The Savilian
THE MAGAZINE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH GRAMMAR SCHOOL WAKEFIELD 2016
CONTENTS
SPORTS DAY
90 LEAVERS' BALL
50
The Savilian Editor: Alistair Rees
Editorial Assistants: Lizzie Hulme (Development Officer) Joshua Walters (Development Assistant) Student Editors: Gautam Mahapatra 13DJH Lakshiv Dhingra 13DJH
Design: WGSF Development Office Front Cover: Alex Twigg
Inside Cover: Harry Hofmann
Inside Back Cover: Vito Gueli-Parkin
Old Savilians subscription enquiries: lhulme@qegsss.org.uk
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THE YEAR IN FOCUS
ON STAGE
20
QEGS ON TOUR
32
CREATIVE
42
SOCIETIES & EVENTS
54
SPORT
92
END NOTES
THE SAVILIAN: THE MAGAZINE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH GRAMMAR SCHOOL WAKEFIELD 2016 PUBLISHED BY WAKEFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDATION © 2016 WAKEFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDATION IS A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE. COMPANY NO: 4258359 REGISTERED IN ENGLAND. REGISTERED OFFICE: 158 NORTHGATE, WAKEFIELD, WF1 3UF REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1088415
2016 | 3
THE ODE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH I TOM BRAIN 12ATP The Queen of England, the most powerful of all, No doubt made her greatest call, Not when she was defeating Spain But standing in Wakefield, in the rain!
So thank you, is what I'm trying to say, For letting me learn in my own way, Sitting here looking at you, quarter to nine, Each form gathering line upon line,
Mistakes, and error, ink and blot, That's the life of every schoolboy, that's our lot, Only if we never got to make any faults We'd be much worse, clown idiots dolts;
Achievements for the future, central To this was our queen and pivotal; For all these things she sees and has seen, Make Queen Elizabeth the First, our greatest queen.
For she founded this place, and her portrait stand Watchful, observant, over the school and its lands; And we look up, knowing her idea Was to build an educational fortress here.
And looking at her portrait we think of her; The successes she planned here still occur. Though it rains still as it always did, But like the rains, plentifully, this bid:
Welcome from the Head
WELCOME FROM THE HEAD I write this, sat at my computer, exactly a year to the day after the school inspectors (ISI) descended on us in 2015 for our six-yearly MOT. Four days later the SMT plus governors assembled nervously in the Spilsbury Room to hear ISI’s verdict. Although (rather frustratingly) we were all sworn to secrecy for a few weeks, I’m happy to report here that they were very kind to us, delivering “Excellent” verdicts in all eight sections. They were bowled over by the great enthusiasm and innate loyalty of QEGS boys: “The pupils’ attitudes are an outstanding feature of the school. They are effective independent learners, are well motivated and take great pride in their school.” Teachers, governors and parents played their part too in underpinning ISI’s judgements and, at risk of being seen to cherry-pick the best quotes from the final report, I feel this section captures that support network rather nicely:
“Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and caring, underpinned by mutual respect. Pupils at all stages express their appreciation of the co-operative, supportive learning environment. They acknowledge that their notable achievement and progress reflect the inspirational help given to them by their teachers.”
I remember briefing the common room at our next weekly Monday morning meeting. Despite my profuse praise for them, they were far more interested in that week’s school events – business as usual, we’ve got 700 boys to teach – probably tells you quite a lot about the old place! Talking of business as usual, I hope you enjoy reading through this, the latest edition of The Savilian which chronicles 2015/16 at QEGS. As you can see, there has been a heady mix of academic success, charitable fundraising, sport, the arts, QED and much more. For the fourth year running we made it to Twickenham for the NatWest rugby finals, this time for the showpiece event, the Under 18 Cup against mighty Bromsgrove. At 10-3 up, the Headmaster was getting distinctly over-excited and couldn’t keep still! Even though we eventually just missed out 10-18, I can’t remember witnessing such a high-quality game of schoolboy sport, played in just the spirit too – many congratulations to the squad, their coaches and the 1000-strong “black and gold” army of supporters who, yet again, made the pilgrimage down to HQ. That’s enough from me. I need to write an assembly to try and explain to the boys how a certain D. J. Trump has become the next US president, which should be interesting!
DNC
2016 | 5
THE YEAR IN FOCUS As we watch the summer sun set over another bustling year at QEGS, it’s almost impossible not to feel a sense of ‘we made it’. As usual, the school community was buzzing with life right from the go in September, with the boys quick to embrace the smorgasbord of activities on offer in their usual zealous manner. Throughout the 2015/16 academic year, QEGS struck a fine balance between tradition and innovation; the daily rhythm of academic studies was carefully intertwined with a number of novel opportunities for the students, not least as part of the school’s enrichment scheme, QED. It comes as little surprise therefore that QEGS, once again, nurtured and upheld
its legacy in a myriad of activities, all while maintaining its deep-seated commitment to boy-friendly pedagogy. Thus, while the summer does bring a collective sigh of relief, more importantly, it also provides a chance to reflect on what has been a massively successful year for the school. Most notable, perhaps, were the school’s achievements on the sporting front, as the QEGS conveyor belt continued to deliver individual
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excellence in addition to numerous remarkable team performances. The pinnacle of success lay in the ventures of the 1st XV rugby team who, under the able guidance of Mr Barker et al, advanced to the finals of the Nat West Schools Cup at Twickenham for the first time in over 15 years. Here, despite taking an early lead and stretching every sinew, the team narrowly lost out to the reigning champions, Bromsgrove School, in a very hard-fought match. The high standard of play was truly testimony to the QEGS squad’s immense hard work, desire and commitment, and we thank them for allowing us to share in such an incredible experience. Similar success was seen across the board with the U15s advancing to the last 16 of their national competition, and the U12s winning the Tait 10s without conceding a single point. Not wanting to be outdone, the U18 hockey team progressed to the latter stages of the National Cup – their efforts massively facilitated by a selection of boys, such as Sean Mahoney and Tom House, who held representative honours for both county and country. The year culminated in fine style with the muchanticipated hockey and cricket tour to Barbados. This exceptional opportunity gave boys the chance to experience the Caribbean culture and take part in a number of high-calibre fixtures against local sides. This, together with numerous athletic successes, thus suitably concluded what was a highly prosperous year for QEGS sport.
Music has always proven to be a pivotal aspect of life at QEGS and this year was certainly no exception, as the Music Department cultivated its high standards and delivered many of the highlights of the school calendar. The year began with the Young Composers’ Concert where, in an intimate setting, the school’s talented GCSE musicians directed live performances of their own original compositions. The evening was host to an eclectic mix of genres and instrumentation – an amazing breadth of repertoire, which very much acted as a precursor to the musical diversity witnessed at the Christmas Concerts soon after. This two-part extravaganza welcomed musical offerings from across the Foundation, and despite the strikingly warm outdoor temperatures, the musicians certainly left us all feeling rather festive. Highlights included
a rendition of Elton John’s ‘Circle of Life’ by a tinsel-bedecked Junior Concert Band, and a performance of ‘The Typewriter’, featuring a rather unconventional percussion section comprising a mechanical typewriter and indeed, a desk bell. Fast-forwarding a blurry four months, the musical season climaxed with the muchrenowned Summer Concerts. These provided both a much-needed perk in the pre-exam drone of school life, and also a perfect opportunity to bid adieu to the Year 13 musicians who had long graced the WGSF community with their musical excellence. We thank them for their longstanding commitment, safe in the knowledge that their positive influence will live on in the school’s younger musicians.
Mirroring the success of the Music Department, the theatrical scene at QEGS this year was grander than ever, with a superlative performance of Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ capturing the limelight. This intense tale of love, lust and vengeance featured a stellar cast of students from across the Foundation, with James Maskill and Sophie Farrar in the lead roles of Heathcliff and Cathy, respectively. Acting under the directorial eye of Mr Besford and alongside a masterful Sound and Lighting team, the cast broke stone hearts with a breathtaking
spectacle brimming with passion, energy and wonder. It was particularly encouraging to see younger pupils so ably embracing the major roles within the production; this goes to show that despite the departure of key senior thespians, such as Ben Black and Henry Woolhouse, for university, the future of QEGS Drama remains in very safe hands. This year was once again host to various charity events, as QEGS continued its open-handed generosity to numerous charitable organisations, such as the locally based Community Awareness Programme, Cancer Research UK and the Teenage Cancer Trust. The fundraising calendar kicked off in November, as the school welcomed back Old Savilian Will Cooper, the marketing manager of the Oddballs Foundation. In keeping with ‘Movember’ promotions of the past, he gave the boys an informative talk on testicular cancer – placing particular emphasis on dialogue and self-care – and encouraged them to invest in Oddballs’ quirky underwear line. Additionally, this year witnessed the second ever ‘Bag it, Beat it!’ campaign, a scheme initiated last year by Year 12 student André Captieux, in support of the British Heart Foundation. Here, hundreds of students donated bags of clothes, toys, and general bric-a-brac to the BHF’s High Street store, with a view to raising money in order to fund medical research into heart disease. André’s close association with the charity also led to the inception of the ‘CPR for Restart a Heart’ day, in which Y8 boys acquired essential lifesaving skills and gained exposure into the lives of paramedics. Over the following five months, the school community raised over £1500 for Guide Dogs for the Blind (subsequently gaining the opportunity to name its own dog), and began fundraising for the ‘Raise for
Life’ fayre, which took place in the first week of July. This annual extravaganza – featuring dozens of stalls, live music and the traditional football competition – welcomed pupils from throughout the Foundation, and once more proved to be a resounding success, as an emphatic total was raised for CRUK and the TCT. Special thanks must go to the Sixth Form RFL committee, who, through their commitment and tireless work, truly embodied the spirit, vitality and altruism that is integral to the culture at QEGS.
The school’s comprehensive efforts throughout the course of the year culminated in an exceptional display of academia from the senior pupils. 18th August 2016 proved to be a phenomenal day, with the departing Year 13s producing an incredible set of A2 results. Overall, an impressive 76% of the passes were at A*-B level, with 9 boys attaining an unprecedented 2 or more A*s. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of students – including numerous Oxbridge offer holders – went on to gain acceptance into their first-choice universities. In a similar vein, despite the national slide in top grades this year, QEGS students also delivered a solid performance at AS Level, setting them up for what will hopefully be a successful 2017. A week later, the Year 11s did not disappoint, with almost all boys attaining the minimum 5 passes (grade C and above), and 26 achieving straight A*/A grades in their subjects. This completed a triumvirate of outstanding results, which are testament to this brilliant group of students, and also to the remarkable staff here at QEGS. Therefore, it goes without saying that the school does owe many of its accomplishments – both academic and extra-curricular – to the highly
esteemed staff within it. Every year, just as the school welcomes new, learned academics, it bids goodbye to cherished teachers. This year was no exception, as the school said farewell to four incredible teachers. Mr O’Connor was especially admired and was a role model not only to his English and Drama students, but to all other pupils and staff within the institution. His calming voice of reason and kind approachable nature will be sorely missed, and we wish him well as he continues his teaching career at a school in Sheffield. We have every faith that he will continue to inspire students there, as he did here at QEGS. Mr Grieve, a loved persona within the Mathematics Department, will also be missed, not least for his persistent charisma, humour and idiosyncratic phrases. He has chosen to spend some time unwinding, and might now be found rambling in hills and countrysides around the world, while, of course, listening to alternative music. The Learning Support Department bid farewell to two incredible mentors: Mrs Booker and Mrs Young. They were both massively appreciated for the emotional and academic support they provided to boys at the Junior and Senior schools alike. Whilst Mrs Young has moved across the road to develop the learning support system at WGHS, Mrs Booker has retired after a long and immensely successful career. All of these teachers will be missed dearly, and each has made a sincere and important impact on the lives of students here at QEGS. Just as these teachers pursue new adventures lying in wait for them, QEGS too will embark on a fresh chapter. The upcoming academic year will inevitably present a number of challenges for staff and students alike, but it will also showcase the everimproving, flexible nature of QEGS. In the coming year, the school will begin developing more state-of-the-art facilities following the purchase of the Clayton site; the school will expand both the academic and non-academic curricula; but above all, the school will continue to provide a vital advantage in today’s educational landscape to all those fortunate enough to be part of this sensational community.
LAKSHIV DHINGRA 13DJH AND GAUTAM MAHAPATRA 13DJH
2016 | 7
LIZ YOUNG How would you describe your time at QEGS? My time at QEGS has been absolutely fantastic. I have loved working with all the boys’ schools and really enjoyed teaching boys from Y1 to Y13. The Y1’s are just so funny and it’s been a privilege helping them learn the basic skills of reading and writing which set them up for everything! I have also really loved seeing how the older boys mature and develop and am always in awe of what they achieve both academically and in their extra-curricular pursuits. I have enjoyed being involved in EPQ projects. The staff at QEGS are incredibly warm and friendly and work so hard and I will miss them very much. What was your fondest memory here?
I have so many great memories of QEGS. Lots of funny moments in LS, D of E trips, going to Twickenham, going on the Junior School ski trip (dealing with 13 vomiting boys on the journey back to the airport!); how could anyone forget that?!! What will you miss most at QEGS?
I really will miss everything about the school – the boys, the staff, the humour, the cookies and lunches. Just the general happy atmosphere around the place. Having worked in several schools I think QEGS is pretty special and unique in this respect. My son actually wishes it was a boarding school! (Hopefully, that’s not just a reflection on his home life!!). What do you hope to go on to do in the future?
In the future I hope to develop the Learning Support facility at WGHS so that all the pupils feel as supported as they possibly can and that they feel very positive about learning. I also want to further my qualifications in SEN so that I can do my job as well as possible……Seeing boys who love learning every day makes me want to do the same! A huge thank you to all the staff and boys at QEGS who have made my time here so happy and fun.
MATTHEW O'CONNOR Matt began at QEGS in September, 2005, joining us from Mount St Mary’s in Sheffield. He soon established himself as a firm favourite with staff and students alike; his warmth of manner and generosity enabled his pupils to feel very valued. In addition to his classroom teaching, he took on a number of areas of responsibility, including Assistant Head of Sixth Form, hockey, Drama, Chairman of the Common Room and Learning Support. Among his many virtues was an ability to connect with students personally, allowing them to realise their potential in a caring and supportive environment. He co-produced a number of productions during his time at QEGS, drawing on his passion for theatre, as well as previous experience with the RSC and specialist training workshops.
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These included The Real Inspector Hound, Romeo and Juliet, The Canterbury Tales, as well as Tales from the Island. With the latter, Matt himself first conceived of the project, using stories from Greek mythology, which enabled
students to rewrite for modern audiences. Several of his pupils have gone on to become professional actors, including Pearce Sampson, Adam Cunis, Sandy Murray, Alex Hurst and Tom Cotran. All of these boys can no doubt recall memorable Drama lessons with him, benefiting from his commensurate knowledge, as well as the fact the he often afforded them an opportunity to direct. Although he would never admit it, Matt is a polymath, comfortable with discoursing on a whole range of topics: whether philosophical matters, literature, theatre, current educational theory – or even mathematics! – Matt has the
gift of being able to communicate his learning with genuine enthusiasm, something his students will always be grateful for.
We wish Matt and his wife, Caroline, every success and happiness as Matt takes up a post at Sheffield High School for Girls, and they await the arrival of their first baby. Many long-lasting friendships have been formed in his time at this school, and he will always be spoken about warmly.
AJF/CRW
PERSONALITIES
JOHN GRIEVE We said goodbye to a long-serving member of the Mathematics Department in July - Mr John Grieve. Since starting at QEGS in January 2001, John distinguished himself with his own particular style in supporting the hundreds of Old Savilians who made up his classes over the years. He wanted the best outcome for each and every one of them, and it would be hard to find a more dedicated and hardworking teacher anywhere in the land - there will be many who owe him a debt of gratitude for his help in pushing themselves to attain those extra few marks! He contributed fully to school life, including running Outdoor Pursuits, the successful Climbing Club and innumerable Duke of Edinburgh’s expeditions. He also ably fulfilled the role of staff ‘beer monitor’ at the end of term functions!
He leaves us for a break from the classroom, and to spend some more time with his partner Cathy; he will continue to work in Mathematics as an examiner and tutor. John will also relish the prospect of spending some more time in his beloved outdoors and we know he will stay in touch with the school. We wish him all the best and thank John for his commitment over the years.
MF
JAYNE BOOKER 2016 | 9
Sam Beever, Head Boy 2015/16, is interviewed by Lakshiv Dhingra, Head Boy 2016/17, and Gautam Mahapatra, Deputy Head Boy 2016/17.
Sam Beever Head Boy
THE BIG IN What has the experience duties of the Head Boy - as a lot of younger students look of being Head Boy been up to them. I suppose it’s like for you? that, being a role model to The responsibility was pretty people down the school that I’ve hopefully made a bit of daunting at the start, to be honest. Sometimes you just an impact on their lives. want to let go, but you know Who has been your role model here at QEGS? there’s a reputation on the There are quite a few, but line - that of the school and that personally. The highlight if I had to pick one it’s got for me was probably Twickenham, with all the lads playing. I got very emotional when they lost and I remember it as though it were yesterday. Going down, wishing them “well done”, crying, going outside and seeing the flags and banners on the concourse… it was very moving. That was my proudest moment, undoubtedly.
heavy emotional stress and was thus missing deadlines, and having all manners of problems, and he sorted everything out for me. I really look up to him, I have a lot of trust in him to deliver the goods, and I can also have a laugh with him. That’s the sort of person I’d aspire to be like someday.
to be Mr. Palin. He’s got the balance right, getting his responsibilities right. He’s that one guy you can always have a laugh with - have a chat to - but if you have a problem, you can see him. For example, when my dad passed away, I was under
But also in my own year, I have been pushed on by competitive people. Looking at people like Patrick Nutton, who’s off to study History at Cambridge, and thinking “what can I do to be like him?”, “how can I make my essays better than his?” I sort
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What’s been your favourite experience?
It’s probably just being at QEGS, being around everyone, my friends, the support network here, the teachers and the pastoral care… it’s just made my school career so incredible that I’m going to be upset and emotional when I leave. I only joined in Year 9, but it’s become such an integral part of me that I’m going to miss it immensely. The Sixth Form was also pretty fun!
What memory will remain with you beyond your time here?
What have you given to the School during your time as Head Boy?
About 70,000 hours of car parking, probably. I know there’s the standard Parents’ Evenings, but more than that it’s been walking around the school and being a role model to people lower down the school, which is perhaps one of the most important
of thrive off people like him. People like that, like Tom Allott for example, prodding each other to do the best that we can.
Oh! Undoubtedly the rugby tour. Breaking my neck on the tour, to be honest. I can’t really forget about that, spending a day in hospital and missing my flight with all the lads. The funniest thing - turning up at the Cook Islands, neck in a brace,
getting to the game, the ball bounces and Tom Alderton catches it - and some guy full on puts him into the ground. I’m just looking at him, thinking “this was a good call - breaking my neck.” I had to mention that at Speech Day. Very memorable. Also when I shaved my head for Cancer Research. It was the time when people were doing this “no makeup selfie” thing and I was wondering what I could do.
I strive for - somewhere I’m not forced by circumstance. Without sounding arrogant, I think academic qualifications are easier to get than people skills - and I feel I’ve got significant social skills that I ought to capitalise on - which is why I feel executive level would suit me. Could you tell us a little more about the “Yale Experience”?
us some more about that? Land’s End to John O’ Groats, that was sort of the highlight of the whole cycling experience. It was for Heart Stroke Association, a charity quite close to my heart, because my dad passed away from it. I didn’t want anyone to have to go through what I did, because it was terrible, and I had the best time of my life doing it.
kind of about the stories we accumulate. There’s a lot of those embarrassing, tragic moments like that which are horrible at the time, but I remember for long after. Is there anything you would re-do if you had that opportunity? Yeah, perhaps, I would encourage myself to be less shy in Year 9, when I first joined. Everyone had
NTERVIEW I realised that removing make-up wouldn’t really raise many funds for me, so I decided to shave my hair off. I got quite emotionally scarred from doing it. I raised £650 for it, and that inspired Luke Gueli to do it as well and he raised £700 too, and thus there was this sort of ripple effect.
With American universities - they really want to know about you as a person. So, for example, we had the essays, where I was asked to “talk about anything”. I’ve got 650 words to write something, so it has to be really concise and to the point, and it’s really difficult as a whole. School gave as much support as it could, but now they What do you think the know a lot more than they future holds in store did at the time, having had for you? me go through the process. They were learning with me, Well, Yale didn’t work out. and we always talked, and Piece of advice - anyone had meetings, considering looking at doing the SATs, whether we had learnt don’t do it! QEGS lads, we’re anything new. I know it a bit better at science, and didn’t work in the end, so I’d definitely recommend maybe I strived too high, but doing the ACT. Just putting I loved the experience. it out there. I took it on the I picked Yale, largely because chin, and it’s making me of the reputation, but in strive harder for Cambridge February, we went to New and other universities. I am York and I kind of fell in going to try to have the best love with Newhaven; it is gap year possible, and after a beautiful city. Talking to that as long as I get a decent the people there, Yale had degree from university, I become their home, and I don’t know. I’m not one for a kind of wanted that too. Next mundane life, a bit more for year, though, I look forward spontaneity and I’d like to thoroughly to applying to go into a job which involves Cambridge for History. some control over my life. I feel I have the responsibility Over the years, you’ve to lead other people, and so been really into executive level is something cycling. Could you tell
been at the school from Mulberry House, and I was so caught up in trying to fit in that I wasn't able to be who I was really. But over the coming years, I sort of learnt that QEGS allows you to be whoever you want to be, essentially. You’re not restricted to trying to fit into something, it doesn’t matter how weird people might think you are, or anything. Because there will always Outside of school, what be someone who is as daft or quirky as you are. So do you do? I’d advise anyone coming in - don’t try to be some Cycling pretty much takes sort of “absolute legend”, up my weekends and any because everyone is trying free time I have, I kind of try to capitalise on, because to be that one person, and if everyone is trying to be the there’s so much revision same person, that’s boring. to do. I’m trying to get into running and I was intending Be yourself, and you’ll find yourself happy, with some to do a Half Marathon on friends that you’ll keep for April the 10th and I got it planned, paid for, got trained life. This is one of the things that really impressed be for it, and I was ready for it entirely. Went to a party the about the ‘Old Sav’s’ Dinner, night before and accidentally with some lads, who were 80, and they’re coming in slept through the entire and talking to their friends marathon. Which was a they had met in Year 7. And bit of a shame, really. I will that’s what I love about run another half marathon though, because that was so QEGS. You make your friends disappointing. It’s a story to forever here. That’s what is awesome about QEGS, the tell though, which is why I non-conformity. It allows you like putting myself in those kind of circumstances. Life’s to be who you want to be. I cycled from Land’s End to my doorstep, and then pretty much went straight to Prom, took a day off, and then rode through the next day. The club I cycle with, with Mr Rees and Ollie Rees, and that lot, and they all came with me for part of the trip, and it made it so much easier psychologically. I was doing it with my dad’s best mate, Richard.
2016 | 11
ON STA
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AGE
MUSIC REPORT 2015/16 ISAAC COOPER 12MJO The first performance of the year was given in early October by Mantabile, well drilled by Mr Varley, at Information Morning in early October before the Headmaster’s address and was very well received by the assembled masses. Mr Varley then took his now traditional tour of the school with his “troupe” of African drummers to the delight of both staff and visitors alike. This left the Music Department in the hands of Mr Waters who once again did a sterling job in setting up Jam Hubs, talking to parents whilst also somehow directing the Junior Swingband at the same time; I don’t know how he does it!
From the excitement of Information Morning to the sombre mood of the Remembrance Day service by the memorial. Luke Shepherd-Lees gave an excellent performance of the “Last Post” and “Reveille” despite the cold and the strong breeze whilst I, on the other hand, got the much easier job of playing in the warm dry interior of the Junior School hall. Later on in November we received a visit from concert pianist and old friend of Mr Varley, Clare Hammond, who gave a superb concert in the Elizabeth Theatre and then embarked on a series of workshops for the Foundation’s pianists. The concert was described by Mr Meredith as “one
2016 | 13
of the most enjoyable period 5s I’ve ever spent at school” and many of the audience agreed, including former QEGS music teacher Mr Ian Lenihan, who paid us a surprise visit together with some of his pupils from Ackworth School. Clare took us on a musical journey from Beethoven to the unusual sounds of 20th Century Russia and inspired all of the students who came to listen.
In Mid November we hit the first major event of the year so far; the Composers’ Concert. 13 original compositions written by our GCSE students (part of their coursework) were performed on the night to the delight of the packed Elizabeth Theatre. This concert also has the added pressure of being recorded and sent to the moderator un-edited and as usual the musicians did not let the side down. There was something for everyone, and whether it was the funk offerings of Messrs Winter and Schweidler or the Brass Band delights of George Hough, the cheesy love songs of Archie Daniel and Harry Shelbourne or the atmospheric tribute to old boy of the school and Wakefield chorister Mr John Scott by Isaac Brocklehurst, the musicians of the Foundation played them with great distinction and this created a memorable evening. All the hard work of the composers was rewarded with some excellent marks when the results were announced in August. Only 4 days afterwards it was time for the annual invasion of Wakefield Cathedral for Founder’s Day. It was a delight to be in the Cathedral for the service although the ‘goalmouth’ end was closed due to refurbishments and it meant that a specially constructed staging was erected for the choirs of Foundation Chorus and Mantabile. The
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Brass Group, together with obligatory timpani and clash cymbals, were mingled with parts of the audience, providing a surround sound effect for the onlookers. There were wonderful performances from Mrs Preston’s Foundation Chorus, O Clap Your Hands by Vaughan Williams, and the spellbindingly beautiful unaccompanied ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ by Morten Laurisden, which was sung with great sensitivity by Mr Varley’s Mantabile, not what you’d expect from a bunch of 15-year-old boys! The Father of our own Headmaster, the Reverend John Craig, former precentor of Leicester Cathedral, who delivered a thought-provoking and amusing address, keeping 800 boys attentive in the process, led the service. The service was ended by the excellent Senior Brass Group and, despite the lead trumpet player having severely fatigued lips, an arrangement of Praise to the Lord, the Almighty by Richard A Nichols provided a rousing finale to the ceremony.
Next up in the seemingly endless series of events came the Carol Service, this time in the QE Hall due to the refurbishments at the Cathedral. Everyone’s favourite carols were played by Mr Moore on the piano and the Senior Brass Group with the sopranos in Foundation Chorus and the lead trumpet player screaming out the last verse descants. Singing from Foundation Chorus and Viva Voce punctuated readings given by students and all present were treated to a musical feast of items from Berlioz to Chilcott. The Senior Brass Group treated us to something different with a funky version of Deck the Halls to round off the service. Before the marathon event that is the
Christmas concerts, the Girls Brass Group (with honorary member Isaac Cooper) accompanied Viva Voce in giving the old folks of Wakefield some Christmas cheer that was somewhat dampened by the awful jokes coming out of Viva Voce! And then the big event finally arrived! Over two nights the pupils treated the audience to some outstanding music and showmanship. With suitably cold weather outside the QE Hall the Christmas concerts were packed with festive cheer and delight. Senior Concert Band, directed by Mr Varley, played A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson, which is a Christmas favourite with concert bands, brass bands and orchestras alike. The orchestra played the rousing Berceuse and Finale by Stravinsky with special mention going to Alex Skinner who delivered a performance on the timpani that would have impressed the percussionists of the Berlin Philharmonic! But the highlight of the two nights was Wind in the Willows who teamed up with Mr Varley, Mr Meredith and Mrs Bentham to play The Typewriter; this was hilarious to watch and I’m sure even more fun to play. Well done to all involved with the concerts, particularly the Stage Crew who, as ever, delivered a slick professional service to the awaiting performers. The whole concert was an overwhelming success and brought the calendar year to a fitting finale. After a quiet January the Music Department welcomed the RAF Big Band to give a show in the QE hall. With a packed audience from Junior School boys to A level students the band took us through the whole idiom of Jazz, from Neal Hefti’s classic Cute to the modern sounds of Gordon Goodwin’s Count
Bubba. They finished off the gig with the Maynard Ferguson version of Hey Jude which gave the lead trumpet player, a former student of high note trumpet specialist Bobby Shew, a chance to show off his outrageous skills. This was a brilliant way to kick-start the new term.
Then came the eagerly anticipated QEGS Musician of the Year Competition in an all new format for 2016. With both the Intermediate and Senior Classes playing in the final it provided a feast of entertainment for the audience. Sebastian Lister, who played the third movement of James Rae’s Sonatina on saxophone, won the intermediate class in a very tight contest. Then came the big hitters in the second half; they provided a rather large headache for the adjudicator Dr Stephen Muir, Professor of Performance Studies at Leeds University. All 6 performances were of the highest quality but it was Isaac Cooper who eventually prevailed with his performance of Arm Arm Ye Brave from Handel’s great oratorio Judas Maccabaeus. The evening also saw the first performance of the new barbershop group set up by a group of Sixth Form boys which helped lift the tension before the winner was announced. A great evening of music making and the QEGS Music competition of 2017 is undoubtedly one not to be missed! This was swiftly followed by the Big Sing on Sunday 20th March. Held biennially, The Big Sing is an all-comers choir open to anyone who has a connection with the WGS Foundation - parents, teachers, pupils, governors, friends… the list is all-inclusive! This year, over 50 singers visited the world of the Musical and over the course of 5 gruelling two hour rehearsals during February and March,
ably directed by Mr. Meredith, they practiced songs from Sweet Charity, The Lion King, Chicago, Les Miserables and Me and My Girl. For many of the singers, their last experience of choral music was at school, and they have had to overcome many searching questions. Will I be good enough? Will I be brave enough? Will I be able to get child care? On the day, in front of a large and appreciative audience, the Big Sing choir were joined by the fabulous Hepworth Band (who have just won a coveted 3rd place in the Yorkshire area brass band championships) as well as Foundation pupils Hannah Thomson, Juliet Pepper, Charlotte Brown and Philip Schweidler who all gave confident and musically expressive performances as soloists. The choir gave a spirited and technically assured performance of the songs they’d studied, holding their own with the experienced banders and soloists and with many determined to continue their singing in the future. The next Big Sing event – ‘Music from the Movies’ - will take place in 2018; make a note in your diaries! A concert in Wakefield Cathedral was the first event of the summer term. The King’s Men, an excellent unaccompanied small male voice choir is made up of members of the word famous King’s College Cambridge choir. Critics from The Times, BBC Music and, the fiercest of them all, Mr Waters, have all given excellent reports of their “virtuosic and balanced singing.” We were very fortunate that as part of their tour they chose to perform to a packed Wakefield audience, in part because one of their number is former QEGS student - James Jenkins - who left three years ago and is now studying music on a choral scholarship at this illustrious college.
James is loving his singing more than ever and fondly remembers his time in the Music Department.
On the subject of Old Savilians who have played in the Senior Brass Group it has been a very good year for two of our former trombonists, Rory Ingham and Jacob Cooper. Jacob, after deciding physics wasn’t for him, has gained access to the Guildhall Conservatoire to study jazz trombone - a great achievement. Rory Ingham, who left QEGS three years ago, now studies Jazz trombone at the Royal Academy of Music and has recently been endorsed by Rath Trombones. Rath supply some of the world’s best trombonists, including Doncaster’s Dennis Rollins, so it is a great testament to Rory for getting this sponsorship.
And finally we move on to the summer concerts, which were oddly held at the end of April. The audiences were treated to a varied programme of music ranging from Bach to Bowie and Joplin to Jackson. These concerts were a tribute to the large cohort of Year 13 students who are leaving us to go and spread their wings. The Junior Swingband rocked the audience out with a selection of Michael Jackson songs and the wonderfully summery Foundation Chorus sang some of the Beach Boys best songs. The concerts were ended by funk band Fizzy Milk, directed by Henry Atkinson, who played the title theme from the film Whiplash to the delight of the crowd. The very difficult piece was the perfect way to end to concerts.
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As if that was not enough for the year, Mrs. Bentham decided to organise and put on the Key Stage 3 music competition, held in the Elizabeth Theatre, on Thursday June 23rd. After many auditions from a host of Year 7, 8 and 9 musicians, the final brought together the best performances, ranging from viola concertos to drum kit rock songs.
Stand out performances included Year 7 Alejandro Herrera, playing the drum kit, Year 9 Hugo Sinclair, who performed 2 pieces on the trumpet and cello, Adam Priest, who sang a very confident version of Wonderwall, Year 7 pianist Rohan Bhimsaria, Year 8 clarinettist
Jacob Lonsdale and trumpeter Akeliesh Gairola. The adjudicator, WGSF’s singing teacher Paul Dewhurst, had the unenviable task of singling out a winner, but he decided on Year 9 viola player and all-round musician Sam Meredith with his performance of a Telemann viola concerto as the outstanding musician on the night. Well done to all who entered and to Sam for winning this prestigious award. A very busy year, as always, for the Music Department, with some extremely memorable moments, performances and experiences. Well done to all staff and students involved.
XMAS CONCERT
SUMMER CONCERT
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FOUNDERS' DAY
COMPOSERS' CONCERT
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WUTHERING HEIGHTS
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QEGS ON TO YEAR 12 & 13 POLITICS TRIP SARAH ROBINSON (WGHS) We started our journey with the traditional scrabble for who gets the seats with a table on the train to London. After a two hour journey we arrived at King’s Cross Station, where in the true London fashion a mass of people walked very quickly and then played sardines on the tube and with only the occasional problem with tickets, we arrived at the hotel. We then had the opportunity to explore London for a couple of hours. Many of us took the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping on Oxford Street: we enjoyed the wonderful Christmas lights and bought a few gifts too. In the evening we went in search of supper at Chiquitos in Leicester Square. Here we all enjoyed Mexican styled foods, with Nachos being the favourite item. The most memorable part of the evening was sorting the bill – the pile of change was so large that I think Smaug would be proud off it! We then ventured out into London at night seeing floodlight Trafalgar Square and Christmas stalls in Leicester Square.
On the Monday I woke to the sirens that constantly play in London, and an uninspiring grey blanket of cloud. A full English breakfast improved everyone’s mood and set us up for the busy day. We walked past many London sights: Trafalgar Square, the Horse Guards Parade, the Women of World War Two Memorial, 10 Downing Street, The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey on our way to the Politics Conference, the whole purpose of our trip.
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OUR
The Conference took place in the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, which is a beautiful grand building (and features in the film ‘Calendar Girls’!), and really close to the House of Commons for the MPs who were coming to speak to us.
The first speaker was John Bercow MP, who explained his role as Speaker in the House of Commons. He has been part of recent reforms in particular having a process for backbenches to ask ministers question on an urgent matter that has suddenly or unexpectedly occurred. He was followed by Chris Grayling MP, who is the Leader of the House of Commons, Douglas Carswell MP, who is the Westminster Leader of UKIP, Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party and Nadine Dorries MP, who was passionate about a current piece of legislation she was trying to pass to improve the safety of fancy dress costumes. One of the highlights was the appearance of Dan Jarvis (Labour), who is the Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central, who gained appreciation from several of our group celebrating their ‘Barnsley Pride’. He gave a well-planned, eloquent speech that explained why he came into politics and what he thinks are the great political challenges facing our generation. Alan Duncan MP (Conservative) has had a long history within the Houses of Parliament, previously having held several different positions in the shadow cabinet, as well as being the first Conservative MP to come out as homosexual.
After his brief talk the floor was opened to questions, where Josh Skyes, one our students was able to ask, “How can you justify spending millions of pounds on trident but cut welfare spending by 13% affecting people who need it most?” In answer to this, Mr Duncan talked about the need to have secure defence of the nation in uncertain times. Students from other schools asked a number of questions about bombing in Syria as this was a current unanswered political dilemma. Finally we hopped on to the tube, then a train home, with much to discuss after a long and interesting day. Thanks to the staff – Mr Davies, Mr Rees and Mrs Palin – for accompanying us on this trip.
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PARIS ART TRIP The great thing about the Paris trip is the way that time seems to expand to fit such a very hectic four day schedule. An early Monday morning start from Wakefield Westgate and a seamless journey on Eurostar brought our group of Sixth Form artists to Paris in time for a late lunch. Hotel check-in and straight off to the Tuillerie Gardens and the Musée de L’Orangerie. The evening brought a colourful trip to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. A tired but good humoured group snaked their way back to the hotel, on foot. Saturday, we were up and out early into a crisp, sunny Parisian morning, heading for the Musée d’Orsay. A brisk al fresco lunch on the banks of the Seine was followed by a river cruise, a trek to the Warhol exhibition at the Musée d’Art Moderne and an evening visit to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Wednesday was a challenging day with some pretty hefty walking. The morning began with getting to the Musée du Louvre in time for ‘doors-open’ and the crowded gallery was particularly tiring. Most found plenty to look at and, by lunchtime, collapsed in a linear heap at the rendezvous. The high spot of the afternoon was the Musée National Picasso which the majority agreed was a superbly presented gallery that made sense of Picasso’s work, even to the more sceptical. On the walk to Notre Dame and the Ile de la Cite, we stumbled on an immaculate 1950s pink Cadillac which aroused interest and was photographed enthusiastically.
Thursday morning was time for a spot of shopping and a visit to the Pompidou Centre. Although the display included challenging, political or issues based multi-media work alongside a tremendous collection of paintings, the Pompidou was the most popular gallery. Staff at our hotel remembered the previous trip for our students’ impeccable behaviour and good manners and it has to be said that this visit was no exception.
PD
THINGS WE DISCOVERED IN PARIS: • • • • •
Harry Clark doesn’t like boats. Jacob Glover doesn’t like Picasso. Jack Freeman likes secret societies. Jack Wright likes expensive designer labels. Ben Summers goes surprisingly quiet in France. • Alex Twigg likes the Metro. • Jack Garside enjoys speaking French, in France.
LATIN TRIP Nearly 40 pupils crossed the Pennines in mid-November to learn about the Romans in Britain, and specifically in the Roman town of Chester. Accompanied by Mr. Wood and Mr. Dean, they visited the Grosvenor Museum, enjoying an education session about archaeology, a tour of the visible remains of the city accompanied by a Roman soldier in full legionary uniform, and visits to the two Roman galleries in the museum.
Looking at real artefacts, thinking about real people and their lives in the first century A.D. brought Latin to life on a bitterly cold day. Plans are afoot for a repeat “invasion” at the same time next year.
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CDD
PARIS On Saturday morning after arriving, we drove through Paris on our way to the Eiffel Tower and learned about some of the monuments that we passed on our way. When we arrived at the spectacular Eiffel Tower we journeyed up the 669 steps, which was tiring but totally worth it; when we reached the second stage we enjoyed the marvellous view of Paris and snacked on some overpriced Macaroons.
After descending the Eiffel Tower we enjoyed walking through the streets of Montmartre, seeing all the artists drawing portraits and visiting the shops, while eating ice-creams! Inside the Church of Sacre-Coeur it was very interesting to see the wonderful stained-glass windows, statues and engravings.
The next day, when we turned up at Disney Land everybody branched off into their own groups. The rides were exciting and fun and made us scream. One of the best rides was Space Mountain – it was dark and full of noise with flashing lights. It was a fabulous experience and I would really like to go again. The accommodation at PGL was just what we needed. The
rooms were comfortable and we had a few good nights’ sleep. We ate breakfast and dinner at PGL and they provided a baguette for lunch with a filling of our own choice. We also enjoyed lots of activities there, such as ‘Capture the Flag’ football, swimming and much more. We were kept very busy!
On the day we were leaving, we visited a war memorial called Vimy Ridge, where we learned about World War One and saw hundreds of names, commemorating the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during WW1. On the trip, the school staff were extremely helpful and kind, always pointing us in the right direction if we weren’t sure what to do. It was great to spend a few days with friends from school and an awesome way to end our school year.
The trip was a huge success and I would recommend it to boys who haven’t visited Paris before.
James Butterfield 7NJA
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NICE
At the start of the October half-term, 27 boys and girls from Year 11, along with 4 members of staff, took part in a language immersion trip to Nice. The following are diary entries compiled by Chris Turton and James Maskill. SUNDAY Having gone through customs, we took the opportunity to stretch our legs through duty free, before flying off to Nice. Having landed and picked up luggage, we waited in arrivals to try and find our host family for the next week. Our host was very nice, and having spoken with others on the trip, there are certainly no complaints about hospitality.
MONDAY Having been given breakfast and issued the day's packed lunch, we make our way through the centre of Nice to the language school. Being able to wake up and walk out the front door into the morning scene of a French city is a fantastic experience for those used to suburban life, and while walking past boulangeries and pattiseries, the journey to the language school isn't an issue. The school itself is down a street coming off from a large white church, and it's there where we spend the next few hours. The classes, made up of several from both schools, went through introductions of themselves,
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and then some French vocab and games. The teacher conducts the lessons entirely in French and this really helps with pronunciation. After lunch it's time to begin a guided tour of Nice - visiting the old town and learning about the various famous Nice-born figures. We then walk to the coast, and climb to a waterfall overlooking the city. Following this, we travel back into the old streets of the centre, and are left to our own devices until we make our way back to our apartments.
TUESDAY We enjoy another traditional French dish (pain au chocolat!) and join the others at the language school at 9 am. We go through pictures from the day before, discussing the relevant French vocab while having the chance to show off our photographic skills (or lack of). Following lunch, we take a scenic route around the coastal mountains in order to reach the local 'usine de fragonade'. Having seen the various techniques used to produce the artisan bars, creams and other perfumed concoctions, as well as trying our hand at detecting the foundation scents of flowers, beans and woods - we are offered the chance to buy some of the products. After this, we ascend to the hilltop village of Eze, in which a garden overlooks the entire area: spanning from Nice and the ocean, to
the mountains and villages. Within this, paths wind through statues and exotic plants, making for a truly unique experience. We then return to Nice, having been issued with a vial of complementary perfume, a scent which quickly pervades the whole coach, making for a very fragrant journey.
WEDNESDAY The following day we get up, breakfast ourselves in the French fashion (sitting in the kitchen facing the city as the coffee brews behind us) and head off in the (relative) morning chill to lessons. Today a famous French film of the misadventures of 'Petit Nicolas' awaits us, lending itself to a more applied understanding of the language. After lunch we head to the station and embark on our sortie to neighbouring Antibes. We socialise and walk the length of the port - looking (perhaps enviously) on the luxury yachts of the other half. Free time following our tour allows for further exploration of the streets of the town, and for some the chance to visit the MusĂŠe de Picasso, detailing his life and the impact of his work. When we arrive at the station, we split into the now well-established social groups and enjoy some time roaming around early evening Nice.
THURSDAY The next day’s excursion sees us take the train again, this time, however, heading east on a sea-facing route which takes us to Monaco's capital - Monte-Carlo. Here, we are met with what seems to be a walk-through painting of luxury: supercars, ornate stone buildings, fountains and avant-garde architecture adorns what must be one of the most affluent places in the world. Walking a stretch of the grand-prix circuit, we head for the palace which overlooks the city and the bay, a location originally taken by the cunningness of a deceptively disguised pirate. A mention here must go to our tour guide, Nono, whose French charm and eccentricity has brought us enjoyment and interest from the Place Messéna to the Hotel du Paris.
FRIDAY Our final day as proper Niçois residents starts off like any other - the same old sweeping view of the skyline and yet another pot of freshly made coffee before we go to the language school. Today, we look around the local market to answer questions based on it (the prices, open days etc.) which encourages us to seek out actual French conversation. When we return, we are presented with language certificates to mark our week's progress, and conclude our language lessons for the week. For a relaxing ending, we plan to go bowling after lunch, and take a short tram ride in order to reach the venue. We have two games and - contrary to the atmosphere at the start of the week - everyone finds themselves in mixed groups of guys and girls, many who had not spoken to one-another before the trip. Our free time in the evening allows us to take a walk back through the Niçois centre - trying the much-famed ice-cream in the old town as we pass it. We use the evening for packing (a chore made easier for many who didn't bother to unpack in the first place) and enjoy a final French dinner before going to bed. SATURDAY Saturday offers us the chance for a lie-in: our normal routine of a pre7:30 alarm is suspended as our only commitment is to the midday minibus to take us to the airport. My friends and I use this opportunity to go to the beach and get a drink at a cafe on the Promenade des Anglais. The ‘nice’ weather which we had enjoyed all week was still with us, and so the whole experience was blindingly bright and enjoyably warm. We then walk back to our apartment - and getting our bags and leaving a 'merci' we wait for the minibus outside. The rest runs smoothly: the minibus takes us to the airport, return flight to Luton, where we take a coach back to the same girls' school bus stop from which we left on Sunday - a day which seems much more than a week ago. Thanks to James and Chris for that account. The MFL Department’s new exchange with a lycée in Valence in the SouthEast of France will feature in the next edition of The Savilian. More linguistic and cultural adventures await!
THG
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We originally heard about the Pingree exchange opportunity in October 2015 and it immediately received plenty of interest, with numerous QEGS and WGHS students applying. With only a limited number of places, however, only 8 boys and 7 girls were successful in getting on to the trip. We then waited in anticipation to see who would be staying with us for the UK leg of the trip and, finally, after Christmas when we received their profiles, we were all very happy with our partners. The aim was to match us up with people of similar personalities who shared
with the majority of teachers. Although not quite the Hogwarts they had in mind from the media, I don't think any of them were disappointed with the world they found behind our gates. They spent the Thursday shadowing us as well, but that wasn't all they spent their week doing. In anticipation for their arrival, a great deal had been prepared for them to try - a smorgasbord of Yorkshire attractions filled up their other 3 weekdays. On Tuesday they went to
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the same interests, and from speaking to everyone, it is agreed that this was done very well. Following this, the ‘English lot’ met up several times to get know each other prior to their arrival and this soon became a regular event on a Friday lunch time in L1. What’s more, no time was wasted in adding the Americans on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, and there was a flowing group chat on Messenger in no time. This meant that we could constantly stay in contact with the Americans for the following months as they excitedly waited to visit. Finally, the big moment came when, after huddling in the Games Field car park, the Pingree students, along with their chaperones (teachers), arrived after their exhausting journey from Boston. Having being awake for 20 hours or so, you wouldn’t have believed their excitement and eagerness to explore the area, so we split off to all corners of Yorkshire. One group visited Meadowhall where, to everyone’s disbelief, the Americans had their very first Nandos - and from their reactions, it definitely won’t be their last! Another one got to experience a truly British atmosphere at a Castleford Tigers rugby match, which I’m sure opened their eyes to the rowdiness of Yorkshire fans after a couple of pints. However, the main attraction definitely seemed to be the Sculpture Park where many of us convened to have a leisurely walk in the open countryside. By the end of the day, it’s fair to say that all of the Americans were shattered and so they decided to get some rest before the following week began. Overall, it was a great first day of their visit!
On the Monday, the Americans delved straight into the everyday life of a WGSF student. We started by going to morning assembly at the girls’ school - their high choral singing as much an eye-opener for the Savilians used to the morning grunt of QEGS hymns as it was for the exchange students. When it finished, they had the opportunity to follow us round our day at school - taking in an unadulterated view of our daily life. The teachers all seemed thrilled to have the opportunity to show their ability in front of some new faces and the students also appreciated the chance. From talking to them, it appears as though the classroom situation is far less formal with them, with no uniforms and first-name-basis in action
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Leeds, taking in the Yorkshire Playhouse Theatre, The Royal Armouries and Trinity (probably considered cute next to their mega-malls and sky-scraping department stores). As lovers of the performing arts, all the students found the Playhouse to be a fantastic opportunity to experience English acting, with a Q&A with the actors allowing them to explore the inner-workings of the theatre. On the Friday, a trip down the mines at the National Coalmining Museum instilled a sense of the industrial and
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hard-working Yorkshire we know so well - although I doubt pictures of coalfaces and tunnelling equipment was particularly the experience of which they were dreaming. They were then taken to the Hepworth Museum at the other side of Wakefield and they were given the challenge of producing some artwork based on their observations of the sculpture and paintings on display. Hopefully, the best few will now be hanging in the art department as a token of their visit. Walking back up through the centre of Wakefield to school must have been unforgettable
on our tour of one of the most historically fascinating cities in the country. We were taken back through roughly 2000 years of fires, revolts, and revolutions, centring on the Minster and leaving us with a plethora of modern-day wonders - such as the yearly mystery plays and the bar-walls walk. Leaving the Minster afforded us just over an hour to take in as much as we could of the city’s twisting roads and curiosity shops. With some of the more local Savilians acting as tour-guides, we managed to show the Americans the famous Shambles Street, where almost everyone
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came away with a bag-full of traditional English sweets. We then visited the National Railway Museum and spent a few hours exploring the vast collection of locomotive paraphernalia from the last few centuries - from ornate dining cars to train-line managers' handbooks. When we finally finished there, we headed back home after a successful group day out.
Our days seldom finished with the school bell, however. On most evenings, we found ourselves around at someone's house playing games or playing football in Thornes Park. Go-Karting was a big hit for many (and literally for some) when half of the group headed down after school to burn rubber in what evolved to be a very heated 40 laps of the track. Despite the crashes endured there, everyone enjoyed our communal meal on the final night. We chose the Chinese buffet as the venue for our last supper, and, having convinced them to accommodate a group of 30, we settled in for a very nice final evening.
for a group used to the clean streets and angular architecture of Boston, for one reason or another!
This leaves us with one day unaccounted for – Wednesday - and our whole group trip around York. While the rest of the school piled on to Twickenham support busses, we filled a coach in the morning to take us North to a very successful day out (comparatively, at least!). The Minster was our first stop
On the Saturday morning, we all gathered at Westgate station for an hour to say our goodbyes to the Americans before they headed off down to London. Although our new friends were setting off so soon, there was a definite cheerfulness amongst the group as we recollected all that had happened in the last week and even started planning what we’d do on the return leg in October. We wouldn’t see one another for 7 months so as you could imagine there were many selfies and group photos taken (mainly by the Americans) before they departed, and it was clear that no one really wanted them to leave. Eventually, however, they had to board the train and they set off to London. Everyone is really looking forward to the Boston leg of the trip and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us when we get there. In fact, they already seem to have some pretty cool stuff planned for us, and just seeing them again will be great fun. What’s more, Pingree School sounds like a very welcoming and relaxed place - and if the others are anything like our exchange students, I’m sure we’ll all really enjoy our time in America! The return leg in October 2016 will feature in the next edition of The Savilian.
KF
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ANGLING TRIP TO POWYS DAY 1 The first day of the QEGS 2016 Angling Trip was off to an excellent start, with the entire group in a rush to erect their tents before one of many torrential rain storms began. After the rain subsided and the tents were put up, it was time to start the fishing. For most, it was a less than stellar day with just everybody catching nothing other than a couple trees and some small roach. But the run-away best fisherman of the day was young Stefan Opacic, catching upwards of twenty fish. Because of this great performance, he earned the honour of wearing the coveted “Angler of The Day” cap. DAY 2 The second day started with bacon and sausage sandwiches for all, and the group was eager to get started as the destination for the day was Weston Pools, a fishery with small ponds full of carp and barbel, and the famous Clay Pit. After a quick stop to the tackle shop where everyone bought the necessary bait and additional tackle that may help them catch big, we set up at Jack’s Pool. It was a good day, with everybody catching, which made it seem like choosing a winner of the cap would be a difficult task. Then Louis Emmerson managed to land a 9lb carp, which took everyone by surprise, including Louis himself when the fish nearly dragged his rod into the water.
DAY 3 The third day of the trip was without doubt the mostanticipated because we were going to fish at the Clay Pit. Connor Field and Ben Parkin saw plenty of success here on the previous trip, and so we were eager to replicate that success. The day started with the worst rainfall of the trip, nearly soaking through some people’s tents. But that eventually subsided, and with it we were off. While everybody once again caught something and so everybody was happy, but the definite angler of the day was young Harry Thornton, who caught not just one but several double figure fish, the biggest supposedly being 12lbs. The feat was made more impressive by the fact that nobody knew if the fish could have pulled him in rather than the other way around. DAY 4 The fourth day of the trip started well, with the sun finally showing up
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and staying around for the entire day.
After breakfast, the group split into teams for the infamous match between Team Benn and Team Gibb. The exact rosters of each team isn’t necessary, but suffice to say Mr Benn lost and in doing so missed out on the opportunity to win three on the trot, so do with that what you will, but it has to be said that it was a hard day’s fishing and a good effort by both teams, with the final weigh-in coming down to only a couple of pounds. Because of his invaluable contribution to the Mr. Gibb’s team, including a 1.5lb roach that probably put them ahead, Luke Chapman earned the privilege of wearing the cap.
DAY 5 On the final fishing day of the trip, after packing up all nonessential items to make the job easier the next day and another hearty meal of haggis, mushrooms and the customary sausage and bacon, we decided to visit Weston Pools one more time, but this time we fished at the Stretton Pond. It was once again a sunny and warm day, and so we were all content to just have a nice, easy day fishing in the sun.
ANGLING PARTY Adam Woodgate 13DRD
Thomas Hinchliffe 9LAS
Jasper McGuire 11GAC
Stevan Opacic 8ROW
Aidan Hopkinson 13TAB Theo Fulton 11OKL
Louis Emmerson 10SED Luke Chapman 10CH
Harry Thornton 9PM
Mr D T Benn, Mr T H Gibb and Mr J Davies plus a special guest appearance from Mr J R Birkinshaw
While it was very much a nice relaxing end to the trip, some of us were a little frustrated at times as we were struggling to catch; for example, Louis Emmerson, who spent nearly two hours having caught nothing, and Theo Fulton, whose line was snapped by some kind of Loch Ness Monster. But that didn’t stop Theo, as he went on to catch a 6lb carp and a barbel... albeit a baby barbel. However, the winner of the cap that day was Adam Woodgate. A worthy recipient, given it was his last trip before heading off to university; he wore the cap proudly all the way back to Wakefield.
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YEAR 7 CONDOVER
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NEW YORK
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CREAT
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TIVE
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David Sapsford - Year 12
Edward House - Year 12
Jackson Cheng - Year 11
Jacob Glober - Year 13
George Heath - Year 11
Idris Naseem - Year 12
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Alex Twigg - Year 12
Connor Field - Year 13
Josh Halliday - Year 11
Karthic Vivehananthan - Year 13
Vito Gueli-Parkin - Year 11
Jack Garside - Year 13
Harry Hofmann - Year 13
George Charnock - Year 12
Connor Field - Year 13
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Jack Wright - Year 13
Jack Garside - Year 13
Harry Clarke - Year 13
Sam Tovey - Year 12
George Charnock - Year 12
Karthic Vivehananthan - Year 13
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Tim Gardiner - Year 13
Patrick Healy-Gardner - Year 13
Jack Wright - Year 13
Matthew Pollard - Year 13
Pratyush Ravishankar - Year 11
George Charnock - Year 12
Harry Kelly - Year 11
Joseph Flint - Year 12
Jake Dickenson - Year 13
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Alex Hebden - Year 13
Matthew Smith - Year 11
David Sapsford - Year 12
Harry Clarke - Year 13
Patrick Healy-Gardner - Year 13
Henry Salvini - Year 12
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Harry Watts - Year 13
Henry Buxton - Year 11
Tim Gardiner - Year 13
Matthew Stoner - Year 13
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Henry Salvini - Year 12
Jonathan Garrity - Year 13
Jack Granger - Year 12
Daniel Paxman - Year 11
Tom Rimmer - Year 11
Matthew Smith - Year 11
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Varun Kumar - Year 12
Junade Khan - Year 12
Harry Watts - Year 13
Matthew Pollard - Year 13
Matthew Stoner - Year 13
Harry Watts - Year 13
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Rotary Technology Tournament 2016 Each year the Rotary Clubs of Joint 6 (Ackworth, Normanton, Osgoldcross & Elmet, Pontefract, Wakefield and Wakefield Chantry) sponsor a technology tournament that is held at Featherstone Rovers RL Club House and they invite a number of the local secondary schools.
This year the challenge was to clear debris from a pipeline and as always there were three different levels of difficulty. The basic level for KS3 students was to push the blockage clear, the intermediates (KS4) had to clear and then reverse their vehicle back out to the starting point and with the advanced level (KS5 and Staff) the debris had to be retrieved to the starting place! We have always worked with WGHS to put forward two mixed teams in each Key Stage. This year saw 6 strong teams take part in the challenge. Working with limited resources they had to produce a design plan of how they were going to tackle the problem; this folder formed a significant part of the overall assessment. Then the fun begins as they build and test their ideas.
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The Year 8 teams consisting Abigail Neilson, Durga Sharma, Edward Greaves and Jack Sedgwick and Harriet Ostrowski Jones, Annabel Bond-Sampson, Max Bennett and Talin Gogna put in a very good effort producing the fastest vehicle by far; unfortunately on the final testing it did not move all of the debris!
The Year 10 teams produced some very good solutions with their reversing vehicles. Team B - Emma Brightman, Annie Feetham, Jack Armitage and Ben Cox were awarded first place with an exceptionally high score of 89% and they were given a good run for their money by Team A - Alex Balance, Selina Sadiq, Gabriel Norcup and James Halliday. Finally, the Year 12 team of Stephanie Cadman, Georgie Jones, Sam Wood and Chris Wylie were placed first with the runners-up being Rachael Jubb, Georgia Colston, Alex Twigg and Louis Jones.
Congratulations to all of the competitors. JH
AN EPIC MORNING A casual conversation in an English class and in the staffroom led to an interesting venture in the spring term.
Sixth Form students in both English Literature and Classical Civilisation realised that their studies in both areas had much to say to each other. Milton’s Paradise Lost, Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s Odyssey are all part of the epic tradition in European literature, and it was decided to organise an academic conference to explore this tradition. Mr. Dean of the QEGS Classics Department, Dr. Winborn from the English Department and Professor Clare Honess, Director of Italian and Classics at Leeds University each spoke on one aspect of the epic tradition. Mr. Dean took the first turn, looking at where it all began in the Classical World. Links between Greek and Roman epics were highlighted, as were the differences in approach of written and oral poetry.
Professor Honess delivered an eye-opening and fascinating session on Dante and the Italian epic of the Renaissance, showing how a later writer built upon the Classical tradition and incorporated Christian ideas into a non-Christian poem.
This theme of the development from the Classical into the early modern world was taken on by Dr. Winborn. His exploration of Milton and other later writers and artists, was the culmination of the morning’s events.
Pupils and staff from both Classics and English Departments were taken beyond the confines of the exam syllabus to the exciting world of intellectual inquiry, thinking about where poetry comes from and where it goes, why it matters, how it changes and how writers acknowledge their forebears. Truly could it be said that it was an Epic Morning.
CDD
SOCIETIES & EVENTS POETRY PROMENADE
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ART FOR HEALTH If you’ve ever been to visit your GP surgery, it can often be quite a daunting experience. Volunteering in a GP’s surgery for the past year and half, I have come to realise that the time spent in the waiting room of a clinic can be pivotal in providing a comfortable experience for patients. During my time there, I commonly encountered patients with ‘white coat syndrome’, where their blood pressure and stress levels increased just by the thought of visiting a health care professional.
With increasing rates of anxiety and depression in society, and the current
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stigma behind mental health, there is a pressing need for a relaxed atmosphere prior to consultations in waiting rooms contrary to the stereotypical drab, grey environment associated with GP Surgeries.
Hence my idea of bringing together the outstanding art work of QEGS GCSE and A Level students and my passion for medicine to form the “Art for Health Society” at school. Art for health has been recognized as a form of complimentary medicine and holistic care. Papers have been published proving its validity with patients suffering with depression. After writing to 22 different GP surgeries in the north of England, I
received a positive response from 4. Using the support of all the teachers and many of the students in the Art Department, I accumulated and mounted art work from
various A Level and GCSE students who were keen to do their part for the community. On Friday the 16th of September, the ‘Art for Health’ exhibition was on show at the opening of the new Medi Centre (formerly the Eric Moore Health Centre) in Warrington, opened by David Mowat the local MP for Warrington and Minister for Health.
There was a huge turnout of patients. They were both amazed at the quality of artwork of the QEGS students and were fascinated by the ‘Art for Health’ patient well-being initiative to create a more uplifting environment for patients in northern England. Hopefully with more exhibitions lined up in Doncaster and Manchester, more QEGS art students will have the chance to display their outstanding artwork to the public once again.
QED: MOUNTAIN BIKING
Varun Vijay Kumar 12DJH
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DUKE OF EDINBURGH 2015/2016 has been another busy year for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at QEGS. Following the Information Evening in November 63 boys from Year 10 took up the challenge at Bronze level. Many boys in Years 11, 12 and 13 have chosen to continue at Silver and Gold level. Preparations for the expedition season start with team allocation and route planning, and this took place regularly from January after school in the LRC. Using Mapyx software boys were able to plan detailed routes and produce route cards accurately and efficiently. The expedition calendar has seen the usual venues being explored and travelled by teams of QEGS lads.
Two expeditions to Dalesbridge near Austwick in the Easter holidays allowed four Bronze teams, two Silver teams and a Gold team to complete their expedition training. The Yorkshire Dales provided some exciting weather to keep the expedition interesting and with some cold nights the lads discovered the importance of all the items on the kit list. However, I would add that a foot pump is not required to inflate the thin Thermarest style sleepmats! They selfinflate. You know who you are.
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May saw the first of two local Bronze assessment expeditions. Eight Bronze teams successfully completed their expedition section of the Award. Silverwood Scout Campsite in Silverwood was once again the venue for the teams as they walked across Denby Dale and the surrounding countryside. A big thank you to parents who dropped off and collected boys from their start and finish points. Boys were tracked using the recently acquired Spot2 satellite trackers, an extremely useful addition to QEGS’s equipment arsenal. These trackers allow less intrusive monitoring of groups, whilst facilitating rapid intervention if there are problems. (The second local expedition takes place in the Autumn Term for Bronze and Silver teams that train in July) Silver teams ventured to Malham in July for their assessed expedition. This expedition is for boys who complete Silver expedition training in Easter. The boys were truly spoilt by some glorious weather, despite a brief deluge on the first day. However, the local midge population definitely benefitted from the boys’ presence. Again, the trackers were used to monitor progress. Dalesbridge saw another cohort of boys training
in July at all levels in much warmer conditions than Easter. However, the hot weather can bring problems of its own so boys were reminded of the importance of staying hydrated and using sun cream and a hat. Gold teams headed to Swaledale and Wensleydale for their expedition assessment in August. The boys were challenged by longer distances (up to 20km on some days) and some difficult terrain strewn with heather and bogs. The weather in this part of Yorkshire is quite unpredictable and prone to rapid change. However, the boys enjoyed three days of glorious sunshine and one wet day (always good to get your money’s worth from the waterproofs). An ascent of Great Shunner Fell provided a fitting last day with both teams successful in their endeavours, finishing in good spirits.
Some observations and pearls of wisdom following the expedition season so far: • Food should be either wayfarer “bagged” style meals or dehydrated (MUCH lighter and preferable). Fresh food items like pasties are not suitable. • Sleeping bags should be AT LEAST 3
season rated, particularly for those training at Easter. Inflatable sleepmats are strongly recommended. A massive thank you to all staff who gave up weekend and holiday time to assist on the expeditions, especially those who have been helping for years and attend multiple expeditions every year. Also a big thank you to parents for equipping your boys suitably and, in a demonstrable number of cases, packing their rucksacks for them too!
Obviously the expedition section is just one aspect of D of E at QEGS. Boys have been engaged in various other activities in pursuit of their Physical, Skills and Volunteering qualifications, with many of these activities starting out as part of the QED programme. Once sections are complete, and they have been detailed and evidenced on edofe by the boys, then sections can be approved and ultimately Awards completed (boys can only progress to the next Award once at least three sections of an existing Award have been completed).
PMC
Congratulations to the following boys who have successfully completed their Awards since September 2015:
Bronze
Silver
Adarsh Vani Sam Theaker Matthew Stuckey Idris Naseem Lakshiv Dhingra Hassan Anwar James McGroarty James Egan Barnaby Drew Max Bowden Mayank Gupta David Frewer Joshua Wharton Mahmoud El Khatib William Graye
Finlay Wotton Thomas Butterfield Aaron GardnerMohammed Joe Dickinson Louis Allison William Smith Timothy Chau Lewis Farrar Peter Papworth Jason Allen Maxwell Dewing James McGroarty Hendrik Pauw Mina Soliman
Pratyush Ravishankar Karthikeyan Sivaganesh William Towler James Stead Govind Nair James Maskill Andrew Tadross Thomas Zarowski
Thomas Hewson Matthew Smith Carter Bower-Stead Luke Wharton Henry Dyke David Cadman Oscar Daniel Peter Bottomley Jonathan Garrity Yeshurun Tanna
James Bowler Karthic Vivehananthan Jun Kim Usamah Wahid Lewis Farrar
Gold
Alexander Twigg Jacob Glover Harry Thompson Philip Schweidler Harry Greenhalgh Tom Kaye Sean Russell Musab Abrar Joshua Halliday William Stirk
Charles Hinchliffe George Hillier Elliot Robinson Joshua Lau Matthew Tate Chang Kim
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CHARITIES Barry Wood and his guide dog Nick first visited the school last year, when he gave talks to Years 7, 8 and 9 about what it’s like to be blind and the impact that Nick and his previous guide dogs have had on his life. Barry spoke candidly to the boys, describing the role a guide dog plays in giving the blind and partially sighted a greater level of independence. His talks were incredibly engaging and emotional and some members of staff thought it might be a good idea to explore the Guide Dogs charity further. This led to the creation of the Guide Dogs Fundraising QED, which ran in September and October 2015. Pupils researched the different conditions that affect the blind and partially sighted and learned the correct procedures for guiding a blind person. Then the Guide Dogs charity kindly sent their Sensory Unit to visit the school, where pupils got the chance to experience what life is like for someone who is blind or partially sighted. Boys of all ages commented on how their senses - especially listening and touch - felt much more heightened and how much larger the van actually felt due to all the different surfaces and textures encountered in the experience.
Barry Wood and Nick returned to the school to take part in a Q&A with the QED boys and also show them his Braille machines. The Q&A session with Barry went really well. The boys asked questions about various aspects of his life and how he coped with being blind, from how he does his ironing, telling the time (he has
a speaking watch, which they were very impressed by!) and knowing the contents of tins when he’s cooking meals. He also talked about the special bond he builds
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GUIDE DOGS
up with Nick, his guide dog, and how all 5 of his guide dogs have had different personalities and quirks that he’s had to get used to.
Over the years Barry has visited many schools to talk to pupils about how he lost his sight and how Guide Dogs have helped him, but he commented particularly about the special atmosphere at QEGS and regarded the school as by far the best he’d ever visited. The thing that he identified above all else was the special relationship between staff and pupils and how everyone seemed to get on so well, creating such a positive environment. It’s clear that Barry has become a firm favourite with staff and pupils too and we are very grateful that he has devoted so much time to helping us understand the problems that the blind and visually impaired face on a day to day basis. We look forward to seeing him again soon!
A Braille teacher, Ray Taylor, then came into school to teach the QED boys how to read and write in Braille, which proved to be a fascinating experience. The QED group learned about the life of Louis Braille and how the code was created. The boys were then fully committed to getting involved in their own fundraising activities, setting themselves a target of £1500, which would allow the school to name a Guide Dog puppy and the puppy would visit the school. A variety of different activities took place, including the sale of home baked ‘pup cakes’, a non-uniform day, a weekly charity wallet collection on behalf of 8SAW and a fantastic 10km sponsored run by Year 11 pupil Barnaby Drew. Mrs Roberts then organised a sponsored dog walk, which was very well supported and took us up to the target of £1500. Thelma Wilson, who works for Guide Dogs, along with Barry Wood, then visited the school and the cheque was
presented in a full school assembly. A competition was run at the Summer Charity Fayre where pupils could submit their name suggestions for the Guide Dog puppy. Three possible names have been sent off to the charity and we are looking
forward to getting confirmation of the final choice of name and when the puppy will be visiting the school next year.
SW
BUBBLE RUN On the morning of 21st April 2016, the most important event of my calendar year arrived. Bubble Run 2016!!
Along with my mum, sister and friend we made our way up to Harewood House. The grounds were heaving with participants and volunteers. It was amazing to see people of all backgrounds come together for charity. There were various stalls selling merchandise including tutus. Of course I bought a tutu to wear during the race! All in the name of charity.
Finally the time came for us to do our 5k. The distance looked like it was going to take an eternity to finish. Halfway into the run I was breathless and thought this was the end for me. However, I soldiered on and I could see the finish line like it was the chariots of fire. To much shock, I was one of first to finish. I didn't want my hard work to stop there. I felt like I needed to do more than just a run. I wanted to raise money. My target was to raise £150.00 which I thought was quite optimistic. However, the next challenge would test my patience. I had to persuade my mum to bake her succulent chocolate cakes. I organised for bake stalls to be held in school during break. As
always many of the teachers fell in love with the cakes and they sold within a blink of an eye.
I also raised money by asking local businesses for donations. The generosity and the motivation of the people kept me going. I was determined to raise more than my initial target. I decided to sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts as I knew they would attract even the most hardcore gym ‘lads’. I managed to sell 25 dozen doughnuts! Thank you to everyone who donated - I managed to raise £353.00! Watch this space as this is only the start of many of my charity fundraisers!
Uzayr Soni 11GAC
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LEAVERS' BALL 2016
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LEAVERS' DAY 2016
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RAISE FOR LIFE 2016
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2015/16 SPORT 54 | THE SAVILIAN MAGAZINE
INTRODUCTION We still continue to be one of the most successful Independent Boys’ Day Schools in sport in the country. We are in the top 5 for results in the Nat West Cup (formerly Daily Mail) as well as being the leading school in the north for hockey and athletics. Cricket and tennis also continue to flourish with good young talent continuing to come through. Clearly, the highlight of this sporting year for QEGS has to be in rugby, with the U18s reaching our 9th Schools Cup Final at Twickenham and equaling the record of 9 Finals held by Wellington College. The occasion was something else and one we will all never forget. The support was awesome and the day was a showpiece for our whole school. If you were there and/or have watched the footage then you can see how close we were to pulling it off. This was backed up by the success of the 13s in making a national quarter final, the 14s being the Yorkshire Festival Winners and the 15s reaching the last 16 of the national cup. Individual success came from numerous boys being involved in the ERPD and the County 15s and Academy 16 Group. Jacob Glover played for Yorkshire U18s with Tom Allott and Connor Field represented the Academy 18s whilst Elliot Ward received the opportunity to train and possibly follow a professional career with Yorkshire Carnegie.
In Hockey there was another strong season from the junior and senior teams with the U18s reaching the last 16 of the National Championships, our U15s being crowned Yorkshire Champions and the U13s narrowly missing out on the nationals, following a 3rd place finish in the north finals. Individual success came at district, county, regional and international level with Tom House and Sean Mahoney being the pick of the bunch following their involvement in the England and Scotland age group squads respectively. Sean has continued the tradition of full international players, following on from Simon Hujwan and Guy Mills, and will represent Scotland in the European Championships in July.
Both our junior and intermediate athletics teams reached the ESAA regional finals and both teams narrowly missed out on the finals. Our cricket has also been of a high standard this year but, unfortunately, without a run of decent weather. The highlight was the U15s competing in the National Cup and this comes after winning their County Cup as U14s. The U15s also went on to win the County 6s and Dr. Rhodes has again produced an excellent U12 side. In tennis we won the North of England Schools’ Doubles Competition, an outstanding achievement and something we have only achieved once previously. The Cross Country teams also performed well in the district team championships with the school teams winning their relative age groups and a number of QEGS boys going on to represent the region. There are also many more individual achievements for our boys in other areas of sport. Despite all this success, again I am often quoted as saying that the statistic which I feel makes me most satisfied is
that over 350 different faces appear on the sports photos board. Sport is such an integral and important part of life at QEGS for so many boys, parents and staff. With the numbers involved there are many to thank: all the Staff for their support and commitment, and particularly those who run teams, the grounds staff and caterers who do such a great job and the parents, for their support. With the vital support of the Headmaster and Governing Body, we make a great team! The Queen Elizabeth Hall once again seated over 300 boys and parents at our Rugby Presentation Evening. It was a very successful event and the preferred new format allows us all to celebrate the season. There was also an excellent turn out at our annual Hockey and Cricket Presentation Evenings. A special mention must go to Graham Gooch who gave an inspirational talk to boys, parents and staff at the Cricket Evening.
There has certainly been a marked improvement in the outdoor sport areas and we seem now to have a definitive development plan to improve all our facilities; this has been made possible through the hard work and planning of Bill Settle and his team. Unfortunately, Pat, our usual caterer, has been ill, but it was good to see her back and without doubt, Mary, Katie and now Denise have continued to provide for us and we are blessed with the friendliest and most supportive sports caterers on the circuit! They do a tremendous job and, together with the grounds staff, porters and cleaners, they all provide a fantastic service both for us and our visitors. To this team I owe a personal thank you, as I do to all the staff who help out in any way with sport at QEGS. My department has been a great support to me throughout the year. Owen Leask successfully leads the hockey, tennis and the academic PE. Ian Wolfenden continues to lead the cricket and is joint i/c of school rugby. Christian Head has been a massive help in all areas and he has admirably filled the role of Master i/c Athletics. He continues to be the “go to” man when each of us requires support and I have been very grateful for his company over the last few years on tour and at many tournaments like Rosslyn Park and Sedbergh. Gary Pickersgill has again been a great support to me and it was another fine achievement for us to reach Twickenham once again - 4 years in a row! Many thanks also to Charlie Lines who has now joined our staff on a permanent basis and to Messrs Joe Barker, Chris Lawson, Dan Berry and all other coaches who give their time so willingly. I am very lucky to be surrounded by such a talented and positive team. A special mention goes to Hamish Gibb who, after over 30 years of school rugby, gave a marvellous retirement speech at the dinner and he summarised wonderfully how we all feel about school sport. I will leave you to enjoy the team reports, covering another eventful year at QEGS. “Floreas Wakefieldia”.
TB
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RUGBY
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What an excellent season with many highs throughout the year and what a finish – the 1st XV again reaching Twickenham in the Nat West and equalling Wellington College’s record of 9 Finals! Also, a plate final at St Joe’s as well
as winning the plate at the National Invitational 10s at Sedbergh, the 15s reaching the last 16 of the NatWest Cup and the 14s again winning the Yorks Cup plus the 13s a National ¼ Final together with the last 16 at Rosslyn Park – an outstanding achievement across the
board. The 12s also were unbeaten playing some great rugby.
After the 2006 Final, Gary and I were quoted as saying we would never have a better chance to win it –but 4 finals later?! Messages of congratulations from those in the know have been continuous. All this success together with over 200 different boys representing school at rugby is a marvellous achievement and one of which I am truly proud.
With our Hockey, Cricket, Tennis and Athletics and all other sports we are, consistently one of the most successful independent day schools in the country! Mention should go to all the staff for their contribution, together with the commitment of parents and last but not least the players. To all, a big personal thank you as it is this partnership and team effort that makes the club as successful as it is. Hamish Gibb has been involved in School Rugby for over 35 years, firstly at Nottingham HS and for 25 years here at QEGS and, more significantly for me, giving support and camaraderie and taking the 2nds for the last 12 years. His retirement will be a big hole to fill in open age rugby, especially with Peter Mason also taking a sabbatical! More than anything I will miss Hamish’s dry humour and friendship, both on
Saturdays and on tours - some very happy and fond memories! A Yorkshire Scotsman and yet he does not fit the stereotype! He will be sorely missed by both boys and staff and particularly me, but I am hoping he may have an ‘ambassadorial role’ at our senior home fixtures next season.
MR BARKER
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1 XV ST
1ST XV AWARDS Most Outstanding Back: Contenders included top try scorer Joe Gatus (with 11 tries), George Thompson, Seb Wood, Connor Field, Tom Allott and Sam Tovey, but the player we most relied on at all times, playing at 10, 12 and 11 to pull us through was Seb Wood. Most Outstanding Forward: From our front row contenders were Jacob Glover, Jack Levine, Nathan Youngs and Harvey Farrar - all had their moments - as well as Elliot Ward and Tom Kay in the second row. We also had some outstanding performances from the back row: Harry Watts, Joe Selim, Edan Kelly and Harry Clarke. However, the most consistent, and in some ways like Seb, the one who we always relied on was joint forward try scorer with Nathan Youngs – Jacob Glover. Most Improved Player: The closest contenders were Brad Young and Joe Selim but without doubt the winner was Harry Watts. Coaches’ Award: Any one of many could have won this and for different reasons, but I have given it to someone for his total commitment to the cause, playing half the season injured – Jack Levine.
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P-17: W-15 D-1 L-1 PTS FOR – 446, PTS AGAINST – 110
What a Season!
After we drew the 1st game and then suffered a continuous run of injuries, we had some ups and downs in the season but remained unbeaten.
In the first term we reached the Plate Final at St Joe’s and had a close one in the last game at Bristol GS where Finlay Wotton saved the day. However, after Christmas and a long wait for the RGS Cup game, we just went from strength to strength.
I have never known a team have me in tears so many times – tears of joy I may add! A formidable defence and very effective attack - it was an absolute joy to coach these boys. Their success is the end result of a massive team effort and all the coaches have had input, but in particular this season: Ian, Joe and Christian and, later in the season, Gary too.
Congratulations to all the Year 13s who have deservedly received a record number of rugby colours in one season. The management team have been excellent leaders, from Tom Allott, an excellent captain and a player who we actually feel lucky to have coached, to Connor Field, an outstanding prospect at centre leading from the front all season and Elliot Ward, who is in the process of sorting a contract with Yorks Carnegie.
These three have been outstanding and ably supported by Harry Clarke and the rest of the Year 13s. We also received a Special Team Award on our behalf and an Individual Award for Elliot from the Wakefield Schools Sports Federation.
There are some key boys who did not win awards, but how could I not mention Tom Kay, my silent assassin
and the one who was particularly outstanding in the mud at RGS Lancaster, St Peter’s York and Truro! He has had an awesome 3 years in the 1st XV.
Also, Harry Clarke is an outstanding rugby player, a line-out leader and student of the game and who knows how the final might have gone without his concussion? Three other backs deserve a mention. Henry Longhurst, probably our strongest and hardest running back and Alex “eggsy” who, but for the whistle happy ref, could have been a hero down the blind side of that scrum at Twickenham and Harry “Boom it” Graham, our secret weapon on the bench. Alex and Harry, like Finlay Wotton, Jack Phillips and Brad Young would have been regular starters for the 1st XV in any normal year group.
At 1st XV team we also present three other awards:
The Birtwhistle Trophy for top points scorer. This year, for once, it has not gone to our top try scorer Joe Gatus, but to another under 16 with 13 penalties, 11 conversions and 2 tries and a total of 71 points –Tom Stephenson. Two other Major Awards are presented at Speech Day
The Ronald Chapman Cup for contribution to School Rugby over their school careers. I really could not split this and so it goes jointly to Connor Field and Tom Allott.
The Mike Tindall Players’ Player Trophy – engraved with all the World Cup Squad, voted for by the players themselves. When we first set this up the squad voted for an Under 16 but I decided it should always go to a Year 13; this is possibly the most prestigious award and the clear winner was George Thompson. I would like to wish Nathan Youngs, our new Captain of the 1st XV and School Rugby for 2016/17, good luck for the season ahead.
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TB
1 XV Captain's Report ST
I would like to start by saying what a huge pleasure it has been to captain QEGS Wakefield Rugby for the 2015/16 season with a group of lads who had an outstanding attitude to both training and playing all season. This year’s success comes down not just to the starting 15 but to the collective efforts of all senior squad players and coaches where a challenging but enjoyable environment has enabled us to field a very strong 2nd XV, 1st XV and Cup squad. I must start with a huge highlight of our season which began with the Senior
World Tour where we played seven games in five countries with three QEGS
teams and one…well you take your pick… one broken neck, one lost passport, one kangaroo, one David Beckham and one experience of a lifetime. The tour was an unbelievable opportunity and something I am sure the boys will cherish for the rest of their lives. However, one of the main purposes of the tour was, believe
it or not, to play rugby and build a squad which was ready to dive into the new
season and challenges that lay ahead. Excluding St Joseph’s Festival, the 1st XV in total played eighteen 15 a-side fixtures, winning 16, drawing 1 and losing one. Not a bad season!
Returning from the tour with six out of seven wins, the boys were eager to get underway with a highly anticipated season. Unfortunately, Harry Clarke, Elliott Ward and myself picked up serious injuries on tour, ruling us out for the first few months of the season (although credit must be given to Nathan Youngs who fractured his foot in the Cook Islands, yet still managed a near full game in Los Angeles, an heroic effort).
Our first game of the season was at home to RGS Lancaster. 8-8. A result which the boys will have been disappointed with but to get a first run out and to remain unbeaten were the obvious positives. Following this game, we had strong victories against old friends: Kings Macclesfield, Woodhouse Grove, St
TOM ALLOTT Peter’s and Crossley Heath leading nicely into the National 15 a-side tournament at St Joseph’s Ipswich. St Joseph’s is arguably one of the most prestigious English school boy tournaments, along with the NatWest Cup and Rosslyn Park 7s, thus our motivation was very high to succeed. After a tough first day we were unlucky not to qualify for the Cup competition after narrow defeats to RGS High Wycombe and Cranleigh, despite a strong win over John Fisher. The Plate was an achievable target with the number of injuries we had. On the second day, the boys were courageous and fought hard to reach the final; however, we just lost out to Denstone College, who were scattered with England players. Special mention must go to Harry Feeney and young Harry Thompson for stepping up into the 1st XV shirts and putting in a huge shift on the second day. Coming back from St Joseph’s saw the start of our Natwest Cup run - away at Ilkley Grammar School. A fine 29-10 win saw us into the next round against unbeaten Stockport. However, before the Stockport game came possibly one of the best performances of the season
away at Barnard Castle. Having lost to them in the previous two years and with
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their unbeaten record the win was very special.
Next came an away trip to historic rivals Bradford Grammar School. With school reputations on the line, the boys produced an outstanding display in the second half, throwing everything they had physically at the strong Bradford side. In the end, our dominance was too much and we came away 14-8 winners, a performance which really lifted our season. Next came round four of the cup at home where we beat Stockport Grammar 33-0. Then we faced a long trip down to Bristol Grammar. A late miracle try from Finlay Wotton saved our unbeaten season and we came away with a narrow 7-5 victory. Unfortunately, we lost Eugene Nakuti and Jimmy White to serious injuries; however, they should be proud of everything they have achieved throughout their QEGS rugby careers. With Saturday fixtures coming to a close we started to get into the late stages of the NatWest cup with a 20-0 away at RGS Lancaster. In the last 16 of the Cup we travelled to St Peter’s York with the welcoming return of Elliott Ward and Henry Longhurst. With a fully fit squad
for the first time in the season we beat a strong St Peter’s side 18-0, showing periods of real attitude and unbreakable defence.
We were now into the final 8 of the Cup where the draw went national. I think it was from this point on that the team truly believed it had a real chance of returning to HQ and competing for the Cup. However, we looked no further than the next game. I remember sitting in Mr Pickersgill’s Geography lesson and watching the live draw on the projector…the balls were drawn and we were facing Truro. The question was, would it be a case of a 5 minute walk to our first team pitch or a 700 mile round trip down to sunny Cornwall? To the detriment of the School’s bank balance we were drawn away to Truro. There were mixed feelings amongst the boys; however, we looked forward to playing some top quality running rugby in dry, sunny conditions. The thoughts of fast
expansive rugby were quickly dismissed when we arrived to an underwater pitch. Playing in a mud bath with their whole school behind them was always going to be a tight game with lots of mistakes. The game did not start as expected with prop Nathan Youngs getting a Yellow Card within the first 30 seconds; however, after forward domination and lots of patience we managed to battle through the blizzard conditions and come away with a 20-nil victory. What a feeling, silencing the Truro fans and a place in the NatWest Cup semi-final. It was a very special day to be part of the QEGS 1st XV and it gave
us a huge confidence boost moving into training and approaching the semi-final. Post-game we heard we were to face Warwick at Allianz Park in the semifinal as they had just beaten one of the tournament favourites in Hampton. It comes back to the same old story of the 2 previous defeats to Warwick at Twickenham; however, this was to prove a major driving factor. What extra motivation was needed? An opportunity to beat Warwick and book a place in the U18s Schools Cup Final at Twickenham - a feat that had not been achieved by a QEGS 1st XV since 2000. Any of the boys will tell you that the emotions in the changing room before we ran out at Allianz Park were ridiculously high. I think 99% of the
lads, and even the staff, were close to tears after the team talk, that’s how much we wanted it. The passion, desire and will to win were unbelievable and I can honestly say I have never felt any emotions like that ever before. Leading the boys out at Allianz was a special feeling and to beat Warwick 21-12 was even better. A great team performance throughout meant Warwick were unable to play their usual game and instead we imposed our game on them. The whistle blew and the boys were heading back to Twickenham to compete for the golden prize in schools rugby – the Under 18 NatWest Cup. So there it was, QEGS against Bromsgrove – the last 1st team game of the season and the final time the Year 13s would play a 15 a-side game together. Sitting in the meeting room at HQ watching the U15s battle out their final was a pretty weird feeling, knowing we ourselves would be running out there in a few hours or so. Walking back through the golden lion gates after finishing our warm up was a pretty surreal moment. A tunnel surrounded by a sea of black and gold fans and immense support from the
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whole Foundation gave the boys an incredible vibe before we ran out onto the hallowed turf. After years of hurt and weeks and weeks of training the time had come…the biggest game of our school careers.
I think every school across the country had written us off before we even stepped foot on the pitch. All the hype was over Bromsgrove and they were huge favourites; however, we loved that. No pressure, and a chance to get out there and give it everything we had. I think to everyone’s surprise we led 10-3 after about half an hour…I don’t think the coaches could believe it either. We were on top and were building in confidence. Unfortunately, Harry Clarke getting knocked out meant we lost his vital input for the rest of the game and we lost the momentum we had built up in the first 20 minutes. Even though we just fell short, I’m 100% confident we gave absolutely everything we had. The attitude we showed and what we achieved is something we should be extremely proud of. We exceeded all expectations and I’ll look back on the final and the whole season knowing we added to the QEGS legacy and left the shirt in a better place.
Off the back of the Twickenham game on the Wednesday the boys headed off to the Sedbergh 10s the following weekend. Narrow losses to Brighton, Kirkham
P-12: W-6 L-6 This was once again an encouraging season for the second team players, who could never quite match the scintillating progress made by the 1st XV, but who, nevertheless, played some excellent rugby against some top schools. We let ourselves down on occasion and should have won more of the close matches.
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and Millfield, but wins over Stamford, Barnard Castle and Malvern meant we qualified for the Plate competition. However, our final QEGS school game ended on a high after we won 17-5 against King Edward’s Bath, winning the Plate, a great way to end our 7 years as owls. I’d like to say a huge thankyou to my team mates especially the older boys who have all played together since Year 7. Talent is always there; however it’s the attitude, commitment and desire of these boys to train and win which has pushed this team to very top. Pulling on the gold, white and black hoops of QEGS Wakefield seems to tap into that extra power and desire found deep within you. The history behind the
shirt and the responsibility you have once it’s on is a truly spine tingling moment and something I will never forget. I would like to finish by saying some well-deserved thankyous. First of all to the parents for the hours you gave up and the miles you travelled to come and support us week in and week out. Even though your son may not tell you, I’m sure he’s very appreciative of your continued support throughout all of our years at school! Behind every great team is a set of great coaching staff. Thank you to Ian ‘DJ’ Wolfenden for all his help with the backs this season. Remember boys practice makes permanent. Thanks to Gary Pickersgill
2
for his years of experience and words of wisdom. Thanks to Christian Head for his motivational videos and warm up routines. Also, a huge thankyou to Joe Barker, Chris Lawson and Alec Tinker who have given up their time on many occasions to help the boys with training and treatment this year. It has been greatly appreciated. And last, but not least, the heart and soul of QEGS Wakefield rugby - Mr Trevor Barker. On behalf of the whole squad I would like to thank Trevor for his commitment, determination and passion for QEGS rugby and for helping us to achieve our heights. The amount of hours which he puts into this team is surely more than any other 1st team coach across the country. His love for this school and 1st team rugby is something that still amazes me and we are all very lucky to experience his coaching expertise and Tuesday night ‘beastings’.
Finally, I would just like to say how much of an honour it has been to captain such a successful QEGS 1st XV. Younger boys, enjoy every minute of school rugby alongside your best mates. Honestly, you will have the time of your life and create everlasting memories. I have the pleasure in handing over the responsibility to Nathan Youngs and next year’s team. I wish you all the best of luck and I hope we can keep on going as not only one of the best school teams in the North, but in the whole country.
ND
Some of the squad figured in the larger cup squad of the senior team and some of those who didn’t will feature next year in the new 1st XV. The season got off to an auspicious start with a win over Lancaster. We
were full of optimism as Lancaster are
XV
difficult to beat, so we went into the second game against Woodhouse Grove full of high expectations. We started well and if we had gone in front, I feel we would have seen a different result. Unfortunately, it was not to be and we succumbed by some 20 points in the end. A very narrow defeat ensued at
King’s Macclesfield and then we had a resounding win away to St Peter’s.
Good wins against Crossley Heath and Loughborough meant that we were picking up a little momentum, but once again we failed to convert pressure into points in the away fixture at Barnard Castle. Bradford and Bristol both saw very narrow defeats and this was the turning point, as we should have won these games but started to play too late and despite scoring late, we left a little too much to do. Comfortable wins against Nottingham and Hymers were marred by a defeat against RGS High Wycombe, who were worthy winners.
In the forwards, the skipper Jack Phillips, was as solid and strong a leader as any we have had. He endeavoured to the best of his ability to bring the more disparate souls into the fold and to engender a favourable team spirit. He played better as he got fitter and was able to bring back some experience from playing with the 1st XV. Harry Graham definitely made a difference and in any other year he would have played a full season in the team above. His kicking out of hand was used to great effect and he called the moves in the backs. If he can improve his physicality in defensive contacts in particular, then he is sure to play at a high level. The team was grateful to
Tom Macrow for being able and willing to play one of three positions and he was more than a stop gap scrum-half and he was a very effective fullback or centre. James Bennett was a wonderful attacking fullback and he scored plenty of tries through his verve, pace and sheer determination to score. He tackled well in addition and has a lot to offer the 1sts next year.
Harry Feeney is another whose talent has been spotted. Again, he has a telling resolve to score in tight situations and defends his wing very well. Tom Hewson was far from a certain choice at the beginning of the season but quickly made the position his own. His throwing in to the line - out got better and better, as did his physicality. It is this latter area, which if he can become more robust and competitive over the ball, will see him transcend to new heights. Tom is very modest and very much a team man. Chesachi Hani Okoroafor has so much to offer and I certainly did not make the most of him. Moving him to second row from the wing caused Bradford, in particular, much anxiety and perhaps I should have tried this earlier. He really does have much to offer, as long as he understands that it is a team game above all else. Jonny Garrity could be
man of the match one week and would have fitted into the pack in the 1sts, but
would let himself down the week after, as he could focus on individual players in the opposition, instead of concentrating on his own role in our side. The Eames boys were excellent and their fitness kept us in all the games. If they continue to improve, then they could be part of the top team next year. Toby Walker has improved immeasurably and being a captain of a club side certainly helped him to get his priorities right here. If he can work on his strength in the scrummage, he will cause opponents some discomfort. James Vickers improved almost as much as anyone else and his mobility and sheer guts at the tackle are areas to continue to improve upon. Being part of the oldest year group next year will see him flourish. I cannot mention everybody here and in a team game it takes 15 to contribute to a winning outcome. With the right approach next year, and a large number of returning players, there is every hope that the 2nd XV can go on to enjoy a great season. They have my very best wishes.
THG
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3
RD
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The Gentlemen’s XV does not condone the vulgarities of leagues or cups or even the keeping of scores so apologies if you were expecting such. This group of students come together to participate in matches against other carefully selected and likeminded teams. We draw players from all the senior age groups but players have to prove that they are worthy. Worthiness is a hard to define concept when applied to the Gentlemen’s XV but there are a few key components: availability; the correct number of limbs; a willingness to miss out on some of the day’s academic pursuits and a strong desire to avoid 2nd XV training. We have played matches against Silcoates, Fulneck, Newcastle RGS and Scarborough College this season and look forward to doing so again. We have been welcomed wherever we go and hope we have reciprocated.
The match with Silcoates as our local derby turned out to be a very competitive affair with some gentlemen struggling to keep their emotions in check. It is unseemly for a gentleman to be observed getting cross and threatening to hurt a member of the
opposition. The game was, on the whole, played in good spirit. We travelled to the North East for our return fixture versus Newcastle RGS where we were honoured by being granted the
opportunity to play on their 1st XV pitch. We were also lucky in having a guest coach - the younger Mr. M Barraclough - on hand to offer his insight. The highlight of our season must have been the trip to Scarborough. Mr Barraclough (Sen) mentioned the possibility
of a fish supper on our return journey in order to encourage some waverers who were succumbing to the demands of school work and lady friends. What is the world coming to when gents are making themselves unavailable for such trivialities? However the incentive was a master stroke and it was with a strong side that we made the journey east. The promised fish
supper was well received with all tucking into the full mashings at Thompsons York.
AJB
U16
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U16 Captain's Report I’ve been very pleased to captain the under 16s rugby this season and I have been able to help Mr Mason reshape the
team following the loss of several players to the 1st XV and long term injuries to key players. New faces would now feature as regular A teamers and all made tremendous contributions to the squad. These include Neville Sawadye, Theo Fulton,
Dominic Healey and Harrison Byrne as well as a number of others. Due to injuries and county and district training commitments, quite a few
players had to be rested and this meant that a big squad was invaluable in making sure that everyone and anyone was able and prepared to step in at short notice.
Pre-season training was tough, but it meant that we were fit and well drilled with a pattern of play that would suit our fifteen-man blitz game plan.
We knew that following our NatWest Cup glory last season, our opposition would approach us as their ‘World Cup Final’ fixture. This made the matches even more challenging. I am very proud of the team’s response, week in, week out. The season started well with a first game against King’s Macclesfield in which several players stepped up to make themselves natural leaders and top performers on the field. Harry Kelly was clearly going to be a big asset in the backs, with Connor Stevenson moving out of his usual position at hooker and joining Harry in the centre.
Will Towler would step in at hooker,
and looked like he had played A team all through school. Jasper McGuire was a powerhouse in
the front row, and used his rugby league skills to great effect in loose play. We finished winners, 31-0, and the season was under way. As expected there were difficulties keeping a regular
starting line-up, and we kept hoping Jack Mann would return from injury.
Alessandro Longo looked like the
rapidly improving scrum half needed to dictate to the forwards, and this proved to be the case. At full back Harry Thompson risked life and limb to keep the opposition away from our try line. Oliver Wigglesworth was the model player, training as he played, with 100% effort.
Notable victories came against Barnard Castle and RGS High Wycombe, Hymers, Lancaster and Woodhouse Grove, with a hard fought draw against a very strong Loughborough side. A 38-7 win against Nottingham HS was a good result but more memorable due to the torrential rain and incredibly wet pitch.
Only two defeats for the A team reflected a tremendous effort on everyone’s part to keep up the reputation from previous seasons. Losses to Bradford and St Peter’s York were close fought encounters but we were just not quite up to the mark for
JAMES CRABTREE The 7s season saw the return of Jack Mann, Sachin Gogna and Max Hanson, as well as the addition of Jacob Mounsey from Year 10. Preparations were unrelenting with training every lunchtime, demanding nothing but complete organisation and commitment.
Following a narrow semi-final defeat to Sedbergh in the Durham 7s we were confident heading to the National 7s final at Rosslyn Park. However, despite some impressive early victories, a better Leatherhead side beat us, and this prevented us from continuing to the second day. Ironically, we were then able to head over to Twickenham for the first team final, which was a bit of a bonus.
This is a team that will do very well in the Sixth Form and we all look forward to next season and the chance of a future senior tour.
one reason or another.
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REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY
Back Row Edward Pitchford, Edan Kelly, Jacob Glover, Patrick Reynolds, Joseph Gatus, Nathan Youngs, Tom Stephenson
Front Row Leighton Shuttleworth, Joseph Mounsey, Jake Adams, Jacob Mounsey, Elliot Sanderson, Oliver Uren, Patrick Morgan
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U15 The final playing record for the A team resulted in a very successful winning season. The A team won 12 and lost 3
of the 15 games played. The B team did not do quite so well but fought on with true QEGS grit and determination in every game no matter what the result. The match of the season was the rare
win at Macclesfield against a very strong opposition in which a number of players earned A team promotion as a result. A big thanks must go to the variety of B team captains we have had throughout the season for their help in organising the squad, in particular Ben Cox and Josh Hattersley. The 7s team finished
the season strongly: reaching the final at Bradford and scoring over 120 points in the process and losing out to the eventual winners, Woodhouse Grove. The team and squad spirit of the U15s throughout the season was tremendous, and a large part of that came from players in the ‘B’ team. Their spirit and commitment never wavered and I expect to see a lot of these boys pushing for places in the ‘A’ team next year in Senior Rugby. The A team had strengths all-round, in both backs and forwards, with no real individual stars. This led to us developing a particular game plan; moving it wide after breaking around the edges early and kicking well to put opposition teams under pressure with our strong and improving defence and kick chase.
We had a difficult start to the season and lost the first 2 matches after struggling with injuries. A close defeat came against RGS Lancaster followed by a big defeat by Woodhouse Grove when we did not really turn up! The NatWest Cup game against the same, very good, opponents
at the end of the season is an illustration points. We made hard work of winning of the progress made after this poor start. away at Bristol GS on a foul day weatherI hope the boys remember this next year wise, and this led to our final match and start the season in a more positive of the term, away to Lymm GS in the frame of mind. The group worked NatWest Round 6. We knew it would hard defensively, making it difficult for be a tough place to visit as we had been other teams to score and the season there many times before with both U15 improved. We went on to win our next and 1st XV teams. An excellent all-round 3 games, beating King’s Macclesfield, St performance led to a good win and to Peter’s York and Barnard Castle as the the end of the first part of the season in confidence grew and the boys did the which many positive steps forward had basics very well. This stage of the season been taken. saw our first victory in round 3 of the The Christmas break came when we did NatWest, beating Wickersley School very comfortably. Our next NatWest match offered more of a challenge, away U15 AWARDS to a good Crossley Heath A-TEAM side. We travelled away and came out winners Most Improved Player - Will Hodgkiss by one score in a game Most Outstanding Back - Vinit Patel that we struggled with but never looked like Most Outstanding Forward - Archie Milner losing. This was followed Coaches’ Award - Jacob Mounsey by a comfortable victory away at Bradford GS and B-TEAM victory in the NatWest Most Improved Player - Euan Cowan round 5 at home to Birkdale School from Most Outstanding Back - Josh Hattersley Southport. They arrived Most Outstanding Forward - Harry Burton-Braide with a good reputation Coaches’ Award - Ben Cox but we turned in one of our best performances of the season to top 50
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The Christmas break came when we did not really need it and was followed by a weather-depleted and very frustrating second term. Despite desperately trying to re-arrange and re-schedule fixtures lost to the weather we had 3 weeks of no fixtures in the New Year. Unfortunately, our first fixture of the term was against Woodhouse Grove in Round 7 of the NatWest trophy. Woodhouse are very good at this age group and had beaten us comfortably at home earlier in the season so we knew it would be a tough ask. We travelled away on a wet and windy day and performed admirably in a close defeat by 11 points to 7. The game could have gone either way but they made better use of the conditions in the second half and just shaded it. I would like to think that we could have won it with better handling in the weather but we never managed to get the ball into space in the strong wind. In this game the team showed what a good, all round side they had become, mainly through their willingness to do the basics well and work really hard for each other. The season finished with a win over Hymers; only 2 games played after Christmas in one of our wettest winters on record!
Individual accolades go to Patrick Snowball who represented Central Yorkshire and Patrick Reynolds who represented North Yorkshire. Jake Adams, Eddie Pitchford and Elliot Sanderson all went on to gain their Yorkshire shirts/ties with selection to the U15 Yorkshire squad. Jacob Mounsey attended the U15/U16 Academy and went to Wellington College for potential England U16 group selection. The U15s were an excellent squad to work with, always wanting to learn and develop, both as individuals and a team. Most of them have a sense of humour and quickly got used to the ‘rugby banter’; giving as good as they got! They were always willing to work hard, listen and give 100% in the game, even if they did not always train as hard as they could!
They play in a talented year group but they have now developed the extra edge needed to compete at this higher level. This now needs developing in future years and most of it will come from their attitude. Is it a back-handed compliment to say that they are not yet ‘nasty’ or clinical enough as a group? Jacob Mounsey and Eddie Pitchford were excellent throughout the year, not only in
their play but also as captains, leading by example. There was a repeated situation with me running behind the posts to pass my pearls of wisdom gently to the boys and finding Jacob or Eddie saying, more often than not, just what I was going to say - the correct things to say at the right time!
A memorable season in many ways; many more highs than lows! Memorable seasons do not always mean winning every game and I took a lot of satisfaction this year watching the group grow as a team and working hard to maximise their ability. If we achieved one thing, I hope this season has raised the squad’s own expectations of themselves a little higher and they can now go on with confidence to have success at senior level both as a team and individually.
Many thanks to Ian Wolfenden for all his help throughout the season but especially to Matt Archer whose tireless efforts guided the B team. Charlie Lines stepped in to referee some A team matches which helped greatly throughout the season.
GP
U14
It was great to turn up to the first session of the new season, my first with the Senior School, and be greeted by such an enthusiastic group of players. Some familiar faces from back in the Junior School and a number of new players to get to know. It was very clear from the first few weeks that this year group had bags of talent but that consistency would be key as the season progressed and this certainly turned out to be the case.
U14 rugby is somewhat of a transitional year for the boys, both in terms of physicality and maturity. The aim of the season was to start adding some structure to the way the team attacked and defended, whilst still allowing them the freedom and confidence to play ‘what was in from of them’. It was fantastic to see that on the most part the boys readily grasped this progression
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and made real attempts to translate what was done in training into matches. The opening try against King’s Macclesfield was a classic example of how the boys embraced this more mature attacking strategy. After some well marshalled and organised
carrying work by the forwards, a space on the far right hand side was identified and a kick behind the defence allowed the QEGS backs to race through for a superbly taken try. Likewise, from a defensive point of view, the boys’ performance against a very well drilled and dangerous Bristol Grammar School was another highlight. The team defended with determination, confidence and skill throughout the match. Despite losing in the last minute of the game, it was a performance to be proud of and one which the opposition coach was full of praise for. The Yorkshire Cup allowed the boys the opportunity to showcase their skills in a more pressurised tournament setting. It was great to see U14 AWARDS the boys rising to this challenge, working together and after A-TEAM a number of well contested matches, in particular a thrilling final against GSAL, they came away as champions. This will Most Improved Player - Lewis Brown hopefully give them great confidence when trying to follow Most Outstanding Back - Mihali Joannou in the school’s recent history of success in the NatWest Cup competition. Most Outstanding Forward - Max Wotton Coaches’ Award - Josh Charnock
B-TEAM Most Improved Players - Ryan Taylor and Vishnu Navaneethan Most Outstanding Back - Amai Ganjam Most Outstanding Forward - Ibrahim Shamchiyev Coaches’ Award - Stevan Balac
Throughout the season a total of 38 boys attended rugby sessions regularly and from this group 26 have played for the A team at some point. This highlights the efforts of those boys who worked hard in training and deservedly earnt their places in the A team. It also demonstrates the importance of a whole squad ethos as the boys move onwards. Hopefully they will embrace this idea as they move up to U15 rugby and the challenges that brings.
I’d like to finish by extending my thanks to: Mr Benn, for working with me throughout the year and for organising the Northern Ireland Tour; to Mr Barker, for the opportunity to be a part of his fantastically supportive, skilled and professional coaching set up; to the other members of the superb QEGS rugby coaching staff who have given the squad and myself their time, input, and advice throughout the season (in particular Mr Head and Mr Barker jr); to the parents for their continued support for the boys both at home and away; to Josh Charnock for captaining the side so well; and, finally to the players, for their efforts this year. I wish you every success next season.
U14 Captain's Report I’d like to start off by thanking Mr Benn, Mr Barker, Mr Lewis and all the other coaches for organising the fixtures and training sessions but also giving their time to work with us throughout the season. Also a big thank you to Mr Benn and Mr Head for setting up the Ireland tour that all the boys enjoyed and where arguably, we played our best game of our season. The first game of the season was away at Lancaster, a decent but beatable side. Our squad was a bit mixed but everyone came together which led to us putting them away in the first half. This was a comfortable win that set the bar high from the outset. However, we knew that if we were to beat better teams as the season progressed we would have to keep raising the bar even higher. After Lancaster, we went on to beat strong sides like King’s Macclesfield, for the first time, and Woodhouse Grove. One of the main events was the Yorkshire Festival. We got through our group relatively
JOSHUA CHARNOCK 2016 | 69
GL
easily, albeit with a bit of a tough contest against Woodhouse Grove. The majority of the games we played that day ended up being comfortable wins but the final against GSAL proved to be a tough game. A great try scored from a big forward drive to the opposition line was finished off by Oliver Farrar in the corner meaning the first half finished 5-0. Throughout the second half the score remained the same and the match was won purely by our defensive efforts! We were in our own 22m area for the majority of the half, but we didn’t concede and managed to keep them out until the end. Undoubtedly one of the toughest games of the season was Bristol at home. The Bristol side were well drilled and only possible to beat if we were on top form. The game went back and forth with Bristol scoring, then QEGS, right until the last minute of play. Unfortunately, one slip-up led to victory for Bristol in the closing moments.
Although we lost, it is fair to say we deserved it as much as they did, a lapse in defensive discipline lost us the game and this is a lesson that we will learn for next year.
The Ireland tour was the best finish to the season we could have asked for, with both teams getting extra games in at the end of the season and a chance for the whole squad to come together. Straight after landing in Belfast, we boarded a bus to Campbell College where we got changed and headed straight on to the pitch for kick off. We started off slowly, as might have been expected, but we soon got into the game and put some great plays together to get some points on the board. We started the second half leading by two tries and continued to pressure the opposition. They came back with some great attacks putting us on our own line for about 5 minutes. Penalty after penalty, Campbell were getting closer. After an incredible effort in
defence we managed to turn the ball over and counter attack, running right down to their line, scoring a brilliant team try. The B team match against Campbell was also a great effort from the boys, as they were playing some of Campbell’s A team. They demonstrated they could put play some really good rugby to challenge the best that Campbell could offer. This proved that both teams have talent in all aspects of the game and it’s fair to say that some of the B team boys will be challenging for a place in the A team next season.
I think that we have learned from the victories and defeats that we faced throughout the season and hopefully next year will show even better performances and fewer defeats. It is important for the whole squad to remember that in order to progress we need to have a more consistent approach to training sessions with more boys making themselves available on match days.
U14 TOUR The tour to Northern Ireland was a perfect way to end a rewarding season as U14 rugby players.
We had played against Campbell College the year before at home and we were eager to give them a good game. However, touring presents different challenges compared with playing regular fixtures. The first one for us was getting straight off the bus, heading straight to Belfast to play the fixture whilst the coaching staff were still in duty free! Two competitive games with one win and a loss wasn’t a bad set of results against arguably the best rugby school in Northern Ireland.
The next challenge both teams faced was to represent England against all the top rugby schools in Belfast in the prestigious
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Ulster Schools’ Tournament; thank you Mr Benn for organizing this fantastic opportunity, especially given England’s result in the Six Nations!
We retired to our hotel battered and bruised but still with enough stamina to finish the tour at the Odyssey, cheering on the Belfast Giants. A fantastic experience and one that has got us excited about future tours. Tour Awards Cameron Allen - Top Tourist
Patrick Maher - Most fines, which resulted in him having to help compile this tour report.
U13 The 2015-16 Rugby season started with some expectation and pressure on the boys. They have had a lot of success as juniors and had a very successful season as U12s making them one of the teams to beat on the circuit. In the initial few games we were lacking consistency in the team performance
REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS Wales Exiles U13 Squad Leighton Shuttleworth
England Rugby Developing Player Programme (ERDPP) Patrick Morgan Joe Mounsey Oliver Uren Leighton Shuttleworth
and individual moments of brilliance were not enough to win the matches anymore. The boys were working hard in training and although they were not getting the results on Saturdays, they were developing as players. I could fully understand their frustration as they were not playing poorly, they just couldn’t seem to reach a level of performance which made the results go in our favour.
small meant doing the ‘hard graft’ would be imperative as they worked towards improving their overall performance. I am sure that handling the ‘size factor’ of the opposition will help them in future years. Therefore, as a squad they decided that doing the basics well, more consistently under pressure, was key, not just relying on the X factor moments to win matches.
off the floor quicker to compete at a breakdown. Physically the boys found it difficult at times, and being relatively
the progress they have made this season and they have begun to find that top ten percent as rugby players. Furthermore,
I was impressed with the skill level amongst the players in this group, as the U13 squad had a lot of potential and ability; they could all handle a ball and play ‘heads up’ rugby which was great to see in young players. However, it was clear that areas to improve were the effort and desire to work hard off the ball as a team, whether it is supporting the ball carrier, realignment in the defensive line or just getting up
As the season continued the squad really stepped up: extra training sessions were well attended and the Games sessions became more productive with the boys wanting to work hard and stick to the challenges they set themselves. I was really pleased with the response from all the boys, they showed a lot of character and it really paid off as both the A and B teams played some top rugby. All the lads involved should be really proud of
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in the U13 National Cup we reached the quarter finals, narrowly losing out to Woodhouse Grove on the away team ruling due to the score being level at full time. The XV a-side season concluded with seven boys progressing from B team rugby to A team opportunities. This for me is a brilliant indication of how far the boys have come and justifies the existence of B team fixtures. Next season, with everyone fit, places really are up for grabs and there will be some selection headaches, which can only benefit the boys as they mature in their rugby careers.
The 7s circuit was a real disappointment due to the weather. The boys were training hard, working on their fitness and skills; however, every tournament scheduled was cancelled. Therefore we went into the Rosslyn Park National 7s competition a little under prepared and not as match fit as we would have hoped. However, this tournament summed up the difference from the start of the season. No excuses were made and the 12 lads selected played some fantastic 7s and ‘worked their socks off’, resulting in a quarter final finish – top 8 in the country in both codes of rugby is a title fully deserved for the work put in over
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the season.
a brilliant job making sure the ‘best grass in Wakefield’ is in shape for us to train in most conditions. Thank you to Joao for ensuring the Pavilion and changing rooms are immaculate. Thanks also to the coaching team of Mr Wolfenden, both of the Barkers, Mr Pickersgill, Mr Hulme and Mr Leask. The parents have also been very supportive and I know the boys appreciate all that you do for them.
Moving forward, I would like to see the boys still challenging each other in the squad. Next season, as U14 players, they have a lot of rugby to look forward to - the Independent Schools Yorkshire Festival, Junior Rugby Tour to Northern Ireland and preparing for the U15 NatWest Cup will begin too. I hope the boys all stick together and continue to develop and enjoy their rugby. They have been a great bunch to work with and I have really enjoyed this season. As a rugby squad they are very talented and with the correct application I really U13 AWARDS do believe they can continue A-TEAM to perform well in the big competitions. Most Improved Player - Jack Maskill At this point I would like to extend some thanks to the QEGS rugby staff, they all take an active role in developing the boys and give their time making the successful transitions from different year groups. Thank you to the kitchen staff and the catering team of Pat, Mary, Kate and Denise who do a great job both mid-week and on Saturdays for us all. The grounds staff do
CH
Most Outstanding Back - Patrick Morgan Most Outstanding Forward - Talin Gogna Coaches’ Award - Leighton Shuttleworth
B-TEAM Most Improved Player - David Black Most Outstanding Back - Christian Salvini Most Outstanding Forward - Edward Greaves Coaches’ Award - Archie Horsefield
U13 Captain's Report We have had a good season of rugby as a rugby squad this year. However, we started poorly losing 3 of our first 4 games, which was disappointing. As we continued to work the results began to turn around, and we won 6 of the next 7 games. The most memorable games throughout the year were a 46-0 win against Bradford in the National Cup where the boys blew them away with fast paced rugby. Also a 12-5 win away at Kirkham in the last 16 where an excellent interception towards the end secured us the victory in some of the worst conditions we will probably play in! One of the main highlights of the season was getting to the quarter finals of the National Cup where we were unlucky to be knocked out, being level at full time 7-7 with Woodhouse Grove who went through on the away team ruling. This was a tough contest and one where, although the result did not go in our favour, the team performance was there.
After doing exceptionally well in the National Cup we went to Rosslyn Park to
finish the season, again reaching the quarter finals, to be beaten by a very strong Bishops Stortford School. Our best win of the tournament was against King’s School Worcester which was an end to end game where we grabbed the win in the last few minutes with a try which sent us into the second day with high hopes. This was our first Sevens tournament of the season due to the bad weather so overall we were delighted with our performance and being placed in the top eight schools is credit to the hard work the boys put in on the pitch.
As mentioned, this season we came together as a squad further and the B team have had an excellent season with some great performances against Bradford and Nottingham where some great rugby was on show. The regulars have shown lots of progression throughout the year and have got stronger and stronger since the start of the season and should have a good year of rugby next year. Seven players
PATRICK MORGAN got opportunities playing A team rugby through the squad system showing the depth we now have moving forward.
Our progression as a squad has been huge this year. Next season we should be optimistic as a squad and hopefully we will continue to work hard to get the best out of each other. On behalf of the boys I would like to thank the coaching staff including Mr Head, Mr Hulme, Mr Wolfenden, Mr Pickersgill and Mr Barker for their contribution and commitment to the squad this year.
U12
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U12 AWARDS A-TEAM Most Improved Player - Jack Young Most Outstanding Back - Max Adams Most Outstanding Forward - Braemar Murray Coaches’ Award - William Gatus
B-TEAM Most Improved Players - Dan Gilfeather Most Outstanding Back - Matthew Stirk Most Outstanding Forward - Jonty Braide
The start of the U12 season is always a challenging but interesting process and
this year was no different. Some of the boys had experienced significant success at U11, some of the boys had never played rugby before, some of the parents had a variety of expectations and all of the coaches felt, at times, like we were trying to herd cats; 55 of them, all with varying ability, attitude and expectations! Whilst the U12 squad was very much the typical melting pot of 11 and 12 year old boys, it quickly became apparent that there was a vast amount of potential and enthusiasm within the group. There was also a significant amount of ‘eagerness’ from the touchline; however, we managed to convince pretty much everyone involved - and most importantly the players - that whilst the boys were getting to know each other and we were getting to know the boys, we’d all ‘try to get things right’, ‘probably get some things wrong’, but ‘definitely learn lots along the way and get there together in the end’; thus attempting to embed the idea that ‘QEGS rugby is all about processes and learning from experience’.
As the season got underway the squad
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(A, B & C teams) put in number of encouraging performances, including an outstanding effort at the Tait 10s, in which the QEGS team finished unbeaten and overall competition winners.
The boys who were new to rugby or relatively inexperienced started to develop in confidence and competence and the more experienced players began to show the type of rugby they were capable of playing.
We (the coaches) were therefore in a position that enabled us to really start
challenging the boys in terms of the technical and tactical challenges we set. As the season progressed the boys continued to impress, particularly in terms of developing their ability to ‘learn from their experiences’, treating them as ‘opportunities to develop and improve’, as opposed to simply react to what many others would see as simple successes or abject failures. Accepting that no-one goes out without the intention of winning, we were continually impressed with the way in which the boys tried to think about the game and figure out what ‘was and wasn’t working ’ in any given situation, as opposed to just working harder until they won or the final whistle went.
Whilst the season was a clear success in terms of the good old win/loss statistics, the greatest successes in terms of the boys’ development was, in my opinion, experiencing the individual and collective responses when things that had previously worked didn’t and when the players who had physically
dominated in the past couldn’t; the ‘what should we do next’ became decisions
of conclusive and defining importance and, most significantly, the boys stated to realise that success was ultimately dependent on their ability to respond positively and proactively to the specific situational challenges or difficulties they faced.
Whilst there is a wealth of talent within the year group, if the boys are able to continue their development, particularly focusing on playing the game at a level of speed, power and accuracy that opponents can’t get near, I’m sure the squad will experience great success in the future. Important thanks must go to: Mr Barker (Snr) for making QEGS rugby club the success that it is; Mr Davies and Mr Lines, for their input and efforts
throughout the season, particularly with the B & C teams; Mr Barker (Jnr) for his work with the squad and our ‘best ever’ Friday afternoon sessions; ‘the Parents’, for their support of the boys and for the positive environment they maintained on the touchline. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to the boys. It’s been an extremely enjoyable and successful season.
IAW
HOCKEY It is safe to say that QEGS is still the premier school for hockey in Yorkshire and arguably the North following a successful if somewhat at times frustrating season. The success: the 1st XI reaching the last 16 of the National Cup; the U14 and U15 squads being crowned County Champions. The frustration: the U13s narrowly missing out on the U13 National Finals after being crowned Yorkshire and North East champions; and both the U16 and U18 squads missing out on the National Finals following victories in their respective North East indoor hockey tournaments. The boys have continued to show commitment and desire throughout the season and we bid farewell to a number of senior players who have been excellent role models to the younger boys and now leave the school after so many years of high level sport. The junior end of the
hockey club looks strong following the success of the U13, U14 and U15 squads and the senior end has the potential to emulate or potentially better the success of the 2015-16 side.
A special mention must go to Sean Mahoney, who was selected to represent Scotland in the European Championships, as well as Tom House, Jason Allen and Aidan Hopkinson who represented the North and William Gibson who attended the England HiPaC. A large number of boys were selected for JRPC squads and we look forward to them achieving county representation in the near future. My thanks go to Sean Clark, Neil Rhodes, James Jones, Dave Binney, Christian Head, Trevor Barker, Will Stiff and Lee Shearer as well as Danny Berry for their hard work and commitment: QEGS hockey wouldn’t thrive without them. Moving Forward
We are developing our coaching set-up and improving links with Wakefield Hockey Club by introducing performance coaching to boys on Tuesday nights from 8.30-10. This will be open to U14-U17 players who the club see as having the potential to represent Wakefield Hockey Club’s 1st XI. These sessions start in October and will be run by myself and
Danny Berry, linking into Wakefield Hockey Club’s 30 man performance squad that trains on a Tuesday at College Grove. In turn, we have retained the services of Danny Berry for another season and that, along with the excellent hockey staff, will provide a link between me and each year group. Finally, Thursday night training will be dedicated to U14 and U16 cup squads in a bid to reach the National Finals with these age groups; the U12, U13 and U15 squads will train at lunchtimes. The 1st XI squad schedule will be published in September. I have extended the fixture card to add in new and more challenging opposition and intend to continue to develop indoor hockey provision. I very much hope that he boys can reflect on this season with pride and that the developments in hockey at the school will excite them and enthuse them to be as committed next season as they were during this campaign.
OL (Head of Hockey)
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1 XI ST
The 1st XI performed well this season, developing into a strong side that learnt to dig deep and grind out results against some of the top schoolboy sides in the country. The indoor season was, at the time disappointing, but on reflection a successful one. The boys were crowned North East champions following an undefeated County and North East Schools Championship(s) and in the North Finals at Manchester Grammar School, two wins and a draw meant that victory against King’s Chester would secure a place the National Finals. However a 2-1 loss meant a 3rd place finish in the competition and QEGS missing out.
The outdoor season was one of the best in recent years following the restructuring of the National Schoolboy competition to knock-out format in 2014. QEGS progressed through rounds 1, 2, 3 and 4 with relative ease with victories over Ashville, Hall Cross, Greenhead and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.
In the fifth round the boys travelled to Rossall School and, following a tough battle in windy conditions, the scores were tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes of hockey (including 10 minutes each way extra-time). So onto penalty flicks: the QEGS boys held their nerve and ran out 4-2 winners following some exceptional saves from Sean Mahoney. In the last 16 QEGS were drawn against Repton School. Repton fielded no less than 6 current England U18 internationals with all members of their squad achieving representative honours during the 2015-16 season. The boys acquitted themselves very well, eventually losing 8-0. Repton went onto win the national title, so on reflection the boys can take a great deal of pride from their performance.
The season finished with a tour to Barbados where, in 9 days of hockey and cricket, the 1st XI team played 2 and won 2. The boys had a memorable trip, representing the school with passion and commitment and this was a fitting end for many of them who now leave us to move on to pastures new. My thanks go to Sean Clark, Danny Berry and James Jones who have all assisted me with enthusiasm throughout the season. Finally, I would like to thank the players and parents who have been so fully committed to QEGS hockey club this season.
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U16
U15
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U14
U13
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The 2015/2016 season was a highly successful one for the U13 side.
After some mixed results in friendlies against Hall Cross and Harrogate the side was excited to get stuck into some competition Hockey in the West Yorkshire area 7-a-side competition against GSAL, Silcoates and Ackworth. We managed to make home advantage pay by winning every game and not conceding a single goal.
This took us through to the North East finals where we needed to finish in the top two of a group containing Yarm, Driffield, St Olaves and King Ecgberts. The quality of opposition was certainly a step up but we started strong by beating King Ecgberts 4-0 before beating Driffield 2-0 in a much tougher contest. By far our best start came against St Olaves where we were 2-0 up inside 3 minutes thanks to excellent forward play from Guy Stuart-Brown, Will Roberts, Oliver Butterfield and Niral Shetty. This left us top of the group on goal difference with just Yarm to play. Yarm had a large set of boys who put our defence under a large amount of pressure. Thanks to
some excellent goal keeping from Alex Findlater and defensive work from Aamer Khan, Nathan Lyster, Joe Gueli, Finley Hunt and a much bruised shin of Niral Shetty we managed to maintain our 100% defensive record to hold out for a 0-0 draw. This result took us through to the Northern Finals and the chance to qualify for the Nationals. Before this we had the County Cup 11-a-side competition. Going from half pitch to full pitch hockey was a challenge but our boys stepped up extremely well. In the group stage we managed to beat Harrogate 3-0, Hill House 1-0 and Kettlethorpe 4-0 whilst only managing a 0-0 draw against Ackworth. After a hard fought 1-0 win against Ashville in the semi-final we took on Hill House again in the final. The final was a very cagey affair with more excellent goal keeping and defending required by Alex and Aamer. As the game stretched towards the end we were able to make our possession and pressure pay thanks to a superb finish from Niral Shetty. Following on from being crowned county champions we had our Northern
Finals. We started off by letting in our first competitive goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against Rossall. We bounced back from this with a convincing 3-0 win against Silcoates before finishing the group with a 1-0 win against King’s Chester to win the group.
This took us up against Harrogate who we had played twice already this season losing in a friendly and then beating a weakened side in the county cup. We knew this would be a tough game but drew confidence from our formidable defence and the skills we had shown moving forward. Unfortunately, after a high quality game a momentary lapse of discipline saw us left unprotected at the back and Harrogate made us pay. Unable to get back into the game with just a couple of minutes remaining we lost 1-0 and our hopes of reaching the National Finals were over. We did salvage some glory by winning the third place play-off 3-0 against King’s Chester. This side has an abundance of skill and the potential to achieve great things. Fingers crossed for a successful season next year.
WLS
REPRESENTATIVE HOCKEY
Sean Mahoney Scotland National U18s
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Back Row Theo Brook, Aamer Khan, Henry Dyke, Josh Fell, Edward Parker, Robbie Watson, Rahul Kumbhani, Jason Allen
Front Row Oliver Butterfield, Tom Noble, Tom House, Sean Mahoney, William Gibson, Will Roberts, Guy Stuart-Brown
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1 XI Captain's Report ST
As always, the British ‘summer’ weather played its ever present role on the QEGS 1st XI’s fixture card, leading to the cancellation of the opening match against St. Peters York, as well as the games against Ashville College and bitter rivals Bradford Grammar. In addition, injuries to key senior players thanks to the rugby season further disrupted the 1st XI’s preparations for the new season, resulting in probably the youngest squad to ever represent a 1st team in QEGS Cricket history!
The annual fixture against the wellrespected MCC was, therefore, our opening fixture of the season. It was the first time the majority of the side had ever taken part in the fixture and it was a great experience for the younger players, so I would like to congratulate the lads for achieving a well fought draw against a very strong MCC side. In particular, vicecaptain Amol Vani was the rock of the innings, producing a sublime half century, giving the team confidence to see out the match. Unfortunately, the strong start to the season couldn’t be continued as it was followed by a defeat against Bolton Grammar with George Charnock receiving the ‘thanks for coming’ award after his impressive performance of scoring no runs and dropping two catches. The most successful story of the 1st XI’s season was without a doubt the National T20 Cup competition, coming up against our two biggest rivals in Bradford and Silcoates in the first round, with only one of the sides being able to progress. A less than comfortable victory came against Silcoates, Harry Thompson the man to guide us home, after an almost calamitous batting collapse, scoring a solid 36. Then came the crunch match against Bradford Grammar, with the winner going through to the next round. After a heavy shower, the game was
restricted to just 15 overs per side, playing beautifully into the hands of George Thompson, also referred to as ‘Glen’ (which to this day people still don’t understand). With Glen being Glen he smashed his way to a half century. I had the pleasure to spend the majority of his innings at the other end of the pitch, enjoying one moment in particular. Their captain had brought himself on to bowl at Glen, and as usual he goes for a big heave over cow corner, missing the ball, stimulating a response from the bowler- ‘come on big boy, where are the sixes?’ A silly move on his behalf as next ball, George nailed the ball over his head for six, responding to the bowler ‘come on big boy, where are the sixes?’ If that doesn’t sum Glen up, then I don’t know what does. A brilliant victory, which put us through to play reigning champions Woodhouse Grove in the Northern Final. Being huge underdogs we played the game in usual fighting QEGS spirit, causing almost the biggest upset of the competition. Even though we only reached 93, we eventually lost with two balls remaining after a tremendous bowling performance (especially from Vinit Patel, with a stunning delivery to remove their overseas batsman, who also plays for Caribbean Premier League side, St. Lucia Zouks!). Other than this T20 run, the season didn’t go to plan. The loss against Silcoates can be put down to the fact that it followed the Year 13’s May Ball the night before; I’m sure bragging rights will be restored next year! Our sole victory came against Hymers College. However, individual performances do need to be congratulated. Harry Duke in Year 9, who scored an outstanding 63 against Woodhouse Grove, showed that QEGS is in safe hands for the future.
HARRY GRAHAM The QEGS cricket future certainly is bright and the young squad can use this season as a learning process as they progress through school cricket, and I’m sure they’ll keep on improving. A new young opening bowling combination of Vinit Patel and Sean Russell are certainly a lethal and exciting pair, with many years to continue in tandem. Other players such as Harry Thompson, who was a key batsman for the side this season, has a great future at QEGS ahead of him. Alongside them is Michael Flathers, a brilliant leg spinner, who was our go to man over the last few years if we ever needed a wicket. Thanks must go to the current Year 13s. Even though our final season together as a side didn’t go quite to plan, I’d like to thank you all for the efforts you have put in over the years, we’ve been through every high and low together and I couldn’t have asked for a better set of lads to play my final school year of cricket with. I’d also like to thank Mr Wolfenden, Mr Davies and even Chris Lawson for their continued support throughout the season, even though the results weren’t always what we wanted. I finally wish Adarsh Vani, next season’s captain, and the current Year 12s, good luck in running the side next season. Remember to ‘leave the shirt in a better place’.
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2
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XI
School second team cricket has been under a great deal of pressure in the last few years through exams, university visits, club seconds being short and also a loss of interest in the game at the older end of school. It is to the credit of the captain Johnny Garrity that we managed to compete at all as without his efforts and influence we would have been short on more than one occasion this season. I feel it is important to pay a tribute to this squad, which once again has found the happy medium of playing a good standard of senior school cricket with a smile on its faces.
Results have been mixed, and our main issue has been when the first team have been short and we had late notice to find a body - never mind quality replacements! But there is no doubt spirits have been high throughout the year and we have never
been short of players on a Saturday and this comes from a loyal Year 13 captain, Jonny Garrity. Together with all-rounder Krishan Patel and our keeper/batsman Luke Otley they have been the backbone of the squad this year. At this stage I must make a special mention of Rob Swarbrick, who has given me 3 years of loyal service with a fair amount of success.
These lads, with some added quality from Year 12 and youthful exuberance from a hard core of Year 11s (see squad list), have ensured that we have again achieved our goals. At times we have needed the support of some 14s and 15s and to all of them we are very grateful. In the batting we have had mixed performances, but an outstanding knock from Luke Adams at Woodhouse Grove
meant we lost him early to the first team. Our main man, and best batsman, Krishan Patel, was plagued with exam pressure, but whenever he played he could not stop scoring runs. There
were others who showed glimpses, but most lacked consistency and continuity often due to exam revision, university visits or stepping up to play for the first team! Our bowling was a little erratic, but Henry Dyke, our best performer, was a regular wicket taker (we missed Louis Bridge due to his shoulder injury). Nevertheless, in our last match he did show he could also bat and at one stage I thought he and
Jonny were going to take the Lancaster bowling apart on the last Saturday - Jonny hitting one of the biggest 6s I have seen on that pitch, hitting uphill and putting it into the practice nets! Tom Macrow, when he played, gave us a cutting edge both with bat and ball and I fear we will lose him to the first team more often next year.
Our fielding was a mixed bag, but Luke Otley at keeper was without doubt our most consistent in the field and Luke took our fielding prize. The most improved player, without doubt, must go to Edan Kelly as he has come from obscurity in Year 11 to being a key player for us and I do feel that he will do more next season. Finally, the coaches’ prize just had to go to Jonny Garrity - a character who needed winding in now and again, but, nonetheless, was the main reason why many of us were able to enjoy a successful second team season.
IAW
U15 With the exception of the brilliant victory in the Pocklington/ GSAL sixes competition, the U15 cricket season was not a particularly successful one in terms of results. However, for myself and co-coach Mr Wood, this does not really matter.
amongst the boys was always extremely positive. There is a type of camaraderie that only the spirit of cricket can produce and it was much in evidence within the U15 squad this year.
and effort this season.
The season began with a fixture against Ashville School. Unfortunately, the annual D of E expedition spanned the same weekend and, as a result, the squad was severely depleted.
Results certainly are important but they are not the be-all and end-all of sport. I am extremely proud of the boys’ commitment The U15 cricket squad can boast that 24 boys have represented their school this summer and win, lose or draw the atmosphere
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As usual, the weather played a key role this season with a number of games being cancelled, although the games that were played highlighted the excellent standard of QEGS cricket.
With the aid of three Year 9s, the team put on a gallant performance but were unable to prevent Ashville from reaching our below-par score of 94-3. The following weekend, now with a full squad, we travelled to Silcoates where the U15’s season really took off. Some excellent batting (especially from captain Will Hodgkiss – 74) helped QEGS to a total of 153-5 off 20 overs. The Silcoates batting line-up, with a huge total to chase, simply capitulated to 111 all out. This form was maintained against local rivals Woodhouse Grove where a brave 50 (and retired hurt) from Seb Crabtree helped QEGS to an excellent score of 185-3 off 30 overs. Tight bowling and good fielding put a stop to any Woodhouse Grove comeback. Incredibly, this tremendous run of form came to a spectacular end against both GSAL and Lancaster Grammar School with both oppositions
winning comfortably; these latter two fixtures did not deter the squad from what has been a very enjoyable season.
I would like to thank the boys for their hard work, especially the captain Will Hodgkiss, who has been outstanding in organising and leading the team with great panache throughout the season. Also to the parents, a big thanks for their continued support come rain or shine, whether home or away. Finally, a big thank you must be extended to Mr Wood, Jacob Heseltine and Mr Wolfenden for their expert coaching in both Games sessions and in QED; I am certain that the boys have greatly appreciated all the effort that they have put in this year - their advice has also been invaluable to me.
MEA
U14
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U13
Despite the fact that, yet again, the weather beat us on a number of occasions, the U13 cricket team demonstrated commitment and a high skill level throughout the 2015-16 season. Training was always well attended and the players were led well by Aamer Khan who showed enthusiasm and a desire to listen and learn. A tough opening fixture against Bolton School saw QEGS lose by 4 wickets, but victories against Silcoates, Ashville, Hymers, Woodhouse Grove, GSAL & RGS Lancaster meant that QEGS finished the season with only one loss during the regular Saturday season. The toughest game of the season came against Dulwich Prep School in the penultimate week of term. The rain threatened to stop play, but against the odds we managed to play a 20/20 blast. QEGS lost narrowly to a very well drilled
The QEGS U12 A Team season started well with a win and a strong performance against Bolton School. We batted first and posted 130 for 6 in 30 overs, with Joe Whaling scoring 23 not out and Max Adams making his first 50 not out. Our bowling attack was then too strong for Bolton, with our spinners Jack Young (3 for 11) and Peter Flathers (2 for 16) doing particularly well, and they were bowled out for 65. After the Ashville College match was rained off we next played and slaughtered Kettlethorpe High (30 all out) in the Yorkshire Cup first round (J Young taking 2 for 0). The next match against local rivals Silcoates was equally one sided and we won by 114 runs – we
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and skilful Dulwich side, but it was an excellent game that went right down to the wire – QEGS: 96 for 6 from 20 overs, Dulwich: 97 for 5 from 19.4 overs. This was a fitting end to the season.
The boys have benefitted greatly from the addition of Mr. Will Stiff to the staff room and he has brought a high level of skill and coaching knowledge to the sessions. Also, old Savilian Jacob Heseltine has been involved and his approach with the players, particularly his one-on-one sessions, saw some individuals make big strides forward. Thanks must go to the parents and supporters who attended many of the fixtures in both the rain and sunshine. A special mention must go to Francis Lonsdale who, more than ably, stepped in to help the boys to victory against Woodhouse Grove following an injury to a QEGS player.
U12
OL
made 140 for 2 in our 20 overs (M Adams 50 no again; J Young 18 no; Aaron Dyer 19 no) and then bowled Silcoates out for 24 with James Willard (4 wickets for 4 runs including a hat-trick!), J Young (3 for 0) and George Booth (2 for 3) all starring with the ball. The next match resulted in the biggest disappointment of the season as it led to us being knocked out of the Yorkshire Cup in only the second round by Brooksbank College. We’d hoped that our strong side had a good chance of progressing well into the tournament but the excellent opening stand of 93 by their
openers Weston and Finch, two of the best U12 batsmen in Yorkshire, provided them with a very solid foundation despite a very good all round QEGS bowling performance. Once we got one of them out in the 17th of 20 overs we then took another very quick 6 wickets in 12 balls with a devastating burst of 4 for 15 including a hat-trick from G Booth. If only we had got one of the openers out earlier! We then had one of our rare poor performances with the bat to be all out for 65. Brooksbank got the better of us by taking the pace off the ball and bowling tightly on a slow wicket and when we lost patience with being tied down we played rash shots and got out. A match from which there are some lessons to learn. Brooksbank went on and eventually lost in the semi-final. We got back to winning ways with the crushing defeat of Woodhouse Grove by 178 runs. QEGS batted first making 189 for 7 in 30 overs with great innings from Joe Whaling (50 no) and Max Adams (51 no) and solid supporting ones from Aaron Dyer (28) and Jack Young (20). Woodhouse Grove then capitulated for 11 all out with their main tormentors being George Booth who took 4 for 0 in 4 overs and Peter Flathers who took 3 for 1 in 2 overs. Unfortunately, the matches against Bradford Grammar and Hymers College and the Hymers 6s were all rained off. When the weather finally improved we saw off GSAL in a rather low scoring match which was dominated by the bowlers on a tricky wicket by 35 runs – QEGS 101 for 9 (A Dyer 25 and Tom Coulthard 17) and GSAL 66 all out (Alex Allen 3 for 3 in 2 overs). The U12B Team had their only match of the season against Lancaster Grammar School B and acquitted themselves very well in a tight match. QEGS batted first making 81 for 9 in 25 overs with ‘Man of the Match’ Will Gatus top scoring and he
then also bowled well along with rest of the team to skittle Lancaster for 71 when it looked like they might overhaul our total. An exciting finish to a good close match. In their last
match of the season the QEGS A Team didn’t fair as well and ended the season with only their second defeat against the Lancaster A Team. Our bowling attack performed well and restricted Lancaster to only 113 in 25 overs, the pick of the bowlers being Will Gillespie with 2 for 17 and G Booth with 2 for 19, but our batting line up had a rare off-day and were dismissed for 59 runs with only J Young getting in to score 20.
In the end of season awards Max Adams was the ‘Most Outstanding Batsman’ (scoring 192 runs in 7 innings and averaging 64 runs – despite me retiring him 4 times!), George Booth was the ‘Most Outstanding Bowler’ (taking 13 wickets at an average of only 3.69 each!), Joe Whaling was the ‘Most Outstanding Fielder’, Tom Coulthard was the ‘Most Improved Player’ and Jack Young received the ‘Coaches’ Award’ for having an excellent season with both bat and ball. Overall, the season was an enjoyable one for all involved. The lads trained and played matches in a very sporting fashion and with lots of enthusiasm. Out of the 8 matches played 6 were won and only two lost. The squad is a very talented one with lots of potential to do well in future at all ages for QEGS. Mr Davies, Mr Jones and I who coached and looked after the teams during matches would like to thank the boys for their positive approach. We would also like to thank the players’ parents and wider family members for all of their support over the season – this is much appreciated. The U12 cricket squad consisted of Max Adams, Jack Young, George Booth, Joe Whaling, Aaron Dyer, Alex Allen, James Willard, William Gillespie, Peter Flathers, Haris Hussain, Thomas Coulthard, Braemar Murray, Evan Clark, Harri Jenkinson, Cameron Harman, Harvey Ducker, Joe Lister, Will Gatus, Daniel Bough, Jack Bateman-Mycroft, Logan Dudley, Edward Marsh, Rohan Bhimsaria, Oliver McNair.
ANR
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CROSS COUNTRY QEGS Cross Country is beginning to take shape again with an influx of young talented runners coming through the age groups. This year we entered The English Schools ESAA Cross-Country Cup and the Northern Schools Cross Country Championships, where the boys competed very well against strong competition. These are two events we're hoping to enter again and should be a target for the committed runners next season. Throughout the season, the squad ran well in all the Wakefield League Events with Aaron Dyer, Sam Moore, Alexander Findlater, Bailey Mann, Daniel Easton and Harry Shelbourne all representing Wakefield District in the West Yorkshire Cross Country.
With the Cross Country season becoming shorter, the boys still had a lot of opportunities to take part in competitive fixtures. There have been many positives to take from this season and Cross Country will hopefully continue to grow as an Autumn/ Winter sport for both keen runners and boys participating in team sports. Thanks must go to the parents who have been brilliant supporting the boys in some pretty dire weather conditions. Special thanks must go to Mr Lines who has been instrumental in driving the training sessions for the boys and preparing them as well as he can for their competitions. A lot to look forward to next year and with Harry Shelbourne as the new Cross Country Captain; I am sure it will continue to grow within the school.
CH
ATHLETICS QEGS Track and Field have had quite a successful season with the boys competing well in all the age groups and some good prospects for the future coming through from the younger boys.
We started the competitive season at the annual HMC Schools Championships where we compete a year young to prepare us for the English Schools Cup Competition. Large selections of boys were available to choose from for both the Junior and Intermediate Boys’ teams. We took a good squad and performed really well, giving us all confidence for the season ahead.
The first round of the English School Athletics
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Association (ESAA) Track and Field Cup was upon us and the boys had begun to work hard in the lunchtime training sessions. The boys achieved good results again with second place finishes in both the Junior Boys and Intermediate Boys competitions. However, we still went through with a good points score. As
REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS
TRACK
Israel Kolleh-McBorrough - 100m Joe North - 100m Oliver Uren - 100m Lawrence Symonds-Barnes - 100m Hurdles Edward Pitchford - 100m Hurdles Bailey Mann - 1500m
Field: Jack Cherry - Long Jump Ben Hall - Javelin Jack Maskill - Shot Putt Joe Brierley - Discus George Jones - Discus
a school we were represented in both age groups in the North Regional A Final held at Harvey Haddon Stadium, Nottingham. This event was tarnished with poor weather conditions making it difficult to score well on the track events. A combination of the bad weather and some below par performances meant the Intermediate Boys did not qualify. The Junior Boys were unlucky and very close to going through, finishing in third place and not too far off the winning points total.
The Wakefield League Competitions again were successful in all the age groups, with some personal best times, distances and heights made across all the events, demonstrating that QEGS boys are still strong in the region. Drawing to the end of the season we competed in the North and Midlands Independent Schools Championships at Mount St Mary’s College, in which we have a good record. We went on to win in the Intermediate Boys and Junior Boys Competitions.
The last fixture was the Wakefield Championships where we compete
against all the schools in Wakefield; this is a very large event and one where we are grateful to be invited. This is the only event where the boys compete in their year groups. It was very pleasing to see all the boys working hard in their events and I was extremely pleased with the Year 7 team who have shown during the course of this season that they have lots of potential. Thank you to the Year 10 boys who have been good performers in their four years competing for QEGS Track and Field. Next season is looking bright with some keen athletes in the squad and hopefully we can build on the progress made this year. My thanks must go to all the staff who offered their time and efforts in the training and competitions; in particular, Mr Barker (Junior) and Dr Shearer have
been great in helping the boys at some of the competitions. Thank you to Charles Lines for his assistance at competitions and assisting me very much with his expertise and enthusiasm. I would like to extend thanks to the Kitchen Staff and Groundsmen for all their work behind the scenes, and to the parents for their support of the school and boys.
CH
CLIMBING PART 1
It was a dark and cloudy Thursday morning. I was waiting for the bus that would take us (Ben Cousins, his brother Dan, Finley Hunt and I) to the climbing competition at Leeds Wall. The tension was so thick on the bus nobody dared to talk and I could tell that we were all thinking about the day ahead. The minutes dragged on and then, finally, we were there and I sensed the thrill of not being in school but mostly how well I was going to do. We had ace climber Barnaby Drew on our team so I was not worried
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about coming last; also by his side there was James Maskill and Dan Mitchell-Garnett. We had a good chance of getting a podium with them.
Raph Selka 8KF PART 2
After we arrived at Leeds Wall, we collected the scoring sheets and were told bouldering was first. For me this was good, because bouldering takes up a lot of energy, and therefore it is good to do bouldering first. I personally prefer bouldering, because there are exciting overhangs and volumes to really test your stamina. Raph and I did fairly well, finishing with sixty points. By the end of bouldering, my hands had already started to blister, and Raph’s climbing shoes were starting to rub my heel. (After struggling to find climbing shoes that would fit me, Raph kindly lent me his because he had found others that fitted him). The tension was rapidly rising, and my stomach endlessly churning. Next was the top rope climbs, and it was only going to get harder…Barnaby Drew was doing insanely well and eventually finished with 445 points!
After eating a quick snack we continued. We were only allowed to do five route climbs: Raph and I carelessly wasted a hard climb which we didn’t even get halfway up! I did ok on a couple of climbs, but my arms began to feel like they were on fire. My later overall score was 130, which was way lower than I had hoped for. But there is always next year, hopefully when I’m more experienced, and can learn from my mistakes. Daniel Cousins 8SLR
PART 3
After lunch we set out to get our scores higher. I was not doing well so I was trying to prove that I am a good climber because I may have made people think I wasn’t. I was climbing first and chose a fairly hard wall; I was a bit worried but then thought I had done it in earlier days. As I was tying myself in I was wondering how long it would take for me to climb up the wall, so I started to climb. As I was getting higher I started to feel like it was getting easier but then I slipped; with both my hands on the wall I hung on trying to pull myself back on to the wall and with one final pull I did it and I was back on the wall. My heart was pounding. I then reassured myself and carried on. Around 2 minutes later I had finished and I was being brought down by Raph Selka.
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It was then his turn to climb and he made it look easy which made me laugh because I had tried my best. We had one more climb left and we were wondering what to do. We then chose a wall which was very hard so I asked Raph to do it before me. Whilst he was tying himself in I was asking him how to reach this certain hold. He then started and I was giving him advice. He reached halfway and was trying to reach a hold but he slipped and came off. We then brought him down and he said it was easy until this certain part so I just thought if I just try and get half the points by climbing halfway would be easier. So I tied myself in and started to climb. There was a hold that I hit my knee on and I cut myself. I was jumping and diving to try and reach up which then brought me to the halfway point. I was one metre away from reaching the hold but then my foot slipped and I fell off. I was gutted and was sad but then thought that we could still win so it was just down to what scores we got. As I was untying myself I looked at my hands and there were blisters everywhere. We started to talk afterwards and were trying to guess what scores we got.
Finley Hunt 8ROW PART 4
With our hands blistered and our heads burning we had finished our days climbing. Well most of us. Barnaby Drew was representing the school for the speed climb. He was tied into the rope along with his opponent. Ready, set, go and he was off, shooting to victory. Barnaby slapped the pad at the top of the wall to declare victory against his opponent. But there were others to race so it wasn’t over yet. After 5 minutes of several more races, the top 3 were about to be called. After 3rd and 2nd were called, Barnaby’s name was called and he walked up to the 1st place step on the podium. More names were called for various different events but not from our school. The under 17 winners were about to be announced: 3rd and 2nd places were called and then Barnaby’s name was called again for first Under 17. Next was the top 3 schools in which QEGS was called for 3rd - we collected our certificates and then disappeared into the crowd. We collected our belongings and headed towards the minibus. We clambered on and settled down into our seats. Overall, it was a good day of climbing and we were satisfied with 3rd position.
Ben Cousins 8KF
BADMINTON
TENNIS
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SPORTS DAY Sports Day 2016 brought some good weather again with the forecasted showers staying away.
In the morning we started with the 1500m and field events - Jack Maskill breaking another Shot Putt Record, with a distance of 11.80m, beating Richard Odai’s 2008 Y8 Record of 11.52m. Jack is now the holder of both the Y7 and Y8 Shot Putt Records which deserves a special mention. No other records were broken, although there were some great athletics on show through all ages and the staff managed to just about hold their own in the Y10 Tug-of-War competition!
Congratulations to the winning forms and to all the boys for taking part, including the Y12 boys who helped with the events. A big thank you to the Form Tutors and staff for making the day run smoothly, also to the Groundsmen for their efforts. Finally, thank you to Sweet Station and Longo’s Ice Creams for their charitable donation to the Raise For Life funds and providing refreshments for all to enjoy.
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CH
SPORTS DAY RESULTS: YEAR 7: 5th MEA 123 4th NJA 140 3rd MRB 145 2nd CRW 152 1st JUS 154
YEAR 8: 4th LAS 143 3rd GP 184 2nd HRC 187 1st PM 190
YEAR 9: 5th SLR 103 4th KF 135 3rd SAW 140 2nd ROW 152 1st PMC 180
YEAR 10: 6th SC 86 5th CH 114 4th SED 121 3rd THG 133 2nd DAB 140 1st WLS 144
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End Notes ARTHUR JOHNSON (OS, 1916-20)
Arthur Johnson was born in Wakefield on 10 November 1904. He was the second son of Burley Johnson, who went on to be Mayor of Wakefield in 1929-30, Chairman of the Education Committee and Spokesman for the Governors of Wakefield Grammar School Foundation.
Like his brothers Harold (OS, 191322) and Ernest (OS, 1918-22), Arthur Johnson attended QEGS on a scholarship where he was very happy. He qualified as a barrister at Gray’s Inn and was part of the prosecution team at the Nuremberg War Trials after WWII. He spent most of his professional life as a lawyer in East Africa. He returned to the UK after retirement and died in Bournemouth on 31 May 2001 aged 97. His wife Nina Johnson died in March 2014. His pastimes included carpentry and metal work, and when he visited his school in the late 1990s with his nephew Graham Johnson (OS,1958-65) he was shown round by the then Headmaster, Mr Robert Mardling. He was very interested in the design technology facilities being developed at that time.
In a letter of wishes written before his death and enacted last year, Mr Johnson expressed a desire to help those who might follow him to attend QEGS. Being the son of a largely selfeducated man who came to Wakefield as iron founder, Arthur was very keen that local boys from relatively humble backgrounds should continue to have the benefit of education at the Grammar School following the ending of Direct Grant status. Thanks to his kind and generous gift a future QEGS boy will receive a bursary in order to attend the school. We are grateful to the Johnson Family
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for supporting a bursary in memory of Arthur Johnson. If you would like to support a bursary or dedicate a bursary to the memory of one of your friends or relatives, please contact the development office on 01924 231 642, developmentoffice@qegsss.org. uk MR PETER HAWKIN (FORMER STAFF, 1946-81)
It is with great sadness that we report the death of former QEGS Art Master, Peter Hawkin, who has died aged 98 after a short illness. Art Master at QEGS for 35 years between 1946 -1981, Peter will be sadly missed by all who knew him. He was educated at the City of Leeds School and Leeds College of Art before serving in the RAMC in the Middle East during WWII. At School, Peter was known for being an immaculately dressed gentleman and his kindness and patience were legendary. Many of his pupils got their first real thirst for art after joining him on one of his many London expeditions, and owe much to his kindly but persuasive guidance, to his expertise and to his great faith in people.
Peter was also famous for his theatrical set design for school and staff productions. A reminder of his insistence on accuracy and the importance of detail were epitomised in the construction of the stained glass window for the set of ‘Murder in the Cathedral’, which was painstakingly copied from Canterbury Cathedral. This, like so many of his creations, was unveiled to rapturous applause from the audience. In so many ways Peter played an influential part in School life. He was a lover of cricket and coached the QEGS Colts team over many years. He was something of a bowler himself and was one of the stalwarts of the Staff
XI. He sang tenor in the school choir and was a regular contributor to the Crossword Society.
In a time before computers, Peter was responsible for the production of many of the illuminated certificates and prizes given out at Speech Day. He also took charge of the day to day decor throughout the school, and carefully selected pictures to adorn its quiet corners, several of which still gently educate the boys today. In 1981 Peter retired to Easby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire. Beloved husband of the late Isabel, he is survived by his four children Sheila, Richard, Iain and Stephen, all of whom attended WGSF schools. MICHAEL GREEN (OS, 1968-75)
It is with sadness that we report the passing of Old Savilian Michael Green. Michael attended QEGS between 1968 and 1975 and was one of only two academic scholarship students. Michael left QEGS to study medicine at Leeds University. After graduation, Michael joined Barnsley District Hospital Anaesthetic Department. He went on to become Senior Anaesthetist and after 25 years with the hospital took early retirement, aged 58. Sadly, Michael died suddenly of a stroke on 17 May 2015, just six months into his retirement. PETER CONWAY (FORMER STAFF, 2005-2007)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Peter Conway, a former Classics teacher at WGHS, who sadly passed away on 8th September 2016 after living for a number of years with cancer. A Philosophy graduate of Leeds
University, Peter taught at Gateways School, Leeds, and Bradford Girls' Grammar School before pursuing a career in industry, eventually becoming Head of E-Commerce at BT. He returned to teaching in 2005, when he joined WGHS, before retiring in 2007. While his time at the school was relatively short, he had a profound impact on many of the girls, and QEGS sixth-form boys, he taught. In his retirement he continued to maintain links with the school via exam invigilation, and enjoyed volunteering at the PDSA charity shop in Leeds City Centre. Peter was a great teacher who was willing to move beyond the confines of the exam syllabus to impart his immense knowledge of the classical world, and his experience of visiting classical sites not only in Europe but also in Libya and Syria, to his students. He encouraged and engaged younger pupils, sparking their interest in the Classics, while the quality and style of his teaching at sixth-form level was more akin to an Oxbridge tutorial than a school lesson.
He had a sharp sense of humour and wasn't afraid to deliver a good oneliner, or a witty put-down to a cheeky pupil. Being merrily irreverent, he didn't restrict this behaviour to the classroom. Upon meeting the Deputy Director of the British Museum and being told the Elgin Marbles would never be returned to Athens (where Peter had been very impressed by the new museum at the Acropolis), he responded: "well you might consider displaying them properly at the moment they look like they're propped up in an old garage."
Many of us will remember Peter as a loyal friend. It is testament not only to his professional talents but the nature of his character and strength of his friendship that he remained close to so many of his former students, and their parents, from different schools and generations. He was extremely
generous with his time, advice and practical help; many of his students received books from his collection when going up to University, or various household goods he had found at home and procured from friends when graduating and setting up home. He was full of life even during his illness, seeking any excuse to crack open a bottle of champagne and always keen to share a joke. Peter leaves behind his partner of 45 years, his sister, brother-in-law and niece, and many friends. He will be sorely missed. Obituary written by Jack Watson (former student) MRS SUSAN MALLINSON (FORMER STAFF)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of former member of staff Mrs Susan Mallinson. The actress, guest speaker, singer and elocution teacher, Susan Mallinson, has died, on Saturday 30th July 2016, at the age of 73. The actress, who had secondary breast cancer with complications, died in the early hours of Saturday morning at The Royal Hospital in Chesterfield, Derbyshire her family announced on Sunday evening.
Susan was principally known for appearing as the broad Yorkshire barmaid in Britain’s longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. The role also led to further acting abroad. Fluent in Spanish, Susan starred in two major Spanish films. In the psychological thriller El Segundo Nombre (The Second Name), 2002, Susan played the part of a homeless hostel keeper and later in the musical comedy Los Managers, in 2006, she also played the part of an American Airbase Commander. Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire,
under her maiden name of Susan Colledge, she began studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Where she won the Guildhall Contralto Prize and gained her Speech and Drama Teacher’s Diploma in 1963. Then known as an opera singer, the Mezzo Soprano lived in Barcelona for four years and on her return to England went on to make an LP with the label EMI. Susan studied with the renowned singer and teacher, Conchita Badia, who also taught the world famous Montserrat Caballe. For two consecutive years, Susan was given a grant by the Spanish Government to attendMusica en Compostela, an international course on the interpretation of Spanish music in Santiago de Compostela.
Susan later became a leading elocution teacher and was sought after for training footballers, presenters, newscasters, clergy and the judiciary in the art of public speaking.
She lived for over 30 years in the picturesque Summer Wine town of Holmfirth, in the Yorkshire Pennines.
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End Notes Susan was also known locally as principal of her own school of speech and drama opening in Holmfirth in 1980, followed by a kindergarten in Wooldale, and later, The Speech Studio in 1994. A licentiate of the Guildhall, Susan led thousands of pupils to examination successes, through private tuition. She also taught at a number of schools including Wakefield Girls’ High School, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS), Heathfield School, in Rishworth, and Huddersfield’s The Mount.
In recent years, she also entertained thousands as a guest speaker on cruise ships, including those of P&O and Fred Olsen. Despite fading health Susan has more latterly given local talks to many local interest groups all over the north of England. MR DUDLEY TAYLOR (OS, 1938-1945)
It is with sadness that we announce the death of Old Savilian Arthur Dudley Taylor.
Dudley was a stalwart of the church, education and rugby union in Wakefield. Born and raised on Lincoln Street he won a scholarship to attend QEGS from where he went on to Leeds University to read Chemistry. Whilst still at QEGS, Dudley joined Wakefield RFC, and played for the XV before later captaining the A and B XVs. When he retired from playing rugby he went on to be a respected and dedicated member of the General Committee and Selection Committee for Wakefield RFC. He also was a Schools 16 Selector for Yorkshire RFU. After university he qualified as a teacher. He taught at Hemsworth and Ossett Grammar Schools, then at Ossett School, where he rose to
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be both the head of department and then deputy head. Instrumental in introducing Rugby Union at Ossett school, he was also a keen cricket coach. A longstanding member of Yorkshire CCC, he would support them home and away as his schedule permitted.
May 2016 edition of The Bridge, the newspaper of the Diocese of Southwark. Reproduced with permission.) ANDY FIRTH (OS, 1981)
He attended St James Church on Denby Dale Rd, where he was an active sides man, warden and member of the Men’s Society.
Over and above he was a dedicated family man to his wife Barbara, and his three children, David, Jane and Judith. GEORGE LEATHAM (OS, 1939)
It is with sadness that we report the death of George Leatham (OS, 1939) who died in January at the age of 87. George was a well know Estate Agent and Surveyor in Wakefield for many years. CANON DAVID GARLICK (OS, 1956)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Canon David Garlick, who died recently whilst on holiday in Grenada. Upon leaving school David did his National Service in Germany then read Theology at Nottingham University. He trained for the Priesthood at St Stephen’s House.
Ordained deacon in 1964, David went on to serve his title at St John the Divine, Kennington and after a short curacy, became youth worker at St Paul’s, Lorrimore Square. In 1968 he became Priest in Charge of St Peter’s, Vauxhall and, in 1979, Vicar of St Mary’s, Lewisham where he stayed until his (reluctant) retirement, at 70, in 2007. (This obituary first appeared in the
It is with sadness that we report the passing of Andy Firth (OS, 1981). Andy lived in Australia and was an incredibly talented copywriter, working for notable agencies such as Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett.
He was held in great esteem by all that knew him and will be remembered for his unflinching loyalty, unfailing honesty and generosity, incredible sense of adventure, his humour and intellect. He leaves behind his mother, sister and girlfriend.
A GIFT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Queen Elizabeth Grammar School was founded 425 years ago. Throughout that time gifts left in wills have helped shape our school. Some have enriched our community with gifts of art, books or music. Some have left money that has sparked small yet important projects; others have inspired the creation of larger buildings. Most importantly of all, some have given the gift of a QEGS education. Leaving your school a gift in your will is a great way to ensure generations of young people will follow you at QEGS. By helping us to provide outstanding teachers and top class facilities you will help us to inspire even more young people to tackle some of the world’s big problems.
Whether through science, music, industry or the arts, QEGS has a long history of motivating young men to make a difference, some as world leaders and others through serving their communities. A QEGS education will inspire the men of tomorrow, but to do so we need your help. Whatever you want a gift in your will to achieve, it will make a real difference to those who follow you at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield.
Leaving a gift in your will is easy to do and will give the gift of a QEGS education to future generations. If you are one of those Old Savilians who already plans to do so, thank you.
REMEMBERING FAMILY & FRIENDS
Family and friends should always come first, but by also remembering Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in your will, you can give the gift of a QEGS education to future generations.
TAX IMPLICATIONS
QEGS is part of the Wakefield Grammar School Foundation, a Registered Charity No: 1088415. This means there may be positive implications to leaving a gift to the QEGS in your will.
1591 SOCIETY In 1563 a local mercer (dealer in textiles), Frances Gaunt, left instructions in his will that a house and 10 shillings a year forever be granted “to the use of the free school if any such fortune be within the town of Wakefield”. This was the first of many such gifts which enabled the founders of QEGS to approach the monarch to grant QEGS a charter. Such a petition was granted on 19 November 1591 at the request of leading citizens in Wakefield, and so Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield was born. Early supporters included George Savile, who gave the piece of land on which the original school was built, and whose name inspires the Old Savilians Club today. Those who follow in this tradition, by leaving a gift in their will to support the School, are invited to join the 1591 Society.
By way of recognition and as a thank you, we invite you to a special lunch each year with the Headmaster and other senior figures from the Foundation. This lets you keep in touch with like-minded friends and to remain closely involved with the development of your school. It will also mean you can be confident that we understand your wishes and intentions.
If you have already made provision for QEGS Wakefield in your will, please do let us know. This will allow us to thank you for your generosity in your lifetime.
HOW TO MAKE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL If you would like to make a gift to QEGS in your will we suggest that you contact your solicitor, bank or other recognised will-writing service.
There is a range of information available on our website including a guide to making or updating your will, a simple form of words you can use in your will and a suitable codicil form. Simply search for “QEGS Wakefield, A gift in your will”. If you would like to discuss your gift to QEGS in confidence, please contact the Development Office, developmentoffice@qegsss.org.uk, 01924 231 642.
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OH WHAT A SITE! WHAT IS OLDSAVILIANS.CLUB ? It is QEGS Wakefield's online alumni community. It provides a new way to interact with other Old Boys, The Old Savilians Club and the School. All former pupils of QEGS, Wakefield as well as current and former members of staff can join the site. Best of all it is free to join and use. WHAT SORT OF THINGS ARE ON THE SITE? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Reconnect with your contemporaries and search for QEGS, Wakefield alumni around the world. KEEP IN TOUCH Find out about the latest QEGS news and events. You can also post your own news and respond to event invitations. YOUR PROFILE Create your own user profile with direct links to your other social networks, including Facebook, LinkedIn, & Twitter. YOUR ARCHIVE An online archive of School Magazines, Photographs, Diaries and more. You can even add content to the archive yourself. PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS Advertise your skills and professional services to other members through www. oldsavilians.club’s searchable business card register.
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CAREERS MENTORING Search for an online careers mentor or volunteer to become one through www.oldsavilians. club. Why not offer your knowledge, skills and advice to other alumni seeking career guidance or work experience? To register or log on go to www.oldsavilians.club COMPETITIONS With free online competitions you could win some great prizes. PHOTO BOARDS View photos of past events or upload your own photos from your time at QEGS, Wakefieldand beyond. UPDATE YOUR DETAILS Help us to keep in touch with you by ensuring that your personal details are up-to-date. You can also easily notify us of particular events which are of interest to you.
HOW DO I REGISTER? 1) Go to www.oldsavilians.club in your web browser. 2) Click on the ‘Haven’t signed up yet? Register’ link. 3) Complete the online questions that will allow us to authenticate your identity. Please remember to provide a current email address. 4) Read and accept the terms and conditions. 5) You will receive an email to confirm successful registration.
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It is safe and secure, and makes it easy for you to stay in touch with other Old Boys”
WWW.OLDSAVILIANS.CLUB
The Development Office works with The Old Savilians' Club on behalf of the School. If you have any comments or would like to submit text for an article please contact Mr Andrew Beales, Development Director, 01924 231 642, abeales@qegsss.org.uk Ms Lizzie Hulme, Development Officer, 01924 663 733, lhulme@qegsss.org.uk QEGS Development Office, 1 Wentworth Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2QS