic bowling from Ali Lyons and Dom Hamlyn and an astonishing direct hit run out from the boundary by Harry Savill ensured a chaseable total and Ali’s 44 not out saw us home.

5Eastbourne (A)

Cancelled

Reed’s (A)

Kings 185, Reed’s 189-3,

Lost by 7 wkts.

Felsted (H)

Felsted 127-7, Kings 128-6,

Won by 4 wkts.

Hurstpierpoint (A)

Kings 185-7, Hurstpierpoint 168-9,

Won by 17 runs.

Haileybury (A)

Kings 159-9, Haileybury 141,

Won by 18 runs.

Cranleigh (H)

Cranleigh 1757, Kings 83,

Lost by 92 runs.

Team from: Charlie Allen, Will Allen, Charlie Carr, Patrick Clews, Caspar Fraser, Dom Hamlyn, Angus Henderson, Ali Lyons (capt), Harry Savill, Alex Sunley, Archie Todd, George Whaley.

Duke of York (A)

Duke of York 142-9, Kings 105,

Lost by 37 runs.

Results

Trinity (A)

Cancelled

3rd XI

I was delighted with the approach of the boys who turned up and trained with real intensity and were genuinely disappointed when matches were cancelled. A strong 6b cohort bodes well for next year.

Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1. Merton Le Hatch (H) Lost

King’s 68 ao (16.1 overs), Merton 214-4 (30 overs)

Chaucer (1st XI) (H) Won

King’s 117-8 (15.3 overs), Chaucer 116-3 (20 overs)

RPC

With the exam season creeping ever further into the Cricket season and the revolting early term weather, the team only managed two fixtures this year. They played with great enthusiasm and enjoyment and there were plenty of willing volunteers to ensure a team was fielded. Jeremy Godden (OKS) brought back his village team to play us and we did a remarkable job dodging heavy black rain clouds to ensure a completed match. Unfortunately our batsmen’s bats also did a remarkable job dodging

U16A XI Louis Glynn-Williams

The Colts came up against seven difficult teams this year including Tonbridge, Reeds and Cranleigh. With exams creeping further into the Cricket season it was a struggle to field the best eleven players for each game; however,

THE CANTUARIAN

cricket some close results show that each match was strongly fought. The second game of the season was home to Hurstpierpoint. They set a strong total of 199-6. We did not manage to chase the runs down, despite Glynn-Williams hitting 69 and Kaplan joining in with 26. We then came up against a strong Cranleigh side who were bowled out for 130, with everyone who bowled taking a wicket. Maclachlan and Glynn-Williams chased down the score with ease, with King’s only losing 4 wickets. The hardest game of the year came mid-season against a powerful Tonbridge team. They batted the full 30 overs, making a colossal run total of 225. The colts never looked like achieving the target until Adams (71) and MacLahlan (66) came to the crease and all of a sudden it looked achievable to chase them down. However, due to late wickets falling we fell short by 21 runs. On the 4th Of July 11 players travelled to Eltham College to compete in a 20/20 tournament, but the matches were shortened to 15 overs per innings due to rain. We won our first match but sadly got knocked out by the eventual winners, Eltham. So we came 4th out of 8 teams.

of 109. Glynn-Williams, among others who represented the Colts this season, will be strong contenders for 1st XI caps next year. Team from: Jamie Adams, Edward Baker, Jack Benton, Simon Broadley, Max Desoutter, Tom Doyle, Louis Ewart, Jacob Furedi, Louis Glynn-Williams (captain), Idris Kaplan, Cameron MacKinnon, Patrick macLachlan, Aaron Milton, Harry Pattinson, Harry Stacey Results Played 7 Won 2 Lost 5 Reeds (H)

King’s 94 all out, Reeds 95-4.

Lost by 6 wickets

Hurstpierpoint (H)

Hurstpierpoint 199-6, King’s 157-9.

Lost by 42 runs

Cranleigh (H)

Cranleigh 130 all out, King’s 134-4.

Won by 6 wickets

Tonbridge (H)

Tonbridge 2258, King’s 204 all out.

Lost by 21 runs

Judd School (A)

King’s 128-4, Judd 122-5.

Won by 6 runs

Eltham College (A)

King’s 101-8, Eltham 105-2.

Lost by 8 wickets

Whitgift School (A)

King’s 78-5, Whitgift 82-2.

Lost by 8 wickets

With the rain washing out most of the fixture list before half term and GCSE exams disrupting the second half of the season, the experimental Colts season has been testing. Despite the frustrations, many of the players showed commendable commitment throughout a difficult season. The professional coaching input from Mr Alan Ealham was invaluable. Those who trained regularly benefitted greatly from his expert advice and it was a shame that exam preparation kept the boys away from Birley’s for so many sessions. Although the Colts only played a few matches, we had our fair share of highlights. The 102 run partnership between Adams and macLachlan was probably my favourite. Between the two of them they made 137 runs off only 76 balls. The most consistent performer this season, with bat and ball, was Louis Glynn-Williams. He played several captain’s innings and finished the shortened season with 202 runs off his bat at a strike rate

Summer 2012

cricket Leggett both batted through to score half centuries. The teams best all-rounder, Will Parker scored a superb 102 not out off 72 balls against Duke of Yorks and opening bowler Callum Kolade bowled with pace and picked up a 6 wicket bag. Robbie Ellison showed his value with the ball as he picked up key wickets with his leg spin flight and guile.

U15 A XI TH

The U15A have enjoyed a successful season and improved on last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results, having played 11 games, winning 7 and losing 4. Ten wicket wins against Sevenoaks, St Edmunds and Felsted showed the ability of this side. The best performance of the season was the win against Felsted, where openers Charlie Sinclair and James

All the boys should be congratulated for their effort and enthusiasm this season. They were captained superbly by James Leggett who deservedly was awarded the junior Cricket prize. Team from: James Leggett (Captain), George Booth-Clibborn, Robbie Ellison, Milo Harper, George Hill, Marcus Humphries, Callum Kolade, Will Parker, Alex Preston, James Pye, Ed Vinson, Charlie Sinclair, Harry Vavasour.

Cricket: U15 A XI

THE CANTUARIAN

Results V Sevenoaks

Won by 10 wickets Sevenoaks 100 – 6 (Parker 2 – 24, Leggett 2 – 9)

V Marsh

Academy Won by 78 runs King’s 106 – 8 (Vavasour 27 not out, Ellison 23, Harper 20)

V St Edmunds

Cranleigh 69 – 3 (Ellison 2 – 23)

Won by 154 runs King’s 197 – 7 (Parker 103 not out)

Summer 2012

Judd 78 – 3.

Lost by 7 wickets King’s 63 (Sinclair 18)

V Duke of Yorks

King’s 161 – 8 (Parker 52, Sinclair 28)

Lost by 7 wickets King’s 73 all out (Leggett 19)

V Cranleigh

Sittingbourne 77 – 6 (Hill 3 – 20, Ellison 2 – 13)

Lost by 92 runs Hurstpierpoint 253 – 4 (Vavasour 2 – 49)

V Judd

King’s 108 (Sinclair 45, Leggett, 55)

Won by 14 runs King’s 91 – 9 (Harper 20, Humphries 15);

V Hurstpierpoint College

Reed’s 11 – 3.

Won by 10 wickets Felsted 105 (Ellison 3 – 23, Parker 2 – 17, Sinclair 2 – 19)

V Sittingbourne Community College

King’s 126 – 1 (Sinclair 63 not out, Vavasour 40)

Lost by 7 wickets King’s 110 all out (Vavasour 20, Leggett 20, Booth-Clibborn 20)

V Felsted

Marsh Academy 28 – 9 (Sinclair 3 – 3, Kolade 2 – 6, Ellison 2 – 1)

Won by 10 wickets St Edmunds 123 – 7 (Parker 2 – 18)

V Reed’s

King’s 102 – 0 (Sinclair 62, Vavasour 18)

Duke of Yorks 43 all out (Kolade 6 – 7, Preston 2 – 28)

Cricket: U14 A XI

Cricket: U15 A XI

U14 A JPB

P 10 W 6 L 4 This was a very talented U14 team this season full of many promising players for the future. After what was a wet start, the team soon put together victories in both the regular fixtures and the Kent Cup. The opening batsmen Tikare, Heywood and Solly were in fine form for most of the season and were ably supported by Campbell, Harris, Brown and Oates. When in bat we often dominated the opposition, posting large totals before setting about our opponents with our bowling attack. Indeed this team had many talented bowlers to call upon, with the seaming attack being led by Mann, Heywood and Harris, and they were backed up by spinners Tikare, Campbell and Rhodes. Part time bowlers Acton, Brazier and Oates also contributed many useful overs and wickets throughout. As

the season progressed, it was clear that we were more a match for all those we encountered and so confidence in the team grew. This was also driven by success in the Kent Cup where we eventually drew Tonbridge in the final. In what was a fitting climax to the season, we put in a fine performance with bat and ball and a famous victory was within our grasp. However, a late mid-order batting collapse would bring the season to a slightly disappointing end as we fell 32 runs short of victory. The team though should be extremely proud of what they have achieved this year. They have worked hard and grown in ability and confidence and will no doubt go on to enjoy even greater success next season. My thanks to all the boys for a soggy but enjoyable terms Cricket; to Will Heywood for his captaincy and to Mr Willis for his coaching and expertise. Team from: O. Tikare, W. Heywood (c), E. Solly (wk), R. Campbell, D. Harris, E. Brown, J. Oates, O. Mann, F. Acton, K. Brazier, D. Rhodes

THE CANTUARIAN

Results Sevenoaks

89 all out

SVS

Cancelled

Eastbourne

Cancelled

KSC 218 -6 Won by 129 runs

Sevenoaks 103 all out

KSC 104-4

Won by 6 wickets

Trinity 105 all out

KSC 151-8

Won by 46 runs

175-6 KSC 143 all out

Lost by 32 runs

Kent Cup Final: Tonbridge

Kent Cup 2nd round: KSC 128-4

Cranbrook 77 all out

Won by 51 runs

Reeds R 154 all out

KSC 155-3

Won by 7 wickets

Felsted 82 all out

KSC 157-7

Won by 75 runs

Hurstpierpoint 100 all out

KSC 150-5

Won by 50 runs

KSC 234-2 SVS

178 all out

Won by 56 runs

KSC 217-8

Haileybury 75 all out

Won by 142 runs

Cranleigh

157-3

KSC 158-2 Won by 8 wickets

Kent Cup Quarter final:

U14 C XI MWB

With 12 all out in the first game of the season (top scorer: 9 extras) and a 10-wicket thumping was a less than auspicious start â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but to be fair this was a squad drawn mostly from enthusiastic beginners. As the term wore on there was progress made in every area, and, despite the fact every game was lost, by the end most of the squad could at least hold their heads up high after some creditable performances. Standout players were Oliver Crawford (soon poached by the Bs) and Theo and Bertie Pedrick, who showed excellent commitment throughout a rain-wrecked and testing season.

Kent Cup Semi-final:

Cricket: U14 C XI

Summer 2012

swimming Girls’ Swimming Reports Pam Murray

In the Canterbury Open swimming competition Jeff Tang gained 1st place in the 17 and over 50m breaststroke Inter School Events

This term Victoria Leigh excelled to take the longest standing girls’ Swimming record in the School’s history – she broke the 18 year old record for 4 x 25m Individual Medley for both under 14 and under 15 girls. In the Canterbury Open Swimming Competition Victoria Leigh, Honoury Cheung and Charlotte Langridge gained 5th, 6th and 7th place respectively in the 50m freestyle.

Played 3, won 2, lost 1. v Hurstpierpoint

won juniors (46-30)

won seniors (42-40)

v Harrow

a combined age event

lost (72-128).

Pupils representing the school at swimming events:

Inter School Events Played 4, won 1, lost 3 v Walthamstow Hall

won juniors (35-29),

lost seniors 21-42)

v Hurstpierpoint

lost juniors (34-47),

lost seniors (31-50

Pupils representing the school at swimming events: Victoria Leigh, Helena Barton, Lily Begg, Honoury Cheung, Isobel Webster, Eliza Cox, Isabel Whalley Payne, Gemma Taylor, Olivia Prince, Isabelle Whitaker, Francesca Berry, Samantha Solly (joint captain), Charlotte Langridge (joint captain).

Henry Long, Oliver Hope, Aaron Hope, Christian de Vitry D’avaucourt, Joseph Shailer, Siridej Chaixanien, Michael Hollihan-Sarmiento, Dominic Moore, Ben Champion, Jea Seong Yoon, Patrick Chan, Patrick MacLachlan, Ivan Prisyazhnyuk, Lorcan Halfacre, Jack Lee, Theodore Frobert, James Kerr, Joshua Quinlan, James Bailey, William Fairbairn, Jeff Tang, Fergus Ryan and Max Judge (captain).

Girls’ Tennis Team Reports 1st VI CFBVR

Boys’ Swimming Reports Pam Murray In the Southern County regional Swimming Championships Patrick MacLachlan gained 6th place junior under 17 on 50m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle and 7th place 50m free – with the satisfaction of being the fastest placed county swimmer at these championships.

P 5 W3 L2 As Tennis enthusiasts, we were all looking forward to the ‘pfffft’ sound of new balls being opened, the smell of Factor 30 sunscreen, the ‘thunk’ of a forehand winner down the line and the anticipation of cakes and sandwiches on the lawn in summer shorts and shirts on a glorious Saturday afternoon! How unfortunate that the first few weeks of term and some subsequent matches were blighted by the inclement weather, the ‘good old

THE CANTUARIAN

girls’ tennis Tennis 1st VI

British summer’ had struck leaving us in need of anoraks huddling in the pavilion warming hands around endless cups of tea waiting for the rain to clear! Once we were able to get on court and start to train, the girls settled into their own rhythm and began to play with consistency and determination. The first pair of Harriet Lee and Anouska Newman became unbeatable after the Sevenoaks fixture, as they did not drop another set all season, many of these sets being won to love. Harriet Wilson and Martha Knight complimented each others game very well bringing together a solid skill set and began to play with confidence, they beat Felsted in all three rubbers conceding just three games in total. Lucy Wallis and Flora Snape played with gritted determination and came out with a marvellous win in the last rubber against Benenden; the match was dependent on the result of this rubber and we were delighted when they emerged triumphant as this gave the first recent win to King’s against a very good Benenden side!

Summer 2012

The win against Benenden was definitely the highlight of the season. The proceeding scores in the other fixtures against Felsted and St John’s are indicators of just how strong King’s Tennis became over that space of time. The Kent Inter-Schools match against Sevenoaks ended in a disappointing loss, the difference here being the mental game when faced with singles matches. It was an expensive lesson to learn, but a valuable one nevertheless as so much of a Tennis match is, in fact, in the head. The girls and I are very grateful to the expertise and humour of our coach, Will Carnegie. His enthusiasm and fun drills were paramount to getting the girls in such good shape for the season. Towards the beginning of the season, we were able to play our inter-house Tennis competition during gaps in the rain! Some good Tennis players emerged out of the woodwork to represent their houses and the overall standard of the competition was actually very high. The final ended up being a tough match between Walpole and Broughton. Walpole were fortunate to have almost all 1st team players in Harriet Lee, Anouska Newman and Lucy Wallis! This obviously gave them a huge advantage

girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tennis and Walpole emerged victorious winning the competition over both 1st and 2nd pairs. Team from: Harriet Lee (Captain), Lucy Wallis, Harriet Wilson, Martha Knight, Flora Snape, Anouska Newman, Eliza Brett

2nd VI CFBVR

P 5 W4 L1 Results: Epsom (A)

Cancelled

Sevenoaks (A)

Lost

St Edmunds (A)

Cancelled

Felsted (H)

Won

8-1

Benenden (A)

Won

5-4

Sevenoaks (H) (Kent InterSchools Tournament)

Lost

4-0

Hurstpierpoint (H)

Cancelled

St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (hH

Won

8-1

The 2nd VI Tennis team enjoyed a successful and fun season. As a team, the verdict on the first match of the season was to forget it happened and focus on the matches ahead. This was not only wise but also very successful as from that match forward the team did not lose a match! The pairings changed many times during the season, but Annabel Mockridge and Anna Booth-Clibborn came forward with experience from last year and this was a partnership with maturity and quiet determination winning all three rubbers in the Benenden match. They were an elegant pair to watch! Charlotte Hart and Madeline Phillips were another regular pairing, both of them displaying the appropriate aggression to strike fear

Tennis 2nd VI

THE CANTUARIAN

into their unsuspecting opponents. They won all three rubbers in the Felsted match conceding just three games in total. Eliza Brett and Eleanor Christianakis also were a regular pair who again had experience of playing together in previous years. Eliza’s brutal consistency and speed (nicknamed the ‘Duracell Bunny’!) and Eleanor’s power made them difficult to beat. Lucy Dean partnered a variation of players during the season and the improvement in her game was excellent by the end of the term. Again, the highlight of the season has to be the win against a strong Benenden side where we came away with our heads held high. It was disappointing not to have had the opportunity to play more fixtures, but this was not to be! We look forward to next season where six out of the seven squad members remain at school. The girls and I are very grateful to the expertise and humour of our coach, Will Carnegie. His enthusiasm and fun drills were paramount to getting the girls in such good shape for the season. Team from: Annabel Mockridge, Eliza Brett, Anna BoothClibborn, Eleanor Christianakis, Lucy Dean, Charlotte Hart, Madeline Phillips

3rd and 4th VI CFBVR

P 5 L5 The 3rd and 4th squad were a pleasure to work with over the season. Their enthusiasm during training was infectious and despite not gaining any wins, their spirit was not dampened once. Venetia Fryzer and Amy Tudor enjoyed success against Sevenoaks winning all three rubbers convincingly, Emily Goss and Venetia Fryzer won two out of three rubbers against Felsted and Harriet Preston and Natasha Methven won two out of three rubbers against Benenden. The squad benefitted from the expertise and coaching they received from Stewart Bristow and we are enormously grateful for the work he put in with the girls. Team from:

Results: Epsom (A)

Cancelled

Sevenoaks (A)

Lost

9-0

Kent College (H)

Won

8-1

St Edmunds (A)

Cancelled

Felsted (H)

Won

6-3

Beneden (A)

Won

7-2

Hustpierpoint (H)

Cancelled

St John’s (H)

Won

Summer 2012

4-2

Anne de Vitry D’avaucourt, Isobel Forbes, Louisa Freemont, Venetia Fryzer, Emily Goss, Olivia Highwood, Katya Ignatiev, Isobel Jamieson, Sophie Lark, Natasha Methven, Molly Nainby-Luxmoore, Harriet Preston, Oriel Steel, Amy Tudor, Kate Vavasour, Lucy Warr, Georgia Watt, Isobelle Whitaker Results: Epsom (A)

Cancelled

Sevenoaks (A) 3rds

Lost

8-1

Sevenoaks (A) 4ths

Lost

5-4

Duke of Yorks (H)

Cancelled

Felsted (H) 3rds

Lost

5-4

Benenden (A) 3rds

Lost

8-1

Benenden (A) 4ths

Lost

4-2

Hustpierpoint (H)

Cancelled

Tennis U15 A VI

U15 A VI HMLB

P 7 L1 W 6 The season started with a lot of rain and very little practice. However the girls showed great natural talent when they beat Felsted 7-2. The girls played with great determination showing real promise for the rest of the season. The girls then experienced their only loss of the season with an Aegon match against Sevenoaks. They all responded very positively and worked harder in training in order to ensure this did not happen again. The girls then went onto win 4 games in a row with majority of sets ending 6-2. Olivia Simpson and Amelia Baker didn’t drop a single set in the next 3 matches against Benenden twice and Hurstpierpoint College. Olivia’s serve and Amelia’s volleys made them an extremely hard pair to even win a single game against. Eliza Cocksworth and Ellen Kennedy’s determination never dipped, as they

game back from being 4-0 down to the Benenden first pair to win 6-4. This couple really illustrated the importance of teamwork in doubles Tennis, always encouraging one another, constantly talking and switching from side to side. Annabel Pattinson and Seiya Grant having never played together before improved hugely throughout the season, finding their inner aggression to power volleys with extreme pace and at very hard angels. I want to thank the girls for being a huge pleasure to work with all season. All our thanks go to Stewart Bristow who coached the squad through the season, he brought a great sense of purpose, along with with fun to our training sessions. Team from: Olivia Simpson, Amelia Baker, Eliza Cocksworth, Ellen Kennedy, Seiya Grant and Annabel Pattinson.

THE CANTUARIAN

girls’ tennis U15 A VI Results

Tennis U15 B VI TGS(Aegon) (A)

Won

7-6

Felsted(A)

Won

7-2

Sevenoaks(H)

Lost

8-4

Benenden(H)

Won

6-3

Benenden(Aegon) (A)

Won

12-0

Hurstpierpoint College(A)

Won

6-3

St John’s (H)

Won

9-0

TGS (Aegon) (A)

Won

7-6

Felsted (A)

Won

7-2

Sevenoaks (H)

Lost

8-4

Benenden (H)

Won

6-3

Benenden (Aegon) (A)

Won

12-0

Hurstpierpoint (A)

Won

6-3

St John’s (H)

Won

9-0

U15 B VI HMLB

P5L0W5 The first game of the season had the girls playing Kent College A team winning 7-2. They started the season how they meant to go on completing an impressive unbeaten session! The girls should be extremely proud of this achievement playing many A teams along the way. Concentration dipped occasionally where the odd set was lost but the girls would then come back and win the next set 6-2. Winning 9-0 against Hurstpierpoint College was the girl’s best victory all season winning never dropping more than 2 games per set. Constance Bourne and Eleanor Hartland worked well together using the full width of the court to make their opponents run back and forth. Lara Olszowska and Lucy StJohn only lost 2 sets all season with this statistic really illustrating how talented they truly are. Holly O’Connor deep and powerful serve along with Tabitha Killingbeck fierce volleys and forehands made it

Summer 2012

very hard for their opponents. Tireni Atoyebi and Catriona Jenkinson improved vastly throughout the season, often being the most competitive in training and playing some excellent matches. They didn’t drop a single set in their 2 fixtures both having come on hugely in every aspect of the game. Well done girls for a hugely successful season and I wish you all the best for next year. All our thanks go to Stewart Bristow who coached the squad through the season; he brought a great sense of purpose with fun to sessions. Team from: Eleanor Hartland, Constance Bourne, Lara Olszowska, Lucy StJohn, Holly O’Connor, Tabitha Killingbeck, Tireni Atoyebi and Catriona Jenkinson. Results: Kent College (H)

Won

7-2

Felsted (A)

Won

6-3

Benenden (H)

Won

7-2

girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tennis

Tennis U14 A VI Hurstpierpoint (A)

Won

9-0

Duke of York (H)

Won

9-0

U14 A VI EL

P9 L2 W7 The team has enjoyed a very successful season. From the first training it was evident that we had incredible strength and depth across the whole U14 squad. The team was led by Eliza Wallis who is a stylish player with polished strokes and is admired for her professionalism and her courage to persevere despite a tennis elbow injury. Eliza was partnered by Samantha Ruston who played competitively and consistently in this winning first pair. Amelia Brown, Emma Bryant, Paige Kennedy and Rowena Mockridge pushed each other to improve and continued to complement each other in the doubles

matches. Alexandra Ham and Jennifer Mbu also impressed with their natural talent and drive and held their own on the occasions when they played for the A team. The season started with two fixtures and many practice sessions being cancelled due to rain. In our first match against Kent College the team played courageously and although it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the strongest of victories, it was a taster of all the good tennis we could expect this season. This was followed by two great wins against Cranbrook and Felsted, and the team had really found their stride with consistency, confidence and fluency. The Benenden match was always going to be a tough side to beat and the match saw many advantage-deuce games. The team showed a fabulous fighting spirit and perseverance and Benenden only just managed to win. Another two wins followed against Hurstpierpoint and St Johns. The U14A team also competed in tournament at Benenden in which they were runners up. Four players played in the Kent Inter Schools (KIS): Eliza Wallis, Samantha Ruston, Emma Bryant and Rowena Mockridge. These four continued to impress with strong performances against St Edmunds and Kent College, and only lost against a strong Benenden side.

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The A team has made great progress in their skills this year and their development and potential makes for an exciting future of girls’ tennis at King’s. Special thanks are due to the external coach Ben Barnes for his expertise and enthusiasm and to all the parents who supported us at many of the matches. Team from: Amelia K Brown, Emma K Bryant, Paige L Kennedy, Rowena RD Mockridge, Samantha J Ruston, Eliza C Wallis. Results

very successful partnership. Alice Brett and Eliza Batten were recovering from illness and injuries for the first part of the season, but they were a welcome addition to the B team when they recovered. They are certainly two players to watch for next year. Sabrina Kitson and Shaila Mohinani competed as the third pair for most of the season and it was wonderful to see their confidence and skills develop throughout. Soseimiebi Ogan thoroughly enjoyed her match against Hurstpierspoint and showed off all her skills and determination to win. Team from: Olivia G Bagshawe, Eliza AS Batten, Alice FM Brett, Alexandra M Ham, Florence A Heap, Sabrina OA Kitson, Jennifer L Mbu, Madeleine A Mills, Shaila A Mohinani, Soseimiebi P Ogan, Felicity I Stocker, Elena Uvarova, Isobel C Webster.

Kent College (A)

Won

5–4

Cranbrook (A)

Won

8–1

Felsted (A)

Won

8–1

Benenden (H)

Lost

4–5

Hurstpierpoint (A)

Won

7–2

KIS St Edmunds

Won

5–1

Kent College (A)

Won 6 – 3

KIS Kent College

Won

W 35g – 26g

Cranbrook (A)

Won 6 – 3

Felsted (A)

Won 6 – 3

Benenden (H)

Lost 1 – 8

Hurstpierpoint (A)

Won 6 – 3

Duke of York (A)

Won 9 – 0

U14 B VI EL

Results:

P6 L1 W5 The U14B team had a highly successful season winning all but one of their matches. While many of the girls were new to the sport, the experienced girls helped to lead the way by example. The B team worked hard to improve their Tennis skills and it was a pleasure to observe their development. The strong pairing of Jennifer Mbu and Alexandra Ham was very triumphant and Jennifer’s powerful forehand is a force to be reckoned with. Madeleine Mills impressed with her consistency and intelligent play. Paired with Olivia Bagshawe for most of the season, they formed a

Summer 2012

Boys’ Tennis Team Reports 1st and 2nd VI CMBR

The Senior squad trained superbly throughout the term and got a perfect balance of exam revision and the need for exercise. It was the most enjoyable Tennis season I been involved in as a result of the superb work ethic shown by all three senior teams combined with the banter. The Senior House Tennis competition was won by The Grange and Senior Boys Tennis competition won by Ben Simpson defeating James Curtis in the final Pride of place must go to the 1stVI who have completed an unbeaten season and in doing so claimed the scalps of Tonbridge, Haileybury and St John’s to name a few. Henry Atkins and James Curtis developed their young partnership throughout the season. Hamish Courtauld and Jamie McPhie always proved difficult to beat. It was remarked that first pair Ben Simpson and Bertie O’Birien were not only the best pair on our circuit this year but the best for some time. As a pair they won every match they played this year and only dropped one set in the last two seasons. Bertie O’Brien proved to be a magnificent captain and the superb unity and spirit in the squad can be accredited to him. Team from: Bertie O’Brien (capt), Ben Simpson, Jamie McPhie, James Curtis, Henry Atkins, Hamish Courtauld Also played: Louis Guitton, Chris Irwin

1st and 2nd Results Cranbrook (h)

cancelled due to rain

Haileybury (a)

won

5-4

Tonbridge (h)

won

5-4

Sutton Valence (h)

won

7-2

St John’s (a)

won

5-4

Staff (h)

won

6-3

OKS (h)

won

7-2

U15 A VI MJWS

Another really successful and most enjoyable season for this group of boys. They nearly held their unbeaten record for the second year (this year without James Curtis), but were narrowly beaten by St John’s Leatherhead on a day when two of our key players were absent. The highlight was undoubtedly beating Tonbridge away. All the sets were close, but we had the upper hand when it came to composure and consistency and executed closure of each match with real determination. The season was characterised by strength in depth. All 10 players were of a decent standard, so it mattered little who was paired with whom and they adapted well to the intensely wet and windy conditions of the term. Moreover, they did so with a great sense of humour. We never actually missed a single games session due to the weather. We met some stiff opposition from Sir Roger Manwood’s in the Aegon tournament and, despite James Curtis being back in the squad, we were not able to return a win. Sebastian Knox turned out to be the star player, winning the U14/U15 single’s competition. Jonty Hadfield gave us plenty of helpful coaching support – thanks.

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boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tennis

boys’ tennis Team from: Charles Macpherson and Sebastian Knox, Bertie Gibbon and Sam Van der Gaag, Sasha Ignatiev and Theo Jessel, James Griggs and Patrick Knox. Also played: Sam Buchanan, James Curtis and William Foss. U15 A Results:

games all. They were too strong in the extra set that was played, but all credit to Kit Wilson and Oliver Flood for making it so close for us. The U14B’s only had one official outing against the mighty Tonbridge. They did well against a good side, narrowly losing by 1 set. Thanks to Jonty Hadfield for all his help coaching. Team from: James King and Sam Casement, Kit Wilson and Oliver Flood, Hugo Ninham and Benedict Hamlyn.

Sets for: 59 Sets against: 16 Also played: Joseph Wigwe, Nikita Zhelekov, Tom Bomer, Henry Long, William Tudor and Rory Hinshelwood.

St Edmunds

9–0

Haileybury

7–2

Worth

9–0

Tonbridge

9–3

Sutton Valence

9–0

Ardingly

5–4

Haileybury

3–0

St John’s Leatherhead

4–5

Worth

7–2

Tonbridge

2–7

Cranbrook

[Tonbridge U14B

4–5

Sutton Valence

3–0

Ardingly

3–6

St John’s Leatherhead

6–2

Cranbrook

7–2

AEGON TOURNAMENT: QEQM

4–2

SRMS

2–4

Results: Sets for: 31 Sets against: 19

KENT CUP:

U 14 A VI MJWS

A keen bunch of Tennis players. They had to prove their worth at the start of term at the trials, and the majority of them kept up an excellent attitude for the rest of the season. Practices were partaken with good humour despite poor weather much of the time and the boys looked smart and serious. We played some great Tennis with comfortable wins against a number of schools. We were knocked out of the Kent Cup by a worthy Roger Manwood’s side, despite drawing the match initially at 22

Norton Knatchbull

6–0

Roger Manwoods

3–4

Athletics Team Report RALS

As it was a very wet start to the summer term, the long awaited and revamped Athletics fixtures list never really got started. The majority of fixtures both local and further

THE CANTUARIAN

afield we cancelled and the pupils were barely able to get out an train in the torrential rain. Only one fixture was possible before half term in which the boys and girls team performed well to finish 2nd in the Duke of York’s cup. The Junior team made up of Shells and Removes finished 1st in both the completed District events. There were also some excellent individual results in the meetings with Kent College and Sevenoaks both in the track and field events but we came 2nd overall. Mushwezi Williams and Semi Akingbe deserve special mention as they represented the South East District at the Kent Schools in track events both performing well in their heats but were able to make the finals.

Shooting Report Results for the England schools international shot earlier this year saw Sam Gearing and the England ‘A’ team win the international shoot against Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the tenth year in succession. Katya Ignatiev was also selected to shoot in this competition for the England ‘C’ team and won her first International cap with a very respectable score. In the Inter County leagues Sam Gearing shot for the ‘A’ team and was 2nd overall in the County averages and Bobby Sebolao and Katya Ignatiev shot in the ‘D’ and ‘E’ teams respectively. Maude Leigh-Pemberton won her first County cap this year as a substitute for Katya in the ‘E’ team and will be a strong contender for full team selection next year. Overall the ‘A’ team was placed 4th in Division 2, the ‘D’ team won Division 5 and the ‘E’ team was placed 4th in Division 6. In the individual competitions Sam Gearing was placed 3rd in the finals of the British Schools Association Championship and Will Tudor was 18th in the under 15’s Championship. Katya won the Kent County juniors division 2 title just beating Alex Garrood to 2nd place and Maude was runner up in division 3.

Summer 2012

Sam, Maude, Katya, Alex and Bobby also progressed through to the second round of the NSRA/Eley National prone rifle competition and Sam, Katya, Bobby and Maude shot some excellent cards in the second stage to qualify for the finals at Bisley in August. The weather for the finals was again superb with plenty of sunshine and light winds and the competition for the prizes was fierce. Usually the club shoots over 25 yards but these finals are shot at 50m and this was the first time that Maude and Bobby had shot at this distance. Both our finalists shot exceptionally well with only 1 point between their scores and overall Maude came an impressive 7th and Bobby a very close 13th. With over 1000 entries in this competition it is a superb achievement for the club and it shows the commitment and consistency of our shooters. Looking forward to the autumn term, Katya Ignatiev and Maude Leigh-Pemberton have been selected to shoot for the Kent County Junior squads and both are working towards the trials for selection for the British Schools international match against New Zealand in October. We say farewell to Sam Gearing this term but have him to thank for being the impetus behind the formation of this club when he first joined Kings as an already accomplished shooter. He has been a great asset and ambassador of the sport at King’s. His parents have been ardent supporters and we are indebted to them as they recently presented to the Club a magnificent silver cup to be awarded as a trophy each year to a worthy recipient. The cup is to be awarded to the club member who has achieved the best averages over the year in external competitions. We look forward to this being presented next year for the first time. As Sam leaves King’s we hope that he will continue to use his skills and who knows, maybe in four years’ time we will see him heading to Rio with Team GB. Whatever the future holds for Sam we wish him every future success. Thanks also to Bobby who leaves us after only two years at the school.

riding won by Elizabeth Van Liew and the Individual Open was won by Victoria Mansfield with exceptional jump offs in each class. Max Nicholson won the dressage, again with an exemplary performance.

Equestrian Team Report Charlotte Wickham (6b LX)

This was an extremely busy and exciting year for equestrianism. As a sport at King’s we have grown from 7 riders to nearly 30 per week. With the enthusiasm and encouragement from Father Fred we have been given the opportunity to compete against a number schools within Kent including Beneden, Ashford and Sevenoaks to name a few. One of the outstanding successes in the last 12 months has been competing at the National Schools Competition at Hickstead. Out of 60 schools from Great Britain and Ireland, in 2011 King’s ranked 33rd but this year leaped into 18th place just missing out on the jump off in the main arena. The team consisted of three of the top riders at King’s including Max Nicholson, Poppy Arvidsson and captained by Charlotte Wickham, with Max and Charlotte both succeeding in achieving a clear round and Poppy finishing with just an unfortunate refusal. Overall it was an extremely successful event enjoyed by all those involved, and we have very high hopes for next year at Hickstead. Max also entered the Hickstead Championships for dressage and came 1st on his horse ‘Jack’ and Poppy came 2nd at Eaglesfield in the Junior Kent Championships. The King’s Week riding lunch and competition was also yet another very commendable event for riding at King’s. On the kind behalf of Mrs Wickham the barbeque lunch was held at Pevington Farm within the rag stone walled gardens, and with the beautiful views overlooking the Kent countryside. The riding event was held at Rooting Street Stables and consisted of two disciplines; dressage and show jumping, and the spectators were all welcomed with a glass of champagne. All the riders of ranging abilities took part in the event after practicing throughout the term, and they had the opportunity to use the horses they have been riding each week. The Individual Novice was

Throughout the year there are many other competitions in which the riders are able to take part in. There have been various competitions held at Rooting Street with a range of classes however the highlight is always the puissance as the finale of the day. The bravest riders will enter this competition and aim to jump the highest jump without a knock down or refusal. Despite the fear factor involved it is always a popular spectators sport watching even the smallest horses jumping up to 1m40. X-Country events are also very popular and Catherine Allen and Charlotte Wickham won the Open Pairs at Stocks Farm earlier on in the year.

Rowing Team Report JW

After a very positive training camp over the Easter holidays in Belgium we returned to school prepared for the summer racing. The first event was the Junior Inter Regional Regatta where we had a number of pupils represents the South East. The Shells boys’ quad raced gaining valuable experience but unfortunately conditions were very challenging and getting worse through the morning. By the time their B final came round the event had been cancelled. The J15 boys of Harry Best-Shaw and Galvin Brady raced in a composite coxed four and then in the last race of the shortened day in the J16 eight where they came 4th out of the 12 regions. Victoria Mansfield raced her J16 single, but did not enjoy the conditions but in a composite coxed Four raced to a much better 4th place. The next event was a test of where the top crews were relative to their competition. Wallingford Regatta on the Olympic Course at Dorney is the first big six lane event. The Girls First Four were racing in Women’s’ Intermediate 3 coxed fours, a big field of around 24 crews. They raced

THE CANTUARIAN

off hard and fast as requested and were leading the pack in the first quarter by the end they had held onto fourth place but not managed to make the semis but a very encouraging first race. The J16 eight had to race with a substitute so not ideal but kicked off with a very confident race making the final. Amongst a couple of Eton and Hampton crews with a Radley boat as well we were in good company and the crew had a very good race but found what level they were aiming for. These crews had done a lot more and we were still learning after a couple of months together. The next race, Thames Ditton Regatta, fell victim to the poor summer so it was off to our nearest 2k course….in France! On the first day the Shells raced in their Octuple for the first time getting some valuable preparation for National Schools as they came 4th. The next day the older boys not having quorum for the eight were getting some extra international racing experience. The J15 double won its B final, the J16 coxless Four came in 4th with a pair coming 4th as well after a promising start. Alex Andrews won his J18 single. The weekend after was one of the main goals – The National Schools Regatta. Here we had a good complement of crews across the age groups – a good sign of progress again. The Shells quad raced without making the semis but again improving. The J15 double of Brady and Best-Shaw slightly underrated their time trial and just missed out. Alex Andrews found the competition tough not making the semis in his single. The girls Four raced very positively and made it through the time trial into the semis which was the goal but did not manage the final. The J16 Boys eight had a good first semi to make the final but again in the final they found their lack of experience let the race slip away but learnt the value of consistency and commitment. After half term with some training under their belt the girls four were targeting Women’s Henley Regatta. Their first race was against Aberdeen Schools, a tough one given their form, National Schools’ winners and we had raced them at Ghent. The race went to form and despite a good start Aberdeen pulled away and went on the win the event.

Summer 2012

The week after it was the turn of the boys who were having to race the Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers. It was really for experience to get a sense of why Henley is our main goal as the crew was very young and had two more years to get their Henley campaigns realised. The crew raced in a tough headwind and did themselves justice although, not unexpectedly, did not qualify. But the day after was not only the Boat Club dinner but also the day of the OKS rowing at Westbere to celebrate 150 years of rowing at the school. Some good rowing and a very educational dinner followed which was then followed a week later with the anniversary row past at Henley Regatta itself. Traditionally this signalled the end of the school rowing season however with the British Rowing Championships happening in the middle of July there will be more summer activity going forward. The pupils that raced at this event were Alex Andrews in J18 single, Harry Best-Shaw in a J15 double with a Bewl Bridge rower and Victoria Mansfield in a womens J18 pair with a rower from Tyne rowing club. Alex made it through to the come 4th in the C final. Harry and his doubles partner had a very good row to win their C final. Victoria and her partner made it through to the final and then won a silver medal. This performance warranted selection to row for England at the Home Countries International Regatta the week later. Whilst Victoria continued to train to prepare for the Home Countries she was joined by the England Junior boys Eight and coxed Four who were based at Westbere getting coaching and preparing for their races. On Saturday 21st these crews raced at the Regatta in Cardiff with the boys crews getting Gold and Vicky coming second in her pair behind the Scottish crew that had beaten her at the British Championships. A positive end to the season with plenty to look forward to next year. The Club says good bye to Oliver Cooper and Julian Fox with best wishes for their future endeavours.

ROUNDERS Rounders Team Reports KAB

U15 A P 6, W 5, L 1 (Cancelled 3)

1st IX P2, W1, L1. (Cancelled 3) Results

V Epsom (a)

Cancelled

V Benenden (h)

Cancelled

V Haileybury (h)

Cancelled

V Ashford School (a)

12 to 6 1/2

V Hurstpierpoint (a)

9 to 8 1/2

V Cranbrook (a)

3 to 2 1/2

V Sevenoaks (a)

Cancelled

V Sutton Valence (a)

8 1/2 to 6

V Epsom (a)

Cancelled

V Cranbrook (a)

V Haileybury (h)

Cancelled

15 to 9 1/2

V Hurstpierpoint (a)

21 to 18

V Sutton Valence (a)

11 to 8

Cranbrook Tournament Runners-up V Highworth (a) W

Squad â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Louise Augustine-Aina, India Dearlove, Helen Ferrett, Amy Gault, Ella Gault, Annabelle Gibson, Frankie Kent, Dominique Masters, Francesca Newman, Rebecca Spayne, Lucy Tynan and Autumn Withey-Stevens. Although the 1st XIV Rounders squad had incredible ability, the team fell short with only one win and one loss. Unfortunately the rain hampered their training and other match play. Frankie Kent and Fran Newman displayed strong leadership, both capable of playing all positions with grace and composure. Anna Gibson and Ella Gault created a strong one two punch at bowler and backstop, and Rebecca Spayne cleared up the deep with a killer arm. Batting tended to be a bit inconsistent, but occasionally spectacular hits came.

Won 5 of 6

14 1/2 to 11

Squad â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Helena Barton, Willa Briggs, Honoury Cheung, Milly Dent, Jessica Hodcroft, Sophie Honychurch, Reo Jones, Phoebe Lundy, Scarlet Pughe and Charlotte Ward. The U15A Rounders team had a very successful season, despite the rain putting quite a damper on the start of term. The plethora of talent shown by the Removes this year made team selections extremely difficult, with many girls showing many diverse skills. This lively, excitable, inspired team always trained and played with commitment and enthusiasm. After three weeks of rain and cancellations, this young squad was rearing to go, smashing the ball and making clean passes in the deep to run out the opposition; consequently beating Ashford School 12 Rounders to 6.5 Rounders. Although game two resulted in a loss, the team trained hard and won the remainder of their matches this term. The team found sessions fun, always laughed and enjoyed their competitive spirit. This team gelled well and all

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rounders lead in different ways. Scarlet Pughe and Charlotte Ward delivered some outstanding bowling, Milly Dent, Honoury Cheung, Jessica Hodcroft and Phoebe Lundy closed in the infield controlling the posts, Helena Barton, Sophie Honeychurch and Willa Briggs impressed the opposition with long balls from out deep, and Reo firing the down first post. The U15A’s had an outstanding season. Well done to all who put in so much effort this term.

JAD

U15B P2, W 1, L1 (Cancelled 4)

U14A P 8, W 5, L 3. (Cancelled 4) V Epsom (a)

Cancelled

V Benenden (h)

Cancelled

V Haileybury (a)

Cancelled

V Ashford School (a)

10 to 9 1/2

V Hurstpierpoint (a)

21 to 8 1/2

Benenden Tournament

Cancelled

V Cranbrook (a)

8 1/2 to 4

V Sutton Valence (a)

3 1/2 to 2 1/2

V Kent College (a)

20 – 8 1/2

V Epsom (a)

Cancelled

V Cranbrook (a)

19 1/2 to 17

V Benenden (h)

Cancelled

3rd in pool

Won 2 of 4

V Haileybury (h)

Cancelled

Cranbrook Tournament

V Ashford School (a)

Cancelled

V Highworth (a)

12 to 4

V Cranbrook (a)

19 to 13 1/2

V Sevenoaks (a)

9 to 5

V Sevenoaks (a)

9 to 4 1/2

Squad – Modupe Adeagbo, Tenesan Arenyeka, Phoebe Baker, Lily Carr, Lucy Fenwick, Lily Ford, Katherine Gardiner, Olivia Goodey, Kate Higham, Lucy Hogg, Niamh Johnson, Jimena Lain, Victoria Morrison, Madeleine Parker, Georgia Piper, Modupeola Reis, Georgia Reyniers, Alisha Sadhwani, Meagan Scantlebury, Emily Solly and Sophie Wells. The U15B’s fixtures were severely hampered by the wet weather resulting in their first four games being cancelled. Of the two games they played, they were able to record a win over Sevenoaks. The girls played with good spirit and improved of the course of the season.

Summer 2012

Squad – Brydie Booth, Anna Brady, Rose Dath, Anna Fenwick, Sixtine Guitton, Anna Levitskaya, Eleanor Paine, Saskia Piper (Captain), Jessica Quinlan, India Roestenburg, Connie Taylor-Young and Rose Yanni. It was evident from the outset that this U14A’s squad would be an extremely talented team. The enthusiasm in the squad for the game was infectious and despite the number of fixtures that were cancelled, the girls were able to record five wins. The triangle team of Anna Fenwick, Connie Taylor-Young and Sixtine Guitton at Bowler, Backstop and First Base was a force to be reckoned with. Anna’s super speed bowling following by Connie’s fast pace throw to Sixtine’s safe hands often had our opposition out before they could even reach first post. With Ellie Paine’s bowling thrown in to the mix, we were exceptionally strong in this area and this

left our opposition guessing as to what bowl would be thrown at them next! Our fielders were also exceptionally strong – India Roestenburg and Jess Quinlan’s hunger for the ball and ‘super second’ fielding skills often had our opposition chasing for a half rounder! Our deep fielders; Brydie, Anna B, Rose, Anna L, Rose and Saskia were all excellent in their own ways; from Rose Dath’s and Anna Levitskaya’s diving at slip to Saskia s ‘super arm’ out at deep! The team worked very hard to improve their play and they were a pleasure to coach all season. Saskia was an exceptional captain leading always from example; she inspired the team and played out of position to benefit the squad. Our batting was also something that kept our opposition on their toes – super hits out deep, a cheeky swing to first deep and our fast paced running round the bases scored us valuable Rounders when it counted the most. Most improved player was awarded to Anna Brady and Players of the Season was awarded to India Roestenburg.

U14B P 4, W 4, L O (Cancelled 4) V Epsom (a)

Cancelled

V Benenden (h)

Cancelled

V Haileybury (a)

Cancelled

V Ashford School (a)

Cancelled

V Kent College (a)

8 to 6 1/2

V Cranbrook (a)

22 to 12

V Highworth (a)

14 to 8 1/2

V Sevenoaks (a)

8 1/2 to 4

Squad – Miranda Challiner, Whitney Chika-Mbonu, Aysha Farooq-Garces, Stephanie Felton, Elizabeth Hale, Isabel Hamblin, Laura Kendall, Beatrice Kulak, Antonia Martin, Dena Movahedyan, Jazmyn O’Neill, Elisabeth Plunkett, Elizabeth Tees, Laura Wilson, Kirsty Young and Senoaid Young.

Again like all other squads, the U14B’s fixtures were affected by the damp pitches. Nevertheless the team recorded a 100% win percentage in the games they played with wins over Kent College and Sevenoaks at the end of the season. Special mention in this team must go to Laura Kendall; her effort throughout the season was phenomenal and she was awarded Player of the Season. Most improved was awarded to Dena Movahedyan.

Golf Team Report NJP and Jonathan Cawdron, Captain of Golf

The golfing season started off well with an enjoyable trip to Chart Hills for the senior putter. In tough conditions, the results were very close, but Alistair Lyons came out on top, playing some fine golf. Other mentions also go to Barnaby Gliksten for also being a strong contender for the trophy. The same week also saw us return to Chart Hills for the annual Smarden Bell competition. This involves four schools; Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Eastbourne and Kings. With a few disappointing results, King’s was not able to capitalise on its recent good form. Special mentions go to Tom Potter who had a sublime round, accumulating 26 points, a few shy off the individual prize. Tom shows great potential for the future. Henry Fryzer also played well in his first Smarden Bell.

Arguably the most enjoyable event of the summer season was the match against the OKS at Royal St. Georges. After a superb lunch, the golf was almost of an equal standard. Several close matches going down the eighteenth. However, the OKS fielding a very strong team were able to seal a close victory. Barnaby Gliksten and Alistair Lyons both played well to win their matches. The ties between the OKS and the school are very important and I hope that this summer OKS fixture remains in the calendar for many years to come. The Captain’s Bowl this year was held at Rye golf club in East Sussex. The conditions were favourable for low

THE CANTUARIAN

golf and sailing scores, but the eventual winner was Jonathan Cawdron, with a solid round. Fun was had by all and hopefully this event can return to Rye sometime in the future. The final fixture of the season was a match against Tonbridge, held at Royal St. Georges. Due to public examinations, the team was very short on numbers. Conditions were tough and this was reflected in the result, with Tonbridge coming out on top. The team this year has shown great potential, with Charles Barrois and Tom Potter showing that golf at King’s is only going to go from strength to strength over the next couple of years. As exams get earlier and earlier the number of fixtures has been reduced as exam pressure and leave builds. It is a great shame that traditional fixtures cannot be fulfilled.

Sailing Report HROM Faster, Higher, Stronger, how well the Olympic motto has applied to the enthusiastic and talented King’s sailing squad in this wet, windy and often very rough summer! In terms of results we enjoyed our best team racing term ever. Altogether in major championships King’s A sailed 29 races, won 25 and lost 4. Finalists in two championships, our single best performance was in the final race of British Schools Southern Division, against MCS Oxford, a race determined by the closest of margins, 10-11, in which we gave the national champions a real fight from start to finish. Elizabeth Wauchope and Hannah Goldsmith are superb helms. Get Lizzy away first on the start line and no-one can catch her except perhaps Hannah! But even our best helms rely on their crews. How lucky Hannah has been to have such an outstanding crew, team player and accomplished sailor as Ben Warnick. Alexandra Pye has

Finalists at Southern Counties at Spinnaker SC

Summer 2012

sailing also been at the heart of the team – a real team person and a fine sailor too. Alex McCulloch completed a superb King’s sailing career, which started as a National Schools medallist in the Removes and finished as captain and master tactician. Giles Dean captained the Bs so effectively that a race officer at the South East Championship thought he was the teacher in charge. The 6as have certainly set a great lead, not least in physical fitness by running to sessions at Westbere lake. There is huge promise among our younger sailors. Henry Bettley, elected captain of cadets, filled an unexpected gap to crew in the A team. Sasha Grover also crewed for the As for the Southern counties championship, including the closest of finals against MCS Oxford. Our juniors had an excellent day in Kent Schools topper team racing, won against Eastbourne and went on to do very well at Itchenor. Helen Woodward and Quillie Erskine came 6th in 420s – an impressive result for two very promising sailors who were among the youngest at the event. Richard Stonehewer-Smith and Milo Holland also put in a good performance in the tough conditions of Itchenor. Nathan Howell and Henry Cross put in a lot of training at Whitstable but were unlucky at Itchenor. Their boat was damaged when on starboard tack by a boat which, on port tack, should have given way. They did well despite the damage to finish in the top ten. Charlie Trumper is another promising young helm. Eliza Cox thrives on sailing at sea, especially as she now has a catamaran at Whitstable. Hugo Clews, Joseph Shailer, Kay Cosans, Isobel Whalley-Payne also sailed at county and regional level. Eliza Cooke’s enthusiasm and spirit typifies the sense of fun that permeates sessions, together with the commitment and competitiveness of all the teams. In a new venture, King’s entered three Sun Odyssey 43 yachts in the Round the Isle of Wight Yacht Race, one sailed by the pupils, one by parents and one by OKS. This instituted the “597 trophy”, a trophy (dating back to St Augustine, the founder of King’s sailing, and discovered by RWN among other marine antiquities in Whitstable) sailed between the three King’s teams competing among the 1,700 boats in the world’s biggest yacht race. Although won by the very accomplished parents’ boat, the school team completed the 60 mile course in a time of 9 hours 38 minutes. Congratulations to everyone in

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conditions which forced more than 200 yachts to retire. It all went brilliantly. A huge vote of thanks is due to my colleague Richard Ninham, and to other coaches, John Hope, Barry Dodds, Jo Norrington and to our gap year student coach from USA, Sar Warner. From the best attended Easter holiday course at Westbere lake to the celebrations after the Yacht race in the Island Sailing Club at Cowes everyone – staff and pupils – could not have done more to make the most of this fantastic sport. Results (A team only unless stated) BSDRA SE Championship (Bough Beech SC) 2nd/29 BSDRA Spring Championship (Westbere lakes) 3rd/14 Kent Schools SA (junior team, Redoubt SC) 4th/12 BSDRA Southern Division (Spinnaker SC) 2nd/16 v Eastbourne (junior team, Spray SC) Won 420s School Nationals (Itchenor SC) A Erskine and H Woodward, 6th Round the Island Yacht race (Cowes) 547/1643

Round the Island Race Report Oliver Briggs (SH GL)

For the first time in King’s sailing, the school entered a team for the Round the Island Yacht Race, the biggest Yacht Race in the world. This involved a complete circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, starting and finishing at Cowes, through the Solent, past the Needles, through the open sea around the south of the island, up to Bembridge ledge and back to Cowes through the eastern Solent. King’s entered three yachts, chartered from Haslar marina, a pupil boat, a parent boat and an OKS boat. We were all sailing matched Sun Odyssey 43’s, each boat having a yachtmaster and crews of about 12 people, with

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sailing most of us sleeping on board. Having picked up the boats at Haslar marina the previous evening we took advantage of a training day before the race to learn all the ropes and contend with near gale force conditions. Fortunately, in Tim, we had a superb yachtmaster. Needless to say there was a healthy rivalry between the three boats, not least due to the match between several pupils and their parents on the respective boats. The race itself was like no other sailing race. There was a strong breeze, force 5-6 most of the time, and building through the day. Around 1700 boats took part, from international race crews, such as Ben Ainslie skippering a beautiful schooner, down to keen members of King’s sailing club like ourselves! The sheer number of boats created chaos at the start because, although the starts were staggered according to the category of boat, there were hundreds of boats jockeying for position within a small radius of the start line. The challenging conditions resulted in a number of dismastings, helicopter rescues and men overboard; fortunately all three King’s boats avoided the worst of such dramas (just!).

The school boat completed the 60 mile course in under 10 hours with the OKS boat finishing just ahead of us. It was a close race between the school and OKS all the way round. Rather annoyingly, the parents’ boat finished in an impressive time of just under eight hours. The final result was School, 541st; OKS, 495th; and the Parents finished in 100th place (as adjusted by handicap). Altogether this was a fantastic experience, celebrated with dinner and presentation of the 597 King’s Challenge trophy in the Island Sailing Club, and we almost beat Ben Ainslie! King’s crew: Giles Dean, Theo Haynes, Alex McCulloch, Ben Warnick, Sasha Grover, Georgina MacDonald, Charlie Trumper, Harry Churchill, Oliver Briggs, Miss Cousins and Mr Ninham.

Starter for 10 Interview: Mr Ocock

Commemoration Day 2012

the interview ‘Your Starter for 10’: Mr Ocock

Feng Shui consultant. My signature style would be akin to the Death Star trash compactor in the first proper Star Wars movie.

CTN

What do you love most about King’s?

Why did you choose to become a teacher? As a mathematician I always avoid jumping to apopheniac conclusions; I reckon my twenty years of teaching so far have been a mostly-pleasant corollary of some fairly shallow decision-making at that life-fulcrum in 1993. Perhaps there is something unadventurous in going back to school again after university, but I never really considered anything else (except perhaps further academic study). All my Oxford contemporaries went into accountancy, investment banking and the like. I certainly wasn’t bothered about making money, even at a point where I didn’t have any. On the other hand, my friends now live in stucco-fronted houses in Holland Park, or have swimming pools, whereas I have a bucketful of old green rainwater in my back garden. What did you want to be when you were growing up? For most of the time, taller. While the rest of the men in my family are hobbits, I was very happy to grow about nine inches when I was fourteen (I can’t remember what breakfast cereal I was eating that year). What would you be if you weren’t a teacher? Flâneur: I would coast around Europe from cafe to cafe, writing a novel (no foxes). Experimental musician: I could then confuse people in an entirely different way. My style would be a merger between Tallis and Autechre.

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The grated-cheese tub at the end of the lunch-serving platform (actually, I should include the rest of the food upon which this invariably gets sprinkled). All the food at other schools I have either taught in or attended has been more like the labour-camp food in “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” (the description of which is part of a memorable lesson from my own schooldays). The pupils, who for the most part are very broad in their interests; there are not too many dry-as-dust scholars here. There is not too much of that intellectual glibness, and little sneeringly superior behaviour either. I think that, if I ever stopped thinking the best of my students as a starting position, it would be time to take out the pearlhandled revolver and step outside. How would you describe your typical day? Northwesterly, veering northerly, 6 to gale 8, then backing northwesterly 5 or 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first except in Cromarty and Forth. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor. Seriously, and this is a bit of a cliché, I am not sure there is one. What is typical is that the day for me is long, and is never finished; there always seem to be a thousand things left undone or half-done. It takes amazing skill on my part to make my job look so difficult. I take great strength from my department, however, who permeate the school like some kind of fundamental force. One day the mathematics department skyscraper will get built, but for now we are scattered to the winds. What has been the highlight of your teaching so far?

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I would obviously say those (non-Partridge) “Aha!” moments when a pupil works something out for herself. Also, it is always rewarding to feel, in a lesson, that the balance has been correctly struck between clarity in explanation, and putting enough detail in to match up with what the pupils can cope with. This is difficult to get right; I’m always joking that if I can’t teach you anything, at least I’ll push your state of confusion up to a new level. What is the strangest thing that has happened to you at King’s?

an incredible feat of mental arithmetic (by Kirill Wagin) which reminded me that the pupils were doing their bit to make the lesson a success, and I didn’t need to consider inspector-cide [sic] as a way out. Mathematics teachers are characterised as people who talk in other people’s sleep. When a pupil falls asleep in my lessons, we do one of two things. We either all gather round and point at them until they wake up, or (even better) we just all leave the room. Waking up in a empty mathematics classroom seems to produce a spike of cold fear better than any horror film I know.

Most of the weird things seem to have happened to other people e.g. Mr Whyte being hit in the face by a flying duck (I’m sure he was never quite as good at scrabble after that incident).

If you were the headmaster, what would you change about the school?

I remember finding Mr Smiley in the Undercroft one tea-time in the winter, when the school was covered with a blanket of snow. He was stockpiling snowballs in a carrier bag as a large-scale war raged on Green Court. He was sporting the wide grin of a ten-year old. I reckon the first rule of teaching is: set an example (not necessarily a good one). It is also good for us as teachers if we do not entirely put aside childish things.

I am probably too much of a complete human being to succeed properly at headmastering. I wouldn’t get much further than installing an espresso machine in every classroom, or at least in very room in which I teach. I might try replacing all of the teachers with the type of tablet that Moses didn’t bring down from the mountain, although we would have to be wary of the “application that can throw grenades into people’s dreams” (Malcolm Tucker). Eventually I would figure out that human teachers will be much more adept at lighting fires in young minds.

What has been the most memorable lesson you’ve ever taught at King’s? Boring lessons are apparently a good preparation for adult life, so I have helped things along quite nicely in that regard. I’m not sure I can remember any of them, except the last one; I hope my pupils can do slightly better than I can. It would probably be the ones where the class reduces me to uncontrollable laughter. I wish I could do the same to them.

10. If the common room was burning down, which three teachers would you save? Assuming I hadn’t started it, most likely the ones I think of more as friends than colleagues (this being one of the better advantages of working on the “oil rig”). The problem is there are more than three, so I would probably dither for a bit, after which time the quality of the common room would turn from rare to well-done. If I did spring into action, it would be to save the coffee machine.

I do remember the inspection Shell lesson from 2011. The lead inspector had nowhere to sit except right under my bookshelf, groaning with fun mathematics texts (yes, they do exist). For one flickering instant I imagined a Leonard Bast-style fate befalling him, but then I was distracted by

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Overheard and howlers ‘One is technically nothing, isn’t it?’

‘Just saw a picture of myself in Shell, I wouldn’t have been friends with myself either.’

Pupil: ‘How do hearing aids work?’ Biology teacher: ‘They amplify the sound coming into them.’

Pupil in English lesson: ‘Mrs X, I’ve got Science next lesson; do you by any chance has a spare barometer?’ A 6b pupil: ‘People are only human, you know.’

Pupil at back of class: ‘WHAT?’ Biology teacher: ‘THEY AMPLIF…I see what you did there…’ ‘If we do 2×3 and add 1 we get 15′ English teacher: ‘Everything is normal and then BAM! Steinbeck whacks you in the face with a kipper of omen.’

‘She said we should be there at 1.40 so we will turn up at 1.45′ When reciting a school email address over the phone being asked, ‘How do you spell hyphen?’ ‘The test tube has lost mass – must be on Atkins.’ SPO: ‘What is the value of x3 – 4×2 when x = 1?’

In Physics, discussing the Mariana Trench (10.9km deep): ‘Why would anyone dig a trench that deep?’

Pupil: ’3 – 8′

‘I wish they wrote a story, where someone dies, comes back and forgives everyone who killed him. Oh wait, that’s the bible ‘Sir, what is fifty plus seven?’

Cantuarian Editorial Committee Autumn 2011 and Lent 2012 Amanda Young (Editor-in-Chief) Lee Rigley(Printer) Ernest Sykes (Sport), Matt McArdle (Photography). Senior Editors: Amanda Thomas, Edward Lawrence Jones and Lucy Logan Green. General contributers: Anna Coady, Beatrice Lundy, Louise Augustine-Aina, Nicholas Ma Siy, Rosanna Fenning, Jane Ellard Summer 2012 Amanda Young (Editor-in-Chief) Lee Rigley(Printer) Ernest Sykes (Sport), Matt McArdle (Photography). Senior Editors: Isobelle Whitaker, Anna Coady and Louise Augustine-Aina. General contributers: Phoebe Hanson-Lowe, Lucy Dean, Henry Jamieson, Alicia Barret, Florence Hodgkinson, Dominic Hall, Rosie Taylor, Amy Gault, Carmen Brown, Isobel Curley, Anastasia Newman, Madeleine Phillips, Eliza Brett, Max Luoma, Hugo Briggs

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