The Submarine VOL 9 NO 1 DEC 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EDITORIAL Sometimes the most interesting ideas come at the tail-end of conversations, almost as afterthoughts. At our recent Library Committee meeting, when we were deep into Any Other Business and looking at our watches, the question was raised about the possibility of the Library putting together a list of recommended reads in the form of a guide that could be consulted by pupils. A couple more questions, some interventions from others on the Committee, and we had this: an expandable folder of recommended reads, separated into familiar categories such as love, family life, friendship, fantasy, racism, relationships, crime, war and so on, perhaps with a thumbnail picture of the front cover, a one or two line summary of plot and character, and most interestingly, some sort of ongoing review system. How would this Charlotte Bennet review system work, the Librarian asked? The Committee were emphatic—they would be reviews by other pupils, possibly anonymous, but with some identification of level within the school, e.g. TY Girl, or Form 2 Boy. Thus a composite picture would emerge of who enjoyed the book and who didn’t. It’s an exciting proposal, and gives the Library much to think about. Here are some first reactions: 1) This is a very clear indication that young people are interested in reading fiction, but it must be the right fiction—for them. 2) A well-stocked library, full of good fiction, as ours is, can be overwhelming. What’s a good book? Where do I start to look? 3) Pupils lead busy lives in which there are plenty of distractions. If they invest their time and energy in a book it needs to be a good choice for them. 4) They want to know what their fellow pupils liked, because they might like it too (how many times has the Library bought ‘highly praised’ books that never make it off the shelves?) 5) Also, some of them wouldn’t mind giving an opinion (or two) of their own. And from the Library’s perspective, 6) The cataloguing of fiction has always been difficult, mainly because one person’s love story (Pride and Prejudice, for example) is another person’s tale of socially-conditioned feminine surrender to an alpha male father figure. 7) Furthermore, existing fiction subject categories are as dry as dust. Just how appealing is this: Social life and customs—Great Britain—19th century—Fiction? In truth, Library cataloguing terms are designed to suit libraries, not readers. 8) The Library, in association with the English Department, has already been doing some book summaries/recommended reads through the summer reading lists that go out on the SCC English blog. And 9) A huge folder of 600-700 write-ups would be as discouraging to readers as the library catalogue itself, so a selection process is necessary. The Library will begin this task gently in the New Year... TMcC Librarian
CONTENTS Editorial……………………………..1 In this issue………………………….2 New Books in the Library………….3 ‘As I said…’ Review by Dr G. Bannister……………...4 Two new poems by Sadhbh Sheeran…………….5 Some Columban Archaeology by Dr David Sowby…………….6 Launch of ‘A Portrait…’ by Mr J. Girdham…………….10 What’s Reading Me……………….12
IN THIS ISSUE This issue of The Submarine features as its centre piece a wonderful article from Dr David Sowby (OC 1940) in which he discusses some of the architectural features of St Columba’s and details the physical changes that have occurred in the College since his boyhood. It is a marvellous document, particularly considering that Dr Sowby’s experience covers more than half the time St Columba’s has been in existence—as he puts it himself! One has the sense of being in the hands of a fascinating tour guide who draws on his own experience of time and place to link the past with the present. By a happy coincidence the updated A Portrait of St Columba’s 1843-2013, edited by Ninian Falkiner and Patrick Wyse Jackson, was launched on Thursday 5 December, and we have ‘borrowed’ the SubWarden’s report on the event from the SCC English blog. A Portrait, like Dr Sowby’s article, features those small details of time, character and place that don’t make it to the grander histories, but remain in the memory of everyone who has experienced St Columba’s. We also celebrate the publication of Rev. Horace McKinley’s book As I Said... through Dr Bannister’s review. Rev. McKinley, the Rector of Whitechurch parish, has also had a long association with St Columba’s, both as a parent and benign neighbour. As Dr Bannister writes, “It is, undoubtedly, his innate compassion
for others as much as his immense contribution to the spiritual needs and personal welfare of his parish that makes Horace a particularly remarkable human being.”
And last but not least we’re very pleased to publish two new poems by Sadhbh Sheeran. Sadhbh was runner-up with her poem Anniversary in the Head Masters Conference Sixth Form Poetry Competition. She was invited to read her poem, with the other winners, in front of assembled guests in London at a gala dinner, and met the British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. She said of that occasion ‘I still cannot quite believe that Carol Ann Duffy has not only read my poems but that I was able to read one to her… I particularly enjoyed hearing Carol Ann read her own work; it had an entirely different impression on me when read by its author. Meeting her and other young poets has encouraged me to continue writing. It was altogether a thoroughly inspiring experience’. Sadhbh is also St Columba’s 2012 and 2013 Peter Dix Memorial Prize for Poetry winner. So there’s lots to celebrate—not forgetting the forthcoming Christmas and New Year!
BSR, Lino print - Tara McCormick
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NEW BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY Here are some of the titles we added to our shelves this term.
This is How it Ends by Kathleen MacMahon True Grit by Charles Portis We Need New Names NoViolet Bulawayo The White Princess by Philippa Gregory The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
JUNIOR FICTION Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys Black Friday by Robert Muchamore Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman Burning Bright by Sophie McKenzie By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Eleven Eleven by Paul Dowswell The Fault in our Stars by John Green Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught Heart Shaped by Siobhan Parkinson Heroes of Olympus 4: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan The History Keepers: The Storm Begins by Damian Dibben The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Only the good spy young by Ally Carter Out of sight, out of time by Ally Carter Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys The Phenomenals: A Tangle of Traitors by F.E. Higgins The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey Carey Rebecca Rocks by Anna Carey Rebecca's Rules by Anna Carey Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein Russian Roulette by Anthony Horowitz Skulduggery Pleasant: Last Stand of Dead Men by Derek Landy Spook's: Alice by Joseph Delaney The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger Survive by Alex Morel The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble W.A.R.P. 1: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer Winter Damage by Natasha Carthew Zom-B Angels by Darren Shan
HISTORY 1913: Larkin's Labour War by Gerry Hunt 1914: Fight the Good Fight: Britain, the Army and the coming of the First World War by Allan Mallinson Berlin 1933-1945: between propaganda and terror by Dr Claudia Steur and Mirjam Kutzner (editors) Beautiful Xiangxi: a photographic journey of Hunan through the pen of Shen Congwen byShen, Congwen, Zhuo Ya and Mark Kitt (translator) Catastrophe: Europe goes to war 1914 by Max Hastings The King's Grave: the search for Richard III by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones Life in Roman London by Simon Webb One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson Pakistan: a hard country by Anatol Lieven Shakespeare's London on Five Groats a Day by Richard Tames Thurgood Marshall: American revolutionary by Juan Williams Topography of Terror: Gestapo, SS and Reich Security Main Office on Wilhelm- and Prinz-Albert Strasse by Prof. Andreas Nachama (editor)
JUNIOR NON-FICTION Brian Boru: Ireland's Warrior King by Damien Goodfellow Celtic Warrior: the legend of Cu Chulainn by Will Sliney Bullies, Cyberbullies and Frenemies: Teen Life Confidential by Michele Elliott Self-Esteem and Being You: Teen Life Confidential by Anita Naik Viking: the Norse warrior's (unofficial) manual by John Haywood
TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE The Aircraft Book: the definitive visual history by Philip Whiteman(editor) The Dog Encyclopedia: the definitive visual guide by Kathryn Hennessy (editor) Flight: the complete history by R.G. Grant Oceanography and Marine Biology: an introduction to marine science by David W.Townsend Exotic No More: anthropology on the front lines by Jeremy MacClancy (editor) Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome: a user guide to adolescence by Luke Jackson
SPORT Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography by Alex Ferguson Becoming a Lion by Johnny Sexton Drugs, Sport and the Young Adult by Dr Conor O'Brien Faster than Lightning: my autobiography by Usain Bolt The Rocky Road by Eamon Dunphy Running with the Firm: my double life as an undercover hooligan by James Bannon Unbelievable: from my childhood dreams to winning Olympic gold by Jessica Ennis Unguarded: My Life in Rugby by Ronan O'Gara
SENIOR FICTION 1356 by BernardCornwell 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) Dominion by C. J. Sansom Downturn Abbey by Paul Howard Empire of Silver by Conn Iggulden Girl Reading by Katie Ward Harvest by Jim Crace If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch How to get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid Inferno by Dan Brown The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris Police by Jo Nesbo The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger Solo by William Boyd The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan
BIOGRAPHY, COOKERY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & MISCELLANEOUS I am Malala: the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb The letters of Louis MacNeice by Jonathan Allison (editor) The One-Stop Guide to World Religions by Hugh P. Kemp Rick Stein's India: in search of the perfect curry recipes from my Indian odyssey by Rick Stein Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell Robert Falcon Scott: Journals: Captain Scott's Last Expedition by Robert Falcon Scott Scott and Amundsen: their race to the South Pole by Roland Huntford The Faber Pocket Guide to Greek and Roman Drama by John Burgess Selected New Poems 1984-2004 by Carol Ann Duffy
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REVIEW - DR G. BANNISTER 'As I Said... An Ordinary Priest Reflects’ by Horace McKinley Horace McKinley is what most people might reasonably define as a local hero. He has been the Church of Ireland Pastor in Whitechurch since 1976 and has unequivocally transformed the whole parish community physically, socially and most importantly of all in its ability to nurture both the young and old. Apart from the continuous restoration of the Church, its grounds and surrounding buildings, there is also the magnificent modern Whitechurch National School, and the saving of what now seems almost as a daily necessity - the College Road which provides access both to Marley Park and the main entrance of the College. However, in all probability, none of these things would have happened at all without the incredible commitment and zeal of Horace McKinley. It is, undoubtedly, his innate compassion for others as much as his immense contribution to the spiritual needs and personal welfare of his parish that makes Horace a particularly remarkable human being who is so greatly loved and admired by all of us who have the privilege of knowing the man, his work and his tireless energy. Perhaps for this reason alone, copies of his recent publication ‘As I said...’ or ‘An Ordinary Priest Reflects’ are selling fast and furiously from the very moment they first reached the shelves of local shops. Readers will not be disappointed in this publication, for it is a treasure-throve of witty observations and wise insights into the everyday life, work and responsibilities of our local parish priest. It is not only an entertaining and informative book but also a document of some historical significance too, as in reading it, we receive a real sense of the parish and of the endless vicissitudes of this particular local community since the midnineteen seventies up to the present day. The book begins with some personal reflections on the requirements of the priesthood and the qualities to which any good priest should aspire (cf. pages 19-20). This is then followed by a rich miscellany of spiritual and religious themes all considered, obviously, from a Christian perspective. For example in Chapter 2, Horace encourages his readers to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ and prefaces his remarks with a quote from Galatians 6:2 – ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ... Bear ye one another’s burdens’ to which he adds a relevant reference to a popular modern hymn (cf. 60- 61). This is the general format of the whole book – a mixture of personal perspectives focussed through a rich prism of Christian spirituality and scripture. One of the more beautiful chapters in the book relates to the themes of sickness, dying and grieving (chapter 3). In this chapter Horace starts from his own personal experience of ill-health and suggests how perhaps sickness can be, not only a time of worry, but also a “time-out opportunity”. This particular chapter, above all, reveals an extraordinary sensitivity, compassion and insight into the suffering of others that Horace clearly possesses as a man whose work brings him to such situations on a daily basis. Horace wisely emphasises the importance of presence. “A hug says much more than any words” Horace also wisely draws our attention to the fact that “presence precedes words’ encouraging us all to listen to those who are bereaved and to refrain from any clichés such as: ‘Time’s a great healer’ and ‘It was great he didn’t suffer.’ The book concludes with a beautiful chapter entitled: ‘On Another Shore’. This chapter is devoted to well-known people in the local community whose funeral services were held in the parish of Whitechurch. Locally prominent people such as Major Thomas McDowell, Kitty Guinness and Phyllis Davidson, as well as the wonderfully charismatic Canon Maurice Handy who attended St Columba’s College as a boy at the beginning of the 20th century and worked as rector of Whitechurch between 1939 – 1965. In general, the book is an anthology of talks and sermons that celebrate the Christian life to its fullest extent. Its author, although deeply rooted in his own local community, clearly has a much wider vision of his own personal and professional responsibilities; always welcoming the stranger at his door, giving practical support and advice to people who feel alienated from others, listening carefully and unfailingly being there for those who grieve or suffer - a compassionate companion to the lonely, the sick and the infirm. And how does this one man achieve so much? Quite clearly from what I have read in his book – the deep bedrock of his Christian faith. ‘As I said...’ - is certainly worth reading because it is a omnibus of selected well-chosen commentaries full of hope, faith and good cheer; a book where a sense of joy, wisdom and compassion leap out at the reader from every page.
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POETRY SADHBH SHEERAN
THE BLIGHT OF SUNDAY MASS Back of his neck ploughed as his tattie field, Burnt ochre by the sun, restricted by the Sunday shirt. Ridges of leather, furrows of valleys. The sweet smell in warm summer weather, Soap, all muck scrubbed off skin With hard bristle brush. Prayers for potatoes, hopes for harvest. His eyes face the pulpit, his crown bare, Scalp healthy brown, dark pigment spots Could be cancer? A farmer of prataí, a prataí of a man. One man as all men, pew upon pew. The furrowed fields, the sweet smell, Potato prayers, potential cancers. Farmers of a crop, a crop of farmers. Big men, strong men, God-fearing souls, Consumed by the fear for the fataí. Library, Lino print – Stephen Koethe
SEAMUS HEANEY A few lines to say I’m sorry you died. Your throne was carved on Irish soil And a foot does stand there still, In its seat your pen shall rest, Renowned and famed and loved. Your face shall take on all of ours And show us as we be, Just as you have done all your years, Your shadow shall go on to do. And we shall give you peace.
Abstract composition, mixed media – Ciana Taylor 5
Some Columban
ARCHAEOLOGY by David Sowby (1940) Having been associated – on and off – with the College of St. Columba for almost half of its life, I have seen many changes during those eighty years. For the benefit of those currently in the College I will outline some of the main changes that have taken place over those years. This short account should be read in conjunction with History of St. Columba’s College, by F.H. Attwood, A History of St. Columba’s College by G.K. White, and with A Portrait of St Columba’s College 1843-1993 by Patrick Wyse Jackson and Ninian Falkiner.
Front Gate and Drive The place to start is at the former Front Gate, now no more. It was situated on College Road, which, together with the Front Gate, has been covered by the M50 motorway. Here is Richard Orpen’s picture of the Front Gate. Note the splendid ‘pineapples’ on each of the supporting columns, and the two children. The lodgekeeper and his family lived in the building behind the port-hole, an abode with only two or three rooms, no water or sanitation. It remained thus until 1957. Beyond the front gate the drive stretched up to the College buildings. In 1934 it resembled a dried-up wadi, full of pot-holes and rocks; in 1938 a new concrete drive was laid down, the work being done entirely by pupils and masters. That drive was the main approach to the College until the construction of the M50 began, in the late 1990s. After the right-hand bend in the drive, a curious stone building appears on the north side. This was originally built as an ice-house, in which blocks of ice were stored for use in days before the College was established in 1849. Nearby there was a hard tennis court, now subsumed by the Warden’s house.
The Main House
The building recently named The Main House was formerly The Warden’s House. It was where the Warden and his family lived until recently. It dates from the end of the 18th century. The entrance hall is furnished with old oak panelling removed from the old Chapel when it was dismantled in 1885. The panelling was originally in Magdalen College Chapel, Oxford. The remainder of this panelling was placed around the fire-place in the Common Room. The hall’s ceiling is wonderfully decorated with stucco work in heavy relief. At the western end of White Hall there are two granite pillars, which was where the original building ended. Behind the pillars stands a large iron chest, known as Anne Boleyn's chest. Its style of 6
art is late Gothic in character, and its workmanship, which is characteristic of the end of Henry VIII's or Edward VI's reigns, comes near what might be found in the Spanish Armada. It is made of cut and polished steel, and guarded by a dozen locks. Behind the chest is a stained-glass window (right), showing various aspects of the College. The roof of the Orpen Building is shown in its original bright green colour, which, over the past 75 years has sadly become a dirty grey.
The granite buildings As soon as Hollypark was acquired in 1849 two important buildings, the Dining Hall and the one now called the Argyle Building were constructed in the unbelievable time of two months. The granite was picked up in the College grounds.
The Chapel Passing through the Bell Door, so called because it was beside the rope that tolled the bell hanging above the roof, we reach a flat area below the Chapel. This was the location of the College’s first Chapel, the area of its altar marked by a stone cross sunk into the turf, now sadly overgrown. The present Chapel was built in granite, also obtained from the College grounds. It was dedicated to St. Mark (!) in 1880. Until 1958 there was a carved wooden screen separating the main body of the Chapel from the Ante-Chapel inside the door. The Chapel bell was a gift of the first Warden, R.C. Singleton, at the cost of his salary for one year; it was originally hung at Stackallan, Co. Meath and then moved to the College’s present site. Behind the Chapel there is a steel stopcock that controlled the flow of water used to power the organ in the days before electricity was introduced. The water flowed down from the former swimming pool situated in what is now the golf links.
Big Schoolroom
In 1896 the predecessors of the present BSR and the adjoining building were completely destroyed by fire. The fire reached the top of Cloisters, where classical scholars will have no problem translating the commemorative plaque: “Hoc loco flammas sedavit Deus.” The buildings were rebuilt and opened in 1898 by Lord Cadogan, the Lord Lieutenant. The original door to the BSR is shown left. In 1949 the current granite archway was added as a memorial to Columbans who died in the 1939-45 war. Underneath the northern end of the BSR there were two science laboratories, both now subsumed into the Library. The smaller laboratory, now the Librarian’s office, was popularly known as The Submarine.
The Cadogan Building
For many years the Cadogan was the abode of Glen house, under its housemaster, Dr. Sandham Willis. On the upper floor there was a large dormitory for some thirty boys; below there were two small dormitories, each accommodating six or seven boys. From the south wall a passage leads into the interior; it was known as the Khyber Pass. Near the Cadogan there is the ruin of a water-house, which supplied the water for flushing the senior lavatories that lay, outside, along the south wall of what is now the Library. 7
National History Hut In the wood south of the Cadogan the decrepit stone hut was originally built to house the clerk of works in charge of building the present Chapel. In the 1930s this building was occupied by a College workman, his wife and three children. To the south of the hut there was a stream, which was used by the family. When Warden Sowby arrived he was so shocked by this set-up that he arranged for new accommodation in that part of the Orpen Building that projects into the yard.
The Hurley Gate and Lane
The somewhat dilapidated gate leading to the Hurley Lane was jocularly named ‘Sing Sing’ by the witty Kildare Dobbs – Sing Sing being the popular name of the prison at Ossining in New York State. On the grass plot on the south side of the Founders’ Building there used to be a flimsy, ugly building called The Armoury, in which there was a classroom as well as quarters for masters. It was demolished at the time Founders’ was built in 1936, and the present lawn was laid out.
Gardens Originally there were three gardens; the first was the Warden’s garden. Along the length of its north wall there used to be a conservatory containing many unusual plants. It fell into disuse and was removed during the 1930s. There was a large mulberry tree in the lawn; it died fairly recently and a new tree was planted. The second garden, before the construction of Founders’ and the Orpen Building, contained two herbaceous borders, which were designed to come into full flower on St. Columba’s Day, as shown in this painting by Rosemary Gaisford, who lived in Glensouthwell. During World War 2 both areas north and south of the path were given over to the growth of vegetables. The third garden, which lay beyond the Garden Cottage, was for fruit and vegetables. It is now the site of a number of buildings. Both the second and third gardens were out of bounds to boys until Founders’ and Orpen were built.
Steps Two of the most useful constructions in the College were the steps beside the Masterman Library and the Kennedy Steps. To go from the Masterman, say, to the triangle, before the steps were built, one would have to make the long journey past the Cadogan, across Chapel Square, around the Warden’s House and down. Imagine doing that in a downpour!
The Yard
The Yard was originally in two parts, the Front Yard, which extended as far as the Garden House, beyond which was the Back Yard. On the north side there were stables, and on the south a Ruston Hornsby engine that was used to generate electricity (and was switched off at 10 p.m!). The engine also powered a large circular saw; when operating, its sound could be heard all over the College – brrrrrrrr ziiing. 8
The Cricket Field The former cricket pitch was much smaller than the present one, which was built up with the earth excavated from the construction of the M50. As can be seen in the photograph (right) that was taken in the 1920s, the field was dug out of the slope, thus necessitating a descent by a player down the steps, on which the sound of one’s boots echoed in a peculiar way. The terrace was a popular place from which to watch the cricket; the great and good were given a deckchair at a higher level. As can be seen in the photograph below, hats were worn by most people in those days.
This picture was taken in 1943, with the author standing at short mid-leg. The small size of the pitch is clearly seen; the consequence was that a 6-boundary could only be awarded if the ball reached various locations outside the pitch, such as the trees shown in the picture.
The Back Drive The remnant of the back drive lies to the north of the Sowby Fields. Formerly it ended at the back gate, the stones of which were meticulously marked and numbered so that they could form the pillars of the present sole entrance to the College. And so we come full circle, from one gate to another. 9
Launch of the new 'Portrait' of SCC Thursday 6 December saw the launch of the fine new edition of A Portrait of St Columba's College 1843-2013 by Patrick Wyse Jackson and Ninian Falkiner, published by the Old Columban Society. The first edition went up to 1993, and Ninian Falkiner has now updated it with 50 extra pages of photographs and text. The result is a very handsome volume of fascinating photographs of the College from its earliest years to 2013, with accompanying text. The new supplement includes much material on sport, drama, new developments such as the Library, the Sports Hall and the Cadogan Music Centre, and features on prominent academic and non-academic staff such as Patrick Gray, Bud McMullen, Peter Pictured: Professor David Dickson, Ninian Falkiner, Patrick Kielty and Jimmy O'Connor. Page 47 has a Wyse Jackson, Warden Lindsay Haslett. striking photograph by Peter Watts of many of the small children of the teaching staff of the school, who in recent years have contributed to the distinctively family atmosphere on campus. The new pages also frequently refer to the College's firstever independent assessment last year through the extremely positive Whole School Evaluation by the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills. Last night guests gathered in Whitehall to be welcomed by the Warden, who paid tribute to the editors for their initial project, and to Ninian's dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and hard work in putting together the new book. He also welcomed Professor David Dickson (Old Columban, 1960-65), Associate Professor of History at Trinity College, Dublin, who formally launched it. In his comments, Professor Dickson said that a strong sense of place struck him on reading the book, of the place that had been the College's home since 1849, and also that the College was pretty much the same age as photography itself. Some of his favourite photographs were striking ones of the former Chaplain, Bert Walsh, preaching in Chapel (page 122, in 1988), of the former SubWarden, Norman Lush, at the reopening of the cricket pavilion (page 38, 2010) and especially of the staff in 1959 (page 95), a small and hugely talented group of men who were very very good teachers and, as has been throughout the College's history, were educators who left a permanent influence on so many pupils. Did the teachers make the place, or has perhaps the place itself made these teachers through the ages? He ended with an appeal for photographs and their 'meta-data' to be preserved digitally in the future. Ninian Falkiner then voiced his appreciation to all for coming to support the venture - a real gathering of the Columban community. He said that the College and the Old Columban Society had always had a close and happy bond, and this was plainly still the case, especially in the complete support the Warden and Sub-Warden had given him. He thanked the latter, John Fanagan, several members of staff, and especially Peter Watts for his photographic expertise, as well as Robert Doyle of the printers A.D.&D. He reminded all that profits will go to the Bursary Fund of the Society, and help the children of Old Columbans attend the College, and concluded by thanking his original coeditor, Patrick Wyse Jackson, and stating, once again, 'Floreat Columba et Floreant Columbanenses.' JMG
Copies of ‘A Portrait’ can be purchased from the College Office at €20 each.
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BENJAMIN GLEESON Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan – I quite liked it because I liked the way the author made the action scenes very realistic. I also liked it because it was a fiction book. I liked that it was very easy to understand, it wasn’t boring tho’! ROWAN SWEENEYTheodore Boone by John Grisham – Great book. He’s a great author and it kept me in suspense all the time. I loved reading it. Please get more John Grisham books! ALEXANDER BRENNAN The Gone series by Michael Grant – It is gripping, action-packed and the pages turn themselves. If you are looking for some romance, action, adventure and comedy then this is the book for a teenager. ANDRE STOKES Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan – It’s the twelfth book in the series and when I started reading it the first thought that crossed my mind was that it was considerably darker than the rest in the series. NICHOLAS RUSSELL Henderson’s Boys by Robert Muchamore – Good and full of action. I thought it was really good and he wrote it well. I enjoyed the book as it was about secret agents on a mission to destroy the Nazis attacking Britain. The agents were kids. I don’t think Mr Brett would like it as it’s a teenager’s book not an adult book. I also think he might not like war. CATHERINE BUTT The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a book with many different themes such as being gay, drugs and smoking. It is written in a series of letters by a boy called Charlie, who finds a name and address and sends a letter to it. I really like the book because it has an open ending and it has such interesting themes. Charlie is starting his first year of high school at 15. He ends up meeting two seniors who take him through many experiences. Charlie could be described as odd, as he is quite naïve, thinks like a child and is quite clever. MAX GARVEY Shadow by Michael Morpurgo – I think this book was really good because it’s really exciting and sad sometimes. The dog’s name is Shadow. It’s about a kid in an asylum telling the story of him and his dog and his mother coming from Afghanistan to England. LUCY MAHER – I liked it. It was about a dog who saves a boy’s life. But the boy and the dog have a bond. The boy has to give the dog back to where she belongs and then… ROSS MAGILL The Demonata: Wolf Island by Darren Shan – This is a thrilling, exciting, gory book. It’s not my favourite in the series but it’s better than some of them. I finished it within two days so it’s not a long read, but I was immediately onto the next book, Dark Calling. It’s about demons and werewolves invading the human world and the series can get a bit gory at times. I would definitely recommend the series though, it’s amazing! TOBY GREEN The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne – Sad, adventurous, courageous – I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book. It’s about a boy who can float and his parents don’t want him so they leave him to float away into mid-air. It’s very good. SUJI FRANKEL Ne Me Touche Pas byTahereh Mafi – It a teenager book and it’s really fun to read. It’s more of an action book but it it’s really romantic and in some parts of the book it’s very sad. When I read the first page it wasn’t that interesting but then it got really interesting and addictive. It was the first teenage book I read in French. JAMIE O’CONNOR Have a Nice Day: aTale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley – I liked this book a lot. It was a great story of triumph over the odds, 700 pages long. I think people who know a bit about wrestling would enjoy it the most, but really anyone would. 11
What’s Reading Me In which Mr Brett collected the opinions of some First Formers LUCIA MASDING Kites are Flying by Michael Morpurgo – Good book, interesting, page turner, factual, adventurous, cool. ALEX MEIJER Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo – Fun read and an awesome book, it leaves you thinking what will happen next. CECILIA DURAN Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo – I read this book called The Butterfly Lion. I loved it. About a boy who lives in the savannah and then is sent to England to a boarding school. In his childhood he finds a lion, a white one, and then it is sent to a circus in France. After several years they find each other and live happily ever after.☺ GRACE GOULDING Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – The most amazing book. Fiction. An amazing story. The whole series was really good. ISABELLA BEAUMONT Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – Page turner, suspense, interesting, good book, adventurous. HELEN CRAMPTON The Cherub series by Robert Muchamore – After reading all twelve of the series, I thought that each book was as good as the other and that I loved each one. Cherub is about a secret spy agency for kids who have no family (orphans). I think you would like them as I loved them all and adults might like them too. DAVID WHITE Cherub: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore - I thought it was a very good book which was really interesting. I wasn’t really sure I would enjoy it but I did. I found it a very good book and through the pages the plot thickened. It is only the first book in the series and now I have finished the series. It was probably my favourite book in the series because the story began and it told me a lot about the character. CARLOS DREXHAGE Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card – There is a movie about this book. The book is about a futurist world in a space war vs aliens. And a boy is selected to go to the war. I liked it. JAMES PARK Evermore by Alyson Noel – I’m still reading this but it’s about a psychic girl who can learn everything by touching it and talks with her dead sister. She meets a strange boy. BOLUWATIFE (NICK) OGUNTUASE Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney – Funny. Pictures. Party. Fiction. Reading. LOL. JAMES LAI Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney – The photo is funny, the story is very good for English is not first language people to read. It is easy to understand. ADAMSON BAMISEDUN Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck – It is a good book. I like the way he describes the book. I like the way he presents the characters. …..Continued on page 11 12