46 - Merchant Taylors` School

Scissorum
1561
Issue 46
Merchant Taylors’ School
From the
Head Master
On Tuesday evening we were delighted
to welcome Michael Palin to the school.
He gave a hugely entertaining and
informative talk on his travels in Brazil –
nearly 1000 people from the school and
the local community filled the Great
Hall to capacity. I would like to thank
Michael personally for his talk as well
as giving so generously of his time both
before and after the event. It was also
marvellous to see the new audio-visual
facilities in action; they complete our
recent refurbishment and provide the
boys with 21st century facilities.
Michael Palin: a national treasure!
see page 2
The event drew large numbers of
OMTs back to Sandy Lodge, and on
that note, there was also a Grease cast
of ’92 reunion in the OMT Clubhouse
– we look forward to welcoming more
alumni very soon.
One striking thing about Taylors’ is
the number of enriching activities
on offer for the boys, especially trips.
Mathematicians and Hellenists
were the beneficiaries this week; the
former visited Reading to hear three
academics speak and the latter enjoyed
a fascinating exhibition at SOAS on
Zoroastrianism.
This Sunday it is the school Carol
Service, an important event in the
calendar, and I look to forward to
welcoming as many of you there
as possible.
01
Divisions’ Art
Carol Service
see page 8
Sunday, 3:30pm in the Great Hall
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Michael Palin launches his book “Brazil” at MTS
It was with great excitement that the school welcomed Michael
Palin to the stunning Great Hall to launch his new book,
“Brazil”. His address included captivating stories of adventure,
gentle yet impeccable humour, and thoughtful insights into
a country which is changing so rapidly. Michael’s choice
anecdotes included wrestling with wild boars in the Amazon,
discovering lost cities, and becoming a star attraction at Rio’s
vast Gay Pride Carnival.
As a true explorer and ex-President of the Royal Geographical
Society, Michael was able to share some really interesting
insights into how Brazil is changing, and why its unique
geography has shaped it into such a dynamic and diverse nation.
All of these diverting narratives were supported by a host of
superb “travel photographs”, which helped to demonstrate the
02
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
excellent new audio-visual facilities in the Great Hall.
Many MTS boys were present, including members of the Senior
Geography Society, who beamed with academic ecstasy as Michael
talked through a range of topics relevant to their learning, including
unique ecosystems, urban deprivation, issues of poverty, and some
very sinuous river landforms. We know they enjoyed the event, and
we hope that these enrichment opportunities that we are so keen to
secure for the boys continue to inspire and inform them.
We would like to thank Michael for his tireless enthusiasm on
the day, all the teachers who organised the event, to Chorleywood
Book shop for working with our school, and to the JCR and
Senior Geography Society who helped to host the event at such a
busy time of year.
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
03
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Watford Observer features Michael Palin’s
visit to Taylors’
Explorer and comedian, Michael Palin, visited a Northwood school
this week to speak to guests about his travels.
The television and film star entertained about 1,000 members of
the school and community at Merchant Taylors’ School, in Sandy
Lodge Lane, on Tuesday.
His visit was part of the Chorleywood Literary Festival, organised
by Chorleywood Bookshop.
04
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
The Monty Python star spoke to the audience about his new book
on Brazil and spent time signing autographs.
Simon Everson, head teacher of Merchant Taylors’ School, said:
“It’s been a real delight to hear Mr Palin speaking so eloquently
about such a fascinating topic.
“It has been a long road from Monty Python to Rio de Janiero and
he must be the only lumberjack in our history to become one of
our true national treasures.”
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Grease is the word!
Jack Allun-Gruselle writes... Grease. I can confirm, is the word.
Last week the Merchant Taylors’ and St Helen’s production of
Grease played to wildly enthusiastic crowds and rapturous reviews.
A slick of Brylcreem, eye-wateringly skinny jeans and a disgusting
shirt (Kushal Patel), gave a retro, Rydell High vibe to everyone’s
favourite cheesy tale of summer luvin’.
Outstanding vocal performances dominated on all three nights,
with special mentions to Katja de la Fuenta’s ‘Sandra Dee’, Mr
Barnwell’s ‘Beauty School Dropout’, Sam Baumal’s ‘Mooning’
and an electric entire cast rendition of ‘Born to Hand Jive’. The
dialogue wasn’t half bad either. Or perhaps it was, but that didn’t
matter, such was the fierce power of the fourteen musical numbers.
Waiting in the wings on the first night, I remember the
adrenaline, the pangs of apprehension and the many questions
going through my mind. Will I forget my lines? Did they give me
too much lipstick and eye shadow? Will I fall off the stage like
I did in Oliver? But then I hit the first note of the opening song,
and my fears were immediately vanquished. Well, apart from the
one about make-up - I felt ridiculous.
But behind the one and a half hour show, months and months
of tireless effort from cast, directors, techies and others had
been poured into the production. Sure, there was some intense
creative discussion the but we all pulled together, like rama lama
lama ka dinga da dinga dong, and delivered a show worthy of
what was for many the final performance of our school careers.
Remembered forever.
“I got chills - they’re multiplying!”
(Dom Proctor)
“I spend my nights mooning!”
(Sam Baumal)
Drama Support Group Raffle for Grease
Congratulations to Mr Stephen Roback from Bricket Wood who is the winner of the MTS Drama Support Group Raffle for Grease.
He had lucky ticket number 459 and wins the prize of an American-themed basket of goodies. Thank you to all who bought tickets.
Money raised goes towards supporting drama at MTS.
05
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Fourths Art
This week Fourth Form artists have been finishing off their ‘Old Man and the Sea’ paintings, made of acrylic, wax, and spray paint. The
words and phrases emerging from beneath the waves are taken from Hemingway’s classic short story.
Zain Aslam
Freddy Hart
06
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Jake Tomaszewski
Dominic Cherry
07
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Divisions’ Art
In recent weeks, some of the Divisions Art pupils have been responding to Ovid’s narration of the Daphne and Apollo story, and in
particular, Bernini’s amazing sculpture of the moment when Daphne is transformed into a tree as she tries to escape Apollo’s pursuit.
They first cast their own hands in brightly-coloured wax, using dental alginate. They then learned how to use Photoshop to merge
photographs of foliage with images of their sculptures, creating proposals for a large-scale public sculpture.
Daniel Carr
James Apps
08
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Nicholas Clifton
Nick Hwang
09
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSThis Week
Nostalgia in the Watford Observer
Eagle-eyed parents may have spotted that we featured in the Nostalgia section of the Watford Observer this week when the newspaper
re-printed their coverage of the Queen’s Mother visit to the school in 1975 accompanied by the Archbishop of Cantebury, Donald Coggan,
himself an old boy of MTS.
10
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSSocieties
Debating
Lower Sixth debaters sparred over the motion of would Britain benefit from
Scottish independence. The almost unanimous answer: Nay!
11
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSTrips
Zoroastrianism at SOAS
On Friday, the Fifth Form Hellenists visited The Everlasting Flame, the first major exhibition on Zoroastrianism to be held in the UK,
which is currently being shown at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Bloomsbury. At first glance, a religion that had its origins
in Central Asia and continues mostly in Mumbai may not seem the obvious destination for students of the foundations of European
culture. However, this year’s GCSE text is taken from the Histories of Herodotus, the first Greek historian, and one of the ancient world’s
greatest travellers. He wrote extensively of the Zoroastrian practices of the Persian Empire, and was fascinated by the worship of fire and
the ritual exposure of corpses. The exhibition conveyed to the pupils not only the origins of the religion and its flourishing in Persia, but
also its survival today in the form of Parseeism, and included a reconstruction of a fire temple.
12
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSTrips
Mathematicians’ Annual Trip to Reading
Concert Hall
On Tuesday 3rd December, the annual trip to the Reading Concert
Hall to be inspired by exciting and unusual Mathematicians took
place. Twenty budding mathematicians in the making, mainly
from the Sixth Form, accompanied Mr Fothergill and Miss Peers.
We saw three fantastic speakers; Hugh Hunt, David Acheson and
Steve Mould and they spoke on a variety of topics. It was particularly
interesting to see some real world physics and engineering
13
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
applications as well as some Theoretical and Core Mathematics.
The content was truly inspiring and the boys were thoroughly
engaged throughout. The level of enthusiasm and inquisition was
testament to their mathematical understanding. We were further
impressed by the boys’ desire to think beyond the lectures and
question the content which sparked discussion well into the
next day.
December 6 2013
MTSActivities
Fifth Form Urologists!
If you’re in the 5th Form and studying the kidney, the thing to do is test urine...
The boys identified diabetic patients and long distance runners from testing different chemicals present.
Shopping bag collection
for Charity Drive
Following on from our Watford New Hope Trust shopping goods
collection, we can confirm that Merchant Taylors’ School donated
137 bags of food, clothes and toiletries. This has aided in keeping
the Night Shelter Grocery Bill to just £40 a week for 14 residents!
Charity Drive would like to thank all the staff and students for
their great support!
14
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSActivities
House Bake Off
Wednesday morning brought the Great Hilles’ Bake Off. Pupils,
tutors and honorary members made a stunning array of cakes,
which were sold in aid of the House (and School) charity, Purkal
School (www.purkal.org). Over the course of the year, Hilles House
are hoping to raise the £300 sponsorship required for a child to
attend the school.
The Domestic Bursar Mr Chappell and Mr Everson were invited by
15
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
Charities Prefect Zubin Dalal to judge the best cakes. It was a tough
competition, as so many boys and staff had obviously put a great
deal of effort into their creations. Eventually they awarded Zubin’s
Yule Log the praise for best artistry, Rahil Mehta for creativity, and
Zach Murphy took the best tasting and overall prize and glory.
Very many thanks to all those who have contributed, by judging,
donating and especially the bakers.”
December 6 2013
MTSActivities
Heaven or Hell Board Games!
Third formers play God, or at least the Medieval Church, in “Heaven or Hell” board games they created to demonstrate how the Church
had an impact on people’s lives in the fourteenth century in their History lesson.
16
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSOMTs
Cast of Grease ‘92
Below are photos of the leads from the cast of Grease ’92, including the members of staff who produced it and acted in it.
17
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSOMTs
18
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSOMTs
19
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSport
Rugby
v Haberdashers’
1st XV – 0-7 – Lost
MTS totally dominated this match and
the one mistake which led to a lastminute score was very unlucky. A great
performance from the boys, nonetheless.
2nd XV – 0-10 – Lost
A heroic display but ultimately in vain.
We dominated for long periods of the
game but were unable to get over the
whitewash. Two breakaway tries were
hard to take but we were very proud of
their efforts.
U16A – 15-17 – Lost
Tries: Smart, Brown
Cons: Jervis
Pens: Jervis
A game the boys deserved to win.
They played with real heart and
determination. Due to the bounce of a
ball and an interception try we just fell
short of the win. Very unlucky in a game
where the boys improved a lot from
Wednesday night.
21
U16B – 43-5 – Won
Tries: Peters, Graham x 2, Bayar x 3,
Harrison
Cons: Rawal x 4
Another outstanding performance by the
whole squad proved too strong for Habs.
We lost the ball at times in contact but
managed to turn over some of their ball
in their own half which we capitalised
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
on. We were lucky that our mistakes
weren’t punished. The forwards dealt
with their attack well and our backs ran
some excellent lines and managed some
fantastic offloads to gain us those extra
yards. MOM was James Harrison for
breaking through the defensive line in
the centre of the field from his wing on
multiple occasions and a fine individual
try which was extremely well finished.
December 6 2013
MTSport
Rugby
U16C – 29-14 – Won
been a stellar performer this year.
Saunders, Stubbs
Tries: Zaman x 2, Jung x 2, Omidiora
U15B – 21-14 – Won
The team pulled together to produce
their performance of the season against
a meaty Habs side. The team showed
real character as well as significant
improvements in technique to punish
the opposition in attack. MOM goes to
Michael Saunders and George Smith.
A very strong all round win by MTS
which was much more convincing than
the scoreline suggests. Aadam Jung
and Haroon Zaman terrorised the Habs
defence throughout, and some ferocious
tackling, led by Daniel Green, allowed the
team to dictate play. Only a defiant Habs’
try line defensive effort, which held up the
ball up on no fewer than five occasions,
kept the score close.
U15A – 51-14 – Won
Tries – Anthony x 2, Savage Howells,
Shitta-Bey, Bannon, Aarons, Salkeld
The U15A’s have scored over 100 points
in two games this week. The performance
wasn’t as clinical as the boys would have
liked but scoring 50 points against local
rivals retains the bragging rights for this
year. Chris Savage marked his final game
of the season with a fitting try. He has
22
Tries: Warren, Aurora, Muller
This weekend saw the U15B team
continue their winning ways with a 21-7
win over Habs. After some shaky starts,
with both teams having then losing
possession, Charlie Warren instigated
one of his trademark runs and scooted
under the posts. With nerves settling,
MTS never looked like holding back and
dominated the game, especially at the
breakdown. Two early tries in the second
half increased the lead, and some superb
try saving tackling from Will Sheard
ensured that Habs were held to only
scoring 7 points.
U14A –7-5 – Won
Tries: Singh
Cons: Hart
U15C – 59-40 – Won
This was a very evenly contested match
which was dominated by forward play.
Habs pressurised MTS for long periods of
time however MTS’ defence held strong.
MTS competed hard at the breakdown
which allowed Chris Loftus to recycle ball
to the forwards running off 9. MTS scored
their only try with a good forward drive
off second phase, mauling the ball over
the try line for Jasper to touch down.
Tries: Surkes x 3
Clifton, Kwabwe, Collis, Samad, Smith,
MOM – Chris Loftus
MVP – Luke Parry, Ollie Carter
MOM – Will Sheard
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSport
Rugby
U14B – 22-25 – Lost
Tries: Omale, Rabin, Dehiri, Bright
Cons: Townsend
An excellent second half in which the
boys took a 22-15 lead after being 15-0
down, but two lapses in concentration in
the last two minutes cost us. Still, there
were lots of positives to take forward to
the Eton game.
U14C – 38-10 – Won
Tries: Aslam, Matheickal x 2, Patel,
Stevens x 2
Cons: Karim
Taylors’ were disciplined and focused
from the off. They stuck to their game
plan, were organised in defence and were
intelligent in attack.
MOM – Tom Richards
23
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSport
Rugby
Here are some photos from floodlit rugby during Rugby Week with MTS playing MCS, Haberdashers’ and Mill Hill. Many thanks to
the Scrummers for all their support in making it happen!
24
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSport
Hockey
U13 v Reed’s School
U13A – 6-1 – Won
Mom: Joe Qureshi and Max John
The U13A team put in a great
performance against Reed’s School with
Max John scoring 5 goals.
U13B – 4-2 – Lost
MOM: Alex Kerley
Some good counter attacking chances
and goals were created in the first
half. However, the second half became
scrappy and the boys lost their shape.
Some outstanding dribbling skills were
displayed by Louis Duggan. Alex Kerley
also made some outstanding saves
pulling off a sensational stick save in the
last few minutes of the game.
U12 v KGS
U12A – 3-1 – Lost
MOM: Toby Wickham
We scored a textbook goal in the first half,
with good link up play between Toby and
Finn. Finn accelerated to the baseline,
cut the ball back and Toby had an easy
conversion. Unfortunately the second
half was quite scrappy and possession
was limited, leading to three goals being
conceded.
U12B – 2-0 – Won
MOM: Ruaridh Nicholls
25
A fantastic game and a proper all-round
team effort. Superb passing play, with
great strength and skills seen on the
wings, particularly from David Cherry
and Feyi Ogunyemi. Decision-making
picked up in the second half, leading to
an impressive goal from Victor, whose
partnership with Ruaridh in defence was
exemplary. A strong showing.
U12C – 3-1 – Won
MOM: Dan Jones
Despite going behind, and needing some
solid goalkeeping from Sam Pemberton
in the first half, a spirited second half
performance saw MTS use the width
well and create lots of chances against
a strong KGS. Goals were scored by
Captain Lawrie Lee (2), and Tunveer
Mangat.
U12D – 3-1 – Won
MOM: Luca Dora
The play was end to end and our spine
of the team including Aakash in goal,
Luca at the back and Shrian up front
was superb. The game was more evenly
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
fought than the 3-1 score-line suggests,
with Kingston dominating possession,
but MTS finishing was superior as was
our defending supported by Josh and
Rian, and the goals, often on the break,
were well finished.
MTS v Dr Challoner’s
U12A – 4-0 – Lost
MOM: Nirujan Kamalanathan
A good performance against a strong
Dr Challoner’s side.
U12B – 6-0 – Lost
MOM: Shrian Thobhani
A game where defending took centre
stage for the MTS team. It was clear
from the get go that it would be a tough
game for the U12Bs and after 5 goals
were conceded in the first half it looked
like there could be more to come. In the
second half the boys dug in, improved
their tackling positions and lost the
second half 1-0. A heavy defeat but great
fight back and resilience shown in the
second half.
December 6 2013
MTSport
Hockey
whole story. Taylors’ played each half with
completely different teams and for the
majority held their own. We were in fact
only 1-0 down at half time. Overall, even
though the result seems to show a huge
gulf between the two teams, I think the
boys did well given the conditions and
the opposition faced.
THL
U12 Matches
MTS v St John’s – 6-2
MOM: Ed Poole
U13A – 2-2 – drew
MOM: Tom Steene
A mixed performance from a tired
looking side. There were a lot of chances,
however, the boys were not as clinical in
the opposition’s D as they would have
liked. Tom Steene made some superb
passes from the middle of the pitch,
ensuring both Max John and Tommy
Miller enjoying lots of possession in the
wide positions.
U13B – 6-0 – Lost
MOM: Alex Kerley
Taylors’ took on a strong Dr Challoner’s
under 13B side. Taylors’ eventually went
down 6-0 but the score didn’t tell the
26
The Taylors’ U12 side were crowned
champions against St John’s School. St
John’s finished top of the group stages
and started the game well, scoring first.
Aakash Arivalagan made a number of
good saves to keep Taylors’ in it. MTS
soon got into their stride and were able
to score early in the second half. The win
capped off an excellent first half of term
for the U12s.
Play Off: St Martin’s v Northwood Prep
– 1-6
U13 Matches
Final: Northwood Prep v MTS – 3-2
MTS took the lead early and at the half
time break lead 2-1. The first half was
extremely well contested with high
quality defending and attacking skills on
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
show. In the second half Northwood Prep
put away an early goal, followed swiftly
by another. It was fantastic to see such
high skill levels with both teams coming
off the pitch having given everything.
The final result ended 3-2 to Northwood
Prep, however, most importantly, the
development shown by both sets of
boys throughout the season has been
outstanding.
I would like to take this opportunity
to thank the PE department and MTS
staff who have supported the delivery
of the THL hockey league this season;
their hard work is greatly appreciated.
The programme would not be able to
run without the dedication, hard work
and man hours put in by the senior
pupils here at MTS. They have devoted
countless hours to help deliver the
programme and are true role models
and sporting heroes to the boys attending
the sessions.
Hockey Next Term!
Hockey will continue for the U12
and 13 boys at lunch time and after
school next term. Boys will have
the chance to continue to develop
their skills and trial for the Regional
Hockey tournament sides and the
Strikers Cup team which both run
in the Spring Term.
December 6 2013
MTSport
Judo
The MTS judo team made their way to Westminster on Thursday to take part in a joint practice and a series of exhibition matches.
Following on from an unorthodox warm up and a series of technical exercises the session broke off into a rapid fire series of
match-ups between players. There was some high quality play from both teams with some exceptional displays from co-captains
David Sookias and Kotaro Fujiyoshi. This was a really good event to round of a successful term and the progress made bodes
well for the future!
27
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSport
Basketball
First Basketball match of the season against King Alfred’s School was a great result: 28-25
Mini match report from Hans Manku as follows:
It was an enjoyable but really tense match as we only won by three points and the victory was never quite secure. Despite this being
our first game of the season, the team played very well together and are grateful to have a won against King Alfred’s School who came
prepared to play some really strong defence. Well done MTS for securing the win and playing some really top-quality basketball.
28
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSLooking Forward
Yerely for ever: Doctors’ Day
The School celebrates its successful
Michaelmas Term on Doctors’ Day, Friday
13th December. The ceremony takes a
traditional form, with a procession of the
Livery Company and School Governors, the
traditional reading from Luke, the School
Prayer, the Choir singing “Ding-Dong,
Merrily on High” and a rousing rendition
of ‘God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen”.
Doctors’ Day is steeped in almost 450 years
of tradition, although because plague, the
Fire and war have on occasion forced the
postponement of the Ceremony (in the
1590s, for example) it is not possible to
state with exactitude that this is the 452nd
such occasion. “After the establishment
of the school in 1561… dinners —as that
on “St. Barnabas Day” in the summer, and
on “Doctors’ Day” in the winter—were
instituted”. (Memorial XXIII: Annual
Festivals, 1875).
Members of the Livery Company process
into the Great Hall bearing posies of herbs
and flowers. It was believed, in Tudor
England, that holding a posy of flowers to
the nose kept away the plague and so to
this day members of the Livery Company
have a nosegay to carry on ceremonial
occasions. The very name of the ceremony
refers to those Doctors of Divinity, who, in
times of yore, conducted the examination
of the state of the boys’ learning on this day.
Provision for the Feast, as part of a process
of verbal examination called “Probation”
was made in the 1561 Statutes of the School:
“XXXV. The maister, wardens, and
assistants of this Company, for the tyme
being, shall yerely for ever make their
assembly or apparaunce in the councellhowse, or late chapell, scituate on the south
side of the long court or yard of the schoole,
they being then and their accompanied
with such well-learned men as they can
gett conveniently. Which said maister,
wardens, and assistints, with th’ advice
of the same learned men shall examyne
and try whether the maister and usshers
shall have taught and done their duties
in the said schoole, according as is before
devised and appointed, and alsoe to try and
examyne howe the children have profited
under them, and fynding them to have
done their duties to be comended, and
finding otherwise to be speedily reformed
and amended according as to their wise
discretions shalbe thought convenient.
“XXXVI. And to that intent and effect that
29
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
the same assembly of the said maister,
warden, and assistents, may be made
yerely for ever at the schoole, for the good
considerations afore mentioned, the comon
clarck of the mistery now being, and his
successors which for the tyme shalbe, shall
once in the yere yerely for evermore, at a
quarter-day, to be howlden within this our
comon-hall, reade openly all and every
such acts, decrees, and ordynaunces, or
the more parte of them as is before made
and devised, or shalbe hereafter made
and devised by the said maister, wardens,
and assistants, or their successors, for
and concerning only the ordering and
contynuance of the said schoole in good
order, so that thereby they may have the
same the better in rememberance for ever
in tyme to come”.
John Stow’s Survey of London (1603)
recalls these days in the time of Queen
Elizabeth in his treatment of the School:
“As for the meeting of the Schoolemaisters,
on festiuall dayes, at festiuall Churches, and
the disputing of their Schollers Logically,
&c., whereof I have before spoken, the
same was long since discontinued: But
the arguing of the Schoole boyes about
the principles of Grammer, hath beene
December 6 2013
MTSLooking Forward
then upon the next Day following… The
Gentlemen brought up at this School,
Citizens and others, began an Annual Feast
in the Year 1698. The Collections made at
those Feasts, amounting to a considerable
Sum, they do lay out upon Exhibitions,
to be allowed to such of the School as are
superannuated, and miss of Elections”.
(John Strype, A Survey of the Cities of
London & Westminster, 1720).
From Leigh, we know that the tradition
was alive and well in the England of the
Napoleonic Wars:
continued euen till our time: for I my selfe
in my youth haue yearely seene on the Eve
of S. Bartholomew the Apostle, the schollers
of diuers Grammer schooles repayre vnto
the Churchyard of S. Bartholomew, the
Priorie in Smithfield, where vpon a banke
boorded about vnder a tree, some one
Scholler hath stepped vp, and there hath
apposed and answered, till he were by
some better scholler ouercome and put
downe: and then the ouercommer taking
the place, did like as the first: and in the
end the best apposers and answerers had
rewards, which I obserued not but it made
both good Schoolemaisters, and also good
Schollers, diligently against such times to
prepare themselues for the obtayning of
this Garland”.
Underlying the celebrations, as now with
the end-of-term reports, was the serious
business of academic progress:
“The institution of examinations…
did much to raise the school in public
estimation… Merchant Taylors’ was “a
schoole for liberty most free, being open
expressly for poore men’s children, as well
of all nations as for the merchaunt tailors
themselves.” (Staunton, The Great Schools
of England, 1865)
There have been bad times as well as good!
Carew Hazlitt recalled rather testily the
1860s as a mean-spirited period, despite the
fact that it remained a “red letter day”:
“They supplied breakfast at the place, not
gratuitously, but at a fixed tariff. It would not
30
have been much for a wealthy Company
to provide an entertainment once or twice
a year for two or three hundred lads at a
shilling or so a head; but the Merchant
Taylors, I think, have always been notorious
for parsimony. Very little was accomplished
before the meal, and after its completion
we had to set to work, the old room upstairs
being as ill-adapted for the purpose of an
examination as can well be imagined, the
boys having to use the forms as desks and
to kneel in front of them. We were a very
short distance from the Middle Ages”. (W.
Carew Hazlitt, Schools, School-books, and
Schoolmasters 1888).
He contrasted this unfavourably with
the record of Doctor’s Day in 1652 under
Dugard’s High Mastership:
“There shall be paid unto the Master of
the School, for beer, ale, and new manchetbread, with a dish of sweet butter, which
hee shall have ready in the morning, with
two fine glasses set upon the Table, and
covered with two fair napkins, and two
fine trenchers, with a knife laid upon each
trencher, to the end that such as please may
take part, to staie their stomachs until the
end of the examination” (1652).
Certainly, by the 1690s, the Feast was an
integral part of the Probation:
“For the better Enquiry into the Proficiency
of all the Scholars, there is an Order
appointed for the Probation of the
School… the Third (Probation) on the
11th of December; not being Sunday, and
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
“Certain annual examinations, or
probations, are appointed, at which public
exercises are performed by the scholars, of
whom several are yearly sent to St. John’s
College, Oxford” Leigh, (New Picture of
London, 1819)
Punch reports its January 1871 edition
that, “The twentieth of December was “The
Doctors’ Day” at Merchant Taylors’ School”
and the tradition has continued unbroken
to this day, still - to end on a light-hearted
note - very much in the spirit of this poem,
published in The Mirror of Literature,
Amusement, and Instruction at ChristmasTide in 1828:
At Merchant Tailors’ School, what time
Old Bishop held the rod,
The boys rehearsed the old man’s rhyme
Whilst he would smile and nod.
Apart I view’d a little child
Who join’d not in the game:
His face was what mammas call mild
And fathers dull and tame.
Pitying the boy, I thus address’d
The pedagogue of verse-“Why doth he not, Sir, like the rest,
Your epigrams rehearse?”
“Sir!” answered thus the aged man,
“He’s not in Nature’s debt;
His ears so tight are seal’d, he canNot learn his alphabet.”
“Why not?” I cried:--whereat to me
He spoke in minor clef-“He cannot learn his A, B, C,
Because he’s D, E, F.”
December 6 2013
MTSLooking Forward
The exercises for Doctor’s Day, 11 December 1654 from The Orders of the School’s Probation, 1635-1661
31
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSLooking Forward
The verses spoken at Doctors’ Day in 1749/50
A manuscript volume, probably compiled by John Hill Thompson (OMT, 1762) who served as Assistant Master at the School from 1778-85
32
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013
MTSLooking Forward
33
Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter
December 6 2013