18 - Merchant Taylors` School

Scissorum
1561
Merchant Taylors’ School
Issue 18
Education is not the filling of a
pail, but the lighting of a fire
From the
Head Master
The Phab Revue goes from
strength to strength: a polished,
professional and high-quality
show which, most importantly,
raises a huge amount of money to
fund Phab Week. Well done to the
Phab team and, of course, all the
performers. Congratulations to Rafi
on his tremendous achievement in
reaching the final of the Emunah
national music competition and
also to our Amnesty film makers
on their success at Northwood
College. There has been too much
going on in this final week of the
Half to mention everything here,
but do enjoy the boys’ fiction we
publish this week, have a look at the
wonderful work that has been going
on in Chemistry, History, and Art,
and enjoy the more light-hearted
reports of equally worthy charitable
endeavours. Sport has again been
hit by the weather but, as we move
into half term, pride of place must
go to the Under 14 A hockey team
who boast a 100% record. Do have a
good half term break.
Methane Mamba page 3
Rafi Kelion, Young Musician Page 6
Phab Phriday! Page 2
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Our Cyborgs! Page 4
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Phab Phriday
Every Easter we host a residential week for Phab – physically
handicapped, able-bodied - youngsters. The week provides muchneeded respite for their 24/7/365 carers and learning to care for,
and form relationships with, such youngsters, given the variety
– and in some cases the extent – of their needs, is a life-changing
experience for the boys (and girls from St. Helen’s) involved.
Throughout the year, the Phab team raise money to fund this
residential week. Friday the 8th of February saw the boys go
mad for Krispy Kremes, disport themselves in assorted mufti - a
symphony of Hollister’s and Abercrombie & Fitch, and, of course,
perform their Phab Revue - it could only be Phab Phriday.
With no school uniform for the day, and having sold 1020 Krispy
Kremes at break, the sold-out Phab Revue on Friday night was
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
the exciting culmination of a day when over £5,000 had been
raised for a great cause.
The Revue encored on Saturday night to an even more
enthusiastic crowd. There were too many highlights to name
them all. No one who was there will forget Alex Noorani playing
an unforgettable guitar solo with his teeth or Kushal Patel and
Oli Savage sung 25 songs in 6 minutes.
The final two acts led by Arun Thind (who MC’ed to the
drum’n’bass of Andrew Collins and Fat K) and Sam Zatland (who
got everyone, including Mr Howell, ‘skanking’ to his Puerto Rican
rap, Gasolina) were simply amazing. A huge thank you goes to
the Phab team, and Mr Howell and Mr Simons, for helping to
organise such a successful day.
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Junior Chemists create snakes of fire!
The ‘Methane Mamba’ demonstrates the
density of a gas which is lighter than air. It
involves blowing bubbles of methane gas,
and igniting them on a boy’s hand. The
hand is wet beforehand, and all the heat
and flame from the reaction is directed
upwards, so the hand is not burned.
The methane gas is bubbled through
soapy water. Since methane gas is lighter
than air the bubbles produced tends
to rise vertically in a growing column,
creating a dancing, wiggling mass
that sways like a snake. For the grand
finale, the bubble column is set on fire,
demonstrating that methane is also
flammable.
The boys then went on to make their own
crystal gardens, and watched the growth
of metallic silver crystals on a piece of
copper under a microscope. We also
ignited some bubbles filled with hydrogen
and oxygen in Mr Brewis’s hand, resulting
in a very loud bang.
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Digital cyborgs
The Fourths (year 9) are having great
fun in the world of cyborgs. A cyborg “cybernetic organism” - is a being with
both organic and cybernetic parts. Artists
have recently explored more imaginative
visions of the cyborg. Many strive to create
public awareness of cyborgs in paintings
and installations, such as Neil Harbisson,
and Tim Hawkinson - who promotes the
idea that bodies and machines are coming
together as one, with human features
combined with technology to create the
Charlie McDermott
James Stubbs
Ben Wu
Daniel Philpott
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Cyborg. Some work to realize the abstract
idea of technological and human bodily
union in digital renderings, such as those
the boys have produced.
The theme is proving inspirational. The
boys’ fantastic work speaks for itself!
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Digital cyborgs
Krispal Bamrah
Janith Abeywickrema
Omar Kheder
Liam Gould
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Shaan Kara
Sayen Gohil
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Rafi Kelion reaches the finals of Emunah Young Musician
a “fine performance” of Waltz no 4 from
John Rutter’s Suite Antique.
Rafi said: “When I heard that I had made
the finals I felt happy and relieved –
then realised that I had to do a lot more
practice! For me, performance is about
the enjoyment of my hard work being
completed. I started flute lessons when
I was six years old and have weekly
lessons during term-time. I practise
most nights. This term I hope to achieve
grade 8 (flute) then start working on a
performance diploma. I would also like
to take ‘A’ level music. I have not yet got
any musical ambitions beyond school.”
This was the first time that Rafi has
entered the competition run by Emunah
– a major provider of welfare services for
vulnerable children in Israel – and held
in conjunction with the JC. Emunah
helps thousands of children on a daily
basis through its network of residential
homes, high schools, day care, therapy
and counselling centres. Appropriately,
the contest raises funds for the Lord and
Lady Sacks Music Therapy Programme
at Emunah projects that benefits
children with severe emotional needs.
Excitement is mounting as Rafi prepares
to play in front of an audience of nearly
400 people at a showcase concert and
competition finals when the overall
winner will be chosen. The adjudicators
will be Malcolm Singer, Director of the
Yehudi Menuhin School of Music; opera
singer Teresa Cahill; concert pianist
Norma Fisher and Stephen Pollard,
Editor of the JC.
The finals take place on Sunday 3rd
March at the Royal College of Music
in Kensington. If successful, Rafi could
win £500 of musical instruments for the
school, courtesy of Wienerworld.
Divisions pupil Rafi Kelion has made
it to the finals of the Emunah Young
Musician of the Year, 2013. He is one of
eleven finalists from around the country.
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The 15-year-old flute player was one of
dozens of talented youngsters who took
part in the heats at the Royal Academy
of Music. He impressed the judges with
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
The concert begins at 4pm. Tickets are
£8 children under 16; £20 adults/£25
adults’ premium seats or £50 Family
Ticket (2 adults and 2 children).
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Amnesty hits the Big Screen at MTS!
Our Amnesty International group recently hosted a Film
Festival with Northwood College. Four teams from MTS and
four from Northwood College produced gripping, mini-films
that highlighted infringements of Human Rights. Entries were
marked by impartial judges from The Mill, a Central London
post-production f/x company.
told the powerful story of a boy being ripped away from his
innocent life to become a child soldier. They won a personal
tour of The Mill studios that will hopefully ignite their interest in
developing careers in film. Many thanks to Rushab Shah, Stevan
Boljevic, Mr Scott and the rest of the Amnesty Committee for
contributing to the success of the evening.
Winners were Vishal Mehta, Arun Mansigani, Amy Yankuba,
Matt Toohig, Ali Dhanji and their Director Paras Gorasia, who
Amnesty International meet every Tuesday at 2:00 pm in EN56
– All are welcome.
Mathematicians compete in final of UK
Senior Maths Team Challenge
In the autumn our team of four won a regional competition, and the prize was to attend the
national finals in London. Every corner of the United Kingdom was represented; and whilst
the Camden Centre’s hall is quite large, it soon filled up. There is then a real excitement at
these events, with a concentration of very able mathematicians racing each other to answer
cleverly designed questions. They don’t require all that much advanced knowledge, but they
do test adaptability of mind. We finished 18th out of 62 schools present and it
was a good experience for the boys to take part.
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Enrichment
Programme:
West End Ghost
Walk!
As part of the enrichment
programme, boys from the Third
Form up to the Fifth Form were
invited to learn about London’s
eerie past by going on a ghost walk
in London’s West End. The expert
guide regaled the boys with eerily
fascinating tales such from the story
of the headless ghost of St James’
Park to the ghost of the heiress of
Coutts bank. The boys were suitably
spooked, but also found the tour
very enlightening, and it enriched
their vision of the contemporary
city through the prism of the past.
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
The politics of sport in Germany
Regular readers will remember our
Holocaust Memorial Day articles on racism
in sport. On Tuesday this week, the Modern
Languages Society, Panglossia took up this
theme - this time focusing on Germany.
Dr Jon Hughes, the Head of the School
of Languages at Royal Holloway, gave
an insightful talk about sport in German
culture amidst the backdrop of the political
and economic vicissitudes of German
history in the 20th century.
Dr Hughes covered the symbolic meaning
of sport and went on to illustrate how
individual sporting achievement can
represent the nation in the international
arena, whilst the downfall of a champion
can result in obscurity. He then focused
on the political messages sent by the
Nazi Party in support of their doctrine of
‘Aryan supremacy’ as in the case of the
German heavyweight boxing champion
Max Schmeling who beat Joe Louis in
1936 and 1938. Among other focal points
were German sporting success after WWII,
viewed as a Wunder, and equated with its
rapid economic recovery, and the sporting
‘rivalry at all costs’ between West and East
- the Federal Republic and the Communist
German Democratic Republic - with the
latter resorting to doping its athletes: Marita
Koch’s controversial Olympic record 400 m
in 47.60 set in Canberra in 1985 still remains
unbeaten!
The talk was supported with photos and
iconic posters, including those advertising
the 1936 Berlin Olympics. MTS Germanists
displayed considerable erudition when
answering Dr Hughes’ questions at the end.
Jesse Owens, whose 4 Gold Medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics
gave the lie to the Nazi doctrine of Aryan supremacy
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Leni Riefenstahl’s discus thrower,
Nazi propaganda from the 1930s
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
French
Divisions buy a
railway ticket à
la Beckett
Sometimes there comes a time when we
feel like buying a ticket and going no place
in particular. Divisions boys performed
a play in French this week in the style of
Samuel Beckett’s ‘Watt’. Confused and
indecisive Watt (acted by Benedict Cross)
feels just like that when - in the early hours
of the morning - he gets to a provincial
railway station where the simple procedure
of purchasing a ticket from an impatient
Monsieur Nolan (Josh Harris) becomes
everybody’s business: the inquisitive
porter’s (Oscar Miskin as Monsieur
Gorman); the cleaning lady’s (Sam Tenzer
as Lady McCann); and even the fullyawoken passengers’. Below is an excerpt
from the dialogue :
Watt: Donnez-moi un billet, je vous prie.
Monsieur Nolan: Il veut un billet.
Monsieur Gorman: Un billet pour où?
Monsieur Nolan: Pour où?
Watt: Pour le bout de la ligne.
Monsieur Nolan: Il veut un billet pour le
bout de la ligne.
Lady McCann: Est-ce un blanc?
Monsieur Gorman: Quel bout?
Monsieur Nolan: Quel bout? Le bout rond
ou le bout carré?
Watt: Le bout le plus proche?
Monsieur Nolan: Le bout le plus proche.
Lady McCann: Mais quel accent
extraordinaire!
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Shine
The art teachers have been busy over
the past two weeks with the wider school
community project, SHINE. Local primary
school pupils have enjoyed some time in
the Art department allowing them to get
dirty and create some personalised graffiti!!
They have also been moulding their own
animals from clay. It’s a great opportunity
for all of them to try something new and test
out their artistic skills!
After half term, they will be waltzing and
break-dancing around the exam hall… watch
this space for updates.
Senior
Scientists refuse
to catch cold
Lower 6th student Sachin Ananth
recently delivered a talk entitled
“Will we ever cure the common
cold?” to the Science Society. Sachin
first outlined the difficulties in
curing the cold (which are legion!)
before moving on to possible ways
of curing it; antivirals and boosting
the immune response were the main
talking-points. He also discussed the
role of technology in the hunt for a
cure, as well as inhibiting economic
and social factors.
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Ulysses
Kudos to Divisions (Year 10) pupil, Ewan
Patel who has just completed his voyage
through Joyce’s Ulysses with some 12
weeks to spare before Bloomsday. Though
not of the same epic proportions as that
undertaken by Odysseus to return to
Penelope and Achates, Ulysses (the Latin
form of Odysseus,) tells of a day in the life
of Leopold Bloom as he travels through
Dublin on 16th of June 1904 (historically,
the day on which Joyce first dated his future
wife, Nora). With suspected adultery, funeral
marches, Bloom’s quest for fatherhood and
a single sentence of 4, 391 words along
the way. Joyce’s masterpiece was banned
on publication, still occasions much
controversy, and remains a formidably
difficult canonical work – for Ewan to
Ewan - a man of masks, like Joyce himself
have enjoyed and understood all its rich
humour, puns and parodies, is an earnest
of his ambition and a real achievement – he
has tackled great literature far beyond the
ersatz, mediocre substitutes that dominate
the majority of GCSE syllabuses.
Fourth Form English
students debate
mobile phones
In their lessons this week, Mr Chidell’s
English Fourth Form prepared and then
debated the motion “This House believes
schools should be mobile phone-free zones.”
A range of excellent ideas were brought to
the table by both sides and members of the
floor all contributed questions for the two
teams. In the end the proposition before the
House was carried by the narrow margin of
just four points.
Divisions boys stage talk show!
A Divisions class took part in a Jeremy Kyle-style talk show,
based on the GCSE text “I’m the King of the Castle”. Students
– armed with props and costumes - each selected one persona
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
from the book’s range of characters and then discussed a
range of ideas related to the themes, whilst the ‘audience’
posed questions based on events in the book.
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Geographers look into the future!
This week, enthusiastic Lower School geographers from the
Junior Geography Society worked in teams to produce their own
visions of MTS in 100 years’ time.
Building upon geographical themes of sustainability,
globalisation and technological development, the boys created a
range of superb futuristic designs, combining fantasy and reality.
The Upper Third Form were particularly well represented at
the session and made use of their recent geography lessons
on energy and resources to incorporate ways of conserving
the planet, through the use of recyclable materials, wind
turbines, hydro-electric power and solar panels. Boys also
demonstrated their compassion by suggesting the creation
of new community centres and apprenticeships to assist all
members of the local community. The society meets weekly
on Tuesdays at 1.45pm in GY9.
Divisions’
Design Project
Nathan Stephenson shows off the
Longboard he has designed and built
for his Divisions Project. All Divisions
boys spend half a year researching
a project of their choice and then
producing a product.
There have been a wide range of
choices - including websites, graphic
novels, presentations and extended
essays. In doing so, they develop the
skills necessary for success in Higher
Education and beyond.
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Martha Holmes
Sixth Form lecture
Martha Holmes, a BAFTA awardwinning BBC producer, spoke to the
Lower Sixth last Friday about the nuts
and bolts of how to produce a wildlife
TV series like ‘Africa’. Her talk covered
every stage in the production process,
from researching to editing, as well as
insights into what it’s like to work with
David Attenborough and how to remove
botflies from your skin!
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Joe Ray (OMT) wins a Grammy!
Congratulations to Joseph (Joe) Ray (OMT, Class of 2002) on his
Grammy Award for “Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)” which won
the Best Remixed Recording category at the 2013 ceremony in LA
last week. Joe read Philosophy and Modern Languages at Exeter
College, Oxford before becoming a professional musician. His
band, Nero, have enjoyed massive success in the USA this year.
Joe Ray (left) OMT with the other members of Nero accepting their Grammy in Los Angeles
Vaughn Stein
(OMT) directs
Brad Pitt
Vaughn Stein (OMT, Class of 2003)
has been one of the Assistant
Directors on Brad Pitt’s latest
vehicle, World War Z (based on Max
Brooks’ novel “World War Z: An
Oral History of the Zombie War”)
set for release in June 2013. Vaughn
is pictured rubbing shoulders with
Brad on the set.
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(left) Vaughn Stein with Brad Pitt on the set of World War Z
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
Charity Drive – Would I lie to you?
History played Economics this week as two team made up of
members of the respective departments devoted a lunch hour to
raising money for the School’s good causes in the popular quiz
game format, “Would I lie to you?” The event was based on the
BBC television series, where one team has to guess whether the
other team’s proposition is true or false. In a closely-fought match,
the historians ultimately prevailed 8-5! We would like to say a huge
thank you to the teachers who made this event possible and the
pupils that bought tickets. The money is much appreciated and is
going to a worthy cause. We hope you all enjoyed the event!
Sustainability Committee at Warren Dell Primary
The Sustainability Committee
is spreading the word about
Green issues and what we can
do to help. Rahul & Rupinder
went to Warren Dell Primary
School in South Oxhey to
address the school about some
current ‘green issues, including
Food Miles and where we get
our food from and how we can
reduce our waste
With Waste Week between 11th
& 17th March we are aiming to
raise awareness of the whole
school and encourage everyone
to reduce their waste – be in
food they throw away, lights
they leave on or even the tap
that keeps running whilst they
brush their teeth… All of this is
waste: it not only costs money,
but is ruining our fragile earth.
Always remember: REDUCE,
REUSE, RECYCLE!
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSThis week
The classroom as Renaissance Europe: Lower Sixth
historians as Henry [VIII], Charles [V], and Francis [I]
This week Lower Sixth History students have been learning about
the motives behind Henry VIII’s foreign policy in a classroom
transformed into a rudimentary map of Europe. The rulers of
England, France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope
were represented by students, while a few stuffed animals helped
to provide an idea of the size and relative importance of the
different nations in the Tudor period. Students threw themselves
into the experience of being an early modern ruler, deciding where
the priorities in foreign policy lay and learning about the different
disputes and treaties that occurred, bringing the topic to life!
Music Quiz Supper
On Saturday, parents, staff and a number of current students
gathered in the Dining Hall for the annual (and highly
competitive!) Music Quiz Supper. After being fuelled with
fajitas and exquisite puddings, the quiz began. Rounds ranged
from identifying hidden pop lyrics to musical plagiarism –
with a high-tech jazz round provided by Mr McCann on video-
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
link (sadly, he could not be present in person!). Tables headed
up by the Music Support Group (including the Head Master)
and the Music Faculty comprised the top two teams this year.
Thanks must go to the Music Support Group – especially Mrs
Cox-Sehmi – for organising the event, which raised over £400
for future Music tours.
February 15 2013
MTSThe Spenser
The Sir Frederick Fry writing prize is an annual creative writing prize that all our Fourth Form (Year 9) pupils enter. The boys
are given an image to describe for the descriptive task and the first line of a story that they must develop into a section of a
more complete narrative. The overall winner this year was Benjamin Wu, whose prize will be awarded at this year’s St Barnabas’
Day celebrations; highly commended were Fore Obatusin and Aaron Rozanski. Their efforts are included and we hope you
enjoy them as much as we did.
Amintare
The sky above the town was the colour of television tuned to a
dead channel. Though the weather was grim and fearsome, the
dealings of the men below were darker still.
Within the murky half-light a solitary figure glanced furtively
around as he limped through the empty town streets:
Amintare. Hidden within the confines of his tattered cloak,
lay a metallic mess of gleaming machinery, which he cradled
with the utmost care. Travelling with surprising speed for a
wounded man he moved with greater haste upon realising
that dawn was fast approaching, heralded by the shouts of
distant peddlers.
In silence, a thin figure stalked him with casual ease, skilfully
hiding amongst those shadows which the pale morning light
had yet to touch.
The pursuer was tall and menacing, yet eerily mesmerising.
His movements were lithe and agile, unnatural for a man of
such height, and the pursuit was undertaken with a strange
grace. His calm façade was only briefly broken once, when he
glimpsed a flash of glinting metal from beneath his quarry’s
cloak. The thin figure deftly flicked a knife into his hand. In
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
his other, he held a selection of small metal cubes thickly
coated with oil. As he rolled them across his cut-filled palm
the dark surfaces shone wildly and the sharp edges dug
deep into his flesh, opening old stitches and creating bloody
wounds. The thin figure gave a quick grin: rows of ink-stained
teeth. The chase was ending.
A practised flick of the wrist threw his knife straight and
true, its sharpened edge whistling as it cut through the air.
His aim accomplished, the thin figure disappeared. Amintare
continued through the town, unaware of the strange nick in
his thigh. It remained undiscovered until much later that day…
After pushing past the weary oak door, Amintare entered the
damp hallway. Gently, he laid the object on a table. Its worn
metal took on a soft orange hue as it bathed in the candlelight.
Twitching and flickering, the machinery soon began to shake
and scream. Its wailing resonated throughout the room,
echoing amidst the stunned silence. For the twisted writhing
machinery was a mechanical child, the first machine the town
had seen for many centuries.
Ben Wu, Fourth Form (Year 9)
February 15 2013
MTSThe Spenser
Out of Africa
The sun was beating down. The ancient
trees in the distance, watched over
everything, not that there was a lot to spy
on. The yellow grass, dying from this
treacherous heat, and just one solitary
person, gave the place an abandoned feel,
but the jet black lumps appearing in the sky
did not. These lumps had fast oscillating
blades which sliced through the air, and
appeared to keep them suspended in it.
They pumped out black, suffocating smoke.
At first, there was one; soon after, two, and
then the number began to rise until there
were ten of these large dark blocks in the
sky. The lone shadow in the distance saw
these ten large black dots in the sky, and
simply jumped over the fence and ran away.
Why he ran, no one knows. No one will ever
know.
The dilapidated fence ran down the whole
expanse of this tired, yellow field, the wood
scorched dark-brown in places, from the
intense heat. The barbed wire however,
looked new, as if placed there a few hours
ago, silver, without rust. Then again, this
could also be because this brutal place gets
no rain whatsoever. Few life forms survive.
Up high in the baby blue sky, it was
clear as a glass cup; there wasn’t even a
bird, not even a vulture even though the
environment was optimal for feeding on
their prey.
Apart from the huge black lumps, the only
item visible in the sky was a dark patch
of cloud, emerging from the trees in the
distance, soon to pass this way. The dusty
dirt track disappeared in deep cracks. The
warm, hypocritical wind dispersed the
remaining dust all over, blinding anything
that passed over this barren land, rendering
it even more hostile.
Now the cloud obstructed almost all the
light and the blistering hot sun. Suddenly
the place was impossibly algid: almost
completely black, apart from one hopefilled streak of light, which burst through
the thick cloud.
Nevertheless, it was possible to still hear
these ferocious beasts in the sky roaring
Somewhere to run
constantly at each other. They never
stopped screaming; they seemed to go
on forever: gargantuan bees that buzzed
on into infinity. Now one could taste the
black smoke that penetrated the darkness:
chunky, dust-filled and charcoal to the
tongue. The cloud, before long, destroyed
that small beacon of hope, and the place
was plunged into the despair of sheer
darkness.
Fore Obatusin, Fourth Form (Year 9)
The rain pelted down, splattering the cobbled pavement which
was as grey as the heavens above.
The footsteps crescendoed, then abruptly stopped. The vague
voice just caught my ears, the whistled words waning in the wind.
I peered from under my hood, watching silently from the
shadows as the wailing cars stopped on the other side of the
street. Though their flashing lights - perched precariously on
each roof – was a spectrum of colours, until the grey of the
world consumed them and the cars blended into the dull canvas
of the scene. Men got out, blabbering inaudible orders to the
growing crowd which surrounded the area, voyeurs in the gloom.
Concealed, I observed the rain as it dripped slowly down the
fabric of my clothes, my emotions in turmoil.
“Give it up, son. There’s nowhere to go, nowhere to hide this
time.”
Piercing even the constant wail of the cars was the incessant
screaming of the crowd. I continued to look down, unable to see
what the men were now bringing out of the alley, unable to face
up to the situation. My tears morphed with the rain, dripping
down my frozen nose and disappearing forever on the pavement
below. The cold breeze carried the echo of footsteps to my ears.
My body, now rigid with anticipation, sought to recede towards
the invisible shadows of grey, like a breeze in the morning mist.
The sound of the bullet got lost in the labyrinth of the scene. The
man’s mouth gaped open, warm blood flowed. I pulled him close,
my mouth to his ear.
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Automatically, my hand moved towards my left hip, until it
reached the familiar, cold handle. My head bowed, listening to the
rain, always listening to the rain. The man inhaled the coldness;
I felt his strong hands on my arm. He whispered three words,
almost silent in the confusion of the rain.
“Nowhere to run....”
“My friend, there is always somewhere to run.”
In the shadows once more, I listened to the patter of the rain. I
was right; the day was only going to get worse.
Aaron Rozanski, Fourth Form (Year 9)
February 15 2013
MTSport
Hockey
The Strikers’ Cup:
A marvellous event for
Prep Schools
On Friday 8th February, the School
hosted its annual U12 Prep School hockey
tournament, the Strikers Cup. Seven
teams entered the competition this year;
The Beacon School, Hereward House,
Northwood Prep, St John’s, St Martin’s,
Quainton Hall and of course MTS.
MTS made a slow start to their campaign
losing their first two matches to St John’s
and St Martin’s - who were unbeaten
through the whole event.
The third game saw MTS take on a
Northwood Prep side that was much
improved from previous years. But MTS had
finally started to play to the level expected
from them and came out on top 3-2.
After lunch, MTS continued their
success, winning back-to- back matches
against Quainton Hall and The Beacon
School which left us with a chance of
making the final if results went our way
in the last round.
A superb performance from St John’s
School led to St Martin’s being held to
a draw, dropping their first points of the
tournament, whilst MTS beat Hereward
House in their final game.
This resulted in a three-way tie for
second place. Northwood Prep eventually
made the final based on the lowest
number of goals conceded.
was much higher than in previous years.
The final league table reinforced this, with
three teams tied on points for second
place. Thanks to all the prep schools who
attended and for all the hard work that went
on back at their schools to raise the profile
of one of our major sports.
Tournaments like this could not run
without the dedication and hard work
of the MTS pupils, who umpired and
did a fantastic job throughout the day;
thanks also to the Strikers’ Committee for
providing drinks and snacks to boys and
spectators throughout.
Final League Table
MTS Results
Man of the Match
In the final, both teams had plenty of good
chances, but Karan Sofat, St Martin’s Player
of the Day, made the decisive difference,
having performed superbly in the midfield
for St Martin’s all day. The St Martin’s win
meant they had retained the trophy for the
third year running; hockey seems to be
going from strength to strength there.
1st
St John’s 1-0 MTS
Joe Qureshi
2nd Northwood Prep
MTS 2-3 St Martin’s
Tom Miller
3rd Merchant Taylors’ School
Northwood Prep 2 – 3 MTS
Jack Davey
4th St John’s
MTS 2-1 Quainton Hall
Tom Miller
5th Hereward House
The Beacon 1-5 MTS
Tom Miller
6th Quainton Hall
Hereward House 1-4 MTS
Tom Steene
The good news for MTS is that the
standard of hockey at this tournament
7th The Beacon School
18
St Martin’s
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSport
Hockey
GB Under 21 star
Will Byas at MTS!
The group of boys who are part of the
Friday Activities hockey group were
given a real treat on Friday, when
William Byas, Birmingham University
player and Under 21 GB hockey star, led
a coaching session for them. Will had
just got back from the Youth Olympics
held in Australia where Team GB won
Silver in the hockey tournament with the
girls picking up the Bronze. Will spent
time looking at backhand hitting with
the group as well as looking a penalty
strokes.
v Haileybury
1st XI Lost 2-3
Man of the Match: Ben Seabrook.
After a bright start, we took the lead
through Jack Lieberman and were very
unlucky not be awarded a penalty corner
soon after, when Jamie Loftus - who was
clean through on goal - was up-ended by
a recovering defender.
Haileybury had a number of strong
players in their side and we were made
to pay when sloppy defending allowed
a cheap circle penetration and the loose
ball deflected in.
After half time, Haileybury took the lead,
then doubled it 10 minutes later. MTS
fought back and scored through good
work by Ali Grant, but it was too little, too
late.
2nd XI Won 5-1
Man of the Match: Nikhil Mehta
The boys produced some really great
hockey. It was good to see training
routines paying off in match conditions.
There were cracking goals from Gates
(x2), Grant, and Judge. Man of the
19
Match was awarded to Nikhil Mehta for
controlling the play with a dominant
performance in midfield.
3rd XI Won 1-0
Man of the Match: Gavin Brown
The 3rd XI maintained their unbeaten
record, breaking the deadlock with a
well-executed short corner in the 23rd
minute. James Ellis slipped the ball to
Aaron Francis, who left the ball dead
for Gavin Brown to pick his spot. The
new look team has gelled quickly. Well
done to Adam and Phil Barnard as well
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
as Beeshman Mahen, Jaskiran Nagi and
Thomas Compton.
U15A Won 1-0 (Sayers)
Man of the Match: Krishen Shah
The finest performance of the season
so far, with polished passing, efficient
approach play and a sharp defensive
performance. As the second half wore
on we became ever more dominant and
Gabriel Sayers broke the deadlock by
steering the ball home from shoulderheight after Chris Jervis’ reverse flick
across goal.
February 15 2013
MTSport
Hockey
U15B Won 3-0
Man of the Match: George Weston
Atty Vettivetpillai made the break
through before a wonder goal from
George Weston took us into half-time
2-nil up. We ended up deserved winners
and carry on our unbeaten run!
U14A Won 6-0
Man of the Match: Nik Muller
Another well-deserved victory! Goals
from Will Porter, Charlie Aarons, Tom
Bannon and George Smith secured the
win.
U14B Won 8-0
Man of the Match: Josh Walker
A fine win distinguished by a high
work rate and excellent teamwork.
Many thanks to the superb sideline of
supportive parents! Great performances
from Aaron Obrien, Govind Grewal,
Hugo Anthony and Alex Harrison - who
scored two goals - and a ‘champagne
worthy’ hat-trick from Man of the Match
Josh Walker.
v UCS
U15C Lost 7-1
Man of the Match: Jordan Dotting
To even up the fixture the C’s were
pitted against a UCS B team. Jordan
Dotting was man of the match – gave
100% effort amd pressurized the
opposition on every front. Great game!
U14C Drew 1-1
Man of the Match: Janay Vakil
A tight, exciting game with impressive
performances and a fair result. There
was superb goalkeeping from Farooq
Shitta-Bey, a wonder goal from Man of
the Match Janay Vakil, and fantastic
work from Nick Clifton and Charlie
Warren too.
20
v Berkhamsted
4th XI Lost 0-5
To make a decent game of it The 4th XI
played the Berkhamsted 1st XI. Aurele
Armstrong played outstandingly well in
goal, as did Henry Howe and Tim Riley in
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
defence. Miles Murdoch worked hard upfront, along with Deven Jobanputra.
5th XI Lost 0-7
We were up against it from the start
with a depleted side, but the boys fought
bravely throughout.
February 15 2013
MTSport
Rugby
v UCS
U12A - Lost 19-20
Tries: Steene, Cohen, Qureshi
Cons: Steene x 2
A simply excellent game of rugby, played
(and officiated) at a level that belied the
tender age of both the players (Thirds)
and the officials (L6th) involved.
MOM – Zach Murphy
MVP – Qureshi
U13 A - Lost 0 – 60
UCS, with their larger talent pool and twoterm preparation, dominated this fixture.
Bryn Jones, Andrew Aresti and Chris
Loftus did very well and will no doubt
look forward to a rematch next year when
the 100 plus reinforcements of our 13+
intake have arrived!
v City Academy
MoM - Alex Kerley
U13A - Lost 12 – 59
and demonstrated great commitment
which galvanised the squad right up until
the final whistle.
Tries: Jones, Loftus
MVPs: Jones, Loftus and Jervis
Cons: Mahon
U12A Won 43 - 10
When MTS had the ball in hand we
looked confident and well organised. Bryn
Jones and Chris Loftus led by example
Tries: Qureshi x 3, Davey,
Kerley x 2, Cohen
An entertaining game played with high
skill levels. City went a try up in the first
minute but we soaked up the pressure
and hit back decisively to secure a
handsome victory. The U12A team have
now scored 19 tries in 3 games!
21
Cons: Steene x 4
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
MVP - Joe Qureshi
February 15 2013
MTSport
Swimming
George Yerbury, Tudor Puszet and Tom
Lawrence were selected to represent
Watford in the Hertfordshire District gala
on Friday 8th February. All three boys
came second in their individual races, with
Tudor and Tom just missing out by 100ths
of a second. Tom and the intermediate
team won both relays and Tudor and
George with the senior team won the
medley relay and came third in the front
crawl relay. Watford won the gala in both
the intermediate and senior age groups
with the help of our MTS boys. Tudor
broke the 50m butterfly intermediate
school record in a time of 27.17 seconds.
Hertfordshire Swimming Gala
In the sixth and final gala of the season
where the six best schools in the league
were to fight it out, Taylors’ boys put in
another outstanding performance.
The Intermediate boys won every race.
Bryce Puszet broke his own Individual
Medley Record for the fourth time this
season. Special mention must go to
Sam Peters who won his butterfly race
for the first time in the league galas in a
smashing personal best time as well as
going sub 30 seconds for the first time on
the front crawl relay.
Seniors were excellent again; records were
taken by Tudor Puszet in the Individual
Medley, Fravash Bilimoria in the breast
stroke, and the team in the Medley Relay.
Eden Slack and George Sadler also
produced some excellent personal best
times.
The Juniors performed well and although
heading into this gala in 6th position
came 5th or above in most races. The star
performer was Josh Rabin who came in
third place with a massive personal best
time in the butterfly. Bryn Jones also
recorded a personal best in the front crawl.
The official results of the league come
out in March but we are pretty sure of the
overall standings….
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSport
Cross country
MTS hosts ATW
Metropolitan League
cross-country
On Saturday, the School hosted the final
ATW Metropolitan League cross-country
fixture of the season. It is arguably the
UK’s most competitive regional league
and is keenly contested by London’s top
clubs. Six MTS boys competed in the
U17 race (4k). Mark Murray, Oliver Fox,
Chris Driver, Arda Bayar, Louis Driver and
Ariyan Nanji all performed manfully and
posted very respectable times against a
strong field. The 300 strong senior men’s
race (8.6k) was won by TeamGB crosscountry runner Neilson Hall with a time of
29:32. Highgate Harriers took the league’s
top spot. Local boy Rob Thompson
of Hillingdon secured an impressive
fourth place in the season’s individual
league. The post-race online reaction was
exceptionally complimentary about the
course, hopefully heralding the use of
MTS as a major cross-country venue.
Fives
On Saturday a mixed U16 and U15 VI
beat St. Paul’s at home. It was a closely
contested match and after the singles
we were ahead by a single point. All
three pairs showed great teamwork
and combined to extend the lead so
that the final score had Merchant
Taylors’ winning by a score of 126 to 117.
Particular mention should go to Elliot
Tebboth (who came to play straight
from senior hockey and demonstrated
great resilience as 1st seed) and Fourth
Former (Year 9) Joe Salkeld, who was
playing up a year in only his second
match for the school.
On Sunday an U13 VI travelled to
Winchester to take on Pilgrim’s School.
The boys were treated to a traditional
Sunday lunch followed by an afternoon
of fives. Playing on the unfamiliar –
Eton-style - Winchester courts, which
include a buttress, gave the boys the
expected difficulties of digging the ball
out and although they improved greatly
over the day, Pilgrim’s came out the
winners. All of the boys represented the
school marvellously well and one could
see them improve minute-by-minute in
what was, for a number of them, their
first game.
Chess
On 4th Feb MTS played a chess match against Lochinver House School & won. Neville Birdi (playing Board 1) was undefeated,
winning 3 out of his 3 matches.
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Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSLooking Forward
24
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
February 15 2013
MTSLooking Forward
Duologues
The Duologues Competition this year is on Wednesday the 27th of February, at
7.30pm in the Studio Theatre. It is an exciting opportunity for your sons to test their
mettle and confidence in live performance. Do come along and support the boys!
Strictly charity
dance workshop
6th March 7.30
Great Hall
John & Katherine Giannini, U-21 Ballroom
Champions, Amateur Ballroom and
Latin Finalists are in the Great Hall on
Wednesday 6th March 7.30pm. Join us for
an exciting evening of dance lessons with
unique Ballroom and Latin demonstrations
from champions. You don’t need to know
how to dance to come along! Tickets are:
£20 (adults); £8 (students); entry includes
drinks and canapés: tickets from Mrs
Teskey. Please send in your money in an
envelope, with your son’s name (and his
tutor’s) by Friday 1st March
Physics Trip to Kennedy Space Centre, Orlando
We are planning a twelve day expedition to Orlando in October half term 2013.
Obviously, this is a late addition to the calendar and we appreciate that some
students have already signed up to other trips. Our primary focus will be to visit the
Kennedy Space Centre, where we will spend two days, although we will also visit a
number of other world-class venues while in the region.
The provisional dates for the trip are 21st-30th of October but these may vary slightly
due to flight availability and number of people attending. For more information
[email protected]
Dealing with Alcohol
On Thursday 21 March Dr Aric Sigman is coming in to speak to Fourths, Divisions,
Fifths, Lower VI and then to parents in the evening at 6.30: the talk is on alcohol
and related issues.
25
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Notices
11+/13+ Offer Letters
This is a week when many parents
whose sons are candidates at 11+ or 13+
live on their nerves. Just a reminder
that 11+ and 13+ offer letters are sent out
on Thursday 21 February, 2013 and our
very best wishes to all boys and parents
– may your son find a school at which
he will be happy and excel!
February 15 2013