Spring 2023 King's Association Newsletter

King’s Association Newsletter

Spring 2023

CONTENTS

WELCOME

Iamdelighted to introduce the spring edition of the King’s Association newsletter. The school year has continued at pace, and I have very much enjoyed having to have had so many opportunities to meet members of the King’s community. I would like to offer my personal thanks to those who give so generously of their time, to help us deliver such a wonderfully varied programme of events and activities.

Highlights of the past few months include the King’s Association 2022-23 Sector Networking Series, which saw sixth formers, staff, parents, and alumni come together to share their professional experiences, to inspire the future careers of our pupils and recent graduates. Last term we were delighted to welcome back Karim Krishna (OK 2018) and his father Professor Sanjeev Krishna, Professor of Molecular Parasitology and Medicine at St George’s University Hospital, to speak about their experiences of the medical sector; whilst this term we were thrilled to welcome back Katie Polglase (OK 2012), who spoke about her experience of working in investigative journalism within the arts and media sector.

In March, we were delighted to host the Finance Panel Session for fifth and sixth formers, offering them the opportunity to quiz experts on the challenges of setting up a business, starting a career in finance, and impact investing and ESG. Sincere thanks to Lukas Kolff for chairing

the discussion, and the panellists who gave their time to help inspire our pupils; Michelle Tsang, Pinar Yetgin, Tony Stockil, Henry Watson, Simon Champion, and Mark Gilligan.

We are incredibly grateful to the Friends of King’s,whocontinuetogivetheirtimetoorganising events that bring together the community in such engaging and enjoyable ways,whilst also helping to raise vital funds for the school. The Friends Quiz Night was a great success, with teams competing for the honour of the winner’s shield; next term we look forward to the Friends Family Fun Day.

The Old King’s Club has continued to provide opportunities for alumni to reconnect, helping the school to co-host the Old King’s Reunion 2023 This summer, the school will be throwing open its doors to welcome some of our former pupils back to the school – it will be a wonderful occasion and we hope to see many former pupils back at King’s once more.

We place a high value on building positive and excellent relationships with our pupils, and we are keen to extend this same philosophy to our whole community,enabling excellent relationships to flourish amongst, and between, members of our community.

Finally, my warm thanks for your ongoing support of our community I do hope that you will enjoy reading this newsletter,and I hope you have had a restful and peaceful Easter

Cover photo: Phoebe Gault, 2023 Gala Concert

Dr Anne Cotton Head, King’s College School

KING’S JUNIOR SCHOOL

Anotherbusy period in the Junior School has been characterised by high levels of participation across the board. Pupils continue to attend talks as part of the Cavan Taylor Society and heard from an adventurer and our longest serving colleague, Mr Mitchell. We have also had talks from Childnet on online safety and from City Pay it Forwards on finance and the basics of money management. Our focus in PSHE has been the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ from Mind: connect, be active, take notice, learn, and give. These themes have featured in assemblies this term, along with a special commemoration of International Women’s Day.

We have established a new connection with Robin Hood primary school in Kingston, who brought pupils to join our Second and Third Forms at an author visit in January. We have sought opportunities for pupils to compete externally in activities beyond sport and recently sent two groups to participate in a slam poetry event at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. All pupils in the Second and Third Forms entered the Primary Maths Challenge and were joined for the first time by pupils in the First Form. 58 entrants were invited to participate in the bonus round and 43 received awards, one of the best returns in the country.

Trebles in the Chamber Choir have sung Evensong locally, at St John’s Church in Wimbledon, and further afield, at St Paul’s Cathedral. The Rushmere Young Musician competition was held in January, culminating in a final that showcased the highly impressive skills of this extremely able cohort. The pipeline of talent feeding into the senior years is cause for considerable optimism in the Music Department. Two pupils have received 11+ music scholarships to the Senior School and the end of term was marked with a spring service at Sacred Heart and two big concerts, all of which featured a selection of our many choirs and ensembles.

The rugby programme has continued to boast an element of choice, with pupils offered

the option of playing touch rugby as opposed to full contact in the First, Second and Third Forms (all play tag rugby in Transition). As ever, there has been a host of fixtures for all. Thirty pupils from Third Form took part in a football tour to Derbyshire over the first weekend of half-term. Two teams played a brace of fixtures each, trained at St George’s Park (the home of England’s football teams) and took in a Championship football match between Stoke City and Hull City. We hosted the Surrey Rugby Festival in early March, an event which saw around 800 players participate across two days and four age groups (U8 to U11). 80 teams took part and brought at least two thousand spectators, all of whom saw our facilities at Kingsway at their best and were treated extremely well by the army of coaches and groundsmen from King’s. Two pupils have received 11+ sports scholarships to the Senior School, one of whom is now officially ranked within the top ten in the country for his age group in tennis; the other will be looking to emulate his older brother, whose name adorns the honours boards in the cricket pavilion.

A co-curricular highlight was undoubtedly the Priory Production of Shrek. Over three nights, audiences were treated to a series of fantastic performances against a highly professional backdrop. There continues to be a great uptake of clubs and activities – the latest incarnation of Quiz Club has been a hit and the new book club has seen groups of pupils engage in informal discussion seminars on Friday mornings. We have enhanced our chess provision to incorporate more playing opportunities and an additional coaching programme for our advanced players;

we are particularly excited about our current U9 team, who won their qualifying round of the national competition at a canter and now look forward to a semi-final in Bristol, which they enter as favourites.

As six colleagues and forty pupils prepared for the Easter holidays ski trip, the first overseas trip for the Junior School in over three years,

KING’S INTERNATIONAL

King’s International have been shortlisted for two prestigious international awards. They have been nominated for both the Exporting Excellence Award, and the Education Provider of the Year Award; two out of the three top GrandPrix awards given each year from EducationInvestor. These prestigious international awards, which have been running for over 10 years, celebrate the best achievements in global education and are judged by a panel of independent judges from across the sector.

These nominations are a wonderful achievement for King’s International, and it is a fitting acknowledgement of the excellence of our overseas educational services. King’s has long been a school which seeks to engage with the wider world, and King’s International offers exceptional educational experiences and opportunities to pupils and staff in our global family of schools. The

FINANCE PANEL SESSION

In March, pupils attended the Finance Panel Session, giving them the opportunity to hear from eminent members from the worlds of business and finance. The panel was chaired by Lukas Kolff, current parent and founder of Bowline Capital Partners, and comprised Simon Champion, Chief Executive Officer of BOXPARK; Mark Gilligan, Director of Infrastructure at AXA Investment Managers;Tony Stockil, current King’s governor, and Chairman and Non-Executive Director of a range of high-growth retail businesses, including Mindful Chef; Michelle Tsang, Chief Financial Officer and

we can finally say that normal service has been resumed after the pandemic. More residentials await in the summer term and the educational visits are back in full swing. Looking ahead, I continue to remain very grateful for the support of the wider community and warmly invite all alumni and association members to pay us a visit.

income King’s International generates through these overseas partnerships contributes to our growing bursary provision and the extensive partnership programme with 28 local state schools in and around Wimbledon.

The King’s International team are looking forward to when the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will be held in London in June.

Chief Operating Officer of Touch Surgery; Henry Watson, former pupil, and Director at Credit Suisse; and Pinar Yetgin, Managing Director and Head of Insurance, Wealth Management and Brokers Sectors at NatWest Bank. The session gave pupils the opportunity to find out what it is like to run a business, what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and the attributes the panellists would look for when recruiting. There were a great variety of insightful anecdotes and stories told, including very useful conversation about university degrees and work experience.

KING’S PARTNERSHIPS

Earlier this year, King’s and Harris Academy Wimbledon announced an exciting new development in their longstanding partnership. The two schools have been working together since Harris Academy Wimbledon (HAWI) opened in 2018. Since then, Harris Academy Wimbledon has been growing one year group at a time and prepares to open its sixth form in September 2023. HAWI and King’s are delighted

Joanne Larizadeh, Principal of Harris Academy Wimbledon said:“This exciting partnership reflects the scale of our ambition for our new sixth form, where pupils will be given the breadth of academic and cultural opportunities they need to excel. The input and experience of King’s, which is one of the most successful schools in the country, will create lasting advantage for our pupils. Although our sixth form is eight months away from opening, staff from

to be extending their collaboration in this new phase of HAWI’s development, building the partnership into the new sixth form from launch. The partnership will bring together pupils and staff at each school to offer enhanced opportunities for all. Pupils will benefit from joint academic extension and university preparation, and Harris Academy Wimbledon sixth formers may join lessons at King’s in a smaller-cohort subject they would not otherwise be able to access. Pupils from both schools will work together on Friday afternoons to support partnership projects that will benefit the local community, as well as developing skills of reflection and leadership alongside one another. For staff, there will be extensive opportunities for shared professional development to benefit both school communities.

our two schools are already collaborating with a very meaningful set of ideas and plans in progress.”

Dr Anne Cotton, Head of King’s College School said: “Working in partnership with our local community has been a central commitment at King’s for more than 30 years, and this new collaboration signals our ongoing commitment to developing educational opportunities for all, at and beyond King’s. Our partnership with Harris Academy Wimbledon is a special one. Pupils in each school have already benefitted enormously from our existing shared community projects programme, and we are excited to strengthen our collaboration through this new development. We look forward to sharing endeavours and successes, both in the months ahead and for future generations of pupils in our schools.”

KING’S SUSTAINABILITY

Overthe course of the winter, the King’s Estates team oversaw the installation of a borehole which will enable the school to significantly reduce its reliance on the mains water supply, thereby reducing the school’s carbon footprint. It is estimated that there will be a saving of 11,520m3 of mains water per year. The school’s environmental group, Blue Marble, took a keen interest in the project, overseeing developments.

In January, several pupils took part in a climate change competition with the International School of Monaco (ISM). Jacob (L6), Ayan (L6), and Rohan (L6) said: “With our shared passion for climaterelated issues, fostered by Friday afternoons leading Royal Institution Climate Change Challenge masterclasses, we delivered weekly sessions to sixth form pupils at the International School of Monaco. Our sessions centred around MIT Sloane’s En-ROADS climate simulator, which uses thirty different factors to create an integrated and scientific forecast for future temperature rises. The sessions focused on different aspects of the simulator, like the composition of our energy, transport methods and industry emissions, motivating pupils to consider a policy-based solution to rising temperatures. In the final week,

SUFIYA AHMED Q&A

In January, year 7 pupils were invited to attend a Q&A session with children’s author, Sufiya Ahmed. Sufiya has written a host of novels, with many of her stories focusing on the contribution of Muslim and Asian women as she shines a light on the shared history of Britain and India. This was a theme she highlighted during the session. Leo (Ye7) said: “Sufiya talked about the history behind her books, which was fascinating because we learnt that there were people from lots of backgrounds and genders in the Second World War who fought for their country.”

pupils presented their ideas to us, justifying their choices by considering not only environmental, but also economic and social effects. We were thoroughly impressed by the collective effort of the ISM, especially those who researched beyond the content of our presentations. These pupils demonstrated a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand and thus how best to approach them. We are glad to have worked with such an able and enthusiastic sixth form class. We are hopeful that the pupils will continue interest in the subject and look forward to potentially running the course with different schools in the future.”

ADAM CHERRY Q&A

In January, political journalist Adam Cherry took part in an online Breakfast Q&A session with pupils. Zach (L6) said: “Adam is a journalist for the blog Guido Fawkes, which is a right-wing political site that specialises in short and informative stories about UK politics, as well as the odd exposition of scandals. Adam gave us a great insight into how journalists gather information for stories, and the culture surrounding Parliament and Westminster. He compared it to a school regarding the way politicians and MPs talk about each other and why they leak information to journalists such as himself. It was an extremely engaging Q&A and was great to learn a bit more about an interesting option for a career in politics.”

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Theschool came together on 9th March to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD).

The Junior School held an assembly by Mr Ted Lougher, Headmaster of King’s College Junior School, who spoke about how IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. He also delivered a talk about Mary Seacole, which was followed by pupils giving their own talks about a female who has inspired them. Pupils also learned about Malala Yousafzai. Malala is a Pakistani female education activist and received the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate at age 17, making her the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate. She is known for human rights advocacy, especially the education of women and children in her native homeland.

Upper school and sixth form pupils attended an International Women’s Day discussion, hearing from inspiring guest speakers Charlotte Richardson, BBC and talkSPORT Presenter, and Ritu Mohanka-Vedhara, Managing Director EMEA for Syndio. Both speakers explored how far the

ONE WORLD DAY

InMarch, King’s celebrated One World Day. This inaugural event saw the school come together to celebrate the diversity of culture, religion, and heritage within the King’s community. The day included a cultural fair with food, activities, and music; lunchtime workshops in calligraphy, art, and dance; and an international call with pupils from King’s Bangkok. Saleh (Ye7) said: “I’ve enjoyed people learning about my culture and what we eat. I think people were really open to trying new things and listening to the stories I have to tell.”

world has gone on issues including equal pay and the treatment of women in society, specifically in the workplace – Charlotte explained how when she started, it was rare to be a football reporter in the male dominated world of football, as opposed to working in the backroom, but that, along with the profile of the women’s game, things were moving in the right direction, if not as quick as some would like. Ritu, who works for workplace equity specialists Syndio, talked about how businesses can successfully support and nurture talent and strive for equity, in treatment and remuneration, which is a different concept than equality.

KING’S ARTS 2023

OnThursday 22nd June to Monday 26th June, King’s will be hosting its first ever arts festival, which will be taking place at the school. The wider Wimbledon community, King’s pupils, and pupils from partnership schools will be invited to fill the school grounds to experience a range of creative artistic performances, exhibitions, concerts, workshops, talks and activities. This will be an important moment for the school and our wider community, as we come together to celebrate and showcase the artistic talents of our young people, to encourage creative expression and learning. Further information about the festival will be shared in due course.

ROSETTI DAY

In January, lower sixth pupils participated in an exciting day of interdisciplinary learning in place of usual lessons. Rossetti Day, named after King’s most notable literary old boy, is a well-established annual tradition; it provides an opportunity to celebrate academic discovery in an off-syllabus and university-style forum, and to shine light on the bridges and threads that connect different areas of knowledge. This year’s theme was Idols and Rivals, and featured three stimulating keynote lectures by

KING’S HISTORY SOCIETY

Earlier this year the History Society welcomed Dr Conor Morrissey, Senior Lecturer in Irish and British History at King’s College London, who gave an excellent talk on the Irish revolution of 1916 to 1923. He explained the complexity of the causes and problems arising from Partition, and of the different types of nationalism. Attendees were fascinated to hear about the disproportionate number of women amongst the republican ranks in 1916, and to learn how pivotal the Easter Rising of 1916 was to Anglo – Irish relations. Dr Morrissey clearly illustrated the tragedy of the civil war, which still resonates for many in Ireland, and

renowned experts in different fields:

• The race to decipher the Rosetta Stone by Dr Kelly Accetta Crowe, Museum Curator,

• Big Bang Cosmology & Lemaitre and Hoyle’s rivalry by Dr Simon Singh MBE, Theoretical Particle Physicist,

• Koh-i-Noor : the World’s most Infamous Diamond by Anita Anand, Radio and TV Presenter, Journalist, and Author.

made some interesting comparisons to other civil wars, for example, in Finland.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Alfred (Ye7) won the U12 Major section of the prestigious London Junior Chess Championship over the Christmas holiday. Alfred was unbeaten over three days of play, finishing with 7.5 points out of 9 and two trophies: one as the overall competition winner, and one for being the best player from the “London” zone.

Ranesh (U6), Caleb (L6), Ethan (U5), and Ishaan (4) demonstrated their mathematical prowess and mastery by defeating Wimbledon

High School, Emanuel School, and Ibstock Place School to reach the knockout stages of the schools’ maths competition, Hans Woyda. The competition saw pupils from 64 schools across London take part. The team was sadly defeated by St Olave’s Grammar School in a very close match, but a huge achievement, nonetheless.

Matteo (L5), Antoine (L5), and Alfie (L5) came first, second, and third respectively in the school’s Spanish Poetry Competition. Each pupil

performed a creative poem imitating Neruda’s Oda al Tomate, and were commended on eye contact, pronunciation, and intonation.

King’s pupils placed ninth nationally in the Formula One in Schools competition, a STEM competition which sees teams of pupils collaborate to produce the fastest possible model F1 car. Fraser (L6) said: “Cars are raced down a track through propulsion by a canister of CO2. The competition calls upon various skillsets such as teamwork and communication, as well as Engineering skills such as computer aided design modelling and flow software, and manufacturing processes such as CNC milling. The team worked closely together throughout the competition to produce various aspects such as the portfolios, the car, and the display. After competing in the regional finals, we qualified for the national finals as a wild card team. We made minor changes to the car to find some extra speed, and improved our portfolios and pit display, ready to compete against top teams from across the UK. The hard work culminated in a two-day trip to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre to showcase what we had produced at the International Autosport show.”

12 lower sixth pupils took part in the first round of the UK Linguistics Olympiad (Advanced Level). The competition consisted of a three-hour paper of challenging linguistic puzzles. Luke (L6), Izzy (L6),

Ben (L6) and Sophia (L6) achieved bronze awards (top 20% of the entry) and Ayan (L6), gained a silver award, with a score just 0.1% shy of a gold award.

110 middle and lower school pupils took part in this year’s Intermediate Maths Challenge, with 70% of entrants achieving a gold certificate. Hari (Ye8), Ishaan (4), Luca (L5), and Ethan (U5) achieved the best scores in their respective year groups. These four pupils, along with ten others, qualified for the Intermediate Maths Olympiads, placing them in the top 1,500 pupils nationally.

12 pupils took part in the Surrey Schools Bridge Cup in February with great results – the B team came second in the Surrey Schools Salver competition and the Mini-Bridge team came second in the Mini-Bridge tournament.

ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS

#SAVE

THE SCARF VC CAMPAIGN

personnel during the Second World War, and Scarf’s was the only one for service in the Far East. Recognising the national importance of Scarf’s VC, as the buyer was from overseas, the UK government placed a temporary export ban on the medal to allow time for a British-based buyer or institution to match the sale price. The RAF Museum has only until 30th April 2023 to secure the funds. If they are successful, the VC will be preserved in the RAF Museum’s national collection and go on public display. If you would like to donate, visit their Go Fund Me page.You can also read more about Squadron Leader Scarf via The School Archive blog

Squadron Leader Arthur Stewart King Scarf, VC (14 June 1913 – 9 December 1941) was a pupil at King’s from 1922 until 1930. He was a Royal Air Force pilot and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

The Royal Air Force Museum is hoping to raise £185,000 to keep the Victoria Cross medal awarded posthumously to Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf in the UK. The medal was sold at auction in April 2022 for £550,000 (£682,000 including Buyer’s Premium and VAT) by far the most ever paid for a flying VC. The sale result reflects Scarf’s bravery and the rarity of the medal –only 22 Victoria Crosses were awarded to RAF

SIR ROBERT ANDREW KCB (1928-2023)

funeral of Sir Robert Andrew, OK and former Chairman of the Governors, was held last month. Former head of King’s College School, Tony Evans, was among those to pay tribute to a man who gave loyal and long-standing support not only to King’s but to many other organisations and charities – he was a Conservator of Wimbledon and Putney Commons for 36 years.

Sir Robert started at King’s in September 1939, just days after the outbreak of the Second World War. Having secured a scholarship from Surrey County Council, he arrived having never studied Latin or French and was aware he was behind in other subjects as well. He was, however, determined to make a success of the opportunity to study at King’s. His efforts paid off. He received a

TOURS & TEA

Are you interested in finding out more about the history of King’s? The development team is organising a series of campus tours, giving all members of the King’s community the opportunity to visit familiar haunts such as the Great Hall, the science laboratories, and the cricket pavilion. The tours will be followed by tea and a chance to see some of the documents from the school archive. If you would like to register your interest in attending one, please contact development@kcs.org.uk.

Theschool entrance scholarship to the senior school, he was made a prefect and he secured another Surrey scholarship, this time to Merton College, Oxford to read Modern History. Tellingly, for the boy who arrived with no French, he also won a Rothschild Travel Scholarship to study in France for three months. On leaving Oxford, he entered the Civil Service; it was a career which culminated in serving as the Permanent Secretary for the Northern Ireland Office during the time the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed. He was made a Knight of the Order of Bath in 1986. Sir Robert always remained grateful for that Surrey scholarship aged 11; it was a debt he more than repaid. For 25 years, from 1975 to 2000, he served on the Governing Body of King’s, for the last decade of which he was Chairman. As a governor, and right up until the end of his life, he was a determined advocate of the school’s bursary scheme.

Sir Robert died on 31st January 2023. He is survived by his son Christopher (OK 1984) and his grandchildren Anna, James, Izzy, Michael, and Edward.

YOUR STORIES

Theschool archivist is looking for members of the King’s community to participate in a living history project entitled ‘Recollections of King’s’. Much of the school’s past is recorded in the paper archives, but there are limited instances of people talking about everyday events.The project seeks to overcome this by collecting written reminiscences and conducting oral history interviews, thus building a picture of daily life at the school from the 1940s to the present day. If you would like to get involved or find out more, please contact archive@kcs.org.uk.

DRAMA HIGHLIGHTS

HOUSE PLAYS FESTIVAL

The House Plays Festival proved an absolute triumph of passion and perseverance as the creative collaborations of 115 students graced the stage for two performances in February. Six twenty-minute plays – abridged/adapted, directed, designed and produced by the students themselves – competed for the grand title.

Maclear’s fabulously cheeky  Blackadder opened the night with chuckles aplenty as we revelled in the absurd hunt for a German spy; Alverstone delivered a highly imaginative  Enron, taking us on an adrenaline-fuelled descent of destruction; Major’s The Giver – an incredibly moving dystopian tale about a young boy struggling to experience the deep emotions his society denies – proved beautifully elegant in its execution, and a highly emotional journey for the audience; Layton chilled the blood with  2:22 A Ghost Story – showcasing some wonderfully naturalistic performances and equal measures of laughs and thrills; Kingsley’s War Horse tore on our heartstrings with some beautiful puppetry and stylistic storytelling, and featured a live band with original music composed by Tom Constantinou-Hickman (L6); and Glenesk rounded off the night with a fabulously energetic Breakfast Club, featuring a delightful array of anarchic characters and antics!

For the adjudication, we were delighted to welcome back OK Luke Sumner, who took part in the original House Plays Festival in 2010 (and won with a script he wrote and directed) and who now works as a professional actor, having just completed a West End run in  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as Scorpius Malfoy. He praised the incredible passion, creativity and collaboration of the companies, celebrated the huge array of dramatic choices and expert execution, and awarded Best Play to Major’s  The Giver (directed by Theo Bonding, Izzy Sermon and Zach Mohammed), Best Ensemble to Glenesk’s  The Breakfast Club, and Best Physical Storytelling to Kingsley’s War Horse.

SHREK THE MUSICAL

Collyer Hall opened its doors in March for Shrek the Musical, the Junior School’s spring production. There were many laughs, songs, and applause as everybody’s favourite ogre and his noble steed set off on a quest to rescue a princess, whilst making some unlikely friends, and learning how to celebrate uniqueness, along the way.

THE ANCIENT MARINER: A PARTNERSHIP PRODUCTION

The last day of term saw the Partnerships Production of The Ancient Mariner. Based on the beloved poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the tale was brought to life through drama, music, movement, music, composition, art, and design, and was the exciting culmination of collaboration between pupils from King’s and its partner schools including Ricards Lodge High School/ RR6, Coombe Girls’ School, Raynes Park High School, Wimbledon College, Perseid, Cricket Green and Bond Primary. Each school found their own individual way to acts scenes, create soundscape and environments, to produce a wonderfully dramatic, artistic, engineering, and musical collaboration.

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

LOWER SCHOOL SINGING COMPETITION

The school welcomed Benjamin Hulett, leading international tenor, and opera star, earlier this year, to adjudicate the competition. It was a fantastic event, won by Milo (Ye8). Henry (Ye8), Peter (Ye8), and Gabriel (Ye8) were highly commended, and Harry (Ye7), Harry (Ye8), Thomas (Ye8) and Keeran (Ye8).

SENIOR SCHOOL SPRING ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

February saw the symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, and wind orchestra come together to perform an eclectic and popular programme including Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides, inspired by the composer’s visit to the Scottish islands, and Piazzolla’s energetic Libertango.

ROYAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC DISTINCTION IN PIANO

Desmond (U5) was awarded a considerable achievement in gaining a distinction in his recent LRSM piano diploma. As part of his preparations for the award, Desmond gave a recital at school which was an impressive 45-minute recital, played from memory. Desmond is one of only three King’s pupils to ever gain this prestigious performance diploma, an achievement that is normally only attained at undergraduate level.

STAPLES TRIO WIN AT PRO CORDA FESTIVAL

In March, the Staples Trio, formed by Izzy (U6), Lucas (U6), and Ivan (L6), won first prize in the U19 category at the Pro Corda Festival, a chamber music competition which consists of three rounds played on three different days and adjudicated by different musicians on each day. The final took place at Brighton College, with sixteen other ensembles competing in the category. The trio’s playing was musically unique, very technically secure, and they showed musical understanding well beyond their age. The standard was incredibly high and to win this award is a fantastic achievement which will be remembered for a long time.

PIANO PRIZE

Ethan (L5) won the Piano Prize in the Intermediate category in the junior department of the Royal Academy of Music, a prize that is fiercely competed for each year by some of the most promising pianists in the country. It is the second time that Ethan has won, having been awarded the junior prize last year.

GALA CONCERT

In March, 70 pupils took their places as part of the massed choirs and orchestra in a momentous concert at Southwark Cathedral. They were joined by the choral society and professional orchestra, the London Mozart Players. It was a particularly long and eagerly awaited occasion, as the previous event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The orchestra was the focus of the first half of the programme playing Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto followed, played superbly by

Lucas (U6) on the basset clarinet. The second half of the programme was choral-based, and the choirs sang Handel’s exciting coronation anthem The King shall rejoice with verve and skill. The concert ended with a poised performance of Bob Chilcott’s moving Requiem with outstanding soloists, Phoebe (U6) and Will (U6) singing the soprano and tenor solos sublimely. It was an incredibly special occasion for those in attendance.

SPORT HIGHLIGHTS

BASKETBALL CROSS-COUNTRY

FENCING

TheU14 basketball team won the LISBA play offs after beating Whitgift in the finals, a fantastic accomplishment.

The Public Schools’ Fencing Championships, an annual three-day competition for children ages 11-18, took place in March. Tamara (U6) came second in the Senior girls Foil event out of 32 competitors, Lucie (L6) came sixth in the Senior girls Foil event out of 16 competitors, and Cheney (L6) came second in the Senior Boys Epee event out of 95 competitors. Luca M (U6) also competed in the Senior boys epee event, coming 40th.

NETBALL

The annual Kevin Hawney Cup Race took place in January.The race is run between King’s alumni, staff, and pupils, and is run over the old junior crosscountry course. Since 2007 the race has been named in honour of Kevin Hawney, legendary teacher in charge of cross-country. Seb Jones (OK 2002) won the race this year with an excellent time of 14:05, closely followed by Jonathan Ross (OK 2006) with a time of 14:22. Excellent performances were also put in by current pupils Caleb (L6) with a time of 14:53, and Shivoham (U6) with a time of 14:58. Next year’s event will take place on Saturday, 27th January 2024.

Continuing cross-country success was Caitlin (L6), who came third in the U20 section and qualified to run for Surrey at National Inter-counties. It was also a team win for Caitlin’s athletics club Herne Hill Harriers with their combined U17&U20 team. Caitlin said: “It was a testing, hilly and muddy 6km course in Lloyd Park,Croydon.”

In January, the school hosted the annual Alumnae Netball Tournament. The tournament saw three OK teams competing against one another as well as the current lower and upper sixth pupils. It was a closely contested tournament, which saw 5th place go to the OK 2012 team, fourth place to the OK 2022 team, 3rd place to the Lower Sixth team, 2nd place to the OK 2013/14 team, and 1st place to the Upper Sixth team. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces return to school and to hear their stories of life post-King’s.

Whilst in March, the Netball 1st and 2nd teams took part in the Lord Wandsworth tournament. The girls fought hard, communicated well, and demonstrated high levels of energy and effort throughout the games. They battled in very cold weather but secured a silver medal (1st VII), and a bronze medal (2nd VII).

Huge congratulations go to the U15A rugby team who made it to the finals of the Continental Tyres School Cup at Twickenham in March. After a fantastic campaign of unbeaten games which saw them sail through their semifinal match against Clifton College by 24 to 7, the team put in a spirited team performance against Northampton College, with captain Max (L5) leading by excellent example scoring 16 of King’s 21 points. While the game was won by a strong Northampton side, the team can be rightly

proud of their amazing historic accomplishment. There has also been great recognition for three rugby players from King’s past and present –Cameron McAlpine (OK 2022) and Kaspar Pitblado (OK 2022) won the US Division 1 National Title with Brown University. Cameron has also been invited to the USA Under 20s training squad with the hope to be selected against Canada in the near future, whilst Seth (U6) played for Harlequins Under 18s vs Gloucester in a comfortable win.

ROWING

The spring term started strongly – the J14s raced for the first time at Hampton Head, placing a creditable 8th of 13 boats, whilst the J15s came out of the blocks flying, with high placings at Quintin Head and taking wins in both the J15 1st VIII and J15 2nd VIII competitions at Hampton. The J16s showed that they had not lost any speed from their record breaking 2021-22 season, with strong performances at Quintin backed up by wins in the 1st and 2nd VIII competitions at Hampton Head. The senior girls squad continued to work hard behind the scenes to make a fast mixed quad, and the school looks forward to finding a race which offers this category so that they can put their skills to the test. The across-the-board strength led to the boat club being awarded the Quintin Hogg Memorial Trophy at Quintin Head for the fastest combined J18, J16 and J15 VIII times – a testament to the hard work and

RUGBY SKIING

Year 7 and 8 pupils travelled to Sestriere in Italy over the Christmas break, to take part in the Independent Schools Ski Championships. In the individual competitions, Leander (Ye7) took second place in the U12 Giant Slalom and fourth place in the U12 Slalom, and Sam (Ye7)

dedication of all involved.

As the year progressed, and with the rowing season in full swing, attention turned to the Schools’ Head of the River Race (SHORR). The school’s first VIII raced well to achieve a very respectable seventh place in the Championship VIIIs category, whilst the school’s second VIII gained a very strong seventh position in the school second VIII category. The J16s came in fifth in J16 Championship VIIIs, whilst three J15 VIIIs were entered, with the J15 first VIII claiming third place in the J15 Championship VIIIs category.

The J14 squad worked hard to prepare for racing at the Junior Sculling Head at Eton Dorney. 28 boys represented the school, racing in 2 octoples and 2 quads. The first octo finished sixteenth, with the second in thirtyfourth place. The first quad finished twentysecond, with the second quad in fortieth place.

took third place in the U14 Giant Slalom, whilst in the team competitions the team placed first in the Junior Boys Slalom, second in the Junior Boys Combined and third in the Senior Boys Giant Slalom.

DEVELOPMENT AT KING’S

2022-23 SECTOR

NETWORKING SERIES

The 2022-23 Sector Networking Series returned in January with the Medical, Veterinary and Healthcare Sector Networking Reception.Almost 100 pupils,alumni,parents,and staff came together to share their experiences and insights of working within the sector, and to hear two engaging talks from Professor Sanjeev Krishna and his son Karim Krishna (OK 2018) – Professor Krishna, Professor of Molecular Parasitology and Medicine at St. George’s University of London, spoke about the work he has carried out across his illustrious career and the learnings and insights gained along the way, whilst Karim reflected on his time at school and at university, and the lessons he would tell his younger self – some incredibly useful advice for pupils in attendance.

The series continued this month with the: Arts and Media Sector Networking Reception. The evening comprised networking over drinks and canapés, and a talk by sector expert, Katie Polglase (OK 2012). Katie is an Emmy-award winning investigative producer and on-air reporter at CNN, and she gave a fascinating talk on working in investigative journalism.

Law Q&A Panel Session and Networking Reception. The evening provided guests with the opportunity to hear from, and pose questions to, a selection of experts who work within the sector. The panel was expertly chaired by Matthew Abraham (OK 2006), Barrister at South Square. Matthew was joined by Steph Bennett, Head of Legal and Compliance and UK Board Member at Boehringer Ingelheim; Katy Blake (OK 2012), Legal Counsel at AlphaSights; Andy Danson, Partner at Bird & Bird; and Martin Whitehorn (OK 2012), Property Solicitor at Julie West Solicitors.

Both receptions offered guests a fascinating insight into the arts, media, and law sectors, and we would like to express our sincere thanks to Katie, and our panellists.

OLD KING’S REUNION – CALLING ALL ‘13,‘03,‘93, ‘83, ‘73 LEAVERS AND <1969 LEAVERS

The school will be throwing open its doors on Saturday, 17th June 2023 for the Old King’s Reunion. This year, we are welcoming back the classes of ‘13, ‘03, ‘93, ‘83, ‘73, ‘63, ‘53 and ‘43 who are celebrating milestone anniversaries, and those who left the school in all decades preceding and including the ‘60s. The afternoon will comprise live music and refreshments and

offers the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and teachers, to reminisce about King’s, and to see the school as it is today. If you left the school during one of the anniversary years or decades outlined above, then we very much hope you can join us for what promises to be a memorable occasion. Reserve your place today

THE ARTHUR WELLESLEY SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTS

TheArthur Wellesley Society is a cultural society that organises a series of events each year. It is open to all members of the King’s community so if you would like to join, contact AWSociety@kcs.org.uk. Below is a selection of recent events; upcoming events can be viewed here.

PROFESSOR MICHAEL HULME – WHAT SORT OF STORY IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

Towards the beginning of the spring term, Professor Michael Hulme from the University of Cambridge, delivered a talk on climate change. Professor Hulme explained how different approaches to the topic of climate change have been put forward and ultimately, how “follow the science” is not the answer to the problem and never can be. He explored eleven different ideologies about climate change, ranging from scientific approaches to those of religion, technology, ecology, sociology, politics, and economics. Each proposes an approach that will change people’s ways of life and thought. Each has its own following, some producing extremist views, such as is seen in Extinction

Rebellion. Michael suggested it was unlikely that there is a “doomsday clock” ticking but that the variety of approaches to the situation are making progress in coming to a resolution about the way forward slow and cumbersome – perhaps there is no overall “fix” that should be agreed upon and acted towards, as it probably does not exist but rather, small, local, and incremental changes might deliver better progress.

Michael’s ideas and approach were novel and thought provoking – most have probably encountered at least one or more of the “stories” but to have them all set out, but not compared or contrasted, by someone so eminent in the field of study was enlightening.

BETWEEN FRIENDS: A CONCERT OF MUSIC FOR TWO PIANOS

In March, the school welcomed Katya

Apekisheva and Charles Owen who performed an unforgettably brilliant recital of twopiano repertoire under the auspices of the Arthur Wellesley Society in the concert hall. They performed Ravel’s Rhapsodie Espagnole, Rachmaninov’s Suite No 1, Poulenc’s Elegie and Capriccio, Jonathan Dove’s Between Friends and Milhaud’s Scaramouche. From the special level of rapport, it was clear in every piece that

Katya and Charles have been playing together for over two decades. The Dove work, composed in 2019, and only receiving its second performance at school, was a remarkable achievement. Driving minimalist sections contrasted with ethereal lyricism made for an exciting journey. The composer was also present, and he gave a touching introduction to this work, which was dedicated to a dear friend.

THE FRIENDS OF KING’S HIGHLIGHTS

Established in 1978, the Friends of King’s is the school’s parents’ association. The Friends organise social and fundraising events throughout the year, with the aims of enriching the education of pupils, and fostering a strong sense of community. Below is a snapshot of recent events.

FRIENDS QUIZ NIGHT

TheQuiz Night was a huge success this year with 60 tables competing for the honour of the winner’s shield. The teams were made up of staff and parents from transition right through to the upper sixth – demonstrating how successful Friends events are in bringing together the King’s community. Over £9,000 was raised, which will be directed towards the school’s partnership activities and bursary fund. Special thanks go to co-chair Louise Hunter and Parachi Prasad, quiz masters Neil Fox and Mike Eley, the bar staff from Park Vintners, and the school’s catering and porters team. A huge well done also go to the winners of the quiz, staff team “Those Who Can’t”, headed up by Mr Trimble.

FRIENDS FAMILY FUN DAY

The Friends are delighted to announce that the Friends Family Fun Day is returning this year, taking place on Sunday, 18th June at the school. The multi-sports event will include a mix of sports and skills for all abilities. There will be food and drink stalls, as well as some external vendors on site, and prizes will be given for the overall winning team and the best dressed team! All King’s pupils and parents are invited to take part, and all supporters are welcome to attend. Further information can be found on the Friends website

KING’S LGBTQ+ ALUMNI NETWORK UPDATE

King’s College School LGBTQ+ Alumni Network is run by a group of volunteers and works with the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion mentor for LGBTQ+ in the school.The group aims to provide a social and support network for LGBTQ+ alumni and their allies, and to help maintain an inclusive culture at King’s so that current pupils feel they

belong. King’s is committed to encouraging allyship with minority groups in the community, so membership is open to all alumni who wish to support the group aims. If you are interested in joining, or would like further information, please contact kcslgbt@gmail.com.

LAW SOCIETY UPDATE

Established in 2012, the Law Society aims to provide support and mentoring for King’s pupils interested in pursuing a career in the law and facilitate links between members of the King’s community working in the law. The society’s most recent event, held in conjunction with the Development team, was the Law Q&A Panel Session and Networking Reception. The panel was expertly chaired by Matthew Abraham (OK 2006), Barrister at South Square, with the

panellists comprising Steph Bennett, Head of Legal and Compliance and UK Board Member at Boehringer Ingelheim; Katy Blake (OK 2012), Legal Counsel at AlphaSights; Andy Danson, Partner at Bird & Bird; and Martin Whitehorn (OK 2012), Property Solicitor at Julie West Solicitors. Sincere thanks to all who took part and who came along – it provided a hugely valuable insight into the sector.

THE OLD KING’S CLUB HIGHLIGHTS

TheOld King’s Club is the school’s alumni association. It seeks to promote united action amongst former pupils of King’s for the good of the school. Below is a round-up of past and upcoming events.

DUEL DAY DINNER

Members of the Old King’s Club met at the Savile Club on Tuesday, 21st March, to commemorate the anniversary of the duel fought between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea. A convivial three-course dinner was held, followed by a re-enactment of the duel (without live ammunition!).

The duel was fought on 21st March 1829 and came about because of religious differences between the Duke of Wellington and the 9th Earl of Winchilsea, George Finch-Hatton. Winchilsea had denounced Wellington’s support for Catholic emancipation. He accused the Duke of using his role in founding King’s as a way of hiding the ‘introduction of popery’ into the country (although founded as an Anglican institution, King’s was intending to award degrees to Catholics and other non-Anglicans). Wellington

promptly challenged him to single combat to defend his honour and the college’s name. The two men, accompanied by their seconds and a physician, met on the asparagus fields that would later become Battersea Park (on the south bank of the river Thames, opposite Chelsea).

As reported in The Guardian at the time: “The Duke of Wellington and Lord Winchilsea met at the appointed place. The parties having taken their ground, Lord Winchilsea received the Duke of Wellington’s fire (he is believed to have deliberately aimed wide) and fired in the air.” A written apology from Winchilsea was then enough to resolve the matter. A royal charter granted by King George IV in August that year, established King’s as a legal entity. Two years later, in October 1831, the college opened its doors to pupils for the first time.

ANNUAL DINNER

Following on from the success of last year’s Annual Dinner, held at the House of Commons, please save the date for the 2023 Annual Dinner, which will be taking place on Friday, 10th November at the school. Guests will have the opportunity to come back to school

and visit familiar and favourite haunts such as the Great Hall, whilst reconnecting with former classmates over food and drink. Dr Anne Cotton, Head of King’s College School, will be guest of honour. Further details will be made available in due course.

CAREERS EVENING

The Old King’s Club, in conjunction with the school, will be holding the 2023 Careers Evening on Monday, 26th June. The evening aims to provide lower sixth pupils with an invaluable opportunity to hear from members of the King’s community who work within the sectors they

aspire to enter. The advice and insights shared makes a real difference to pupils as they prepare for university and the workplace. If you would like to be involved, please get in touch by contacting info@oldkingsclub.org.uk.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH... ... DANIEL

SALEEM-DANISH (OK 2016)

Please tell us a little about yourself

I joined King’s junior school in 2008 as an art scholar, red blazer, and all. Some highlights from my school years include picking new sports such as fencing, golf, skiing, and theatre sports (not actually a sport).

I left King’s in 2016 and took a very formative gap year working at a tech start up and architecture firm. Following this, I joined UCL and graduated with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. Throughout my time at university, I became involved in extracurriculars, and took on positions as Media Officer for Snow Sports, and President of the Lacrosse club — a sport I picked up from scratch in first year.

Now, I work at Macquarie Bank in the asset management group as a Business Analyst for their real assets division. The role lets me work across both finance and technology, engage with people across the business, and manage projects that have a big impact.

What is your favourite memory from your time at King’s?

A highlight was an engineering trip to Japan in sixth form. We toured universities and museums, visited Tokyo and Kyoto, and got to experience the culture. The trip stands out as a time that I solidified friendships with people I am still close with seven years on.

You were awarded a bursary from King’s. What impact has this had on your life?

I look at all the opportunities I was afforded at King’s and can clearly map out how they shaped me into the person I am today. King’s pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to develop in so many ways — through sports, drama, academics, and art. It saddens me that these opportunities are not so widely available outside of schools like King’s. When I started at King’s I thought all schools were like this — in fact, I didn’t know what a bursary was when I joined.

I recall feeling imposter syndrome throughout school, but the experience widened my perspective on belonging. I earned a place at King’s and made the most of it, which has given me the confidence that I’ve carried through life.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about applying for a bursary at King’s this year?

Do it. You deserve to be there as much as everyone else. Finances are out of your control so just control what you can and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.

You graduated from University College London with a 1st Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Engineering, what inspired you to go into this area?

King’s nurtured my creativity and love of building things in many ways. Teachers encouraged me to join clubs, enter engineering competitions, and gave me access to D&T workshops at lunch times. The combination of creative subjects and engaging science classes convinced me that it

was a field I wanted to pursue. Above all, I just wanted to build an Iron Man suit.

You are now working at one of the world’s largest global asset managers, Macquarie Asset Management, do you have any advice for pupils considering a similar career pathway and working for a global organisation? Develop your people skills and learn to tell stories. You can always learn the hard skills needed for an industry but being someone people want to work with is something you can

begin to develop from a young age. Show that you are engaged and keen to learn.

What’s next for you? Where would you like to be in a few years’ time?

I was fortunate to have met an amazing group of individuals whilst at King’s who I’m still friends with after all these years, and I’d like for that to continue. No matter where my career goes, King’s has taught me to grab opportunities as they come which l will continue to do — it’s worked so far.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Ben Barnes (OK 1999)

Ben is currently starring in hit Netflix series, Shadow and Bone, an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels. Series one premiered in 2021, with series two following last month.

Tom Basden (OK 1999)

The BBC has announced that Tom’s critically acclaimed family sitcom Here We Go is to return for two more series. Created by and starring Tom, series two will see the return of an all-star cast including Jim Howick, Katherine Parkinson, and Alison Steadman, alongside Freya Parks, Jude Collie, Mica Ricketts, and Tori Allen-Martin. Further information can be found here

Guy de la Bédoyère (OK 1974)

Guy’s book, Pharaohs of the Sun, was released in Hardcover last year and was chosen as one of Radio 4’s Book of the Week. The book is a vivid story of an astonishing period in ancient Egypt’s history -1550 BC to 1295 BC - that tears away the gold and glamour to reveal how these great pharaohs ruthlessly ruled Egypt for two hundred and fifty years. Further information can be found here

Ed Gamble (OK 2004)

Ed is featuring in this year’s Celebrity Hunted, with fellow comedian James Acaster. The Channel 4 show returned last month as a Stand Up to Cancer special series, which sees multiple celebrities go on the run from the ‘authorities’, aiming to make it to a special extradition area where they will be declared safe. Further information can be found here .

Finn O’Hare (OK 2022)

The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) has presented a former pupil of King’s College School with a prestigious Excellence Award. Finn (OK 2022) achieved the highest marks nationally in the International A Level Geography examination mark for the Cambridge International 2022 examinations. The Society’s Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the hard work and success of students who achieve the highest marks in the GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, Pre-U and International Baccalaureate geography examinations each year. Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), said: “Today’s young people have a keen interest in many key geographical issues, including climate change, and studying geography helps them to better understand the world’s people, places and environments, and how they are changing. The Society is delighted to recognise the outstanding success of these dedicated students. Our Excellence Awards reflect their hard work, the support of their geography teachers and parents, and the students’ curiosity about their world, which we hope they will carry with them into the future.”

Katie Polglase (OK 2012)

King’s was delighted to welcome Katie back to school this month, for the Arts and Media Sector Networking Reception. Katie is an on-air investigative reporter at CNN. Katie began her CNN career as a news desk intern and then worked as a freelance producer, before joining CNN’s full-time staff as an investigative producer and then as an on-air investigative reporter. She is part of a team that has brought open-source investigative journalism to CNN for the first time. Katie has contributed to CNN investigations into Russian troll farms in Ghana, the Lekki toll gate shooting in Nigeria, and the investigation into child abuse in the Catholic church. Most recently, she worked on CNN’s coverage of the death of Shireen Abu Akleh and helped drive multiple investigations into Russia’s war on Ukraine. She worked with Nima Elbagir’s team covering the conflict in Ethiopia. Together they published Peabody Award nominated exclusive investigations that used on the ground and opensource techniques to expose massacres committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers. Katie won the Association for International Broadcasting’s (AIB) Impact Award and Investigative Documentary TV and Video Award, for a year-long investigation into child abuse in the Catholic church. The investigation was also shortlisted for the Foreign Press Association’s Print & Web Story of the Year. Katie’s work on the investigation into Russian troll farms in Ghana was a finalist for the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, and the investigation into the Lekki toll gate shooting won the Best Use of Crowd Sourcing or Citizen Journalism Award at The Drum Online Media Awards 2021. In 2022, Katie won the Outstanding Research: News Award at the 43rd annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. Katie won the award for her investigations into the Ethiopian conflict – Ethiopia: Exposing the Hallmarks of a Genocide.

Professor Michael Scott (OK 1999)

Professor Scott is an academic, author and broadcaster in history and archaeology, and King’s was delighted to welcome him back to school last October where he spoke at an Arthur Wellesley Society event. Michael’s new book, X Marks the Spot: The Story of Archaeology in Eight Extraordinary Discoveries, is coming out on 25th May 2023.

Uncovering the physical remains of our past is a quintessential human itch; the pursuit of every society from the ancients through to today. But the stories behind archaeological exploration and discovery - what we look for when, what we end up finding, and what we then do with it - tell us as much about ourselves today as they do about the past.

Through eight sensational stories of discovery, Professor Scott traces the evolution of modern archaeology from colonial expeditions to today’s cutting-edge digs, unearthing traps, curses and buried treasure along the way. We uncover why different periods and places have caught our attention and imaginations at different times. We meet the characters, some celebrated and some forgotten, who found world-famous discoveries like the Rosetta Stone, the Terracotta Warriors and Machu Picchu. We investigate ancient human footprints, stunning shipwrecks, mythical princesses and surprising rituals as keyholes to the wonders of past civilisations. And we unravel how archaeological finds have often become emblems of modern fascinations and dilemmas.

Crossing millions of years, trekking from the jungles of South America to the frozen highlands of Central Asia, X Marks the Spot reveals how much the discovery of our past is intertwined with the concerns of our present and why X never, ever marks the spot. Further information can be found on Amazon

Dan Smith (OK 2004)

Bastille are celebrating a 10-year anniversary of their debut album Bad Blood with a special performance in London. The band, comprising Dan Smith, Kyle Simmons, Will Farquarson, and Chris ‘Woody’ Wood will take to South London for the Kew The Music summer concert series on Tuesday, 11th July 2023. They will perform the album in full as well as a selection of fan-favourites from across their career. Further information can be found here

Joby Talbot (OK 1989)

June will see the UK premiere of Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer’s new opera Everest: a spectacular drama of life, death and the human spirit on the roof of the world. Based on a true story, Talbot’s opera has a contemporary setting, but an eternal theme: the limits of human courage, and the unbreakable power of nature. Talbot’s Everest Prelude sets the scene, combining tense, evocative music and poignant footage of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine’s ill-fated attempt to conquer the icy peak in 1924. Atmospheric visual projections then throw you into the 1990s and the freezing heart of a raging storm. ‘Gripping, edge of your seat story-telling’ wrote one US critic after its premiere in 2015. ‘If you want to see where opera is headed in the 21st-century, don’t miss this production.’ Further information can be found here

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