The Albanian 2013

December 2013

Volume 28 Number 17

Contents 3 Editorial A rest after a new building per month

4 Ins & Outs Welcomes and farewells

14 Prizegiving Tony Little awarded the prizes

20 Creative Art A range of art from Second Form to A2 exam work

26 Music

Contents

The Joint Schools and a range of other concerts

34 Creative Design Work by students studying Design and Technology

36 Enrichment Going beyond the taught curriculum

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40 Community

This year’s cover was created

by Hannah Moran. Hannah was a member of the editorial team for last year’s magazine and is now studying Modern Languages at University College, London.

Her wide interests, particularly in languages, prevented her from studying art while at St Albans, but she completed her AS in Art before she joined the School.

Staff and students making a broader contribution

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44 Creative Writing Poetry and prose from pupils and teachers

50 Drama Les Misérables and other stage triumphs

58 Features Prize winning Classics essay

61 Dukes The joys of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

65 Creative Photo Through the lens with Optic, the Photo Society

Albanian Editorial Team Editor Noel Cassidy Deputy Editor Julia Grieveson Student Editors Jem Bosatta

Lucy de Vaux-Balbirnie

Eleanor Duncan

Michael Slater

69 Trips St Albans School at home and abroad

74 Houses The final standings

76 CCF Camouflage, camps and courage

83 Sport Pitch, track, pool and court-side reports

St Albans School is a company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England No. 4400125 Charity No. 1092932 Registered Office: Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Herts. AL3 4HB

St Albans School Abbey Gateway St Albans AL3 4HB Tel: 01727 855521 Fax: 01727 843447 Publications email: publics@st-albans.herts.sch.uk School Website: www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk

Editorial

And all the while, the normal life of the School has carried on, with the same range of sports fixtures, dramatic productions, musical concerts, lectures, CCF camps, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Partnership activities, work in the community and not a little learning. Pupils continue to lead very full lives but still find time for revision, leading to strong performances in the exams and Sixth Formers leaving to take up their chosen courses at university.

While the building has stopped, the planning has not, and the School’s fundraising campaign, Unlocking Potential, is now well established. It was launched with a witty film, shot and directed by Mike Newell OA. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll find it at: http://www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk/ Campaign-Film. It is certainly worth watching.

The following pages pay tribute to these people, as well as the vast array of activities the School has seen over the course of the last year.

3 Editorial

The end of the last academic year saw the departure to retirement of a number of real stalwarts of the School staff, as well as that of Mr Laithwaite, at St Albans for fewer years, but making no less an impact on the School.

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Phew. It feels as if the School is taking a bit of a breather. As the Headmaster likes to say, at one stage we were opening a new building every month, but now that hectic pace has eased, the hard hats and hi-vis jackets have been put away, the mud has been scraped off the steel-toecapped boots. Sports Centre, tick; Aquis Court, tick; Sixth Form Centre, tick;Visual Arts Department, tick; Refectory, tick; Languages Faculty, tick.

New Pupils September 2013

Ins & Outs

First Form

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ADEGBEMILE, Oluwatobi AJAYI-KHIRAN, Jordan I AMOR, Rory J ANDREW, James D AVENELL, Joshua J BAMGBOYE, Mirai J BARLOW, Alexander S BARNARD, Noah S BAWA, Ibraheem BEAL, Edward A BHANDAL, Jovan S BOURN, Edward P BRICE, Scott W BURRELL, Jack A CLARKE, George P COOPER, Benjamin T COX, Charles J CRAIB, Jared T CURTIS, Benjamin L DAHYA, Shivam J DEANE, Jamie DEB, Dylan S DEE, Louis J DESTRO, Alexander J EWHARE, Ryan O FARHADI, Shahrouz FARYAD, Arvin FOSTER, Christopher J FRASCHETTI, Alexander T FURLONG, Steven J HACKETT, Benjamin HALSTEAD, Joshua A HARRIS, Oliver J HARRIS, Toby W HEATH, Harry J HOLLIS, Toby B HOOLE, Matthew P ISNARDI, Hugh M JENNINGS, Alexander W KAPUR, Ritvik KRISHNAN, Madhav LEE, Matthew J LINES, Alexander E LITTLE, George B LIU, James LOTZOF, Joss A MACKENZIE, Max G MALIK, Ibrahim MCCABE, Conor J MESTCHIAN, Cameron MOREY, Oscar H MOYE, Peter D MOYE, Robert D MULHOLLAND, Rohan S MURPHY, William T MUZAFAR, Samaad ODUNAIYA, Ayomikun O O’FLYNN, Tadhg S OGUIKE, Kemjika PARIKH, Ronak S PARKER, Harry J

PHLORA, Isher RATTLE, William P RAYNER, Matthew T RYAN, Stratford J SHEPHERD, William J SPYROU, Alexandros N SWAN, Nicholas A TAMBE, Adnan THEODOROU, Georgio TUTUS, Alex WALLACE, Jeremiah Joshua WYNNE, Gethin L YIP, Alex M

Third Form ADAMJEE, Wahid ANAND, Avtar S ARBUTHNOTT, Robert W ARKIN, Eran BABWAH, Liam BEVAN, Jack A BINNINGTON, Alexander R BULL, Oliver L CALLENDER, Henry J COLLINGWOOD, Jordan J CORSO, Adam CRAIG, Benjamin DEAN, Adam W DHAMI, Amar S DOWDING, Edward C FLETCHER, Christopher R FRYER, Max D GEORGE, Cameron D GOODWRIGHT, Harry F GOULD, Thomas E GRAHAM, Jack M HARVIE, Cameron P HEAP, Louis O HINGORANI, Jamie C HOLLAND, James R HOUTEN, Aidan J INO, Kazuki IRANI, Jamie L JOHNSON, Luke B JUDE, Marcus KARIM, Akeel LAMBERT, Edward M LARSSON, Sebastian A LAWS-MATHER, Angus MARAPAO, Matthew MAWER, Hugh J MCLAUGHLIN, Ethan J MEHTA, Shay MORSIA, Massimiliano MOYE, Edward A NORMAN, Conor J NYGATE, Jacob A ORROS, Christian H PATTISON, Joe H POTTER, Angus R PRESENCE, Alexander G

RICHARDS, Robbie SCOTT, Charles F SHAH, Jaimin THWAITES, Oliver C TRIMMER, Felix UJEYAH, Nathan VAN DER WELLE, James WIGGETTS, Thomas W WILCOX, Harry E

Sixth Form ATTAR, Jemma BENNETT, Rosalind M BHIKHA, Dev-Kishan BUZAR-JOMEHRI, Alexander A CARASCO, Nadine CLARKE, Olivia CLARKE, Sarena S COOP, Sarah M DEVLIN, Sophie C DORLING, Magdalene E EDWARDS, Poppy E ENGLISH, Philippa J EPSTEIN, Marissa A EVAGORA, Raphaella EVANS, Charlotte FERGUSON, Natasha A GARDNER, Megan B GIRDLESTONE, Hannah C GLASS-SLUCKIN, Rachel A GOHIL, Riken HALL, Abigail HOBSTER, Rosie E HOFFMAN, Camilla G HOFFMAN, Rachel A HORTON, Elizabeth HULSE, Matilda A JENNINGS, Tomas K KEENAN, Molly E LEITH, Claire S MAGGS, Caroline S MARROQUIN, Nicole MCDERMOTT, Jacques R MCKAY, Ellie G MITCHELL, Kirsty M MUKHTAR, Aisha M NASH, Lauren M OMOTOSO, Damilola S PIERCY, Ellen F ROWE, Lauren E SHERRIFF, Matthew SHREEVES, Eleanor L SINNOTT, Tara D SUMMERTON, Emma K SUPERFINE, Lara J SWEENEY, Hannah L TVEITO-DUNCAN, Kaya WATKINS, Luke WILKINS, James D ZHU,Vivien H

New Teachers Elizabeth Aquilina The first new teacher to join the Physics department this year, Elizabeth Aquilina, comes to us after studying Maths and Physics at the University of Malta and a year of Petroleum Geophysics at Imperial. She enjoys teaching younger students and imparting her love of physics to them. She’s particularly interested in physics as it gives her an opportunity think about and analyse the world around her. Beyond physics, she describes herself as a fan of theatre and enjoys dancing.

Craig Bradnam

Clare Byrne

Greg Hacksley Dr Greg Hacksley arrives at the School as Head of Sixth Form, and to teach English, having previously taught at St Edmund’s College, and having studied English Literature at Rhodes University. He has found his start to St Albans life to be pleasant, and is impressed by the friendliness of the school.

He enjoys the more human capacity of his subject to ‘let us explore the lives of others vicariously’, believing it to be important to our role as ‘storytelling animals’. He hopes to bring his expertise in both English and pastoral care to the department, helping students to realise their university ambitions.

Away from the classroom, he enjoys both drama and music, directing plays, and playing a variety of instruments from violin to guitar. He is also an avid armchair critic of both cricket and rugby.

James Hughes James Hughes is our new Head of English, having read English Literature at Oxford, before teaching at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle for six years and then at Sevenoaks school for two years. Mr Hughes dived into the world of teaching after spending a little more than a year as an accountant, which he ultimately found dull, and so chose to return to his love of English. As the new Head of English, he hopes to raise the profile of English in a school that leans towards STEM subjects.

5 Ins & Outs

Also joining the Physics department this year is Clare Byrne. An experienced physicist, she previously worked as a researcher of engineering and medical physics before deciding to become a teacher. She has previously taught at Verulam and Sherrardswood School in Welwyn. Having family connections with the school has meant that she knows it well and has been attracted by the friendly environment and excellent facilities. She has shown her passion for singing by joining the choir but is also interested in horse-riding outside school.

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Craig Bradnam is the first of two new Maths teachers, who joins us from Rivers Academy, where he taught Maths for two years. Mr Bradnam has a degree in Computing, which he gained from Imperial College London. He enjoys Maths because it allows him to explore new problems. He is inspired to teach people, and was attracted to St Albans School for its friendly staff, interested students and its great reputation.

Simon Hughes Dr Hughes is joining the Chemistry department this year. He is an experienced biochemist, having spent four years in a research position at Cambridge looking at the structure of drugs. He studied Molecular Biology and Genetics at Royal Holloway in London before doing a PhD at UCL. He also taught at UCL for four years, and finding teaching more interesting than research, decided to pursue it further. He found that the history of the local area brings a strong community feeling to the School and hopes to bring his broad knowledge of chemistry, biology and their applications in medicine. Outside the classroom, Dr Hughes has already joined the cross country team and hopes to bring his passion for swimming and sailing to the School.

Ins & Outs

Melanie Jardine

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Melanie Jardine comes to the School from Bushey Academy where she was head of her department, having worked here on a supply basis last year. She studied Spanish and French at the Polytechnic of Central London, and went on from there to teach at schools including Dr Challoner’s High School and a post in the West Indies. She particularly enjoys what she calls the ‘melodic’ aspect of the language, as well as the culture of Spain, and its appropriateness for beginner learners. She has found the School very welcoming so far, and hopes to bring her enthusiasm and experience to the Spanish Department. Outside Spanish, she loves nature, describing bird watching as a ‘passion’, and works on a variety of conservation projects throughout the world.

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Dhara Patel Our second new Maths teacher joining us is Dhara Patel, who spent four years teaching at Bishop’s Stortford High School. She arrives at St Albans School after having studied Psychology at the University of Birmingham. She feels comfortable joining us as it has a similar atmosphere to her previous school, and she enjoys the culture and history of St Albans School.

Vicky Sandell Our new head of Girls’ Games is Miss Vicky Sandell.

Having received her degree in Sports Science and Management from Nottingham Trent University, she spent nine years teaching sport locally before joining our School. She has played hockey for St Albans and Harpenden but her passion is for horse-riding, which she is enjoying outside School. Living close to the School has allowed her to fully investigate the facilities which she says are a ‘pleasure to work in.’ As the new head of Girls’ Games, Miss Sandell is keen to raise the profile of girls’ sport in the School and try to open options for all girls to enjoy sport.

Tom Young Tom Young arrives at the School as Head of Music, from the Godolphin School in Surrey.

He is a Cambridge graduate, and believes music is both ‘the most interesting and exciting art form’, relying on a number of different elements, therefore making it incredibly varied to teach in the classroom. He hopes to add his strong interest in composition to the School, and possibly even to increase the spotlight on ‘ignored pianists’. He enjoys making films outside teaching.

Higher Education Destinations of Old Albanians 2013 Names

Destination

Subject

Charlotte Adkins Oliver Agsteribbe * Toby Amiel Emily Anderson Jonathan Andrew * Matthew Armitage John Armstrong Zak Armstrong * Charles Avent Rajan Bains Edward Baker Stephen Baldwin Laurence Barton Isabel Batchelor Charles Beaty Joel Berger Christian Bevan Elizabeth Bird Oliver Bretnall Amelia Brooks Robert Brooks Katherine Brown Robert Brown * Victoria Burden Eleanor Butler Katherine Butler Paddy Cavanagh Vincent Chan Rajandeep Chana Shian Chen Angharad Cook Alexander Curran Nishant Dahad Matthew Davey Ben Dawson Thomas De Sousa Alice Devlin Harry Di-Lieto Helen Dorman * Benjamin Driscoll Thomas Ellis Alexandra English Fraser Ewart-Davidson Daniel Fellowes Charlotte Fraser Timothy Furlong Thomas Girdlestone * Chirag Gohil Thomas Govey Louis Grant * Zach Guerrier Harry Hamer Matthew Hampstead Mark Hardwick Benjamin Harrison Matthew Harrison Thomas Harrison * Adeiza Haruna Hugo Henson Daniel Heydecker Alison Hickey

University of Exeter University of Manchester King’s College, London University of Birmingham University of Portsmouth Trinity College, Dublin University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Plymouth University of Warwick University of Exeter University of Leeds University of Warwick University of Newcastle University of Exeter University of Bristol The Queen’s College, Oxford Princeton University, USA University of Exeter University of Newcastle Royal Northern College of Music University of Leeds University of Warwick University of Southampton University of Manchester University of Durham University of St Andrews University of Southampton University College, London Queen Mary, University of London Cardiff University Imperial College, London University College, London University of Warwick University of Exeter Jesus College, Oxford University of Nottingham University of Birmingham Royal Holloway, Univ. of London University of Bristol University of Birmingham Girton College, Cambridge University of Leeds University of Newcastle University of Nottingham University of Southampton University of Newcastle King’s College, London University of Durham University of Bath University of Leeds Pembroke College, Oxford University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Bristol St Catherine’s College, Oxford University of Newcastle University of Nottingham Brasenose College, Oxford Queens’ College, Cambridge University of Nottingham

Economics with Industrial Experience Philosophy Politics of the International Economy History, Ancient and Medieval Sports Development - Deferred 2014 Culture and Philosophy Physics Mathematics History English and French (4 years) Classics Economics Philosophy, Politics and Economics English Literature Physics with Astrophysics Economics Biological Sciences Liberal Arts Physics with North American Study History Music Mechanical Engineering Philosophy, Politics and Economics Modern Languages Biology with Industrial/Professional Experience Mathematics English Electronic Engineering Pharmacy Biomedical Sciences Business Management Medicine Economics Economics Flexible Combined Honours Engineering History History Biomedical Sciences English Mechanical Engineering Modern and Medieval Languages Physics Ancient History and Archaeology History Electronic Engineering Medicine Dentistry General Engineering Social Sciences Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering History and Economics Physics Software and Electronic Engineering Philosophy French and Spanish Philosophical Studies: Knowledge and Human Ints Computer Science Economics and Management Mathematics Philosophy

Ins & Outs The Albanian 2013

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Names

Destination

Subject

Amy Hobbs Thomas Hughes Matthew Inglis Roseanna Johnstone Alexander Kearney Niall Kearney Anish Khiroya Gohar Khodadoost § Helen King Beth Kirby Thomas Latham Edward Lewis Thomas Ling Sam Lister Alessandro Lombardelli Isobel Maclean Juliette Mann * Nicholas Marnoch Ashok Mathur Callum McClafferty David McConnell Charlotte Meredith § Hannah Moran Matthew Morris Benjamin Mort Harriet Murphy Paramesh Natarajan Michael Neale Roseanna Nicholls * Chris Nott Christopher Oates Anna Onochie-Williams Nial Parkash Lucy Parker Robyn Parker Caleb Patel James Pavey Haralambos Petrou Kypros Petrou Alexander Phillips Jonathan Phillips Daniel Pittal George Prew Christopher Putman Hani Quadiri James Quigley Usmaan Qureshi Aarom Rafi Daniel Rajan Ganesh Rajaratnam Tanveer Ranshi Ben Reed Frances Roche Charlie Rounds Emma Russell George Rutledge Mark Sadler Nima Salehi * Kamal Samsudeen Amar Sejpal Shaahin Shabbak

University of Leeds University of York University of Birmingham University of York University of Sheffield University of Bristol University of Warwick Bio-Medical Sciences University of Bath University of Nottingham University of Nottingham Lincoln College, Oxford University of Birmingham University of Bristol Universityof Nottingham Universityof Birmingham Unversity of Birmingham University of Leeds University of Newcastle University of York University of Bristol Political Science and Philosophy University College, London University of Bath University of Edinburgh University of Newcastle Imperial College, London Imperial College, London University of Durham University of Warwick University of York University of Birmingham University of Newcastle University of Warwick University of Sheffield University of Leicester London School of Economics University College, London University of Nottingham University of Warwick St Catharine’s College, Cambridge University of Nottingham Oriel College, Oxford St Hugh’s College, Oxford University of Manchester University of Essex Imperial College, London University of Manchester University of West London University of Birmingham University of Nottingham University of Bristol University of York University of Leeds Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University of Sussex University of Warwick University of Birmingham University of Manchester Imperial College, London University of Nottingham

English Literature Philosophy/Sociology Hispanic Studies and History History Economics Classics Politics Kings College University of London Architecture Mathematics (International Study) Physics English Language and Literature History and Political Science History Philosophy Medical Science English Biochemistry Architecture Economics French and Italian University of Birmingham Modern Languages Mathematics Geography and Economics English Literature Mechanical Engineering Medicine Natural Sciences Economics Law Medical Science Architecture - Deferred 2014 Philosophy with Psychology Geography Management Studies and Economics Geography with Economics Law Politics History Natural Sciences Civil Engineering Classical Archaeology and Ancient History Archaeology and Anthropology Electronic Engineering International Relations Electrical and Electronic Engineering Law Practical Film Making Medicine Art History Politics and International Relations Deferred 2014 History Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies Mathematics Anthropology Economics International Relations with Economics Engineering Chemistry Law

Subject

Patrick Shammas Joseph Sharpe Nicholas Shone James Sinclair Ryan Sinnott William Smith * Alexander Soames Kiran Solanki Kishan Soni Toby Stapleton Daniel Stears Matthew Stoughton-Harris Yoan Stoyanov Max Sullivan Toby Sweeney Robin Sykes Sullivan Taylor Alexander Terry Sarah Tilley * Olivia Trigg Kieran Vaghela Laura Wheeler Ben Woolf Juliet Worth James Zaremba Mitchell Zhangazha Bernhardt Zondagh

St Catherine’s College, Oxford King’s College, London University of Exeter Magdalen College, Oxford University of Sheffield University of Cumbria University of Leeds University of Aberdeen University of Nottingham Loughborough University University of Nottingham University of Exeter King’s College, London St George’s, University of London University of Sheffield University of Warwick University of Bath University of Nottingham University of Kent University of Birmingham Christ Church, Oxford University of Southampton University of Warwick University of Leeds University of Liverpool University of Southampton University of Manchester

Mathematics Business Management Biological Sciences Classics Architecture Physiotherapy English Literature Marine Biology Mathematical Physics Sports Technology Industrial Economics Business and Management Physics with Theoretical Physics Biomedical Sciences Zoology History Business Administration Mathematics and Philosophy Drama and Theatre History French and Spanish Psychology Politics Philosophy Economics Management and Spanish - Deferred 2014 History History Chemical Engineering

* Post A Level Applicant § 2012 University Entrants

9 Ins & Outs

Destination

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Names

Departing Teachers Richard Laithwaite arrived at St Albans School via the well-trodden path from Merchant Taylors’ School. At MTS Richard had been Head of Upper School. It is a role that provides a good grounding for a Second Master, bringing experience of academic issues as well as disciplinary, pastoral and extra-curricular ones at a point in students’ school careers where the acute pressure can make stroppiness – theirs or their parents’ – especially intelligent and articulate.

Richard was already well known to some of us as a formidable presence on the touchline at rugby matches as coach of MTS 1st XV. As it happens, he was interviewed in the same week that St Albans had inflicted on his team a particularly convincing defeat, which helped to establish things on the right footing from the off. At St Albans, he managed a series of rarelydefeated Second XVs for whom a victory over our neighbours from Northwood was always particularly celebrated. He was eminently well qualified for the job, having played the international game under both codes until injury put an early end to his rugby and military ambitions.

Ins & Outs

Richard Laithwaite

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“The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s eye, tongue, sword, the glass of fashion and the mould of form” is, of course, Ophelia, speaking about Hamlet, as he was before he apparently went mad, but it might equally have been written about Richard, who didn’t, despite the many provocations of the Second Master’s role.

His Sandhurst background made him an invaluable unofficial addition to the CCF officer strength and he was integral to many SAS special ops at Woollams, numerous CCF camps and adventurous training exercises as far afield as Tanzania, Scotland and Norway. I recall first-hand personal experience of Richard’s intrepidity on a trail through the Norwegian fjords among which we had lost an entire DoE Gold group. It was not until the sun sank to the lowest point in the summer Scandinavian sky that, to our relief, we heard the strains of ‘We are the Champions’ drifting over a ridge. It was also the occasion for putting to empirical test Richard’s conviction, as a geographer rather than a physicist, that the weight limit on a rickety wooden bridge didn’t apply if you drove your heavily laden minibus over at sufficient speed.

As for the scholar, in Richard, the Geography department acquired an experienced asset, who did not neglect his own continuing professional development. Arriving a BA, Richard departed an MEd, having completed a Master’s in Educational Management at Buckingham University – testament to the time-management skills a Head needs to survive.

When it comes to the “courtier” aspect of the Renaissance man, what is the Senior Deputy if not the chief minister attending on the Headmagisterial presence – a role Richard carried out admirably. Richard arrived here in good time to mind the shop and do my job for me while I was chairing HMC. He did it outstandingly well and I’m grateful to him that the School’s momentum never slackened.

The extensive Laithwaite wardrobe, from mirror-polished shoes to expensive cufflinks and a casual look drawn from somewhere way beyond the Boden end of the spectrum, was well noted and more than enough to qualify as the glass of fashion and the mould of form.

The disciplinary part of the rôle, Richard managed with a light touch aided in no small measure by his obvious personal competence and credibility and his knowledge of our students outside the classroom; he earned their respect and admiration which meant that once he told them to do something they stayed told, but never resented it.

Richard will be the second Lancastrian Second Master in succession that we’ve sent back to the original suppliers after modification. He’s had some skirmishes so I’m confident that Kirkham can hold no terrors for him.

Kirkham will be getting an exceptional Headmaster and he, Sandra and Olivia leave with our thanks and best wishes for success and happiness in their new surroundings.

ARG

‘We that are young shall never see so much nor teach so long.’ Ian Murray’s 41 years’ service to St Albans School was something by any measure. The kind of dedicated schoolmaster every great school used to have, Ian continued to offer both catch-up and extension lessons in the Library after semi-retirement. Generations will have been inspired to share his enthusiasms, from eighteenth-century satire and caricature, through Byron’s Don Juan, Dickens (especially Great Expectations), Sherlock Holmes and The Great Gatsby through to Patrick O’Brian. Ian’s much-loved father, whose naval career included the Normandy landings, gave him an abiding love of the sea, which he shared with his students.

Viv Graveson’s time at St Albans School has been characterised by passion, innovation and friendship. Although Viv joined the School 28 years ago as an English teacher, she leaves as a valued member of the RS Department, having taught our 6th Formers Philosophy for the past 13 years.Viv is passionate about both English and RS and was also a respected 6th Form tutor.

Viv was the first person to suggest and organise the First Form Creative Writing Day and it was Viv who ran the first PSHE programme at School, paving the way for what has become a key platform for thinking through major issues such as Sexuality and Drug Awareness. However, it is probably the development and expansion of the Partnership Scheme that can be considered Viv’s most significant contribution. Going out to a local Primary School on a Friday afternoon to teach sport, help with drama, or support learning has been a highlight for many 6th Formers. The Scheme now sees staff help with the delivery of Science, Maths and Foreign Languages to local primary schools, as well as seeing children come to us to use our facilities.

One of Viv’s highlights from her time was a trip to Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. The School party was surrounded by tens of thousands of people and everyone held hands – a momentous occasion and very special memory.

Viv has been a friendly presence in the Common Room. She has been a key contributor in crossword corner, a valued member of the Book Club and a star turn at the Dance Class. She has been an avid supporter of School productions whether dramatic or musical and a regular (and winning) member of the Staff Quiz Team. She leaves, not really to retire, but to concentrate on her own creative writing and study for her PhD. I will not be the only one who will miss her friendship and support.

CDP

Viv Graveson

11 Ins & Outs

MAP

The Albanian 2013

Ian Murray

Ian’s education at Portsmouth Grammar School and especially Brasenose College Oxford made him a genuine scholar of English Literature and equipped him to inspire others. After teaching practice at Canford, he was appointed to St Albans School by Frank Kilvington in September 1972, in the days of Fifth Form unexamined English, Charles II hairstyles, and a more relaxed approach to both discipline and overall results. He remembers fondly legendary colleagues like Geoffrey Pryke, Simon Lindley, Mike Hudis, John Mole and Robin Scase; reading weekends in Pen Arthur and cooking for Dukes trips; visiting Berlin in 1990 and literally watching the wall come down; setting up the present Library with David Johnson; countless drama productions with Ken Durham and David McCord, not least The Wizard of Oz; and his round-the world-by-train sabbatical, with a lengthy sojourn in the Solomon Islands. Pupils appreciated his round-the-clock dedication, sensitive marking and pastoral advice: many remain close friends. As inspirational to his First Formers as the Sixth, not least through his beautifully illustrated study guides, Ian will have left an abiding affection for the books he always placed first, and also the man who inspired a love of them. We wish him a long and happy retirement, as he departs on further travels.

After a total of 21 years at St Albans School, with some intervening years spent bringing up a family, Margaret retired from her post as Head of Mathematics at the end of August, leaving the department in a very robust state. Having studied Maths at Cambridge, she joined the School in 1977, leaving four years later to start her family and was welcomed back in 1992 to resume her role as a Maths teacher. She enjoyed teaching across all age groups and disciplines but her heart lay with the older students and the teaching of Mechanics. In 2004 she became Head of Mathematics and began the task of transforming the department into what it is today.

Ins & Outs

Margaret Stratton

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Margaret was liked and admired by all her students who enjoyed her teaching style and sense of humour, rising to the challenges she set to enable them to reach their full potential. She has overseen the changes in the curriculum over the years, ensuring that more modern textbooks are now used by the Lower School. She took the decision to embark on the IGCSE Mathematics course so that the students could benefit from the more rigorous approach.

Margaret led the department in a modest way, using her knowledge of the strengths of her staff to get the very best for the pupils. She gave freely of her time and was always available to help staff and students alike. As a Sixth Form tutor she guided students through their final two years of School, encouraging them to develop into well rounded young people and supporting them through the UCAS process. She also used her interest in computer operating systems to work on the report writing programme for the School.

Margaret has embarked on a course of study which will enable her to become a Lay Reader. As part of this course she began giving Abbey talks which demonstrated her Christian and spiritual principles. She will continue this ministry in the Abbey and, accordingly, will remain nearby in spirit.

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JH Robert joined St Albans School in 1994 to teach Physics and Mathematics, although he fairly quickly came to specialise in Physics. During his time at the School he brought his characteristic care to the roles of form tutor, was Assistant Examinations Officer for many years, helped with careers and Community Link. It is typical that all these roles had the added dimension of providing extra help to those who needed it. Throughout his career he has had an unflagging enthusiasm for his subject and for teaching and was always keen to embrace new technology and look for the best ways of applying it in the classroom, exemplified by his pioneering the use of data logging equipment. Many students benefited from his gruff but kind approach to developing their talents, maturity and self-confidence.

What many of them will not have realised, though, is the wealth of experience Robert collected on his way to us. After receiving a degree in Natural Sciences from Queens’ College, Cambridge, he qualified as a teacher and took up his first post at Watford Grammar School for Boys in 1971. Three years later he went to teach in the country that had only recently become known as Zaire, in the heart of the Congo rainforest, where he worked for eighteen years. There he learned to teach with very limited resources and time and soon found himself Headmaster of his school. After a year he was put in charge of the church schools’ finances and eventually he found himself managing salaries for a raft of schools spread over an area larger than England. Other activities included establishing and running alternative technology enterprises, setting up a local printing business and a carpentry apprenticeship scheme. His knowledge of the Lingala language meant he was often called upon as a translator, too.

While we are sad to see Robert go and lose his wealth of experience, there is no doubt that he is due a well-deserved rest and we wish him a very happy retirement.

MJG

Robert Dear

Kathryn joined the school in 2000 to teach Chemistry and Biology. She studied Chemistry and Botany at degree level and remained at the University of Exeter to complete a PhD in Plant Physiology focusing on the mobilisation of stored reserves in seeds and tubers. This led to a career in the flour milling and baking industry as a cereals research scientist before a change to teaching in 1988. An enthusiast for all things plantbased she particularly enjoyed being involved in Biology fieldwork. She introduced the Biology Olympiad for Sixth form biologists, a competition which has seen numbers of participants increase year by year. She is particularly keen for students to learn as much as possible about science in the wider world and over the years has been involved in the organisation of lectures and visits for Sixth formers. She has been an examiner for IGCSE Chemistry and was a key member of the team responsible for introducing and developing this course in the Chemistry Department at St Albans. For several years she took part in a project at the University of Cambridge devoted to developing gifted and talented students.

She is looking forward to the time and opportunity to pursue her interests outside School and take up some new ones. She will be missed by the pupils and all her colleagues.

DSR Emma joined us in 2010 as Head of Girls’ Games and, from the outset, was exceptionally keen and enthusiastic. An international hockey player throughout her time here, she has amassed over 100 caps for Ireland.

This wealth of experience and talent in her sport, together with energy, care and charm, endeared her to the pupils. From Boys’ PE at U12 to Girls sport for U17 and U18, Emma gave time and dedication to development. Emma likes teaching and for its part, teaching is most grateful to have her.

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CCH

Ins & Outs

Emma has moved on to Bromley High School where she is Deputy Director of PE in an all-girls school. Keen to develop her experience across the full age range, this was a good opportunity for her, but we feel the loss.

Emma’s approach to departmental friendship reached a new level when, on Saturday 27th July 2013, she was married to her PE colleague, Tom Ross. This was a wonderfully unique way to finish her time at St Albans School. Fortunately for us all that was not the end of her time in St Albans itself. My admiration of a job done so well goes with her.

Emma Clarke

Young and tousled, Dan spent his final placement of his PGCE course with the English Department in the summer term of 2012, before he went on to join us full time in September for his NQT year. A fascinating mix, Dan’s background included postgraduate studies in the poetry of WB Yeats and running a business in sports training and nutrition. This melange certainly brought something new to the English Department and led to Dan’s forging of a link between the English and Games Departments, itself something of an innovation. Dan worked with the swimming squads, helping them with their training regimes, exercising his own passion for the sport.

Dan Jewison

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Kathryn Bailey

Of course his key activity was teaching English, which he did with energy, commitment and innovation. While his preference was for the academically challenging work at A Level, where he was able to teach his beloved Yeats, he was equally at home with junior and middle school classes.

The pupils enjoyed his humour and variety, while they also responded well to the very high standards which he expected and was successful in eliciting. He showed inventiveness in his imaginative use of resources and structured his lessons painstakingly to ensure a lively pace and sustained interest.

He now moves on to the London Oratory School with our best wishes.

His pupils there will benefit from his drive, knowledge and invention.

NJC

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Prizegiving

Prizegiving

Prizegiving 2013 The Headmaster’s Address Madam Mayor, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening and welcome to our annual Prizegiving.

ten-strong premier league, which contained some, but not all of what would still, today, be the usual suspects.

This is the first in my series of lasts this year.

St Albans managed 46% for 183rd place, an improvement on 201st the previous year, but still decidedly Third Division and in the Times’s version, we were still languishing in 232nd spot.

The more observant among you have, I know, already recognised the daguerreotype on the front of the programme as a whole-school photograph from my first year in post as Headmaster.

The Headmaster’s speech given on the occasion of the Prizegiving Ceremony in St After twenty years, perhaps I can be forgiven a little retrospection, so Albans Abbey on 17 let me start by saying what a great September 2013

personal pleasure it is to welcome Tony Little here tonight to present the prizes, because he and I go back a very long way. He was, of course, a year junior to me at university, but I have to admit the boy’s done well.

When I came to St Albans in 1993, the country had a conservative-led government and was just emerging from a major recession. Manchester United were Premier League Champions. In education, no GCSEs and very few A levels were modular, an AS was a separate course worth half an A level, the press published league tables of results in the August silly season when the annual accusations of grade inflation would fill column inches; grades of ABB would comfortably get you into a Russell Group University and in St Albans, the local residents were up in arms about St Albans School’s buses and the state of the roads generally.

It’s wonderful to see how far we’ve moved on.

Those league tables in fact, were quite a new thing, the brainchild of the Daily Telegraph’s education editor, John Clare, who created a bandwagon onto which the Government happily jumped the following year. With hindsight, it is extraordinary to think that until then there were simply no publicly available performance data on individual schools and, of course, more than a few emperors’ wardrobes were found wanting.

At A level, 60% A&B grades would get you into the First Division and 70% into the extremely select,

This year, we exactly doubled that 1993 proportion of A*-B grades and our 93% gets us somewhere around the top 50, so yes, there’s been some grade inflation over two decades, but perhaps less than you might think. There has, I believe, been a huge amount of genuinely improved performance not just here, but nationally, to which - I hate to admit it - the exposure provided by the league tables probably contributed, as did the advent of an inspectorate for the independent sector. Extraordinary, again, to recall that at that time, no schools, let alone independent ones, had been inspected on a systematic and regular basis. Even in the state sector, the regulatory tyranny of Ofsted had only just begun and teachers inhabited an Elysian, lotoseating world of pure intellectual delight – or that’s what they’d have you believe, anyway.

At St Albans, space wasn’t a problem, because there were only 590 pupils in the School, of which, from memory, 11 were girls.

Aquis Court would have been a white elephant if it had come on the market at that time and we probably wouldn’t have had the foresight, or the cash, to buy it.

And, looking back over the past twenty years, that’s quite emblematic of the story of St Albans School: a combination of damned hard work aided by serendipity, intelligent opportunism, lucky timing and unintended consequences provided in abundance by central or local government. To be fair, it’s probably the story of a good many schools over the same period.

It was lucky timing that Cheapside Farm came on the market soon after the Belmont Field was sold and at a time when we needed to start thinking about relocating

our leasehold playing fields at King Harry Lane as the lease ran out.

It was an opportunity seized by the Governors and nine years of damned hard work followed to get the plans through.

the process is often something for which a previous government was responsible.

The first unintended consequence of that educational policy in the seventies was to strengthen the independent sector enormously For the past two decades, it seems - a spectacular own goal for the to me, successive governments Labour Party which the last Labour have been looking for ways to undo Government tried to address partly the damage done in the late sevenby politicising the Charity Commisties by the demise of the grammar sion. Our sector’s long resistance campaign was finally vindicated only last week when the Commission published the amended guidance it had been directed to rewrite by the High Court.

A second unintended consequence was itself a consequence of the first and it was to reduce markedly the proportion of state-school educated students at our top universities, notably Oxford and Cambridge. Welcome to the era of Les Ebdon, state school admissions benchmarks and the Office for Fair Access. I’ll leave you to judge whether I’m right in what I said about too-late, top-down fixes.

We had Assisted Places, the Thatcher replacement for the Direct Grant, and an open invitation to the Middle Classes to employ a dodgy accountant, but which were, in any case, increasingly needing subsidy from our Bursary fund, but the fact that we had a Bursary fund at all was down to the foresight of our Governors in anticipating that at some point, some future government would pull the rug on the Assisted Places Scheme. That happened in 1997. Thank you Tony Blair for removing all government funding from independent schools at the same time as turning all universities into selective means-tested fee-paying institutions. There’s ideological consistency for you.

They were among the unintended consequences I spoke about earlier.

Governments always try to fix things from the top down at the point where the final outcome shows something needs fixing, even though the right place to fix it may be at the start of the process. That’s not always their fault: a term of office being what it is, the start of

The Headmaster makes his point about educational policy

schools and the removal of the Direct Grant, without admitting, even to themselves, that’s what they’re doing. Grant Maintained Schools, City Technology Colleges, Academies, Free Schools, all have been an attempt to create a substitute for what’s been lost but, for ideological reasons, never recreating one bit that makes a difference, which is to allow clever children to attend unashamedly academic schools where they can be educated alongside their intellectual peers.

Governments always try to fix things from the top down at the point where the final outcome shows something needs fixing, even though the right place to fix it may be at the start of the process

So much for the ghost of unintended consequences past. Now for the present: we have an education secretary whose guiding educational beacon is the curriculum as it was in a Direct Grant Day school in Aberdeen circa 1975 and the watchword is rigour. As far as GCSEs and A levels are concerned, this means exams at the end of the course and no more modules – all very last century.

Actually, many of us would be pleased to see the back of modules, especially January ones, which effectively wiped out a month of teaching at a crucial time of the year. If all the modules come in one session, in June, the sole difference from what we used to call “papers” is that in a modular system, if one of them goes wrong you can take it again a year later and recombine it with the ones that went OK. If Mr Gove had stopped at that point, I’d have been reasonably happy. He would then have had a terminally-examined AS back to back with a terminally-examined A2, leading to a full A level. Unfortunately, he also wanted a two year AS reaching the full A level standard but with half the content, just as it used to be in the late eighties and early nineties and it didn’t work

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There was no internet back in 1993, of course, and mobile phones were mobile only in the sense that a hod of bricks is portable. My PA had a standalone AMSTRAD for word processing, so we shifted an awful lot of paper around and the thought processes involved in writing and editing were really quite different.

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Here, the teaching accommodation had only recently been organised into departmental areas, according to the fashion of the late twentieth century, which is how Drama came to be taught in the New Hall in direct competition with deeply unhelpful acoustic effects from preparations for lunch. The Crusaders’ bookshop on Romeland Hill, now our Drama Centre, New Place, coming on the market was another manifestation of the serendipity/opportunism/damned hard work matrix.

Prizegiving

then, either. It was surprisingly unattractive to students to have to reach the full A level standard on half the teaching for a qualification no university was interested in – in languages for example, learning half the subjunctive and 50% of the past historic was tricky – and students voted with their feet.

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habits that divide a body of knowledge into small chunks.

Unwinding that will have some new unintended consequences. This year, there was a well-publicised move

by Ofqual to constrain the proportion of the highest grades and, indeed, at both GCSE and A level, the percentage of A* and A grades In consequence, what Mr Gove’s went down slightly for the second own feet have been doing is some- year in succession. That outcome thing resembling Michael Jackson’s was achieved through a statistical moonwalk in which he appears to fix, rather than through the judgebe moving forwards whilst actually ment of examiners, and our results, proceeding in reverse. The universi- I think, reflected the national trend. ties wanted him to keep the oneThe extraordinary sequel, though, year AS; Cambridge was particularly is that an unprecedentedly high vociferous about how much value proportion of the enquiries we it placed on the mid-course data it provides on A-level students. All the teacher organisations wanted him to keep it; we wanted him to keep it and if he insisted on abolishing it, I said we would be looking at international alternatives, on which you may have seen me quoted in a number of newspapers.

I don’t know whether any of that had any effect on his thinking but it does seem that when Ofqual tells Mr Gove something can’t be done, he does finally listen and, with commendable independence, Ofqual appears to have done just that, because the most recent news, not yet I think, officially in the public domain, is that AS will remain a one-year course, co-teachable (i.e. sharing the course content) with the first year of A level. The AS marks will not contribute to the A level grade, but at least there will be some mid-course feedback and there will be an exit point at which you can step off the A level course with a qualification to show for it if it’s not going well. The implication is that what are presently A2 papers will become old fashioned A level papers and will be more synoptic than they are at present, because they will also be examining the AS work done in the first year of the course. So, over two decades, the A level wheel has come more or less full circle.

In the interim, among the unintended consequences have been grade inflation that called into being an extra grade, the A*, and study

have submitted have resulted in an upgrade. That is frankly weird and suggests that whatever fix was engineered at the level of the whole cohort, when individual examiners are asked to look at individual scripts, they revert to a true judgment of standards.

This brings us to the appearance of the ghost of unintended consequences yet to come. I imagine it will appear, as such things so often do, first to mathematicians.

Maths and Further Maths are both, notionally, A levels and both, theoretically, are therefore graded at the same standard, but it must be obvious to the meanest intellect that a subject called “further” anything, must, by definition, be more advanced than the thing than which it is further. Double mathematicians have got into the habit of using the modular system to approach the two courses strategically, knocking off A level Maths in the first year and then moving on to the harder stuff in the Upper Sixth. Then Tony Little, they may recombine the modules Headmaster of Eton they’ve already done to achieve the College, was Guest most advantageous outcomes in of Honour the two subjects, sometimes with a few spare modules mopped up as an AS. I’m sure we’ll find a way round it here, and I’m sure it won’t trouble Eton either, but many schools, especially in the state sector, don’t allocate double timetable time for double maths. The need to do the two subjects concurrently rather than consecutively could just persuade many candidates that the game isn’t worth the candle, especially since many universities can’t afford to demand Further Maths A level even for a Maths degree because not enough schools offer it. When you add into the mix the trend for some universities - especially for medicine - to require all A levels to be taken at one sitting, you have the makings of a fine old mess.

So, how do you future-proof a school against what Donald Rumsfeld would no doubt categorise as the known unknowns – the outcomes of planned changes in government education policy, the known economic climate, known demographic shifts and so on and the unknown unknowns: the unintended consequences of all of those things.

A good start is a talented, flexible and resourceful staff, which we are very fortunate to have at St Albans and let me take this opportunity of thanking them, not only for their extremely hard work, without which our students would not be enjoying the success they have achieved in this as in every year, but

for their forbearance and patience over the turmoil of the past three years of major development on the site.

It helps to have hard working governors with imagination and foresight who are interested in education and know enough about it to know that the Headmaster and his senior team know more about it than they do and on whose advice they are therefore willing to commit the School to eyewateringly huge investment in new developments. So we can tick that box, too.

The campaign has already received its first major contribution from an individual benefactor of £350,000.

I hope that, over the coming years, some of you will feel able to add to You might be forgiven for thinking A proud moment for to expand our accommodation for the momentum and help us ensure that, after the epic one-new-build- Oluwaseun Adekoya the Sciences and the only realistic that, when many more headmasters ing-a-month year we’ve just had, way we have of doing this is to look have come and gone, St Albans we are in pretty good shape to face for ways of relocating some or all School will still be here, doing whatever the future might throw of our Maths teaching rooms which what it does superbly, in another at us, and so we are; much better share a building with the Science thousand years. shape than we were twenty years Faculty. ago when we were playing catch-up When you add to this the plans with our competitors, but the thing we already have to create a proper about the future is that its supply of Centre for the Performing Arts,

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St Albans has a very honourable, thousand-year history of benefaction and every twenty-first century student is a direct beneficiary of the generosity of men and women, some of them kings and queens, some of them abbots, some of them Lords, Ladies and Knights, but most of them quite ordinary, who in centuries gone by, shared the ideals we are determined to keep alive in reviving that spirit.

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And it helps to have bright, energetic, talented and ambitious students who can rise to every new challenge that comes up over the horizon – and that’s my cue to congratulate very warmly this year’s prize winners, and indeed the majority of their peers, on this year’s achievements.

things to throw is inexhaustible and so that our splendid musicians and it doesn’t pause for breath, so nor thespians will have a suitable home must we. in what we still call, with a curious absence of irony, the New Hall and One of the many ways in which then throw into the mix the everour industry differs from the growing need for Bursary assistmanufacture of widgets is that both ance, as I’ve already alluded to, to our raw material and our finished support the able children that it has product have a mind of their own been this School’s historic mission and play a part in the process. to educate, irrespective of their This is especially acute in the case parents’ financial circumstances, of bright, energetic, talented and you will understand that there is ambitious raw material which occastill plenty to do and my successor sionally wrong-foots us by making will not be at a loose end. entirely rational decisions en masse.

Our finished product isn’t really You will also appreciate that there finished at all, it’s just readier than are some eye-wateringly large it was for the next stage; our stucheques for the governors still to dents, in short, ARE the future and sign in the future and we are well sometimes their decisions are what aware that in fairness to present the future throws at us. generations of parents, we can’t simply factor this into the tuition One such projectile has been the fee. unprecedented numbers of A level students opting for the STEM That is why, on Thursday of this subjects: Maths and the Sciences. week, we shall be launching, This has given us an urgent need through the St Albans School Foundation, our first fundraising campaign in more than thirty years. It’s entitled “Unlocking Potential” and that’s what it’s all about – unlocking the potential of the site so that we can go on unlocking the potential of generations of children yet to come.You will learn more about it in the coming weeks.

Prizewinners 2013 Fourth Form Subject Prizes

First Form Prizes Achievement Awards

Progress Prizes

Sebastian Adolph James Daniel Oliver Gates Matthew Kaltsoyannis Owen Tyley William Payne

Oliver Huang Cameron Furley Alex Nejad

Prizegiving

Second Form Prizes

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Achievement Awards

Progress Prizes

Oliver Barratt-Johnson William Drake Stephen Heaney Jamie Sanderson James Scragg Morgan Wynne

Rhys Appleyard Piers Dorward Cameron Barford Rahul Patel

English Mathematics Art Biology Economics and Business Studies Chemistry Drama DT - Electronic Products DT - Graphic Products DT - Resistant Materials French Geography German Greek History Latin Music Physical Education Physics Religious Studies Spanish

Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero Thomas Sanderson Harvey Presence Charles Oliver Senthuran Thayaparan Thomas Sanderson George Grant Thomas Abrey Thomas Alexander Owen Pearce Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero James Kirsch Nicholas Springthorpe Robert Williams Alexander Cook Alexander Cook Nicholas Springthorpe Alexander Cook Thomas Halling Edward Hunt Alexander Cook

Third Form Prizes

Fifth Form Subject Prizes

Achievement Awards

Progress Prizes

James Freeman Thomas Goldstone Anthony Henein Oliver Neusten Joshua Oliver William Stewart

Louis Rabinowitz Ross Ferreira Luke Hopper Thomas Hopper Leon Sui

Fourth Form Prizes Progress Prizes David Degirmenci George Grant Matthew Halliday Sean Bracebridge Jack Swan Charlie Hextall

Fifth Form Prizes Progress Prizes Sahil Shah Keagan Witts Joseph Brennan Leonidas Tsakolotos David Sous Nicholas Harvey

English Language English Literature Mathematics Art Biology Business Studies Chemistry Drama DT - Electronic Products DT - Graphic Products DT - Resistant Materials French Geography German Greek History Latin Music Physical Education Physics Religious Studies Spanish Higher Project Prize *Governors’ Award

Daniel Myers Declan Houten* Patrick Semark Ben Harley* Daniel Angel* Pius Jude Oluwaseun Adekoya* Benedict Anthoney Joshua Southworth* Ganesh Chauhan Miles Fryer Harry Sampson* Joshua Southworth* Benjamin Chrisp Noah Lipschitz* Joshua Southworth* Milo Knights* James Thompson Tim Richards Joshua Southworth* Harry Sampson* Daniel Angel* Harry Sampson*

Jordan Bartlam Matthew Feast Robert Lighthowler Max Cadman Callum Harrison

English Literature James Sinclair* Mathematics Matthew Harrison*

Jonathan Phillips* Mathematics (John Godfrey Prize) Emma Russell* Further Mathematics Patrick Shammas*

Daniel Heydecker* Ancient History Robin Sykes* Art Helen King Biology Jonathan Phillips* Chemistry (George Wishart Prize) Jonathan Phillips* DT - Electronics Timothy Furlong DT - Graphic Products Christopher Putman DT - Resistant Materials Nial Parkash Drama Matthew Armitage Drama - Performance (OA Masonic Prize) Robert Brooks Economics Christopher Nott French Alexandra English Geography Stephen Baldwin German

(EP Debenham Prize) Hannah Moran* Government and Politics Edward Baker Greek James Sinclair* History (Archibald John Eastcott Prize) Harry Hamer* Languages (SGF Scase Prize) Matthew Harrison* Latin James Sinclair* Music David McConnell Physical Education Isobel Thompson Physics Daniel Heydecker* Religious Studies George Prew* Spanish Kieran Vaghela*

George MacGregor William Everton Guy Holden Thomas Matthews

Lower Sixth Subject Prizes English Literature

Mathematics

Further Mathematics

Ancient History Art Biology Chemistry DT - Electronics DT - Graphic Products DT - Resistant Materials Drama Economics French Geography

German Greek History Latin Music Physical Education Physics Politics Religious Studies Spanish

Aidan Bracebridge Krishan Pugh Christopher Williams Eric Edmond Elena Jarman Nicholas Stride William Barnes Aidan Bracebridge Joseph Redwood Christopher Williams Christopher Williams Ryan Allen Palakorn Constable Thomas Chapman Molly Vickers Milly Garnett Elena Jarman Christopher Wharton Robert Goldstone Jem Bosatta William Beynon Hannah Brown Christopher Williams Kaine Levy Eleanor Hunt William Barnes Alessandro Rossi Isaac Bedi William Barnes

*Governors’ Awards

*Upper Sixth Governors’ Awards

Special Awards

Katherine Butler Nishant Dahad Matthew Davey Thomas Foxton

Contribution to Parnership Prize James Oliver Community Link Prize Emma Ferreira Josh Handel (Charities) Cup Emma Russell Extended Project Prize James Sinclair Highstead Cup Matthew Armitage Powell-Davies Service Prize Alexander Terry

Katherine Butler Prefects’ Leaving Prize Kieran Vaghela Head Prefect’s Prize Hugo Henson

Edward Lewis Mark Sadler Thomas de Sousa

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Upper Sixth Subject Prizes

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Fifth Form Governors’ Awards

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Previous page and below: Second Form recreations of famous artworks by Antony Gormley and Jackson Pollock, sold in aid of charity.

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AS Art Left: Joe Redwood A2 Art Right:Tanveer Ranshi Next page: Ryan Sinnott

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A2 Art by Helen King

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Creative

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GCSE Art by Alcan Zekia AS Art by PJ Constable (detail) Opposite: A2 Art by Ben Driscoll

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Creative

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The Gentlemen of St John’s A breathtaking concert from the Cambridge choir tie and a drink, the second half was devoted to more modern closeharmony arrangements of popular songs. A particular highlight for the School choir was the arrangement of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean which seamlessly ran into Don’t Stop Moving by S Club 7 – a childhood favourite for many members of the Sixth Form.

The Library rang with the sound of applause on the 18th September, after the Gentlemen of St John’s College, Cambridge, finished their second encore of the evening. All who attended were blown away by the technical skill and voice quality of the choral scholars.

The Gentlemen of St John’s comprise several extremely talented and versatile singers who treated us to a wide variety of pieces during the evening. The concert consisted of folk and Renaissance music in the first half of the concert, and, after a change of bow

Some members of the Sixth Form also had the opportunity to sing with the group in a rendition of Blue Moon. This allowed them to see the group’s skill, as most of them sang extremely accurately

without having ever seen the music before the performance in front of the choir.

We are very grateful to Tom Blackie OA, who is the current manager of the Gentlemen of St John’s, for organising the concert, and were very pleased to see him singing in St Albans School again.

The concert was a great success which made me wish the ten pound note in my pocket would stretch to let me buy all of their CDs. Trudy Cammack

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Bubbly Climax to Autumn Term Christmas Concert The second half of the evening kicked off with style; ‘Mainstream’ Jazz Band, directed by John Mole, featuring a baritone guitar, a virtuoso guest performance from Matt Harrison on trombone, and an accomplished solo by Joe Zacaroli on trumpet. They performed Jimmy Forrest’s bluesy 1951 hit Night Train followed by a time-honoured classic from Duke Ellington, C Jam Blues. Credit goes to Mr Stout who stepped in on alto sax with very short notice.

The Percussion Ensemble, comprising five of our Lower Sixth boys, is always superb, and they certainly did themselves justice that night with Sasba, composed by the boys themselves with the help of Mr Craig, described by an audience member as having a ‘lively Brazilian vibe’. The Symphony Orchestra followed, directed by Mr Craig and beautifully celebrating the anniversary of Finnish independence with Sibelius’s Finlandia. The rousing piece combined the grand string opening with more delicate tunes in the woodwind to a gorgeous conclusion. Senior Concert Band, also conducted by Mr Craig, closed the show with two lively numbers, Ravel’s Bolero and Broadway ShowStoppers Overture. The former was a sprightly tune opened by a delight-

Matthew Harrison OA returned to School to take part in the concert

ful melody on clarinet. The Broadway Show-Stoppers Overture brought the concert to a fun and bubbly climax with a wonderful collection of well-known musical tunes.

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The Christmas concert was a magnificent finish to the end of term, taking us on a world tour from Finland to Chicago, and finishing in New York.

Music

The Christmas Concert aptly fell on a snow-peppered wintry day.

Setting the tone for the evening’s audience was the Clarinet Ensemble, directed by Ms Parker, with an opening number of Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade, followed

by Humoresque by Dvorak and a sprightly traditional number called Mexican Hat Dance. The Sax Ensemble followed with the jazzier tune of Now’s the Time, in which each member had the opportunity to display their saxophone skills (of which, according to one spectator, Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker would surely have been proud.) The Intermediate Brass Ensemble deftly tackled a complex arrangement of SaintSaens’ Danse Macabre and a jazzy cover of the well-known carol Silent Night. The eleven-piece Senior Brass Ensemble, whose members ranged between Second former Henry Avery and Mr Stout himself, dazzled with an arrangement of Battle of Jericho by Harvey. Both groups professionally pulled off what were tricky arrangements with considerable ease and great panache. After the boldness of the brass came an elegant rendition of Ravel’s Pavane pour une Infante Défunte. This mysterious dance, conducted gracefully by Mr Byrom, left the audience to their interval drinks in a more sombre mood.

Lucy de Vaux-Balbirnie

An Evening of the Sublime

Music

Joint Schools’ Concert

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The musical communities of St Albans School and St Albans High School for Girls come together every year in the magnificent setting of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban to perform a challenging programme of music, demonstrating the wealth of talent among the young people of the two schools.

On a breezy evening that saw ceaseless thick snowflakes descending on St Albans in flurries, those music lovers who were brave enough to venture out for the Joint Schools’ Concert in St Albans’ ancient Abbey were rewarded with a marvellous performance by the Choral Society, Orchestra and soloists. The first half of the programme consisted of music by renowned modern British choral composers Bob Chilcott, John Tavener and John Rutter, while the second half concluded the evening with the sublime Requiem from the French organist and composer, Gabriel Fauré, at the turn of the twentieth century.

voices of a small choir of eight young members of St Albans School singing plainsong phrases. This was simply stunning in its beauty above the backdrop of the richer and darker sound produced by the grand choir and orchestra.

Tavener’s A Hymn to the Mother of God continued the mystical and reflective mood of ancient church chant. An astonishing effect of challenging and complex harmonies was achieved through the double chorus with the second chorus repeating the music of the first, three beats behind.

The first half of the evening was closed by Rutter’s Gloria, an exuberant piece in three movements. The The reflective, ethereal, yet hopeful impressive percussion and brass and even exuberant mood of sections of the orchestra commuthe evening was set by Chilcott’s nicated the piece’s energetic and Canticles of Light, a work in three exciting character through their movements based on ancient Latin striking performance of the vivid hymns. The first two canticles rhythms. The choir complemented spoke of darkness, asking for God’s this, adapting competently to the light and protection through the change of moods in the various night, while the third moved us to sections of the piece. While the a more hopeful mood by anticipatfirst movement conveyed the celing God’s gifts of light and a new ebratory mood through all parts of day. Single bell strokes posed a the orchestra and choir, the second challenging start musically, but the movement contained calmer, choir pulled it off successfully. The slower string and vocal performeffect created was reminiscent of ances that were embellished by the the call to the monastic night-time flamboyant and vivid movements of liturgy, matins. The purity and clarity the woodwind section. Once again, of the bells was matched by the younger voices impressed as their

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Music

brilliance rose above the rest of the with listeners as the evening drew choir in the Misere Nobis section. to its conclusion was the charm, The mood by the end of the first simplicity, lightness and view half was festive and triumphant, as towards paradise conveyed through full orchestra and choir rose to a this composition. My highlights of magnificent the evening came final forte from the solo secthat produced vocal performances that were tions. David Stout’s a lovely echo baritone, which embellished by the flamboyant in the nave of is no stranger to the beautiful and vivid movements of the St Albans School Abbey. music performances, woodwind section dazzled through its In the second warm, strong timbre, part of the particularly in his interpretation of concert listeners were drawn the Hostias et preces and the Libera into the ethereal music of Fauré’s me sections, while Trudy Cammack, hugely popular Requiem, and once William Drake and William Foxton again the performance by the full amazed with an angelic, pure sound choir, orchestra and organ did not in the famous Pie Jesu. fail to seduce. It is said that Fauré composed this piece out of sheer Last but not least, Mick Stout boredom with the usual funeral deserves special mention for his music he had to play countless tireless commitment in putting times as organist of the Madeleine together inspiring and magnificent Church in Paris. Instead of focusperformances by and for music ing on our own final destination, lovers of all ages. It was in no small Fauré’s creation seeks to provide measure his passion and engagecomfort and a positive outlook ment that guided orchestra and through the addition of the sublime choir securely through the many Pie Jesu and In Paradisum while intricate harmonies and rhythms of keeping the traditional Dies Irae, the evening’s music. with its theme of judgement, to a GR minimum. However, it should be noted that one of the highlights of the performance was the heralding of the Dies Irae section by the horn fanfare. The mood that lingered

Flourishing Farewells A fitting goodbye from the Upper Sixth

Music

Inclement weather in May did not deter concert-goers from attending a fine evening of varied musical performances from our departing Upper Sixth students at this annual event. It is always a celebratory occasion, and always a moving one as well. Here the talented musicians in the Upper Sixth assemble in a more relaxed, informal way to entertain an audience and each other. As the Director of Music, Mick Stout, later remarked, this concert not only showcases these performers’ remarkable talent, but also reminds us of how they developed their gifts during their time at St Albans School.

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audience to a fine performance of Rachmaninov’s piano Prelude in D Major. He played with sensitivity and then power as the music grew.

A change of mood ensued with Emily Anderson and Tom Ling taking to the stage to deliver The Lady is a Tramp from Babes in Arms by Rodgers and Hart. Emily made full use of her strong voice, singing the lyrics with real panache. There was even humour too in the exchanges between her and Tom. Tom Hughes and David McConnell surprised and amused the audience with their rendition on trombone of Variations on a Very Well-Known Theme

by Mozart. Rob Brooks, whose Shaahin Shabbak opened properformance earlier in the year as ceedings with A Tribute to Tracey Valjean in Les Misérables was so Chapman, which he had arranged. memorable, then sang Once Upon Accompanying himself on guitar, a Time from All American by Strouse. he delivered this song of aspiration This poignant and reflective ballad with passion and conviction. James was delivered with confidence and Sinclair, who performed the 2nd sensitivity. movement, Adagio, from Clarinet Kieran Vaghela and Tom Hughes Concerto by Mozart, followed. added more nostalgia to the evening The majestic, limpid tonality of this with their performance of We Were piece was conveyed with delicacy Children by Tribes. This modern piece and assurance by James, allowing was sung in appropriate style with him to explore the full range of the some fine guitar work from Tom. instrument. Chris Oates then perThe first half of the concert closed formed Rollicum-Rorum from Air with one of the highlights of the and Earth and Fire by Gerald Finzi. evening: Niall Kearney’s enchanting This was a sprightly piece of fun, performance on piano of Ludovico delivered with real aplomb, in parEinaudi’s Nuvole Bianchi. This delightticular the Rollicum-Rorum chorus ful piece was played very skillfully as line. David McConnell treated the

A Stunning Steinway Concert The School’s pianists once again excelled themselves in the School’s second all-Steinway piano concert.

The audience was dazzled by a wide range of piano music across musical genres and across age groups, from Second form to Upper Sixth. Guests and members of staff and also performed.

All the performances of the night were united by a remarkably high standard of piano playing. Though occasional slips occurred, none was sufficient to mar the overall impression of extreme technical assurance.

There were very many highlights of the night, especially the duet of Matthew Woodward (OA) and Linden Innes Hopkins, performing

Mendelssohn’s 2nd and 4th Movements of his Octet. It was mesmerising to listen to the rare power of four hands acting on the piano’s keys. Hugh Myers gave a particularly moving rendition of Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1 by Chopin, while Hanja Bantock’s performance of Allegro de Concierto by Granados was stunning. The haunting melody of Schubert’s Impromptu in E Flat Major, Op. 90 No. 2, played by David Cartwright, a piece that unusually begins in a major key and ends in the parallel minor, lingered in the audience’s minds.

The concert demonstrated that the exceptionally high quality of the School’s pianists continues.

James Sinclair

Niall adroitly managed the changes in tempo.

The second half of the concert opened with Hugo Henson on guitar playing Prelude No 1 by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Hugo tackled this intricate piece with precision and verve. Trudy Cammack performed Can’t Help Loving That Man from Showboat by Jerome Kern. She sang with style and clarity of tone, finding exactly the right pitch for this kind of swing number.

Lizzie Bird provided an outstanding performance on piano with Rêve Angélique by Arthur Rubinstein, handled with confidence and grace.

Emily Anderson and Rob Brooks returned to the stage, accompanied

by Tom Foxton, to perform Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. Emily and Rob make a talented duo, the harmony of their singing highlighted by their ability to blend their voices.

Mitchell Zhangazha then gave an intense performance of Ordinary People by John Legend. The concert closed with a harmonic, barbershop rendition of Amici by Thompson.

This was performed by Rob Brooks, David McConnell, Chris Oates and Kieran Vaghela and formed an effective ‘vale’ from the performers and a coda to this fine concert.

JMG

Youth and Experience Combine A Jazz Evening of brio and verve A range of tempi, a range of styles and a mélange of talented youngsters and inspiring professionals – this was a rare privilege of an evening, leaving the audience sorepalmed by its end.

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Nigel Woodhouse gave a bravura performance in the second half of the Jazz Evening, while professional Rhiannon Drake and Sixth former Stephen Baldwin sang in the fist half

the third movement’s Invention, with its walking bass and steady high hat, had a distinct flavour of Jacques Loussier’s versions of Bach.

Craig rapped out the bossa nova on the drum rim in the optimistic Sérénade and the Rhapsodie had real energy – there were times when Phil Craig seemed to creep up on the cymbals as if to take them by surprise. The Africaine movement certainly suggested a French Africa, boulevard music played at three times the tempo.

The Finale brought it all together, picking up earlier themes in a joyful, rousing conclusion, not just to this wonderful piece, but to the whole evening.

NJC

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Music

on piano, his lilting right hand tinkling over the wandering bass of the left in a fine performance of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. Becca Sandler kept her big voice in reserve while singing Stars

by Craig and Crawford, but its It fell to impressively confident power was evident under the hood Third former James Lear to open throughout, sliding up and down proceedings with Jamie Cullum’s arthe glissandos while Craig himself rangement of María Grever’s What controlled the contrasting rhythms a Difference a Day Made. With his on the piano. slightly breathy but powerful vocals, well paced and judged modulations The Barbershop Group initially of voice and piano, this was a rendi- seemed uncertain where to stand tion with a clear nod to the arand eventually sidled off into the ranger’s style. He reappeared later, dark, which was a strange decision, backed by big band Mainstream, but perhaps the intention was to to sing Feeling Good. He managed allow the audience to concentrate the higher range of this number on the music. As ever, in all its well, preparing for the triumphant manifestations over the years, the entry of the band, making a thrilling Group delivered with poise. Mick sound with Kaine Levy unleashed Stout added ballast to the basses on the kit but still showing some in Slow Motion Time, which also feadelicate work on the cymbals. tured an artfully lazy solo by David McConnell.

Mainstream provided the snappy energy supporting other vocalists The first half closed on a high too – Stephen Baldwin sang Cole with professional singer Rhiannon Porter’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin Drake’s Bewitched, Bothered and with confident ease at the microBewildered, with her lovely, lazy, phone, swooping and soaring to the sultry delivery over Phil Craig’s brassy, rhythmic band, while Rob delicate brushwork on the drums Brooks performed Weill’s Mack the and Frazer Snell’s surefooted bass, Knife with a combination of Sinatra with Mick Stout delicately threading swagger and mean street menace, the piano through the mix. with a fine Zacaroli trumpet break, The second half of the evening steady Barnes bass and a blasting was devoted to a rare performclimax. We were left guessing about ance of Claude Bolling’s Concerto Tom Ling’s performance; although for Classical Guitar and Jazz Piano Mr Stout denied all rumours of Trio, featuring Nigel Woodhouse, spiking his drink, the Director the School’s classical guitar teacher. of Music stepped forward This was a tour de force, a thrilling to substitute in Have You performance of a vigorous, fascinatMet Miss Jones? ing piece. Though composed by a We were also Frenchman, much of the concerto treated to Joe has a decidedly Spanish flavour, well Zacaroli beyond its opening Hispanic Dance.

The picked strings and Lila Branou’s liquid piano over Craig’s complex five beat rhythms evoked sunshine, dust, olives and black mantillas with a taste of flamenco, though passages of bass and piano also suggested a debt to Dave Brubeck.

There was a sudden shift into earthy blues, with Snell’s languorous bass line, while

A Musical Masterpiece The Spring concert welcomed the new Steinway ovation from an enthralled audience.

Music

The School Hall, although dimly lit, capably highlighted an abundance of musical prowess across the spectrum – from the warm, buttery tones of Henry Jeffry’s Vivaldi Sonata in E minor to the rousing snares and strings driving The Raider’s March, which was directed with military precision by Phil Craig and his score entrusted iPad.

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It’s hard to imagine a more fitting debut performance for the School’s new Steinway than Michael Neale’s astounding Grieg Piano Concerto at Wednesday evening’s spring concert. The concluding performance of the night simultaneously heralded our status as a Steinway School and provoked a standing

Michael Neale introduced the new Steinway piano to the School (below) while Joe Zacaroli (above) demonstrated supreme rhythmic control

The mellow Clarinet Ensemble provided the perfect soundtrack to a deliciously balmy evening; handling the reveries and rags with expert accuracy and synergy, but it was the Concert Band who led an unapologetic aural assault on the beguiled audience. They charged through an animated version of The Simpsons theme, followed by a rendition of Birdland, featuring a tight woodwind section and a simply superb lesson in percussion. The Raider’s March escorted us to the interval with a rousing resolution, and even the tempting mid-concert canapés couldn’t keep eager parents from returning to their seats in anticipation, long before the evening’s second half was due to begin.

A blast of funk came courtesy of our six strong middle school Brass Ensemble, featuring lowdown bluesy bass-lines, rivalled only in the second half of the concert by the perfect plucking of the Orchestra’s double bassist during Malcolm Arnold’s Little Suite Ballad.

Diaphragms were filled to capacity during melodic vocal performances from Christopher Oates and Trudy Cammack, while a bittersweet ballad, straight from skid row, was delivered with conviction by the exceptionally talented Emily Anderson and Robert Brooks.

The School’s razor-sharp barbershop swaggered with aplomb through gospel and traditional, and Variations on Supersonic demonstrated synchronicity beyond belief from double drummers Joe Zacaroli and Kaine Levy. Proud smiles from the craning necks of parents and staff members alike were testament to another successful programme of entertainment to usher in a glorious spring bank holiday weekend.

CNT

Songs from Stage and Screen Well known classics at the summer cabaret

The interval provided the opportunity for the audience to replenish their glasses, discuss the performances and fill up on some of the delicious snacks provided.

It was then time for some Bond Action, opened by Christian Bevan, whose performance as Javert in Les Misérables remains in the memory, with a punchy performance of From Russia With Love. From Quantum Musical Matters opened with Chris of Solace, Emily Anderson and Bhantoa setting the scene by seem- Tom Ling gave a slick rendition of ingly auditioning Emily Anderson.

Another Way to Die, followed by a This provided a neat and amusing Tom Ling solo of Kiss from a Rose. introduction to Jason Robert Trudy Cammack, David Russell and Brown’s Climbing Uphill, performed Chris Oates, the latter showing

by Emily. Chris remained on stage his versatility, then performed the to team up with Mitchell ZhangWestern themed rock number, haza, who sang Circle of Life from Blaze of Glory, with volume and The Lion King. Rob Brooks, whose energy. Emily Anderson returned memorable performance as Valjean for a performance of License to Kill, in Les Misérables was recalled followed by a very stylishly dressed by most of the audience, movTrudy Cammack, who sang Danger ingly expressed the stoicism and Zone. Becca Sandler closed this aspiration of The Impossible Dream section with the expressive and from The Man of La Mancha. Dan tender I Will Always Love You from Pittal delivered a snappy perform- The Bodyguard.

Iconic Tunes included some real ‘Golden Oldies’, which delighted the audience. The opener came from Mitchell Zhanghaza, who delivered a very smooth and polished performance of Ben E King’s Stand By Me. Emily Anderson and Rob Brooks almost swept the audience onto their feet with their rendition of (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing, their own fancy footwork included. A very dramatic performance of Skyfall from Mitchell Zhanghza and Shaahin Shabbak was followed by a slick and zestful rendition of Everybody Needs Somebody from Tom Ling and Matt Armitage, who also performed some very nifty dance moves. Shaahin Shabbak returned to give a very sophisticated and smooth performance of New York, New York, to be followed by

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Music

The programme was carefully organised and neatly divided into four separate themes, under which a variety of songs were grouped.

Ben Harrison introduced the opening section, Love…and Ladies, with the thunderous number Baba O’Riley from The Who. In a contrast of mood, Trudy Cammack then gave a fine performance of the ballad, I’m Kissing You, from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet. Mitchell Zhanghaza delivered the soul classic, Express Yourself by Charles Wright, with a very high degree of professionalism.

This section also included Moon River from the smooth and inimitable Chris Oates and an excellent rendition by Emily Anderson of If I Can’t Have You from Saturday Night Fever. Shaahin Shabbak’s confident performance of Chris de Burgh’s romantic Lady in Red was one of the highlights of this section, as too was Mitchell Zhanghaza’s fine performance of Phil Collins’ poignant song Against All Odds.

ance of Rodgers & Hart’s The Lady is a Tramp and Becca Sandler’s performance of Maybe This Time from Cabaret was belted out with real panache. This was paralleled

by Sophie Turner’s comic delivery of Nothing from A Chorus Line. A very slick and well-coordinated performance of Tonight from West Side Story came as a four hander from some talented members of staff, Gill Mendes da Costa, Jon Saunders, Tom Robinson and Mick Stout. The mood changed with Kishan Soni’s very smooth, cool and humorous delivery of Mr Cellophane from Chicago. Two show numbers from Wicked followed: What is this Feeling and Popular, the first sung by Imogen Nolan and Becca Sandler and the second

by Sophie Turner. The reappearance of Chris Oates in his dinner jacket signalled a return to calmer waters. His sophisticated rendition of Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific was a sheer delight.

Rob Brooks returned to the stage for a moving performance of This is the Moment from Jekyll and Hyde, before Ben Harrison & Friends closed the first half with a rousing You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.

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The annual Summer Nights cabaret, the brainchild of Director Of Music, Mick Stout, has now established itself as a firm fixture in the School calendar. Characterised by its exuberance, variety and sheer exhilaration, the musical talents of the School’s Sixth Formers (and enthusiastic, talented staff) are given an evening showcase. Given the timing of the cabaret i.e. after the stresses and strains experienced over the public examination season, it is a tribute to these students’ commitment to the School that they are prepared to invest so much time, energy and vigour into producing a show of so professional a standard.

Rob Brooks with the moving ballad Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.

Rob was then joined on stage by Emily Anderson, Matt Armitage and Tom Ling for a humdinger of a performance of Disco Inferno from Saturday Night Fever.

Another number from the same show closed this outstanding celebration of music and song from shows and films: Celebration. The whole cast gave an enthusiastic and rousing rendition of this number: this was a truly exhilarating end to an outstanding show, which brought the audience to their feet.

JMG

Creative

Work from the Design and Technology Exhibition

DVD Stand: Miles Fryer GCSE

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Tennis Equipment Holder:Toby Stapleton A2

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Design for EcoHouse: Matthew Stoughton-Harris A2

Creative

iPad and Accessories Holder: Adam CraigThompson GCSE

Guitar Stand: Oliver Clarke GCSE

Any Excuse for a Good Row Promising performance at Oxford National Debating Finals

Enrichment

On Saturday 8th March, Tom Foxton and Jem Bosatta with Miss Baxter and Mr Eames-Jones met at an unholy hour to drive to Oxford for the international finals of the university’s debating competition.

The partnership of Tom and Jem had been hashed together for an in-school debate in February.

The immediate chemistry meant that in the regional finals – Jem’s first and Tom’s last opportunity for debating glory – they were side-by-side arguing again in North London. Despite a slightly shaky start, a strong last debate saw them through to the big day.

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last speakers from each side have the responsibility of summarising the main points of contention and kindly explain why their house was right.

It had seemed like a good debate, so the result of third place was surprising and deflating, as it immediately limited their chances of reaching the last four (out of around eighty teams from all over the globe). The pair stormed back into contention in the next motion – this time the ethics of drug distribution – with a firm win over two pairs from the Canadian nationals. A first place under their belts, they entered the third debate (on The team was greeted at the Oxford Union by a broken promise; technocracy) with confidence. They left without. Having come fourth, the organisers had lured them in with a free breakfast, but the break- there was no chance of reaching fast simply was not there. Neverthe last four, yet they were still full theless, they hit the ground running of determination to set all guns for the first motion of the day: This blazing for the last debate of the house would grant an amnesty for all day, discussing the role of women in religion. They were not to see the illegal immigrants. result of this debate until after the Oxford uses the structure of promised hog roast (this time the British Parliamentary debating in organisers made good). which four pairs take on the roles The wound of another third place of opening government, opening opposition, closing government and still smarted as the four headed closing opposition. The first speaker back to school, though they travelled in good spirits, as the day for the opening government must define their intentions for the had been a fruitful one for Tom motion and kick off the proposals and Jem’s debating education. Many for change. Then follows a sequence thanks are owed to Mr EamesJones and Miss Baxter for support of proposal and rebuttal, in which before and throughout the day, for each speaker must bring forward new arguments and refute the last the debating expertise they shared, speaker’s, peppered with ‘points of and for sacrificing a drizzly Saturday information’, that is, fifteen-second to travel to Oxford and back. counter arguments that interrupt Jem Bosatta of another speaker’s speech. The

Top Calculations Maths Team at National Finals Two teams of bright mathematicians called on their brains and calculators in national competition. The Fourth form team, Tom Abrey, Alex Cook, Freddie Walters and Peter Wood, won the regional final and were invited to the final at the Centre for Mathematical Studies in Cambridge. The afternoon began with an entertaining lecture by Professor Alan Davies, demonstrating the various situations in which a quadratic equation is used to model actual events. When they got down to the maths, they missed out on the top places but enjoyed the experience and the location.

JH

Extending Science Stephen Hawking lectures The Stephen Hawking Society has again offered a wide variety of lectures to further the interests and understanding of Sixth form students.

showed the students the equipment used to look into space and the procedures involved when taking long exposure images. He concluded by showing off some of his favourite and most impressive pictures, explaining to the students precisely what they were looking at. These ranged from planets to comets and even far off galaxies.

The society was pleased to round off another successful year with its eighth annual dinner. Dr Diane Aston, from the Institute of Materials, delivered an extremely engaging lecture titled ‘Materials in Action’. Her talk covered a wide range of various materials covering polymers, composites, ceramics and metals. She explained in depth the research undertaken when designing a new material. Throughout the talk there were some very interesting and surprising demonstrations.

The evening was rounded off with a four course black tie dinner in the new school refectory, which was very enjoyable for all.

Katie White and Jamal Faisal

Struggles for Freedom Another successful year in the History and Politics Society The History & Politics Society has welcomed a number of eminent speakers to the school in 2012/13.

Their fascinating talks can perhaps be broadly grouped under the heading of ‘the struggle for freedom’.

Dr Mike Sewell (Selwyn College, Cambridge) spoke on ‘Civil Rights and Foreign Policy in the USA 19401968’, bringing alive not only the powerful leadership of key players such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and the Black Panthers, but also the great bravery and fortitude of millions of ordinary African-Americans determined to secure equality. Professor Judith Brown (Balliol College, Oxford), in ‘The End of Empire in India Revisited’, showed how the intrigues and schisms between the British, the Muslim League and Congress eventually brought independence, but at the price of the chaos and bloodshed of Partition. Taking a broad political and economic view in his talk on ‘Capitalism as the Uplifter of the Common Man’, Dr Madsen Pirie (Director – Adam Smith Institute) made the case that government intervention in the economy is harmful

and that the quality of life of ordinary people is best served by the free market. Unforgettable for the extraordinary account of her Holocaust survival was Kitty Hart-Moxon OBE, by whom all present were both deeply moved and greatly inspired. She survived the Lublin Ghetto, Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, mock execution and the Death Marches before eventual liberation. She has since dedicated her life to raising awareness of the Holocaust.

The historical backdrop to Mrs Hart-Moxon’s experiences was explored in the History & Politics Society’s visit to a debate at the Royal Geographical Society, at which leading academics made the case for and against “Neville Chamberlain did the right thing”. Although the motion was eventually defeated, this thoroughly enjoyable event showed how modern historians challenge conventional wisdom and engage in impassioned debate.

Krishan Pugh with Isobel Ryan-Dalton and Tom Goldstone

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Mr Scott would like to thank the Sixth Form committee for all their help behind the scenes and also all those who attended the society throughout the year.

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This led on to a discussion of the methods used to track and follow learning at a cellular level, which involved using green fluorescent proteins. Finally, concepts such as where our memories are actually The first lecture, titled ‘Designing stored and how we can improve Mission-Critical Equipment to withour memory were discussed. stand Earthquakes,’ was presented

by Dr Alan Eames-Jones. He exAfter Christmas the society plored the mathematical processes welcomed Professor Clare Grey, and predictions which structural who is a leading world expert in engineers must take into considera- relation to her work involving tion when constructing buildings nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). and using equipment in earthquake The lecture, ‘The next generation regions. The talk focused on the of batteries and super-capacitors’, importance of safety procedures, outlined her current research on particularly of nuclear facilities, how to improve the chemistry of with reference to the Fukushima rechargeable batteries and super incident earlier in 2012. capacitors. She explained how they work through redox potentials and The second lecture, ‘Making Conwhy lithium is an ideal metal. This nections; How your Brain Cells talk was concluded with an analysis of to each other’, was given by Dr the difficulties that arise as a device Gareth Evans, who provided a colis scaled up from something like ourful overview of learning and the either a simple AA or car battery brain. He set about answering questo the large generators required to tions on how our nerve cells pass power the national grid. on messages, how we learn and remember things, and what changes The penultimate lecture of the take place in our brains as we age. year was titled ‘Deep space astronomy by a dedicated amateur’.

His work focused on the synaptic junction of neurons and how they Mr Gordon Rogers, owner of the Crendon Observatory, has been become stronger as neuron pathways are activated more frequently a dedicated astronomer and deep space photographer all his life. He through the process of learning.

Inspiring Authors – Talks and Workshops Writers talk to Lower School pupils

Alex Scarrow Author of Time Riders

In January, Alex Scarrow came to talk to the First, Second and Third forms. He told us how he started off as a rock guitarist for 10 years before becoming a computer games designer – imagine being paid to come up with new ideas for games. After working at this for 12 years, he quit to become an author. Using his bank of ideas for computer games, the Time Riders series was born in 2010. Since then, he has written seven novels for the well-loved series.

The boys found his speech very amusing and informative. Apparently, he has all the books already planned out and he could even tell us what the last word of the last book will be. Amazingly, each book takes him only about three months to write. He showed us a very entertaining trailer for Time Riders with a great soundtrack and stunning visuals.You can find it on his website: www.alexscarrow.co.uk.

Enrichment

We had the opportunity to ask questions. From this, we learned that he hates football and loves the 1990s grunge group, Nirvana. Everybody found the speech funny, informative and inspiring. Finally, the author stayed behind to sign books and I for one can’t wait to start reading his Alex Scarrow – from work – and become a time traveller, change history and save the world.

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computer games to novels

Felix Sutcliffe

Award-winning author Alan Gibbons talked to First and Second form pupils about his experiences as an author and what inspired him to start writing. He started off by talking about his early life and his first job as a teacher in the North of England. He starting writing when an Ofsted Inspector told him that the stories he was telling his class were good enough to be published.

Despite receiving twenty-five rejections, he persevered and his first book, Pig, was published in 1990.

He soon started to publish more and more books, and became increasingly popular as a children’s author. In the year 2000 he won a Blue Peter Book Award for The Shadow of the Minotaur, despite being up against authors such as JK Rowling and Michael Morpurgo. In the week he received the award, he sold 20,000 copies of the book.

Alan Gibbons

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Award winner

After talking about his life and his experiences, he moved onto his books, which include a wide range of genres, from a football series to the more serious topics of gun crime in England and the war in Afghanistan. He has sold nearly a million books since Pig first appeared in book shops around twenty years ago.

After the talk, there was an opportunity to buy some books and get them signed, and many students went away clutching an Alan Gibbons book.

Jamie Scragg

Alan Gibbons signed books for the pupils

Over to the Boys…

Creative Writing Day The School played host to three published writers for the First Form Creative Writing Day. John Mole, Fred Sedgwick and Alex Keller were invited to hold masterclasses in an all-day event for the First formers, who were all admirably dressed up as famous characters from fiction.

Yet more interesting than the costumes were the workshops themselves. St Albans School’s Poet in Residence John Mole drew from his experience and his numerous publications for children, to focus on poetry, perspective, personification and riddles.

This workshop was Oliver Gates’ favourite part of the day, in particular the work on similes. He was dressed up as Shmuel from the John Boyne’s modern classic The Boy in Striped Pyjamas. Ken Adigwe (as Batman) summed up the Sedwgick workshop in word one – Thou. He preferred the class on myth-writing, in which he wove a tale about a man looking for a magic ring and whose uncle was

trying to kill him (Oliver’s story, by contrast, was about zombies).

The author in charge of this class was Alex Keller, creator of steampunk series Haywired, who made his first visit to the school to give a class on prose fiction. The students were introduced to myths and ghost stories, then told to write their own with an introduction, problem and resolution. He was particularly impressed by the detail of description that many of the students produced.

For an all-round successful, enjoyable and inspiring day, we have to thank the students for their boundless enthusiasm, the teachers who organised it and above all, the writers themselves, who closed off the day by reading out excerpts from their own works.

Jem Bosatta

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Costumes ranged from Odysseus to Dobby the House-Elf to Will Parry from His Dark Materials but it was Owen Tyley’s outstanding Zaphod Beeblebrox outfit that snapped up the costume competition prize at the end of the day, winning a hefty Michael Morpurgo box set.

Poet Fred Sedgwick was reworking the spirit of Shakespeare with the pupils. Exercises included ‘transprosing’ the Sonnet 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?), that is, presenting the famous lines as an unbroken prose text. The purpose was to rewrite the ideas as prose with modern language and fresh synonyms. Afterwards he commented that it was like “teaching with Shakespeare in the room” and that the students “constantly surprise me with their ideas”.

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Features

Residents Go Potty for Pottery Verulam House Art Club goes three dimensional

My reason for introducing clay to the residents was to increase their involvement in art that I started two years ago. I wanted residents to use their hands differently than they did while painting and drawing.

I know that clay is a very physical material and working with it promoted the use of care, attention to detail and the use of both water and heat to create a final product.

Residents would have to manipulate the clay to understand the material and understand its potential uses and thereby promote hand and eye coordination, hence the need for residents to focus their attention to use the two in unison.

Whilst I was aware that some residents had impaired movements of the joints, I felt that clay was a ‘soft’ material that would not be injurious to them but still provide them with cognitive and physical stimulation.

Verulam House residents have produced a range of ceramics, experimenting with form and texture

It was rewarding to see how the residents became immersed in the experience of clay work, talking about the texture and the temperature of the clay; indeed for some the tactile experience led to recollection of childhood memories of making mud pies and sand castles.

For one it reminded her of ‘rolling out dough to make biscuits’, whilst others could be heard commenting: ‘I like this’, ‘Look at my hands’ and ‘I think I have used too much water’.

The Verulam House Activities Co-ordinator commented that of all the activities, this was one that some of the residents had enjoyed the most – indeed watching them work with clay one could see how it seemed to provide an experience to be immersed in, providing enI introduced the residents to three gagement of many senses but at the methods: (i) the pinch pots method; same time providing an opportunity (ii) the slab building method and for solitude and creative output. (iii) relief on formed slab. The resiKKL dents and I created pots and vases with embossed decoration. I was 1 ‘Pottery as Art Therapy with Elderly pleased to note that all participants Nursing Home Residents’, Doric-Henry, L, returned for each class – even American Art Therapy Association 1997 one resident who had previously

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Features

Residents at the Verulam House Care Home have been going potty over pottery classes which I recently initiated as part of the Community Link programme. The classes are run once a week for residents of both sexes and ages up to 101.

suffered a stroke – something I am sure they would not have done had they not been enjoying it.

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I had also read1 about an art therapy intervention programme which was implemented in an American residents’ home. It described the improvements in the psychological well-being of residents with participants showing significantly improved measures of self-esteem, reduced depression and anxiety, in addition to the benefit to people with visual and motor-coordination impairments.

One of the overriding factors was the new kiln that the school had recently acquired which would provide the furnace for firing any clay work done by the resident. I had thoroughly enjoyed being reacquainted with clay work and hoped that the residents would also derive some pleasure from working with this wonderful material. All in all, it seemed that pottery was the way to go.

Serving the Community Community Link flourishing Among various Water therapy placements in the wider community, a number of Sixth Form students spend their Friday afternoons at Watling View School. Two of the volunteers write about what they have gained.

I spend my Friday afternoon activity session at Watling View School for children with severe learning disabilities. Most of us help out in a specific classroom, assisting the teachers with the activities they’re running whilst helping and getting to know the students. Unlike the others that go there, I help in the hydrotherapy pool. This is a small warm water pool at the school, where 2 to 3 students in a session get some specialist time to work on areas that trouble each student in particular. Being in the water gives them the opportunity to do exercises that wouldn’t be possible outside the pool.

Features

Each student needs someone to assist them, so every week I work with the same student and it’s been amazing to watch him improve.

Over the year not only have I seen him improve physically but I’ve also watched him become steadily more comfortable with me. Just before I started working in the pool, he had a major spinal operation, so it’s been really special to be there from the beginning to watch how the hydrotherapy has improved his recovery.

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There are set physiotherapy tasks I have to do which focus on loosening his muscles and getting him to stretch out. This is particularly

difficult for him given the nature of his operation and the fact he’s in a wheelchair.

Although you might think working with the same student each week could get repetitive, it is anything but, because just the same as anyone else, the students are in a different mood each week and there are different challenges to overcome.

There have been individual events that have stood out for me such as having to deal with the pool evacuation procedure in an unplanned fire practice, as well as getting the chance to do other forms of physiotherapy when the pool was closed. However, the biggest highlight of the year has definitely been just getting the opportunity to form a bond with a student. It’s lovely to be told he looks forward to seeing me each week and that what I’m doing is making a difference.

Emma Ferreira

Valuable life lessons My job, as ‘community linker’ at Watling View School, was to help the children further with their school activities.

I was given the task of working with children in the age range of seven to nine years old. The majority of the class I was working with could not speak, which shed light on the challenges of working at the school. Communication was the main issue, one that I managed to tackle early on; each child, as expected, had their own unique personality and aura, so when interacting with the child, the way I addressed them, talked to them and the body language I used, was unique with each child. The first couple of weeks were difficult as

the children were not used to my presence, and therefore weren’t very open with me, but as time passed they became very close to me, and I shared a bond with each student in the class.

There was definitely an abundance of moments that will not be forgotten, but it was in fact, the little things that brought the greatest reward. Simply helping the physically disabled children walk to their classrooms, teaching a small boy to throw a ball and explaining the colour spectrum. Before my placement I would have viewed these things as minor aspects of life, almost too simple to give attention to.

My experience not only enhanced my social skills, but it broadened my perspective, and taught me to look at life through the eyes of those around me. I learnt that being the best that we can be isn’t easy, and the experience had in fact cost me a lot of effort, through going in each week and engaging with each student individually. However, I have come to the conclusion that the cost of effort cannot be compared to the smile on a child’s face, which I deem priceless.

Although my objective was to go into the school, aid the pupils’ learning and help their future, it is evident that I learnt more from them than they did from me.

Jamal Faisal

Take Your Partners…

The School’s Partnership Scheme St Albans School’s Partnership Scheme sees Sixth Form students and staff working with a number of local primary schools, offering extra help and specialist expertise. Here James Oliver discusses his experiences.

Whilst completely absorbed by the immediate demands of my young players, I didn’t notice at first, but my own skills also began to grow through the coaching. In particular, my self-confidence grew as I learnt valuable lessons on how to communicate ideas and strategies more effectively. If my initial coaching sessions lacked sparkle, the nine year olds did not hold back with their thoughts and I too began to improve.

The club gave the children a chance to burn off excess energy in the fresh air, and it was easy to encourage them to get active and to reinforce the importance of staying fit. They relished the prospect of getting out of the classroom after a long week at school – something I could relate to!

During the summer term we switched to sports such as rounders, cricket and athletics, which I particularly enjoyed coaching. These areas were all played in a less competitive environment and therefore I was able to get more involved.

One of the most interesting things that I discovered when coaching during the summer was that some of the children who sometimes struggled with the physicality and pressures of performing in a football team, suddenly excelled at different sports such as the individual athletic events. The knowledge that I had been a small part of their success was incredibly rewarding.

The football coaching was something I always looked forward to, and it gave me an opportunity to help pass on what I had learnt, to younger, less experienced players. I particularly enjoyed the challenge

Overall I found that the Partnership Scheme proved to be a hugely beneficial experience for both myself and the pupils that I worked with. I always looked forward to my time on a Friday afternoon, and believe that helping others taught me many valuable lessons about my own abilities. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the scheme as a fantastic opportunity to ‘give something back’ – and you’re likely to learn a valuable life skill you’ll never forget.

James Oliver

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Features

Over the course of the first two terms, I worked with a group of Year 5 pupils. Each week I would focus on a different core skill, such as passing or shooting, and then progress on to a match at the end of the session. Sometimes I would include constraints on the players during matches, to help them to put into practice the skills they had just learnt. For example, I would tell them that they were only allowed one touch, forcing them to make a decision prior to receiving the ball.

of motivating the children, whilst keeping the sessions on task. For me the most rewarding aspect of coaching was to watch the children develop and improve over time.

The realisation that my coaching was responsible for a part of that development made even the frozen January afternoons seem extremely worthwhile.

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During the past year I had the opportunity to coach football and other sports at St Peter’s Primary School in St Albans, as a member of our own School’s Sixth Form Partnership Scheme. Every Friday afternoon, I joined St Peter’s teacher Mr Walter to help pupils from Years 5 and 6 take part in an extra-curricular sports club. The club’s aim was to provide a fun and positive environment for the youngsters, enabling them to develop both their football and interpersonal skills. The pupils trained in teams which would regularly go on to play competitive matches against other local primary schools.

Pillars

Euan Wallace Pillars, stone, soaring, regal, Like figures, standing tall, Smiling, The choir’s seemingly acquiescent Into their joy The voice of the chaplain, Like the mellow ring of ice on cut glass, The fading mantra, The footsteps, falling as dominoes after a set neatly placed, The hum of the car, like a warm chuckle, The crash of metal, The laugh of a child in the back seat,

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That turns to a sob,

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Pillars, stone, stooping, cracked, Like figures, crouching, Leering, The choir’s seemingly acquiescent Into their narcissism, The voice of the chaplain, Like the hollow scrape of ice on cut glass, The fading wails, The footsteps, falling as dominoes after an impetuous twitch, The hum of the car, like a cold scrape, The lonely slam of a car door, The silence in the back seat, That turns to a sob in the front.

Water

Pat Taylor We found the bottle lying on the beach.

It had a dark liquid in it. Water, I said.

But you said it might have come from a freshwater spring on a desert island Or dropped from the hand of a drunken pirate, half full of rum; That it was the last drink of a mutineer cast adrift in an open boat Or a mermaid’s shampoo bottle; That the liquid contained an alien’s message Written in a language we couldn’t understand.

You said that if we removed the cork and washed ourselves with the contents we would become invisible, or all-seeing.

You said we should bury it deep in the darkness of wet sand Where no hand could touch it, no eye see it.

You said all these things, and I believed each one.

But instead you took a stone from the beach And smashed the glass.

The water stained the sand, But it didn’t matter Because by then I knew it wasn’t water.

It was imagination.

Elsewhere Jem Bosatta

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*** He was hummed awake by buzzing in his hand; his cradled phone, showing him the smiling picture of his wife he knew so well. He shook off a drop of fatigue and thought, good, that the breathy, lively voice of his wife would be the one to break the unspoken rule of silence in the carriage.

With a half smile to himself, he lifted the phone to his ear. Let them stare; let them tut; let them shake their heads if they must. He consoled himself with the thought that at least he wasn’t cramming his marriage into invisible ones and zeroes and how many little Xs he put on the end of his reply.

“Hello?”

Heads snapped his way. *** “How about next week?”

“I can’t promise you anything.”

“I understand. Love you,” she said, with two pecked kisses into the mouthpiece.

“Course, dear. Bye, um-“ He brought the phone away from his ear, still connected, the frozen smile still smiling, until with a frown and a tap he deadened the line. He glanced around the disdainful eyes pointing his way, and, dropping his head in apology, he sighed back into his chair and stared out of the window

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*** The train shuddered through the shadows of suburbs and greying industrial estates, before easing into a trail through muted fields and jagged forests, stretched across the horizon. Like a ticker tape, each scene chugged by the train window, through a veil of snowfall, and falling on the glazed eyes of this open-mouthed commuter. The formless thoughts of these moments were insensible to the dull sensations of the journey home; to the bleak beauty rushing past, to the painful rattle of his skull on the window, even to his own blithely trundling music; he did not notice that it was stuck on loop. He had successfully drifted into a state of aesthetic distance, now halfway from home, and halfway to sleep; he no longer noticed the sweaty knee space he shared with the big lady opposite, nor how hard his neighbour’s elbow was in his side, nor the lone cackles and answering crackle of some girl’s telephone conversation somewhere down the carriage…

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n one Tuesday night there was snow. It was a moody snowfall, not like good, drifty Christmas snow or a somersaulting facenumbing blizzardy snow. It fell from sunken clouds, straight and drab, strafing the tired-looking platform which heaved with asphalt-grey commuters. The little wet pellets melted on impact and dribbled through the congregation’s dark overcoats, slipped between shoe seams, crept up trouser hems and down odd socks. This gradual dampening weighed heavily on the twilight homegoers; the cold draped itself over their heavy and wordless tempers, which they conspicuously let each other in on with pursing of lips and twitchy scowling and misty sighing. Then some, having exhausted their displeasure, began to turn to the smartphones nestled warm in their breast pockets. Soon tinny soundbursts from cheap earphones ticked beneath the grumble of the station. These lifeless distractions offered the only escape to be found whilst they waited; alone they could each replace the susurrus, pitter-patter, creeping moisture, tails of cigarette smoke, sweaty press of the ranks, with their mindless music and their distant friends’ abbreviated witterings.

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again. For little more than a minute there he had been able to separate himself from what was around him and had simply spoken, listened to someone who was elsewhere. This in itself – to engage just that one sense with a different world from his own – had more than sufficed to make him forget, for those eighty seconds, the stagnant carriage with the bleak scenes that the whitening panorama outside projected onto the train window, like a documentary film of an unreachable and extraordinary country. The biting wind and snow did seem to him a world away, though they were really separated by a few centimetres, because all he could do was to watch them pass, a vista ticking by him. Perhaps that was why home itself seemed an age away – because on one side of him, the same stench of stale sweat was hanging in the still air, the same chugging and rocking trundled on, interlaced with sighs and shifting of coats; the same people glanced and pretended not to and buried themselves in the same books, and on the other side blurred hedgerow fell away to indistinguishable fields and lakes in the distance. He wanted to reach out, feel the change, not to sit unmoved and waiting for something to happen but to discover that they were really moving homewards; and as his thoughts fell on home again his eyes stopped tracking the horizon, beginning to close once more. *** This time it was the judder and hiss of the train that woke him. A slight forward pull on his weight told him that they were definitely slowing down. The shared breath of the passengers had steamed up his window whilst he slept, so he dragged his coat over his hand and soaked up their sighs with a grimace, in order to steal a final glance through his window.

Sure enough, he could recognise familiar outlines, of the factories and high-rises that crescendoed into the busily built up centre of his home town. The carriage’s load released a collective groan – seats and spines and stretches – and suddenly the big lady opposite’s coat was dangling in his face as she strained for her suitcase above; the elbow in his side was gone; the resolute silence was replaced by a shuffling susurration.

For the first time that journey he relaxed his body, slumping into the hard seat, his head loose on his chest. The train had by now stopped and was spilling out its passengers into the humid chill of the closing night. His carriage was emptying. He looked at the weary platform, swarming with commuters on their last legs. He thought of crumpling through the door of his flat, his wife’s arms, a cold meal and the ergonomic office chair in which he would spend his evening; and of the bustling walk home, wet socks and cold hands. And he did not move a muscle.

The Airman Benjamin Plumer

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s a child, he’d always been interested in the sky. When he was younger he used to run around, pretending to be free of all of his problems that were binding him to the earth. He used to watch the hawks that were in the surrounding countryside; the young boy watched them in awe as, with one graceful, almost lazy sweep of their huge wings, they stalked their prey. How he wished that he could be a hawk, able to escape from all he’d ever feared, never bothered by anything, just being watched by boys like him, fascinated by his agility. If only he could fly.

And then, he got a letter in the post. It was embellished with the French military emblem; he slit it open with trepidation. Was it a promotion? A posting to a different country? Inside was a single, neatly typed letter.

A couple of months had passed, and he was getting more and more depressed.

There was no point in his life, no goal. Then a friend mentioned a new type of plane, an Anglo-French project. It was rumoured to be the fastest plane ever made, and ever likely to be made. He wasn’t exactly enthralled; he had heard that many times, but it was when the friend started to talk about Air France wanting experienced pilots that really set the alarm bells ringing. This new plane was known as Concorde.

And boy, did the plane live up to its billing. It took the media by storm.

Everyone wanted to be on the new Concorde: celebrities, film makers, everyone.

And he was part of it. Even though he was a very experienced pilot, it didn’t stop him from having a nervous feeling and sweaty palms; this aircraft was special. He was a veteran as far as Concorde pilots were concerned. He now felt revitalised, a new man, again he felt wanted.

So, that is how he found himself sitting at the controls of the Concorde at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, one hour behind schedule, waiting to taxi. The date was 25 July 2000.

‘Air France Flight 4590, you are cleared for take-off.’

‘Roger.’

That was the last word he ever spoke to anyone outside the plane.

He was just living the dream.

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He read it once, then twice; surely some mistake. It was a letter thanking him for his service with the French Air Force, and that he was no longer needed. How cold those words felt. After all he’d given to the French, helping train and guide new pilots, and what had they given him, a minimum armed forces pension.

He felt like he had been dumped by his own country. What could he do now?

Everything he had ever done, or dreamed of doing surrounded his beloved aircraft. Now he had nothing, and no way of getting out of this downward spiral.

He tried many things to get out of his depression, but retirement just didn’t cut it for him. His wife tried to get him hooked on things he should have been hooked on. It seemed too boring for a man like him. What could he do? Soon he had nothing left. All of his life he’d had a purpose, and now he didn’t like it one bit.

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So it only seemed right that, when the chance arose, he joined the Air Force, doing his bit for his country. How proud his parents were of him in his smart uniform. He never saw active service, but that was fine by him; all that mattered was that he was up in the sky, away from the bustling epicentre that was Planet Earth. He marvelled at the planes, how high they could go, almost like the same hawks he used to watch when he was younger. He was one of the most coveted pilots the French had the pleasure of calling their own. He was just living his dream.

Falling Man Euan Wallace

Down, he plummets, Plummets with a people, a world, With the thousands of eyes that follow him, And the tears that fall silent beneath the ash, He falls with the names of so many, And the memories of so few,

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He falls with the setting of the sun, With the ending of a date not forgotten, He falls with religion into conflict, And with creed into question, He falls with those who tumble with him, With those who wish they had, He falls with the words on a headstone, With his shimmering reflection in the past, He falls with glass and metal and concrete, And lands heavier than all three, He falls with the towers, And the years spent looking back, He falls graceful, elegant, As silence across the world.

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Happy Landings Andrew Grant

My old school song was long on sentiment And imagery of ports and parting ships, Of long white roads and blue remembered hills And settings-forth with manly, proud intent.

That’s not the modern way; you’re swifter now.

Your boarding pass was printed months ago.

Check-in, a vast hall where, in seated queues You entered your credentials in a row, A stressful memory since you’ve reached the gate In the departure lounge. Baggage you’re bound to lose, So better left behind. The pause is brief before The taxi to the runway, where you wait; A rising scream of energy held checked By air traffic control till cleared to go.

Then that gigantic shove: slung skyward by A mighty palm that pinions your neck; Then glimpses of familiar fields and roads At crazy angles, dropping far below And then the stillness of enormous speed Through empty air As all responsibility unloads.

Nothing so safe as flying: here there are No rocks, sandbanks or icebergs to deter Your flight across the summer ocean. No, It’s getting down again will make or mar.

No reverse gear, either, one month in Above the August archipelago – One atoll for each traveller – if you’re Not cleared to land you can’t fly back again.

Then, on the horizon’s line materialise The gleaming spires of famed Atlantis’s October shore, which no two travellers see the same, While, in the purple haze beyond, you recognise The fabled El Dorado’s golden gleam.

You’re banking on a smooth final descent And, wondering if your fellow travellers are As apprehensive as you strangely seem, You look around, and can’t believe it’s true; How could you not have noticed it before?

The ground’s approaching quickly and your plane’s A single-seater, single- engined…

And the pilot’s you.

Moon

Ben Hemsi

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his is the most incredible feeling I have ever felt. The feeling of complete awe, total isolation and absolute peace is simply impossible to explain. It takes over your body like a tsunami engulfing its poor, unexpecting shore. I knew what was out here but whatever training and lessons I had been through couldn’t prepare me for the real experience.

The sheer vastness of the place is outstanding to behold. The grey, rocky surface seems never ending as it disappears into the distance. Greater still is the infinite void engulfing this surface. This endless darkness that surrounds everything possesses a depth of black, which is as if it was its own solid object. The eerie quietness spreads itself across the whole landscape and inhabits everywhere to be seen. There is an absolute stillness as if the surroundings were in fact merely a picture, frozen in time. This creates the perfect serenity which cannot be matched anywhere on earth.

We start collecting samples of the moon rocks which lay at our feet.

With great care we loaded our precious pieces into our specific bags. These rocks also offer interest in this already fascinating environment. I can feel myself treating these small bits of dirt as if they themselves were living beings.

There is, however, no life on this barren landscape. It offers no signs of busyness.

The moon is the complete opposite; it is an example of total tranquillity.

Nothing comes close to this unchanged environment in terms of absolute peacefulness. As we finish gathering in our special rocks we return to the lunar module. It sticks out from the rest of its surroundings.

It looks unnatural and strange in this otherworldly atmosphere. It is complicated and technical in this place which is plain simplicity. It reminds me of the work and world I came from as I drift off to a separate universe.

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“This is phenomenal,” I say to myself as I stare in awe of my surroundings. My daze, however, doesn’t last long as I am quickly reminded by my partner Buzz Aldrin that we have a purpose of being out here. I set off and as I do I am struck by another feeling; the feeling of weightlessness. It is as if I am floating over the ground. The experience is magical. Like nothing I have ever encountered before.

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I also find immense calm. Looking at the earth, the blue planet, the home to mankind, brings me a sensation that nothing else can even come close to. I have never witnessed such beauty. I find looking at it simply inspirational. It seems so delicate and yet so intricate. It is the purest and most wonderful object I have ever laid my eyes on. In this dark and supposedly dangerous atmosphere, I feel the earth being clean and full of life.

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Drama

Love on the Barricades Les Mis – perhaps the most ambitious production so far When Director Chris Bhantoa decided on Les Misérables as the first school musical production in a number of years, he took on quite a challenge. Not only is it the world’s longest running musical, much beloved by audiences across the globe, but it also has a notoriously complex score, requires very elaborate staging, and has a plot which spans 17 years.

It was, however, the balance of individual talent with the commitment to the ensemble of all of the performers which was so striking.

Every actor on stage seemed to be living the scene and, as the production continued, this sense only got stronger. The revolving stage was used brilliantly to convey Valjean’s journey from ex-criminal on parole to Mayor of Monteil-sur-Mer, with Chris Oates giving a convincing and very natural performance as the Bishop of Digne who shows Valjean a kindness he has not previously known.

Throughout the rest of the first

Young Cosette’s innocence was captured wonderfully by Olivia Hardy, with her sister Harriet Hardy managing to be both charming and smug as Young Eponine. As the plot moves swiftly on, we meet Cosette and Eponine as young Along the way, there were a women, but now the tables have number of exceptional individual turned and it is Cosette who is on performances. Trudy Cammack was top. Emily Anderson gave a captivatexcellent as the ing performance as the feisty yet long-suffering lovelorn Eponine; every line was there were a number Fantine, captur- sung with raw emotion and her of exceptional individual ing both her death in the second act was one performances sadness and her of the most moving moments of inner strength. the play. Amy Hobbs’ was a truly Shaahin Shabbak was brilliantly gruff lovely Cosette, and her love scenes as the factory foreman and Isobel with Stephen Baldwin’s effortlessly Batchelor was charismatic as one charming Marius were flawlessly of the factory workers responsible harmonious. for Fantine being wrongfully sacked.

Ben Harrison was a convincing Jem Bosatta, Matthew Armitage and leader of the students and he perCallum McClafferty were suitably fectly captured Enjolras’ unwavering seedy as customers of the ‘Lovely belief in the revolution perfectly.

Ladies’, and Harriet Murphy, Isobel Tom Ling (who also gave a superb Maclean and Amelia Brooks played understudy performance as Valjean) their roles with poise, convincing was a watchable and Fantine to take to their trade. funny Grantaire, George Rutledge and Becca and Krishan Sandler were a superb doubleSoni (a act as the grotesquely comic worthy innkeeper and his wife. Rutledge’s understudy droll, lethargic Thenadier (perhaps inspired by Johnny Depp’s Jack

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As soon as the opening chords were struck, it was clear that this was going to be a bold and professional production. Through dim lights and swirling smoke, the first ensemble emerged as the men of the Toulon Prison chain-gang, enthralling the audience through their powerful vocals and strong choreography, which conveyed with striking intensity the anguish of these ‘criminals’. Christian Bevan and Rob Brooks were immediately engaging as the heartless man of fixed justice, Inspector Javert, and the tormented prisoner Jean Valjean, establishing the rivalry between their characters which drives the rest of the plot.

Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean) was a perfect counter to Sadler’s outrageously garish Mme Thenadier, offering a fresh take on an age old concept.

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Yet he and Musical Director Mick Stout were apparently unfazed.

Over the course of almost a year, they worked tirelessly with a dedicated cast of performers and musicians to produce a visually stunning and musically outstanding show, which brought new life to its well-known songs and fresh spirit to all of its characters.

Act, each scene and emotion was conjured with impressive vitality, from the pitiless gossip of the women at Valjean’s factory and the sordid, rather chilling world of ‘Lovely Ladies’, to the hilarious sham of M and Mme Thenadier’s inn and the pure yet naïve revolutionary fervour of the students. All of the performers must be credited for the diversity of their talents and unwavering energy.

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for Javert) and Daniel Pittal were excellent as two of the other students, Feuilly and Prouvaire. The fact that the performers themselves were young men of around the right age for war meant that the students’ scenes took on an unexpected resonance and were surprisingly moving.

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This was especially potent in the second act, when the barricades turn from a place of hope to a place of death and despair, while the men fall one by one. It was, however, the death of the young Gavroche which was the most poignant. Played on alternate nights

by Adam Annis and William Foxton, both gave assured performances, capturing the audience’s affection with their cheeky style and leaving the audience in a stunned silence as Gavroche collapses against the

barricade, still singing out with his last breath.

managed to make the ending of the play stirring and uplifting rather than depressing. With the whole Throughout all of this, Christian cast coming together for the final Bevan and Rob Brooks must again reprise of ‘Do You Hear The People be credited with outstanding perSing’, the audience was reminded formances. Every one of their conof the ambition of the endeavour, flicts was full of drama and tension. and, as Musical Director Mick Stout Having played let his baton fall for the first time Javert’s remorsein over three hours, one was left one was left in awe at lessness with in awe at the magnificence of the the magnificence of the such conviction achievement. achievement throughout the This feeling of unity which the end production, his of the play inspires seems to have sudden crisis of confidence and been a motivating force for the suicide was incredibly powerful.

The exceptional quality of Brooks’ entire production. From the orvoice meant that he was at his best chestra and choir to the technical when simply singing, and it was his and production teams, all of which emotional performance of ‘Bring included varying combinations of staff, students and professionHim Home’ that stood out above als, there was a real sense that all others. everyone was valued equally and Despite the fullness of feeling in was similarly committed. The cast the second act, however, the cast

RJB

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was ably assisted by a wonderful orchestra, which nobly rose to the challenging score and executed it perfectly, allowing the cast to sing with perfect confidence in their accompaniment. Director Chris Bhantoa and Musical Director Mick Stout must both be praised for not only getting such heartfelt and faultless performances from every single performer and musician, but for having the vision to see through a production on such an epic scale. Whilst the students’ uprising may have failed, there has been a successful revolution at St Albans’ School to a new scale of theatrical production which we hope will come again ‘One Day More’.

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Style and Talent Scandal, thieves and lunacy in the Third Form plays What a fantastic evening we had back in October when a packed out New Place showcased the playwriting, acting and directing talents of the current Third Form.

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The Gamble showed that the boys possessed a worryingly strong knowledge of poker. A sharp still-image opened proceedings inventively. This play used flashbacks to show how fortune can change on the single flick of a card.

Strong ensemble playing with good cast discipline and well developed characterisations from Emmanuel Mante and a ‘dodgy’ Jeevun Singh got us off to a confident start.

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Evidence was next up and the energetic opening allowed for high levels of tension to be created straight away with the discovery of a dead body. Lots of double-crossing and carefully plotted secrets got the audience on the edge of their seats. There was a lovely twist at the end with the policemen killing each other. This play seemed to be inspired by Homeland and Spooks (get to bed earlier, please boys!). A highlight of this production was a detailed and committed performance from Ross Ferreira.

The first half concluded with False Blue that examined the fine line between madness and sanity. This had a highly original start, which showed great commitment from a talented ensemble. The contrast between reality and the fantasy worlds that they created was both subtle and original. The characters were almost too well established in the asylum scene. The acting was truthful throughout and the stage fighting was highly entertaining. This play showed two particularly strong performances from a spontaneous Adam Annis and a highly focused Jonny Ascott.

performance and James Lambert was very believable in his role.

A change of style followed as we jumped aboard for a Mystical Boat Trip. This group produced an odd and rather brilliant bit of Pythonesque slapstick. An excellent introduction led in to an irreverent production that had a sophisticated understanding of how humour communicates to an audience.

Cross-dressing, non sequiturs and plenty of inspired plotless lunacy led to a production that could have given the Mighty Boosh a run for its money. It was as subtle as it was silly and the Joker-in-Chief of all this craziness was a quite inspired James Thornham who was leant strong support from Theo Reback and the rest of this deranged crew.

The Marmite Thief was a play that you were going to either love or hate and I loved it. An excellent opening tableau led to a witty and highly creative production based on the plausible idea that Marmite could control all of our minds.

This was humorous and brave After a welcome glass of St Albans throughout and there were even School red wine during the interval, moments of political satire. The Scandal got the second half underacting and directing was uniformly way. This production used sound excellent with Ed Holtom giving a and lighting to good effect. They wonderfully under-stated performhad found a highly inventive way of ance and Michael Davies showing showing the race that led to the superb comic timing and a strong scandal and tension was strongly understanding of how to work an built up throughout. Thought trackaudience. ing was used imaginatively and they This was a greatly enjoyable night included a witty pastiche of the of varied and polished theatre.

Rocky film. This was a well-structured play that held the audience’s Miss Bruton, Mr Bhantoa and Miss attention throughout and the story Baxter must be delighted that the next generation of Dramatists are came full circle by the end. Tom Goldstone gave a highly naturalistic already showing such promise.

DS

Bedlam with Berkoff AS students tackle a raw theatrical style Steven Berkoff’s innovative theatre returned to the New Place stage in a superb display by this year’s AS Level Drama students. The first performance was of Berkoff’s version of Franz Kafka’s The Trial, and the second his reworking of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, though for one not acquainted with Berkoff’s style, the voices of the original authors were not easy to

identify. Bold characterisation and vivid physical theatre were the main features of that evening, the group’s last performance before the examination the next day.

bling lightning-quick switches of persona; one minute an officer, next minute a table; Greg Reynolds’ and Molly Vickers’ caricatured voices as part of a telephone cable stand out in my memory. Equally delightful were the cast’s combined efforts to create the atmosphere of a busy town square, a commuter train, or perhaps a room full of aroused furniture – special mention here goes to Michaela Diamondi and Charlie Leslie.

Their characterisation was unique and hilarious. All actors had their faces covered in white mask-like makeup, ena-

However it is not quite fair to single out any individual moment from the evening’s duo of fluent and absorbing performances, in which the casts moved in stunningly precise unison, using skills that transcended the straightforward meaning of ‘acting’ – pretending to be someone else – to introduce a new, surreal realm of theatre to the bewildered and dazzled audience.

Jem Bosatta

Scenes from Agamemnon (main picture) and The Trial (right)

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If the plot of The Trial was a tricky one to follow, that of Agamemnon was even more so. The hypnotic movements of the masked actors in white challenged the audience’s preconceptions of linear narrative and naturalist theatre. As each cast member took command of the continuous narration, the dance of the ensemble created before us shocking yet fascinating scenes of cannibalism and incest as detailed in Aeschylus’ ancient Greek play.

The starkest moment was perhaps Billy Dawson’s simulation of eating Becca Sandler’s tongue, or Callum McCormick being literally thrown across the stage by Myles Ekanem, Joe Eastham and Tom Willis.

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High-tempo and full of energy, Berkoff’s adaptations of these works are as enthralling as they are bizarre. The Trial is based on a philosophical novella in which Josef K is arrested without explanation or apparent cause. The play began with slick double-acts from Becky Cousins and Sophie Turner, creepy and sinister agents of the mysterious State, and James Duke-Smith and Jake Yeboa who between them took the main role.

Double Edged Sword

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Lower School Drama Club

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The heat shimmered in the air as the two rival ‘armies’ met and ferociously engaged. And so, to the sound of blood curdling screams, the slaughter commenced. The colours blue and red marked out the two opposing forces as weaponry was ruthlessly wielded and clashed and clanged: the ‘steel’ glinted in the sunlight, as the rival forces’ swords and knives hacked down and remorselessly met their target. Much blood was spilt and many were the cries of agony as the wounded participants expired where they fell.

A summer afternoon at St Albans School? Why was this gore fest taking place here? What was it about? Had a battle from the terraces been relocated to St Albans School’s amphitheatre via a social networking site? Was this an all too real enactment of the total breakdown of law and order in twentyfirst century British society?

The drama dealt with the abduction of Helen, fetchingly played by Sam Burns, and the subsequent reprisal taken by the Greeks. The mood of the Greeks, there to exact revenge, salvage honour and bring retribution onto the heads and bodies of the recalcitrant Trojans, was brought vividly to life. David Groves, playing the hapless Patroclus, was killed while masquerading as his friend Achilles. Tommy

Fortunately not. Helmets, costumes and swords hinted at a different era and the names of the participants confirmed this. Phew! It was, of course, the ever inventive Lower School Drama Club’s annual production, wherein pupils gave their audience a dramatically new and energetic take on the final days of the battle for Troy, derived from Homer’s Iliad.

It was in fact a real pleasure to witness the opening performance of Troy 24, set appropriately, given the content, in the School’s amphitheatre. Even the weather cooperated, with the long overdue arrival of warm, balmy conditions, heralding the long hoped for arrival of summer at last. (As it transpired, meteorologically, this augured well for the future.)

The set provided just the right backdrop for the unfolding drama of the battle for Troy, as related by

mentary on the unfolding story and led the team. A clear exposition for the context of the ten year long battle over Troy was provided. Able support came from the ‘expert’ commentator, Professor Omeros,

the 24 hour rolling news service run by Olympus Broadcasting.

Flaming torches lit the ‘studio’ and two monitors were positioned on either side of the performance area. These, together with the atmospheric hustle and bustle of a newsroom, ably portrayed by newsreaders and commentators, gave the right touch. The reporting of vital updates was heralded by a characteristic and dramatic musical drumbeat. Disagreements and verbal conflict in the newsroom ensured an effective and very often humorous counterpoint to the physical conflict at the site of battle, the latter enacted at the front of the performance area.

A moment of lifeor-death tension in Troy 24 (above) and Will Foxton’s smooth talking news presenter (below)

played by Felix Sutcliffe, whose hand gestures were eerily reminiscent of those used by former Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Cameron Furley played the much-maligned weather forecaster, Iris. He appeared to be held personally responsible for the storm which he forecast and which was to cause a hitch in sound transmission. Of the two embedded reporters in the field, Noah Arthur-Tinworth and Conor McGuigan, who provided exclusives for the news desk, one was to meet a sudden and untimely end at the hands of a band of suspicious warriors. Will Drake played the ruthless Boss of Olympus Broadcasting with sinister, Machiavellian conviction, providing a clear parallel to contemporary media moguls.

This was a fine entertainment. It was educational in content and delightfully amusing and lucid in delivery. After Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected last year and the Battle for Troy this year, one can only speculate and wait with anticipation as to the location, setting and timespan of next year’s production.

Caffery playing the seemingly invincible Achilles then vowed bloodthirsty revenge. For the Trojans, spirited performances came from Leo Wing playing Hector, Lorenzo Razzano as Paris and Ken Adigwe as Aeneas.

Back in the newsroom, Will Foxton and Gustav Brincat provided com-

Most of the proceeds from ticket and drink sales from this production have been donated to the School’s own Banana Tree Project, established in 2006. This project specifically provides funds to help orphans and street children in Mwanza, Tanzania get an education.

JMG

Swinesong Last act from unforgettable Upper Sixth It was Wednesday 13th March, and an assortment of forty friends and family took their seats, in the black upstairs room of New Place.

They were told the play was Pigs, and that it was devised, rehearsed and performed by the students.

They did not know that they would leave the building blessed eternally with the memory of Rob Brown in a purple print dress. They had no idea that they would never look at Tom Ling again without seeing that long blonde wig. Whatever they or I expected to see, it was certainly not this.

Jem Bosatta

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Drama

The students stayed true to the spirit of Dahl, brewing together the brutal, the inappropriate and the hilarious to deliver a performance of delightful ingenuity. I laughed at many moments in a guilty sort of way, thinking that a) I doubt Roald Dahl had written that and b) I wouldn’t want my grandmother to

The comedy acting was superb, particularly in the way that the cast would shrug off characters like old coats and emerge in a new role, just as convincing as the last, without even changing costume Rob Brooks made a superb spinster or leaving the stage. The physical theatre was just as impressive; Ben Harrison’s grumpy butter churner was a personal favourite, though the most technically outstanding feature was perhaps the slick choreography sequence of the abattoir, a whole-cast effort. This was so well worked that it seems a shame to only perform it three times, but that is the nature of the beast.

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Pigs is an adaptation of the Roald Dahl short story of the same name.

It revolves around a naïve young boy who grew up in the mountains, an avatar of Voltaire’s innocent and illusioned character Candide.

The Pangloss of the story is the vegetarian spinster Aunt Glosspan, who brings up the boy after he is orphaned. When she dies, he is left to make his way in the big wide world as a prodigious chef. His first encounter with meat is a pork chop at a greasy spoon. When its chef tells him that it might be made of human flesh, his boyish curiosity leads to the slaughterhouse.

see it. It was certainly disturbing, not only seeing Izzy Batchelor’s brutal slaughter by Matt Armitage, but the message too – I can’t bring myself to use ‘moral’ – which warned against either optimism, conformism or vegetarianism.

Tom Ling, above, and Izzy Batchelor, below, show their true colours

Trajan v Churchill Prize-winning Classics essay

Features

Charlie Oliver won First Prize in the Jowett-Sendelar Essay Competition, a national Classics essay writing competition.

There were 226 entries from top schools in the country. His essay task was to select one of the Roman emperors and one leader from the 20th or 21st centuries and discuss which of the two should be regarded as the more successful leader.

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The judges wrote the following: ‘Charlie Oliver was a worthy overall winner. His essay delightfully described an afterlife debate between Trajan and Churchill on their respective leadership qualities.The cut and thrust of debating was dramatically portrayed as both men engaged in a progressively more intense (but civilized) discussion of who was the better leader during his lifetime. Deft visual details complemented the dialogue (eg Trajan standing imposingly in his chariot of wheels of gold, Churchill cleaning his dusty spectacles but showing his indomitable British bulldog spirit,Trajan’s nod of respect to Churchill as he leaves) and, although Trajan eventually prevailed, the essay provided a deep and very enjoyable appreciation of the leadership qualities of both men.’

Powerful Leaders Charlie Oliver

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n the midst of Purgatory, a chariot raced across the horizon.

Its golden wheels seemed ablaze with fire and it appeared the rider himself was alight. As the chariot drew nearer, its path was blocked by a figure, forcing the chariot to pull up sharply, just centimetres from a man in a pin stripe suit and top hat. The Roman descended from his chariot, face raging with indignation at the challenge to his right of way.

The chariot had not been obstructed by a mighty warlord, but by a short chubby fellow who was holding a lit cigar in his right hand, whilst cleaning his spectacles on his dusty shirt with his left. In his eyes was the unmistakable look of ambition and, more importantly, success.

The Roman, dressed in shining battle armour, descended quickly from his mechanism roaring: ‘Who dares to challenge the greatest leader and war hero, Emperor

Trajan.’ To which the challenger replied confidently, ‘The victor of the greatest wars on earth, Winston Churchill.’

Trajan, stunned by this reply, was more used to his opponents crumbling at his very appearance, but he quickly regained composure demanding, ‘Enlighten me to these Greatest Wars on Earth’. Winston had already predicted Trajan’s interest, aware that he too was a war addict, and responded, ‘The Great War to end all wars that began in 1914 and a second that stretched on for six years between 1939 to 1945; both with the title of World War.’ ‘I see, and were these World Wars your only successes, or did you win hundreds of battles like me? Do tell me, how many have you have slain with your bare hands?’

‘I do not kill myself, but motivate others to do so with my mind and my words’. Trajan took a second to digest this information then looked in disgust at Winston.

‘Are you telling me you use other men to do your dirty work? Hardly a sign of greatness,’ said Trajan, looking pleased with his retort.

Winston was not fazed and had no problem responding, ‘These men chose to fight for me and their country, after listening to my speeches which brought an entire nation through the war. People trusted and honoured me as the successful leader I was.’

‘The people in your era must have been brainwashed then, I had to work my way up the ranks as a soldier.’ When it came to war. An area of expertise for Trajan, he did not believe Churchill could consider himself worthy by comparison.

‘I distinguished myself in military service, was elected to the vingintivirate at 17 and had my lactclave

commission by the age of 23. My military prowess was unquestionable with victories from Syria to the Rhine. My very name was said to strike terror into the hearts of the Parthians.

and more successful leader because I gained respect from my men. Pliny even wrote in the Panegyricus how keen I was to learn everything I could from those I commanded.’

Reflecting for a moment, Winston continued by highlighting his part in World War Two, which he considered his greatest success.

‘I also take credit for warning Neville Chamberlain about the danger of Appeasement and the need for early conscription, to be ready for that slippery fellow Hitler.

Later as Prime Minister, in the dark days when Britain stood alone, I promised never to negotiate with the Nazis.

Against all the odds, I guided my country and the whole of the free world to victory.’

Trajan was not to be outdone and swiftly remarked, ‘I was the greater

the First World War because I personally ensured our fleet was ready. did you use their resources wisely as I did?’ Trajan went on to reveal his leadership qualities of great intelligence and vision, explaining how he had controlled newly conquered lands by building stone forts and ensured strong communication links by laying roads.

‘For example Winston, I was responsible for the

If Trajan was impressed he didn’t show it, but continued, ‘I was equally as popular and successful as a leader in peacetime because I had a strong moral code. I made it my business to get rid of corruption by introducing secret ballots to appoint magistrates; abolishing ‘delatores’, who were paid informers, and banning the rude ‘Ludi Scaenici’ plays which lowered public morality.

However enough of my successes, I was not a vain or proud Emperor, I insisted my statue was cast in mere bronze; you must tell me more of your achievements’.

A sly smile spread across Trajan’s lips, ‘Come to think of it, I seem to recall hearing you dealt unfairly with the Suffragettes, and someone called Mrs Pankhurst said you lacked ‘Humanitarian vision’. Isn’t it true you even turned army tanks on your own people, when they asked for higher wages during the General Strike? Hardly the mark of a great leader!’

Churchill was not easily silenced and quickly responded, ‘I have passed more laws to improve my country’s social welfare than you

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‘Preparation is everything Trajan; I am convinced we won the First World War because I personally ensured our fleet was ready.

If it’s courage you think makes a successful leader let’s not forget my bravery as a young man at the last ever British cavalry charge at Omdurman or my escape from the Boers in South Africa, which made me a national hero.’

Churchill’s response was equally impressive, ‘if you wish to define true success as ‘seeing the value in others’, you cannot ignore the fact I persuaded the President of the United States to sign the lend lease agreement and practically finance our war. Good relations with Roosevelt secured food, fuel and munitions; a vital lifeline that we would not have survived without.

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However Winston, getting swept away with pride, recalled his countrymen’s affection for him during the Second World War, when his rousing speeches motivated an entire nation to believe it could win. ‘I offered nothing but blood, sweat and tears but also gave the British Empire its finest hour in a thousand years. Neville described Trajan was not aware that Winston my character as mercurial. Doesn’t had also tasted defeat in a previthat make me more like a Roman ous war after his plan to attack God than just a mere Emperor?’

Germany’s ally Turkey through the Dardanelles had resulted in the ‘Successful leaders do more than slaughter of 42,000 allied troops at win battles, Winston. Did you apGallipoli. Instead Winston focused preciate the territories you gained; on his triumph during his time as Lord of the Admiralty, when he Preparation is everything modernised the fleet and founded Trajan; I am convinced we won the Royal Navy Air Corp.

Winston was genuinely impressed by this claim, but kept a stern face revealing no appreciation to Trajan.

Rather he commented smugly how he recalled from history lessons at Harrow that Trajan’s battle against the Parthians had not resulted in the victory Trajan had implied.

Stanegate line in your country. I recognised that all our Provinces had greater worth than just the glory of conquest, if they were treated fairly and accepted ‘Romanisation’. I ensured overall control but allowed the existing order to remain ‑ providing they accepted ‘civitas’. I had the foresight to realise the significance of good relationships with other nations and reconstructed the port at Ostia to ensure trade with the rest of the world. I also invented the very idea ‘Imperium,’ the deliberate policy of trading with other nations.’

Features

have won military campaigns. It was I who introduced the minimum wage, and set up labour exchanges which heralded the birth of the modern welfare state’.

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Trajan allowed his opponent to finish his moment in the spotlight before replying, ‘True, great leaders listen and provide for their people; which is why I had introduced a welfare programme centuries before you, with the ‘Alimenta’ or poor laws. I stopped the practice of aborting unwanted babies; I gave adopted children rights to their inheritance, and introduced the first step to citizenship of Rome.

I even increased grain production so more bakeries could open in Rome to feed my people. Not such a half-baked idea if you pardon the pun! When those in the Province of Egypt were starving I even distributed grain to them.’

the torture of slaves. My control of government was liberal, and I insisted the Senate’s dealings were open for all to see. I even allowed public criticism of my plans without fear of death.

‘Also if it’s reputation you wish to challenge, perhaps you could explain my title of ‘Optimus Princeps’, the best of leaders. Even Pope Gregory prayed for my soul to be saved because I was considered a worthy man, despite being a pagan. Long after my death another great Emperor called Constantine said that even the Gods admired my Arch. Did you realise it was me who first had ‘SPQR’ stamped on Roman coins, Suddenly Churchill’s eyes began to because I was twinkle. ‘Successful leaders must the first Emperor demonstrate strong justice and to unite the honesty in politics, fields for which I Senate with their was renowned. As Home Secretary Emperor?’ in 1910, I introduced the Prison Reform Act, improving the conditions inside prisons and setting up the first rehabilitation programme to help offenders on their return to society. I was fully aware a great leader needs compassion as much as resolve. I stood firm on matters of principle, even when it meant changing my political allegiance in the early days. Later as Prime Minister I ensured democracy reigned and during the war I still insisted on full public debates regarding its progress. My policy to stand firm against Russia’s advances after the war gained me Churchrespect on the World stage. Great ill had been success requires a great reputation made a Trajan, and I don’t think you can Knight beat mine.’ of the Garter and an At this Trajan found it hard to honorary contain himself as he announced, American ‘I was the Father of your modern citizen, Justice System; I enforced the and was right to a fair trial and stopped awarded a

State funeral, yet he was beginning to feel dejected when faced with Trajan’s accomplishments. However, his indomitable British bulldog spirit was not completely crushed and he decided to try one last time.

‘Successful leaders also require brilliant minds, not just an ability to understand military tactics. I won a Nobel prize for literature, I understood the value of the radar system which gave us vital warning time during the war and I insisted on evacuating children so civilian lives would be saved.’

However Trajan sensed victory,. It seemed his opponent was now clutching at straws. ‘if it’s a list of trivial points, I could bore you for hours about the libraries I commissioned; my reorganisation of the Imperial mint so the Empire’s finances were secured; my completion of the Via Appia or building of the Aqua Triaiana, Forum and Basilica. However I think you will agree Mr Churchill, a truly successful leader must achieve significantly more.’

As he climbed back into his chariot Trajan summed up the reason he knew he was the more successful leader. He quoted lines from Dio Chrysostom, the philosopher, who had described him many years before; ‘A brave ruler, a law abiding one, with high courage and a high sense of right.’

‘I think we have agreed that my successful leadership laid the foundations for much of the civilized world that we see before us today; you merely continued that same tradition and therefore I am unquestionably superior to you.’

With a nod of respect that acknowledged Churchill’s great qualities, Trajan concluded, ‘It has been an interesting exchange of views, Mr Churchill. I look forward to the next time our paths cross.’ And with that the chariot, with wheels blazing, sped away as if being driven by a Roman God.

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Dukes

Top Tips for Successful Expeditioning DofE Gold survival

Dukes

Been there; done that; back for more. I thought I’d seen the back of those grubby, soggy, craggy hills when I traipsed into the minibus after four of the wettest days of my life, glowing inwardly and groaning outwardly at having finally completed my Silver Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. A number of writers over the years have gushed about the stunning natural beauty of the bleakness of those hills. I suppose they are beautiful, in the way that a farmer might call the lamb-birthing season beautiful; only with the luxury of hindsight.

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Each expedition group has to create an expedition aim and achieve it. A less ambitious example that my own group chose was litter-counting, which goes to show that it can be considered a bit of a chore; on the other hand a group from a couple of years ago opted for a Lord-of-the-Rings-esque short film of their experience. Tip four: the expedition aim is great fun if you get it right. We decided ing through the soggy Welsh hills would have its own merit apart from looking good on a CV. Writing this now, having only yesterday emerged from my last ever expedition (a sad thought) I feel experienced and intrepid, at one with the hills, entwined with Nature’s heartstrings; ready to take over as the new Bear Grylls.

But it was not reluctantly that I returned. I was even quite enthused, mostly by the prospect of a triple portion of pasta every night (with beef jerky, of course) but also anticipating the kind of camaraderie that I came to expect from these outings. My group and I had done well in the practice expedition in Snowdonia which came with the pleasant surprise of warm showers (advice for future explorers – it’s safest not to expect much in facilities) and the slightly less pleasant surprise of midge storms. Buoyant despite our bulging backpacks, we swaggered into school (as far as that is possible at six in the morning).

I’d like to say that we were kitted out for all weather. I’m sure the others in my group were, but I managed to misplace my jumper before we’d even reached Wales and I soon found out that it had been my only jumper. They say there’s always one, and that one is always me. Tip number two: bring a jumper. I thought it was obvious too. The first three days were mercifully warm and I got by very comfortably with just two layers.

But I’m not just going to write about the weather, so here goes; we walked. We walked a lot. We walked and walked and sunbathed and played cricket (with our feet) and laughed and ate and tiptoed around sheep; walked some more, ate some more and didn’t stop eating, which brings me to my third tip for my DofE hopefuls – to bring as much food as you need, then bring as much food as you want, and then bring more.

My parting thought is this: it boggles the mind that anyone would choose to miss out on the DofE expeditions.

Jem Bosatta

The joys of expedition training: midges, navigation and scrambling up mountains

to go out with a bang and create a ‘Top Trumps’ for all of the features of our expedition experience ever since the Silver practice. This meant cards for each of us, for some characters from other groups and then for the things closest to our hearts whilst out on the trip; a card for Midge and a card for Sheep. This expedition aim had the side-effect of being a great memento for all the highlights of all four expeditions.

On the whole, my expedition experience was a mixed bag, or maybe more like a lucky dip. Some days there was enough sun and enough time for a round of cards on the road, and other days we would straggle into the campsite and crawl into the tent as soon as it had been put up. At the worst times, it was character-forming; at the best times, it was unforgettable.

Before I signed up for the Silver award – back in year ten – I would never have imagined that trudg-

Gold Expedition Training in Snowdonia

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Dukes

Football Time in India An unusual residential project abroad 0515 – Alarm goes off.

0530 – Shower and cold slice of last night’s takeaway pizza for breakfast.

0535 – Leave apartment to walk to catch auto.

0540 – Catch auto.

0550 – Arrive at training ground.

0600 – Training starts.

Dukes

I can’t say it was something I was used to; neither can I say it was something I think should be implemented in grassroots football in the UK. But the 6 am training sessions on a Saturday morning were something I simply had to accept.

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second 60 minutes followed, this time more slowly, as the battery power on our numerous electronic devices faded, a devastating blow considering our desire to play ‘Football Manager’ and reluctance to be mature and read a book.

The 60 minutes then passed, with an additional 30 before anything was said, just for good measure.

We were then informed that our flight to Kerala had been cancelled.

Yikes. The only option we had was to head into Delhi for the evening and come back to the airport for a 6am flight the next morning – great fun. We were to wait to be issued tickets for tomorrow’s flight and these would “only take ten minutes, sir.” It was at this point, when the polite, smartly dressed and suitably flustered airport attendant informed me we would only have to wait ten minutes for our tickets, that I realised 10 minutes in India is not the same as 10 minutes in England. 10 minutes can, if they want to, take up 3 hours.

Coaching players from a different culture obviously came with difficulties, from struggling with name pronunciation to making sure my instructions were not given too literally – otherwise, they were taken too literally.

I took four more coaching sessions while in Delhi, two of which were held at 6 am at the weekend. With little sleep under my belt, and with these sessions requiring me to coach boys my own age, I was highly apprehensive. However, my apprehension was unnecessary. The level of respect the players had for their coach was something that worked in my favour and allowed me to deliver a strong session, which the boys seemed thoroughly to enjoy.

Having finished in Delhi, it was onto Agra and to visit the Taj Mahal. Our visit to the Taj Mahal was not something I expected to find challenging, but when asked by our hosts “When do you want to go and see Taj?” I was rather confused. I didn’t know who Taj was, or why I would want to go and see him. Having been given an uncharacteristically odd stare by my ever-hospitable host, I eventually realised who this mysterious ‘Taj’ was and duly went to visit the stunningly beautiful temple.

We were finally issued with our tickets and made it to Kerala for the wedding, finding time to visit the Backwaters and Kochi while we were there. We were hosted while in Kochi, experiencing for the first On my trip coaching football to The sights of India time the highly hospitable culture India, I was able to combine three snapped by Mike The kindness of practically everythat many Indian families adopt. sections of my Gold Duke of on his travels – the After this, we headed back to Delhi one we met in India really helped Edinburgh’s Award: my skill section, Duke of Edinburgh’s to get on with the football coaching. to make the trip so enjoyable, my volunteering and my residential Award can certainly having been taken to places by our After a day recuperating, my first section. I was based in New Delhi take you places… hosts that were untraditionally session was to be held on the for most of my stay, finding the ‘touristy’, so that we grasped a real Tuesday evening. Meticulously time to visit Kerala and Agra at the sense of the Indian culture. On the planned, wanting to make a good start and end of my trip. Our first other hand, taxi-drivers were more impression, I ran the U12 session task, having landed in New Delhi, than happy to discuss Premier on ‘Creating Space’ and much to was to catch a flight to Kerala to League football with us. my delight, it was well received visit a friend’s wedding that was with an extra training session being On returning to Delhi, we planned being held there. This was when to watch the apparently spectacular arranged at the request of the we enjoyed (I use the term lightly) Light and Sound show at the Red players. our first real experience of Indian Fort. After a short metro journey, timekeeping. auto ride and then walk, we Our flight, due to leave at 1400, we reached the Red Fort, a surprisingly were informed, had been delayed: quiet Red Fort considering this was “I’m sorry, sir, but your flight has meant to be a ‘sound’ show. After been delayed for 60 minutes.” some investigation we found out This wasn’t a huge deal, merely a that the Light and Sound show had small frustration. But when the 60 been cancelled that evening, with minutes had passed, we were, again, no reason given. But of course, this politely informed that our flight was India, so they hadn’t bothered had been delayed by a further 60 to tell anyone. minutes. Again, nothing too great Mike Slater was lost; however, the frustration felt was slightly larger. The

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Creative

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Seed heads by Hugo Stephens, winner of Third Form House Art

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Creative

Optic Night Shoot Section title page: Sumpter Yard by NJC.This page: Around the Abbey by Jem Bosatta, Keagan Witts and Lucy de Vaux-Balbirnie

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Optic: Chemistry Shoot NJC, Mike Slater, Hugo Stephens; with thanks to the Chemistry Department for the loan of equipment

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Trips

War, Wounds and the Western Front The Fourth Form trip to the battlefields of Belgium

Trips

From behind a line of trees, the dominant feature in the landscape emerges surrounded by ground thawing after the recent snowfall.

The arch, looming above, casts a dark shadow and appears to embody the past that it solemnly recalls. The sun casts a golden light upon its stern face; a glowing beacon to remember the fate of those who fought around it. Inscribed with the names of thousands, it bears witness to the acts of sacrifice and bravery of those who were never found. The Thiepval memorial glares out at all those intruding on its hallowed silence.

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73,000 unidentified soldiers are remembered on the walls of the Thiepval memorial, and the 60 fourth formers who had made the long bus journey towards it were stunned into a shocked and contemplative silence.

Over 72 hours, GCSE history students traced some of the important sites of the First World War battles and their human consequences. The first stop was Lijssenthoek cemetery, built around the site which had contained a hospital complex during the War. Although no fighting took place, it is where many injured Allied soldiers were sent after sustaining severe injuries.

As a result, it houses the graves of close to twelve thousand men, including the highest ranking officer to die in the war, as well as the only woman to die whilst serving on the Western Front. Upon arriving, the entire group was sobered as they saw for the first time the human cost of the War.

Sanctuary Wood, which is home to a set of both reconstructed and preserved trenches, lightened the mood as Fourth formers squelched through the trenches, made ducked journeys through the tunnels, and even had self-contained games of pretend, as they ran through the trenches as soldiers would have done almost a hundred years earlier.

On the second day, the agenda was to visit sites of the great offensives of the War. This included visits to Vimy Ridge and its great marble memorial, which soars into the sky and is visible from a distance in the bare land that stretches away from it. Next was a visit to the French cemetery of Notre Dame de Lorette before moving onto Thiepval. Here a few of those on the trip found the names of their relatives and, although many were unaware of relatives who had died, almost everyone else found at least one person on the walls who shared their surname. On behalf of the school, one pupil laid a wreath beside the central commemoration which is inscribed with the words:

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE By the end of the day, nobody on the trip was left in any doubt of the sacrifice made by those who fought in the War, but it was driven home even further on the third and final day as they first converged (after a brief chance to spend an extraordinary amount on local chocolate)

on the Menin Gate. The Gate bears the name of every soldier to have died in the Ypres Salient, the most exposed section of the Allied front line. Every evening ‘The Last Post’ is played and will continue to be played until all of the 54,896 names on the wall have had it played in their honour.

The last destinations prior to the trip home were visits to two more cemeteries. Tyne Cot Cemetery, located on the site of the Battle of Passchendaele. The largest Commonwealth cemetery on the western front, it contains over thirteen thousand graves, of which half are dedicated to unrecognised soldiers, in addition to thousands more that were never found. The final cemetery was perhaps the most shocking of them all. Langemarck is a German cemetery far smaller in area than the other cemeteries that the group visited, but contained 44,061 men, with between two and eight men buried for every flat stone embedded in the ground.

After the trip everyone came away with more knowledge and more understanding of events than they had possessed before.

Owen Pearce

German Exchange With Christian-Wirth-Schule in Usingen

get to know each other, requiring communication and collaboration. One of the highlights was the crossing of an imaginary river on floating icebergs.

On three of the days, the boys attended lessons at the ChristianWirth-School in Usingen together with their exchange partners. It seems that they all loved the fact that there is no school uniform and that lessons finish at 13.00, although some were not too sure about the early start of 7.55. They realised that in order to survive life in Germany, one has to go to bed earlier than in England!

The boys also learnt that Germans in Germany do speak a little faster than those at St Albans School, that the food is remarkably tasty, and that it is worth trying new fare such as Weisswurst, Spätzle and Sauerkraut. It also transpired that the Germans do actually have a sense of humour and are remarkably warm and welcoming.

The German families in turn were impressed by how easily our boys slotted in with their families and how willingly they welcomed all sorts of new experiences. The politeness and pleasant nature of our boys was remarked on repeatedly, both by the German teachers and parents.

Everybody can’t wait to see their new-found friends again in March.

GR

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Trips

A visit to the wine making town Rüdesheim on the river Rhine gave us the opportunity to try out some German fare, such as Currywurst, Schnitzel, Torte and Federweiser (for adults only!). We also enjoyed a ride in cable cars over the We were greeted by wintry autumnal vineyards to reach the conditions and snow in Frankfurt, Niederwalddenkmal, an impressive but the host families made up monument high above the Rhine for the weather with their warm valley, commemorating the foundawelcome. Throughout the week tion of the German Empire after our boys talked about how friendly the end of the Franco-Prussian War. their families were.

The views across the Rhine and the vineyards were breathtaking.

On the first morning of school there was an official welcome from The phrase ‘the blind leading the deputy head of the Christian- the blind’ took on a whole new Wirth-Schule in Usingen, Herr meaning in Frankfurt at the Dialog Fisher and a representative of the Museum, an interactive museum mayor of the town. Both were whose main attraction is Dialogue pleased to welcome us again and in the Dark. We were guided by a expressed their wish to continue blind person whom we never even the contact between our schools saw through a labyrinth of rooms in and towns for many years. We total darkness. The experience was were treated to a couple of choir an eye-opener into what it is like items, one in modern Hebrew and to live in a pitch-black world where another one in English, performed one must rely on one’s senses of by the school’s Year 6 choir and touch and hearing to get by. Using the morning was rounded off with the same canes that blind people some German refreshments. use to navigate everyday life, we received a quick lesson in how to What followed was an afternoon use them. Lights on watches or packed with fun activities that mobile phones were strictly forbidhelped pupils of both countries to den. Other activities included a visit

to the Casino for Communication where a variety of tasks had to be accomplished through hands-on, playful activities.

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Twenty boys, Herr Pappert and I set out on a cold October morning for Heathrow, to travel to Frankfurt International Airport in the land of Goethe and Schiller, or, as some would prefer, Kaffee und Kuchen. The boys were picked up by the German families with whom they would be staying for the next week to experience everyday life in a German family and school.

Christmas in Cologne First Formers explore the Christmas spirit of Germany

Trips

We met at Woollams for the German Trip, setting off for Stansted Airport – everyone was so excited. The flight took about an hour, with another 45 minutes by two trains in Germany to get to the hostel, so by the end we all had tired feet. The hostel was very nice, a lot nicer than we had expected.

We went to bed almost straight away, although first we had the challenge of making them.

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The next morning, after a brief breakfast and a long, agonising walk, we arrived at the first of many German markets. We spent a lot of our money on food and presents for family, as well as some popular woolly hats. We then ventured to two more markets, which had lovely lights and Christmas decorations. Most people enjoyed German Pfannkuchen, which were absolutely delicious. We then visited another market for about half an

hour before walking to a Lindt chocolate factory. We discovered what it felt like in the rainforest, looked at the history of chocolate, how it used to be made and how it is made today. We also indulged in the chocolate through free samples and bought some in the shop. Even though it was rather expensive, we just couldn’t resist. We managed the long journey home, had dinner, watched Mr Bean’s Holiday and went to bed.

German! There was a slide on the top deck and we had an amazing time playing on it. The boat went in a circle and then we got off, did the long journey back to our evening routine.

On the final day, we went back to some previously visited German markets and some new ones too, with delicious kebabs. We then went to pack our things. We said our goodbyes to the youth hostel and thanked them for their kindThe following day, we woke to ness. Unfortunately we had to another great breakfast. We then suffer the two trains to the airport. walked to the amazing Cologne When we got there we went and Cathedral. We had a tour of the bought loads of sweets from the cathedral and managed to climb airport shopping centre. Finally, to the very top. We then went we got on the plane back and at to more German markets. The last we could relax! We were all highlight of most people’s day was upset that we had to go home and going on the amazing ChristmasI know that all would like to return themed boat trip. On the boat trip next year. some people came up on stage to Matthew Kaltsoyannis answer questions to the audience in Cameron Furley

Greenwich Observatory Trip

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Discovering the universe with the First Form On Friday 1st March, the whole First form went on a science trip to the Greenwich Observatory. Each form went around with their form tutor and integrated science teacher. This day included a lesson about the different phases of the moon and how an eclipse is formed, a walk through Flamsteed House, a chance to stand on the Meridian line and finally an exciting show in the planetarium.

Firstly we entered into a small classroom filled with various items of apparatus used for diagrams. There we learnt about how the sun’s light reflects off the moon and that how much we see depends on where the After that we walked through the moon is rotating around the earth.

Meridian courtyard and we saw the Next, we were able to walk Meridian line, longitude 0°. This was through Flamsteed House. This was especially memorable. While we designed by Sir Christopher Wren were walking we saw the 28 inch and was the first observatory. The telescope. This huge Greenwich highlight was the octagonal room refracting telescope is the largest of (designed for watching the skies) its kind in the UK and the seventh although you couldn’t see much. largest in the world.

In general, the house contained Finally, we visited the Planetarium various objects used for looking where we saw an amazing show. at the sky and a gallery on how This contained talks about Mars people worked out how to keep and Jupiter and the possibility the time.

of life forms there, how people travelled the stars, the different moons of various planets and their line of orbit around the sun. The show consisted of screenshots and photos from space mixed in with CGI graphics. This was unique as it is the only one in London.

The trip was brilliant and we all learnt a lot. I would definitely recommend it to other students.

Seb Adolph

French Exchange Appreciating language and culture in the Alps Students from our Sixth Form, along with 20 girls from Abbots Hill School, set out on the French Exchange. After arriving in Geneva, we travelled to the mountain town of Chambéry where we would be spending the next week in the company of our French families.

The students were picked up by their exchange families in the centre of Chambéry, and we spent the first day with them, getting used to the experience of everyday French life.

As well as our visit to Chamonix, we spent an afternoon in Annecy, another town with a beautiful old town and lake. We were given some free time in which to shop, explore or simply watch life pass by from the comfort of a traditional crêperie. Throughout the week we did have plenty of shopping opportunities, from the small chocolate shops of Chambéry to a large shopping centre.

to the Collège. Time was limited and competition intense, yet we were able to take in sights from both the old and new parts of the town, such as the famous Fontaine des Éléphants, dedicated to the legendary Chambéry explorer, Benoît de Boigne.

We also spent time with our exchange families, doing a variety of different activities like bowling, going to the cinema and sledging.

Being so near to the Alps, most of us were able to spend one or even two days skiing with our families at a variety of resorts in the region!

This was a fantastic experience, as was everyday life in our French homes, where we were able to try different foods like fondue and croque monsieur, but most importantly improve our French.

Ellie Duncan

The Houses of Parliament The Lower Sixth trip to the centre of British politics On Tuesday 20th November, the Lower Sixth Politics students went into London to visit the Houses of Parliament. During our day we visited the House of Commons, which we were lucky enough to see in use after lunch as William Hague represented the government. We were also able to visit the Supreme Court where a guide talked us through the many processes

that different courts went through. Cases upheld in these courts ranged from murders to foreign and European Union affairs. We even had the opportunity to talk to a former St Albans pupil, now working within the Houses of Parliament dealing with current affairs, which opened up to us the many opportunities which studying Politics provided.

Georgie Callender

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Trips

The French families were extremely welcoming and willing to help us improve our understanding of French language and culture. In turn, many of them remarked on the politeness and enthusiasm of the students. The French Exchange was a great success and thanks must go to all the teachers involved in making it such an interesting and enriching experience.

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A visit to a small cheese factory in Les Aillons, higher up in the Alps, gave us a unique opportunity to discover French culture.

We watched how the cheese is carefully handmade and matured at The next day, students spent the the factory, and the demonstration morning in lessons with their given in French taught us some new French partner, either in the vocabulary, albeit cheese-based. We Collège Notre Dame du Rocher or were also given a tour around the the Lycée Saint Ambroise. Classes factory’s own farm, where taking varied in difficulty – from English photos with the cows provided lessons for some, to German endless entertainment. lessons taught in French for others!

The snowy cold weather didn’t The lessons were fun and chaldiffer too much from that in lenging regardless, and gave us an England, but the scenery cerinsight into life at a French school. tainly did, and we made the most This was followed by a welcome of this with a trip to see the Mer reception at the Collège, where we de Glasse, a stunning glacier near were able to try French refreshChamonix. A short train ride took ments and spend more time getting us high into the mountains, and to know the French pupils. That we then took a cable car up to afternoon, we were treated to a the glacier to visit the ice caves. guided tour around the old castle Walking through the narrow, atmoand cathedral of Chambéry, learnspherically lit tunnels carved deep ing about the history of the Savoie beneath the glacier was a surreal region. experience, and we were amazed Friday saw us getting to know the to learn about the careful precision town even better, by engaging in a and planning that goes into recreattreasure hunt. We were split into ing the tunnels each year, depending groups led by the Sixth Formers, on the movement of the glacier. and had to make our way around Back above ground, we spent time the town answering as many ques- enjoying the magnificent mountain tions as possible before returning scenery in the bright sunshine of a crisp winter day.

House Competition 2013 Results

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Marsh

Renfrew

Art

3

5

10

7

Golf

3

5

7

10

Netball

3

5

10

7

Football

20

10

14

6

Rugby

20

6

14

10

Maths

7

3

5

10

Shooting

5

10

7

3

Cross Country

14

14

20

6

Badminton

10

7

3

5

Basketball

10

7

3

5

Chess

10

3

7

5

Hockey

10

14

20

6

Music

20

10

6

14

General Knowledge

3

7

10

5

Debating

5

7

10

3

Cricket

6

14

20

10

Tennis

10

3

7

5

Junior Drama

3

7

5

10

Drama

10

7

5

3

Athletics

20

10

14

6

Swimming

20

10

6

14

Commendations

6

20

14

10

208

177

214

155

Houses

Houses

Hampson Hawking

Total

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Houses

House Music 2013

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CCF

Reclaiming Familiar Ground OC’s Report excelled, making the day a very special one for our Inspecting Officer, Mr Laithwaite, in his last year at the School. Mr Laithwaite supported the CCF as both Second Master and as a CCF Officer. He was a key member of all our Duke of Edinburgh trips, and we thank him for all the support and help he gave us, as well as wishing him well at Kirkham Grammar.

The year included all our normal camps, as well having record numbers qualify in both Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.

The shooting team got the year off to a good start with a very successful tour to Jersey, then during the Easter break the RAF section had the opportunity to send three cadets to spend a week in Cyprus with the RAF. After Easter, all our efforts were focused on the Annual General Inspection, and as usual the cadets

A dapper Mr Laithwaite conducts the Inspection, at which the ceremonial sword This year cadets (below) is passed on had the privilege

of attending the Queen’s Birthday Parade, ten Cadets attended Cadet Leadership Courses, and of course we had the annual visit from the Coldstream Guards recruiting team, giving all the cadets the opportunity to take part in what has now become a tradition: The Gun Run. Cadets on parade (below), before the effort We move into the new School shows in the command tasks (above) year with a healthy, happy and very talented CCF, once more preparing to fly to Tanzania in 2014 in hope of making a difference to the lives of

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CCF

allowed the CCF to provide the cadets with a well-structured training programme, planned and run by our Upper Sixth cadets, without whom our variety of training would not be possible. We have also been able to add use of the pool to our activities, and have conducted some lifesaving lessons with the Junior Corps.

Finally I would like to thank all the people that have supported me, Mr Wilson, our Officers and Cadets, especially the Cadet Training Teams, the Coldstream Guards (whose support makes such a difference to us) and the Senior Management, for allowing us to continue The summer saw us at camps in Crowborough for the Army section with our challenging and rewarding and St Mawgan the RAF Section. programme.

This was followed by a week of KJE adventure training in Scotland for eighteen Cadets and five staff.

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We have now been back in our old familiar surroundings of the CCF huts for a full school year, enabling us to return to training once again in the orchard. The new-look orchard area and the extra space we have behind Aquis Court have

the children in the orphanages we support, as well as testing our own capabilities by climbing Kilimanjaro for the third time.

Winter Camp Shouldering responsibility

CCF

The target drew along the dark road. Into the eerie stillness of the night sounded the burst of gunfire: a lone LSW rifle. Moments later the flashes of thirty SA80 semiautomatics penetrated the inky blackness, and a dazzling orange flame shot into the sky like a great golden beacon: a parachute flare.

section’s pairs fire manoeuvre complete with a smoke grenade.

Further activities undertaken at this year’s Winter Camp developed more of the skills learnt on Friday afternoons, such as recce (reconnaissance) patrols, camouflage, concealment and casualty evacuation.

The night ambush was a ruthlessly efficient attack, its movement organised to the last man, a deadly danse macabre, right up to when Platoon Commander Chris Williams whispered through the radio system that he’d fallen into a ditch.

Edmund Wrigley, Chris Williams, Nick Stride and Tom Kelly shouldered the yoke of greatest responsibility for the outcome of the various manoeuvres. I can happily report that they delivered above and beyond the high standard set over the last few years.

The platoon attack was made during the daytime, orchestrated with the same slick expertise as the ambush. Winning the firefight was a matter of course, but the leaders’ true tests of talent were yet to come. The next stage of the platoon attack demanded tactical prowess. The platoon performed impressively, especially the assault

In total, 10,000 rounds of blank ammunition were fired over the course of a very successful 24 hours in the bare English landscape in midwinter. It merits wholehearted congratulations to everyone who organised it, especially to the ICs, 2ICs and all those who took part.

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RAF Easter Camp Akrotiri During the Easter break three cadets from the School went on an overseas camp to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The cadets - Cdt Padki, LCpl Lee and Cpl Rossi - immediately began to enjoy the brilliant Mediterranean weather as they visited the Red Arrows on the flight line and watch them practise their manoeuvres all week in preparation for the display season. They were also treated to a visit to 84 Squadron Search and Rescue, and allowed into the hangar of the secretive USAF 9th Reconnaissance Wing which flies the U2R spy plane.

Other activities included a visit to St Hilarion Castle in Northern Cyprus, the Exclusion Zone Border administered by the UN, bowling, a wild display of karaoke skills by staff

and cadets, as well as many visits to The camp was no doubt one of the beach. the best our RAF Section has ever attended, and it was an unforgetThe interflight competition was table experience for all involved. completed with an impressive Red Our thanks to all the staff and RAF Arrows-themed Drill Competition, personnel who ensured it was a featuring interpretations of their great success, and I hope to see formations, with one of our cadets some of our cadets going overseas in the winning Flight. again this year.

Alessandro Rossi

Summer Camp Ambushes in the dark These skills proved invaluable when the contingent participated in the camp competition, which combined all the different areas of cadet expertise. An impressive time clocked in the March and Shoot, intuitive solutions to problems faced on the first aid stand, a well-polished drill routine and other medal-worthy performances meant that St Albans School CCF achieved second place in the competition, narrowly losing out to a strong Manwood CCF. The cadets then moved onto the CCF’s own 24-hour scenario on a nearby exercise area, where they

set up tactical harbour areas. The cadets slept under canvas, cooked their own meals and, as night loomed, set about conducting a night ambush. Overseen by their respective commanders and sergeants, both platoons, armed with trip flares and blank ammunition, executed ambushes and destroyed the enemy residing in the area.

The cadets developed a range of skills, worked hard throughout the week and were a credit to the School.

Joe Redwood

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Immediately following the end of the summer term, two platoons of cadets of all ages travelled with staff to East Sussex for the Crowborough Annual Summer Camp. The cadets stayed in billets and were able to participate in five days of activities organised by the army.

The day on the ranges included a chance to fire live ammunition, which was a first for many of the younger boys. The platoons conducted Platoon Attacks, command tasks in sections, river crossings, paintballing, laser quest and a sniper stalk. The cadets also learnt valuable lessons in survival and fieldcraft.

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CCF

Adventure Training Bonny Scotland – sometimes The weather was kind to the group for a fantastic day of white water rafting down one of Scotland’s many beautiful river systems. It was not kind, however, on the day proposed for climbing Ben Nevis; the floodgates opened and Scotland’s famous reputation was fulfilled. The omission of the climb allowed the troop to sample the local delicacies The group then continued north to that Scotland had to offer, which Fort William in the shadow of Ben included trip to a nearby whisky Nevis where they based themselves distillery. for a week’s worth of adventure training. The cadets enjoyed a day The week was topped off by a trip of high ropes and Scotland’s finest to a climbing facility that boasted mountain biking trails, and in some the world’s largest indoor ice cases, a face full of Scotland’s finest climbing wall. Having warmed up shrub.

Fresh from Leadership Courses and Summer Camp, fourteen cadets and four staff made the long minibus journey up to the Scottish Borders, where the group stayed in Coldstream, the historical birthplace of the Coldstream Guards. They visited the local regimental museum and explored the small town.

on the dry climbing walls, the boys and girls set about tackling the wall of ice that faced them. The wall provided great fun and lasting memories of a unique experience.

The trip highlighted the natural beauty of Scotland and some were left teary-eyed as the group departed from this fantastic country to return home after a successful week.

Joe Redwood

A Shot at Success Shooting is on the mark

CCF

.22 – Herts and Finds

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After a number of years, shooting was once again on the options list for the seniors this year. This opened up the possibility of finding new talent and nurturing it over the course of at least a term.

We were rewarded in the very first term, when Ariya Rabbani signed up and shot up to county level in half a term. He went on to be a mainstay of the squad and was joined by Lilian Moran, Aron Blair and Ryan Sinnot.

After a solid first term performance, the team built steadily over the year under the leadership of the ever reliable Chris Oates.

The highlight of the year came in the final term when we were able to field three teams in the British Schools’ Small-bore Rifle Association leagues. With one round to go, all three teams had a chance of winning their

division. Unfortunately, the pressures of exams seemed to affect Term Sec. the senior A Autumn A team and they Autumn C slipped down to second.

Spring A However, the Spring C senior B and Summer A junior A teams powered Summer A through to Summer C secure the top spot.

BSSRA Results Div.

Team

Final Pos. Top Shot

3

Sen. A

4th

T Chapman

3

Jun. A

2nd

A Collins

5

Sen. A

3rd

H Lampert

3

Jun. A

2nd

A Collins

2

Se. A

2nd

H Lampert

3

Sen. B

1

A Rabbani

2

Jun. A

1st

st

A Lee

Emsall Trophy Results

The squad was also involved in a number of county competitions.

Team Position Top Shot The first of these was the Emsall A Collins A 1st Trophy, the Hertfordshire Schools’ competition. We have won this T Cammack B 2nd competition, and the B-team th H Tyler C 4 competition, for the last two years th K Solanki D 6 and I am pleased to report that this was the case again this year. The A and B Teams finished first and Full-bore second respectively and the C team Having survived the seven plagues finished 4th, one point behind the of Egypt last Easter, an executive Habs A Team. decision was taken to postpone all Thanks to Owen Simmons (OA, outdoor training until the Summer SAS Shooting Coach) a Junior Term. Given the frozen ground Hertfordshire Team was created seen this year, it looks to have this year, with St Albans School been a good decision and the same students forming the backbone of number of practices were completthe squad. Chris Oates and Ariya ed in this shorter window of time.

Rabbani were selected for the With students starting to get a feel senior team. Although the team for the more cumbersome rifles amassed the largest aggregate and a good run in the .22 competiover 10 rounds, individual round tions this year, spirits were high scores and the handicapping system going towards the Schools’ Week pushed them into second place. of the Imperial Meeting at Bisley.

Trudy Cammack, Tom Chapman and This year we were also boosted in Alessandro Rossi were selected numbers and were able to take a for the B team and Harry Lampert team of eight for the first time in a stepped in as the reserve for two long number of years. There were rounds. The team finished fifth with four members of the squad that finall members of the squad improving ished third in the Ashburton Fours on their averages. last year as well as four new, but no less eager, members.

Harry Lampert and Ariya Rabbani then took part in the HertfordThe first three days saw some of shire Winter Special Competitions. the best weather seen at Bisley Harry finished second and Ariya for a long time and so clearly the eighth in the handicap competition, decision was made by the powers as well as second and third respecto challenge the squad in a diftively in the junior competitions. ferent way; this time around we The awards for the best shots this were shunted from one end of the range to the other, often at a few year went to Chris Oates (Senior minutes notice, only to be sent Shot) and Aidan Collins (Junior back the other way. Once again Shot). the team rose to the situation and happily trekked from target 27 up to 85 and back again from one shoot to the next. There was also

some inconsistency in marking and ammunition charge. These factors could not disguise the fact that as a whole the team were lacking consistency between shoots, although they did make it difficult to get to the source of the problem.

Place

Team Rossi, Lampert, Oates, Cammack, Chapman, Moran, Collins, Tyler

CCF Bisley Shield (South)

5

Ashburton

28th

Rossi, Lampert, Oates, Cammack, Chapman, Moran, Collins, Tyler

Devon

31st

Rossi, Oates, Cammack, Chapman, Tyler

Epsom Trophy

19

Rossi, Oates, Cammack, Chapman

Green Howards Country Life

16th

Rossi, Lampert, Oates, Cammack, Chapman, Moran, Collins, Tyler

Kinder

19th

Rossi, Lampert, Oates, Cammack, Chapman, Moran, Collins, Tyler

Meltis Cup

4th

Rossi, Lampert, Oates, Cammack, Chapman, Moran, Collins, Tyler

Cadet One K Team

2

Lampert, Moran, Rossi, Tyler

th

th

nd

Individual Awards Competition

Name

500 Yard Aggregate

Alessandro Rossi

81st

Cadet Monday Aggregate

Aidan Collins

98th

Spencer-Mellish

Chris Oates

34th

Cadet One K

Harry Lampret Lilian Moran Alessandro Rossi Hamish Tyler Tom Chapman Trudy Cammack Chris Oates Aidan Collins

2nd 5th 8th =18th =18th 25th 27th 34th

Thanks As always, the shooting squad could not function without the help and support from a plethora of people. The first thanks go to Kenny Everitt and Bill Wilson without whom there would be no shooting in School. The second thanks goes to Owen Simmons (OA) who has given up many days’ worth of time to coaching as well as coming to the Schools’ Week once again this year. I would like to thank this year’s two captains, Chris Oates and Alessandro Rossi.

The first has given tireless service over the last three years. The second took on his responsibilities with gusto at Bisley and was an invaluable help. James Lockhart and Mary Brereton gave up their free time to accompany the teams to Jersey and Bisley respectively.

Finally I would like to thank the Foundation for the financial support they have given us over the past two years to help build the resources available to develop each member of the squad.

DSR

Place

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Lilian Moran is awarded the Coles Trophy after victory over the OAs

CCF

The following morning started bright and fresh and the team were ready on the point with time to spare. Alessandro led the team off and could not have hoped for a better start, hitting a V-bull and 5-bull with his two sighters and duly converting both. Unfortunately that would prove the high point of the match. Things hit rock bottom at 600 hundred yards when the problems that had slowly been affecting Trudy Cammack’s consistency became profoundly apparent – her barrel had been coming loose from the bedding – and it was at this range on this day that it hit breaking point. Her score of 4 did not reflect the ability of a shot who finished the .22 season with the best average. Unfortunately this put us in a position there was no coming back from. The team carried on with admirable composure to complete their first full Ashburton. Particular praise should go to Tom Chapman and Chris Oates for coaching the team through the week.

Competition

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In the evenings and lunch breaks, the team took part in a number of other activities. Alessandro Rossi (Captain) proved himself to be a dab-hand with a shotgun and Harry Lampert (Adjutant) picked up a silver medal in the One K long range competition. The squad also placed second for the second year in the One K competition. As has now become our pre-Ashburton tradition, Wednesday evening was spent in the London and Middlesex Rifle Association with a selection of pizzas whilst squadding for the competition was discussed. The team selection was pretty clear cut as this year we were entering the Ashburton Eight and therefore every member would need to bring their A-game.

Team Awards

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Images of the AGI 2013

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Sport

Up and Under Down Under Rugby Tour of Australia energy had to be conserved as that evening was the first of three games in three days.

Sport

Fifty senior rugby players and seven members of staff boarded Singapore Airlines flight SQ317 at Heathrow on Saturday 13th July, for what many hoped would be the trip of a lifetime. The weeks of hard training were over, the tour blazers were paraded with tremendous levels of pride and we were ready.

It was time for St Albans School’s rugby tour to Australia.

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84

We returned to the rugby club and the 2nd XV played first under the floodlights. After a fiercely contested match, the 2nd XV were unfortunate to lose. The 1st XV managed to put things right by winning 19-10 in a fiery match which came close to boiling point on several occasions.

side. A strong performance from St Albans led to a 48-0 win, with St Albans’ superior fitness and organisation being displayed throughout.

Whilst in Darwin, a large amount of spare time was spent in the wave pool by the waterfront. An excursion to the Adelaide River and the ‘Jumping Crocodile Cruise’ was enjoyed by all, as crocodiles leapt up to six feet out of the water to The first stop was Darwin. Having catch meat, whilst only being about settled into the first hotel of the one foot away from the passengers tour, a midday training session was on the boat. I hasten to add that there was a glass wall between the booked for the following day. The sweltering heat required gallons two. Having won in and enjoyed Darwin, the tour party travelled of water pitch side - and this was only a training session. Local press onto Cairns. More wins followed, visited to interview and photograph with both sides beating Cairns Disthe captains and coach, leading to a trict Rugby, the 2nd XV with a 51-5 piece about the tour in the North- trouncing and the 1st XV working ern Territory’s paper. hard for a 24-0 win.

Then it was down to business, the first game, the reason why we had come. The 2nd XV played first, comfortably brushing aside a select U16 Northern Territory side 36-5. Next was the 1st XV, playing a select U18 Northern Territory

From the isolation of Alstonville, it was onto the more commercialised Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and the second fixture. The Alleygators Rugby Club were confidently swept aside 19-7 by a mixed St Albans side. After this, it was back to the hotel for much needed rest and relaxation with what was anticipated to be the toughest games of the tour, St Edmund’s College, due the next day.

The 2nd XV lost 21-0, with many players physically drained from the impact of three games in three days. However, the 1st XV had an unbeaten record to protect and in the opening seconds of the match against the well-drilled St Edmund’s side, it looked as if this record might well be broken. St Edmund’s caught the ball from the kick-off and executed a simple ‘draw and give’ to release their winger, who sprinted the remainder of the pitch to score. While many teams would let their heads drop and believe the game to be lost after such a devastating start, St Albans didn’t. The 1st team played to their pattern, playing sumptuous rugby on the way to an 21-12 win, much to the opposition’s chagrin.

Whilst in Cairns, there was time to visit the Great Barrier Reef, which many considered to be the highlight of the tour. After a boat trip from Cairns Harbour to Marine World on the Outer Barrier Reef, the day was spent snorkelling and scuba diving amongst the coral. Whilst snorkelling, many boys had the thrill of seeing a shark swim only metres below them. The evening was spent relaxing in Cairns as the boys developed a taste for the Australian ‘early-evening-life.’

Brisbane was next on the agenda and after an exhausting flight and a seemingly never-ending bus journey, we reached our destination, Alstonville. Nobody in the tour party had ever heard of Alstonville; we were unsure if anyone in Australia had ever heard of Alstonville. Anyway, we finally reached Alstonville Wollongbar Rugby Club and couldn’t quite work out who was more scared: us, or the families tasked with hosting us for two nights.

Following a night’s sleep, we visited Byron Bay – the most easterly point in Australia, and enjoyed, as all very mature and intellectual eighteen-year-olds do, playing in the waves on the beach. However,

Spirits were high following the game and the bus was echoed with ‘Jerusalem’ and the tour song, amongst many other more colloquial ditties. A surf lesson was delivered the next morning, with many previous non-surfers enjoying a baptism of fire when learning to surf in the world renowned Surfers Paradise.

Photos by GJC

Following the stay on the Gold Coast, we made the lengthy trip west, through the Toowoomba Valley to Dalby. Many of us had thought Alstonville was rural, but

this was, well, very rural. The boys were hosted for the first night, before a festival of rugby the next day.

14-0 to Dalby at

It seemed strange that the tour was over, having looked forward to it for so long. It had been the best experience many of us will ever have, something we are unlikely to ever be able to replicate, travelling halfway around the world, with your best mates, to play a sport you love.

A new season beckoned and Australia 2013 was over, with the memories stored forever.

Mike Slater

85

Sport

half-time.

This wasn’t in the script.

But, as Mr Hudson always says, St Albans boys don’t really get going until they have to. Now they had to more than ever before. A try from Hugo Rawlinson pulled five points back for St Albans, but

The boys then returned to their host families, some experiencing the rural social life, whilst others were out kangaroo hunting.

A brief trip to Tangalooma Island Resort followed, where boys were given the opportunity to feed dolphins and go sandboarding.

Now, in most reports, thanks to the staff isn’t given. But the work put in by all the staff before and during the tour was incredible, something for which I know all the players will be eternally grateful.

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The 1st XV started the day, facing a Dalby Downs select XV, in effect a regional team. St Albans performed magnificently, playing fast and flowing rugby. The score ended 53-5 and the 1st XV finished the tour unbeaten. Two men’s fixtures followed before the 2nd XV were due to kick off in the evening. A crowd had gathered at the game due to the fixtures earlier and the 2nd XV were ready to play the final game of the day, their final game of the tour, against the Dalby Wheatmen.

there remained a ten point deficit for most of the second half. St Albans were working hard, giving everything, loudly supported by the 1st XV from the sideline. Another try then came from the most unlikely of sources, prop-forward Josh Benson powering over the line to bring St Albans within touching distance.

14-10. Both sides were competing ferociously at the breakdown, when St Albans managed to ship the ball out wide, again, to Rawlinson on the wing, who burst over the try-line to put St Albans ahead for the first time in the game. Final score: St Albans 15, Dalby 14. Dalby were admirably gracious in defeat, in what was a dramatic and fitting finish to a great day of rugby.

Hert-break in the Cup

Sport

1st XV Rugby

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Away to Berkhamsted School who, as expected, were very strong with all but one Upper Sixth player. A try from Ben Rose led to the score at half-time being 11-16, Scott having kicked two penalties, but defence re-alignment let us down twice for two goals. The second half witnessed naïve front-row play and several free-kicks and penalties, with the backs being starved of the ball. A Scott penalty was the only consolation to a 14-37 loss.

Away to Merchant Taylor’s and what fortune we did not receive last week we did this! An early try from Bevan was added to when Hudson scored following up a long kick which the winger failed to collect cleanly. At half-time, SAS were ahead 12-8. Ben Rose scored out wide after a short pop and a turn of speed. Several fast rucks followed from MTs and 7 points were hauled back as the SAS defence faded. Then an excellent chip from Scott was collected by Hudson who side-stepped the defence to score under the posts. Scott converted for a fine 26-15 win.

Habs at Woollams and a game of poor concentration and little will ‘up front’ to contest the ball on the ground. Scott replied to an early Habs penalty and this scoring continued in equal amounts until the end of the match! With injury changing backs selection a lack of understanding allowed Habs through the middle for 7 points.

Ben Rose then caught on half-way directly from Scott and a return 7 points. Not to be out-done, his brother George stepped through a mid-line gap to score shortly before the interval (HT 18-15). The second half witnessed some excessive passion from the Habs players and many poor words were heard.

This, ultimately, was their downfall as rugby focus faded. A try from Scott was matched by a penalty try for collapsing a maul (23-22). The three more from Scott was met by a wide out try for Habs against the run of play. Scott added three in front of the posts and with five minutes to go it was 29-27. Then a Habs penalty with which time was out hit the post! We won, rather unconvincingly, 29-27.

Having lost 15-28 away at Hampton, who were eventual losing semi-finalists in the U18 Daily Mail Cup, it was on to Haileybury College, this time without scholars, in what was a very even match. We were still without injured players, with one falling ill on the day, but a spirited performance was completed with a penalty to finish the match. Scott struck beautifully from the half-way line and 13 of our 23 points to win by 6. 20-8 up at halftime Haileybury came back well forcing three penalties that were then nicely taken. Home support was galvanised but we battled for the win (23-17).

The long half term break was followed with a Tuesday night Hertfordshire U18 Cup Match against Bishop’s Stortford High School away at the Club. Unfortunately their 1st XV was Daily Mail Cuptied and we ran out against their 2nd XV. A lack of spark throughout was frustrating , but the job was done with a 56-0 win. Onto the next round, with a semi-final to come against Verulam.

Having beaten Watford GS 21-11, next followed a rather bizarre match against our old friends QE Barnet. With an early try against when everyone thought the 8 pick up was covered we went on to amass 72 points and the largest 1st XV winning score I know of!

The QE players kept going with real heart and courage, but had no answer to the speed of our breaks.

After losing to Stamford, a team filled with Leicester Tigers Academy players, a huge battle followed away at Bedford Modern School in the drizzle. An early determined line-break and dive to score from Hudson, recently back from injury, was converted by Barber and that is how it stayed until the second half.

The home crowd felt a home win possible when the score was 13-10 with ten minutes to go. Some good work from Bates in the tackle and Turk in the tight managed to keep Bedford Modern out.Then they were given a penalty which, strangely, they chose to run without the expected success.With a minute to go another penalty and an easier chance for 3 points.This they decided to kick and

the draw seemed inevitable, except that the ball shaved the outside of the post and we won an unconvincing game 13-10.

The Herts U18 semi-final at Woollams under lights against the old ‘foes’ Verulam School. The Upper Sixth SAS players had never beaten Verulam and the opposition were confident. With several backs injured it was a night of misunderstandings and poor connections.

Tries from Sweeney, Ben Rose and Captain Reed, who played very well indeed, was complemented by a penalty early on from Gott. This, combined with a conversion in the second half gave us a fortunate 20 points. It was surprising and lucky that Verulam only managed 13, all in the second session, and had they not made unforced errors and also kicked better they would certainly have won. We were over-powered in the forwards at times and desperate tackling saw us through to the Final (won 20-13).

On to the Saturday friendly and home to Aylesbury School, which, rather surprisingly, resulted in a 20-20 draw! Parkash scored his first try of the season, and, given, his power and skill at scrum-half was testament to his selflessness at the breakdown. A try in the last five minutes left the score at 20-20 which was overall a fair result. The following week, St George’s was comfortably beaten 39-5, in an unusually one-sided match.

The last game of the domestic season was the Herts Cup Final under lights at Woollams, against St Columba’s College who had an unusually strong team and were very powerful. In the event we tackled well, given several injured and unavailable players, but simply could not get enough ball to use our more organised backs. Too many turn-overs stifled our running game and the match lurched from contact to contact. Just what we didn’t want. Two players were sent off for them, but we simply could not get three consecutive phases together. The first half penalty was to be our only score, with their second half try being enough to seal their win (lost 3-11).

CCH

Laithwaite’s Last Hurrah 2nd XV Rugby The season promised the same motivations as is always faced by 2nd teams; U6 formers looking to enjoy a final season of school rugby to L6 formers attempting to cement a 2nd team place or make a case for 1st team selection. There was also the added incentive of a long-haul tour to Australia in the summer combined with this being the last year of St Albans School rugby for coach Mr Laithwaite, so the squad were determined to have a great season.

They did just that, with a strong 18-13 victory over Aylesbury Grammar School in the penul-

Harry Di-Lieto

Mixed Emotions U16 XV Rugby The U16s completed a mixed season with a positive record, establishing a strong points difference.

However, the hackneyed ‘what might have been’ is an appropriate phrase with which to summarise a term in which, with one notable exception, we could easily have won the games we lost.

The season started with great hopes, the team arriving with an imposing record from their time together, culminating in their impressive cup run the previous year. However, despite some strong

We got things back on track by comfortably beating Merchant Taylors and then Haberdashers on successive weekends, before coming up against a brave and talented Hampton side. Brave, because they defended resolutely against our physically imposing forward running, and talented in that they managed to score four impressive tries from turnover ball, demonstrating fleetness of foot and ball skills that deserted us at key moments. We recovered to beat an abrasive Haileybury side more comfortably than the 22-15 scoreline attests, and departed for the annual rugby tour to France in mixed spirits, knowing that we were capable of some compelling rugby but that we had underperformed in the first half of term.

As ever, the tour served as a challenge as well as a broader educational experience. We won our first and third games comfortably, racking up more than 100 points in aggregate and scoring some scintillating tries in the process. However, the defining moment of the tour was in the second game where some of the less renowned B team players were outstanding in a rearguard defensive effort, ultimately securing a well earned victory. It was hoped that an undefeated tour would be the perfect fillip for the second half of the season.

Our return initially suggested that we had learned some valuable lessons about our use of the ball

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Performances appeared to dip in the middle of the season, as a result of numerous injuries across the 1st and 2nd team squads. Two heavy losses against excellent rugby schools in Stamford and Hampton did not accurately reflect the commitment and determination shown by the team in both fixtures.

A tense 5-5 draw away at Bedford Modern in truly shocking weather conditions rounded off November with the team feeling slightly down yet determined to finish the season on a high.

We finished the season with respectable figures of 8 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw and the players should take pride in these results. All the players and I would like to wish Mr Laithwaite every success in his new job and thank him for all the time and effort he put in to the 2nd XV this season.

individual performances against an attack minded Berkhamsted side we came up short in our first game, the loss of key personnel to the 1st XV being crucial in our lack of ability to turn pressure into points.

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This appeared to be the case with the team performing respectfully in the annual Saracens pre-season tournament, coming 4th in the 2nd XV competition. This proved to be a kickstart for the season with the team winning the first game against Berkhamsted 16-13. This form continued with wins in three out of the next four games including satisfying wins against fierce rivals Haberdashers and Haileybury 37-0 and 42-7 respectively, winger Luke Bevis scoring an electric brace in the latter.

timate game. The final game at home against local opposition St George’s School was the culmination of a long season, with a great 28-3 victory making it all the sweeter. A first try of the season for Charlie Avent, beating two men and storming over the line from 20 metres, gave us a good first half lead. The season was aptly finished with the last points of the season being scored by Captain Harry DiLieto through a superb solo effort, storming 75m and beating three players.

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with an impressive victory against Watford. However, a disappointing performance in the victory against QE Barnet indicated that some of our earlier frailties had returned.

Nonetheless, our performance in the defeat against Bedford Modern was very heartening. We played with real guts and determination, even if we lost our composure at crucial times, and the result could easily have gone the other way. If the team did not quite manage to avenge their heavy defeat from the previous season, they at least were able to salvage a great degree of pride.

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A match away to Stamford was to be our last regular season fixture and we made our task all the more challenging by conceding a weak score early on. Despite one or two impressive individual efforts to haul ourselves back into the game, we came up short and looked like a side who was struggling to replicate the level of performance from the previous week. The final game of the season saw us overwhelm a weak St George’s 3rd XV, running in seven tries.

Overall, there is a sense of disappointment in a season which promised so much. This was a strong side, with a forward pack that often dominated and a back line that showed moments of promise.

It would be too easy to point to the loss of key personnel as to the reason for this underachievement, as there will always be injuries, unavailability and a loss of form. The true test of any side is how they respond to these challenges, and it is the case that, for some of this team, they were more prone to cast aspersion on others than look at their own areas for improvement.

However, to finish there though would be an injustice to a group of young men who, in the main, train well and play better; show fight and no little determination; belief and a growing level of skill. This was epitomised by the captain who, off the pitch, dealt with some challenging teammates, difficult circumstances and a stroppy coach with admirable maturity, whilst setting the example week in and week out during training and matches.

DMP

Injury to Insult U15 XV Rugby It was a season of mixed emotions that started against a very good Berkhamsted side. The game could not have got off to a worse start with fly half Ollie Brown coming off injured in the first ten minutes. The rest of the game followed a similar pattern as we went into the final stages 49-5 down, but after a great end to the game the result finished 49-22. The last ten minutes gave us hope for improvement over the coming weeks.

a few changes with Ollie Barlow stepping in as captain and Sammee Bhatti doing an excellent job filling in at prop, whilst Jack Swan put in a great performance on the wing.

The game was played at a ferocious intensity throughout and finished 19-19 with the team unlucky not to come away with a win, after another great performance from Tom Savage saw him score three tries.

Following a convincing win against Aylesbury we went into the 5th round of the Daily Mail Vase having got a bye in the 4th round. An excellent team performance saw us to a comfortable 46-7 win. Less than 24 hours later we had another game against St George’s in which we The following week brought a were required to shuffle the team narrow loss to a strong Haberdashabout due to many players having ers side; we knew it was important played the previous day. After an to learn from the game because it initial scare the team came through could easily have gone the other as victors in the end with Will way, had we been more clinical.

Goring-Jones playing excellently in After some intense training we his first game for the team. went into the first round of the Daily Mail Cup, winning comfortDuring the Christmas holidays we ably against Knights Templar. The came in for some extra trainsubsequent weekend we played an ing before our last 16 Daily Mail exceptional Hampton team who Vase game against The Royal Latin exploited weaknesses in defence, School. After some good sessions putting 71 points past us without we went into the game confidently, reply. revitalized by the return of Ollie Brown at full back. We had a slow Our final game before half term and ill-disciplined start that saw us was a key one in the second round 14-0 down, however by the end of of the Daily Mail Cup, against the first half we pulled it back to our closest rivals; St Columba’s.

17-7. A better start to the second We went into the game rife with half saw us score a try, leaving us injuries to key players. However we only three points behind, however started well with two tries from we couldn’t get the breakthrough James Gallagher, giving us a strong needed, bringing our Daily Mail lead going into half time, however campaign to a sour end with a we failed to play with the same 17-14 loss in which Ollie Brown intensity in the second half meaning was superb showing us what we we went into the latter stages of had missed throughout the season. the game six points down, eventuIn a season viciously riddled with ally losing by four points, 24-20. injuries, players bravely stepped Having beaten St George’s in the up and some selection choices Daily Mail Vase along with wins were extremely difficult. We have against QE Barnet and Bedford definitely provided ourselves with Modern, we went into a game a stable platform to build upon for against Stamford high in confidence. next season.

Due to more injuries there were James Gallagher This improvement certainly came in the next match through a convincing 48-10 win over Merchant Taylors with Tom Savage capping an excellent performance by scoring four tries.

Out With a Bang U14 XV Rugby The season for the U14s proved to be a rollercoaster ride, beginning with excellent wins against Berkhamsted, Merchant Taylors and Habs. Throughout the term our strength lay in the forwards, who always battled hard, managing to dominate most opposition. Work was needed on the cohesiveness of the backs in addition to rucking technique. Performances improved as the hard work carried out in training was demonstrated in the matches. Sadly the improvements were not enough to beat strong Bedford Modern, Oakham and Aylesbury sides as disappointing losses were suffered.

However in the final match of the season, the Hertfordshire School’s County Cup Final, when it really mattered, these losses were put right.

Having been beaten by the opponents, Watford Grammar School, earlier in the season, we had a tough match in prospect. Under the lights on the OA’s first team pitch, early pressure from the kick-off and excellent defence saw two tries scored by St Albans School in the first half of the match, while Watford hardly left their own half. This meant St Albans led 14-0 at the break. Watford came back strongly in the second half and mounted a spirited comeback, scoring to make it 14-5. However, the St Albans players were The victorious U14 galvanized and scored twice to seal the victory, 26-5, a team celebrates fine end to the season. after the County

James Lear Cup Final

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The Future’s Bright U13 XV Rugby

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Upping their Game

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The U13s finished a successful season with a 75% win rate. Just two games denied our unbeaten season, losing to a well-drilled New Hall School team with several academy players and losing to Watford Grammar 22-24 in the closing minutes of the game. The team has greatly improved in terms of technical ability and tactics, now possessing a much stronger defence. The back line has been the greatest asset to the team, with some superb individual performances from Stephen Heaney and Max Swan, both aided by excellent passes from Cameron Barford, Max Sahota and Will Thompson. Piers Dorward managed to impress on several occasions having joined the A team, he used his pace and ability to score a hatful of tries. The forward pack improved greatly in terms of structure and support, giving the team much greater momentum when attacking. Tife Adegbemile has been a superb support player aided by his teammate Junior Nyakundi. The physicality of Kyle Douglas impressed with fantastic breakthrough tries in addition to a collection of try saving tackles.

Freddie Deacon-Gregory also deserves a special mention for his strong carries into the opposition’s defence and for captaining the team so ably.

U12 XV Rugby This season the team has improved and excelled, winning many matches. Since the beginning of the season we have worked as a team and many of us have learnt to play a great game of rugby. At first, most of us had never played before so it was very important to listen and take in what our coach was saying.

Seeing as we all did this well, we ended the season as a fantastic team with great chemistry, not only bonding as a team but building strong friendships too.

In our first match the cohesiveness we have developed as a team was not especially evident. However in the second half James Cooper scored and amazing try running circles around the whole of the opposition whilst Ayo Olukotun’s combination of speed and strength destroyed the opposition’s defensive line. Although we didn’t win that match it was a great experience for our team.

Further into the season we were winning a lot more matches and were working well as a team. This link-up play was particularly prevalent against St George’s although Our first half was absolutely shocking – the score was 21-0 to St George’s. In the second half we really upped our game and managed to get within one point of levelling the score. We kept on fighting towards their try line but just couldn’t score despite great efforts by Alex Nejad and Mathias Neyt to break through their line.

Overall our season was a great success, as we developed as a team and turned out some great individuals as well. Despite the slow start, I am sure we will be a hard team to beat by next season and we will be winning most of our upcoming matches.

George McKay

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Comeback Kids 1st XI Hockey The assembly of players that attended the first pre-season training knew immediately that following last year’s 1st XI was going to be a mammoth task. However, as soon as the initial draft of a first team was moulded together, it became clear that the team unity was incredibly strong and there was potential for the season to be a very successful one.

2nd XI Hockey In a highly successful season the mighty 2nd XI finished with a superb 86% win ratio. The team started the season well with a win against Merchant Taylors 2-0 and then was unfortunately disrupted with several lost fixtures due to snow.

The break might explain the one loss at Watford Grammar but the team recovered to win all of the season’s remaining fixtures including an excellent 1-0 victory against The Leys School to finish the season. The whole team deserves a

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special mention for individual performances, but we must pick out Jack Killen and Ed Lewis (Captain), who rarely let the opposition attack break through to shoot on goal. There were excellent saves from Chris Wharton when they did.

Hugh Myers, Nick Stride and James Barber worked the mid field beautifully and distributed the ball to Ben Mort, Dan Burnley, Ben Rose, Vincent Chan and Kieran Vaghela to score some spectacular goals. It has been a great pleasure to coach this year’s 2nd XI. RDD

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The next school to visit Woollams was Haileybury, yet another match that the side was anxious about playing, due to the loss suffered last year. The team were behind 3-1 at the break, conceding soft goals We took this promising result into compared to our usual performthe first school fixture: Merchant ance. However, after another Taylors away. It was unsurprising inspirational team talk from Mr that the team conceded early on, Langston we took to the pitch with given the lack of cohesion between a burning desire for a result. After defence, midfield and attack. The an electric second half, we managed much searched for equalizer never to snatch the draw with a score came, resulting in a 1-0 loss. of 4-4.

Once everything had returned The penultimate match took us to normal, following the bout of away to Hitchin. This fixture has snow, we embarked on a journey to been the cause of grief in the Dulwich. Going into the fixture, the Upper Sixth age group throughout team knew that it was going to be the school, with its disappointing a challenging match, but the game results. Despite our recent form, was evenly contested, leaving the we didn’t manage to score and the final score at 1-1. match ended a 0-0 draw.

The first home match of the The last fixture of the 2013 season season was against Watford was anticipated to be the most Grammar; a fixture that we (as a difficult of the season, because team) were apprehensive about, the Leys School, Cambridge has due to the extremely strong team an extremely strong side with a st Watford possessed at 1 XI level. number of county players as well After a mostly defensive game, we as an England player. The team put managed to restrict their talented in a fighting performance, with a side to 5 goals to our 0. number of circle entries, short Aldenham was always one of the corners and shots on goal, but the fixtures that we had in the back strong defence and a number of of our mind as a positive result. exceptional saves by the opposition Despite this, the team did not ‘keeper resulted in a 6-0 loss. get complacent and Tan Ranshi Throughout the season, the team scored the winning goal off a wellgrew and bonded extremely well. rehearsed ‘Number 2’ short corner, Our teamwork and tenacity when to finish 1-0. in deficit led to us earning the team It was evident that the team as name of the “comeback specialists”. a whole had been taking part in Nial Parkash intensive running programmes over the half term as in the first fixture back after the break, against Mill Hill, the side battled back from a 2-0 deficit to take an impressive result of 5-2.

Pure Success

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The first match of the season was a fixture with Harpenden Hockey Club 1st XI, which, last year, resulted in a loss. However this year, with spells of promising play, the fixture resulted in a 2-2 draw – an indication of the ability within the squad.

The habit of conceding early goals became an omen for the team, following us into the next match, which was against Felsted at home.

At half time the score was 3-0 to a very strong Felsted side and needless to say the half time talk, carried out in the back of the goal, involved heated comments from Mr Langston. Whatever was said in this team talk seemed to work, as the final score was 3-3, with the tremendous Bevis scoring two goals.

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Improvements Aplenty

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U15 XI Hockey

Ups and Downs

The U15 hockey team captained

by Ben Hemsi had a real mix of a season. They started off with a good 1-0 win against Merchant Taylors and developed a winning streak the following week beating Harrow 2-1. A shock 1-0 defeat to Aldenham, where St Albans had the majority of possession, led to the reviewing of defensive strategies. With hard work in training on marking players and being patient in tackles, the team managed a 3-1 victory over a strong Hitchin side. Unfortunately the encounter with Felsted taught the side some attacking lessons, where a 4-0 loss was suffered.

U13 XI Hockey

A 1-1 draw with Haileybury in the penultimate game was a hard fought match, St Albans went 1-0 down early in the second half meaning that the team were forced to show real strength to fight back for the equaliser. The last game of the season was by far the best quality of hockey that had been displayed all season. The team performed well as a unit, showing tactical astuteness throughout. Although losing narrowly 2-1, it was a great match that displayed a high standard of hockey.

hockey side. As a result, we went down 6-1. A 2-2 draw with Bishop’s Stortford was followed by another loss against Watford Grammar School.

The St Albans side, hungry for victory, faced Aldenham away. The St Albans team was dominating but despite numerous efforts, could not capitalise and ended the game with another 2-2 draw. This was followed by a 2-1 loss to Hitchin Grammar School. Felsted travelled down and dominated from the start but the St Albans side fought back, culminating in Cattermole scoring. Despite the break through, Felsted still continued to dominate and finished the game 6-1.

Having not won a game so far in the season, we were still looking for our first victory. In the penultimate game of the season, the team came up against a strong Haileybury side. The team worked hard and punished Haileybury’s weak defences, winning with a strong 4-0 victory. For the final game of Ben Hemsi the season, we came up against the U15Bs of The Leys with Louis Andrews stepping in as keeper due to Singh’s toe injury. Battling hard the whole game, the team U14 XI Hockey was losing the match 3-0 with 10 The U14s began their season with minutes to go. But soon the team’s an away fixture against Merchant stupendous efforts materialised Taylors under the captaincy of in Cattermole finishing two goals.

Jonny Cattermole. Having fought Despite this superb effort, St Albans hard all game, the St Albans defence could not find the equaliser and was beaten and Merchant Taylors went down 3-2. secured a close 4-3 victory in the closing minutes.

The player of the season was Andrew Jennings, and the most imDue to snowy weather the match proved Amit Wangoo, who became against Habs was cancelled and left a vital part of the defence. The top St Albans training indoors until the goal scorer of the season was Jonny snow could be cleared. On 26th Cattermole.

January, St Albans faced Dulwich College who are always a strong RDD

A Draw is a Win

The U13 hockey team endured a mixed season. In a season blighted by the weather, the first match was away at Dulwich with snow piled up around the edge of the pitch.

For a long time it looked as if a well worked Tom Fulton goal was going to be enough as the team defended well against strong attacking opposition. Freddie DeaconGregory made some superb saves as the home side pushed forward.

The team worked extremely hard but finally succumbed to three late goals. However, there were positives to take away from the first game and a lot to build on.

The next game was a closely fought contest against Watford Grammar.

Despite enjoying long periods of pressure which resulted in many attempts on goals, we finally went down 1-0 having paid dearly for one defensive lapse. Cameron Barford, Milan Yick and Alex Scholefield were always busy and served the team well.

An 8-0 victory over Aldenham proved to be a good warm up for the forthcoming county 7s tournament. Three wins from five games, including a revenge win over Watford, was enough to see us runners-up in the tournament and ensure our qualification for the regional minis tournament. Jamie Sanderson, Max Sahota and Charlie Wallace were very assured in their positions and the pace of Max Swan and Khalid Shahidullah was very effective on the counter attack.

Stephen Heaney ran tirelessly throughout and always gave 100%.

Unfortunately, although the results in the regionals didn’t quite go our way, it was a very good experience playing against strong sides and put us in a strong position for next season.

TNR

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Scotts to the Fore in a Strong Season 1st XI Cricket

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The season started with an early fixture against Merchant Taylor’s School. After losing the toss, we struggled from the outset against early swing and were 30-3 before Patrick Scott joined his brother.

They reached 83 before a tumble followed. Captain George Scott decided to attack before he ran out of partners and made an excellent 78. We were all out 138 and dropped catches did not help when MT batted, leading to a loss by 6 wickets.

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The match against Dr Challoners was a different affair, with some miserly bowling by Taylor and a strong spell by Reed, who took 5-23. G Scott carried his bat for 92, making easy work of a chase of 145, even though only two other batsmen made double figures.

Against Haileybury all the luck went to St Albans. We won the toss on a windy day that helped enormous swing and helpful bounce for our opening attack. G Scott and Taylor made early inroads and soon the visitors were 36-5. The last batsman fell with the score on 81.

In reply, the game found another twist, with Barber batting for 12 not out while the captain took command to reach 63 to record a 10 wicket win.

We hosted the Regional National T20, with SAS, Haileybury, Aldenham and Chigwell competing. We set Aldenham a total of 142 for 5, with Goldstone making 50*. In reply, tight bowling brought the game to the last two overs with 15 needed. G Scott then took two wickets and a run out by Barber snatched the win by 6 runs. Haileybury beat Chigwell in the morning and so the final was set for the second encounter with the College in two days. Haileybury chose to bowl and both Scotts were gone with only four scored. The middle order was firm and Goldstone (28), Avent (21) and Parkash (27) batted well. At the end Armstrong struck 9 from his 5 balls, ensuring a total of 123-7. Goldstone opened the bowling and took the first two wickets, while Killen kept his off-spin tight and took three. The fielding was excellent and Haileybury finished on 103 all out, giving St Albans the regional title.

In the next round of the Cup we faced Berkhamsted. Winning the toss and electing to field, we took wickets consistently, with Taylor being most effective with 5-18.

Parkash took 3-8 and Berkhamsted could only manage 120-8. We were confident we should reach this but with G Scott out for one and Goldstone finding it hard to score, the mantle fell on P Scott, who batted with courage to score 85 with nine fours and a six. He was finally stumped with just four runs remaining, but we snuck home for the win.

players and two in the England T20 team, attacked the bowling from ball one. Reed took two catches but fielding was tough. A brilliant run out by G Scott removed one England batsman, then Taylor bowled the other. P Scott finished his spell with a hat-trick to close the innings. With 127 to win we had a real chance, but the first over left us 3-1. Goldstone and Killen battled on and reached 50-3 but after that there was little headway and we were all out for 75.

Against Bedford School, we decided to field and reduced them to 65-5 before their number 7 went on to make 82* and they finished on 198-8. In reply, after a long day in the field, we were 2-4 before Avent supported by Goldstone stabilised the innings. Pat Scott was unlucky to be caught and bowled for 48 and the rest declined to 135 all out.

We had not beaten Bancroft’s in ten years. This time we chose to bowl and wickets tumbled as the ball moved amazingly. They were 0-1, 2-2, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5 and 6-13.

Taylor took four and G Scott two, with some outstanding catches.

Bancroft’s battled on to reach 125, but in reply Barber held his end for In our own T20 Tournament we 36, Avent made 25 and Goldstone first played Reigate GS. After an scored a quick 25. opening stand of 70, G Scott and Queen Elizabeth’s GS were all out Goldstone both fell for 32 and only two other players made double for 106, but in reply only Barber applied himself early on. Fortunate- figures. In chasing 121, Reigate were, ly Killen joined him and steered the however, all out for 99. Batting first against Bedford Modern, we made team to a 3 wicket win. The Habs wicket was very slow with variable just 106 but still won by 14 runs.

Against Bishop’s Stortford we made bounce. Their opener scored 74 of their 167-5 and we were all out 190-4 with 54 from P Scott before Bedford were all out for 100. The for 112.

OAs batted first in the final and We welcomed Dulwich College scored 163. G Scott and Goldstone to Woollams for the next round set about the challenge with skill of the National T20. They won the and the team came close before the toss and elected to bat, and we run-rate edged out of reach. bowled tightly and fielded with passion. With the first wicket down After scoring 109* in the Founders’ Day match, G Scott took 5 wickets at 10 and the second at 23, the enthusiasm was high. However, the against the MCC. We chased their total but ended just 8 short with 3 and 4 batted well before Killen two wickets in hand when it began broke through. Wicket followed to pour. wicket; Killen collected three and P Scott the last three in a row.

We batted first against Wesley Their final total of 109 on a good, College from Australia, with P Scott quick pitch looked attainable. G making 40 and Killen 54* in a total Scott opened with controlled of 184. Wesley hit out hard, resultapplication and carried his bat for ing in a close game. They scored 59* with extras contributing 21 well, but 20 were needed from to a win by 7 wickets. The match the last two overs. Unfortunately against Berkhamsted, however, was Parkash was hit for 16 and just 4 lacklustre in every way. They were were needed from the last over. keen to avenge their T20 knockout P Scott bowled the final six balls and scored 169-8 but we were all superbly, conceding only a single out for 126. before bowling the batsman with In the quarter-final of the National the last ball of the match.

T20, St Bede’s, with ten Academy CCH

Strong Season Until the End 2nd XI Cricket The 2nd XI had a successful year with what was a very young side.

Buoyed by some outstanding performances, the dominant 2nd XI travelled away to Berkhamsted, also unbeaten this season. After winning the toss, the home side were sent into bat, and despite one of the least convincing bowling and fielding performances of the season, we restricted them to 141 for 9. The opposition batsmen particularly struggled against Ranshi’s leg spin, many throwing their wickets away to give him respectable figures The team therefore went into of 4 for 29 from 7 overs. The run the match against Haberdasher’s chase began poorly, with the top at home on a five-match winning order failing for the first time this streak. Batting first for the first season. Reeling at 44 for 6 after time in the season, St Albans posted 14 overs, Bains and Wilde met at a formidable score of 208 for 5 in the crease with a big task ahead their 35 overs; Angel anchored the of them. While the run rate was innings with a fine 56, Pickworth never going to be a challenge, we accumulated a useful 41 whilst could not afford to lose any more Malkan and Ranshi plundered some wickets. Bains and Wilde batted average bowling in the latter stages. sensibly, pressing for quick singles Malkan ended the innings not out

With the Aylesbury fixture washed out, the undefeated squad travelled to Bedford, expecting a tight match after last year’s close affair whcih St Albans won off the last ball with a wicket in hand. With a solid record in run-chasing, Ranshi decided to ask Bedford to bat first after winning the toss. Their batsmen put constant pressure on some lacklustre bowling and fielding with aggressive running between the wickets and risky hitting. Although our bowlers managed to stem the flow towards the end and take some crucial wickets, the opposition managed to maintain a run rate of a run a ball for the duration of their innings. With 206 to chase, our batsmen headed to the middle confident that we could replicate our batting performance against Habs. Unfortunately, we got off to a slow start from which we never recovered. The openers fell after getting starts, and with the run rate climbing, our top and middle order had no answer against the best bowling attack we had faced this season. Unable to work away their bowlers who kept a tight line, our batsmen continued to give their wickets away at regular intervals.

While Ranshi managed to bring some short-lived excitement with a quick 30 off 19 balls, the task was too big for the lower order once he fell and we were finally bowled out for 140. Completely outplayed in every facet of the game by a strong Bedford side, it was a disappointing end to what was otherwise an excellent season.

CJE

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The next two matches resulted in two more convincing wins against Bancroft’s and QE Barnet.

Bancroft’s managed only 108 in 31 overs with Knights picking up 4 for 26 and Jack Perrin 3 for 13. St Albans reached the target inside 20 overs with only 2 wickets fallen; Dan Angel top-scoring with 37 and Pickworth ably supporting with 34.

In the away fixture against QEB, the St Albans bowlers were rampant, dismissing their opponents for 66.

Khrioya was unplayable, taking 3 wickets for a miserly 8 runs. The St Albans top order then made short work of the total, chasing it down in 14 overs with 9 wickets in hand, Zacaroli unbeaten on 30.

and hitting the odd boundary to keep us in touch. Aided by some wayward bowling, they rebuilt the innings. Wilde finally fell for 32, some 12 runs short of the target and when Perrin also departed in the penultimate over with just 6 required, the jitters set in. Bains kept his nerve, however, his unbeaten 42 seeing the side home with 4 balls to spare to earn us a well-fought victory by 2 wickets.

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on 41 off 38 and Ranshi, playing for the first time in two matches due to a hand injury, hit 35 off just 20 The season began with two balls. The Habs top order got off resounding wins over Merchant to a promising start, but once their Taylors’ and Dr Challoners. Bowling two best batsmen were dismissed, first in both matches, the St Albans Knights created a collapse with a bowlers demolished their opposifine display of seam bowling. His tion for under 90 runs and chased season-best figures of 4 for 10 down the meagre totals with 7 and carved through the opposition 8 wickets in hand respectively. middle order and earned him a The third match of the season saw well-deserved call-up to the first the team come up against a strong- team. Habs fell for 92 in under er side. Scoring 171 for 7 in their 30 overs, giving the home side a 35 overs, the Haileybury batsmen winning margin of 116 runs. made life hard for our bowlers, with captain Tan Ranshi returning the best figures of 3 for 35. The run chase was well-paced, with most of the top order performing well; Jaimee Malkan’s 47 not out created the backbone of the reply, with Will Pickworth chipping in with a well-compiled 40 and Joe Zacaroli hitting a run-a-ball 38.

District Cup Winners U15 XI Cricket The U15 team had a good season, winning the District Cup and only losing two fixtures on Saturdays.

Surprisingly, given the weather, the season began in the first week against a strong Merchant Taylor’s side. Rustiness in the field allowed MTs to post a strong total only limited to five wickets from Alex Cook. Adam Spooner’s solid 50 got us off to a great start but unfortunately we fell 13 runs short in the end.

Sport

The next game was against Haileybury and thanks to an excellent all-round bowling display, St Albans bowled them out for less than 60.

Soon we had knocked off the runs with ease, and with 6 wickets still intact.

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In the following game it was the batting that stood out. Adam Spooner brilliantly dispatched a poor bowling attack to all parts of the ground with 155* and was well supported by Alex Wick’s 80. The pair’s 200 run opening stand led to the highest total of our season.

Unsurprisingly, the opposition fell 98 runs short.

Another win soon followed against QE Barnet, however, this time not so convincingly. Lathan Mahalingham held the innings together with 40 runs but the side only scraped to a low total. The bowling attack stood up in this game, with Lathan the pick of the bowlers, 4-4 and we won by 40 runs.

Against Haberdashers, we again bowled superbly restricting them to a very low total. After a shaky

start, Oliver Laws-Mather helped us huge total. Unfortunately, we never threatened and lost by 128 runs. over the line to a 7 wicket win.

In the County Cup, first up was StColumba’s. Lathan Mahalingham set up a good total with 42 and we managed to restrict them resulting in a 30 run win. We comfortably beat Francis Coombe by 10 wickets and a withdrawal put us into the quarter-final. Against Haberdashers we bowled well to begin with but let them get away in the end to 115, a very chaseable total. Sadly After two washouts we played though, runs were not easy to Practice in the nets Bedford in the last Saturday fixture come by and despite Alex Cook’s produced great of the season. On a small ground 43* and Alex Thomson’s 32 we lost results for the U15s they batted very well scoring a by 10 runs.

Next up was Berkhamsted which was a very close game. They posted an excellent total despite Lathan Mahalingham’s 3-15. Adam Spooner’s 34 and Lathan Mahalingham’s 47* got us very close until 11 was needed off the last over. Amazingly, Matthew Halliday hit a six and two fours off the first four balls over to win the game.

In the District Cup we played with a mixture of A and B team players to give people an opportunity. Nevertheless players stood up to the mark and against St George’s we had a comfortable 73 run win with Adi Joshi scoring 48, Tom Sanderson and Michael Roche taking 3-7 and 3-16 respectively. In the semis a decent all-round performance meant a 30 run win against Sir John Lawes. In the final we struggled early on in our innings due to some tight bowling from St Columba’s.

Lathan Mahalingham’s 41 helped to post a defendable total. A brilliant bowling and fielding display showed no sign of the pressure and so they fell short.

This was a good season for the team, winning a trophy. What stands out is the contribution of all members of the team throughout the season.

MJL

Fielding Makes the Difference U13 XI Cricket At the beginning of the season it would be fair to say that the team looked to two players to perform well. And, if the two players did not perform well, defeat followed.

However, by the end of the season, there were many more players who contributed to victories. The overall result of played 13, won 9 and lost 4 speaks for itself- a very good season indeed.

U14 XI Cricket We started off our season against Merchant Taylors School, with a closely fought match ending in a narrow defeat despite Stewart’s 44 – a promising start to the season.

We then went on to beat Haileybury School, with an excellent bowling performance, including George Hudson’s first 5-for.

In the County Cup we began well with a win over St Columba’s. In the quarter final we played Watford Grammar, where we managed to chase 138, winning off the last ball, Tom Goldstone having made 59.

Sadly we then lost to Haberdashers in the semi-final, having been unable to chase their total of 130. We also only made it as far as the semifinals in the District Cup, losing to St George’s despite Gregor FarrelBinns’ 41. Overall it was a reasonably successful season and the team showed much improvement from the beginning of the season, promising more for next year.

TNR

We then gave a good account of ourselves against QEB, Habs and Watford but unfortunately lost.

Against Berkhamsted we had a victory by 14 runs thanks to 5 wickets from a wicket-keeper

We lost to Dr Challoners in a downpour where we sportingly stayed on. However we saved the best to last with a courageous chase down of Bedford’s daunting total of 152 from their 20 overs.

Douglas with 31, O’Connor with 63 and Dorward with 28 not out saw us home by 6 wickets with an over to spare.

The best batsmen in the season were Thomson with 365 runs, Douglas with 265 runs and O’Connor with 156 runs. Our pace attack with Douglas, O’Connor and Dorward shared 23 wickets. The medium pacers, Patel and Thomson, took 7 wickets each. But it was perhaps our fielding that shone: Bagnall held 6 catches, Thomson and Barford, sharing the wicketkeeping duties, took 5 catches each and stumped 6 other batsmen, Deacon-Gregory, Sanderson and O’Connor took 4 catches each.

BSB

Fickle Lady Luck U12 XI Cricket The U12s faced some great challenges and played against very strong opposition including Bancroft’s, Haberdashers, Dr Challoners and Bedford.

Two very close matches were contested against QE Barnet and Haileybury, both of which went down to the last over and could have gone either way, had Lady Luck been on St Albans’ side.

Throughout the year the team spirit improved, reflecting in some of our results. Although the Saturday match results were indifferent, the midweek results proved far better - with the team reaching the District Cup Final against St George’s. One of the highlights of the season is coming third in the U12 cricket tournament at Woollams.

George McKay

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After close defeats to Bancrofts and QE Barnet, we faced Haberdashers School. We managed to chase down their total of 130, Callum Townsend leading the way with 50. Following a spell of bad weather we faced Dr Challoners, and having made 130, with James Hammond contributing a fine 53, we took four of their wickets early on. Our promising start was stopped by the rain, ending the match in a disappointing draw.

The season began well with a real thumping of the dreaded MTs. We were 197 for 5, with Thomson recording an undefeated century whilst they could only reply with 69. We then went on to beat Haileybury by 5 wickets with Gerrard and Douglas taking 3 wickets each. Against Bancrofts, who had three county players in their team, and with one of our best players missing, we recorded an outstanding victory. It proved the old adage that catches win matches. We held everything including some blinders

by Bagnall. We passed their score of 118 all out with 5 wickets intact, Thomson and Barford putting on a partnership of 83 together.

In the District Cup we performed well, winning against Nicholas Breakspear and St George’s in the early rounds and then beating St Columba’s in the final by 102 runs, with O’Connor man of the match: a fine knock of 63 and 4 wickets in an accurate spell of bowling.

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Improvement and Promise

turned left arm round bowler, Barford.

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Athletics Second Form athletes excel egory, where despite a shaky start, they finished third in the league with consistent performances from hurdler Emmanuel Oluwatunmise, sprinters Max Swan and Piers Dorward and 300m runner Kyle Douglas. Tom Fulton was an ever-present winner in the middle distance events and Ben Plumer and Paul Okolo were emerging talents in the high and triple jumps respectively.

It was a different story for the Second formers in the U14 cat-

In the District Championships our best performance came unsurprisingly from the Second formers, who Far column: following picked up the U13 trophy. Unforthe action on a tunately we had to hand back the sunny Sports Day U15 trophy.

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The County League was soon upon us and in the U15 category the Fourth formers turned in some strong performances, despite long term injuries to Omeiza Haruna and Harrison Pyrke. Stalwarts like Tom Savage and the returning Ben Harvey picked up enough points to keep the team in the running for a place in the league final and they were only squeezed out of it in the last meet of the season.

Isobel Hindmarsh (above) is fleet of foot and Dan Burnley (below) clears the bar on Sports Day

DF-W

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The season began with its usual curtain raiser as the Senior Squad retained the District Championships, in spite of the performances of James McMurray, a Great Britain international from Sir John Lawes. We also had to contend with serious injury to our Captain George Rose, who was in excellent form having already clocked a sub 52 second 400 metres at the first Harrow meet of the year. It would see him sidelined until the end of the season and put paid to his target of ESSA representation.

Confidence was high as they made the Regional Final of the English Schools Track and Field Cup. In the league final, outstanding performances all round saw them tie for first place with Hitchin who had dominated the league all summer, winning by a massive forty points.

It was the first time in recent memory that we had won a league final and the second year team look set to be strong as they move through the school.

at Gateshead. Robbie Lightowler, Adam Thorpe and Lizzie Bird were all selected.

The season closed with students from the School representing Hertfordshire in the English Schools County Championships

Cross Country Striding ahead at home and abroad We expected this year was to be a big one for St Albans School Cross Country; among us we had some of the strongest runners that the team had ever seen. The team was eager to meet all these expectations.

victory and a place in the record books.

Sport

The two biggest races of the year for the team are the Knole Run in Kent and the King Henry VIII Relay in Coventry. The Knole Run in January was a tough race for Towards the beginning of the us as the team was plagued by season, there were always a couple the loss of Robbie Lightowler and of races which eased us into cross Adam Thorpe, two of our strongest country mode, yet it was still runners. Despite this loss, we gave it important that we won these to lay our all and managed a very respectdown the standard for the rest of able 2nd place, aided by fantastic the season. Our first cup win was runs from Pearce, Redwood, Myers at the Kings Trophy in Wimbledon, and Cook. Determined to go one where we dominated the field with better than this 2nd place at the 4 runners in the top 5 (Lightowler Knole, we went to King Henry VIII 1, Redwood 2, Thorpe 4, Pearce 5) and finished with a formidable score of 41.

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The next big challenge was our biennial trip to the USA to visit our American counterparts in Washington and compete in the highly competitive Georgetown Prep Classic. After a week of acclimatising and training, we were ready to give it our best shot. The Intermediate team, competing in the Junior Varsity race, took the field by storm. We had six runners in the top eight, including an excellent run from Daniel Myers to win the race.

The Senior Varsity race was much more of a challenge but everyone ran his heart out and we managed to complete the double and win the Senior Varsity race as well. Our run of form continued in the Girls’ race, where Lizzie Bird and Eleanor Hunt finished 1st and 4th respectively to complete a very successful trip across the pond.

Having won the English Schools Cross Country for the past two years, we wanted to break the records again and win it for the third time in a row. The final this year was held in Bolton and we were sure that we had the talent to pull off this record feat. The race was a tough one and the difficult course took its toll on some of our runners, but this was where our strength in depth came through and put us above the other teams. Harrison Pyrke ran an excellent race to finish in 3rd, with Ben Hemsi in 10th and Ben Clark and Tom Halling in 15th and 20th places, running excellently to seal the

Relay with a fully fit team and high hopes. The race was very tight from the beginning with Marling and Judd taking it from the front. However, we were in contention the whole time. Then a blisteringly quick run from Lightowler on the 5th leg took us away from all opposition and confirmed the victory.

Towards the end of the year, the Intermediate team achieved a great victory at the South East Schools Championships in Harrow, while the Senior team was victorious in the Judge Cup and the new Eric Liddel Cup.

The King Henry It was a very successful season for Squad St Albans School Cross Country,

winning everything except for 2nd places in the Knole and Harrow races. It was clear that we have a very strong team for the next

Lightowler and Mathur competing in the U18 Shades Competition; Lightowler wins by a small margin

couple of years with a lot of younger runners competing at the top level for the Senior team.

Maybe next year we can do the impossible and go undefeated.

Ashok Mathur

Hat-Trick Heroes Intermediate team wins English Schools for third time Three times English Schools Cup champions. It had never been done before in the history of the competition. This year’s final was the most prestigious competition since last year’s fourth-place finish in the World Championships in Malta. A daunting task, but possible – the intermediate team’s talent had risen to the fore in fantastic results in the two qualifying rounds; every member of the team finished in the top twenty.

Alex Cook also kicked off to a good start, pulling up close behind the leaders, but during the second lap, he began to show signs of fatigue. The second lap made things a bit interesting for everyone; at the back, James Brennan, who had pushed hard to get to the front, was now feeling the effects:

The next morning, things were looking good as we walked round the track at Canon Slade School.

Underfoot it was muddy; overhead it was glorious. The air was frozen.

Despite the steep muddy drop and the very boggy woods, we felt the course would suit our runners well.

“We all knew what was coming: mud, hills and pain.” – Ben Clarke At the gunshot, Harrison Pyrke hit the front straight away. This is his account of the race: “As we entered the woods, the mud became ridiculously deep, and after every step you took, your feet stuck. I was almost as tired at the end of the first lap as at the end of some races.

At the start of the second lap, I was in a group of three, but as we entered the woods again, they pulled away, and I was just too knackered; even the slightest mound felt like the greatest hill.

I ran most of the second lap alone.

There was no one directly in front of me or behind me.This was when I felt the worst.”

And then there was the finish line. Harrison came in third and Ben Hemsi made it into tenth. Ben Clarke and Tom were Runners being put “I kept close behind Hemsi, knowing running extraordinarily and made it to fifteenth and twentieth. Alex was through their paces that if we packed well we would next runner in, with a bravely fought be sure of winning. I risked a look twenty-fifth place and finally, in behind and was assured by the fact that Clarke and Tom were within five thirty-first, came James Brennan. metres of me.

In the Presentation Hall we waited A boy from another school had fallen for food and, chiefly, the result.

‘Intermediate Boys’ was called, and over just around Hemsi so everyone Harrison collected his bronze. Judd decided to take the hill carefully. collected the third place award. The However, I needed to catch up and I name called out, a second later, was paced down the hill.This was a bad decision and I toppled over, ending up Shrewsbury, fifty-one points behind the winners – St Albans School. at the bottom – on my bottom.”

Because of our victory, the team will be representing England in Israel in the 2014 World Schools “By half-way through the second lap, Cross Country Championships. To I was scoring fifth in my squad. There prove how much George Harrison was one hill in particular, short yet has done for the intermediates and steep; I overtook around five runners everyone else in Cross Country, in one go. I owe that to George, and he was awarded Coach of the Year the training sessions on the hill in the

by England Athletics. It was a classy Abbey Orchard each Monday.” performance that exhibited the depth in our team and proved how Throughout that lap, Ben Hemsi mentally powerful our runners are made up some good ground on as well.

Alex, and Tom and Ben Clarke were close behind. Ben Clarke gave “Like venerable gods we looked upon himself an ultimatum: all we had done, and saw that it was good.” – Ben Clarke It was on this same hill that Tom Halling made his mark on the race:

Ashok Mathur & the Cross Country Team

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We were six among one hundred and thirty, with our fiercest competition coming from Shrewsbury and Taunton. Harrison Pyrke was captain of the team, leading Ben Clarke, Thomas Halling, Alexander Cooke, James Brennan and Ben Hemsi on to the packed line; ready, to make history.

Coming into the final lap Harrison was still looking confident in third.

Ben Hemsi in eleventh was giving it everything to break into the top ten.

Alex and James, lagging further back, were in a lot of pain. They were soon overtaken

by Tom and Ben Clarke, who were still together and moving up the places.

Meanwhile, we supporters were dashing around the course to give them as much encouragement as possible.

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The atmosphere upon arrival in Bolton was of nervous excitement.

The tension was eased by a good dinner in a great hotel and Mr Everitt’s and George Harrison’s stories from the glory days. The team was in bed early enough – they all knew how important it was to be fully rested for the next day.

“I made myself a vow. I would not get overtaken.This objective would provide me something to work for.”

For England Lizzie Bird

Sport

I was very excited to be selected, along with three other girls, for the U20 England team at the McCain Cross Country Challenge in Antrim, Ireland. Travelling out from Stansted with a few of my teammates the day before, I arrived in time to have a good dinner and an early night.

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As we were only ten minutes from the cross-country start, we were able to have a leisurely start before leaving at 11. Following a short taxi-ride, the four of us walked the course – 3.6km over two laps of a flat course. I was feeling quite confident, wearing my England kit and knowing I was in good shape – but also very nervous!

After warming up, we put spikes on and were ready to go. The start was very pushy, but after a few hundred metres the four of us made our way to the front, along with a couple of the girls representing the South of England. My teammate Becky Straw led with a group of five of us chasing her for the first lap. I pushed on with another girl and we managed to create a gap behind us, but were still quite far behind Becky. We worked together for the second lap and then, with 500m to go, I managed

Lizzie in the pack, running in national colours

The whole weekend was a great experience.

From Strength to Strength A promising Netball season It has been a successful term for St Albans School netball with both teams working hard in the build-up to the Netball Tour to Northern Ireland and achieving some excellent results in the remainder of the season. The netball tour gave 21 girls the opportunity to play 8 competitive matches against some strong opposition, including a university side. It was not all business as the girls got to experience the history of Belfast via a bus tour, a visit to the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, the Ulster Museum, and of course there was enough time for a spot of shopping!

This mid-season tour was crucial to help the teams bond with the arrival of the new lower sixth girls.

Strong wins over Coleraine University and Armagh Royal School for both sides ended the tour on a high note.

to close the gap to finish just 5 seconds behind Becky. I wasn’t expecting a 2nd place finish at all, so was delighted with my performance.

This year, for the very first time, St Albans School 1st V11 entered the Invitational County Netball League.

This was excellent experience for the team and the results were very mixed. The captain, Alex English, and her team secured wins over Dame Alice Owens, UCS and St George’s School but unfortunately suffered defeats against St Helen’s School and Richard Hale.

Harriet Murphy led the 2nd V11 all the way to the final of the District Plate beating Loreto 13-4 and St George’s 10-5 along the way.

The rest of the season saw losses against a strong Beaumont side and a narrow defeat to Habs Girls School 4-11.

Congratulations to the Players of the Season, Alex English and Harriet Murphy, and to the Most Improved Players of the Season, Sophia Salehi and Tomi Akinyemi.

EMC

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District Champions, Again Skipper Joe Sharpe celebrates a thrilling football season

Sport

This season was a remarkable one for the 1st XI Football team, with 32 goals scored in just 13 games, only one goal conceded from open play in the final seven and two cup finals attended.

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teams top performers. However, Joe Sharpe being sent off in the second half meant the captain was suspended for the last three games of the season. This game also featured the goal of the season, where George Macgregor, making The season started with fixtures his debut, placed a volley in the top against Sandringham, Bishop’s right corner with his first touch.

Stortford and Merchant Taylors, all Confidence was high going into resulting in wins. However, in the the semi final of the District Cup, County Cup, with the team riddled which, due to the poor weather in with injury and illness, we lost the Easter term, was played in the 2-1 to a strong Richard Hale side, first week of the summer term; Sir only losing to a set play in the last John Lawes were comfortably deminute. feated 3-0. This led the team to two This left the team on a low coming games, which would define them, into the Easter term, yet, with two the final of the LB Cup and the final cups still to play for, a season decid- of the District Cup, a trophy that ing game was approaching against the school was looking to defend.

Habs. With the team back to full Taking place at the Underhill fitness and regular training after Stadium, the former home of disruption due to adverse weather Barnet Football Club, the final of conditions, the season finally kicked the LB Cup was played against arch on late in January. The performance rivals Habs. Depleted by injuries to against Habs epitomised the team George Rose and Ben Appleyard, this year. They played with heart as well as the illness of Luke Bevis and passion, working as a team to and suspension of the captain, St go from 1-1 with five minutes to Albans went into the game as play, on a freezing cold and windy underdogs. In their places came day, to overcome Habs, dubbed the trio Mike Slater, Adriano Morini and ‘golden generation’, and win the the young Macgregor. In the game, game 3-1. This would be a dress the team showed the characterrehearsal for the LB Cup final, istics which had got them this far, showing how good a performance with John Armstrong and Slater it was on that day. defending impeccably and putting The result of the Habs game their bodies on the line to prevent brought the team together, and, Habs from scoring, whilst a man with new confidence, Berkhamsted of the match performance from and St Edmund’s were both swept the goalkeeper, Ben Reed, who away 3-1 and 6-1 respectively, made three truly world class saves, leaving the team top of the LB kept us in the game. However, a qualifying group. red card to Patrick Scott after a scuffle on the pitch, left the team Success kept coming, with wins in with 10 men going into extra time. the District Cup against SandringThe boys carried on battling, with ham, followed by a hard fought 2-0 Reed making more unbelievable win against Beaumont. The team saves, taking the game to penalties. was left with two semi-finals as the Given the fact they had battled district games sandwiched a 3-0 for so long, you could not fault victory over Rugby School in the the effort of the team and, after LB Cup quarter-final.

Robbie Tominey-Nevado hit over, The first of the semi-finals was in and Fraser Titchin had his penalty the LB Cup. A win would make saved, the penalty shootout was school history, as the first team lost 4-2, which was harsh on both to make it to the final. An inspired boys, who had been outstanding all performance by the team saw season.

Oakham beaten 5-1, with impresAs this showed, the LB Cup was sive performances all over the not meant to be ours. The boys had pitch, particularly Robbie Tomineyto pick themselves up for a grudge Nevado, who was improving with match final against local rivals every game to become one of the Verulam, a game which was played

the very next day. Exhausted and defeated, few thought in their hearts that this was a game we could win, which made it all the more remarkable when it finished 2-1 to St Albans, meaning we retained the trophy. Debutant Ben Rose scored the opening goal, a cool finish from inside the penalty box and the second quickly followed with Freddie Scutt slotting into the bottom corner, leaving the team 2-0 up with fifteen minutes to play. Morini battled cramp throughout a game in which he did not misplace a pass and dispossessed the opposition on numerous occasions – almost the perfect performance. Nerves promptly followed after a mix up between Reed and Slater resulted in an own-goal being scored.

However, St Albans held out for the trophy, which their rollercoaster season duly deserved.

More District Success U16 XI Football Milo Knights, Freddie Scutt, James Thompson and Jack Gannon controlled the midfield and provided security for the back four. Both goalkeepers, Will Pickworth and John Barton displayed fantastic ability in several one-on-one situations. The squad qualified for the District Cup final which was to be played after the Easter holidays.

Robbie Tominey-Nevado and Patrick Scott came down from the 1st XI for the final and proved very effective in attack, Patrick Scott scoring all four of the goals in the final against Nicholas Breakspear for an U16 side to win the District School to win in extra time. It was Cup, proving the season was a great the first time in the school’s history success.

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The U16s had a largely successful season this year, with consistent performances throughout and a notable District Cup win. The absence of a few key players due to senior football and hockey commitments didn’t deter the team from the task at hand, especially in District Cup matches. The team only failed to win on two occasions throughout the season, where one game was drawn and the other lost There were many commendable performances throughout the season, Joel Rabinowitz added pace and flair to the squad, supported capably by two athletic forwards in Josh Southworth and Bolaji Anifalaj.

Ben Anthoney

Every Result Possible U15 XI Football The U15 team managed by Mr McGrath and Mr Smyth underwent an assorted season, filled with some remarkable wins and recordbreaking losses.

12-3, breaking the St Albans school record for the worst loss.

We entered the final of the District Cup with great excitement, for our cup run was rather magnificent.

Our opponent,Verulam, is a renowned football school in the area.

At half time, we found ourselves two goals down, with nothing really left to gamble on. However, after a couple of minutes into the second half, I managed to salvage a penalty from the Verulam defence, which was expertly finished by Tom Carter. Unfortunately, we went on to lose the final 4-1, putting a harsh end to our near perfect cup form.

A truly remarkable season.

Jack Swan

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Sport

This loss made us increase our competitiveness, and with nothing to hide we advanced into our next Westminster School was our first game against Dr Challoners which opponent, and with our hopes high we drew 3-3. The change from and egos yet to take a fall, we put losing made us feel delirious and forward a strong team. Alas, we with our new found confidence, we lost five goals to one, but things met Sir John Lawes School for the could only get better - we thought. quarter final of the District Cup. A week later and with a team The team welcomed appearances much unchanged, we headed into from hockey players Tom Carter, our second block fixture against Michael Oguns, Nico Bosatta, Jake Townsend School. To our disapSahota, Laurie Kelly and Alasdair pointment, we lost 2-1 despite the Charlesworth. The midfield impact opponents only having ten men on of Michael, Tom and Laurie led us the field, which merely rubbed salt to win the game 5-1, an amazing into the wounds. Our third game feeling after losing so often. was away to Haileybury College Our last fixture was against and unsurprisingly we lost 5-1.

Sandringham School and without This run of losses was becoming the hockey players, we were left to a severe problem, with everybody play for ourselves. On a cold, windy within the squad starting to quesMarch morning we went into half tion the team’s capability to win. time level. After full time, we had This was when our bad run of form prevailed and won 2-1 with a late sank to a new level.

Nick Neyt goal and largely thanks After forty minutes against a to hearty defensive performances formidable Roundwood Park team, from Joe Dinwoodie and Alex Wick we had conceded ten goals. This to keep us ahead. With three games unbelievable half time score left undefeated, the U15 team headed us in tatters on approaching the into a semi-final clash against latter stage of the game. Somehow, Roundwood Park, the team who we won the second half, but it was had recently thrashed us 12-3. too little too late. The end score, This was the pinnacle of our season. With hockey players back

in business, we scored an early goal through the trusty right foot of Tom Carter. As the game progressed, we soon understood that we had the potential to win this game and that there would be no double figure score line for either side. The half time score remained at 1-0. The second half brought more pressure from Roundwood, but their hard work produced no gain. As the minutes wore on, the St Albans defence stayed strong as Roundwood failed to penetrate the centre back partnership. Late on, Nick Neyt scored to double our lead. The final result: 2-0. We had overturned the 12-3 tag hanging over our heads and stepped into the final.

Penalty Heroes U14 XI Football

Sport

After a very promising start to the season, I am writing this report after a semi-final battering against Verulam. Outplayed and out-muscled for most of the game, it is a shame to reflect on one of the very few disappointments this season.

This one poor display should not upstage all the many good performances the U14s had over the season.

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106

ended in a great result for an unde- that the ball had shaken the side netting only. The whistle blew. feated team.

PENALTIES! As a team, we decided St Columba’s were our opponents the five penalty takers. I stepped in the quarter-final of the District up first. A less convincing penalty Cup and as two-year running Cup from me rolled in off the keeper. 1 Champions, the pressure was on out of 1. Next, their player lofted against a very handy side. After a it high over the bar. Subsequent shaky start, it was soon apparent quality spot kicks from Alec Rowe, who was dominant. St Columba’s Tom Goldstone and Joe Riant saw took an early lead and controlled them all go in. They had also scored the first half. We were playing avtheir next ones. It was left to Will eragely but held on until half time.

Stewart to win it for us on our 5th Following a very motivational team penalty. With a sweet bottom left talk from the managers and some corner strike, the ball rocketed into of the players, we went out to presthe net for us to win the shoot-out surise the Columba’s defence and 5-3. Elation followed; as unlikely after a few chances got a penalty. As winners, we were all thrilled. captain, I took responsibility for the team and stepped up. Fortunately I Our season’s performance finished found the bottom left corner of the there. Two narrow 3-2 losses saw net to draw level. After the equalour unbeaten record end. The iser we were on the back foot and scheduled semi-final was postponed because of extensive snow, again were dominated by the opposition. The defence and midfield so we had to wait until the next did their job well and kept out any term. As mentioned above, we were beaten easily by Verulam. However, half-chances they had. Extra-time followed as the score was still level. our season has been very good St Columba’s continued to attack and with key performances from and moments from the end had an Ollie Harris, Alec Rowe and Jonny excellent effort which looked to be Ascott and the player of the season, in. Our hearts sank for a moment Goalkeeper Sam Alexander, we did until we came to the realisation well to win so many games.

The term got off to a flying start with a thrilling 6-4 win against Westminster at Woollams. Performances from Tolaji Bola and Joe Galliford helped the team come out of an even match in a winning position. On our home pitch we played an incomplete Townsend School, who had to borrow two of our players. The result seemed obvious from the outset and we went on to win convincingly, 10-3.

For our first away game of the season we travelled to Haileybury and smart performances from Alec Rowe and Will Stewart carried on our unbeaten run in a 0-0 draw.

Our fine form showed in the next fixture as we battled hard to beat Roundwood, 2-1. One of the best team performances of the season

The TEJ Boys Done Well

Jonny Ascott

U13 XI Football The U13 football team had a mixed season with both outstanding and disappointing performances. Our coach, Mr Eames-Jones, started the season off with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

He trialled with fast, experienced and technical players. The defence looked to be extremely solid with the two centre halves, Charlie Tilbrook and I already having played a lot of football. The midfield was very good with Max Sahota and Tife Adegbemile playing just in front of the defence, they were both physically strong and read the game well. Our midfield playing behind Jack Berglas were a talented group, with the outstanding pace and skill of Alex Goldberg down the left and the power and pace of Paul Okolo down the right being extremely effective. George Leigh and Jack Berglas were a formidable attacking duo; their link up play was outstanding and the movement

and communication was pleasing. With this team we breezed past Townsend in a comfortable 5-1 victory. Our second match was against Roundwood, a school known well for its football. Again we came out and put in a tremendous performance and walked away with a very comfortable 5-0 win.

After our first two games we realised we had great strength in depth.

Our substitutes were a great asset to the team and added that extra bit of class, pace and power to the squad. Our third match didn’t quite follow suit as our first two. Unfortunately, due to other priority sports, many of our players couldn’t make this match against Dr Challoners. With some of our strongest players missing, our performance was not convincing; we were taken aback by the physicality and technical ability of the opposition,

and were fairly beaten 7-1. We had a successful cup run, reaching the semi-finals, via defeating Roundwood, again 3-0, and a bye into the next round. In the semis we came across our rivals,Verulam. We all knew it was going to be a tough game as we had already lost 3-1 last year to them. We started well and were by far the better team in the first half, holding them to a 1-1 draw at the break. The second half, however, did not go as planned. We started off with an injury and the rest of the half carried on downhill from there. The defence was very disorganised and we ended up conceding 5. After a successful year of very enjoyable football, on behalf of the team, I would like to thank Mr Eames-Jones for being a great manager and helping us become a very skilful and successful St Albans School football team.

Max Swan

Swimming In the pool at last

Photographs Thank you to Julie Slater, mother of Mike, who has provided many of our sporting photographs over the last few years. As Mike is in the U6 and will leave at the end of this year, we will be losing the services of his mother’s camera.

If any parent would like to contribute sporting photographs to the Publications Department, please email them to publics@st-albans. herts.sch.uk For print, photos should be a minimum of 1.5 Mb in size.

NJC

This year we were also able to enter the National Relay Qualifiers and take on Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys and Girls Schools combined with St Albans Girls School in a friendly, and host our first gala in over 40 years.

It looks as if swimming will go from strength to strength with the number of pupils swimming in the School on a continuous rise. The new pool is also a great attraction for local club swimmers who might consider joining the School.

TNR

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Sport

At the end of the season the Junior team finished 4th, scoring 19 more points than last year, while the Intermediate team finished 3rd, as did the Senior team. The Senior Girls’ team finished 7th out of 12 schools after entering only 2 events out of 6.

The Albanian 2013

In the swimming teams’ first season with their own pool and two training nights a week, there was a marked improvement in the level they competed at and in the numbers of pupils representing the School. Over the course of the season, teams at Junior, Intermediate and Senior level, as well as the first ever Senior Girls’ team, competed in the Herts League against 12 other schools. As the season progressed the personal best times for every swimmer were dropping and the top results started to flood in. Notable performances included Piers Dorward in the Junior breaststroke who came 1st in 5 out of 6 races; Robbie Lightowler in the Senior team racing against 6th form students and dominating the individual freestyle 50m; and the Senior Freestyle relay team who again dominated the league from start to finish with a series of wins. In his last year, having swum for each of the seven years he was in the School, the team captain Nick Shone led from the front, notching up four wins in the Senior individual butterfly, including a win in the final gala of the year.

Team Sports Results ST

ALBANS

2012-13

SCHOOL

Rugby

Sport

Team

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108

Cricket Played

Won

Draw

Lost

Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

1st XV

14

9

1

4

1st XI

25

17

1

7

2nd XV

12

9

1

2

2nd XI

8

7

0

1

3rd XV

12

9

0

3

3rd XI

7

4

0

3

4th XV

3

2

0

1

U15

15

11

1

3

U16

13

9

0

4

U15 B

8

6

1

1

U16 B

9

5

0

4

U15 C

4

1

0

3

U15

16

8

1

7

U14

14

6

1

7

U15 B

11

4

0

7

U14 B

9

2

1

6

U15 C

6

1

0

5

U14 C

6

3

1

2

U14

11

8

0

3

U14 D

2

1

0

1

U14 B

11

8

0

3

U13

13

9

0

4

U14 C

6

4

0

2

U13 B

7

4

0

3

U13

8

6

0

2

U12

14

4

1

9

U13 B

7

4

0

3

U12 B

6

0

0

6

U12

10

5

0

5

Totals:

138

75

7

56

U12B

10

3

2

5

Totals:

159

94

5

60

Hockey

Netball

Team

Played

Won

Draw

Lost

Team

Played

Won

Draw

Lost

1st XI

10

2

5

3

1st VII

10

3

0

7

2nd XI

7

6

0

1

2nd VII

5

2

0

3

3rd XI

6

1

1

4

Totals

15

5

0

10

U16

8

6

1

1

Football

U16 B

5

2

2

1

1st XI

13

10

0

3

U15

7

3

1

3

2nd XI

6

4

0

2

U15 B

6

3

0

3

U16

10

8

1

1

U14

9

1

2

6

U15

9

3

1

5

U14 B

6

2

1

3

U14

8

4

1

3

U13

5

2

0

3

U13

6

3

1

2

U13 B

6

5

0

1

U12

1

0

0

1

U12

2

1

0

1

Totals:

53

32

4

17

Totals:

77

34

13

30