school OP News news
OP NEWS Kenneth Tharp CBE (1978) was appointed Director of the Africa Centre, London in May.
Roger Harcourt (1958) has been elected
Kenneth’s role will include overseeing a major
as the British Shakespeare Association’s
capital development project and expansion of the
Honorary Fellow for 2018. A teacher for the
centre, which supports African culture, enterprise,
whole of his life, Roger has inspired thousands
art, music and education in the UK.
of young people with his experience and insights into Shakespeare.
Javid Abdelmoneim (1997) was nominated for a BAFTA
Graham Wade (1959) was named the
in the Features category
People’s Poet in the Sunday Times’s royal
for his work on the BBC2
poem competition. Graham's poem, Royal
programme No More Boys
Wedding, was published alongside that
and Girls: Can Our Kids Go
of the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.
Gender Free? Royal Wedding It is a time of happiness, no doubt, Nick Coleman (1978) released
Not just for them – the favoured few,
his third book, Voices: How a
But also for the common herd who view
Great Singer Can Change Your
As through a stained glass window
Life, earlier this year. The book is
Whatever comes and goes.
a study of the history of singing in the post-war period from
Mounted guard, limousines, cheering crowds,
an emotional perspective, and
The waving flags, we see it all,
was inspired by the author’s
And in our hearts we seek a kind of certitude,
reflections of the impact that
A reassurance we are vibrant and alive,
others’ singing has had on him
And through seeing visions of delight
as he loses his hearing.
We rejoice within the human hive. The day has come for us to savour secret dreams, Images of wish-fulfilment and desire, We watch the triple union of birth, wealth, and fame, And see the kindling of love’s sacred fire. We wish we could move closer to the flame, And yet the old illusions hold, In some strange way we feel we know the pair, And on this day their lives we share In a personal way, as if we all were there. We watch the screen intently as the play unfolds, The flickering emotions on her lovely face, The bridegroom’s arm slipped round her slender waist, How sweet, how normal, how sensitive they are, Reminding us of other weddings, and the way we were.
Toby, a film directed by Ashley Ogden
Once they are married and have sealed their fate,
(2008) won Best Indie Film at Brighton
They move off to whatever feasts and palaces await,
Rocks Film Festival. The film stars a
Only a fool would not wish them well, the very best,
number of Old Perseans and the trailer is
Fine children, long life, happiness, and all the rest.
available online at professorstamen.com. 15
