Learning from the Ancients

Abbey Gate College sixth form student Imogen Reid competed in the final of the LSA Classics Ancient Worlds competition, presenting her work on the Cyrus Cylinder – an ancient clay artefact with inscriptions, currently housed in the British Museum.

Imogen said: “I am so proud to have represented our school, but also to have had the opportunity to give voice to the wonderful history of Iran and its people. The reason I chose to speak about the Cyrus Cylinder is because I think, in the modern day, we should take inspiration from the co-habitation of our ancient ancestors. The cylinder has challenged my understanding of our ancestors and I’d argue says more about real freedoms than Magna Carta.”

Haberdashers Adams CCF have welcomed a new Contingent Commander and Senior Cadet.

Major Frankie O’Connor has ties to Shropshire and the school, having been posted for a time at Tern Hill Barracks, and his son is a boarder. Following a distinguished 35-year military career Major O’Connor now lives in Newport and owns Hey Judes music shop.

The CCF is the school’s largest society, with 140 cadets. To recognise this, a new position of Senior Cadet has been created, with Serjeant William Dally awarded the honorary role for 2023/24. Serjeant Dally has been a cadet for five years, in both RAF and Army sections, and last year was appointed Her Majesty’s CCF Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Shropshire.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Ben Beasley, a Year 11 pupil from Lakelands Academy, Ellesmere has released a short film after securing a spot on a prestigious filmmaking course.

Following a rigorous selection and interview process, Ben was awarded the place on the BFI Film Academy’s annual residential course in London, where he spent a week meeting industry professionals and learning the art of filmmaking. Students worked to create a short documentary focusing on the concerning issue of drink spiking. The final cut was premiered in a cinema in central London and is now streaming on YouTube.

Ben is currently crowd-funding to continue his filmmaking journey.