LENT 2020
Wellingtonian THE STUDENT MAGAZINE
Mental Health Epidemic of Mental Health Problems in Elite Sport The Truth You Might Not Have Known
Contents 4. Humans of Wellington - The Story 5. Humans of Wellington Featuring David Lofthouse, 5th, Pn 6. The Ways of Wellington 7. First Impressions of Welly 8. WW3 - How Did We Get Here? Who is to Blame? 9. WW3: Just a Meme? Or a Real Life Threat? 10. To What Extent Was Climate Change Responsible for the Australian Bushfires? 11. Area 51 12. ‘About Time’ Movie Review 13. Why We Shouldn’t Burn Down the BBC Just Yet 14. Sheffield United; Champions of Europe 15. A Summer of English Cricket 18. Epidemic of Mental Health Problems in Elite Sport 19. The Truth You Might Not Have Known 20. Helping Friends Who You Know (or do not know) Have Social Anxiety 21. Social Media and Mental Health: A Tricky Relationship 22. Does Pressure Really Make Diamonds? 23. The Refugee Crisis 24. What Does Science Show Us About Mental Health? 25. How Did European Squabbles Cause the Near Decimation of American Indigenous people? 26. The Class System of the 18th Dynasty 27. Our Hearts Are Not in Europe 28. WellyWits 29. Welly Crossword 30. WellyLookalikes
How will we remember 2019? If you have an answer to this question, write a response to feature in the next edition!
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Foreword Hey everyone, We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as the new Wellingtonian Team! We are so excited to have been chosen to carry forward the school magazine, and we cannot thank both Will Smith and Clara Herfs enough for their support in the transition - we hope that we do you proud in this first edition of the decade! In light of the new year, we have decided to undertake some new features for our team’s first publication, developing and modifying the Wellingtonian to keep it interesting, and we hope that you enjoy them all. As a team, we believe that the Wellingtonian really should be a student magazine, and so, we will be working on making it more liberal as the year goes on, but also in a respectful manner. Also, as it is the student magazine, we would really love to hear any suggestions for the future editions as we are determined on making it the best magazine possible, just whip us a quick email at wellingtonian@wellingtoncollege.org.uk Additionally, for our first edition, we have decided to focus on Mental Health, in light of Welly’s inaugural Mental Health day, both within Wellington and in the wider world as a whole. This is becoming an increasingly publicised topic in today’s society, with awareness and support increasing and so we hope that you will engage with the wonderful articles that we have received from Wellington students regarding the topic. Finally, we hope that you enjoy reading the articles, talking about the WellyWits and WellyLookalikes, and engaging with the new features we have included, as much as we have enjoyed making them! Love from the new Wellingtonian Team: Monet Stuckey, Angus Leech, Audrey Dennis, Rosie Wrigglesworth (Editors) Cosmo Smith and Sam Hind (Designers)
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Humans of Wellington - The Story
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umans of Wellington is an Instagram page which documented the personal stories of students, teaching staff and support staff here at Wellington College. It began in the Lent term of my first year at the college and seemed to fizzle out two years later. Interviews ranged from the differences between Adam and Oscar Heal to Mr Ellis’ emotional recording of his personal experience with mental health. It helped to create a more detailed picture of the characters around school. Rather than being names and faces, ‘Humans of Wellington’ allowed them to tell their unique narrative. It was an account which brought the community together by highlighting the diversity and variety of stories present in the college. @humansofwellington. Maybe it can be revived… Joe Baker, U6th, Pn
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Humans of Wellington
Featuring David Lofthouse
How would you describe yourself? I would like to say I’m quite ordinary really! I’m very talkative and can sometimes be quite loud whilst also laughing a lot; sometimes laughing so hard people can no longer understand me! I would also like to think that I am a caring person and hopefully other people believe the same as well. What have you enjoyed most in your three years at Wellington? The thing which I’ve enjoyed most in my three years at Wellington is being part of the Picton. This house has had such a profound effect on me at Wellington because I have made some of my best mates in the Picton, who I didn’t know before coming to Wellington. I have had loads of fun experiences that I couldn’t have got anywhere else. The reason why I have enjoyed this the most is because I live in the Picton every day, so I am basically just living with all my mates. Another thing that I have hugely enjoyed is the way in which the whole school has taken me in and accepted my disability. It’s just so humbling to me to see the kindness of people at Wellington. Can you tell us a little bit about your diagnosis and the experience you’ve had with your condition? I have Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia. This is caused through oxygen starvation at birth, when the umbilical cord gets wrapped around the child’s neck practically suffocating them. This kills the nerve signals that makes parts of your body function. In my case, this affected both my legs and my right hand. This causes me to be mainly in a wheelchair, but I can walk on crutches. I also struggle to write. As a result of my Cerebral palsy, I will never be able to walk independently. It isn’t sad because you get used to it and after a while it becomes quite fun scooting around all day in a wheelchair occasionally bumping into people! My disability only affects me physically and does not affect me mentally in any way. Cerebral palsy is not regressive but walking can become more difficult without regular exercise. As with all challenges, it brings its difficulties and being the only person in a wheelchair it can sometimes pose these difficulties. Saying this I am extremely lucky to be at Wellington which in my opinion is the most accepting school for peoples’ differences. What is your charity called and what is it all about? It’s not a charity sadly, because it just came with too many complications, but not being a charity doesn’t affect the way we operate, if only it makes it easier! So, it’s a trust now called The Cerebral Palsy Trust.
The purpose of the trust is to fund life changing surgery to a child who has the same condition as me. The surgery is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. Even though there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, this treatment can substantially improve a child’s condition, ultimately improving their quality-of-life. This treatment costs £70,000 which is an extreme amount of money including their accommodation and physiotherapy. Therefore, only a small minority would be able to afford it. That’s where we come in, we would fund the £70,000 for a child who could not afford it. What made you want to set up The Cerebral Palsy Trust? As I had the surgery when I was a young child, I realised the difference it can make to a child’s life. Therefore, I wanted to give a child who cannot afford it the same opportunity I had as I was in an extremely fortunate position where I could go and have the surgery. I felt I should help other children have the surgery as it is unfair that only a small minority get to have this opportunity. I realised that the support of people in-house would help me achieve this goal. This charitable cause could not achieve as much as it is achieving without the help of the team, I have around me. This consists of George Evans, Jasper Kirkby, Tommy Offer, Tom Taylor and Ralph Hawker. I’m forever thankful to these five friends of mine as they have helped me turn my ambition into a reality. Have you had any support for your Trust from people outside of Wellington (other than your family)? Yes, we have had support from the wider community. This has mainly been through donations and comes from seeing our story on our social media, which has gained rapid support. I’m hopeful in the future that we will be able to involve the wider community and Crowthorne more as the support and awareness grows in things such as the local newspapers for the Kingsleys. What have you done or are going to do to raise awareness and funding for your Trust? We have multiple charity ideas with the main charity event planned for the 24th March when I will be walking the Kingsley’s. It is definitely going to be quite an experience. I will walk the Kingsley’s on my crutches and it will take me 13 - 15 hours to complete it. Therefore, the team who has helped me and myself will have to start extremely early in the morning in order to finish at the same time as the rest of the college. Other than the Kingsley’s, we have a few potential fundraising ideas, but I can’t confirm anything for you sadly. David Lofthouse, 5th, Pn
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The Ways of Wellington
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t’s safe to say that Wellington is truly one of a kind. From the productions to the pitches, Wellington is a living-breathing hub of energy, innovation and prosperity. There is not a single day in which the College falls silent; a constant buzz, fizz, or quiet hum of activity is always present. Our community thrives on the hustle and bustle of anything and everything both inside and outside of the gates. But in what way is Wellington so distinct, so unique and so revered? If Wellington has one thing, it’s spirit. No matter where you find yourself around college, spirit seeps out of every aspect of Wellington life. This is particularly felt when we all come together as a whole in house, for assemblies or in Chapel at the beginning of the day. Standing together with hundreds of voices singing in unison is a feeling like no other. Yes, I know, more often than not most of us would rather be somewhere else, but it is these small, intimate moments where the energy is palpable. This is also true beyond the hymn books: the sports fields are a hive of another kind of energy. On or off the pitch, sport is a powerful device which drives the most unexpected people together to create new
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friendships. Whether on the team sheet or spectating, we all add to the essence of our community. Service further deepens and strengthens our connection to the wider community, from initiatives in our local village of Crowthorne to those far further afield. Wellington is all about going the extra mile with every single student involved in giving back in one form or another. Every day, whether we realise it or not, we are surrounded by and contributing to the rich heritage and traditions of Wellington. Our brains are full, and our days are packed, so it is all too easy to become immune to the wealth of artefacts, architecture and history that we are immersed in. Every year, we congregate in front quad to remember and pay tribute to those who have fallen in battle. As we stand together, where generations stood before us and many more will follow, we honour the unique contribution of our Old Wellingtonians. This recognition is continued through CCF, with all students participating in every military discipline. Although enjoyment comes in varying degrees, this involvement enables us to be part of something greater than ourselves and therein another
dimension to Wellington life. Sprinkled throughout the year are events which showcase Wellington at its best. Speech Day is the pinnacle of the year; a celebration of every element of College life. This, together with other landmark occasions such as the Jimmy Higham run, House singing, and College Carnival, capture the epitome of what makes Wellington unique in the traditional sense. But it’s the brilliantly quirky and even unconventional events such as Welly Wanging, Be the Duke and Maniacs, as well as the more progressive initiatives including the recent Mental Health Day, Fireside lectures and EdFest which makes Wellington, Wellington. It goes without saying that we are fortunate to attend such an incredible school - that’s evident! So, embrace every opportunity, take from the wealth of knowledge in the classroom and cherish every second. But we must also ensure that we, as students and individuals, give back to it as much as we possibly can, so that we too, become an elemental part of the wonderful Ways of Wellington. Colette Staadecker, L6th, W
Twelve Observations
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t’s been six weeks since my first day at Wellington, and I can feel the insanity of it all slowly starting to normalise. It’s not that it’s actually any less insane, but that I’m getting used to it as each day passes, as it all tends towards monotony. Therefore, now must be the right time to detail the absurdity of my observations before it no longer seems so absurd. There will inevitably come a time when all of this no longer seems absurd. Before then, here are my first impressions: The Horrible:
1. They weren’t joking when they said that the timetable crushes your spirit and drains the soul out of your body and makes you forget all the things that are beautiful in life. In my first two weeks I was so confident that I would be resilient enough to handle the long days and the endless activities and the never-ending to-do list — I’ve now realised that I was in way over my head. I’m on the verge of forgetting what it’s like to feel alive. 2. Possibly the only thing more outrageous than how tired Wellington makes you feel is how much people talk about how tired Wellington makes them feel. “How are you?” “Tired.” “Same.” — the conversation’s formulaic. It’s as if constantly being tired and complaining about it is an intrinsic prerequisite to attending this school. The word “tired” has lost all meaning at this point. 3. On that — the amount of small talk made here is ridiculous, and so perplexing to a non-British person. I’ve struggled to comprehend and adjust to the etiquette that is expected when you run into someone you know passably well in the hallway. How much can you really possibly talk about the weather? 4. The emails.
The Strange:
1. Everyone is named either Will, Oli, Charlotte or Honor. 2. The sex segregation here is worse than it was in my all girls’ primary school. People’s friendship groups seem to be generally mono-sex and mono-house. The dining hall has this unspoken barrier down the middle, and if you dare breach it to step into the opposite side, you’ve committed a felony. 3. Speaking of the interaction of sexes... walks are such a strange concept, guys. Why is it that if you like someone you choose to spend an hour walking around in the freezing cold with them? 4. How does everyone know everything about everyone? It really does feel a bit like a massive extended family of nosy aunts and uncles. Considering the overwhelming size of this school, both in numbers and in area, it’s impressive that gossip seems to be able to spread faster than the Coronavirus.
The Good:
1. The banter. You guys are justifiably proud. The banter is good. 2. My toast-making skills have vastly improved. 3. You know what’s crazy? Literally everyone at this school is accomplished and driven and multi-talented. It seems as if everyone is Diploma level in three instruments, representing England in sport, or writing a book or inventing an app or building a school in Burkina Faso. And on top of that, it’s not even surprising anymore that so many people seem to be changing the world. The big things are casual, and to an outsider, it’s both incredibly intimidating and incredibly inspiring. 4. I think the thing that I’m most surprised about is also what I’m most grateful for. Before I came here I sort of pictured a private British boarding school as being full of stuck-up, entitled brats. I haven’t met anyone like that (yet). People here are friendly, hardworking, and exceptionally kind — it’s a pleasure to be a part of it.
Twelve observations in six weeks... I look forward to the rest. Mia Wu, L6th, C
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WW3
How did we get here? Who is to Blame?
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hether it happens or not… who knows, but to gain an appreciation for the series of events that kicked off this decade, one must look at the history between the two states. Their relationship began in 1953. The US and UK had constructed a coup to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister: Mohammed Mossadegh. This Prime Minister had worked to nationalize Iranian oil – the US and UK did not want this to happen. This action presented the first instance where us allies meddled in the affairs of Iran (when we really had no right to). The years 1963 - 1973 proved to be the decade of growth: a mutually beneficial relationship was created. The US would send weapons and military assistance, and in return, the US would soak up the Iranian oil. This political manoeuvre by the US was ultimately to gain a presence in the middle east. 6 years later, in the year 1979, the Iranian Revolution occurred, and the Islamic Republic of Iran became official on April fools of that year, following an overwhelming victory in the referendum. The following year, the Iran/Iraq war began: 1980 — 1988. During this war, the US switched sides and sent
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resources to Iraq. Iraq used chemical weapons (a war crime) against Iran but the US continued to support Saddam Hussein, nevertheless. In 1984, The US condemned Iran as a sponsor of terrorism and imposed its first set of sanctions on the country. Between 1992-1997, further US sanctions were placed on goods or technology that could be used to make weaponry. Still, the US seem to ‘toy’ with Iran. In 2015, the pressure of sanctions forced Iran to agree to limit their nuclear activity and a year later in 2016, the US sanctions were lifted. Only another year later does Donald Trump condemn Iran for being responsible for global terrorism. And another year later, 2018, Trump goes back on deal with Iran and imposes
more sanctions, claiming it was Iran who did not limit their military activity or regional aggressions. 2019 shows Iran demonstrating their military power: seizing oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and in December they attacked US military bases in Iraq, killing a US citizen. Consequently, the US fired back on its bases in retaliation. 2020, January 3rd. Trump ordered an assassination of General Qasem Soleimani without congressional approval. His reasoning, being that he had killed many Americans and was “planning to kill many more”. Iran stated that it would no longer agree to the 2015 deal and on January 8th, Iran retaliated, firing ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq. They seemingly avoided killing US troops. Iran has since admitted to shooting down a Ukrainian commercial flight, in turn killing 82 Iranian citizens… Could it be that Iranian ‘global terrorism’ has led to the worrying start of 2020? Or has it been the culmination of US aggressive geopolitical manoeuvres that have pressured Iran for several decades?
Joe Baker, U6th, Pn
WW3 Memes
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fter the American forces killed the Iranian Major general Qasem Soleimani, World War Three memes have exploded amongst various social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and even TikTok. On meme pages, the fear of a potential war has been masked by light hearted jokes, ranging from disposing of your draft notice to reverting to a society where equal rights are neglected, and women are labelled as housewives - just so that they can avoid fighting in the war. But is there a real cause for concern, or is #WWIII just another joke that will die out with the rise of a new phenomenon in the meme world? Although this all seems like a big joke, tension and conflict have arisen from Trump’s approval of the major general’s assassination, causing Iran to fight back by launching missiles against the US airbases (with no US fatalities). After the news surfaced of these attacks, the notion of World War Three became all too real and the outpour of new #WWIII memes grew exponentially. Of course, as with any meme, counter-memes were being made, essentially scolding people for joking about war, especially because of the calibre of weaponry that is available nowadays. The US is extremely powerful and is one of nine countries with nuclear weapons; for some, laughing about the possibility of going to war has become almost offensive, especially since many of the young people who are interacting with these memes will still be living comfortably in their bliss of ignorance if war does break out.
I’m sure that the constant reminder of worldwide conflict may result in some anxiety (for a moment it did for me!) and the coping mechanisms of many people making it a wisecrack may seem immature, this hashtag also has some underlying significance. Young people could be using this as a way to express their unconscious fears of the present affairs around the world. It can almost be viewed as an outcry to the many powerful governments that a change must be made. Realistically, World War Three is not an imminent global threat. There won’t be carnage or nuclear bombs or mass destruction anytime soon. The World War Three memes placed under the hashtag are simply a container for content. These memes just go to show that a viral sensation can be created about almost anything and soon enough, someone with enough time on their hands will collate them into a thread on Twitter or an article on Buzzfeed in hopes to create an internet sensation. Although it may seem that people are just using memes as a way to poke fun at a serious situation, I believe that it’s just another obscure topic that has managed to grab the attention of most social media platforms and users (with the help of recent news as well). Gioia Nash, L6th, Ag 9
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Australian Bushfires
To what extent was climate change responsible for the Australian bushfires?
’m sure all of you are already aware of the unprecedented fires which occurred in Australia; yet the slightly less common question is not what happened, but why it happened to such a severe extent. Thankfully, cooler and wetter weather has brought respite throughout January. However, the preceding devastation has scarred Australian land, having extensive detrimental environmental effects and killing 33 people and millions of animals, as their habitats and homes were burnt to the ground. So, what caused these fires to be at an unprecedented level and culminate in such extensive damage? Sadly, annual bush fires in Australia are an unavoidable natural phenomenon. However, the severity of these recent fires is undeniable and without a doubt exacerbated by global warming, yet it is unclear to what extent. Scientists have been aware for a long time that a hotter, drier climate would increase the intensity and frequency of Australia’s fires. The fact that this risk was raised but not addressed has proved controversial as Australian leaders have refused to answer questions regarding climate change. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack
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disregarded climate change in its entirety saying, “We’ve had fires in Australia since time began”, insinuating that he has failed to acknowledge or pleads ignorant to the increased severity. In April, fire chiefs also issued a letter warning the government about “increasing catastrophic extreme weather events”. A meeting was requested but it was declined by the government, exemplifying
their disregard of the evergrowing risk of extreme weather events. Scientists have admitted it is hard to link a specific event to climate change, however “when you see trends… it becomes undeniably linked to global climate change”- Professor Glenda Wardle. Last summer was the hottest on record for the country, and in mid-December the nation saw the hottest day
in history with an average temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius. This exemplifies the effects of global warming, and this increase in temperature is essential to understanding the ferocity of the fires. It would suggest that Australia’s climate is progressively changing. The reoccurring nature of these fires not only causes imminent destruction, but fires also add carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere, which ultimately amplifies climate change. Essentially, it is a dangerous cycle which requires drastic and immediate action to diminish and prevent. It is easy for people of power to claim ignorance of the situation due to there not being clear evidence. Yet, if this isn’t proof and a hint of what is to come, I don’t know what is. We must consider this to be the redefining moment. If we continue to encourage the process of global warming as opposed to actively preventing it, events similar to these fires will simply be deemed another aspect of daily life. Scarlett Hewett, L6th, C
Area 51
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ack in August 2019, around two million people had their Facebook status stating that they were ‘going’ to storm Area 51 in September. However, according to CNN, only around 200 people actually showed up. What could of happened if two million people actually showed up? Would the government be able to stop them? What would they have discovered? What is the history behind this mysterious place? It all began in 1955, when the CIA first purchased the land in southern Nevada and used the area for a top-secret Cold War Programme. That same year, development of the ‘High Altitude U-2 Reconnaissance Plane’ began. The plane was designed to reach an altitude of 70,000 ft, allowing it to fly undetected above the USSR and secretly gather Russian information. Unfortunately, the project was a complete failure. In 1960, three CIA pilots were killed in a flight accident and another plane was shot down over the Russian city of Sverdlovsk, the pilot was also captured. In 1974, the first photos of Area 51 were accidently taken from space by an American Satellite, which revealed a new radar test centre. The US government immediately had the photos removed from the film and placed in restrictive vaults –suggesting there was something to hide. To add fuel to the fire, Bob Lazar, who worked at Area 51 at the time, claimed on local TV that he had examined an alien aircraft and its fuel, and had read US Government documents describing alien
involvement in human affairs for the past 10,000 years! Then in 1994, the 1947 Roswell Incident came to light, where the US government covered up the story that there was at least one alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico; causing several alien bodies to be brought back to Area 51 for examination. Locals claimed they saw it happen, and there were photos of a small, brown, withered body inside what appeared to be a glass case. The figure apparently had “withered arms, shrivelled legs, a large triangular skull with elongated eye sockets, and a tiny sliver of a mouth.” However, the US government claimed this crash was a ‘weather balloon’, not a UFO as the photos suggested, and the story never developed as a result. The first time the US government publicly recognised Area 51 was only in 2013 through official documents. Then, President Obama became the first president to openly acknowledge the area in a speech at the 36th Annual Kennedy Centre Honours the same year. Area 51 certainly has a mysterious past and no doubt hides many Cold War, and possibly even some extra-terrestrial secrets, but I honestly don’t think the two million people trying to storm Area 51 last September would have found anything interesting at all. They may have found some USAF planes, but not much more beyond that. Antonia Gathy, L6th, W 11
‘About Time’ Movie Review
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ne of the classics. A real feel good movie. ‘About Time’ is a pure rom com telling the story of a man who finds out a life changing family secret which teaches him valuable lessons along the way.
The movie is set mostly in a beautiful, rustic Cornwall house. The film features around a relatable and close-knit family with a range of characters, but all entertaining and adding their own addition to the plotline. The movie starts by introducing the characters through the narration of the main character, Tim; a sensible, laid back, a tad desperate, but genuine guy. The family seems like any other normal family. However, the night after the New Year’s Eve party, Tim is exposed to some news which will change his life forever. His Dad, extremely well played by Bill Nighy, exposes him to the family secret that the men in the family have been able to travel in time. Having heard this, Tim describes what he will use this advantage to do: firstly, he aims to become rich – however Nighy reminds him that he has never met a happy rich person before – then, he says that he would probably use it to get a girlfriend. This is the start of the movie and the ambition that drives him to find the love of his life. Throughout the rest of the movie, we can see that his main focus with the hidden talent is to find a girlfriend, but also to protect his family and prevent them facing any trauma. Many moral messages arise from this aim. One in particular that stands out to me is that sometimes, bad things happen for a reason. They can be turning points in our life and can change how one sees a situation so that they can prevent it from happening again. In the movie, Tim’s sister has an incident which could have been fatal, and Tim goes back in order to prevent the accident from happening. However, he realises that his power has limitations that if he goes past certain points, such as births, they will happen differently. Therefore, he has to realise that he needs to make his sister, Kitkat, understand that what she is doing is going to end up with her being in the same, or a worse, situation. The morals, life lessons, and realisations, make the film more relatable and give an insightful feel to it. The cast features many gems of Hollywood, including Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Domhnall Gleeson, and the stunning Margot Robbie. The Director, Richard Curtis, cleverly constructed this masterpiece with perfect casting: from the lovable character of Uncle D, who incapsulates the most oblivious but most innocent person, to the slightly less amicable but hilarious slimy character of Jay played by Will Merrick. Every character helps to play a part in making such a hilarious and thoughtprovoking film. The storyline is laced with witty comments and insightful messages. Quotes such as “don’t spend it all at once” when Uncle D gave Tim £1.50 when he was leaving to live in London, really keep what is at times quite a depressing movie, lighthearted and a family friendly film. I would really recommend giving this film a watch as it is one of my personal favourites and is a feel-good film that everyone would enjoy! Hannah McClelland, L6th, Hn
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Why We Shouldn’t Burn Down the BBC Just Yet “Inside No. 9” – The dark comedy that will change your life
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he BBC has been ‘informing, educating and entertaining’ for almost 100 years and has never been without its share of controversy. Recently, although Stephen Moffatt’s ‘Dracula’ wasn’t completely awful, they have been accused of murdering classics. For example, the badly received ‘War of the Worlds’ or the version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ which was frankly abysmal - seen in the 30% drop in viewers after the airing of the first episode. Let’s not even mention ‘Doctor Who’ where the scariest villains of late have been a racist from the future, who can’t physically hurt people and an evil tea towel (there was lots of ominous flapping –
ooh nightmares). But we shouldn’t cancel our TV licenses and join the angry mob just yet because there is a programme on telly at the moment of such magnificence, that it totally justifies the other detritus the BBC has produced… When I first came across the BBC anthology series Inside No. 9, I was overwhelmed by the twisted humour and humorous twists. ‘The League of Gentleman’s’ Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have created and starred in a dark comedy masterpiece which shockingly no one has ever heard of. Each episode takes place in a single location – be that the house, train carriage or karaoke room all linked by the number 9. Beside this, every episode is stand alone and wildly inventive. With only half an hour allotted to an episode, the viewer is forced to consume a whole narrative in one sitting, similar to the short horror stories of Edgar Allan Poe, which makes it deeply immersive and often chilling, without eating into your day as a series or film would. Each episode pans out almost like a play – definitely worthy of studying in English.
premise of the first episode, for example, is a group of middleclass adults playing an awkward, forced game of sardines in a large English manor house. The filming takes place almost entirely in a claustrophobic wardrobe and the more people are crushed in, the more secrets emerge about the family’s history. Other noteworthy episodes include - one with almost no dialogue about two moronic burglars attempting to steal a priceless piece of modern art; an episode filmed exclusively though CCTV cameras at a helpline centre; one written entirely in iambic pentameter based loosely on Shakespeare’s ‘A comedy of Errors’; and in the recent series, Episode 1 is set in the tense referee’s changing room with the backdrop of the league’s last and most crucial match – can they make the right decision? Iris Taylor, L6th, Ag
The writers have an uncanny ability to turn a seemingly hilarious idea into a twisted poignant ending. The
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Sheffield United: Champions of Europe?
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hen most people think of top European teams, they picture the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Liverpool. They may picture smaller clubs such as Chelsea or Manchester City, but it is unlikely anyone’s mind ever wonders to the likes of Sheffield United. However, here we are mid-season in the Premier League, and the quintessentially Championship team of Sheffield United are looking somewhat likely candidates to qualify for Europe; a huge achievement considering they were in league one just 4 seasons ago. The question that has to be asked, however, is if Sheffield do defy the odds and Qualify for a European competition, can they do what teams such as Leicester and Southampton haven’t managed to do before, and compete for the title itself? In my opinion the simple answer is yes, Sheffield United can, and here’s why. Chris Wilder, in my opinion a manager on par with the likes of Guardiola and Mourinho, did something that few managers do when Sheffield got promoted last year. Unlike teams such
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as Fulham in 2018, who spent over 100 million pounds and got relegated straight away, Wilder trusted his players, many whom had been in the squad since the league one days. The fantasy football legend himself John Lundstram is the embodiment of lower league football, a slightly overweight English utility player, who wouldn’t stand out in a Blackburn Rovers side. However, under wilders leadership he has become a top player, arguably on par with the likes of N’Golo Kante or Paul Pogba. Its players like him, who have battled through adversity and had to fight for there place in the team, who I think could make Sheffield a top European team. The character that you get with players like this is transformed into creativity on
the pitch, which has proved to be unplayable for many teams this year. Ollie McBurnie, United’s record signing in the summer, can often be seen in the stands at Swansea, wearing his Stone Island garments and bucket hat. This humbleness helps Sheffield surprise teams, and helps the players remember their lower league roots. My final point is a deserved recognition of Wilder’s tactics. Critics thought the overlapping centre backs could never work in the prem, but as results against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have proven, they were wrong. So called Top 6 teams can’t cope with the transformative style of play presented by Sheffield United, which is why they could be so devastating in Europe as a whole. If Arsenal and Chelsea, the runners up and winner of the Europa League, can’t cope with the creativity and forwardthinking Sheffield United, who says United can’t win the whole tournament? Harry Hare, L6th, Bd
A Summer of English Cricket
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wenty nighteen was England crickets’ summer to remember, with a first 50 over world cup title, and an Ashes draw. England’s world cup began well, with a win over South Africa in the opener, including Stokes’ superb one-handed catch. A few disappointing defeats saw England needing to beat India and New Zealand, back-to-back, in order to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. With thanks to Johnny Bairstow’s two hundreds, England qualified and were to face Australia at Edgbaston for the semi-final. An excellent new ball spell between Woakes and Archer saw Australia restricted to a low score which, with the help of an aggressive Jason Roy innings, was chased down with ease. On the 14th July 2019, England faced New Zealand at the home of cricket for a final which would see a new name engraved on the world cup trophy. New Zealand batted first and posted a modest 241 runs on a slow pitch. A crucial partnership between Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes got England close to New Zealand’s score, and a late flourish from Stokes, including a controversial deflection of his bat for 6 runs, meant that it would go to a super over. England batted first, and powerful ball striking from Buttler and Stokes once again, meant that New Zealand would need 16 runs from 6 balls to win the World Cup. Jofra Archer would bowl New Zealand’s super over in his first ever world cup. A victory was in doubt after Archer’s first ball was a wide, and Jimmy Neesham dispatched his third ball into the stands over mid-wicket. However, Archer’s calm attitude prevailed as New Zealand failed to get the two runs they needed off the last ball, and England were crowned world champions.
As if Ben Stokes had not done enough in the world cup, he scored two hundreds during the Ashes as well. Jofra Archer impressed too, taking two five-for’s (including one on debut) as well as bowling a brutal spell concussing Australia’s star batsman, Steve Smith. However, it was Stokes’ 135 during the 3rd ashes test match at Headingley that was many people’s cricketing highlight of the summer. After a hugely disappointing first innings total of 67, England would need a remarkable team performance to chase down the 358 set by the Aussies. When England lost 5 wickets for 31 runs and Jack Leach (number 11 batsman) strolled to the crease with England still needing 73 runs, England’s chances seemed bleak. Only Ben stokes could recover from this situation. When England needed only 2 runs, a dreadful missed runout opportunity by Nathan Lyon and a fortunate LBW decision showed how luck was definitely on England’s side. Stokes and Leach’s 76-run partnership was characterised by Stokes’ reverse sweep for six, Leach’s single to draw the game, and Leach’s thorough glasses cleaning as it capped off one of England’s best summers of all time. Max Hooper, L6th, Bd 15
MENTAL
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HEALTH
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Epidemic of Mental Health in Sport
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ne would assume that people who have succeeded in sport and who are earning good money would be happy. Increasing evidence shows this to be untrue. The NBA commissioner Adam Silver says, “Although the average salary of an NBA player is £7 million per year, many players are profoundly unhappy.” Many famous sportspeople have come forward with the experience of mental health issues. Some of the better-known examples are Tyson Fury, Dame Kelly Homes, Johnny Wilkinson, Freddie Flintoff, Serena Williams and Michael Phelps. So why is this? Elite sport is brutal. Failure is common, career development is uncertain as well as problems from injury, over-training and concussion. More recently, social media plays a big role in this, as everyone has an opinion after a poor performance. What are the warning signs of a Mental Health issue? Studies in Australia and France have put the incidents of common mental disorders amongst athletes at 45%. Warning signs of a mental illness include long lasting sadness or irritability; high or low moods; episodes of fear, worry and anxiety; they may be socially withdrawn and have changes in their eating and sleeping patterns. What can be done to change this? A study in Canada of swimmers competing for the Olympic team, showed that 68% of swimmers met the criteria for major depressive episodes. There is an understanding that we need
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to educate both athletes and coaches on the dangers and signs of a mental health illness. We need to remove the stigma surrounding mental health. We need to identify vulnerable people as early as possible and offer help while conditions are still mild and sub-clinical. What is being done to help? There have been a number of publicised initiatives attempting to reduce the stigma behind mental illness in sport. These include the FA ‘Heads up’ initiative and the Rugby League ‘State of mind’ initiative, supported by Prince Harry. Many sportspeople have come out and told their stories to raise awareness about Mental Health in sport and to educate a variety of different people about the problems. Education about mental health has now started from the grass roots up, with the PCA (Professional Cricketers Association), carrying out workshops with the county cricket academies around the country on how to identify problems and how to cope with them. As well as associations helping out, there are many charities around that are promoting positive mental health in sport, such as Sporting Minds UK. This charity focuses on promoting positive mental health in young athletes and it has many ambassadors who are making their way in professional sport. This type of charity is exactly what is needed to help this issue and we (The Mental Health Committee) are hoping to get Callum, who runs the charity, to come in and give a talk. If you are an athlete of any sort, don’t suffer in silence and tackle it before it gets too serious. Harry Petrie, L6th, T
The Truth You Might Not Have Known
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’m not going to censor what I say. In order to understand the truth, we need to be comfortable saying certain words, and by censoring what we say, we are only adding to the problem. So here it goes: It’s hard and it takes time to overcome. There is no part of it that I can comfortably say is easy. The best way I can think to demonstrate it is through this book my mum gave me called “I had a dog: his name was Depression.” The representation of a dog as depression made it easier to overcome. I was 11 when I think it all started and I had my first suicidal thought. I didn’t know what to make of it and rapidly forgot about it as soon as I could. I think the reason for this was because I was scared of what it might have meant. To continue the metaphor of the dog, mine was flattening. Suicidal thoughts are a real thing and they do not always mean you are going to go through with the action, but it’s a real symptom of depression and can be a really hard thing to break. Many who experience these thoughts don’t go through with it, due to the guilt felt of the consequences
of the thought of suicide. When I was 13, I realised I was depressed, but there was not a chance I was going to reach out for help, I was far too scared and thought no one would be able to understand. I completely secluded myself, I felt alone, I felt as if all my friends had abandoned me. And the harsh reality faced with depression is the fact that everything becomes a chore. To being around those you love, to doing things you used to enjoy; it all became meaningless and nothing was enjoyable. This may seem extremely pessimistic but in the midst of my worst I thought this was the truth, but here’s where I am wrong. My dog was weighing me down and pulling me away from what I loved to do. Yes, in that moment I felt and believed all those things, but I now know that if I did speak out then I would have had a support network, people would have been there for me like they are there for me at this present moment and I would have started enjoying things sooner. But my depression guilted me into thinking no one would listen or care.
I knew how to cover up when I was sad, I would hide my dog away from everyone. But by age of 15, I reached out for help, and naïvely I thought this meant I would be better instantly, but the brutal reality is that it takes a hell of a lot of work and time and in no way is it easy. I remember my first psychiatrist appointment; I could not look my doctor in the eyes. I felt this shame, but why did I? I have a mental illness and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, having it has made me so much more empathetic, wise and strong. I might have felt shame and regret in that first meeting, but now I’m proud of myself, I’m proud I took all the courage I could find and I’m proud I reached out.
The truth is I became an expert on tricking people.
Eliza Tyler, L6th , Hn
My experience is still ongoing. I am better in the respect that I speak out about my depression and how it’s affecting me, but I am still struggling to put my dog on a lead. All I can say to you all is the only way to get through whatever you are going through is by talking. So, here’s to taming all the different types of dogs we have!
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Helping Friends with Social Anxiety
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ocial anxiety is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. However, day to day, this can be experienced to any level and to anyone. In this article, I will include three ways in which you can make a difference to friends that may experience it: inclusivity, trust and smiling – and how easy it is to do it. Inclusivity. I am sure everyone knows what the word means but I wonder how many put it into practice. As everyone will know, school can be intense and nerve wracking and I am sure everyone at times has felt left out or like you are being judged by people. I know I have definitely felt like that. However, social anxiety is something more, it can take over your feelings entirely and prevent people going out and enjoying themselves, it is more than a one-off feeling of being judged. Just like with any illness, it is so important to show people that you care and are accepting of who they are without judgement. An easy
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way to do this is by including them. This can mean anything from a simple smile to inviting people to the V&A or dinner. I strongly believe that everyone has something to share and sometimes you just need to give them the opportunity. So, if you are reading this and have recently said no to someone joining you for dinner or not inviting them to the V&A, I urge you next time to change your answer and show you care, as you never know what may be going on under the surface. As you will have heard before, opening up and talking can make a massive difference. However, there needs to be a channel where people can talk and feel comfortable sharing what may be personal to them. I am not suggesting that you force friends to open up. However, just providing an opportunity for your friend to talk can mean so much to them – and knowing that they can trust you, that you won’t share what they have told you. Whilst gossiping can feel like
a natural urge to some people, it is so important that every time you go to say something about someone, you imagine that they hear everything you say. Then reconsider whether talking about them behind their back really is such a good idea. Smiling might seem like a cliché, however, there is a lot of science behind it. When we smile, we trick our brains into thinking we are happy and force it to release the same emotions in our bodies as if we actually are. Smiling, also, makes you appear more approachable – impacting how others relate to you. Just by smiling when you pass someone can impact their day. I really hope you put this into practice, as little actions really can make a massive difference, and it is so important when helping friends who you know – or maybe don’t know – have social anxiety. Rosie Wrigglesworth, L6th , Hn
Social Media and Mental Health:
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A Tricky Relationship
ental health is affected by so many things, some we can control, others are harder to control. A common theme which is said to harm mental health is social media. Social media was created in order to connect people, and it can be used for so many other things, most good but, unfortunately, some bad. Social media is a great way to keep in touch with your friends and post about what is going on in your life and allows you to see what is going on in others’ lives as well. However, on the surface, although it seems like a harmless and beneficial platform to keep in contact with friends, it can also have detrimental impacts on one’s mental health. The perfectly photoshopped posts and airbrushed images can lead to a lower self-esteem and an all-round lower happiness. Everyone feels self-conscious every now and again; however, with this fake comparison of perfect bodies and pretty faces in our heads, it can cause us to feel even worse about ourselves. The University of Copenhagen conducted a study which found that a lot of people suffer from “Facebook envy” and those which avoided the platform felt more satisfied with their lives.
Mental illnesses are affected in different ways by social media, varying from person to person as well. However, anxiety is definitely negatively impacted by social media. In a recent study done by the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, it shows that with more use of social media, comes the increase of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. Social anxiety can stem from obsession over social media. It gives people a way to hide behind a barrier but can also put pressure on people to be seen in a certain way from their profiles. In social anxiety, people avoid social situations and feel as though they are being judged the whole time: they are always worrying about what other people are thinking of them. This drives them into wanting to be by themselves, in their room or at home. Social media, although it is designed to make you feel more connected, can actually make you feel isolated and lonely. This feeling of seclusion and fear of social interaction can be mentally harmful and can lead to a not very happy, nor healthy, lifestyle.
The social media world is great for birthday posts, keeping in touch with old friends, making new connections, etc… but we need to be wary about what is going on underneath the airbrushed surface. With mental illnesses, one of the most helpful People are often not the same as their profile and it’s forms of support is social interaction, not on screens important to take time away from social media every but face to face; actual conversations. Friendships once in a while to look up to see what is happening and family connections when going through a tough in reality, because that is what actually matters. time can be just what someone needs. However, with the recent rise in mobile phone ownership, people Hannah McClelland, L6th, Hn are glued to their screens, meaning that human interaction has decreased and we have become more focused on who we are on social media rather than the person we are in real life.
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Does Pressure Really Make Diamonds?
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ull schedules, exam stress and endless studying hours, but what does it amount to? What is it all for? I have never questioned why we all want do so well, because the answer was always simple: good grades meant good university and good university eventually meant success in the world of work. So, to be honest, I have never seen an issue with putting pressure on yourself. Personally, I held the belief that it allowed one to push themselves further than they ever thought they could go, but for different people it can vary. Some have very different values and different sources of pressure: teachers, parents and themselves. However, sometimes it pushes people a little too far. Stress causes all the cells in your body to be tense. Think of it like a rope; when you pull both ends hard enough it will snap. And that is what happens with people: we snap, we burn out, we have a crisis because we’ve done too much, too fast. It’s undeniable that some people can’t even fathom the idea of doing ‘too much work’ or spending ‘too much time practising,’ but it happens to those who want to do the best. Truth be told, we need to keep a balance so that we keep our sanity. We need to equal out pressure and relaxation, otherwise the pressure ends up putting cracks in who we are, rather than making us thrive. Allegra Nayar, 5th , O
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What Does Science Show Us About Mental Health?
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he multitude of mental health disorders and the varying combination and severity of symptoms from person to person, makes identifying the causes of such wide ranging and complex conditions challenging to uncover. With around 1 in 4 being affected by mental or neurological disorders effecting emotions, thoughts, behaviours and physical wellbeing, coupled with the huge intricacies of the brain, amounts to thousands of avenues needing to be explored. There is not only the neurology behind mental health but also environmental and social factors which need to be considered; making the task of finding a cause that much more difficult. There are, however, few concepts which could be significant in determining the biological roots of mental health. One approach involves the malfunctioning of the brain because of an irregular balance of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which are the chemicals that allow communication between neurons (nerve cells). Many of these neurotransmitters regulate emotions and mood whilst also playing an essential role in all bodily processes. An imbalance in these, either producing too much or too little, can potentially lead to both physical and mental changes, such as depression and anxiety, but surely this cannot be solely to blame? Mental health is hugely impacted by environmental and social factors, as I mentioned before. Scientists suggest that both your current environment and that of your upbringing, has or will affect your mental state. Normal human culture and societal practises affect your susceptibility to mental illnesses; these include everyday actions such as sleep deprivation, smoking and drinking alcohol. Social factors, such as lack of relaxation, support and healthy relationships, can impact the ability to cope with hardships and stresses. Current research suggests that these external pressures lead to a change in your epigenome the compounds within us, which turn genes on or off, allowing cells to become specialised. The process of changing your epigenome affects which genes are on and off allowing stress to, literally, get under the skin. Genetics have always been thought as a contributing factor towards mental health but now research focuses on the ‘p factor’ rather than individual genes. The ‘p factor’ is considered as an individual’s susceptibility to mental ill-health, not consisting of specific genes but the whole genome. The p factor puts us all on a continuum of mental health; showing the shared responsibility of thousands of genes behind disorders, each having small effects on mental health. It also allows us to recognise and understand the overlap between conditions. Being inheritable, the p factor explains why having a family member with a mental health disorder, not only increases the chances of developing that disorder, but increases your whole susceptibility to mental health conditions. Great! … However bleak this seems, this new generalised and overarching risk to mental health could prompt research into more effective treatments that work for a wider range of conditions, targeting the mechanisms and pathways of the p factor, potentially impacting the therapies of millions. Whether or not you are a scientist (although you probably are if you have read this far), it is obvious that mental health is greatly impacted by your biological make up and, although these theories are not completely conclusive, they are moving us in the right direction. Understanding the significance of mental health in society and its underlying causes as well as reducing the stigma behind it will alleviate its impacts. It is clear to see the momentum behind this movement is gaining and all we need to do is to jump on board with it! Angus Leech, L6th, S
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The Refugee Crisis
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refugee is a displaced person who has been forced to cross national boundaries and is unable to return home safely. Globally there are over 29 million refugees, who are seeking better and safer lives. Recently, my eyes were opened to the immense struggles that these people face daily. A few months ago, I was one of 27 Wellington pupils who went to Calais to meet and help refugees. Our primary objective was to gain a greater understanding of how, back home in the UK, we can make a difference to the lives of refugees. During our time in Calais, we spent the mornings in the Care4Calais warehouse; unboxing donations, sorting items and packing supplies to bring to the refugees in the afternoon. We would prepare clothing, teas, coffees, music systems, a phone charging board and hair cutting tools for the refugees. After briefings on distribution, we headed out to an unofficial camp on the outskirts of Calais. Our vans were welcomed by a sea of smiling faces with unbelievably high spirits. After the distribution, we were able to hear their stories. I found myself talking to a man who had been held in prison in Iran for his anti-government rebellion. Air strikes had brought down his prison, providing him with the opportunity to run free. He told me how he had to leave his country in fear of being recaptured and he talked about how he longed to settle in the UK, primarily for his safety. He shared with me the mental struggles he had faced through the treacherous journey from Iran, across many borders, and the repetitive nature of life in the woods of Calais. The most inspiring person I spoke to was a man who had fled Syria due to the ongoing violence. He had been a teacher and spoke to me about the brilliant memories he had back home, teaching teenagers to speak English. His treacherous journey through Europe via smuggler networks had already cost him $10,000 but he needed a further $5,000 to fund his last leg to the UK. His journey concealed above lorry engines was certainly distressing and was clearly at the forefront of his mind.
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Mental issues are very prominent amongst refugees, primarily post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by pre-migration experiences and post-migration conditions. Research suggests that asylum seekers are five times more likely to have mental health needs than the general population and more than 61% will experience serious mental distress. The work carried out by Care4Calais, along side many other charitable organisations, improves the lives of refugees in the short term; however, there is no sustainable long-term solution. According to reports, the United States last month took in no refugees; the lowest since records began. Clearly opinions and laws need to change as the immigration crisis is at a point of no return for the individuals involved. Refugees are often presented as a hindrance to the UK economy. However, many of the refugees we spoke to were highly skilled professionals and would, undoubtedly, benefit society. Louis Ferguson Jones, L6th , Pn
How did European Squabbles Cause the Near Decimation of American Indigenous People?
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hy did the race for land in the Americas greatly worsen the situation for indigenous people? How were they so affected by disputes between people that were foreign to them? The European nations did not remotely co-operate in their conquests of the New World. Instead, they treated the land and its people as a battleground – an opportunity to one up their rivals. This bickering led to vicious competition, and the abuse of local rights leading to near decimation. The conflicting land claims between powers led to disputes on all plains. The Atlantic Ocean became a looting ground as nations realised that piracy was a more cost-efficient way to obtain New World riches without having to deal with treacherous journeys and locals. In March 1579, Francis Drake captured the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, which carried 36 kilograms of gold, a golden crucifix and incredible amounts of precious metals. Many similar clashes occurred. Then, in 1588, the Spanish Armada was defeated, leaving free access for countries like France and Britain to the New World. The French and the English largely benefited from this: they had safe passage to the Americas and enjoyed easy loot. The actions at sea heightened tensions before a European boot had even landed on American shores.
as conflicts and skirmishes between the nations became more frequent. In 1548, an expedition of 500 colonists to Roanoke Island took place but the colonists were inadequately prepared and disappeared 5 years later. One theory proposes that the Spanish attacked them as they knew the colonists could be a threat to their territory. The competition between these nations impeded the ability of other nations to enter the ‘race’, especially as the Spanish dominion was fiercer and they controlled the vast majorities of the land. More importantly, these rivalries led to European nations treating indigenous people like pawns on a chess board; moved against their will to better establish dominance over competitors. The English, to compete with Spain, enslaved and exploited native Indians: they were viewed as inferior with no claim to the land. In the South, These tensions resulted in fierce competition between the difficulties in establishing colonies Spanish and the Portuguese
devastated the population. The Treaty of Tordesillas ignored local’s rights, thus the Incas, the Taino, the Aztecs and the Tupis were tangled up in foreign disputes. They were made to work under unbearable conditions in mines to increase obtained profit. The encomienda system also disregarded the native Indians’ rights: they were forced to work until exhaustion to boost output. The competition between nations highlighted the colonialists despicable ideology. They assumed themselves superior: indigenous peoples are a lesser branch of civilisation that should either be ignored, corrected or destroyed. Respect was not on the table. So, whilst some nations may complain that they drew the short straw in losing the race to Spain, for example, the real losers were the indigenous people of America. Matilde Iasi, L6th , Hg 25
The Class System of the 18th Dynasty
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n 18th Dynasty Ancient Egypt, prevalently under the rule of King Tutankhamun, the social structure massively influenced the way of life as well as the standard of living. The best way to understand the layers of society is to imagine the population of ancient Egypt arranged into a social pyramid. The pyramid base is supported by slaves, servants, the serfs and tenant farmers working the estates owned by those above them. Next come the skilled and semi-skilled artisans; the soldiers, sailors and those employed on the great state projects (the building sites, tombs and temples). Above them are the educated professional classes, including scribes, accountants and doctors. Finally come those of nobility; the elite who control much of Egypt’s wealth. The royal family remain exclusive and aloof at the top of the pyramid, while the king, or pharaoh – the only mortal who is deemed able to communicate effectively with the state gods – is superior to everyone. If you were unlucky enough to be at the base of the pyramid, your survival depended on the Nile flooding and thus your crops succeeding. Whilst some lucky slaves were entitled to live within households of their masters, many of those who lived this kind of poverty-stricken lifestyle died young, due to poor quality of life.
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The next tier of Ancient Egyptians were somewhat educated and thus were able to provide valued services to society. They often worked with the rich, in order to better their fortunes and to provide the upper-class with luxuries the poor could not afford. The upper-class were the next in the social pyramid and they controlled virtually all of the money within Egypt at the time and lived lives of pure opulence. They rarely had to work and they would often live in vast city homes adorned with gold, complete with a servants quarters. Families from this section of society occasionally had a say in government due to their economic power, but for the most part that sacred role was reserved for the Pharaoh. At the peak of the pyramid was the Royal Family, who were regarded as a religious personification on earth. They were the supreme rulers who governed Northern and Southern Egypt and were worshipped by all. Due to their unique connection with the Gods, they lived a blissful life of wealth and holiness. The Pharaoh was the head of the religion in Ancient Egypt and anything done against them was thought as a kind of blasphemy. Therefore, they lie at the tip of the pyramid, revered by all below them; making them the single most powerful figure in Ancient Egyptian society Sareena Austin, L6th , Hg
Our Hearts are Not in Europe
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invite you back to the 30th July 1898; it marks a turning point in the path towards a peaceful and prosperous Europe. On that day died Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chancellor of the German Empire. That name harks back to a bygone age of God-given rule by the elite, a time of gentlemanly warfare. More importantly, the Minister of Foreign affairs Von Bismarck was absolutely and indisputably the greatest ever player of multilateral diplomatic chess. Though in truth, the way he played was something more akin to 3D chess, blindfolded and handcuffed. He created a web of gentleman’s agreements and treaties so twisted and convoluted that no one else could comprehend, let alone pick it apart. He, almost solely, kept Europe relatively quiet with well-organized bargaining and powerful displays. Such that, when he died, as there was no one there for the upkeep, the Gordian’s knot he created began to slip… until it was completely torn in two by the assassination of one Franz Ferdinand. Igniting the loose ends of the ties between Russia and Serbia, Britain and
Belgium, and Europe went up in flames. Following the tragedy of the First World War, heads of state knew that the techniques employed by Bismarck could no longer guarantee the welfare and safety of their citizens. His web of treaties had been more like a powder keg, and every alliance a line of flash powder into the heart of European prosperity. Thus, the League of Nations was established with the aim of guaranteeing pan-national coordination and discussion, in order to prevent another war. This could not have been attempted at a more un-fortuitous time, as the global economic collapse and failures of the Weimar Republic, undermined their endeavor. And so, after two bouts of warfare, containing the most extended periods of intense suffering the world had ever seen, France and Germany, the historical behemoths of European politics, avowed that it would never happen again. The EU is a birthchild of these views, a mechanism that would keep France and Germany so interdependent that neither would survive strife with the other. The EU is a sacrifice, it requires willingness to set aside
national prerogatives in favor of a supranational scaffolding that encourages growth, at the possible detriment of state sovereignty. History accounted for, it requires an almost pious faith in one’s neighbours. Yet this approach thrived and, though Iraq and Afghanistan served as archetypes of the shortcomings of liberalism, international intervention has had many successes, not least in the Bosnian war. The European Union, with contribution from NATO, and convenient global tensions allowed integrated Europe to burgeon. Today though, we stand on the precipice of a disjointed Europe. Nationalists call for greater sovereignty, tighter borders and freer economies, with disregard for international stability. And so, it is from the precipice I call you people back; neither you nor I have ever seen an armed conflict between superpowers. Before mechanization they could shatter armies, now they decimate continents. The last great war finished with a nuclear bomb, the next one shall start with one. Will Barker, U6th, Hg
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WellyWits Gareth Carr - “We got paid to shoot 3rd formers. It was the best 4 days of my life’’(paint balling trip) Zack Sadlier - “Is old Mr White’s (Jonathon) son young Mr White (Ben)? Cos I thought Billy
White’s dad was young Mr White, so that must mean that his grandad is old Mr White?”
Alex James - “I’m not going to marry him because he doesn’t have a title...That was a joke...” Titus Song - “All the koalas are cooked now” Darcy Bourne - “I thought I was blind but it was just my hands covering my eyes” Arvind Sanga - “Do you ever just forget how to breathe?” Alice Nicoli - “Private jets aren’t that special and, anyway, the last time I flew on one, they ran out
of salmon”
Harriet Cottrell - “Do Rice Krispie cakes count as pudding?”
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ACROSS 2. An Indian Curry 5. Which house is most likely to be quarantined for Coronavirus? 8. The international house 11. The building that doesn’t fit the whole school 12. House singing 2020 winners 14. Name of the dreaded hour-long Chapel service
Answers will be sent out soon!
DOWN
1. The social hub at break 2. Which teacher has the best email profile picture? 3. Boys Rugby captain 4. Girls Hockey captain 5. 2019 Wellington Trophy Winner 6. School’s newest band 9. The most missed school event 10. Soon to be a girls house … 13. Acronym for someone who’s known by everyone on campus
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WellyLookalikes George Carter and Phil Foden
Hugo Pennant and Weldstone Raider
Oslo Adamson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Gioia Nash and Annabel Power
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Baxter Westby and Alfredo Linguini
Alfie Harding and Ellen DeGeneres
Cedric Bellens and Timothee Chalamet
Marcus Rhodes and Rowley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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Sam Hind
