Issuu

ORLUMNI SUMMER 2022

THE NEXT CHAPTER STAFF FEATURE

12 JAMIE'S JOURNAL

48 HAVE YOU EVER MET ALEX K?

10 ST MULUMBA A DECADE ON

SUMMER LEAVERS THE NEXT DESTINATION

CONTENTS

3. 4. 6. 9. 10. 12. 16. 20. 21. 26. 34. 36. 40. 43. 46. 48. 54. 56. 60. 61.

welcome headmaster's address The Next Chapter editor's comment St Mulumba - a decade on Jamie's Journal sports round up vintage 1971-77 sports round up - Continued Sailing away - 1967 Alumni Event VIQC Worlds - 2022 Drama Music Alumni Event Alex KayMAKanov orley Farm Association leavers destinations Summer Term House Winners dates for the diary

EDITORIAL CHETAN SHAH Editor

SARA PADALINO Editorial assistant

TIM CALVEY photographer

MATTHEW KING social media

JAS BIRDI communications

WELCOME Welcome again, hope you all enjoyed the first issue of our publication. We have had a very positive response, and have seen that news has spread as more people have signed up to the Orlumni!

CONTRIBUTORS Tim Calvey, Stephen Bloom, Natalie heir, Rebecca Gascoigne, monika patel

SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Orlumni has also successfully held its first 2 events and have now begun to create a platform for alumni where they can be part of the progression of the school and its students. For this issue I'm also pleased to be able to include articles from and by former students which I hope you will all enjoy reading. Please free to email us with your stories and updates and we would love to include them in future issues. CHETAN SHAH Editor ORLUMNI@ORLEYFARM.HARROW.SCH.UK WWW.ORLEYFARM.HARROW.SCH.UK

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE https://orleyfarm.firefly cloud.net/membership/m embership-form

headmaster's address Summer Term has the most unique

a Reception Play, a Year 1&2

vibe as there are busy and

production and a return to Harrow

complicated events that crescendo

Speech Room for Celebration Day,

with fanfares as the culmination of

just to name a few of the headlines!

days, weeks and even months of commitment from teachers and pupils

I mention these headlines first as

comes to fruition. Over the past two

they are the lifeblood of what it

years, we’ve lived through so many

means to be an Orleyan – someone

cancellations and challenges that this

who can and does give their all,

term has felt like such a privilege, a

whether on a stage waiting for the

time to be pretty thankful!

curtain to open, whether on track or field in athletics, maybe it’s the

All of the events that we’ve hosted

whistle from the starter of the 100m

have had appreciative audiences and

medley relay or maybe it’s the

this has brought life, noise, laughter

moment the conductor brings you in

and even the odd tear! A Summer

for a solo; it could be the first ball of

Concert, a West End production, two

your innings in a school match, or the

Galas and three Sports Days, our first

moment the adjudicator signals they

QUEST Exhibition, cricket matches

are ready for your poem in a recital.

galore, Expeditions Week (even

The point is, an Orleyan cares about

though British Airways did their best

giving their best and making the most

to dampen proceedings!?!),

of an opportunity in any given field or arena – and they do so

fearlessly and with no regard of outcome, failure is not something that an Orleyan fears! Against this backdrop, I am delighted to say that all of our 61 leavers have been successfully placed in 31 senior schools, gaining 37 scholarships and awards in the process to 12 of the country’s most selective senior schools. Highlights include 20 Academic Scholarships, including a Queen’s Scholar to Westminster, a John Colet Scholar to St. Paul’s Boys’ School and 2 Academic Scholarships to South Hampstead High. We also enjoyed breadth with a record 8 Music Scholarships along with awards in Sport and Drama; we also had our first STEAM Scholarship! But for me, the outstanding figure is the number of exit schools. For 61 leavers to be heading to 31 destinations in which to continue their respective journeys is credit to teachers who are preparing them and pupils who are taking their opportunities! They are ready and excited to be looking ahead and for many, this will be their first leap into something truly new for 9 years! Enjoy reading about the past, the present and the future... TIM CALVEY Headmaster

The next chapter I was asked to write a few words

That is why the Thinking Skills

about my time at Orley Farm. This

introduced a few years ago are so

created two immediate problems for

important. These skills teach us how

me. I have been here almost 24 years

to navigate life and the problems we

so a lot has happened and I am not

will all encounter at some point in

known for being brief!

time.

I joined Orley Farm in September

I guess one of my happiest times here

1998. I was employed as a secretary in

is every September, when I see each

the main school office. This was

pupil come in with eyes full of wonder

before we had email or the internet

and excitement. Diddy Reception

on our computers and all letters were

children with sleeve jackets too long

prepared and typed up by the office.

(you’ll grow into it) and shorts

My colleague at the time ‘helpfully’

reminiscent of Stanley Matthews (you

suggested that I might like to go to

are now googling who he is). Every

night school to learn how to type

July, at the last day of term, dresses

faster. I almost walked out that day.

are too tight, trousers are too short

Luckily, I didn’t and I have never learnt

and white socks are showing. I half

to type any faster! However, my point

expect one day someone is going to

is that in life we all get scared

do an impression of Michael Jackson

sometimes and think we are not good

and moon walk across the stage (now

enough. I stayed in the school office

you’re looking on You Tube).

for ten years before moving up to the Registrar’s role in 2008.

Speech Day at Harrow School is a glorious, unashamed celebration of all that is good about our school community. The stories, achievements, successes, failures, love and friendships that have happened along the way. The family we have created for ourselves. The friends we make at school will become friends for life. Not just for the children but for the parents too. Over my many years here, I have worked with some wonderfully talented, funny and truly exceptional colleagues from across the whole school and I have made friends for life. I have met some incredibly kind and generous parents and I have shared in their joy and sometimes in their sorrow. It has been a real pleasure to have played some small part in the children’s journey through school and watching them blossom into confident young adults and seeing them reach for their dreams. I believe that nothing is impossible. To succeed in life, you need to be passionate about what you want to do.

You need to work hard. You need a supportive family. You need the moon and the stars to align for that little bit of luck. I will be really sad to say that final farewell and close the door to my office, but another door to my new life will open. Orley Farm will be around for a long time to come and I am proud to have been able to have played a very small part in its rich history. Wishing you all every happiness for the future and a wonderful summer break. Julie Jago

"EDUCATION IS WHAT REMAINS AFTER ONE HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT ONE HAS LEARNED IN SCHOOL." ALBERT EINSTEIN

editor's comment Well, here we are, we made it to the

We are going to look at how we can

2nd issue! Between writing the first

now continue building the structure

issue and this one, we have had a

as per our plan. This will enable the

couple of successful alumni events

Orlumni to work with the school in a

and we have had more contributions

symbiotic relationship that will

from our alumni in this issue, take

benefit both parties and such that we

time to read “Sailing 1967” which will

can make it into a seamless join. Over

transport you back in time, our first

time our aim is to allow processes to

staff feature as well as our usual

be fully integrated into the daily life

highlights.

at Orley Farm School.

When we first talked about restarting the alumni, we wanted to think

If you have any thoughts ideas,

carefully about its form and shape.

contributions etc. please email them

Taking inspiration from a recent trip

to us.

to Barcelona the home of the master

I hope you enjoy reading the articles

architect - Antoni Gaudi. Nature

in this issue as much as I have in

influenced his work and he combined

compiling them.

that with advanced engineering and structural design. Applying that to the Orlumni, we giving it a strong foundation, a structure and allowing it to grow organically.

CHETAN SHAH Editor

St Mulumba a decade on

St Mulumba Primary School - Kamuli, Uganda Number of pupils : 420+ School Motto : Nothing Stops God’s Will This is a government day primary school built in the 1970s, on land donated by the Catholic Church. In 2010 the community bought extra land to provide a playing field, so the school now owns approximately 6 acres. The school serves a number of small villages, with most parents trying to support themselves growing maize, following the collapse of the coffee industry, which had previously brought relative prosperity to the area.

In October 2010, Ceri Davies, of Orley Farm School, set out to raise money for Henry’s charity. This was particularly special for us because Ceri and his wife, Philippa, had taught Henry at Harrow and coached him at tennis. From the start, the fundraising ideas mushroomed, from a quiz night to a bicycle ride, cake sale, mufti day and, in December, 14 pupils and 2 teachers climbed to the 5000m summit of Mount Kenya for the charity. The quiz night raised a magnificent £3,000, culminating in a heart warming presentation about the memorial fund by Ceri Davies, as well as his fond memories of Henry’s school days at Harrow.

More recently Rachel Calvey and Katie Llewellyn visited the school - over the years the Orley Farm School Community has raised in excess of £17,000 for this charity.

Jamie freedman I would like to introduce our first

I arrived at OFS, wide-eyed and

serial contributer to the magazine. Al

excited, one evening in September

Freedman otherwise known as Jamie

1966. Mr J M P Ellis, the then

to his friends. He was a former

Headmaster, stood at the lockers in

member of the “OFOBA (Orley Farm

the main school corridor smiling

Old Boys Association)” run by the

broadly, welcoming boys and ticking

father of a friend (Mogs Peschardt),

names off his list as we bundled

but now is proud member of the

through the door in eager

revived Orlumni.

anticipation of the new term.

Jamie emailed us after the first issue

A boy who’d already spent his first

and was keen to share his stories and

year at the school was summoned

experiences while at OFS. He

and instructed to assist me getting

presented myself and Tim with a long

my trunk in and taking me to

list of topics, enough that I think he

Oakhurst, my first dormitory.

should be our first guest columnist

My chaperone took me in tow and,

where his stories will transport you

before helping me man-handle my

back to the 1960's at Orley Farm

enormous trunk to the lift outside the

School. Quite a different school back

Staff Room, inspected a list of names

then you'll agree after reading his

high up on the wall which informed

piece in this publication called "Sailing

him I was in Broadrick house.

away - Summer 1967". On this page and the following I'll let Jamie introduce himself - Enjoy. Chetan Shah

There was a great deal to learn in those first few weeks; the names of new friends, the designations of rooms and how to get to them, the names (and nicknames) of the Masters and Mistresses, the timetable, the School Rules, both written and oral, to list but a few. Successfully negotiating a change of Headmaster (to Mr C J Davies) and Common Entrance, I left for Public School in July 1972 with many happy memories and friendships which remain, largely intact, in 2022. That six years turned out to be the most formative and seminal for determining my varied life journey. All

Having set me on a path of professional musicianship (I taught music as one of my careers and still teach piano), I flatter myself that we are now close friends. Our regular conversations have prompted me to remember so many happy episodes at OFS that I have begun writing some of them down. I’m sure many things at OFS have changed since my time but I am also confident, having read the first edition of the Orlumni, that the family atmosphere and outstandingly solid and truly rounded education it offers all its pupils remain a foundational focus today.

my most cherished interests, multiple careers and diverse pastimes can be traced back to experiences and opportunities I was introduced to at OFS. Not just academic excellence and intellectual challenge but music, theatre and a lifelong affection for learning. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to re-establish a relationship with my first music and piano teacher, Mrs Katherine Howarth (nee Wood).

JAMIE FREEDMAN aka Froggy

sports round-up Boys’ Games - Cricket 1st XI Captain: Ravin Abhayawickrama 1st XI Batting Cup: Ranvir Puri (218 runs) 1st XI Bowling Cup: Aarav Bhalodia (16 wickets) 1st XI Fielding Cup: Ravin Abhayawickrama Colts Cricket Captain: Dhruv Patel Colts Cricket Cup: Dhruv Patel This was a cricketing summer to remember with 50 matches played by our boys in Middle and Upper School with our record being 34 wins, 2 ties and 14 losses. It was our senior teams in Years 7 and 8 who led the way with 19 wins from their collective 20 matches! Led by the outstanding Ravin Abhayawickrama, it was our 1st XI who had a season truly to remember as, within their record of 11 wins from 12 matches, they emerged victorious from the annual Orley Farm U13 Ten10 Cricket Tournament to bring the shield home for the first time since 2017! On a thrilling day, which saw 907 runs scored and 45 wickets tumble, we recorded wins over Durston House, St. Martin’s and Westminster US.

sports round-up House matches, as always, brought out more competitiveness in the boys with Julians winning the Upper School (Years 5-8) competitions and Hastings winning the Middle School (Years 3-4) competitions. The photos which accompany this report show our youngest team at U8 level (above) and our brilliant 1st XI with their winners’ medals and shield from the Ten10 Tournament (below) as well as Ravin Abhayawickrama and Ranvir Puri proudly holding their individual awards (following page) as the leading bowler and leading batsman on the day of the tournament. Mr Bloom – Head of Boys’ Games

Vintage 1971-77 A couple of months ago we received an email from Robert Stewart (at Orley Farm School from 1971-1977). He said has been meeting up with some of his old school friends and they have had several very amusing lunches, a lot of reminiscing and plenty of laughs. They would like to expand their group - if you know Robert or any of his band of merry men then please email us at: orlumni@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk and we can put you in touch.

from Left to right: Russell Blumire, Robert Stewart, Jeremy Culverhouse, John Woodbury & Mark Landon

sports round-up

The Girls Cricket season started off very successfully with the U10 teams winning against NHES in an away fixture. Then we had disappointment when Belmont cancelled the U8 & U9 fixture, however the U8 teams went ahead with House Matches that the parents enjoyed watching. The U11 teams had four fixtures this term with the U11 B & C teams being undefeated in every match.

sports round-up The U11 A team played with wooden bats and an incrediball and only lost to Beechwood Park. The Cricket Captain this term was Anshi Puri, (right) a very talented player, who joined the Colts 1st team in their U11 tournament on Saturday 10th June here at OFS.

Jamie's Journal

SAILING AWAYSUMMER 1967 by Jamie Freedman

The three junior dormitories (Gardner, Oakhurst and Mount Park) “went up” when the bell went at about 7:45 in the evening only about half an hour after Prep (supervised by the Duty Master in Rooms 1 & 2 off the main corridor). In the Winter Term there wasn’t much to do after Prep ended and before the bell went except to play the board games kept on top of the lockers in Room 1, swap stamps from our collections or play chess. The Etch-a-Sketch was up on the lockers as well but you had to move very quickly to get it to it first and I seldom managed the operation. Even if you’d bagged the coveted red and white box (making this widely known both before and during Boarder’s Tea), there was no guarantee one of the older, and bigger, boys wouldn’t claim it first when the time came. I spent many occasions comforting myself with the knowledge that it didn’t work properly anyway. The up-down knob was very loose and couldn’t be relied on to move the scraper with any accuracy in those directions. This made drawing anything, either straight lines or curves, almost impossible. So, even though it was rightfully my go (I had bagged it after all and sealed it with a “no returns”), I was able to persuade myself, having lost it, that I was just as happy in the library reading the Edward Lear book of limericks, I’d found one time in a rarely visited nook among the shelving. In the Summer Term, though, it was still light when Prep ended and even with only half-an-hour available there were wonderful things to do outside.

You had to get permission to go outside after Prep but this was usually readily available in return for a promise to come in immediately the outside bell went. Mr. Standring, still in his tracksuit from PE or Games, was often willing to supervise us at the swimming pool so we could launch and race our model boats (stored in the old air raid shelter accessed on the way down to the pool). It was one such summer evening when I sat with my “Kennedy’s Shorter Latin Primer” open reviewing the ten principal parts we’d been set to learn for Prep. Actually, my copy of the book had been renamed (by a previous owner I hasten to add) as “Kennedy’s Shortbread Eating Primer.” At the top of the page I was studying was written, in blue ink, “If my name you want to see, turn the page to forty-three.” I’d already tried that when I was first given the book. To my disappointment, following the instruction revealed no hint as to its authorship. Hardly surprising, I suppose, given the well-known penalty for “defacing a school-book.” "Doceo, Docere, Duci, Doctum” I intoned in my head whilst keeping a close eye on the clock. Only a few minutes now. “Dockeo, Duckerer, Ducky, Doctor.” “CLUNK,” went the clock. “Docky, Ducker, Juicy, Docker. Clocky, Clucker, Jubilee, Locker.” Somehow this didn’t sound right at all. I consulted Kennedy again for a clue and wished prep had really been learning about shortbread – I knew I would find that a bit easier. “Oh yes! Doceo, Docere, Duci, Doctum.” “CLUNK!” “Oh gosh, this is so hard! Even if I get this one, there are still eight others to learn and I’m not sure I can remember the first one now anyway. Was it ‘tumeo’ or something? Oh gosh! Latin isn’t until tomorrow after lunch so I still have time to learn them during Rest just before. If I write the horrid things out on a bit of paper and hide them in my library book, the master taking Rest won’t realise I’m doing Prep and not reading my book after all. Yes! That’s a good plan.” I tore a clean page from the back of my purple covered “Imposition” book. I usually carried this round with me as I always seemed to be getting impots. A page of carefully written lines (on both sides), “I must not flick bits of blotch at other boys,” fell on the floor. I leant over to pick it up.

““What are you doing?” “Picking up my paper sir.” “You’re not doing impositions in Prep are you?” “Nosir, yessir, it fell out sir.” “Well, pick it up quietly!” “CLUNK!

Ding-ding-ding-ding-dunk-ding-ding-

brrrr-ding-dunk-ting!” “Nobody move! I’ll tell you when you may go. OK off you go now. QUIETLY!” Once out of sight in the corridor, I run to my locker and, without stopping, open it, throw in my books and close it. A well-practiced and now very smooth manoeuvre. “SIR! SIR! PLEASE SIR! MR STANDRING SIR! PLEASE SIR!” “Don’t shout at me boy! What’s the matter?” “Sorry sir, please sir, can you come and do boats with us sir, please sir?” “Have you asked the Duty Master?” “Not yet sir.” “Well, I’ll get a cup of tea and, if he agrees, I’ll meet you down at the pool in 10 minutes. No one is to go near the side until I arrive.” “Yes sir, yes sir!” I run back to the Prep Room to get the necessary consent. “And don’t run!” “Yes sir!” “You say ‘yes sir’ but you still do it. Come back here.” “Sir?” “Right. Now walk.” “Yes sir.” I speed walked as fast as I dare without suggesting an actual run. “Please sir can we do boats sir? Mr Standring says we can if you do sir.” A growing crowd begins assembling round me. I’m sure the word ‘boats’ started it. “If I do what?” “Say we can sir.” “I’m sure you can but may you?” “Yes sir we can sir if you say so sir.”

“If I say ‘you may’ I’ve already accepted that you can.” “Thank you sir.” “I haven’t said it yet!” “Yes sir, no sir, please sir.” Initiating a conversation with adults is always hard but we only have a few minutes right now so why is he making it even harder and more confusing than usual. “Do you promise to be indoors as soon as you hear the ‘going-up’ bell?” A chorus of “yes sirs” begins. “All right! Shhhh! You and you, and you, and you, you and you MAY go and float your boats with Mr Standring. That’s six of you then. Rather him than me.” “Yes sir thank you sir!” “Just go!” We tear off to be first to get our boat. “AND DON’T RUN until you’re outside.” Despite that I had page after page of “I must not run in the corridor” neatly inscribed in my Impot Book, outside for me began by the door of the Senior Changing Room at the dayboys’ pegs where they hung their coats. As I ran to the old air-raid shelter, I thrust my hand into the pocket of my shorts to check that the batteries I had previously removed from my torch in anticipation of this evening’s adventure were still there. Despite how much value they’d be in the dormitories after lights out torches were in serious risk of confiscation if seen in one’s possession upstairs. However, it was completely accepted that one could have one downstairs as long as it only came out at play times and was never taken to a lesson. I used mine for exploring the far nether reaches of my locker until so much stuff had accreted in there that I couldn’t see the back at all, let alone the far corners. I had the batteries in my hand by the time I retrieved my boat and used the time before the welcome appearance of Mr Standring to substitute the spent ones in the battery compartment with the ones from my torch. “All right,” declared Mr Standring as he sat on the bench with a view of the whole pool, lit his cigarette and sipped his tea “boats in.” Just at this moment, the mast on mine detached itself from its mounting and came away in my hand. I tried to reinsert it but to no lasting effect. As soon as I turned the boat, even a little, the bally thing would fall out again. “Sir, sir, please sir, my stick has come off sir.” “Let me see.” CONTINUED

"DEVELOP A PASSION FOR LEARNING. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL NEVER CEASE TO GROW." ANTHONY J. D’ANGELO

He examined the damaged vessel carefully and tried pushing the mast back in and removing it several times. “Its got a motor hasn’t it?” “Yes sir.” “Then I don’t think we need the mast. It’ll work quite happily without it.” “But it doesn’t look right sir. Not without its sticking up bit. It’s not a boat without a mast.” “Yes, I see.” He rose and rummaged about in the bushes until he found a small piece of dead wood which satisfied him. Taking up my boat he wedged the mast in with a splint taken from his twig. It didn’t look quite right; the mast was a little askew and the splint stuck up well above the deck. “Thank you sir. It’ll go faster now sir with the motor and the mast and all.” “I’m sure you think it will. It’ll hold until you can get some model glue to it. Just be careful as you lean over the edge of the pool. I don’t want to have to fish you out if you fall in.” “Yes sir, thank you sir.” Actually, he wouldn’t have had to fish me out. I was a good swimmer, perfectly capable of recovering myself if I did fall in. No fishing out would be necessary or desired. But, then, perhaps he didn’t know this yet. I’d only been at the school for a couple of terms after all. I pushed the switch to start the motor. It was a bit sluggish to begin with but flicking the propeller round with a finger got it going. Kneeling at the edge of the pool, I carefully launched the boat onto the water. It usually went quite fast but today it made very slow, stately progress to the middle of the pool where it stopped. Just stopped. I stood and looked at it in disbelief. Making no forward progress, or progress of any kind, it just bobbed up and down forlornly in the wakes of the other boy’s boats whizzing by. I started forming the opinion they were aiming their boats at mine in the hope that a good bonk from a well-placed collision might encourage it to go again. However, the loud cheering when a palpable hit took place without any reaction from my craft soon disabused me of my charitable view. I had a brainwave. I ran up the slope to the bushes and began rummaging around.

“What are you doing?” “Looking for a stick sir.” “Why?” “To poke my boat with sir. It’s stopped sir.” “Just come out of there. Now, what’s all this about?” “My boat sir. It’s stopped sir. I’m going to poke it with a stick sir.” “No you’re not. “Which one is yours?” “The one right in the middle sir. Stopped sir.” “I see. Has it run out of batteries?” “I don’t think so sir. I just put new ones in.” “Hmm. Well we’ll have to rescue it then.” He got up and went off to get the net thing on a long pole that was always rather precariously hooked against the brick wall of the out-ofbounds cupboard where they kept the works for the swimming pool. Many of us had often wondered what that pole was for. We had a theory that, despite its obvious frailty, it was supposed to be used to fish boys out of the pool when that eventuality became necessary – perhaps when they didn’t come out themselves when they were told to. It was what, I imagined, he was earlier suggesting he was going to fish me out with if I fell in. The net on the end never looked very substantial and this was another reason why I would have preferred to swim to shore myself rather than be fished out in it and then having it break through with me descending from a great height back into the water for the amusement of all my friends.

“Right you boys, stop steering your boat towards his whilst I undertake a salvage. YOU BOY! I SAID STOP. ” Standing some way up the bank, he swung the pole round until the net was over the pool and then advanced down the bank so that the end was directly above my boat before lunging at it with a great scooping movement trapping the stranded vessel in the net. Everyone had abandoned their boats by now and were enjoying my discombobulation and Mr Standring’s gallant rescue attempt. “Don’t stand behind me whilst I’m using this unless you want to be brained,” he advised someone moving to get a better view. He deftly landed my boat on the side of the pool about a pole length away and I retrieved it with huge gratitude. The mast had come off again and sunk to the bottom but I didn’t care; I had my boat back. “We’ll probably be able to get its mast back when it arrives in the filter in due course. I’m sure it can manage without until then.” “Yes sir, thank you sir.” The outside bell began tolling our bedtime and, as promised, we gathered up our crafts and returned them, on the way in, to their dry-dock in the air-raid shelter with all celerity. “Come on you boys! RUN!” Mr Standring shouted after us. As we went upstairs to bed, I made a mental note to order new batteries and Airfix glue from Mr Durnford at the next Boarder’s Shopping opportunity next Wednesday morning. It would probably use up my whole term’s pocket money allowance, but it would be worth it to see ‘The Enterprise’ in full sail again. Just before lights out, Mr Standring appeared in Oakhurst’s doorway holding up a small, blue plastic rod. “Oh, thank you sir, thank you!” “Come and collect it from me in the Staff Room tomorrow. I’ll keep it safe overnight.”

Alumni Event 2021 Leavers - 27th May We hosted our first Orlumni event as our leavers from last year returned for an informal evening to share stories and catch up. It was also an opportunity for them to open our new Hub. It was lovely to see our leaves who are now year 7 girls and year 9 boys reconnecting in familiar surroundings and acting as though they had never been apart. It was a successful first event with just over 100 former students and parents in attendance.

VIQC WORLDS - 2022 by Chetan Shah

I enjoyed 8 years at Orley farm school before I joined HABS in Sept 2021. I was offered the opportunity to compete in a robotics competition: VEX IQ. This competition tests engineering, programming, and logical skills. My team and I competed in multiple competitions. We qualified for VIQC Worlds by winning in a “qualification award” at the local competition which directly qualifies for world competitions without the need to compete at the national (in Telford) competitions. Vex IQ is a global competition between teams of 10- to 14-year-olds, where teams compete in an annually changed game. This year’s game asked you to create a robot which could launch balls into a high goal. There are three ways to play: alongside another team, on your own, or with an automated programme to control the robot. In March 2022 my team and I competed in a global qualifiers game for VEX IQ where we won the “Innovate” award which qualified us to compe te in VEX IQ WORLDS. The Habs School Headmaster secured sponsorships for all of us to travel and board to Dallas for the competition.

Travelling to Dallas Texas for a VIQC (Vex IQ Competition) Worlds was an incredible experience. Over a span of 3 days, I competed alongside my team in a robotics competition representing “Habs Boys” and the UK at the World competitions. Our team “Critical speed” played in ten matches with ten other teams. We won an award, the “CREATE” award. The DT, research and teamworking skills I acquired in Orley while doing Greenpower really helped me in this project. Travelling to Dallas Texas for a VIQC (Vex IQ Competition) Worlds was an incredible experience. Over a span of 3 days, I competed alongside my team in a robotics competition representing “Habs Boys” and the UK at the World competitions. Our team “Critical speed” played in ten matches with ten other teams. We won an award, the “CREATE” award. The DT, research and teamworking skills I acquired in Orley while doing Greenpower really helped me in this project.

On the first day of “VIQC worlds”, we went through an inspection. They checked that our robot met the regulation limits. It was a prolonged process as we had been careful to ensure our robot was within the precise set limits. The outcome of having such a precise tolerance meant that the robot would pass the metaphorical test but when it moved through an object, it would catch onto the edges of the physical limits. We were filing down millimetres of axle at a time to get the robot (a completely legal robot) through the inspection. We set up our display [DN1] . The display permitted us to showcase the design process and the understanding of applied engineering in our robot. This display is to entice [DN2] judges and to display our work in a simple manner. The display allowed judges to view our work and consider us for an award at the end of the competition. They look at design innovations (such as our pinboard) and programming innovations (such as our autonomous code).

On day two our timetable was filled with matches. We played our first seven qualification matches. We also worked collaboratively on an idea which would eventually (we think) win us our award. We designed a code to automatically replay any manual inputs. Unfortunately, we were unable to perfect it during the competition, but my teammate Isaac decided to work on the code post competition. For the next season we now have an automated code that can program the robot itself by just being told what to pick up. On day three we completed our final qualifications matches. At the end of the matches, we won the CREATE award. The award which focuses on the design process and innovative design solutions My trip to Dallas Texas was a bewildering achievement and incredible experience and hopefully one of many more. Thank you to Mr X Ryan, Mr Vincent, Mr Hughes-Caley, and Orley Farm, Deveshu

drama Aladdin! It was announced that Orley Farm pupils would be performing Aladdin back in January 2020. It was such a shame that pupils made it through auditions and early rehearsals only to have everything pulled by the pandemic. However, the cast of 2022 decided to put this right with 3 performances that had many of us in tears – the story of learning to be yourself is compelling enough but coupled with our knowledge of what these children have been through over the past years, it felt as though they had their own stories to tell in the most colourful, energetic and emotional way – quite extraordinary! So many people who came together to make this happen. The set design, the props, lighting and sound, backstage management, choreography and musicians all create the frame. However, the actors have to fill that frame and they certainly did exactly that!

Music We were treated to a simply beautiful afternoon of music – there were beginners as well as more experienced performers and we were lucky to have Mr Stone from the Royal Academy of Music to adjudicate. We loved the variety of pieces and the individual performances. As we return to live music, it’s interesting seeing the way that some pupils embrace the moment and enjoy every part of sharing their experience – as we say, it was a simple joy to be immersed for a few hours without any interruption! For the past 2 years one of the greatest impacts of the pandemic has been on the performance of live music. Whilst Spotify and Apple Music may well have increased their subscriptions, they don’t come close to replacing the feel of live music.

Over the past term, there has been a thumping heartbeat pounding through the school and I’m sure that for those of you able to join our Summer Concert performances, you’ll agree that it has been uplifting, inspiring, mesmerising and moving! There was something for everyone, from solo performances to groups and bands, choral pieces to full orchestral arrangements – we were truly treated to something special!

Alumni Event Softball & Picnic - 2nd July Our second Orlumni event was definitely less formal! With over 70 former students who had left Orley between 2010 and 2021 we managed to organise teams by their former respective Houses, however there seemed to be some defections but we managed to even it out! with some questionable scoring and a lot of unruly (but friendly) behaviour - Julians' won. Mr. Calvey gave us a running commentary, keeping us all entertained as parents enjoyed their picnic.

MORE THAN JUST ART -ALEX KAYMAKANOV

by Chetan Shah

3 Alex Kaymakanov left Orley Farm in

animated.

2019 and went on to Mill Hill where he

The selection of paintings in this article are

has just completed his GCSEs of which

very deliberate – the first (1,2,3,4, & 5) are his

included Art and Design Technology

practice pieces when he first started using oil

(DT). Both subjects required

paints and how different he found this from

coursework of which he has already

using his usual medium of acrylic.

attained 98% and 100% respectively.

His first piece (6) is one of his mother, in the

He has a real love of art and talking to

style of Kehinde Wiley, who is a

him, he brought me into his world. He

contemporary African American painter

has real passion – about anything he

known for his distinctive portraits, famously

talks about and it comes across very

Presidential portrait of Barak Obama.

This painting of his mother is inspired

11 (a self-portrait) – learning from the Greek

by Michelangelo’s – Pietà. Using the

artist Nikos Gyftakis, 9 & 10 are where Alex

style of Lucian Freud, Alex painted his

has practiced more oil work but this time on

father (7) in this thick heavy style that

portraits which he used to hone his

coveys gore.

application of the style of John Singer Sargent

His masterpiece is of his grandfather (8) another American artist who was famous for which is a culmination of these styles.

painting celebrities in the Edwardian era.

This painting is over a metre high. Part

Using his luscious bravura brushwork is what

of his ‘Skin Project’ is what Alex calls it,

Ales has tried to mimic.

are his paintings 6,7,8 &

CONTINUED

Back to DT his other passion, the 100% gained was due to a unique clothes peg he had designed for people with arthritis. This design has been put forward for the Arkwright Engineering scholarship where Alex’s design has made it to the final round – results are due in September. September brings new challenges for him as he will begin his A-levels in Art, Design Technology and Maths and has also secured a place at the Royal Academy of Music (Jazz Dept.) his main influence is Charlie Parker as Alex plays the Saxophone. He credits Mr Bell and then Mr du Plessis who is so passionate about DT, that he started a jewellery making club which encouraged Alex in taking a deeper interest in DT. Mr du Plessis also helped Alex with his Design Technology Scholarship submission. Mr Evans supported him in Music and allowed him to be creative and express himself through music and while at Orley he had the opportunity to perform in piano competitions and in many different bands. Mrs Walsh really helped him with his Art scholarship preparation, all this support resulted in Alex being awarded scholarships in Art, DT and Music at Mill Hill.

"I TRAIN IN KARATE BECAUSE I AM EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SPORT. IT IS GREAT FOR FITNESS, FOCUS AND DISCIPLINE. THE MORE YOU TRAIN THE BETTER YOU BECOME AND AMAZING JOURNEYS HAPPEN. KARATE HAS LED ME ON SO MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES DUE TO HARD WORK AND TRAINING."

He has also been recently awarded a scholarship in sport. Alex has been training in the art of karate from a month before his 5th birthday. Karate has become one of the biggest passions in his life. Alex has experienced successes and defeats in competing in excess of 70 tournaments and being awarded his second-degree black belt by the age of 13. Alex has competed worldwide and represented England in many countries including Hawaii, Malaysia, Slovakia and Japan, and won Gold at the World Gōjū-ryū Karate Championships in 2017 in Romania. From starting karate Alex has gained lots of experience in many different aspects of karate for example discipline, fitness, health, mindset, self-defence and much more. Throughout Alex’s karate journey he has come to realise that karate is a much more than a martial art that it is a type of lifestyle. Competing has been a big part of karate for Alex and it is a platform to show his skill and dedication. He will be next competing later this year in Italy – Best of luck Alex!

OFA events Quiz Night The school quiz night was a full house as always. Raising a significant amount for the schools chosen charity Winston’s Wish. The annual quiz night auction conducted my Mr Calvey has become a well anticipated event.

Summer Fair We had our summer fair the day after the hottest day of the year! With cooler temperatures and hosting 39 children’s stalls we raised over £1800. The Orley children seemed to ‘step up their game’ from one event to another from selling lemonade to collecting food items for the local food bank. We could not be any more proud of the entrepreneurial to creative skills they display. Thank you to all the class reps, and parent volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly.

special and unique group of parents, staff and teachers. My team and family have been my rock, over the last few years and I could not have asked for a better set of parents to be on the OFA journey with. Reeta Himali, Jhuma, Ket and Julie -Thank you for just getting on with the tasks ahead and you all will always hold a special place in my heart. It gives me great honour to update you on the last few months of the OFA. With our Term on the OFA coming to an end I just wanted to express the gratitude the team and I have felt over the last few years on the

I think, I can truly say I have found my Orley family. I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome the new OFA team- Tanvi Patel and her committee. Wishing you all the success in continuing to make memories.

committee. it has been an absolute honour serving the Orley Farm community and we hope to continue to be a part of this

Monika OFA Chair & the OFA Team 2020-2022

Leavers Destinations Boys - 2022 Destination school

Number of pupils

scholarships accepted

King Heights Academy, Canada

City of London

Hampton School

haberdashers'

Academic

john lyon

Academic x 3, Drama, Music, STEAM

St Margaret’s School

merchant Taylors

St alban's

st pauls

Academic, Music

Westminster

Academic

Total

Academic x 3, Sports, Music

Leavers Destinations Girls - 2022 Destination school

Number of pupils

Hatch End High School

Bentley Wood High

Belmont School

Haberdashers’

Haileybury

Henrietta Barnet School

Godolphin & Latymer

Dr Challoners High

King Fahad Academy

North London Collegiate

Nower Hill High School

Notting Hiill & Ealing

Northwood College

Rickmansworth School

scholarships accepted

Academic

Leavers Destinations- Continued Girls - 2022 Destination school

Number of pupils

scholarships accepted

Royal Masonic

St Marylebone CE Schoo

Drama

South Hampstead High

Sports

Pinner High School

St Helen’s

Academic, Music

St Margaret’s

Drama, Sports

St Paul’s Girls’

Queen’s College London

Drama

Total

HASTINGS - HOUSE WINNERS

Dates for the diary ALUMNI EVENTS

OTHER EVENTS

RECONNECTION FOR STUDENTS BORN 03/04 ACADEMIC YEAR

OFA FIREWORKS NIGHT

Tuesday 23rd August 2022

Thursday 3rd November 2022

OFA CHRISTMAS FAIR Saturday 3rd December 2022