THE VAUGHAN IDENTITY
APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
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VAUGHAN IDENTITY APRIL 2017 ISSUE TWO
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CONTENTS 4-5
A Truly Global Britain
Spending Cuts Are Inclusionary Diminutions; the National Funding Formula Is Individual
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Google Pixel or Iphone 7?
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Fourth Form History Trip to Berlin
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Nintendo Switch and Xbox One S Reviews
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Exploring the Universe: The Cassini Orbiter
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Lower School Sports Stars
12-13
Book reviews: Beck and Liccle Bit
14-15
Caldwell on the changing face of London Football
16-17
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EDITORS: NÉLSON FERNANDES SERRÃO 4MA SENIOR POLITICAL AND CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITOR
13fernandesserraone@cvms.co.uk
RUAIRI COYNE 4MA SENIOR DIGITAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS EDITOR
13coyneru@cvms.co.uk
ROWAN CALDWELL 4MA SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
13caldwellro@cvms.co.uk
If you have any ideas, comments or suggestions for the next issue of the Vaughan Identity, please do not hesitate to contact any of the editors.
EDITORIAL Although we got onto a rough (and somewhat delayed start), we are pleased to see such an uptake of The Vaughan Identity in all its forms, and we would like to thank all those who contributed to the previous issue and all those who have contributed to this issue.
This edition has a completely revamped and contemporary design that we hope will appeal to many more people than before. We have a vast array of articles, ranging from a poignant analysis of the ramifications of National Funding Formula, to an update on Brexit, a historical overview of AFC Wimbledon, and a series of media reviews. With special thanks to: Mr. Cogavin
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A Truly Global Britain Nélson Fernandes Serrão, 4MA We live in an ever more economically, politically and socially dynamic world. The FTSE 100 has surged to record heights and the Great British Pound summoned to new lows. For some, at least, Theresa May has appeared ambivalent, irresolute and contradictory on account of the manner in which she was presiding over the immanent ambiguity of Brexit. There were rumors that insinuated that she would
the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike”.
pilot the UK towards a ‘softer’ Brexit than was once surmised, after enigmatic inferences posterior to exchanges between the Government and Nissan.
She prescribed twelve clear, and unambiguous negotiation objectives: “Twelve objectives that amount to one big goal: a new, positive and constructive partnership between Britain and the European Union”.
Speaking at Lancaster House, she reaffirmed that the British people had, once again, “voted for change to shape a brighter future for their country, to leave the European Union and to embrace the world”, going onto enumerate her plan for Brexit Britain. It was apparent from the very onset that the dichotomy of hard and soft Brexit had been assertively put to bed. “Taking the opportunity of this great moment of national change”, she emphasized that “June the 23rd was not the moment Britain chose to step back from the world. It was the moment we chose to build a truly Global Britain” one that “reaches beyond the borders of Europe” and “goes out into
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Prior to definitely delineating her negotiating objectives, she reinforced the need for the “preservation of our precious Union” for we voted as one United Kingdom, and we will leave as one United Kingdom – something that is looking less and less likely.
Some objectives had already been prematurely envisaged by many: the conservation of workers’ rights and the perpetuation of European-wide co-operation – no reasoned and democratic government in the 21 century would disenfranchise its citizens from aggrandized worker safeguards, that had worked with inordinate levels of success, and abruptly terminate alliances with fellow allies in the unceasing combat against crime and terrorism – alliances that have incontrovertibly saved hundreds of thousands of lives; the consolidation of the union and preservation of the Common Travel Area with Ireland – for anything but would just accentuate the derangement that will unequivocally be brought about by the st
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enactment of Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, giving the European Union formal notice of the UK’s constitutional intentions to depart from the European Union; and ensuring that the UK remains a pioneer in the areas of science and innovation. Supplementary to the marginally less consequential elaborations of May’s speech was her diligence in the procurement of “certainty and clarity”. She, de facto, conceded that the Great British Pound’s grandiose and sustained state of depreciation and devaluation was as an unmediated consequence of the intrinsic vacillation surrounding Britain’s digression from the European Union. She elucidated to all her negotiation standpoint and the immediate ramifications of Brexit; most notably, the “pragmatic and principled” abrogation of the European Communities Act 1972– the act that executes and effectuates the EU’s acquis communautaire and law upon British soil – and the direct translation of said acquis into British domestic law as part of a ‘Great Repeal Bill’ assuring that “the same rules and laws will apply on the day after Brexit as they did before” with the phased implementation of a Brexit deal – fundamentally, capitulating to demands for a transitional agreement with the European Union. This newfangled lucidity augmented the pound’s value by 3% - the largest one-day gain since 2008. There were several strikingly significant developments. The greatest of which was the disclosure that the UK would be leaving and not endeavor to amass de facto membership of the Single Market – accordingly, putting to bed the dichotomy nature of Brexit , for membership of the Single Market would necessitate forbearance of the ‘EU’s four freedoms’, undemocratic acquiescence to EU rules and regulations, and assimilation of the un -bureaucratic jurisdiction of the Euro-
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pean Court of Justice on British soil; for dwelling in the Single Market would mean “not leaving the EU at all”. May rather wishes to seek a “bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union” warranting “the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU’s member states”, and removing the need for “vast contributions to the European Union every year”. By persisting outside the EU’s customs union and consequently not partaking in the Common Commercial Policy nor be bound by the Common External Tariff, May has granted the UK the ingrained capacity to formulate new comprehensive and bilaterally beneficial trade agreements with other countries including Australia, India and the United States of America. Regardless, it has been reported that four central European states are primed to veto any Brexit deal that would enfeeble freedom of movement.
In order to pacify and appease the likes of Nigel Farage, who prayed on refugees and EU nationals who left their families behind in search of a better life in order to pursue his own political and personal agenda to lavish jet fuel onto the diminishing flame of xenophobia, May was coerced into elucidating the UK’s position on the control of immigration. She detailed that “openness to international talent must remain one of this country’s most distinctive assets” whilst simultaneously taking control of immigration from Europe, in particular. Another jarring development was regarding the protection of EU nationals in Britain and British nationals in the EU. May wishes to guarantee the rights of those whose position and
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status are presently unknown in an agreement between member states and the UK. “Many of them favor such an agreement – 1 or 2 others do not”. According to unconfirmed yet credible reports, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, is one of those who are withholding from such an agreement – citing the integral protectionist qualities of the EU which May tried to castigate stating “no deal is better than a bad deal”. All in all, we now have an exponentially greater understanding of the Prime Minister’s plan and view for Brexit Britain – she wishes to engender a truly ‘Global Britain’ that is able to reach out to past and future allies. The May we saw in that speech was one of a prime minister filled with fresh authority; a fresh authority exacerbated by the enactment, through Royal Assent, of the “European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill 201617” on Tuesday 16th of March 2017; and a fresh authority, exercised, to its full extent, a matter of just 15 days afterwards – in accordance with the United Kingdom’s constitutional requirements and as set out in Article 50(1 & 2) of the Lisbon Treaty, Theresa May on Wednesday 29th of March 2017, notified Donald Tusk – president of the European Council, in the form of a letter handled by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Sir Tim Barrow, of the United Kingdom’s intention to leave the European Union. And so, notification formally given to the European Council, May fired the starting gun: we, as a country, now have two years to negotiate with the European Union on the terms of our departure, or risk having to trade under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules – which would require adherence to international tariffs and quotas, when importing and exporting – something that would hurt not only our economy, but the economy of Europe significantly. Whilst two years may seem like a long time, there is a lot to discuss, and ultimately argue; we are already in dispute with the EU about how negotiations should take place. May wants to run the negotiations of our departure – to “settle the disen-
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tanglement” - including the settlement of any liabilities – ‘debts’ to the EU, and the establishment of a new trade deal to run in parallel; the EU (*cough* Merkel) does not. Only when “sufficient progress” has been made on “settling the disentanglement” will the EU begin to discuss a new trade deal. Furthermore, both parties want to prioritize the reciprocal protection of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU as soon as possible – though this is undoubtedly going to lead to heated debates on who should pay for provision of healthcare and state pensions. Whilst some people (*cough* Marine Le Pen) suggest that the EU wishes to undeniably punish the UK over its decision to leave the European Union, Tusk has reaffirmed that this will not be, nor ever was the case: “The EU 27 does not and will not pursue a punitive approach. Brexit in itself is already punitive enough.” It is without question that Brexit will dominate the news for the next two years as the UK Government seeks to negotiate the best deal possible, whilst the EU wishes to protects its integral protectionist beliefs: but the question still stands: What will Brexit mean? For the UK economy? For families? Students? Pensioners? and EU nationals? Only time will tell… All we can say is... adieu.
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Spending cuts are inclusionary diminutions; the National Funding Formula is individual Nélson Fernandes Serrão, 4MA This is not a new mathematical equation, nor is it an inconsequential offcut of enlightenment. The unaccustomed National Funding Formula is designated to improve the dilapidated, discriminatory financial side of the United Kingdom’s ever underperforming education system or as Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Education and the first to ever embrace a comprehensive state education’, articulated: 'Our proposed reforms will mean an end to historical unfairness and underfunding for certain schools. We need a system that funds schools according to the needs of their pupils rather than their postcode, levelling the playing field and giving parents the confidence that every child will have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.’ No one can disagree with her; there is a tangible and systematic incongruity and absence of educational funding throughout parts of the United Kingdom with defined areas appreciably overfunded and others underfunded comparatively, and the actuality that this disruptive formula is set to be advantageous to in excess of 10,000 schools by diversifying degrees. Nevertheless, the last time someone advanced with sweeping radical and exhaustive educational reforms that were hypothetically envisaged to work, it led to widespread uncertainty and scepticism. For many schools, inclusive of the Vaughan, this 'redistribution of funds' is conjectured to have disproportionately extensive, and profound ramifications on the balance sheets.
gap’ due to curtailments pertaining allowances for socio-economically deprived backgrounds. Schools, including ours, balanced a large proportion of pre-existing budget cuts by assuming ‘academy status’ – primitively enkindled by Labour to refine ‘underachieving schools markedly in deprived areas’. By becoming an ‘academy’, schools underwent a process of disintermediation, subsequently receiving funding without an intermediary from the Government. Academies are given the faculty to ‘innovate’ and opt out of the national curriculum, determine staff salaries and the length of school days and term times. The foremost rationale for academisation was financial, in some cases a receipt of funds amounting to an increase of 10%. The financial benefits of academy status, for some, aren’t set to last long. In ‘illustrative funding allocation’ calculations seen by the Vaughan Identity, if NFF was implemented 'in full and without transitional protection' when originally proposed in 2016/17, the local authority - Kensington and Chelsea - would fail to retain 1.9% of its funding - equivalent to just over one and a half million pounds and the school would be deprived of 2.9% of its baseline funding – which fails to make concessions for ‘high needs’ or ‘central school services’ – equivalent to £116,000. There is light at the end of the tunnel however. The NFF has been delayed until 2018-19, granting the Department for Education the
capacity to conduct consultations into its viability and get a general opinion, which it will irrefutably and undeniably completely disregard, citing that ‘NFF means NFF’. If the National Funding Formula is implemented, it will further the interests of some, but impede those of others. In today’s society, acquiring and more importantly perpetuating the retention of unsurpassably talented educational professionals is becoming ever more problematic. Some may assert that they are loyal and will remain steadfast, however few will turn down notably more competitive pay packages at schools able to accommodate such expenses. That is why I encourage and sincerely hope that every single reader of this article, be it pupil or parent, teacher or visitor, wholeheartedly responds to and engages with the Department for Education’s consultation on the National Funding Formula, which is incumbently in its second stage. Regardless, we must hope that with this ‘proposal’, the wonderful standard of education which we are lucky enough to enjoy at the Vaughan will not be hampered. The future of the outstanding quality of teaching provided at schools up and down the country is dependent on government policies which support them. Schools are already suffering from budget cuts, curriculum reforms, and the yet-undefined fallout from the Brexit bomb. This must not add to the
Schools across the UK are already 'cash strapped' due to the unyielding austerity measures imposed in 2010, which are projected to be endured without refrain until— conservatively estimated - 2019 at the earliest . These are austerity measures that were inherently contrived to perpetuate a depletion in inordinate budgetary disbursement, but are in lieu intrinsically constraining and hindering the accomplished performance of outstanding schools, fabricating an arduous ordeal for other schools to undertake, and accentuating the ever-present ‘attainment
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GOOGLE PIXEL OR IPHONE 7? Oliver Strzelczyk, 1M
Many people are or soon will be faced with the task of getting a new phone. In October 2016 Google released their first phone – the PIXEL. This phone knocked the IPhone 6S and Samsung Galaxies and Aquas out of the tournament. Soon after, in December, Apple released the iPhone 7 making people question which phone to get. But this wasn’t enough to scare pixel.
The iPhone removed the headphone jack which was a key in feature for many customers. This led to a rocky start to iPhone sales while Pixel, however, was only selling more and more phones.
wards Apple a lot; people are now happier and Apple doesn’t need to spend lots of money on wireless earphones and its chargers.
Comparing the two though is very different when we look This year, IPhone published a more closely at the differences. new earphone connector, insert- And here they are: ing the earphones into the lightening connector. This has changed people attitudes to-
CAMERA (Megapixels) PRICE (£) AT SITE-SIMPLEST VERSION.
IPHONE 12.0 MP APPLE-£699.00
PIXEL 12.3 MP GOOGLE STORE-£599
RESISTANCY POWER RATING
WATER, SPLASH, DUST 4 /5
SOME PARTS SCRATCH RESISTANT
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4/5
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Berlin Trip 2017 Ruairi Coyne, 4MA Edelweiss Pirates; the White Rose and the Swing Youth) and their unfortunate endings/ultimate failure. The event that followed was arguably one of the highlights of most peoples' trips: a guided tour around Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. After a long enough coach ride, we arrived at the harrowing location. The tour guide gave us a brief synopsis on the history of the place and then we went on a guided tour of the actual grounds.
At the beginning of March, 40 pupils from the Fourth Form studying History for GCSE were lucky enough to travel to Berlin, the capital of Germany and the former Nazi Reich, for four days. This trip was both enjoyable and educational. Day 1 After arriving at school at 07:30 on Thursday 9 March, we set off for Gatwick Airport. After a near two hour coach journey, two hours of customs and a 90 minute flight, everyone was itching to see the hotel that was to become our home for the next half week. The short train ride from SchĂśnefeld Airport revealed where we were staying: a hostel right next to Berlin's central station (Hauptbahnhof) with splendid views of the Reichstag. After drinking in the scenery, we unpacked (with rooms having been cleverly selected by Ms. Jeffers on the flight) and settled in.
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Following this, we dined on meatballs and then headed outside. Our tour guide, Agatha, then took us for a walking tour of the city, including the three Berlin universities and locations of some of the city’s many museums before heading back to our hostel, wearisome from a long first day. Day 2 The only drawback of the tour is that it required several early starts! Having woken up at 08:00, we headed down to breakfast to munch on the continental buffet that would kick off each day. From the selection on offer (cereals; toast; juices; boiled eggs; cheeses etc.) we also concocted our lunches (which included other items like chocolate bars) and made our way to the coach. The coach ride to the German Resistance Memorial Centre was also short and sweet, which reflected the short yet educational experience at that location. We learnt about the minority who stood up to Nazi rule (i.e. the
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Though it was a work camp, Sachsenhausen was unique in the way that it had places for "experimentation". This meant that techniques and methods of killing prisoners discovered in Sachsenhausen were employed across the other Nazi camps. As a tour group, we witnessed the dire shacks that sometimes over 100 prisoners had to construct and then live in and we also went into the main guard tower that overlooked the whole camp. However, the most moving section of the camp was not even visible to prisoners. The execution yard was cut off from the rest of the prison by means of huge concrete walls. Several genocides took place here, particularly prisoners of Slavic ethnicity. There was one genocide that killed around 400 Russian prisoners, and another that killed around 90 Dutch men. Methods like shooting down on prisoners while they were enclosed between walls and shooting them in the back during a fake doctor examination were just a couple of hideous occurrences that went on in this yard, hence why they felt they required five crematoriums.
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Following this we returned to our hotel and had time to purchase some souvenirs at the nearby train station. I personally bought sections of the Berlin wall, which is a great and unique gift for the whole family! We then went to mass in a beautiful church before heading for dinner at Potsdamer Platz, via the discreet memorial of the infamous Nazi Book Burning of 1933. Potdamer Platz is a German Mall that had everything ranging from Subway to Bratwurst stands; ice cream parlours and American Diners. We ate dinner here and were given some more free time to buy confectionery and clothes. Agatha then kindly bought us all ice creams from the aforementioned parlours, before we returned to our hotel.
could see the tunnel that the western powers dug in order to spy on communists. This tunnel ultimately failed however, as there was a double agent among the ranks of the British!
lic contraption of about 2 metres squared that had corrugated metal at the top from where one would be examined by Stazi guards during their free time.
We then dined before exploring the streets of Berlin and going in the Reichstag dome, which is an observatory-esque open-top masterpiece of architecture with a 360 degree view of Berlin, on top of the seat of German Parliament.
Everything about the prison was designed to make the prison feel both isolated and completely powerless: what we saw on the tour was truly chilling.
After this packed day, we rested with heavy hearts, knowing that the next day was to be our last. :( Day 4 Breakfast at the hotel was a quick affair because we had to fit in the Stazi Museum!
This was the end of day 2. Day 3 Having breakfasted, we headed out to the location of the famous post-war conference Potsdam, in - you guessed it! - Potsdam! Here we visited the place where the conference took place, and entered the same rooms from which Stalin; Roosevelt (succeeded by Truman) and Churchill (succeeded by Attlee) decided on the future of Europe and a post war world. We then had lunch before going to see the Allied Museum. This was great because we could touch a huge slab of the Berlin Wall, could walk into a plane used in the Berlin Airlift of 1948/9 and could behold the world renowned Checkpoint Charlie. We also got a short tour of the museum where one
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After a somewhat bleak tram ride through the former communist part of East Berlin (which to this day remains run-down and cold looking), we arrived at the ominous gates of the "rehabilitation" centre.
Due to our enjoyment of the prison and engagement with its contents, we nearly missed our plane! The nice German security held it up though and we returned home to Gatwick right on schedule. The tour was both entertaining and exciting; enriching and engaging, and we would like to thank all the staff who looked after us (Ms Jeffers; Mr. Cogavin; Ms. Ahmed; Mr Regan and Mr. Fergusson). In particular, we would like to thanks Ms. Jeffers. She spent hours planning the tour down to perfection and made it both fun and interesting, and for that, she deserves our gratitude.
We then spent the next few hours of our morning witnessing the basement part of the prison, where prisoners could be held for several years without seeing the light of day and also things like interrogation rooms, that had buttons for interrogators to click to create a fake phone call and the like (the fake phone call could be a lie about how your family had signed themselves up to put evidence for your so - called "crimes" against you or how they had disowned you, for instance). We also examined and physically stood in what was and remains colloquially named 'the tiger's cage'. This is a metal-
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The Nintendo Switch
APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
XBOX One S
Oliver Strzelcyzk
Alistair Shelley
Recently, consoles such as the PS4 and XBOX One have been fighting for the crown of fame. Last year, the PS4 was a bestseller, reaching a total number of sales of 50million by December 2016. This was an outstanding amount, where the Xbox One only sold about 30 million.
ing record of the PS4. But how is it that everyone knew about it ? Many YouTubers received the Nintendo Switch on a massive discount – from its original £279.99 to FREE! Some of these YouTubers included DanTDM, Unbox Therapy, More Allia, UnlistedLeaf and many more.
However, this is nothing compared to the new Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch was out on the 3rd of March, selling all its copies of the Neon – Blue colour console in less than a day. People queued up for the sale at 12:00 am just for the console. One day later, all the grey coloured consoles were sold, breaking the sell-
The Nintendo Switch has many features. One of them is the way it is a type of console like a PS4 or Xbox but with a portable capability. It does not need constant power supply, giving you the chance of playing it on a long road trip or at a whole day visit to a friend’s house. It also features a two-player mode, as
the side controllers can be detached for two players to play on opposing sides. If somebody wants to play it in the same way as a PS4 or Xbox, all of the equipment is there too: all you need to do is put the controllers into a frame, and plug the handheld console into a TV and in no time you’re playing a Nintendo Switch on a TV. Happily, after running out of stock this console has returned to the Nintendo website without the annoying message of “Sorry, this product is out of stock”.
The Xbox One has had a total makeover, and it's a huge improvement. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed what the "S" stands for but we're taking a guess at ‘slim’. The case is 40% smaller, which makes the Xbox One S only a little bigger than a PlayStation 4. This is particularly impressive given that the power supply is now integrated. No longer will you need to find extra space to squeeze in a massive power brick on the side. Xbox One S vs Xbox One: Design Unlike the Xbox One it has a large circular section underneath the machined holes, acting as the air vent to cool all the internal components. Arguably, having it stand vertically with more of its surfaces exposed to the air will help cooling too.
How they compare:
THE POSITIVES Vastly reduced physical footprint 4K & HDR streaming HDR gaming THE NEGATIVES Needs adapter for Kinect Could fragment Xbox One audience 4K gaming limited to upscaling.
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Exploring the Universe: The Cassini Orbiter Maciek Masternalk
Almost 20 years ago, the Cassini orbiter began its 2.2 billion mile journey to Saturn with a lift-off at Cape Canaveral. It then spent 7 years in the cold vacuum of space as it journeyed through the solar system; and on Thursday, July 1, 2004 it became the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn. For over a decade Cassini observed and shared the fascinating world of Saturn, its dancing rings and its icy moons. Cassini revealed astounding details about methane rivers, liquid water, and possible ingredients that might harbor life.
Later this month, Cassini will end its historic expedition with 22 daring dives into the gap between Saturn and the innermost ring. To protect the worlds like Enceladus and Titan, moons with liquid water oceans under their ice crusts that might harbour conditions for life, Cassini will conclude its journey.
On September 15th 2017, Cassini will complete its last ever orbit and make a final plunge into Saturn’s atmosphere. Using the last of its fuel, Cassini will fight to keep its antenna pointing at Cassini’s discoveries forced scientists to revise Earth as it transmits its last data and farewell betheir understanding of the giant ringed orb hang- fore being vaporised by the pressure in a gloriing in our sky. Now, Cassini’s grand adventure is ous blast, in the skies of Saturn, as it becomes reaching its majestic end; one last assignment. one with the planet.
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Lower School Kajetan McDonnell
Fencing How did you first get involved in your sport? I first got involved in fencing when my mum signed me up. Like most people I didn’t know what fencing was at first. I started when I was nine years old and, at the time, I did like Star Wars and sword fighting quite a lot. How often do you train and what other commitments are involved in your sport? I train three times a week and with adults on Tuesday for three hours. I have also began coaching the kids once a week. I train at a secondary school which is very easy to get to. Once a week I have one-to-one lessons in a special fencing centre.
What has/have been your greatest achievement (s) in your sport so far? I have won the London, England and Britain Youth fencing championships but in my opinion my biggest achievement is my most recent one where I got second place in an international tournament in Poland. What upcoming events can we look forward to in the near future? My next tournament is just a small competition in the annual circuit. Unfortunately, it is on Eater Saturday and I have to end my holiday early just for the tournament.
My greatest achievement so far has definitely been getting on to the Team GB squad. I was invited to a trial at the beginning of last year and started off by spending the first couple of weeks of the season with them out in Austria in October. I have been flying back and forth to How did you first get involved in your sport? Innsbruck throughout the winter to My parents took me on skiing holidays from a very young age train with them. but I didn’t touch a snowboard until I was eight years old. I had always wanted to try it as both my parents snowboard so What are your hopes for the I persuaded my dad to get me a rental board and I had my future in terms of your sport? first lesson. The dream would be to represent Great Britain at the 2022 winter How often do you train and what other commitOlympic games in Beijing, China. ments are involved in your sport? This winter season, I have spent quite a lot of time out in What upcoming events can we Austria, however when I am in the UK I train at the Hemel look forward to in the near Hempsted Snow Centre at least twice a week. I obviously future? can’t get experience on the mountains as much as somebody The next big event I will be comwho lives in or near a ski resort permanently, so I try to get peting at is “The Brits” which is to out to the Alps most holidays in the season and try to stay being held in Laax, Switzerland fit when I am in the UK. during the first week of April. I haven’t been able to train over the last four weeks as I broke What has/have been your greatest achievement (s) three ribs out in Austria at the beginning of February. I will in your sport so far? need to work hard over the next few weeks to get my fitness
Ben Starkey
Snowboarding
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Jaime Gustafson
Baseball How did you first get involved in your sport? When I was 7, my dad took me to a professional game in Tampa Bay. I immediately fell in love with the game and so my dad got me involved with a local club called the London Mets, and it took off from there. How often do you train and what other commitments are involved in your sport? I train 6 times a week, 8 hours during the week and 16 hours during the weekend. At the moment, during the week I usually train at Wembley Park during the week, and then in Coventry/Slough over the weekend. The biggest commitment for me is being able to balance my time playing baseball, and time studying for my GCSE's. It often means I just have to stay up
much later to catch up on things I miss and to do my homework. What has/have been your greatest achievement (s) in your sport so far? My two greatest achievements include last July when I went to Poland to play for a European championship with my local club, and I was able to be part of the most amazing team full of some of the best players in Europe, and we placed 3rd in Europe. Another amazing moment was representing Team GB at another European championship in Switzerland later in July last year. Knowing that there were thousands of people watching you play was great, and we placed second, falling to Poland in the finals.
What upcoming events can we look forward to in the near future? In late March, I will have played a tournament in the Netherlands with my local club. In April, I'll be playing in another European championship in Prague, Czech Republic. If we win, we play in the US on TV over the summer. In July, I'll be playing with my local club, the London Mets in another European championship in Italy. And finally, later in July I'll be playing with Team GB in New Jersey, USA. I've got a big season coming up.
What are your hopes for the future in terms of your sport? I aspire to get a baseball scholarship in a D1 school in the US. From there, I want to experience collegiate baseball
mestic combined events championship. I won this competition and also set 3 UK records.
Dominic Ogbechie
Athletics How did you first get involved in your sport? I first got into athletics through my primary school's borough sports event that I took part in from year 3 to year 6. In year 3, I was asked to join my local club - Highgate Harriers.
How often do you train and what other commitments are involved in your sport? I train 4 days a week for a combined total of 9 hours. What has/have been your greatest achievement (s) in your sport so far? So far I think that my greatest achievement was back in December when I gained selection for the England team in a do-
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and hopefully then get drafted by a professional and make my way up through the leagues.
What are your hopes for the future in terms of your sport? I hope to gain selection for the European Youth championships next year in Hungary. I also hope to gain selection for the Commonwealth Youth games in 2019. What upcoming events can we look forward to in the near future? There are no upcoming events as of yet, I will let you know as soon as my schedule is updated.
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Book Review: Beck, Meg Roscoff & Mal Peet George Campbell 3C
accounts, both factual and fictionalised, of the export of young children from Britain’s shores to her dominions along with the terrible lives that often awaited them there. But in Beck we have a story that allows the young adult reader to travel alongside him, on his long journey to find home. Many people would perhaps shy away from the challenge of completing the final work of an award winning author like Mal Peet. But when fellow writer, Meg Rosoff learned he had cancer, she volunteered to finish her close friend’s last novel. The two had been due to meet to discuss the book, but Peet died before they could get together. Despite that setback in their collaboration, these two writers are so in tune that you cannot tell where Mal’s work ends and Meg’s begins. The fruit of their labours is the story of Beck, a boy born out of a relationship almost as brief as the collaboration between the book’s two authors. His mother is a young woman from Liverpool who one night meets a black American seaman whose ship is in port. Never known by his father and
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effectively orphaned by the Spanish Flu at the age of 11; he is taken in by the Catholic Church. Stripped of his identity by the Sisters of Mercy, he travels further than he has ever done before when he is despatched to Canada. But an even bigger journey lies ahead as the book tells of his search to find a place to call home and establish an identity for himself.
As Beck undertakes that journey, we see subtle changes in the narrative that indicate the changes in his state of mind. He slowly matures from a manner less youth who has learnt to cry silently and without tears, to a well rounded young man who can wear his heart on his sleeve. As Beck grows I felt, as a reader, that I grew with him.
When Beck’s life with the Catholic brothers comes to an abrupt end, he is forced into an almost uninterrupted existence of travelling, forever bearing in mind that when he chooses a direction he must stick at it until he can go no further.
What at first may sound a grim tale, the narrative is leavened by occasionally allowing us to see this new world through Beck’s own eyes. His at times child-like view, provides comic moments in his journey of Homeric proportions. There have been many
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APRIL2017, ISSUE TWO
THE VAUGHAN IDENTITY
APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
Book Review: Liccle Bit and Crongton Knights, Alex Wheatle Jack Clancy 4MA
“listen to kids on the bus”. This stood out to me particularly because of the extent he went to, to make these fantastic books.
Firstly, I would like to say that this is my opinion, and this review will have a lot of spoilers, so read the book first. Personally, I consider “Liccle Bit” and “Crongton Knights”, by Alex Wheatle, my favourite books I have read in a long time. When you finish Liccle Bit you really want to read on with the story: Its’ gripping and exciting, even when nothing is going on, the dialogue is fantastic enough to make you turn the page one more time.
These books are different to other books because they include such amazing language, and I feel like this book defiantly opens eyes for people so they can realise what it’s like to live in south London. The style of these books definitely fits its genre as a thriller, as in Crongton Knights at the end of the book, when Mkay is in the garage and Nesta comes, the thrill you get after they are saved is amazing— I was so excited about it that as soon as that part was finished I read the rest of the book because I was intrigued about what could happen next. Crongton Knights, I would have to Out of 10 I would put Liccle Bit a give a 10 because it is such a good follow up after Liccle Bit: it’s adventurous, funny and just my type of book Soon Alex Wheatle will be publishing the 3rd book of the series, set to feature “Liccle Bit’s fiery sister Elaine”. I am so excited about this because at the end of Liccle Bit, Elaine literally destroys Manjorino, which I find so awesome because Alex makes such a build up for her character that I just want to start reading the next book now to find out how the story will unfold!
When Alex Wheatle recently visited Cardinal Vaughan to speak to the Fourth Form, he explained his life and how they connected to his books, and he also explained that to create the language in his books he had to
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at a solid 9, because when you start reading, learning about the language they use and the people themselves is truly captivating.
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APRIL2017, ISSUE TWO
THE VAUGHAN IDENTITY
APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
The Real Wimbledon Rowan Caldwell 4MA ever they failed to win a trophy. And on the 14th of May 2000, 12 year to the day after they won the FA Cup, they were relegated from the Premier League for the last time in their history.
This season has made history. And this isn't in the Premier League or the Championship, it's in League 1. It's two teams in this division who are meeting in the league for the first time in both clubs' histories. This may not seem unusual, until I tell you the teams are AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons, which one could argue is the biggest rivalry in the country. We begin with one club - Wimbledon FC. A small team based in south west London, they were nothing special. However, in the 1970s, they won three Southern League titles in a row and they were invited into the Football League. Their rise was meteoric, the quickest in English football, and nine years later they lay top of the old First Division. It didn't last long but they had made their mark on the English game. However, their real moment in the sun was at Wembley in 1988, when 'The Crazy Gang', which included Vinnie Jones, Dave Beasant and Dennis Wise, beat what one could argue was the strongest ever Liverpool team in the FA Cup final 1-0. They were First Division regulars but were in financial difficulties. With the release of the Taylor report in 1991, which advised that all English and Scottish top-flight stadiums had to be allseaters, Plough Lane was deemed untenable and the club moved 6 miles across London to play at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park. On the pitch they were finishing in the top ten consistently and reaching cup semi-finals and finals, how-
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Meanwhile, 60 miles north of Wimbledon in Milton Keynes, former music executive Pete Winkelman was planning a mass development in the Denbigh North area of the city. This was to include an ASDA the size of an airport, an equally massive IKEA, and most notably a 30,000 seater stadium. Winkelman needed a football club to play in this new stadium and support the development. Instead of creating a Milton Keynes team and watching their rise up the English footballing ladder, Winkelman wanted to import a team. He asked Luton Town, QPR and Barnet, all of which failed, until he spotted his target - a football club already looking to move out of London, to Basingstoke, Gatwick and Dublin, and in desperate need of a home. So Pete Winkelman launched his audacious bid to bring Wimbledon to Milton Keynes. It was shunned by the football community, and the FA originally blocked it. However in 2002, while most were worrying about whether David Beckham would miss the World Cup through injury or not, a FA committee voted 2-1 in favour of the move. So Wimbledon moved to Milton Keynes and, against the original promise, the name and kit was changed and the new club became Milton Keynes Dons, or MK Dons for short. In 2002, in the Fox & Grapes Pub where the Wimbledon team used to change before matches, fans decided they would form their own team, AFC Wimbledon. The club held trials on Wimbledon Common and didn't even have a kit to play in. They shared a ground with Kingstonian and were supported by Football Manager, who provided the club with the money to create a club. 4,500 fans turned up
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for the first match, and although they lost 4-0 it was ultimately a victory for the fans who created this new club. In 13 years they gained 6 promotions, going from the Combined Counties Premier Division (level 9) to League 1 (level 3). To put this into context, the entirety of the Fourth Form is older than AFC Wimbledon. MK Dons have mainly played in League 1, although they have been relegated to League 2 and promoted to the Championship in which they both had just one season stints. In 2008 they won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy (a competition for League 1 and 2 teams), and they have also won minor cup competitions such as the Berkshire & Buckinghamshire Senior Cup. They are also well known for their 4-0 humiliation of Manchester United. MK Dons have got a strong youth development system – between 2004 and 2014, 14 players have come through the youth system into the first team, including Tottenham and England starlet Dele Alli.
On Tuesday the 14th of March, at Kingsmeadow, goals from Jake Reeves and Lyle Taylor confirmed Wimbledon’s first league win over MK Dons. There was no mention of MK Dons on the front of the programme, and they were addressed as MK on the back of the programme and on the scoreboard, excluding the Dons part. And why would they? AFC Wimbledon are the real Wimbledon, not the club that stole a team from the community.
APRIL2017, ISSUE TWO
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APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
Leyton Orient—how one goal may have killed a football club Rowan Caldwell 4MA Leyton Orient Football Club. A club that many of you may not be familiar with. They have always been in the shadow of much more illustrious north London teams; first Tottenham, then Arsenal, and most recently West Ham’s move to the Olympic Stadium just 4 miles away from Orient’s home of Brisbane Road. The club was founded in 1881, and they are the second oldest club in London, after Fulham. They were originally called Orient FC. They joined with Clapton FC in 1898, and then became Leyton Orient in 1937. They were very much the minnows of London football, however in the 1962-63 season they had their moment in the sun as they played in the First Division for the first and only time. However they finished bottom, ten points behind second from bottom Manchester City, and were never to reach those heady heights again. Since relegation in 1975, they have bumbled around the third and fourth tier of English football.
finished 3rd, still in the play-off places, where they easily negotiated the twolegged semi-final against Peterborough. They met Rotherham in the final. Two first half goals from Moses Odubajo and Dean Cox must’ve led Orient fans to believe Trotta’s goal didn’t matter. But Alex Revell had something to say about that, with two second half goals, meaning the game was 2-2, a score that remained at the end of extra time. The final blow was delivered by Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin, saving both Mathieu Baudry and Chris Dagnall’s penalties, condemning the O’s to another season in England’s 3rd tier. In the summer of 2014, Barry Hearn, famous as the owner of PDC Darts and father of boxing promoter Eddie, sold the club to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti. Early in the season long serving manager Russell Slade, famous for his quote after the Brentford game of ‘They celebrated like they won the FA Cup’, left the
club. He was replaced by caretaker manager Kevin Nugent, followed in quick succession by Mauro Milanese and then Fabio Liverani before Christmas. At the end of the season, Orient were relegated. On the 2nd of February, the club were presented with a winding up order from HMRC as they were £5 million pounds in debt. Becchetti has until 12th June to pay off the debts. Fans have been asked to rally around and save the club. Barry Hearn has come out and said he regrets selling the club. Leyton Orient have gone from being one goal and one penalty away from the Championship to the bottom of the Football League and being £5 million in debt. The sad story of the decline of London’s second oldest football club. All through one Italian striker playing for Brentford. 3:47pm, the 15th Of March 2014. The day Leyton Orient may have been sentenced to death.
And then there was that goal. It was the 15th of March 2014, at Brisbane Road. 2nd against 3rd. Leyton Orient vs Brentford. This was a massive game in League 1, as Brentford were just a point behind Orient, and 4 behind eventual champions Wolves. Marcello Trotta, infamous for his penalty miss against Doncaster 10 months earlier and less so for his goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup, struck from 20 yards out. At 3:47 pm, the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the goal and shattered Leyton Orient’s dreams of automatic promotion at least. They
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THE VAUGHAN IDENTITY
APRIL2017, ISSUE TWO
THE VAUGHAN IDENTITY
APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
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VAUGHAN IDENTITY MARCH 2017, ISSUE TWO CARDINAL VAUGHAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL
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APRIL2017, ISSUE TWO
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APRIL 2017, ISSUE TWO
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VAUGHAN IDENTITY MARCH 2017, ISSUE TWO CARDINAL VAUGHAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL
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