The Albanian 2011

the Albanian The Albanian

December 2009

December December 2011 2009

December 2011

THE ALBANIAN

the Albanian

December 2011

Volume 28 Number 15

Contents 3 Editorial Exciting developments in the School

4 Ins & Outs Welcomes and Farewells

11 Prizegiving Notable Successes

16 Creative Writing Poetry and Stories

25 Dukes Silver Expedition

27 Drama Contents

Productions at home and in Edinburgh

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36 Creative Art Work from student artists

41 Music

This edition’s cover was created by Harry Lavelle, who has earned a considerable reputation as a cartoonist over the last few years. He has done a series of portraits of rugby teams and form groups which can be found around the School, and he was commissioned to create a series of illustrations for Conference and Common Room, the HMC magazine.

In 2010 he was runner up in the Young Cartoonist of the Year Competition.

Music of all kinds

51 Creative Design

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Work from Design and Technology students

54 Academic Enrichment Moving studies beyond the classroom

58 Features Writing, writers and trips to America

64 Trips Educational visits

68 Houses Victory for Hampson

69 CCF Bashas and drill

Albanian Editorial Team Editor Deputy Editor

Noel Cassidy Julia Grieveson

Student Editors

Arran Bhatiani Wilkie Hollens Juliette Mann Jonathan Peters

76 Sport Reports from the teams

St Albans School Abbey Gateway St Albans AL3 4HB Tel: 01727 855521 Fax: 01727 843447 Publications email: publics@st-albans.herts.sch.uk School Website: www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk

St Albans School is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No 4400125 Charity No 1092932 Registered Office: Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4HB

It has been hard, though, to ignore the huge hole in the orchard, first dug to an amazing depth before, rising out of it, emerged the sports centre and swimming pool. First the concrete base, then walls, then a rising cage of steel. The roof followed, then the sports hall frame, another roof‌ and so it has gone on, with remarkably little disturbance to the life of the School. It has displaced hordes of football-playing boys into the Abbey Orchard with staff supervision, but this too has happened with minimal disturbance to the public.

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A few wondered whether this might become a permanent arrangement, but then more exciting news was announced, as the School acquired the neighbouring offices of KPMG, Aquis Court, which will double the floor space of the School. A pathway will be made between the two adjoining sites to make them into one, creating a substantial campus.

So nothing stands still. And with pupils playing sport in Malaysia and Sri Lanka while also pursuing a range of activities at home, both within and outside the curriculum, there is plenty to read about in the following pages.

A sequence of photographs showing the development of the Sports Centre complex, due for completion in the summer of 2012.

Editorial

It has certainly been another exciting year, with record-breaking exam results, sporting successes at Woollams, around the country, and in Malaysia and Sri Lanka. There have been achievements in a broad range of activities and pupils have received an all-round education within and outside the classroom, as the following pages record. Indeed, our pupils involved in the Community Link and Partnership schemes have recently featured as examples of good practice at an HMC conference on the Wider Curriculum.

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Editorial

New Arrivals September 2011

Ins & Outs

First Form

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ADEGBEMILE, Boluwatife A AHIR, Ashwin K AVERY, Henry R BACKHAUS, Carsten A BAGNALL, Timothy L BAINS, Saajan S BARFORD, Cameron J BARRATT-JOHNSON, Oliver E BAYDOUN, Iyad BERGLAS, Jack B BOND, Cameron H BRANLEY, Oliver J BRINCAT, Gustav CHIGBO, Kenechukwu C CHOUDHRY, Omar Y CLARK, Hugo W COOK, Edward W COOKE, Owain R COYNE, James F DABBAGH, Alan DAMALIS, Christos DANIEL, Alexander DEACON-GREGORY, Frederick DORWARD, Piers A DOUGLAS, Kyle DOWNES, Jake DOWNEY, Adam J DRAKE, William J EFSTRATIOU, Nicholas EL AMIN, Tariq EMORE, Kewe J FARNHAM-DEAR, James A FIDLER, Samuel I FLEMING, Caspar T FOXTON, William R FULTON, Thomas A GANDHI, Eashan GERRARD, Tom H GOLDBERG, Alex S HEANEY, Stephen HEMSI, Harry D HYAMS, Ben F JENNINGS, Luke A JHA, Aman KESHISHOGHLI, Michael L KIRUBENDRAN, Kavinan KOHLI, Shivam KOLLI, Arjun LEIGH, George MOORE, Matthew T MOTIE, Alex I NYAKUNDI, Orina J O’CONNOR, Matthew J O’FLYNN, Liam R OKOLO, Paul O OLUWATUNMISE, Emmanuel OLUSOLA, Sijibomi E OSUAGWU, Dean A PATEL, Rahul PATEL, Rohan

PLUMER, Benjamin RAZZANO, Lorenzo D RESKER-STIRRUP, Harvey SAHOTA, Max O SANDERSON, Jamie S SAXENA, Ansh SCHOLEFIELD, Alexander D SCRAGG, James N SHAHIDULLAH, Khaled L SHREEVES, Jack W SINGH, Shubhankar STANBURY, Matthew C SWAN, Max SWAIN, Maxwell SYED, Nabeel F THOMSON, William E TILBROOK, Charles D VANCE, Samuel J WALLACE, Charlie R WEISFELD, Charlie A WING, Leo WRIGHT, Oliver WYNNE, Morgan L YICK, Milan

Third Form

ABREY, Thomas E AMERICANOS, Christopher A ANDERSON, Jonathan H BALCI, Cem BARLOW, Oliver BELL, Benjamin J BHATTI, Sammee BORLIN, Richard D BORKHATARIA, Kavit BOSATTA, Nico BRECKNELL, William G BRETNALL, Sebastian J BRION, Tobias L CARTER, Thomas J CONWAY, Oliver A COOK, Alexander S COOKE, Joshua J COUSINS, Matthew J DEGIRMENCI, David J DINWOODIE, Joseph R GALLAGHER, James W GEORGIOU, Anthony GORING-JONES, William H GOSLING, Peter J HALLIDAY, Matthew HEXTALL, Charles E KELLY, Laurence A KUDRYASHOV, Stanislav Y LAI, Darren LAWS-MATHER, Oliver R MANNING, Harry MAWER, Jack W MAYNARD, William G MAY, Thomas P METCALF, Daniel S

MILTIADOUS, Michael NEJAD, Tim K OLIVER, Charles E OSINUGA, Adedapo PEARSON, Thomas W PITTAL, Adam S PRESENCE, Harvey P RIECHMANN, Miklas H ROUSE, William D SAUNDERS, John SHAHABUDDIN, Zayem SMILLIE, James SWAN, Jack THAYAPARAN, Senthuran WALTERS, Frederick WHITTINGTON, Sam G WRAY, Jack WRIGHT, Samuel J YAP, Nicholas

Fourth Form

BRENNAN, Joseph JUDE, Pius

Sixth Form

ADKINS, Charlotte E ANDERSON, Emily J BATCHELOR, Isabel BIRD, Elizabeth M BROWN, Katherine E BURDEN,Victoria L BUTLER, Eleanor L BUTLER, Katherine P CAMMACK, Trudy L COOK, Angharad S DEVLIN, Alice K ENGLISH, Alexandra N FRASER, Charlotte N HAKIM, Hammad HAKIM, Haroon HOBBS, Amy L JOHNSTONE, Roseanna KING, Helen I KIRBY, Beth S LOMBARDELLI, Alessandro M MACLEAN, Isobel C MORAN, Hannah B MURPHY, Harriet E NEALE, Michael ONOCHIE-WILLIAMS, Anna C PARKER, Lucy M PARKER, Robyn PARROTT, Stephanie M ROCHE, Frances M RUSSELL, Emma C THOMPSON, Isobel M TRIGG, Olivia WHEELER, Laura WORTH, Juliet B ZONDAGH Bernhardt

New Arrivals in the Common Room Unaccountably missing from last year’s edition was Harsha Zaver. She joined us last year from Chauncey School, in Ware. She completed her degree at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, and began her career in industry, pharmaceuticals and research before moving on to teaching. She was attracted to the school by its history and legacy. Her favourite area of her subject is organic chemistry and her favourite moments in teaching come from seeing students work hard to achieve against the odds and helping them to do it. Outside the laboratory, she hopes to become involved with careers guidance in the school.

We welcome to the Modern Languages department Angela Butcher, who studied at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. She was born in Lugo, in Galicia in the north of Spain and has been teaching for over twenty years. However, she did not originally intend to be a teacher; she was a translator until she heard more about teaching and realised the need for Spanish teaching in the United Kingdom. She thoroughly enjoys teaching, especially being able to see her pupils improve their language skills. Outside of school, she loves to travel and her favourite trip was to Vietnam, which she thought was a beautiful country.

Melanie Hahn this year rejoins the German Department as a teacher, having already spent a year with us as a teaching assistant. Before joining the school, Ms Hahn had studied at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Nürnberg, where she studied Economics and Education. She had also done Vocational Training work with Siemens and DIEHL before joining the bilateral exchange programme that brought her to Britain and our school. Ms Hahn likes to travel, her favourite country being the USA, and is an experienced runner, having run marathons and is an advocate of sports in general. She is very keen on opera and relishes the opportunity to attend them in London.

James Lockhart joins the Biology Department as a newly qualified teacher. After completing his education at Bedford Modern School, he read Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, specialising in Genetics, and spent an additional two years of training at Newcastle University. Mr Lockhart is keen to participate actively in the life of the School: he has already joined the Cross Country team, and looks forward to helping in the activities of the Drama Department. He is also eager to involve himself in the CCF, having contributed towards this at his former school, including training with the Ghurkhas in Brunei.

We welcome Gareth Nichols to the School, having previously taught at Verulam School for three years. He graduated from Leicester University with a degree in Business Economics with his favourite part of Economics being Labour Economics, on which he did his dissertation in his final year of University. He didn’t want to work in the city and so was drawn into teaching. Outside of school, he enjoys playing rugby for Old Verulamians on Saturdays as well as partaking in rock-climbing. In the future, he is hoping to contribute to the school’s prestigious Sports Department, particularly with the rugby.

5 Ins & Outs

Following seven years teaching in Hong Kong, Theresa Gott re-joins us in the Maths department, having previously done her teacher training here, as well as joining us for cover work last year. She studied Maths at Imperial College, London, and then went into city banking for five years. Outside the classroom, travel is a key interest, brought about by her husband’s job, and she has visited South Africa, Canada, and Asia. Mrs Gott is passionate about teaching maths and is looking forward to inspiring students into enjoying and (as a result) learning the subject. She is quite an avid runner, with her interest peaking at the Hong Kong marathon in 2005.

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Phil Craig already has experience at St Albans School conducting and teaching percussion, but this year joins the music department as a full-time teacher. Mr Craig was a student at Marlwood College before attending Bath Spa University, attaining a BA in music. He is an accomplished music teacher, having taught in Wellington, Somerset, Tring Performing Arts School and with the Hertfordshire Music Service, where he taught percussion. Although he is very busy, he enjoys cooking and working with jazz and soul singers, many of whom get their music on iTunes. At the School, Mr Craig will continue to conduct Wind Band and Percussion Ensemble as well as the newly formed Senior Concert Band and others.

We welcome Duncan Phillips, who joins the Design and Technology Department from his previous job as a prop designer, model maker and technician for various films and adverts. Mr Phillips attended Turnford School for his secondary education followed by the Kent Institute of Art and Design. Mr Phillips is an avid mountain biker and model maker, in keeping with his previous profession and interests. He will be an important founding member of the school’s new RC Club, devoted to remote controlled model vehicles.

Ins & Outs

Colin Roberts comes to our Design and Technology Department from his previous job at Woodbridge School.

Mr Roberts has previously attended Norwich School for his secondary schooling, followed by Loughborough University, where he studied Product Design and Manufacture. While at university, Mr Roberts was active in athletics, being his university’s athletics captain and winning medals in the British Universities Relay and 100 metre hurdles. He also enjoys climbing and mountain biking. At Woodbridge School, Mr Roberts was active in CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards and no doubt will be again at St Albans School.

Joining the Mathematics department from Ripon Grammar School in Yorkshire is Judy Robertson. She studied mechanical engineering at Edinburgh and from there, went on to become a computer analyst, after which she moved into the teaching field. She finds that the best thing about Maths is the fact that it links everything and helps explain the world around us. She has been teaching for 12 years and is looking forward to the range of opportunities that the School can offer. She has enjoyed her time at the School so far, finding the pupils friendly and engaging. She enjoys gardening and DIY in her free time.

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6 We welcome Dr Jon Saunders into his first teaching position, following a PhD in Astrophysics from Imperial College, London. Prior to this, he studied Maths and Astrophysics at Clare College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a masters degree after three years of study. The Maths department has gained a member excited to be in such a friendly school, and looking forward to inspiring students to better results. Jon leads a busy life outside the classroom, with particular interests in cycling and cooking.

Michael Smyth is a new arrival to the Biology department, having studied first at Marlborough College before moving on to Newcastle University for Biology and then Cambridge University doing a PGCE. He had previously been the Head of Biology at Presdales School in Ware for five years before coming to St Albans where he, due to his keen interest in sport, hopes to participate in school football. He is also interested in comedy and, had he not chosen to become a teacher, would have become a children’s TV presenter.

Emily Taylor has been working at the School as a Physics technician for nearly three years, but has now taken up a role in the Learning Support team. She has attained an undergraduate degree in environmental science, a PGCE in Biology and an MSc in International Studies. Before teaching, Mrs Taylor worked at the United Nations for several years. She then taught science at Chesham Prep School, and is currently completing a specialist course in Learning Support. Her hobbies include local history, dog walking, classic literature and horse riding.

Higher Education Destinations of Old Albanians 2011 Subject

Azeem Alam James Aldridge Dan Andrews* James Austin Laura Bannister Phillip Behean Timothy Bennett * William Berrington Luke Bevan Manhar Bhojwani Daniel Bigsby Raj Borkhataria Nicholas Brown Philippa Brown Nicholas Butler Toby Butterworth Thomas Byrne* Alex Campbell Sabian Chauhan Rebecca Clarke Ciaran Cleary James Clegg* Billy Collins Pallett* Emma Corderey Alex Craig-Thompson James Crosby Jamie Dacosta James Daveney Neil Davidson Graham Davis* Ed Dawson Matthew Dawson Edmund Day John Dean Simon Dean* Charles Dekan Oliver Di-Lieto Lindsay Dodgson* Natasha Driscoll Jack Edwards* Cameron Epstein Sahar Esfandiari Nick Fearn Elliott Fellowes Nick Foster Robert Fox* Lawrence Free* Iain Gale* Sam Gartside* Matthew Gherardi Tom Gillespie George Goldberg Lee Goldberg Emily Gorton James Graham Catherine Gray Myles Grover Ben Hamer* John Hampson Joshua Hampton Rebecca Hannah James Hanson George Harding

King’s College London University of Nottingham University of Birmingham University of Birmingham University of Leeds University of Nottingham University of Manchester University of Manchester Balliol College, Oxford Imperial College London University of Leicester Lancaster University University of Manchester University of East Anglia Jesus College, Cambridge University of Bath University of Leeds University of York Christ Church, Oxford University of Newcastle University of Bristol University of Warwick University of Leeds University of Southampton University of Kent Loughborough University University of East Anglia University of York University of Plymouth Peterhouse, Cambridge University of Birmingham Keele University University of Birmingham Merton College, Oxford University of Exeter University College London University of Birmingham Liverpool John Moores University University of Newcastle University of Leeds Birmingham City University Brunel University Royal Holloway, University of London University College London University of Nottingham Loughborough University Loughborough University University of Sheffield Leeds Metropolitan University University of Warwick University of Southampton University of Warwick Loughborough University University of Nottingham University of Southampton University of Durham University of Nottingham University of Durham University of Sheffield University of Leeds University of Nottingham Royal Holloway, University of London University of Birmingham

Medicine Economics Philosophy History, Ancient and Medieval German English Studies Geography Zoology Physics Aeronautical Engineering Law Geography/North America History American Studies and History Classics: Greek and Latin Int. Management and Modern Languages - Spanish Physics Film and Television Production Mathematics Chemistry Philosophy and Economics Economics Zoology Geography Architecture Architectural Engineering and Design Management Biomedicine Economics Business Economics Engineering Physics Economics and Philosophy Law with French Classics Drama Archaeology and Anthropology Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science Zoology Geography Medical Sciences Film, Production and Technology Law Ancient History Law with Advanced Studies Geography Industrial Design and Technology Architectural Engineering and Design Management English Language and Literature Music Technology English Literature - Deferred 2012 Medicine Chemistry Civil Engineering Geography Aeronautics & Astronautics Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Geography Ancient History Physics with Astrophysics Chemistry Geography Economics Ancient History

7 Ins & Outs

Destination

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Names

Ins & Outs The Albanian 2011

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Names

Destination

Subject

Andrew Harris* Kristin Henley Frederick Hett* Frederick Hickson* Anthony Hodges Jack Hogan Rachel Howell Joshua Huntingford Emily Huxley Matthew Jackson* Adam Janmohamed Matthew Jennings Jay Johnson-Crooks* Elliot Keer Tom Kight Vishal Kumar William Lay Euan Mackenzie* Sarah March* Zac Marsden Peter Martin Rhiannon Mason Finley Matheson Robert McDougall Holly Mckay Anna Miles Christopher Munro Jake Murphy* Christopher Nielsen Tom O’Grady Thomas Palmer* Benedict Parker Kirstie Parr* Dev Patel* Divyesh Patel* Niroshan Pathmakumar* Robin Pendock Savvas Petrou Simon Phillips Helena Pomfret David Prince Jack Pryse-Davies Hedwig Quist - Therson Kieran Rawal Antonio Razzano Stuart Reid Joe Richards Tor Ronald Scott Rosenberg Joseph Rossiter Tom Russell Alex Saunders Freddy Sawyer Matthew Schofield Hamel Shah Parag Shah Charlotte Simpson Cameron Smith* Sam Smith* Timothy Smith Mark Soames Alex Springett Harley Stairmand

University of Newcastle University of Bath University of Sheffield University of Nottingham University of Nottingham Imperial College London Lancaster University University of Southampton Loughborough University University of Leeds University of Durham University of Durham King’s College London University College London University of Warwick London School of Economics University of Bath University of Bath King’s College London Leeds Metropolitan University University of Leeds University of Manchester University of Bath University of Newcastle University of Exeter University College London University of Bath King’s College London King’s College London University of Leicester University of Leeds St Hilda’s College, Oxford York St John University College University of Kent University of Nottingham University of Nottingham University of Nottingham University of Nottingham St Hilda’s College, Oxford Queens’ College, Cambridge University of Wales Swansea University of Birmingham University of Birmingham University of Warwick Queen Mary, University of London University of Southampton University of Warwick University of Leeds University of Nottingham University of Newcastle University of Sheffield University of Manchester Homerton College, Cambridge University of Birmingham University College London Cardiff University University of Birmingham University of Leeds University of Wales, Aberystwyth Mansfield College, Oxford University of Bristol University of Nottingham Loughborough University

Medicine Mechanical Engineering - Deferred 2012 Medicine Ancient History and Archaeology Civil Engineering Mathematics Philosophy, Politics and Economics Mechanical Engineering English Music Modern Languages Classics Biomedical Science Biochemical Engineering History Geography with Economics Electrical and Electronic Engineering Business Administration Physiotherapy Music Technology Music Physiology Coach Education and Sports Development Mechanical Engineering History and Politics Biochemistry Computer Science with Mathematics Biomedical Science Ancient History Ancient History and Archaeology Civil & Structural Engineering Law History and American Studies Business Information Technology Biology Finance, Accounting and Management Geography Law Medicine Geography - Deferred 2012 Business Economics Biological Sciences French Studies and History Engineering Business Management Space Systems Engineering Accounting and Finance Graphic & Communication Design Management Studies Economics Physics Physics with Astrophysics Education with English & Drama Physics with Particle Physics & Cosmology Economics and Geography Chemistry Modern Languages Psychology Environmental Earth Science History and Politics Classics History Accounting and Financial Management

Names

Destination

Nick Holmes, who is deferring his university applications, and Charlotte Simpson, now studying Modern Languages at Birmingham, accept prizes at the Prizegiving Ceremony

Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering Geography Physics Accounting and Finance Management Studies English Economics English Geography Mathematics and Sports Science Accounting and Finance Economics Business Management/Psychology Chinese and International Relations French/Spanish - Deferred 2012 Sport Management Engineering Geophysics Theology

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Oliver Steels University of Leeds Joshua Steer Royal Holloway, University of London William Stone University of Nottingham Tom Sweeney University of Durham Emma Taylor University of Nottingham Joseph Temple Pembroke College, Cambridge Gordon Tveito-Duncan University of Warwick Beth Vickers Royal Holloway, University of London Ed Walker University of St Andrews Victoria Walker University of Birmingham Lewis Walker University of Warwick Jack Wallace University of Warwick Emily Walsh* Oxford Brookes University David Webster* University of Leeds Tom Widdowson Cardiff University Ben Wilkin* Loughborough University Alec Wright Homerton College, Cambridge Emanuel Zarate Imperial College London Richard Zetter Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

* Post A Level Applicants

Subject

9 Ins & Outs

Staff Farewells When Lyn Rayner joined the Mathematics Department of St Albans School in 1974 she was something of a pioneer, as only the second female member of the teaching staff. She quickly made her mark, and was popular and wellrespected. In 1977 she got married, becoming Mrs Reid, and left the school as she and her husband moved away from the area. In 1993, having returned to St Albans, she was persuaded to rejoin the department and stayed until her retirement in 2011.

Lyn Reid

Lyn was an excellent and respected teacher. She always explained clearly and thoroughly, ensuring that her pupils understood, and was supportive and helpful to anyone having difficulties. The clarity, neatness and comprehensiveness of her notes were legendary. Her files of resources were frequently borrowed by her colleagues; fortunately she has left many of them behind.

Ins & Outs

As a sixth form tutor and Deputy-head of Sixth Form she was caring and conscientious. Her UCAS references were positive and perceptive. Many of her tutees have cause to be grateful for her concern and hard work on their behalf, and several continued to keep in touch with her after leaving school.

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For twelve years she was a superb head of examinations – a very demanding role requiring meticulous attention to detail. She was always careful to check and double-check everything; she was calm in the face of occasional crises and patient, but firm, with less well-organised colleagues who made her job more difficult by failing to return forms on time.

Lyn’s unfailing good humour and kind nature meant that she never spoke badly of others; in return she was universally well-liked and respected. As a colleague and a friend she will be very much missed.

MOS

Denise Walker

Denise Walker’s energy, creativity and efficiency ensured that she was an excellent teacher, a sympathetic and proactive form tutor and a much loved colleague and friend. The time spent at the school, close to 13 years, came in two batches, interrupted by a stint at Merchant Taylors.

The latter period was incredibly busy for Denise. Aside from teaching Chemistry and Biology and contributing to the girls’ games programme, she was very active with the Netball team and one of the driving forces behind the annual Old Girls’ Netball Tournament.

Denise was also the co-ordinator of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award and oversaw countless students taking to the hills with confidence. In more recent times, she took superb care of the Chemistry department whilst Lesley Stanbury was on sabbatical.

She leaves us to take up a much deserved role as Head of Science at Abbots Hill School. We wish her the best of luck; she will be missed by all who had the pleasure to work with her and be taught by her.

DP

Dr David Nolland was only a member of the Mathematics Department for a short time, but he made a strong impression. His approach was strongly academic, his teaching was demanding and his pupils were always challenged to think for themselves. Many of them found this very rewarding, and enjoyed being stretched mathematically. Some found the experience uncomfortable and disconcerting, but it is clear from examination results that even they understood far more than they realised, and that they benefited from being encouraged to be more independent in their learning.

David taught part-time because he was also pursuing his own research into Quantum Field Theory. It is fair to say that his colleagues only had a limited understanding of what this involved, although we found it fascinating as he tried to explain to us the flaws in Stephen Hawking’s theories. He gave a memorable lecture for the Schofield Mathematics Society in which he used dozens of clothes pegs on a rope to illustrate how an electron and a positron annihilate each other.

He and his wife have now moved to Vienna, a city they have long regarded as a second home, and he will be devoting more time to his research.

MOS

David Nolland

The Headmaster’s Address NON

Chairman, Professor McKellar, Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s been an interesting summer.

I first learned about the August riots from a toga-clad Gallo-Roman, who was talking on his mobile phone in Ulster-accented English and when he’d finished, I commented on how surreal a figure he cut.

In any case, he then raised the surrealism bar by telling me about what had been happening in Tottenham and was now spreading to other parts of London and other cities.

Educators, if anyone should, ought to try to make some sense of this, but I have to confess that I, at least, haven’t managed to do so any better than any of the other pundits and politicians who have pontificated on the matter.

I should explain, I suppose, that we were on holiday in the Gers region I guess, if life has taught you, offof France and he was a guide at the spring of a family unemployed unto archaeological remains of the Roman the second or third generation, that villa of Seviac. no honest action that lies in your The villa was once a luxurious and power will change your life for the absolutely vast celebration of conbetter; that there is, in other words, spicuous consumption by the upper no action from which beneficial middle classes and an icon of social consequences flow, you may also and economic inequality in the latter reach the converse conclusion: that days of the empire. there is no obvious reason why adverse consequences should flow Despite that, as far as we can tell, from dishonest or anti-social action. it doesn’t seem to have attracted If the relationship between action violent resentment on the part of and consequence comes to seem the permanent economic, educanot a link at all, but completely tional and social underclass of the random, then the very concept of day, for reasons that are probably consequence may cease to have any quite familiar to anyone who’s read I meaning. That leaves little room for Claudius, the novels of Robert Harris rational hope and lots of room for or Lindsey Davis, or is following the desperate readiness to try anything Cambridge Latin Course. that offers short-term gains. There’s At least until the Visigoths arrived. nothing more dangerous than Then Seviac learned quite a lot in a nothing left to lose. short time about social alienation, If, on top of that, you’re dimly aware lack of social cohesion, and what that those who make our law seem our Prime Minister calls “the broken to have taken a similar view with society”. regard to their expenses, while The television footage of Croydon those who run our financial system ablaze that we watched later that seem to have been lining their own evening, shocked and upset me, pockets whilst playing corporate not least because I used to work in

The Headmaster’s speech given on the occasion of the Prizegiving Ceremony in St Albans Abbey on September 15th

11 Prizegiving

Unless it’s about this: the summer, all the way through to 11th September, has been an object lesson in the relationship between actions and consequences and I’m not even going to mention the Eurozone.

N AT I

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He explained, in the same Ulster accent, in which I could now detect the French inflexions, that his flatmate was from Northern Ireland and he’d picked it up from him.

That wasn’t, of course, the bit I was finding surreal, but he didn’t seem to notice that.

Croydon and I knew that furniture shop as a local landmark. Parts of Croydon could always be a bit rough, but these were not the rough parts and there had never been anything to prefigure these scenes that seemed to belong in the Blitz. They were horrific images, but compulsive viewing, just like those scenes ten years ago last Sunday, as the twin towers burned.

NOBIS

Prizegiving

Prizegiving 2011

roulette with other people’s money, the lesson is likely to be reinforced.

Nonetheless, having written that sentence a couple of days ago, it was a bit unsettling to pick up the Times this morning to find Ian Duncan Smith apparently reading from the same script, but I suspect, and so, it seems, do a number of magistrates, that this is to dignify the motives of many of the rioters with too much moral justification.

Prizegiving

And so, as summer has cooled, the courts have set about reminding offenders of the causal link between action and consequence and quite a lot of anguished breast beating and hand-wringing it has provoked from some shades of the political spectrum.

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The idea that two irresponsible young people, who, it is claimed, did not actually get involved in any rioting themselves, should receive a jail sentence for what they wrote on Facebook, rather than for any act of their own, has been denounced as a sort of Orwellian conviction for Thoughtcrime, whilst jailing someone for possession of a stolen something they didn’t actually remove from the store themselves is seen as a return to harsh Victorian justice.

Of course thought must be free in any free society, but what the handwringers fail to admit is that in this case no thought was involved; no cause was being espoused; no argument being advanced; no sense of injustice being voiced. This was simply an invitation to engage in recreational rioting and the entry on Facebook was itself the act whereby they were involved in the rioting.

Incitement to riot has always been a crime and one that can be committed much more efficiently using digital media than in person, face-to face in the smoke across the barricades, which might actually require some moral courage. Likewise, much of the looting was recreational and opportunistic; rooted in greed, not need. If, on a night of rioting and looting, someone you scarcely know hands you a plasma screen television, you might just wonder if they came by it honestly.

The causal link must be clear if society is to remain civilised and

I have asked myself this summer whether the fact that all actions have consequences is not perhaps the most important lesson schools have to teach children. It’s the cognitive Stage 5 Jean Piaget never quite got round to writing; it underpins everything we do; without it, almost everything we do is pointless but if we teach it well enough, all else will follow.

Thomas Hobbes, the XVII century philosopher who invented social contract theory, is best known for his dictum that the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

What is almost never remembered is that Hobbes was describing life not as he believed it to be, but as it would be without a consensus on social norms.

Although, to judge from the television coverage, a high proportion of this summer’s rioters were indeed nasty, brutish and short, though rarely solitary and by no means all of them poor, society as a whole must have higher aspirations. Significantly, one of Hobbes’s less well-known utterances in a pre-scientific age was this: “Science is the knowledge of consequences and dependence of one fact upon another.”

So, you are probably asking, and I am asking myself, how do I segue from all this to saying something about St Albans School, and could I ever have a career as a continuity announcer?

Well, it follows that if every act is followed inescapably by a consequence, then by examining the consequence may you know the quality of the original act.

Examination results are a perfect paradigm of the linear progression from act to consequence, and in the light of the record consequences this year at A level: 73% A*/A and 94% A*-B; and GCSE: 55% A* and 87% A*/A; I think you will conclude, with me, that we must have had some very able students and some inspirational teachers acting in exemplary ways to bring these about.

We are here tonight to celebrate the achievements of both staff and students.

The same empirical reasoning can be applied to almost every aspect of School life: certainly to sports results, where in the team games we continue to record a very high ratio of wins, whilst in cross-country, our intermediate team carried off the National Championship. It holds good, too, in music, drama and art, where the quality of the product bears obvious witness to the quality of the process that produced it.

But it can be applied too in less quantifiable ways; moral ways, if you like; in which the consequence on which the School must be judged is the kind of people that leave this place at the age of eighteen.

Almost without exception, they are confident, well-qualified, well-rounded, well-balanced and extremely personable young people who are at ease in most situations they encounter. And the very significant investment of staff and student time the School makes in Charitable and Community Service activity, in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, in the CCF and the Partnership Scheme will have been an important part of their education in the social contract Hobbes described.

Governments, too have obligations under that contract, though, and this summer has seen the consequences of political acts carried out by governments years ago bearing hard upon this generation of students.

The previous Government’s insouciant expansion of student numbers towards an arbitrary target of 50% of the age cohort, whilst refusing to fund a commensurate expansion of places has collided with the Coalition’s tripling of tuition fees from next year to create a perfect storm in this summer’s UCAS admissions round.

Meanwhile, once-great Scottish universities look highly likely to harvest the consequences of their own government’s mean-spirited parochialism.

As you know, this year’s Upper Sixth leavers did extraordinarily well to come through it largely unscathed, with everyone who wanted a place this year securing an appropriate one.

Meanwhile though, the supposed “graduate earnings premium”, used to justify the hike in tuition fees, shows every sign of obeying the inexorable law of market forces so that jobs for which A levels used to be a perfectly adequate qualification now require a degree, whilst a Masters is becoming the default requirement for the ambitious graduate.

When lots of people want to buy scarce goods the price goes up.

Degrees used to carry a serious earnings premium when they were relatively rare; now the market’s flooded. The scarcer commodity is jobs for graduates.

They need to be ambitious for success, but to be clear about their core spiritual values and to rate happiness and emotional, physical and psychological well being above the obvious material trophies of success.

They need to be able to form stable, loving and mutually respectful relationships.

They need to manage all this whilst maintaining a sensible work-life balance in their lives and a humane, tolerant and charitable sympathy for other people whose lives are far from enviable.

It’s a tall order and one which we help them meet by stealth. It’s probably true to say that a great deal of

As you know, we are in danger of becoming victims of our own success; the school roll has grown in twenty years from under 600 to over 800. That has not been down to a deliberate structural expansion of the School, but rather a maximising of capacity. We have absolutely no intention of turning St Albans into a different and larger kind of School, because we believe what we have works for us and our pupils, but I have to admit that things are getting a bit snug, shall we say, in some areas of the campus, which is why, as you know, we are investing heavily in new and upgraded facilities.

The vast and magnificent Sports Hall and Swimming Pool that will come on stream next year is one obvious manifestation of this and as you know it will clear the way for major improvements in our catering facilities, which will relocate to the old gym, allowing us in turn to re-model what we still, in a spirit of postmodern irony, call the New Hall, as a Performing Arts Centre and a fitting home for the Music Department.

This term, we have been getting ahead of the game by taking delivery of a consignment of Steinway pianos as St Albans becomes an All-Steinway School, in a major initial investment in the improvement of our provision for music.

However, what I have not been able to publicise until very recently, because it has been both commercially and politically sensitive is that in August we completed the purchase of Aquis Court, the two very large office buildings currently occupied by KPMG on the site in Fishpool Street directly adjacent to the Lower Orchard where the Sports Hall is being built.

It’s the usual habit of history to give credit for developments of this kind to the incumbent Headmaster of the day, and, of course, I wouldn’t want to do anything to interfere with that healthy and honourable tradition.

Still, just between you and me, and as long as no-one’s taking notes, I should tell you that this coup is the result of some decisive action by the Chairman and his fellow Governors, but is, above all, a personal triumph for the Bursar, Derek Todd, and new governor Alistair Woodgate, himself an OA. Both have not only displayed some very nifty commercial footwork over the past months, but have worked incredibly hard on the project.

Planners permitting, the preferred use for the building is to relocate the Sixth Form Centre into part of the main building which offers ample social and private study space for the three hundred sixth form students we now have as well as much more appropriate office and administrative areas; to move the Art department into much better accommodation in the southern building and to transfer some departments from the increasingly cramped accommodation they currently occupy in the Abbey Gateway and elsewhere.

That, in turn, will free space on the existing site to create social spaces for other sections to take the pressure off form rooms at break and lunch time, to improve the teaching and learning environment and the quality of life in the School as a whole.

In consequence (to return to my theme) I am hopeful that, by September 2012, combining the advent of the Sports Hall and of Aquis Court, in a single year, the School will have doubled its existing floor area.

So we have exciting times ahead, but right now it’s time to get on with the main purpose of the evening.

13 Prizegiving

That’s why our role as a school has to be about much more than simply preparing students to pass exams, highly effective though we be in that task. To succeed in life beyond school and university, they need to be able to think independently and flexibly; to organise and plan their time autonomously; to think critically and make decisions judiciously, balancing the risks and advantages. They need to be sufficiently self-disciplined to work alone and have the skills to work as part of a team, knowing when to take a leading role and when to collaborate.

In any community, the most important element is, of course, the quality of relationships and we work hard at that here, but the quality of the environment has an important part to play, too, which brings me back to consequences.

It will give us an additional 15,600 sq. ft of floor space, replace at a stroke the grass play area lost to the construction of the Sports Hall and solve our perennial parking problem as well as enabling some of our long term development plans and some plans from the past that have had to be shelved for want of space.

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The consequences of supply and demand were obvious even when our Abbey Gateway was built.

Chaucer’s Wife of Bath, assessing her own commercial positioning towards potential husbands observes: “Greet prees at market, maketh deere ware.”

what our students learn at St Albans School, perhaps the most important part, they don’t realise they’re learning because they’re learning it simply through membership of a particular kind of community.

First Form Prizes

Fourth Form Subject Prizes

Achievement Awards

Progress Prizes

Thomas Goldstone Luke Vaghela Amit Wangoo Andrew Jennings Samuel Goymer Jonathan Ascott

Tolaji Bola Oliver Neusten Alexander Dines

Prizegiving

Second Form Prizes

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Achievement Awards

Progress Prizes

Edward Hunt James Kirsch Thomas Alexander Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero Thomas Sanderson Nirav Ganju-Cass

William Pavey Alexander Wick Hamish Tyler

Third Form Prizes Progress Prizes

Robin O’Connor Robert Tominey-Nevado Harry Sampson Oluwaseun Adekoya George MacGregor Freddie Scutt

Toby Reynolds Joshua Southworth Benedict Anthoney Benjamin Chrisp David Clegg Miles Fryer

Progress Prizes Ryan Allen Rory Barlow George Roussow Joseph Thomas Shahir Ali

Fifth Form Prizes Progress Prizes Daniel Stears Hugo Henson* Robin Sykes Charles Beaty George Rutledge

Jem Bosatta William Benyon Joseph Redwood William Barnes Thomas Kelly Christopher Williams Joseph Eastham Thomas Kelly Jem Bosatta Jonathan Muir William Benyon, David Cartwright Shahir Ali Jem Bosatta William Benyon Robert Goldstone Christopher Williams Joseph Zacaroli Nicholas Hill David Cartwright Nicholas Stride

Fifth Form Subject Prizes

Achievement Awards

Fourth Form Prizes

English Mathematics Art Biology Economics and Business Studies Chemistry Drama DT - Electronic Products DT - Graphic Products DT - Resistant Materials French Geography German Greek History Latin Music Physics Religious Studies Spanish

English Language English Literature Mathematics Art Biology Business Studies Chemistry Drama DT - Electronic Products DT - Graphic Products DT - Resistant Materials French Geography German Greek History Latin Music Physical Education Physics Religious Studies Spanish *Governors’ Award

Kieran Vaghela* Toby Taylor* Kieran Vaghela* Thomas Latham*, Nicholas Marnoch Patrick Shammas* Alexander Soames* Jonathan Phillips*, Matthew Armitage Matthew Hampstead Ashok Mathur James Oliver Kieran Vaghela* James Pavey* Daniel Heydecker* James Sinclair* George Prew* Kieran Vaghela* David McConnell* Harry Di-Lieto Jonathan Phillips* Stephen Baldwin,* George Prew* Matthew Harrison*

Rajan Bains Laurence Barton Christian Bevan Paddy Cavanagh Nishant Dahad Matthew Davey Ben Dawson William Floyd Thomas Foxton Chirag Gohil Thomas Govey Harry Hamer

English Literature Beth Vickers Mathematics Manhar Bhojwani*, Joshua Hampton*,

Alexander Wright Mathematics (John Godfrey Prize) Matthew Fletcher* Ancient History Thomas Gillespie, Timothy Smith* Art Joseph Temple* Ollington Art Exhibiton Prize Alexander Craig-Thompson Biology Catherine Grey* Chemistry (George Wishart Prize) Joshua Hampton* DT - Electronic Products William Lay DT - Graphic Products Alexander Campbell DT - Resistant Materials Robert McDougall* Drama Jonathan Bennett Drama - Performance (OA Masonic Lodge Prize) Frederic Sawyer Economics Timothy Smith* French Charlotte Simpson* Geography Gordon Tvieto-Duncan German (EP Debenham Prize) Alexander Craig-Thompson Greek Nicholas Butler* History (Archibald John Eastcott Prize) Jonathan Bennett Latin Nicholas Butler* Music Frederic Sawyer Physical Education Victoria Walker Physics Luke Bevan Politics Laurence Hulse Religious Studies Ciaran Cleary Spanish Nicholas Holmes*

Hugo Henson James Hepher Edward Lewis Luke Morton (2010) Matthew Morris Paramesh Natarajan Christopher Nott Mark Sadler Kishan Soni Alexander Terry Ben Woolf Vasudev Zaver (2010)

Lower Sixth Subject Prizes English Literature Mathematics Further Mathematics

Ancient History Art Biology Chemistry DT - Graphic Products DT - Resistant Materials Drama Economics French Geography German Greek History Latin Music Physical Education Physics Politics Religious Studies Spanish

Wilkie Hollens Philip Ruis Peter Place, Christopher Schon Jonathan Peters Harry Lavelle James Anthoney Max Greenfield Brian Yuen Stephen Farquhar Kitty Wright George Tasker Lucinda Toole Jonathan Inglis Alex Shavick Harry Hopla Wilkie Hollens Arran Bhatiani Chris Springthorpe Niall Flahive Andrew Ball Thomas Lewis Robert Brown Samuel Baloun

*Governors’ Awards

Special Awards

Contribution to Parnership Prize Louis Grant, James Mohajer Josh Handel (Charities) Cup, Extended Project Prize Richard Zetter Highstead Cup Charlote Simpson Powell-Davies Service Prize William Lay Upper Sixth Governors’ Awards Prefects’ Leaving Prize Matthew Jennings,

Anna Miles, Sabian Chauhan Geraint Northwood- Frederic Sawyer

Smith Head Prefect’s Prize Nicholas Foster Jack Hogan Benedict Parker James Horne Simon Phillips Joshua Huntingford Alexander Springett Anna Miles Alexander Stride Christopher Munro

15 Prizegiving

Upper Sixth Subject Prizes

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Fifth Form Governors’ Awards

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16

Creative

Creative Writing Day Questions for the Writers As has become customary, the School was invaded by a motley collection of costumed figures for the annual First Form Creative Writing Day on the last day before half term. The Cat in the Hat and Sherlock Holmes, as well as the odd pirate and a number of Alex Riders, were in evidence as First form pupils dressed up to enjoy an inspiring day of explorative writing, hosted by some of the most imaginative writers.

Jonathan Stroud, Naomi Woddis and John Mole entertained and guided the brilliantly costumed year group. Each of the writers encouraged the students to explore poetry, characterisation and their senses, tasking the pupils with various creative writing exercises before providing constructive criticism. The authors reading some of their own work followed this. There was a general buzz around the library, and John Mole noted that the pupils ‘inspired each other’, and was very impressed by the standard of work. What’s more, it certainly helped many of the pupils gain confidence in reading out their work and taking pride in it.

Over the course of the day, the writers were interviewed by members of the Publications Department on the aims of their sessions.

John Mole: For the participants to write poems, to enjoy their and each others’ work, perhaps even to surprise themselves with what they can achieve, and to feel encouraged to go on with what they have started.

Jonathan Stroud: I was trying to introduce to the students the concept of creating a character from scratch – to show them the catalyst of starting and developing a plot.

Naomi Woddis: Of course it’s always beneficial to do creative things, I was trying to help foster their creativity through the medium of poetry.

Favourite costume?

John Mole: The Cat in the Hat who made his own whiskers!

Jonathan Stroud: Ooh that’s a hard one! I’ve seen a great Cat in the Hat, an authentic Sherlock Holmes, and some fantastic pirates and zombies.

Naomi Woddis: It’s too hard to decide, they’ve all been amazing!

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What was the purpose of the day?

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Creative

Why is it important for students to read and be creative?

John Mole: Because it will enrich their lives, and expand their horizons. As for ‘being creative’, as a writer once asked himself, ‘How can I know what I think until I see what I say?’

Jonathan Stroud: Students need to learn how to express themselves through the art of creative writing – its one thing to simply read books, another to engage with the world by writing creatively.

Naomi Woddis: Books are a gateway to a world of imagination and fantasy – you only have to look at a person who doesn’t read to see what empty, vacuous lives they lead! Creative writing increases selfconfidence and locates your inner soul.

Jonathan Peters

Hyde Revealed

A

Creative

George Prew

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s my cane strikes down upon the cobbled streets of London, I know freedom. My heart is filled with an incredible levity, knowing that the fool Jekyll has “seen fit” to call upon me. He had sworn after last time that he would stop, but I knew that he could never resist the temptation to use me again – no man could. So, while Henry Jekyll should be asleep at home, Edward Hyde is reborn, and, like the phoenix, he is born into fire.

I feel a sense of unbridled joy now that I do not have to play at being that which I am not. I am wearing my clothes, carrying my cane, and thinking my thoughts. There is a terrible feeling, however, that this may only be temporary and that Jekyll may suffer one of his changes of heart once more. I vow to use this opportunity wisely.

All these thoughts swarm in my mind while strolling down the street and yet, despite all that is right in my mind, there clings to my consciousness a certain melancholy that afflicts only those who know the true nature of the world, that everyone is like me, that anyone can bring me out at a moment’s notice, that I am humanity, and yet most still refuse. They desperately hang on to the flawed values of civility and kindness – these people are the monsters, going against their nature for their own betterment.

My discontented mood is only worsened by the peaceful hour. It is summer, and the evening is the kind when romance is in the air and man is at his most fanciful. I despise these evenings. They bring out the worst of man’s nature, where every person that one meets is smiling gaily and offers assistance without need for prompt. The kind of night when open and honest human nature is left by the wayside to make way for these honeyed, false remarks.

I look up to the sky to calm myself, but all I see is the moon taunting me with its sickening purity and, beneath the moon, something glowing with the same intolerable intensity. I scrutinise this apparition further and see that it is a man – if man he can be called. He is an acquaintance of Jekyll’s. I am instantly repulsed both by him and everything he represents. The mysterious glow is in fact the man’s hair; he seems of some old age and carries himself respectably.

His face has an archaic horror about it, as if it speaks of a time when men were not as I know them to be.

I hate this man, this hypocrite. He embodies what is wrong with this despicable world, he maintains the

Illustration: Juliette Mann

19

Creative

A response to Jekyll and Hyde by RL Stevenson

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ideas of a humanity that is naturally “kind” and “decent”, he has that indecent beauty of the very old and very kind. He is like Jekyll, or that other one, the meddler, Utterson. I remember the man’s name, Sir Danvers Carew, just as he starts to approach me. I sicken with the thought of exchanging pleasantries with this avatar of inhumanity, but I know that I must.

Carew engages me with a weak, almost simpering voice. I hide my face, in case he recognises me from that incident when I tapped that melodramatic girl. I do not remember Carew being at the scene, but no doubt one of Jekyll’s friends was obliging enough to inform him of details that do not concern him, as is the way of these pests – a sign of their inflated sense of self-importance no doubt.

Fortunately, Carew does not seem to recognise me. He hardly notices me.

He has been conversing at me for a while now and I have not heard a single word. I heft my cane, feel the weight, glare at the despicable vermin in front of me. A notion infests my mind, and it gets more tantalising with each passing moment, but something holds me back. Self-restraint? Jekyll’s influence? It does not matter; all that matters is that, for once, my beast remains caged – for now.

I look back at Carew; he is pointing now. One word finally penetrates my contemplation: “Utterson”. What business has he with Utterson? What business does Utterson now have with me? My wrath mounts further and finally erupts. I brandish my cane and cry to the heavens at the man who has put me through so much distress. It is a beautiful cry, savage, animal.

Carew does not appreciate the beauty. He stumbles back, taken by surprise.

The moment crystallises in my mind, as I finally see the man behind the façade. I see Carew’s face register an indignant look; his entire body seems taken aback. He is afraid, and I relish his fear. I advance upon him, cane raised, as I see what must be done.

I bring my cane down upon the man with such force that his skull audibly shatters. I feel a fit of glee coursing through my body, each crack in my storm of blows punctuating my unreserved delight. Somewhere distant I hear another body drop. I do not care now, the only imperative driving my mind is beating this body until no trace of the hypocrite is left. The body, or rather, remains, leap upon the roadway and suddenly I am weary. A great tide of fatigue washes over me, and something else. Regret? I suspect Jekyll’s hand.

I am about to depart when I realise that my cane has splintered into two.

I retrieve the errant half, still semi-giddy with delight, as I succumb to panic.

No, not I – Jekyll succumbs to panic. He takes me, still in a fit of euphoria, back to Soho as I stare down at the cane in my hands and succumb to Jekyll’s corrupting influence.

Hogshead’s End Harry Fleet

Creative

’T

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was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for Hogshead. He was rummaging through the cupboards, as usual, searching for something, anything that would satisfy his raging belly. But there was nothing, not even a pork scratching, that he could eat. But then his eyes fell on the turkey. The Christmas Turkey. The turkey his wife told him to leave until tomorrow. But he couldn’t leave it, not in the state it was in, covered in gravy and vegetables. It couldn’t hurt to have just one of the legs, could it? He stopped, and listened, then spun around to see that no-one was behind him. He composed himself. He looked left and right, then walked slowly towards the turkey. He was on tiptoe, but didn’t realise the effect this was having on the already weakened floor. He was there. He licked his lips, reached out with a flabby mitt, and took hold of the thigh of that plump piece of poultry, and ripped it from the bird. As one leg turned into another, and the other turned into the whole bird, he did not look behind him. So he didn’t see the stooped man as he quietly slipped out, chuckling.

“Hogshead!” a distant voice called. “What have you done?”

“Gnrrr?” he groaned in reply.

“Get…up”– whack! – “you…lazy”– whack! – “gluttonous thing!”– whack!

He groaned as he was hit again and again. At last, after several minutes of this, Hogshead opened his eyes, saw his wife, and closed them straight away.

The turkey, he thought. Oh no. He was still in the kitchen. He must have fallen asleep on the floor after he finished off the last morsels of flesh. He raised himself a few inches to look at the turkey, or what was left of it, at least. He sank back down again.

“I don’t believe it.” His attention was brought back to his wife. “What do I tell the kids? What do I tell everyone who’s coming over for Christmas lunch?”

“Err,” mumbled Hogshead, wringing his hands, “Ooh, idea: I’ll get another one!”

“We can’t afford it.”

“Oh.” He racked his brains. “Err, wait. Isn’t there that shop that just opened down the road… wasn’t it… err…Poultry for a Pound? Or was it Typical Turkeys? Anyway, I’m going down there to get another one!”

He jumped up, very slowly; in fact he didn’t jump at all. He just sort of dragged himself up using the worktops. He slung on a shirt and his trousers (split in several undesirable places), tried and failed to tuck his stomach somewhere where it wouldn’t look like a flat tyre, and set off.

He strolled down the street, his heavy footsteps cracking the pavement as he went. But as he came to face the shop, he realised the name had changed again. It was now Bargain Bellies: is yours full? He shrugged, pushed the door that said pull, pulled it, and walked in.

He walked in and looked around. There was an old man who was thin, and had a very odd look about him. He showed Hogshead to a table, sat him down, and draped a tablecloth sized napkin on his rolls of meat. The man clicked his fingers, and three very short men came out of a kitchen, carrying three humongous plates of food. They were set down in front of him and Hogshead asked, “Excuse me, do you still have turkeys for sale, because my family’s one, err, caught fire.”

“Oh, yes, sir. We have turkeys, and chickens, and hogs, and any kind of

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meat you can think of. Would you like to sample some?”

Hogshead was already salivating. He nodded eagerly, and the old man lifted the first dish onto the table. Hogshead didn’t wait for an invitation; he didn’t need to. He grabbed what looked like a rack of spare ribs and ripped them apart with his teeth.

Over the course of the next hour Hogshead gorged himself through plate after plate of this cut-price nosh. He ravaged through bloody steaks, and slurped through trifles and tureens of other puddings. He ate so much that he soon had to move to a bigger seat, which was further away from the table.

He ate and he ate, but never stopped until there was a rapping on the door.

“HOGSHEAD, get out here!” It was his wife. She stormed in, grabbed Hogshead by the ear and dragged him out of the double doors. Once in the street, Hogshead began, “I don’t feel well –” “That’s entirely your fault!” yelled Hogshead’s wife. “If only…”

But Hogshead wasn’t listening to the voice of his wife, but was more interested in the growing pain in his stomach.

His great belly rippled, and Hogshead stopped, causing another landslide of abuse from his wife. There was a belch, a groan, and a fart.

Then came the explosion.

Hogshead was blasted off his feet by the torrent that was coming out of his rear. He flew up ten, twenty, thirty metres, but the stuff kept coming.

He called out to the shapes below him; the cars now looked like ants in the decimated street below, but it was too late. His insides swelled until the goo came out of his ears and nose and mouth. Then there was a boom, several splats, and silence.

Except for the screams of his wife, who had never expected to be in this situation.

The official records say it was an experimental firework. The local citizens and newspapers blame it on a blocked sewer. Others said it was aliens. But the old man cackled as he watched the evening news, but was happy that he had done his job…

21

Creative

Illustration: Juliette Mann

His Last Duchess Matthew Lavelle

My lord, now that we are alone, I must speak.

I’m sure you know how much we all love your daughter, As beautiful as a rainbow, As delicate as a petal, With the majesty of a swan And eyes like oceans.

Forgive me for this outburst, sir; you may wish to stop it dead.

I understand what it would be like having a Duchess for a daughter, But are you willing to dispatch her to a man you hardly know?

I know it is not in my right to advise you, But please at least go and view that man’s gallery, Full of exquisite paintings, buried in his mansion.

The one by Fra Pandolf really caught my eye.

I think it was of the Duke’s last Duchess, With skin as white as a corpse and a smile to die for.

Creative

22

Sir, please do stop interrupting; this is of great importance.

The Duke also is a wonderful handsome man; Every father would want him as an in-law, But I can still remember her first steps, Her first words, The first time she squeezed my thumb with her little hands And I cannot help but think she, Your stunning daughter, Is too young for marriage.

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Please, sir, do not raise your eyebrows in question.

There is a reason for these ramblings.

She is talented as a craftsman, But she lacks any touch of vanity; Her arrogance has flown away, Replaced by the gift of humility.

A response to ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning

The Ivory Lady Jem Bosatta

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She stirs from her beautiful slumber, Lifts herself gracefully, as folds of fuchsia silk Unfold about her. Her chains, fine as a spider’s thread, Bring her into stance, defiance glowing in her dark eyes.

She begins the dance; naked feet glide along the ivory As she swirls through the relentless rain Guided by the gentle steering of the marionetteer.

Her hands weave and wrists roll, Intertwining and flowing with her mahogany hair.

He waits, watching her toes skip fearfully up and down the keys, Listens to the weeping scales, and lowers his head to his guitar, Stroking each note as it enters the singing air.

Her head whips round, with urgent flames in her cheeks.

Ebony keys leap angrily, terrible chords crying battle, A duet between fury and its captor.

The beautiful puppet draws herself up once more, Hurling staccato sequences at her stony master, And falls back onto the ivory, Tears mixing with the rain.

Inspired by ‘Israel’ by Michael Schlierf

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Creative

The Drop

Illustration: Alex Campbell

Euan Wallace

I am from the only place in the world, An oasis of memories in the barren landscape of the present, From a jewel now lost to The Drop, The glint of a scalpel before it dived And the strange-smelling mask that made it do so; From the leaf I never caught before it hit the ground, The tears that fell down onto it, I’m from when the sky shattered right above my bed And the endless hard nights following.

I’m from scratches, cuts and bruises, From old times to new ones, From tic-tacs and popping ears, Magpies and superstition, From long walks in the wood, To ‘Why can’t I stay at home?’

Catching fairies and tricks of the light, I’m from the long journey over the hills, Hurtling towards The Drop at The End.

The Boundary James Sinclair

A square in the centre of school, Where all the pupils used to dump their bags Without much thought – off racks, of course.

All students used to run Through its mere perimeter to reach ‘next lesson’, And avoid punishment.

Creative

One crisp January morning, frost Casts a quilt of ice over the soft grass, clings to the hard Concrete walls. Weary adolescents, Exhausted from the tedium of pressing buttons repeatedly For several weeks – the sheer struggle to keep One’s eyes open after seven whole series of ‘Friends’– shocked to find their former way Barred, by a single, striped tape.

Exams had arrived.

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Oh, how this would inconvenience them!

No longer could they waste days without concern, No longer could they reach places of school As they had formerly done. - No, Instead, forced to take a prolonged route, Or even cut through another Classroom, with the perpetual pressure of Failing weighing heavily on hollowed minds.

Of course, some often boldly Scurried under the thin tape, exposing Feebleness.

But what if, after all exams were over, The barrier were to remain?

Would they care?

A solemn teacher looked down upon the square From an upper window, watching Anarchy as confused pupils were ordered not to Cross the boundary by other teachers, who themselves could Not explain why this barrier should still be present.

Like everyone else, they could only assume That the tape was put there by a higher power.

A smile broadens across my face.

Illustration: Juliette Mann

Lion Man Maddy Taylor

H

is knuckles bore star-like scars, smattered across the bone and spreading the length of his hand.

But the largest constellation lay on his right temple, a pattern of silvery lines and crinkled punctures. ‘Just a bit of rough and tumble’ was the phrase that spilled from his mouth with the blood and for the following weeks he wore his bandages as if a sign of acceptance into the pride. He shook out his hair, hacked at and flecked with dust, rough like the grasses of the plain. To distinguish him through appearance was easy, but to set his mind apart from those great beasts would be the more difficult task.

Even their musky aroma lingered on his hands – seemed almost permanent. He’d ventured into the wild to lose himself, but had found another part of life instead. His wild blue eyes that now seemed to be perpetually seeking adventure had once held only the flatness of routine and monotony. Now he was free and as she looked through the sandy haze at him, she wished she could find that for herself.

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Dukes

Water, water, everywhere?

The Silver DofE Expedition to the Brecon Beacons

Dukes

Our expedition to the Brecon Beacons began, predictably, with an epic coach ride. Twenty-four pupils and four members of staff took part in this the second of the non-CCF assessments.

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We were immediately confronted by sheets of Welsh rain for our acclimatisation walk. Unfortunately, only a handful of us had the foresight to have our waterproofs readily available; but, in the spirit of the Award, we ploughed on regardless. I only had the common sense to bring my waterproof coat, and consequently found my trousers soaking wet. As for those who had no coats, I am sure you can imagine the consequences. The drying room at Pen Arthur soon became the most desirable spot.

Though called an ‘acclimatisation’ walk, the conditions for the rest of the days were completely different, as we did not receive a single drop of rain. After a minor mistake in finding our destination which I shall not dwell on, we were finally reunited with Pen Arthur, after a personal interlude of five years, for one glorious night of relative luxury (ie. not under canvas). We wasted no time in meeting our assessor to be briefed and ensuring that everything was prepared for our three-day journey.

The expedition itself was an immense success, not only due to a distinct lack of precipitation. All four groups passed. The navigation presented us with few difficulties; our practice expedition in the spring had prepared us well for the practicalities of independent, autonomous walking and camping. The scenery throughout the expedition was stunningly beautiful, ranging

from fortress-like ridges to undulating moorlands, from vast, tranquil lakes to cloistered forests.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of all for me of the entire trip occurred precisely in the middle of the expedition – lunchtime on the second day. It was at around these hours that I returned to the environs of the famous Ridge Walk, which I vividly remember undertaking as a First former, especially the rather hapless moment when one of my comrades tumbled down the ridge calamitously on the walk back!

This time round, however, my team (of Jonathan Phillips, George Prew, Patrick Shammas and Brandon Hammé) walked sensibly on the comparatively level grassy plains, in the shadow of that towering ridge.

After ascending several hundred metres earlier in the day – by far the steepest incline of the expedition – we were greatly relieved at midday, after turning the final corner of the ridge, to see our remaining journey of the day stretched out. Following about an hour’s leg, in which we met both our assessor and teams travelling in the opposite direction, we finally arrived at the most alluring and sublime feature of the landscape – the serene waters of Llyn Y Fan Fawr. There we were greeted by all the members of staff, and the other team which was travelling in the same direction as us. It was time for all of us to have lunch. While the other group was cooking fajitas on the spot, and Mrs Crouch was giving my group an

impromptu biology lesson on the variety of creatures which inhabit the lake, I hung back, pondering the majesty of the scene, and struggling to pronounce the name of the tarn, as I wolfed down my peanut butter sandwiches.

Each group had decided upon a central aim for their expedition; mine being the photographing and identification of the various flowers and grasses in the area. Naturally this enhanced my appreciation even more of the considerable beauty of the landscape. This, coupled with the delightful company of friends, combined to provide a highly enjoyable and valuable experience, and I thank Mr Ford, Mr Evans, Mrs Crouch and Mr Wall for giving up their own time to make the trip a reality.

The expedition was the defining moment of the Award for me. Over the last year I have also greatly enjoyed participating in the other aspects of the Award, including playing the clarinet and undertaking fitness training at the gym. In addition, I have especially liked helping eight year-olds in their preparation to receive their First Holy Communion. The Award has definitely been a greatly worthwhile undertaking.

James Sinclair

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Redemptive Justice Our Country’s Good on stage in New Place opportunity to better themselves by putting on a play. This simple gesture provokes a titanic struggle between those determined to offer the convicts an opportunity to restore some of their human dignity, and those unable or unwilling to see beyond the basic prejudices they harbour to towards the convicts they hold in such contempt. The play, like the convicts themselves, exists under the ever-present shadow cast by the gallows.

First performed in 1988 by the Royal Court Theatre to celebrate Australia’s bicentenary, Our Country’s Good was certainly a bold and ambitious choice for the School production and was certainly a far cry from the bawdy humour of Tom Jones or the comforting familiarity of Great Expectations.

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Set in eighteenth century colonial Sydney, the play tells the story of how convicts are offered the chance to embrace civilisation and culture by participating in a production of a play. Remarkably, it is based on the actual events of 1789 when a production of George Farquhar’s comedy The Recruiting Officer was staged in the penal colony of New South Wales.

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At the heart of the production lies the struggle of a few good men who wish to extend to the convicts, most of whom have been transported for life for less than heinous crimes, an

Annabel Thomson and Charlotte Simpson gave convincing performances as women finding their way in a new world

Ralph Clark and a vulnerable young convict, Mary Brenham, played by the delightfully persuasive Charlotte Simpson, and you have drama and intrigue in abundance.

Moral Struggle

From the very first scene, the moral struggle at the heart of the play was intelligently handled, with the cast able to nurture the powerful notion that culture and art can be transformative – that literature and The central character in this struggle humanity can bring civilisation to the most savage and inhospitable is Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark, environment. The contrast between played brilliantly by Freddy Sawyer, who must overcome the determined that and the new, embryonic civilisation, struggling to establish itself in and often spiteful opposition of his an unforgiving environment, was very peers, led by the pugnacious Major effectively mirrored in the power Robbie Ross. Freddy Sawyer captured perfectly the dilemma of a man struggle that so divides the British officers charged with guarding their torn between duty and conscience convicts. while Will Jacobs, as Ross, was a tempest of rage and self-righteous Despite the provocative and poanger. Throw into the mix an unlikely, litical nature of the text, there are but blossoming romance between lighter moments and these were handled with comic aplomb. Sarah Tilley raised plenty of smiles as the raucous Meg Long while Natasha Driscoll and Annabel Thomson put in convincing performances as the feuding convicts prepared to go to any lengths to survive this voyage of the damned.

Challenges The play also presents a challenge in regards its sexual content, since artistic frustrations are not the only cause of tension to torment the play’s protagonists. It is never easy for School productions to address such challenging material without sacrificing the integrity of the text; balancing dramatic integrity and keeping within the obvious restraints imposed by the nature of the cast, crew and audience presented a genuine challenge in this instance.

With the help of some mature acting

by Emma Taylor as the precocious Duckling Smith and Jonny Bennett as her tortured lover, Harry Brewer, the production tackled one of the play’s most challenging relationships head-on.

Visually, this was a very impressive production, the officers resplendent in their eighteenth century military uniforms, while the convicts, miserable and outcast, were predictably

tawdry in their rags. The set certainly evoked the other-worldly nature of this unique frontier wilderness – an alien environment, complete with red earth and pastel pink sky effectively conveyed the sense that we had not only been transported to another time but also to another world. This would only have added to the harsh and alien environment and it augmented the sense that these miserable convicts, and unlikely theatrical players, were

very far from home and all that was familiar and comforting to them. The production made effective use of incidental music to add to the sense of disconnection with familiarity.

Indeed, for those of us of a certain generation, its unsettling, almost supernatural quality evoked memories of eerie movies such as Picnic at Hanging Rock.

A bold choice of play and an ambitious one too

Lieutenant Ralph Clark (Freddy Sawyer) is confronted by one of the convicts (Cameron Epstein)

since it has the potential to test the comfort-zone of cast and audience alike, but Our Country’s Good was a successful and thought-provoking production that marked both a confident directorial debut for Mary Bruton and continued the strong dramatic traditions of the School.

GJW

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Photography by Wilkie Hollens

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The Creation of a Play

Drama

Time, death and GCSE drama

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Time was of the essence as the term’s work was based on a collection of poems, pictures and prose centred around the main theme – time. Now as you might imagine, some of these were quite morbid – in literature, Time can often be closely linked with Death – and as such, Death was where most of our imaginations headed. One of the most memorable stimuli was an image of a Banksy piece, depicting a classic image of the Grim Reaper but with a huge yellow smiley face in the place of the Reaper’s skull. This portrayal of Death being a quasi-human being is quite an interesting one to work a play on, something that all of the groups certainly thought about in the first few stages; not only Death, but Time as a character as well.

would be within their imagination and within the boundaries of physical possibility. With that in mind now, I look back and see that we strayed from the original path we set out on.

Of course, this is always quite difficult when you are scripting on the go – at any time, we presumed that we would devise the following scene once we had perfected the current scene.

…ironically, time was one of the things that made us venture from our first idea This gave us some problems, however, and it was when we encountered them that we began to realise that time was demanding us to hurry on and ironically, time was one of the things that made us venture from our first idea. This was mainly because at the time when we had to produce the master script, we had not practised three of the last scenes at all. This meant we had to write out the script, cues and all,

However, my group went even more morbid than a walking, talking Death; we decided that a realistic death would make even more of an impression on our audience than a supernatural death. We wanted characters our audience could relate to and feel empathy for; situations that

without really knowing if it would work on stage. In hindsight, that would be one of the main points of improvement if I were to go through the process again, as I discovered that what is essential for devising a script is testing different ideas in a scene, then watching what works best in order to decide on the final outcome rather than deciding on the script before setting foot on the stage.

In order to reach the climax more quickly, the play finished off with some rather strange, spooky scenes which would have just about been plausible if the audience had been expecting a realistic play, but seemed more comfortable outside of the ‘reality’ genre, and still made overall an effective and believable plot. The final rehearsals, including the first performance, were slightly jittery and slow-moving but the pressure of being in a marked performance ironed out the creases, and left behind a play which all of us could justifiably be proud of.

AS Level Drama A new interpretation of Macbeth sees fine results After months of preparation, two AS Drama groups flawlessly performed their own interpretations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the last week of the Spring Term. They were by no means simply regurgitations of the classic: the groups had cut, choreographed and produced their pieces under the influence of the actor, playwright and director, Steven Berkoff. The results were two strikingly innovative takes on Macbeth, where Shakespeare’s original words were taken to a new dimension by Berkoff’s dramatic methods.

flawless unity and create harmonies of speech – or screams – and transform Shakespeare’s dialogue into rhythmic chants. The multi-role style used by Berkoff meant that the performers had to create on-stage character switches and this made the impression of the characters even more striking. The range of the students’ skills was clearly demonstrated – one minute, a performer would be a cackling, contorted witch, and the next, the dominating, manipulative Lady Macbeth.

These stylistic features allowed Visually, the performances were the groups to focus on some less captivatingly eerie – each actor was obvious features of Macbeth and uniformly dressed and wore identical made for thrilling theatre. face make-up, which picked up on Juliette Mann Berkoff’s use of masks and ensemble work. By extending the role of the witches to the entire cast, both performances saw seamless group work, where the actors would not only move together, but speak in

Jem Bosatta

The Tempest Tales: A modern reworking of Shakespeare’s play was exceptional, with the actors moving skilfully into position as the lights rose and fell, creating a series of still images to show the progression of the action.

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BTC

… devised by the very talented cast themselves – a dynamic series of scenes…

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The entire first act was devised by the very talented cast themselves; a dynamic series of scenes showed the events leading up to the shipwreck which usually opens the play, and were an excellent alternative to Prospero’s monologue from the original. Company bigwig and gambling addict Prospero (Adam Annis) finds himself marooned on an island after having his drink spiked by his power hungry brother during an ill-fated yachting trip. On the island he engages the services of the spirit Ariel (George Grant) and the deformed monster Caliban (Alec McQuarrie), the latter in particular resentful of his lot and desperate to free himself from servitude. Under Prospero’s guidance, Ariel creates the storm that brings those responsible for Prospero’s downfall to the island. As well as strong performances from all involved, the first act was also notable for its technical excellence. One scene in particular

The quality of the production was due in no small part to the direction of Miss Baxter, assisted by Miss Bruton and Mr Bhantoa. Miss Baxter herself had this to say about the contributions of the boys during Lower School Drama Club and their preparation for the summer production: “I have been overwhelmed by the wit, confidence and unabashed imaginations of the boys who attend.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the boys on this production – they have shown real commitment from the outset and have been a joy to direct.” With such talent and confidence evident among these two year groups, the future of drama at the school is looking very promising indeed.

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The Lower School drama production for the Summer term 2011 was a reimagining of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, with the famous tale of betrayal, revenge and eventual redemption given an innovative, modern twist. The Italian grandeur of the Middle Ages that was the setting for the original play was transformed into a thoroughly contemporary environment of corporate backstabbing and expensive yachts.

The second act was a shortened adaptation of the original play and the talented cast rose splendidly to the challenge of performing in verse. The shipwrecked men, Alonso, Ferdinand, Antonio, Sebastian and Gonzalo (Ben Cammack, Matthew Edwards, Edward Hunt, Jack Dobson and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero) wander the mysterious island, unknowingly influenced by invisible spirits until they face up to their betrayal of Prospero. The well-timed comedy of the second act revolved around Caliban and his attempts to use drunken fools Trinculo and Stefano (Michael Davies and Ian Davidson – a wonderful double act) to kill Prospero and secure his freedom.

The performances of all involved were exceptional but those of the lead trio were particularly worthy of note:- Adam Annis was a commanding presence on the stage, giving

Prospero a statesman-like quality; George Grant managed to bring an ethereal quality to Ariel, staring wistfully into the distance while delivering his lines with skill; and Alec McQuarrie’s performance as Caliban was superb, with both his vocal and physical performances portraying the tortured beast perfectly.

Summer Nights A night of song in support of Edinburgh production

Drama

Billed as a musical extravaganza and staged by the Music and Drama Departments, this fine evening of informal, musical entertainment provided a light hearted and delightful end to the Summer Term. Talented Sixth Form students successfully showcased their musical and performance skills, dazzling their relaxed audience with some very professionally performed pieces from a carefully chosen variety of shows. The mood varied: switches from moving pathos to upbeat humour and fun reflected the careful planning of the evening by our very astute Director of Music, Mr Stout. Mr Ford and Miss Mendes da Costa also contributed to the evening with their own special performances.

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The opener, performed by the Company, was Skid Row from the Little Shop of Horrors, featuring some very sassy, well-coordinated, doo-wop singing from the girls. Suddenly Seymour from the same show, performed by Kitty Wright and Freddy Sawyer kept up the mood. In contrast,

Peter Martin gave a very moving rendition of Maria from West Side Story, followed by I’m Nothing Without You from City of Angels performed confidently by Rob Philips, Nick Fleet, Nick Butler and Phil Ruis. Freddy Sawyer, following the poignant A Little Fall of Rain from Les Miserables sung

by Rob Brooks and Sam Magnus, performed Tonight at Eight from She Loves Me with delicious anticipation. Some more upbeat numbers followed, Move On from Sunday in the Park was sung

by Kitty Wright and Rob Brooks and Sam Magnus, while Lucie Toole and Ellie Rosser-Smyth wittily presented Look at Me from Witches of Eastwick.

Charlye Simpson and Tash Undrell gave a stylish and very amusing performance of Defying Gravity from Wicked, followed by the irrepressible Elliot Krieger and Juliette “Jazz” Mann singing Master of the House from Les Miserables. There was a real buzz

during the interval as the audience cheerfully took the opportunity to refill their glasses, enjoy some food and discuss their enjoyment of the show.

The second half opened with Sondheim’s brilliant You Could Drive a Person Crazy from Company sung with real pzazz by Annabel Thomson, Charlye Simpson and Tash Undrell.

Pete Martin and Charlye Simpson then gave us a dreamy Summer Nights from Grease, followed by a couple of solos: Meadowlark from Ellie RosserSmyth and a moving On My Own from Dominique Hall. Rob Phillips changed the mood with a very funny rendition of Mr Cellophane from Chicago. Ellie Rosser-Smyth and Pete Martin gave us Elephant Love Medley from Moulin Rouge, to be followed by Annabel Thomson and Rob Phillips singing A Little Priest from Sweeney Todd. Juliet “Jazz” Mann stunned the audience with her very cute and knowing performance of All That Jazz from Chicago, which was followed

by Tell Me It’s Not True from Blood Brothers performed by Tash Undrell, Freddy Sawyer, George Tasker and Jack Hampson. A grand finale to the evening came with a rousing performance by the Company of One Day More from Les Miserables.

This was an energetic and ambitious evening’s entertainment, which succeeded on many levels. Proceeds from the show supported performances of the Upper Sixth Drama students’ production of Blackwood at the Edinburgh Festival in August.

JMG

Blackwood – New Place to Edinburgh On stage in St Albans Murderers, schizophrenics and bumbling journalists all found their place in the A2 devised production. Based around the title, Film Noir, Freddy Sawyer, Johnny Bennett, Cameron Epstein and Alex Campbell created a story set in 1930s New York about two struggling writers. One, in desperation, begins to write about a fictional Victorian vaudeville murderer – Blackwood. Things take a sinister turn when the murders in the story

begin happening across the city. Told through a combination of acting on stage and filmed projections on a screen, compiled by Alex Campbell, the audience is submerged into the monochrome world of Blackwood and his twisted antics. Cameron’s devilish and sadistic Blackwood proved effectively terrifying through his vocal range, from cheery cockney to possessed screaming. Johnny was equally effective in his disgruntled

writer who hid a dark secret and Freddy, as the writer who met a sticky end, was also convincing.

Alex’s technical prowess added to the general atmosphere of mystery and confusion. The story as a whole was coherent and chilling with an unexpected twist, made more so by the high calibre of acting. Overall the performance was a success and we wish them the best for their results in summer.

Facing the Fringe Taking a home-grown show to the Edinburgh Festival Blackwood began as our A2 Drama performance piece, devised and directed by the four of us in our U6 year. Following its success - along with encouragement from our friends and teachers, we decided to take the show on to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as a final project to mark the end of our time at St Albans School. As the applications for the festival expired just a week after our A2 performance, some speedy organisation was required (aptly handled by Alex), not to mention a large and generous loan from the School’s bursar.

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At the end of July we put on five performances at New Place, serving as our rehearsal period for the festival itself, as well as a fundraiser to ensure that we could pay our loan back to the school (which covered expenses for the application fee and venue hire, as well as accommodation fees whilst up in Edinburgh).

The show’s run in Edinburgh proved a great success, gaining audiences of respectable sizes each night as well as a couple of reviews from local newspapers, including 5 stars from Informed Edinburgh. Despite the fatigue brought on by a frantic run of nine performances, preceded each day by a few hard hours of promoting, coupled with the strain of living together in an apartment for two weeks… After a while it’s the little things that get to you. The four of us really enjoyed the whole experience, making it a worthy addition to a very good summer.

High point: Performing to an audience of 70 in a 65 seat venue on our last night.

Low point: Thinking we had a rat living with us in our apartment.

Freddy Sawyer

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Thanks again to the bursary and the music department for their financial support, as well as everyone who came to see Blackwood both in St Albans and up in Edinburgh.

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“This play you will entice nels of through tun ilities shady possib ou and leave y y if ou’ll wondering know ever really ’.” ‘whodunnit inburgh Informed Ed

The traditions of film noir were certainly respected

“A ridiculous and farcical piece of theatre, full of bizarre twists and turns, with hysterical moments and some magnificen t ideas.”

What’s On Stage

Nights at the Theatre Reviews from a range of theatre trips over the year

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The Sixth Form dramatists were treated to not one but two marvellous theatrical spectacles in January.

The first was Ibsen’s The Master Builder at the Almeida Theatre – featuring Hollywood starlet Gemma Arterton as the ‘bewitching’ Hilde. Stephen Dillane was equally magnetic in his role as the master builder and all students came away feeling awed by Ibsen’s drama.

A dramatisation of Kafka’s The Trial at the Greenwich Theatre was extremely enjoyable. The audience was a little surprised to be presented with audience participation and interpretive dance, but despite, or perhaps because of these features, this alternative production was amusing and poignant.

Seven Sixth form English students and three members of staff capitalised on a rare opportunity to witness a production of Double Falsehood, Lewis Theobald’s adaptation of a supposedly ‘lost’ Shakespeare play.

The audience was transported back to eighteenth century Spain for an intricate tale of love and deception, which contained many elements typical of Elizabethan drama, with two contrasting leading men, one of modest birth, full of honour and probity, and the other an aristocratic villain.

After the play ended, students and staff engaged in the fierce debate that has lasted for centuries, discussing whether it was a genuine work of Shakespeare, or an elaborate forgery.

The Trial

Photo: Manuel Harlan www.manuelharlan.co.uk

Drama

The Master Builder

At the beginning of February, the Sixth form indulged in an expedition to the epicentre of culture that is Camden, where they were treated to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s King Lear at the Roundhouse, directed

by David Farr. The students were impressed by the interesting set design composing of an industrial, metal back drop that fell apart loudly during the scene upon the heath. The lighting also reflected the industrial element of design by having lines of neon as well as bleak white spotlights and blue flashes. There was some debate as to the effectiveness of the costumes – not all were persuaded by the medley of medieval robes, modern day dresses, First World War military and medical uniforms with a peppering of fur collars for luck. However, it was agreed that all the acting was fantastic, with star performances from Greg Hicks playing Lear and Darrell d’Silver as Kent. The most memorable scene was the bloody mutilation of Gloucester, in which his eyes were removed by the cruel Regan, her husband and Edmund.

The production was a great success and everyone came away thoroughly harrowed from the tragic ending.

D

Double F

King Lear

‘Nothing will come of nothing.’ So states the gruff monarch that is King Lear when discussing Cordelia’s refusal to measure her love for him. Derek Jacobi’s Lear was everything that would be expected from the legendary Shakespearian actor, moving seamlessly from the doting father, to the enraged and mad. Other outstanding performances came from Ron Cook as the embittered and wise Fool and Gina McKee played the merciless Goneril with calculated conviction. The end scene (for those yet to discover the joy of King Lear I will not go in to too much detail) caused more than one heart in the audience to break.

Hamlet

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The production on the whole was enjoyable. However, many felt they did not connect emotionally to the tragedy with some preferring the rival production directed by David Farr. The mutilation of Gloucester was given less prominence in the Jacobi performance with more emphasis being placed on the relationship between Goneril and Regan, and the emotional state of Cordelia. Despite these minor shortcomings, on the whole the Upper and a few Lower Sixth English students thoroughly enjoyed the night.

The Third form, Lower and Upper Sixth were treated to a trip to Milton Keynes to watch arguably Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, Hamlet.

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From the outset, the viewers were intrigued by Rory Kinnear’s tortured protagonist, who moved them with his poignant delivery of the soliloquies.

Patrick Malahide delivered the cold, merciless role of Claudius to great effect, augmented effectively by the fact he was a dead ringer for Vladimir Putin. Polonius, played by David Calder, offered comic relief during the more lengthy, serious passages with aplomb. Despite these tours de force, some of the other performances proved a disappointment. Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, was played by Clare Higgins, whose persistent belief that delivering the lines at a shrieking pitch so that they became unintelligible was sadly misplaced. Despite Higgins’ apparent attempt to sabotage the emotional scenes with Hamlet, Kinnear pulled through, saving the day and upholding the honour of Shakespeare.

Dr Faustus

Falsehood

In June, Sixth Form English students travelled to the Globe Theatre to witness a brand new production of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. In the play, the titular character, restless for knowledge, forsakes scholarship for magic and makes a pact with the Devil: if the tortured spirit Mephistopheles will serve him for 24 years, Faustus will yield his soul to the Devil after death.

The performances, were uniformly excellent – Paul Hilton made for a convincing protagonist, conveying a true sense of dread as Faustus’ final hours drained away, Arthur Darvill, whilst best known for playing weedy non-entity Rory in Doctor Who, took a surprisingly effective sinister turn as Mephistopheles, and Robert Goodale provided welcome comic relief in between the dramatic scenes.

Despite the technical restraints of the theatre and an irritating pillar obstructing our view, the staging was impressive, with the Globe becoming the scene for an epic battle between Lucifer and the angels for one man’s soul. Larger than life puppets, huge flying dragons and horned stilt walkers brought Marlowe’s fantastical world to life.

Jonathan Peters

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Creative

Previous page: A2 work by Alex Campbell

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A2 work by Natasha Undrell (above) and AS work by Harry Lavelle (below)

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A2 work by Joe Temple

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AS work by Charlotte Hulse

Creative

First Form Mosaic Tile Project

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William McKay Munish Chopra Ollie Harris Jonny Ascott Dominic Ball Toby Palmer Ross Ferreira Tolaji Bola Azaan Choudhry Alex Dines

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Music

Bradley’s Gents Make Welcome Return The Gentlemen of St John’s create harmony in the Library

Music

Despite the atrocious weather on a very wet October evening, a full audience eagerly awaited the first concert of this year’s Young Musicians’ Series. This featured the very welcome return of the Choral Scholars from the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, The Gentlemen of St John’s, who are renowned for their close harmony singing.

Aged between 18 and 23, the Gents explored a full range of genres in this concert in voices ranging from alto to bass. This year, they were led and directed by OA and ex-Head of Choir, Bradley Smith.

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Wlliams’ arrangement of Turtle Doves. The rest of the programme consisted of a medley of pop and swing standards which varied in mood and tempo: the Beatles’ joyous The Gents of St Good Day Sunshine, a quite passionJohn’s have recorded ate delivery of George Gershwin’s several CDs Summertime and almost a doo-wop version of The Kinks’ Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon. A smooth and sophisticated delivery of Cole Porter’s Miss Otis Regrets was followed by a rock version from Bradley Smith of Neil Diamond’s I’m a Believer. Louis Jordan’s Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby? was delivered with real wit and humour. The full range of voices The first half of the concert focused was heard in the standard, Rodgers on sacred music from the sixteenth and Hart’s Blue Moon. This brought to the twentieth century. The opener to a close the Gents’ programme – a was the delightful sixteenth century delightful evening which covered Veni in hortem meum by Orlande de almost the full range of musical Lassus, unconventionally delivered by genres. We look forward to the the choir from behind the audience Gents’ return to St Albans School. in sonorous, bright, clear unison.

The singers then moved forward to JMG the library stage to deliver Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah, Part1.

Here the full vocal range was amply exploited, the diminuendo and Bradley Smith, who left the School in 2004 crescendo contributing to the drama The Gents of St John’s returned to the School to take up a Choral Scholarship at St John’s of the piece. Poulenc’s Quatre petites College, Cambridge. as part of the Young Musicians Series, led prieres de Saint Francois d’Assise showcased the ability of the Gents by former Head Chorister to fully and deeply express sacred Bradley Smith. An acappella music: particularly fine was the opening solo to part four. O Magnum group drawn from the choir of Mysterium by American composer St John’s College, Cambridge, Morten Lauridsen was a traditional, but solemn Christmas piece, which the Gents have an internaexplored the mysteries of faith. Inditional reputation with an vidual singers, in their own distinctive manner, led each phase before impressive list of engagements, the final sombre Alleluja. Franz including London’s Wigmore Biebl’s very popular Ave Maria closed the first half of the concert, with a Hall and the Sydney Opera trio of singers fronting the others in House. Bradley, who was Head a full voiced finale.

The second half of the concert revealed the versatility of the Gents, as the programme moved away from church music to range over popular and folk songs. The opening piece was a strong ballad, James Burton’s Ballalulow, which was then followed by the contrasting delicate sentiment of The Oak and the Ash. The classic Londonderry Air, embodying the full range of emotions, featured a controlled, but emotional tenor solo from Bradley Smith, while solos from the experienced Pablo Strong enhanced the delivery of Vaughan

Chorister and Lay Clerk at the Abbey as well as leading the School Choir, has enjoyed the experience of singing with the Gents enormously. ‘Singing live on Thai national TV without any preparation was a great moment,’ he said wryly.

Appassionato Young virtuosos play School concerts Ellie Fagg and Anna Tilbrook As part of the St Albans School Young Musicians’ series, Ellie Fagg and Anna Tilbrook performed three substantial romantic works for violin and piano in February. These most exciting and gifted British artists gave a wonderful display of musicianship.

Moderato. Rounding the exciting evening off, the elegant melodies of the Allegretto poco mosso created a love story dialogue between the two instruments, drawing the listener in, right to the very last unforgettable bar.

It was a privilege to hear such playing in our own School, and therefore a pity that there were not more pupils in the audience to enjoy such ravishing playing.

Chris Springthorpe

Talented musicians from the Purcell School gave a staggering showcase of musical mastery and wizardry in March, with a programme brimming with masterworks by the best composers, from Liszt to Schönberg.

In the first half David Son, who has performed at the Wigmore Hall, impressed with a very thoughtful piece by Schumann. The clarity and beautiful tone of his playing was very moving. On the piano, Joshua Hagley delighted the audience with a range of pieces by Schumann, Schönberg and Bartók. His vivacious style struck a chord with the audience. To round off the first half, Michelle Laimeche, who performed at the Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, played Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. A remarkable violinist, she evoked real emotion in the audience – a timeless performance piece.

Dimitris Daskalakis nailed Liszt’s spellbinding Mephisto Waltz on piano, where both the dark and playful sides of Liszt’s work were really brought to the fore, and the finale was spectacular. Then James Richardson calmed the atmosphere with von Weber’s trombone Romance, a soothing performance by a talented player.

After this,Yang Li took on Bartók’s Viola Concerto. She played every note with great tenderness and really brought the fullness of Bartók’s posthumously published masterwork to light – a joy to hear.

Finally, when Elizabeth Sharma stepped onto the stage it was clear something magical was going to happen. Playing the outrageously challenging Venenzia e Napoli from Liszt’s Années de Pèlerinage to a professional standard, the young virtuoso impressed with her agility and dexterity on the piano right from the opening bars.

The first movement was simply outstanding and the last showcased unbelievable power and speed. In a word; breathtaking.

Thanks to Mr McCord for organising this memorable concert, and to the Purcell School for providing it.

Alex Shavick

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Music

The second half was devoted to one of the peaks of the 19th century solo violin repertoire, making huge technical demands upon both pianist and violinist. These demands were met effortlessly by Anna and Ellie. The monumental Violin Sonata by Caesar Franck was another piece developing a love story. With a rolling, growing motif, continuously blooming and receding in the first movement, the listeners were pulled into the long phrases, ever extending the gorgeous melody, always varying in colour and mood. Full of rich, intense passion, the Allegro featured intricate yet beautiful moving triplets in the piano part, along with extravagant, lush themes in both. The excitement of the opening movements relaxed in the graceful Ben

Purcell School Concert

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The recital began with Sonata in F minor op. 4, composed in 1825 by the 14-year-old Mendelssohn.

As violinist Ellie explained, what the audience was to experience in these three movements was music ‘full of teenage angst.’ The full and intense colour of Ellie’s playing was a particular feature of this opening piece. There was great intensity in the slow movement on this piece; from mellow depths on the violin up to the last breathtaking, hanging silences at the ends of the rising piano phrases, the audience was on the edge of their seats.

The first half was rounded off with La Fontaine d’Arethuse (Arethusa’s Spring) by the colourful early 20th Russian composer Karol Szymanowski. The piece began with a mystical opening consisting of dreamy yet death-defying anguish, featuring soaring phrases over the whole range of the violin.

Intense broad melodies in the violin combined with exquisite streams of notes on the piano to create a passionate love story. The music built to an awe-inspiring climax. This colourful music seemed to comprise every technical trick possible, yet Ellie was totally at ease throughout in this virtuosic writing, This was truly a performance to remember.

Mighty Music Youngsters Combine for Awesome Concert

Music

There can be no finer sound than a full orchestra, complete with blaring brass and banging timps, a choir of getting on for two hundred at the tops of their voices, backed by a pounding organ, the whole resounding around the venerable pillars and vaulting of the Abbey cathedral.

Apparently Walton thought that his Coronation Te Deum was ‘rather splendid.’ After its performance at the end of a thrilling Joint Schools Concert, the audience would probably have agreed, albeit with a little more conviction.

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Musical Director Mick Stout had put together an ambitious programme for this year’s event, so ordered to give the whole evening a real dynamic shape. Unusually, it began with what might have been considered the main event,Vivaldi’s Gloria, which was followed by Rutter’s mock baroque Suite Antique for flute, harpsichord and strings to take the audience to the interval. The opening of the second half unleashed the power of Stout’s mighty band with Walton’s

Crown Imperial march before soothing the Abbey again with Eric Whitacre’s gentle and evocative choral pieces, Sleep and Cloudburst. The evening was brought to a gigantic climax with the aforementioned Te Deum. And this was a school concert.

In an interview for BBC School Report, Mick Stout described the Gloria as ‘a real crowd pleaser’. It is certainly a perennially popular work and easy on the ear, but not necessarily easy on the performers.

The orchestra immediately created a bright string tone leading to the first entrance of the choir and, under Stout’s baton, maintained the jaunty baroque rhythms. While the choir may have lacked a little punch on the very first ‘Gloria’, it quickly built to real strength and the piece had a number of keenly memorable moments – the bass string continuo reverberating through the

Abbey’s acoustics in the second movement, the huge choir sound in the fourth movement with its echoing last note, the young oboe soloist Lizzy Pearson holding her nerve to balance the soprano solo in the fifth movement, to provide just three examples. The two professional soloists, soprano Susan Young and counter tenor Daniel Keating-Roberts, provided the final gloss.Young was controlled and confident, and while a purer, unadorned countertenor voice might have been better suited to this baroque Gloria than Keating-Roberts’ operatic vibrato, there was no doubting the power and shape of his voice.

Listeners more accustomed to John Rutter’s liturgical works might have been taken by surprise by his Suite Antique, a 20th century homage to the baroque, complete with harpsichord. The six movements are evocative of a film score, varied in style, and the striking

drums giving the march a military edge. Mick Stout worked the dynamics to ensure the audience appreciated the softer melody in the central section before working up the whole orchestra to the piece’s violently explosive climax.

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If any member of the audience thought that it was getting rather late in the evening and was hoping for a quiet doze during the second half, Walton’s Crown Imperial put paid to that. With a range of interesting percussion, the piece gradually increased in brassiness and volume towards the joyous sound of a full brass fanfare and timpani, the snare

The mighty sound of massed choir and orchestra filled the Abbey’s nave

And then for the combined auditory effect something completely different… was stunning, creating the The orchestra, sounds in a skilful yet playful exhausted, took a break and the manner choir came to the fore with two pieces by contemporary American All came together again for Walton’s composer Eric Whitacre. The first, Coronation Te Deum to end the Sleep, could not have provided a evening with the nave-filling sound greater contrast with the bombast of roaring organ and brass, though of the preceding Walton, a gentle there were delicate passages from soothing choral piece. The massed the sub-choir amongst the mayhem Joint Schools Choir was beautiand lighter delicate passages, again fully controlled as it moved through featuring those expert flautists. Such Whitacre’s melodies and dissonances a rousing end to the concert, though towards the final note, extended, the piece itself finally resolves in a drifting lazily through the Abbey as a hushed, reverential ending. perfect lullaby ending. Cloudburst was This concert was hugely ambitious quite different, employing a range in scale and scope and treated the of techniques to evoke the sounds audience to such variety. To acof water, rain, a storm and finally a complish such an evening from the return to peace. On paper, a commassed forces of just two schools is bination of singing, spoken words, a astonishing – the audience was left ‘chattering’ choir, handbells, claps and excited, thrilled, but, ultimately, awed. finger clicks might sound off-putting, but the combined auditory effect NJC was stunning, creating the sounds in a skilful yet playful manner. It was astonishing to hear just how much

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feature of this version was that a different flautist stepped up to take the solo flute part in each movement. It is remarkable that the two schools could provide six flautists of such calibre and confidence, and while there was the occasional suggestion of nerves, each player was very accomplished. The most technically demanding was the fourth, jazzy movement, reminiscent of Stravinsky’s jazz compositions; here Louise Beaty seemed perfectly at home with the complex syncopated rhythms. The sprightly final movement, with shades of Grieg’s Hall of the Mountain King, was augmented

by Olivia Goldsmith’s delicate flute tone, light and poised.

ad-lib finger clicking can sound like the last raindrops of a cloudburst falling into puddles. Real praise must go to Mick Stout for rehearsing the huge choir so well and directing them through such complex and challenging pieces with such success.

House Party Raw talent at House Music Kicking off the rock competition, Hawking set itself the ambitious challenge of ‘rick-rolling’ the entire school, with a performance of Metallica’s Master of Puppets morphing into a rendition of Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up. Unfortunately, the joke backfired, as many did not notice the change, simply commenting that Metallica had become more mainstream.

Music

Next was Marsh, covering Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones.

However, despite an excellent vocal performance by Charlye Simpson, the judges felt that the band performance did not quite match up to the powerful and emotive vocals.

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Renfrew’s performance of The Chain by Fleetwood Mac was unfortunately marred by technical difficulties, resulting in their lead singer having to fix the technical equipment halfway through the song.

However, the set finished strongly, with a surprise performance of The Killers’ Exitlude.

Hampson finished off the rock competition, covering Bombay Bicycle Club’s Always Like This. The percussion accompaniment to this song was noted for its charm and beachy-feel by the judges, and unlike the original single, which only reached number 97 in the charts, Hampson’s performance climbed to number 1.

As for the ensemble performances, whilst Hawking’s cover of The Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way was well-rehearsed and professionally choreographed, Renfrew’s mash up of Ben E King’s classic Stand By Me and Sean Kingston’s not-so-classic Beautiful Girls was perfectly summed up by the judges as sounding like ‘people coming out of the pub and trying to sing.’ The Hampson choir backed a superb boy band pastiche, though Marsh pipped them at the post in the judges’ ears with their performance of Outkast’s Hey Ya. Between the rock groups and the choirs, a group of seven Sixth form girls entertained the School, belting out their own cover from Glee, a medley of Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer and The Rolling Stones’ Start Me Up. Jonathan Peters

The Scholars’ Concert Alex Shavick reviews

Scholars Entertain St Peter’s

the two was extremely entertaining for the audience.

Following on from this lively piece, Thomas Dilley played a melancholy Send in the Clowns on the French horn, which worked well after the exuberance of the previous performance.

The highlight of the night for many was the vocal performance of Eleanor Rosser-Smyth of The Singer, which was both perfectly pitched and powerful. Her shy demeanour made her performance all the more impressive due to the strength of her voice.

Following on from her was Max Houghton, who treated the audience to two pieces on the piano.

His passion for music was apparent through his enthusiasm in playing, and he was certainly a joy for the audience. Nick Perry then played Divertimento in D on his trumpet, which was an excellent rendition of the piece and he must certainly be commended for his ability.

Chris Springthorpe, a highly accomplished cellist

David McConnell’s performance of Prelude in C# Minor by Rachmaninov was extremely impressive, all the more so considering that he was (unbeknownst to the audience until the end) playing with a broken finger.

His performance was not impaired at all by this, and it came as a surprise to the audience when Mr Stout revealed it.

Matthew Jennings, long-standing stalwart of the string section

Harry Sampson then proceeded to play Summertime by Gershwin on the trumpet and captured all the jazziness of the piece. He was followed by Jonny Bennett on the drums, who was accompanied by the versatile Peter Martin. The performance was both lively and controlled, and the musical relationship between

The final performance of the night was that of Peter Martin, who sang Bring Him Home by Schönberg. His performance was a fitting end to a superb night of music and thanks must go to Mr Stout and the Music department for staging the concert.

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George Tasker started the evening with a fine rendition of Alla Caccia

by Alan Abbott on his French horn.

His performance certainly set the standard for the rest of the evening.

Following him, Henry Jeffery played Adagio and Allegro on his cello, which certainly reflected the tone of the piece. Daniel Angel then sang Sebben Grudele, which was one of the highlights of the night. The maturity of his voice matched the piece and the audience was certainly impressed.

The penultimate performance of the night was Christopher Springthorpe who played Bach’s Allemande from Suite No. 2 on the cello. Although he felt disappointed by his performance due to his spike’s ever shortening length, the audience did not reciprocate this feeling and were most impressed.

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School soloists were invited to perform a lunchtime concert in St Peter’s church in January. Freddy Sawyer opened with his self-composed guitar piece, which demonstrated great tenderness. Chris Springthorpe and Olivia Goldsmith played Bach’s Adagio BWV 1034 charmingly. Next, David McConnell powerfully transformed the room with his strong yet accurate interpretation of Rachmaninov’s triumphant Prelude in C# minor. There was more cello music; Chris Springthorpe’s Kabalevsky and Henry Jeffery’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s Chanson Triste. Nick Perry played a joyful Divertimento by Fiala, Peter Martin sang Ireland’s Sea Fever beautifully and Eleanor Rosser-Smyth sang a stunning and thought provoking song by Head. Thomas Hughes performed Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns, which was an entertaining delight. Finally, Alex Shavick’s piano performance of Chopin’s Fantasie Impromtu showed musicality and consideration, topping off a successful concert for St Albans School. The audience was complimentary and thoroughly appreciative. A triumph all round.

Every year, those students who have been awarded music scholarships perform to an audience of parents and pupils. This year, the audience was treated to twelve performances from students from the First to Sixth form.

Stars Go Out in a Blaze The 2011 leavers sing their farewell tunes

Music

Sometimes it’s guitars. Other times it’s strings. This time it was singing.

The Leavers’ Concert changes character every year according to the particular dynamics, interests and expertise of the leavers, who organise the concert themselves. This year group was particularly blessed with fine vocalists, and particularly, singers who could step from the ecclesiastical control of the choir to belt out soul and rock numbers with confident ease, shifting through different modes.

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This was evident in the concert’s opening number, as choristers Natasha Undrell, Charlye Simpson, Toby Butterworth and Peter Martin sang a version of The Beatles’ Blackbird, their shared rhythms and patterns through the lyrics giving a new sound to the well-known song.

Charlye cropped up a number of times in the course of the evening, her powerful voice matched with Freddy Sawyer’s guitar and lighter vocal tone in Always Attract and exploiting her full range in a version of Adele’s Turning Tables. She committed herself fully to this torch song in voice and gesture, moving from tenderness to blasting power before reaching a delicate vulnerable ending.

With Tash Undrell in the second half, she demonstrated precise timing and a witty sharing of the lyrics and rhythms of Jessie J’s Price Tag.

musical She Loves Me, managing the rapid pace and comic rhythms with aplomb. He articulated the sense of the occasion in the song beautifully, with a real sense of drama in his delivery. Toby Butterworth gave the audience quite a different solo, standing with his guitar and delivering the rapid, compressed lyrics of breakup in Ed Sheenan’s UNI in a comically deadpan tone. The ubiquitous Peter Martin (guitar, bass, keyboards, trumpet) appeared in his own right to sing the penultimate song of the evening, showing why he has been a central figure of the School choir for the last few years by demonstrating the full range and tone of his fine voice in a sensitive and evocative performance of Vaughan Williams’ Silent Noon.

The boys too showed impressive vocal range, with the quartet of Jonny Bennett, Freddy Sawyer, Joe Easter and Peter Martin interweaving acoustic guitar and voices, sharing the lyrics and harmonics with impeccable timing, in a rendition of Fleet Foxes’ tuneful Mykonos. Freddy stepped forward again to entertain us with Tonight at Eight from the

The ubiquitous Peter Martin takes the stage to sing a song

by Vaughan Williams (above) after Matthew Jennings played complex Grieg (below)

The evening was not, however, entirely vocal; the instrumentalists were also on hand to say goodbye with their own music. We had Matthew Jennings, better known as a violinist, turning his hand to the piano to treat us with Grieg’s complex Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, and Robin Pendock stepped up to exploit the tonal ranges of the clarinet in Paul Reade’s lyrical Summer. Though sadly he hid himself behind the piano, Nick Butler was

A real treat was the impromptu jazz band that welcomed the audience

one wonder how Mainstream, the School’s big band, had been allowed to wither.

Charlye Simpson demonstrated her versatility in a number of songs, while Jonny Bennett showed the facial contortions necessary to be a complete drummer (below)

back after the interval. Ten strong, but playing as if there were twenty, it produced a joyous big band sound, bouncing along on the dangerously funky bass of Freddy Sawyer, with some ripping soprano sax lines from Kris Henley and soaring trumpet from none other than that Peter Martin. They produced such energy and sense of fun, it made

Of course, the ending, as has become traditional, was all the musicians getting up on stage to sing Goodnight Sweetheart, ensuring that no member of the music staff got away dry-eyed.

It was another fabulous concert, and it would be remiss to fail to comment on another participant, not a leaver (well, he was once, but some times ago). Matthew Woodward was accompanist to many of the pieces, and he played with delicacy, tact and generosity throughout, almost unseen in his discretion, but ensuring the departing singers and instrumentalists were supported in their fine farewell performances.

NJC

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tightly controlled in the sprightly rhythms of Boccherini’s Rondo for cello and brought out the wonderful brown woody tones of his instrument in the lower passages. We do not often get to hear the bassoon, and it was a delight to hear Philippa Brown pay the Rondo from Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto. She played it with great rhythmic control, exploring the gravelly dynamics of this lovely instrument. In a completely different style, Jonny Bennett thrashed his drum kit to within an inch of its life in his enigmatically-titled Salute to Kareem, accompanied by Peter Martin’s slapping bass and Freddy Sawyer’s jangling guitar. A stunning highlight among the instrumental performances was Kris Henley’s saxophone in Rachmaninov’s Vocalise, the rich warm tone he coaxed from the instrument letting the haunting melody soar with pathos. It sounded like a lament for leave-taking, beautifully and sensitively played.

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Summer Spectacular

Music

A mixed border of musical delights

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The combination of fine music and beautiful weather made for an ideal evening in the New Hall as once again the high standard of music at St Albans School came to the fore.

The evening began on a jazzy note with the Saxophone Ensemble’s interpretation of Van Morrison’s Moondance, delivered in an accomplished manner. This was followed by a sublime acoustic performance of Coldplay’s God Put a Smile on Your Face and the Fleet Foxes’ Mykonos by the Upper Sixth quartet of Jonny Bennett, Joe Easter, Peter Martin and Freddy Sawyer, who in their final School concert delivered a flawless set, highlighting both their instrumental and vocal talents. The Clarinet Ensemble maintained the standard set with refined performances of Minuet from l’Arlésienne

by Bizet and Marche Militaire by Schubert, and was succeeded by the winners of the School’s House Music Ensemble competition, Charlotte Simpson, Natasha Undrell and Kris Henley, and their faultless and emotive performance of Adele’s Someone Like You. The Orchestra followed with a lesson in

classical performance with Variations on a Shaker Melody from Appalachian Spring by Copland, which was followed by a magnificent a capella performance by Ellie Rosser-Smyth of The Singer by Head. The first half was brought to a close by the choir, accompanied by Nicholas Fleet, as they gave full rein to their repertoire, from Vivaldi’s Gloria, to the West End classic of Les Misérables’ One Day More! featuring solos from Peter Martin, Toby Butterworth, Ellie Rosser-Smyth, Charlotte Simpson and Nick Butler.

The String Orchestra opened the second half with a trio of polished pieces: Minuet and March by Prelleur, Air by Handel and Ignoto: Italiana from Antiche Danze by Respighi.

The final vocal solo of the night was delivered by Peter Martin, whose rendition of Maria from West Side Story was full of warmth and technical excellence. The creativity of the drum quartet continues to inspire as this concert’s creation – 4x4 – composed by our own Mr Craig, showcased the rhythmical skill of those involved. The last of the small

ensembles, the Brass Ensemble, gave the penultimate performance of the night with enthusiastic renditions of Jupiter from The Planets by Holst and Tijuana Taxi by Alpert. The night was closed in emphatic style by the Concert Band, whose performances of Second Suite in F by Holst and music from Slumdog Millionaire arranged by Bocock, gave a deserving end to a concert of the highest quality.

Arran Bhatiani

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Amphitheatre redesign: Daniel Fellowes GCSE

Creative

Preparation portfolio: Tor Ronald A2

Creative

Chest of drawers: Oliver Bretnall GCSE

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Handbrake adapter: Nick Foster A2

Nick Foster designed this handbrake adapter to assist drivers with arthritis or other limited strength in the hand, who find the traditional handbrake release button difficult.

His design earned him a place in the regional final of the National Science & Engineering Competition.

Cinema redesign: Daniel Watt A2

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Drawer unit (detail): Tom Ellis GCSE

Creative

Point of sale display: Ashok Mathur GCSE

Hylocomian Society

Enrichment

Get him to the Greek

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The Hylocomian Society began a new series of lectures with a fascinating talk by Professor Christopher Pelling, Regius Professor of Greek at Christ Church College, Oxford.

Entitled “Herodotus the Racist?” the talk was uniquely structured in the style of an Oxford tutorial, and discussed ancient attitudes towards foreign empires, with Professor Pelling disputing the widely-held belief that Greek historian Herodotus was prejudiced against the Persians, instead suggesting that Herodotus was actually challenging Greek conceptions about the inferiority of foreigners. The lecture ended with a question and answer session, followed by drinks and nibbles with Professor Pelling for students whose thirst for knowledge remained unquenched.

The high quality of lectures continued with the visit of Professor Jonathan Powell, Professor of Latin at Royal Holloway, to deliver a lecture on Cicero and Oratory in the Late Roman Republic. Professor Powell, in his own words, “started by sliding gently into Cicero,” addressing the vitriolic criticism of Cicero’s oratory that occurred during his post-consulship backlash, before dissecting the biased literature of the Late Republic, and presenting a timeline of Classical Oratory to put events into perspective.

Professor Roland Mayer, of King’s College London, was next to share his wisdom with the Sixth form classicists, lecturing to the Hylocomian Society on Tacitus Annals XIV, vividly

detailing the scandalous events that surrounded Nero’s incestuous affair with, and subsequent murder of, his mother, Agrippina. Students were treated to a dramatic description of how Agrippina, having been chased onto the shore after escaping a collapsing ship, asked Nero’s soldiers to be “smote in the womb that gave birth to so abominable a son.”

Professor Mayer also delivered his controversial new judgement on the death of Britannicus, challenging the popular view that he was poisoned by claiming that he died through the far less scandalous means of an epileptic fit.

The Society took its budding Classicists to a production of Lysistrata, a Greek comedy by Aristophanes, in which the women of both Sparta and Athens go on a sex strike in order to bring their warring husbands back home. The theatre company at the UCL Bloomsbury provided a unique twist on the ancient classic by setting the play in the time of the Napoleonic War, emphasising the relevancy maintained by the piece through the ages. The actors themselves gave convincing and comedic performances all round, with the farcical style adopted well combined in the best of Hellenistic fashions with a large volume of crude sexual innuendo. The experience provided excellent historical context for our studies of the Peloponnesian War whilst being a humorous experience The ruins of Pompeii, for all those involved. with Vesuvius rising behind

Jonathan Peters

Stephen Hawking Lecture Society Magic, 3D and fillings: a scientific extravaganza

Following on from this, eager scientists gathered to see how chemistry saves lives at the second lecture of the year. Speaker Dr Tony Wood, worldwide head of medicinal chemistry for pharmaceutical company Pfizer has created the drug ‘Maraviroc’ to combat the HIV virus.

NHS Dentistry is in a State of Decay, argued Professor Raman Bedi, former Chief Dental Officer for England. His talk focused on the problems with dentistry, both at home and abroad, with the old saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ being the key idea. Professor Bedi explained how there is a culture among dentists of drilling fillings instead of encouraging preventative measures, which leads to a breakdown of teeth over a number of decades.

Students enjoy the first ever lecture in 3D

a change in diet or teeth brushing habits (although he emphasised the need to keep brushing!)

His most recent project is a charity called The Global Child Dental Fund, which provides help for foreign governments in their dental planning for the future. Whilst this may seem trivial, in fact toothache is the most common reason for school absence.

As is customary in the Society meetings, the audience gorged on biscuits before the lecture began, feeling rather guilty about the health of their teeth by the end.

Finally, an overflowing BLR witnessed an exhilarating talk by Professor Richard Wiseman, who discussed the psychology and science behind luck, self-help and deception. In what was a cross between hard science and light hearted magic, Wiseman delivered one of the best lectures the society has witnessed, reflected in the enormous turn out.

Professor Wiseman started his career as a magician before completing a first class honours degree and a doctorate in psychology. He then turned his eye towards the study of some of the quirky areas of psychology: luck, deception and the paranormal. He is internationally renowned for his academic articles whilst having given talks at The Royal Society, Microsoft, Google, and of course, St Albans School.

He began his talk as he began his career, with magic. After making some hankies disappear and reappear, he proceeded to explain how magic is deception and distraction.

Following on from this thread, he showed numerous optical illusions, demonstrating how the mind, subconsciously fills in the gaps which the eyes miss. As his talk moved on, he moved onto luck – ‘lucky’ people tend to take opportunities more than unlucky people.

He finished the lecture by a Q&A session, talking about his work, the science behind it and his work with Derren Brown, with whom he has worked on numerous occasions.

Finally, after explaining one or two magic tricks (but unable to explain all of them: a magician never tells!), he received enormous applause from an impressed audience; the culmination of another year of scientific enlightenment.

Wilkie Hollens

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Dr Wood spoke of organic molecules, which would prevent HIV, the problem being that there are more organic compounds than one can possibly imagine. He showed that slightly altering the chemistry of a compound significantly changes the properties, which he demonstrated with some telling examples. 3D glasses were handed out, to show the potential drug interacting with the white blood cells. He went on to describe the problems encountered, e.g. absorption of the drug, and the adaptations made to the drug compound before it went through trials and then onto the market.

Professor Bedi was responsible for the dental clause of the Health and Social Care Act, which saw a change in the law meaning that dentists were no longer paid for fillings. This innovative change caused a decline by a third of fillings with no decline in treatment. Professor Bedi believed that a change in the profession would have a far greater impact than

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Once again, the Stephen Hawking Society continued its high standard of lectures, beginning the year with a thought-provoking talk on Why Science Matters, delivered by Alom Shaha, a writer, teacher and science lover who has also been known to herd goats. He discussed how science is important because it allows us to separate truth from fraudulent mumbo-jumbo. Not only that, Shaha believes that the immortal question ‘what is the point of science’ is one that should be answered by teachers and students alike, and has set up a website, in which leading scientific figures have given their own answers. Undoubtedly, it was a perfect justification for the society, and an excellent start to the year.

MFL Music and Poetry Evening Recital raises charity money

Enrichment

Sixth Formers staged an evening focusing on both German and French poetry, accompanied by three highly acclaimed and talented performers. The aim of the evening was to both explore literature in different languages and also to try and understand firstly why poets write poems, and secondly why composers then set these poems to music. An evening that tried to answer questions undoubtedly left the audience asking more, all whilst raising money for Oxfam.

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The evening commenced with the students trying to answer some basic questions about poetry – what makes a poem a poem? Why bother writing them? By giving their own answers to questions such as these, new questions were immediately opened and this was only complicated further by the introduction of music into the mix. The conclusion which was eventually reached was that poems are written in order to explain the inexplicable; to understand and control emotions. It would seem, however, through the various poems addressed – many of which focused on similar issues such as love and loss – that this isn’t entirely achievable, and the audience were able to see how composers were able to either support or destroy the notions of a poem through their art songs, as they try to get closer to making sense of the emotions originally felt by the poet.

As well as providing a genuinely intellectual evening, this was a chance for students to go beyond what they learn in class and show off their new talents. Each poem commentary was written entirely by the students, devised from discussions between one another, to create fluent, sophisticated and captivating speeches.

However what really transformed the evening into something special were the performers.Vocalists Yvette Bonner, Olivier Dumait, and pianist, Christopher Gould, all award winning artists, delivered outstanding versions of each of the songs and brought to life what the students had been talking about, adding another dimension to the poetry.

This, of course, would never have happened without the insight, inspiration and creativity of Mr Murphy who organised and thought up the

entire evening – and even gave an incredible last minute performance on the night.

It is safe to say that this evening was enjoyed by all, and both students and spectators are eagerly awaiting the next event of its kind. Providing an insight to poetry and music was only one of the important outcomes – the night also raised £140 for Oxfam, which shows how students can use their intelligence and enthusiasm to benefit an extremely worthy cause.

Lucie Toole

Harry Schofield Mathematics Society Minds were sent reeling as the Harry Schofield Mathematics Society was paid a visit by Dr Colin Wright.

Having dazzled the lower years in the afternoon, he gave a captivating lecture on the mathematics underpinning the art of juggling. Dr Wright focused on the juggling notation he developed to solve the mysterious problem of portraying a dynamic motion, something which caused quite a stir at the European Juggling Convention, we were assured. His notation leads to exciting possibilities such as the invention of new tricks and proving the existence of the elusive ‘anti-ball’. As he tossed the juggling balls the audience drew breath: here was a seasoned master of his talent. He delighted the audience with a great variety of tricks, deftly managing five balls. He could even lecture and juggle simultaneously! As witty as he was talented, the relaxed nature of his lecture style was much appreciated by those who attended; he received much attention and probing questions well after the lecture was over.

Alex Shavick

Judge and Jury Politics Society The Politics Society packed the AVR for a lecture by circuit judge Joanne Harris, who delivered an amusing and informative talk on her experiences as a lawyer and judge.

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Whilst commenting on important issues such as the separation between legislator and executor, she also delivered witty anecdotes such as the one about her first days in court, where a jury member went missing after lunch after suffering a heart attack (don’t worry, she was fine!) and how she sentenced a burglar who claimed to have made 882 burglaries (she thought he was showing off).

She works three months of the year on criminal cases whilst focusing primarily on care issues, which she said was enjoyable, but emotionally draining. After a round of intense questioning from the floor she was thanked by an appreciative audience.

Her talk was most useful for all those studying politics and anyone who wanted to go into the field of law.

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Wilkie Hollens

Orange tip butterflies recline as the conservationists carry out their research

Conservation Society The Conservation section is a member of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and aims to foster an awareness of local conservation issues and to help the community by participating in schemes to improve the local environment. Projects this year have included: clearing and maintaining parts of St. Michael’s churchyard; constructing a greenhouse out of two litre plastic bottles for Abbey Primary School; planting sapling trees for the Woodland Trust at the new

Heartwood Forest in Sandridge; a research visit to Butterfly World; a heritage walk along Fishpool Street and through Verulamium Park; coppicing a small woodland at Wheathampstead Nature Reserve with Countryside Management Services (CMS); on-going management of the conservation area at Bricket Wood Common (SSSI), including pond dredging and path laying; and helping the Friends of Verulamium Park (FVP), cut back overgrown vegetation in the preserved Roman Ditch.

AJB

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Features

‘Obviously a Subversive…’

Robin Ollington OA

Therefore, I decided to produce something with a little more colour and interest and as our form was in the gallery what better masthead than The Gallery Post.

A contributing committee was set up and it was agreed that the content should include some form news plus articles, poetry etc. not necessarily related to the school.

Reproduction was of course a problem in those days; we were light years away from the photostats and photocopies, scanning etc, so it was down to two finger typing and drawn illustrations.

Eventually after some very sore fingers, late nights and time with pen and pencil the first and only issue finally appeared. This was circulated around the forms in the gallery and eventually ended up in the Common Room where it received some kind comments from staff members.

However, this was not the opinion

of higher authority in front of whom I, as instigator, had to appear to be informed that I was in his words, ‘obviously a subversive’ and that ‘publication should cease and anything needing to be said should be via the Albanian.’

So some sixty five years later this single issue survives as a testament to those who tried to change things and indeed strove to provide something as good as the Albanian which we enjoy today.

As for the contributors, I made a career in design and writing and for my sins produce several similar publications for a wide variety of organisations.

Albany Wiseman has worked all his life as an illustrator often cooperating with me on projects.

Gerald Stockman our aeronautical expert joined the RAF and became a pilot of some distinction, but was sadly killed whilst test flying a new bomber. Terry Ilsley is retired in Norfolk and Bernard Hassid has vanished off the radar Napoleon said, ‘with twenty five soldiers of lead I can conquer the world’ – we didn’t quite do it, but had a lot of fun trying.

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So said Headmaster Marsh in 1945 as he waved in front of me the only copy of The Gallery Post produced as an answer to the then, as I thought, rather boring and dry Albanian. Each issue, printed in black and white, with the then restrictions on photographic material, carried the usual litany of new boys, old boys, prizes and sports results, all of which we knew about anyway.

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The front cover and assorted pages from The Gallery Post, from scientific explanation to comic sketches

Freedman’s Footy Focus Writer spills the beans for the Lower School Dan Freedman, the author of a series of football books and a former football journalist for the FA, visited St Albans School in the Autumn term.

for free and get paid for it, so out of all these good jobs Dan became a football journalist.

Dan Freedman started working for the FA at eighteen, answering phone calls. When he grew up Dan Freedman was working for the FA as a football journalist. In 2002, Dan asked his boss if they could send a football journalist to the World Cup. His boss liked this idea and when Dan found out, he persuaded his boss to let him go to the event.

Features

Dan Freedman came to the library at the end of September to talk to the First and Second form pupils about his football novels and being a football journalist. He showed the pupils his interviews with numerous English football players that he did for the FA on the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He then read a few pages of his book Kick Off, his first football novel in his series.

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He started off by telling the pupils about being a football journalist. Dan Freedman wanted to be a footballer when he was a child but he knew he was nowhere near good enough to be a footballer, so he gave up his ambition when he was fourteen and thought to himself, ‘Well, I can’t be a footballer, so instead I could do something to do with football, such as being an agent, a manager, a football scout or a football journalist.’ When he was a child he was always jealous of football journalists because they got to speak to footballers, go to football matches

When he went to the World Cup, he had a lot of mixed emotions. He was excited, proud and rather nervous.

He stayed in the England players’ hotel in Japan, where one day he saw Martin Keowin and Rio Ferdinand playing table tennis in the games room. He offered to play the winner and lost 21-3 to Rio Ferdinand.

Dan Freedman dressed the part for his football themed talk to pupils

Dan loved his job but found it quite repetitive, even though he went to the next World Cup in Germany too. He left his job and began writing football novels. When he told Steven Gerrard this, Gerrard asked if he wanted any help. When Dan heard this he was extremely happy and surprised. Dan asked him to write something on the cover of his first book, Kick Off, and Gerrard did.

It took Dan three years to publish his first book and was told to do the rest of the series in eight months. In each of his novels he has a famous footballer or football legend write something on his cover.

At the end of this fascinating football themed event, Dan signed his four books for some lucky pupils.

Matthew Davies

Some of Dan’s Books: Man of the Match Shoot to Win The Kick Off Golden Goal

News Day Thirds Report support their articles. Three pupils even had the opportunity to travel to see the England football team train, and capitalised on the rare opportunity to interview John Terry at the press conference that followed.

This feature had the honour of being published on the main BBC website – an exceptional feat, and a first for St Albans School.

After weeks of stressful organisation and painstaking research, the Third formers took over the library’s computer room and turned it into their new hub in order to read the morning papers and begin to write articles for the website. A hectic atmosphere was created as papers were strewn across the desks, articles were organised, and deadlines were narrowly met. Whilst some had weeks in which to prepare their stories, others were under immense pressure to gather information and write articles before the end of the day, ploughing through news stories before forming their own analyses of events.

In the end, Tom Kirby was awarded the official School Report mug as the prize for best reporting, but all pupils honed their journalistic talents, enjoying a pressured yet fun introduction to journalism. Many thanks to Mr Cassidy and Mr Wall, as well as the Sixth form Publications team, for running the day and ensuring its success.

Aside from publishing basic written articles, pupils also ventured out into the field, filming and editing video interviews with teachers and local residents, and taking photographs to

Jonathan Peters

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The three Third formers at the FA press conference

Tackling Terry – Harry Turner describes the experience of seeing the England team play

As the players ran out onto the training pitch, a rush of adrenaline surged through our bodies.

The photographers around us burst into life as John Terry led the players out. It was hard to concentrate, as some of our heroes ran around just metres away. But we had work to do, pieces to film, questions to ask. We had a maximum of fifteen minutes to shoot our opening piece for the report.

We then travelled to the room of the press conference, where very soon the cameras began to whirr into life. People took their places in the room. This was going to be one of the most important press conferences of the year. The doors opened, and the man who we had all been waiting for walked in. Suddenly the sound of clicking filled the room. Flashes lit up his face as he sat down. Then the questioning of John Terry began.

The BBC and Sky Sports took the first 90% of the questions, so we had time to prepare. Then, the finger pointed at us. I stood up. I was so nervous, but I managed to ask the killer question: ‘You are an inspiration as a player, but how do you see yourself as a role model to boys of our age?’ To this he replied with thanks for the compliment, but digressed. Instead of answering, he told us how we needed new players ‘coming up the ranks’ to replace the current crop of veteran players.

Matt Jarvis, a new face in the England camp, was next to face the press. He seemed to handle them well, considering that it was his first time in front of the press as an England player. It was now Callum’s turn. As the finger pointed, he stood up and asked the question, ‘What advice would you give to a player who has had a knockback in their career, as you had at Millwall?’ His response was the cliché-ridden ‘Keep going – never give up.’ This concluded a great experience and a great day, one that we will never forget.

Features

Soon the website was packed with a diverse range of interesting features, as over the course of the day, pupils covered events in Libya and considered the safety of nuclear power in the wake of the disaster in Japan. Following developments nationally, young reporters explored the implications of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget, while on a local level, the plans for a local primary school and the challenge to Tesco’s plans in Welwyn Garden City were examined. The School featured too, with an in-depth feature on the Sports Centre. National sport was also covered, with articles on Dalglish’s Liverpool team, the new Formula 1 season, the Cricket World Cup and the 2012 Olympics. Help in uploading these articles was provided by the Sixth form Publications team along with a couple of extra recruits, who edited each feature to perfection, sorted out glitches on the site throughout the day, and checked that all images and citations were legal.

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Classrooms were turned into newsrooms on Thursday 24th March, as twenty-one budding third form journalists took part in the annual BBC News School Report, in which the BBC hands over reporting duties to pupils from around the country, who write articles for their own news websites connected to the main BBC homepage.

Aspirando et Perseverando Ben Hamer won an English Speaking Union Scholarship… continuing as sophomores, juniors and seniors, with some staying on for a PG (postgraduate) year.

Features

speaking peoples. One of the main scholarships that is distributed is the secondary school exchange between the United States and the United Kingdom. The ESU scholarships are one of the best-kept secrets in the gap year industry, providing tuition and board for the duration of your stay abroad. I opted for the twosemester scholarship (as opposed to the fully fledged three), lasting from Christmas until the end of the academic year in June.

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The prospect of a gap year, to many, conjures up images of intrepid eighteen year olds braving the tropical beaches of Australasia, scaling the heights of Kilimanjaro or perhaps fighting for the latest humanitarian cause in an exotic and fashionable region of Africa. It would come as a surprise, then, that rather than city hopping between unpronounceable metropolises, I spent six months in the considerably more familiar territory of the United States of America.

Perhaps even more surprisingly, I went back to school, spending two terms at an all-boys boarding school in Connecticut.

The English Speaking Union (ESU), based at Dartmouth House, London, is an organization that was founded to foster ties between English

I was boarding in Brown House, which was built next to the chapel and adjoining brick water tower, set just further out from the main quadrangle that stood at the heart of the campus. The harsh New England winter was already well upon Avon by the time I arrived. From the offset of my stay in January, several feet of snow fell, making me glad I had the foresight to bring my D of E walking boots! I was sharing a double room, and after the first week, I had fallen into the swing of boarding school life.

After writing and submitting my application, an interview at the ESU headquarters, a pre-departure briefing and a gruelling trip to the American Embassy to get my visa, I was ready to go. I was picked up from JFK airport in New York by Dr Henry E ‘Skip’ Flanagan, teacher and lacrosse coach at Avon Old Farms, as well as Chairman of the scholarship’s selection committee, who drove me the five hours up to my new school (in blizzard conditions).

Avon Old Farms School was founded in 1927 by Theodate Pope Riddle and its motto is ‘Aspirando et Perseverando’, symbolised in its mascot, the winged (pronounced wing-ed) beaver. The school is situated between New York and Boston, near to the towns of Avon and Farmington in rural Connecticut.

Avon takes on students as ‘freshmen’ – the equivalent of the fourth form, most of whom are boarders.

Students then stay for four years,

Plenty of snow made things cold, but also created opportunities to take up skiing

A normal day opened with breakfast at 7.30am, with ‘morning meeting’ (much like a daily school assembly) after that. Classes ran from 8.10am until 3.00pm, with sports taking up the rest of the day until dinner at 6.15pm. I opted to take Public Speaking, Government and Politics, History (covering the World Wars) and two English courses: Postgraduate (where I was with other PG Avonians) and ‘Honors’ English. These were really engaging courses, where I studied a fantastic range of material in all subjects, with authors from Fitzgerald and Fuller to orators such as Jobs and Churchill. I had a great time academically, and even managed to make off with the Senior prizes for Public Speaking and History at the end of the year.

Between the two terms at Avon was the infamous ‘spring break’. I decided to spend it on the west coast, along with another ESU scholar, Elliot, who was studying at the nearby Westminster School. We spent the first half of the week in San Francisco, a fantastic city with great character and a must see for any gap year student in the US. The usual tourist activities, of course, had to be checked off: riding the famous cable cars around the town; touring Alcatraz; photographing the Golden Gate and so on. And yet, what made San Fran memorable

to me was not what was gained from trudging the beaten track of tourism, but rather, and I say this with self-recognition of the cliché: the ‘unconventional’. Eating pizza in a silent union square late at night; sitting in a tiny comedy club with a small audience, having new hit and miss material tested on us; stumbling upon a Banksy in the back streets of China town. What the other Californian city we set off to lacked in San Fran’s soul, it certainly made up with style. Sunny Los Angeles was brimming with celebrities, socialites and other such noble Hollywood aesthetics. Despite the superficiality that pervaded the city, it was hard not to bask in its glamour. Having stood on television sets, wandered through famous studios, and even seen Scrubs’ Dr Cox, I thought that the true tinsel town experience had been achieved.

In the summer term at Avon, I took up Athletics; the training was tough and the sport was well known as one of the most exhausting Avon provided. The head coach was Major Bourgault, who was also the teacher of my History class. ‘The Major’ was an ex-marine, specializing in close combat, who had served in Operation Desert Storm. Another student told me, prior to a lesson, that the Major’s hands were classed as deadly weapons. Training, as you might expect, was extremely rigorous. This training, though difficult, really paid off, and I had the opportunity to run in the main New England races of the season against the likes of Choate, Loomis, Hotchkiss and Kent.

As well as academic subjects and sports, there was a wealth of extracurricular activities that Avonians

could engage in. I had a chance to write for the school yearbook, go on visits (such as a particularly memorable trip to ESPN, pictured at the head of the article), participate in charity appeals (such as the all night ‘walk for life’) and even (to my blushes) have my poetry published in The Hippocrene, Avon’s annual literary anthology.

The end of the year, in traditional High School fashion, went out with a bang. With the exams finished (which I fortunately was able to forgo, due to a high GPA), a gloriously stereotypical prom and highly orchestrated graduation marked the end of my time in Connecticut.

Or perhaps the beginning of the end… It was not long before my Avon friends and I were setting off on a planned road trip to the Bonnaroo Music festival in Tennessee. The drive there was just under one thousand miles, no mean feat for three drivers, and one who normally drives on the ‘wrong side of the road’, at that. We met up a few weeks after graduation (with a few bacchic graduation parties in between) and a new odyssey began, the details of which shall be left to the imagination.

I found that at the end of my time in the USA, and my time at Avon, not only had I come out of the ordeal with experience that every gap year brings, I returned from New England to the Old with other things that counted for more. I returned with new skills and learning from Avon; I returned with a radically different perspective on world events and lifestyle; most importantly, I made friendships which I have no doubt will stay the test of time.

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I spent the first term at Avon doing ‘rec ski’, or recreational skiing.

Having never properly taken up skiing before, I jumped at the opportunity to learn on the nearby mountain. Despite a few spectacular falls, I got a huge amount of practice in during the following weeks. Skiing every afternoon from Monday to Friday helped me to graduate up all of the difficulty levels the mountain had to offer in a short space of time. I even had the chance to try out other mountains, including a weekend trip to one in the neighbouring state of Massachusetts.

Beginning the classic American road trip – to the Bonnaroo Music festival

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Sports played a central role in Avon life, with training taking place every weekday for several hours. I found that this constant training really paid off, with real improvement happening over the course of weeks. The facilities at Avon were superb, with a myriad of basketball, tennis, (American) football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, squash courts and fields. The vibrant and, perhaps stereotypical nature of supporters in these sports were made clear to me too (alas, without any cheerleaders, as it was an all boys school) in Ice Hockey, a sport I was unfamiliar with, but one which was highly popular (and one that Avon excelled in). Almost the whole student body turned up to every match, home or away, with regular ‘white outs’ (where Avonians wore only white) and ‘black outs’ (where they had to wear pink). Chants were led by ‘Captain Avon’, a member of the senior class who held the position for the year.

Bonuses of this position include inheriting a scarlet cape with a blue ‘A’ emblazoned on the back and the power to have a four hundred strong crowd repeat whatever you say.

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Trips

Battlefields Trip A harrowing trip for 4th Form historians On 17th February, both teachers and students shook off their fatigue as they travelled at the crack of dawn into sunny Belgium. After visiting Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, we moved on to the trenches at Sanctuary Wood. Here, trudging through thick mud and pitch black tunnels, it was easy to imagine the pure horror that soldiers in these trenches must have felt, as even over 90 years on a faint sense of helplessness and despair still lingers.

Between these two extremes lay cemeteries such as Tyne Cot, the resting place of almost 12,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers, the Langemarck German graveyard, and the Menin Gate memorial to those lost in all Battles of Ypres during the five year conflict. After witnessing the sheer magnitude of Lochnagar Crater, where the explosion caused the teacups to rattle in 10 Downing Street, it became more obvious how so many people came to die here.

Yet the most sobering thought of all is that due to the sheer number of soldiers lost, all that is left of some, who would have each had a huge network of family and friends, is just their name and initials, engraved into stone.

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On laying a wreath at the Thiepval memorial, it was plain to see just how much honour has been bestowed upon the sheer number of people who gave their lives. Thiepval was only one memorial out of the many we visited on our trip, which ranged from the small and intimate, such as the Deville Wood memorial with adjoining dedication to South African soldiers from both World Wars, to the largest World War One French cemetery, Notre Dame de Lorette, where row upon row of white stone crosses seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance.

(Right) A wreath is laid at the Thiepval memorial, whilst (below) crosses remember the dead

Nicholas Stride

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Photography by Michael Slater

Trips

Art and Science Trips Sixth Form chemists react well to the extra-curricular

Trips

A level chemistry students from across the UK gathered at the UCL Institute of Education, our Sixth form cohort amongst them. Here was a sublime opportunity to see a series of distinguished chemists putting their own ‘spin’ on the subject.

Toxicologist Professor Flanagan spoke first, giving a valuable insight on forensic chemistry and citing a number of high profile cases he had previously been involved with; one case being the curry poisoning of Lucky Cheema, later deemed ‘Not so Lucky’. Professor Flanagan commented that you have to see the dark humour in the work, or else it would become too sombre to cope (some teachers have also noted this of their own profession).

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Dr McKenzie spoke on renewable plastics made of starch alternatives, Mr Walton claimed that one brazil nut a day keeps selenium deficiency away and TV star Andrea Sella lectured on kinetics, finishing off with an exciting ‘chemonstration’ of Der bellende Hund (ie a big tube of blue fire). Mr Walton also jovially asserted that those keen students thinking of studying chemistry at university need only to look at their chemistry teacher (for this is inevitably the way things will go) and rethink the decision.

Overall the lecturers bonded strongly with the audience and the day was well received. We thank UCL for laying on the event and the chemistry department for providing their time.

Alex Shavick

A rainbow of test tubes and artistic inspiration: art and science come together

Art Trip to Paris Artists from the Fifth and Sixth Form embarked on a cultural jaunt to Paris in the February half term. Staying in the Hotel Alhambra, a stone’s throw from some of the world’s most revered art galleries, the students were able to explore the masters of virtually every art movement, from the Renaissance to Cubism. Over the three days we visited the Pompidou Centre, the Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art (where we saw the largest painting in existence – “Electricity”) and The Orangerie.

We also visited the Eiffel Tower – an excursion that meant unravelling the intricacies of the Paris Metro including the ticket barriers which some, teachers included, found a challenge too far. Students also sampled the gastronomic delicacies of France, notably the Italian lasagne which we were treated to every night. We saw many masterpieces including The Mona Lisa – imposing behind her shield of two sheets of triple glazed bulletproof glass set in concrete;

Monet’s Water Lilies, countless Caravaggios and resplendent Renoirs. Students were obliged to pay homage to the beauties we saw by painting our own, small copies of our favourite works in sketchbooks (or even as a final piece – see above

by Ed Dunn), giving us a better recollection of the sights.

But it was not all work and no play.

The students visited Montmartre where we saw Parisian artists in their natural habitat and treated ourselves to some of Paris’ famous macaroons. The sun smiled down on the city, showing the students all the beauty Paris had to offer, making our surroundings inspirational as well, especially the beautiful formal Tuileries Gardens and the Champs d’Élysée. The one regret we had was that we were not able to visit Notre Dame, but this gives us a reason to return. All students benefited from the trip greatly, returning home inspired and invigorated, ready to begin exam preparation.

Juliette Mann

Dungeons and Danger First Form Warwick Castle visit

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Teachers’ delight (left) and pupil’s revenge (below)

First Form historians travelled to Warwick castle for a day spent learning lots of fascinating facts about medieval times.

Following the King Maker exhibition, we saw a breathtaking falconry show.

There were four amazing birds: a bald eagle, a young bald eagle, a palm nut vulture and finally, a beautiful white-tailed sea eagle.

Our favourite part of the trip was definitely the dungeons. We had our photo taken in the stocks by a menacing looking camera with a severed head on the top! Next, we were greeted by a jester who didn’t look very funny; he had pale skin and cuts all over his face. The jester told us to turn off our ‘talky boxes and flashy boxes’ while pointing to a sign with impaled phones and cameras. We walked through the door and the warning sign was right. It was pitch black. We followed the jester through to the first room, where he left us alone in the dark. A crazy priest jumped out at us, making everyone scream!

We learnt a lot in the dungeons about the plague and medieval methods of punishment. One of the highlights was meeting a torturer, who demonstrated on Mrs Swain. After we left the dungeons, we all felt very shaken. All was well though, as Mrs Swain hadn’t really had her head cut off and was walking out behind us as if nothing had happened!

Luke Vaghela and Thomas Dilley

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Trips

When we arrived we were immediately sucked into life in the Middle Ages.

We were given a brief talk on the things that we could look forward to seeing in Warwick Castle, and then we were taken on a tour where we learnt about the Castle’s defences. The walls were massive and no enemies ever managed to breach the second gate. After that, we were taken into the King Maker exhibition, where we were told about how the Earl of Warwick (the Kingmaker) caused the early stages of the War of the Roses.

House Competition 2011 Results

Houses

Houses

Hampson Hawking

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Marsh

Renfrew

Art

10

5

10

5

Golf

10

10

3

5

Netball

10

5

7

3

Football

6

10

20

14

Rugby

14

6

10

20

Maths

10

5

5

7

Shooting

7

3

5

10

Cross Country

10

14

6

20

Badminton

7

3

10

5

Basketball

10

5

3

7

Chess

7

10

3

5

Hockey

6

14

20

10

Music

20

14

10

6

General Knowledge

7

3

10

5

Debating

7

10

3

7

Cricket

6

20

14

10

Tennis

5

10

3

7

Drama

10

5

3

7

Athletics

14

10

6

20

Swimming

20

10

6

14

Commendations

6

14

20

10

196

172

157

187

Total

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CCF

OC’s Report The year in camouflage

CCF

After another very busy year, in which we swapped our cosy office complex for five containers outside Languages for the duration of the build of the schools new sports complex, I can report that the CCF is a healthy as ever, with numbers in excess of 200. This is a credit to both officers and cadets alike, who have shown through their loyalty and dedication that no challenge is too big.

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From our container office, Mr Wilson, our RSM, has directed operations, ensuring that the lack of space to conduct training on site was not going to be a problem. As a testament to this, we have been able to run a full programme of training by using what space we do have, along with Verulamium Park and Cheapside Farm.

This year saw the contingent send record numbers on leadership courses, as well as running our traditional Winter, Easter and Summer Camps, along with a full Duke of Edinburgh programme, not to mention a very successful two weeks in Norway. Our Annual Inspection took place in glorious weather in May and Colonel Campbell, our Inspecting Officer, was very complimentary.

The articles in this section of The Albanian show how successful the contingent currently is, and along with my fellow staff and all our cadets, I would like to thank everyone who has helped us achieve this success.

KJE

CCF Activity Winter

Summer

Straight after the Carol Service the CCF deployed to Yardley Chase training area with 87 cadets and 8 staff for our winter camp. The weather was harsh from start to finish but this did not have a detrimental effect on any of the training that was planned. The boys deployed straight into harbour areas and constructed their bashas, in the evening section strength recce patrols were sent out to gain information on the enemy. On return to the harbour areas sentries were posted throughout the night; these were tested at irregular intervals by staff and enemy activity and were found to be alert at all times.

On 9th July, 65 cadets and 8 staff deployed to Longmoor in Hampshire for the contingent’s annual Army Summer Camp. The week proved to be an action-packed and informative one for cadets of all ages.

The contingent started with a splash, spending the first day on the Adventure Training area, which included canoeing and kayaking, among other activities, in perfect weather conditions, whilst the ranges day gave the boys the opportunity to take part in clay-pigeon shooting, fire live rounds on the 100m outdoor range and use the indoor laser range.

Return to Norway This summer saw the CCF return to Norway for our fifth visit to take part in a two week adventure training exercise.

After overcoming the logistical problems, created by the closing of the ferry from Newcastle, 32 cadets and 6 staff arrived in Evje (joined a few days later by Nick Foster and Dan Watt, fresh from Cricket Tour), on Friday 22nd July. The weekend weather was wet and challenging but everyone soon got into their stride and by Monday the weather was being kinder, and allowed us to have very successful canoe expeditions on the fjords and survival training in the Evje area. Some of the shelters, tables and chairs, made by the cadets on survival, were very imaginative, whilst the canoe expedition experienced amazing views.

During the rest of the week we took part in go-karting, a high wire course, mountain biking and various sports.

We finished off with white water rafting on a very impressive river. All this alongside the stunning location of the Centre made it another very successful trip.

KJE

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CCF

WJW

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Other highlights of the week included football, volleyball and the After a succulent boil in the bag for fieldcraft training day, which the breakfast the boys deployed to three cadets put to good use, in combinastands, battlefield first aid, section tion with the skills they have picked attacks and observation. All three up during their time in the CCF, on stands were a great success and the Overnight Exercise. Led by their the cadets learnt a lot and enjoyed new Senior NCOs – CUO Chalkley them. The commanders within the and RSM Mistry – the St Albans platoons led the junior boys well and boys, the only contingent on camp everyone worked extremely hard in to carry out their own exercise, sucsome very inclement weather. In the cessfully defeated the enemy, despite evening we sent out three ambush the inclement weather at the end of patrols to destroy the enemy – all an exhausting camp. were successful. The weather was getting steadily worse so we moved The pinnacle of the excursion had the boys inside the bunker for extra come just before this, as outgoing shelter. After a good night’s sleep and CUO Laurie Hulse led the St. Albans a hearty breakfast, the boys went off A team to victory in the Military Skills Competition and in doing so on an escape and evasion exercise; they collected the Longmoor Stick, this was great fun for them and certainly warmed them up. since they achieved the highest score of all three weeks that the course We then cleared up and packed away ran for. Overall, this was a great exand waited for the coaches to turn perience for both junior and senior up – it was a much quieter journey cadets, who approached the week back. It was good to see how tough with enthusiasm and represented our boys can be and they all deserve the contingent and the School in great credit for the way they perexemplary fashion. formed throughout. As always our senior boys led by example and put Sanesh Mistry a lot of hard work into the preparation of the exercise. Between them all they managed to fire over 5,000 blank rounds, 40 smoke grenades and 40 simulator battle noises – a great battle.

AGI 2011

CCF

Inspecting Officer Colonel NT Campbell

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RAF Section Summer

Cadets Chapman, Crosby, Lambert and Rossi of St Albans School RAF Section attended Easter camp at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire.

The detachment was led by Sqn Ldr Stubbs and there were cadets on camp from QMGS Walsall and Shrewsbury School –52 cadets in total. Halton is the central RAF recruit training centre, as well as housing the RAF Catering Training and Supply Training schools.

The camp was accommodated in purpose-built barrack blocks, which were austere, but with adequate facilities. The food for the cadets was excellent: wholesome and well presented.

This summer the RAF section spent a week at RAF Waddington. We enjoyed activities ranging from being shown around surveillance aircraft to shooting on the range. The other 20 boys at the base with our school included boys from Trent College, Perse School, Ratcliffe College and Stamford Endowed School.

As on all RAF camps, great emphasis was put on encouraging ‘bonding’ with cadets from the other schools and delegating responsibility to the cadet NCOs for the execution of the programme. Cadets were distributed across the flights and they got on so well that it was very soon impossible to distinguish between cadets from the three schools. The SAS cadets made an excellent contribution to the success of the camp and were commended by the Camp Commandant, Sqn Ldr Lawrence of QMGS, for their turnout and for the commitment and initiative they showed throughout a week blessed with fine weather.

Sadly, one of the planes made its last Taking a shower, flight ever out of any RAF base from RAF-style Waddington – the Nimrod after

The cadets also visited some of the on-base squadrons and their planes.

Some of the staff from these squadrons had just arrived back from the heat of Libya and we were shown around the planes and the equipment on board. The cadets were also given a talk by an RAF soldier from one of the auxiliary regiments who brought in some of the weapons that used when he was in theatre, ranging from Bayonets, to AK47s, to A2 rifles. A trip to the Sentry simulator demonstrated to the cadets how the pilots were trained and the complexity of the cockpit controls.

A morning with the motivational outreach team on the low ropes taught the cadets that teamwork is everything in the RAF. Shooting played an important role in the week, and as the pupils of one school had never held a rifle before, much had to be taught, but everybody learnt enough to be allowed to shoot. Many cadets were given their marksman badge for excellent shooting capability.

The lighter activities included an evening with owls and how they live and eat and came to be where they were on that particular evening, and hour with a Padre (RAF Chaplain) answering questions on morality and teamwork. One afternoon the cadets hit the deep end and did their swimming proficiency. There were also many Famex tasks, where groups had to find out information about the area they were in. An evening of getting wet with the firefighters was great fun. One of the highlights was the trip to Skegness.

The biggest part of the week was the inter-flight competition, covering activities such as football, softball, and cricket on the sporty side, and the challenge of coming up with two sketches. The special episode of Crimewatch with the death of Humpty Dumpty was particularly one to remember! The main part of the competition was the drill competition and inspectionwhich was won narrowly by A Flight. This final success secured them the win, and together with all of the past victories, A Flight won overall.

Ben Chrisp

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CCF

The week’s activities were typical for RAF camps: shooting on various ranges, command tasks, drill, sports, low and high ropes, a night exercise, orienteering, 10 pin bowling, a cinema visit and a cultural visit.

The last was an odd experience for the SAS cadets as it turned out to be a trip down the A41 to the RAF Museum, Hendon. It was especially worthwhile since we all discovered plenty of new exhibits in the extended hangars. Between training sessions at Halton we visited the Trenchard museum and the excellent First World War trench. The latter has been excavated in recent years.

It seems that it was used after 1914 to instruct soldiers in the art of trench building. This turned out to be a fascinating visit led by a very well informed member of the station staff.

Every day there were many activities planned for the squads to do. Most of those activities included being shown lots of interesting aircraft such as the Sentry or RAF-AWAC (modified Boeing 707), Sentinels (modified Bombardier Global Express) and the R1 Nimrod (modified de Havilland Comet). All these planes are used for surveillance and reconnaissance. A trip to RAF Church Fenton gave 15 of the cadets an AEF flying experience in some of the infamous Grob tutor planes.

The Cadets were also shown around some of the planes that fought in the Second World War. The Lancaster bomber which flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of the royal wedding is also situated there. A trip to the air ambulance taught the cadets how patients were flown to hospital in a helicopter.

52 years in service. It was meant to have finished its voyage in March, but because of the conflicts in Libya it was given an extended life.

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Easter

Shooting Review of the Year

CCF

House shooting

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Easter Term

The start of the shooting year always begins in earnest with the House Shooting competition. For those uninitiated in this competition, it generally involves scores of First and Second Year students turning up outside the range hoping to get their hands on a real gun and show off the skills they have developed in Call of Duty. They often find the reality is somewhat different, but also a lot more challenging. This event does prove a useful exercise to spot and encourage potential talent to join the shooting team. This was certainly the case this year with First Formers Johnny Cattermole and Matthew Rogers; both identified themselves as faces to watch in a few years when they are old enough to join the School Team.

The eventual result was somewhat of a foregone conclusion with four of the senior school team representing Renfrew. However, Hampson performed well in the Captain’s Cup, moving from 4th to 2nd place, thanks to the good shooting of George Goldberg. As may have been expected, the Captain’s Cup was won by this year’s shooting captain, James Crossley.

Hampson 882

Hawking 884

Marsh 901

Renfrew 930

Captain’s Cup

167

0

70

341

Total

1049

884

971

1271

Top Ten

Emsall Trophy The autumn term also presented the opportunity for the shooting team to try their hand at an external competition. Four boys took part in the Keith Emsall Trophy Hertfordshire league shoot, a competition that we have never won before. Although the team was now in possession of new shooting jackets, we were facing a crisis regarding rifles as only one of the school Anschutz rifles was in working order. However, the boys showed resilience and produced a set of consistently high scores.

So consistent that they were good enough to win the trophy. This was made even sweeter when we realised that we had beaten Habs and Berkhamsted A teams.

Name

Score

Geraint Northwood-Smith

97

James Crossley Phil Ruis

96 96

Jamie Dacosta

95

Total gunscore

384

H/C for target rifles Final Score

-4 380

Finding his range – a marksman sets his sights on success

By the Easter term we had lost the ease of access we had enjoyed to the shooting range as a big hole was slowly removed from the area around the CCF huts. However, a committed junior team was determined that this would not prevent it from competing in the British Schools Small-bore Rifle Association (BSSRA) postal leagues. The boys had very limited experience of using the Anschutz shooting system and scores were initially too low to challenge for the top spot. However, learning was swift amongst the team and skills were developed that led to ever increasing scores. This process was helped in no small part by the assistance of Andrew Wilkie, OA Shooting Captain. We were very fortunate (unlike Andrew himself) that Andrew had surgery on his knee, since it meant that he was forced to take time off work and could come down the range to coach.

The result of all this good work was that we finished the competition in second place and are eager to make even greater gains next year.

At the same time as the juniors were honing their skills with the Anschutz, the seniors were attempting the same feat with the Number 8 Rifle. This weighty throwback is still used in most small-bore inter-CCF competitions and takes a different kind of skill to handle. In this case it was being used in the Country Life competition. This particular competition involves three rounds consisting of grouping, snap, and rapid shooting followed by a landscape target shoot. The winners of this competition are generally schools who train regularly on the rifle and it was therefore not unexpected that we finished a respectable 26th out of 78 teams. Once again I am pleased to say that we beat local rivals Merchant Taylors (49th).

The Easter break saw the first forays into full-bore shooting by the current students when two boys, Gerraint Northwood-Smith and Abhishek Kulkarni, joined the OA Shooting Team at Bisley. The OAs were shooting in the Q Match against other old boy teams and after the first round at 500m it looked as if Geraint might have been drafted into the team, having tied for first place, scoring an impressive 49.4. However, nerves and inexperience raised their heads at 600m and he was not able to repeat the feat. The boys had a fantastic day and the experience they gained will be passed on to the rest of the team as we make preparations to compete at the Ashburton Meeting next summer.

Summer Term League The summer term brought more BSSRA league shoots.

However, with both junior and senior teams decimated by external exams, a team was put together consisting of lower 6th and 4th Form students all competing as a senior team. Even so, such had been the development

of the junior boys that a weighty handicap was imposed on them. The team as a whole out-shot all other teams, but the handicap had taken its toll and we finished 3rd. It is somewhat irritating to note that we lost out on first place by only 10 points to a team that gained 140 points through the handicap system. However, the system is used to give all teams an equal chance of winning the league.

Andrew Wilkie was also present at that first competition and this year came full circle bringing his OA team.

Four boys and five OAs took part in the side-by-side competition, which went right down to the wire. The school team looked to have the competition in the bag, owing to the Macrae handicap system which compares the scores on the day to the average score that competitors achieve. However, in the last detail Owen Simmons shot a superb card which tipped the OAs into the number one spot.

The event proved to be not only a very enjoyable evening but also allowed the boys in U6 the chance to meet the OA Team and hopefully build links for the future.

Thanks This is the time of year when we have to look back over the course of the three terms and say thank you to those people who have made the whole thing possible. The first of these has to be Kenny Everitt and Bill Wilson, without whose support the shooting club would not function. Both Kenny and Bill have ensured that we retained access to the range during the building works and have secured funds to ensure we have the equipment necessary to keep running, as well as a plethora of other things behind the scenes. Andrew Wilkie has also dedicated time and effort to the team, and his experience and knowledge have developed the skills of all members more than anything I could have done alone.

This year an extra thanks goes to Joe Windsor (OA).

Through Mr Windsor’s generosity we were able to buy a quantity of equipment, including a new Anschutz rifle.

The team intends to repay this generosity with an ever improving set of results into the future.

DSR

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Captains shake hands over the Gordon Cole’s Trophy

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The summer also saw the re-emergence of the Cole’s Trophy.

Gordon Cole joined St Albans on 1st May 1925 and became Head Boy as well as SergeantMajor in the OTC. His school involvement also included captaining the 2nd XI cricket team, playing in the 1st XV rugby team and joining the school athletics team. However, his fondness for shooting (he captained the School Shooting VIII) led his widow to instigate the Gordon Cole’s Trophy, a competition between the School and the OA Shooting Teams.

Georgina Cole and sons Derek and Robert attended the inauguration/presentation of the Gordon Cole’s trophy at the school on Sunday 9 January 1977. His son-in-law Michael Boatman (St Albans School 1950-58) recalls that Derek and Robert both took part in a shooting match in

the hut in the orchard, and LG Walker was among those present.

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Sport

One of the Strongest Teams 1st XV Rugby The opening game was away at Berkhamsted. An opening exchange of penalties was followed by a try from Dan Watt. Another Watt penalty from the half-way line was splendid and was followed by a strong run for a try from Josh Steer.

Just before half-time a return penalty, again for off-side, led to the score being 18-6 at the interval. Two tries followed by the home side, but a late opportunist try by Captain Nick Foster sealed the game – just – in our favour (23-18).

Our first visit to Hampton was an unhappy one. Harley Stairmand was injured very early, David Prince was unsure of position and Sam DukeWallace was sick. We conceded a wide try that was poorly covered, but did manage to kick a penalty to stay in touch at 3-7. Two tries sealed the game for Hampton and a deserved victory 19-3.

We really didn’t play well away to Haileybury, with some injuries and a loss of confidence In contrast they had several new players from their sixth form who were county standard and above. An early try by Foster reaching over from several desperate rucks was a great start. A try from their new England second-

The 22-12 win over Watford GS was particularly pleasing. Foster scored first and this was followed by a strong, direct run by Walker. At the resulting re-start kick, Watford burst through a non-existent defence.

Watt scored with an individual break and Watford replied as a result of poor tackling. Some very good defence for most of the second half and no penalties given away in range

‘one of the better teams of the past twenty years’

In the following game against St George’s School at Woollams, we gave a good team performance with the game plan executed well. Three points for the visitors quickly eroded an opening try by Koomson but then Thomas Russell finished a lovely 1st team action at wide move when James Crookston Woollams delayed his pass well. At 10-3 after

displayed the discipline we were working on.

QE’s at home saw a really pleasing, physical performance, particularly from the back row. The visitors never gave up, even after being 20-0 down at half-time following tries from Gillespie and two from Watt, who also struck a penalty and converted one try. In the second half, Steer scored two tries and Watt converted one and scored one penalty. The game demonstrated very clearly the improvements in our fitness, ending in a 35-0 win.

The final game of the season was at home to Aylesbury GS and a very different game from the last few years. Normally very strong, we enjoyed more space and less structure in their defence. They had several replacements starting and were understandably struggling to co-ordinate matters. The forwards and backs shared tries evenly and the final scoreline of 48-17 was a fair reflection of our dominance.

This was a very good way to finish a really pleasing season and, allowing for the three games not played, in which we were confident of victory, this was one of the better teams of the past twenty years. Foster was deservedly named Player of the Season.

CCH

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Home to Habs and a 39-13 win. Two first half tries and a penalty to one penalty did not follow the plan. A pick and drive early after the re-start was worrying as Habs closed the gap to 13-8. Two goals and two tries, one

by Steer and one by Di-Lieto, followed by a Watt conversion meant their final try had little effect on the game.

The second half of the season began with a fixture against Verulam School under lights. A lovely evening occasion saw Verulam playing with heart and skill. Only 12-10 up at half-time and a disappointing use of set-play tactics was all too evident.

The second half was more open as Verulam ran out of support players, allowing Watt to capitalise with four tries of his own, leading to a 47-13 win.

half time, Russell scored again in the corner after three consecutive fast rucks. The game was put out of reach when Watt ‘blasted’ over from close range and then converted his own score, allowing us to win 22-3.

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We were away again a week later against Merchant Taylors. A first half wide break by Albert Koomson, after a well-timed pass from Ben Wilkin, resulted in the first try and Watt converted from the touchline.

A penalty followed on their 10m line and a quick tap by the captain and an interchange with Oliver Di-Lieto saw him sprint away for an excellent try. Watt converted for a 14-0 halftime scoreline. We then defended desperately for most of the secondhalf, conceding two tries. The game ended with a brilliant turn-over ruck

by Di-Lieto, allowing Foster to kick to touch and providing a great win (14-12).

row came after several rucks and a team drive was converted for the lead. Watt replied with two excellent kicks for 11-7. A second try from Haileybury gave them the lead, 11-14, at half-time. We went on to concede 30 points, including five tries, but our last play allowed Thomas Russell into the corner for a great team try. We lost 16-44.

Strong Season For Superb Seconds

Sport

2nd XV Rugby

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The season got off to a shaky start, just beating Berkhamsted 20-7, which was a narrow escape, considering the poor structure of our game. We were playing as individuals and our defensive pattern was not up to scratch. Unity amongst our forwards was not evident but with a certain amount of luck, we came away with our first victory, keeping the team’s three year unbeaten streak. However, this record quickly became a thing of the past, when we played Merchant Taylors, away. They proved tough opponents, taking advantage of the holes in our line and punishing us in the scrums. In the end, a disheartened St Albans 2XV walked into the changing room, to a final score of 3-21.

David Prince, Gordon Tveito-Duncan and Elliott Fellowes gave us the edge and the game finished 18-10.

After a pep talk from Mr Laithwaite, we picked ourselves up and went into the Haberdashers match with confidence. The forwards and backs both played better, securing more lineouts and swinging the ball wide more often. However, our hands were not brilliant and the occasional dropped ball saw chances for Habadashers to come away with a win.

Fortunately, solid performances from

Verulam followed in a game under the floodlights and as soon as the game started we dominated the pitch. We were playing aggressively and our structured phases were good. With some great forward performances from the likes of Harry Lavelle, Jack Pryce-Davies and Ed Marsden, we won handsomely, 52-5.

Another big test in the shape of Hampton followed. With injuries in the 1st XV requiring the selection of some of our players, as well as losing Rory Wood to injury, we went into this with a weakened squad.

Struggling to retain possession in the rucks, we played on the back foot for too long, leading to our downfall 12-26.

Against Haileybury, the team dug deep and came away with a deserved 28-12 win. This was due to our domination in lineouts and well structured phases, allowing the backs to score some majestic tries.

After Verulam we continued our winning streak, with scores of 30-12,

22-15, 65-5, against St Georges, Watford Grammar & QE Barnet respectively. Our fixtures against Bedford Modern, Judd and St Columbas were all cancelled due to heavy snow. This was unfortunate as we had built up momentum since the Haileybury game and we were confident that we would be able to continue our winning streak.

When the snow finally stopped, we had our final match to play against Aylesbury Grammar. After a long break from competitive rugby it was not clear how we would perform.

However, the team pulled together and with a positive attitude and we won 54-0.

Finishing the season on a high, we came 10th overall in the league table, high above Hampton and Merchant Taylors, who beat us early on. I’m proud to have played with such a great bunch of lads and hope that next year’s 2nd XV can be as successful. As ever the team would like to thank all the parents who braved the elements to stand on the touchline and support us; their enthusiasm is always good to hear.

George Goldberg

Rowland’s Army Continues to Conquer 3rd XV Rugby

as we lost 13-29. The result was disappointing but not embarrassing.

The character of the side was to tell in the next game when we came up against the Beaumont 1st XV. Having been warned they would be stronger than Queens, we were up for a tough game. Last year the game was hyped as the players’ Everest, however it was merely Snowdon in comparison to the game that unfolded that day. On the back of a loss, it seemed unlikely we could bounce back against such a strong side. The first half was simply a masterclass.

Leading by two tries we looked a completely different side to a few days previously, but the second half proved to be a lot tougher. We were on the back foot and stared defeat in the face as we trailed by a single point in the last phase of the game.

But then a penalty was awarded for St Albans in the opposition half and all eyes were on Alex Goldstone as the final kick of the game could win us the match. With the pressure on our trusty goal kicker, he slotted the penalty and we won 17-15. The final game of the season was against Aylesbury School following a couple of cancelled matches. We comfortably won 44-12 after a sensational display, the match rounded off a wonderful year and epitomised our season.

Robin Pendock

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On a cold Wednesday afternoon, playing a Hampton side, which was rumoured to be very strong, was probably not the choice of some of the team. However as soon as the game began we raised our game and played exceptionally, but we trailed by 2 points with no time left on the clock. With defeat seemingly on the horizon, Charlie Hickson rounded

off a sensational personal performance by bulldozing over the line to secure a famous 18-15 victory.

The Haileybury game was a brutal annihilation by the St Albans 3rd XV, piling on 50 points away at a boarding school made the taste of victory that bit sweeter, with star performances from Tom Girdlestone at fullback and Jack Liggins in the pack. The force of the thirds meant we had two 1st XVs to play next. Firstly on an even colder Wednesday afternoon we came up against a strong Queens side. What they lacked in organisation they certainly made up for in size and we dominated after a poor first half. However it wasn’t enough

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With a hard act to follow after the success of the previous season, the mighty thirds opened up their campaign against Berkhamsted. After a tough first half, we pulled away as the game went on due to our superior fitness. The game was not a pretty affair, but a 24-5 victory was a solid start with very little time to prepare. Merchant Taylors were the next obstacle and a local derby provided the perfect atmosphere for the boys to excel. The first half we were severely under the cosh and we struggled to escape from our 22. This was followed by a fantastic second half performance from the team, the highlight a stunning Man of the Match performance from Ganesh Rajaratnam, meant we prevailed 19-7. Haberdashers provided the next challenge and we barely broke sweat as we swept their timid 3rd XV aside with two tries from Captain Robin Pendock, and match winning performances from Edward Callender, Matthew Jennings and Tom Kight.

Learning Curve In Tough Season U16 XV Rugby After a pre-season in which some players had made enormous efforts to ready themselves for the challenges ahead, we were cautiously optimistic for the 2010 campaign, particularly given the encouraging conclusion to last year’s season.

Sport

Thus it was somewhat surprising that we lost heavily to both Berkhamsted and Merchant Taylors, both schools playing a direct and dynamic form of rugby that we found difficult to match.

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After an indifferent start, our fixture against Haberdashers took on an added significance as one of only a handful of fixtures won last year.

In perfect conditions we made the short trip across to our local rivals and, despite threatening not to allow our first half dominance to count, eventually ran out deserved winners.

With a brittle confidence we approached our next fixture against a Hampton side who had beaten us soundly last year. Despite a muscular and well drilled opposition we were competitive throughout and finished the game much the stronger of the two sides. However, our lack of cutting edge meant that the score line suggested we had been soundly beaten.

Buoyed by an improved performance we travelled to Haileybury for our last game of the half term, which was the final chance to build confidence ahead of the annual European tour.

The growing spirit of the boys was reflected in a committed and determined display where, in the face of physically superior opponents and a yellow card for one of our players, the team worked hard for each other to secure a deserved and heartening win. This pointed towards the remainder of the season in which a growing steel and belief were significant factors.

The trip to Portugal was a great success with the boys demonstrating great maturity in tackling the unique challenges brought about through a touring environment. Although the results of the tour were noteworthy (we won two, lost one and played some excellent rugby in the

process), the experience of touring is about so much more than what happens on the pitch. The stories, team competitions and camaraderie will live long in the memory.

We returned from half term to face St George’s. In the most disappointing performance of the season the team failed to take a firm grip on the game, despite being the better organised of the two sides and having the lion’s share of possession.

In gifting the opposition all three of their tries we demonstrated a lack of focus and application that led to some soul searching at the end of the game.

A much improved performance against Watford Grammar saw us run them close in a very entertaining and hard fought game of rugby.

Unfortunately we came up a fraction short having been taught a lesson in making the most of your possession.

A midweek fixture against a robust and direct Dr Challoner’s side saw the team demonstrate real commitment and desire, defending bravely for long periods of the game and The boys pose in taking their opportunities when they Portugal after a arose to run out deserved victors. successful tour This set the tone for our most

comprehensive performance of the season, where we played some attractive and effective rugby to beat QE Barnet convincingly.

Unfortunately, a period of disruption brought about through the cold weather followed, meaning that we were not able to capitalise on our new found good form for three weeks. However, this did not stop the boys from finishing the season with a character rich and hard fought win against Aylesbury Grammar School. In many ways this is reflective of the change in the team over two seasons. To demonstrate the commitment and desire needed to win a game in which they had little of the ball, shows how far they have progressed and is indicative of the values inherent in rugby as well as the skills. It was a very appropriate end to a season in which the team improved markedly as rugby players but, more importantly, developed as young men.

DMLP

Power through the Snow U15 XV Rugby of our season, with matches against Bedford Modern and the Judd School cancelled. However, we were still able to play and win our last match against Aylesbury Grammar with a dominating victory of 43-7.

This concluded our extremely successful season during which we played 11 games, winning 8, drawing 1 and losing just two, giving us a 73% win rate. The whole team performed exceptionally throughout the term, even taking criticism from within school, using it for further motivation to improve and win more matches. I enjoyed this season greatly, and very much look forward to next year’s season and our first rugby tour to Europe.

Nick Stride

Rivalry Breeds Success

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Merchant Taylors saw our team back on form, and prepared us for the following match against another of our sporting rivals, Haberdashers Askes School.Yet, for the second year in a row this match came down to the last play, where a breakaway try granted our opposition the win, 24 points to 17, which would become our second and final loss of the season. A new arrangement of centres and wingers saw a draw against a strong Hampton side that had beaten us the previous year, followed by a streak of four successive wins, including a victory over Watford Grammar School, who had also beaten us in previous encounters. Snow largely disrupted the end

Our season began well with a dominating victory over Berkhamsted School, 45-3, with Daniel Gott, new to the school this year, instantly gaining a place in the A team. However, our next fixture saw our annual brutal clash against local opponents St Columba’s College, with our match being watched by a huge number of pupils from local schools. The support was mainly in our opposition’s favour, and a few minor errors against an opportunistic side, not shy of stretching the rules in the contact zone, saw tries scored and penalties converted, leaving the score at the final whistle of this bravely fought match 31-21 to St Columba’s. A strong win against

U14 XV Rugby

Our next game was against local rivals St Columba’s, who in our year have some exceptional players and proved to be tough. But luckily we managed to outplay them and went on to win 36-7, another comprehensive win. Our next match against Merchant Taylors also proved to be no contest, winning 50-0. Unfortunately our front row, Ben Anthoney, became injured during the end of that match and unfortunately didn’t play for the rest of the season.

Our game against Haberdashers, another local rival, was coming up, and with the injury of Travis Hudson, another key player in the back line, we had to alter our normal formation. This, however, didn’t prevent us from putting 33 points on them, especially considering that towards the end of the match we were only playing with 14 men. We then faced

Hampton College who, although in previous years had proven to have a weaker team than others, caught us by surprise and it was a closer game than we had at first anticipated.

Despite a slow start we managed to win 33-7. The week after, Haileybury College saw us gain another solid win for the team, as we pushed closer towards our unbeaten season.

After half term, complacency had set in. St George’s were a strong team with several talented players who were allowed towards the end of the game to take control. With two lucky fly-hack tries we ended the game 41-14. This highlighted that overcoming complacency was going to be one of our hardest challenges In previous years Watford Grammar School has had 2 or 3 ‘go to’ players who have dominated their team. This year they had improved greatly and were one of our tougher matches this season. Despite this we still managed to win convincingly 30-0.

Dr Challoner’s followed, and we had another comfortable win. Towards the end of the game Mr Burger moved players around experimenting with the fast capabilities of the team.

Our biggest rivals QE Barnet were coming up. They were the only team ever to beat us and we knew it was going to be close. The game started

shakily, with both teams dominating as much as the other. Towards the end of the match we began to dominate, but still we could not score. Their team started to waver as tiredness set in. But still no try.

Suddenly a lucky fly hack sent them storming into our half as their centre chased after it. Fortunately he knocked it on otherwise we would definitely have lost that match. We made our way back up to their half of the pitch and got within the 22.

We were awarded a penalty just on the edge of the 22. Patrick Scott had to go for the kick and unfortunately he missed, ending the game 0-0.

Unfortunately, due to snow, two tough matches against Bedford Modern and Oakham School were cancelled. After a week of snow we had our final fixture Aylesbury GS, which we again won comfortably, rounding up the season nicely.

Special mentions go to Sam Okine, this year’s player of the year, and Harry Turner who stepped up from the Bs and was given the award for the most improved player. A big thank you from all the team goes to Mr Burger and Mr Ross for helping with the coaching and all the support from the touchline this season.

William Norris

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The season started with close rivalry amongst the squad. With the arrival of new players from prep schools, no one was sure they would hold onto their place as the season went on.

A large turn out for pre-season and some tough fitness gave us an indication as to what was to come. With our first fixture against Berkhamsted School on the 11th only a few changes were made to the old team and this proved to work, leading to an easy win 35-0.

Ups and Downs U13 XV Rugby The U13 A-team had its ups and its downs this season. It kicked off with a great 57-21 victory over Dr Challoner’s, which saw great handling, running, resulting in us scoring time and time again. We were the team to beat, for a while…

Halfway through the season, our captain, Oliver Barlow broke his ankle, leaving us in a mess. It was against St George’s, but in the end we ended up beating them, 49-19.

We played great rugby and it was a terrific result against a strong side.

Sport

St Columba’s - our greatest rugby rivals. Despite playing some of the best rugby of the year, we were overwhelmed by them, but morale was not dented.

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After a poor first half against Watford Grammar, a 0-0 draw, we picked up our game finishing in a 26-5 victory. And only conceding one try against a very strong, but dirty side, we proved that we were a quality side.

The way a side proves its quality all comes down to discipline. The instant one swear word comes out of your mouth, or if you sneak a quick punch, you could find yourself giving away a penalty, or even worse, being sent off. Our side improved in this when the season grew to a close, but met our match in QE Barnet, which was a horrible experience for the team.

In our last game of the season, we were 7-26 down at half time. But a second half come back drew us near level. We had a chance to win at the last moment, but a slight error and the whistle blew. Unfortunately we had lost our final game.

I was very proud to captain this side for a little while, and can’t wait until the next season. This side has real potential and we showed that. It proves if you work hard at something, if you give it your all, it works out great!

Angus Cross

Young Guns U12 XV Rugby The 2010/11 Under 12 A team had a very good season, winning all but two of our games.

showing a better understanding of the game and producing improved all round team performances. Our next game was a closely fought contest The season started off away at against Aylesbury Grammar School, Hampton School, a relatively new which we just won 26-25. The folfixture for the U12s. Although we lowing two weeks saw us develop showed some promise as a team, we even further as a team earning two mainly relied on Tolagi Bola’s pace, more comfortable wins, the most winning 36-12. We then came up impressive being a comfortable against St Columba’s, our local rivals victory over Habs. This was followed and a notoriously tough fixture. With by more encouraging victories the help of Tolaji’s running and Sam over QE Barnet again, Hitchin Alexander’s kicking, we managed to Boys, Berkhamsted and Haileybury win a tight, exciting encounter 40-37.

College. These wins led us into the The following week saw us come up final match of the season against against St George’s. A better team Watford Grammar. Despite us having performance ensured we came away an excellent run up into this fixture, 24-10 victors. One our few losses we unfortunately tripped up at the in the season followed, where we final hurdle and lost narrowly. lost to Dr Challenor’s, who had one powerful runner we all struggled to I would like to thank all the staff and tackle. Despite this setback, we did coaches for helping us develop so well to bounce back the following well as a team over the year. week and beat QE Barnet 55-5. It Toby Reynolds was at this point that we started

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High Humidity Hockey

Sport

Malaysia Tour

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On the 18th October, 28 players and four staff set off on a tour of the Far East. Not only would the teams we would encounter be a challenge but the high temperatures and the unbearable humidity would pose a major test Having touched down in Singapore at 2:00pm (local time) after a 13 hour flight, the first training session of the tour was imminent. Having dropped our bags off, we got changed and set off for our first taste of hockey in Singapore. The session was short but intense and gave us an idea of what we were up against over the coming weeks. Following this we headed straight off to the night safari at the world famous Singapore Zoo, which allowed us to see various animals, including the giraffe and elephant in the dark, as well as watching a fireeating performance from the locals.

Our first day was over and the whole group was looking forward to a good sleep at the hotel after a long and tough first day.

evening involved many embarking on the famous night markets in China town where lots of cheap goods were bought, the most popular being Rolex watches and Lacoste polos.

Saturday was match day and with the anticipation of the afternoon fresh in our minds, breakfast was merely a mirage in the oasis of the day. The morning was full of sightseeing including the Sultan’s Palace, the National Mosque and an agoraphobic’s worst nightmare the walkway between the famous Petronas Towers on the 41st floor.

After a busy morning we were back on the coach for our first game in Malaysia and a previous Commonwealth Games stadium provided the perfect venue. The 1st XI would kick the master class off and after a good start, fell 4-2 behind early in the second half. However the fighting spirit and character of the ever gelling side was evident and three goals provided a thrilling 5-4 victory. The second XI took on the Kuala Lumpur Reptiles, as they were A lie in and a relaxing morning by the pool was the perfect preparation refered to by some in the group, and at 1-1 the game was finely poised. for our first matches of the tour at However, a lapse in concentration TWSS school. Having arrived to a rousing reception from the children, towards the end cost the side two late goals. The Seconds battled hard the 2nd XI were up first and had a and played very well, the score line brilliant start to the tour, winning a harsh reflection on the game. The 13-0. The 1st XI were next on and action-packed weekend continued a good start to the game was built upon in the second half as we took a on the next morning as the group 3-1 lead. A sloppy goal made the last visited the local forest research centre and a walk in a leech infested minutes tense, however we held off rainforest, followed by a visit to the for a win. We returned to the hotel Batu caves. The afternoon proceedafter a fantastic start to the tour: ings were begun with the 1st XI and played two, won two. The evening provided an opportunity to visit the they followed up their tremendous start to tour with a resounding 2-0 local area and the famous Raffles victory. The seconds had an unforHotel. tunate loss going down 3-1 again, The next day we said goodbye to however an extremely harsh penalty Singapore and set off on our long flick with the game at 1-1 was the journey to Malaysia, stopping off on turning point. We returned to the our way at a local food court where hotel and enjoyed our last night in a full meal could be bought for two Kuala Lumpur before setting off to pounds. Soon after we arrived in Ipoh.

Melaka and took a tour of the interesting town, which included a temple Monday was a well earned rest day, but the comfort of the journey was and St Paul’s Hill. A meal out as a squad was rounded off by many with marred by the failure of the air cona trip to the local karaoke bar where ditioning. A meeting ensued in the we were in for a treat. Kuala Lumpur evening with video analysis, examining previous performances and how awaited and with two games for both teams over the weekend, Friday we could improve; the commentary on the matches providing much was a day of rest and relaxation as we travelled to Malaysia’s capital. The amusement.

Arriving at our next game at the legendary Sultan Azlam Shah Stadium, we knew the afternoon was going to be a tough one. Both opposition teams were strong and these matches would prove to be the toughest on our tour. The seconds played first and the opposition was as strong as we thought, nevertheless the seconds fought well.

However during the second half the heavens opened and never closed, after a few minutes the water based pitch, was“pitch based water”, and the game was abandoned. After a delay though the firsts were on and in atrocious conditions lost their first game on tour. This was no embarrassment though; the side had been National Champions of Malaysia 11 times and currently had 5 internationals in the team we played.

Although disappointing to lose, the heads of the squad remained high as we headed back to the hotel for an evening in the town. The next destination was Penang, crossing one of Asia’s longest bridges.

Both teams were desperate to end the tour on a deserved high in the last matches in Malaysia. The conditions were the hardest of the two weeks with temperatures soaring to mid thirties degrees and the humidity sky high. After a slow start and another penalty flick against, it seemed the Seconds were going to return to England with a loss in the last match. They had numerous chances and were the dominant side, but they couldn’t find the final ball. This all changed after a late hat trick from Jack Wallace in the last minutes provided a dramatic and well deserved 4-3 victory. The character, determination and attitude of the side was really revealed and was the least they deserved for a fantastic tour. The 1st’s last game on tour ended 3-3; having outplayed the opposition a late goal cost us the victory. A brilliant last day was rounded off with a luxurious buffet meal and an awards ceremony for both players and staff. Best player for the 1sts going to Jonny Baker and for the 2nds Tom Russell.

Robin Pendock

Bringing Skills from the East 1st XI Hockey deserved draw. The second half provided many chances, but we couldn’t convert. However, a draw was a fair result after Foster made some key saves in goal. Haileybury travelled to Woollams the following week and this certainly wasn’t the first fixture between the two. A draw was a fair reflection on a topsy-turvy game, 2-2 the final result. A midweek away fixture at Hitchin boys provided a different challenge, the surface looking more like a beach than a pitch. However, a solid performance meant we left with a 7-0 victory, a pleasing second half performance was impressive. Three goals for Flahive and one for Watt meant that we went into the fixture against the Leys school in top form. The Leys pitch provided a picturesque venue for what we knew would be one of the hardest games of the season.

Unlike the rest of the season, our start was fantastic, as with two short corners we took a deserved 2-0 lead. However, a dramatic head injury to Harrison and two goals in the latter stages of the first half resulted in the scores level at half time. We scored almost immediately after the restart and we were playing well. However, the two junior internationals on the Leys team became more and more dominant and we crumbled as we conceded 3 goals and lost the game 5-3. Although a very disappointing result at the time, when put in context we had played well and scored 3 away from home.

The last game of the season was Three days later we faced a Dr Chal- another away game at a boarding loner’s side to whom we had lost in school and Epsom were the opposiprevious years and who were meant tion. Everyone was determined to to be very strong. However, a fanend the season on a high, but after tastic team performance, including 20 minutes this looked unlikely as impressive individual performances we trailed 2-0. However, the next from Pomfret and Harrison, plus 50 minutes epitomised our season. two goals from Pendock, meant that Everyone dug deep, worked hard for we ran out 6-3 winners. This was a each other and the character of the fantastic result and the highlight of team was clear to see. We scored the season so far, we went into half four goals wihtout reply, all by Salehi term buoyant after a good first half and won the match 4-2. The result term of hockey. The rest of the term was the perfect end to the season posed sterner tests with 4 out of which had begun in September. The the five fixtures against large board- year had not only been a resounding ing schools. The first of which was success, as we lost only two games, against Bedford School, a new fixture but the team was always a joy to be for St Albans and we knew we were around. up against a top side. We yet again Robin Pendock conceded early, however produced a good second half performance and a goal from Baker meant we got a

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We next turned our attention to a midweek game against Windsor Boys which was always a tricky fixture.

We played very well and an outstanding performance from Spencer helped us to a 5-1 victory. Our next game also posed a threat, a long journey away to Dulwich College contributed to a poor start and we went behind very early in the match.

Yet again we dominated the match, but with 5 minutes to go and still trailing it looked as though the long journey had been in vain. However, we showed our character as a team and late goals from Salehi and Flahive meant we left South London with a deserved 2-1 victory. Watford Grammar School was also going to be one of the toughest games of the season and yet again it was an early start at Watford. The games in previous years had always been a rollercoaster and this was no different. We took the lead early on and looked dominant, however a few sloppy mistakes let Watford back into the game, and at 4-1 it looked game over. However, we fought back to trail 5-4 and looked the much better

side. However, late into the game we conceded two more and the final score was a 7-4 loss – a very disappointing result . There was no time to dwell on this result as the next week, Aldenham School awaited. The first ten minutes of the game were a complete shock to the system as we conceded 2 goals. However as we got used to the pitch and settled down, we became more comfortable and won 7-2.

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After a successful tour of the Far East, everyone was excited by the upcoming season. Our first game was a local derby away at Merchant Taylors. The new water based pitch provided a lovely surface for the team and we were comfortable winners, 3-0 the final score. This was a very pleasing start to the season.

The following week we came up against Haberdashers boys and it was again an away game. Having started very well and dominated the first half, we were almost disappointed to only have a one goal lead thanks to a Pomfret deflection from a well worked short corner.

The second half was a different story, sloppy mistakes in the first few minutes meant we gave away two short corners; unfortunately, both resulted in goals. These were the only two corners we conceded all game and it was therefore extremely disappointing to be trailing after such a promising performance. Our dominance continued and we deservedly got an equaliser in the dying minutes through Andrew. A draw was quite a disappointing result considering our dominance, reflected by the 15 short corners we won during the game.

Unbeaten – Almost 2nd XI Hockey

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Following the successful tour of Singapore and Malaysia, we started the season better prepared than ever. This was proven in our opening game, where our sharpness proved too much for Merchant Taylors, leading to a 3-1 win, with impressive performances down the flanks from Mistry and Leppard.

The early season form continued with 2-0 wins over Habs, Windsor and Dulwich. The dependable and determined defending of our fullbacks Ronald and Kight throughout this period allowed the clean sheets to mount up, while it was only a lack of clinical finishing from our forwards which kept the score lines respectable and spared the blushes of our opposition. The 3-0 win against Watford Grammar was another good team performance, with Wallace adding to his impressive tally of seven goals in five

games, helped by accurate and skilful service from the flanks by Ye. Our winning streak ended at Aldenham.

However, where our wastefulness in front of goal finally cost us dearly in a 0-0 draw. The early start probably caused us as many problems as the opposition.

end of the pitch. Our GK Grant pulled off a number of top drawer saves throughout the match to thwart The Leys attack, while Phillips, from left wing, contributed two very well taken and clinical goals to seal the victory.

Our winning ways returned after half term with a 3-1 defeat of Bedford, with Walker and Sharp showing their class to dominate midfield. The following week brought a 1-1 draw against Haileybury where, once again, early dominance failed to materialise into goals, although Russell was a constant threat and menace from the right wing.

Perhaps the most impressive result of the season came away against The Leys, where we won 2-1. An excellent and committed team performance was topped off by two great individual performances at either

The U15 defence put to the test

Unfortunately, the season was not to end unbeaten as we lost our penultimate game to Berkhamsted first XI 2-4, where a draw would probably have been a fairer result; Mubiru’s dazzling dribbling skills provided the only bright spot. The season ended with a 1-1 draw against UCS First XI, where Baloun continued his strong form to control the middle of the pitch. This result capped off a rewarding season enjoyed by all, with the inspirational leadership of the Dean. The Carman managerial dream team played an integral part in the team’s success.

John Dean

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Winning Ways after Slow Start U15 XI Hockey The U15 Hockey Team had a very successful season filled with both commitment and determination.

The overall aim of the season was to train hard, play well together as a team and improve individual skills, all of which were achieved.

The boys came up against a very strong Dr Challoner’s team in the first game of the season. Losing 2-5 was disappointing but motivated the team to seek victory in the next match. This is exactly what they did,

gaining a hard fought victory against Merchant Taylor’s School (2-0). Haberdashers have always been tough opposition and did not disappoint this year again; a slow start from St Albans School allowed three early goals to the opposition. With a walk-up call at half time, the second half was more of an even match and they held Habs to 0-0.

The U15 Team, captained by George Rose, started to look a lot sharper and the team linked together much

more effectively. The next part of the season was looking promising with wins over Dulwich College (1-0), Kingston Grammar School (4-2) and Watford Grammar School (5-1).

George Scott found his form with an impressive goal scoring frenzy, scoring in all three matches. Joe Zacaroli and Darius Faiz-Madavi remained consistent key players, especially after losing Robbie Goldberg, George Rose and Euan McGonagle to injury.

Special mention goes to Chris Wharton who was awarded Most Improved Player of the Season and Darius Faiz-Madavi who received Player of the Season.

EMC

There were a number of notable performances on the hockey pitches

Big Wins U14 XI Hockey boosted the quality of the hockey and added to an excellent season.

The B team has much improved this year, finishing with a much higher quality of structure and skill. The depth of talent spreads throughout this year group down through the B team, with some excellent finishes

by Nick Robinson and a number of notable performances from Edward Oguns, Toby Reynolds and Tom Kirby to name but a few. The future of these teams looks very promising RDD

National Runners-Up U13 XI Hockey In their first full 11-a-side year of fixtures, the U13s showed good promise for a successful year. The season started slowly, with heavy defeats against Dr Challoner’s, but from that time on the A team went on to lose only once more against Watford Grammar School, ending with a 75% win/loss ratio. Notable performances include a 3-1 win over Haileybury and two 5-0 victories against Haberdashers’ Aske’s. As well as competing in normal school fixtures, the team also entered the County Mini Hockey Tournament at Watford finishing the day runners up after a close final with Watford.

This resulted in qualification for the regional round of the tournament and after some tough fixtures in the

group the boys finished second and were through to the semi-final, one win away from the Nationals. Unfortunately, the boys came up against a strong St Johns side who edged the match 2-1 after a tense second half which could have gone either way.

The team showed huge improvements throughout the season, with Tom Halling being awarded most improved player of the season and Oliver Edmond, player of the season.

Other notable performances in the team include Ben Morrall in goal, Michael Oguns (scoring 5 goals in one game) and the captain Ben Hemsi who led by example throughout the season.

TNR

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In a highly successful season, both the A and B teams finished with 81% and 70% win/loss ratio respectively.

Both teams recorded several big wins against historically strong opposition (As 9-0 vs.Watford Grammar and 6-0 vs Dr Challoner’s). Notable performances in the A team have been a solid defensive pair of Harry Turner and Guy Holden, Tim Richards, George McGregor and Mehmet Ismail holding the midfield, and Travis Hudson and Patrick Scott scoring some spectacular goals. A late inclusion of Noah Lipschitz has further

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The team continued their winning ways with a very close match against Bedford School, an outstanding performance from Darius Faiz-Madavi and goals from Ben Rose aided a 2-1 victory. Comfortable wins over Hitchin Boys (4-0), Haileybury School (3-2) and Harrow School (7-2) meant the team were going in to their last game of the season with confidence. The game against The Leys School was of a very high standard, it was the toughest opposition St Albans had played all season and they had to produce their best hockey in order to compete. It was 1-1 at half time, with very little between the two teams. A short lapse in concentration in defence meant The Leys scored the winning goal with little time left on the clock.

Although a defeat, it was a very positive end to a great season.

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Pace and Spin in Sri Lanka Cricket Tour report by skipper James Scott After a highly successful season, much preparation and huge anticipation, on July 10th the 45 man senior cricket squad met at Heathrow to embark on their mission to achieve sub-continental success in Sri Lanka.

Twenty two hours later, with a pit stop in Mumbai, the squad landed in Colombo and made a swift transition onto coaches and onto the first hotel.

Match two was played against Trinity College and this was to prove one of the best games on tour for the first team. After being set a challenging 198 in 30 overs, St Albans were indebted to a wonderful innings of 91 by George Scott to bring them to brink of victory, however at 198 for 9 St Albans lost their last wicket and the game ended in a tie. The twos and threes both lost but showed much improved performances.

That afternoon the touring squad visited the a plantation and gained a fascinating insight into one of the primary industries in Kandhi, before they moved south to Colombo, ar-

The next destination was Bentota Bay, at the hotel Club Bentota, beautifully situated on the coast with a fabulous beach which received maximum use. However, the first team continued to put in exceptional and ruthless performances against Wesley College and St Peters College with a six wicket win and 150 run victory respectively. Nick Foster showed fine form throughout the tour, and Dan Watt was in the runs, while George Scott took a rare hat trick with some hostile fast bowling. A very enjoyable trip to the Turtle Sanctuary was also a highlight of the stay in Bentota as the tourists maximised the use of facilities on the splendid coastline.

The 24th July saw the squad make their way back up to Colombo and to the again luxurious airport hotel.

An extensive awards ceremony and yet more brilliant food represented the sad fact that the tour had come to its conclusion and the long journey home began.

gressed no further. However the following day, despite the rain, saw the first team suffer their first loss of the tour with a disappointing batting display against the Colombo International School. Despite this initial disappointment, the day took an upward turn as the squad spent the afternoon at the local elephant orphanage and had a fantastic time both riding and cleaning the beasts.

The next match at the beautiful NCCC ground in Colombo saw the first team experience true Sri Lankan conditions with a mixture of searing heat and extreme humidity. However, for the first team normal service was resumed with a comprehensive 5 wicket victory and strong performances from the twos and threes in tricky matches made it a successful cricketing morning. The afternoon held a slightly surreal ex-

The opposition players were not always as mellow

Without exception the tour was a fantastic experience and immense fun. The cricket was played at an exceptional standard throughout all three teams against some unorthodox and very challenging opponents and credit must be given to the first team who finished with statistics of played 7, won 4, lost 1, tied 1 and abandoned 1, a remarkable success against teams where school boy cricket is known to be stronger than anywhere else in the world. However, as well as the cricket, the tour experience was incredibly memorable with many highlights from the various cultural activities. The friendliness and cricket adoring culture ran throughout Sri Lanka, making the tour even more of a success. Special thanks to Mr Hudson and his colleagues for organising a brilliant tour which was enjoyed immensely by all 45 students.

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The first match of tour arrived the following day and after a monsoon filled morning, all teams managed to get under way around midday. At the spectacular Old Trinitarians stadium the first team played splendidly, restricting Trinities strong batting line up to only 150, before calmly chasing it down for only 5 down. Special mention goes to Dan Watt for a devastating 50 which set up the run chase. Unfortunately the 2nds and 3rds met equally strong opposition and went down fighting as neither side could post quite enough runs.

perience as the squad was taken to the spice gardens where they were shown various spices and remedies which the guides claimed could cure not only asthma but also cancer!

An ambitious claim was the general consensus.

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The first destination was Amaya Hills Resort Hotel, in the hills of Kandhi and in possession of some breathtaking views and scenery. However, jet lag was quick to set in and after a quick swim and dinner everyone was more than happy to take an early night. The following day was one of acclimatisation and more swimming as the squad and staff enjoyed their first experiences of Sri Lankan culture. In the afternoon, there was a training session as the teams gained their first experience of playing in extreme humidity and fielding on far from even outfields, clearly a distant land from the familiar Woollams.

riving at the luxurious Mount Lavinia Hotel. Again the swimming pool was in full use and again the food was of the highest standard despite the spread of the inevitable sub-continental illness beginning to set in. The following morning saw the monsoon rains arrive again and despite the first team bowling well and restricting the opposition to an attainable total on a very good batting wicket, the rain ensured the match pro-

A Tale of Two Scotts 1st XI Cricket

Sport

The 1st XI had a good season winning our inaugural Twenty/20 Tournament as well as touring Sri Lanka.

Three players stood out this season: George Scott played for the full Hertfordshire 1st XI aged just 15, as well as the U17s and the U15s. His brother James Scott also played for Herts U17, along with Abhishek Kulkarni.

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The opening match of our season began with Haileybury batting, and if one solitary batsman had not scored 95, the match might have turned out very differently. The pick of the attack was Kight, taking 4 wickets at 13.5 runs per wicket. 158 seemed an assailable target, especially considering that we gained their overs in a split game, giving us 58 overs to score the runs. However, wickets tumbled, and we were all out for 88.

We entered the National Twenty/20 Tournament and visited Stowe for a triangular with the hosts and Berkhamsted School. Hassanin scored 68 in the first match against Berkhamsted, supported with some fortune by Foster (26), and so we managed to attain a total of 167.

Travis Hudson, making his debut, took 5-15 and broke a record that had stood for more than a hundred years. In the other match against Stowe, we were able to restrict their stars to 144-5, thanks to some excellent bowling from G. Scott and Hassanin. Struggling to make this total, we hit out and paid the consequences for it, and so we were all out for 94. We could have won this, as their masters and professional coach were keen to point out.

With the small boundary at Habs, high scores were expected and achieved. They amassed 290-5 from 40 overs with Kumar taking three wickets to reward a determined spell.

The reply started with J. Scott scoring freely to get 41, supported by Rajah with 44. G. Scott made 76, but it was beginning to look hard to win the game until Hassanin hit 25 from one over. Stairmand (63) struck four after four to the leg-side boundary but a splendid catch at mid-on stopped what was an excellent charge that had Habs really worried. We lost by 50 runs in the end.

At Berkhamsted School Rajah scored 29 and Watt 50, before G. Scott went on to score 84, setting a

Boys. Good starts from J. Scott (36), Stairmand (29), G. Scott (29) and support from Rajah (19) achieved a respectable 161-7. In reply Paarl reached 54 before the loss of their first wicket, but only managed 119-6 after slowing in the middle order.

tough target of 223 from 40 overs. In reply, there was little opposition and they ended all out for 105. Good bowling from J. Scott (4-25) and Kumar (3-13) did the damage.

Batting first against Aylesbury Grammar School, J. Scott fell just short of his century on 94 and Foster made a very fast 61 in a total of 290-8. Aylesbury did not attempt to approach the required run-rate and finished on 123-5, giving us a win by 167 runs.

The arrival of Caulfield Grammar School from Australia saw the start of the first of several Twenty/20 matches.

Some excellent fielding and bowling (J. Scott 3-14, G. Scott 3-15 and Kight 3-15) restricted the visitors to100. In reply we finished on 102-8 with Stairmand top scoring with 34.We won a close game with an over to spare.

The OACC Invitational side contained several OAs, and scored 121-6. However, some inconsistent bowling allowed us to seize the win with a couple of overs and 8 wickets to spare. Notable scorers were J.Scott and Stairmand, cashing in 47 and 35 respectively.

The first St Albans School 1st XI Twenty/20 Competition consisted of four matches, played over two days.

These consisted of a group stage, followed by a final and third and fourth place play-off. In our opening game we were drawn against the visiting tour side from South Africa, Paarl

The afternoon match was against the now familiar Old Boys’ XI. Scott played very well to score 65, although no other scores went past the 20s and we finished all out for 144. With a revised total, the OAs achieved 131-4, leaving us needing to win the morning game against St Benedict’s on Friday to make the final. We found ourselves at 15-3 shortly into the game, when Watt came to the crease, and having been dropped twice, went on to smash 86, includeding four sixes, taking us out of reach at 190-6 with Foster adding 30*. St Benedict’s started strongly, but were never able to maintain the required run rate, finishing on 95-9.

Twenty/20 matches are now becoming an important part of the season’s fixture list

The first over of the Final against the Old Boys went for 35 and the School were off to a flyer. After six overs the School was 90-0 and heading for a record. With some tightening, but with runs comfortably available, the school went on to score 201-7. J. Scott (55), Stairmand (33), and Watt (30) were the main scorers. Scott instilled some confidence in the side by a record-breaking 33 runs in the opening over of the game, inspiring Stairmand to follow suit, matching his record later on.

The President’s XI game was the sixth match in four days and one too many for tired players. A very neat opening innings by Dean (65) gave the President’s XI stability, and they eventually finished on 185-9. We got off to a reasonable start with J. Scott (23), but he was one of only four players to reach double figures. Poor decisions and too many caught cheaply cost us, as we stumbled to 111 all out.

It was a long and enjoyable season with big hitting records after an unfortunate start. The players accepted the positive criticism and the end was of a higher quality than the beginning. A longer and higher intensity pre-season training programme would help enormously. The players were always a pleasure to be with and I am most grateful for the help and advice of Mark Illot.

CCH

Turning the Tide 2nd XI Cricket brightly with Alex Goldstone (4-15) and Nial Parkash (7 overs 1-7) the pick of the bowlers. Nonetheless, a well below par score of 125, was knocked off by QE Barnet. This was a very disappointing loss, in a game we knew we should have won

Faithful spectators endure the summer drizzle

The form we were now showing continued into the next game against

Finley Matheson

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Nevertheless, we bounced back next game with a convincing win against Bancrofts, and this time there was a very strong performance by the bowlers as Bancroft school were bowled out for 118. This was then knocked off quickly, with an excellent innings by Alex Goldstone (52*). Our third game was against QE Barnet, which was an extremely disappointing loss. They won a vital toss, on a deteriorating wicket in overcast conditions, and bowled first We got off to a slow start followed by a constant loss of wickets, with only Charlie Avent going on (62*); we posted a miserly 125. When we came out to bowl, we started

Stalwart defence from George Scott of St Albans School and Hertfordshire

After a disappointing start to the season with two losses coming from the first three games, St Albans 2s turned it around, and did not lose another game, showing a huge amount of skill, effort and character.

Our performances in the field, with the bat and ball improved immeasurably. Overall we had a successful season with five wins and two losses, and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the team to thank Mr Ellegard for all his efforts in coaching us this season, as well as Mr Hudson and Mr Illot. The impressive season from all performers in the team, bodes well for the next season in the 1st XI and the 2nd XI.

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After a successful season last year, and with a tour to Sri Lanka in the summer, the 2nd XI were hoping to continue their strong run and lead up to a great tour. Our first game of the season was against Haileybury, which didn’t go to plan. Haileybury won the toss and chose to bat first and posted a very competitive score of 225 off their 35 overs, after a poor bowling and fielding performance. This was followed by a strong batting performance, with Finley Matheson scoring a quick 55 and Nick Perry scoring 44. However, with the pressure of the run rate rising, we fell just short.

After that loss, it was clear that there was a new intensity to our cricket; we did not want to lose another match and we knew we had not played to the best of our ability.

This was shown perfectly in our next game against Haberdashers, where due to an outstanding batting performance from Alex Goldstone (91) we posted a score of 179. With tight bowling from the bowling attack, especially Joe Easter, Habs were immediately on the back foot, and despite a good 50 from their captain, the score of 179 proved too much for them, as they were finished off by Nial Parkash (3-22). After the previous performance against QEB, this was just what the team needed, and set us up for the rest of the season. In our next game against Berkhamsted, we bowled excellently and with aggressive opening spells from Chris Schon (3-14), Robin Pendock (2-20) and Anish Khiroya (2-30) we bowled them out for 120. After a poor start with the bat, Finley Matheson (52*) and Rob McDougall took us home.

Aylesbury where Robin Pendock led the attack with figures of 4-12 to bowl Aylesbury out for 108, which was quickly finished off by St Albans with Jennings finishing 44 not out. Then for our final game of the summer, we played an Australian touring side Knox GS in a T20. This was once again an excellent bowling performance by the bowlers, with Joe Easter taking 3-12 from his 4 overs, meaning that St Albans had 92 to win. Then, John Dean and Charlie Avent got St Albans off to a good start, which was then finished off by Matheson with a quick 39*.

Double Trophy Winners U15 XI Cricket

Sport

The season was a resounding success with the U15As winning all but one of their matches and having one game abandoned due to poor weather and losing the resultant bowl out to Bradfield College.

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With George Scott unavailable for the majority of the season due to his promotion to the 1st XI it fell upon the remainder of the team to ensure that the team did not falter.

In the batting department several individuals finished with averages over 30, with Goldstone (483 runs, 48.3 average), Barber (308 runs, average 38.5), Zacaroli (193 runs, 48.25 average) and Taylor (174 runs, 43.5 average) leading the way. In the bowling department several individuals stood out with Jack Killen taking the most wickets (25) and Michael Pearson having the best economy rate (5.7 runs per wicket) and strike rate (taking a wicket with every 10 balls bowled). the depth of bowling was one of the attributes of this team and all contributed in this facet of the game throughout the season with match winning spells. The fact that the team bowled out opponents in 11 of their 18 matches and in 3 others had them 9 wickets down demonstrates the wicket taking quality of the bowling attack.

Throughout the season the challenge laid down to this group of players was to make the most of every opportunity they had with the bat or ball and consequently they demonstrated a ruthless efficiency that was a pleasure to witness. As a coach the challenge with this group was ensuring everyone had a chance to develop and consequently the batting orders were changed and bowling attacks varied in order to promote this. The final figures for the season of having won all the matches they played by 50 runs (when batting first) or by 7 or more wickets (when chasing a total) was testimony to how they focussed on taking their chances and the intensity they developed in all aspects of the game. Perhaps the most important aspect of this team’s performance was their unity and their humility and many visiting coaches and parents commented not only on their high level of performance but also their high level of sportsmanship. This was partly down to the

Daniel Burnley bowls under threatening skies

exceptional captaincy skills shown by Robert Goldstone, but also down to the enthusiasm and commitment of the other players.

Losing the regional semi final of the Lord’s Taverners’ Trophy was extremely disappointing especially in the circumstances by a bowl out, given that the game itself was nicely balanced when rain intervened.

Whilst this was a set back the team bounced back to win the District Cup by 108 runs in a 20 over game and the County Cup final for the 4th consecutive year, with Robert Goldstone achieving the personal milestone of scoring a century in the final. Other highlights were defeating Haberdashers in the county

cup semi final after being soundly beaten by them in our first encounter of the summer. The strength of character and level of skill shown in this game in particular showed what a good cricketing team this is. It is sad that they will no longer play together as a squad, but the future for school cricket in the senior teams looks very promising with these students involved.

MJL

Scott’s 500 U14 XI Cricket The U14 cricket team of 2011 started the season with high ambitions and rightly so. A team which had dominated most before them as U13s was only strengthened by the arrival of the prep school boys. In a season that saw school records broken, clinical bowling and over a thousand runs scored, the only slip was in the first round of the County Cup against Parmiters School, where the team lost by only 2 runs.

Spurred on by this defeat, the team preceded to simply overpower every other opponent in the school fixtures and the District Cup, culminating in an 86 run victory against Verulam.

A special mention for the season must go to Patrick Scott who amassed 500 runs with an average of 62.5, and a new school record of 167 runs in one innings. This also led to Patrick, and Travis Hudson, representing the first team on a number of occasions as well.

The bowlers performed consistently all season with the best stats coming from Freddie Scutt with figures of 15-132 over the season. Others who performed well were Milo Knights, Jonathan Midgen, Will Pickworth, Daniel Angel and Luke Wilde. Another mention must go to the captain Jack Perrin who led the side from the front all season with the bat and in the field.

TNR

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Unfounded Apprehension U13 XI Cricket This was an encouraging season.

Having lost most games and several of them badly as U12s, the season was faced with some apprehension.

However this proved unfounded as the team played 15 games with only one bad loss on the record. We gave teams that we had lost to badly as U12s hard matches and even turned some defeats into creditable victories. One of these was an excellent game against Aylesbury Grammar where we scored 106 for 9 but then dismissed them for 60.

The record for the As was played 15, won 7, lost 7, tied 1. The Bs played 7 matches, winning 5 of them.

Overall this was a record of 12 wins to 9 losses. One mark of progress

was the District Cup: the final was won by 9 wickets with more than 13 overs to spare. An important challenge for next year will be to progress further in the County Cup, where we lost a close encounter with Watford Boys.

The batting was held together by Spooner with 168 runs, Thomson with 183 runs and lastly Mahalingam with a grand total of 359 runs.

The bowling improved steadily: the leading wicket-takers were Mahalingam with 13, Thomson with 14, Charlesworth with 14 and Hassanin with 19. Others who played with distinction were Hemsi, Wick and Sahota.

The other notable performance was a victory against the Dads on Founders Day. BSB

Cross Country through thick and thin Season summary by Joseph Redwood

Sport

After a successful pre-season training camp at Pen Arthur, with the captaincy handed over to Antonio Razzano, the season got off to a grand start with the Abbots Langley Tough Ten 5km race, where the school athletes make their first impression. The race was won by Mark Pearce, with upcoming Robin O’Connor hot on his heels and Razzano in 3rd.

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sisting of Joe Redwood, Mark Pearce, Robin O’Connor, Adam Thorpe, Robbie Lightowler, Daniel Myers and Jordan Bayer-Goldman competed in the English Schools Cup Final. Having sailed through both county and regional rounds, the team were hot favourites for taking the Cup. The team members battled their hardest to overcome the treacherous hills of the tricky 4.3km course to secure their place as champions of England. Robin O’Connor, ran an electrifyingly quick race, his tactics judged perfectly to come home in 2nd place, Bayer-Goldman and Pearce paced each other well throughout the race to return in 13th and 14th places respectively.

Redwood, having only just come back from a marathon of illnesses, salvaged a respectable 17th after falling off the front-runners. Thorpe, in excellent form, had a great race to finish 37th. The run of the day however went to Robbie Lightowler, who stormed through the immense field to finish in a thoroughly deserved 6th place.

In October, the squad took off to Washington DC to complete the student exchange with St Albans School USA. After seeing the sights it was business as usual and the team raced at the Georgetown Prep Classic in the Varsity and Junior Varsity disciplines. Razzano and Zaver had strong runs in the Varsity event but it was Pearce who stole the show, winning the race in a stunning finish. Wilkie Hollens was close by in 6th.Victoria Walker finished in an impressive 3rd in the girls Varsity race.

On the last day of the trip, St Albans UK challenged St Albans USA to a friendly relay race. Despite St Albans USA winning by a clear margin, the event brought a pleasant end to yet another very successful trip.

At the St Albans relay around Woollams, the boys’ team put up a serious fight, with Tom Brooks leading the charge on first leg, to pass over in 2nd, and at the end of the race, having been overtaken by an in-form Judd School, captain Razzano brought the team home in a solid 3rd.

With a team brought down by injury and illness, on a cold and windy 15 January, the boy’s team managed a relatively impressive 6th on the gruelling Knole Run course in Sevenoaks – a 10km course which twists over the muddiest, most undulating terrain of any race on the calendar. O’Connor finished in an impressive 21st place out of 300 runners, Pearce, never far behind, finished in 26th, and after a very gutsy run, Tom Brooks, stumbled across the line in 60th. Walker, true to form, stormed to a convincing victory in the girls’ race.

At the 40th King Henry VIII relay in Coventry, the youthful A team fought hard to a better than anticipated 4th place, with particularly

special runs from O’Connor and Zaver.Victoria Walker was the star of the show however, running the 2nd fastest girl’s time of the race.

Finally, on the 26 March, at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, the Intermediate Cross Country Team, con-

Vazudev Zaver (above) had a strong season, while the Intermediate Team (below) won the English Schools Championship

The team raised the bar with an historic score of 35 points, a full 95 points clear of second place, a new record in the competition. The amazing result means that the victorious runners will travel to Malta to represent the country in the World Schools Championships in 2012.

Cross Country Tour to Washington Wilkie Hollens puts aside his running vest to give his account of running in America As the sun rose over the Gateway on the 13th October, fourteen eager cross country runners departed the school to compete against their American counterparts three and a half thousand miles away. The biannual tour, in its 11th year, places British students with Americans, meaning that they can fully embrace the American lifestyle, whilst the Americans return in the summer to run in local athletics meets.

The Georgetown Prep Classic, the focal point of the tour, consisted of two categories of races: varsity and junior varsity, in which schools from DC, Maryland and Virginia competed.

The Boys Varsity team, consisting of Antonio Razzano,Vasudev Zaver, Josh Hampton, Joe Temple, Chris Stobart

The rest of the weekend was spent with the host families and the students immersed themselves in American culture. The remainder of the week included a tour of the Capitol Building, visiting the monuments and seeing the Washington Capitols ice hockey team train. On Tuesday the team ran its second race, a relay race against St Albans School USA. The A team of Mark Pearce,Vasudev In the Girls Varsity race, our sole Zaver, Wilkie Hollens and Antonio representative,Victoria Walker ran Razzano finished second behind St strongly to finish in third place, Albans USA whilst the B team of cheered on by OA, Lucy Yates. She Tom Brooks,Victoria Walker, Ashok can certainly be pleased with her poMathur and Josh Hampton finished sition and can gain confidence from in third. Joe Redwood returned from it for the rest of the season. illness to run an excellent time for The Junior Varsity race, consisting the C team. of Tom Brooks, Mark Pearce, Wilkie The tour was a success and thanks Hollens, Will Floyd, Ashok Mathur must go to Mr Everitt for the superb and Callum McClafferty ran well, organisation and to George Harth finished in 6 overall, just behind St rison for his brilliant coaching both Albans USA. Wilkie Hollens ran well to our runners and those from the to finish 6th, as did Ashok Mathur, USA. Credit must also go to all the th finishing 39 . Tom Brooks, still host families who put up the pupils recovering from illness ran better for a week, and Coach Ehrenhart than expected to finish in 43rd. of STA USA for his hospitality and However the outstanding performwork in making everything run ance of the day was undoubtedly smoothly. that of Mark Pearce, finishing 1st, having run a sensible and well paced run before storming away from the competition to finish in a time that was faster than almost all of the Varsity Team. Not only this, he was running against runners who were several years older than him, and this demonstrates his superb talent that will hold him in good stead for the English Schools Cup later in the year. and James Graham, ran against a tough field, with Vasudev being the first home in 39th, with Captain Antonio Razzano back in 68th.

Although the field was tough the Varsity team lacked any outstanding performances, and there was a realisation that more training was needed in order to dictate future races back home.

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Sport

By Friday most of the pupils had adjusted to American time and spent the day at the Air and Space Museum and National Gallery of Art on the Mall of Washington, before returning to the school for a short conditioning run for Saturday’s race.

Above and below: running in Washington DC

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The team met up with their hosts after a nightmarishly long queue at customs and went their separate ways for the night, desperate to avoid jet lag. The following morning the students spent the day acquainting themselves with their surroundings, visiting the school, the cathedral and the nearest Starbucks. The school has a similar ethos to our own, and even shares many architectural features such as a gateway and the arched windows reminiscent of those in our own library.

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Sport

Athletics Seven country representatives The season kicked off with the Senior District Championships at Westminster Lodge. The standard of some of the performances showed how strong athletics is becoming in the area and it was no longer dominated by the Old Firm of St Albans and St Columba’s, although when it came down to the final count up it was still nip and tuck between us. This year, despite some excellent individual performances and an increasing Senior Girls team we loaned the trophy to St Columba’s by just a few points.

As the season progressed more talent was being unearthed in the District competition for the 1st and 3rd years. Tolaji Bola, Ben Clarke and Sam Alexander, Mobolaji Anifalaje were also proving themselves to be useful additions to the athletics squads.

The season took us twice to the excellent track meets at Harrow where we have become an increasingly competitive team, taking on all the big boarding schools and producing some excellent results with our Junior boys team finishing third and some memorable 4 x 400m relays which were won convincingly.

We also sneaked Oyinade Omidiora into the Junior boys 400m race in an attempt to gain a qualification time for the English Schools Championships. It was her very first 400m

The Hertfordshire County Championships came next and a large contingent from St Albans took part, with impressive performances coming from all who took part, but a special note should be made of Robin O’Connor who won the 1500m with a new championship Record, Josh Southworth who was second in the 400m, Mark Pearce, winner of the 3000m, Joe Redwood, runner up in the steeplechase, Drew Daniels Smith, who dead heated for first place in the 100m and Omeiza Haruna who despite being a year young for his age group won the triple jump and finished fourth in the 100m final.

As the season drew to a close the U16 Boys team went to the County League final with high hopes of medals and were looking set for a good finish when an injury and three fouls in one event knocked them out of the running. Despite this disappointment they still managed to secure fourth place and the prospects for their future look bright.

To cap things off Drew DanielsSmith, Robin O’Connor,Victoria Walker and Oyinade Omidiora were all selected to represent Hertfordshire in the English Schools Track and Field Championships which was held at the Gateshead International Stadium. All four participated in the finals with Robin finishing fourth, Drew in sixth with the Relay team and Vicky and Oyinade finishing sixth in the Steeplechase and 400m respectively.

An excellent seasons athletics with seven athletes representing the County and the future looking very bright for next year.

DJW

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Sport

In the U14 team the star turn came regularly from Omeiza Haruna who despite carrying an injury for most of the season still won every league 100m and triple jump in which he took part. One of his most impressive performances came in the District Champs where off a five step run up he took one jump and won the competition. He was ably backed up by Tom Savage who in Haruna’s absence on sports day demonstrated what a good sprinter he also is by setting a new 100m record. Harrison Pyrke would also go on to show his dedication in the middle distance

Despite the individual successes, athletics is a team event and the U16’s would go on to finish third in the league with the U14’s fifth and just outside the qualification places for the League Final. The short term and bank holidays brought the fixtures thick and fast and the boys were next in action at the County Combined Events Championships. The Junior boys team of Josh Southworth, Robin O’Connor and Adam Thorpe were just outside the medals, but the Intermediate team of Ben Rose, George Rose, Jordan Bayer Goldman and Luke Bevis were convincing winners. Jordan, George and Adam would all go on to be selected to represent the County in the South East Region Championships where George would finish 8th, Jordan 14th and Adam 18th. George and Jordan would go on to help the Intermediate side finish third overall.

race, but she went on to gain the time and selection to represent the County.

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The County League kicked in and our U14 Boys (Years 1 & 2) and U16 Boys (Years 3 & 4) were straight into the action and amassed some impressive points totals. The U16 Boys in particular were beaten into second place on only one occasion and the strength in depth suggests that next year could be an equally impressive one. Drew DanielsSmith, Robin O’Connor, Robbie Lightowler, Adam Thorpe and Josh Southworth all ably stood in for their older teammates at various points throughout the season and there were regular wins for the Rose brothers, Luke Bevis, Jordan Bayer Goldman, Will Barnes and Mark Pearce.

events by finally cracking the five minute barrier in the 1500m and George Grant would also prove to be a regular victor.

Football Senior XI year. Alex Goldstone won the Most Improved Player for the season and James Anthoney received the award for the Player of the Season after unfaltering performances at the heart of the defence which drew plaudits from the coach of the Hertfordshire County side.

In the group stages of the LB Cup, a national independent school tournament, St Albans put in a disappointing first match, rueing missed chances in a 0-0 match against Berkhampstead.

The second match of the groupstage was against fierce local rivals Haberdashers. An early Alex Goldstone goal was later pegged back by the away side, before a perfectly weighted Kayode Bola through ball was slid into the net by Joe Easter, taking a much needed 3 points for the 1st XI. The final game of the

Joseph Easter

U15 XI Football The U15s had a mixed set of results, achieving four wins and five losses.

The season got underway in positive fashion with the team winning two of their first three games, with wins against Kings Langley and Adeyfields, along with a defeat to St Edmund’s College.

Sport

A very promising start to the season saw the St Albans side bond very strongly whilst playing attractive football with a positive and attacking mind-set. This attitude, instilled by the master in charge Mr Whitehead and the coach Mr Wilson, reaped benefits as the side ran through comfortable winners in early season ‘friendlies’ against Merchant Taylors, The Perse School, St Columbas, Bancrofts, the Cold Stream Guards and a draw against the once hailed Corinthian Casuals.

Two consecutive defeats followed swiftly after these games, including a battling 2-0 defeat to Roundwood in the District Cup, in what was almost an identical game to last year’s match between the two sides. Unfortunately again it wasn’t to be for St Albans and we had to make sure we could bounce back in the following game.

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This tremendous early season form was carried through to competitive matches as the 1st XI beat Francis Bacon 4-0 in the District Cup with Lee Goldberg and Richard D’Rosario netting and Joe Easter completing the scoring with a brace.

The next round was played away at Roundwood School on a pitch that has since led to the rewriting of the competition rules as a minimum size of pitch has been set.

In a scrappy encounter Roundwood came through on penalties. In the County Cup the side met Turnford and rose to the physical challenge set to them, pulling through 4-3 winners. A tremendous performance

by St Albans was not enough in the second round against Dame Alice Owens, a school with a renowned footballing pedigree that boasts multiple national titles.

group was away to Bedford School, St Albans dominated possession and this was telling as two goals from Joe Easter and a 35 yard scorcher from Richard d’Rosario saw St Albans to a 3-0 win. This meant the team finished second in the group and had to travel to Lincolnshire to play against Spalding. Despite an early Albert Koomson goal as well as a magnificent display from Will Berrington at left back, a below par performance across the pitch meant St Albans went down 3-1.

Despite falling short in the latter stages of the competitions we entered, this was an encouraging season especially as the side contained many Fifth formers and Lower Sixth players. The defensive line, led by Jack Hogan and Goalkeeper Jack Wallace, in particular were outstanding throughout the

Hard tackling on the football field

This is exactly what happened and the team won 2-0 over Dr Challoners. It was a superb team performance and a great deal of effort and commitment was shown throughout the game. Our next game was midweek and saw us travel to Haileybury and suffer a 2-0 loss, in which two late goals were scored.

The score line however did not give a fair reflection of the game as it was fairly tight for long periods.

Our penultimate game was against Beaumont in what was a convincing 5-2 win. With five different goal scorers, there were glimpses within the match that showed signs of a great understanding between players, which bodes well for the future years to come. The last game was against Longdean School in which we lost 2-1. After being 1-0 up at halftime, end of season tiredness kicked in in the second half as we gave away two disappointing goals. Despite the loss, overall the team gained further experience this season and many positives can be taken from it, preparing ourselves for next year where consistency will be the key.

CJE

Netball Excelling on the pitch

Badminton County Champions It has been another excellent year for badminton at St Albans school.

The Senior team easily won all of their fixtures with Oliver Ng, Louis Walpole and Abhishek Kulkarni providing excellent support in depth for Mark Sadler, who played up a year in many of the matches. Only the U14s struggled against their opposition, due to the limited practice they got before the season starts.

Swimming Notable success

Ultimate Frisbee

AJB

AJB

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Sport

The season started with the opening fixture at Marlborough School on Thursday 4th November. The Juniors made significant improvements, coming 3rd with notable performances from Rob Williams and Jash Juliette Mann Pooni. The Intermediates also came 3rd just behind Berkhamsted and Merchant Taylors, but individually there were very strong performances from Robbie Lightowler, James Duke-Smith, Luke Bevis and James Bates. The Seniors came 4th equal, but there were determined swims

by Captain Elliot Keer, along with Chris Stobart and Chris Milsted.

At the two Berkhamsted galas, the Juniors were up against some tough competition from local schools, coming a disappointing 7th place at the first encounter, but achieving an encouraging 4th place at the second time of asking. The Intermediates also unfortunately came 6th, mainly due to injuries and absences, however, a week later and with a full strength age group, they returned The younger players also finished to a stronger position and came the season on a high, winning the 3rd. The Seniors battled hard with Hertfordshire Schools Badminton some very strong competition from Association U13s competition with Berkhamsted, Merchant Taylors and 116 points to Hitchin’s 97, and Record gone Haberdashers. The remaining galas at winning the HSBA school trophy.

Haberdashers and the High School This was the second highest points This year, the traditional fixtures against Mill Hill and unfortunately saw similar results. tally by this age group from St Albans Haberdashers were rolled into one tournament, held After six galas, involving ten competschool. at Habs. Despite beating Mill Hill 6-1 and Habs 4-2, the ing schools, the final positions for squad experienced their first loss in six years. A fourth IMS the season were as follows: Seniors school, Mill Hill High, had joined the competition for the (3rd); Intermediates (3rd); Juniors first time and showed that the game can be played at a (5th), so there is a good foundation higher level, beating us 2-1. To their credit, the current for stronger and improved team L6th and 5th Form players have resolved to improve performance next year. In anticipatheir game and take on Mill Hill High next year. tion of this, the term finished with an Player of the Season and Player of the Tournament extra gala against Haileybury and the awards went to Nima Salehi, while the Most Improved Leys, which St Albans won, with very Player award went to Louis Grant. strong Intermediate performances.

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The U16s comfortably got through the preliminary round of the Center Parcs National Schools tournament against Haberdashers’. So, on 11 February 2011 we headed off to the County final at the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village. After a nervous start, the team settled down to comfortably knock out Stanborough and John Warner, then Watford Grammar in the semi-finals. That brought St Albans up against Hitchin.

The score line was close at 3-2, but St Albans had demolished Hitchin in three 21-8 games out of the first four to ensure we went through to the Regional final as County Champions. Thus, on March 4, we battled traffic and closed roads to go up to Cambridge to compete against schools from the Anglian and South Midlands area. The competition was tough but the team of Mark Sadler, Vincent Chan, Oliver Gomar, Kit Akintunde and Anish Khiroya finished the day with Bronze medals.

The girls’ netball season has gone from strength to strength. With two competent teams it was no surprise that we excelled on the pitch with the A team enjoying just one defeat to St Albans High School in a thrilling match ending 18-12. Player of the match in this embittered clash being Centre Molly Maguire. The team returned to winning form in the next match with a resounding victory over St Albans Girls with a 27 -11 victory. The Bs also enjoyed a successful term winning 64% of their matches. The season opened with a tournament, where both teams won their respective categories. With the coaching of Miss Crouch the A’s coasted to victory in all of their matches notably conquering both the High School and the Girls School. Congratulations go to Gohar Khodadoost for most improved B Team player and Juliette Mann for B Team player of the season. In the As, player of the season was Holly Mackay, who also won the Lawlor Netball Plate for the player who made the biggest contribution to the team, as voted for by the girls. The most improved player was Natasha Undrell.

Team Sports Results NON

NOBIS

N AT I

2010-2011

Rugby

Sport

Team

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100

Cricket Played

Won

Draw

Lost

Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

1st XV

10

8

0

2

1st XI

16

9

0

7

2nd XV

10

8

0

2

2nd XI

6

4

0

2

3rd XV

8

7

0

1

3rd XI

6

6

0

0

4th XV

2

2

0

0

4th XI

2

2

0

0

U16

13

7

0

6

5th XI

2

1

0

1

U16 B

8

5

0

3

U15

17

16

0

1

U15

11

8

1

2

U15 B

7

4

0

3

U15 B

10

8

0

2

U15 C

3

0

0

3

U15 C

5

5

0

0

U14

13

12

0

1

U14

11

10

1

0

U14 B

8

7

0

1

U14 B

11

10

0

1

U14 C

5

2

0

3

U14 C

6

6

0

0

U14 D

1

0

0

1

U13

9

5

0

4

U13

15

7

1

7

U13 B

9

3

0

6

U13 B

7

5

0

2

U12

15

13

0

2

U12

12

4

0

8

U12B

13

8

0

5

U12 B

6

3

0

3

Totals:

152

113

2

37

Totals:

126

82

1

43

Hockey

Netball

Team

Played

Won

Draw

Lost

Team

Played

Won

Draw

Lost

1st XI

13

7

3

3

1st VII

19

16

0

3

2nd XI

11

7

2

2

2nd VII

10

2

0

8

3rd XI

6

2

2

2

Totals

29

18

0

11

U16

10

8

1

1

Football

U16 B

7

3

1

3

1st XI

12

6

2

4

U15

12

8

1

3

2nd XI

7

6

0

1

U15 B

11

10

0

1

U16

3

1

0

2

U14

11

7

2

2

U15

8

4

0

4

U14 B

10

7

0

3

U14

10

5

1

4

U13

24

15

2

7

U13

9

2

0

7

U13 B

8

1

1

6

U12

4

4

0

0

U12

2

0

0

2

Totals:

53

28

3

21

U12 B

2

0

1

1

Totals:

123

74

15

34