Report on the Talent Show

Editorial Introduction
After months of hard work and deliberation it is finally here! The Lord Grey School Magazine! We
have spent many weeks trying to create the ideal magazine for the Lord Grey community and we
believe that we have finally succeeded. Our highly talented team of budding journalists have been
searching high and low for all those juicy bits of gossip that the teachers store away and have
included many interesting and rather amusing articles about their hobbies and hidden talents. We
have also retrieved what we consider to be some of the best work produced by our students this
year and given all those talented writers and artists their first taste of fame!
Throughout the magazine you will find several reviews, written from your point of view and including all those vital facts that you are dying to know about your favourite games and books. The magazine also contains a guide to what's been going on at the school this academic year including all
the gossip from the amazing school production Grease, Rock Challenge, the dance sensation and
student reports from your favourite school trips. With these great contents, the Lord Grey School
Magazine is certain to keep you plugged in to the cool side of school and give you an insight into
what really goes on behind the scenes. On behalf of the rest of the team I would like to thank everybody who contributed and hope you all enjoy The Lord Grey School Magazine!
.
Miss Rachel Jones
Many Thanks To...
Ben Mallard
Ben Miller
Louise Beach
Lisa Turnbull
Jenny Allsopp
Claire Baines
Kishan Savjani
Tara Smith
Joe Moore
Gemma Hudson
Matt Woollett
Mr. Chambers
Shelly Rowland
Gabriel Wallace
Kathryn Entwistle
Carly Theodosi
Mark Ray
Rakhee Modhwadin
Thanks also to:
Beth Webster who produced the front cover
David McLean for his art work
Anyone who has allowed us to publish their work.
The production Team would also like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Miss
Jones who helped us all get organised and to get the magazine to come
together. We couldn't have done it without her!
Headteacher’s Welcome
When I joined The Lord Grey School a year ago, it was obvious to
me that this was a school of great potential. Given the right mix of
determination and enthusiasm, and the clear talents and abilities
of our students, there is no limit to what we can achieve. I am
delighted to introduce to you, from the students of our school, the
first Lord Grey School Magazine.
TCT
Excellence and
Diversity
The production of this Magazine has been no small feat. It has been student driven, and every poem, article, review, illustration and contribution
has been made by a member of our learning community. The Magazine
represents a massive achievement, and is, I believe, testimony to the
exhilirating ethos we share.
I would like to extend my thanks to Rachel Jones, who has co-ordinated
and overseen the production of the Magazine. I applaud the Editorial
Team who have pulled out all the stops to ensure the timely production of
this fascinating chronicle of life at Lord Grey. As an “in-house” production, my congratulations also go to our Reprographics team.
The forthcoming academic year will no doubt present many challenges,
and each member of our school will face, and conquer, seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This Magazine represents our school motto in
abundance, and I have every belief that we will continue to move from
strength to strength.
Having read the “first” magazine, I look forward to next year’s edition.
Excellence: Dare to Succeed
Despina Pavlou, Headteacher
Report on the Talent Show
Late November last year, Lord Grey School
hosted its first talent show. The event was
a huge success with participants from all
year groups displaying their talents in front
of a spellbound audience.
Year 13 students Jonathan Tan and
Gemma Peppard hosted the evening, proving themselves to be two of the school’s
most talented entertainers, using a mix of
humour and style to captivate the audience.
There were twenty-four unique performances which displayed a selection of
dances, songs and many other magnificent
musical acts. Highlights of my evening
included a beautifully sung rendition of
'When you say nothing at all' and several of
the dance acts who displayed excellent coordination and flare.
Present at the show were an inspired audience consisting of fellow students and the
proud parents of the performers. A panel of esteemed judges, including our
Headteacher, Ms Pavlou, Manager of Chappells music store, David Meek, and gifted
actress Wendy Kitching, appraised the event and after much thought and deliberation
reached their final verdict. Jonathan Tan and Mark Calape came in third place after
humorously presenting their amazing break-dancing.
Stacy Meadows achieved second place having demonstrated his fantastic piano skills
and showing the audience how to really play the blues.
First place went to the incredibly talented Elisabeth Brown who won the judges' praise
after singing a show tune flawlessly and showing off her beautiful voice. The winning
acts were requested to perform in a whole school assembly following the talent show
and were each given their prizes personally by Ms Pavlou.
The talent show was a very memorable event and we all look forward to witnessing
the same excellence next year. On behalf of the school I would like to thank all the
gifted students who took part.
By Jenny Allsopp
Grease
As most of you will know, the play this year was 'Grease' the musical. It was a huge success and
was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone involved. There were performances by two casts throughout
a whole week from 12th February to 16th February with matinee performances for local middle
schools. The tickets were all sold out for every performance with some special visitors, including the
Mayor of Milton Keynes. The whole cast worked extremely hard for several months giving up their
lunchtimes, after school and even a weekend. We were confronted with difficulty, as we had to learn
all of our songs with just a piano accompaniment. Fortunately Mr. Wakley, our new Head of Music,
was recruited towards the end and the band worked extremely hard to make everything come
together. Mr. Brierly and Gemma Peppard directed us and put up with us even when it looked as
though we wouldn't be able to pull it off, but however it fell into place in the end. To encourage us
more, they awarded us with Director’s Awards for outstanding dedication and performance.
The absolute high received was amazing and the whole cast got on very well
and became really close. The feeling of
performing on stage in front of hundreds of people is indescribable and
everyone gave it their all. I am almost
certain that everyone involved this
year will want to be involved in next
year's performance. We would like to
take this opportunity to say 'goodbye'
and 'good luck' to Jonathan Tan, he will
be sorely missed, as this was his last
performance.
By Luke Webb (Roger) and
Kevin Rowland (Danny)
‘Grease’ was obviously a big hit as on the first performance the hall was full. The enthusiastic cast
began the show with a wonderful opening and got the audience in the mood. Proud family and
friends of the actors sang and clapped along the whole way through and by the interval everyone
was having a great time!
We could see that the cast had spent a long time in rehearsals and getting the show perfect by
their American accents! Many were impressed by the singing soloists and all the singers. The
main characters had been carefully selected and had been carefully thought out. Backing
dancers were also convincing and were all in time doing their Rock 'n' Roll moves. We also
thought that the Guardian Angel (Cameron Parks) was a star!
Well done to everyone who took part and a special thankyou to Mr. Brierly. We are all looking for ward to next year’s show!
By Shelly Rowland and Tara Smith
After months of
choreographing, many
feared that Lord Grey's dance
piece would not be ready for the rapidly approaching performance. A day
before the performance all the members of
the Rock Challenge took part in the intense
rehearsals all day. There were still final
details we had to add, the dance was not
entirely completed and we had not
rehearsed with the set; Tuesday was our
attempt to get everything perfect for
Wednesday's performance at the
Oxford Apollo Theatre.
Rock
Challenge
On the day we had three
rehearsals with each one getting better as we performed - each
one gaining in energy. When it came
to our performance, and we were the
opening act, everyone was nervous yet
excited and gave it 110% when we
entered the stage. Everything went
well. After our performance we went
back into the changing-room and
waited for the results.
The
judges left all schools waiting in anticipation
as they began to talk. Many people lost faith when they
heard that 3rd place had gone to Crickhowell High School, but
when they read out Lord Grey School...2nd place, the atmosphere
was electric! Everyone was screaming in the excitement, we
couldn't believe we had come 2nd!
Lord Grey Poem
L is for Lessons, so we get in the know,
O is for Open days, for parents to go.
R is for Resources, the books and the pens,
D is for Detention, you must make amends!
G is for Grammar, corrected we stand,
R is for Revision, for passing exams.
E is for Excellence, dare to succeed,
Y is for Yearbook, for information we need.
S is for Squashed chips, cleaned from the floor,
C is for Canteen, the queue’s right out the door.
H is for Homework, it must be on time!
O is for Obligation, so we don't get behind,
O is for OFSTED, to work with the Head.
L is for Lord Grey, come to school, don't stay in bed.
By Emma Butler
After the results
had been announced
there was a huge gathering of
students from different schools outside the theatre - congratulating each
other on their spectacular performance.
Of course, Lord Grey were the loudest
there and all students were still on a high. It
was this school's highest ever placing. All the
hard work had paid off. Even teachers from
Stantonbury Campus were saying that ours
was excellent, and they thought that we
would win!
I definitely recommend people to take
part in rock challenge, it was excellent. Maybe next year we can
come away with 1st place!
By
Elizabeth Akinwande
America 2001
The American Trip '2000' was arranged for Enigma Orchestra as
part of an exchange, in which we stayed with our host families in
Milwaukee. The trip consisted of ten days in which various venues
were organised (most of which were of the unmusical kind) including a baseball game, a tour around the cave of the Mounds and a
trip to Spreachers Brewery.
We were transported to all of these sights by the infamous yellow
school buses with our lunches that we could probably feed the
whole country. When we did actually play though, the Americans
had the 'pleasure' of hearing us play the never tiresome, Rule
Brittania at places including the Harley Davidson Centre in which
we were also given a tour card and more free food!
Our day out to '6 flags Great America' theme park, was one never
to be forgotten and although many of us ended the day feeling very
queasy and sunburned, it was one of the most amusing days in our
itinerary. On our last night at our host families houses, we had a
party, where, to everyone else's misfortune I sang karaoke!
Possibly not one of the most enjoyable times we had.
The next day we set off to Chicago, to the very impressive hotel
Embassy suites, where we had the luxury of relaxing in a very nice
swimming pool. All that was left to do at this point was to say our
last goodbyes before leaving to come home.
This year, our American friends will be staying with us, and will
enjoy a busy schedule including trips to London and I'm sure many
more exiting things.
The trip went all too quickly, but overall it was a very enjoyable
experience and when the Americans come to England, I just hope
we can show them the same hospitality that they showed us.
By Sarah Allen
Sense Poetry
Pepper!
They can be in tiny particles
Or in a similar form to apples
Either way they are HOT HOT HOT!!!!
It smells like burnt crisps
Or a cigarette that has been put in alcohol
It is used to add flavourings
Or to spice up foods
The pepper can make someone sneeze
If inhaled at any time
They look like tiny raisins scattered
Across a field
Or like an apple with an extended stem
They come from miniature seeds
Grown from the earth
The earth they come from is
Dark yet moist
The seeds are buried
Beneath the dark moist atmosphere
Till they grow to become hot
And spicy vegetables.
By Kelly Longmore
Apples
Hard things
Crunchy and delicious
Sweet and irresistible
After first bite
Spilling juices
Like the plain taste of
Sugar and water.
Inner Senses
Corpses dismembered, alone and stenching
Eyes stare with emptiness at the world.
Hands, and legs grab you at every chance,
'Stop' they say 'Don't go, stay with me.’
Sounds pounding to a deadly rhythm,
thump, thump, thump.
If it stops.
Death knocks at your door.
The temptation to run, impossible,
the sound will follow you.
The will to live, unbearable,
that thump will always be there.
SNAP!
A ray of light that shines in his eyes.
Angry, monstrous shells explode in the air
He cannot hear, he cannot see.
his inner senses, fear, despair.
That thump surrounds him,
he can only feel it.
Mouth wide open, no one hears his screams,
But that thump smoothes his fear.
When they are picked and gathered
From the trees
Their brown thin stems snap!
And their firm and solid figures
Are amazingly eaten through by worms
He doesn't know they've been bombed,
And the people around him scream.
All he knows is that thump,
Lifeless, gone and free.
Their appearance-colours of autumn leaves
Blend with the trees
And sway silently with the wind
The branches that they hang on are
Strong and stay as still as the trunk
Held down by its roots.
By Sarah Watkinson
By Kelly Longmore
'Stop' they say 'don't go,stay with me,'
the hands and eyes do call.
Next time listen to their song
Because it's the inner senses that sing.
Lonely Poem
Life on the fast lane.
That's how I live.
No cares no worries,
I'm a free man.
I do what I want when I want.
I'm top of the world, the best, the King.
No one can stop me,
not now,
nor ever.
Life is a speeding freeway.
I'm flying down this freeway.
I'm gliding like a bird.
No pressure,
no plan.
But then I turn a wrong turn.
The freeway runs out.
I remember this alley,
It's the real world.
Not my world where I'm the King or a bird.
This is for real.
Nothings good.
No-one to turn to.
No friends,
no family.
Alone in this dog pound.
Where they bite your leg, not scratch your back.
Money is everything,
more important than friends,
meaning of wealth, meaning of life.
A favourite fairy tale.
An unwanted soul
A homeless piece of worthless trash.
Tossed aside by society.
But I don't care,
I have my world.
No-one puts one thousand tons
of pressure on your back.
No homework,
deadlines
schoolwork,
work,
wages,
taxes,
just me.
But that's not what I want.
I don't really hate this world,
I just don't understand it.
I just want someone to turn to.
When that one thousand tons
of pressure gets too much they're there to lift it.
Just one friend for a giggle,
a talk,
a Christmas,
a walk.
But I'll never get that.
So I'll just sit back.
Hop on the freeway and cruise.
I'll take my life my way.
The fast lane.
Where I'm wanted and loved.
So am I lonely.
Yes.
But I've got my world.
By David Crisp
The Accident
In the beginning God created the Heavens, the Universe and the Earth.
The Earth at the time was engulfed by the raging blue ocean with no land
in existence. The Earth was not only covered in ravenous waters but it had
also been plunged into a darkness that meant nothing could live. Then God
decided to give the world light, and as the heavens opened up, there was
a tremendous light that filled the sky lighting up all the four corners of the
Earth. Even the darkest, most distant, secluded areas of the world were
filled with light beyond the stretch of the imagination. This was the light that
would light forever, this was the light that would see the world go day by day
and this was the light that would see all the triumphs and all the failures of
each and every individual of the planet. No one could escape the light. But
where was the amazing light coming from? The answer to this is what people call the sun, the greatest object in existence.
Now that there was light, the world was free to start growing plants and animals and most of all, humans. From the primitive humans and Adam and
Eve the world had begun and as with the dinosaurs before the humans
started to form dominant groups. The groups each had one thing in common: the need for power. Prominent groups rose and fell as the quest for
total power had begun.
As time passed, the mighty Aztec civilisation and then the powerful Inca
empire both came and went. Then came the Egyptians, a very religious
and powerful culture, with many Gods. But the Egyptians were different.
They had no weapons of mass destruction or enormously large armies but
the outside world was extremely cautious when handling matters with them
as they had the one thing that scared the world more than large arms: the
Pharaohs, or the living Gods. The Pharaohs were the Gods that lived on
Earth, specifically Egypt. The world knew the Gods had created the universe and they also knew of the awesome power it must have taken to do
that. They also knew that the Gods had bestowed on them the Earth and
all its power, which could be taken away in an instant.
The pharaohs were worshipped by all of the inhabitants of the country and
as far as the Egyptians were concerned the river Nile was a gift back from
the Pharaohs.
The River Nile
The river Nile was the thing that was most important to the survival of the
Egyptian people. As Egypt was a country that was nearly all desert there
was not much space for farming and so the Egyptians had no way to feed
their starving families. The Nile changed all that. Once every year the Nile
would burst its banks and flood all the area around the Nile for a radius of
approximately one mile. When it flooded it brought with the water large
amounts of fertile soil so when the floods had gone there was soil to farm
on, and crops to sell and eat.
The Pharaohs controlled all that happened in Egypt and they had ultimate
power. The people built great monuments and spectacular temples to
honour the Gods and there were the colossal pyramids, so great they are
now some of the most talked about wonders of the world. The Pharaohs
had powers they possessed as Gods, but it was said that they often used
them for threatening people. Then there were the Pyramids, the resting
place of the Gods who were buried there after they had been mummified.
The Pharaohs’ mummified bodies would be left there with all their treasures and the mummified bodies of a few of their most loyal servant. As all
the Pharaohs’ gold was left in the Pyramids with the bodies of their owner,
Pyramids were a very good target to rob and grave robbers would constantly try to break in. But the Pyramids were protected by booby traps...
The large stone door slowly came towards the thieves and, knowing that
they would be the first ever people in hundreds of years to see the inside
of the ancient pyramid, they would step nervously. The whole team went
silent, the sight was stunning: to be the first ever modern day people to
see the inside of an ancient pyramid was a mind-boggling fact for the team
of experts to comprehend. Even though every person standing outside
the tomb had had some kind of significant find or discovery no one there
knew what to do. Then slowly the group of explorers would go in, wandering forward step by step. About three steps into the pyramid they allwould stop to marvel in its glory and to investigate the various different
inscriptions on the walls of the amazingly magnificent pyramid of Giza.
By David Courcoux
Interview with Mr Pomfret
Mr Pomfret has a great story to tell about the past and present in
his sporting career.
When he was a child his father was a car mechanic, and the family of three lived on a farm. Although he saw motor racing on the
telly, it wasn't a major ambition of his to become a motor racing
driver. However, for Mr Pomfret’s ninth birthday, his father gave him an old car to ride in around the
farm fields, and he learnt to drive at this amazingly young age! This was when he became interested in racing and he now looked up to his new idol, Jim Clarke.
When he turned eighteen, he joined a Racing Driving School at Silverstone, and began to motor on
in his learning. Mr Pomfret first drove in a race in 1979, but due to a heart condition which was
treated at the famous Papworth hospital, he was forced to stop racing for four years. He then
restarted in 1983.
Motor racing is an extremely expensive sport and it can be very dangerous. When he was younger,
his parents were not unduly worried about the possibility of an accident, although over the years he
has had several major accidents during races.
Mr Pomfret has raced against a number of drivers who are now very famous and have since taken
part in races in Formula 1. These include Damon Hill and David Coulthard. He also raced against
Jonny Herbert and Jenson Button. At the time he raced against them they weren't very well known,
but they all went on to be famous. Mr Pomfret says he doesn't feel any resentment towards them
and he's very happy for them!
As some of you may know, Mr Pomfret runs his own team. In order to save the enormous expense
of travelling from place to place, and also the mechanical expense, he has help from current friends.
Mr Chambers drives the team
truck, and an old student of Lord
Grey, Daniel Hill, helps with the
mechanical side. Former team
member, Antony Childs, through
Mr Pomfret's knowledge and
teaching, went on to become a
Formula 1 designer. Gerard
O'Reiley, went on to be a chief
truck driver for the Jordan
Formula 1 team.
Mr Pomfret's sporting career has
rewarded him with awards such
as winning the BARC FF1600
National Championship in 1990,
and coming second in the
National Championships in 1996.
By Beth Webster
Interview with Mr. Berriman
Mr. Berriman is a teacher in the science department at the school. He has worked here for a while
and is very interested in the sport of Fencing, so we decided to find out more about the sport.
Q1. How were you introduced to the sport and who by?
A1. My mother encouraged me to take up Fencing because she always wanted my sister and I
out of the house.
Q2. Did you start Fencing at a very young age
or when you were older?
A2. I started Fencing at the age of fifteen.
Q3. What attracted you to it in the beginning?
A3. I hated it! Then I won a regional championship after doing it for just six weeks, so I
changed my mind.
Q4. What protection do you have to wear?
A4. I have to wear quite a lot of protection. I wear
a mask which is made of
steel, a jacket and breeches made of Kevlar,
gloves, socks and an under jacket.
Q5. How long have you been Fencing for?
A5. I have now been fencing for about twentythree years
Q6. Do you compete in competitions or do just do it for fun? If you compete, have you
won any trophies?
A6. I don't at the moment , but I intend to start again in September 2001 to go to compete in
the Commonwealth Championships in 2002. I have won two Commonwealth Silver & Bronze
medals in the past.
By Kishan Savjani
The Lord Grey School Staff Football Team
If you have been to the National Hockey Stadium on a Wednesday evening, you will have surely spotted
the bright green shirts of the LGSSFT, worn by your favourite teachers winning yet
another match.
We play 8-a-side games and this season our results speak for themselves:
Played
Won
Drew
20
15
1
Lost
4
We normally travel to Barcelona to play 2 or 3 matches at Easter, and you'd be surprised how many players can get by in Spanish! We also travelled to Germany earlier in the year to face yet another
challenging match.
Regular team members include:
Mr Chambers (ICT)
Mr Bloomfield, Mr Patey (Maths)
Mr Brierly (Exp Arts)
Mr Dipple, Mr Thomas (ex-LGS)
Mr Berryman, Mr Matanda (Science)
Mr Day, Mr Hately,
Torster Schwaemmle (Languages)
And occasionally Ms Tetlow
Our opposition has included teams from the
Council, Hewlett Packard, Jupiter Sports Club,
Barcelona, Chappels Music, Halfords, Denbigh
Staff, Year 13, Year 12, Year 11, Year 10 and
many others. So why not come along on a
Wednesday evening to support us? There are
6,000 seats at the stadium (and most of them
are usually empty!)
By Mr Chambers
Miss Lewis takes
some 'stick'!
Miss Lewis, former head of English at our school,
hides behind her a secret past of sporting excellence. Not many people know of her previous life,
goal keeping for university and county hockey teams
or the time she spent training with the England
under 21's hockey squad.
Her enthusiasm for hockey began at twelve years
old when attending a junior school in Hampshire.
This led to her becoming a member of several county teams in her teenage years, playing alongside
many now famous players, including some of Great
Britain's Sydney Olympic squad.
At 19, whilst playing for the English Universities
hockey team, she was selected to train with the
England under 21 squad.
"It was the highlight of my hockey life," she tells us. "I can remember trembling at my first big game, it
was part of a tournament against the Welsh, Irish and Scottish University teams." Her team was victorious and won the entire tournament, one of the many memorable wins she experiences. She is the
proud owner of many trophies awarded to her in the prime of her career and her proudest moment was
saving a penalty shot by the current England captain, Jane Sixsmith, in the last seconds of a county
championship!
Her talent continued to grow, but in 1990 tragedy struck when she suffered a severe knee injury.
"Unfortunately I had to stop playing after that, though I have a nine inch scar on my knee to remind me
of those days!" Although Miss Lewis has retired from hockey, she still enjoys many sporting activities
today including snowboarding, tennis, badminton and mountain biking!
By Jenny Allsopp
3
1
2
-Baby FacesCan you guess the teacher from the baby
photos? The answers are hidden in this
magazine...
5
4
8
6
7
Where the Pain
Can't Reach You
I glanced over the edge of the bridge onto the
motorway below. Ten metres of sheer emptiness,
before the concrete strip of reality beneath it. The
road itself was bathed in pools of orange light.
Every now and then a car would speed by, punctuating the eerie silence with a sense of urgency,
a purpose.
I looked up to the stars, the bright pinpricks of
light piercing the infinite darkness that was the
night sky.
.
"Where's my purpose?" I muttered, more to
myself than anyone else. As I looked back over
the last few months of my life, I could see I'd been
missing that. I think they call it 20/20 hindsight. I
tried to remember when I last had a sense of
ambition, had a goal, a life to look forward to.
Where had all that gone?
I shut my eyes tightly, trying to block out everything, clear my mind. It didn't work. All I could
see was the image of my step-dad, Jake, staggering through the front door of our semi yesterday afternoon, yelling orders left, right and centre.
"Dinner ready yet? It better be!" he slurred, drunk
as usual.
"Yes" I replied, abandoning my unfinished homework.
"Danni, where's your mother?" Jake demanded.
"In bed, where do you think?" I retorted. He had
such a talent for asking the most pointless questions. It wouldn't have mattered what my reply
was anyway, as Jake had fallen restless, drunken sleep and was calling out some woman's
name. Sandra. I dismissed it with a sigh and
retreated to the drab kitchen. As I began to get
some kind of meal together, I begun to wonder
how mum ever managed to get custody of me in
the first place. How was I going to get past my
GCSE's? Whether I was going to see Ryan or not
tonight.
Being Lonely
I feel like my life has no meaning anymore
Because I have no one in my life.
All my life I've been blocked out from the world
Throughout my life many people have looked after
me
But none have ever loved me.
I've never realised how cruel this world could be
It's like everything is always my fault.
Even when people stab me in the back
It's like my back has hurt their knife.
Everytime I try to get close to someone
They just get rid of me like a bad bit of fruit.
I am just an empty vase with no meaning of my
presence.
I hate this world and everything about it.
I hate being lonely in this cruel world
Because my heart sinks like a stone in water.
When I see people getting love and attention
I just wish that I could get that kind of love.
Just once in my life, just to see what it's like to be
loved.
I shut the front door as quietly as I could. With
any luck Jake and Mum would still be dead to the
world on my return. With any luck.
When I fall people never pick me up.
When I'm sad people never cheer me up.
And thar's what my whole life has been like.
People never loving after me and caring for me.
Nobody deserves to be lonely.
By Kathryn Entwistle
By Adam Gregory
Rainy Day
Finally, a break in the intense, stormy rain clouds allowed a small ray of sunshine to burst
through and shine down onto the sodden ground, in a desperate attempt to dry up the enormous puddles which had formed. Persistent rain and hail had battered the beautiful petunias
and the vibrant green of the freshly cut grass had been brutally transformed into a dirty
brown. Huge puddles had filled the cracks in the pavements and windows were covered in
rain drops. The rain water gushed down the hill and simply ran straight across the tops of
the drains as they were already over flowing disastrously.
After a few minutes of signs of a definite break between storms, I hurriedly got ready to make
a run for town. I jumped into my bright red wellington boots, pulled on my navy blue raincoat
over my three, thick, woolly jumpers. I wrapped my cosy green and yellow-striped scarf
around my bare neck, briskly pulled on my bright blue bobble hat, hurled my bag onto my
back, grabbed my keys and swung out of the sopping wooden door.
As I scrambled along the deserted street, I heard rumbles of angry thunder in the distance.
I had only just reached the rowdy pub at the end of the street, and there were threatening
signs of another distressing storm.
I began to briskly jog along the road in hope of reaching shelter before the rain began to fall,
but without any delay, an enormous sweep of rain and hail came over my path. Huge claps
of threatening thunder followed monstrous flashes of lightening. I shot along the street. My
umbrella inside out and being no use at all somehow found its way beneath my feet and I
tumbled onto the floor in an embarrassing heap.
As I lay on the freezing pavement, staring up into the violent skies, I summoned up the
strength to heave myself to my feet. Even though I had badly bumped my knee, I could not
feel the pain due to how hopelessly cold I was. My waterproof clothes had been totally useless as the rain had soaked straight through to my underwear.
The rain began to ease and the time between thunder crashes lengthened, but I just could
not face another scary spell like the last one. So, I picked myself up, and swept my hair
behind my ears. With my feet squelching at every step I took, I slowly began to hobble home.
By Beth Webster
There is Nothing Good About War
The rotten stench of the dead bodies and still water
overcome the trenches,
Crippled and almost paralysed we struggled through the
death site,
We barely stumbled through the French fields with our
mental and physical disabilities,
The men marched on with no boots and drained of
energy,
Wondering how hard it will be to jump the next hurdle,
The sound of shells behind kept us marching at a moderate pace,
GAS! It’s bloody GAS!
The extreme clumsiness of fitting gas masks was too
late for some including me,
For where the green stench was tearing apart our
lungs,
The internal bleeding sucked my team mate inside out
while I watched,
Unaware that the same process was happening to me,
Painfully and slowly I melted, until death was ready to
take me away,
Out of the green smog appeared a murderer,
Dressed in an army suit ready to take me away,
Helplessly I got hurled on to the back of a wagon,
Giving me a couple of broken bones as well,
Blindness took my eyes and all hope was lost.
War is a joke,
Committing suicide for your Prime Minister,
It's definitely not a game,
Instead savagery and nonsense,
There's nothing good about war.
By Luke Jenkins
The Soldiers Prayer
Dear Lord,
I pray for the safety of these men
Who sit and wait for their dying day, Amen.
I pray for the end of chaos and destruction,
And to pay attention to my simple instruction.
"The people who cry most readily are always
the ones with the least feelings for others;
They cry for themselves."
A quote from a woman, what a surprise, I'll give
you a moment to summarise.
If she was here, sitting in silence,
Or looking over, watching the violence,
She would not have said this,
She would not have sent us away with a single
solitary kiss.
The men who cry
And don't know why,
The shock of it all,
No longer a ball.
The women who wrote
That misgiving quote,
Should sit and cry,
And realise why.
"The only failure is not knowing how to be
happy"
An invention, a fabrication, just like the other,
That reminds you of the tales when you sat with
your mother.
I pray and pray,
To you The Lord,
To take me away, far, far away,
And from around my wrists, remove the cord
That binds to this murderous war.
Dear Lord,
I pray for the safety of these men,
Who sit and wait for their dying day, Amen.
The fear on the men's faces,
The destruction in their eyes,
The tremour on their lips,
Death is not a surprise.
By Sara Green
The Miltitary Services Act
A little note to you from the conscientious objector,
Who told you things wouldn't make it better.
You say I'm weak, you say I'm scared,
"Join the army it's time you cared."
Thanks for the advice; I really appreciate it,
"Yeah let’s go and die!" you arrogant twit.
It's a waste of time; it's a waste of life,
"Let’s go and die" forget your kids and wife.
We get put in prison for our beliefs,
"I'd rather be there," we sigh in relief.
"You stay at home and do women’s work you
pansy!"
"You go to work and die!"great advice from me the
Conshie.
The British flag, a marvellous thing,
A united country, as round as a ring.
You hold the flag, you hold it high,
Get blown away, no time for "bye."
You've got a gun, no training needed,
Your victim’s dying, he can hardly feel it?
Millions of men dead, from their stupidity and foolishness,
"But you let them die from your own selfishness."
It's a two-sided arguement; it's the real war,
I'm the conscientious objector, I can't take it any
more.
By Joanna Barlow
Life During the War
Gnawing, clawing rats scurry ominously,
Rotting, lice-ridden corpses scattered like confetti,
Death ridden, life snatching trenches filled with
devastating,
Thrashing, driving rain, crashing down like bullets,
Powerful, devastating guns roaring like lions
Corpse-filled, rotting shell holes filled with death
and pain,
Inevitable, excruciating death, staring men in the
face,
Smashed, decaying skulls, innocent victims of war,
Fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers like sitting
ducks.
By Joanna Barlow
FUTILITY
Dirty repellent rats screeching with joy at their
food - the dead.
Funereal repulsive lice crawl through life, lasting
longer then the soldiers do.
Merciless solidified mud destroying evidence of
death and other horrors of war.
Everlasting immoral Death, looming over soldiers
like shadows.
Sickening nauseating food, reminding you of the
destruction accomplished by soldiers.
Deep obscure trenches, filled with death decomposed, deteriorated bodies.
Brave courageous soldiers beaten to their death
at the corresponding pace of the rain.
Dark forbidding rocks represent skulls - both
indistinguishable.
Bloodless murderous shells like the ticking of the
clock, never missing a beat.
Pallid passionless guns, no longer in it for the
game, the excitement.
Deranged dispirited friends, not really worth
making.
Disheartened innocent life destroyed by an antagonising phantom.
By Sarah Green
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
The Amber Spyglass is the final book in a trilogy called His Dark Materials. The other two books are
Northern Lights and The Subtle Knife. Although this book could be read as a single novel, there are
some references to events in the earlier books, and the beginning of the book picks up where the
last one left off.
The Amber Spyglass follows the adventures of Will and Lyra, two children from different worlds,
both with a destiny to fulfil. In the previous books, they have met people and creatures such as
Lorek Byrnison, Dr Mary Malone and Lee Scoresby. These characters appear in the story to help
them, along with new ones such as the Gallivespians, hand-high spies with poison spurs. The children travel to different worlds using the knife that Will has in his possession which can cut through
the air to reveal a "window" to another place.
Lyra is unaware of the impact she could have on the world and everything in it, including the
Authority (or God). Various organisations (including the church) are searching for Lyra, in the hope
they can manipulate her into doing their will. Her reaction and response to a story could change the
world. This story challenges what you believe, or thought you knew about death, God, our significance in the world and whether there are parallel worlds out there where things are slightly different.
This novel is very well written, and certainly makes you think.
By Kathryn Entwistle
Good Night Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian
Goodnight Mr Tom was written by Michelle Magorian. It is a heart-warming story set in World War
II. It is based in the British countryside where the evacuees were sent. I first read the book when I
was eleven. I would say that age or maybe a little older is perfect for reading Goodnight Mr Tom
since it was quite upsetting in some places. Someone younger may find it very hard to understand,
but I thinki either males or females would enjoy this book.
Michelle Magorian has captured the wartime feeling so well that I thought I was living in the story.
She emphasises the characters’ accents in the way she writes by using apostrophes and commas.
Good Night Mr Tom is quite a sad story. It is very moving and really captures the feel and the emotion that wartime evacuees, and also grown-ups must have gone through.
By Beth Webster
HAVE A NICE DAY! by Mick Foley
Enter the world of Mick Foley: WWF Wrestling superstar, father of two and now best-selling author.
This is his revealing and thoroughly entertaining life-story, which documents the Long Islander's
upbringing through to his emergence as a wrestling superstar and hard-core legend.
What makes this book stand out from most other biographies is that Mr. Foley is an intelligent and
likeable person, who gives an honest and insightful account of his life without insulting the reader's
intelligence or blowing his own horn. His relaxed writing style is both captivating and witty. He offers
a look behind the scenes of professional wrestling and gives detailed accounts of his bloody
escapades. These include hard-core matches in Japan, the battle in which he lost half of his ear
and the Foley perspective of his now famous WWF 'Hell in the Cell' match in 1998. Yet he still finds
plenty of time to talk about his family life. Along the way, you will read about Foley's encounters with
some of the biggest names in wrestling including Ric Flair, Terry Funk, Stone-Cold Steve Austin and
the Undertaker. The wrestling anecdotes are hilarious, the gory details are fairly disgusting and the
family stories are often quite touching.
This book is a must, for people who enjoy watching wrestling or even wrestler-wannabes and is definitely worth a read even if you don't know a 'Fisherman's Suplex' from a 'Knife-Edge Powerbomb.'
Many other wrestlers-turned-writers have tried to surpass Foley's writing achievement, including
The Rock, Chyna and Goldburg, but Have a Nice Day! knocks them all out for the count. Bang!
Bang!
By Andrew Blow
Library Monitors
The library has a team of Year 8 and Year 9 helpers who give up
some of their break and lunchtimes to help in the library. We are also
very lucky to have a senior library monitor, Martin Higgs (Year 12),
who helps us with the desk and computers.
Each momitor is allocated an area of shelving within the library and
they are responsible for keeping this area tidy and shelving books.
They are also able to help with other duties, such as covering books,
creating displays and helping on the issue desk.
We are looking for more volunteers, particularly from Year 8. If you
think you might like to become a library monitor then come and see
me in the Learning Resource Centre.
Isabella Coles, Chartered Librarian
WRESTLING
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION & WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
THE GREAT DEBATE: WHICH ONE IS BETTER?
After watching WWF & WCW for the last ten years I have come to the conclusion that the WCW is
the number-one wrestling organisation for several reasons that I will talk about in this article. I also
believe that both groups can be greatly improved so there is thriving competition within the wrestling
business.
WCW's professional wrestlers are much more athletic and talented than those in the WWF. In the terms of ability, strength,
athleticism and overall charisma BOOKER T, SCOTT STEINER, JEFF JARRETT, LANCE STORM, STING, GOLDBERG
and BERT HART (now retired), DDP, KEVIN NASH, SID
VICIOUS and many other superstars are light-years ahead of
any of their WWF equivalents. WCW exemplifies youth, hard
work, realism, determination and proof that big is not always
best.
Many of the WCW wrestlers are not recognised by many people, as they are less famous than the WWF ones. I can think of
many wrestlers in WCW who deserve to be recognised including SEAN O' HAIRE, CHUCK PALUMBO, MARK JINDRAK,
SHAWN STASIAK, MIKE AWESOME, GENERAL REACTION,
ELIX SKIPPER, CHAVO GUERRERO JR., REY MISTERIO
JR., BILLY KIDMAN , VAMPIRO, CROWBAR, KANYON, and
many others including CRUISERWEIGHTS. In the terms of
production WCW is flawed. For example, WCW only has
NITRO and THUNDER shows plus pay-per-view which are not shown in the UK. The WCW
wrestling magazine is by far the best wrestling publication due to its information, facts, figures and
the intriguing interviews, showing what the wrestlers are really like.
Another thing is WCW tries to eliminate all this hullaballo and nonsense involved in the sports entertainment side of wrestling. For example, in the WWF, CHYNA is faking the injury to promote her
awful book (unlike DROZ who is really paralysed). There is less emphasis on scantily clad women
and violence, which the WWF promotes. The WWF under-uses many of its superstars like D.LO
BROWN, CHAZ, VAL VENIS, CHRIS JERICHO, CHRIS BENOIT, TAZZ, RAVEN, DEAN MALENKO
and PERRY SATURN among others. The WWF promotes older wrestlers like the UNDERTAKER,
STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN, BILLY GUNN and RIKISHI. The WWF makes a mockery of its talented wrestlers like the HARDYZ, EDGE/CHRISTIAN, KURT ANGLE, KANE, HHH, X-PAC and the
BIG SHOW.
WCW wrestlers are scientific, technical and several WCW wrestlers are actually related: BOOKER
T AND STEVE RAY (HARLEM HEAT), SCOTT STEINER and RICK STEINER and many other personas reflect real life including SCOTT STEINER, BOOKER T , LANCE STORM and KEVIN NASH.
Lastly the WCW is the superior wrestling company because, through the preservation and dedication, it has managed to survive (unlike the ECW) through the years against the over-hyped WWF.
By Andrew Blow
HEROES OF MIGHT AND MAGIC III
The Restoration of Erathia
Theme: Strategy
Time: Turn based
Enter the magical world of Erathia, where it seems the Dungeon Overloads are surfacing to "Take
over the world!" Well naturally someone has to stop them...someone with brains for tactics and
empire building... someone who will overthrow the Evil Empire of cruel sorcerers and destructive
monsters once and for all!! Err, someone like you.
The game starts you off with a castle and a hero. You can move your hero around the map collecting resources, taking control of mines, sawmills, factories and starting fights. Now a hero always
has an army following him/her (even though you can't see them on the exploration map) and when
you get into a battle, your army and your opponents’ forces battle it out. Your hero stands on the
sidelines and you can get him/her to hurl a spell across the battlefield to help your army.
In your castle you build structures, recruit soldiers and quite a lot more. If you're a newcomer to the
Heroes of Might and Magic series, it may sound very complicated at first, but as you get used to it,
it seems quite simple.
This certainly lives up to its predecessor's in the Heroes of Might and Magic series (I myself the
proud owner of Heroes of Might and Magic I, II, and the expansion pack II ), and it is worth getting.
It's turn-based so you can have a multi-player game without having two computers and has a good
map editor. The game isn't perfect though, as after a few months you may find yourself getting a little bit bored of it. But, on the whole it will give you hours of fun!
Effect
It has very original ideas.
89%
Sound
A lovely soundtrack and good effects.
85%
Gameplay
It deteriorates, but not quickly. Pretty challenging.
96%
Graphics
Superb artistry on some of the castle pictures.
87%
Overall
Just lacking a little bit to make it a best seller.
95%
By Jonathan Durnord
Every two months in Milton Keynes,
around three hundred teenagers
from across the city meet at The Pitz
to worship God. Sounds boring? It’s
anything but that! Revive has
recently celebrated its tenth birthday, and in that time it has been held
at the New Life Church in New
Bradwell, the Oldbrook Christian
Centre and its home venue, The Pitz
on Woughton Campus. Revive has
seen bands such as Shine (who you
may remember from their visit to
Lord Grey a couple of years ago),
V*Enna and Glass, who get The Pitz
and the young people there rockin'.
Riding lights have performed drama,
and there have been many speakers
such as Tim Cutting, Drew and Cally
Cameron. They have all spoken to
young people to inspire them to live
for God in MK.
R
E
V
I
V
E
Revive also has its very own worship band, one of its
members being Lord Grey's very own Mr Hancock on
his funky pink guitar. The youth worship band performs at some of the events giving the young people
an opportunity, a chance to get involved in their own
event.
Although much talent can be seen at Revive, its not just about the
people. It's all about God. He is the reason young people from all
corners of MK and beyond come together and worship. The worship
that happens at Revive is streets ahead of the worship you might
think of - our worship is upbeat with the power of a band behind it.
Through God, it has the power to reduce people to tears or give them
an incredible high. Either way, it is an amazing experience.
Revive is also a social evening for people who go there. It gives them a chance to
meet up with people they wouldn't see otherwise, and make new friends, but more
importantly friends in Christ. If you would like to find out more about Revive, there
is a web site. Visit Revive at www.revivemk.org.uk to find out more!
By Kathryn Entwistle
Tomorrow's Child
For a while he slept and dreamed of trees and flowers and girls with corn-silk hair. The trees were
bright, fluffy, a mellow green. They blew gently in
the balmy, warm wind like balls of candy floss. The
leaves were glimmering and shimmering in the
sunshine, the birds tweeted, twittered and sang
their charming lullabies. Others were scouring the
long spiky grass for their slimy, luscious feast. Pink
squirming worms wiggled and wriggled hoping to
plunge and be spared from the voracious, razorsharp, petite beaks they were destined for.
The flowers were intense pink, purple, red, blue an ocean of fragrant smelling beauties with clay
pollen and bees penetrating the flawless arrangement of pettles for their Queen’s majestic, bulbous
belly.
The girl ran through the bold, blossoming trees,
idyllic song birds and oceans of flowers simpering.
Running and springing she scampered like a
cavorting deer to a wall of ivy and thrusted into it
revealing a door, a door to Hell.
What had once been a village was a burning city of
people they were screaming, squealing like a pig in
a slaughter house. Their pitiful bodies, the energy
of a scorching fire. The fire eddied and swirled out
of control, spoiling captivating cottages, blackening
a field of azure blue sky, choking trees in its violent
path.
When he looked back at the pretty, young girl she
focused into the devastation and shed a tear, a tear
of laughter. Her laughter applauded loudly the horror of the smouldering citizens. Her laugh echoed
through the valley, it trembled the ground he stood
on. Her body shook as though she was a victim of
epilepsy, her ribs expanding alongside her roarous
laugh, deep as the sea, high as a nail on a blackboard. It was pure pleasure from the devastation.
Her innocent face, hair and body resembled an
angel, her heart was that of Satan, sickened with
poison, poison for the tragedy of others.
By Naomi Sinclair
He drew his legs, hugging them tightly into his
chest, and dropped his head onto his knees. He felt
no remorse at denying shelter to that creature; only
those with souls had the right to survive. For a
while he closed his eyes, and let his thoughts roam
over what could have been, his glorious future. He,
Paul Mandrake, rising above the crowd, hailed as a
hero, the head of a victorious army. He would be
known in years to come as the man who saved
humanity.
Like a huge thunder storm on a hot, sultry August
night, the light flashed and then a petrifying whine
starting off in the distance but quickly homing in on
him. Paul's senses come back to him. Should I
run? He tried to move, but his legs flayed uselessly, his whole body felt detached from his mind.
Sitting in the freezing alcove, Paul could only wait
for his certain fate, his breath coming in short rattling gasps, his heart fluttered like a trapped bird.
There was noise all around him. Screams pierced
the darkness. The noise of the thunder vibrated the
broken buildings protecting his battered body. How
had he got himself trapped like this? This was not
in his master plan. Paul closed his eyes and
thought about the day that would turn out to be the
last day of his miserable existence.
Paul had collected the package of death on his way
to the station. "This will make you famous in our little community" Shaun knowingly whispered. "It will
make up for your failure last time."
The last thing that Paul saw before his tortured soul
left his bloodied body was the broken watch on
what remained of his wrist: it had stopped at seven
thirty-four.
In the street outside of Euston station a lone figure
in a thin green jacket stood slightly apart from the
throng of police and ambulances. His eyes never
leaving the scene of carnage spoke into his mobile
phone. "Shaun this is Semus. The snake won't be
coming back to Ireland.”
Lower Sixth
Geography Field Trip
Oct 2000
Wet Wet Wet
Despite the lashing rain and the occasional clap of thunder this Geography
field trip to Dartmoor, Devon was a very enjoyable time. It was by no means the
easy week that many members of the group anticipated. Instead, it was late to bed,
early to rise and with many miles of map to be covered.
There were many interesting tasks, activities and places to visit on the trip, ranging from
decision-making exercises in Plymouth to investigating types of flora in a bog, each as
fun and educational as the other.
After a hard days fieldwork we would return to the house, where Carl Miller would make
many attempts to light the wood-burning fire and eventually failed miserably. Once Nigel
Handyside had rescued Carl and lit the fire we would set about writing up the days’ activities. This consisted of plotting graphs, drawing maps and filling in tables, which would prove
vital to the forthcoming course work. The evening work was split up into two parts, before
and after dinner. The dinner consisted of a large variety of dishes, which according to the
Head Chef (Nigel Handyside) were enough to put the likes of Raymond Blanc to shame.
Once we had finished working (9-10pm) the rest of the evening was up to us. While many
of the group would retreat to the arctic conditions of the boys dormitory, a few of us
would remain in the warm and challenge the teachers to a game of Contact Solo. This
would end up with Nigel claiming his defeat was due to exceptional tiredness, then
going to bed early to prove his point. When the rest of us finally retired, the boys
would spend hours discussing current affairs and putting the world to rights, until
conversation seized to a halt.
With the majority of us glad to leave the bleak conditions of Dartmoor, having had a thoroughly enjoyable time, we set off back to Milton Keynes
all feeling ready for a restful weekend.
If you are considering taking geography as an A Level at
Lord Grey School, then I would highly recommend it,
not least for the week in Dartmoor.
By Steven Allsopp
Sixth Form Longrigg Trip July 2000
We woke up first to quite a bleary Monday morning, a feeling that soon cleared and
cheered when it dawned that it wasn’t an ordinary start to a school week. No, instead
the immediate prospect of a rugged few days of intrepid outdoor activities in the wilds
of the North Yorkshire Moors was what we found facing us. Quite a pleasing prospect
too.
We met up early in MK Central Railway Station with cups of cappuccino and chocolate
for breakfast. We might need energy for all those moors, hill walks, river scrambles,
canoeing expeditions, cave explorations, mountain climbs and abseils. On board the
train it was gratifying to see the staff had done some sort of deal and secured first class
accommodation for us, both outward and return. The consensus was that this was certainly what we all deserved. So we were wined, dined and our every other little need
was pandered to; luxury we soon become accustomed to.
We were brought back to reality at the other end when the Longrigg commandant tried
to organise us into mini buses for the remaining leg of the journey in more of a brusque,
military fashion. I suppose he had to let us know who was in charge though.
We soon discovered we had our own pad, on arriving at a large converted stone barn
on the outskirts of a hill farm. We were pretty well equipped too. Earlier, we had been
divided into groups of three outside the local Tescos, and each of the groups had been
provided with £60. We set out buying the provisions needed for evening meal cooking
and packed lunch making, each glancing at the contents of others trolleys as we passed
in the aisles. Some of us seemed to have some strange recipes in store!
We were staying in a converted barn in the middle of nowhere. The building had the
feel of an old monastry. The converted barn was good and there was already a promised final night party to look forward to. We set about bagging bunks and rooms.
Not much time to rest though for the commandant had other plans that included a fifteen mile yomp up and down a nearby hill/mountain. Anyone who had not spent months
on training was left gasping.
Over the week activities became increasingly death defying as we discovered ourselves
in a harness, lowering ourselves cautiously (some in abject terror) over the edges of
immensly tall railway viaducts and the like. Wedged, crawling on the stomach in tight,
pitch black tunnels miles underground with a shallow flowing stream filing cave suit and
wellies was a claustraphobic experience not to be missed.
All in all we experienced an excellent week with people learning to face up to some real
fears and overcoming them (well all of them exept the prospects of actually trying to eat
the one disgusting evening meal that one group who shall remain nameless decided
to concoct for us. NO-ONE could eat a second mouthful!
The final party was unmissable too although I'm sure some of us has clearer memories
of that particular event than others!
By Steven Allsopp
Haiku
One frosty morning
A snowman was being built
In the deep deep snow
On a windy night
Owls were howling at the sky
Looking for a mouse
The crunchy leaves fall
Little children playing games
Stack the leaves high
The snow is white
As it settles on the ground
Laying calm and still
The wind whistles loud
Leaves blow around the forest
The trees are now bare
The dry leaves tumble
Swirling in the stone cold wind
Winter is soon here
Summer is over
I have to go back to school
I like the summer
The warm spring rain fell
On the little bluebell's head
And bounced off slowly
The Fox Hunt
The soft breeze gently ruffles his fur.
As he waits, watching for his mother.
The fox cub starts sniffing the air.
His cold, wet nose twitching, trying to pick up her scent.
His ears picking up every noise.
He freezes.
Something’s not right.
Hound dogs.
He turns around, every muscle contracted
Paralyzed with fear.
His copper tail hanging low between his powerful rear legs.
His amber eyes burn into the approaching, blood-thirsty dogs.
He turns his tail and runs, his heart in his throat.
He can feel the sanguinary breath, hot against his fur.
By Toni West
My Body
I saw her lying there surrounded by velvet.
So peaceful.
Her creamy white face perched on the spot pillow.
Her rosy lips in a smile.
Her eyes sealed by her eyelashes.
Her hair cascaded over her smooth shoulders.
Tears stung my eyes and blemished my view of
this girl.
The coffin lid was gently closed and lowered into
the ground.
The body...
The girl's body....
My body.
A Sonnet on the Tower Block
By Toni West
The Tower block dominates the landscape,
Aerials cluttered along the whole roof.
People's views this building cannot escape,
To say it is useless is a disproof.
Shooting up high, it seems to never end,
It looks slightly tiresome, clad in grey brick.
But to humanities, help it can lend,
As the building can help make your mind tick.
Languages too has part of this tower,
Guten tag, willkommen zu das Turm block.
Although it is no real spring flower,
It still has many miles left on the clock.
It's now an every day part of life,
And its image is still sharp as a knife.
By Harry Sherratt