SUMMER 2020
Wellingtonian THE STUDENT MAGAZINE
Lockdown Life Spicing Up Lockdown Lockdown Reflections - Teachers Special
Contents 1. Cover 2. Contents 3. Foreword from the Editors 4. Humans of Wellington: Igloo 6. Spicing up Lockdown 7. Bringing Colour to Lockdown 8. Top 7 Movies and TV Shows 9. A Teams Exposé 10. The Art of Building a Good Quiz 11. The Importance of WiFi 12. Why ProClubs May Have Just Saved Lockdown 13. Lockdown League: What Covid-19 Means for English Football 14. Covid-19 in Spain 15. The Quirks and Qualms of Quarantine 16. When Will the Roaring 20s Start? 17. Why Billionaires Won’t Save Us 18. Our Part in History 19. Shakespeare and Nolan’s Exploration of the Villan 20. Monkeys and BoJo 21. Viewing Turf Through Paint 22. Covid Creations: Bevsy 23. Covid Creations: Biscuit recipe 24. Some Lockdown Reflections 26. Art Competition 28. Teacher’s Lockdown Response 29. WellyWits 30. WellyLookalikes
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Foreword Hey guys, The summer edition is now out - albeit virtually - and thank you for coming to take a look at it. All of us at the Wellingtonian understand the pain you’re going through; whether it be struggling with online learning, the lack of motivation, or social interaction. We are all in the same boat and are finding it both difficult and strange, in our own unique ways. We don’t want to dwell on the negatives though - that’s not what we Wellingtonians do at college, and it’s not any different at home. Wellington is defined by us, the pupils, and this enthusiasm and inspiration of the student body is what we all need to keep positive during lockdown. As the weeks count by and we get closer and closer to the finish line, let’s look at the positives of this whole situation, for these get overlooked, and are as - if not more - important than the downsides. Maybe you have become closer as a family, have surprised yourself with coping with e-learning, or have taken up a hobby. Communities have become closer in the common fight against the ‘C’ word and Wellington’s sprit and drive for community action has been seen across the world. This pause has allowed the world to slow down and stop to think about what really matters. Although lockdown is tough both mentally and physically, the resilience and independence stemming from this will stand us in good stead for the future. The whole world, sometimes seeming brutal and ruthless, will be a better and kinder place. And we will come out of this as stronger, more appreciative and better people. Whilst physical Wellington is desolate, we are still Wellingtonians - the underlying connection between all of us. We have broken the back of this and easier times are ahead. And we hope to be handing this edition out - properly - in the near future. But for now, take a flick through all of the lockdown-related articles we have collated; we’re certain they’ll make you smile :) Also, we hope you enjoyed the college’s first ever virtual speech day! Stay safe and healthy everyone xx
Editors in Chief: Monet Stuckey and Angus Leach Assistant Editors: Audrey Dennis and Rosie Wrigglesworth Designers: Cosmo Smith and Sam Hind
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Humans of Wellington - IGLOO Yes, Humans of Wellington is back, yet again. Considering that the U6th are leaving on such short notice, and not in the manner by which they had planned to, us Wellingtonian Editors have decided to devote this edition’s spotlight to a group of U6th musicians: ‘Igloo.’ The band - consisting of Freddy Gilmore (Hg), Tom Symonds (Bn), Alfie Seymore (H), and Tommy Morris (L) - is a college favourite, and it would be a shame not to highlight them as they leave campus and take their popular music with them. They’ve answered a few questions for us, and their true colours and behind-the-scenes group dynamic certainly shines through… just take a look for yourself, you’ll see.
Freddy: How, and when, did you decide to form the band? - We were drawn together due to our shared interest in obscure and underground music like Imagine Dragons Tom: How did you come up with the name of the band and the design of your album covers? - The name Igloo came from Fred’s friend’s mum or something like that, and the album art is completely plagiarised from popular Wellington artist, Millie Griffiths, who has never been credited. Tommy: Why is the name of your band ‘Igloo’ but your Instagram name ‘experimental squirrel’? - What? We have Instagram? Tommy: In the group, who would you say: A: Is the joker? - Me B: Is the most disruptive? - Tom C: Is the leader? - Me D: Has the worst lid? - The short one. I can’t remember his name?
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Alfie: What’s the inspiration behind your songs? - My lawyer has advised me to not answer that question Name your top three favourite artists: Freddy: - Vanilla Ice - Nickelback - Igloo Tommy: - Jeff Buckley - Kahoot - Lil Pump Alfie: - Lofi chillhop beats to chill/study to - Backseat - Hannah Montana (NOT Miley Cyrus) Tom: - Viper - Pitbull - Lil Kevin Tom: If you could have any famous person listen to your music, who would it be, and why? - It has always been a dream of mine for pop star ‘Cannibal’ to listen to our music. Alfie: Is the band planning to release anything during lockdown? - Unfortunately, at the time of writing, I am the only active member of Igloo as the rest have all walked out (figuratively, of course; it was on a social distancing FaceTime call). The next release is an entire solo album of me on my bass, with no other instrumentation or vocals. The current working title is ‘Seymour a life in bass.’ Freddy: Is the band going to stay together once you all graduate from Wellington? - Hopefully not. I find these a real pain to work with, hardly ever turning up to practice and I often get bullied. I really question their musical ability too – especially Tom Symonds. They also make me look vastly under average height.
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Spicing Up Lockdown
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ockdown: the repetitive days and weeks that drone on. It started off alright in the first week, but now… Now the ways of riding boredom have ceased, even watching TV has become something uninteresting. However, here I am to come to the rescue. An entertaining classic TV show of ‘Come Dine with Me’, with some remarkable characteristically hilarious moments. Before you roll your eyes, I am not telling you to watch ‘Come Dine With Me’. Instead, take part! A fun way for all of your family to get involved in something together with a competitive edge. Here’s a little outline of what to do: each select a night for you to host, decide on how many courses you’ll each have to prepare, scavenge for ideas on what to do, and get ready to prepare the food on the night. As for scoring after each meal is finished: take a slip of paper and write the score you think was deserved. Then, on the final night, scores will be read out and counted - the crown is given to the righteous winner. If you want some inspiration on a winning dish, graciously, I will provide some. My three course meal started with a mezze board consisting of homemade flat bread, sun dried hummus, baba ghanoush and tzatziki, paired with some bread sticks and olives. A perfect way to start because as you finish off preparing the main, the rest can still indulge in food.
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For the main course, (sticking with a Greek theme), I prepared some lamb and pistachio koftas, paired with a curried yoghurt and roasted aubergines, topped with pomegranate seeds. To finish off the night, some crispy chocolate baskets -easy to do as they can be made first and kept in the fridge. This, ladies and gentleman, scored me 33/40! I would highly recommend doing this - it was fun for all of the family and it took a load off my mum, who always does the cooking.
three: do some art. Whether or not you think you are good at art, give it a go. There are so many videos online that can help you out and give you inspiration. I find that this is a great way to pass time, as I can spend hours just painting, which makes the day go so much quicker. Art is an endless opportunity; there’s so much to draw, paint or mediums to use - you will never run short of things to do. Also, it could be a great way to give a present to someone, especially the lockdown babies who are spending birthdays at home, and provide a personal touch, making it that extra bit more meaningful. And who knows, you might find out you have a hidden talent for art.
Continuing on with the cooking theme, the next way to spice up your life is through a themed evening week. Similarly, all take one night of the week to host, pick your choice of country, and find food and a film that relates to it. This way it is slightly more relaxed - you just have to cook the main meal of the night and then you can all go and enjoy a movie upstairs later. For my family, we had Italian, Japanese, Scottish, Indian and Chinese evenings.
My final spice up is to grow some herbs. Of course, I would manage to somehow put something environmental into spicing up your lockdown, it just had to be done, but, on a serious note, growing herbs is actually a good idea. They are probably one of the easiest plants to grow in your home and they don’t take too long to grow either. On top of this, herbs go into all meals - if you aren’t putting herbs in your meals then you clearly need to learn how to cook! (That’s a bonus activity to spice up lockdown for you). Additionally, growing herbs is an easy way to save money on the shop-bought ones, reduce single use plastic, and add a nice touch to your garden or if you don’t have one, a window sill. So get growing!
Eliza Tyler, Hn, L6th
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Bringing Colour to Lockdown
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hen the prime minister declared that India would enter a 21-day lockdown, his message to the nation was simple - stay at home. On the face of it, it is a good strategy to help with social distancing, but it is never as simple as that. What happens if your home is miles away, or worse, you do not have one? This is the problem that millions of Indians are now facing. Countless poor workers sleep wherever they find work, but with so many industries shutting down, that was no longer an option. Borders and transport hubs were abruptly shut down, leaving many desperate for food and shelter. Although the government announced an assistance package that was designed to keep the poor fed, with an economy that has been underperforming for years and has now been stopped in its tracks, there is concern that many more will be added to the homeless and working poor populations.
maligned during these difficult times due to the pre-existing communal atmosphere in the country.
To do my part, I created a colouring booklet to help all the children affected, as they too can’t go to school or see their friends. My aim was not only to keep them occupied and bring smiles to their faces, but also to give them something productive to do while they are out of school. I printed out the sheets using recycled paper and made over 100 bundles, which also included a packet of biscuits and crayons/colour pencils. The local police have been kind enough to distribute my booklets to the families along with the dry food. They have now suggested I create another booklet with colouring sheets featuring our ‘friendly neighbourhood policemen’ along with information on the coronavirus which would help create awareness amongst the kids. In this way, I hope to support those with fewer privileges than me. Ishan Kapur, M, 3rd
After hearing about their plight in the news, 10-12 women in my neighbourhood came together to help those who were displaced and affected by the pandemic, mainly construction site workers (who live at the site along with their families), rickshaw pullers and slum dwellers. Their initiative ‘Help for Daily Wagers’ has been providing dry food on a weekly basis to around 550 people in our community. The majority of these people are from the Muslim community, who have been 7
Top 7 Movies and TV Shows to Watch During Lockdown Money Heist
This has been the best one I have watched since going into lockdown. It is a gripping, thrilling heist TV show which always keeps you on the edge of your seat. Although originally Spanish, it is dubbed, which you get used to after a while. The heist itself is one of the biggest ever heard of: robbing the Spanish Mint. The whole conniving plan is incredibly clever and the unpredictable plot keeps you guessing: what is going to happen next? This is definitely a must watch!
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The famous Dan from Gossip Girl takes on a different role in this show: Joe Goldberg, the stalker. The plot itself is sinister and twisted, which may sound off-putting, but there is a mysterious scheme in the mind of Joe that is never foreseeable, and hooks the watcher from the outset. This drama can be scary but that is what makes it so thrilling and addictive. This is definitely one to binge.
6 Underground
An action-comedy filled with witty one liners and impressive action stunts, is a perfect way to escape from the lockdown. The movie is about 6 “ghosts” who aim to make their actions remembered - even if they personally will not be remembered. They are brought together by their leader, the hilarious Ryan Reynolds, all driven by the desire to erase their pasts and to take down a ruthless dictator. If you want a hilarious but captivating action movie, this is the one to watch.
Grey’s Anatomy
This is already a well-known TV series but it needed to be on the list. For those who don’t know Grey’s Anatomy, it follows a group of surgeons through their journey from interns to attendings, with gripping events throughout. There are love stories, plane crashes, storms and shootings all stuffed into this intense, fast-paced drama. With most of the episodes based on true stories, you won’t want to miss this series.
Extraction
Like any other action movie, there are intense fight scenes, a hero and a villain. Chris Hemsworth plays the brave saviour of a son of a powerful drug lord in India. The film sees Hemsworth and the son build a relationship throughout their dangerous adventure trying to escape a rival drug lord. It is action-packed and unpredictable, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. A real must see.
Midnight Sun
In this romantic teen movie, Bella Thorne plays a character called Katie Price, who has a rare genetic condition, meaning she is fatally sensitive to sunlight. She has been kept inside and watched the world from her bedroom window. One night, she meets her crush Charlie, and her life changes dramatically. Although sad at times, this movie is great and, especially during lockdown, can take your mind off the situation and into the middle of a fantasy romance.
Ocean’s 11, 12, 13
Some of the greatest and most clever movies out there. The Ocean’s trilogy starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, is filled with action, mystery, tension and a bit of romance on the side. The plots are based on heists and getting revenge on various slimy, rich men. It is wholly enjoyable and the witty one-liners from members of Pitt and Clooney’s crew really carry the movie home. A great binge-worthy trilogy. Hannah McLelland, Hn, L6th 8
A Teams Exposé
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ith lessons online, we’ve all experienced some amusing insights into some of our friends’ lives at home; from arguments, to people forgetting to mute themselves when they definitely should. An amusing discovery for many was the mute button, coming in handy for the loud typers, when your friend starts embarrassing themselves, or for the show off in your class… In a recent lesson, this went a little wrong, someone was muted, who had apparently spoken a little too much that lesson, but the culprit made a crucial error, forgetting to mute himself-swiftly revealed by the chuckling in the background. One of the highlights of teams this term has to be yet again misuse of the mute button. Forgetting to mute yourself when on the loo is bad enough, but even worse when your teacher calls you out on it. Two warnings are clear from this: don’t take your laptop to the loo, and if you must, double check the mute button and quadruple check the camera. There are too many moments to mention them all and I’m sure you all have your own to add, but a special thanks to all the memes that have brightened up dull lessons, and the oh so sweet nicknames exposed by parents. Although we will remember these hard times, we will also remember the shaved heads, excessive swearing and films in the background of lessons that make each day just a little easier. India Parsons, Hn, L6th
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The Art of Building a Good Quiz
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uring this lockdown period, the Pub Quiz has thrived. Whether it’s on Zoom with friends and family, or joining a livestream, people across Britain have embraced quizzes. I am a big quiz fan and have enjoyed both formats. Last week however, it was my turn to write the quiz. Not as easy as I thought… The first challenge is reaching a balance. Too easy and it’s patronising. Too hard and people give up. Navigating this dilemma is the first challenge for the ‘Quiz Setter.’ Then, there is the challenge of not favouring anyone in particular. For example, if you are doing a quiz with another family who have no interest in cricket, a full round on the West Indies Test side from the 1970s might not be appropriate. Knowing your audience is helpful. So, what makes a good quiz question?
Let’s start with the components of a bad question. The first example is the ‘numerical guess’ question, such as, ‘How many oranges would it take to fill the Grand Canyon?’ 10
Even with multiple choice answers, it is a silly question, with little joy of the challenge. Irrespective of how many oranges are required, it is a futile fact and not in the realms of logical reasoning. The second example of a poor question is the “you either know it, or, you don’t” type. It is important to include a certain number of these questions which reward exceptional knowledge. However, when a quiz is filled with this type of question, it becomes a lucky dip.
get to the correct answer, and if you know your 1990s films, you may also find the answer, and finally, you could work it out through the origins of the word: ‘Fer’ translated to French is iron, and ‘equine’ pertains to horses, meaning the whole thing is ‘the study of iron horses’ which logically sounds like the sort of thing that a train could have been called. A question like this leaves doors open for the partnership between logic and the application of your knowledge.
I am a firm believer that good questions should give the players a chance, even if they don’t immediately know the answer. If the question is about English monarchs, a reference to the time-period, House (Plantagenet, Tudor etc.) or other historical context could enable the players to use reasoning to crack the question. This gives people more than one route into answering, even if it’s simply an educated guess. I asked Dr Cromarty what he liked in a quiz question: “A good question is one which people kick themselves for not being able to get an answer, which, deep down, they knew that they could have.” I recall one such question from his House Quiz from this year: “Ferroequinology is a common hobby, but is better known by which name, also the title of a 1996 film?” with the answer being ‘Trainspotting’. It is an excellent quiz question. If you happen to be familiar with the term ‘Ferroequinology,’ you will
Simon O’Hagan, the writer of quizzes for ‘The Independent’, goes so far as to say that in his ideal quiz ‘nobody would actually know the answer to any question.’ By this, he does not mean that he wishes everyone to get everything wrong but, instead, he wants people to enjoy working it out. The process of crafting a quiz is a fun one, and I wish you luck if, and when, it is your turn! Freddie Coughlin, T, 5th
The Importance of WiFi
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s I write this, I have no WiFi. It’s horrific. Like a proverbial second rate diving South American striker, you know the ones with a stupid single name like Jonathan or Wesley, my WiFi went down dramatically, came back for ten minutes hinting at the slightest crumb of a goal scoring potential, and then, typically, proceeded to go straight back down again ‘till the end of play today. I guess, then, this is a sort of blog, although, I’m not quite sure what a blog is, at least in relation to an article. Anyway, we’re not discussing the complexities of blogging and journalism. So, as I have no films downloaded (no homework to do) and only terrestrial channels to elicit any sort of interest – I took to my laptop and thought I’d write something. Over the past day or so, my parents and I have been distraught. Completely and utterly distraught. First of all, English P1 on Teams was looming, and the notion of catch-up was not something I could bare. What’s more is the fact I couldn’t hop on FIFA for a quick game, nor could I turn on the TV and watch an ep of The Last Dance (which, by the way, you should watch instead of reading this) on Netflix. I can’t even whip up a thesaurus to make myself sound smarter! Yes, of course I could read a book or cook or go for a walk.
But, funnily enough, I ended up doing nothing all day, quite literally nothing, as opposed to my marginally productive days when I do have WiFi. No, this isn’t one big whine about 1st world problems. I thought about the past day or two. Isn’t it embarrassing how heavily we rely on this one thing? This one thing none of us really understand, though we act like we do with a certain ardent arrogance. Before you say it, I did try turning it off and on again. It’s interesting. Granted, it took a nation-wide lockdown for it to become apparent, but the issue is not confined by the lockdown. We put all our trust in these little boxes that beam a little signal so that we can function, literally function. But I guess that’s the same with all technology, at least for the vast majority of people, we haven’t a clue how these things work. So next time you sit down for a thorough Netflix session, or even to tune into to a lesson (or teach one), think about it. Think about how you place such an onerous trust in your provider to come fix it before you lag irredeemably far behind. And, maybe try ween yourself off, after all, it becomes more and more like an addiction each day. Sam Green, T, L6th
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Why Pro Clubs May Have Just Saved Lockdown
or those of you who don’t know, every year EA sports releases a new FIFA, and every year the game is in almost every way similar to the game before, resulting in the global criticism of the new game from its fans. It has got to the point where it seems crazy that people even bother buying the game, with its high prices, bad gameplay and allround lack of enjoyment factor. However, as I have recently re-discovered, there is a game mode that makes the purchase worth it, and it comes in the form of Pro clubs. Pro Clubs is a game mode where you and eleven of your friends take a position in a team and play matches against other clubs in order to win promotion. Without meaning to exaggerate, I think there are life lessons to be learnt from Pro Clubs, and in many ways, this online game could hold the answers to many of lockdowns greatest questions.
important, and staying in touch is what will get us through. The second aspect I think Pro Clubs brings to lockdown life, is the opportunity to engage in some sort of competitive activity, albeit an online sporting event rather than a real one. This cannot be underestimated, as I think it is hugely important to feel part of a team and enjoy successes and failures together. When the boys and I scraped a draw in our final game to win promotion to division 9, there was a real feel of team spirit, and although it is a bit sad to admit, I felt my competitive side emerge once again. Finally, I think Pro Clubs is a perfect solution to the boredom which I think many have felt during lockdown. Whether its customising your character to be 6’7 with a moustache and red afro or scoring a screamer in the final minute sending your club up, there is plenty of fun to be had. For me personally, Pro Clubs cannot be a substitute to real sport or real contact with my friends, but in these uncertain times, I think it comes pretty close. Harry Hare, Bd, L6th
The first, and in my opinion most important aspect of Pro Clubs is the opportunity it gives you to stay in touch with friends, even if this communication is largely based off insults being thrown across the mic as the team concedes once again. In my opinion, it is almost impossible to replicate the friendship one has in a boarding house on an online call, but, I think the Pro Club lobbies offer an opportunity to do this, with the banter and chat coming close to an in house experience. My personal experience with BD FC, the Beresford L6th Pro Club, has been hugely positive, and has allowed me to keep in touch with my friends in house. I think during these troubling times this is hugely 12
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Lockdown League: What does COVID-19 mean for English Football?
t honestly pains me to say that the last Super Sunday I watched was on the 8th of March. It’s been 10 weeks of no football. Just let that sink in… Then again, the 8th of March was the day of Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United, so it wasn’t that bad of a day after all. Other than this beautiful Manchester Derby, one of the final games of football played before the postponement announcement on the 13th of March, was the MNF game, held at the King Power Stadium, where home team Leicester City destroyed relegation zone team, Aston Villa, 4-0. This abruptness certainly wasn’t the ending to the Prem that any of the players, managers, nor fans wanted – especially anyone who associated themselves with Liverpool FC, but we’ll come to that later. Logistically, the Premier League has to finish, somehow. If this season were to end, right now, how would next season work? Which teams would be relegated, and which would be promoted from the Championship? Would Liverpool be given the title? Would Jamie Vardy be awarded with the Golden Boot as top goal scorer for this season? These are only a few of the many questions that are pushing football fanatics overboard – we need answers, and we need them now. Thankfully, the FA seems to be making some sort of progress. As I’m writing this, the 20 top-flight teams are holding a vote to determine when they are able to restart training. Should the vote pull through, players are said to be able to return to training on Tuesday 19th May. However, this is dependant on certain medical protocols, such as a maximum group of five players training at one time, as well as social distancing rules being adhered to. For this plan to go ahead, at least 14 of the 20 clubs present at the meeting must agree that these safety protocols are sufficient.
As of last week, the Government have announced that football is aiming to return in June. The Premier League itself is initiating ‘Project Restart’, with the hope that matches can be played behind closed doors on June 12th. With this in mind, widening access to view the live fixtures will be implemented, so that fans can still access their weekly dosage of footy. This, however, is an issue in itself: Premier League clubs are due to gain a total of roughly £9.2 billion from broadcasters for the 2019-22 cycle, and this has undoubtedly been halted. Evidently, broadcasting provides a large income for the clubs, and so, they’re bound to be financially challenged (hardly though – they’re literally ballers) when they’re expected to repay an estimated £340 million to both domestic and international broadcasters – even if the season resumes behind closed doors. Additionally, there was speculation regarding the potential for the season’s remaining fixtures to be played on neutral ground, yet this has recently been shot down, to put it bluntly, and honestly, I agree. It would seem unfair, especially for those facing relegation, to not be able to play their scheduled home game at their stadium: whether the club’s supporters are in the stand or not, home grounds have a special feel to them, and they can certainly make all the difference in a match. Now, I think we should lightly touch on Liverpool FC. As Mr Carr, Mr Morris and Mr Atherton will tell you, Liverpool has been, by far, the greatest Premier League team this season. Being at the top of the table with 82 points – 25 points clear of second-place team Man City – just proves that this season is one that will never be forgotten, aside from all of this COVID-19 madness. Jürgen Klopp has worked wonders with a talented, and rather youthful, squad this season, leading to Liverpool’s inevitable success. With that said, however, I
really wouldn’t put it past Liverpool to somehow not win the league, but, yet again, it would just be a classic move from us, wouldn’t it? If Liverpool were to lift the trophy, it would be the first time since the competition was named the ‘Premier League’, considering the team’s last league win was in the 198990 season, when it was still named the ‘First Division’. This would make it all the more iconic should we never take this season’s title… classic. Finally, since I have a few inside contacts into the world of football, I thought that I should make you all aware of what UEFA are currently thinking with regards to this season: it looks as though the FA Cup may be cancelled for this season, with total focus on the Premier League, the Championship, and then the Champions League. Football is likely to continue over the Summer, to catch up on what was missed during the postponement of the season. If these prospective ideas should go according to plan, football will be back to normal by next season. Do take these preliminary ideas as exactly that – preliminary – because the football world is ever-changing. Anyway, should “Project Restart” be successful, we will all be able to return to the comfort of watching Gillette Soccer Saturday, Super Sunday, and MNF from our sofas, and personally, that’s what I really need to keep me going through this lockdown. Fingers crossed. Monet Stuckey, Ag, L6th
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Covid-19 in Spain
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he Coronavirus (COVID-19), an infectious disease that primarily affects the respiratory system, has escalated into a worldwide pandemic. It has caused mass shutdown, and has seen the closing of borders in over 100 countries around the world. Despite Spain being “ahead of the curve” in relation to the United Kingdom, it has suffered significantly fewer deaths than the UK. The first case of Covid-19 in Spain was reported on 31st January 2020; since then it has reported a total of 26,920 deaths. The United Kingdom reported its first case on 29th January 2020 and has reached almost 32,000 deaths. This discrepancy in deaths is directly associated to the way in which the virus was dealt with in Spain in the short-term to midterm.
When travelling back to Spain, from the UK, an immediate difference between the two countries was the way in which the airports were functioning. Gatwick airport was still fully operational, despite most shops being closed and many workers simply wearing masks. In Málaga airport, once departing the plane, a small group of passengers that were travelling together were directed towards the customs office where every individual had to show proof of either residency or ownership of property in Spain – if not, he/she was sent back to the country of departure. Every Spanish worker was wearing a protective mask and gloves and many of them were in full hazmat suits, disinfecting the area around us with antibacterial 14
spray. Once through customs, there was no getting lost; the entire airport was closed off besides the path towards baggage claim. When exiting the airport, it was noticeably quiet, and rather eerie. Police were scattered on many of the roads and there was an ubiquitous sense of unease and unpleasantness. Another contrasting factor between the two countries was the attitude of the police force. In my experience, I have been far less intimidated by English police than Spanish ones. This difference is important, as it not only deters people from not following instructions, but it also enables governments to ensure that their enforced rules are abided by. Overall, it was clear that the attitude towards the virus in England was far more laissez faire than the attitude of Spaniards. It is interesting to note that Spain was once under the ruling of the dictator Francisco Franco from 1936 to 1975. Although Franco’s reign ended years ago, it is clear that “Franco’s ghost still haunts Spain”. Because of this, many Spaniards are accustomed to a totalitarian way of life in which dictators set the rules. This way of life has immensely helped Spain swiftly recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19. Spaniards follow the rules and have reaped the benefits of cooperation. Kaia Kaemmerlen, Ag, U6th
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The Quirks and Qualms of Quarantine
ad we known Thursday 19th March was to be the final day of ‘normal’, I wonder if we would have appreciated those last few weeks a little more. The unexpected gift of an early Easter break seemed too good to be true – but was it really? I do not think any of us quite understood the enormity of what was to come. Remember the novelty of the first few weeks on Teams? Lounging through lessons in PJs, tinkering with tropical backgrounds and giggling at the extreme facial distortions of teachers contorted by Snapchat. Those initial days of figuring it all out were challenging, and I am certain, at some point, we have all failed to switch off our mics – exposing the daily hullabaloo of our various homes. Lack of awareness and volume control are clearly not restricted to teenagers! Mom belting out ‘who didn’t flush the toilet?’ in the middle of a class discussion is just one of many hilarious interruptions that made every day exciting, different and some would even say enjoyable. However, as it became more apparent that this was not a temporary situation, this fresh take on school learning quickly wore off. Yes, there was still the luxury of rolling out of bed just minutes before class, and yes, we continued to have weekly competitions about who sat through lessons in the wackiest locations. But, there was real work to be done now: prep and deadlines still very much a reality. With exams and predicted grades just around the corner, finding focus was more challenging than ever. Away from the school timetable, where once we would scurry to the V&A or sit in house talking about nothing in particular, we now find that during our “free time” we are knee deep in chores and other jobs around the house. Parents, giddy to have another pair of helping hands, find pleasure in delegating the endless list of chores that have remained untouched since Christmas. And then of course, the weekend when finally, no lessons, no assemblies and no meetings – just a little time to catch your breath. For some reason, parents decide this is the perfect opportunity to make elaborate suggestions as to how best we should be using the time. “Forget Netflix – write your own screen play!” “How about you turn off that Grime garbage and pick up the clarinet!” “Put that phone away and crack on with that stellar novel I know is in you!” And for the lucky few who have managed to escape this sort of interrogation thus far… there’s still time! As I write this, Speech Day is exactly one week away, and I know we will all miss being in the Big Top together. The event itself is incredible, but more specifically, Summer Term at Wellington is the best. It is the little things – losing track of time while playing football on turf, popping down to the pool after lessons, grabbing an ice cream from Grubbies – which epitomise the summer days at school. Girls dig out their frilly blouses, while boys eagerly stuff their blazers back into the closet to be mothballed until September. Quarantine has its quirks and it certainly has its qualms. I know many of us are missing school and each other more than ever now, even if we struggle to admit it. But we must remember we are all in this together and we will definitely have some good stories to share when we finally meet again. Colette Staadecker, W, L6th
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When will the Roaring 20s Start?
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hings were going to be so good this decade, right? We had visions of Gatsby parties, exciting new inventions, and all of us entering adulthood. But all we’ve gotten so far is a global pandemic, the death of a sporting legend, devasting bushfires across Australia, and the worst economy for nearly 100 years. So, will the roaring 20s happen like they did last century? You might be pleased to know that the 1920s started in a similar, discouraging, sort of way. Firstly, the world had just come out of WWI, which took 8.5 million lives. This, as you can imagine, led to bad morale across the world and people were really struggling with the losses of loved ones and livelihoods. This was compounded by the global pandemic of the Spanish Flu in 1918. It infected 500 million people and killed nearly 50 million. Together, these two events brought on a generally forgotten depression in 1920/21, with inflation rates growing by 20%. This situation sounds all too familiar to what we’re going through now, luckily apart from the world war (although we nearly had one of those too).
What came next in 20th century history is what should give us hope. It’s what springs to mind when someone says the 1920s: The Roaring 20s. Gatsby, flapper dresses and newfound wealth all come to thought whenever it’s mentioned. So, as our economies are crashing all over the world, we can remain hopeful. The economy in the 1920s rose by 42%, so, despite the current high unemployment and poor economy, it’s possible that history might repeat itself, as it so often does. From a creative angle, there have also been new inventions and creations that were the result of lockdowns of the past, like Shakespeare’s King Lear. So, whilst we all wait at home, we can be hopeful that there are people, maybe like you, that are busy creating, and that when we can go out again, it will be a better and new world. So, let’s try not to worry about how badly this year has gone so far. Really, the new decade will start in 2021, as Jesus was born in 1AD, not 0AD. Let’s get all the bad stuff out the way this year, so that this time next year we can hope we’re not reading this from our bedrooms at home. Instead, we may still have masks on, but we’ll be at school or university with our friends, or possibly somewhere else exciting around the world. Antonia Gathy, W, L6th 16
Why Billionaries Won’t Save Us
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n 2018 Americans donated over $428 billion dollars, but the number of donors has reached an all-time low. This is due to the 1% of Americans who are extremely wealthy and give away huge amounts of money each year. On paper, big philanthropy seems great, but the way billionaires give away money is never scrutinized and if it is investigated, its problems are revealed. Big philanthropy in the USA has become a system of tools and products to help billionaires give away money in ways that only benefit them. Due to various rules and regulations passed the by government, billionaires have been able to influence political structures and can shape the world in a way they see fit, while paying less taxes. This is done through many different laws, and one such law is DAFs or Donor Advised funds. This law states that a wealthy person can put a certain sum of money in the DAF, and then that person gets a tax write off for the full amount that they donated. The law states that money that the person puts in the fund has to be donated to an actual charity later, but it can stay in the fund indefinitely. This allows billionaires to take the tax break, but pay the charity years later, saving them millions of dollars. Over the past 5 years the number of DAFs has tripled, and the number is only increasing. For example, Nick woodman- the CEO of GoPro was worth over $3 billion in 2014 as he made his company public. He ended facing taxes in 10s of millions, so when GoPro stock was at its peak, he donated $500 million dollars in stocks to a DAF. After the stock fell Nick still got tax write off of $500 million dollars even though the stock’s value was no longer $500 million.
educating the public about current affairs and controversial issues and then giving funding to these causes. This law helps billionaires change the world in ways they see fit as it allows them to create organizations that promote ideas they believe, without hearing the opinions of the public. Additionally, the law exempts these nonprofit organizations from paying income tax but are eligible to pay tax if they fund political campaigns or spend on any sort of political activity. Lastly, big philanthropy has become a powerful tool to cleanse and enhance one’s reputation. For example, the Sacklers fuelled the opioid crisis in the USA for the past 5 years, but to save their reputation, they bought dozens of museums and donated to various art galleries. This led people to believe that the Sacklers were respectable people as they had great taste in art and owned multiple museums, distracting people from the harm that they were creating. In conclusion, the taxing system in United States is extremely flawed as it allows the super-rich to remain rich through loopholes and legally evading taxes, while taking taxes from the poor and using the money for drone strikes or building walls. The tax system needs to be scrutinized, reviewed and changed so that these laws benefit everybody, not just the rich. Warren Buffet famously once said that he pays less taxes than his secretary, in percentage terms, as most of his wealth was in the form of stocks and not his salary. Ishan Kapur, M, 3rd
Alongside DAFs there is another law billionaires use to their advantage: the 501(c)(4). This law promotes organizations 17
Our Part in History
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t’s weird, isn’t it? What’s happening now, while senselessly boring, seems relatively insignificant. I mean, we’re teenagers. Our favourite thing to do is bury our faces in our phone and not talk to anyone; so, this is just a legal enforcement of our natural behaviour. But what strikes me is that, while we see this as a few weeks of boredom and actually having to speak to our families, in 20 or 30 years’ time, our children - given the world hasn’t ended by then - will be telling us about the stories they were learning at school surrounding our current situation. How are we going to explain this to them? “Oh, so someone ate a bat, everyone got sick so we decided to do keepy ups with toilet rolls and sing happy birthday to keep us alive.” Seems a little odd when you say it like that. But that’s not what we’re doing. When you think about it, we’re not treating this with the same blasé British arrogance the world is used to, in fact, quite the opposite. Perhaps this is the biggest example of unity we have shown in decades, if not longer. Everyone has everyone’s back, apart from a few wannabe hardmen who think they’re big because they still go out, and that is something that has not been seen in this country since WW2. You see, looking at this negatively is going to drive us insane, possibly before the boredom does, but look at it as a blessing. Straight off the back of one of the most toxic elections in years, and even worse than that, Kobe’s death, this pandemic has somehow seemed to calm the tensions between nations. Kim Jong Un hasn’t threatened to kill anyone for a little while, Britain is finally putting the public before twisted political agendas, and countries are actually offering to help each other; what’s that all about? Let’s be grateful for America and their anti-lockdown protests bringing a little bit of weird normality back. I know this sounds like a lot of waffle, and it probably is, but essentially what I’m saying is that this is not a bad thing. This is our chance to make a difference. This is our chance to learn something new, motivate ourselves, help each other, actually learn what our parents were like as children, if you dare to find out. This is an opportunity for us to write our own little part of history how we want to. It is our generation’s chance, despite every other generation hating us, to make this place somewhere we want to be a part of. So let’s take it. Let’s keep running 5k and posting sweaty pictures on Instagram stories, let’s keep posting Bill Clinton smirking in a pile of Vinyl, and let’s keep doing things how we want to. Will Hobson, S, L6th
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Shakespeare and Nolan’s Exploration of the Villan
he Joker is undoubtedly the most famous villain within modern day culture. Heath Ledger’s representation in Nolan’s ‘Dark Night’ as the infamous comic book character consolidated the Joker as a legend within fictional characters. However, an equally more infamous fictional character had been thought of far before the Joker ever emerged. In 1604, Shakespeare created an equally heinous and devious character in Othello: Iago. These two characters excel as fictional villains and are fascinating to contrast because they are inexorably linked. The external images of The Joker and Iago could not be more different. Iago is perceived as ‘honest’ throughout most of the play. His evilness is expressed behind the eyes of the rest of the characters through malevolent soliloquies addressed to the audience. Joker is the stark opposite - he’s openly evil. His messy makeup, scars running down the side of his cheek and the symbolic “villainous laugh” portray to the whole of Gotham, and the world, a truly crazy individual. Although their appearances are stark opposites, Iago seems to be an ordinary man, whereas the Joker appears deranged and psychotic: their motivations are very much alike. They have none. Samuel Coleridge, after reading Othello, coined the
phrase, “the motive hunting of motiveless malignity” (Coleridge, 1807). I think this is a wonderful description of Iago’s motivation. One of the most baffling things within the play is Iago’s reasons for causing so much destruction upon the love of Othello and Desdemona. Critics have argued that his motivation is one of racial prejudice. Iago constantly spits out racial slurs upon Othello such as “Moor,” “Barbary Horse” and “Black ram.” Other critics might perceive that his sole motivation is his desire for power. He is clearly disgruntled by Cassio’s promotion, and is constantly referred to as “ancient.” Although he has a respected name, he is
more of an errand boy than a leader. Critics have named many other reasons for his motivation; such as sexual jealousy, jealousy of their goodness, and jealousy of Othello as a man. Ultimately, Shakespeare leaves Iago’s motivation up for interpretation; he proposes to the audience the danger of man who causes destruction just for sport. Iago’s soliloquies of his evil schemes demonstrate a character who is enjoying the sport of what he is doing without offering any prior motivation - this is always disconcerting for an audience.
Joker also seems to offer no reason for his destructive actions. When batman (Christian Bale) and his butler, Alfred (Michael Caine) are trying to come to grips with their antagonist. Alfred offers the concept of Coleridge in ‘motiveless malignity’ through the line “some men just want to watch the world burn”. The word “burn” is symbolic of anarchy. Many anarchist movements have offered means of destruction through fire. For example, the Reichstag Fire of 1933, committed by a known anarchist in Marinus Van de Lubbe. An audience might confide in the idea that the Joker’s motivation comes from personality disorders caused by past traumas represented through the scars on his face. Yet, the origin of these scars is unclear, he gives two reasons for the origin of these scars in self infliction and by his father. Ultimately, the Joker’s motivation is undetectable, which makes him a far more menacing character in the Dark Knight movie. A final thought: are we now faced with our very own Joker or Iago in the form of the Corona Virus? It lacks any sort of motivation or reason for the destruction it has caused to so many lives. Does it too fit into the category of villains who are ultimately motiveless in their malignity? Jim Baring, Bl, L6th
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Monkeys and BoJo: What’s happening with our vaccine?
eadlining the news, covering the web, slipping into BoJo’s speeches; vaccines have taken an omnipresent stage in this changing world. The key to unlocking lockdown, lifting this sedentary curse and clicking the play button to start-up the world again, is overridden, essentially, by finding a safe and effective vaccine. We are controlled by its absence, but the elusive remedy is much closer than one might think. The virus is its own worst enemy and holds the information required for its own elimination. Ironically, the cure to all this disorder comes from the progenitor itself – the only difficulty is in collecting the bits we need to make sure it ultimately works. Currently, there are +90 groups delving into the RNA of corona, with many different methods of establishing a vaccine. There are those using inactivated forms of the actual virus, a tried and tested approach, viral-vector methods, using other viruses as vectors to transfer the corona RNA safely into our cells, and ones which would prompt our own cells to churn out the infamous spike proteins. All these vaccines would activate the immune system to produce memory white blood cells and antibodies, without causing the disease but giving the patient immunity. They would remain in our blood and produce a faster immune response to kill specific viruses or bacterium if they come along again. If an effective vaccine were developed which didn’t provoke any severe symptoms and provided the patient immunity, the number of people able to catch the disease would reduce substantially and lockdown could be eased. Concept vaccines are being trialled in both animal and human studies, notably the recent Oxford vaccine, and mixed results are starting to emerge. Some suggest Oxford’s vaccine might only be ‘partially effective’ whilst others are more positive regarding the rhesus monkey study. Results from another safety trial are optimistic; showing that the first 8 patients produced virus neutralising antibodies, similar to responses seen in natural infections. Ironically, for human trials to show enough evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine, some of the volunteers
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need to catch corona; implying that lockdown is slowing vaccine development! Not only will results and their analysis take time, but there are many stages along the way that might slow the whole process down. Scientists need to figure out if the vaccine provides sufficient immunity for a long period of time, without adverse side effects (for all age groups), whether mutations in the virus could lead to different strains, if secondary infections can occur, could those with immunity pass on the virus … IF (and it’s a big IF) there are no trip-ups, then comes the issue of mass production and the logistics of vaccinating an entire country. Estimates say for herd immunity to kick in, around 60-70% of the population need to have immunity, whether naturally from the virus or from a vaccine, to finish corona. That’s a lot of injections! Although this situation seems defeatist, the speed of vaccine development so far has been astounding – faster than ever before – and its trajectory is very promising, resulting from global collaboration between numerous world-leading experts and labs. Those at the forefront believe in their work hugely and their optimism should rub off on us as well. I hope in the near future, this article will become obsolete for we might have been given answers to these pressing questions and begin to see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. Angus Leech, S, L6th
Viewing Turf Through Paint
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he enforced quiet of the last few months has had some benefits. Many around the country have turned their hand to the creation of art with their weapons of choice varying from paintbrushes to knitting needles. Perhaps it gives us a sense of progression, achievement, or is the meditation that comes with concentrating on a practical task reward enough? In the Easter holidays, instead of going to one of my best friend’s weddings (we were both in the Talbot together), I had some time to start a painting of the College. The view of the school across Turf, through the avenue along the Kilometre, is one that will resonate with many, and I had been dying to paint it all year. The early morning light puts the College into an unmistakeable silhouette from this viewpoint. I wanted to capture the idea of the school without the closeups of red bricks or rooftop pineapples. It couldn’t be anywhere else, even with so little information actually painted. This term has asked questions about what Wellington College really is - you may not be physically close enough to read the graffiti in Back Quad, but even in virtual silhouette, the College is as present as ever. Mr Wardlaw, Art teacher, OW (T)
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Covid Creations Bevsy – Distance (feat. Igloo) I started the song as I was inspired by another song of my favourite artist. This was the song ‘Some Minds’ by Flume. If you listen to the songs back to back, you can really hear the similarities. After creating the instrumental, I asked Freddie Gillmore, best known for his work as the front man of the band ‘Igloo’, to create some lyrics based on love and the positivity of moving on from it, even if it is hard. It was started roughly around January, so we were still able to get together at Shabby Road Studios at school and record the vocals. Then, after a long period of making finishing touches and processing the vocals, the project was done. I needed some artwork for the front cover since, I didn’t want it to just be a stock photo with my name photoshopped on top of it, like my previous tunes. I decided to ask Alicia Corradini, since I had seen some of her work within the art department and was impressed by what I saw. I sent her the lyrics to base the cover on, and within a few days she came back with the final design. Through teamwork, I feel we really made something special that everyone can enjoy.
The lyrics:
Distanced from the love, that was part of us. I still hold it here, though not too close. Cus I, I wasn't ready And I, I wasn't ready Shadow of another is hidden below Still live in the echo but no one would know Each day is a battle of my mind and soul The harder it is the more that I grow
The first verse talks about being disconnected from previous love, yet still appreciating it for what it was, even if it hurts to think about it now. The second verse is about how long after love you still think about that person, and the thought of them constantly echoes in your head, but how as time goes on you learn from the experience and grow from it, even if it is hard. You can check out the single on Apple Music and Spotify under the artist name ‘Bevsy’, as well as some of Igloo’s work on their Spotify page. Watch out for more releases as I have more of this less bass-heavy style to come very soon.
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Covid Creations ANZAC Biscuit Recipe ANZAC biscuits are an Aussie’s dream. If someone makes you ANZACs, it’s honestly a sign of true love. Since lockdown is so difficult, I thought I’d try and share some love with all of you lot by sharing my family’s ANZAC biscuit recipe, and especially because ANZAC Day was on the 25th of April. Here’s a bit of history, if you’re interested: ANZAC itself stands for ‘Australia and New Zealand Army Corps’, identifying those Aussie and Kiwi soldiers who fought in the First World War. The biscuits were made by women down-under, and sent away to the front lines, because the biscuits’ shelf life is incredibly long. They’re also made out of cheap ingredients that were rationed during the war period, making them accessibly easy to bake during WW1. ANZAC Day is a national holiday in both Aussieland and the All Blacks home country, celebrating their WW1 soldiers, and it is also celebrated more widely by other countries. Anyway, I hope that some of you give this recipe a go. It’s been in my family for over 100 years now (even though most recipes are similar), so I hope you enjoy creating this in lockdown. (makes roughly 30 ANZAC Biscuits) INGREDIENTS: 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup plain flour ¾ cup sugar ¾ cup desiccated coconut 125g butter 1 tbsp golden syrup 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tbsp boiling water METHOD: 1. Lob the oats, sifted flour, sugar and coconut in a large bowl and give it a good mix. 2. In a pan, stir together the butter and golden syrup over a low heat until the butter is melted. 3. Combine the bicarbonate of soda with the water and add it to the butter mixture in the pan. 4. Take the pan off the heat and pour its contents into the bowl of oats, flour, sugar and coconut – give it a good old stir 5. Take 3 teaspoons of the mixture and lob it on a greased oven tray. Press down on it a little to flatten it out. This is one biscuit. Make sure to repeat this process with 4cm between each blob of mixture – the biscuits spread whilst they’re in the oven. 6. Put your tray of biscuits into the oven at 135oC for 15 – 20 mins, or until golden-brown.
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Lockdown Reflections - Mr Dewes
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ne of the very few benefits of living in lockdown has been an increase in time available for contemplative thought, reflection and, where necessary recalibration. There has been so much for which to be thankful. I am, if not clearer, then even more certain of what it is I value and prioritise, feelings engendered both by absence, in some cases, and increased time to invest in others. At the very top is my faith. For 25 minutes of my daily hour’s exercise I listen to The Bible in One Year and Nicky Gumbel’s words on three Bible passages. A few of these have been updated to include reference to coronavirus but most do not mention it. Despite that, the same messages repeat. God is in control. Trust him to fulfil his great purposes. Live for eternity, not just for today. It is not rocket science, but it provides perspective and hope in a world that has never been so shattered. Tuning in daily to a few sections of God’s word and listening to Nicky’s exposition has become the central focus of my day. I wish I were better at living out what the Bible says in practice. I can become anxious when things that should be within my control begin to get out of hand, never more the case than when preparing a meal every fourth day. Even with all the time in the world at my disposal, I am not very good at exercising patience. I can be anything but gentle in my snappy responses
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when anxiety or frustration take a hold. Second, again by a distance, is my family. Greater familiarity has not resulted in any greater contempt, in fact quite the opposite. I have never been more tuned in to the needs and current feelings of my own family or to those of my siblings and mother, or to those of my in-laws. How I value their support and love, even if it is not always put into words. How I hope I am able to give back to them a small measure of the enormity they continue to give to me. A resolution I have made is to be more alive to all my family, closer or wider, and to be a better listener. One of the things about remote contact is that it forces me to listen as only one person talks at a time. In real life it is all too easy to switch off mentally whilst giving an appearance of taking things in. Naturally there are still the same issues over which opinions differ but a benefit of group conversation is that these do not tend to surface. It is much harder to enjoy the cut and thrust of debate (i.e.argue) when there are several others in on the
conversation and not remotely interested in it. I had no idea, either, that not being able to see family would make me realise how much I miss them. Third is my health. Especially at the moment, I am just so grateful for the genetic mix that has blessed me with an absence of underlying conditions, apart from some dermatological stuff which sun and early nights resolve naturally. I have missed fewer days from illness in 40 years of teaching than I have on the fingers of one hand. I see colleagues and students coping with debilitating ailments that either prevent them from enjoying sport to the full or making academic progress more difficult and compare that with my own ability to do both. It is humbling but it also provides another reason to be thankful for the set of cards I have been dealt. Fourth, and a very important fourth is my circle of friends. Lockdown has deprived
me of any more than visual contact with my chums and I miss social time hugely. There are some friends with whom I keep in contact that pre-date marriage; there are some that my wife and I got to know together after we were married and there are more that I have hooked up with during my time at Wellington. There are a few we have got to know thanks to having children of the same age at the same schools. There are a whole lot more with whom I would have a pint in a heartbeat, if it were possible. I have always been gregarious by nature and deprived of an outlet for that, I am diminished. Fifth is sport. Even more than contact with friends, with whom I can at least talk, the absence of sport leaves a void that is unfillable by any other means. I found myself watching a re-run of the Solheim Cup on television last night. I didn’t even know the outcome and it was played last year. But it was on TV and I was having withdrawal symptoms and it was the only action available. Football, with my allegiance to Crystal Palace, rugby internationals, the beginning of the flat racing season and the first classics at Newmarket, The Masters and, of course, cricket all fill my down time and get my blood racing. I am a sport nut. I wish I could still play more sports actively. If anno domini means I cannot, I want to watch as much as I can, in the areas that interest me. I am having to fill in all sorts of surveys about wellbeing at the moment. The only area in which I can honestly say my wellbeing is being negatively impacted is the absence of live sport. It cuts
little ice with some people, who seem to regard sport as a trivial frippery. It isn’t. Sixth, and last, is the Common Room at Wellington, by which I mean the people, not the location. I have been unbelievably lucky to have shot the breeze in the same room for so long with so many who know so much. Yes, there is a social part of this, but I have come to realise that every day I go to school I learn something new. It may be in a passing comment from a student, it may be in a shrewd and pithy observation from a member of the non-teaching staff. Above all, though, it is in conversation after lunch or during break or after games or in the Social Club or over a night cap that I have broadened my knowledge. The stupendous combined intellect of over 100 individuals, each with specialist areas, most with university degrees or doctorates, all with more than one area of genuine interest outside their academic field, is a gold mine to which I have had privileged access all my working life. I took it for granted for many years
but as my time at the chalk-face begins to play out, I realise that it is, above all, what I will miss when I retire. Wealth? Get serious. Status? Never had any. Possessions? Here today and gone tomorrow. The longer lockdown goes on, the more my heart echoes the words of Henry W Baker, ‘for love in creation, for heaven restored, for grace of salvation, oh praise ye the Lord.’ Mr Dewes, Geography Teacher
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Help these artists win a ÂŁ20 Amazon voucher! Vote for your favourite using the online form that we have emailed out to you all - the artwork with the most votes will righteously win the voucher.
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Teacher’s Lockdown Response Overall, how has your experience been of lockdown? The supercharged and super-slow sequences of school terms followed by holidays meant that the feeling of lockdown was delayed slightly as the quiet and deserted nature of Easter holidays on campus felt like 'normal'. What has followed has been anything but, and the word 'normal' or 'new normal' has gained a newfound hatred on my part. Is 'normal' always good anyway? Perhaps a world without exams, excessive air pollution, appreciation and gratitude for all roles in society is a better 'normal'? But, then again what is any world without face to face human contact. Once the eerie quiet of a campus without pupils settled and virtual Wellington dusted off the early creaks and snags, I have felt very lucky to be experiencing lockdown with routine, purpose and, at times, joy. My fiance Amy (a pharmacist at Frimley Park) is safe and well despite all the challenges that greet her on a daily basis which put the odd WiFi issue into harsh reality. If I ever needed reminding of how wonderfully lucky we are to live on such beautiful grounds, I have had it during the lockdown. It feels like being asked to selfisolate at Downton Abbey. As with any experience of life, there are sad moments and there are joyful moments. The joyful outweighs the sad due to friendly colleagues, lashings of rocky road and endless sport documentaries. Lockdown has reaffirmed how happy and grateful I am to live and work at Wellington College. It has also reaffirmed (even though it was clear already) that it is the people of Wellington that make it special and bring the beautiful grounds and buildings to life. Right now, we are missing many of those people desperately, but looking
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forward to a time where we can be together. Maybe even with a renewed sense of what is most important: People, community and genuine connection. What have been the most positive parts for you? Adding little things to my daily routine which have been gathering dust on a 'to-do' list since I graduated university. DDP Yoga (an ex-wrestler designed a yoga program - it is immense) is keeping me sane and feeling healthy. Even though much of the college campus is quieter and devoid of life in the ways we expect as Simon Barnes wrote in the Times 'they can't cancel nature'. Watching Spring have space and room to bloom has been simply awesome. Daily walks are made that bit more special when you can see and hear so much around you that otherwise might have passed you by on a frantic walk to get to lunch on fish and chip Friday. There are of course many things to be grateful for, but close to the top of that list has to be that we are going through this at a time of year where the 'pathetic fallacy' of the weather is less likely to cause us to sit indoors and stare into a rainy and cold abyss (I think I used that correctly Miss Donarski!). What have been the biggest challenges? Having our wedding cancelled on April 4th was a really tough and emotional time. It felt like towards the end of March the guidance and goal posts were moving by the hour. Even though it was forced upon us, it felt like the right decision for our friends and families. I learned a huge amount about marital law.
Apparently, a wedding license is valid for a single time of day, specific venue and specific date. No running off to the Vegas Chapel in good old Blighty. It has, though, put into perspective what matters. I spent hours on the phone begging the venue to allow just us and two witnesses to get married (fathers in the car park), but then weddings were cancelled completely. So now we look forward to December, without fear or worry about what the favours will be, or whether the food is good or whether the father of the bride speech will include jokes like 'just a little toast' (throw a piece of toast into the crowd). We just want to be husband and wife. What advice would you give to students about life in Lockdown? 1.) Try to add a tiny improvement to your daily lives or routine that you have wanted to for some time. Try not to look for inspiration on Instagram. It is not realistic to learn an ancient language overnight while baking a Mary Berry special standing on your head. Be forgiving of yourself and be able to find something small but important. It might be reading two pages of a book a day, or it might simply be trying a new food for the first time. 2.) Love the local. It is a shame we cannot hop on a plane and be in New Zealand and Australia in less than 24 hours (time-space compression and geography in action, don't worry about it), but how much awesome stuff do we have right on our doorsteps and gardens? Appreciate and enjoy what is right there in front of you. Mr Murray, Geography teacher and Pn AHM
WellyWits Mack Keast - “Did you know Charli D’Amelio is 15?!” Alex James - “Have you opened another packet of baccy?”
(said in a Teams Lesson when the mic was supposed to be off…)
Honor Hewett - “What does ‘that’s what she said’ mean?” Alex James - “I want to be an Instagram influencer when I grow up” Georgie Ellis - “I don’t know why but the Moana soundtrack makes me so excited ;)” Miss Taylor - “The US have a golden retriever in a suit as president” Anonymous - “Does Juul show up on a breathalyser?”
By Mimi Dennis, Ag, U6th
29
WellyLookalikes Harry Hare and Matt Lucas
Mr Roundell and Sean Lock
Baxter Westby and Jesse Eisenberg
Abi Rees and Nicole Dewar
30
Mr Wilson and Vin Disel
Hal Butler and Matteo Guendouzi
Ned Chapman and Jacob Sartorius
Dr Wright and Prince Harry
31
Sam Hind
