The Viking Voice (Winter 2022)

“Who’s The Baby?

by Oscar Morris

Can you guess who these babies are? They are all Shiplake teachers. Use the clues to guide you. The answers can be found at the bo<om of page 24.

The BIG Interview

Mr Brown interviewed by Oscar Morris

In this edition’s BIG INTERVIEW it was our pleasure to get to know Mr Brown, Shiplake’s Deputy Head Pastoral. Read on to find out some interesting things about the man you might not know as well as you thought…

How long have you been at Shiplake... and how much has it changed?

This is my twenty-fourth year at Shiplake. I arrived in 1999 as Head of History, became Skipwith Housemaster a few years later (for six years), took on College House for seven years, spent a few years running the co-curricular programme and have been Deputy Head for about seven years, I think. Shiplake has changed in size, from around 290 pupils in 1999 to over 500 now, and shape, with lots of new buildings. But what hasn't changed is the ethos and atmosphere.

What's your role like as a Deputy Head Pastoral?

Varied and unpredictable! I never know from day to day what I will be doing. Obviously, I do some teaching (Year 7 and 9 History and also PSHEE), coach rugby (U13A team), have a Year 13 tutor group and have a lot of regular meetings, but a lot of my time is spent sorting out a variety of issues; safeguarding, pastoral concerns and discipline. I work very closely with the Housemasters, the chaplain and medical wing and together we spend a lot of time supporting pupils and working with their families to ensure that they are safe and happy. At times this can be challenging but I love the variety and being in a position to help and support those who need it.

The BIG Interview

In your opinion, what makes Shiplake better than other schools?

We are a small, caring school where pupils are encouraged to get involved and achieve their personal bests in all areas. At its heart is the expectation that everyone looks after each other. I often refer to the house system as our "gold standard" and I strongly believe that this ensures that every pupil is valued, cared for, and has a wonderful range of opportunities. In so many schools pupils turn up in the morning, wait in a heartless form room with a tin locker, if they are lucky, register and then head off to lessons. At Shiplake, a warm, friendly welcome (and more often than not a few dogs) awaits everyone. House staff get to know pupils much better this way.

Who is your all-time role model?

That's a really difficult one and, try as I might, I cannot think of one individual. There have been a few people along the way who have inspired me. One is a teacher at my old school, Queen's College, Taunton (pictured). He taught me History, coached me cricket and hockey, was a Housemaster and also a very good singer. He seemed to love his job and I thought that I could see myself doing something similar. That's exactly what I have done!

Mr Brown interviewed by Oscar Morris

The BIG Interview

Mr Brown interviewed by Oscar Morris

I’ve heard that you are a big cricket fan. Who is your all-time favourite player and why? That's easy! It's got to be Viv Richards, the all-time great West Indian and Somerset batter. Viv played in the '70s and '80s and I had the great privilege of watching him on numerous occasions playing for Somerset at Taunton. Somehow, I managed to slip off to the County Ground after school in the summer term. I'm still not quite sure whether I was supposed to, as I was a boarder. Viv Richards was an icon and is still considered to be one of the best batters ever. He made batting look so easy and could rip a bowling attack apart with ease. Unlike many batters these days, he always looked graceful and effortless, even when at his most aggressive. He also managed to avoid controversy. Search for him on YouTube; you'll be impressed!

Falling for Christmas

A film review by the Viking Voice team

We hope you had a good Christmas! But perhaps, like many of us, you felt that there was a dearth of good Christmas movies to watch. In order to save you from the same dilemma next year, the Viking Voice reporters got together to watch the best Christmas film Netflix had to offer “Falling for Christmas”, and their thoughts are shared below.

The film is definitely a good way of catching that Christmas feeling. All our reviewers agreed that the movie got them into a Christmassy mood. However, our overall star rating was a middling three out of five. What were the good and bad points of the film?

Falling for Christmas

A film review by the Viking Voice team

Our reviewers rated the music and the emotion of the movie most highly. It is, after all, a Christmas rom-com. The storyline was somewhat predictable and formulaic, while the acting was hardly outstanding, described by George as “terrible and cringe-worthy”. However, we thought that Lindsay Lohan was “a good choice as lead actor as she was able to convey how Sienna's mindset changed throughout the movie in a convincing way” (Aidan). Noah R agreed that she was able to show how spoiled she was at the start but then also how her character progressed.

Lindsay Lohan’s character, Sienna, is a hotel heiress who could not be more mollycoddled and spoiled. Until, that is, she has an accident, gets lost, and in the process loses her memory. That is when she meets Jake Russell, a local hostel owner, in a meeting that will change her life and values forever.

Oscar and Aidan’s most memorable moments in the film involved scenes with Sienna and Jake; for Oscar the scene when everyone gathered around to give money for the lodge, whilst for Aidan it was the scene when Sienna, Jake and Avy went to the Christmas fair.

Falling for Christmas

A film review by the Viking Voice team

For most of the other reviewers, the favourite parts of the film involved two comedy characters: Tad and Ralph. Tad is a stereotypically spoilt and privileged social influencer who cares for little other than himself and what others think of him. He couldn’t be more different to Ralph, a hermit living in the wild, cut off from the world and all forms of social media. By chance they end up stranded together. And the fun begins.

For Albie, the best moments of the film were “whenever Ralph was on the screen” and Noah R agreed that the funniest moments were when these two were together. George, Albie and Aidan all voted for Ralph as their favourite character. Oscar and Noah R liked Tad the best. While Noah S and Josh favoured Jake since he was “truly a kind guy”.

If there was a moral to the story it might be that “you don’t need money to be happy” (Noah S) and that real identity is found in community and not online. George and Aidan found some practical advice in the storyline suggesting that the film was a warning not to marry the wrong person and not to settle for “someone who doesn't care about you as much as you care about them”.

Falling for Christmas

A film review by the Viking Voice team

At the end of the day, did our Viking Voice team recommend the film to you? Some do, saying, “Yes, if you want to watch a fun Christmas film” and that it does pretty much what it says on the label. However, not everyone recommends the film, for example Noah S, who thinks it was “generic and quite boring”.

George was not far behind in his opinion considering it “a waste of 90 minutes”. Josh’s considered opinion is that the film was “poorly executed with limited finesse” while Will thought the film was “basic and poorly executed.” Hmm, so not for everyone.

But if you are looking for a run of the mill Christmas romantic comedy that would appeal to all ages to get you into the Christmas mood, then Falling for Christmas might be just the thing.

However, if you’re not convinced by our review and you want to watch a good Christmas movie, our team recommends instead trying The Nightmare before Christmas or The Polar Express (Noah S), any of the Home Alone films (George and Aidan), Let it Snow (Albie), Daddy’s Home (Oscar), Elf (Oscar and Josh) or Arthur Christmas (Will).

Shiplake Photography

Our Shiplake photographers are amazing and it is our honour to be able to publish just a few of the wonderful photos that they take. Compiled

by Aidan Teevan.

Photographer Gregor Jones

Photographer Dan Beard

Shiplake Photography

Our Shiplake photographers are amazing and it is our honour to be able to publish just a few of the wonderful photos that they take. Compiled by Aidan Teevan.

Photographer Charlotte Garnett

Photographer E. Pratt

Photographer Eison Sheng

All Time Greatests

By Noah Rodgers

Jackson: Thriller Chosen by Mr Olhausen

I vividly remember being sat in an English lesson at the age of 12 and my teacher wheeled in the TV and video cassette player so he could let the class watch the newly released 14-minute Thriller video.

Apart from the fact that the song and video literally blew me away, it was a very cool thing for the teacher to do as it was clearly a pirate copy of the video!

Michael Jackson really was an exceptional talent and this album highlights some of the incredible songs he recorded but also his uniquely special voice.

Even now, Thriller is one of my go-to albums. The production (courtesy of the maestro that is Quincy Jones) is sublime and the album still sounds as fresh now as it did in the early '80s.

The album features other classics like Billie Jean, Beat It, and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'. It really is an astonishingly good album and the 'King of Pop' delivered what, for me, is one of the greatest albums of all time.

Michael

With so much talent around Shiplake College, we decided to tap the expert knowledge of our teachers and find out who or what they ranked as the all-time greatest in their specialist field.

The Datsun 240z

Chosen by Mr Nel

Trying to decide on my favourite car is like asking me to choose between rugby and cricket or to decide which is best: PlayStation, Xbox or PC; or do you prefer chicken or beef? Well, it's obvious, 1. rugby 2. PlayStation and 3. lamb actually. I digress.

There are many possible favourites, such as the BMW E12 M535i (viewed as the very first M-car, the one that started it all for BMW). What about something American? The Buick GNX maybe? An American muscle car that did not have a V8 in but rather a punchy turbo charged V6 (the most powerful muscle car in production in 1987 in the USA). I could go on and on, but I won't.

My favourite car is the Datsun 240z. This is the car of my dreams. With its sleek lines and straight 6-cylinder engine, it can reach 60mph from a standing start, in under 8seconds. Remember that this was in the 1970s and that mostly Ferraris and Porsches boasted acceleration figures like that. This car was Japan’s answer to an affordable sports car that was both fast, fun to drive and very importantly, reliable. This gem of automotive history changed how fast cars are perceived. No longer did you have to worry about when your expensive sports car was going to break down or whether you would be able to afford to fix it. A moderately priced sports car made for the people.

A bonus is that it is beautiful to look at. At the moment I have two German classic cars and hope to one day, in the near future, make my dream come true and buy a Datsun 240z. The challenge would be to hide it and its price from my wife!

My Traitor's Heart: Blood and Bad Dreams: A South African Explores the Madness in His Country, His Tribe and Himself by Rian Malan

Chosen by Mr Armstrong

Though almost impossible to pick a favourite novel - as different novels are favourites for different reasons and different contexts - My Traitor's Heart, by Rian Malan, is a novel that I think everyone should read, until the point that we live in a world where ‘prejudice’ is a word consigned to history.

The book is in the literary reportage genre and written by a man plagued by the ironies and inconsistencies of his own existence as a white South African, born into a family that has been instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the country. Opting for self-exile in the US, because of an inability to pick a side during the height of the Apartheid movement, Malan ultimately travels back to the country of his birth to try to make sense of its past, its present and its future.

Fundamentally, the telling of the story itself - and surely the writing - is a cathartic journey for the author. For the reader, it is a brutally confronting, but also an incredibly eye-opening look at South Africa. This is not one for the younger members of the college, but for sixth formers and staff it is an amazing text that is well worth a read.

Further, if the word 'Apartheid' is a new one for you, finding out exactly what this was, and what it means, would also be time well spent.

“I swear you’ll never see anything like this ever again!” – Martin Tyler, 13 May 2012. And over ten years on, we never have.

Without a doubt, my most memorable sporting moment came in the 94th minute of the final Premier League game of the 2011/12 season and I struggle to envisage that sporting moment being beaten. I had, a week earlier, turned 16 and despite holding a season ticket for 7 years, had never witnessed my team lift a trophy in Manchester. Surprisingly, the sun was shining in Manchester as I made my way to the Etihad, filled with nerves, excitement and optimism, knowing a win against relegation-threatened QPR would be enough to end the 44 year wait. We couldn’t mess this up, could we?

In the 91st minute of the game, we trailed 2-1 with just 4 minutes of the game to go. A corner kick, below where I sat, was whipped in by David Silva and headed in by Edin Dzeko. With a glimmer of hope rekindled, the atmosphere in the stadium was like nothing I had ever experienced. Almost as though time had stopped, there was a general feeling amongst the 48,000 fans that something magical could happen; that we could be about to witness the most iconic moment in Premier League history. And in the blink of an eye, with 93:20 on the clock, a trademark drop of the shoulder followed by a perfectly hit shot from Sergio Aguero caused the Etihad to erupt.

In true Manchester City fashion, the 44-year wait had ended. Manchester was blue as it still remains today, as this piece of history paved the way for a decade of dominance.

“Aguerooooooo”: The day Manchester City won their first Premier League title. Chosen by Mr Heaney

The Cost of Living Crisis at Shiplake

By Richard Wang and Monty Wallace

The cost of living crisis has caused people to have to choose between heating their homes and eating. Demand for food banks has reached an alarmingly high rate due to increased food ation is at 11.1%. The situation in the UK is dire. How did this happen? And what does

nd out how the cost of living would impact us here at Shiplake, so we asked the school bursar, Mr Dixon, and the headmaster, Mr Howe.

How has the school been affected by the cost of living crisis?

Food, energy, textbooks, cleaning. Mr Dixon stated that energy was the most imminently impacted. However, he also said that the school has been on a fixed energy contract, so we have not been affected too badly. That contract ended in December 2022, which means that we are now going to face an energy price hike of around 300-400%. Additionally, food costs are going to increase significantly. For example, the market price for wheat is up 62% per tonne and cheddar cheese prices are up 34%. The school wishes to maintain the high levels of food quality, meaning that they are looking for substitutes that can lower the cost but not the quality.

The Cost of Living Crisis at Shiplake

By Richard Wang and Monty Wallace

Both Mr Dixon and Mr Howe mentioned that the school has been helped due to the mild winter meaning that we could keep the heating off until recently. Additionally, the school has also invested in more smart metering systems. Mr Dixon said that he was keen to work with the eco-committee to influence usage. The swap to Microsoft has reduced the use of paper, which is good for the school's budget and for the environment.

Mr Howe says that the school is focusing on the musts and needs of the pupils and parents rather than on the wants. Mr Dixon said that Shiplake is lucky as it is oversubscribed in every year group. The school plans to build a full-size astroturf pitch and a new teaching block in the Stableyard. While these have been affected by increased costs, there is a confidence that we are still able to do them.

Will school fees be affected?

They both mentioned that for now they do not know how fees will be impacted and that this is decided at the end of the year. However, they stressed that they were aware that the parents were also being affected by the rising inflation.

What can we, as members of the college, do to help?

Mr Dixon commented on the need to close windows while the heating is on and turning off lights. Additionally, he asks that both the students and teachers stop printing so much now that everyone has things electronically. Finally, Mr Howe stressed the importance of being mindful of the bigger picture, with everyone doing their part.

Has the school made any changes due to the cost of living crisis?

How has the crisis affected plans for expansion in the future?

The Hidden History of the JCR

By Emily Banks and Noah Sennhauser

As you may know, Shiplake College dates from 1959 and has a lot of forgotten history. It may surprise you to find that this includes a bit of drinking culture! In this article, we will delve into the hidden history of the JCR. Now, what is the JCR you may ask? JCR stands for “Junior Common Room” and it was the epicentre of sixth form life up until the late eighties. It was much like today’s sixth form café, except it housed music, was flowered in dazzling Shiplake colours, and had just the right amount of alcohol.

The JCR was originally based to the left of Skipwith house, in some old-style dark green Nissan huts left over from WW2 and was a very popular amongst the Shiplake boys. The well-liked ambiance was also due to the music, which in the 60s would have been played on a record player and played the likes of the Rolling Stones, The Trogs, Cream, Pink Floyd, The Byrds, Jimmy Hendrix, and The Beach Boys. “It was a great time to be 17/18 and the only thing missing was the girls!” one Old Viking reminisced. The only girl at the time (in 1970) was Rosemary - the first and only girl in the entire school, who joined 28 years before the school formally became co-ed in the sixth form.

Eventually, the JCR got an upgrade from the WW2 bunkers. Former headmaster Mr “Jack” Eggar allocated a new space for the new JCR. The students were responsible for doing it up and running it. “The main attraction was the draught beer” said another Old Viking.

The Hidden History of Shiplake

By Emily Banks and Noah Sennhauser

The sixth form students sanded and polished down a large piece of wood by hand - forming the top bar from which they served drinks, funding the bar themselves through an honesty box. The idea behind this was that it would teach the students responsibility, allowing the sixth formers to feel more independent and treated like adults. The general rule was that if you were over the age of 17 you could have two pints. It was open two to three nights a week, especially after house rugby, school rugby and hockey matches. The bar had encouraged sixth formers to stay on campus, as it had become popular at this time to sneak out on “expeditions” to the Greyhound pub in Wargrave.

Some Old Vikings who were around at this time agreed with the idea that the JCR should be reinstated but with a few modifications: One of our Old Viking interviewees stated that it “definitely helped morale (and) may well have taught a more controlled approach to alcohol. If a limit of two drinks is enforced and parental permission given, (it) seems pretty good to me as a

Allowing regulated drinking made students less inclined to bounce off the roof with alcohol once turning 18. By reintroducing responsible and supervised drinking to Shiplake in the evenings (just as is does with hot chocolate nights for boarders), we could encourage teenagers to handle their alcohol better – even if it's only for year 13 students with a latenight pint in the sixth form café or year 12s that are of age alongside a meal. This compares favourably to the European approach to alcohol, which allows teens to have small amounts of alcohol, teaching them self-control so that they can handle it better and avoid drinking irresponsibly when underage.

Want a drink; what do you think? Let us know your thoughts at VikingVoice@shiplake.org.uk

Word Search

By Albie “Breaddie Mercury” Wooster

By George Prosser and W. Mason

Spot the Difference

By Aidan Teevan and Albie Wooster