Eltham College: The Elthamian (Lent 2022)

The Elthamian LENT TERM 2022

Making Music in a Pandemic Chris Jagger talks about his life, from his schooldays at Eltham College to his latest album

Covid Consequences Mark Chesterton on education and Aisha Ahmed on BAME businesses

World’s Smallest Car

Former pupil Faizal Khan on the Peel P50, Guyana’s national football team and his appearance on Dragons’ Den

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T H E E LT H A M I A N L E N T T E R M 2 0 2 2

Editorial

A

t a recent performance of Measure for Measure, in what has seemingly become a perennial feature of our zeitgeist, the director emerged to inform the audience that the actress playing Duke Vincentio was self-isolating and would therefore be replaced by another actress.

She would, he said, carry the lines and the audience’s forbearance was duly requested.

The first three acts were performed perfectly, but midway through a lengthy exchange with the Provost in Act IV, the Duke (disguised as a friar) forgot her lines. A strained pause was followed by the Provost seizing the initiative – miming the words for her fellow actress, while purposefully slowing down her movements and the prose to support her colleague.

This was a striking vignette, redolent of the teamwork and resourcefulness shown by Elthamians in the face of much adversity last term.

From superlative sporting victories in this, the College’s 180th year, such as the 1st VII becoming Kent netball champions, to the performance of Curtains featuring over 50 pupils, and the concert at St Alfege Church which included over 150 pupils, last term was highly successful and productive.

There were 45 House events and 347 sports fixtures – with spectators permitted on the touchline and courtside once again. The Senior debating team reached the East London final of the English-Speaking Union’s Mace competition, while Sixth Form Maths pupils bagged over 100 medals in the Senior Maths Challenge, with Benjamin Robinson qualifying for the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad. Carla Morin and Lucy Gardiner launched FemSoc together last year, a society

designed to educate their peers on gender equality. The removal of year group ‘bubbles’ has enabled its message to reach a wider audience since September. Its reputation has consequently grown significantly, particularly among boys at the school.

These are just a few events that are necessitated by teamwork and support for one another. It should be said that this magazine, likewise, would simply not exist without the willingness of staff to supply words on the eclectic successes that have occurred across the school community.

It is a pleasure to be able to mark these for posterity.

In addition to recording the most salient events from last term, this edition of The Elthamian carries a veritable array of feature articles.

Much has been written in the media about the impact Covid-19 has had on the British economy, but how has this manifested on a micro scale?

Upper Sixth pupil Aisha Ahmed explores how two BAME businesses in the local area have adapted over the past two years. The impact of Covid-19 is not, of course, exclusive to health or the economy. Education has also fallen victim. Mark Chesterton evaluates whether more time in the classroom is the best way to recover children’s lost learning.

His conclusion may surprise you.

The achievements of current Elthamians are ubiquitous in this magazine, but it is a privilege to be able to publish three pieces on Old Elthamians, for which this magazine is indebted to our School Archivist, Andrew Beattie. He spoke to the musician Chris Jagger (OE 1966) – brother to Mick – about his new album Mixing up the Medicine, reflected on his time at the College and provided some advice to young

musicians. Andrew also talked to Faizal Khan (OE 1998), co-owner of Peel Engineering, manufacturer of the world’s smallest car, the Peel P50.

In the interview, Faizal describes how he became a successful entrepreneur, his appearance on Dragons’ Den, and how – as a qualified FIFA agent – he helped to revitalise Guyana’s national football team. Eric Liddell (OE 1920), perhaps the College’s most famous alumnus, was recently inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame.

March will mark the 40th anniversary of Chariots of Fire, the Academy Award winning film that documents how the athlete who refused to run on Sundays became an Olympic champion.

Andrew examines the film’s background and its enduring legacy.

The Duke’s chagrin was ephemeral and none by virtue fell. But unlike Duke Vincentio, this revised magazine does not attempt to disguise its identity. Its aim is clear: to modernise how College news is recorded, give space to creativity and bring together all parts of the community: parents, staff and Elthamians past and present.

JAMES SMITH Editor

Current parents, staff or pupils wishing to suggest an article for a future edition of this magazine should email jns@eltham-college.org.uk Suggestions from Old Elthamians, former members of staff, and parents of former pupils should be sent to adb@eltham-college.org.uk

CONTENTS

02

Contents Editor: James Smith Assistant Editor: Andrew Beattie Head of Communications: Edward Funnell

45

With thanks to Harry Mitchell-Morgan for providing copy from the Junior School, Bal Deol for supplying photographs for the Senior School, and to all pupils, parents, colleagues and Old Elthamians who have contributed to this edition.

49

Design: Haime & Butler Print: Lavenham Press

55 Welcome...

59 03

From the Headmaster

03

From the Head of the Junior School

04

From the Chair of Governors

05

From the President of the Old Elthamians Association

06

From the Chair, Eltham College Parents’ Association

06

Colours Awarded in the Michaelmas Term 2021

07

Leavers’ Destinations 2021

09

News A round-up of school life from the Michaelmas Term

Features Chris Jagger’s Rock’n’roll Years Chris Jagger on his time at Eltham and making music during a pandemic

13 13

45 45

Covid Impact on BAME Business 49 Aisha Ahmed reflects on the impact of the pandemic on two local businesses

Covid: Lost Learning and Power 51 Mark Chesterton challenges us all – parents, teachers and pupils – to think differently about learning Chariots of Fire: 40 Years on 55 Andrew Beattie, School Archivist, looks back at the film – and at Eric Liddell’s enduring legacy Reinvigorating an Iconic 59 Engineering-Design Brand Former pupil Faizal Khan on the Peel P50, Guyana’s national football team and appearing on Dragons’ Den

Sport

63

Hockey

63

Rugby

65

Junior School House Rugby

67

Skiing

67

Netball

68

Register

71

Times Past and Present

71

Obituary: Malcolm Molyneux OBE

73

Front cover: Cast of the musical, Curtains, staged in December 2021

The Elthamian LENT TERM 2022

Making Music in a Pandemic Chris Jagger talks about his life, from his schooldays at Eltham College to his latest album

Covid Consequences Mark Chesterton on education and Aisha Ahmed on BAME businesses

World’s Smallest Car

Former pupil Faizal Khan on the Peel P50, Guyana’s national football team and his appearance on Dragons’ Den

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T H E E LT H A M I A N L E N T T E R M 2 0 2 2

Welcome From the Headmaster Welcome to our new and revamped version of The Elthamian. For many years, as you know, we have brought you a large, double-sectioned tome comprising news, in separate format, from both the Senior and Junior Schools. While we know you value a record of the past academic year, we have sought to review and revise how we record and communicate the life and experience of our school. This includes events taking place at school in current times as well as achievement far from the playing fields of SE9 by former pupils or other in individuals with a stake in the wellbeing of the school.

We are doing this in the face of three factors. The first is the pandemic, the event that, from 2020, curtailed the daily human contact which generated events and achievements that could be recorded in articles or photos and images. While it has been a dark time for the world, it has perhaps helped us to pull together even more as a school community – and made us realise more than ever that our mutually-supportive school community is best as the sum of its parts. The pandemic effect has led to our believing that one unifying publication for our strong community is the right way for Eltham College, rather than a number of mutually exclusive publications either for parents or for Old Elthamians.

The second factor is technology.

While the pandemic itself has increased our reliance on digital downloads and receiving information in ‘byte-sized’ chunks, the technological and social media revolution has also sped up the

willingness and ability for people to digest material in online forms. We will continue the printed magazine, especially for those who do not have access to a proper printer or screen, but we wish to move this magazine to an increasingly digital format.

Finally, 2022 is the year in which our school celebrates the 180th anniversary since its foundation (as well as 110 years since Eltham moved to the current school site).

While our celebration of this notable milestone might be less exuberant than those I am sure the school will plan for our bicentenary year of 2042, it seems fitting to treat this year as a significant stepping-stone on its journey. A reformed school publication is just one of several initiatives and achievements that will help the school mark this anniversary.

This revamped publication will be published twice each academic year: once in the Lent Term, covering the Michaelmas Term, and the other in the summer, covering the Lent and Summer Terms. We want it to celebrate the achievement of each constituent part of our school today, while also learning from, and commemorating, the lived experiences of former pupils. We believe this fresh approach of telling stories that reflect the

school’s advancement and vibrancy in one place – today and yesteryear – is right for our school and reflects the warmth of our community.

This first, new-look edition contains many fine and varied articles. There are contributions from staff, students, OEs, and others about school life today and in times past. I am struck – as I hope you will be – by the way that the Elthamians of today, the boys and girls in our school, and the many Old Elthamians who have contributed to this edition share the school’s aim in striving to make the world around them a better place for everyone.

I hope you will find this revamped edition of The Elthamian brings together our school community in one place as never before and that you find it insightful and enjoyable to read. We will, of course, value your feedback and comments.

With best wishes,

GUY SANDERSON Headmaster

WELCOME

04

From the Head of the Junior School For all parts of Eltham College, the past few months have not felt entirely ‘normal’ as Covid regulations and new variants cast their shadow. Yet we have, as this new publication shows, grasped opportunities across all parts of the school to ensure that the pupils’ experience was as extensive as possible. The rich seam of news and articles about last term published here are testament to that.

‘The rich seam of news and articles about last term are testament to ensure pupils’ experiences were as extensive as possible under the Covid regulations.’

Before the emergence of the Omicron variant last term, it was a great pleasure for us and for the pupils to welcome parents back to events, both on site and at offsite locations. Many of these were moments we could share together, from sports fixtures on the playing fields, a run of musical extravaganzas including the ‘Music Alive’, the concerts at St Cecilia’s, two fabulous Drama performances, Year 3 treating us to a poetry and song-filled nativity evening, as well as Year 4’s enaction of The Grinch.

Junior School pupils were also involved in 63 fixtures last term, demonstrating not only their developing rugby and netball skills, but also their ability to work well within a team, support each other and show genuine respect towards their opposition. It is lovely to see some of these still-fresh and happy memories reproduced here.

As you read this new-look publication that celebrates the many things our pupils achieved last term, I look forward to a full schedule of Lent Term sports fixtures, music concerts, trips and special events, as well as plenty of art, including visits to the Gerald Moore Gallery and a workshop for each class from Alison Kushner, professional artist and long-term collaborator with our Junior School Art Department.

With best wishes,

VIKKI MEIER Head of the Junior School

First day fears were soon allayed when the buddies paired up with their partners

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Welcome From the Chair of Governors The achievements of pupils shine through this publication, not just in the many and amazing ways it does at the school, but also once they leave and go on to become students at universities, apprentices or graduates in the workplace, and then through their careers.

I was delighted when I heard the school planned to revamp The Elthamian. While I have enjoyed its previous format over the years, and it is an institution in its own right, it is great to see this new-look and refreshed publication – one that also incorporates news of Old Elthamians.

I think the whole school community – current students, their parents, OEs and the school’s staff – can all rightly be proud of this new publication.

It is often forgotten that The Elthamian is no stranger to change. It has been published since July 1912, when the school moved to its present site (though with a break from 1918 to 1924). From the 1920s to the 1970s it appeared twice (or occasionally three times) per year, though it was a text-based publication with few photos. From 1980 it has been published annually – with colour photographs introduced later in that decade – and in 1990 the first familiar A4 size edition was published. That was when the section of the magazine aimed at Old Elthamians was moved into a separate magazine; the Junior School’s Grange Magazine was incorporated into The Elthamian in 2001. I believe this latest version is very much in keeping with the school we are today.

This new-look publication takes the short and long view: being published twice each year, it gives readers the benefit of reading news and views about the school and beyond in a much timelier way than an annual publication can achieve. Equally, it means you can digest the news and articles in each edition over a longer period rather than in one fell swoop, followed by a full 12-month gap.

There is, in this publication, so much that students of this generation, together with their parents, can be proud of in coming through the past two difficult years. This edition will allow Old Elthamians, both recent and from many years ago, to look back on and see in greater context of their alma mater, a modern, dynamic school, still flourishing and bursting with opportunity.

There are, moreover, plenty of fascinating life experiences that current students can read and learn from their predecessors at the school.

I commend The Elthamian to you and wish it and its editorial and production team well in developing it over the coming months and years.

With best wishes,

PETER DOYLE (OE 1971) Chair of Governors

WELCOME

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From the President of the Old Elthamians Association

From the Chair, Eltham College Parents’ Association

I am delighted to join others in welcoming this new publication. Plane Talking, our dedicated alumni magazine, has served the OE community for the past 12 years, bringing news of former pupils to our wide network of Elthamians. Its spirit will remain very much alive in the pages of this revamped Elthamian magazine.

As a parent of four children who are current and former pupils of the school, I have been struck by how well parents and their children have managed through the stresses and strains of the past two years: school life curtailed, remote learning, abandonment of sports fixtures, music concerts and school trips of many kinds. Yet we’ve all striven to make the best of things, the school and parents pulling together.

The benefit of this unified and twice-yearly publication is twofold. First, it will spread news, insights, and memories from the network of thousands of OEs to current Eltham College students, parents and staff.

Second, it will keep us OEs much more in touch with developments and news about the current school.

Plane Talking’s editor, and the school’s archivist, Andrew Beattie, will join the editorial and production team in place for the new magazine, led by James Smith, Editor of The Elthamian. They are joined by Harry Mitchell-Morgan of the Junior School and supported by Edward Funnell, Head of Communications.

I believe this and future editions of The Elthamian will help bring every part of our wonderful community together for the benefit of all. I hope you enjoy reading it.

With best wishes,

Last term, we on the Parents’ Association were delighted to be able to get back to doing what we love: holding fun, social events that not only raise funds for the added extras of school life that the children all benefit from, but also strengthen the unique community that we have at Eltham.

Our first event of the term was a welcome BBQ for families in Years 3, 4, 7 and 8. It was fabulous to finally see parents meeting socially with other families in their children’s year groups on a beautifully sunny September afternoon. We also held our extremely popular Pop Quiz on a Friday evening in November, and December saw us getting into the Christmas spirit by hosting an online raffle with wonderful Christmas hampers as prizes.

We were so fortunate to finally be able to cheer on Eltham’s sports teams on the touchline last term, attend the fabulous school musical, the concert at St Alfege Church, art exhibitions at the Gerald Moore Gallery, and various music events at the Junior School including that held at St Cecilia’s Church.

As parents, we are grateful for the way the school has tried to maintain as much normality as possible for students, while adhering to Covid restrictions, conducting routine testing and hosting vaccinations for eligible boys and girls. I am also very grateful to the fabulous team who volunteer within the PTA and the form reps who contribute so much – attending open days, assisting with fund-raising, and running second-hand uniform sales.

I am delighted to read this first edition of this new-look edition of The Elthamian, which combines news of events and highlights of school life at present with interesting features about the achievements of former pupils.

I wish it well.

Best wishes,

CHRIS BRAIN (OE 1998) President, Old Elthamians Association JENNY STONE Chair, Eltham College Parents’ Association

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Colours

AWARDED IN THE MICHAELMA S TERM 2021

NETBALL FULL

HALF

COLLEGE

Lucy Gardiner

Tara O'Sullivan

Emily McClennan

Lucy Baker

Carla Morin

Keren Itsagwede

Charlotte Watts

Saskia Turner Loulou Pullen Maddie Tynan Lauren Chaplin

RUG BY FULL

HALF

COLLEGE

Fin Edwards

Josh Hutchings

Sam Caschetto

Sam Rushton

Matthew Arman

Tommy Samani

Santiago Esquivel Martinez Alex Clout Ilias Prachalias

Ben Lewis

Jamison Rogers Tobi O'Brien

SKIING FULL

HALF

COLLEGE

Luke McCool Theo Austin

MUSIC HALF

COLLEGE

Lucas Dastros-Pitei

Malak Benaboud

James Warren

Thea Whatling

Sam Trinick

Zach Sholapurkar

Chris Lefebure

Will Robinson

Chris Jones

Alvin Hua

Tommy Samani

Frank Caldwell Tom Rodricks

DR A M A FULL

HALF

COLLEGE

Ben Lewis

Jack Flood

Tommy Samani

Oliver Ennis

Jess Bilsby

Pelin Kural

Tara O'Sullivan

Cameron Macheath

Adam Bull

Ellie Stocks

Will Tregear

Ethan Fiore

James Baillie

Supporting the local community is a core aim of the school.

We aim to be a strong and supportive community; the pupils below were recognised for their individual and collective contributions: In Year 10, Bleddyn Mottershead (Geology, water polo, most achievement points in Year 10 and straight 1s on report).

In Year 11, James Johnson (contributions in Science, astronomy, cosmic mining group, SciSoc, crest award, BioSoc dissection club and advanced practical Chemistry club).

For their work in promoting equality within the Eltham College Community, the following pupils were recognised: Pelin Kural and Aisha Ahmed for their contributions to Black History Month assemblies.

Alex Lancaster

FULL

ELTHA M COLLEG E COMMUNIT Y AWARDS

Louis Lardner

Gugu Matonsi for initiating the Afro-Caribbean Society and also contributing to the Black History Month assemblies.

Carla Morin and Lucy Gardiner were awarded full colours for their continued leadership of FemSoc, a society promoting and educating on gender equality across all year groups.

COLOURS

ART FULL

HALF

Shayna Saran

Moroti Olomo

Freya Burton-Franklin

Ayano Scholl

COLLEGE

DEBATING FULL

HALF

Thomas Brex

Matthew Massey

Nick Biddle

Ben Austin

COLLEGE

Pelin Kural

PHYSIC S ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

Alex McInerny

Velican Kuyumcu

Sam Woodhams

Hashir Majeed

Hanoj Mohan Sangaran

Callum Brown

Vanya Artitukhov

Jim Lui

Akash Sutharakan

ECONOMIC S ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

Carla Morin

Jamison Rogers

G EOG R APHY ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

Ben Lewis

Avi Sharma

Francine Bibby

Thea Whatling

Christopher Lefebure

08

WELLBEING A MBA SSADOR BADG E S

Awarded to:

Orin Vitalis Seb Candita Simpkins Arthav Gupta Harry Johnson Harry Wright Rohan Apte Miles Foreman Tom Woodhams Alex Taylor Lucas Grant Ishan Bhasin Efan-Rhys Mottershead

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Leavers’ Destinations 2021

NAME

DESTINATION

COURSE

Joseph Abu

University of Bath

Mechanical Engineering (with Placement)

Emma Adcock

Lancaster University

Psychology (Study Abroad)

Olamide-David Agboola

University of Nottingham

English

Kerem Akkoch

University of Sheffield

Law

Robert Alexander

University of Warwick

Global Sustainable Development

Sophie Arcedeckne-Butler

University of Leeds

Modern Languages and History

Marcus Arman

University of Surrey

Business Management

Omotayo Arman

University of Bath

Architecture (with Placement)

Joseph Bilsby

University of Exeter

History and Modern Languages

James Bush

University of Exeter

International Relations

Joseph Buss

Durham University

Geography

Philip Cartin

University of York

Law

Juan Chanthirakumaran

University of Warwick

Management

Matthew Coleman

King's College London, University of London

Mathematics

Harry Collins

University of Bristol

Environmental Geoscience with Study Abroad

Henry Courtney

University of Leeds

Banking and Finance

Robert Crouch

University of Exeter

Economics

Orla Cullens

University of Exeter

History

Theo de Pury

Durham University

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Jack Devonshire

Trinity College of Music

Music Performance

Liam Donnelly

Imperial College London

Aeronautical Engineering

Sean Dykes

University of Bath

International Management and Modern Languages – German

Conor Egan

University of Bristol

Engineering Design with Study in Industry

Edward Fairchild

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

History

Finn Fennings

Lancaster University

Marketing (Study Abroad)

James Fidler

University of Cambridge

Natural Sciences

Alicia Foreman

University of Southampton

Medicine

Ethan Wright

University of York

International Relations

Megan Fox

Durham University

Modern Languages and Cultures (with Year Abroad)

Arrien Gajdamowicz

Durham University

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Alexander Gallo

University of Leeds

International History and Politics

Alisa Emilie Gini

University of Bristol

Psychology

Estelle Gonzalez

The University of Edinburgh

Medicine

Zidan Goonesekere

King's College London, University of London

History and Political Economy

L E AV E R S ’ D E S T I N AT I O N S

10

NAME

DESTINATION

COURSE

Olivia Grenyer

University of Exeter

Politics

Aryan Gupta

University of Oxford

Engineering

James Hall

University of Bristol

Biochemistry with Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Will Harwood

University of Exeter

Marketing and Management with Industrial Experience (4 years)

Katie Heath

University of Exeter

Geography

Daniel Hexter

Newcastle University

Sport and Exercise Science

Charlotte Holmes

University of York

English

Tearlach Horn

Durham University

General Engineering

Christo Hoyle-Dodds

Loughborough University

Product Design Engineering

Jonathan Hua

University of Bath

Economics

Ben Hummel

University of Exeter

Engineering

Benan Irfan

Royal Holloway, University of London

Computer Science with a Year in Industry

Harvey Jagger

University of Bath

Civil Engineering with placement

James Jamieson

University of Bath

Economics (with Placement)

Lachlan Jarvie

Imperial College London

Biomedical Engineering

Karlo Jawo

University of Exeter

Geography

Samuel Joberns

University of Bristol

Aerospace Engineering

Samuel Jones

University of Southampton

Business Management

Federico Jones

University of Exeter

History and Modern Languages

Ben Kelpie

University of Exeter

English

Luke Kemp

Loughborough University

Geography (with placement year)

James Lambton

University of Warwick

Economic Studies and Global Sustainable Development

Selma Larsson Yaprak

UCL (University College London)

Geography

Izaak Laskey

UCL (University College London)

History

Michael Lear

Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Medicine

William Leverton

University of Bath

Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Amelia Mackay

University of Bristol

Civil Engineering

Jameel Malique

University of Reading

Law

Sami Mansour

University of Nottingham

Economics and International Economics

Benjamin Marshall

University of Nottingham

Law

Andrew Martin

University of Exeter

Mechanical Engineering with International Study

Isabel Massey

Cardiff University

Biological Sciences with Professional Training Year

Jessica Mather

The University of Edinburgh

History and History of Art

Matthew McCool

University of Leeds

Mechanical Engineering

Daragh McHale

University of Bristol

Geography with Study Abroad

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T H E E LT H A M I A N L E N T T E R M 2 0 2 2

Leavers’ Destinations 2021 continued NAME

DESTINATION

COURSE

Anthony McInerny

University of Sheffield

Mechanical Engineering

Kyle McMillan

University of Cambridge

Engineering

Jack Millar

University of Cambridge

Human, Social, and Political Sciences

Benjamin Mirchandani

University of Exeter

Economics and Finance with Industrial Experience

Connor Moyse

University of Nottingham

Economics

Sivashen Naidoo

Durham University

Engineering (Mechanical)

Yash Nanda

Durham University

General Engineering

Sam Neicho

Durham University

General Engineering

Luca Neil

University of Manchester

Fashion Marketing

Dominic Norton Raybould

University of Bristol

Economics with Study Abroad

Ujanah Ofuyaekpone-Shombe

University of Nottingham

Medicine

Anjola Ogundeji

King's College London, University of London

Politics

Sally O’Leary

University of Bath

Criminology (4 years including Placement Year)

Ellen O’Sullivan

University of Exeter

Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience

Dominic Owen

University of Exeter

Classics

Victoria Paddle

University of Exeter

History with Study Abroad

Rikin Parikh

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

History

Dhruv Patel

Newcastle University

Combined Honours

Anya Pearson

Durham University

Combined Honours in Social Sciences

Tabitha Podger

University of Sheffield

Medicine (Phase One)

Max Power

King's College London, University of London

Politics, Philosophy and Law

Benedict Rippingale

Nottingham Trent University

Real Estate

Ilias Ritsatakis-Syed

Queen Mary University of London

Engineering with Foundation

James Roberts

Durham University

English Literature

Lily Robinson

University of Leeds

Geography

Louis Ayin-Walsh

University of Warwick

Physics

Matthew Rogers

University of Oxford

Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)

Archie Rowbotham

Lancaster University

Business Management

Kush Ruparellia

Queen Mary University of London

Dentistry

Yusuf Sait

Queen Mary University of London

Medicine

Naomi Sambhi

Durham University

English Literature

Jean Sammut

University of Warwick

Economics

Sunanda Saxena

Durham University

English Literature

Imogen Sherwell

City, University of London

Actuarial Science (with Professional Placement)

L E AV E R S ’ D E S T I N AT I O N S

NAME

DESTINATION

COURSE

Cameron Slatter

Rose Bruford College

Acting Foundation

Nathaniel Smith

University of Southampton

Computer Science with Cyber Security

Isabella Smith

University of Southampton

Law

Lily Smith

Durham University

Mathematics and Statistics (3 years)

Reyhan Taraq

King's College London, University of London

Economics

Max Taylor

Queen Mary University of London

Aerospace Engineering

Pravin Thirukkumar

Queen Mary University of London

Mechanical Engineering with a Year Abroad

Sulaiman Ullah

University of Cambridge

Philosophy

Pietro Vidal

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Management

Isabelle Vevers

University of Liverpool

Psychology

Emily Walker

University of Bristol

Psychology

Charles Watkins

Newcastle University

Mathematics with Finance

Emily Watts

University of Exeter

Business and Management

Thomas Willis

University of Manchester

Management (International Business Economics) WIE

Elena Wolfson

University of Warwick

English and Theatre Studies

Timofei Zavileiskii

Durham University

Natural Sciences

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T H E E LT H A M I A N L E N T T E R M 2 0 2 2

News

13

Three Inch Fools Performance of Romeo and Juliet CJC

Year 8 students watched the London-based theatre troupe, Three Inch Fools, deliver a terrific performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet last term.

Students studied this text in the first half of the Michaelmas Term and the Three Inch Fools performance contextualised pupils’ prior learning.

The students enjoyed a professional programme from a national touring theatre company that has just three performers and one musician. The company put on a brilliant adaptation of the literary classic, leaving many of the pupils enthralled.

Michelle Teibo said: ‘My favourite part was the opening scene of the play: the ingenuity of using instruments as weapons onstage.’

Max Leek’s favourite parts were ‘the songs and music because I felt completely engulfed and absorbed in the world they created.’ And the performance gave Tristan Brink ‘a better understanding of Shakespeare’s writing’. ⬤

NEWS

14

Matters Mathematical PBR

The Michaelmas Term saw our Sixth Form mathematicians showcasing their talents in national Maths competitions.

Front Row: Mia Wilkinson, Grace Robson, Isabel Adcock, Beni Asprella, Leila Giaziri Back Row: Carrie Goddard, Shayna Saran, Sophie Britz, Han Tran

The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) works with hundreds of volunteers across the UK to promote a love of problem solving, teamwork and various mathematical enrichment activities. The Senior Maths Challenge is an exam paper lasting 90 minutes, sat by Sixth Form students nationwide. Students are not expected to complete the whole paper in that time as the questions purposefully challenging. All participants start on a score of 25; the paper consists of 25 multiple choice questions where a correct answer carries four marks and an incorrect answer deducts one mark. Students can score a maximum of 125. Those with a score of 85 or more achieve a Gold Award, while a score of 108 or will grant qualification for the British Mathematical Olympiad.

October saw our female mathematicians compete in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, aimed at encouraging young women to tackle advanced mathematical problems.

They achieved six merit awards in total and acted as exceptional role models for our younger female students.

Grace Robson said the competition was ‘challenging and showed me that however good one is at Maths, there will always be questions one cannot answer’.

November was a bumper month for Sixth Form Maths competition entries as all pupils in the Lower and Upper Sixth were entered for the Senior Maths Challenge. The challenge encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve complex problems, designed to make students think. Our students performed exceptionally well, achieving 48 bronze, 44 silver and 12 gold awards.

Benjamin Austin, Hashir Majeed, Ximan Mao, Benjamin Chamberlain, Jim Lui, Ketan McMillan, Daniel Kortuem and Vanya Artiukhov qualified for the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo in December, while Benjamin Robinson in the Lower Sixth qualified for the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad after achieving a merit. These are phenomenal achievements, demonstrating the dedication and drive of the mathematicians at Eltham College.

‘The Maths Challenge tests you in a way you never get to be tested in the classroom. It feels like you are teaching yourself as you make your way through solving the intriguing puzzles. You can always tell people are fascinated by the questions, too, judging by the sheer number of ongoing discussions that occur in classrooms after the challenge, where everyone cannot wait to see if they got the answers right.’

OLIVER EGAN (UPPER VI)

The next phase of Maths Challenges will take place in February, with the Intermediate Maths Challenge, open to pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11. The Junior Maths Challenge, open to Year 7 and 8 students, will take place in June. I hope the Sixth Form achievements encourage a love of problem solving and mathematical curiosity – and inspire greater participation from younger pupils. Mathematical enrichment clubs take place on Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes for Junior and Intermediate mathematicians respectively. ⬤

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Modern Languages Modern Languages Week 2021: Senior School In September, Languages Week made a spectacular return following the easing of Covid restrictions.

This regular feature of the start of the Michaelmas Term brings Central Hall to life with an array of flags from around the world, as part of our celebration of all living languages.

The week coincides with International Languages Day on September 26.

A wide variety of activities during registration and at lunchtime drew fantastic engagement from students and staff. The week marked a welcome return of co-curricular events which contribute to making languages so engaging and fulfilling.

Junior School

The week began with our inaugural international bake-off, which filled Central Hall with incredible culinary creations representing key landmarks around the world, from the Great Wall of China to the Pyramids of Egypt. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm and creativity from so many pupils.

Huge congratulations to Hesper Holden and Natasha Macdonald in Year 7 for their extraordinary chocolate cake reconstruction of Tower Bridge.

Congratulations also to our star bakers: Seth Jayawardhena for his creation of the Temple of Heaven; Amy Cheng for her Great Wall of China; Huxley McEntire for bringing St Paul’s Cathedral to Mottingham and Shyla Kamat for her version of the O2 Arena.

Those who like to draw parallels between Mathematics and Languages found an interesting case in the linguistics talk by Alex Bellos, a mathematician, linguist and Guardian columnist. His talk challenged students from Year 10 to the Upper Sixth to spot patterns and apply logic to decipher Japanese and hieroglyphics.

Students were also introduced to the fascinating word order of Navajo, a language spoken in southwest America, on which code used during the Second World War by the American government, was based.

Quizzes and prizes were the mainstay of Central Hall throughout the week, while the ever-popular international karaoke brought the ABT to life, featuring songs in a variety of languages. Congratulations to Haoran Zhao in Year 9 for winning the student category and to Ms Su for winning the staff category once again.

LUS

Languages Week is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of language learning, highlight the linguistic diversity in our community and celebrate the work of our students and teachers in primary and secondary schools. Beth Martin, Junior School Head of Languages, shared the number of languages spoken by the students and staff.

Pupils played games such as boules in the target language and quizzes were conducted in lessons. In addition, the pupils used puppets to animate their conversations and spoke in French to order food at a sumptuous French breakfast. ⬤ SHM

The week concluded with a flamenco workshop, held entirely in Spanish, that drew many students from Year 7 through to the Upper Sixth, producing fantastic performances. We hope everyone enjoyed the week. ⬤

French speaking puppets added a new element of fun to Languages Week

NEWS

Spanish In the absence of trips abroad, the Spanish Department has been working on ways to bring the Hispanic world to our students.

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Modern and Classical Languages Society

This year, our Hispanists have enjoyed a variety of different activities, enabling them to engage with foreign cultures and improve their language skills.

As part of Languages Week, pupils in the Lower School and Sixth Form had a chance to take part in a flamenco workshop. They learnt some of the basic steps to this iconic dance in a class taught primarily in Spanish. We also took advantage of the annual Hispanic Film festival held at the Cine Lumière in Kensington to enjoy a Basque film, exploring concepts of different regional identities within Spain, a core component of their A level course.

We finished the term with a fantastic trip to the British Museum to explore Peru’s ancient civilisations with Year 11 and the Sixth Form. This exhibition was an incredible opportunity to see artefacts that have helped reveal many hidden truths about these fascinating cultures. ⬤ EMP

It has been a pleasure to see the return of the Modern and Classical Languages Society (MCLS) this academic year, and to be able to invite students from across the school. The MCLS aims to enrich the learning experience of all of our student linguists and Classicists, with a particular emphasis on our Sixth Form cohorts. It provides an opportunity for students to research an area of interest beyond the curriculum and to present a talk to their peers and staff, as well as the chance to hear external speakers talk on a range of fascinating topics.

Last term, it was great to hear Matthew Massey (Lower Sixth), give a talk on Henry VIII and his rivalry with Charles V and Francis I. Arthur Gauthier, also in the Lower Sixth, offered insights into Existentialism and the Absurd through his presentation on two great French thinkers: Camus and Sartre. His talk inspired some excellent discussion on further reading with his audience. We look forward to further student talks as the academic year progresses. ⬤ LUS

Leopoldstadt Theatre Trip With theatres finally open again, Miss Franz and Miss Hill took a group of Year 11 and Sixth Form German students to see Tom Stoppard’s critically acclaimed Leopoldstadt in the Michaelmas Term. For some of our students, this was their first opportunity to go to the theatre since 2019. Set in Leopoldstadt, traditionally a Jewish neighbourhood in Vienna, the story follows a Jewish family in the first half of the 20th century from a Christmas celebration in 1899 to the horrors of the Holocaust and its inherited trauma. It was a poignant telling of a family’s history and left us with much to think about. ⬤ CAF

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Academic Scholarship ERC

Last term, Scholars in each year group looked at elements of philosophy, critical thinking, structuralism in literary theory and the overthrow of dominant thinking in geology, art and physics.

As this list of topics implies, a key focus of these sessions is sharpening pupils’ critical faculties as well as encouraging them to identify links between different disciplines. The Sixth Form Symposium has embraced and interrogated a broad range of perspectives on the issue of ‘truth’.

The expertise and enthusiasm of the teaching staff who contribute is one of the most valuable aspects of the programme. Mr Beattie, School Archivist and Geography teacher, delivered a talk comparing the Black Death with the Covid-19 pandemic, exploring the science, history and geography. There have been practical programming exercises with microbits in Year 8 and investigations into cryptocurrency and the mysteries of blockchains for the Year 11 Colloquium led by the Computing Department.

Year 9 looked at religious motifs in cinema with Mr Skipworth while the Year 10 Athenaeum examined theories about leadership and the nature and challenges of smart cities, courtesy of input from the History and Politics departments.

Year 9 also grappled with cyclical patterns in recurring decimals. Plans for a residential visit to Yorkshire are currently being finalised. In the Lower School, Year 7 made their own Buckyball molecules and were posed some questions about geological time by Mr Angel, while Year 8 were introduced to Wordsworth and some fairytales

by Mr Cook. ⬤

Junior School Workshops SHM

The Junior School is generally awash with many different types of workshops, but the pandemic has curtailed many of them over the last two years. It was therefore a delight that the Junior School began opening its doors to visitors old and new in the Michaelmas Term once again.

Pupils immersed themselves in Egyptian life and culture focused on the time of King Tut. Pupils were taught to write with a stylus on papyrus, kings and queens were crowned and amulets and scarabs were crafted from clay. The workshop was organised by Neil Dale, Junior School Head of History. He praised the children’s contribution and their ability to absorb and retain information in a ‘live’ context.

Birds of prey flew in for the day, attacking any fluffy misconceptions the pupils may have harboured about Hedwig. Hawker Harriers are instinctive killers, and the pupils were left in no doubt as to the talented talons of a wonderful selection of these not-sofriendly feathered friends! The approach of Christmas heralded the arrival of a real Rudolph with the only disappointment being his black and shiny nose!

If regulations permit, the Junior School will continue to see a return to normal with the re-introduction of workshops that follow the curriculum and enhance the pupils’ experience by creating lifelong memories. ⬤

NEWS

ESU Schools’ Mace

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ZAK LEEK (LOWER VI)

On November 9, a team of five debating students – David Colwell, Pelin Kural, Zak Leek, Matthew Massey and Zach Sholapurkar – took part in the EnglishSpeaking Union’s Schools’ Mace, the oldest and largest debating competition in England.

Rudolph took some time out to visit the Junior School much to the delight of our amazed pupils. Santa’s Little Helpers also endeavoured to teach them Science!

This was the regional heat, in which six schools from southeast London took part in three different debates across the course of the evening. Like the Oxford and Cambridge Schools’ competitions held earlier this year, this event was hosted online. However, as it started just after school finished, all of the team, save Pelin, were able to be in the same room for the debate, and were all broadcasted from one device supporting Zoom.

Our motion, which we opposed, was: ‘This House believes that artists have a moral duty to be political in their work’. We had benefitted from three weeks of preparation for this, during which time we built an extensive bank of points to argue our side of the motion; pre-empted counter arguments and sourced appropriate rebuttals for these; and researched case studies and example scenarios for our ideas.

We debated extremely well, using a variety of well-chosen points and case studies. It was clear from the

An expert on birds of prey gave a talk to pupils as part of their Science curriculum

Walk – and talk – like an Egyption: history comes to life in a workshop on Egypt

start that we had the upper hand, because the motion inherently seemed to favour the opposition. It must have been very hard for the proposing team, Farringtons School, to argue when they were required to impose a moral duty on all artists’ work.

When judging these sorts of competitions, however, the judges do their best to make decisions based on the teams’ debating practices and skills, instead of the ideas they are most convinced by.

We have since progressed to the East London Final with Bromley High School, where we will debate the motion: ‘This House would nationalise the energy supply system’. The beginning of 2022 will also bring with it the first rounds of both the Cambridge and Oxford Schools’ competitions, and the Durham Schools event, all of which Eltham are hoping to enter teams for. ⬤

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New Student Congress Elected ECF

The newly-elected Members of Congress

Last term saw the formation of a new School Congress, following elections conducted in each tutor group in the Senior School. Its inaugural meeting was held in mid-November.

The Congress has been set up to achieve better representation of students’ ideas and views on different aspects of the College. It will make decisions for – and strengthen existing links between – members of our school community. The newly elected members were welcomed to Congress by the Headmaster and Deputy Head and briefed on how it (and the new four sub-committees) will run.

There are sub-committees for equalities, food and facilities, charities and the environment. Elected members have joined one of these committees and has since met as a group. They are developing ideas and initiatives and will present their recommendations to the main plenary sessions of Congress, due to take place in the Lent and Summer terms. ⬤

The Congress and committees meet several times every term. The dates for the Lent Term are shown below.

CONG RE SS MEETING S: LENT TERM Environment Committee Friday 21 January 1.00pm Friday 4 February 1.00pm Equalities Committee Friday 21 January 1.00pm Friday 11 February 1.00pm Food and Facilities Committee Tuesday 18 January 1.00pm Tuesday 1 March 1.00pm Charities Committee Tuesday 18 January 1.00pm Tuesday 8 February 1.00pm

Members of Congress, colloquially known as ‘MCs’, met on Thursday 3 February to approve a new School Constitution.

This will be communicated to parents, pupils, staff and OEs in due course.

We are watching future developments and deliberations with interest.

NEWS

ELEC TED REPRE SENTATIVE S LOWER SCHOOL FORM

REPRESENTATIVE

REPRESENTATIVE

7ADM

Roxani Delaney

Calvin Agyeman-Botchley

7EMP

Tanvi Garg

Zac Raja

7HOB

Chimonye George-Amadi

Alexandre Bosviel

7KMD

Serena McMillan

Jayden Madawho

7MKC

Karomen Izekor

Arthur Girardot

7PJW

Jake Austin

Arabella Langman-Heath

8ALT

Tim Brink

Darcey Hiller

Isobel Gjytetza (co-opted) 8ATH

Juliette Williams

Micah Martin-Ibekwem

8BJK

Emilia Loertscher

Zach Szollosi

8JYM

Emily Cadman

Dev Agarwal

8LVC

Michelle Teibo

George Reeves

8NJC

Mira Karthikeyan

Aryian Saran

MIDDLE SCHOOL FORM

REPRESENTATIVE

REPRESENTATIVE

9EJB

Utkrit Dawadi

Will Forsdyke

9FNA

Bertie Pullen

James Mark

9HGS

Uzo George-Amadi

Jacob Mburu

9JXC

Joshi Deol

Daniel Harrington-Hill

10AHH

Alex Bush

Charlie Shaw

10ATD

Harry Clout

Austin Edwards

10CCQ

Zac Devon

Ben Pagliari

10JNS

Ben Robertson

Dylan Tootill

10GOH

Ollie Murray

Oliver Bowes

11JCP

Alex Taylor

Charles Wawm

11MAC

Ola Salotun

Max Dugard

11THB

Harry Wright

Ezana Betru

11VLB

Tendwai Nyakambangwe

Ethan Chaplin

11EXB

Atharv Gupta

Theo Treadwell

SIX TH FORM FORM

REPRESENTATIVE FORM

REPRESENTATIVE

CAF6

Ben Lewis

PLA6

Harry Ridge

CJC6

Ali Majeed

EKM6

Alex Golshan-Ebrahimi

DRG6

Akshay John

JNH6

Yahia Zayed

ESL6

Will Robinson

MNF6

Feihong Huang

KHP6

Nick Biddle

SCH6

Keren Itsagwede

STM6

Chris Lefebure

TCM6

David Colwell

STW6

Tobi O’Brien

TJC6

Ximan Mao

LUS6

Liam McHale

YTC6

Callum Brown

JLA6

Ruben Molloy

CO - O P TE D R E PR E S E NTATI V E S , S I X TH FO R M Lucy Baker Charlotte Watts Gugu Matonsi Emily McLennan

Eltham College Parents’ Association There is a long history of parental involvement at Eltham College: the first meeting of a Parent Teacher Association was in 1927. The school has continued to hold great store in its relationship with parents in this way.

The Parents’ Association is a small group who meet, on average, four times each year. The majority of those who join the committee remain members for many years. It is an informal group where friendships have been made while essential support and advice is provided for the school when holding events.

Over the past 95 years, the Parents’ Association has supported the school by raising money for many resources that have been of huge benefit to all pupils.

Some include specialist flooring and sound desks for the ABT; floodlights and other sporting equipment, including the climbing wall in the Eric Liddell Sports Centre; additional musical instruments; playground equipment and equipment for the DT and Art departments; as well as ongoing financial support with newspaper subscriptions and Christmas outings in the Junior School. We are delighted to have recently funded Drama equipment and virtual reality headsets for the Junior School as well as refurbishing the Old Library in the Senior School as a new seminar room.

We organise the Summer Fair and smaller events such as the Grow a Pound challenge and the Taskmaster challenge. Others are for the parents – e.g. the Annual Ball, the Pop Quiz and other social events with guest speakers. This is our way of saying thank you to everyone who supports us.

The committee, however, cannot function without willing members. If you are interested in joining, or coming along to a meeting to find out more, please contact: ecpa@eltham-college.org.uk for more details. ⬤ JENNY STONE Chair of the Parents’ Association

Jessica Bilsby

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A Word from the Chaplain JHH

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

(Psalm 90:12)

Psalm 90 was our theme in Chapel last term, not least because the final verse of it is engraved on the cornerstone of the Turberville Building.

It is also a poignant Psalm for the term in which the Act of Remembrance forms the centrepiece, an everpresent reminder of life’s fragility and a helpful prompt for important questions about the valuable aspects of living.

The Michaelmas Term finishes, however, not with the fragility of life but with the dignity of it: we celebrate the news of Emmanuel, the Word made flesh. Sadly, for the second year in succession, our main services (Carols

by Candlelight and the Junior School Carol Service) were cancelled but we were fortunate to have three in-house carol services on Friday 10 December at which each year group sang lustily, spurred on by our wonderful choir comprised of over 75 pupils. I am grateful to Anjola Ogundeji (OE 2021)

who spoke at these services on the theme of light in darkness, another poignant theme at Christmas but perhaps more so in this of all years.

Chapel is, of course, only the tip of the Chaplaincy iceberg. There has, to extent the metaphor, been much going on beneath the surface so far this year. 17 Sixth Form pupils have been leading small groups each week, comprised of pupils from Year 3 to the Upper Sixth. I am indebted to them and immensely grateful for their support and service. My thanks as well to colleagues, parents and governors for supporting the Christian work of the school. It is a privilege to serve in a community in which we can look back and echo the Psalmist: ‘Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.’ ⬤

NEWS

Rolling clouds of thick green plumes of smoke “Every man for himself!” they shout, lost to the stinking fumes Men choking and falling to the ground Everyone fumbling to grab their gasmasks in a tangle of hands and bodies Moaning low from beneath us, soldiers trampled Bombs far ofi in the distance sound like explosions next to your ear Early birds silenced into deathly quiet Really thought we could win this?

Red poppies help us remember Every day that was experienced in the war Men and women helping and being injured Everyone living in a time of misery Many people died But the poppies will help us remember Every person that died Remembering everything that happened

CHARLOTTE MCGINN (Year 8)

LILY FERREDAY (Year 7)

Red poured all over Even my own guilty hands My friends lying on the cold fioor Engraved on white stones their names will be More of them pass helpless Bodies moving up and down in wagons Everyone is gone all my friends all my foes Remember, remember the 11th of November

Rows upon rows of white crosses Each one engraved with a name. So Many gave their lives, Every one with a family.

Millions of lives lost, Billions of lives destroyed.

Everlasting mourning, Remember remember, for lest we+ forget

KATHERINE ADCOCK (Year 8)

( Year 8)

Poems to Mark Remembrance Day Red poppies on the battlefield, Even the destroyed ground is hidden, Many people will forget, but we never will, Everyone is in mourning for many that have been lost, Must we forever thank them our debts will forever remain unpaid, But we must continue our day-to-day lives, for their sakes, Every one has lost someone, so everyone understands each other’s pain, Remember, we all must remember those who died valiantly for us all.

Remember the lives Every death looming over families Miles of bodies stretching far Extreme measures lead to disaster Meaningful fights decide history Battle festered Eerie feeling dooms life Remember soldiers who gave their life TOMMY HORN (Year 7)

CHARLOTTE FIDLER (Year 8)

READ THE LETTERS EVERYONE IS DEAD MEDICAL HELP IS NEEDED EXTREME MEASURES MEN DIE BECAUSE OF THE LOUD TANKS EVERY PERSON THAT DIED REMEMBERED BY THE POPPIES LARA SOUTH (Year 7)

Remembering a time when life was hard, Every day another fight, Making makeshift equipment, hoping it’ll stay together, Every lasting injuries, scars that painted everyone’s skin, Moving slowly, tanks take up the view Bam! Another explosion hit, smoking feeling up the trenches, Retching smells, blinding our senses A never-ending embrace of smoke, No one seeing the end of the war Can we survive this?

Everyone better remember this.

JULIETTE WILLIAMS (Year 8)

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New Astro ECF

AstroTurf provision doubled In mid-November, we were delighted to open our new floodlit hockey AstroTurf pitch. This brilliant new asset, shared with Blackheath and Elthamians Hockey Club, means that the College now has two full-size AstroTurf pitches which will significantly enhance the provision of hockey for girls and boys at Eltham College.

The new pitch was opened by Guy Sanderson, Headmaster, and Vikki Meier, Head of the Junior School. A short opening ceremony, joined by the school’s Head of Sport and Head of Hockey, took place after which the Headmaster, Head of Junior School and the Bursar engaged in some informal goal-scoring practice against the U12s girls hockey team goalkeeper.

Then followed the very first competitive fixtures on the new pitch in great matches played by our four U12 girls’ teams against teams from Colfe’s School.

Mr Sanderson said: ‘At a stroke, this new facility doubles our AstroTurf provision and will enable girls’ and boys’ hockey to run alongside each other, and for students at both the Junior and Senior Schools to play hockey to a high level.’ ⬤

NEWS

ECF

New Junior Science Lab

Olympian Visits Eltham College

SHM

In late November, on a rather cold, wet and windy afternoon, the school welcomed England and Team GB Olympic hockey player, Hannah Martin.

Hannah made her international debut in 2017, and has since become a crucial player for both the England and GB teams.

Hannah started playing hockey while in Year 4 at Ipswich School and has never looked back. Her older brother Harry, also an England and GB International, was, in her words, the ‘perfect role model to look up to and emulate.’

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hannah scored four goals on the way to helping Great Britain win a bronze medal, adding to her medals of the same colour she has won with England at European and Commonwealth events.

Her Olympic medal was even more special as it came just four months after she sustained a broken leg and ankle ligament damage.

During the afternoon Hannah demonstrated stick skills to our students and showcased her dazzling method of ‘chipping in’. The Year 7 and 8 girls played small-sided hockey games with Hannah coaching. A hockey masterclass was held followed by a live Q&A session during which Hannah shared her sporting journey with the students, allowing them to better understand the hard work and dedication needed in order to achieve their goals, including the achievement of her Olympic bronze medal which she brought along to show the pupils.

Over half-term the Science lab underwent a total refurbishment under the direction of the Head of Junior School Science, Edith Goakes.

Living walls, interactive screens and sliding white boards now surround a set of colourful glass-topped tables.

It is a joy to work in for pupils and teachers, inspired and motivated by a laboratory that encourages enthusiasm. The project was bought together by Mrs Goakes, Breda Kelly and the Deputy Head (Pastoral) of the Junior School, Andrew Taylor. ⬤

In a captivating session, Hannah explained how her journey to the top had not always been easy and reiterated the powerful message that having a positive mindset can make a real difference to anyone’s success in life. Hard work, discipline and resilience are key, she said, as well as having the determination to overcome any obstacles along the way. ⬤

Super Science as the whole Junior School studies scientific methods at the start of the Michaelmas Term

The full interview with Hannah can be watched on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxNdzAzpny8

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180th Anniversary

Carla Morin and Lucy Gardiner

ECF

2022 marks the 180th anniversary of the foundation of Eltham College.

FemSoc Launch

It opened as the Boys’ Mission School in a townhouse in Walthamstow in 1842. During its first 15 years it moved a number of times until purpose-built accommodation was found in Blackheath in 1857.

The school then became known as the School for the Sons of Missionaries. Over the decades, our school grew and prospered before moving to its present site in 1912, precisely 110 years ago.

We decided to launch FemSoc at Eltham College following the publication of numerous accounts of sexual assault that occurred in many secondary schools across Britain on Everyone’s Invited, a website set up to expose rape culture through ‘conversation, education and support’, which gained prominence in the aftermath of Sarah Everard’s tragic murder.

While the school’s Christian foundation endures, it has evolved, akin to the school which has grown much larger and is now well on its way to full co-education. As a school, we have plans to mark this anniversary throughout the course of this year to celebrate Eltham’s heritage, success and role in educating generations of families, but also to look forward to its exciting and ambitious future. We will keep you updated about these in the weeks and months ahead. ⬤

S E CNTEI W ON S

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CARLA MORIN AND LUCY GARDINER (UPPER VI)

Hearing the bravery of girls talking about their personal, and invariably traumatic, experiences inspired us to raise awareness of violence against women and educate on matters of gender equality at a school which, although will be fully co-educational in 2024, still has a predominantly male student-body. FemSoc’s launch was timely, given the arrival of girls into Year 7 in 2020.

Our aim was to challenge the incorrect view that a ‘feminist’ is a woman who solely supports the success of females and perceives men to be the cause of many problems in our society. On the contrary, FemSoc aims to start discussions between male and female students and unite everyone against all incidents of gender inequality.

Increasing the numbers of those attending the society has been easier this year, due to the removal of year group ‘bubbles’. The society has flourished since September, with our audience comprised largely of boys from Year 7 to the Upper Sixth. All have demonstrated a keen interest in the topics we have explored each week. The enthusiasm from younger pupils in particular has been valuable this year.

Our discussions of issues we face as a society led male pupils to become more aware of the inequality that surrounded them. Two boys in the Upper Sixth, Jack Flood

and Oliver Ennis, led a thought-provoking talk last summer on the ‘catcalling’ and harassment women face regularly.

This certainly reflected a change in attitude among boys: the issue of ‘catcalling’ has always been present, but I think their talking about it with their female peers enabled them to identify it more easily.

Hosting talks every week has opened our eyes to the sheer extent of inequity between how different genders are treated and perceived. It has, however, been great to ‘FEMSOC AIMS TO see so many regular START DISCUSSIONS attendees ask vital BETWEEN MALE questions and develop their own tolerant viewpoints AND FEMALE since FemSoc’s launch.

STUDENTS AND

UNITE EVERYONE AGAINST ALL INCIDENTS OF GENDER INEQUALITY’

We have led FemSoc since we joined Eltham in the Lower Sixth and soon hope to find some dedicated feminists to take over next year. Although we certainly have a long way to go until equality is achieved, educating and shaping the attitudes of young students will go a long way to solving the problem in the future. ⬤

FemSoc continues on Thursday lunchtimes this term, where discussions will take place after a speaker has attempted to answer a question on an area of gender inequality.

Some of the questions that have been explored in FemSoc this year

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NEWS

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Drama

Curtains

Preparation for the Senior School musical began when pupils returned to school after the last lockdown. Our feelings were of excitement and trepidation, given the uncertainty of live performances resuming.

In light of this, we chose a show where we could acquire the rights to either perform it to a live audience, or film it for viewers at home. From the small pool of choices, one show stood out because of its variety of lead roles and the fact it was a comic murder mystery, which would suit our students. I had been lucky enough to see Curtains during its West End debut in 2019. The score was glorious, as you would expect from John Kander and Fred Ebb, who wrote Chicago and Cabaret. →

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KYR

Curtains is a send-up of backstage murder mystery plots, set in 1959 Boston, Massachusetts.

It follows the fallout after Jessica Cranshaw, the supremely untalented star of Robbin’ Hood of the Old West, is murdered during her opening night curtain call. It is up to Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a police detective who moonlights as a musical theatre fan, to save the show, solve the case, and maybe even find love before the show reopens – without getting killed himself. The show was described by Kander as ‘a kind of love letter to musical theatre’. I hope everyone involved with the show agreed with Cioffi when he said: ‘Putting on a musical has got to be the most fulfilling thing a person could ever hope to do.’

Lauren Chaplin as Niki Harris

NEWS

On playing Niki, one of the lead females…

On playing the lead detective…

This year’s musical was extra special for many of us in the Upper Sixth.

Last year we were not allowed to have a musical due to Covid, so for some of us this was our first and last chance to perform in a musical while at Eltham College. The months leading up to the musical consisted of lots of line learning and late-night rehearsals, all worth it in the end.

Juggling all our commitments was a struggle but we managed to deliver an amazing performance.

This year’s school production of Curtains was my fifth and final musical at Eltham College. My journey began in Year 8 as a member of Fagin’s gang in Oliver!, looking up to and imagining being one of the Sixth Formers performing as a lead. This year I got to do just that.

All our preparation led to a smooth tech and dress rehearsal, which prepared us for our four shows running from Wednesday 1 December to Saturday 4 December. Being part of an Eltham College musical is so different to shows in other schools: they are more polished and the enthusiasm from the cast and all members of staff is incredible. Many teachers from outside the Music and Drama departments support us and the 240-seater ABT gives us the opportunity to feel like professional performers.

Jess Bilsby as Georgia Hendriks

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The musical is a valuable experience for everyone involved. We got to know pupils in other year groups, making friendships that would not exist without the musical. The cast had the opportunity to work with an amazing external choreographer, Shermaine Slocombe. Mrs Robinson held us to the highest standards throughout, resulting in our final show being the best and most professional it could possibly be. Mr Showell and the Music Department are, likewise, essential to the success of the performances. I am also grateful to the Eltham Wardrobe, who ensured each performer looked their best.

The performance would not have been complete without them.

LAUREN CHAPLIN (UPPER VI)

I had never heard of Curtains until it was announced as our school musical. A murder-mystery comedy was distinct from anything I had done before. I played Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a detective and musical theatre fanatic. Being the lead in an Eltham College musical was everything I had hoped it be and more.

After spending a considerable amount of time learning my lines and attending all of the dance rehearsals that often went on past 9.00pm with our brilliant choreographer Shermaine, the cast was ready and excited for our four-night run of the show which got better and better each night.

Curtains was an incredible high to end my time at Eltham College on, and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. I am grateful to Mrs Robinson and Mr Showell for giving me the opportunity. My thanks also to Shermaine, helping with her 13th Eltham College show this year, for her guidance.

CHARLIE SMITH (UPPER VI)

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On leading the technical team…

Ellie Stocks and Charlie Smith

This light-hearted musical which lifted everyone’s spirits was appropriate given our disappointment at having last year’s musical cancelled. Despite none of the cast having prior knowledge of Curtains, the cast, crew and band quickly fell in love with both the storyline and music score.

Putting on this production was emotional: this was the final musical for many involved, including key members of staff, such as Mr Showell, and the Eltham Wardrobe. I have been involved in over 25 plays, musicals and concerts during my time here, working behind the scenes as part of the technical department.

The tech crew

I was tasked with running the tech crew and also programming and designing the lights for this show, becoming the first ever pupil to do so.

This was simultaneously thriling and stressful as it involved leading the technical department of 15 students and staff, while also liaising with both Mrs Robinson, the director, and Ms Swadkin, the conductor. Despite these challenges I feel as though we managed to put on a wonderful musical and I’m glad my final show at Eltham was such a success.

BEN EDWARDS (UPPER VI)

Ben Lewis as Christopher Belling

NEWS

On being part of the chorus…

Curtains was my first musical at Eltham College. I am unsure why it took me five years year to take part, but it left me with a new understanding of what theatre is. The musical enabled me to get to know, and form lasting friendships with, new people in different year groups, as well as many who had recently joined the Sixth Form.

I was in the dance chorus which meant lots of long nights at school, working our socks off with our wonderful choreographer, Shermaine, to perfect the many dance numbers that we had to learn. It took a lot of hard work and effort, but the end product made it all worthwhile. Each dance meant learning different skills and moves, but the biggest skill of all

Junior School pupils in The Grinch

was mastering the quick costume changes between numbers. The rush of relief, excitement and pride after each performance was unlike anything I have ever experienced – and even from the first rehearsal to the last night that feeling did not wane.

It was a pleasure to work with a great teacher and director in Mrs Robinson; a fantastic musician and human being, Mr Showell (someone we are sadly saying goodbye to); the unbelievably hard-working dance choreographer, Shermaine; and great costume ladies, Liz and Alexis. I would urge anyone thinking about it to get involved in future school musicals – it was an experience I most certainly will not forget.

ETHAN FIORE (LOWER VI) ⬤

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Junior School Production of The Grinch SHM

The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmastime when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang.

When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realises there is one way to gain peace and quiet.

Year 4 certainly made Christmas bigger and brighter, bringing the term to an end with their brilliant performance, directed by our Head of Drama, Hugo Timbrell. ⬤

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Music

St Alfege Concert The concert at St Alfege Church, Greenwich ended the lengthy hiatus of live concerts due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a jubilant atmosphere as, for the first time in 18 months, Eltham College’s various ensembles were able to perform to an audience of friends and family.

ZACH SHOLAPURKAR (LOWER VI)

The prospect of performing properly again after spending such a long time rehearsing was as much a relief as it was exciting.

Eltham Brass began the proceedings with a rendition of John Williams’s 1984 Olympic Fanfare, with many of the music staff and I making our débuts on percussion, much to everyone’s amusement. The concert certainly lived up to its title, ‘A Celebration of Music’, as a wide variety of music, from genres spanning the Baroque to the 20th century, was performed.

Some particular highlights were the symphony orchestra’s rendition of William Walton’s Crown Imperial and College Choir and Sinfonia’s performance of Handel’s Messiah.

A special mention should be given to Oscar Geh and Emily Barnett for their terrific solo performances. Overall, I think I, and many others, will agree that the event was a superb return to concerts and touching send-off for Mr Showell. ⬤

NEWS

Music Alive in the Junior School SHM

The Music Alive scheme provides all Year 3 and Year 4 pupils with the opportunity to try a musical instrument of their choice by offering them six weeks of free tuition.

The uptake is invariably high, and pupils perform in a concert at the end of their induction – quite a feat if one considers the age and experience of the students involved.

In addition, pupils from the Junior School combined to perform in a stunning ensembles concert at St George’s Church in Beckenham which saw the welcome return of pews packed with parents. Overall direction was provided by the Head of Music in the Junior School, Mark Alexander. ⬤

Music Alive gives every young pupil the opportunity to try a new musical instrument for an extended period of time. It is free – and evidently fun!

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Artwork

Art

David Colwell (Lower VI)

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Benjy Davis (Upper VI)

Dev Agarwal (Year 8)

Archie Quinnen (Year 11)

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Tilly Stafford (Year 8)

Jonny Brayford (Year 7)

Harry Jones (Year 11)

Elliasson Lesson (Year 7)

Year 9 Portraits

Year 7 Art lesson

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GMG Exhibition: Tell Us a Story...

‘I liked Marina Pacios Ortolá’s work as it seems like there is meaning behind it.’

MELISSA (YEAR 7)

‘I feel I can make my own story from Ziyoo Hwang’s work because it is so abstract.’

YANNA (YEAR 7 )

‘Richard Graham has a very unique style and colour palette.’

OLES (YEAR 11)

‘Dide Tengiz’s work depicts relatable stories.’

BENJAMIN (YEAR 8)

The exhibition ran from January 13 to February 19 and coincided with storytelling and illustration workshops for both students and the public.

KEH

In December 2021, the Gerald Moore Gallery began preparing for its 10-year anniversary. To celebrate we decided to create an illustration and animation exhibition entitled Tell Us a Story... It featured works from emerging and contemporary illustrators and animators.

The idea for this exhibition was inspired by the book ‘The Cuckoo Who Flew Backwards’, written and illustrated by Dr Gerald Moore. The book is about a cuckoo who heads to Heathfield Park, the previous home of the author and his family, to sing in the spring.

Recent illustration graduates from the Royal College of Art, UAL, Manchester School of Art, Cambridge School of Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, University of Brighton, Arts University Bournemouth, Plymouth

College of Art, and Kingston Art School were invited to be part of the exhibition. Each sent three images of their work that responded to the title of our exhibition: Tell Us a Story…

Once all the work had been received, over 25 students from all year groups came together to select which illustrators would form part of the exhibition. They voted for their favourite artist, citing their reasons, some of which are included on this page. The artists with the most votes were selected to be part of the exhibition. ⬤

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NEWS

Sixth Form Art Trip to Dungeness The Sixth Form Art students visited Dungeness for the first time during the October half-term break, in what proved a moving experience.

The rolling expanses of England’s seemingly endless farmland quickly transform into a barren landscape of shingle and dotted vegetation, which creates a stark, isolated, yet mesmerising setting.

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CHRISTY LORD (LOWER VI)

The small town of Dungeness sits in the shadow of a large nuclear power station that contrasts with the desert-like span that surrounds it. The area itself is known to have accommodated many renowned artists over the years, with the location being sought after for its bleak tranquillity. Such artists include the likes of Derek Jarman, an acclaimed film maker who spent his twilight years living in a small cottage similar to many of the structures in Dungeness.

We were tasked with photographing the debris-riddled shingle beaches that frame the location along the coastline. This feature provides the coachline with an antique, yet desolate, charm. After stopping at a small café near one of Dungeness’s lighthouses, we began the walk to the stretching shoreline, strolling among many of the town’s quaint and varied wooden cottages that accommodate a large number of local residents.

Upon arriving at the beach, one’s eyes are met with a vivid scene: shipping containers scattered along the seafront, spewing various miscellaneous items onto the shingle, and abandoned Caterpillar bulldozers nestled among derelict sheds, their yellow paintwork contrasting with the grey landscape surrounding them. Perhaps the most prominent sight along the beach was the collection of large fishing boats. They were so big that they dwarfed all objects around them. This wide array of rusting and rotting items facilitated high quality photography, which we capitalised on. ⬤ Pictures taken

by Aya Scholl (Lower VI)

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House Reports

C AREY Everyone was keen to get off to a flying start after the past two years’ disruption to school life.

The eagerly anticipated renewal of the famed House Singing event, allowing students from all years to come together and belt out a classic, was therefore more important than ever. Carey gave a rousing rendition of Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold’, complete with some of our younger members shining brightly in an array of golden outfits.

Since then, we have witnessed a multitude of events: boys’ rugby across all year groups, boys’ football across all year groups, girls’ hockey in Years 7 and 8, photography, table tennis, chess, spelling bee and pumpkin carving. The most recent event was the House Runway – a new one in the calendar – where students were challenged to design

and make an outfit from recycled materials, which were modelled at lunchtime in King George’s Hall in a kind of ‘flash mob’, much to the delight of all who witnessed it.

Carey has been wonderfully represented by a vast range of students in all these events. There have been some great victories, but even in events where students have struggled the effort has remained exceptionally high this academic year.

I am immensely proud of the spirit and determination that all participants have shown.

In no small part due to the efforts of our wonderful ‘Blue Wave’, we went into the Christmas break in second place in the House Championship.

It is all to play for as we look forward to events this term, including the much-anticipated House Drama competition. ⬤ ADM

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CHALMERS After an incredibly turbulent 18 months, the House system began to feel normal again this term with a full programme of events and vertical integration made possible with all year groups attending House assemblies. It has been truly brilliant to see the Red Army competing in a range of events this year.

The highlight of the House calendar is House Singing, which typically takes place in the first few weeks of the Michaelmas Term, involving students from all ages in the Senior School. This year’s event did not disappoint: Chalmers finished in second place after a breath-taking rendition of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by American rock group, Journey. Our House Captains, Oliver Ennis and Thea Whatling, deserve a special mention for organising and leading our rendition.

There has been ubiquitous representation from Chalmers in all the events throughout the Michaelmas Term, particularly in those events that were able to take place this year after what felt like a long time. We have fiercely contested competitions such as House rugby, football, water polo, debating, chess, photography, pumpkin growing, singing, hockey and badminton across all year groups in the Senior School.

My thanks to everyone who has contributed to Chalmers House so far this year. I am excited to see what success lies ahead for the Red Army in 2022 and cannot wait to see as many Reds as possible take part. ⬤ BJK

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LIVINGSTONE

The Michaelmas Term was packed full with a variety of House events and Livingstone has risen to the occasion, participating with vigour and passion.

We began our defence of the House Championship in great style with an outstanding performance in House Singing. The House’s competitive spirit was on full display: we had members of all year groups contributing to our performance of ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’. A huge amount of credit must go to Lauren Chaplin and Ojorumi Edozie for their expert musical knowledge and of course to Santi Esquivel Martinez for his unwavering enthusiasm (and questionable dance moves!), which resulted in our maiden victory.

We followed this up with a strong second place finish in the pumpkin growing and carving competition.

Despite our pumpkin being comparatively diminutive, a great design was created by Tobi Clement and Prosper Omopariola. The final open event of 2021 was House

Runway. This saw a fantastic design

by Chloe Nguyen who combined with Santi for our song ‘Single Ladies’.

I think it is fair to say this was a sight to behold for all, but nonetheless another great display of teamwork to end the calendar year.

Other notable events were House chess, football, rugby, hockey, badminton, table tennis, as well as photography, spelling bee and coding. We performed valiantly in all events, especially House chess.

A special mention should go to our

Year 9, 10 and 11 team who were unbeaten across all games, as well as our Year 8 table tennis and girls’ hockey teams, and the Year 7 spelling bee participants.

I have been blown away by the Livingstone House spirit so far this year and know that this is just the start of the Green comeback! A huge thank you to our excellent House Captains who have led from the front, as well as to Mr Crowley for his unwavering support. Go Greens! ⬤ LVC

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MOFFAT Moffateers have united and thrown themselves into every competition and challenge that has come their way this year. The teamwork and energy demonstrated throughout the Michaelmas Term has been second to none from all students, whether that be volunteering for events or stepping in to replace peers at short notice.

Our standings at the end of 2021 are impressive: we are currently occupying first place across all year groups – Junior School, Lower School, Middle School, Seniors – and in the overall.

We started the academic year with our Seniors displaying their badminton prowess (Charlotte Watts, Hashir Majeed, Maddie Tynan and Oli

Gower), followed by an almost clean sweep in House photography (Imogen Naish, Max Ginn, Orin Vitalis, Jack Lockett, Henry Lines, Tommy Harrison and Jake Austin). Our table tennis teams shone this term with guidance from Mr Watts. A special mention to Zenan He, Matthew Chick, Xintian Li, Carina Nechyporuk, Jamie Hine, Boden Kelly, Rohan Kohli and Luke Perrett for their performances.

House pumpkin carving featured our school-grown pumpkin, planted by our Year 7s last year, weighing in heavily, then being transformed into a beautiful duck delight by Orin Vitalis and Louis Lardner. Our football teams, likewise, represented Moffat brilliantly, finishing in either first or second place across all year group competitions.

As is invariably the case in the Michaelmas Term, the biggest event was undoubtedly House Singing. In my opinion, our performance contained flair, sass and a little bit of talent that captured our audience’s hearts. The Michaelmas Term concluded with another fabulous singing competition, where our Seniors performed ‘We Three Kings’, an epic football performance from our Seniors, and Louis Lardner strutting his stuff through the KGH for House Runway.

My thanks to our superb House Captains, Ben Lewis and Charlotte Watts, for everything they have done this year. A shout out also to Mr Dale, Head of Moffat in the Junior School, who is paving the way for our mini Moffateers.

We still have a long way to go, and many competitions to compete in with the same ferocity as last term, but I am confident we can continue with the same momentum to win the House Championship. ⬤ #TeamMoffat JYM

© Alec Byrne

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Features

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1967 at the Saville Theatre, London: Chris fits up Jimi Hendrix with the handmade jacket he made for him and which subsequently appeared on US record covers

Chris Jagger Last year Chris Jagger (OE 1966) released a new album, Mixing up the Medicine, and a memoir, Talking to Myself. Here he answers some questions put to him by Andrew Beattie.

H

e has made a dozen albums, shared a stage with Pierce Brosnan, been on a journalistic mission to Tibet, made blues documentaries for TV and written lyrics for two Rolling Stones albums – and his brother Mick, whom he has kept in touch with over the years, sings on the opening track of his new album. His is a story worth telling, as he demonstrates here.

You’ve written and performed over a hundred songs over the course of your career. Which are your favourites, and which would you recommend to those coming to your work for the first time?

Usually the favourites are the ones you’ve recently written – so, in this case, the songs on Mixing up the Medicine which were written with

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Chris in 1968 shortly after he left Eltham College

long-time collaborator Charlie Hart, who in fact lives close to Eltham in Lewisham. It’s best to work with a partner. Both parties bring something different to the table that way. Charlie is great as he plays the piano, fiddle, accordion and bass, and he can quickly spot potential: it might be a bass line, a lyric…something that makes it different. But that’s just the beginning, because any song needs development, arrangement and a whole raft of things. My songs are rather old-fashioned, as that’s what I do best.

You write and perform as a soloist and with your band, Atcha. Which do you prefer and why?

It’s much more fun with a band – especially if you have a good one.

Solo work is tough, but I have done it.

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You keep chickens and sheep on your Somerset smallholding.

How and why did you get into that, and what are the challenges of running a small farm?

That needs more than a simple paragraph to answer! One reason is their appeal to my grandchildren… and when you live in the country, it’s what people do.

Looking through past editions of The Elthamian I see that at school you were involved with sport, including athletics and basketball. We’d love to hear your memories of these.

All that is detailed in the book. I was a footballer but that was taboo at Eltham so I had to play rugby, which as far as I’m concerned is a game with a funny-shaped ball where you move forwards by passing backwards.

Rock’n’roll Years Working as a duo or three piece is OK, but you can’t play rock’n’roll without a back beat. Musicians today use loops, which are repeating sections of sound material, along with other devices, so you can basically be a one-man-band if you want, but it’s not as much fun.

Chris in the school’s athletics team, 1966. He is in the middle, in front of Head of PE and Games, John Linscott.

As I was the best tackler they made me a fullback – and in those days it was a ‘hanging offence’ to cross the halfway line. I enjoyed rugby sevens more as it’s more open. The last game I played for the school was at the Oxford Sevens and we were hammered by an Irish Catholic side who went on to win the competition.

The game was up for me! However, I was captivated by the athletics team and won the individual cup two years running, as I chose the events carefully!

You were also involved in school drama, weren’t you, directing a play for Moffat House.

In the 1960s the Lower Sixth was basically a ‘free’ year so there was time for more interesting things like the House play. I was inspired by an earlier production of Eugène Ionesco’s play Rhinoceros; the Ionesco play that I directed was The New Tenant and it consisted of moving numerous pieces of furniture onto the stage under the direction of the New Tenant until there was no more room and the light was turned off. I listened to the →

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opinions of the audience as they departed, and it was great hearing their mostly derogative comments as they didn’t get it.

It was all quite amusing really.

And we’d love it too if you could share some of your other memories of the school – maybe those you describe in your memoir. Were you involved much in music, for instance?

I did absolutely no music in school as the school’s musical life was exclusively comprised of classical music and hymns.

I once brought a Charlie Mingus record into the ‘music appreciation’ class and it was ripped off the record player after about twenty seconds. They didn’t get that either, probably as it was played by Black Americans and it was thought the only proper music was written in Salzburg or Venice. As Jimmy Page remarked, ‘I liked the guitar as it wasn’t taught in school.’

Of course things have changed now – though when Charlie Hart and I taught an afternoon session at a Sixth Form college not too long ago, he remarked to a violinist: ‘you could show that to your music teacher’, whereupon she replied, ‘I wouldn’t tell them I played that!’ So I guess musical snobbism still exists. Otherwise, we were forced to sing endless Victorian hymns every morning and evening (and two church services on Sundays) which personally drove me mad. There was one lad who played lots of tunes by ear and we all loved him, but again he was given little attention by the Music Department at the time.

Your father was a PE teacher and was involved in sailing and canoeing clubs at the school. Do you have any memories of those?

My father worked for the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) which co-ordinated sports activities in the South East. At school he played football against Walter Winterbottom, who later became England manager, so going to Wembley matches was never a problem. One time I went with a pal to watch a mid-week FA Cup game at Tottenham. We were shown down a dark tunnel, eventually emerging onto the pitch itself where we watched the game from the trainers’ bench. That was the team that won the double. My father took an interest in the school’s canoeing club, and my brother Mick and I featured with him on Seeing Sport on Associated

Television (ATV), formerly part of the ITV network. In one edition you can see Mick climbing up Harrison’s Rocks, a sandstone crag in East Sussex, with the former Olympic athlete John Disley instructing.

Disley and his fellow athlete Chris Brasher were both associates of my father and later founded the London Marathon, which, I should say, faced considerable opposition at its inception.

Chris with his brother Mick

Your music took you to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Israel in the 1970s and 1980s. Tell us about those experiences.

After leaving Eltham College I was due to go up to Manchester University to study Drama, but I became a little too involved with the ‘scene’ in London (it was all happening in the mid-sixties), so I missed the academic boat. Instead I took off to points east, and in a way that was my university as I met many friends along the long road who taught me about many things, including contemporary American literature, poetry, science and Sanskrit. So I had a rather unorthodox education, at one point even studying with a local music teacher in Almora in the foothills of the Himalayas, where I learnt to sing a little and appreciate ascending and descending scales. But, as I say, there’s lots more about that in the book.

Chris Jagger’s book, Talking to Myself, is published by BMG books in hardback and e-book formats.

You seem to have many strings to your bow. We’d be interested in hearing about you treading the boards with Pierce Brosnan and Ciaran Hinds, and making documentaries about blues music for the BBC and Sky Arts.

As I said, I was going to take a Drama course after school before deciding not to go. I did finally get around to some study in Los Angeles in 1975 with the legendary teacher Stella Adler – who actually knew Stanislavsky and had helped Marlon Brando and Warren Beatty among others. She gave me some direction and, on returning to London, I joined the Black Theatre of Brixton, where I was the only white guy there. I then appeared in a specially written two-hander about the Angolan Civil War at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in The Mall and things developed from there. I really don’t know how good an actor I was; I guess I had enough to make it work, but appearing with people like Ciaran Hinds and Bill Nighy made

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me appreciate my shortcomings.

Whatever the case, I enjoyed repertory theatre, particularly the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow.

You write in your autobiography about how your brother influenced your early tastes in music – and how you saw the fledgling Rolling Stones at the Scene Club in London. Did you always know they were going to be big?

All the fans at the time were convinced of that, but perhaps that was the case with many groups and their followers.

When you look back it’s surprising that a band like the Yardbirds didn’t make it bigger considering the line-up they had. I guess there’s an element of luck in these things, but being in the right place at the right time is crucial. What nobody did know in the early times is that they would come up with songs that built into such a catalogue, and that’s the really important element.

Your latest album – recorded partly during lockdown – utilises the works of an obscure 19th century poet. Tell us about it I decided to take most of 2019 off to finish the book, as you need to concentrate on the job in hand and travelling to gigs at the weekend is distracting. So basically, I wrote pre-lockdown and mostly in the mornings, and when I felt good about it. I wanted it to be enjoyable for me rather than a chore. That worked OK, but then musicians need to play so later each day I turned to writing songs as that’s pretty complimentary.

I had read a book by Ezra Pound where he mentioned Thomas Beddoes, so I looked him up and found one of his tomes, Death’s Jest-Book. I pulled some verses out and put them to music, which was fun. I included these in the record, along with other tunes that Charlie and I came up with, so we had both a record and a book. As I came up with the title Talking to Myself for the book, I thought I would write a number with the same title so Charlie came up with a Mose Allison type treatment that

worked well. The trouble is that in this country they won’t give any radio time to anything except new music, so there’s no chance the BBC will play your records. Personally, I think it’s disgraceful. As broadcaster Andy Kershaw once said to me: ‘there’s two kinds of music, good and bad.’ In contrast I have had good radio play and more attention in the USA. They just get it somehow and appreciate real, well-made music.

It’s released on CD and vinyl as well as digital download. Is there still life in those older formats?

Vinyl seems to be more popular than CD these days!

And finally, what advice would you give current pupils at the school who might aspire to a career in music?

I’m afraid the future looks pretty bleak. Music is wonderful to share with others and uplifting too, but it’s so hard to make a living from it.

Venues are closing; Covid has been a disaster for the industry and Brexit equally so. When you travel around Europe and further afield you see how well regarded the British music scene is, and how they respect it, yet in our own country this is not the case. Support for the arts is always being cut by the government, though it amounts to a small percentage of any budget. When you visit the Netherlands you see the quality and conditions of the theatres and venues and how they are supported locally and centrally. I was at one well-run Chris’s new album was released last year

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arts centre a while ago, and the director said to me that their funding had just ended abruptly under David Cameron’s government. ‘Had they informed me six months or more ahead that this would be the case I could have planned an alternative,’ she said, ‘but now we will have to close.’ Where will young people go to try things out and where will the community have a sense of coming together if we endorse such policies, I ask? Surely the mark of a civilized society is to provide such facilities for the young and old? But studying music is beneficial, as has been recently proved, and I believe it helps in old age too: it’s an exercise remembering your songs and others’ too, and at whatever point in your education you are, improvement is always possible.

I have been so fortunate knowing other excellent musicians far above me in their competence, yet they value my contribution as I come up with lyrics and ideas, sometimes unconventional ones, as I don’t have a proper musical foundation. The drummer might ask ‘where is the count?’, and I have to try to work out what I have actually done. The other aspect to remember is that you might be led into other fields such as music publishing, radio or TV. I have many pals who have made a living in these areas. They still have a close association with music and play for their own enjoyment. You might play cricket but how many make it to play the first-class game…yet they are reluctant to give it up! ⬤

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Despite Britain’s economy showing signs of recovery in 2021, many businesses continue to struggle. Upper Sixth student Aisha Ahmed explores how BAME businesses have been affected by the pandemic.

Covid Impact on

BAME Businesses T

he Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the entire world. Over the past two years, we have been fed statistics highlighting the blows to our economy, the NHS, our social lives and mental health. It is easy to forget, however, that data and mathematical figures are comprised of pieces of individual experience. The holistic view makes it easy to be unsympathetic and dispassionate to the hardship of others.

My research, which has focused on two businesses run by people from BAME backgrounds, has contextualised the pandemic’s impact, a qualitative antidote to the media’s obsession with quantitative information.

The two businesses are a hair salon and an Afro-Caribbean grocery store, both located in Woolwich, southeast London.

As well as providing specialised services to Afro-Caribbean hair and groceries, both maintain a friendly environment

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which has created a loyal customer base. The two Even though times were tough for the two businesses, businesses were major social sites for the communities they they still did their part in preventing the spread of the virus, serve prior to the pandemic, allowing distant relatives and protecting their community by following social distancing family friends, often too busy to set aside time for social guidelines. The salon, for example, stopped walk-in gatherings, to catch up while getting their hair done or appointments and moved to a booking only system. An running errands at the grocery store. In addition to their online shopping scheme had been launched at the grocery social benefit, these businesses are an advertisement for store before the pandemic where products were delivered African and Caribbean culture. to customers’ homes. This helped the business survive While both businesses are social and cultural centres in during the pandemic and serve vulnerable members of Woolwich, the pandemic’s impact on each business varied. the community.

As the salon was classified a ‘non-essential’ business it was Interestingly, neither thought that being a BAME business closed during the three lockdowns. Despite having been caused Covid to impact them more severely than non-BAME open since last April, it is still seeing a decrease in clientele. businesses. The salon specialising in Afro-Caribbean styles Job losses and fears over job security has made families opt catered to those of non-African heritage as well. Arguably, to prioritise spending on essentials. because this salon catered to more Concerns for personal safety when ethnicities than many other salons, ‘ Though these businesses attending venues such as these has they were better protected from the are no longer vibrant also contributed to the lower footfall. loss of customers because of their social spots for their The business has survived largely diverse clientele. The grocery store due to the loyalty of their client-base, shared many of the same problems communities, due to safety cultivated over years leading up to as other grocery stores across the UK. concerns and financial the pandemic.

Though these businesses are no issues, both can appreciate Conversely, the grocery store, longer vibrant social spots for their designated an ‘essential’ business, communities, due to safety concerns the small wins they have saw an increase in income due to the and financial issues, both can made throughout the panic buying of customers in the early appreciate the small wins they have pandemic.’ days of the pandemic. Although this made throughout the pandemic. spike has not remained consistent: The salon has become more restrictions in global transportation, organised since the advent of their supply chain issues and inflation have caused problems. booking system, while the grocery store owner has a Furthermore, the cost of retaining staff and hiring people newfound appreciation for his staff who were willing to work increased because of an employer’s obligation to prioritise in dangerous conditions to keep the business going and staff safety by spending more on sanitary and protective serve their community. equipment such as face masks, gloves, cleaning sprays Despite challenging conditions, these two BAME and hand gels. The initial increase in profit at the beginning businesses have persevered, providing services in safe of the pandemic was almost cancelled out by the cost of conditions for their customers. They remain cultural pillars of adhering to Covid regulations. the Afro-Caribbean community by doing so. ⬤ This article first appeared in the winter edition of Eltham Eye, a Sixth Form magazine, edited by Miranda Mole and Zain Syed.

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Covid:

Lost Learning and Power School closures as part of broader social distancing measures were ‘associated with considerable harms to children’s health and wellbeing’, according to a paper

by UCL commissioned by the government. The media is awash with stories promulgating the impact of lost learning due to Covid. But is extra time in the classroom the answer? And should schools focus on teaching attitude and disposition, rather than knowledge?

Mark Chesterton, Teacher of History and Head of Teacher Training, answers these questions and challenges us all – parents, teachers and pupils – to think differently about learning.

Everyone’s experience of Eltham College has been markedly altered over the last two years. For students, this change has been unique and unprecedented. Teachers, similarly, have had to change their professional habits, while parents were forced to deal with home schooling during two national lockdowns. Educational researchers have been keen to assess the impact of these changes on education. A Google search on Covid and education yields some rather stark headlines. A generation of children are

g’ learnin t s o ‘l ’s t Covid osing, bu l c e r a ea gaps l absenc i p u p g risin at ber 2021 key thre , N ov e m e cEd onlin From Se

‘at risk from lost learning’, according to The Guardian. The website SecEd argues that lost learning gaps are ‘closing’ but pupil absence is now a ‘key threat’. Schools Week, moreover, claims pupils have lost ‘a third of their learning time during Covid-19’.

In some respects these headlines mirror the modern obsession with measuring and evaluating every aspect of life. One of these articles even claimed that for an average wage earner ‘losing half a year of schooling will mean losing £40,000 in income

Covid: Pupils h third ave los of t pande learning ti a m m e since ic bega From S n chools Week o nline,

over their lifetime’. The research behind these headlines was undoubtedly robust and shed meaningful light on Covid’s impact on some schools.

However, the most intriguing headline revealed in the course of my own research was: ‘Extra classroom time may do little to help pupils recover lost learning after Covid-19’.

So, if you have had less classroom time due to the pandemic, but the solution to the problem was not more time in the classroom, what could it be? A logical place to start in pursuit

Covid: generation of children in England ‘at risk’ fr om lost learning From The Guardian onl ine , June 2021

July 20 21

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of an answer might be to look at what is going on in a school classroom.

One model that elucidates this is the learning river.

This model suggests that in every classroom there is an interaction between knowledge, skills and dispositions. The teacher can easily see and impact the surface of the river, the ‘knowledge’. With more thought, they can also develop the shallower water: the ‘skills’. Hardest to see – but most important to shape – is what is going on deep beneath the surface: the ‘attitudes and dispositions’.

This model echoes a couple of my beliefs about teaching. First, as a teacher I can adjust my lessons to ‘catch up’ my classes on the surface of the river – the ‘shallow’ stuff, i.e. the knowledge and skills. Second, the thing teachers care most about is the dark depths of the river – a student’s attitudes and dispositions. This is why teachers enter the profession and therein lies the secret to lost learning.

The learning river

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND LITERACIES

ATTITUDES AND DISPOSITIONS

‘ If lost learning is a concern, time is best spent investing in students’ attitudes and dispositions.’

LEARNING POWER

interdependence collaboration

imitation

making links reasoning capitalising

tional absorption o Em perserverance noticing managing distractions

Cognitive

•Q uestioning: getting below the surface; playing with situations •M aking links: seeking coherence, relevance and meaning • I magining: using the mind’s eye as a learning theatre •R easoning: thinking rigorously and methodically •C apitalising: making good use of resources

Str ate g ic

listening and empathy

imagining questioning

The headline about extra class time doing little to recoup lost learning was from the University of Cambridge and they essentially agree with this model.

If lost learning is a concern, time is best spent investing in students’ attitudes and dispositions. This is also supported anecdotally through my experience of a decade teaching at Eltham College.

‘ What resonated with me about the most successful, memorable and impressive Elthamians I have taught over the years was not their knowledge, but their character.’

So, what are these all-important dispositions? A model to consider is one based on Learning Power: →

Social

Social Cognitive

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• Interdependence: balancing self-reliance and sociability • Collaboration: the skills of learning with others • Listening/Empathy: getting inside others’ minds • Imitation: picking up others’ habits and values

planning revising distilling metalearning

Strategic

• Planning: working learning out in advance • Revising: monitoring and adapting along the way • Distilling: drawing out the lessons from experience • Meta-learning: understanding learning, and yourself as a learner

Emotional

• Absorption: flow; the pleasure of being rapt in learning • Managing distraction: recognising and reducing interruptions • Noticing: really sensing what’s out there • Perseverance: stickability; tolerating the feelings of learning

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This model reframes school and education in a different way. School is more than lessons, subjects and exams. Children do not attend secondary school for seven years to only come out with some certificates: they come to school to build their Learning Power, to be ready for the next stage of their life.

So how might a student develop these vital traits? A quick look at the ‘social’ dimension of the model might help a student reflect on how to build their dispositions in this area: Interdependence:

balancing self-reliance and sociability

Collaboration:

the skills of learning with others

‘ Children do not attend secondary school for seven years to only come out with some certificates: they come to school to build their Learning Power, to be ready for the next stage of their life.’

Asking for help when it’s needed; Being a source of advice for others Excelling in group assignments; Maximising opportunities for teamwork

Empathy:

Appreciating the views of others; Acting on bullying when you see it

Imitation:

Mimicking the techniques of others; Picking your role models carefully

getting inside others’ minds picking up others’ habits and values

Thankfully, staff see these actions every day at Eltham College. Personally, I have recently seen Sixth Form pupils coach younger students rugby, the School Congress committees meet, the peer mentoring programme start, and countless subject society leaders deliver their own talks, provoking discussion among their peers.

The opportunity for pupils to build their learning power, and positively

shape their dispositions, is always available, in lessons and beyond.

It would be a shame not to maximise these opportunities given their importance. Do not just take my word for it, either: employers want character traits – e.g. resilience, leadership, adaptability etc. – more than they want qualifications and knowledge. They too value what lies at the bottom of the learning river.

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MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN RECRUITING SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEAVERS, ACCORDING TO THE CBI

85% ATTITUDES TOWARDS WORK/ CHARACTER

38%

QUALIFICATION OBTAINED

30% ACADEMIC RESULTS

63% APTITUDES FOR WORK

44%

BASIC LITERACY & NUMERACY

24% RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

In summary, I do not think students should be concerned by negative lost learning headlines. Eltham, in comparison to many other schools across the country, delivered excellent remote learning provision to minimise the impact of school closures.

But now pupils are back in school, they should not merely pay attention to the surface of the learning river, because teachers do not: we care about the deeper water, the stuff that is harder to see, yet far more important. Why not help yourself (and them) by thinking about your attitudes and dispositions and getting involved in all the aspects of school that can positively impact them? ⬤

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Chariots of Fire: 40 Years on

Eric Liddell, the most famous Old Elthamian, was inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame in January. March will see the 40th anniversary of the success at the Oscars of the film Chariots of Fire, which tells the story of his gold medal win at the Paris Olympics in 1924. Andrew Beattie, School Archivist, looks back at the film – and at Liddell’s enduring legacy.

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arch 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the film Chariots of Fire being honoured at the 54th Academy Awards. In the ceremony that took place on March 29, 1982, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, presided over by the legendary American talk show host Johnny Carson, the film won Oscar awards for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated in several other categories, including Best Director. →

Ben Cross (left) as Harold Abrahams and Ian Charleson (right) as Eric Liddell. © Alamy

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Despite not ‘sweeping the board’ it was a remarkable achievement for its producer, David Puttnam, who collected the Best Picture award. The screenplay award went to Colin Welland, who had previously written a number of television scripts as well as the 1979 film Yanks. The Greek composer, Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou (better known as ‘Vangelis’), picked up the music award for his iconic, synthesiser-based score. Milena Canonero – whose credits stretch over half a century from Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1971) to last year’s The French Dispatch (directed by the American director Wes Anderson) – picked up the award for costume design.

The connection to Eltham College is that the film tells the story of Eric Liddell and his rivalry with fellow British athlete, Harold Abrahams. Both men were runners in the British team at the 1924 Paris Olympics, though both competed for different reasons: Eric Liddell, the son of missionary parents, was a devout Christian who ran for the glory of God, while Harold Abrahams ran to overcome the anti-Semitic prejudice he had faced at Cambridge University and elsewhere. One of the most famous episodes recounted by the film is when Eric pulled out of the heats for the 100 metres, his favoured race, as they were scheduled on Sunday (the Sabbath), and instead entered for the 400 metres, where he duly won gold.

Chariots of Fire is not, however, a biopic about Eric Liddell: it is Harold Abrahams’ story as much as it is Liddell’s. The film concentrates entirely on the 1924 Olympics and the lead-up to it; there is nothing about Liddell’s schooldays or his mission work in China. However, when the film was released in May 1981, it understandably caused something of a stir at Liddell’s old school. The Elthamian of that year noted that there was a private showing for pupils and staff at the Empire, Leicester Square on a school day, with a half-holiday arranged for pupils. Lower Sixth pupil Christopher Vaughan wrote that he was ‘one of six boys privileged to attend the film’s Royal Premier’, adding: ‘what seemed at first likely to be “just another film about a great athlete” became one of the most interesting and exciting evenings of my life, not only because of the presence of the actors, the director, Her Majesty the Queen Mother and countless other celebrities, but also because of the whole atmosphere surrounding the occasion, an air of expectancy, of emotion and of solemn respect. Underlying the glamour was the feeling that we were paying our last tributes to two of Britain’s finest athletes.’

In July 1982, Christopher Porteous, then Headmaster, invited David Puttnam and Colin Welland to attend the Summer Reunion for OEs at the school as VIP guests, a few months after the Oscar ceremony. Colin Welland – who gave Eric Liddell the memorable line ‘I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel

Eric Liddell during his 1932 visit to the school when he distributed prizes on Sports Day (80 years later at the 2012 Sports Day his daughter was to perform the same role). Beside him is Mrs Turberville, the wife of Geoffrey Turberville (Headmaster 1930-59)

WHEN THE FILM WAS RELEASED IN MAY 1981...THE ELTHAMIAN OF THAT YEAR NOTED THAT THERE WAS A PRIVATE SHOWING FOR PUPILS AND STAFF AT THE EMPIRE, LEICESTER SQUARE ON A SCHOOL DAY.

Emma Pover’s sculpture of Eric Liddell in the foyer of the Sports Centre, showing Eric in his characteristic running pose, with his head thrown back.

David Puttnam awarding one of the prizes at Speech Day in 1999.

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Guests of Honour at the OE Summer Reunion, 1982. Left to right: Mrs Jenny Somerville (sister of Eric Liddell), Arthur Green (President, Old Elthamians Association), Colin Welland (Chariots of Fire screenwriter, holding a brochure for the school’s 1982 rugby tour to Canada), Mrs Porteous, Mr Porteous (Headmaster 1959-83) and David Puttnam (Chariots of Fire producer)

Colin Welland (left) and David Puttnam photographed on the steps at the front of the school during their visit in 1982

Chaplain Peter Swaffield with Patricia Liddell Russell, Eric’s daughter, in 2012, during the opening of the College Meadow Pavilion

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His pleasure’ – was a well-known figure at the time: he was reputable writer and had acted in a number of TV dramas in the 1970s, as well as appearing in a major role in the 1969 film Kes. David Puttnam would go on to be a true British film mogul, producing films into the mid 1990s and even running a major Hollywood studio, Columbia Pictures, in the late 1980s. In 1997 he was created a life peer, becoming Baron Puttnam of Queensgate, with a special interest in education. He retired from the House of Lords in October last year. He has maintained his association with the school throughout this time, having been a Guest of Honour at the 1999 Speech Day and speaking at a dinner marking the 100th anniversary of the school’s move to Mottingham in January 2012.

The film has as much of an enduring legacy as Eric Liddell’s Olympic triumph. In 1999 it ranked 19th in the British Film Institute’s (BFI) list of the best British films of the 20th century. In July 2012 the BFI part-funded a re-release of the film in UK cinemas, just two weeks before the opening of the London Olympics. In the same year one of the actors in the film, Nigel Havers, whose character Lord Andrew Lindsay challenges Harold Abrahams to a running race around the Great Court of Trinity College, Cambridge, presented a documentary for ITV entitled The Real Chariots of Fire. Havers filmed at the school for a day, in the Chapel (where he talked with Peter Swaffield, then Chaplain) and in the corridor with the sports team photos. The programme is easy to find on YouTube. Also in that year Patricia Liddell Russell, Eric’s daughter, visited the school, presenting awards at Sports Day and opening the new College Meadow Pavilion. In response to the induction of her father into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame in January 2022 (the centenary of him gaining his first cap for Scotland) she remarked that, ‘When my father’s sporting achievements are remembered, often no mention is made that he played seven times for Scotland and scored a number of tries. Once he got the ball, he would be very difficult to catch. He was clearly a very much appreciated member of the team… I say a profound thank you to all who have been involved in arranging this honouring of my father.’

Chariots of Fire lives on – and with it the story of Eric Liddell, ‘the man who would not run on Sunday’. It is apparently President Biden’s favourite film: he alluded to it in his inauguration speech. This brought a tweeted response from David Puttnam in January of last year, which read: ‘It’s not at all surprising that Chariots of Fire is Joe Biden’s favourite film; the movie is a total repudiation of the Trumpian belief that “good guys come last”!’ 2024 will mark the centenary of Eric Liddell’s Olympic triumph. It is fitting that the Olympics will once again be staged in Paris in that year.

We can, therefore, expect to hear much more about Eric Liddell, and Chariots of Fire, over the next two years. ⬤

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Reinvigorating an Iconic EngineeringDesign Brand

Faizal Khan (OE 1998) has breathed new life into the ‘world’s smallest car’ – the Peel P50 – after pitching his company’s ideas on the TV show Dragons’ Den. Andrew Beattie asked him how he became a business entrepreneur – and how as a qualified FIFA agent he has helped to revitalize the national football team of Guyana.

Engineering and physics have featured a lot in your business roles. Did your time at Eltham College inspire you in this direction?

My time at the school was enjoyable and memorable. We had teachers that challenged us to think outside the box, and the group of pupils I was close with also challenged each other all day, every day. If I am honest, when Guyana struck oil in 2015 and I was learning more about hydrocarbons, I thought to myself, ‘I really wish I had paid full attention in my Chemistry and Physics classes at Eltham College!’ A word of note to the pupils reading: pay attention in class all the time, even if the subject you are studying isn’t your favourite. You just don’t know when that information might prove useful in the future.

Design Technology was a favourite subject of mine at school. It involved making of all sorts of weird and

wonderful things, understanding the strengths of materials, and how to best affix components together.

These have been skills that have been useful in later life.

Tell us about the Peel P50 cars.

They were manufactured in the Isle of Man many years ago, but you have revived the brand.

What inspired you about them?

Since 1962 the Peel P50 has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s smallest car. Dare I say we were able to take the appeal of the Peel P50 to global recognition, with the car today featured in over 150 countries and counting.

Together with my business partner, Gary Hillman, I reinvigorated this classic microcar brand about 15 years ago. This involved appearing on the BBC programmes Top Gear and Dragons’ Den as well as a Cadbury’s TV commercial. The re-manufacture

Jeremy Clarkson testing out a P50 for the BBC’s Top Gear

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of a new road-legal Peel car (for the streets of the UK, the USA, Dubai and Japan to name a few) was a huge task, with the new prototypes being made with both petrol as well as electric engines.

Today we are proud the Peel micro car brand is internationally recognised. In 2022 another licensing deal was confirmed for the Peel P50 and Peel Trident cars to be featured in Microsoft Xbox game, Forza Motorsport. The new Microsoft video artwork looks great, and we are very excited to see how the Xbox fans like the Peel cars in the new game.

Who knows, a Peel P50 may yet make a special appearance at Eltham College in the not-too-distant future.

We enjoyed watching your appearance on Dragons’ Den from around ten years ago (easy to find on YouTube). What advice would you give someone wanting, as you did, to pitch an idea on the show?

I think Dragons’ Den and the USA equivalent, Shark Tank, are great shows for budding young businessmen and women. I watched a few episodes back-to-back the other week and despite Dragons’ Den now going into its 18th series, some of the ideas being pitched are brilliant.

My advice would be that when thinking of launching a new business service or product you should try and find a readymade market that has a gap, and create a product for that gap, rather than making a product that you really like and then trying to find a new market to sell it into. You also need to be confident, smile and remember people buy into people, not just the product. Your pitch must be on something you truly believe in.

What was it about your pitch that you think appealed to James Caan but not the other Dragons?

Gary and I actually had all five Dragons interested in the car, though this didn’t make the final cut. I think James saw the appeal and British quirkiness of the Peel P50 brand. He also

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liked the fact that we were very straight up and honest about not knowing exactly which direction to take the Peel brand.

Top Gear did a feature on the P50 cars, with Jeremy Clarkson pictured driving one around the streets of London and then around the BBC building, at one point letting John Humphrys, erstwhile presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme, have a go with it. Did you enjoy the show’s feature?

The Peel P50 Top Gear feature is arguably the most famous Peel P50 media appearance. The BBC has highlighted the Peel episode as being in the top three most watched episodes globally of all time, with over 200 million views and counting. Watching Jeremy Clarkson, a tall man at 6’5, drive the car around the streets of London made for a really enjoyable and historic show.

You are also a former FIFA licensed football agent.

How did you get into this and what talent have you discovered and brought on?

I qualified in my mid-twenties as a FIFA licensed football agent after working for Maxim magazine at Dennis Publishing, Yahoo.com, E-Type Europe and Absolute Publishing. Football agency work happened almost by accident, if I am honest. I always loved football, even at Breaside Prep School, where I was before Eltham College.

I recall being at Eltham College in September 1996 when I found out my beloved Arsenal FC had just appointed a new manager from Japan, whose name was Arsène Wenger.

The striking resemblance between the manager’s first name and the club’s name was very amusing to some of my classmates. Being one of only a few Arsenal fans at school (many pupils in my year and the year above were Spurs fans), I knew I was in for a long season. I never expected that by the following May I would be the one laughing, watching Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy for the →

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first time, playing some scintillating football along the way.

I remember by the middle of that season my brother Afzal and I had paper rounds in the Bickley area. Each morning we would be checking all the back pages of all the customers’ newspapers to find out the scores. I offer a belated apology to anyone reading this from the Bickley area who regularly received very wet back pages of their Times, Sun or Daily Star newspapers on rainy days in 1997.

Soon I began interacting with footballers who, for the most part, were convinced I would be a better agent than their current rep. It was just around the time where the game was really moving into another dimension commercially.

We did deals from the Premier League down the English football pyramid, and with Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA as well several developmental deals in mainland Europe second divisions. A niche area we developed was to help the better young internationals from the USA and Caribbean national teams into the UK and Europe, with the older UK professionals going the other way for one last ‘hurrah’, usually with the sun on their back.

ground was a local park – how times have changed! Their squad included a new French winger named David Ginola, and England centre forward, ‘Sir’ Les Ferdinand.

Funnily enough the better rugby players in my year were also decent footballers, with many playing Saturday school rugby and Sunday league football. Boys such as Fethi Huseyin, Liam Mulvihill and James Mole, to name a few, were standout all-round sportsmen: if you wanted to be around them they would make you competitive. Some would race you to the tuck shop queue every day if you let them; it wasn’t until later in life that I realised just what a strong winning mentality some of them had from a really young age.

‘ I am glad to say I’ve been able to help a lot of young people into professional football, as well as some older players extend their careers by sealing deals in somewhat warmer shores.’

I have since moved to the other side of the fence, holding professional recruitment and scouting positions with Senior mens’ FIFA international first teams from Malta, Guyana and Montserrat.

Here are some Guyana FIFA international players to look out for in future: Stephen Duke Mckenna (Queens Park Rangers FC, Championship, UK); Omari Glasgow (Chicago Fire FC, Major League Soccer, USA); and Terell Ondaan (FC Craiova, Romanian League 1).

I am glad to say I’ve been able to help a lot of young people into professional football, as well as some older players extend their careers by sealing deals in somewhat warmer shores.

There is no football played at Eltham, besides pupils kicking around a football on the fields at lunchtime.

What part did you play in sport at school?

I am proud that I came through the school ranks and played a decent level of rugby at Eltham College, captaining a number of the teams along the way. I played mostly in the front row as a hooker (my ears should look a lot worse, come to think of it), before having a neck injury and having to learn to play open side flanker, which didn’t see half as much of the action. I remember winning the Kent Cup during my time at school.

One year we went on tour to Newcastle and played Barnard Castle School. Not only did we win our rugby matches away from home, but we also went to watch Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United train. In those days their training

You mention in one of your social media video clips that you have a ‘deep affinity with Guyana’ and spent a lot of time there when you were younger. It is not a country that many are familiar with, however. Could you tell us something about it – and maybe what the highlights are for visitors?

Guyana is a small country in South America, next to Venezuela and north of Brazil. It is the only English-speaking nation in South America. It’s part of the Commonwealth and was formerly known as British Guiana.

It is not a beach destination per se, but I believe if you enjoy safari or adventure holidays Guyana should be on your list of places to visit. The journey from Gatwick is terrible... you have to stop off in Barbados for a night on the beach!

Exxon Mobil recently announced they have discovered more than ten billion barrels of oil off the shores of Guyana.

Every man and his dog involved in the global oil industry suddenly seems to be learning where Guyana is, including some past schoolfriends of mine who recently got in touch, as the hedge fund or merchant bank they work for are interested in Guyana.

The rainforests and waterfalls there are something special: this includes the Kaieteur Falls, which is the planet’s largest single drop waterfall.

You hosted Spotlight, a talent show on Guyanese cable TV. Could you tell us something about the show and how you got into hosting it, and maybe something about some of the acts featured?

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As they say, it’s about who you know. My girlfriend at the time knew the producers. I guess I was a new kid on the block in those days, so they asked me to try out for it, which I did.

It was a good experience, and I got a lot of pats on the back from friends in the industry in London and overseas.

It was really interesting to learn all the intricacies of TV production, including camera and lighting angles, scripting and of course filming for up to 14 hours a day.

The show was a ‘Guyana’s Got Talent’ with a mix of acts and performances. To this day it’s probably the most expensive TV production of its kind in the country. I hope to be involved in other ventures in the future, but not necessarily as the host as I’m no longer the new kid on the block!

You’ve also been involved with the Guyanese football team, in 2011 taking them to the final of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) World Cup qualifying round. How rewarding did you find this role?

On November 11, 2011 – 11.11.11. as it is now famously refereed too – I was lucky enough to have scouted and recruited former Premiership players Carl Cort (former Newcastle United centre forward) and Leon Cort (former Stoke and Burnley central defender) to play for Guyana, the nation of their mother’s birth.

After Trinidad has lost 2-1 away to Bermuda and Guyana drew 1-1 away to Barbados, Guyana were a point ahead and played Trinidad and Tobago at home in what was a must win game to advance as group winners (and knock everyone else out of the FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers). Trinidad showed up in Guyana with an all-star cast, including a host of professional players from their 2006 World Cup campaign such as Kenwyn Jones, Stern John, Carlos Edwards and Chris Birchall. Guyana hadn’t won against Trinidad in World Cup Qualifiers since the early 1950s, I think. The score ended up with Guyana beating Trinidad 2-1, the Guyanan goals scored by Ricky Shakes and Leon Cort (both scouted by me).

The 15,000 Guyanese in the stadium went berserk. I should have run for President that year!

In 2018, I left my role as Head of Recruitment with the Malta FA to return to the Guyana national team, this time to support new head coach Michael Johnson. Guyana

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subsequently qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in the nation’s history.

You are now CEO of Guysons Oil in Guyana.

What does the firm do, and what are the challenges and rewards of this role?

Guysons Engineering was established by my father in 1992 as the country’s main machine shop, offering machining and fabrication services. In 2017 we launched a new company, Guysons Oil and Gas, to support Exxon Mobil with an ISO 9001-2015 certified machine shop but with additional certified oilfield services. These included manufacture, procurement and logistics facilities, engineering project management, staffing, housing and emergency maintenance and repair support. We have recently launched a major new joint venture with a brilliant company called K+B Industries from Houma, Louisiana, so I suppose Guysons is now a group of companies.

And finally, what advice would you give to current Elthamians who would like to follow a career in business entrepreneurship, as you have?

I am flattered each time I am asked this and would happily lend some time to anyone who was seeking some advice.

What I would say is try and be the hardest-working person in the room, every day. Be a good listener, listen to understand first and foremost, not to reply. Smile, be likeable and ensure you are a person of your word.

Some years ago, an important person at Exxon Mobil, Mr Henson, asked me to do two things when I told him I wanted Guysons to have a future in the oil industry.

He said: ‘Faizal, be honest and say exactly what you can do, then do exactly what you say: if you do that the oil field will trust you.’ Neither I nor Guysons have forgotten that advice. ⬤

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Sport

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HOCKEY CMG

Over 80 girls in Year 7 and 8 represented the College for the first time in its history last term. The addition of a second AstroTurf pitch, a project that has been in gestation for eight years, made this term even more significant.

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THE SUPPORT FROM STAFF IN ORGANISING AND DELIVERING THE PROGRAMME THIS YEAR HAS GIVEN THE GIRLS AN EXCELLENT START TO THEIR ELTHAM COLLEGE HOCKEY CAREERS. THEIR EFFORT, ENERGY AND COMMITMENT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19 and school closures last year, the U13 girls have performed well in competitive fixtures as well as being role models off the pitch.

Thanks to the guidance of Mr Thorogood and Miss Clough, the results in our block fixtures improved each week last term.

season. This did not, however, dampen their spirits: they worked hard during their training sessions, listening closely to the coaching points being delivered, which they then applied to their games. Their positive attitude yielded some great results, most notably a 7-0 victory over St Dunstan’s.

The U13As and U13Bs beat St Dunstan’s and Royal Russell School comfortably.

Both teams also drew 1-1 with Epsom College.

It was a similar story for the U12B team: heavy defeats were followed by a convincing win over St Dunstan’s.

Grace Jarvis, playing for the U12B team, scored the first girls’ hockey hattrick in Eltham colours, before Elsie Smith went one better and became the first girl to score four goals in a match.

The U12As, a team lacking in experience, were on the end of some heavy defeats to Alleyn’s and Radnor House at the start of the

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RUGBY

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BJK

After such a long time away from competitive fixtures the return to rugby, although highly anticipated, had to be phased. Pre-season training and controlled fixtures took place during the last week of August. These were attended by over 200 pupils from Year 8 to the Upper Sixth, setting the tone for what turned out to be an incredible, albeit very busy, term of rugby at Eltham College.

Our first block fixture of the academic year was against Judd. This was the first time in nearly two years that we had seen competitive rugby fixtures played at Eltham College – a fantastic thing. There were some notable wins in the U15A (22-5), U14B (20-10) and U13B (50-35) fixtures. From that moment on, the term never showed any signs of slowing down with further fixtures against Trinity, City of London Freemens, Caterham, Bickley Park and Colfe’s, where all Senior, U16 and U15 teams recorded well-deserved victories. The 1st XV beat Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School (7-3) and Robert Clack School (25-7) before narrowly losing to Brentwood School (12-15) in the National Vase competition.

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As we approached half-term, the 1st XV began preparations for the St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival.

Having never been to St Joseph’s as a member of staff or a player, I shared the boys’ enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of testing ourselves against some of the best rugby schools in the country. Our pool games saw us take on Whitchurch High School, Kirkham Grammar School and local rivals, Dulwich College. The effort and commitment of our 1st XV on that day is THE EFFORT AND one of my highlights of working at Eltham College.

COMMITMENT OF Our boys fronted up to, OUR 1ST XV ON and competed with, teams THE FIRST DAY OF full of U18 international and Premiership academy THE ST JOSPEH’S players. This was a theme FESTIVAL WAS A of the weekend with our HIGHLIGHT OF MY boys giving a fantastic account of themselves TIME WORKING and leaving an impression AT ELTHAM on the historic festival. A special mention must go to Matthew Chick and Ben Adamson who, as Year 11s, played above their age group and were outstanding throughout the entire weekend.

After a well-earned half term break, we returned to a busy fixture list in the run up to Christmas: the second half of the Michaelmas Term saw over 200 fixtures in the Senior School. Further block fixtures against Ravens Wood, New Hall, Hayes, Skinners’ and Sevenoaks gave our students the opportunity to represent the school fiercely, something they most definitely did. The Senior, U15 and U14 teams secured a clean sweep of wins against New Hall. Every team playing in the block fixture against Sevenoaks won, with standout results from the 1st XV (39-10), 2nd XV (75-5), U14A (25-10) and U14B (50-10).

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The successful return to competitive fixtures has been made possible by the commitment from students, who have attended countless fixtures and training sessions; the support of parents on the touchline; the extensive input from colleagues who have coached, refereed, and inspired the pupils throughout the term; and last, but by no means least, the grounds staff and catering team for making our school such a welcoming place for opposition teams.

Our attention now turns to the rugby sevens season, where Eltham College will host Senior and U12 tournaments. Most year groups will compete in the Kent Sevens tournament and at Rosslyn Park in the spring. ⬤

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Skiing

ELTHAM SKI SQUAD SELECTED

BY ESSIKA Congratulations to Adam Cornick, Josh Found, Liam Foley, Freddie Bidwell, Luke McCool, Alex Lancaster, Theo Austin and Boden Kelly for being selected for the English Alpine squad by the English Schools’ Ski Association (ESSKIA).

JUNIOR SCHOOL HOUSE RUGBY

Carey were crowned overall winners in the House rugby competition

SHM

It was a delight to be able to welcome back parents and pupils for some Saturday morning fixtures after the disruption caused by the pandemic. The games were friendly but fiercely fought as pupils across all four year groups battled for supremacy. In the end, Carey were triumphant, gallantly lead by the House Captains: George, James and Harvey. ⬤

After taking part in English Schools’ Skiing Association (ESSKIA) events and proving themselves against other ski racers from around the country, our racers have now been recognised for their strong performances.

The students will now attend a week of training in the Alps to showcase their skiing ability and hope to be selected for the International Schools’ Federation (ISF) event in 2023.

The ISF is an international competition which sees ski racers from all around the world compete at an extremely high level and is the pinnacle of the English Schools’ Ski Association.

Congratulations to our skiing team and coach, Miss Holmes. ⬤

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NETBALL

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PDC

We are extremely proud of all the netball girls in the Senior School. They have shown commitment and enthusiasm throughout the Michaelmas Term. We look forward to watching them flourish over the coming weeks.

Congratulations to Kyveli Nolan and Christine Kadiri for being selected for the U13 Kent county netball team, and to Maddie Tynan in the Lower Sixth for being selected for the U17 London Pulse netball squad. A big thank you to all the parents, coaches and staff that support the netball teams and enable these opportunities to happen.

YEAR 7 The quality of netball in Year 7 has improved dramatically this term.

From the first week the girls were eager to get involved in netball training sessions, including on Saturdays, demonstrating an impressive skill set as a cohort to match their positive attitude. Almost three quarters of girls in Year 7 →

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attend Monday night netball sessions, where they have been consistently determined to hone their skills. The U12A team played their first fixture away at Epsom College on September 15 for a Sisters n Sport Cup game. The game went to extra time, but Epsom eventually emerged winners, the game finishing 14-13.

The U12A team went on to play against Colfe’s. The girls used their experience gained from the previous match and performed the skills they had acquired at training to finish with a superb final score of 17-5 to Eltham College.

Our final match of the term was against St John’s School, Leatherhead, which was a showstopper! The teams were level going into the final quarter before the Eltham girls pushed through to win 14-11. All the Year 7 netballers should be immensely proud of their commitment, perseverance and performances. We look forward to seeing them progress this term.

KAH

YEAR 8 Following all the interruptions and restrictions last year, the U13A team played their first fixture away at Putney High School in the first round of the School Sport Magazine Cup on Friday 10 September. It was a very challenging game,

and although the team did not manage to win, the girls learnt a lot and made evident progress throughout.

Shortly afterwards, the U13As played against Royal Russell School in the first round of the Sisters n Sport Cup. The team dominated the final quarter of the game and, following this match, qualified for the A BIG THANK YOU TO Plate competition. Our final match of the first ALL THE PARENTS, half-term was against COACHES AND STAFF Prior’s Field School in THAT SUPPORT THE the first round of the Independent Schools NETBALL TEAMS Netball Cup (ISNC). It AND ENABLE THESE was a nail-biting game OPPORTUNITIES where both teams were neck and neck until the TO HAPPEN final minute. Prior’s Field snuck in a final goal in the last 30 seconds, meaning the girls lost by one and therefore did not qualify for the next round.

In the second half of the Michaelmas Term, the U13As competed in two rounds of the Sisters n Sport Plate competition. They beat Daneshill School 24-9 and Royal Alexandra and Albert School 29-12, securing qualification

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for the quarter-finals in early 2022. A squad of 20 girls has continued to train consistently each week. The Year 8s should be very proud of how much progress they have made this term. We look forward to seeing how they go this term, where there will be more opportunities to play, progress and develop.

SENIORS The Senior netball team has had a very busy start to the season. The 1st VII competed in their first friendly tournament of the year on Thursday 9 September at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, where they won all their games and finished in first place.

On September 18, the Seniors participated in the first ever ‘Friday Night Lights’ event at Eltham College. It was a fantastic evening with three schools playing and over 60 spectators. The 1st VII played exceptionally well, winning all of their games, and were duly crowned overall winners.

This was good preparation for the Kent Tournament, which followed the next week.

Upon arrival, it was clear we were in a tough competition.

The girls remained focused, determined and courageous throughout the tournament, however, beating Langley Park School, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, St Dunstan’s and Sutton Valence. This resulted in their qualifying for the Kent Finals.

The Finals were held on Saturday 27 November. It was a cold, wet day but the girls showed determination and great spirit throughout, winning six out of their seven matches.

Notable wins came Bromley High, WE LOOK FORWARD against Colfe’s and Sevenoaks.

TO SEEING HOW The 1st VII were crowned THE WHOLE SQUAD Kent Champions 2021, a title Eltham College CONTINUES TO last won in 2017. The PROGRESS AND Regional Finals took DEVELOP IN 2022. place on Sunday 30 January, where victories were recorded against Bancroft’s, Godolphin and Latymer, and Highgate. The girls finished in third place, a tremendous achievement.

The 2nd VII competed in a tournament at Langley Park School for Girls, where they played against six teams.

They did incredibly well, finishing fourth overall – missing out on third place by one point. The squad has enjoyed weekly fixtures against local schools across the term and has made a tremendous amount of progress.

We look forward to seeing how the whole squad continues to progress and develop in 2022 and are excited for the upcoming weekend tour to Exeter, due to take place in March. ⬤

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Register

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Times Past and Present Andrew Beattie looks back at our pages 10, 20, 50 and 80 years ago.

In 1942 the school was celebrating its centenary – and The Elthamian of June 1942 was advertised as the ‘Centenary Number’. ‘In 1842 the founders of our school may have visualised its existence 100 years hence,’ noted the editorial, ‘but hardly in grounds of over 16 acres, or with buildings housing over 400 boys; nor could they have foreseen the circumstances in which the school would have to celebrate its first centenary.’

The issue was, of course, published during the height of the Second World War. ‘It may seem unfortunate to many of us,’ the editorial continues, ‘especially the present generation of boys, that the War has prevented us from celebrating our centenary with the many festivities that the occasion deserves.’ The magazine included a section made up of reminiscences by former masters and old boys of the school. It also noted that ‘a part of the front field was cut up for allotments’ as part of the government’s ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign that year. On a more positive note, however, it observed that ‘…a member of staff, while reading a copy of Tatler last term, was surprised to see the

June 1942 cover

REGISTER

Griff Rhys Jones at Speech Day 2012

Mrs Hobbs – photographed for Elthamian 2002

photographs of three Elthamians on consecutive pages.’ The then Housemaster of Carey spoke about the year seeing the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society by the House’s namesake, William Carey. Carey House’s performance in the ‘athletics sports’ that year was ‘disappointing’, however, though the writer of the House report acknowledged that ‘the House may congratulate itself on winning the Keenness Competition last term’.

Thirty years later, in the edition published in the summer of 1972, an account of the activities of the historical society featured: ‘Great interest was generated by the lecture ‘The Customs Men,’ given by an officer of the Customs and Excise...

The exhibition on 20th Century War, held in Room 32, also provoked interest and will be followed by similar exhibitions in the future,’ the writer noted.

Another 30 years further on, The Elthamian of 2002 (the magazine had moved to an annual publication

Cover, Summer edition, Elthamian 1972

by then) contained an interview with new arrival to the Biology Department, Mrs Hobbs, who retired in the summer of 2021 after 20 years’ service to the school. In the interview she revealed that her taste in music stretched from The Clash to Elton John, and that her main academic interests were genetics and human physiology.

Ten years ago, in 2012, the school celebrated another important anniversary: 100 years at the Mottingham site. Comedian and actor Griff Rhys Jones was one of the speakers at Speech Day that year. ⬤

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Obituary

Malcolm Molyneux OBE Professor Malcolm Molyneux OBE, who was a pupil at Eltham College between 1957 and 1962, sadly passed away in November 2021. His career in tropical medicine brought immeasurable benefits to the treatment and prevention of malaria in Malawi.

Malcolm was born in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (at the time the Belgian Congo) in November 1943. His parents were missionaries serving with the Africa Evangelistic Band, an inter-church missionary society formed in Cape Town in 1924, still in existence today. He was sent to Eltham College as a boarder in June 1957 at the age of 13.

At school he was closely involved in the Christian life of the school, writing chapel reports for The Elthamian and taking an active role in Bible classes.

An excellent fly-half, he was awarded Colours for rugby and was a prefect in his final year at the school.

After leaving Eltham College he read Natural Sciences at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge before taking up his clinical training at St Bartholomew’s Medical School, London. It was there where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Neech. They both qualified in 1968 and were married the following year.

Malcolm spent the early years of his career in Malawi, where he was transferred from a small mission hospital in Malosa to the main government hospital in Blantyre because there was no medical

specialist present at the time. He practised in Blantyre until 1984 and completed his Doctor of Medicine thesis on viral determinants of acute and chronic liver disease.

On his return from Malawi he took up the post of senior lecturer, focusing on malaria, at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). The Molyneux family returned to Malawi in 1995 to establish a research laboratory and the Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome (MLW) programme.

Malcolm’s wife, Professor Elizabeth Molyneux, formerly of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, won acclaim for her care of children in Malawi.

Malcolm was editor of Tropical Doctor and the Malawi Medical Journal and served on committees of the malaria control programme in Malawi and the World Health Organisation. He and his wife were both awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2006. They returned from Malawi to live in Liverpool in December 2015, where they continued to support and collaborate in research and training in Malawi and other low-income countries. Malcolm was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by LSTM in December 2019. ⬤

Artwork by Jonny Brayford (Year 7)

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS JNS James Smith, English Department ECF Edward Funnell, Head of Communications ADB Andrew Beattie, School Archivist SHM Harry Mitchell-Morgan, Junior School CJC Chris Cook, English Department PBR Paul Rodrigo, Maths Department LUS Lucia Scarantino, MFL Department EMP Ellie Paull, Spanish Department CAF Claudia Franz, German Department ERC Edmund Cavendish, Senior Tutor JHH Jim Houghton, Chaplain KYR Kerry Robinson, Drama Department SLH Siobhan Heraghty, Art Department KEH Katie Harris, Gerald Moore Gallery ADM Antony Merrett, Head of House (Carey) BJK Ben King, Head of House (Chalmers) and Head of Rugby LVC Lucy Clough, Head of House (Livingstone) JYM Jay Muirhead, Head of House (Moffat) MEC Mark Chesterton, Head of Teacher Training CMG Calum Giles, Head of Hockey PDC Penny Caudle, Head of Girls’ Games KAH Kirsty Harding, PE Department

The school would welcome news of recent or forthcoming marriages, births and deaths.

Old Elthamians should contact adb@eltham-college.org.uk to share information for future editions of The Elthamian.

Eltham College, Grove Park Road, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF

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