1997 - Kingston Grammar School | Online Archive

KINGSTON!
I
THE KINGSTONIAN
1997
Kingston Grammar School
An independent co-educational school
Age 10-18 years
70-72 LONDON ROAD
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
SURREY KT2 6PY
Telephone: 0181-546 5875
Headmaster: Mr. C.D. Baxter, M.A. Oxon
CONTENTS
Staff
Leavers & Upper Sixth
Results
The Parents and Staff Association
Music Department
Drama
Clubs and Activities
School Trips
House Reports
Rowing
Hockey
Boys
Girls
Cricket
Other sports
Old Kingstonian News
2
8
9
10
12
14
19
26
32
34
38
43
47
49
52
The Kingstonian is the magazine of Kingston Grammar School and of the Old Kingstonians' Association.
Communications should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. Julian Smith, at the above address. Old Kingstonian
news should be sent to Mr. G.W. Evans, O.K. Editor, via Mr. Smith at the School.
A LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER
As the end of the academic year came upon us in
the summer holiday the school buzzed with excite-ment
and confidence: a beautiful new History Department
completed on time over the gymnasium roof; the most
outstanding GCSE and A level results ever recorded;
the boys' 1st XI victorious in the National U18 Hockey
Championships for the fourth time in six years and our
girl rowers in the top 2 nationally throughout the year;
and another large number of national representatives in
hockey and rowing, together with the distinction of Old
Kingstonians Jane Hall, James Cracknell, David Chung
and Michael Louzado rowing in the World
Championships and Daniel Hall regularly playing
hockey for the England senior side.
Then came news of the sudden death of Diana,
Princess of Wales which stunned the nation and
stopped us all in our tracks. This, together with the
death of Mrs Eileen Chivers earlier in the year, was a
reminder that nothing can be taken for granted; that we
must seize every opportunity and live life to the full.
The pages of this magazine will, I hope, give a flavour
of how students at KGS have done this in every aspect
Cover painting by Tuotnas Pirinen, 5T.
in school life this year.
Our faith in the future is borne out by the Five Year
Facilities Plan which we have devised and a
Development Appeal which will shortly be launched by
our new Development Director. A Modern Languages
Centre, an expanded IT Centre and whole school
computer network and another all-weather pitch at
Ditton Field will, I hope, play their part in the
transformation which is taking place in the facilities at
KGS.
Although we shall gradually lose our Assisted Place
holders over the next five years we are determined
through our Scholarship and Award system to enable as
many boys and girls of talent as we can to experience
the best of what KGS has to offer. We aim to keep faith
with the past whilst adapting to the present, and I hope
all readers of this magazine, buoyed up by confidence
in what the school is achieving, will help us to do this
in the exciting year to come.
C.D. Baxter
STAFF
THE COMMON ROOM
Last year brought the sad news of the
death of Mrs. Eileen Chivers in
December. She had done much to
leave a lasting impression at the
school in a short period of time - not
least her part in organising a new
format for Prize Giving - and it was
typical of her strength of character and
bravery that she left hospital to attend
last year's event. She will be sadly
missed.
We also say our goodbyes to two
long-serving members of staff. John
Wright leaves the school after thirtyseven years of devoted service to the
Maths. Department, to table tennis
and to the school shop, and Paul Hicks
leaves after twenty years in the
English Department, during which
period he contributed much to school
drama and music and also served as
Director of Studies. Believing that
farewell tributes ('obituaries') tempt
fate, Mr. Hicks has asked that no such
piece on him be included in the
magazine. The school trusts that both
men will prosper in the future.
Leaving after considerably
shorter, but equally valuable periods
of service are a number of other staff.
Mrs Jacqueline Davies leaves the
school after eight years service in the
Classics department, the last five as its
head. She has not only enthused pupils
about her subject, but was also
committed to extra-curricular matters
both as Housemistress of Lovekyn
House and in her behind-the-scenes
contributions to school drama. We
wish her well in her new part-time
appointment at Sutton High School.
Miss Sian Mitchell and Mr. Stuart
Burns both joined the school in 1994
to teach Physics and Modern
Languages respectively and both have
been effective and efficient form
tutors. Miss Mitchell contributed to
Music and D of E expedition work and
Mr. Burns to drama, careers and
charity work as well as hockey fitness
training. Miss Mitchell leaves the
school to embark upon a round-theworld trip; Mr. Burns travels less far -
to Dulwich College - but begins the
journey of matrimony in the near
future having recently become
engaged; the school wishes him well
in both new ventures. Mr. Brian
Brown, who has served the school as a
part-time Maths, teacher on many
occasions over the last nineteen years,
also leaves the school this term and
has its thanks for his willingness to
work on its behalf. Mrs. Jacqui Smith,
the Librarian, leaves after seven years
to move to Cornwall. The library and
its good order reflect her commitment
to the school. We also said farewell to
Martin O'Neill who served as Clerk of
Works for six years, for four of which
he was also Officer Commanding the
CCF Contingent. He has begun a new
career as security advisor to a local
business. His replacement as Clerk of
Works - Mr. David Chown - was only
with the school briefly, having left to
take up a contract with the Ministry of
Defence in May. Mrs. Jenny Coumbe
was Admissions Secretary for four
years and brought her cheerfulness to
the post. She leaves to spend time with
her family. The part-time Music
Secretary, Mrs. Joan Mayhew, also
left the school this year to take up an
appointment at St. Mary's School.
aaa
The departure of staff always
makes possible the recruitment of new
colleagues and this year has been no
exception. Mr. John Hind joined the
staff as Deputy Head in January.
Educated at Downing College,
Cambridge and Newcastle University,
he was Director of Studies at Durham
School before taking up his new post.
Replacing Mr. Wright in the Maths,
department (in so far as this is
possible) will be Mr. Nick Simmonds,
who joins the school from his present
post at Langley Grammar School. He
was educated at Brasenose College,
Oxford. Miss Rachel Barnes will join
the school in January as a replacement
for Mr. Hicks. She was educated at
Durham University and is currently
teaching English and Drama at
Brentwood School. Until January,
Mrs. Elizabeth Hindman will teach
English and Drama. Mr. Kim Wells
arrived in September to teach Modern
Languages fresh from a PGCE at the
University of Cambridge. His
undergraduate studies were at Selwyn
College, Cambridge, and he was
subsequently employed by Lloyd's
Bank before opting for a career in
teaching. Miss Maeve Smith leaves
the Oratory School, Reading to
replace Miss Mitchell in the Physics
department. She was educated at New
Hall College, Cambridge where she
won a badminton blue. Also educated
at Cambridge - this time Newnham
College - Miss Hilary Meyrick joins
the staff to teach Classics part-time.
Also teaching part-time will be Miss
Clare Mulderrig. She studied Modern
Languages at Lady Margaret Hall,
Oxford and Birkbeck College, London
and will be teaching both French and
Spanish. The new school librarian will
be Mrs. Megan Serjeant. Born in New
Zealand and educated at the
University of Otago and the
Polytechnic of North London she
joins KGS from Hampton School. Mr.
Lance Gill joined the school in May to
replace Mr. Chown and serve as the
Property Manager. His background is
a military one; he served in the
R.E.M.E., rising to the rank of
Captain. Mrs. Pauline Osborne has
already settled in well as Admissions
Secretary in the five months following
her appointment. Mrs. Christine
O'Neal replaces Mrs. Mayhew in the
Music department.
Oncuce
cxLor»a,
Quietr, n^cwrjiptaLciX
NJo-cme Urjcrws tc's rrV>er-e.
It was with great fondness that we
said farewell at the end of the Summer
Term to Mr. John Wright, one of the
most extraordinary teachers to grace
Kingston Grammar School in the
second half of the 20th century.
John's career at KGS, his one and
only school, spanned 37 years, during
which he touched the lives of
thousands of people, imparting to
them not just a love of mathematics
but a desire to seek after good and
honourable goals in life. His
enthusiasm, hard work and scrupulous
honesty were an example to us all. As
someone who has known John for 29
years, I am proud to count myself
amongst those whom he has
influenced. Of those staff at KGS
when I arrived as a "wet-behind-theyears" eleven-yearold, John is the last to
retire. So, for me, it
really is the end of an
era.
John was born in
pre-war London in
1937 and lived in
Acton throughout the
years of the war,
except for a two
month evacuation to
Oxford. Educated at
Acton
County
Grammar
School,
Queen
Mary's,
London
(1956-59)
and the Institute of
Education (1959-60),
he was appointed at
KGS as a teacher of
Mathematics in September of 1960.
For the students of school history, that
means he had been teaching at KGS
for one year when Queen Elizabeth II
paid our school a visit in 1961.
His
administrative
talents,
seemingly boundless energy and love
of sport ensured that John would have
a significant role to play outside the
classroom. Table tennis was the first
challenge that awaited him. It is fair to
say that John started table tennis at
KGS, coaching and encouraging KGS
and other borough pupils to reach
their maximum potential. (John was
never less than candid in his
assessment of players' potential, and I
remember
being
branded
an
"elephant" when I first arrived on the
scene, feeling gratified when the
JOHN WRIGHT
adjective "graceful" was added as I
began to improve!) At one time he had
6 teams of pupils playing in the adult
Thames Valley League, as well as
countless teams in the Surrey Schools'
League. John Wright's KGS teams
came to be feared by schools
throughout Surrey and beyond. This
tradition of involvement in both
leagues remains unbroken since 1962.
Not only was he a first-class coach,
but he could play a bit too! At one
time he played in three leagues
simultaneously - no mean feat! In
1976/7, he partnered two KGS pupils
(Richard
Scott
and
Dominic
Macdonald) in a team which won
Division 1 (out of 10) of the Thames
Valley League, John proving himself
to be the best player in the league by
winning 60 out of 66 very competitive
matches.
He maintains a keen interest in
other sports and played cricket
regularly until he was 40. He admits
(and is supported by Ken Hillary) to
upsetting his partners with his voluble
and sometimes rash calls for runs, but
once scored a century, though he said
he was too shattered to celebrate his
achievement. He also assures me that
his leg breaks turned sharply if they
pitched!
A rather more cerebral activity is
his lifelong love of stamp-collecting.
In the 1960s, he helped Hans Woyda,
the legendary former Head of Maths,
to run the Stamp Club. He is still a
member of two Philatelic Societies
and displays his Canadian collections
for them.
John has served the school, its
pupils and staff unselfishly and
consistently throughout his career. As
a talented, patient and "firm-but-fair"
teacher of mathematics, he has left an
indelible mark on the lives of
generations of KGS pupils. (I speak
from experience as John taught both
my son, Andrew, and me, and Richard
Barker, who knew John even before I
did, echoes the sentiment - he taught
both Richard and his daughter,
Lauren). He has always been willing
to help and advise, but more than that
he quietly initiates so many acts of
kindness to a wide
variety of individuals.
Many staff can testify
that he has brought them
flowers or vegetables
from his garden, given
them little gifts, or
passed on some of his
superb collection of
jigsaw puzzles.
Outside the classroom,
John has somehow
found time to run the
two school shops: Tuck
and Sports. In more than
30 years in charge John
has improved the Tuck
Shop
beyond
all
recognition.
Many
confectioners would be
proud to offer such a
range of stock. In addition, he opened
the KGS Sports Shop 25 years ago,
building it into the thriving business
which now serves the whole school
community. Some fourteen years ago
his move to new premises was
memorably announced at Speech Day
by the Chairman of Governors as the
Sports Shop taking over the "boys'
comfort stations", a euphemism for
the open air toilets which generations
of schoolboys had survived! Singlehandedly, and expecting nothing in
return, he raised in excess of £100,000
to improve the quality of our school
life. It speaks volumes for John's
selfless generosity that he has
cheerfully managed to combine these
"jobs" with his full teaching timetable.
This money has purchased many
JOHN WRIGHT (continued)
extras to improve school life and
heavily subsidised school trips of all
varieties. Truly it can be said that John
has been a modern day benefactor of
KGS.
For many, then, the abiding
memory will be that of Mr. Wright the
Sports Shop Manager Supreme. His
organisational
efficiency
was
legendary. The service he gave was
always helpful, informative and
flexible. Nothing was too much
trouble, and even difficult or
indecisive customers were dealt with
patiently.
However, over the years, John has
played many other parts both in and
out of school. He has acted as Head of
Maths, been Chairman of the
Common Room and ordered and
distributed the school stationery, to
name but a few. Less well-known,
perhaps, was that John was for many
years the referee (ie organiser) of the
British Open Table Tennis Championships and in 1977 refcreed the World
Championships
at the NEC,
Birmingham. He was widely
acknowledged as the best referee in
the world. He also poured many hours
into administration for the English
Table Tennis Association at local,
national and international level.
John constantly admitted to being
"old-fashioned", but I prefer to think
of him as the last of an era of true
gentlemen who have taught at KGS.
This was exemplified by his habit of
wishing each of the girls in his exam
classes luck by presenting her before
her maths exam with a rose from his
own garden made into a buttonhole.
Two UVI girls returned his kindness
by giving him a rose bush as a leaving
gift. He always had a kind and
encouraging word for everyone,
taking a genuine interest in their lives
and finding time to listen. Many
individuals, students, caretakers,
cleaners and teachers alike, felt that
John could not leave without them
showing their appreciation. For
example, his fourth year group
produced a beautiful card inscribed
with personal messages, and Daniel
Simon (Captain of School) surprised
him in the end of year assembly by
presenting him with a VCR from the
pupils. He also appreciates the gifts
from the staff (a music centre), the
Maths Dept. (a book on 19th century
Canadian stamps, a passion since
childhood), the parents (bathroom
cabinets) and the Old Kingstonians (a
painting by Rose Crimes and some
stamp albums).
Many of the older OKs reading
this will remember that John acquired
a nickname, which stuck with him for
many years. What you may not know
is that it has recently been broadcast
across London, not once but twice.
My son, Daniel, in phoning up Capital
Radio's Neil (Dr) Fox (OK) happened
to mention on air that Mr. Wright was
retiring, to which "Foxy" replied,
"Oh, old cowboy Wright; is he
retiring?" Such was his affection for
his old maths teacher, that a month
later he used the name again, this time
as the answer to a quiz. "Was the name
of my old maths teacher: Farmer
Wright, Cowboy Wright, etc...?" Such
are the indelible impressions John
made on his students!
At home, John treasures his
impressive collection of books of all
kinds. Particularly dear are his books
of old cartoons from Punch and other
magazines, which reflect his own
sense of humour. His love of light
classical music and the music from
shows is apparent to anyone who has
heard him whistle them "note-perfect"
as he goes about his business.
Watching sport, especially cricket, is
likely to figure in his retirement
pastimes and Cynthia, his wife, is now
hoping to see a little more of him too.
John is one of the most active
people I have ever met, but he has
always been modest and hated a fuss
being made of his achievements and
contributions. However, I can
honestly say that KGS will be much
the poorer for his leaving, and (in
terms of KGS) I will have lost a most
loyal and valued friend. We wish him
well in his future as he spends one
more term in teaching (at Surbiton
High School) before retiring. I am
certain that he will find many other
activities to occupy his time, not least
his stamp-collecting and his muchprized garden. Also, if anyone is
struggling with their maths, I
understand he might be persuaded to
offer some help!
Philip Cooper
(Head of Mathematics)
and from John Wright
I was caught totally unawares by Daniel Simon on my last day when he descended from the stage
with arms full of retirement presents so generously contributed to by members of the school. The secret
had been kept extremely well from me by all -1 had absolutely no idea that anything was coming, let
alone a video recorder to drag me into the second half of the 20th century.
I had long thought a video recorder might be a useful acquisition - now I have one. The plaque was
a nice idea, to go (I am told) in one or other of the two shops with which I was associated for so many
years.
I have many happy memories of 37 years at KGS and will think of the pupils whenever I use the
machine (if, that is, I am able to find out how it works - at time of writing I have recorded Jeremy Beadle
although aiming for the B. & H. Cricket!).
My sincere thanks to you all.
John.
JACQUELINE DAVIES
At the end of the Summer Term KGS
bid farewell to Jackie Davies after
eight years of excellent and
enthusiastic service. Jackie joined the
Classics Department from Benenden
School and within two years was
promoted to the post of Head of
Department. Under her auspices the
Classics flourished: via the medium of
the Cambridge Latin Course the
number of those taking Latin at GCSE
increased dramatically, whilst more
recently she had been keen to broaden
the interest of Classics at A Level with
the introduction
of
Classical
Civilisation. In all her areas of
teaching Jackie enthused and was
undoubtedly a very positive influence.
She was sensitive to the needs of
pupils and colleagues and would
always find time to discuss a matter or
to mull over an idea. It was in
moments such as these that she would
often reveal a very lively and healthy
sense of humour; departmental
meetings rarely passed without a
MATTHEW MITCHELL
Matthew joined the school in
September 1994. He adapted to KGS
life quickly and soon established a
good rapport with his students. His
working methods and the art produced
were of outstanding quality. Such
dedication and commitment were
unusual in this busy time of
educational change. His quiet nature
belies a rare underlying talent.
Matthew worked with all age groups
and his ideas enthused even the less
artistic of pupils. His teaching of
graphics and three-dimensional design
were outstanding. He achieved the
highest
standards
and
his
thoroughness was rewarded with
pupils gaining excellent GCSE and A
level results.
Matthew assisted with the Arts
Magazine and his genuine love of
printmaking resulted in some
wholesome portion of good-humoured
banter. It was this joie de vivre which
Jackie communicated to the children
in her classroom teaching, in Latin
Club (her creation) and on school
excursions.
Yet Jackie was not restricted by the
narrow confines of the classroom. As
fervent Housemistress of Lovekyn she
would support her charges with
boundless zeal and could frequently
be seen jumping up and down
enthusiastically during such events as
the Swimming Gala and Sports Day.
After all, if Mrs. Davies saw such
events as integral to the fabric of
school life, then they must be. As
costume designer for school plays, she
also performed many amazing feats,
producing realistic and authentic
clothing with the minimum of fuss
and maximum invention. In addition,
she will be remembered with affection
by several staff, parents and pupils as
mistress of ceremonies at Quiz Night,
a job to which she brought undoubted
professionalism,
glamour
and
authority. She will be a tremendous
excellent publication work. His
interest in photography has provided
the school with some splendid
memorabilia of school events.
The students and especially Mrs.
Crimes, will miss his calm and easygoing nature.
We wish him much success and
happiness in his new position as Head
of Art at St. Mary's School, Ascot (but
I doubt if there will be too much time
for his favourite pastime ... fishing).
RJC
asset indeed to Sutton High School,
where she is presently teaching parttime, and all of us at KGS hope she
will maintain her links with the school
via the Head of History! Vale!
MCL
STUART BURNS
Stuart Burns, modern languages teacher, has gone. Three
years after deciding that the thick red braces and massive
financial bonuses of the city were not for him, he has moved
back round the South Circular to Dulwich College.
Tall, dark and athletic - when his hamstring allowed Stuart looked every inch the Cambridge rugby blue, which,
of course, he was. Although he gave freely of his time and
expertise in coaching fitness to our
hockey players, it was a pity that there
were no opportunities, apart from
touch rugby with the cross country
team, for him to utilise his ability in the
greatest of all ball games. Stuart always
regretted this, particularly as the gap
this left in his extra-curricular
timetable forced him to devote much of
his time to ducking and weaving and
spreading disinformation in a massive
effort to avoid being pinned down as
Charity and Young Enterprise
representative.
It did mean, however, that Junior
drama benefitted enormously from his
SIAN MITCHELL
Sian joined the school in 1994 from
Bishophalt School in Hillingdon as a
replacement for David Morgan who
had left to take over the Physics
department at Surbiton High School.
She quickly established herself as
an integral part of the Physics
department and it soon became obvious
that the school had gained an
outstandingly gifted and able teacher.
She is a lady who is forthright and has
a very powerful personality (as many
besides me will testify) and yet she has
always been very approachable and
supportive. Her knowledge and
understanding of the subject is second to none (indeed she is
the ONLY member of the department who actually possesses
a Physics degree - the other two members being Engineering
graduates) and this will be sorely missed. In particular I shall
miss the numerous frank and open discussions on particular
points of disagreement which have taken place over the last
few years. However, I shall not miss the embarrassment of
being proven wrong yet again (always difficult when one is
under the mistaken impression that one is running the
department). Her intellect and determination made Sian a
tremendous asset to the department. In a way I am reminded
of Bill Gates (of Microsoft fame) who reputedly fires any of
his managers who actually agree with him!!
It is always great fun to think of anecdotes when writing
a piece like this and two in particular come to mind. The first
relates to a student in the upper sixth (since left) who
unadvisedly made rather too much noise outside the prep
room one day before a lesson. The Viking Warrior (as she is
affectionately known by her fan club in the fifth form)
emerged from the prep room in a blaze of fury. The
commitment. "Crippen", especially, developed into a highly
successful and desperately gory comedie noire under his
directorship. His absence has left Mr Bond bereft.
The school has lost an outstandingly effective and
successful classroom teacher. Philosophically and
temperamentally inclined towards the spontaneous and
inspirational style of teaching, he was capable of disciplined
planning and eventually, as he completed his internal PGCE,
he probably knew more about National Curriculum
Attainment Targets than anybody
within a 75 metre radius of the "cage".
Pastorally, he passionately believed that
teachers can, and should, make a
difference. His pupils knew well that he
would empathise with them if they were
struggling, but that if they stepped out
of line he had a profound command of
the nefarious skills of enforcement. It
was obvious that Stuart enjoyed his
time at Kingston and that we enjoyed
having him. We will follow his career at
Dulwich and elsewhere with great
interest and expectation.
JMD
unfortunate young man (who stood a
good 18 inches - sorry 45.72 cm - taller
than her) backed away from her at near
relativistic speed (this is quite fast!)
only to pin himself into a corner. By
now there was a look of abject terror on
his face and, as a sign of
submissiveness, he was forced to lick
his lips and bow his scarlet face to the
ground. He was never again known to
utter a word within a considerable
distance of the department. On a
separate occasion I recall a particularly
noisy 5th form group daring to enter her
classroom in something less than a
hushed whisper. On this occasion she
did not actually say anything. However,
the way she crashed the 40kg vacuum pump on the front desk
might have had some effect on the group - whatever the
reason there wasn't another sound for the rest of the lesson.
The general tenor of this piece so far has been one of
respectful terror, as experienced by most people who
encountered her. However, Sian was also a tremendously
supportive form teacher and there are many students over the
past three years who have had cause to be grateful for her
counsel and advice. Outside the classroom she ran a most
successful Science Club (with its memorable egg races),
participated in music trips, helped with the school play and
assisted with the D of E scheme.
Sian has had a life-long ambition to travel the globe and
unlike many people who feel the same, has decided to realise
this ambition. She is heading for Russia, China, then on to
Australia and has assured me that she will still do some
teaching along the way. Whatever the future holds for her we
wish her great success and happiness in this venture and look
forward to hearing from her about her exploits around the
world.
SP
JACQUI SMITH
Jacqui Smith's appointment as the first
chartered librarian of Kingston
Grammar School owed more to the
workings of fate than to the logical
processes of job applications: back in
the early nineties, when the purpose-
students soon became the norm.
Indeed, Jacqui developed a special
relationship with the sixth form and
their intellectual needs, ensuring that
computing facilities, text books and
learned journals were all accessible
and up-to-date. But woe betide any
member of the school who did not
observe the cardinal rules of 'silence'
and 'positively no eating' in the
library: Mrs. Smith was a firm
disciplinarian and amusingly lived up
to the soubriquet given to her by a
waggish sixth former of "Conan the
Librarian".
The vibrant and highly successful
library that we now have at Kingston
Grammar School, and that Jacqui has
bequeathed to her successor, Mrs.
Serjeant, is a lasting testimony to
Jacqui's professionalism and sense of
purpose. Fate was right on that day
back in 1990 and Tony Creber
couldn't have chosen a better person
to be KGS's first librarian: she will be
much missed.
RDK
BRIAN BROWN
built library and lecture theatre were
nearing completion, Tony Creber
invited applications for the newlycreated post of librarian at KGS, and
such was the interest generated by the
position that numerous prospective
candidates were interviewed. Just as
the decision was about to be made,
and a few days after the closing date, a
hastily delivered letter arrived on the
Headmaster's desk from a Mrs. Smith
who, insisting on her fitness for the
post, was given a belated interview.
The opposition were swept aside and
the interviewers were given a clear
lesson in the folly of assuming all
librarians to be quiescent, mouse-like
and malleable. The rest, as they say, is
history.
With brisk efficiency the new
library was stocked and run, and what
had started as an anonymous empty
shell soon established itself as Tony
Creber had envisioned it: the light and
cheerful resources centre of the
school. Jacqui soon attracted and
inspired a fiercely loyal following of
pupils
who
appreciated
her
professional skills and her sense of
humour, whilst acknowledging her
real dedication to the job. Library
lessons for the junior school and
training sessions in the use of the
library and its facilities for sixth form
At the end of the Summer Term, KGS
lost one of its most colourful
characters. Brian Brown has given
freely of his time to the school for
many years, giving individual help in
GCSE and A Level mathematics to
numerous pupils. Many will testify to
the boost of confidence he gave them
in their ability to succeed.
In addition, Brian has been a
frequent visitor (and umpire) at sports
fixtures, has accompanied students on
trips to university interviews and
invigilated public exams in hospital
and pupils' homes.
Amongst other things, we will
miss the stories of his adventurous
holidays and his decorative tie pins!
Tom Strhan, 5HK.
We wish him a long, active and happy
(second) retirement.
PJC
LEAVERS, July 1997
AMEEN, Ahmed A A, Surrey; Chemical Engineering. BAJWA, Jaspal S, City; Economics. BAKER, Newar O H, King's
College, London; Biochemistry & Pharmacology. BARKER, Lauren L, Wimbledon College of Art; Foundation Course.
BARRETT, Peter A J, Lincoln College, Oxford; Physics. BERGENROTH, Claire, Nottingham; Physiotherapy.
BLANKS, Matthew, King's College, London; Biological Sciences. CAMERON, Emma J, Guildhall University, London;
Law & History. CANTY, Laura L, Somerville College, Oxford; Classics. CHERCHI, Giulia E, Southampton;
Biochemistry & Pharmacology. CHOUDHURY, Joynal, London School of Economics; Economics. COLE, Nicholas P,
University College, Oxford; Classics. COMBE, Duncan P D, Pembroke College, Oxford; English. CUNNINGHAM,
James A, Manchester; Computer Science. DAVIDSON, Alistair M, Southampton; Mathematics. DAVIS, Timothy M N,
Manchester; Structural Engineering. DAVISON, Coralie, Dundee; Zoology. DIAS, James R, Birmingham; Accounting &
Finance. DULLER, Carol M, Loughborough; Commercial Management & Quantity Surveying. ELLIOTT, Richard,
Durham; Physics. EVANS, Andrew D, Nottingham; Economics. FIELDHOUSE, Helen M, University of Wales School
of Medicine; Nursing. FISHER, Carol M, St Anne's College, Oxford; Modern History and Modern Languages.
GARNER, Jonathan C S, Birmingham; Physics & Applied Mathematics. GARRARD, Luke D, Brunei; Business &
Sports Science. GATLAND, Simon P, Bath; Natural Sciences. GIBSON, Oliver W S, Birmingham; Geography. GREGG,
Robert W H, Birmingham; Physics & Astrophysics. HAN, Seung-Hoon, Manchester; Agriculture. HARVEY, Ruth M,
King's College, London; Dentistry. HUGHES, Michael W, Sheffield; Zoology. JACKMAN, Nicholas H, Durham;
History. McKENZIE, Jody, Plymouth; Analytical Chemistry. MONTAINA, Monica A M, Roehampton Institute;
Teaching Studies with Music. NARINESINGH, Gareth, Bath; Natural Sciences. PAYNE, Stephen R, Surrey; Information
Systems Engineering. PIRINEN, Tero T, Cardiff; Law & Politics. PODRUCKA, Katarzyna, Royal Holloway, London;
Zoology. RAMSAY, Toby W, Lancaster; Politics. SINCLAIR, Fiona P C, Birmingham; Environmental Science.
SOULSBY, Hannah M, Durham; Biology. SOWERBY, Oliver, York; Economics and Social History. SPENCELEY,
Duncan J, Loughborough; Mechanical Engineering. STOPPS, Rebecca K, Durham; Modern Languages. SYED, Omaer,
UMDS; Dentistry. TEAGUE, Shelley E, Reading; Geography. TUCKER, Lewis J B, Portsmouth; Business Information
Technology. WAREING, Fae, Wimbledon College of Art; Foundation Course. WATSON, Alistair J, Southampton; Ship
Science & Naval Architecture. WHITWORTH, Edmund G W, Brasenose College, Oxford; Classics. WYATT, Esther V,
Brighton; Leisure and Sports Studies.
PUBLIC EXAMINATION
RESULTS 1997
A staggering improvement of 10% in the number of A
& B grades marked the tremendous achievement by
this year's upper sixth students..
Surpassing last year's record-breaking results, 62%
of all the 1997 A level grades were at A or B level, and
the overall pass rate was 98.5%. Of the twenty subjects
17 achieved 100% passes.
Ten students gained three or more A grades. In
Mathematics and the Sciences, Peter Barrett achieved 4
As, thus confirming his place to read Physics at Lincoln
College, Oxford, whilst Rashpal Bhachu, Joynal
Choudhury, Simon Gatland and Omaer Syed all gained
A grades. In the Arts and Humanities special mention
should be made of Laura Canty and Edmund
Whitworth whose As in Latin and Greek confirm their
places to read Classics at Somerville and Brasenose
Colleges, Oxford respectively. Duncan Combe's place
to read English at Pembroke College, Oxford was
secured with As in English, History and Geography and
Nicholas Jackman achieved As in Music, History and
Geography. School Captain, Daniel Simon ended his
excellent year of office with A grades in English,
History and Biology.
Not to be outdone by the Upper Sixth the Fifth
Form smashed our previous best GCSE results record.
All 98 students gained 5 or more A - C grades with 50%
of all entries graded A* or A; 82% at A*, A or B and
98% at A* - C.
No fewer than 26 students gained 7 or more A* or
A passes out of a maximum of 9 subjects. Jonathan
Alexander and Sarah Doery both achieved 9 As with 8
at A*. Alex Ash, Deshani Shanmugalingam and Nicola
Thomson all gained 9 As with 7 at A*. Philip Nourse,
Andrew Culling, Leonard Winning and Elizabeth
Shand all achieved 6 A* out of 9 As.
It is the quality and not just the quantity of the
Public Examination Results this year which gives cause
for pride. We were included in the 1st division of the
Daily Telegraph's Analysis of A & B grades in
Independent Schools, and in all the various results
tables (all calculated according to different criteria!) we
were in the top quarter of all HMC schools; we can take
great pleasure from being the top school in the Royal
Borough.
This year's Upper Sixth were an outstanding group
of students who were a superb example to the rest of the
school. The grades they achieved represent the
combination of commitment and enthusiasm by
teachers, coupled with the hard work and talent of the
students themselves. Such a remarkable set of results in
all subjects does not happen by chance, nor by
supposed falling standards, and we are immensely
proud of our teachers and students.
C.D. Baxter.
REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS 1996-97
N BELL played Hockey for England U16.
J D BOTTOMLEY, N M MAJOR, M E A SCHULDT, J J ALEXANDER and K O WILSON-CLARKE represented Great
Britain in the Coxed Four at the J16 match against France.
A D EVANS played Hockey for Wales U18.
O W S GIBSON rowed in the Men's Eight at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.
A H HUGHES sculled in the Women's Quad Scull at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.
L F REDKNAP and S E TEAGUE won a Gold Medal for England in the Women's Coxless Pairs at the Home Countries'
International.
F J SIMPSON and N K KEANE rowed in the Women's Spare Pair at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.
J A SMITH played Hockey for England U18.
O M SMITH received an England U16 Hockey assessment.
S E TEAGUE won a Gold Medal in the Women's Coxless Pair at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.
J W J WEBBER played Hockey for England U15.
E G W WHITWORTH received an England U18 assessment at Hockey.
OLD KINGSTONIAN HONOURS 1996-7
C BIRT won a Hockey Blue at Oxford University.
D CHUNG won a Bronze Medal in the Men's Coxed Four at the World Rowing Championships.
B J COHEN was awarded a Class I in Part 1A of the Mathematics Tripos at Cambridge University.
J CRACKNELL was World Champion in the Men's Coxless Four at the World Rowing Championships.
J B J EBSWORTH played for England in the U21 Hockey World Cup in Milton Keynes and received the Goalkeeper of the
Tournament Award.
S R C FIELDHOUSE rowed in the Men's Coxed Four at the U23 World Championships.
G T FORDHAM played for the Senior England Hockey Team.
B S GARRARD played for the Senior England Hockey Team and captained England in the U21 Hockey World Cup at Milton
Keynes.
F H M GLOVER was awarded a Holligrave Scholarship by the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College.
D J HALL played for the Senior England Hockey Team.
J L HALL finished Fifth in the Women's Lightweight Single Sculls at the World Rowing Championships.
R M IRVINE played for England in the U21 Hockey World Cup in Milton Keynes.
M LOUZADO finished Ninth in the Men's Lightweight Coxless Pair at the World Rowing Championships.
V V PATEL was awarded a First Class Honours Degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering by King's College, London.
J M WALLIS played for the Senior England Hockey Team.
OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL 1996-7
Captain of School: Daniel Simon
Vice-Captain: Kasia Podrucka
Senior Prefects 1996-97
Matthew Blanks
Claire Bergenroth Robert Angell Giulia Cherchi Oliver Gibson
Esther Wyatt
Michael Newport Kasia Podrucka Mr. C.D. Baxter Daniel Simon Jane Lee Andrew Evans
Q THE PARENTS AND
STAFF ASSOCIATION
This was another busy year of socializing and fundraising for the school, with both serious events such as
Parents Advice Evenings on "Body Image and Eating
Disorders" and a Study Skills seminar as well as more
light-hearted events such as the International Evening
and September Fair. The International evening offers
food and entertainment from around the world and is
always a good family outing. The September Fair was at
the sports field and as well as the old favourites - welly
throwing, barrel rolling and coconut shy etc. - there
were also some modern attractions such as Gladiator
10
fights with "pugel sticks" and Horizontal Bungee
running.
With funds raised, the Headmaster has been provided
with "Discretionary" and "Expedition" funds. He
constantly assures us this does not go on vintage
champagne!! The Careers Room has been updated with
a new computer package and new honours boards have
been purchased as have rifle covers for the CCF. The
piece de resistance was the completion of the Lecture
Hall into a potential theatre by the provision of theatrical
drapes. These complement the new seating provided by
the PSA last year.
The Christmas Bazaar was on the 23rd November.
Any Old Kingstonians are most welcome to come
along next year and see how the old place has changed.
Jacqui Rollason.
LETTER FROM THE FAR
SOUTH WEST
After six happy years at KGS I finally
plucked up the courage to carry out my
intention to move to Cornwall. I had been
boring people to death with my plans for
such a long time that I don't think anybody
really believed that I would do it - least of
all me!
The library had been ticking over nicely
for some time and last year was no
exception. It was often full to bursting at
lunchtimes with small gaggles of girls
sitting crosslegged on the floor because all
available seating had been taken. The
shelves, too, looked encouragingly full and
my aim when I first joined the school in
1991 to expand the book stock to 12,000
volumes had been achieved during last
year. Apart from my own desire to move to
Cornwall whilst I was still young enough to
enjoy it, I felt that the time had come for the
library to have a new leader. My last act,
apart from handing over to Meg Sarjeant,
was to carry out the customary stock check
GREETINGS FROM NEPAL, home
to a third of the Great Himalaya and
ten of the tallest mountains in the
world. I'm in Kathmandu,
the capital, at the moment
recovering from a trek
around the Annapurna
Massif where I got a good
look at some of the
impressive peaks: Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and
Machhapuchhre amongst
others. It took 16 days and
took me to the giddy height
of 5415 m where, as all
you scientists will know, water boils
well below 100°C and the air pressure
was low enough to leave me a little
short of breath. It should have made
me feel tall for once but with the
mountain peaks still another 2 km
above me, it was hard to feel anything
but diminutive.
I'm into my third month travelling
and have been from Moscow to
Beijing by trans-Siberian railway with
a quick stop in Outer Mongolia,
through China to Tibet and across the
Tibetan plateau into Nepal. After a bit
and I was gratified to discover a
comparatively healthy state of affairs.
I really believed that once the move had
taken place that I would be far too old to
get another job and would only be able to
become a lady of leisure. Unfortunately I
saw a post advertised locally for a Learning
Resources Centre Manager (for which read
Librarian) which I applied for and got.
Could it have been because the Principal is
an Old Kingstonian, S.T. Parsons (left
1964)?
Now I drive fifteen miles every day
through the most beautiful countryside to
run a library for 600 plus students. The
courses cover a wide variety of subjects
from agriculture and equine studies to
outdoor pursuits, computer and golf
studies, and the students range from
16-year-old school leavers to silver-haired
old ladies who come in for part-time craft
courses. Very shortly we are to move into a
spacious new learning resources area and
the process of building up a new library
begins again.
I feel that I have been there before!
Jacqui Smith.
of white water rafting here, the next
stop is India, then Thailand, Malaysia
and Indonesia where I hope to cure my
fear of deep water and
sharks with a bit of scuba
diving. Final stop is
Australia where they
have foolishly agreed to
let me stay for a year and
work a while.
I certainly didn't know
what to expect when I
started out, and in fact
'" each new thing is a
surprise, but then I came
in search of new experiences. For
years I've read books and watched TV
programmes about places around the
world and dreamed of travelling, but I
kept putting it off. It was very difficult
to sell almost everything I own, give
up a job I enjoyed (yes, that's you lot)
and leave it all behind, but sometimes
you have to work to make things
happen and this makes you appreciate
them more.
Of course it hasn't all been
excitement and exotic sights and in
particular I have become well
Librarian
vdaits for a sL$n.
vJatches vJith a
havjks eye,
nb then she becibes.
\\ir, Yf
acquainted with a variety of intestinal
problems. These are usually at their
worst when I'm on a bus crowded with
people, chickens and goats, travelling
over muddy, bumpy tracks that have
the temerity to call themselves roads.
The last three months overall have
been amazing and even the worst
times can make me smile now they're
over. Although I think of you all often,
I'm glad that I have taken this
opportunity to travel rather than
staying at home dreaming about it,
because you don't often get chances
like this and you should take them
while you can.
All the best,
Sian Mitchell.
11
MUSIC DEPARTMENT REVIEW
Returning from a highly successful
whirlwind tour of Canada and the
USA has its pros, and cons. We
realised it was going to be difficult to
maintain that special sense of
occasion that we had built with our
concerts on the other side of the big
pond. However, we were back at
school and back to the grindstone. The
departures of Anna Starkey on a
Scholarship to the Purcell School and
of Sian Evans were obviously going to
leave a hole in the string section this
year, but we were impressed and
pleasantly
surprised
by
the
accomplished performances of our
remaining senior musicians at the
AGM of the Music Society on
September 25th. Caroline McGregor Johnson, John Wildgoose, Miles
Thompson, Pauline Starkey, Sarah
Doery, Nick Jackman, and Yoo Na
Noh ably demonstrated the depth of
talent we were going to be able to
work with this year
The Junior Concert on 17th
October annually turns out to be our
short, sharp shock. We'd hardly got
the filing cabinets in the right places
or managed to put any of our music on
shelves after our refurbishment during
the summer, when we found ourselves
having to put on a public performance
with those of you who'd only been in
the school for about five weeks.
Notwithstanding, as usual the concert
band got us off to a stirring start with
some sophisticated ladies (the name of
the piece, rather than the constituent
members of the ensemble!) and 76
trombones. Sebastian Baxter, Gerald
Roohan, Claire Whitson, Katherine
Shillito, Arabella Stanger and Jennifer
Hurley Dugdale all contributed
polished solo items. The second
orchestra on its first outing of the year
did justice to Haydn's D major
Divertimento. The Junior Choir
performed the inevitable A L Webber
songs from 'Joseph' (sorry Mum), and
the rather charming Twilight and
Watermelon Seller by Aubrey
Beswick, whoever he is....
Our first Lunchtime concert of the
year was a truly International event.
The Chamber choirs from Leipzig
University and our own Kingston
12
University joined together to give a
very splendid concert of choral music
including composers as diverse as
Palestrina,
Reger
and Fanny
Mendelssohn.
In November the time for our
annual School Concert came round
again. As usual this was a huge
offering repeated on two consecutive
nights (due to popular demand) and
featured all of our senior ensembles.
Highlights of the evenings included
the Faure Pavane with the flute solo
played
beautifully
by
Miles
Thompson, the Chamber Choir's
nearly all Stanford programme, Yoo
Na Noh's usual virtuoso fireworks and
of course the Prep and First Form
Choir who sang a ridiculous piece
entitled Dracula, or The Vampire
Vanquished, flamboyantly directed by
Mr. Humphries.
I enormously enjoyed being able
to give the inaugural recital on our
new harpsichord superbly built by
Andrew Wooderson. This beautiful
instrument, based on a seventeenth
century model, will surely be a great
asset to the Department. If you have a
chance when coming to one of our
concerts do come and inspect the
magnificent craftsmanship.
The Wooderson
harpsichord
featured again later in the month in a
Lunchtime Recital given by the
Department's singing teacher, Meinir
Wyn Thomas, and myself. Meinir
delighted
the
audience
with
Dowland's Come again and Purcell's
Music for a While among her
programme.
We were invited once again to
Kingston Parish Church to give a
public Recital. This year it was the
turn of the Chamber Choir and the
Senior Wind and String Ensembles.
The wind played Dubois, the strings
played Corelli, and the choir sang a
selection
of
unaccompanied
Christmas music.
The annual Service of Lessons and
Carols was held in St Andrew's
Church, Surbiton and featured some
of the most popular Christmas choral
repertoire. We were particularly
impressed by the ability of so many
soloists and felt that having such a
range of quality soloists augured well
for our forthcoming production of
'Oliver!'
For our first concert of 1997, we
were thrilled to have the opportunity
of welcoming back to KGS the
baritone Simon Preece after his
memorable performance in Carmina
Burana last year. On this occasion his
programme was a real tour-de-force
which left the audience elated and the
pianist shattered. Life in the Spring
Term is always concentrated and this
term was no exception: lunchtime
recitals by 'A' level musicians Monica Montaina and Nick Jackman and by Meinir's singing pupils, had to
be fitted in alongside the School
Concert and Commemoration Service.
And then there was the Oratorio ....
After last year's spectacular in
Guildford Civic Hall, the venue, St
Martin of Tours in Epsom, seemed a
little more homely. Nevertheless, the
combined forces of the Choral Society
and the Orchestra numbered 250 for
the performance of Mendelssohn's
Elijah. This is one of the real
blockbusters of the choral repertoire,
so rehearsals were perhaps more
frantic than normal. The Director of
Music's nerves were not improved by
the discovery 48 hours before the
performance that the tenor had gone
sick. We were delighted Michael
Goldthorpe, a very distinguished
singer and former KGS parent, was
able to step into the breach at such
short notice. This was the 150th
anniversary of the work's premier and
we would like to think that we did
Mendelssohn proud.
The Music Department hit the
ground running in the Summer Term
with the Concert Band doing its
regular gig at the Kingston May
Metric on Bank Holiday Monday.
Four days later Yoo Na Noh gave a
lunchtime concert in which she
seemed to transcend her own already
extraordinary standards.
The same week saw the ever
popular House Music Competition.
Taverner won it but never has
competition been so close. There are a
lot of concerned fifth formers already
wondering how they can get their acts
together for next year.
The following week we played at
Kingston Parish Church in a
Lunchtime Recital given as part of the
1997 Kingston Arts Festival. They say
that accidents come in threes and it
was the disasters afflicting this concert
which linger in the memory. Sarah's
clarinet
wouldn't work, Mr.
Humphries smashed up his horn and,
most seriously, Nicola Thomson had
been whisked to hospital with
appendicitis on the previous day.
Despite all of this, perhaps
surprisingly, it proved to be a
thoroughly enjoyable concert. The
clarinet, the horn and Nicola are now
all restored to full health.
Flinching only slightly for the
exam season, the Music Department
carried on right to the end of the year
with another evening concert, a highly
successful
'Bring
&
Sing'
performance of Faure's Requiem and
Vivaldi's Gloria organised superbly
by the school's Music Society. A great
day was had by all. This year's
Chamber Choir busman's holiday was
to Portsmouth Cathedral, an old haunt
of Mr Stribley's - he was for many
years a paid member of the choir
there! (It seems appropriate at this
point to add our grateful thanks to Mr
Stribley for all the help and support he
puts in behind the scenes, and
sometimes in front of the scenes). The
choir sang superbly in this beautiful
acoustic and we were once again ably
accompanied by Mr Hicks at the
organ. We even fitted in a visit to the
Sea Life Centre where we were
entertained and educated - ask
Wildgoose all about symbiotic
relationships if you don't believe me!
The year culminated in our traditional
Soiree at which we say goodbye to the
leavers. Monica, Jody, Giulia, and the
two Nicks will all be hugely missed.
We also said goodbye to our
Administrative
Assistant,
Joan
Mayhew and to Mr Hicks, who will be
sorely missed by the Music
Department. We were pleased to
welcome Christine O'Neal to take
over from Joan Mayhew. Good Luck
to her I say!
JLT
c&t&tete
a
to t&e
ottto
13
For what was to be the last in his long
and highly distinguished line of
productions at the school, Mr Hicks
returned to Pinter, with The Hothouse,
for the year's senior play.
The Hothouse is one of Pinter's
lesser-known works, having been
written in 1958 but not having been
presented until 1979. It seems that it
was overshadowed by The Caretaker,
but this tells us more about the
playwright's fecundity at the time than
about The Hothouse.
The nature of the "hothouse" in
which the action takes place becomes
clear only gradually. When a mother
arrives to ascertain the whereabouts of
her son, we learn from the Director
that inmates (who are not to be known
as inmates) come to the establishment
from mental hospitals in order to
receive further help. The vagueness of
the official explanation of this "help"
arouses our suspicion. Things are
clarified, in one sense, when we
witness an experiment in which the
"patient" Lamb is given repeated
electric shocks as he responds to
interrogation by Gibbs and Miss
Cutts. The purpose of the experiment,
and indeed the sense of the questions,
is not much clearer to us than it is to
the victim. It emerges that a previous
experimental subject is no longer
around.
We are in a bureaucratic nightmare
in which unfathomable procedures are
followed to the letter for no apparent
reason other than the maintenance of
the establishment (and therefore,
perhaps, "The Establishment") and its
members' jobs.
In time things boil over. Inmates
escape and their rampage ends in
death and destruction. But the affair is
covered up and smoothed over. Gibbs,
14
THE
HOTHOUSE
who as a subordinate was a restlessly
uneasy member of the team, emerges
all too confident as the new Director.
In a Whitehall office he assures the
mandarin Lobb that things are under
control.
For all the slavish adherence to
official procedure, there is another
side to life in the hothouse. The Nurse,
Miss Cutts, is having affairs with both
Roote and Gibbs. Lush knows better
than his boss how the place is actually
run. We suspect that his methods
would be disowned by the
establishment, but that a blind eye is
turned. Tubb is in charge of the
domestic staff. He knows his place
and we guess that he feathers his nest.
Roote is shocked to hear that an
inmate has become pregnant by a
member of staff. The offence was not
the sexual act, which he thinks might
even be therapeutic, but the failure to
take "precautions".
Power corrupts.
Roote is a character from an age
now past, a type much pilloried by the
angry young men of the 1950s. His
wartime accounts of unarmed combat,
the charlatanry of his enthusiasm for
"phytotomy" and "phytonomy" and
his inability to remember the names of
the inmates all provide rich scope for
bumble and bluster, but Oliver
Thomson found depth in the part as
well. His ambivalence towards Lush
in their drinking sessions, bonhomie
alternating with what was once called
"side", was well observed. Richard
Elliott's Lush was a finely-nuanced
counterfoil - Roote's inferior socially
and in the hierarchy, but not a man to
be pushed too far.
Polly Stevens as Miss Cutts
radiated a chilling kindness as she
bustled efficiently in her nurse's
uniform. It came as no surprise when
she went about the seduction of Gibbs
with equal efficiency. This was a
powerful performance, as much in
movement and gesture as in voice.
Gibbs is no more likeable. His
disapproval of Roote's and Lush's
drinking is more than priggishness he is ambitious, as Miss Cutts has
doubtless realised. Daniel Simon was
very successful in portraying the
character's progress from the
disaffected semi-outsider to man in
charge.
Lamb is a fool and is slaughtered.
Alistair Turner made his bewilderment convincing and he handled the
tricky business of suffering electrical
torture very skilfully. Peter Barrett
was a study in shifty obsequiousness
as Tubb. He did well to play dead-pan
through the laughs. John Wildgoose
had just the measure of Lobb. His
sleek presence and purring voice were
wonderfully plausible. One felt that he
could have stepped straight from the
stage into a plush panelled room and
be paid a salary to match.
This was a fine production of a
demanding piece. The delivery and
timing of Pinter's often very subtle
lines
was
expertly
judged.
Concentration never flagged and the
audience were held throughout.
Helped by an unobtrusively efficient
stage crew, the action flowed
smoothly, and the many technical
effects were all on cue. To see such
excellence in all departments was a
real treat.
PJR.
Q
Junior Play
"The Worst School Play In The
World!" Certainly. And certainly not.
Quirky,
perky,
pacy,
stylish,
imaginatively directed by John
Wildgoose and Alistair Turner (with a
little help from Mr Burns and Mr
Bond) and amusing, (and it was
supposed to be ...) - If you missed the
junior play, you missed a treat!
The traditional fairy-story-with-atwist romped along with terrific
velocity. It had a heroic hero, a
beautiful princess, a villainous villain,
a happy ending and some hilarious
one-liners. It was, in short, everything
that a play ought to be.
Nick Brown was the marvellous
McDonald-munching monk and Lia
Tilley was his delightful, pig-tailed
companion, with an extraordinary
expanding stomach. Both narrated the
complicated story with clarity and
verve. Smedley Booth, as Ivanha,
looked dashing in his armour, and
made a frighteningly convincing
squirrel, whilst Alice Brawn in her
beautiful dress, looked every inch a
petulant princess. The evil Viscera,
played by David Clough, and his
sidekicks, roused the audience into
frenzies of booing and hissing,
particularly during the appalling
jokes! Sarah Knowles, as the Queen,
played her part with confidence and
assurance, Jessica Brown, as her
daughter, was absolutely charming,
and as for the squirrels, monks,
knights and wenches....
Several parts of the play really
stood out: the wonderful moment
when the convincing baby-Smedley
doll was bonded to a chair; the
delightful squirrels which appeared
from behind the trees to teach their
'son' the facts of life; the basketballplaying monks, and seductive
Leonora; the dramatic joust, and the
apothecary shop. Also noteworthy
was the all-pervading presence of
McDonalds, which provided a touch
of absurdity or was it a streak of ironic
realism? (Or it could simply have been
a one-scene gag which got out of
hand!)
The costumes were colourful and
the staging was convincing. Everyone
16
September
Conkers are falling.
The nights are getting
longer.
Weather is changing.
involved in the play really pulled out
all of the stops, and the effect was
smashing. But as the audience filed
out of the hall into the warm summer's
evening, chuckling to themselves, I'm
sure that everyone felt justly rewarded
for all of their hard work.
Katherine Knowles, L6th.
fiethan Jenkins, 2<SL
Cast
Ivanha
- a prince (Hooray!)
Smedley Booth
Friar Rico - a friar
Nicholas Brown
Belinda
- a girl
Lia Tilley
Viscera
- a wicked uncle (Boo!) . David Clough
Queen Nina - guess!
Sarah Knowles
Corsicana - a princess
Jessica Brown
Attendant - their attendant
Ashley Sasportas
Medulla
- a second-rate magician . Andrew Robinson
Shecky
- a third-rate comic
Harry Barrett
Astrid
- a shop assistant
Katie Guest
Mama
- a squirrel
Rebecca Shand
Chester
- another squirrel
Ben Ullmann-Harwood
Trudy
- yet another squirrel
Elizabeth Lennard
Friar Fred - another friar
Chris Baker
Lenore
- a damsel
Alice Brawn
Gwen
- her nanny
Jo-Ellen Williamson
Felippe
- a knight
Chris Grounds
Rashad
- another knight
Naeem Ahmed
Yet more knights
Tom Cole, Gareth Davies,
Tom Gow, Stefano Mevoli
Their women
Anna Colclough, Jo Souray,
Florrie Beckett, Rosie Jackson,
Liz Brewer
Monks
- er
Alex McLean, Gil Percival,
Hesham Shoeb, Ryan Hanley
Director
- a director
Matthew Greenfield
Soundperson
isn't it obvious?
Daniel Cooper
Lightperson - think about it!
Alan Garcia
Stagehand - someone who moves
props around
Oliver Wheatly-O'Neitt
Students
- aren't we all, in a very
real sense?
Eleanor Wauters,
Rhian Andrewartha
Chris Loxton
Rim Shots
Lewis Jones
Saturday 15th March 1997
From the word go this was going to be
something of a vintage year for House
Drama. The lower sixth could boast a
wealth of directorial talent and each
house had some real stalwarts on the
acting front. There were some familiar
names on the writing credits, too, as
well as a piece written by a student.
You could tell the adjudicator was
going to have a tough time just by
looking at the programme. Fortunately
we had the excellent David Weston in
the role, a regular with the RSC and
one of the great Falstaffs. Indeed, his
one-man show based on the character
had just finished at the Latchmere,
where it had been hugely popular with
the visiting Gibbon Society a week or
two before.
The evening started with Queen's
and Housekeeper Wanted by Philip
King and Falkland L Gary. This play
is one of several from the same pens,
all old favourites of the one-act play
festival circuit, creaky sex-comedies
from an earlier age with names like
Wife Required, Au-pair Needed and
Useless, commitment-phobic and
terrified-of-women male stereotype in
search of female sex-goddess and
mother substitute. Nevertheless,
Queen's had, as always, a very strong
cast and experienced, committed
directors in Caroline McGregorJohnson and Alice Taylor. And Rachel
Phillips and Daniel Simon were on
back-stage and moral-support duty. If
anyone could make Philip King and
Falkland L Gary work it was this lot,
and a very good fist they made of it,
too. But it was always a pretty big 'if.
To be fair, and Mr Weston was, the
acting was very good and the direction
pacy.
Taverner
came
next
with
Departure by Stephen Smith, a name
as new to me as Philip King and
Falkland L Gary are familiar, and one
which I will look forward to seeing
again on the programme with more
relish than those of the other two
august gentlemen. Mr Weston praised
the inventive direction of Polly
Stevens, Claire Davies and Caroline
Mulcahy. As with Queen's there was
plenty of good acting from all
quarters. Mr Weston picked out
Adrienne Green for the way she drove
the play forwards, Katie Guest - a
promising newcomer - for her skill at
listening and Elise Foster Vander Elst
for her superb projection of
personality. We were, he said, glad
when she came back on each time.
Then there was Sam. Was Sam,
wondered Mr Weston, a dog? A good
question, some might say. For by
some appalling oversight the name
Talhi was somehow missing from the
programme. Now it could be argued
that this was the result of some subconscious wish, a desperate attempt at
denial, on the part of whoever was
responsible. Speaking personally, I
prefer, with typical generosity of
spirit, to think that everyone knows
who Sam is. Sam is Sam. What more
need be said? Whatever the reason for
the omission, Sam was very good, and
not a dog at all. So that was Taverner
- a funny play, a sparkling cast,
sprightly direction, but a lack of sound
effects. Why didn't I think of that?
Obvious when it was pointed out.
So the interval came and so far
everything had gone superbly. Could
Lovekyn and Walworth keep up the
momentum? Well Lovekyn had
chosen well. They'd chosen Katherine
Knowles, for a start, if 'chosen' is the
word I'm looking for. And Jessica
Tucker. They'd also chosen one of the
enduring masterpieces of the genre in
Alan Ayckbourn's Ernie's Incredible
Illucinations, a play with a proven
track-record of triumphant success.
They had a large cast of very useful
players and a star performer in
Smedley Booth in the title-role. They
had some very strong, experienced
figures back-stage. This play would
take a lot of beating. On the night,
they performed exceptionally well.
The black-clad chorus - a Knowles
signature (you just try it with Godot,
Katherine!) - were enthusiastic and
disciplined, said Mr Weston, and the
directing was inventive (though
personally I remain unconvinced by
the mountain, nicely cut out and
painted though it was). Hot stuff
indeed.
The dramatic part of the evening
(or at least the bit with plays in) was
brought to an end by Walworth with a
stage adaptation of a short screenplay
by a friend of the directors, Catherine
Mix and Stephanie Thwaites. This
was a bold undertaking, the
constraints of the stage being at odds
with the freedom of the camera.
However, skilful use of lighting, props
and furniture went a long way to
overcoming the problems presented
by this ambitious enterprise. The lead
actors were all very good and John
Wildgoose excellent. There was
admirable support from the likes of
Tom Mills and Oliver WheatlyO'Neill, Rebecca Fraser was great as
Mrs Meggie and Steven Kessell, as
Man, can never have been so alive, so
vibrant on stage - or in lessons for that
matter. In the end, though, the play
had too many technical difficulties to
overcome. But what mattered, said the
adjudicator, quite rightly, was to dare.
In many ways this was what Drama
should be like. Most of us will, in the
end, play it safe and surrender in the
face of seemingly insuperable odds,
but
it is
sometimes
worth
remembering that to 'take up arms
against a sea of troubles' is one
definition of heroism. John Milton
could not 'praise a fugitive and
cloistered virtue' and nor should I.
Philip King and Falkland L Gary are
safe, but not even their mothers would
call them heroic or their plays the stuff
of real Drama. On the other hand
And so to the adjudication. David
Weston regaled the audience with
memories of his time at Alleyn's with
the legendary Michael Croft when the
latter was founding the National
Youth Theatre, and Donald Wolfit, no
less, judged the school's acting
competition. (The young Weston was,
unfortunately, pipped at the post by
the young Simon Ward.) He was full
of praise for all he had seen and, as I
have reported, full of perceptive and
wise criticism and advice. The second
acting award went to Smedley Booth
of Lovekyn, and Katie Guest of
Taverner won a special mention, but
the winner, for the second year
17
running, was Elise Foster Vander Elst,
also of Taverner. The final order of the
Houses was very difficult for us in the
audience to predict and for Mr Weston
to decide. In the end I don't think
anyone could argue with the verdict.
Walworth, for their ambition and
daring, took third place, edging
Queen's into fourth, and Lovekyn just
shaded Taverner to take the coveted
cup. Well done them!
Finally a huge thank you to
everyone who took part in a very
successful evening in whatever
capacity. I would like to thank David
Weston, for being excellent, and his
wife, Dora Reisser, for being
charming and glamorous and saying
nice things to everybody. But most of
all I want to thank those who 'did'. A
great deal of hard work goes into these
events, much of it unseen and, it can
appear, unappreciated. Everyone was
committed,
enthusiastic
and
professional and I felt very proud
sitting and watching. I also enjoyed
myself enormously. It can be a rather
nerve-wracking experience, but not
this year. Thank you all.
P.S. I would like to say, just in case
Philip King and Falkland L Gary or
their lawyers are reading this, that I
don't mean it. Honest.
NB
Adrienne Green and Elise Foster Vander Elst in the Taverner House play 'Departure' by Stephen Smith.
Adrian Lester, 5HK.
18
A (T
,/nl
v^, T
11
Q ART DEPARTMENT
ROSE CRIMES' SABBATICAL TERM AUTUMN 1996
My escape from teaching was a welcome break and I must
thank all those concerned who made such an event possible. It
is to be recommended and I was delighted by the freedom and
time to explore my own work and ideas in more depth.
I soon rediscovered my passion for colour, design and
abstracted, non-representational work. The paintings in the
exhibition held in the Finlay Gallery in March were a result of
some of the numerous ideas that evolved over the previous sixmonth period.
A visit to Turkey was inspirational and Istanbul provided
considerable original material for designs and pattern work,
the carpets being of particular interest as well as the vast
number of mosques. The Blue Mosque was the jewel of the
excursion. Northern Cyprus with its strong Turkish influences
was a quieter place and the deep blue sky and sandy beaches
prevented the completion of many planned paintings.
My stay in St Ives was a beneficial experience. Over
centuries artists have learnt their handicraft from the great
artists, so St Ives in its turn has lured art lovers since the 1930s
when there were more than a 100 studios based in the lofts
where fishermen had once stored their sails.
The popular and well-liked work of the late Alfred Wallis,
the retired fisherman-cum-painter, was much in evidence. I
was honoured to spend my time there in a small cottage
complex once occupied by Wallis. At the end of the war,
Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson moved to St Ives and
formed an art circle including Patrick Heron, Terry Frost and
Peter Lanyon. Artists continue to flock to St Ives and studio
space is at a premium. The recently opened Tate Gallery, with
its breathtaking views of the sea, has further encouraged
visitors to this tiny pocket of England's little Bohemia.
My own visit coincided with the festival time and a rare
chance to meet some of Britain's famous artists: Sandra Blow,
Terry Frost, Rachel Levine, Bryn Pearce, Sheila Oliner and
Hyman Segal. The late Bernard Leach, our most significant
and master craftsman potter, was being celebrated by a display
of Hamada and Leach pottery at the St Ives Pottery Gallery. A
private view of the Terry Frost exhibition allowed a close up
examination of this 20th century painter's work. Rothko at the
Tate and a walk around the Hepworth Museum provided
plenty of inspirational work for the sketch book. The garden
of Trewyn was a haven of exotic plants and a quiet spot to
enjoy the fine weather, white blue sea and cloudless skies. A
few life drawing classes at the nearby Porthmeor Studios
proved to be a long needed lesson in disciplined drawing
technique.
Having the time to visit more exhibitions was a wonderful
bonus. A brief stay in Bath enabled me to explore the
IT I
American Museum and yet more art exhibitions and art
studios. In London, the Howard Hodgekin at the Hayward was
a joy to behold with colour bouncing off the canvases.
Confident brush strokes and strong use of bold shapes filled
me with more enthusiasm to work on larger canvases.
The return to school with Kingston's traffic chaos
reminded me of just how beneficial a sabbatical term can be.
RJC
St. Ives (Acrylic on board) by Rose Crimes
OUR DAY OUT OF THE ART ROOM
Earlier this year, in the Spring Term, the lower 6th
Art A-level set visited the Courtauld Gallery in
London. The day was spent viewing a current
exhibition of Etchings,
and participating in
workshops exploring the different
processes
involved in creating an Intaglio print. It was a unique
opportunity to be taught by MA students from
Wimbledon School of Art and use specialist
equipment. By the end of the day many of us had
completed several prints. It had been a valuable
experience for everyone involved and we gained an
insight into the history of etching and etching itself.
Timandra Read, Polly Stevens. U6th.
19
vote was narrowly against him.
We participated in all the other competitions too. In the
ESU competition, Sarah Hewett, supported by Alida
Nieduszynska and Nicola Thomson, argued that aid to other
At the Gibbon Society Dinner in March, guest speaker
countries should be conditional, whilst in the Observer
David Pook (ex-KGS, now of Churcher's College) took as
debating competition, Oliver Thomson and Nick Cole
his theme that favourite prop of the public speaker,
tackled the issue of whether we should be celebrating the
quotations. Sharp ripostes, delightful bons mots... they were
Millennium. At junior level, Rosie Jackson, Florrie Beckett
and Joanna Souray argued for (even more) sexual equality
all there. We were reminded, too, how much the speaker's
art lies in delivery as
whilst Alice Brawn's
David gave new life to so
1
talk 'Hot and Spicy'
was based on her visit to
many famous sayings by
his skilful impersonation
India. She was ably
of their originators. We
supported by Matthew
thus heard from a
Greenfield and Lara
dazzling
range
of
Mott.
speakers, from Churchill
The Senior House
Debating Competition
to Groucho
Marx,
dispensing wit, wisdom
was won by Nicholas
or insults. Then it was
Cole and Edmund
the turn of our own
Whitworth for Taverner,
speakers. Nicholas Cole
who
opposed
the
and Katherine Knowles
motion 'This House
shared
the Gibbon
deplores the spread of
Society Cup, so we got a
all things American.'
Second
were
the
report from each of
them. Nick reviewed the
proposers of the motion,
Katherine, Oliver and Stephanie with the Arnold Stenhouse Trophy.
senior events, many of
Daniel Simon and
which he naturally
Caroline
Fisher
figured in, and Katherine gave a lively account of the junior
(Queen's). The other debate 'Celibacy is a virtue' failed to
events.
generate the same passion. Lovekyn came third and
For those who need reminding, the greatest success this
Walworth fourth.
year, as last, came in 'Youth Speaks', the public speaking
The juniors had a varied spread of activities thanks to
competition organised locally by Kingston Rotary Club. We
the energy and inventiveness of Katherine Knowles,
entered just one team - Katherine Knowles, Oliver Thomson
Stephanie Thwaites, Ozzie Aalam and Catherine Mix. The
and Stephanie Thwaites - but they retained the trophy for us.
balloon debate featured Miss Harris (Pam Anderson), Mr
Katherine was judged the best individual main speaker for
Burns (Superman), Romeo and Juliet (Andy Evans and
her speech on how we increasingly neglect the aged, a
Caroline Fisher), Mr Stribley (William the Conqueror) and
speech Katherine has been delivering at irregular intervals
Mr Gluning - famously sporting a bra having agreed to be
over several years, but never to better effect. Oliver
Jet from The Gladiators. The Spice Girls v Boyzone debate
Thomson was best chairman, achieving just the right
was a resounding confirmation of girl power; we had
mixture of humour and authority. Thus we progressed to the
another Valentine's Day debate; a debate on school
Area semi-finals at Heathside School, Weybridge. Another
uniform; and one entitled 'Does Father Christmas Exist?'
accomplished team performance meant we qualified for the
These events were staggeringly well attended (70 for the
District final at Chertsey Hall. There was plenty of strong
Spice Girls) and nearly as many for Father Christmas,
opposition, as was to be expected, and whilst we didn't win
although the abundant supply of chocolates might have
the team prize here, Stephanie Thwaites won the award for
helped here. Well done the committee anyway, and let's
the best vote of thanks. Thus, each member of the team was
hope there is more....
an individual winner at one stage in the competition. We
The Theatre trips were also well supported. We saw
won some money along the way too. Thanks to the
Talking Heads (Comedy Theatre), Death of a Salesman
generosity of the Kingston Rotarians we received a total of
(National), Frankenstein (at the Cinema), Falstaff, starring
£250, the £100 for the winning school once again being
David Weston, our House Drama adjudicator, and a superb
used to bolster the funds of our Society.
revival of Albee's harrowing 'Who's Afraid of Virginia
In the annual fixture with Kingston Debating Society,
Woolf?' starring Diana Rigg and David Suchet. Most
our original speaker opted (bravely? rashly?) to propose the
recently we took a twenty strong party to see 'Othello'
motion 'Queen Elizabeth II should be the last British
performed by Tawala at the Drill Hall.
monarch.' Nick Cole, our speaker the previous year, was
It was pleasing that we had such a good turn-out at the
called upon as a late replacement and did a magnificent job,
Gibbon Society Dinner - more than double the number two
particularly as he had to suppress his own sympathies. It
years ago. The next Autumn Term ends on 27th March.
was an uphill task against the evidently deeply royalist
JSS.
instincts of KDS and a formidable adversary; this time the
Q GIBBON SOCIETY
20
T. Strhan, HK.
21
CHRISTIAN UNION
we left, camp would not be complete without
Entertainment Evening. This year for our delight there was
Louis and Fred, the egg visit to the pub with Scott Stiff and
Well, was God going to bless us with sun? Or were flash
his bods, the annual bog song, and, amongst other things,
the all-male choir singing "Quis omnes PIES editit"
floods going to leave us dragging home soggy sleeping
(translation Mr Stott). To finish off the evening the senior
bags early? The answer? Sunburn and a whole week of it.
CU camp this year was held at a brilliant new site in
officers performed their version of "I'll be there before
you".
Lyme Regis. Each day started with the groans of the
The meals cooked by Claire Mannall and her team of
officers as they were dragged out of their beds at least
helpers were, as always, of great quality, and camp ended
three-quarters of an hour earlier than the rest of camp so
with hot dogs round a
they could go to their
camp fire. A huge thank
meeting. Why is it that
Mm MmMMMMMl
you to all the officers,
junior bods and Lindy
teachers and old boys
are
always
more
who made it all possible
enthusiastic in the
and of course a massively
morning? John Martin
h u m o n g o u s
didn't
need
his
THANKYOU to God for
bagpipes this year: the
Dazzling seabird underway,
blessing us again this
screams of the second
On
a
broad
reach,
year.
year girls meant we
But apart from camp
With her lee-rail under.
were up long before the
what else has happened in
cows next door moved
the
CU this year? Well,
in!!! When every last
Hidden in a sheet of glittering spray,
both
JCU and SCU have
bod had finally been
A million diamonds,
been
away on houseextracted from his/her
Scattered
asunder.
parties. JCU went to
sleeping bag, quiet
Carroty Wood at Easter
times could begin.
and SCU went to the
A clear, brilliant, blazing sun
These give every one
beautiful house at Avon
the chance to study a
Catches the waves
Tyrrell, New Forest, in
Bible passage, discuss
And the dancing boat,
the new year. Both
its relevance in our
groups
have
met
lives today, and ask
In an endless collage of shimmering fun,
regularly throughout the
difficult questions to
A picture of beauty,
year at lunchtimes and
the tent officers who in
numbers have been good.
turn ask the senior
A world afloat.
New faces have appeared
officers and God.
Lucy Johnson, IP.
since camp and house
The days were
party and the CU has
spent doing a variety of
really come alive, ready
activities
including
to praise God. The SCU
visiting nearby Weyhas had social events over the year where they have been
mouth, Exmouth, Exeter, and, of course, Lyme Regis. Most
bowling and JCU had a disco last November (another is
of us arrived safely but some took an interesting route with
planned for this year). More spiritually, quiet time groups
Tim Gardner through a field. As well as the day trips there
and prayer groups have been meeting throughout the year
were the traditional camp games such as four goal - four
and have had a real boost this September. Fourth formers
ball, floodlit-football, raga, and Danish longball. Not
have been involved in Plumbline, a Kingston based
forgetting the early morning swim (6.30 am in the sea).
teaching course and the Christian Parents group has had
Some campers even got to take part in activities such as
regular meetings and is growing stronger and more
canoeing, abseiling or caving under qualified supervision.
numerous every time.
There were two highlights of the week. In "Happy clappy
Talking of growing more numerous, last year's
with a snappy" teams were given a list of subjects about
committee, who did a fabulous job, has changed somewhat.
which they had to improvise and then take a photo which
It's bigger, better? We hope so. This year's committee
was developed and presented. The team with the most
consists of ten people (5 upper 6th and 5 lower 6th) and so
original ideas won the game - the winners were the third
far everyone has gelled together to work hard. The
form girls. Never mind, boys, I'm sure those Spice Girls
committee is led by the happy shopper herself, Caroline
tops will be useful for something!!! The other highlight, as
McGregor-Johnson and the rest of the committee is
always, has to be Hunt the Officer. This year, two people
Caroline Mulcahy, Claire Davies, Rebecca Aston, Polly
protesting about the Lyme Regis cross-channel bridge is all
Stevens, Beth Shand, Helen Wilkins, Lindy Greaves, Kate
that needs to be said.
Halliday and the only boy, Andrew Cooper. We pray that
In the evening there was a time of worship, followed by
God will bless us as we lead the CU and also bless
talks for both juniors and seniors. These allowed everyone
everyone on the committee.
to focus on the main point of camp, GOD. However, before
Kate Halliday and Helen Wilkins, L6th
Yacht
22
COMBINED CADET FORCE
Captain Martin O'Neill resigned from Kingston Grammar School
CCF in February 1997 after six years of service, first as SSI and
latterly as Contingent Commander. His command was marked by a
willingness to offer his time and talents to the benefit of the cadets and
by his general good humour and good sense. The formal dinner which
marked his leaving the contingent was a fitting tribute to his work in
this area of school life.
The glowing report which followed Brigadier Heywood's biennial
inspection in May owed much to Captain O'Neill's successful
stewardship of the CCF. The Deputy Commander of London District
pronounced himself very impressed with a wide-ranging display of
activities from shooting to simulated flying and from adventure
training to military tactics. His positive manner was much appreciated
by all present.
Training has continued apace this year. The new army section
commander - Captain Joan Wright - has brought not only her
enthusiasm but also a fund of experience (and useful contacts!) with
her from Surrey ACF. She was the moving spirit behind army section
Field weekends at both Bramley and Pirbright and behind the June
Range Day at Ash ranges. She also played a major role in the
organisation of the two formal dinners held by the army section this
year.
Still lacking a commissioned officer, the RAF section continues to
owe a great debt of gratitude to Mr David Beech for all his voluntary
work on its behalf. He has never been content to allow the section to
'tick over' and this year has seen the addition of abseiling and assault
courses to the weekly training programme for the section. Archery
and caving are soon to follow! It is no discourtesy to Mr Beech,
however, to highlight the sterling efforts of the senior cadets in the
RAF section. Cadet Warrant Officer Nick Cole has been an exemplary
Senior Cadet, his efforts duly recognised by the award of the Air
Commodore's Certificate of Merit, as will that of the other senior
cadets leaving this year. Colour Sergeant Clifton also gave willingly
of his time to the RAF section - not least in attending their annual
camp at RAF Leuchars - whilst his commitment to the good running
and administration of the unit was rightly recognised in the Biennial
Report.
Thanks to the staff's commitment, three major camps have been
run this year. Reports on each are included here. Cadets have also
taken part in a wide variety of courses. Sgts. Aston and Cotopoulis
both attended the army's premier leadership course for cadets whilst
Sgt. Mee spent a week on a similar course at RAF Holton and
managed to fit in a flying scholarship over the summer months too.
Congratulations are due to him and to our other pilot in residence, Sgt.
Goad, who learned to fly gliders at RAF Kenley. Three army cadets
learned the basics of cooking military style and seven cadets attended
signals courses. Sgt. Garner spent seven days at Arborfield learning
about advanced electronics with the RAF. Perhaps the most ambitious
trip was undertaken at Easter by W.O. Cole who spent two weeks at
RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
In short, I feel I have inherited a busy and prosperous CCF unit. Its
voluntary nature means that the cadets are well motivated and willing
workers; they have learned much about matters military and - more
importantly - about themselves both as individuals and as members of
a team through the activities the CCF offers. I trust that they have
enjoyed themselves too.
John Hind.
Brigadier Heywood inspects the Guard
of Honour on Inspection Day.
Leek Training Camp,
July 26th - August 2nd
On July 26th, fourteen cadets and
two officers set off for Leek in
Staffordshire. After about three hours
travelling and two stops we arrived
and changed into uniform. On the first
evening we were given a briefing
about how to train in an
environmentally friendly manner. We
spent the first full day rock climbing
and abseiling on the Roaches, a
favourite climbing spot close by the
camp. Luckily the day was warm and
dry and the activity provided a good
welcome to a hard week. On Monday
we took part in the competition for the
Commandant's Trophy, for which all
the schools attending the camp
compete. The day began with a 4.5
kilometre run across the highest hills
in the local area - all completed before
breakfast! Once we were restored by
the first meal of the day we visited the
modern weapon stand which gave us
an insight into the weapons of today's
army such as the General Purpose
Machine Gun and the Milan anti-tank
weapons system. We then fired our
own less ambitious firearms on the 25
metre range - the second component
of the competition - whilst the girls'
billet was inspected. A mark of 98 out
of
100 indicated the
girls'
determination to do well; it also
helped our overall position greatly!
The evening's assault course rounded
off an enjoyable day of competition.
Tuesday saw us don war paint and
enter the field for military training.
During an action-packed day we
learned several basic infantry skills
and renewed our acquaintance with
Sgt. Del Baker of the Parachute
Regiment, who had accompanied us
on a field exercise earlier in the year.
On Wednesday we mixed wet and dry
activities, spending the morning
canoeing on Rudyard Lake and the
afternoon enjoying some much
needed rest and relaxation in Leek. In
the evening, some of the instructors
from camp taught us a lesson in how
to play volleyball.
Thursday's planned exercise had
been eagerly anticipated by us all. Prebattle preparations were made and we
moved out onto the training area.
Unfortunately, however, we found
very poor visibility and a torrential
downpour. After two hours we had to
abort, all believing we knew
something about how the Falkland
Islands campaign might have felt! Still
smiling, we attempted to leave only to
find that one of our mini-buses refused
to start. Finally we managed to get
back to camp and later (in our now
working bus) ventured into Leek for
fish and chips. The poor weather
continued on Friday, obliging us to
spend the morning in the local
swimming pool and the afternoon
packing.
We returned
to
Kingston
thoroughly tired but content with a
week of fun which would never have
come about had it not been for the care
and attention of Captains Wright and
Hind and the excellent training staff at
Leek. Thanks to them all.
L/Cpl. Andrew Toben.
Winter Days
RAF LEUCHARS,
26th July - 2nd August
After a long train journey we finally
disembarked at our destination:
Leuchars, near St Andrew's and
Dundee, the home of RAF Leuchars.
And funnily enough ... it was raining.
The rest of the day was spent getting
settled in and preparing kit in our
accommodation block.
Early next morning we were
woken and were soon marching to the
junior ranks' mess. After breakfast we
were whisked away to the Aberdeen,
Dundee and St Andrew's University
Air Squadron. Everyone was kitted
out with flying suit, life-jacket and
parachute and we were all ready to fly
the Bulldog, the RAF's primary
trainer. We all spent 30 minutes in the
air and enjoyed the dazzling sunshine
and wonderful views of the Fife
estuary once above cloud cover. After
some hairy aerobatics it was time to
land. The flight was wonderful.
On Monday we looked at some
24
real aircraft. RAF Leuchars is home to
43 and 111 Squadrons, both of which
fly Tornado F3s, the RAF's primary
defence aircraft. They were an
awesome sight. After hearing some
firsthand knowledge from one of 43
Squadron's pilots it was time to leave
for the RAF police dog display. After
an hour or so of near death
experiences with the dogs, it was back
to the block.
During the rest of the camp we
spent our time on full day hikes, on
trim trail assault courses, on work
experience with RAF units (I spent
half a day with the fire-fighters) and
on a night exercise. After a week of
this it was time to leave, a sad time for
us all, staff included. The week would
not have been a success without C/Sgt.
Clifton and all those who organised
the activities for us at Leuchars. I am
sure I am joined in thanking them all
for a great week.
J/Cpl. Fortune
The slippery, wet, icy ground,
A white blanket oil around.
Patterned snowflakes falling
down,
The bare trees only brown,
against the white, standing bold.
The winter air freezing cold.
On the large, frozen lake,
happy, laughing children skate.
Hardly seen is the yellow sun,
but winter days are still fun.
Abi Senthilkumaran, 2S.
Q
ANNUAL ADVENTURE TRAINING CAMP
DERBYSHIRE,
8th - 12th April.
We arrived in Derbyshire at about 6.00
pm on April 8th and quickly pitched
camp. For those of us in the RAF
section, military rations were a new
experience
which
we
found
interesting! Fortunately they provided
us with enough calories to survive a
strenuous day's walking the following
day. Captain Wright's 'short' walk
covered 12 miles whilst Sgt.
Gallagher's more intrepid party
crossed 16 miles of Derbyshire
countryside, across fields and railway
lines and up hills from where we
enjoyed amazing views. At the end of
our exertions both groups met up for a
much enjoyed - but non-military supplement to our rations: ice cream.
Q
On the second day Mr Dale and
C/Sgt. Clifton took us on what was for
many a first experience of climbing
and abseiling. Bouldering provided us
with useful training in the morning.
After that we were all issued with
harnesses and helmets and C/Sgt.
Clifton talked us all up a beginner's
rock face. For the more adventurous,
Mr Dale also introduced us to the
experience of chimney climbing.
Finally we all abseiled off Froggatt's
Edge. I had never done this before, but
whizzing down the rock face gave me
a real rush and I had to do it over and
over again. In the evening, we all
enjoyed a swim in the local pool after
a hard day's work.
Our last day was less adventurous
and more tourist inspired. We spent
the morning down the Blue John Mine
at Castleton, seeing the semi-precious
stone to which it gives its name and
the stalactites and stalagmites which
litter the underground caverns. In the
afternoon we saw the man-made
splendours of Chatsworth House with
its huge collection of fine art and
amazing statues. It also had splendid
gardens with a mermaid fountain in
the middle. For a final evening's treat
we had fish and chips with that little
known Derbyshire speciality of
battered Mars bar.
We had an amazing camp and I
would like to thank all the staff who
organised it for giving us such a good
time.
Cadet Ward.
CHARITIES
Individuals, forms and groups have been involved in a
wide range of fund-raising activities which have raised
over £2,400 since Christmas.
The whole school took part in 'Go Casual for a Cause'
non-uniform day which raised £857.45 for the Imperial
Cancer Research Fund and Childline. Marie Curie Cancer
Care received about £450 from selling daffodils in school
and a number of sixth formers gave up time on a Saturday
to collect in Kingston shopping centre. Recently, more
sixth formers stood in the rain to collect money for
MENCAP.
A number of individuals should be praised for their
charitable effort. Abiramy Senthilkumara and Suraya
Chaudhary did a Read-a-thon and donated £127 to the
Children's Ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Hyun
Young Lee raised over £50 for World Vision in her
sponsored fast. A group of sixth formers were inspired by
a lecture by Mark Dyer from Queen Elizabeth's
Foundation for the Disabled and collected £204 after
participating in Ride-athon '97.
In September, seven sixth formers took up the
challenge of the assault course at Sandhurst and raised
over £500 for the Winged Fellowship who provide respite
for carers and subsidised holidays for the severely
physically disabled.
KGS continues to support David Owiso Aloo in
Kenya and forms have collected over £150 for Action
against Breast Cancer.
RSM.
Above, Suraya and Abiramy
25
Q
a
SCHOOL TRIPS
A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY
FIELD TRIP
"Oh well, another year, another field
trip", sighs Mrs Evans, as the bus rolls
up. The thought of spending five days
and nights in close proximity with 12
lower 6th formers must have
enthralled her!! The three girls, nine
boys and two teachers (Mr Stevenson
also came) set off and even after seven
hours in a cramped minibus, spirits
were still high(ish). We were staying
at the Cranedale Centre, Yorkshire,
which can only be described as a 5star geography hotel. There was even
waitress service at the table!! The
aims of the week were to study the
area of the moors in different aspects
for the A-level project. When we
arrived we were given a brief tour
discussing
the
landscape
in
association with the glaciation from
the last ice age. This was to build up a
beginner's knowledge of the area for
the main days of the trip.
The following days were studies of
slopes and soils where we ended up in
the middle of the moor measuring a
transect from the top of the slope to
the bog.... a very boggy bog, and oh,
the boys found it "fun"? to chase
sheep around the heather. Whatever
takes their fancy!!! The next day was
the rivers day. This can be the most
embarrassing for someone and this
year the prize goes to Michael Schuldt
who managed to end up on his bottom
in the water. Animals of the 4-legged
type also played a prominent role in
Tuesday's education when Daniel
Sherman made a date with a Jersey
cow!! Well, the rain had to come
sometime, and rain it did, and the
wind also decided to join it on its day
out at the seaside where we were
studying the Holderness coastline.
This coastline has the highest rate of
erosion in Europe and recedes at a
massive 2 metres a year!! We were
looking at the ways in which the
coastline is managed before it got too
cold to work!!!!
All in all the week was very
successful and we all learnt a lot. I'm
sure of that even though we all came
out with some very odd nicknames:
Preston? Jacobs? Babs? and who or
what was Noah? Thanks to Mrs Evans
and Mr Stevenson who made the week
possible. I hope we weren't too much
to handle.
P.S. Did you ever find our key???
Catherine Halliday, 5HA.
GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP TO WALES
a 4TH FORM GEOGRAPHY TRIP
The best things come to those who
wait. This was certainly true of the
fourth year GCSE field trip to
Aberystwyth. After we overcame the
slight problem of a late departure (and
communications with the Aber. depot
of Evans' Coaches) we eventually
arrived at the Rheidol Study Centre,
which was basking in late evening
sunshine.
Our first day in the field was spent
examining downstream changes on
the River Leri, getting wet and hiking
up to Llun Craigypistyll (Thankfully
we had already received a quick
lesson in 'emergency Welsh for
southerners'). Lessons in teamwork
26
were quickly learnt, for some of the
group at least.
As the weather was so beautiful, it
was appropriate to spend our second
day by the coast, examining the
Ynyslas sand dunes in the Dyfi
National Nature Reserve. We assessed
conflicts of use and management
strategies that had been adopted to
reduce pressure on this delicate
ecosystem. Then, after a guided walk,
a detailed transect and several
quadrats, we enjoyed a quiet lunch
and a Mr. Whippy ice cream. The
afternoon was spent contemplating
coastal field work and watching the
bomb disposal team making another
Second World War relic safe ... and
who said Geography field trips
weren't exciting?!
Our third full day was spent
terrorising the local inhabitants of
Aberystwyth, whilst conducting an
urban study. Language barriers were
bridged for some, but some AngloWelsh relations took a turn for the
worse due to our inability to complete
our questionnaire surveys in the native
tongue.
The week was hard work, but
some excellent Geography was
covered. We all arrived home safely
with Geography folders brimming
with goodies in anticipation of
coursework projects. Yippee!
DMSW
THE DUKE OF
EDINBURGH'S AWARD
BRONZE EXPEDITIONS
The infamous bronze practice
expedition took place during June
in the dark reaches of S.W. Surrey.
A weekend noted for a steep
learning curve, where mistakes are
made, students get lost and rapid
improvements are made on the
second day out! The Friday evening
survey on what people have
brought to eat is always interesting
- the highlight being Rohinton's
one-and-a-half kilos of pasta for
two people for one meal! Ian
Fortune was also obviously
frightened of going hungry. The
most organised tent team happened
to be the two girls, Saga and Alida,
but there was not much
competition.
The weather was kind,
Williams and Cooke got their
yearly piece of exercise by cycling
from checkpoint to checkpoint and
SRS spent most of the weekend
running around finding lost and
confused expeditionists. Nothing
new there then!
The test expedition for our
intrepid travellers occurred during
September on a glorious weekend
of clear skies and cool nights. The
staff/student BBQ on the Friday
night proved again to be a success
with one individual cooking and
consuming what seemed to be the
best part of half a horse! After a
pre-expedition check with Paul, the
assessor, it was early to bed.
The first part of the route on the
following
day
took
the
expeditionists along the River Wey
towards Guildford and up on to the
North Downs way. The students
were fine but unfortunately we lost
one member of staff who
disappeared in the minibus, not to
be seen for three and a half hours.
CAH was not allowed out on her
own for the rest of the weekend.
Good staff are hard to find!
Day one went according to plan
and despite a few tired limbs and a
couple of blisters, all made it to our
campsite at Tilford, near Farnham.
An early start was required on
Sunday. A 6.45 am departure meant
that the teams needed to rise by
5.45 am at the latest. SRS finally
woke the troops at 6.05 am after
their alarm failed to go off!
Breakfast was a hurried affair but
another clear day dawned. The
route today took them via
Frensham Ponds and Hankley
Common to finish at Brook, north
of Haslemere. All arrived safely,
one group a little more punctually
than the other. Paul was pleased
with the venture and passed both
our teams on a successful journey.
SRS
War Picture
Thoughtlessly,
The planes drop their bombs
On to the quiet village.
Two deafening blows A moment of silence.
Villagers emerge from ruins,
Women and children shrieking,
Running from the destruction.
Amongst them,
The innocence of a naked girl,
Her skin scarred by burns.
Her black hair clings to her face,
As the rain pours,
And she runs through mud,
Her pain cries out to the world.
Allison Wong, 4S.
HISTORY TRIP TO BATTLE ABBEY AND
BODIAM CASTLE
It was Friday, 18th October 1996: the day on which the Battle of Hastings was
to be fought by the First Years of Kingston Grammar School. Sadly, after days
of sunshine the weather turned inclement and our carefully planned historical
re-enactment was not to be (or so we thought at the time). King Harold and
his adversary, the Duke of Normandy, were not so unlucky, as Friday, 13th
October dawned bright and clear, affording excellent visibility. Nevertheless
with their spirits only a trifle dampened, the members of 1L, IF and IP said
goodbye to Battle and set off to view the impressive Bodiam Castle.
At Bodiam they were able to dress up in medieval clothing and armour and
climb the narrow, worn stairs up to the battlements.
Just before we were due to leave, the rain stopped and the sun came out,
allowing us twenty minutes to put into effect our version of the Battle of
Hastings. The castle provided a splendid backdrop.
DARS.
27
A DARTMOOR INCIDENT - THE
STORY BEHIND THE HEADLINES
contact with the police, arriving in
time to see the last helicopter lift
set down.
"Students aid friends' rescue on moor
trek" (Western Morning News. Saturday,
August 30, 1997).
During the last week in August, six KGS
sixth formers and a pupil from King
Edward's School at Witley, were on
Dartmoor taking part in their Gold Duke
of Edinburgh's Award assessment
expedition. A four day, fifty mile venture.
There were five members of staff.
"A student was recovering from hypothermia yesterday after being airlifted to
safety together with several classmates
following freak storms on Dartmoor."
On day two, we had an incident. Three
hours into the day at 10.00 am, we had
seen the group at Postbridge. All seemed
to be OK and the morale of the group was
good. The route from here took the group
up on to the north moor to Beardown
Man on Devil's Tor, and eventually to a
wild campsite at Teignhead Farm, near
Fernworthy Forest. As they departed it
started to rain. The forecast for the day
was the occasional heavy shower.
The team was due to cross the East
Dart River at a place called Sandy Hole
Pass. Because of the recent heavy rains, I
decided that we should walk out and
check that they could cross at this point.
The rain got heavier.
Sandy Hole Pass proved to be a
rather difficult crossing point, but the
waterfall half a kilometre downstream
was passable. We headed across the moor
to catch the team further back on their
route, to inform them of the situation,
and to get them to change course. The
rain continued to fall and a strong
westerly wind was in our faces. The
visibility was intermittent with a low
cloud system sweeping across the tops of
the tors. By the time we arrived at Rough
Tor we had not seen the group. Three of
the staff sheltered in the army
observation post while Sean and I moved
on to Devil's Tor where he was deposited
in order to catch them on the way
through. I then continued to walk back
along their route. After an hour of
searching, we all met back at Rough Tor.
No sign of them. Their navigation had
been good and I was sure that they were
not lost. Perhaps they had changed their
route for some reason. We decided to
make our way back to Postbridge and
enter the moor again near their campsite
at Teignhead.
28
TLoo
'Be.iDG.es
"The teenagers, on a hiking expedition
for the Duke of Edinburgh's award
scheme, were caught out in heavy wind
and rain while trekking across the moor
on Thursday afternoon."
On arriving back at our minibus, we
found a notice under the windscreen
wiper asking us to contact the National
Park Office. They informed us that our
team was being rescued by helicopters. I
also noticed that I had been called on the
mobile telephone. The signal can be
rather weak in certain parts of the moor.
We travelled to Two Bridges and made
"Police praised the quick thinking
response of the two colleagues
who hiked to Princetown through
treacherous weather conditions to
raise the alarm. A spokesman
said that without their bravado,
'the outcome could have been
very different'".
On interviewing the students
afterwards, it seems that one of the
party began to show signs of
hypothermia below Crow Tor. The
group stopped, put up a shelter and
dispatched two of the team to the
nearest telephone point, the Two
Bridges Hotel, to summon
assistance. I must have been only
about three hundred metres from
their shelter when I was out on my
scouting mission!
Expeditioning in wild country is
great fun but can be very demanding
especially in bad weather conditions. The
team responded superbly to the situation
and did everything correctly and to the
book. Well done to them!
Jody recovered from her experiences
and was discharged from hospital the
next day. Five of the team continued the
expedition and completed the course
successfully.
SRS.
L-R. Francesco Wigney, Alice Taylor, Lucy Cole, Jody Mckenzie, Alastair Watson, Claire
Davies and David Wilson. The team at Postbridge, three hours before the incident.
School Ski Trip '97 - A few highlights from the Staff Log
The day before - Friday
MJC continues to look for the foreign
currency he "lost" the day before, in
the Staff Common Room. He is last
seen rifling through the pile of old
newspapers in the corner.
DMSW in her mothering mode,
organises the staff travel refreshments.
PRWS packs MJC's currency that he
"discovered" in the Common Room
yesterday.
SRS visits the school nurse in his role
as first aider to discuss such potential
problems as headaches, stomach upsets
and diarrhoea.
Day One - Saturday
NB quizzed the ski rep. immediately on
arrival in France and had organised a
whole week of activities that did not
involve any skiing at all.
Day Two - Sunday
MJC was even out on time to check his
'charges'. Breakfast came and went
and we all troop off, skis in hand to
attend the first lesson of the week. It
was at this point that the day took a turn
for the worst, ie. putting skis on feet of
KGS children and letting them loose on
snow. By 4.00 pm the ski rep had
visited the local medical centre four
times!
SRS spends a small fortune at the
chemist collecting prescriptions and is
rapidly becoming on first name terms
with the pharmacist. The count to date
is a broken nose, a broken rib, a broken
collar bone and a bad knee injury. Not
a bad haul for the first day.
Day Three - Monday
NB opens his curtains and sighs with
disappointment. Another perfect
skiing day.
SRS is faced with the first casualty of
the day ... at breakfast, and another
expensive visit to the chemist. Ian
Fortune visits the doctor to discover
that his painful wrist from the
previous day is in fact broken. Victim
number five.
PRWS continues to hold on to MJC's
currency.
MJC is beginning to run out of
funds.
NB spends all morning on the piste
and looks absolutely exhausted at
lunch.
Day Four - Tuesday
Another day in paradise and an early
morning visit to the doctor's informs us
that we have two more casualties: one
sprained thumb and another injured
knee. Rory the rep, 'a real diamond',
just can't believe it. The paper work
involved is mounting by the hour and
we have been allocated our own space
in the hotel's filing cabinet. Ian Fortune
gets his wrist plastered and is back in
action on the slopes.
NB is delighted to see the weather
slowly deteriorating during the day. No
skiing for him in the afternoon.
The impressive ESF torchlight parade
is followed by a late dinner, eaten
quickly in order to make our date at the
karaoke bar!
A day without a serious injury was too
much to ask for, and Chris Bolton
supplied it by attempting to eat a glass.
The result being two broken teeth and a
phone call to the dentist. Well, it makes
a change from the doctor.
Day Five - Wednesday
The morning brings another blue sky,
high winds at altitude and a fresh
dusting of snow. The staff table at
breakfast is getting quieter as tiredness
is beginning to set in.
MJC, without regard for any of his
fellow human beings, wipes out whilst
attempting off-piste skiing.
SRS and MJC continue to marvel at
the engineering feats of the ski lift
designs.
MJC is overheard to gasp "just look at
that universal joint". A potentially
quiet evening with bum boarding for
the juniors whilst the sixth form retire
to "Smoky Joes" (an apt description) to
watch Arsenal vs Man. United on Sky.
Day Six - Thursday
MJC proudly announces that it only
took 25 minutes to ski from the top of
the glacier down to the hotel. SRS and
PRWS prick up their ears to the
challenge.
NB asks for staff nominations for the
legendary end-of-trip awards ceremony. One young lady seems well
qualified for at least ten! Important
issues such as the 'wipe out of the
week' and the 'Williams and Sheppard
love cup' award are decided upon. But
there is still one day and the disco to
come. What little pearls of scandal will
they bring?
The disco happens at "Le Avalanche",
All staff are on call.
Day Seven - Friday
NB's annual cabaret is up to its normal
high standard in both humour and
length. Just the one and a half hours!
Highlights include the waxing of
Robert Gregg's legs for the "Poser of
the week", and Katie Teague gaining
three individual awards (cut down from
ten).
Day Eight - Saturday
DGB skis to the bitter end.
Midday comes and it's time to get back
on the coach and head for the airport.
But not before some suitcases go astray
and the mountain of lost property
scattered across the hotel reception
area grows to the size of K2. Festering
socks and a surgical support are still
available for collection. Any offers?
SRS.
The Staff having dinner.
29
Q THE 1997 FRENCH
EXCHANGE
Q THE L6 FRENCH
EXCHANGE, PLUS
One of the main events this year was the Kingston-Ozoir
la Ferriere exchange. Third and fourth form pupils
received French pupils from a local school in Ozoir la
Ferriere when they visited London during October last
year. This favour was then returned when the KGS crew
went to France earlier this term. During the stay the
group experienced the joys of Reims Cathedral, the
champagne cellars at Epernay, a boat trip on La Seine, a
visit to Fontainbleau castle and, of course, the obligatory
climbing of the Eiffel tower. The group also experienced
the thrills and spills of Space Mountain at Euro Disney,
not to mention the queues!
The L6 French Exchange to Montpellier at Easter was
thoroughly enjoyed by all those studying French A
level. Our pupils attended some morning lessons at the
Jean Monnet Lycee and carried out project work for
their A Level Topic in the afternoons. This year we also
organised a day trip to Sete, the birth-place of the
legendary George Brassens, and a few evening events
were arranged by the partners.
The 3rd year French Exchange to Paris was an
enormous success this year. All those who participated
enjoyed a packed programme which included visits to
the palace of Vaux Le Vicomte and Euro Disney,
amongst other visits and tours of the sights in Paris.
Needless to say, the journey by Eurostar was a highlight
in itself and many of those participating have continued
contact with their partners.
The Modern Languages Evening on March 20th
filled the hall with laughter and serious applause for
what might be considered a varied and interesting
programme - from French military songs to the Spice
Girls a la frangaise and Harry Enfield auf Deutsch,
Spanish poetry and a Debussy duet (not to mention La
Macarena). We hope the event will be as entertaining
and well attended this year.
CF.
All in all, it was an
unforgettable experience and
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank once
again Mr Burns, Madame
Suleiman and Mrs Williams
for organising this wonderful
holiday. Whoops! I mean
educational visit!
Neon Kelly, 3CK.
WORK EXPERIENCE 1997
The penultimate week of June - and the first complete
week after the GCSE exams had finally disappeared over
the horizon - saw the Fifth Form setting out on the annual
one-week's programme of Work Experience.
Particularly popular choices this year were
stockbroking and architecture, but law, engineering and
medicine were as popular as ever. There were a large
number of new host contacts this year, including - amongst
others - Barclay's Trust, Abbey National Building Society,
Croner Publications, Lewis Barker, Kingston University,
Andrew Teare Photographic and Surrey University.
Bentalls also provided placements both for retailing and
occupational health. 88% of the year group gained
placements in their first choice career areas.
At the end of the placement week the hosts are asked to
fill in a report on the student and these are in due course
channelled back to the individual to see what the host
thought of them (a useful exercise in its own right) and the
students are also asked to complete a report on their
placements answering questions on areas such as: special
work skills needed; any differences between working for
men and women; relevance of academic subjects, etc.
The students are also asked to indicate what they least,
and most, enjoyed and a random sample of things which
seemed to have been most enjoyed this year were:
30
The visit to the Baltic Exchange' (Commodity Broking)
'Surfing the World Wide Web' (Computing)
"Being part of a small firm' (Accountancy)
'Finding out about MG cars' (Automobile Industry)
'Learning how to take blood pressure' (Bentalls)
'The freedom to experiment' (Physics at Kingston
University)
The experience of going to court' (Solicitors)
'Watching the operations and squeezing abscesses' (Vet)
The Neurology Department' (Medicine)
Trip to Wimbledon LTA Club' (Engineering)
'Computer-aided design' (Engineering)
'The cross-examination of the victim' (Barrister)
'Watching an operation on a wisdom tooth' (Dentistry)
'Waitressing and bar work' (Hotelier)
Talking to long-term patients' (Psychology)
'Visiting a print factory in Watford' (Marketing)
'Writing press releases for the Internet' (Carlton TV)
The visit to the neo-natal unit' (St. George's Hospital)
The contact with the children' (Teaching)
'The entire experience' (Stockbroking/Finance)
'The visit to the pathology museum' (Biochemistry)
'Painting the set' (Photography)
'The experience of working' (Solicitors)
'Being treated as if we really were part of a team'
(Journalism)
RLB.
Alexis Grosvenor, IF
31
HOUSE REPORTS
Q TAVERNER
House Masters/Mistresses:
Mr D G Buttanshaw, Mr P R W Sheppard,
Miss C A Harris
Captains: Duncan Spenceley, Claire Bergenroth
Secretaries: Amy Hughes, Tom Files
1996/97 must have been one of the most successful
years for Taverner house, for not only did the house
manage to win the end of year championship
confidently, but the house managed to come from low
4th place to 1st place within the space of about five
months. The achievements were great at both junior
and senior level and together these led the house to
victory.
In junior house basketball Taverner played well
against the other houses but unfortunately lost their
matches and finished in fourth place. However,
Taverner was more successful in the junior boys' and
girls' tennis, finishing in first place for both events, as
did the seniors. The table tennis tournament was played
well by all four houses and Taverner finished in joint
second place with Walworth.
The senior boys' hockey team did not fulful its
potential and eventually came third, but the girls gave a
very well-organised performance and were the eventual
runners-up, losing only to the strong Lovekyn side.
Junior girls' house hockey proved a close match.
Taverner played well but came in fourth place just
behind the other houses. At this time Taverner lay in
last place on the league table but the junior girls' house
netball, played in January, set the ball rolling with three
undefeated matches played by a team of prep, first and
second year girls against difficult opposition.
For the first time Taverner won the house music
competition organised brilliantly by Nick Jackman and
Jodie McKenzie and performed superbly by prep to 5th
years. By this time Taverner was gradually making its
way up the league table and by just beating Walworth at
the house swimming gala, where Claire Davies was
outstanding, and winning the house athletics
competition confidently, helped by Stuart Davies,
Stefano Mevoli and Amy Hughes winning cups,
Taverner was securely positioned at the top of the table.
All the houses performed superbly at the House
Drama Competition and the Taverner play, directed by
Polly Stevens, Claire Davies and Caroline Mulcahy,
finished in a well-deserved second place. The
characters were acted out excellently by all the actors
but a special mention should be made of Elise Foster
32
Vander Elst who won the overall best actress prize. The
most dreaded event of the year, house cross country,
was again successful due to a turn out of full junior
teams both on the boys' and girls' sides. We also
secured important victories in debating and the general
knowledge quiz.
The success of the year was not just due to
Taverner having outstanding sports and drama
competitors, but also to the immense team work and
enthusiasm shown by nearly every member of the
Taverner house, resulting in every event being played
with full teams and to the best of the team's ability - an
attitude which led to victory.
Amy Hughes, L6th.
LOVEKYN
House Masters/Mistresses:
Mrs J A Davies, Mr M J Stott,
Mr H R M Stevenson, Miss S W Morland
House Captains: Newar Baker, Katherine Knowles
House Secretary: Alex Barlow
Lovekyn House has had a great year - we didn't come
last! In fact we surprised ourselves by being in the lead
at Christmas and by ending the year in second place.
Such a turn around from previous years' results must be
attributed largely to the enthusiasm of the junior
members of the house.
Success in hockey set the year off on the right
foot, as did a pleasing netball result. The general
knowledge competition was not to be our strongest
event, but was greatly enjoyed by all concerned. The
chess players did us credit, our table tennis team battled
well against tough opposition, and, with every House
meeting, the dining-room resounded to the cheers of the
purple team celebrating their unexpected lead.
House basketball was tackled with characteristic
energy, even though it clashed with drama rehearsals
and lunch. Then followed one of the most public
occasions of the year - the House Drama competition.
Lovekyn won the cup with 'Ernie's Incredible
Illucinations'. The cast of twenty or more were
dedicated and focused, and, in my naturally biased
opinion, well deserved their triumph.
Yoo Na Noh, Monica Montaina and I attempted to
roll the music machine into action, and Lovekyn came
third in a very close competition. The juniors put
everything into the swimming gala, but aquaphobia
among the seniors resulted in a disappointing result
overall. On Sports Day the troops were ravaged by
verrucae, but the enthusiasm on the day was impressive,
as were some of the individual results.
A few people ought to be mentioned for the time
they gave up to help organise the various events. Alex
Barlow worked hard organising many of the sporting
activities. Monica and Yoo Na were a great help in
coaching choirs and Jessie Tucker and Leonard
Winning were invaluable in the House Drama.
Our thanks also go to Mrs Davies who has been in
charge of Lovekyn for the past few years, and who is
now leaving KGS. She has been steadfastly cheerful in
times of adversity, supportive in times of crisis, and
meticulously organised. We are very grateful for her
tremendous dedication, and hope that she will continue
to hear of Lovekyn's success this coming year.
Katherine Knowles, L6th.
QUEEN'S
House Masters/Mistresses:
Mr M C Lewis, Mr M C Mitchell, Miss V C Filsell
Captains: R Angell, E Wyatt
Secretaries: F Ahmad, A Webber
Taverner.
Fourth last year, third this - let's hope we can aim
for the higher echelons of the house table next year.
MCL.
a WALWORTH
House Masters/Mistresses:
Mr K J Hillary, Mr J S Smith, Mr D A R Sorley,
Miss S Mitchell
Captains: Gareth Narinesingh, Fiona Sinclair
Secretaries: Monica Turnes, Oliver Thomson
After our success in 1995/6 we started the year full of
confidence that our good run in the championship could
be continued. The year started well with second places
in both the boys' and girls' senior hockey. Second
places also in the junior girls' hockey, chess and senior
basketball and our customary win in the General
Knowledge meant that we finished the Autumn Term in
a strong position.
In the Spring Term we were less successful, though
the term ended quite well with three wins in the various
cross-country competitions and a creditable second in
the swimming. Sports Day brought us a rather
disappointing third place and further disappointment
followed in the music where we were placed a very
unlucky fourth despite some good performances.
The campaign ended with some success in the boys'
tennis competitions. This was the closest championship
for many years and we were unfortunate to finish
fourth, less than 10 points behind the second House. Oh
well, there is always next year!
KJH.
For Queen's the 1996/7 Championship was a catalogue
of ups and downs. The Autumn Term saw some
excellent results in boys' senior and girls' junior
hockey, although results in cross-country were
disappointing. Senior and junior basketball were again
very encouraging, but once again we failed to make a
real impact in the swimming gala - although third was
an improvement on the previous year!
An impressive result in House music (2nd) was
followed by a spirited play production, but possibly the
greatest achievement was the overall team performance
at Sports Day, where we came a close second to
33
ROWING 96-97
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS
Following Junior Trials and the National Championships, 12
boys and girls gained International Honours this summer.
Shelley Teague, Oliver Gibson and Amy Hughes
represented Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse, while
Fiona Simpson and Nikki Keane were reserves for the team.
Shelley won Gold on both days in the Coxless Four, while
Oli in the Eight and Amy in the quad both won a Silver and
a Bronze, all of them helping the GB team to win the overall
team event.
Shelley Teague and Louise Redknap represented
England at the Home Countries International in the Coxless
Pair, which they won with some ease. Finally, Jon
Alexander, Michael Schuldt, Nick Major, Jamie Bottomley
and Kyle Wilson-Clarke were the Great Britain J16 Coxed
Four at the France v GB J16 match. Although they rowed
well the French proved to be a little too strong for the four.
OLD KINGSTONIANS have also been making big
puddles on the International scene. Many of you will have
seen on the TV recently James Cracknell (1990) becoming
World Champion in Coxless Fours with Messrs. Redgrave,
Pinsent and Foster at the World Championships in France.
This crew was one of the outstanding crews of the
Championships. What you may not have noticed was that
David Chung (1995) coxed the Coxed Four to a Bronze
medal at the Championships. Jane Hall (1992) in her first
year in the Lightweight Single Sculls finished in an
impressive 5th place. Michael Louzado (1993) finished 9th
in Lightweight Coxless Pairs. Just for the record KGSBC
supplied more members of the World Championship team
than any other school. It was also the best ever GB team
result at a World Championship with a total of eight medals.
BOYS 1ST VIII
The first VIII was formed in January last year with the first
head of the Spring Term just two weeks later at Hampton.
We finished in third place, which was an encouraging start
to the season
After a further race at Reading we competed in the
Schools' Head, which was held in quite windy conditions.
The VIII went off third following St Paul's and Eton. Things
looked encouraging for us as we closed on Eton. We were
quite disappointed with a 9th place finish, but were positive
for the future since only sixteen seconds separated 1st and
10th places. The following weekend we showed further
promise by gaining 67th place at the men's Tideway Head.
After a few changes to the crew at the Belgian training
camp, the 1st VIII had the first race of the season at Gent
Summer Regatta. Unfortunately, a French crew crashed into
us at the half-way point, spoiling the race.
At the first British regatta the crew finished 4th in the S3
eights at Poplar. The next race was at Gent Spring Regatta,
Boys' 1st VIII: Alastair Davidson (bow), Michael Schuldt, Aaron Resch, Oliver Gibson, Michael Hughes, James Dias,
Alastair Watson, Jamie Bottomley (stroke), Mitul Patel (cox).
34
our final preparation for the National Schools. For the first
time in KGS history we beat Eton to win the bronze medal.
This gave us high hopes for the National Schools.
Unfortunately, the crew failed to make it to the final at
National Schools after a very hard draw. All the crew could
do was settle for tenth place and look forward to Henley.
After races at Thames Valley and Marlow regattas the
VIII entered the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley (due to
older pupils in the boat). After a bye to the second round we
were eliminated by New College, Oxford even after taking
a one length lead.
Considering there were 3 J16s in the crew the results
were very good and still at the highest level of school
rowing. We thank our coaches for our success and look
forward to the future.
Aaron Resch, L6th and Michael Schuldt, 5HA.
SENIOR GIRLS AND GIRLS 1ST VIII
The girls' senior squad this year consisted of only eleven
girls yet the boat club was still able to assemble and train a
very successful girls' first eight. The first major race of the
year was Women's Eights Head. The race was long and
tiring but the crew raced well. Waiting for the results created
tension, for everyone knew how close the racing had been
between us and LEH. To our dismay, we learnt that LEH
had beaten us by just 1.3 seconds - a very marginal amount
over a race which took around 20 minutes! Not to be
discouraged, the girls' eight prepared to race the following
week at Schools' Head, determined to rectify this result.
Both the boys' and girls' first eights were entered. Our main
competition at this race, and throughout the rest of the year,
was LEH. The race followed the same course in all senses
of the word - LEH beat us once again by seconds. Although
this left the girls' squad on a low, we were not to be outdone.
The biggest race of the year was approaching - National
Schools' Regatta - which was the ideal time to make our
attack.
Between Schools' Head and National Schools' Regatta,
the senior school rowing squad had their annual training
camp in Belgium which proved to be one of the most
successful camps, not only making us all fitter and
technically better, but also by building the squad up as a
team. Gent International Regatta followed, where the eight
found themselves up against senior women's crews such as
Tideway Scullers, Thames and many foreign crews. The
racing was tough but we fought our way into the semi-final,
Girls' 1st VIII: Fiona Sinclair (bow), Nichola Keane, Shelley league, Carol Duller, Amy Hughes, Louise Redknap, Sarah
Black, Fiona Simpson (stroke), Lucinda Cole (cox).
35
only to be beaten by fellow British crews. Other racing at
Gent included many successful pair races, single sculling
races and fours on both days.
Poplar Regatta followed Gent where it was planned for
the girls' eight to race LEH in a two-boat race. Tensions
were high and adrenalin was flowing but unfortunately
LEH had to pull out due to illness so the eight ended up
racing three octuples of junior boys in order to gain some
racing practice. Finally National Schools' regatta dawned.
It was the race we had been training for all year. The eight
won the heat easily, well ahead of the other crews. In the six
boat final, our main competitors were LEH, Haberdashers
Monmouth and Headington School, all of whom were very
fast. The race started well with Kingston ahead but soon
LEH drew back to take the lead. The boats stayed level for
a short distance but LEH once again drew away to win the
event, with Kingston girls' eight coming in second place,
just ahead of Headington. The result was disappointing for
all the crew, but we knew that we had rowed at our best and
nothing more could have been done in the race. On the
Sunday, other girls' crews raced including a girls' double
who finished 5th in the final, a girls' pair (Louise Redknap
and Shelley Teague) who came in second, a pair (Nichola
Keane and Fiona Simpson) who finished third in the same
race, a girls' four, and Caroline Mulcahy in a single, who
sculled well to finish in the semi-finals.
The eight also raced
at Reading Regatta
against
university
crews and finished first
in the Senior One
event, and second in the
Senior Two event. Caroline Mulcahy raced very well in the
single sculls and finished ahead of her opponent to take
gold.
The final regatta for the eight was Women's Henley in
June. This would be our last chance to beat LEH. The race
started brilliantly with Kingston storming away off the start
leaving LEH half a length down. This margin closed
slightly but we remained just ahead up until the last 500m
of the race. As we started to wind up to the finish, LEH did
the same and began to gain on us slightly at each stroke.
Unfortunately LEH had the extra bit of energy that they
needed to move past us and they finished about three
quarters of a length ahead, totally exhausted. It was
certainly the best and closest two-boat race that both LEH
and Kingston had experienced - a fitting finale to the racing
season.
The year ended with National Championships Regatta
where a number of different crews raced. A composite eight
was assembled who raced very well and finished in second
place. Sarah Black finished a successful third in her race
and Amy Hughes and Fae McDowall (from George
Watson's College) raced in the doubles to win gold.
Overall, this year's racing has been very successful for
the girls and as a result four girls - Shelley Teague (girls'
pair), Amy Hughes (girls' quad), Nichola Keane (spare
pair) and Fiona Simpson (spare pair) - were selected to
represent Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in
Nottingham. Also, Louise Redknap and Shelley Teague
raced for England at Home Countries in a pair. The greatest
36
thanks go to Louise Kingsley who has trained the girls'
eight to a very high standard over the course of this year and
the previous six years. Sadly for Kingston, Louise is moving
on to take up a job as Development Coach for the Great
Britain under 23 squad - an exceptional opportunity.
Amy Hughes, L6th.
J16 BOYS ROWING
After being given the responsibility of writing a sensible
report of the rowing year, I decided to be blatantly honest
about our roller coaster ride of a season.
After our first training session and the desperation seen
in Mr Sheppard's eyes, we were promptly told to forget
about the power and concentrate on our technique. After
many, many (too many) after-school sessions we went
through the head season without a win but half way through
the regatta season we notched up our first and unfortunately
only victory at Thames Ditton Regatta, where our
previously untapped potential was finally shown. For the
rest of the season we improved greatly, but the size and
power of the other crews was too much for us to handle.
This was again witnessed at National Schools' Regatta
where we were knocked out in the first round.
I would like to commend the crew on doing so well
especially with all the changes made during the season. The
potential is there; roll on next season.
Well Done - N Major, D Plantin, D Hulme, N Tate, D
Sherman, K Wilson-Clarke and J J Alexander.
Daniel Plantin, 5B.
J16 PAIR
Mr Sheppard decided that he needed two excellent technical
and powerful rowers for the J16 pair. His immediate and
obvious approach was for the superlative rowing skills of
Daniel Plantin and Daniel Sherman.
After a slow start they became the surprise package of
the season where they blew away the opposition at
numerous regattas. Size did not matter as all of their
opponents were twice as big. The main event of the season
was National Schools' Regatta in Nottingham where they
came 4th, one second off finishing in 2nd place. Both
Daniels have high aspirations for next season. They will be
bigger, beefier and faster. Watch out the world.
Daniel Plantin, 5B.
775 GIRLS ROWING
The J15 girls had a surprisingly successful year thanks to
our adoptive mum, Miss Filsell. Our training camp during
Easter produced two quads, A and B. These went on to
compete in numerous regattas. There were wins at Poplar,
Egham, Thames Valley Park and Thames Ditton, mainly in
the quads, but also in fours and a double. At National
Schools the quads formed an eight and came 3rd. The A
crew got a silver at National Schools. Only Elise took part
in National Championships where she got to the finals. We
all enjoyed a hard, but rewarding year.
Katherine Gardiner, 4S.
The women's quad came 2nd and 3rd as well, on both days
having a close battle with the Swiss! The Women's pair did
extremely well, winning by a large margin on both days.
The spare pair also did well coming 3rd in the women's pair
race on both days, having a close race with the French on
each occasion. The GB team performed well and managed
to come home with the overall event trophy.
Nichola Keane, L6th.
J14 BOYS ROWING
The J14s started the year well with a 4th place in the octuple
and 3rd place in a quad at Hampton Head.
The octuple followed this up with a win at the Tiffins
friendly head, beating Westminster by one second!
After a long term of preparation for the summer, the
established J14 octuple crew finished second overall at the
London Docklands Regatta. This was our first experience at
a regatta. Also the double of Robert Allen and Alisdair
Waddell won a bronze medal, the highest place for a double
at Docklands for many years.
At Thames Ditton Regatta, the octuple finished half a
second behind Latimer after leading the race throughout.
The J14 crews had a disappointing trip to Nottingham in
the National Schools' Regatta. A bad misjudgement forced
us out of the final and poor qualifying times meant that no
J14 quad reached a final. This was also true for the doubles.
We finished the year well with some encouraging results
at Egham and Reading. Over all, it was a good year.
Robert Allen, 3CP.
ANGLO FRENCH REPORT
On Sunday, 13th July, Jamie Bottomley, Nick Major,
Michael Schuldt, Jon Alexander and Kyle Wilson-Clarke
travelled up to Nottingham at some unearthly hour. We then
proceeded to win our trial, gaining selection for Great
Britain, and rowing straight through Eton in the process.
Two weeks later, a small contingent of British and French
crews convened at Henley for the Franco-British Match.
The KGS crew were racing in the MJ16 4+ against the top
French crew. The French snatched a length off the start and
held it all the way to the end, despite our pushes. The fun
regatta followed, with mixed crews, at which point the
heavens opened. A good time was had by all and we would
like to thank Jeremy Hicks for his coaching.
Jamie Bottomley, 5HA.
Adrian Lester, 5 HK
'V 1 1 '•
I '
J14 GIRLS ROWING
This being our first rowing year, we started off in mixed
quads with little confidence and even less experience and,
needless to say, won nothing! Things improved, however,
and by the regattas of the summer we were well into the
swing of things with an interchanging squad of seven,
reaching the semi-finals at the National Schools
championship as a quad, and having some other fairly good
results as singles and doubles both there and in other
regattas. I myself went in a single to the National
Championships during the summer where I was beaten to
the final by my cousin! All in all we have had an enjoyable
year and eagerly await this year's racing.
Lisa Benham, 3M.
, if
COUPE DE LA JEUNESSE
This summer five members of the Senior Squad were
selected to represent Great Britain in the Coupe de la
Jeunesse. Oliver Gibson was selected for the men's eight,
Amy Hughes for the women's quad, Shelley Teague for the
women's pair and Nikki Keane and Fiona Simpson for the
spare pair.
After four weeks of hard training at set locations each
crew travelled to Nottingham. The team was very strong and
some good results were obtained. The men's eight came
2nd and 3rd, being beaten by the Portuguese on both days.
37
HOCKEY 96-97
GENERAL REPORT
Having won the National under-18 Indoor Championships
last year, the 1st XI found themselves in the difficult
position of yet again attempting to emulate recent successes.
We began the year well by qualifying again for the Indoor
finals, beating St George's College in the Divisional finals.
In the National final at Kidderminster we were unfortunate
to bow out in the semi-finals to Millfield on penalty flicks.
Outdoors, KGS won the Surrey round of the National Youth
Under-18 cup, beating a strong St George's College side in
a tough final on flicks. By winning the Divisional
tournament at Wellington College, KGS qualified for the
National finals at the national hockey stadium in Milton
Keynes. A semi-final win against Birkenhead School was
followed by a tense and exciting final against Millfield
(again!) which was won 5-3. The fourth national outdoor
title in the last six years was a tremendous achievement by
anyone's standards. I would like to give a special mention to
Edmund Whitworth, the 1st XI hockey secretary. On top of
his duties (including writing the second half of this report),
his performances on the pitch have been inspirational all
year.
The under 16s reached the semi-final of the Divisional
indoor tournament before being knocked out on sudden
death penalty flicks. In the outdoor tournament this young
side (all 4th years) did well to win the Surrey tournament
and to finish third (on goal difference) behind St George's
College, eventual national champions, in the Divisional
tournament. The under 14s were unfortunately knocked out
in the Surrey tournament.
During the Easter holidays our under 14 squads (a total
party of 40 boys and girls) travelled to Holland on a
successful and enjoyable tour. Encouraging wins for the A
team against Klein Zwitzerland HC and HDM HC were the
highlights. Klein Zwitzerland and Wageningen MHC
travelled to Kingston allowing us to reciprocate their kind
hospitality. Many thanks to all the pupils and in particular
their parents who enabled these visits to be such a success.
KGS boys represented Surrey and the South West at all
levels. Special mention should be made of Andrew Evans
who played for Wales under 18s, and to James Webber who
represented England at under 15 level.
My particular thanks must go to all members of the
hockey staff who generously give up their time in the
evenings and at weekends. It is with great regret that I say
thanks to two people who have stepped down from the
coaching staff this year. My predecessor as Master i/c of
hockey, Dick Barker, has ample duties as head of the middle
school and i/c careers to keep him busy. His caring manner
and dry sense of humour will be sorely missed. Ken Hillary
has run teams for twenty years at KGS and certainly
deserved the chance of watching the rugby internationals in
front of a warm fire on cold Saturday afternoons (if he has
Sky!). Many thanks to them both.
1stXI1996-97 BackE.G.W. Whitworth, I.E. Files, A.G. Webber, D.J. Spenceley, R.J. Angell, A.F. Barlow, A.J.L. Apergis, KM Kulendra
Front: P.J. Taylor, J.A. Smith, M.J. Newport, A.D. Evans, L.D. Garrard.
38
Finally, thanks to all the parents, supporters and friends
who travel the country to watch KGS teams at all levels, in
all sorts of weather conditions. Your support is really
appreciated.
DGB.
Tournaments
Regular Fixtures
Teddington HC
W3-2
RGS High Wycombe Dl-1
WLIHE
L2-7
Sir William Borlase
Ll-3
King's College School Wl-0
Hounslow HC
W4-2
RGS High Wycombe W3-0
Surbiton HC
LI-2
St. George's College Dl-1
Seaford
W6-0
Charterhouse
W4-2
The Past
L2-10
Hockey Association XI LI-5
Teddington HC
W2-0
National U-18 Youth
Cup Divisional Round
Wellington
Bradford
City of
Portsmouth
King Edward's
Oxford
Dl-1
W3-2
W2-1
W7-2
National U-18 Youth
Cup - Finals
Swalwell
Greshams
Cannock HC
Semi-Final
Birkenhead
Final
Millfield
W4-0
D2-2
W5-2
W4-1
W5-3
National U-18 Indoor Finals (Kidderminster)
Lost in semi-final to Millfield on penalty flicks.
1ST ELEVEN RESULTS
School Matches
Club Matches
P
16
7
W
11
3
OVERALL
23
14
D
4
0
L
1
4
F
51
15
A
21
28
66
49
1st XI HOCKEY REPORT
There were high hopes at the start of the 1996-97 season
that the first XI would make a successful defence of the
National Indoor title. We were undefeated in practice and
won the Divisional Tournament comfortably, beating St
George's College 1-0 in the final. At the Finals in
Kidderminster, however, a team virtually unchanged from
last year's champions failed to reproduce the same form. We
lost on penalty flicks to Millfield in the semi-final.
However, some consolation can be taken from a 6-5 defeat
of St George's, the eventual champions, in an exhibition
match at Crystal Palace a couple of weeks later.
Indoor Squad: Alex Barlow, Andrew Evans, Kevin
Kulendra, Michael Newport, Jody Smith, David Taylor,
Paul Taylor, Andrew Webber, Edmund Whitworth.
The real success of the season came in the Outdoor
competition. Our bid to become National Champions almost
ended in the County Round, but with a little luck and a lot
of nerve we beat St George's on flicks in the final. Success
in the Divisional Round was made more difficult than it
should have been by some undisciplined hockey. But in the
build-up to the National Finals at Milton Keynes the team,
which was perhaps not so full of star players as previous
KGS champions, began to function more as a unit, based
around Mr. Royce's patterns of play.
Newport, as captain, was often at the centre of these
attacks, his strength and athleticism, which enabled him
continually to pressurise the opposition, both in mid-field
and at back, being neatly complemented by the trickery of
Kulendra, whose effortless deception and pace made many
a Millfield defender look ridiculous. The attack was
completed by Webber, whose flair and predatory instincts in
front of goal were finally realised at Milton Keynes. Angell
made some valuable contributions to the forward line,
continuing his habit of scoring at vital moments.
The success enjoyed in attack could not have been
achieved without firm foundations in defence. The
flamboyant football-style skills of Garrard in goal provided
a sound basis to a defensive line which operated effectively
on an understanding of each other's play and an ability to
read the movements of the opposition. Apergis developed
into a formidable man-marker and after a season of
consistently dependable performances from Files at halfback, the defence looks secure for next season. Spenceley,
with his size and a tackling style which is aggressive to say
the least, refused to let any right-winger get past him, and
was the team's secret weapon, turning games with his
strikes at short corners.
The team held together around a strong mid-field
nucleus: Smith often showed his international calibre with
high-quality passes which could split defences - when he
managed to avoid suspension and substitution; Barlow kept
things simple and fluid as he gained confidence at centrehalf and Evans, clearly benefitting from international
experience, displayed deft control and previously untapped
skill.
The preliminaries at Milton Keynes saw a composed and
confident start as we beat Swalwell (4-0) and Cannock (52) and were unlucky to draw 2-2 with Greshams. It was in
the semi-final that we really found our form, dominating
Birkenhead to win 4-1. But in the final against Millfield,
who knocked us out of the Nationals in the semi-final two
years ago, as well as this year's Indoor tournament, we had
to produce our best hockey of the season; from 1-3 down
with 12 minutes remaining, and with three players sent off,
we secured a 5-3 win, with four goals from Webber.
The success of this season would not have been possible
without the fitness training of Mr. Stott and Mr. Burns
(whose words of wisdom inspired the team - "Winners are
grinners...."), the expert coaching of Mr. Royce and the
management of Mr. Buttanshaw. Finally, thanks must go to
Mr. Wright for the support of the Sports Shop in this and
previous years.
Edmund Whitworth, U6th.
39
BOYS 2ND XI HOCKEY
Played 13 Won 5 Drawn 2 Lost 6
The results for this season have a symmetrical look, but I am
left with the feeling that we could have won several more
matches. The Autumn term started disastrously with a
heavy defeat by a strong Whitgift team. However, spirits
were lifted by good wins over High Wycombe (twice) and
Guildford as well as a draw with a combative Wallington
team. The term ended disappointingly with two defeats.
The Spring Term started with two cancellations due to
bad weather, followed by a draw with Guildford, giving us
a complete set of results against them. We won a close
match with KCS and ended the season with a
comprehensive victory against Reed's, but Dulwich, St
George's and the Past proved too strong for us. The forward
line found goal scoring difficult, though Henry Marsh did
score 4 in one match against High Wycombe. Unfortunately
he only managed two more in the other term and a half.
Gareth Narinesingh and Chris Bolton looked experienced
players and have good ball skills when under pressure but
they never fully overcame a tendency to hold the ball too
long. Jaymin Patel showed some skill on the wing and
scored one or two spectacular goals. Both James Scales and
Oliver Duguid also looked classy players but were a little
frail when confronted by large defenders. At centre-half
Tuomas Pirinen was by far the most skilful player in the side
and looked a certain 1 st XI player of the future. He does,
however, need to control his temperament. Mark Cheney
showed some neat touches but lacked some physical
maturity and pace. Michael Short played well for most of
the season but lost concentration and discipline towards the
end. In defence, Simon Gatland and Simon Temlett tackled
and covered with great resourcefulness and determination,
though both could improve their distribution. Simon also
scored some goals with fierce hits from short corners. James
Lloyd kept goal well throughout the season, making many
good saves despite the odd mistake and always remaining
cheerful even in defeat.
KJH.
Team: J. Lloyd, S. Gatland, S. Temlett, C. Bolton, M.
Cheney, T. Pirinen, M. Short, J. Patel, G. Narinesingh, H.
Marsh, J. Scales, O. Duguid, S. Searle.
BOYS 3RD XI HOCKEY
Played? Won 5
Drawn 2 Lost 0
F 18 A 12
A vintage year, in many ways.
Unfortunately there were a number of cancellations,
which thus reduced the number of games played, but this
perhaps also contributed to our 'team of the season' status
(in our own eyes) since we were unbeaten - the first
unbeaten Third Eleven in 'living memory'? (where 'living'
= 10+years?).
There were a number of gritty performances - not only
brought on by dusty astroturf pitches. No less than four of
our victories were by a single goal - most pleasing perhaps
40
that against UCS where, with characteristic good manners,
we gave the opposition two early goals and then hauled
ourselves back into the game by sheer determination.
Equally inspiring was the collective spirit shown at City
of London, where the score was also 3-2, on this occasion
probably brought on by the opposition announcing that the
game was to be on grass rather than astro. Our resolve
steadily increased proportionate to the length of time that
the nearby astroturf pitch remained vacant throughout our
game (and then continued to be so, long after our game had
finished). We were thankfully victorious thanks to three (yes
three!) penalties despatched in his final appearance for KGS
by our stalwart defender, Simon Gatland. Cometh the hour
... Conversion of penalties has never exactly been a Third
XI strength, but to succeed with three was positively
amazing (and they were good ones, too!).
Simon, in fact was leading scorer, even though he played
regularly at full-back. This was not, alas, due to 'total
hockey' with a fluid formation and rapid interchange of
positions (hardly surprisingly, I suppose), but rather because
we worked out some pretty nifty corner routines. He can hit
it hard, can Simon. His commanding presence was always
evident, too, in defence.
The forwards had their moments, of course, but no-one
regularly grabbed the headlines for goal-scoring prowess.
Chris Bolton - a law unto himself much of the time - had the
ability to dazzle with solo efforts, but also to frustrate.
Probably even more frustrating was Hugh Hobbs, who
occasionally by the end of the season had passed the ball;
his dribbling skills were better than anyone's - say no more.
James Scales and Tuomas Pirinen were the two 'class'
performers of the side, especially the latter, really, who is a
great competitor, a shrewd passer and covers vast tracts of
ground (often fairly necessary). James had vision, quite
good balance on the ball and generally looked to make
passes, which was quite handy. Mark Cheney also tended to
find himself playing in midfield and is a good attacking
half-back. Mark tended to resist the coach's desire to
promote him to inside-forward, but he could well make his
Mark there (sorry about that) in future years.
Oliver Duguid, along with Simon Gatland, was the
mainstay of the defence. He is a very capable and assured
tackier at this level - certainly capable of playing to a higher
standard. And the coach generally managed to resist many
of his (not unique) ambitions, "To play further forward Sir.."
Oliver was politeness personified in acceptance of his lot
and he was our most accomplished ball-winner.
James Lloyd was our regular custodian and made a very
good job of it. Forays from goal were generally interesting
and eventful and his shot-saving even better. James was also
a genuine enthusiast, which is valuable in any side. Another
genuine enthusiast was Michael Short who played in a
variety of defensive and attacking positions and proved a
most terrier-like contributor. He didn't exactly bite their
ankles, but the opposition always knew when Michael was
around...
Scott Searle was another 'Mr. Versatile' - often starting
at left-half and then showing more than a bit of skill on the
dribble down the left wing. A whole-hearted performer, too,
was Scott, even once re-arranging his scuba-diving to turn
out against Epsom College (won 2-1, thank-you Scott).
Henry Marsh was one of the other decent passers of the
ball - especially down the right of attack. He also played in
a variety of positions - wing, centre-forward, inside-forward
- and always created havoc, generally to the opposition.
Henry also had an eye for the goal and has a good firm shot
when given time on the ball. Henry is a busy player - and
very useful, too.
Last of the regulars, but certainly by no means least, was
Tero Pirinen who also captained the side with quiet aplomb.
Not the most demonstrative of captains, he nevertheless led
by example in terms of commitment and was quite the most
modest and self-effacing player to have passed through the
ranks of the glorious Thirds. His two goals in the season the first especially joyously greeted by the team - were
pleasing end-products to three seasons of dedication and
support.
In previous seasons we have got through 20+ players in
the season, but this year numbers were down and there was
quite a lot of doubling up with U16 sides and the 2nd XI. As
well as those mentioned above, Leo Crane did a good job in
three games and James Renny and Raashid Khan played
once each.
Although the overall success was very pleasing, it is
always so much more satisfying if it is all good fun as well.
I'm glad to say this was the case, and I thank all the players
for it.
RLE.
BOYS U16 'A' XI HOCKEY
We knew from the start that we would have to play
extremely well to compete with the leading opposition for
all of our team except one were under 15.
The Autumn Term produced a mixture of results, one of
the most telling being the 2-2 draw with Millfield, showing
that we could threaten the best despite the age difference.
The first major tournament was the Divisional round of
the U16 Indoor Nationals. We reached the semi-finals and
met City of Portsmouth, knowing that the winner would
qualify for the national finals at Kidderminster. Having gone
1-0 down we did well to draw level, but then missed good
opportunities to win the game, and, cruelly, ended up losing
on sudden-death penalty strokes.
The Spring Term brought early matches against some
good sides. Having looked the better side in a match against
Wellington, we failed to convert possession into goals, and
lost 2-4. We beat Katherine Lady Berkeley's 3-0, lost to St
George's 2-3, and then gained a good 2-2 draw against a
strong KCS, Wimbledon, side. This began our end-ofseason run of nine unbeaten games, including wins over
Whitgift, Simon Langton, Reed's and Charterhouse.
The County round of the National Outdoor
Championship was made significantly easier by the
automatic progression to the Divisional round of St
George's, being National Champions. We, therefore, won
that round with relative ease, winning all three games.
However, for our U15s, the Divisionals would prove a
somewhat tougher occasion. We did compete very well with
all the teams we faced, and did not lose a game, but draws
with Wellington, St George's and King Edward's,
Southampton meant that we were not to qualify. St George's
went on to win the Nationals over the summer.
Oliver Smith and Steven Kessell, 4B.
BOYS U16 'B' XI HOCKEY
Played 10 Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 5
The U16Bs had a reasonably successful season, bearing in
mind that the majority of the team were drawn from the 4th
year. The hockey calendar began well with an emphatic 7-3
win over Teddington, with Hitesh Patel looking impressive
and powerful in the centre-forward role. A hard fought draw
with RGS, High Wycombe, was followed by a narrow loss
against Wallington - although, technically, the result was
void since the floodlights failed ten minutes into the second
half! During this match Chris Bland once again showed his
pace and potential on the right wing. Mid-season saw a
couple of reverses against Hampstead Vets and KCS but
probably the most satisfying result was to follow: an 8-2
drubbing of a St George's U15 side. Andrew Hughes was
particularly dominant at centre-half and Jason Thomas
made an encouraging debut at inside-right. In addition, both
Seb Tindall and Jon Levack continued their sterling work at
the back, whilst Ian Fortune produced a mature performance
between the posts.
Once again the U16B squad demonstrated tremendous
commitment and enthusiasm and during the season several
players blossomed. My thanks to captain Ollie Duguid and
all the other members of the team.
From: O. Duguid, T. Basraa, I. Fortune, J. Levack, S.
Tindall, A. Hughes, H. Patel, J. Thomas, C. Bland, R.
Bugeya, J. Scales, D. Sandy, M. Cheney, S. Searle.
BOYS U14 'A' XI HOCKEY
The U14s began the season well, winning four and drawing
one of the first five games. With injuries to key players and
a lack of self-belief, the team then went through a
disappointing spell where goals were hard to come by and
defensive errors were costly. The team performances
towards the end of the Spring Term improved. Encouraging
results against Whitgift, Reed's and, in particular, Simon
Langton, signalled a change in fortunes.
Our form was peaking in June for the tour to Holland.
The first part of our tour was spent staying with Wageningen
HC whom we convincingly beat 7-1 in our first match. Our
first real challenge was a tournament against some of the top
teams in the area. We reached the semi-finals where we beat
our hosts 1-0 in a tough game, and in the final we beat
Arnhem 3-1 to win the tournament as last year's U14s had
done.
For the second part of the tour we travelled to Den Haag,
where the competition is tougher. We beat our hosts Klein
Zwitzerland 7-4 and comfortably beat Hudito 3-0 the
following day. We then played in an indoor tournament
(only a few of us had played in one before), winning both
our matches convincingly. We were unbeaten until the last
day when we unfortunately lost 1-0 in the final game against
our hosts.
41
The injuries to McFarland and Demianow certainly
weakened the side, but with both players fit and Webber
available, the team produced its most convincing hockey.
Gill's defensive play, in particular his tackling, improved
during the year, and Barrett, Agca and Schwarz all had their
moments. The best from this year group is still to come.
I would like to thank Mr Royce and Mr Buttanshaw for
their coaching and organisation of the team throughout the
year.
Jamie McFarland.
BOYS U14 'B' XI HOCKEY
The season proved there was a great deal of depth
throughout all the years up to 3rd year. Over 25 players
represented the school at this level throughout the season,
and it has been particularly pleasing to see the attitude and
level of commitment against teams that sometimes were
considerably bigger and older than a majority of our
players.
Players who should prove worthy of representing the 'A'
side next year include David Sims, Theo Coyne, Stefano
Mevoli, Elliot Buzzing, Simon Legge, Tom Gow and David
Clough.
MJC.
THE 6NOW
LEOPARD
The snow leopard prowls quietly
in the night,
Running through woods,
Catching his prey until he is satisfied.
His amber eyes twinkle in the
moonlight.
He senses movement in the corner
of his eye,
A lost gazelle making worried noises.
The snow leopard crouches,
ready to spring.
He pounces and wrestles with his prey.
BOYS U12 'A' XI HOCKEY
The Under 12s had a good season with promising victories
towards the end. In our first term of competitive hockey after a number of mini-hockey games against other schools
- we were pleased to achieve victories over Parkside (2-0)
and Newland House (4-0). Unfortunately Reed's beat us
easily (0-3), but this was our very first match of the season
and they had quite an experienced side.
After Christmas we beat Newland House again (by 1-0
this time). We beat Whitgift (2-1) and achieved a further
victory over Parkside (1-0). We earned a hard-fought draw
against Brockhurst (2-2) but this was a match we felt we
should have won. Unfortunately we lost to Bethnal Green
(0-2), and we were also well beated by St. George's (0-5)
who had a very skilful and experienced side.
One of the highlights of our year was the opportunity to
play on the water-based pitch at Reading. However, we were
unable to win that match and were beaten (0-1) by Lady
Katherine Berkeley.
Having made reasonable progress with 5 wins, 1 draw
and 4 losses, we were entered in the Surrey Under 14
tournament at Ditton Field in March. We won only one
match but it was good for us to gain experience of
tournament competition. The victory of the under 14B side
over St. George's in the final will give us something to aim
for next year.
In particular, the solid defending of Sung and Lee, the
hard work and creative play of Grounds, Evans and Dann in
mid-field and the unselfish running of Patel up front
underline the promise shown by this young side.
Joshua Lee, IF.
42
After his fulfilling meal he sleeps,
but then
Awakes and drinks the rivers icy water,
Later goes to catch a rabbit for his fun,
Reserving his strength for the next
nights hunt.
Jack Finlayson, IP.
Michael Kim,
4S.
GIRLS HOCKEY 96-97
Any thoughts that we may have had of being unable to
match the terrific success of the previous season, were
pleasingly proven by events to be groundless. The girls
can be justifiably proud of their achievements at the
conclusion of yet another successful season. More girls
than ever this year have gained representative honours at
County and Divisional level and for the first time three
girls have been selected to attend England coaching. The
Under 16 XI easily retained the County U16 XI cup and
the Under 14 XI worked exceedingly hard to hold on to
the County Under 14 XI Cup. This can be attributed to the
hard work and commitment of both staff and girls.
1st XI
Matches:
Played 14 Won 7 Drew 2 Lost 5 For 23 Against 14
Tournaments
Played 5 Won 2 Drew 2 Lost 1 For 3 Against 4
Natalie Bell (pictured above) was selected to play for the
England Under 16 XI squad and so becomes the first girl at
KGS to become an international at hockey.
The team had mixed fortunes this season which could
be put down to a series of niggling injuries and illness in
the team. The matches against old rivals CLFS were some
of the best games played between these teams for many
years. In the game at Ashtead in November, Freemen's
snatched a late goal to win the match but in the return at
Ditton in March a solid and spirited performance by the
girls gained revenge for the earlier defeat. There were
notable victories against Christ's Hospital School,
Farnborough Hill School, St Teresa's School, Sevenoaks
School, Surbiton Hockey Club and The Past XL
1st XI. Back row, L to R. Lauren Barker, Krinna Patel, Rachel Dain, Emily Jenner, Nicola Stopps, Natalie Bell, Thea Hitchcock, Nicola Thomson,
Front row, L to R. Kay Lung, Stephanie Thwaites, Kasia Podrucka, Esther Wyatt (Capt.), Ozzie Aalam, Claire Bergenroth (V.Capt.), Alice Downie.
43
Godolphin and Latymer gave the team two hard matches,
winning one and drawing the other. King Edward's School,
Witley have improved enormously over recent years and in
beating us by 3-0, showed us that we can never be
complacent and must work hard for victory. Although we
lost only by 2-0 to Ardingly College, it must be said that
they were a very 'slick outfit' and the score rather flattered
us. It was disappointing for captain Esther Wyatt that she
missed a number of matches through injury. However,
Claire Bergenroth was an able and vociferous deputy and
throughout the season played brilliantly, coming to the
team's rescue many times. Kasia Podrucka matured as a
player and proved to be very steady in defence. Monica
Turnes and Natalie Bell worked tirelessly in midfield, Thea
Hitchcock played unselfishly 'up front' and Nicola Stopps,
Kay Lung, Nicola Thomson, Krinna Patel, Emily Jenner
and Rachel Dain all gained valuable experience playing at
this level. Ozzie Aalam and Stephanie Thwaites began
hesitantly but were playing quite soundly by the end of the
season.
2nd XI
Matches:
Played? Won 2 DrewO Lost 5 For 4 Against 19
With many of the 5th year girls choosing to continue to play
hockey, it became a viable option to run the 2ndXI again last
season. The girls worked hard at improving their skills and
set plays but were always going to find the matches tough
when competing against schools with larger numbers to
select from. A tough match at Ardingly was not the easiest
way to start the season. However, although losing the game
quite heavily, the girls never gave up and continued to play
good hockey to the end. The next two games saw excellent
victories for the girls with a 2-0 win against Royal Russell
School and a 2-1 win against the run of play over CLFS.
This was the last match the team won. However, they never
gave up trying to play good hockey and the team spirit was
unquenchable. Katy Ingram was a 'star' stepping in to play
in goal when Liz Shand was injured. She saved the team
from conceding more goals and always had a ready smile.
Andaleeb Basunia, Nicky Stone and Katherine Knowles
were 'pillars of strength' at the back whilst Liana Elia,
Francesca Wigney, Jo Reynolds, Claire Davies, Kay Ribeiro
and Claire Erte worked tirelessly in midfield. Laura Wake,
Melanie Davis and Katy Johnstone never gave up trying to
score goals. Sadly many of these girls have moved on to
places of further education. I hope that they will continue to
play and enjoy hockey.
U16 XI
Matches:
Played 14 Won 11 Drew 1 Lost 2 For 47 Against 15
Tournaments:
Played 14 Won 9 Drew 3 Lost 2 For 24 Against 9
The team began the season with two good victories over
King Edward's School and Royal Russell before taking part
at the Surrey Tournament which was held at KGS. At the
44
end of a hot afternoon the team emerged victorious and
went on to represent Surrey at the South of England
Tournament. Perhaps the occasion got to them as they did
not play the hockey of which they were capable. After a
good start beating the James Mason School from Oxford
3-0 they lost to the eventual winners, Henry Cort School,
3-0. Against Wycombe High the girls should have won, but
tournaments always provide notorious surprises, and this
was one such occasion. A loss against Ardingly and two
further draws ensured 4th place but after such a promising
start it was a disappointing conclusion to the day. The team
went on to have a magnificent season, losing only to
Christ's Hospital School and CLFS. There were excellent
results against Ardingly (3-0), Godolphin and Latymer (30), Sevenoaks School (2-0), St Teresa's and Surbiton High
School. Natalie Bell was the top goal scorer helped by Alice
Downie and Thea Hitchcock. Lindsay Brown provided
staunch resistance in goal and was helped at the back most
ably by Nicola Stopps, Nicola Thomson, Diana Fisher and
Kay Lung. Kirsty and Isla Johnstone (when fit), Rachel
Dain, Emily Jenner and Krinna Patel contributed much to
the scoring power of the team.
U14XI
Matches:
Played 15 Won 5 Drew 5 Lost 5 For 17 Against 15
Tournaments
Played 8 Won 5 Drew 3 Lost 0 For 9 Against 1
An extract from the press said, 'after a gripping penalty
shoot out competition at the recent Surrey U14 XI
Tournament against CLFS, the girls of Kingston Grammar
School came away winners by 1-0'. When Angela Park put
the final penalty stroke away it was a jubilant team who
gathered together in the goal at the end of an exhausting
afternoon. Tears of joy, whoops of delight! It was a great
occasion for the team who had promised much all season
but never quite got it together until the tournament. There
had been victories during the season against Tormead
School, Royal Russell School, Sevenoaks School,
Farnborough Hill School and Surbiton High School. A
number of the matches lost were conceded by the odd goal
often scored in the last minutes of the game. Improved
fitness and concentration might be the important factors in
achieving some better results next season. Lindsay Brown
was often the saviour for the team, making some
outstanding saves in goal, and as a player, improved
throughout the season. Ruth Waller and Sheza Afzal played
thoughtfully and steadily at the back whilst Angela Park and
Helen Philp worked tirelessly in the midfield to create
openings for May Evans to use her speed and for Poonam
Kalsi and Olivia Nunn to convert the chances. There was
always good support from Jo Griffin, Georgia Harris,
Louise Howard, Arabella and Camilla Stanger, and some of
the 2nd years, notably Elissa Capizzi-Taylor, Sally Pilbeam
and Elizabeth Lennard.
U13 XI
Matches:
Played 10 Won 4 Drew 1 Lost 5 For 8 Against 9
Tournaments:
Played 11 Won 7 Drew 2 Lost 2 For 17 Against 5
The season started well for the team who were 2nd in the
KGS Invitation Mini-Hockey Tournament. It was played in
the form of a round robin. There were victories against
Surbiton Hockey Club (3-0), CLFS (2-0) and Notre Dame
(1-0). Farnborough Hill School provided tough opposition
and at the end a 0-0 draw was a fair result.
In the final match the girls had to draw or beat Woking
Hockey Club, but with superior strengh in forward play the
Woking team came out on top to win by 4-0. During the
season the team had great difficulty finding the back of the
goal and were sadly losing and drawing games when they
should have won easily. The approach play was often far
superior to their opposition's but very often naive finishing
let them down. Towards the end of the season they had good
victories against Sevenoaks, Surbiton High School and St
Tereas's School. The final achievement of the team was to
finish 2nd in the Surrey U13 XI Mini-Hockey Tournament
to, yet again, Woking Hockey Club. The girls were by far
the better team but sadly conceded a very late and
unfortunate goal. On the day they beat Tiffin 'C' 7-0,
Surbiton High School 1-0, drew with Woking H.C. 0-0 and
beat Bushey School 1-0. In the semi-final the team beat
Tormead School by 2-0 and so went on to the final.
Elizabeth Lennard was the top scorer with 5 goals followed
closely by Lara Mott with 4 goals. Elissa Capizzi-Taylor
provided the dash in midfield alongside the creativity of
Bethan Jenkins. Sally Pilbeam matured as a player and was
always a thoughtful and steady member of the team. During
the season there were important contributions from Eleanor
Wauters, Brenda Yogendran, Laura McGinn, Rhian
Andrewartha, Vicky Hannan, Antonia Perlowska-Goose,
Nivedika Theivendran and Jane Coughlan. Mariam AlHasani tried hard in goal and slowly improved during the
year.
Elizabeth Lennard on the attack for the U13 XI
U12 XI
Matches:
Played 4 Won 3 Drew 0 Lost 1 For 12 Against 2
Tournaments:
Played 4 Won 3 DrewO Lost 1 For 11 Against 3
The 'A' XI played some neat and promising hockey and
deserved to beat Tormead School 3-0, CLFS 1-0 and
Surbiton High School 8-0. Farnborough Hill School proved
to be difficult opponents on grass and the team went down
by 2 goals to 0. Lia Tilley and Claire Ellis were the top
scorers and there was excellent support play from Bethan
Jenkins, Florrie Beckett and Laura McGinn. Rosie Schaffer
played soundly at the back and there was some excellent
goalkeeping from Anna Kellner.
The 'B' XI played some fine hockey and also won three
out of their four matches. They had good wins against
Tormead School 2-0, Surbiton High School 5-0 and
Farnborough Hill School 2-0. The only defeat was suffered
at the hands of CLFS by 3-2. Very close! Laura Bottomley
was the top scorer and was assisted greatly by Shoko
Okamura, Bhavisha Patel, Krina Patel, Maya Menon, Leah
Regel, Lucy Marsden and Kavita Madhavan. Anna
Colclough and Sarah Knowles, with slightly more
experience of playing hockey behind them, encouraged the
team and made thoughtful and sensible contributions in the
matches. Liz Brewer promises to be a good and fearless
goalkeeper and has a lot of potential.
Bethan Jenkins, 1L and Sarah Knowles, IP.
UNDER 14 XI GIRLS' HOCKEY TOUR TO
HOLLAND - EASTER 1997
When our team set off for five days of hockey in
Wageningen, hopes were high and expectations great.
However, the green faces of the rough ferry journey soon
turned to red as the girls lost their first match 7-0 against
Amersfoot. Even though morale was a little low after this
defeat the team picked themselves up but the results did not
do the same, unfortunately. There was a
further defeat by Ede 8-0 and a 0-0 draw with
a Wageningen 'A' XI before the team
finished on a high note with a 3-0 win against
a Wageningen 'B' XI. On the final day of the
tour the team took part in a tournament,
finishing in a very tired 9th place out of 10.
The tour was very enjoyable and much
was learnt from the experience. The team
would like to thank Mr and Mrs Stevenson
and Mrs Royce for encouraging and
supporting the team and never losing faith in
us. We are looking forward to getting our
revenge when Wageningen visit us in
October.
Helen Philp (Capt), 3M.
45
SCHOOL COLOURS
Senior Full Colours
Senior Half Colours:
Junior Colours:
Esther Wyatt, Claire Bergenroth,
Kasia Podrucka
Ruth Harvey, Lauren Barker
Natalie Bell, Alice Downie,
Thea Hitchcock, Nicola Stopps,
Isla Johnstone, Kirsty Johnstone,
Diana Fisher.
HOUSE HOCKEY COMPETITIONS
Monica Turnes in action during the annual staff/pupil
match
REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS 96/97
Under 16 XI Development Squad
Under 14 XI Development Squad
Natalie Bell
Helen Philp
Bethan Jenkins
SOUTH
U18XI
U16XI
U14XI
Monica Turnes
Natalie Bell, Thea Hitchcock
Helen Philp, Bethan Jenkins
SURREY
U18XI
U16XI
U15XI
U14XI
Monica Turnes, Natalie Bell
Alice Downie (Capt.)
Lindsay Brown, May Evans,
Helen Philp, Angela Park
Bethan Jenkins, Anna Kellner
MIDDLESEX
U16XI
Thea Hitchcock
The second past pupil to gain a Varsity Blue was Carolyn
Birt who played for Oxford last season in the annual match
which ended 0-0. Congratulations to Carolyn on your
tremendous achievement and good luck for 1998.
46
SENIOR
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Lovekyn
Walworth
Taverner
Queen's
JUNIOR
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Queen's
Walworth
Lovekyn
Taverner
A team from St David's College, Dublin toured England in
October and played a match against our 1st XL It was an
excellent game which KGS won by 1-0.
Girls' hockey within the school continues to thrive and
improve at all levels. As we strive towards better results
through improved technique, practice and training it is
worth remembering that enjoying the sport is also an
important aspect in the
success of any team. Team
spirit is vital and is
achieved by working hard
together, being committed
to the team and not letting
the team down at the last
minute. This is vital
throughout the season in all conditions,
whether it is the wretched weather or the
— ^
tough training session.
Well done to all the teams on a successful
season and may the next one be as
successful or, dare I say it, better than the last one.
My sincere thanks to the coaching staff (Miss Marshall,
Mr Stevenson, Miss Cooke, Miss Williams and Mrs Royce)
for their effort, encouragement and commitment in helping
to improve the performances of the teams. Thanks also to
Guilia Cherchi, who has cheerfully produced teas on match
days, to Gary and Sue Brailsford for the help they give to
girls' hockey in so many ways and finally to those parents
who have cheerfully braved all weathers to support the
teams.
C. Tullett, ilc Girls' Hockey.
S
2ND XI CRICKET
CRICKET 1997
1ST XI CRICKET
Played 9
Won 4
Drew 3
Lost 2
Approximately half the fixtures were lost in a frustrating
season. During cricket week in early July, Ditton Field was
a verdant green, rather than the parched arid yellow of
recent years. A season such as this must damage the
development of players.
Of the matches played over half were won. An early cup
exit against Charterhouse - doubtless the result of our
national hockey success a day or two earlier - was followed
by a dismal performance against KCS.
The highlight of the season was a fine 6 wicket win
against the MCC where tight bowling in the morning
session was rewarded after the break as MCC sought quick
runs. Luke Garrard, disappointing by his high standards
earlier in the term, led the side to victory with an unbeaten
half century, allowing Jodie Smith to blast a quick-fire 60 to
see the team home.
Andrew Evans batted with application on a number of
occasions, scoring 89 not out in an outstanding run chase
against Tiffin. The wet wickets made batting difficult and
whilst other players chipped in from time to time none of
the batsmen dominated.
The bowling lacked penetration. Duncan Spenceley had
a frustrating season bowling on slow wickets lacking
bounce. He was able to beat the bat with regularity and
doubtless was responsible for pressurising batsmen, only to
see them snapped up at the other end. Chris Bolton, who
was faster than he appeared, Michael Newport, who bowled
accurate seam up, and Kevin Kulendra (medium pace inswing) all bowled excellent spells. Mark Burns, one of three
fourth form pupils, had the unenviable task of following in
the footsteps of Philip Anderson. As the season progressed
Mark bowled with increasing precision and flight. Mark's
action is excellent and he should develop into an
outstanding bowler.
Luke Garrard captained the team for a third successive
season from behind the stumps. His wicket-keeping can be
outstanding, certainly the best on the school's circuit. He
found concentration difficult in his A level term, but was
largely responsible for the team's excellent fielding. He will
be sadly missed next season, when the responsibility of
captaincy might again fall on a relatively young student.
Duncan Spenceley and Andrew Evans, both dedicated
cricketers, will be difficult to replace, their sense of
responsibility and maturity being an example to all, both on
and (almost without exception) off the field.
Next year the team will be fairly young. Oliver Smith
will develop rapidly with the responsibility of opening the
batting. Daniel Sandy, now becoming a more mature pupil,
should make an outstanding contribution ... WEATHER
PERMITTING.
JAR.
Played 6
Won 1
Drew 2
Lost 3
Only half of the scheduled matches were played this
summer, mainly due to the wettest June ever. I cannot
remember a season where only six matches were completed.
The loss of several fixtures after the exams was a great
disappointment to the players.
The results do not make impressive reading, but the
team performed creditably in all the matches. We were close
to winning both the drawn games, and all three losses were
in well-contested matches. The batting was generally
competent and we were never dismissed for less than 130.
We did not have a batsman with the talent or concentration
to make a match-winning score. Chris Bolton, Jaymin Patel,
Gareth Narinesingh and Tariq Basraa all had good innings,
whilst the captain had several good scores at a very rapid
rate, but always managed to get out just as he looked set for
a big score.
The bowling was the main problem. We only managed
to dismiss one team all season, resulting in our easy win
against Sutton. James Scales opened the attack (if that is the
right word!) and bowled accurately in all the games but
without much luck and did not take as many wickets as he
deserved. Both Mark Cheney and Chirag Patel turned their
spinners a lot on occasions. Mark started the season well
with a flush of wickets but was less successful after halfterm. Iqbal Karmali bowled at a brisk pace, but lacks control
of direction at the moment.
The fielding was only moderate in standard. On the plus
side most catches were held, including several spectacular
ones. However, the ground fielding was very sloppy on
several occasions, especially in the final match against St
George's where run-outs were missed and straightforward
stops were not made. James Murray kept wicket well and
looked a promising batsman, without ever quite fulfilling
his potential.
Finally, many thanks to Brian Brown for his loyal
support and help with umpiring when I was incapacitated.
Team: A Webber (capt.), T Files, J Patel, A Barlow, G
Narinesingh, J Scales, J Murray, C Patel, T Basraa, I
Karmali, J Lloyd, M Cheney.
KJH.
UNDER 15 XI CRICKET
Played 10
Won 8
Drew 0
Lost 2
The season started well for our Ul 5s with a comfortable win
over Rodborough in the Cup, with the captain Oliver Smith
scoring a fine century. In beating Glyn in the next match
Andrew Hughes showed promise as a leg spinner, taking 3
for 12 in 5 overs.
Next, having gained wins over Glebelands and Tiffin,
the ensuing Cup game against Cranleigh was to be the first
significant test the side would face. Tipped to go far in the
competition this year and with four wins under the belt, the
side suffered a bout of over-confidence and lost the match
in the last over.
47
With Smith, Burns and Sandy all selected to play for the
U18s, a weakened team lost to KCS, Wimbledon in spite of
a useful partnership by Peter Rowland and Robin
Iwanowski.
From this point success returned. Matthew Boustead
scored a fine 61 and picked up 2 wickets as Sutton were
defeated. Then, with great satisfaction, the side thrashed St
George's. KGS scored 237 for 3 (with Mark Burns 87 not
out and Daniel Sandy 90) and then bowled the opposition
out for a mere 92 (Hughes and Burns taking 4 wickets each).
Credit must go to those in the side who did not bat or
bowl up the order but supported the side very well
throughout the season. David Taylor played an important
role behind the stumps, picking up 6 catches and 9
stumpings.
When Westminster had been overcome, there remained
one match against a strong Teddington eleven. Hitesh Patel
scored an impressive 60 runs, including 6 sixes, helping the
team to another excellent total of 217 for 4. Thereupon
Teddington were bowled out for 98 - a fine end to a good
season for KGS.
MJS.
to take their wickets! George Abbot School were our
opponents in the 2nd round of the cup. Our spirits were high
after beating them in the cup last season and Meers and
Sims won an exciting game for us with two balls to spare,
scoring 54 and 30 respectively. The "derby" game at Tiffin
was eagerly awaited by the team, but we lost by 48 runs,
most batsmen struggling on a pitch with uneven bounce. We
lost a tough game against Caterham, and followed that with
a poor performance against KCS where another batting
collapse led to a disappointing result.
Spirits were raised with a tremendous win over Sutton
Grammar, but St George's proved to be a tough test as they
bowled us out for 43 after scoring 133. Unfortunately, the
season ended on a low note with a loss against Teddington.
A special mention must go to Theo Coyne whose
wicket-keeping has improved greatly since last season. This
was highlighted when he took a memorable catch at St
George's, diving low to his left to catch a fast delivery from
David Sims - a catch which he will remember for a long
time! Also, thanks to Mr Buttanshaw for giving up much of
his time to take the team.
Sebastian Baxter, 2C.
UNDER 14 XI CRICKET
UNDER 12 XI CRICKET
The year, whilst not as successful in terms of results as we
would have hoped for, certainly proved successful as far as
individual performances and cricket development were
concerned.
Andrew Spenceley provided some very competitive
captaincy whilst maintaining some very good personal
performances with the ball. Jamie McFarland, always an
excellent motivator, was outstanding in the field and has
matured greatly as a spin bowler. James Webber could
always be relied upon to put a lot of quick runs on the board
and should prove a most effective strike bowler once his
opening line and length are sorted out.
The side benefitted from the fact that we had ten
extremely enthusiastic all-rounders and a wicket-keeper, but
at times this proved difficult (i.e. making sure everybody
received an equal chance).
Ben Miles-Mathewson proved his quality with bat and
ball and James Demianow showed that he was capable of
causing any batsman problems when he 'found the spot'.
Rohit Trivedi and Asif Ansari matured greatly with the bat
and should continue to improve next year.
Other notable members of the team included Harry
Barrett (w-k), Tim Schwarz, Lloyd Wahed, Stuart Davies,
Jamie Hubbard, Adam Crane, Hakan Acga, and Timandeep
Gill.
MJC.
UNDER 13 XI CRICKET
We had a successful and encouraging start to the season
with a win in our first game in the Surrey Cup against
Carshalton. The following game with Glyn School proved
to be an interesting and much closer affair. Having scored a
creditable 131, we only drew the match as we were unable
48
Played 7 Won 3 Lost 3 Drew 1
The U12 cricket team had a highly encouraging season,
bearing in mind that several players were new to the game.
The season started well with a 70 run defeat of Glyn:
Manish Patel bowled with precision to take 3 - 6 and the
batting was bolstered with important runs from Nadeem Ali
and Hanzaq Mir. In addition, Adrian Dann did well in his
first match behind the stumps. This was swiftly followed by
a comprehensive defeat of Sutton Grammar in the first
round of the Surrey Cup: Ryan Hanley and Farren Keenan
put on 50 for the first wicket (the latter narrowly missing out
on his own personal half-century in the match) and once
again a balanced bowling attack led the side to victory. In
addition, the close fielding was particularly impressive
whilst Ed Trewin and Chris Grounds covered a great deal of
ground in the outfield. A draw against Reed's and a couple
of narrow losses against Tiffin and Guildford constituted a
somewhat disappointing mid-season, but the summer
finished well with victories over Sutton (again!) and
Teddington.
During the season, several talents certainly emerged: the
stroke-play of Keenan and Patel; the pinch-hitting of Mir;
the studious batting of Ali; the encouraging off-spin of
Hanley and the prodigious leg-spin of Lee; the swift glovework of Dann; and, to show that lessons were learnt by all,
the straight-batted approach of Trewin, Wheatly-O'Neill
and Evans.
All in all, a very pleasing season - I only hope next
year's U12s can emulate this degree of success.
From: Patel, Keenan, Hanley, Lee, Mir, Trivedi, Ali, Dann,
Evans, Sasportas, Trewin, Wheatly-O'Neill, Grounds.
MCL.
TENNIS
performances from Kavita Madhavan and Claire Ellis,
undefeated throughout the term!
GIRLS' RESULTS
Seniors
U15s
U14s
U13s
U12s
P
7
8
6
5
4
W
4
4
2
1
3
D
3
3
4
2
1
The following girls represented the school in the Surrey
Schools LTA Tournament:
U15 - N Stopps, A Downie and N Bell
U13 - S Pilbeam and N Aggarwal
U12 - C Ellis and K Madhavan.
SENIORS
After a poor start to the season with two early defeats from
Tiffin and CLFS, the girls managed to perform to their
potential in their Cup Match in the Branston Shield. They
defeated St Maur's before losing out to Sir William Perkins
School by 3 matches to 1.
Other successes came against Godolphin & Latymer and
Marymount, as well as a mixed match victory against Royal
Russell School.
U15s
Again a disappointing beginning for the U15's, losing to
Tiffin and CLFS but some excellent results were obtained
against King Edward's School (won 6-3), Royal Russell
(won 9-0) and Christ's Hospital (won 5-3). Excellent
performances throughout from Nicola Stopps and Natalie
Bell.
U14s
The U14's have struggled this season against some very
tough opposition and were convincingly defeated by CLFS,
and Godolphin & Latymer. An improved performance
against King Edward's, losing only by 3 matches to 6,
seemed to mark the turning point, as victories against
Marymount and Christ's Hospital have followed. Well done
for persevering!
U13s
The U13's have played some excellent tennis this season but
have been very unlucky with their overall results. A closely
fought match with CLFS ended in a 6-3 defeat, another
tough contest against Godolphin ended in a 3-3 draw, and a
better performance saw them go down to St Teresa's by only
2 games. Nevertheless these encouraging performances
received their just deserts by the end of term with a victory
against St Catherine's. Encouraging performances from
Sally Pilbeam, Nisha Aggarwal, Lara Mott and Eleanor
Wauters.
U12s
An excellent squad has developed this year in the 1st form
with a highly motivated and talented group of girls. In their
first two matches they were very unfortunate not to beat
CLFS (lost 5-4) but did overcome St Teresa's by 6 matches
to 2. They ended the season with two vitories. Top
HOUSE TENNIS
Senior Boys:
1st Taverner A Evans, L Garrard, M Morley
1st Wai worth R Sazegar, A Apergis, M Newport
1 st Lovekyn J Gray, M Short, K Kulendra
4th Queen's
O Griffiths, I Fortune, R Angel
Senior Girls:
1 st
Taverner
Walworth
Lovekyn
Queen's
C Bergenroth, C Davies, G Cherchi,
N. Stopps
M Turnes, K Patel, R Stopps
A Downie, T Hitchcock, J Stokes
E. Wyatt
Junior Boys:
1st Taverner
1st Walworth
1st Lovekyn
4th Queen's
D Clough, R Dann, A Dann
R Hanley, A Sasportas, B Rowley
H Barrett, J McFarland, A Robinson
J Lee, J Webber, T Mustoe
2nd
3rd
4th
Junior Girls:
1 st Taverner
2nd Lovekyn
2nd
4th
A Park, H Kalsi, E Wauters, N Aggarwal
E Capizzi-Taylor, S Fernandes,
K Madhavan
Queen's
O Nunn, H Philp, B Jenkins
Walworth M Evans, T Chevalier, S Okamura,
S Pilbeam
SCHOOL TENNIS TOURNAMENT
UlSBoys:
U15 Girls:
U13Boys:
U13 Girls:
1st
R/Ups
1st
R/Ups
1st
R/Ups
1st
R/Ups
R Dann, R Sazegar,
I Fortune, M Edser
N Stopps, H Kalsi
O Nunn, H. Philp
A Dann, B Rowley
R Hanley, A Sasportas
S Pilbeam, L Mott
E Wauters, N Aggarwal
The top two players in each age group go forward to
represent the school in the Surbiton Schools' Challenge.
This tournament was postponed in June due to bad weather,
but was finally played on Sunday 7th September.
U15 Boys: School round: R Dann narrowly defeated R
Sazegar, 6-4, 6-5. Robert went on to beat Hollyfield School
6-1, and Richard Chandler School 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the final.
A fine performance, well done.
U13 Boys: School round - Bert Rowley had a tough match
against Adrian Dann, winning 6-3, 6-5. In the quarter-final
Bert lost 2-6 to Rokeby School. Not a bad effort for his first
game on a grass court.
U15 Girls: School round - Nicola Stopps defeated
Harpoonam Kalsi 6-2, 6-1. Nicola went on to beat Holy
Cross School 6-4, and Tiffin in the final 6-0, 6-0. She totally
dominated throughout the tournament and thoroughly
deserved to win this title for the third time.
U13 Girls: School round - Sally Pilbeam won a closely
fought match against Nisha Aggarwal 5-6, 6-0, 2-1. She
went on to lose 0-6 in the semi-final to the eventual winner.
An excellent day's tennis - many thanks and well done to all
who took part.
TAG.
49
SCHOOL TENNIS COLOURS
Senior Colours
Junior Colours
E Wyatt, C Bergenroth
N Stopps.
FAMILY TENNIS:
Winner:
R Dann & father (3rd year in a row)
2nd
P Briant & father
3rd
K Madhavan & father
Q
TABLE TENNIS
KGS Table Tennis Club is a member of the Surrey Schools'
Table Tennis League.
League Competitions:
This year three teams played in the League:
U13
Ashley Sasportas, Ryan Hanley, Andrew
Stimson, Daniel Cooper, Simon Legge and
Bhavesh Trivedi
U16
Michael Edser, Daniel Cho, Asif Ansari, Lisa
Benham, Michael Grossman and Hamid
Chowdery
U19
Joynal Choudhury, Nicholas Peacock, Sajan
Kumar Chugani, Julian Kirby-Smith, Pratik
Shah, Anoop Khosla and Anthony Chung.
STELLA ARTOIS INTERNATIONAL TENNIS
TOURNAMENT
The U12 girls squad accompanied Miss Cooke and Miss
Williams to Queen's Club to watch some of the world's top
players in action. The girls were able to watch the top
British players, as well as experience the atmosphere of the
curtain-raiser to Wimbledon. A pleasant and memorable day
was had by all.
pupils were divided into two groups and almost all the
sessions, especially with 5th year, were very successful.
Practices
Practice sessions were continued on Tuesday after school
and Wednesday lunch time. The entry to these sessions have
remained open to all interested boys and girls in the school.
The aim has been to provide pupils with physical exercise,
enjoyment and opportunities to take part in various
competitions arranged by the SSTA, Kingston Borough and
the school.
Fae Wareing, U6th
It turned out to be a difficult year for all the teams as they
had to face traditionally strong teams like Whitgift.
SENIOR HOUSE MATCHES:
Points
First:
Taverner
12
Second:
Queen's
8
Third:
Walworth
3
Fourth:
Lovekyn
1
JUNIOR HOUSES
First:
Second:
Third:
Fourth:
Lovekyn
Taverner
Walworth
Queen's
Points
10
5
5
2
5th Year & Sixth Form
As always a large number of pupils selected table tennis as
their games option for Wednesday afternoon sports. The
Q
BOROUGH AND COUNTY
ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
There were some very good performances this year in every
age group. Some of the best are included below:
Juniors:
J McFarland
J Demianow
H Agca
R Byramji
3rd in High Jump
1 st in Long Jump
2nd in Javelin
3rd in 200 metres
Inters:
O Smith
S Kessell
M Thompson
P Nourse
4th in 400 metres
3rd in Triple Jump
1st in Sprint Hurdles
1st in Hammer and Shot
Surrey County Championship:
M Thompson
4th in Sprint Hurdles
P Nourse
1 st in Hammer
Inter Counties Championship
P Nourse
2nd in Hammer.
DARS
50
a
CHESS
JUNIOR AND SENIOR CHESS TUTORING
Chess at KGS has continued to develop and thrive, aided
chiefly by twice weekly tutoring sessions and an internal
league system, updated regularly. Amongst our most
promising players are Aaron Resch, Yon Jon Wang, Bun Au
and Adam Gogarty.
Our tutor, Mrs Susan Lalic, is an extremely
accomplished chess player, having recently become a Men's
International Master - one of only fifteen women in the
world to have achieved this. She has been the British and
Commonwealth ladies' champion on several occasions and
has played board one for England in the last four World
Chess Olympiads.
We are very fortunate to have retained the services of
Mrs Lalic and we are keen to recruit more participants
especially from the Prep to Fifth years. It would also be nice
to see some girls join the club. Tutoring takes place on
Tuesdays and Thursdays during the lunch break with pupils
attending both sessions whenever possible. If you are
interested in putting your child forward for chess tutoring
please contact Mr Sorley at school.
College. The final match of the season was an impressive
draw with Trinity School, Croydon. The end result was, as
in 1996, fourth position behind Trinity, RGS Guildford and
Wilsons. We are hopeful that the 1997-8 season will be even
better as our players become more experienced. We are
grateful to Mr Blatchford for his enthusiasm and
commitment throughout the season.
1993-4 season
1994-5 season
1995-6 season
1996-7 season
10
10
W
0
3
7
5
D
0
3
1
1
L
8
4
2
3
Position
Last
Sixth
Fourth
Fourth
Many thanks go to Mrs Susan Lalic who has provided
excellent tuition for our team and our future players.
Without her help and encouragement we would not have
had such success. Tuition takes place on Tuesday and
Thursday lunchtimes, with a league system which is taken
more seriously than you might think.
Mr Sorley must also be thanked for giving his time so
freely and his perseverance in supporting the House Chess
Competition won by Lovekyn.
Jonathan Hewett, L6.
THE BRIANT POULTER SURREY SCHOOLS'
LEAGUE
Mr Blatchford has successfully
resurrected the chess team from the
dismal days of the 1993-4 season to
produce an excellent result of fourth
position in the third division of the
Briant Poulter Schools' Chess League in
1996. Achieving a similar result in 1997
seemed unlikely with four of the six
members of that team leaving to pursue
further education. During the early
matches of the season a makeshift team
was put together, eventually settling on
Jonathan Hewett as captain, Nick
Peacock, Oliver Thomson, Bun Au, Yon
Jon Wang and Adam Gogarty. After a
defeat at Glyn, victories were recorded
over teams such as Beverley, Royal
Alexandra and Albert, Ernest Bevin
(bye), Ewell Castle and Wimbledon
Lion and Mate
The lion lies quietly, scanning his domain,
While his mate paws her newly-born cub.
Long stems of grasses plentifully tall
Hide these predators from innocent prey.
Then an antelope herd breaks the music,
The king is tempted and bounds to his feet.
With gnashing teeth and lashing tail he rips
And tears at the victim's fragile body.
As the sun rises, the remote distance
Becomes a blurred wall of shimmering heat,
While myriad insects creatively
Intone the jungle's peaceful percusson.
Once more the lion lies quietly,
Leisurely scanning his domain,
While nearby his contented mate
Playfully paws her new-born cubs.
Laura Bottomley, 1P.
J
51
Michael Anthony, IP
52
OLD KINGSTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWS
Officers: Andrew Day (Chairman); Roger McDaniel (Secretary); Tony Stacy (Treasurer); John Snelling (Membership
Secretary).
Committee: Donald Anderson; Richard Barker (School Representative); Graham Dare; Gordon Evans; Colin Gamage;
David Hattersley (Representative Governor); John Pincham; Fiona Tsang; David Ward (Representative Governor); Juliette
Williams; Donald Wilson.
CHAIRMAN'S LETTER
As the Chairman of the Old Kingstonian Association I
have another opportunity to make contact through the
Kingstonian magazine.
I look back at 1997 with some sadness as it has not
been a particularly good year for holding events as most of
these have had to be cancelled due to either bad weather in
the case of the OK day in June or lack of support.
We have a very strong Committee (listed above), and
although we have welcomed Juliette Williams as a new
Committee Member during the year we still need more
representation from the younger members of the
Association. If there is anyone who would like to join
please contact me either in writing at 5 Mansfield Road,
Chessington, Surrey KT9 2PJ, or by telephone on 0181391 1946. I would be particularly interested to hear from
anybody still at School who would be interested in joining
the Committee on leaving. We meet in the School about
six times a year.
We are very anxious to make contact with the younger
Members of the Association, both male and female, to find
out what you expect from the Association and what you
would like us to organise. If we do not get any feedback we
are unable to judge what our Members would like to get
out of their Association. The Association exists for the
benefit of all OKs - to keep them in touch with the School
and also their former schoolfellows. We are also here to
support the School in any way we can.
The last year has seen the introduction of the OK
Travel Award. It was decided to make three annual awards
of £500 for students taking a year off before going to
University. Reports from two of this year's participants,
Charlotte Ward and Katherine Knowles, are published in
this magazine. If anybody is interested in being considered
for this Scheme, full details can be obtained from Mr
Barker at the School.
We have made appropriate presentations to John
Wright and Paul Hicks, two long-serving masters who
retired during the year, and we also presented Roy Ekberg
with a gift to mark his retirement as Chairman of the
Governors after many years.
We are making a donation towards the new heating for
the Kingstonian Squash Club at Ditton Field, which will
go a long way to improving the conditions for all who use
the facilities and hopefully encourage new members to
join.
I would ask you once again to inform the Membership
Secretary as soon as possible of any change in your
address or any change in name through marriage so that we
can keep our membership list up-to-date.
We, as an Association, are looking to the future and
hoping to organise many events in the years leading up to
the Millennium and beyond. Please remember that I am
always available and pleased to hear from anybody who
has any ideas for the future of the Association. Please do
not hesitate to contact me on the telephone number
mentioned above.
Andrew Day
OLD KINGSTONIAN GOLF SOCIETY
Captain:
Hon. Sec:
Vice Captain:
Hon. Treasurer:
John Seear
Tony Adams
Gerald Hough
David Giles
The first meeting of 1997 began in the
middle of May at Tyrells Wood GC
and was a match against the Old
Tiffinians GS. On a sunny day, 11
OK's unsuccessfully tried to outplay
our opponents, losing by 44 points.
The most successful OK's were Don
Wilson (37 points), Dick Knight (35)
and myself just beating John Stainer
and Malcolm Tuddenham on
countback. Next year we will play
them at B etch worth Park GC on May
18th.
Our away-day this year took us to the
Sussex
downland
course
at
Blatchington GC, Seaford on 18th
June. 22 players, wives and guests
enjoyed the sunny day and views of
the downs and the sea. Our best golfer
was our Vice Captain, Gerald Hough,
with 39 points; second was myself and
third Malcolm Tuddenham. Nearest
the pin was a lady guest and Mary
Adams, with 36 points, was the best
lady player. Next year we will be
playing at Barton-on-Sea on 19th
June.
After years of discussion, our Society
took the initiative to organise a
"Surrey Schools Old Boys' Golf
Continued at foot of page 54
53
Thoughts on an August Morning - A Governor reflects.
We are all of us alumni of Kingston
Grammar School. For 'Alumnus' my
dictionary says [Latin: nursling, pupil,
form of alere nourish, bring up.] So
now we know....
Many alumni like to come and see
where all this nourishing took place,
to show their girlfriends, husbands,
neighbours or grandchildren their
Alma Mater in the London Road.
Some wish to contribute in some way
to this continuing through future
generations, whilst others through its
archives seek to find what their
erstwhile classmates are now doing
and where they are. There are, of
course, those we never see at all....
For a weekend this July yours truly
returned to his University, to an
Alumni weekend at the Imperial
College,
listening
to
formal
presentations and wandering at will,
with others, rediscovering long
forgotten corridors, gardens and
dining-halls until the day was done.
Some departments had chosen to hold
special events, some had arranged
reunions for specific year groups
whilst the majority of those taking
part just relaxed and enjoyed the day.
As a Governor of the College I know
only too well how much the Rector
and his staff support these events and
how much time they take to ensure
that every visitor is made welcome.
Almost
all
educational
establishments now actively seek the
support of their alumni and a vibrant
network joining them with the current
organisations is essential. As for
university so for school and KGS is no
exception. All cannot be left to current
parents, vital as their day-to-day
contribution is.
To date our efforts to keep in touch
have centred on 'Decade Dinners'
organised by the Headmaster and
Staff, past v. present sporting activities
and the Old Kingstonian Association
which does not, in my opinion, enjoy
more than marginal success in
attracting interest. Two out of three of
its 1997 events had to be cancelled for
lack of support. Neither the Ladies'
Networking Evening, nor the
Riverboat Trip (which was open to
all), attracted more than a handful of
replies...
As a significant number of our
alumni
now
receive
'The
Kingstonian', and the Association is
interested to hear from them, I look
forward to you telling me what form
of activity, if any, you would, where
circumstances allow, be pleased to
support. No questionnaires, no boxes
to tick, just post, e-mail, fax, or
phone... NOW, PLEASE!! We do care
and we do want to know.
In anticipation of at least some of
the recent Ministerial announcements,
your Governing Body has sought to
enhance the school's future by
appointing a part-time Development
Officer.
Brenda Boyd is an
experienced fund-raiser and joined the
staff in September. Welcome Brenda,
to KGS. Plans for departmental
teaching are now in place with Phase I
- a new History Department on the
Gymnasium roof - scheduled for
completion on September
1st.
Continued from page 53
Competition". We invited our regular
opponents, Old Hamptonians, Old
Tiffinians, as well as Old Emanuel and
Old Surbitonians, each to send a team
of 5 golfers to Burhill GC - the four
best scores in each team to count. We
presented a Shield Trophy which was
won by Old Surbitonians with 149
points. It was generally agreed to
repeat this competition next year and
to invite a few more schools, including
Rutlish, to join us. Our thanks must go
to Don Wilson for the excellent
organisation of this inaugural event.
The competition for the Black Cup
was held in conjunction with the
Schools Trophy and our Captain, John
Seear, triumphed for the second
successive year.
We returned to Pine Ridge GC for our
match against the Old Hamptonians,
beating them by one point for the
"Across the River Trophy". Brian
Edwards was our best player with 42
points, closely followed by Tony
Cope. Our final meeting was held at
St. George's Hill GC. Our attendance
on this lovely course was poor, mainly
54
Overseen by the Building Sub
Committee, and project managed by
fellow governor John Snelling, your
columnist has recently been treated to
an invigorating series of 7.30 am
summer holiday site meetings.
What architect Lewis Barker has
done to create space at KGS most
certainly merits attention. Further
phases, including the provision of
additional facilities at Ditton Field,
will follow and you will naturally be
invited to inspect the proposals at an
appropriate time.
This time last year I was 'Waiting
for Dearing'. Now the wait has ended
and I shall not only be studying its
impact on school and university but on
the broader field of technical
qualifications and NVQs. Yes, these
are indeed interesting times!! I have
also, it is true, been 'Waiting for
Godot'. Having seen the play for the
second time in recent weeks, I shall
not hesitate to seek out a further
production. It leaves me spellbound.
Now for that e-mail....
David Hattersley
22 Malvern Drive Woodford Green
Essex IG8 OJW
e-mail:
[email protected]
fax:0181-5590227
tel: 0181-504 8263
David Hattersley is a representative
Governor of KGS and a former
chairman of the Old Kingstonian
Association.
due to the cost of the green fee, but
John Makin, 34 points, was our best
golfer and won the Hartley Salver,
followed by Don Wilson with 31
points. I won the Captain's prize, a
magnificent cut-glass beer mug. At
the AGM afterwards, Brian Edwards
was elected Vice Captain and Michael
Coward took over as Treasurer from
David Giles after several years of
faithful service. Any newcomers to
our Society will be made very
welcome.
Tony Adams.
AROPS
Association of Representatives of Old Pupils' Societies
Annual Conference - Bradfield College, May 1997
It is indeed a privilege to visit a
different school each year by courtesy
of their hosting an AROPS May
Conference. This year it was
Bradfield. A mature establishment set
in landscaped grounds near Newbury.
A comparative upstart when looked at
against KGS, being founded as
recently as 1850, but its physical
assets more than make up for its
youth...
This was another very successful
conference with an interesting and
helpful programme, near perfect
facilities and a record attendance: over
a hundred delegates representing
seventy-four different schools. All
were present to receive an address
from Headmaster Peter Smith who
intertwined Bradfield's history with a
poem about a trip on a magic carpet
with its founder... 'If only' ... We
each have our own vision, and hopes
for our school, but rarely will it be as
powerful as that of its founding
fathers!!
We were then treated to a most
informative session on The Fully
Inter-related Database' by Julian
Smythe, Foundation Director of
Bradfield and John Rees, Director of
Harrow School Development Trust.
For yours truly we were back on the
Magic Carpet ... but the value to a
school of having such a database for
selective communication is immense.
Both speakers stressed the importance
of sound networking between the
School, the Old Pupils' Society and
the Development Office to maximise
support for the school.
Following this 'high tech' hour we
retreated into a session on the
essential ingredients of a Leavers'
Pack which many Boarding Schools
now put together for the pupils' final
term. Some
still prepare a
comprehensive bound volume as a
Leavers' Year Book whilst he
majority, like KGS, continue to stand
by the timeless newsletter. Before
long all this will surely be subsumed
into endless web pages detailing just
what is being planned to celebrate the
Millennium ... for which we must
thank you, Mr. Gates!
The final session before the 'Any
Questions' half hour was led by
Vanessa Connor and followed her
presentation titled 'Involving Young
Former Pupils'. As the presenter was
herself about a half the average age of
her audience we listened intently,
especially to the main points distilled
from her recent survey which had
achieved a 60% response rate from the
250 societies mailed. Discussion
covered the importance of a
competent database, of identifying
pupils as contacts for year groups or
'circles' which covered a two or three
year span, having at least one
committee member specifically
responsible for the younger members'
interests, and taking note of cost and
the dates of university terms when
arranging a younger persons' event.
The most important item for KGS,
as seen by yours truly, is that our past
pupils continue to let us know where
they are living and what they are
doing. Information should ideally go
direct to the OKA secretary but the
Bursar's office will always pass on
letters etc. addressed to the
Association at the School. We wish to
keep you informed of the School's
activities and are plesed to do so but
can only succeed if we have a current
forwarding address. This will be a
constant message for which no
apologies. Just write to us.
David Hattersley
2nd Year 'Jungle' work.
55
curtained cubicles, each the size of a swimming pool
changing-room, where families of 6 or 7 would sleep in
shifts. Whilst I was in one of the brothels, a mother asked
I spent this summer in the city of Calcutta, in India, working
her daughter to leave and not to come back for an hour, as a
in a children's hospital, and a school for street children, in
client had just arrived.
the Red Light district. The Old Kingstonians donated £500
The second part of my trip was spent in a children's
towards my air fare and expenses.
hospital in the countryside outside Calcutta, which treats
My arrival into Calcutta Airport was extremely
children with polio, ricketts and other disabling conditions.
daunting, as I was completely by myself, and the customs
I took blood samples, and assisted in operations which was
system was strange. It took me two hours to get out of the
very interesting, but also distressing, as the theatre was
steamy, dirty airport. Outside I got my first taste of street
filthy, full of flies and cockroaches, with lizards clinging to
life. People had propped up boxes, planks, and plastic
the ceiling, and had no windows. The children are not given
sheeting against the solid walls of the airport, and the slum
painkillers after their operations, and there is a policy which
had spread outwards, into a mass of rubbish. Immediately, I
forbids parents from visiting, as it is feared that they could
was surrounded by people begging, and lots of children with
spread infections. Because of this, I felt that the most
awful deformities trying to get my attention. It was
important thing that I did at the hospital was simply
claustrophobic and quite frightening, so I was glad to see a
cuddling small children, doing colouring or playing catch
card with my name on, and another Western woman, ready
with them, and just being around and taking an interest in
to welcome me. This was Judy, who works for the Consul in
them.
Calcutta, and whom I would be staying with for my trip.
The place was understaffed, run down, and totally
Calcutta city is large and sprawling. There are hundreds
unhygienic. I ate some rice there which I had not cooked for
of beautiful colonial buildings which are covered in dirt and
myself, and was very sick. It had been boiled in water
crumbling into the busy streets. Cars can drive on either side
straight from the Ganges River. However, I became very
of the road, and there are no seat-belts. Drivers very rarely
attached to the lovely children, and found it very hard to
stop for people, but they always stop for cows, which are
leave, a process which was made much worse because
sacred animals.
somebody had told the children that I wouldn't be coming
I spent the first half of my trip in Cini Asha school for
back, and they shuffled, limped, and clattered on crutches
street children, which is in central Calcutta, in the largest
after the car, shouting
Red Light district. It
at me not to go.
is funded by a WHO
My trip to Calcutta,
sexual
health
however, was not all
committee,
and
heart-wrenching or in
teaches the children
the slums. I saw a
basic sex education to
different, altogether
attempt to combat the
more attractive side to
growing aids crisis.
the city. The Tolly
The school is in a
Gunge Club is a
garage,
with no
reminder of the day
lights, books, or
of the Raj, and you
chalk. The teacher
can sip a pink gin or a
(who,
incidently,
lime soda on the
couldn't read) told
verandah, listening to
me that I could teach
the ex Colonels and
anything I wanted,
Memsahibs reminisce
and left. Forty little
Katherine Knowles - with some of the children in the hospital.
about days gone by.
girls ranging in their
Calcutta has lots of museums, and several extremely
ages from 6 to 16, looked up at me expectantly. They could
luxurious hotels. There are also some intriguing markets
speak English. Well, they could say 'Look at the cat', and
where it is possible to purchase an elephant, a servant, a sari
'Mary has a pretty frock', but they didn't know what they
or a bunch of bananas, and it felt a very safe city (on the
were saying.
pavements, that is) to wander around in, although I always
Whilst I was there, I set out on a crusade to decorate the
felt conspicuous.
walls of the dingy room. I had brought crayons, coloured
It was a wonderful exerience, and one which I
paper, scissors and ribbon from England, and we made and
thoroughly enjoyed. The people were so friendly, and Judy
decorated fish for an 'under the sea' tableau. We also played
was the soul of hospitality. I saw some incredible things, and
lots of throwing and catching games, and I taught them
it certainly made me realise how lucky I am to be able to
hopscotch on the classroom floor with chalk. The school,
choose how I want to spend my life, and not have my future
whilst it teaches the children very little in academic terms,
so dictated by circumstance. I learned to be much more
performs a useful function because it provides the children
independent and self-reliant, and my experiences have
with at least one meal a day, and keeps them away from their
taught me to be more practical and resourceful. I really
homes. On the last day, some of the children took me to see
couldn't have asked for a more challenging or inspiring
where they lived. I picked my way over the open sewers of
summer.
Katherine Knowles, U6th.
the slum, and up winding passages into rooms full of
a KATHERINE KNOWLES IN CALCUTTA
56
Q CHARLOTTE WARD IN NEPAL
In mid-December of 1996 I still hadn't decided what I was
going to do with my 'gap year'. Thus, with time running out
and on a whim I chose Nepal - the prospect of teaching
English and carrying out project work seemed to appeal. On
24 January 1997 I left Gatwick with 18 strangers for 7
months. The flight brought us to our destination,
Kathmandu, on a noisy Saturday afternoon. We were
greeted by the 3 Nepal-based leaders of Students Partnership
Worldwide (SPW) and hurriedly left the chaos of
Kathmandu for Dhulikhel which is about an hour east of
Central Kathmandu, in the Kathmandu valley.
Dhulikhel lodge was to be our home for the following
two weeks. It was here that our vital training began.
Weekday mornings included three to four hours of Nepali
language training under the Language Training Institute
(LTI), a superb team of teachers, who in the course of 5II2
weeks gave us a basic, working Nepali. Afternoons at
Dhulikhel included intensive culture training and teaching
English as a foreign language (TEFL). The culture training
has proved invaluable as Nepali culture, being so vastly
removed from Western culture, means blunders are all too
easy to commit. The TEFL was simply a two-weeks crash
course in teacher training, also crucial....
Although Dhulikhel was essentially our first 'home' in
Nepal and vital in providing the group with a chance to get
to know each other and meet their Nepali counterparts (who
now teach with us, introducing science and helping with
maths in our schools), it was not a particularly 'Nepali
Experience'; for this we moved on to Bisanku village in
Godabari. Godabari is a region in the Kathmandu valley
about l ]/ 2 hours from Kathmandu city. Here each group
member with their partner stayed with Nepali families as a
practice run in preparation for the five months teaching
placement.
My partner and I stayed with the Silwals, a family of 4
including a rather fierce father who spoke intimidatingly
swift Nepali without relent! Bisanku also provided us with
our first proper introduction to 'Daal Bhaat'. 'Daal Bhaat' is
the national dish of Nepal and 95% of Nepalis eat nothing
else. Literally translated it means 'Lentils and rice'. In
Bisanku we accompanied the Silwals in eating 'Daal Bhaat'
twice a day at 10 am and 7 pm (as we do now) usually with
'tacurrey' (vegetables) and 'roti' (unleavened bread).
Our lessons continued, this time on the roofs of our
houses. The sun invariably shone hot in a clear blue sky set
against the shelved green hills which Nepal is famous for.
Much of our free time here was spent in the 'chiyaa pasal' a
marvellous invention to be found in towns and villages
everywhere in Nepal. 'Chiyaa pasal' literally means
'teashop' and provides locals with somewhere to meet for
tea, noodles, an evening chat or a game of 'Karimboard'
(plastic discs shot across a large wooden board by index or
2nd finger. Aim: First to get red disc pocketed having got rid
of all the others. To add speed, add flour).
Bisanku was an important transitional period. We were
properly introduced to the Nepali way of life and at the same
time had the support of the rest of the group. It was here also
that I began to appreciate the benefits of SPW's partner
system. In such a vastly different country and culture the
support network becomes key, and at a mundane level it has
been a relief to speak some English (!) to my partner Sarah
McMillan.
Leaving Bisanku essentially marked the end of a pretty
intensive 5 weeks' worth of training. We had a further week
in Kathmandu at the SPW office where ends were tied and
preparations were made for our departures to various parts
of Nepal. The group was to separate into three. Ten English
and Nepali volunteers headed for Solukhumbu (the Everest
region in the East), three for Mustang (an arid area in the
central Himalaya) and thirteen for Manang (where we are
now, on the Marsygandi River two days from Tibet). Before
leaving for our placements we had a well-earned break in
Pokhara, the 18 of us deciding on a 5-day rafting trip on the
Kali Gandaki River.
It was then back to Kathmandu for our final briefing
before the group separated and we set off on our four day
trek that would take us to the Manang Region. All the
placements in Manang are situated on, or relatively near, the
Annapuma trekking route. Our village, Thanchowk, is an
hour off the route and is at 2,700 metres making it the
highest SPW placement in the region.
Arriving in Thanchowk for the first time was a major
shock. The houses are ramshackle, largely built of grey
stone or simply mud huts lending Thanchowk a medieval
look, this appearance being compounded by narrow and
winding paths. The houses, all flat topped, have animal
barns on the ground floor and usually a roughly hewn ladder
leading to a kitchen which serves as living quarters for most
families in the village who often have as many as 7 or 8
children. Thanchowk is basically a farming village and
although Chame (the district capital on the trekking route) is
little over an hour away, Thanchowk is very isolated and
retains 'Gurung' as its first language.
We have been here three months now and feel pretty
settled. The school is a lower secondary (Grades 1 - 7) and
I teach grades 5 and 6 in the mornings. The standard of
education is shockingly low and the classrooms are very
basic but the children (roughly 10 to a class) are very
enthusiastic and thus a joy to teach ... most of the time!
Afternoons are usually spent with the children playing
football or volley ball and twice a week I hold 'chithra klas'
(art classes) in our yard, which have been a great success. In
the evenings after 'Daal Bhaat' we tend to hold night classes
so that the children can learn more English and also the
evenings are a good time for the adults to pick up a few
phrases.
It was clear from the outset that we were in a very basic
community and this was actually cause for excitement as we
hoped it meant ample opportunity for project work. Our
chief concern has been charpiis (toilets). Thanchowk has a
population of over 100 and on arrival we couldn't find a
single charpi. Now we have two and proposals to build 30
more which we hope will be fully functioning by the time
we leave. We are also awaiting the imminent arrival of
enough piping to provide the entire village with proper
drainage. At the moment the paths are awash with water
which we are looking to redirect (with the pipes) to irrigate
the fields. These are our two major and most costly projects
where the bulk of sponsorship money is going.
At a more minor level, we are helping to finance the
57
mother's group in buying a noodles
machine to help in their income
generation scheme. We are also using
local materials to build a table tennis
table for the school and plans are
under way for making a full-sized
grass football pitch. And at a totally
non-financial level our project work
involves path clearing (as the paths
are used by both people and animals!)
and twice a week at 7 am much of the
village (and us!) can be found
sweeping and shovelling the paths!
Aside from teaching and project
work, Thanchowk at a personal level
is proving to be a remarkable
experience. Set in vast rolling barley
fields, on the top of a vertical hill,
with snowy mountain peaks on all
sides, Thanchowk is exceptionally
beautiful. And its people, hardy
farming folk with distinctly Tibetan
looks, at first shy, have been
wonderfully welcoming. Our Nepali
family have also been a great source
of support - taking a real interest and
helping us with our Nepali. So far it's
been an enormously rewarding
experience to immerse myself in a
community and forge friendships
with people whose concepts and
values are so very different from our
own. This experience should be made
compulsory!
/ hope this goes some way to
explaining what I'm up to and once
again thank you so much for your
interest and support.
Charlotte Ward, Late June 1997.
Q
RECOLLECTIONS OF EVACUATION IN THE
SUMMER OF THE DOODLE BUG MIKE WOODS (1940-50)
D-Day 6th June 1944.
Bushy Park was the command headquarters of SHAAF controlling the
invasion of Normany for the Allies, and Littleworth House, Esher, was
Eisenhower's base. The Hogs Back was the main storage depot for Allied
Tanks and supplies. My father was on Eisenhower's staff (unknown to us
at the time - he went into London and travelled back on the train each day).
Our house, about 500 meters from Eisenhower's home had been
'requisitioned' for paratroop officers going in for the second wave. All my
friends were in the school Spotters Club (the junior Observer Corps, later
the Air League of the British Empire). We had just completed a concert for
aid to Russia and Pinky Farrell had been the star with his accordion solos.
The first flying bombs arrived on the evening of June 12th 1944, and
in spite of what was said officially, our area was the target. I was in the
Upper IV and the next day began with rumours. Nobody had seen a jet
plane before and the weapon was seen exotically as something like a
flaming sword in the sky. Our parents heard the truth and all through the
late morning my class mates were 'asked for' and met their parents outside
for various 'unofficial' evacuations. The rump of the classes throughout
the school carried on. The crisis came with a rounders game in the 'cage'
with Mr Cripps. I was in the out-field when the Doodle Bug motor stopped
and was the only kid who disobeyed Cripps' scream to drop down. I ran.
The bomb landed in the streets to the left of the school - towards the town
centre - and I only hit the red grit seconds before the blast.
I imagine that the evacuation of the school was planned that day but I
was not with it. The rump of the rump of the school took an early summer
vacation with a contact school in Stoke. My own home was badly
damaged; the same evening my mother and I went north to relatives. This
was our third evacuation - first, when everyone went, to Cornwall, second
to the north after a bomb took the roof off for the first time, in the Blitz.
We all were back for the Autumn term and the V2. Then in the Upper
V's we were showered with plaster and in the lunch hour went to see
where 'it' had landed. It had landed on Pinky Farrell's parents' pub and he
was an orphan. I never saw him again.
Alistair Evans, IF
58
O.K. DIRECTORY
ARNOLD, Geoffey (1943-50) to PO Box 571, Dorset, VT 05251,
USA.
DAWES, Richard (1986-93) has just secured a 2:1 in Economic
History and seeks employment in the music business. He is
currently working in the Press Office with Island Records. His
brother Andrew is an embryo Golf Pro, working at Hoebridge GC
and is applying for membership of the PGA. Good luck!
DICKENSON, Fred, after much painstaking research organized a
very successful lunch at School in the autumn of 1996 for
contemporaries celebrating fifty years since they started at KGS.
This followed a similar occasion organized for his
contemporaries by Berwick Coates. Is this complaint catching?
FOWLER, Brigadier A.L. recounts how he recently met up with
G.W. Rowland, a contemporary at school, at a regimental
luncheon at which he presided. Rowland said grace on this only
the second occasion on which they had met since leaving KGS.
Our congratulations are due to the Brigadier and his wife who
celebrated their golden wedding in 1995.
FYFE, Andrew (1976-83) is Technical Manager (After-Sales) for
Peugeot in Brazil. He married in 1995 and lived in Buenos Aires
for four years before moving to Rua Silva Correia 125, Vila
Olimpia, Itaim, Sao Paulo, S.P. Brazil.
HAWTHORN, Terry (1954-61) is General Manager of an
electronic instruments manufacturer and says that since he
realises that he has been a governor of the village school for ten
years, he supposes he must have settled down!
HOLDSWORTH, Karen (1984-91) has (since September) been
teaching Science at a school in Zimbabwe. She is out there on a
two year contract with VSO and can be contacted at Sihlengeni
Secondary School, P.B. (S) 5364, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
HOLMES, Marisa (1984-91) Having gained an Engineering
Degree at Durham, took a year out when she worked in a French
ski resort and is now doing a post-graduate course at Cambridge.
She may be reached at 6 Sandown Gate, Portsmouth Road, Esher
KT10 945.
HORNE, Brian (1949-55) Works for a marketing company,
dealing, he says somewhat mysteriously, in a wide variety of
unusual products. He now lives at 35 Hartington Road, St
Margaret's, Twickenham, Middx. TW1 3EL.
POWELL, Gary, to 'Shiloh', 21 Stonehouse Road, Liphook, Hants
GU30 7DD.
PROSSER, Michael, writes that having married in South Africa he
now hs a daughter and is back in the UK working as a Computer
Consultant in Woking. His sister, Alison, lives in Sydney, Aus.
where she works with the Human Resources Department of EMT
Music.
REID, Hugh, works as a Computer Software Consultant and lives
at 151 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GUI 4UB.
ROBINSON, Pat (1969-76) works as Purchasing Manager,
Continental Car Europe, still plays hockey for Neston., some golf
at Eaton and has moved to 8 Wimborne Way, Irby, Wirral,
MerseysideL61 4YQ.
ROWBOTHAM, Jane, now works as a Graphic Designer in
Birmingham but may be reached at 37 Station Road, Teddington,
Middx TW11 9 A A.
STONE, Elizabeth, n6e Latter, lives at 50 Hillcrest, Weybridge
KT13 8EB.
WARNER, Karen, is back in the country, having had two books
published in Turkey. She is now a part-time lecturer in English
language at Kingston University and a freelance editor. Her
address is 29 Bramley Road, Cheam, Surrey SM2 7LR. Tel:
0181-3939149.
WILLIAMS, Angela, is currently teaching English in Pusan, South
Korea, while her sister Juliette has just finished a teaching degree
at Homerton College.
WOOD, Becky, nee Milne, is a Research Officer at the Office for
National Statistics and lives at 7 Maple Road, Ashtead, Surrey
KT21 2LX.
Finally, I have had an interesting letter from Wing Commander
W.O. Jones who left KGS in 1929 and spent much of his serving
life abroad. He comments that the School did well by him and his
three brothers, all of whom were in the Services: Hubert joined
the RAF and died on active service in 1941 while commanding a
Blenheim Squadron in Greece; Victor, a Major in the RASC was
wounded in Italy, and Frank, having survived the war as a Major
in a Field Artillery Regiment, went with Shell to Venezuela
before retiring in the UK. Bill Jones is now the sole survivor.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS
HOUSE, Andrew (1969-76) says he is now fighting fit again and is
running a guest house in Cornwall. Any OK is welcome - though
no mention of a discount. Address is Buckingham House, 17
Tregoney Hill, Mevagissey PL26 6RD. Tel: 01726 843375.
BERZINS, A, is at 183 Del Medio . Apt. 315, Mountain View, CA
94040, USA.
KINGSLEY, Sean (1981-86) Since graduating from the University
of Wales has been excavating shipwrecks in Israel and publishing
a book on the results. He is a Marine Archaeologist currently
completing a PhD at Oxford. He may be reached at Roxburgh
House, 210-212 Iffley Road, Oxford OX4 1SF.
FOA, Olivia, to 4 Greenwood Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7
ODY.
MORT, Richard, works as a Photo-grainmetrist, and has been
recently in Perth, W. Australia and thence elsewhere in the
Antipodes. His contact address is 56A Cheapside, Horsell,
Woking GU21 4JL.
PAR AMES WAREN, Prathayini, is now installed in a mixed
Veterinary Practice in Lancashire and living at 81 St Helens
Road, Leigh, Lanes WN7 4HA.
PINCH AM, John, has been re-elected to Surrey County Council.
Congratulations.
BISHOP, Godfrey (1960-66) has moved to 41 Park Cottages,
Benedicts Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9NF.
GOW, Nicola, to The Corner House, 2 Staines Road, Laleham,
Middx. TW182TE.
HALE, John (1970-77) to 79 Prospect Road, St Albans, Herts AL1
2AU.
HARRISON, Tim, to 26 Effingham Road, Long Ditton Surrey KT6
5JY.
KING, Bronya, to 16 Wyvern Place, Green Lane, Addlestone,
KT15 2YD.
MOLE, Jon, to 8 Poplar Close, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey GUI6
6BL.
MORSON, Sophie, to 101 King's Road, Long Ditton, Surrey KT6
5JE.
59
PILGRIM, Timothy (1969-76) to 36 Halifax Road, Cullingworth,
W. Yorks BD13 5DE.
PILSWORTH, Guy, to 41 Oxford Gardens, Twickenham, Middx.
TW1 4PL.
We regret to have to record the deaths of Pete Bray, Gerry Davis,
Len Shaw and Peter Whitbread, all of whom as it happens will be
specially remembered for their prowess on the hockey field. Our
sympathies to their families. Also M S S King, Tom Machell,
Arthur Tapp and Ted Fooks.
PINNEGAR, J F (1943-48) to Hammerwood Park, nr. East
Grinstead, Sussex RH19 3QE.
PROSSER, Michael to 3 Victory Gardens, The Common, Dunsfold,
Surrey GU8 4LE.
REGO, Michael, to 62 Barnards Hill, Marlow, Bucks SL7 2NZ.
SHEPHERD, Geoffrey to PO Box 1615, Claremont, NH 03743,
USA.
SNELL, Ivan, has moved again and is now in South Carolina trying
to persuade the natives that George III is dead. His address: 112
Fox Hill Drive, Long Creek Plantation, Blythewood, S.C. 29016,
USA.
Our sympathies also to P W Rundle on the loss of his wife.
Can anyone provide an address for J E Hauck, G Horner, A
Aloomian, M E Black and Nicole Evans?
**********
The following historical source material was unearthed by Donald
Anderson among his late mother's effects.
KINGSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
December 1954
STROVER, Nanette, to The Flat, 9 Thornwood Gardens, Partick,
Glasgow G117PJ.
WHITE, Michael, to 5 Abbeylands, Cobbetts Hill, Weybridge
KT13 OUB.
Congratulations to Professor Gordon Conway on his appointment
as the first non-American President of the Rockefeller
Foundation. Also to Barry Martin on taking up his appointment
as Head of Hampton School.
**********
School Meals
Dear Parent,
The increased cost of food, and in particular of meat, makes it
necessary for the Governors to raise the price of the school
lunch to lOd. per diem. This increase will come into effect
from the beginning of the January term, 1955. Holders of
County Free Places will continue to pay 9d. per diem.
Yours faithfully, P.W. RUNDLE, Headmaster.
Michael Kim, 4S
Typeset and printed by Maiden Print & Copy Centre (The Secretary Birds), 33 Coombe Road, New Maiden, Surrey 0181-949 7622.
60